McCaul Votes to Pass The One Big Beautiful Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security — voted to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill to deliver on President Trump's agenda.  

"The American people elected a Republican House, Senate, and White House because they were tired of a raging border crisis, a weak national security, and a broken economy,” said McCaul. “The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers on their mandate by funding President Trump’s border security efforts, bolstering the Department of Defense at a crucial time in history, and making permanent the largest tax cut in history. I’m proud to have joined my Republican colleagues in voting to restore our great nation and put this historic bill on the president’s desk just in time for Independence Day.” 

The One Big Beautiful Bill also includes a McCaul-authored provision, which now sits at $13.5 billion, to reimburse border states — primarily Texas — for costs incurred to secure the border under the Biden administration. McCaul championed the provision and advocated for its passage for months, working hand-in-hand with House GOP leadership, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

“When the Biden administration abdicated its federal responsibility to secure the border, Texas stepped up,” said McCaul. “Our state bore the brunt of this unnecessary crisis for four years — fighting tirelessly on the front lines to defend all 50 states. That’s why I worked so hard to reimburse our border states for the costs they incurred over the past four years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to have secured this provision to finally pay Texas back!”

The provision, which was initially added to House Republicans' reconciliation package through a manager’s amendment and later edited in the Senate, sets aside $13.5 billion in grants for states to secure the border, apprehend illegal aliens, and counter drug and human trafficking that occurred on or after January 21, 2021.

Most of these funds are expected to reimburse Texas, as no state did more to secure the border over the past four years. Operation Lone Star spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs associated with border security and $4.75 billion on border wall barriers.

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