Joining Cuellar at the announcement will be Mayor Pete Saenz, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, Rebecca Solloa, of Catholic Social Services, Monica Bautista, of Bethany House, Michael Smith, of The Holding Institute, and Robert Mendiola, of the South Texas Development Council

“As my district knows all too well, communities along the border are responsible for dealing with a lot of important and expensive problems like providing humanitarian relief to children who have come to our country,” Henry Cuellar said.

“It’s important that the federal government mitigate these expenses and provide resources to assist with handling the issues that are unique to the cities and counties along border.

“I want to thank Senator John Cornyn for working with me on a bipartisan solution to this problem.”

Government entities and organizations that incurred unexpected costs due to the surge will be able to apply for reimbursements due to an addition Cuellar included in a Department of Homeland Security funding bill.

The language adds a provision which makes costs of providing humanitarian relief to unaccompanied minors and to adult immigrants and their minor children eligible for reimbursement under certain Homeland Security grants to Southwest border recipients for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

“The influx of unaccompanied children and families that came across the Southwest border overwhelmed federal resources and put a burden on state and local jurisdictions, particularly small counties, cities and nonprofits along the border,” Cuellar’s office said.

“Awards may used for reimbursement of costs related to providing humanitarian relief to unaccompanied children and families, including costs for food, water, hygiene products, medicine, medical supplies and temporary housing, as well as costs for transportation to and from temporary housing or to permanent housing.”

Last year, Cuellar also sent a letter to FEMA requesting reimbursements for local governments and law enforcement that bear undue burdens along the border and has worked with the FEMA Grant Directorate and Texas Department of Public Safety to increase funding to border communities.