What This Bill Does
This bill would reimburse states for money they spent on border security. The bill says the federal government has the primary responsibility for border security, but states have had to pay for it themselves. States that spent more than $2.5 billion on border security over the past 10 years would get that money back from the federal government.
Who It Affects
States that spent more than $2.5 billion on border security in the 10 years before this law passes. State governors of eligible states. State and local governments that paid for border security work.
Key Provisions
• States that spent more than $2.5 billion on border security and enforcement supporting federal efforts in the 10 years before this law passes would get all that money reimbursed (Sec. 3(a)).
• State governors must submit a complete list of all border security costs paid by the state and its cities, plus the total amount, within 180 days after the law passes (Sec. 3(b)).
• The federal government must reimburse the states within 1 year after the state submits its application (Sec. 3(c)).
What Changes
States would receive money back from the federal government for border security expenses they paid for between the 10-year period before this law passes and the date they apply for reimbursement.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 712
To reimburse the States for border security expenses, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Mr. CRENSHAW (for himself, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. MORAN, Mr. PFLUGER, Mr.
JACKSON of Texas, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mr.
ARRINGTON, Mr. ROY, Ms. VAN DUYNE, and Mr. BABIN) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To reimburse the States for border security expenses, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘State Border Security
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Reimbursement Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
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Congress finds the following:
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(1) Border security is primarily a Federal re-
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sponsibility.
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(2) Due to failures of the Federal Government,
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the State of Texas has been forced to provide re-
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sources for border security.
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(3) Since the 2008–2009 biennium budget,
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Texas has allocated more than $3,208,000,000 for
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border
security
in
Texas’
biennium
budget
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disaggregated, as follows:
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(A) In 2008–2009, Texas allocated more
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than $110,000,000 for border security.
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(B) In 2010–2011, Texas allocated more
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than $120,000,000 for border security.
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(C) In 2012–2013, Texas allocated more
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than $222,100,000 for border security.
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(D) In 2014–2015, Texas allocated more
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than $510,000,000 for border security.
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(E) In 2016–2017, Texas allocated more
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than $800,000,000 for border security.
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(F) In 2018–2019, Texas allocated more
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than $663,100,000 for border security.
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(G) In 2020–2021, Texas allocated more
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than $782,800,000 for border security.
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(H) For 2022–2023, the State of Texas
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Legislative Budget Board is currently recom-
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mending an additional $797,100,000 for border
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security.
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(4) Citizens of border States are being taxed
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twice for the same purpose.
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(5) States using their taxpayer dollars and allo-
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cating State budgets to meet public safety obliga-
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tions, which fall under Federal responsibilities, im-
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poses an undue burden on the State.
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SEC. 3. REIMBURSEMENT.
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(a) QUALIFICATION.—Notwithstanding any other
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provision of law, States that have expended more than
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$2,500,000,000 on border security and enforcement in
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support of Federal efforts in the ten years prior to the
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date of the enactment of this Act shall have all associated
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expenses reimbursed.
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(b) APPLICATION.—Not later than 180 days after the
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date of the enactment of this Act, the Governors of eligible
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States shall submit—
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(1) an accounting of all non-federally funded
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border security expenses incurred by the State and
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its municipalities; and
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(2) the total sum of such expenses.
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(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—Not later than 1 year after
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the date on which the State submits the application pursu-
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ant to subsection (b), the Federal Government shall reim-
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burse such expenses pursuant to subsection (a).
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Æ
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