The Missouri House this week approved a supplemental appropriations bill to provide emergency funds to deploy members of the Missouri National Guard to the U.S. southern border.
On February 20, 2024, Governor Parson issued Executive Order 24-03, activating 200 Missouri National Guard members and 22 Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers to bolster Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star initiative along the southern border. The deployment strategy involves implementing rotating shifts for National Guard members and dispatching highway patrol troopers equipped with standard law enforcement gear, all of whom have volunteered for the mission.
In line with these efforts, the Missouri House this week approved a $2.2 million supplemental budget request to support border security initiatives and replenish the Governor’s emergency response fund. The bill, which received bipartisan support, allocates funds to cover expenses related to emergency duties performed by the National Guard under the Governor’s orders.
The approved appropriations bill includes:
- Funds for duties performed by the National Guard under gubernatorial orders: $2,000,000
- Personal Service: $115,074
- Expense and Equipment: $91,683
“Missouri’s approval of $2.2 million in emergency funds underscores our state’s proactive approach to safeguarding our borders and supporting our law enforcement personnel,” State Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, said. “These funds will ensure that our National Guard members and law enforcement personnel have the resources necessary to fulfill their duties effectively. This investment demonstrates our readiness to respond to challenges posed by illegal immigration while ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
“Combating Biden’s open border policy protects every community in Missouri. I’m proud to support the courageous members of our armed services and law enforcement personnel who volunteered for this vital mission. Texas has shown border security is possible and has undertaken successful operations seizing over 460 million lethal doses of fentanyl. Narcotics seized on the border won’t make it to our communities,” House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, said. “Deaths from fentanyl in Missouri have increased 135 percent since 2017, including killing 43 children in 2022. This effort demonstrates our unwavering dedication to upholding law and order and ensuring the safety of children across Missouri.”
