85R7404 KSM-F
 
  By: Flynn, King of Parker, Shine, H.C.R. No. 52
      Bonnen of Brazoria, Longoria, et al.
 
 
 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the federal government
  to fully maintain the security of the Texas-Mexico international
  border, but Washington has neglected its duty; and
         WHEREAS, An unprotected border facilitates drug smuggling
  and human trafficking and opens the door to spillover violence from
  criminal cartels; moreover, the ease with which members of
  terrorist organizations can enter the country poses a grave threat
  to homeland security; and
         WHEREAS, The federal government's failure to prevent illegal
  entry has shifted much of the responsibility to the State of Texas;
  consequently, budget writers must weigh the costs of border
  security against the expense of other state services; since January
  2013, Texas has spent a total of $2.8 billion on border security,
  including $463,000,000 to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
  and $416,000,000 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission;
  and
         WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 2014, former governor Rick Perry
  transferred $38,700,000 from a state law enforcement fund to pay
  for deploying additional Department of Public Safety officers and
  National Guard troops along the Texas-Mexico border; the cost
  incurred by DPS alone since 2013 totals more than $1.4 billion; and
         WHEREAS, The executive branch and the United States Congress
  have consistently delayed meaningful action on border security,
  forcing Texas to expend significant resources to keep the
  international border with Mexico secure and placing an undue burden
  on the state's taxpayers; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby express its dissatisfaction with the federal government's
  inadequate efforts to secure the Texas-Mexico international
  border; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be
  respectfully urged to reimburse the State of Texas in the amount of
  $2.8 billion for bearing the financial burden of the federal
  government's responsibility to secure the Texas-Mexico
  international border from 2013 through 2016; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
  copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
  the president of the Senate and to the speaker of the House of
  Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
  members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
  this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
  memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.