WASHINGTON (June 24, 2019)—The Border Trade Alliance is applauding bipartisan efforts to include in a supplemental spending bill funds that would reimburse local communities for costs associated with the migrant crisis.

A Senate version of the bill includes a provision championed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that, through FEMA, would reimburse border communities, while the House version contains a similar provision backed by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) with additional dollars.

“The Border Trade Alliance applauds Sen. Cornyn and Rep. Cuellar for working so diligently and in a bipartisan manner to ensure that our border communities aren’t forced to foot the bill for a complex issue that is international in its scope,” BTA President Ms. Britton Clarke said. “Local governments and their service and relief agencies are doing their best to meet these very real challenges, but they can’t do it alone.”

The Senate is poised this week to act on a $4.6 billion supplemental spending bill directed at border agencies that includes $30 million in FEMA grant funding for border communities. The Senate Appropriations Committee last week voted to approve the bill 30-1.

Championed by Representative Cuellar (R-TX), House appropriators last week introduced a similar bill containing $60 million in border community reimbursement funds.

“The BTA urges Congress to work swiftly to pass these bills, reconcile any differences between the House and Senate, and send a final package to the president for his signature,” Clarke said. “The migrant crisis continues to impact cross-border trade, travel, and our local governments. Congressional action is needed now.”

Since 1986, the BTA has served as grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to border development and quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce. The BTA is online at thebta.org and @borderalliance.

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