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July 15, 2016
Greetings,
This week in Nice, France, the lives of Texans Sean and Brodie Copeland – a father and his 11-year-old son – were taken in the despicable attack at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists, along with more than 80 other innocent lives. The Copeland family was in France on vacation, enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks celebration during the time of the attack. My office is working closely with the Copeland family, along with federal and international officials, to swiftly bring surviving family members and their fallen loved ones home.
Heidi and I are lifting the Copeland family up in prayer, along with all of the victims who are suffering because of this heinous act of terror. They are the victims of a radical theology fueled by hatred of freedom and Western civilization.
Our enemies have demonstrated time and again that they will not rest. On Thursday, their jihad hit close to home, taking the lives of our fellow Texans. To honor the memory of the dozens of victims of this attack, to protect the safety and security of all Americans and preserve our free and open society, we also must not rest in our determination to defeat them.
Keep Texas Strong,
Ted Cruz
Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Terror Attack in Nice, France
On Thursday, Sen. Cruz issued the following statement on the terror attack that occurred in Nice, France:
“Tonight, our close ally France is reeling from yet another major attack apparently carried out by radical Islamic terrorists.
“Let us make no mistake about it: Europe is under siege. We must redouble our attacks on the ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria, but we cannot deceive ourselves that we can isolate ISIS and related terrorist groups in the Middle East. Thanks to a lack of decisive action, that opportunity has passed. As America has focused on limited regional air strikes, ISIS has been playing a longer game. They have used the last two years to establish a network of militants around the world from France to Bangladesh who are now coming to life. They may be in the United States as well.
“We have to remove the blinders and recognize this for what it is: radical Islamic terrorism. We need to stop radicalized individuals from coming into the United States. We need to empower our law enforcement to target this specific threat, whether imported or homegrown. After seven and a half years of the Obama administration denying this danger, it is getting worse, not better. Willful blindness is not a policy.”
Read the full release here.
Cruz, Cornyn, Tillis Introduce Back the Blue Act
On Wednesday, Sens. Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Back the Blue Act in light of the recent attack in Dallas. This bill that would increase penalties against violent criminals who intentionally target law enforcement officers, provide new tools to help law enforcement protect themselves, and open up grant funding to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and their communities.
“The sacrifice and bravery of law enforcement officers in the face of danger are part of the basic fabric that keeps our society together,” Sen. Cruz said. “This bill better protects our nation’s finest by providing stronger tools for the prosecution of those who would harm law enforcement. We must stand in solidarity with our police officers, firefighters, first responders, and federal officers who selflessly run into harm’s way to protect our families and our communities. This should not be a partisan issue. This should be an issue that brings us together, united as Americans. I’m proud to stand with the men and women of American law enforcement and urge all of my Senate colleagues to do the same.”
Read the full release, including more information on the Back the Blue Act, here.
Sen. Cruz Cosponsors Resolution Condemning Attack on Law Enforcement Officers in Dallas
Sen. Cruz on Thursday cosponsored a resolution introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) condemning the horrific acts of violence directed at law enforcement officers in Dallas on July 7, 2016 and expressing support for all those impacted by the tragedy.
“Dallas is grieving, Texas is grieving, our country is grieving because of this horrific attack on law enforcement,” said Sen. Cruz. “Yet in the face of tragedy, it is inspirational to see Texans coming together supporting our police officers and supporting those who risk their lives to keep us safe. I’m proud to join Sen. Cornyn with this resolution to honor the memory of those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to unequivocally stand against violence of any kind directed at our uniformed personnel.”
Read the full release, including the text of the resolution in its entirety, here.
Sens. Cruz and Peters Convene Bipartisan Hearing to Reassert American Leadership in Space
On Wednesday, Sens. Ted Cruz and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) convened a hearing titled ‘NASA at a Crossroads: Reasserting American Leadership in Space Exploration.’ This hearing focused on the importance of reauthorizing NASA and establishing renewed consistency in U.S. space programs to ensure that America remains the world leader of space exploration throughout the 21st century.
“Today, we pay our respects to the achievements and lessons of history, but we also seek out a hopeful future that has its roots in our nation’s frontier history and the promise of new discovery,” Sen. Cruz said in his opening statement. “We have come together in this committee room to reassert American leadership in space… Human space exploration and innovation are integral to the mission of NASA. That’s why this subcommittee will work to provide NASA with the security and stability that is necessary as the agency transitions from one administration to the next, and I look forward to working with Ranking Member Peters throughout this process.”
Watch Sen. Cruz’s opening statement and read the full transcript here.
Sen. Cruz Recognizes Anniversary of the Center for Medical Progress Video Release
Sen. Cruz on Wednesday issued a statement highlighting the one-year anniversary of the Center for Medical Progress’ (CMP) first video release, which captured horrifying footage of Planned Parenthood officials bartering and selling body parts of unborn children:
“This week marks one year since the Center for Medical Progress began releasing undercover videos that shocked the nation,” Sen. Cruz said. “The horrifying videos released last summer revealed the grim reality of Planned Parenthood’s barbaric practices. The footage shows senior Planned Parenthood officials laughing and swilling chardonnay as they casually and callously discuss the killing of unborn children in order to sell their body parts.
“The abortion industry has long sought to dehumanize unborn children. But behind closed doors, we’ve seen that it’s all an act. They know babies are more than a clump of cells. They are little boys and little girls with hearts and livers and hands and feet.
“While the sheer candor of the videos is shocking, what is more disturbing is the admission that these barbaric actions are standard practice in the abortion industry. Worse still, Americans are currently forced to fund millions of dollars each year to the very abortion industry that commits these heinous acts. This must end.
“I applaud Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) for leading the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, and I will continue to lead the fight in the U.S. Senate to defund Planned Parenthood.”
Read the full release here.
Sen. Cruz Op-Ed in National Review Online: 'Iran Tries Again'
On Thursday, Sen. Cruz penned an op-ed for National Review Online, outlining Iran’s undeterred nuclear ambitions one year after the United Nations ratified the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“…One year ago, the United Nations Security Council ratified the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran and imposed it on the world,” Sen. Cruz wrote. “The individual legislatures of the parties involved (the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia, and the European Union) were not consulted — although the Iranian parliament did get a vote. So, from the American perspective at least, the JCPOA has lurched into effect — unsigned, unratified and so, in fact, illegal. Now we are one year into the JCPOA. As many commentators have noted, the Iranian leadership’s general behavior — including ballistic-missile tests, capturing and humiliating American servicemen and women, the continuing detention of American service men and women, and the ongoing genocidal rhetoric against the United States and Israel — remains unchanged.”
Sen. Cruz also joined seven of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, calling on the Obama administration to restore sanctions on Iran.
Read the full release, including Sen. Cruz’s op-ed, here. The senators’ letter is available here.
Sen. Cruz and Rep. Zeldin Issue Joint Statement on New PSI Report Investigating State Department Grants to OneVoice
Sen. Cruz and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) on Thursday issued the following statement on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ (PSI) bipartisan report titled “Review of U.S. State Department Grants to OneVoice,” which confirms that U.S. taxpayer dollars were provided to an organization that sought to oust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“OneVoice’s previous history of being involved in past Israeli elections should have been enough of a red flag not to provide grants under any circumstances,” Cruz and Zeldin said. “Yet the State Department’s apparent lack of oversight, either deliberate or blatantly incompetent, is nonetheless completely unacceptable in either respect. Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to further any effort to overthrow the duly-elected leader of a democratic ally, even if he or she is not politically aligned with the current American administration. Instead of undermining the will of Israelis in the only true democracy in the Middle East, America should be providing our close ally Israel with our steadfast support.”
Read the full release, including further details from the report, here.
Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Britain’s Next Prime Minister Theresa May
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz issued the following statement on Britain’s next Prime Minister Theresa May.
“The voters of the United Kingdom have spoken with a clear voice, and charted a new path for their nation away from the supranational policies of the European Union and back to the core principles of national sovereignty that are rightly beloved by both our countries,” Sen. Cruz said. “I look forward to working to strengthen the special relationship with Prime Minister Theresa May.”
Read the full release here.
A Regional Update from North Texas
In the wake of the brutal attack on law enforcement in Dallas last week, Sen. Cruz’s State Field Director and North Texas Regional Director Jason Wright, along with North Texas Deputy Regional Director Michael Flusche, acted swiftly to gather necessary information and connect with local officials and community leaders. Throughout the week, Wright and Flusche attended various prayer gatherings and vigils for the fallen officers and offered assistance to the City of Dallas. Wright and Flusche played important roles in keeping Sen. Cruz updated on the horrific crime and facilitated the senator’s quick response.
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