A provision authored by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) that became law on July 4 as part of a larger bill authorizes $13.5 billion to reimburse border states — primarily Texas — for costs incurred to secure the border under the Biden administration.
“When the Biden administration abdicated its federal responsibility to secure the border, Texas stepped up,” Rep. McCaul said. “Our state bore the brunt of this unnecessary crisis for four years — fighting tirelessly on the front lines to defend all 50 states. That’s why I worked so hard to reimburse our border states for the costs they incurred over the past four years.”
Rep. McCaul’s provision, which was initially added to House Republicans’ reconciliation package through a manager’s amendment and later edited in the U.S. Senate, sets aside $13.5 billion in grants for states to secure the border, apprehend illegal aliens, and counter drug and human trafficking that occurred on or after Jan. 21, 2021.
Most of these funds are expected to reimburse Texas, which launched Operation Lone Star and spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs associated with border security and $4.75 billion on border wall barriers, according to information provided by Rep. McCaul’s office.
The provision became law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1, which the president signed into law on Friday.
“I’m proud to have joined my Republican colleagues in voting to restore our great nation and put this historic bill on the president’s desk just in time for Independence Day,” Rep. McCaul said. “On behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to have secured this provision to finally pay Texas back.”