Senate committee backs SCR 39 urging federal action on border security and $11 billion reimbursement

The Senate Committee on Border Security on Wednesday favorably recommended SCR 39, a resolution by Senator Creighton urging the federal government to strengthen security along the southern border and reimburse Texas for about $11 billion the resolution says the state has spent addressing border issues; the committee voted 4-1 to send the measure to the full Senate.

The resolution, presented by Senator Creighton, frames the matter as a federal responsibility and calls for “immediate action to strengthen security along our southern border.” Creighton told the committee that the federal government has “stop[ped] shifting the burden to Texas” and urged reimbursement for the state funds spent. He also cited Operation Lone Star statistics during the discussion, saying the state effort had seized large quantities of fentanyl and led to tens of thousands of arrests; those numerical claims were presented by Creighton during debate.

The nut graf: SCR 39 seeks to make a formal legislative statement that the federal government must prioritize border security and to request federal reimbursement of funds Texas used for border enforcement. Committee supporters said the resolution is intended to highlight fiscal and security burdens the state says it has assumed in recent years.

During the committee hearing, several senators debated whether the problem reflects failures by the current presidential administration alone or by multiple administrations over time. Senator Hinojosa of Nueces said the issue “has not only been the Biden administration” and argued past administrations have also neglected border security. Senator Eckhart questioned what concrete federal actions the resolution envisions; Creighton responded by listing interoperability, more staffing and drug interdiction as examples and said those steps should be a federal priority. Senator Flores expressed support for Operation Lone Star and said he would vote yes.

Susie Whittington, identified to the committee as the chief financial officer for the Department of Public Safety, was present as a resource witness; no members of the public registered to testify for or against the resolution and the chair closed public testimony before the committee vote.

On a motion from Senator Flores that “SCR 39 be favorably recommended to the full Senate,” the clerk called the roll. Senators Birdwell, Flores, Hinojosa of Nueces and Hinojosa of Hidalgo voted aye; Senator Eckhart voted no. The clerk announced, “There being 4 ayes and 1 nay, SCR 39 will be favorably recommended to the full Senate for its consideration.”

Committee members were told the panel expects to consider Senate Bill 36 next week, a measure by Senator Parker to create a border-security division within the Department of Public Safety, which the chair said could be the committee’s primary focus when it reconvenes.

The committee recommendation does not itself change state policy; SCR 39 is a resolution asking for federal action and reimbursement and must be considered and acted on by the full Senate and, for reimbursement, would require federal agreement or further federal action.