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SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The lame-duck Congress passed a bill Tuesday night that supporters promise will mean improved security for the border region.

The bill is called the Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act.

It was authored by Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and he said it will boost border security by forcing competing law enforcement agencies to cooperate when it comes to combating trans-border drug gangs and human traffickers.

“If you recall a few years ago the state of Texas had a quote 'secret plan' for securing the border," Cuellar said. "You know, those days are gone. You can’t say the state has a secret plan while the federal government is doing something. We have to coordinate and we have to communicate together.”

The Democrat from Laredo said the bill passed with broad bipartisan support, 397-4. Its already passed the Senate so now the bill heads to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature.