This week, the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security approved its portion of a $69 billion budget reconciliation package for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s border security mission.
The section approved by the body provides funding for an effective border wall system and technology to help detect deadly illicit drugs.
Additionally, it allows for the deployment of more frontline personnel to the southern border, including Border Patrol agents, Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers, as well as U.S. Air and Marine operations members.
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U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, a member of the committee, credited President Donald Trump with already working towards the initiatives outlined in the group’s portion of the package.
“The American people are safer today because Donald Trump is president,” Strong (R-Huntsville) said. “He wasted no time restarting construction of the border wall and reinstating effective immigration enforcement policies. His decisive action is protecting North Alabama by curbing illegal immigration, stopping drug trafficking, and dismantling dangerous criminal networks.”
The lawmaker stressed the importance of the large-scale improvements at the southern border.
“Now, Congress must provide the necessary resources to fund President Trump’s agenda,” Strong declared. “This is a once-in-a-generation border security overhaul that includes funding for a state-of-the-art border barrier system, investments in border personnel and fleet vehicles, and border surveillance technology.”
The funding provided in the package will go towards:
- Border Barrier System — $46.5 billion
- CBP Facilities — $5 billion
- Addressing the Urgent Need for Additional Frontline CBP Personnel — $4.1 billion
- Investing in the CBP Workforce — $2 billion
- Non-Intrusive Inspection — $1.076 billion
- Border Surveillance Technology — $2.7 billion
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems — $500 million
- Operation Stonegarden — $450 million
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
