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Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the FY24 Homeland Security Appropriations bill was finalized last night:

“In my first fiscal year as Ranking Member, I worked diligently with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to write a bill to fund border security, support border law enforcement, and adequately protect our Homeland.

“I am proud to have successfully fought to prohibit new funds for wasteful border wall construction.

“I also helped secure record levels of funding for Border Patrol Agents and $125 million for increases to Border Patrol overtime pay authorized by the NDAA. These measures will ensure we can hire and retain qualified agents to secure our border. Additionally, I worked to increase funding for new border technology at and between ports of entry and to hire additional CBP officers, which will help crack down on the deadly fentanyl epidemic affecting communities across the country.

“Lastly, I fought tirelessly to secure $650 million for the Shelter and Services Grant Program, an effort I helped establish in 2014. This program is a lifeline to border communities like mine and provides crucial funding to nonprofits and NGOs as they assist migrants awaiting the outcome of their immigration proceedings.

“I want to thank Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman Kay Granger, and my Chairman David Joyce for working alongside me to craft a strong Homeland Security bill that will ensure the safety and security of our communities.”

Specifically, Ranking Member Cuellar helped secure:

• No new funding for border wall construction
•  $15 million to expand Checkpoint 29 in Laredo, Texas, which will help address congestion during passenger vehicle inspections
• $495 million to fund a record number of 22,000 Border Patrol Agents
• $125 million for increases to Border Patrol overtime pay authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
• $20 million for an additional 150 CBP Officers to support counter fentanyl efforts
• $283.5 million for new border security technology to secure the border
• $103.5 million to sustain current border security technology, including Autonomous Security Towers, cross-border tunnel detection, and Non-Intrusive Inspection equipment to detect fentanyl
• $650 million for the Shelter and Services Grant Program, which Ranking Member Cuellar helped establish in 2014
• $81 million for Operation Stonegarden to provide federal resources to local law enforcement agencies in border communities
• $1 billion increase for all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel to sustain pay equity investments started last year

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