By:
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Estes S.C.R.
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No.
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5CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONWHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the federal governmentto fully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico internationalborder; andWHEREAS, The federal government has neglected its duty tofully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico internationalborder; andWHEREAS, An unprotected border facilitates drug smugglingand human trafficking and opens the door to spillover violence fromcriminal cartels; moreover, the ease with which members ofterrorist organizations can enter the country poses a grave threatto homeland security; andWHEREAS, The federal government
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s failure to prevent illegalentry has shifted much of the responsibility to the State of Texas;consequently, budget writers must weigh the costs of bordersecurity against the expense of other state services; during the2012-2013 budget cycle, Texas spent $221,600,000 on border securityoperations, and in the 2014-2015 budget, the state appropriated$343,300,000 for such expenditures; andWHEREAS, Furthermore, Governor Rick Perry transferred$38,700,000 from a state law enforcement fund in 2014 to pay fordeploying additional Department of Public Safety officers andNational Guard troops along the Texas-Mexico border; andWHEREAS, The executive branch and the United States Congresshave consistently delayed meaningful action on border security,123456789101112131415161718192021222324
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forcing Texas to expend significant resources to keep theinternational border with Mexico secure and placing an undue burdenon the state
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s taxpayers; now, therefore, be itRESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texashereby express its dissatisfaction with the federal government
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sinadequate efforts to secure the Texas-Mexico internationalborder; and, be it furtherRESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature respectfully urgethe Congress of the United States to reimburse the State of Texas inthe amount of $603,600,000 for bearing the financial burden of thefederal government
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s responsibility to secure the Texas-Mexicointernational border from 2012 through 2015; and, be it furtherRESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward officialcopies of this resolution to the president of the United States, tothe president of the Senate and to the speaker of the House ofRepresentatives of the United States Congress, and to all themembers of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request thatthis resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as amemorial to the Congress of the United States of America.12345678910111213141516171819S.C.R.
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No.
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