If the government goes down, a South Texas congresswoman proposes a bill to fund the Border Patrol

A South Texas congresswoman has introduced legislation that could guarantee Border Patrol employees their paychecks even in the event of a week-long government shutdown.

According to her office, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Republican who represents a vast district that stretches from the border town of McAllen to the suburbs of San Antonio, introduced HB 5694, the Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agent Act, late Tuesday.

In case the federal government closes down as a result of unsuccessful negotiations over the budget for Fiscal Year 2024, the measure, if passed, would permit Treasury funds that are “not normally appropriated” to be utilized for paying Border Patrol agents and authorities throughout the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations.