Securing long-overdue Texas reimbursement for defending the Southern Border during Biden’s failure
By Cong. Michael McCaul
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following President Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East, I was honored to join a Congressional delegation to the region with the aim of building on the administration’s recent diplomatic successes — including forging stronger economic partnerships, better relationships between Israel and the Gulf states, and a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.
As Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have closely tracked the ongoing conflicts and developments shaping the region, and I was proud to visit several of our allies and partners — Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan — at such an important time in history. These nations will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of the region — one that I hope will be defined by peace, stability, and prosperity.
Our first stop was Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where President Trump just secured a commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States. While in Riyadh, we met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to continue emphasizing how our nations can work together. Our discussions highlighted the enduring U.S.–Saudi relationship and focused on how greater cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia can drive regional stability.
While in the region over Memorial Day, I had the honor of meeting with airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing out of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, who are currently operating in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility. I couldn’t be more proud of these Texas-based servicemembers, who courageously defend our nation each and every day. Their professionalism and patriotism are a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform — especially on Memorial Day.
From there, we traveled to Israel, where we visited the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem — established by President Trump during his first term. At the embassy, my colleagues and I received a comprehensive briefing on the United States' ongoing efforts to promote and strengthen regional security. In Israel, I also had the opportunity to meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the United States' longstanding partnership with Israel, the current security landscape in the region, and our hopes for a swift and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. I commend President Trump’s commitment to pursuing peace in the region and remain hopeful that normalization between Israel and other countries in the region can pave the way for lasting prosperity.
Our final stop was Jordan, where we met with His Majesty King Abdullah II in Amman. It was a privilege to visit with His Majesty following our recent meeting in Washington, D.C., and to reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and stability throughout the Middle East.
We discussed Jordan's key role as a crucial ally in the region, whose partnership with the United States has been vital in advancing mutual economic and security goals. I look forward to building on our recent progress to reinforce this critical relationship, deepen regional stability, and foster greater opportunity for both our nations.
Texans Get Paid Back Securing Federal Reimbursement for Border Efforts Under Biden
For months, I’ve worked closely with Speaker Johnson, Governor Abbott, and Chairman Green to secure long-overdue reimbursement for Texas’ efforts to defend the southern border during the Biden administration’s failure. When the federal government abdicated its duty, Texas stepped up — spending over $11 billion under Operation Lone Star to stop illegal crossings, fight drug trafficking, and keep our communities safe.
This month, my provision finally passed the House, allocating $12 billion in federal grants to reimburse states like Texas for costs associated with "actions taken to assist the federal border security mission."
This is a major win that finally acknowledges the leadership, sacrifice, and patriotism of our border states.
- To learn more about my fight to secure reimbursement for Texas' border effort, check out this story in Fox News.
Congressman Michael McCaul represents Texas' 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Lake Travis outside of Austin to the Brazos Valley and includes: Austin, Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, Madison, Travis, Washington, Waller and Williamson Counties. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and previously – prior to being term-limited as chairman under the House of Representatives Rules – served as the Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee during the 113th, 115th and 116th Congresses.
