85R7404 KSM-F
By: Flynn, King of Parker, Shine, H.C.R. No. 52
Bonnen of Brazoria, Longoria, et al.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the federal government
to fully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico international
border, but Washington has neglected its duty; 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; since January
2013, Texas has spent a total of $2.8 billion on border security,
including $463,000,000 to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
and $416,000,000 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission;
and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 2014, former governor Rick Perry
transferred $38,700,000 from a state law enforcement fund to pay
for deploying additional Department of Public Safety officers and
National Guard troops along the Texas-Mexico border; the cost
incurred by DPS alone since 2013 totals more than $1.4 billion; 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 85th 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 Congress of the United States be
respectfully urged to reimburse the State of Texas in the amount of
$2.8 billion for bearing the financial burden of the federal
government's responsibility to secure the Texas-Mexico
international border from 2013 through 2016; 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.