Houston Daily

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas and vice chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been featured in a Fox News article for his efforts to secure $12 billion in federal funding. This funding is intended to reimburse states for border security costs incurred under the Biden administration. Texas, which has spent over $11 billion through Operation Lone Star to address the border crisis, is expected to receive a significant portion of these funds.

The provision was included in President Donald Trump's legislation, described as a "big, beautiful bill," which allows states to be reimbursed for expenses related to illegal immigration control during the Democratic administration. The measure was added shortly before the final vote after months of negotiation.

"Early on, [Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., and I were discussing reconciliation going through the Homeland Security Committee. And, you know, there was about $70 billion for the border," McCaul said. "Texas bore the brunt of the federal mission the last four years and deserves to be reimbursed."

Fox News Digital reported that Texas had incurred just over $11 billion due to Governor Greg Abbott's border security efforts. McCaul emphasized that Texas carried much of the burden when it came to federal missions under Biden's administration.

"The fact of the matter is, when you look at the costs that were borne, Texas had the lion's share of [the burden] carrying out the federal mission when the Biden administration completely failed to deliver on border security," McCaul stated.

Instead of including it in the initial text of Trump's bill, leaders chose to add it via a "managers amendment" on Wednesday night along with other issues requiring more negotiation time.

"The legislative process... it's something I've gotten to know over my 20 years and how to get things done up here," McCaul explained. "It’s going to the Senate now. And Senator Cornyn is going to take it up."

McCaul collaborated with various political figures such as Governor Abbott and Speaker Mike Johnson on this initiative since early February. He also worked closely with Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger.

Johnson expressed gratitude towards McCaul in a public statement: "Thanks to Rep. McCaul, states that stepped up... will be reimbursed for doing work... Had those patriotic governors not taken action... devastation from Biden’s wide-open border would have been significantly worse."

McCaul expressed confidence that this measure would remain part of Senate discussions following conversations with Trump officials: "I anticipate it will go forward... I'm very proud of what my state did."

Governor Abbott commented on Fox News Digital: "This is a national issue that Texas was proud to address... we are grateful for allocation reducing financial burden incurred by Texas."