Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Last action on Nov 3, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Order...

Summary

S. 850, the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act, would amend existing law to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct more frequent and comprehensive reviews of security along the northern border with Canada. If enacted, the bill would require DHS to submit a threat analysis assessing terrorism and criminal threats every three years, starting in September 2025, and to update its northern border security strategy every five years beginning in September 2026. The threat analysis would include detailed assessments of apprehension trends and demographic changes at different border sectors.

The bill would also direct DHS to develop performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of air and maritime security operations at the northern border, with these measures to be completed within 180 days of enactment. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate. According to the Congressional Budget Office, implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period, and no new funding would be authorized—existing resources would be used to carry out the requirements.

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Jul 30, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

Jul 30, 2025 · 14:00

Business meeting to consider S.854, to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, S.855, to require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, S.269, to improve coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay working system, S.81, to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, S.861, to streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster assistance agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance to disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided by disaster survivors, S.766, to require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, S.872, to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, S.727, to correct the inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, S.874, to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, S.594, to amend the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006 to repeal certain obsolete requirements, S.865, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require certain disclosures by registrants regarding exemptions under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, S.856, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to clarify a provision relating to certain contents of registrations under that Act, S.850, to amend the Northern Border Security Review Act to require updates to the northern border threat analysis and the northern border strategy, S.848, to provide for joint reports by relevant Federal agencies to Congress regarding incidents of terrorism, and S.572, to enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves Program; to be immediately followed by a business meeting to consider S.1498, to amend chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit transactions involving certain financial instruments by Members of Congress, the nominations of Pedro Allende, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security, Christopher Fox, of Virginia, to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Edward Aloysius O'Connell, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

Committee

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

View full hearing

Summary

On July 30, 2025, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a business meeting to consider and vote on multiple pieces of legislation and nominations. This was not a hearing with witnesses, but rather a markup session where the committee advanced bills for consideration by the full Senate. The committee voted favorably on 18 bills covering a range of government accountability and security issues. Key legislation included S. 1498, the HONEST Act, which would prohibit Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading certain financial assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and digital assets. The committee also advanced S. 874, the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, which expands protections for federal contractor employees who refuse to obey unlawful orders or disclose evidence of misconduct. Other bills addressed topics including life sciences research security, disaster assistance coordination, federal spending transparency, northern border security, and lobbying disclosure requirements. The committee also considered four nominations to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Passage of these bills by the committee does not guarantee they will advance further in the legislative process, as they must still be voted on by the full Senate and reconciled with any House versions before becoming law.

Video

Watch video

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.

Nov 3, 2025

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.

Nov 3, 2025

Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee

Summary

Video

Committee

Summary

Video

Cosponsors (4)

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

CBO Cost Estimate

Search

Search

Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee

Summary

Video

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee

Summary

Video

Bill Information

Sponsors & Co-sponsors (5)

Cosponsors (4)

Policy Area

Legislative Subjects (5)

Committees (1)

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

CBO Cost Estimate

CBO Cost Estimate