S. 157 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 21, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBorder states can use federal lands for structures
The bill lets border states put up temporary, movable structures on federal lands near the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders without needing special permission from the Department of the Interior or Forest Service. These structures can stay for up to a year, and states can request extensions in 90-day blocks if U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the border still needs securing.
How it affects you
If you live in a border state, this could mean structures appear on nearby federal lands as your state works on border security. If you use federal lands for recreation or other purposes in border areas, you may encounter these temporary installations.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 21, 2025)
Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly Act or CONTAINER Act
This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to allow border states to place temporary, movable structures on federal lands adjacent to the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders without a special use authorization.
Border states may place these structures on such lands for the purpose of securing the northern or southern border for a period of not more than one year. Interior and the Forest Service must approve extension requests in 90-day increments if U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines that operational control of the border area has not been achieved.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 157
A BILL
CONTAINER Act
Sponsor: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) · Introduced Jan 21, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 21, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.”