State Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton, says as a U.S. Army veteran he knows what it is like to spend Christmas away from home and family.
“That’s why I was honored when Gov. Brian Kemp asked me to join him when visiting Georgia National Guard members serving at the U.S. border in Texas,” Payne, chairman of the Senate Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, said.
Kemp, Payne and other Georgia leaders traveled to Texas the weekend before Christmas to visit with Georgia National Guard members who have been deployed there to help the Texas National Guard reduce human trafficking and stem the flow of drugs across the border.
Since 2019, members of the Georgia National Guard have been a presence on the nation’s southern border. Approximately 85 members are currently deployed to the border, helping Texas officials with construction and engineering projects related to border security as part of Operation Lone Star. In the past, they have operated drones and remote censors at the border. Georgia is one of at least 14 states with Guard members deployed to Texas.
Payne said it is important to show the Georgians deployed to the border how much he appreciates their efforts.
“Border security is a national issue,” he said. “The drugs coming across the border affect every state, every community.”
Texas officials report that Operation Lone Star has seized more than 56,000 pounds of meth and more than 458 million doses of fentanyl.
“This is scary stuff,” Payne said. “We’ve seen here in Georgia and around the nation people overdosing on fentanyl and they didn’t even realize that was what they were taking. They thought they were taking something less powerful.”
Payne said Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp have made fighting human trafficking a priority, with the first lady leading the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion and Education Commission (GRACE), which has proposed almost a dozen anti-trafficking bills that have become law.
“We are doing what we can here in Georgia to fight human trafficking, especially of minors,” Payne said. “I think it’s also important to help other states with this when we can.”
Payne noted that Georgia Guard members frequently deploy across the United States and the world.
“They stay very busy,” he said.
“It was a truly special experience to meet with the men and women who dedicate their lives to safeguarding our freedoms,” Payne said. “As someone who has experienced being away from family during the holidays during my own service in the Army, I understand the challenges these brave individuals face. Their willingness to be away from home during Christmas is a testament to their dedication to the 336 million Americans whose freedoms they protect.”
“It was an honor to spend time with each service member, hear their stories and thank them for their selflessness. These young men and women are the embodiment of sacrifice and service,” he said.