"By cutting funding for President Biden’s far-left tax and spend wish list, we reallocated funding to programs and services that will put our country back on the right track.”
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) voted for the final passage of three Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Appropriations bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and helped craft H.R. 8774, the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025, H.R. 8752, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025, and H.R. 8771, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, we are tasked with crafting policies that determine how our tax dollars will be spent. I worked alongside Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee to carefully craft three pieces of legislation that put South and West Texas at the top of the list. These bills contain strong policies that will strengthen border security measures, bolster America’s military readiness, support our veterans and servicemembers in South and West Texas, and hold Mexico accountable for its water debts. By cutting funding for President Biden’s far-left tax and spend wish list, we reallocated funding to programs and services that will put our country back on the right track,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales.
Key Wins Secured By Congressman Gonzales in H.R. 8774, the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025:
- Includes funding for training and recruitment efforts associated with Lackland Air Force Base
- $6.5 million for Air Force PACER FORGE Infrastructure for Lackland Air Force Base
- $15 million for Air Force vertical integration of scramjet supply chain
- This funding will be used to continue the development of a vertically integrated facility housing an entire supply chain in a single location to accelerate the research, development, and production of hypersonic propulsion systems/airbreathing hypersonic engines. The Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio specializes in this area of military innovation.
- $10 million increase for Air Force AFWERX Autonomy Prime
- The AFWERX Autonomy Prime program is a key Air Force initiative aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced autonomous capabilities. This funding will bolster military innovation in San Antonio.
- $15 million increase in funding to bolster STEM Education for Hispanic Serving Research Institutions
- The University of Texas at El Paso is a Hispanic Serving Research Institution.
- $80.13 million included for United States Special Operations Command Counter Unmanned Systems
- Supports funding for Air Force Specialized Skill training
- $13.4 million for Air Force operational additive manufacturing capabilities
- $5 million for Space Force for cislunar space domain awareness, to be used to operationalize technology to track foreign launches from China and Russia.
- $15 million increase for small Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs)
- $674 million for counternarcotics support, including $20 million above the President’s Budget Request for programs to counter illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids
46 homeland security priorities supported by Congressman Gonzales were included in the final passage of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
- Maintains funding for 22,000 Border Patrol Agents
- $90 million for Operation Stonegarden
- $60 million to hire additional Deportation Officers and Criminal Investigators to enforce immigration and customs law
- Language to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report on the number of immigration cases dismissed due to DHS’ failure to prosecute
- Language that rejects catch-and-release and directs ICE to continue to prioritize detention and removal
- Language to direct CBP to prioritize critical renovations of checkpoints, like the Eagle Pass checkpoint, that are outdated and unable to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic along the southern border
Border Technology:
- $300 million for new border security technology
- $15 million for counter-drones and small drones
- $15 million for land mobile radios, other enhanced communications
- $171.4 million to sustain current border security technology
- $50.6 million Autonomous Surveillance Towers
- $14 million for tactical aerostats
- $10.4 million for cross-border tunnel threats
- $7.1 million for counter drones
- $305 million for NII Technology
- $20 million for the Border Security Deployment Program
- $50 million for innovative technology
- $160 million for Border Patrol overtime
- $140.9 million to restore pay cuts at CBP
- $50 million for workforce care and suicide prevention
- $175 million included for countering the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs
- Prohibits funds that encourage or facilitate illegal immigration toward the U.S.-Mexico border
- Policies to swiftly improve critical dam safety and repairs, such as the Amistad Dam
- Policies to hold Mexico accountable for delivering water to South Texas under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty
