Confirmed: $529M Biden En -
deavors Contract Violated Federal Rules; Kitzman Calls for Immedi -
ate Cancellation.
PATTISON - State Repre - sentative Stan Kitzman sent a press release regarding the newly released federal Office of Inspec - tor General audit confirms serious deficiencies in a contract awarded to Endeavors.
The release stated: A new fed -
eral Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit has confirmed seri - ous deficiencies in the Biden Ad - ministration's $529 million solesource contract awarded to Family Endeavors to operate a migrant housing facility tied to the bor - der surge. The OIG found that the Administration for Children and Families failed to follow federal contracting requirements, did not properly evaluate whether other qualified contractors were avail - able at lower cost, and did not con - duct a documented price analysis before awarding the contract. The audit further revealed that the $529 million contract amount was more than double the govern - ment's own estimated cost of $245 million. Rep. Stan Kitzman, who pre - viously called for the removal of the Eagle Lake facility in 2022, responded to the audit findings today. "The OIG has now confirmed what we said from the beginning," COLUMBUS - The Harris County Sheriff's Office Junior Mounted Posse made its 74th yearly relay ride on its annual Co - lumbus to Hallettsville leg on Feb. 14, to mark the beginning of the Houston Livestock Show and Ro - deo. The HLS&R begins Monday, March 2 and runs through March 22.
The Junior Mounted Posse be -
gan under Sheriff Buster Kern in 1952. It teaches youth about com - munity responsibility, volunteer - ing as outreach ambassadors, and, of course, the pony relay rides to surrounding counties, delivering invitations to the Houston Live - stock Show and Rodeo.
Katy-Lynn Irwin, the posse's riding president, has been with the group for four years and looks for - ward to the Columbus Relay Ride. " Every year she comes to the Co -
Kitzman said. "This was not trans - parent. It was not competitive. And it was not responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars." "For months, federal officials anticipated need - ing additional shelter capacity, yet they failed to properly plan. Then they rushed a half-billion-dollar sole-source contract through in just three days after receiving an unsolicited proposal. That is not how accountable government op - erates." Kitzman is calling on Texas's federal delegation to work with the Trump Administration to re - view and, if warranted, cancel the improperly awarded contract and shutter the facility. "If a contract was awarded outside federal requirements and at more than double the estimated cost, it deserves immediate scruti - ny," Kitzman said. "Texans should not be forced to host facilities born out of Biden's mismanagement and political favoritism." Kitzman reiterated his long - standing opposition to what he has called "Border Crisis Cronyism." "I opposed this facility before I was elected to serve House Dis - trict 85. I demanded transparency when others were silent. And I will continue fighting to ensure Biden's failures do not continue to burden Texas." "Texas House District 85 will not participate in subsidizing chaos at the border. We stand for border security, fiscal accountabil -
ity, and putting Texans first." lumbus Relay Ride. Being part of the Junior Posse means something truly special because not every kid can go around and say, 'I have been part of this tradition.' I get to grow up and tell these stories to my kids and get to share this rich history that we have here. It is also truly special to me that the people who started these commu - nities (relay rides) are able to carry them on through the generations," Irwin adds. "I hope to carry this on to my kids one day to know this beautiful life that we have, and they don't forget it," said Irwin.
She attends Klein Oaks High and competes in cattle sorting with her horse. Notably absent from the posse was her horse as she said is still in the trailer finish - ing her snack. A meal awaits the posse in Weimar later in the morning.
