Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to the Fort Worth Police Officers Association (FWPOA) headquarters to sign a landmark law that funds border security.
On Sept. 17, Abbott signed House Bill 9 into law, which provides an additional $1.8 billion in state funding for border security over the next two years.
In addition to FWPOA President Manny Ramirez and members, the bill’s authors, Senator Jane Nelson and Representative Greg Bonnen, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and other legislature members were present for the ceremonial signing.
“Our border crisis goes beyond the Rio Grande Valley, and our south Texas communities – the smuggling of drugs, people, and weapons reaches far and wide throughout our state, and it affects all of us,” said Abbott. “That is why border security funding is crucial to our efforts to keep the entire state of Texas safe and secure.”
The breakdown of HB 9 funding is lengthy. It includes $32.5 million to the Office of Court Administration for court costs; $301 million to the Texas Military Department for additional personnel; $154.8 million to the Department of Public Safety for Operation Lone Star surge costs, replacement tactical marine units, and additional intelligence personnel; $273.7 million to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for increased corrections costs; $214,785 to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for employee overtime and travel costs; $1.02 billion for barrier construction, local grants, and establishing processing centers; $3.75 million for Border Prosecution Unit funding; and $16.4 million to the Texas Department of State Health Services for contracted ambulance services.
“This funding will provide our agency partners with even more support to address the influx of unlawful migrants and prevent dangerous people and contraband from entering our state,” said Abbott.