84R9964 JNC-D
By: Flynn, Simmons, Metcalf, H.C.R. No. 61
Bonnen of Brazoria, Bonnen of Galveston,
et al.
Substitute the following for H.C.R.
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the federal government
to fully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico international
border; and
WHEREAS, The federal government has neglected its duty to
fully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico international
border; and
WHEREAS, An unprotected border facilitates drug smuggling
and human trafficking and opens the door to spillover violence from
criminal cartels; moreover, the ease with which members of
terrorist organizations can enter the country poses a grave threat
to homeland security; and
WHEREAS, The federal government's failure to prevent illegal
entry has shifted much of the responsibility to the State of Texas;
consequently, budget writers must weigh the costs of border
security against the expense of other state services; during the
2012-2013 budget cycle, Texas spent $221,600,000 on border security
operations, and in the 2014-2015 budget, the state appropriated
$343,300,000 for such expenditures; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Governor Rick Perry transferred
$38,700,000 from a state law enforcement fund in 2014 to pay for
deploying additional Department of Public Safety officers and
National Guard troops along the Texas-Mexico border; and
WHEREAS, The executive branch and the United States Congress
have consistently delayed meaningful action on border security,
forcing Texas to expend significant resources to keep the
international border with Mexico secure and placing an undue burden
on the state's taxpayers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby express its dissatisfaction with the federal government's
inadequate efforts to secure the Texas-Mexico international
border; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature respectfully urge
the Congress of the United States to reimburse the State of Texas in
the amount of $603,600,000 for bearing the financial burden of the
federal government's responsibility to secure the Texas-Mexico
international border from 2012 through 2015; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the president of the Senate and to the speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.