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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘State Border Security 

5 Reimbursement Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) Border security is primarily a Federal re9 sponsibility. 


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1 (2) Due to failures of the Federal Government, 

2 the State of Texas has been forced to provide re3 sources for border security. 

4 (3) Since the 2008–2009 biennium budget, 

5 Texas has allocated more than $3,208,000,000 for 

6 border security in Texas’ biennium budget 

7 disaggregated, as follows: 

8 (A) In 2008–2009, Texas allocated more 

9 than $110,000,000 for border security. 

10 (B) In 2010–2011, Texas allocated more 

11 than $120,000,000 for border security. 

12 (C) In 2012–2013, Texas allocated more 

13 than $222,100,000 for border security. 

14 (D) In 2014–2015, Texas allocated more 

15 than $510,000,000 for border security. 

16 (E) In 2016–2017, Texas allocated more 

17 than $800,000,000 for border security. 

18 (F) In 2018–2019, Texas allocated more 

19 than $663,100,000 for border security. 

20 (G) In 2020–2021, Texas allocated more 

21 than $782,800,000 for border security. 

22 (H) For 2022–2023, the State of Texas 

23 Legislative Budget Board is currently recom24 mending an additional $797,100,000 for border 

25 security. 


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1 (4) Citizens of border States are being taxed 

2 twice for the same purpose. 

3 (5) States using their taxpayer dollars and allo4 cating State budgets to meet public safety obliga5 tions, which fall under Federal responsibilities, im6 poses an undue burden on the State. 

7 SEC. 3. REIMBURSEMENT. 

8 (a) QUALIFICATION.—Notwithstanding any other 

9 provision of law, States that have expended more than 

10 $2,500,000,000 on border security and enforcement in 

11 support of Federal efforts in the ten years prior to the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act shall have all associated 

13 expenses reimbursed. 

14 (b) APPLICATION.—Not later than 180 days after the 

15 date of the enactment of this Act, the Governors of eligible 

16 States shall submit— 

17 (1) an accounting of all non-federally funded 

18 border security expenses incurred by the State and 

19 its municipalities; and 

20 (2) the total sum of such expenses. 

21 (c) REIMBURSEMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 

22 the date on which the State submits the application pursu23 ant to subsection (b), the Federal Government shall reim24 burse such expenses pursuant to subsection (a). 

Æ 


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