RSC Answering Texas and Arizona Call for Help

WASHINGTON—The Republican Study Committee is pressuring governors to fulfill the request made by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and send extra law-enforcement resources to the southern border.

On June 10, the Texas and Arizona governors issued a joint letter to the other 48 governors urging them to use the authority given to them under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and share resources to assist during the ongoing border crisis.

Members of the RSC, the largest conservative caucus on Capitol Hill, are answering the call for help by urging their home state governors to fulfill the governors' request.

RSC members representing 12 separate delegations sent 12 letters similarly worded letters to the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. Three the letters addressed to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp thanked them for already sending resources to the border.

This effort was organized ahead of the Republican Study Committee's upcoming trip with former President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Abbott to tour the Texas border.

Chairman of the Republican Study Committee Jim Banks (R-IN) said: "Since the Biden administration won't act, it's up to Republicans and state leaders to secure our border and keep our nation safe. Every state is a border state. By that I mean every state is feeling the consequences of the border crisis. That's why the Republican Study Committee is coordinating a pressure campaign on state governors across the U.S. to make sure we're getting those on the frontlines the resources they need to stop the flow of illegal crossers and illegal drugs."

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) said: "The Biden Administration's facilitation and ignorance of the border crisis has gone on for too long. In the administration's absence, state governments are stepping up to protect America's sovereignty. The crisis at the border doesn't just impact border communities, it affects the rest of the country, and we cannot stand idly by while President Biden does nothing to protect our communities."

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) said: "The situation along our border is unconceivable. This Administration has continued to drag their feet and not provide the necessary resources to stop the increased illegal immigration . I have seen the obstacles our border patrol agents face. Right now, they need all the help they can get. I want to applaud Governor McMaster for being one of the first governors in the country to send resources to our southern border. I would now ask that other states make the same consideration. We will not be able to solve this national crisis until border states and more specifically, border patrol agents, have our full support."

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) said: "The Biden Administration created the worst border crisis in our nation's history by stopping border wall construction, reimplementing Obama-era ‘catch and release' policies, and canceling President Trump's asylum agreements. Alarmingly, border control seizures of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid fueling overdose deaths in Pennsylvania and throughout the country, have increased 300% compared to May 2020. Since the Biden Administration will not protect Americans or the suffering migrant children from this humanitarian, public health, and national security crisis, Pennsylvania and other states must take action to secure our southern border. That's why I led this letter calling on Governor Wolf to provide law enforcement resources to end the Biden Border Crisis."

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) said: "Wisconsin should help where we can because every state is now a border state. Having traveled to our southern border multiple times I have seen Biden's Border Crisis firsthand, it is past time to end this unprecedented invasion."

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) said: "There is a real crisis at the southern border and President Biden's inaction is a recipe for continued chaos. Since the President refuses to take necessary action, it is up to individual states to step up and provide assistance to those on the front lines. Michigan has a long, proud history of helping other states in need, and as such we are urging Governor Whitmer to answer Texas and Arizona's call for help and do our part as a state to address this growing humanitarian and security crisis that impacts us all."