Gov. Little to send state police troopers to Texas-Mexico border
 Last week, I announced my plans to follow up on a promise I made during my State of the State and Budget Address – to send two more teams of Idaho State Police troopers to the Texas-Mexico border to assist with securing our nation’s border.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week declared Texas’ constitutional right to defend and protect itself in the face of the crisis at the southern border, and the nation’s Republican governors, including me, quickly came to his defense.
Idaho once again is leading the nation in deploying resources to help our neighbor states.
We will work even harder to address the open border and its impacts because of the failure of the Biden-Harris administration to admit it’s even a problem. Human trafficking is modern day slavery.
The cartel and other bad actors are taking advantage of our open border to manipulate and abuse the most vulnerable, including children. To help curb human trafficking, my IDAHO WORKS plan calls for sending two more teams of Idaho State Police troopers to train and act as a force multiplier at our lawless southern border, as we did with fentanyl twice before.
This time, the troopers will learn the best tactics to respond to those who smuggle and abuse vulnerable people.
Gov. Little, Republican Governors band together, issue joint statement supporting Texas’ Constitutional Right to Self-Defense
Governor Brad Little and 24 other Republican governors released the following joint statement in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense.
The statement comes as the Biden Administration continues to attack Texas and refuses to take action or responsibility for the crisis at the southern border.
“President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country."
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READ: Idaho’s LAUNCH Program Exceeds Expectations, Emerging As A Success In Workforce Development Scholarships
The interest in LAUNCH truly blew us away. 12,500 applicants and counting!
We’ve always provided support for the careers that require a four-year university degree, but LAUNCH expanded that support to include skilled workers.
Learn more at NextSteps.Idaho.Gov/LAUNCH!
"Idaho's innovative LAUNCH program, designed to address workforce needs and foster higher education opportunities, has exceeded expectations, drawing significant interest from students. The surge in applications highlights a growing demand for education and training essential for regional job markets and offers young individuals a chance to secure meaningful employment within the state..
Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed immense pride in the robust response to the LAUNCH program, recognizing it as a unique opportunity to connect young Idahoans with education and training for successful careers.
The success of the LAUNCH program aligns with a broader national trend, as workforce development takes center stage in the policy priorities of state lawmakers and higher education leaders.These programs have contributed to increased college enrollments and completion rates, showcasing the efficacy of targeted scholarship initiatives.
Idaho's LAUNCH program stands as a beacon of success in the realm of workforce development scholarships, showcasing the effectiveness of targeted initiatives in meeting the educational and employment needs of the state. As states nationwide prioritize workforce development, programs like LAUNCH offer valuable insights and opportunities for students, bridging the gap between education and meaningful, sustainable careers."
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READ: Gov. Little IDAHO WORKS Plan Seeks $6.6M to fight Invasive Quagga Mussels
 We must finish the fight against quagga mussels in the Mid-Snake River. Our IDAHO WORKS plan puts additional resources toward protecting Idaho's water and responding to this highly destructive species.
"Idaho Gov. Brad Little is asking for almost $6.6 million in the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s fiscal year 2025 budget to continue the state’s response to invasive quagga mussels detected last year in the state’s longest river.
In September, Idaho Department of Agriculture officials announced they had detected invasive quagga mussel larvae in the Snake River near Twin Falls. Quagga mussels are an invasive, nonnative species that reproduce rapidly. Quagga mussels are capable of clogging drain pipes used for drinking water or irrigation and can overwhelm the hulls of boats and other watercraft, state officials have said.
Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt told the Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee the department would use the new funding to pay for two new full time positions, 18 temporary positions, double water monitoring and sampling activities and increase the number of wash stations.
“Now that we have found quagga mussels in the Snake (River), we will have a really robust presence on the river,” Tewalt said during the budget hearing. “We wanted the river to open back up, because folks love it, and get them back on the water. That means that we are going to have to clean every single boat, raft and kayak that comes off that water.”"
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