STATEMENT ON SECURING $2 MILLION REIMBURSEMENT TO EAGLE PASSFOR STATE TAKEOVER OF SHELBY PARK

Austin, TX - Eagle Pass was the center of one of the most unprecedented humanitarian crises we have seen in our lifetime. I was proud to Joint Author Operation Lonestar to ensure our communities had the resources they needed and for the state to stand up when the federal government did not. However, one overstep, I believe, was the overnight takeover of Shelby Park in lieu of Eagle Pass' Solar Eclipse Music Festival, leaving the City and our taxpayers on the hook for the $2 million festival after it was forced to change locations.

Just as the State of Texas deserves a full reimbursement from the federal government for Operation Lone Star and our efforts to secure the border, Eagle Pass deserves a full reimbursement from the state for this takeover. In this belief, I successfully secured a $2 million reimbursement in the House budget to Eagle Pass for Shelby Park with the support of a bipartisan coalition in the Texas House.

Representative Morales said, "I support border security. That's why I was a strong advocate for Operation Lone Star, called on the federal government to act, and led my colleagues, including then-Speaker Phelan, to Eagle Pass to see first-hand the extent of this humanitarian crisis. The takeover of Shelby Park, in large part, was political; working as a stage for high-profile politicians from across the state and country to give campaign speeches and take photo-ops, without actually working toward passing comprehensive immigration reform and imperative border security measures. This takeover cost our community their centerpiece for recreation, leisure, and events - and ended up costing the City of Eagle Pass $ 2 million dollars in funds for an anticipated solar-eclipse music festival that was set to attract thousands from across the globe.

I am proud of the work done, and for the support of my colleagues, to secure a $ 2 million reimbursement to the City of Eagle Pass and for our taxpayers in the Texas House budget. Now, it's time for the Senate to concur and for Governor Abbott to sign; just as the federal government should reimburse our state for the cost of Operation Lone Star."