States that have incurred expenses related to securing the nation’s southern border would be reimbursed under legislation sponsored on Feb. 6 by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT).
“I regret that the President and [Homeland Security] Secretary Mayorkas have been negligent in their duty to secure the border and created a situation where states feel it is necessary to act individually,” Rep. Curtis said on Monday. “Congress has the power of the purse, and we must support these states spending dollars to end this humanitarian crisis. It is enabling fentanyl trafficking that hurts Utahns.”
The Border Security State Reimbursement Act, H.R. 7243, would reimburse states for funds used to send law enforcement to secure the border, and would ensure costs incurred due to federal government inaction don’t cut into other necessary services, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Curtis’ staff.
H.R. 7243, which does not stipulate from where the federal reimbursement dollars would come, according to the bill’s text, has been referred to the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee for consideration.