H.R. 8029 — Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act
Executive Summary
This bill, titled the "Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act," provides comprehensive appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. It allocates specific funding across various DHS components, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Secret Service. The legislation also includes numerous administrative provisions, reporting requirements, and rescissions of prior unobligated funds, alongside a division addressing a potential lapse in appropriations to ensure personnel pay and continuity of essential government functions.
Arguments For
- Ensures critical national security funding for the Department of Homeland Security, maintaining essential operations for border protection, cybersecurity, and emergency response.
- Supports frontline personnel by providing full-year appropriations and addressing potential pay disruptions during a lapse in government funding, boosting morale and operational readiness.
- Enhances border security and enforcement capabilities through significant allocations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including resources for advanced equipment and investigations.
- Improves oversight and accountability within DHS through various reporting requirements on budget execution, acquisition programs, and pilot demonstrations, promoting transparency and efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Controversial funding levels for immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP may draw strong opposition from civil liberties and immigrant rights groups, who might argue against increased detention and removal capacities.
- Specific policy riders, such as the prohibition on new border crossing fees, could be viewed as limiting future revenue options for border management and may be politically contentious.
- The rescission of unobligated balances from prior acts, while intended to reduce spending, could disrupt ongoing or planned projects and activities across various DHS components.
- The bill's framing and specific allocations might be perceived as partisan, potentially leading to legislative gridlock and a lack of broad bipartisan consensus on critical homeland security issues.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Establishes the short title as the "Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act."
- Appropriates $316,295,000 for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, Operations and Support.
- Appropriates $17,727,974,000 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Operations and Support, including funds for vehicles, aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems.
- Appropriates $10,036,362,000 for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Operations and Support, with specific allocations for Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations.
- Appropriates $10,635,434,000 for the Transportation Security Administration, Operations and Support.
- Appropriates $11,272,401,000 for the Coast Guard, Operations and Support, including defense-related activities.
- Appropriates $2,218,634,000 for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Operations and Support.
- Appropriates $1,667,038,000 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations and Support, and $3,836,748,513 for Federal Assistance grants.
- Appropriates $26,367,000,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund, to remain available until expended.
- Prohibits the establishment or collection of any new border crossing fee on individuals crossing the Southern or Northern border at a land port of entry.
- Rescinds over $90 million in unobligated balances from various prior appropriations acts across DHS components.
- Includes a "Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026" to address a lapse in appropriations and ensure personnel pay, allowances, and benefits.
search
Verification Guide
BETA
expand_more
Don't trust AI? Don't worry, neither do I. Verify the claims yourself.
The Act is titled the "Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act."
"Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act"
$316,295,000 is appropriated for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, Operations and Support.
"$316,295,000, which shall be for the purposes"
The bill prohibits the establishment or collection of any new border crossing fee.
"(1) establish, collect, or otherwise impose any"
$73,327,000 is rescinded from the Management Directorate—Procurement, Construction, and Improvements account.
"(1) $73,327,000 from the unobligated balances"
Funds are made available for personnel pay, allowances, and benefits during a lapse in appropriations.
"personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each depart"