Hurd Delivers Results for South and West Texas

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) supported a Minibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) that includes several wins for the 23rd District of Texas, including:

• Ensuring our National Parks can remain natural treasures for years to come by increasing funding by $53 million for our National Park Service, $50 million for park operations, and a needed $175 million increase to address longstanding deferred maintenance needs;
• Helping our first responders prevent and combat wildfires by funding wildland firefighting and prevention programs at the full 10-year average for fire suppression costs, along with providing an additional $500 million for Forest Service suppression and $655 million for hazardous fuel management;
• Combatting drug trafficking by criminal organizations by including $285 million for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, which coordinates federal, state and local drug task forces to disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and engages and provides support to state and federal prosecutors to convict individuals involved in these drug trafficking organizations;
• Expanding opportunity for our local small business owners to gain capital by providing funding for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, including $30 billion in 7(a) and $7.5 billion in 504 small business loans, $12.7 million in veterans’ programs, and $19 million in Women’s Business Centers; and,
• Encouraging responsible use of taxpayer dollars through upgrading and improving our information technology systems across the federal government by directing $150 million to the Technology Modernization Fund, which I created, so that we can prevent cyberattacks, terrorism and intrusion.

“Today’s vote secured funding to care for our parks and public lands, combat the 19 criminal organizations smuggling drugs across our U.S.-Mexico border, provide financial assistance for small business owners and bring our government IT into the 21st century,” said Hurd. “I am proud to help pass this bill out of the House today that delivers on several important promises for the good folks I represent in South and West Texas."