Funding for Border Security in Texas Clears Senate Committee Approval
In a twist of Washington politics, Texas is on the brink of getting back the $11 billion it spent on border security under the Biden Administration. The reason? The colossal, enticing "One Big, Beautiful Bill" making its way through the Senate.
Governor Greg Abbott's mission, Operation Lone Star, didn't come cheap. In fact, it cost Texas a pretty penny, approximately $11 billion during Biden's presidency. With the federal government's border policies leaving much to be desired, it's no wonder the Lone Star State is demanding reimbursement.
Two letters penned by Abbott earlier this year to the federal government made the state's plea crystal clear. The government's response? A hearty 'we hear you, Texas.' Not only have they cooperated, but they've also included refunds for Texas, and other states, in the oversized budget bill based on President Trump's vision [1][2].
Still, Washington is a fickle place, and one day's promise might be tomorrow's broken deal. Some Republicans in the Senate are expressing desires for further cuts and might potentially vote against the bill [3]. However, with the bill clearing another committee hurdle, it seems Texas's fate is becoming increasingly certain.
Luca Cacciatore of Texas Scorecard shares the optimism, commenting, "It includes $13.5 billion in total for Texas and other states that spent large sums protecting the borders during the Biden Administration."
Of course, nothing is carved in stone until elected officials put their John Hancock on the dotted line. The bill is currently making its way through the Senate, with the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee having already passed it forward [3].
We’re now watching the clock, waiting for the Senate to vote on the bill. The ambitious timeline? A vote is expected by the end of this month, with Republicans eager to get the bill on President Trump's desk before the Fourth of July [1][3].
Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have touted this as a significant win for Texas taxpayers and Governor Abbott. In Cacciatore's words, "There is a reason why Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are parading this...because it has essentially cleared the final hurdle."
[1] Texas Scorecard: Senate Committee Advances $13.5 Billion Border Funding Bill, https://www.texasscorecard.com/news/senate-committee-advances-13-5-billion-border-funding-bill/
[2] The Hill: GOP senator says Trump's border funding bill would reimburse Texas, other states, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3543663-gop-senator-says-trumps-border-funding-bill-would-reimburse-texas-other-states/
[3] The Texas Tribune: Texas' $4 billion piece of Trump's border spending plan awaits full Senate vote, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/26/federal-government-texas-border-spending-trump-biden/
The upcoming vote on the oversized budget bill, based on President Trump's vision, includes reimbursements for states like Texas that spent substantial sums on border security during the Biden Administration, falling under the category of general news. The politics surrounding this reimbursement are complex, with policy-and-legislation determining whether war-and-conflicts over border security funding will lead to a resolution or further crime-and-justice in the Senate.
