San Antonio Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted to advance the FY24 Homeland Security Appropriations bill on Wednesday. The Congressman was proud to secure much-needed funding to support Uvalde County’s efforts to modernize their Emergency Operations Center facility. Other provisions essential to TX-23 and beyond include $19.9 billion (a $3.22 billion increase above FY23 funding levels) for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), of which $496 million will go toward hiring 1,795 additional Border Patrol Agents for a strong workforce of 22,000 as well as $44 million to maintain that workforce by investing in mental health clinicians, workforce care, and suicide prevention; nearly $10 billion (a $1.35 billion increase from FY23 funding levels) which will go toward initiatives to enhance Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by providing $2.52 billion for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to help disrupt human and narcotics smuggling and hold cartels accountable, as well as $655 million for transportation and removal operations to swiftly remove inadmissible noncitizens; and an additional $6.3 million towards fentanyl detection improvements. The package confirms a strong commitment to fortifying national security interests and protecting our communities from threats to our nation.

Many of Congressman Gonzales' provisions were secured as part of the bill. Operation Stonegarden – a vital program for many of the law enforcement agencies in TX-23 – received an increase to $100 million, the highest level to date, and was further reinforced with additional language to increase opportunities to explore other uses of Operation Stonegarden funds to maximize the effectiveness of the program in supporting local law enforcement. Additionally, his CBP Pursuit Policy amendment suspends a severely flawed policy that makes it easier for law-breaking individuals to evade law enforcement officers and harder for Border Patrol Agents to pursue criminals and illegal immigrants engaging in illicit activity.

“I represent over 800 miles of our southern border – more than any other member of Congress. Border issues are not hypothetical scenarios for my constituents – they are everyday realities. The funding and policies included in the House Appropriations package will provide critical resources for our law enforcement and much-needed relief to communities across South and West Texas that have been bearing the brunt of this crisis. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues to secure robust border and national security funding that will bolster our ability to protect the United States from threats both foreign and domestic,” said Congressman Gonzales.

Congressman Gonzales also worked with the Committee to include his U.S.-Taiwan Advanced Partnership legislation which encourages the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter a bilateral partnership with Taiwan to support cybersecurity research and utilize information sharing to enhance cybersecurity capabilities The final package advanced by Congressman Gonzales includes approximately $3 billion for cybersecurity and infrastructure security.

Other priorities advanced by Congressman Gonzales include:

Community Project Funding:

$2.25 million for Uvalde County Emergency Operations Center Buildout, a critical investment to the County’s ability to serve as a one-stop shop that will enhance the region’s capacity to mitigate, manage, and respond to both man-made and natural disasters and better equip our smaller, adjacent counties with the resources they need.

Customs and Border Protection - $19.9 billion

• $6.294 billion for U.S. Border Patrol
• $496 million for 22,000 Border Patrol agents
  • $250 million for CBP hiring initiatives
• $228.847 million for border technology procurement
• $11.15 million for suicide prevention
• $43.98 million for workforce care (includes mental health clinicians)
• $276 million for new border security technology
• $345.4 million for Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology
• $21 million for Autonomous Surveillance Towers
• $18.5 million for Tactical Aerostats
• $7.1 million for C-UAS (counter-drone technology)
• $10.44 million for Cross Border Tunnel Threat Detection
• $55 million for Innovative Technology
• Requires DHS to obligate prior funding for the border wall ($2.01 billion) within 120 days

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - $9.799 billion

• $5.31 billion for Enforcement and Removal Operations
  • $3.52 billion for Custody Operations
    • Funding to detain an average daily population of 41,000
• $655 million for Transportation and Removal Operations
• $2.526 billion for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
  • $35.4 million for enhanced capabilities that capture data needed to disrupt and dismantle TCOs within HSI
• Prohibits transportation of migrants into the interior for purposes other than enforcement—exception for unaccompanied alien children
• Prohibits funding for Alternatives to Detention unless the Secretary determines on a case-by-case basis or certifies to the Speaker and President Pro Tempore that there is insufficient detention capacity
• Prohibits reducing participation in our substantively diminishing the 287(g) program, which allows state and local law enforcement to assist ICE in enforcing immigration law

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security - $2.926 billion

• $810 million for cyber operations
• $467.6 million for operation and modernization of cybersecurity defense of federal agency networks

Federal Emergency Management Agency - $26.062 billion

• $100 million for Operation Stonegarden ($10 million increase from FY23)
  • Includes report language encouraging the Department to explore how funding can be used to purchase technology such as cameras, sensors, drones, and other uses that would support local law enforcement agencies
• $615 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative
  • Includes School Safety report language – eligible uses include bullet-resistant doors and glass, hinge-locking mechanisms, mechanisms that provide real-time intelligence to law enforcement and first responders, installation of distraction devices or other countermeasures administered by law enforcement, other measures determined to provide significant improvement to school physical security
• $315 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program
• $106 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium
• $40 million for the Next Generation Warning System

Original source can be found here.