BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Texas Border Coalition is a collective voice of border mayors, county judges, and economic development commissions focused on issues that affect nearly 2.7 million people who reside along the Texas-Mexico border.
The group works closely with the state and federal government to educate, advocate, and secure funding for transportation, immigration and border security, workforce development, economic development and health care.
In a recent letter sent to the chairs of the appropriations committees of the U.S. House and Senate, TBC chair Eddie Treviño, Jr., urged U.S. House and Senate appropriators to allocate funding for critical humanitarian services – such as food and shelter – for migrants along the southwest border.
“We support the President’s request for authority to apportion funding for critical humanitarian services, such as food and shelter, associated with the migration on the Southwest border,” Treviño, pictured above, wrote.
“Likewise, we support similar apportionment authority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement programs necessary to maintain detention, transportation, and removal operations.”
Treviño is also Cameron County Judge. The chair of the House Appropriations Committee is U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. The chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee is U.S. Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt.
“As our local governments and non-governmental organizations work to address the needs of migrants entering the U.S., our communities depend on the support provided by the Emergency Food and Shelter program operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS),” Treviño wrote.
“Without approval of the anomalies, these operations run the risk of not having sufficient funds to meet their operational and humanitarian goals during the period outlined in the continuing resolution.” Treviño said.
Here is the letter in full:
September 16, 2022
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Chair
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Patrick Leahy, Chair
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairs DeLauro and Leahy:
The Texas Border Coalition (TBC) wants to add its voice to those who are urging you to include two essential anomaly provisions recommended by President Joe Biden in the continuing resolution to be considered by your committees in the coming days.
TBC acts as the collective voice of border communities on issues that affect Texas-Mexico border region’s quality of life, commerce, and public policy. TBC is comprised of mayors, city council members, county judges, county executives, businesses, corporations, and community leaders. Together, we represent nearly 2.8 million people who reside along the Texas-Mexico border, from Brownsville to El Paso.
As our local governments and non-governmental organizations work to address the needs of migrants entering the U.S., our communities depend on the support provided by the Emergency Food and Shelter program operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As you know, this program operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency helps fund local agencies that provide shelter, nutrition, and other services to migrant families and individuals paroled into the U.S. by DHS.
We support the President’s request for authority to apportion funding for critical humanitarian services, such as food and shelter, associated with the migration on the Southwest border. Likewise, we support similar apportionment authority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement programs necessary to maintain detention, transportation, and removal operations.
Without approval of the anomalies, these operations run the risk of not having sufficient funds to meet their operational and humanitarian goals during the period outlined in the continuing resolution.
In the next few days, Congress will act on legislation to extend government funding and programs. We urge you to include these provisions in the continuing resolution.
Sincerely,
Eddie Treviño, Jr.
Chairman, Texas Border Coalition
County Judge, Cameron County, Texas
Copies of the letter were sent to:
The Texas Border Congressional Delegation
The Honorable John Cornyn, U.S. Senator
The Honorable Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator
The Honorable Greg Abbott, Texas Governor
Office of Public Engagement, The White House
Karinda Washington, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Partnership and Engagement, DHS
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