Ellzey, Crenshaw Want State Reimbursement for Securing Border

Texas Reps. Jake Ellzey (R) and Dan Crenshaw (R) are calling on Congress to reimburse Texas for billions of dollars that the state has spent securing the southern border.

The Republican congressmen have sponsored the Lone Star Act, a bill that ensures Texas receives federal funds to cover border security expenses, which they argue should have been a federal responsibility from the beginning.

During an appearance on Inside Texas Politics with Jason Whitely, Rep. Ellzey emphasized the bipartisan cooperation among Texas Republicans to push for reimbursement. “I think that there’s a real spirit of collaboration amongst all Texas Republicans in the House and the Senate along with the governor to include that,” he said. “11 billion dollars in a federal spending bill is not that much, and this was a federal responsibility, and what we will do is hand back over some assets to the federal government that the Texas taxpayers have paid for.”

Rep. Ellzey further stressed that securing the border has taken a financial burden on Texas taxpayers, noting that Texas has invested heavily in border security efforts to curb illegal immigration, fentanyl trafficking, and potential security threats. 

“Texas taxpayers need property tax relief. They have spent the money on this, and they’ve done good work, and the governor and the legislature have done good work on helping to stance the flow of fentanyl crossing our borders and illegal immigrants and terrorists crossing our borders,” the Texas Republican expressed. “I think this bill has been on the books for several years, and there’s a real spirit that ‘yes, I think we can do this now.’ I think it’s appropriate to ask.”

When Rep. Ellzey was asked what it would take to get the Lone Star Act passed, he pointed to upcoming federal spending bills as the likely vehicle for the proposal. “I think it’s gonna be included on some spending bills going forward. Most of us talked to the governor on the phone last week, so I think we’re all geared up in a way that we haven’t been before to address this issue and relieve taxpayers in Texas,” he explained.

Border security remains a key issue in both Texas and national politics, and the push for federal reimbursement is expected to generate significant debate in Congress.