He firmly rejected the reflexive partisanship that has enveloped much of Congress in recent years. Will Hurd in August 2019 announced that he would not run for reelection in 2020, the development was a jolt that knocked many people off balance.Īs the only Black House Republican at the time, Hurd - who represented Texas' sprawling 23rd Congressional district from 2015 to 2021 and frequently reached across the aisle to pass legislation - embodied the future of the party.Ī former undercover CIA officer whose political constituency included roughly 800 miles of the US-Mexico border, Hurd quickly became a respected voice on foreign policy, national security, and immigration matters upon entering the House. Hurd told Insider that many politicians are often fearful of the "partisan edges of their parties.".In his book, "American Reboot," he maps how to take on some of the most pressing issues in the US.Will Hurd remains outspoken about what he sees as roadblocks to congressional action. “And the goal should be securing our border, making our country safer, and we should not hamstring ourselves by only focusing on one tool in our toolkit.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. “You have to have good ideas, you have to have people willing to promote those ideas, you have to have agreements in order to get things done,” Hurd told CNN. That amendment was not included in the package.Įven with hurdles, Hurd hopes he can bring lawmakers to common ground on the wall debate. He proposed an amendment to the military funding package in the House that would have required a comprehensive plan for the border wall. Hurd has faced difficulty in the past with his efforts on the border. The bill would also require DHS to have a plan in place before starting any construction. Hurd’s bill would focus on finding a technological solution such as sensor technology, computer imaging and virtual reality headsets. The Department of Homeland Security previously rejected congressional requests for a comprehensive border wall plan. David Valadao and Steve Knight, New Mexico Rep. In addition, five Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill, including California Reps. Hurd is joined by one Democratic co-sponsor, Texas Rep. He represents more area along the border than any other lawmaker. ![]() ![]() The border is something Hurd is very familiar with, as his district includes more than 800 miles of the southern border, one-third of the total border with Mexico. Instead of a $24.5 million-per-mile wall as the federal government’s fiscal year 2018 request estimated, Hurd’s proposal comes in at a high of $500,000 per mile. Hurd’s plan uses estimates from Anduril Industries, a Silicon Valley-based defense technology company. “People that are dealing with this issue know that a 3rd century solution to a 21st century problem is not going to fix this long term,” Hurd said. Hurd will introduce the “Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology Act,” or SMART Act, Thursday. ![]() ![]() The Texas Republican is leading a group of border state lawmakers, as well as moderates, to offer their own plan of building a “smart” wall, CNN reported. Will Hurd is looking to Silicon Valley for help. In an attempt to bridge the divide between President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to build a border wall and Republican moderates’ hesitation surrounding the plan, Rep.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |