All Roll Calls
Yes: 428 • No: 421
HR8029119th CongressWALLET
Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act
Sponsored By: Representative Ciscomani
Passed House
Summary
DHS funding anchors this FY2026 package by setting detailed dollar levels for DHS components while adding tight acquisition rules, reporting deadlines, and program restrictions to shape how homeland security money is spent and overseen.
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- Disaster-affected households and communities get faster and more transparent FEMA help because grant applications and decisions must meet new deadlines, grants must run 3–5 years, and FEMA must publish an interactive reimbursement dashboard. Administrative costs for FEMA grants are capped at 5 percent.
- DHS employees and contractors face new limits and reporting rules. Major pay or classification changes need 30-day congressional notice. Travel and conferences face a 50-person cap and a $500,000 total cost cap per event.
- States, localities, and cyber partners gain more federal threat-sharing. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency can buy threat feeds and has about $2.2 billion for operations to support federal and nonfederal entities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
20 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
Cuts to unused DHS funds
If enacted, the bill would rescind listed unobligated balances across DHS accounts. Examples include $2.362 million from the Nonrecurring Expenses Fund, $73.327 million from Management Directorate Procurement, Construction, and Improvements, $52.349 million from CISA Operations and Support, and $19.650 million from TSA Operations and Support. Funds marked by Congress as emergency would not be rescinded.
Faster FEMA grants and training safeguards
If enacted, FEMA grants under this Act would face clear timelines. Applications would open within 60 days, applicants would have 80 days to apply, and FEMA would act within 65 days. Grant periods would run at least 3 years and no more than 5 years. Administrative costs for certain grants would be capped at 5% of the award. FEMA would need to brief Congress 5 business days before announcing some awards or face a $1,000,000 rescission. A public dashboard of reimbursement requests would be posted within 90 days of receipt and within 60 days after final DHS review. Missing deadlines or reports would cut FEMA accounts by $100,000 per day. The bill would also bar DHS from pausing FEMA‑funded training or grants without giving Congress at most 10 business days’ notice that explains the reason, how missed classes would be made up, and the budget impact, with an emergency waiver allowed for imminent threats to life or property.
Bring 90-day prescriptions from Canada
If enacted, CBP would not use funds to stop you from carrying a personal 90‑day supply of a prescription drug from Canada. You would need to be an individual, not in the business of importing, and the drug must meet U.S. law. This would not cover controlled substances or biological products.
3.8% raise for air traffic staff
If enacted, $140 million would support a 3.8% pay increase in 2026 for air traffic controllers and some supervisors. The raise would start the first pay period after January 1, 2026, only if the FAA Administrator finds workforce scheduling or staffing efficiencies. Funds would be available through September 30, 2027, and limited to this raise.
Stronger care and oversight in immigration detention
If enacted, CBP would have to follow the November 30, 2021 care policy (or similar expert‑backed standards) for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing people and infants in custody. DHS would have to let Members of Congress enter detention facilities for oversight without prior notice and could not alter what visitors see. ICE could not keep contracts with detention sites that scored below “adequate” in their two most recent reviews. DHS would be barred from destroying records about deaths, sexual assault, or abuse in custody and would have to share them with people punished over such allegations, if requested. ICE could not continue 287(g) agreements after the Inspector General finds a material violation.
Airport security gear gets one-time boost
If enacted for fiscal year 2026, the Aviation Security Capital Fund would be allowed to buy and install explosives detection systems. TSA could also use it for certain project agreements named in law. This authority would apply only in FY 2026.
Keep federal pay and services during gaps
If enacted, agencies could use FY2026 personnel funds to make required pay and benefit payments under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c), helping keep pay flowing in funding gaps. The bill would ratify essential obligations made to protect life and property during the recent lapse tied to FY2026 funding. It would also treat the lapse that began on or about February 13, 2026 as covered by the FY2026 continuing resolution. A CARES Act authority would be treated as in effect through September 30, 2026.
More ICE planning, reports, and tied funding
ICE would have to file an execution plan within 90 days, a monthly obligation plan starting 30 days after enactment, and monthly updates. DHS would have to provide monthly estimates for detentions, removals, and southwest border arrivals for the current and next fiscal year, with independent checks; failure to provide the southwest estimates would suspend DHS reprogramming and transfer authority until delivered. ICE Executive Leadership would get $100,000 each month (up to $700,000 for the year) only if the required reports arrive on time. At least $5 million would go to ICE’s Blue Campaign in FY2026 after notifying Congress. DHS could not cut ICE attaché posts at embassies unless DHS and State notify Congress or the host country asks to end cooperation.
Stricter DHS money moves, some flexibility
DHS would face tighter reprogramming rules: no creating or ending programs, no augmenting more than $5 million or 10% without 30 days’ notice, and only up to 5% transfers with notice. New pilots costing $5 million or more or using over 10 FTEs would need written goals, measurement plans, and pre‑obligation reports; lessons learned would be due within 90 days after completion. DHS Technology Modernization Fund projects would need advance notice to Congress and a 15‑day wait after a detailed report before funds can be used. DHS could carry over up to 50% of FY2026 Operations & Support unobligated balances through September 30, 2027 with notification by June 15, 2027, and use the working capital fund in anticipation of reimbursements. Intelligence transfers would be limited to higher‑priority, unforeseen needs with DHS and OMB approval and within existing percentage caps.
No new land border crossing fees
The bill would ban any new per‑person fee to cross at land ports on the northern or southern border. It would also ban DHS from studying such a fee. This would cover pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers. The ban would start on enactment.
USCIS may oversee biometrics remotely
If you must give biometrics at a USCIS Application Support Center, staff would be able to oversee it virtually using secure technology. This could make appointments easier to staff and schedule. The change would start upon enactment.
Care and commute help for DHS staff
If enacted, DHS could use Operations and Support funds to provide an employee emergency back‑up care program. USCIS could also buy up to five replacement vehicles in areas without GSA leases and let assigned staff use them to commute between home and work.
More money for Supreme Court operations
If enacted, the bill would add $30 million for Supreme Court salaries and expenses. The money would be available until September 30, 2028.
No national ID, no Guantanamo transfers
The bill would ban using these funds to plan, test, pilot, or develop a national ID card. It would also bar using these funds to transfer or release specified Guantanamo detainees into the United States. In addition, it would block spending to implement the Arms Trade Treaty unless the Senate ratifies it.
More funds for federal cybersecurity
If enacted, $99.75 million would be transferred from unobligated cybersecurity response and recovery funds to CISA Operations and Support. This would give CISA added resources to carry out cybersecurity work.
Law enforcement training and in-house instructors
FLETC could give funds to federal law enforcement agencies to cover the costs of taking part in training accreditation. A Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation Board would lead reviews of training quality and effectiveness. Instructor duties at FLETC would be treated as inherently governmental, making them harder to outsource.
Limits on official perks and travel
DHS could not send more than 50 U.S.‑based employees from one component to the same international conference unless the Secretary deems it in the national interest and notifies Congress 10 days before; the Department’s total cost for any such conference would be capped at $500,000, and virtual attendees would not count. Members of Congress and senior officials would not get special exemptions from passenger and baggage screening. No funds could support positions designated as “Principal Federal Official” as described in prior law.
Buy American and limits on outsourcing
DHS purchases funded by this bill would have to follow Buy American rules. DHS could not contract, grant, or lend to entities named under section 1260H of the 2021 defense law or their subsidiaries. The bill would also bar A‑76 outsourcing competitions for listed USCIS jobs, keeping those roles in‑house.
Coast Guard drones without weapons
The bill would provide $98 million to buy MQ‑9 aircraft, base stations, and related equipment for the Coast Guard, available through September 30, 2030. It would also ban DHS from buying or arming long‑range drones with weapons. This would allow surveillance capability while blocking weaponized long‑range drones.
Secret Service reports and tighter funding rules
The Secret Service would be allowed to obligate funds in advance of reimbursements for Rowley Training Center courses, within its year‑end budget. At least $2 million would go to the National Computer Forensics Institute as a grant or cooperative agreement. Secret Service funds could not pay to protect other agency heads unless that agency fully reimburses the Service. The Secretary would have to notify Congress within 10 days when the President starts or evaluates protection for certain former or soon‑to‑be officials, and before extensions or terminations. The Director would have to report within 180 days and yearly through 2028 on staffing, overtime, and steps to meet higher protective demands.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 3/26/2026
On Motion to Recommit
Yes: 210 • No: 215
house vote • 3/26/2026
On Passage
Yes: 218 • No: 206
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