Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the full committee markup of the FY25 Homeland Security appropriations bill:

“As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I have consistently fought to ensure that we have critical funding for border security, law enforcement, and resources to protect our homeland,” said Dr. Cuellar. “The Department of Homeland Security’s critical work is essential to the security of our nation. While there is more work to be done to find a bipartisan bill that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support, I was pleased to help secure funding for a variety of South Texas priorities. This includes the Checkpoint 29 expansion in Laredo, TX, border technology, Border Patrol overtime pay, language to support recruitment and explore increased overtime compensation for Border Patrol supervisors, and language and funding to support 22,000 Border Patrol Agents and workforce care and suicide prevention resources.”

Specifically, Dr. Cuellar helped secure:

• An additional $15 million to expand Checkpoint 29 in Laredo, Texas, which will help address congestion during passenger vehicle inspections
• Sustained funding for a total of 22,000 Border Patrol Agents
• $160 million for Border Patrol overtime
• Language to support recruitment and explore increased overtime compensation for Border Patrol supervisors
• $50 million for CBP workforce care and suicide prevention
• $305 million for additional non-intrusive inspection technology
• $171.4 million to sustain current border security technology programs, including autonomous security towers, tactical aerostats, cross-border tunnel detection, and counter drones
• $300 million for border security technology to secure the border
• $4 million for Carrizo Cane remediation
• $90 million for Operation Stonegarden to provide federal resources to local law enforcement agencies in border communities
• Increased funding for child exploitation investigations
• Funding for 50,000 detention beds

The FY25 Homeland Security appropriations bill now heads to the full House chamber for consideration.

Click here to view Dr. Cuellar’s remarks in support of an H-2A visa amendment, here for his remarks in support of an H-2B visa amendment, and here for his remarks introducing an amendment to increase CBP agent funding during the full committee markup.

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