Austin - State Representative Jim Pitts (R-Ellis County), along with other state and national leaders, participated in a Secure the Border Summit held at the Texas State Capitol and hosted by Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples. The goal of this event was to discuss a study conducted by retired four-star Army General Barry McCaffrey and retired Army Major-General Robert Scales.

General Barry McCaffrey is the former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bill Clinton and former Commander of all U.S. troops in Central and South America. Major-General Robert Scales is the former Commandant of the United States Army War College.

The report, “Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment”, offers a military perspective on how to best incorporate strategic, operational, and tactical measures to secure the increasingly hostile border regions along the Rio Grande River. It was jointly commissioned by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Public Safety, and accomplished a legislative directive requiring an assessment of this issue that was contained in House Bill 4, passed during the 82nd session of the Texas Legislature.

Texas’ farmers, ranchers, and landowners along the border are becoming the target of escalated violence and intimidation on their own property by armed trespassers tied to the Mexican drug cartels.

“I know it is essential that we devote the necessary resources to protect Texas citizens, their property, and their livelihoods”, said Chairman Pitts. “Despite facing unprecedented state budgetary conditions, I worked hard to secure the appropriation of $221.6 million for border security in 2012-13, an amount that represents a $110 million, or 99.6%, increase for border security above the 2010-11 spending levels. This report illustrates how important it is that we deploy adequate resources to this problem before it is allowed to escalate further.”