North Austin News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman emeritus of the House Homeland Security Committee, voted for the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

“Americans have watched in horror this week as terrorists and violent criminals benefitted from President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ open border,” said Rep. McCaul. “I was proud to support House Republicans’ Department of Homeland Security bill, which resumes construction of the border wall, supports our border agents, and works to remove the dangerous criminals who enter our country illegally. To stop the flow of illegal immigration, I urge President Biden and Senate Democrats to pass H.R. 2 to protect our communities from the threats they’ve enabled.”

The FY25 Homeland Security Appropriations Act contains multiple McCaul provisions, including language to fund Veterinary Emergency Team programs at Texas A&M.

“The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team – the largest of its kind in the country – provides critical support to communities facing disasters in Texas and across the nation,” said Rep. McCaul. “I’m proud to help them continue to grow their program, develop cutting-edge technology, and research advances in emergency response medicine. The work the handlers and their canines do is critical for disaster response and the safety of Americans. I was proud to champion their cause."

The bill also included McCaul’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program amendment, which he authored with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J). This amendment provides additional funding to protect synagogues and other houses of worship from violence and threats.

“With religious discrimination and antisemitism on the rise, it’s crucial that we protect Americans’ constitutional right to freedom of religion,” said Rep. McCaul. “This bipartisan amendment will bolster funding to provide more security for places of worship and other nonprofit organizations, ensuring people of all faiths can continue to practice their deeply-held beliefs freely and without fear.”

“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is one of our most effective tools to stop domestic terrorism and I am pleased the House passed the Pascrell/Gottheimer/McCaul amendment to increase funding for this program by almost 10%,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the FBI, Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center have reported a major spike in hate crimes against our Jewish American and other minority communities. The NSGP program is a key tool in bolstering security at synagogues, mosques, churches, schools, day camps and other at-risk facilities. By advancing our bipartisan amendment the House acknowledges that we must increase funding to keep our neighbors safe and I will continue to fight to expand the number of grants this program can approve.”

Rep. McCaul also supports many conservative victories within the FY25 Homeland Security Appropriations Act:

- Secures southern border by providing $600 million for construction;

- Forces DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to build physical barriers immediately;

- Sustains funding for Border Patrol agents;

- Removes dangerous criminals by providing funding for custody operations;

- Counters Chinese Communist Party by increasing U.S. Coast Guard funding;

- Focuses Department of Homeland Security Committee's responsibility back on protecting American citizens.

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