Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act
The Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act is a bill that would create a federal reimbursement program to repay the State of Texas for expenses the state incurred implementing border security activities along the southern border. The measure focuses on costs Texas claims were spent from 2021 through 2025 in connection with Operation Lone Star. Texas would file an itemized list and total of expenses with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and the Treasury; DHS would review the submission within 120 days to identify which expenses are eligible for reimbursement and report its decision to Congress. If eligible, the Treasury would pay the reimbursable amount to Texas within 60 days after DHS submits its decision, drawing from funds in the Treasury that are not otherwise appropriated. The bill frames these reimbursements as a correction for what it characterizes as insufficient federal border action.
Key Points
- 1Purpose and scope: Creates a federal reimbursement process to repay Texas for expenses related to securing the southern border, tied to Operation Lone Star, for 2021-2025.
- 2Eligibility process: Texas Governor must submit an itemized list of expenses and total to DHS and the Treasury; DHS reviews within 120 days to determine which expenses are reimbursable and reports its decision to Congress.
- 3Payment mechanism: The Treasury pays the reimbursable amount to Texas within 60 days after DHS submits its decision to Congress, using not-yet-appropriated funds.
- 4Funding source and limitation: Payments come from amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated; the reimbursement is limited to the expenses the DHS determines eligible.
- 5Oversight: DHS must provide a final reimbursement decision to Congress, enabling congressional oversight of which Texas costs are reimbursable.