# 119-hr-1297: LPOE Modernization Trust Fund Act

119-hr-1297, LPOE Modernization Trust Fund Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1297
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1297
- Congress: 119
- Title: LPOE Modernization Trust Fund Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-02-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a dedicated Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund** that would channel parts of existing customs fees and new surcharges into a Treasury trust to pay for construction, technology, repairs, and hiring at U.S. land ports of entry. - Travelers and trade: Would fund construction and upgrades to handle higher volumes of commercial, vehicle, and pedestrian traffic. It would also add small surcharges to immigration and inspection fees, for example a $40 increase on the immigrant user fee. - How it pays for projects: Would redirect 25 percent of certain fee streams and up to $1.6 billion a year in Merchandise Processing Fees into the Trust Fund beginning in fiscal year 2026. - Local partners and staffing: Would fund hiring of Customs and Border Protection officers, agricultural specialists, and support staff and creates a nine-member Oversight Board. The Secretary must consult with GSA, the Army Corps of Engineers, states, tribes, and commerce groups when setting priorities and reviewing spending.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23] (R-TX), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- How land port fund could be used: benefit, medium. If enacted, Congress could approve projects from this fund. Money could build new land ports of entry. It could expand or repair existing ports to handle more trucks, cars, and pedestrians. It could buy inspection technology and support facilities. It could also hire Customs and Border Protection o…
- Oversight board and yearly spending reports: benefit, low. If enacted, a nine‑member board would advise DHS on fund priorities and review spending. Some industry and state members would be named within three months. The board would meet at least once a year. DHS and GSA would send a report by March 10 each year on past and planned spending, the fund balanc…
- New land port fund and fees: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund. It would add surcharges of $40 to the immigrant user fee, $6 to the land border inspection fee, and $20 to the machine‑readable visa fee. Within 60 days after enactment, up to $1.6 billion from the Customs User Fee Acc…
- New shipping document rules for fees: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would define "individual air waybill" and "bill of lading" for fee rules. An individual shipment would need its own tracking number, one final consignee, and no lower tracking unit. Master or consolidated documents would not count. This could change how some shipments are count…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1330: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3392: STOP Screwworms Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1297 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1297)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2853)
- [119-hr-1330: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1330)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-3392: STOP Screwworms Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3392)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1297 (as of 2026-04-21).