Cruz News: February 11, 2018

February 11, 2018

Greetings,

Hurricane relief and military funding are critical measures for Texas and the entire country. They were the key victories in the Senate budget agreement this week, but were unfortunately held hostage to legislation that busts the non-defense budget cap by over $130 billion and irresponsibly suspends the debt limit to allow for unfettered spending for another year. This is wrong, cynical, and a bad deal for the American taxpayer. Instead, we should have the courage to finally reform long-term entitlement spending, which drives two-thirds of our spiraling debt, and pass structural reform, like a federal Balanced Budget Amendment and Term Limits Amendment. I am committed to continuing to fight to deliver on each of these promises.

Since Hurricane Harvey’s landfall in August, I have worked tirelessly with Senator Cornyn, Governor Abbott, the Texas congressional delegation, and dozens of local mayors, county judges, and police and fire chiefs up and down the coast to identify and meet the needs of impacted Texans, who in many cases lost everything. Prior to the agreement reached this week, we had secured more than $50 billion in emergency funding, coupled with the Cruz-Cornyn-Rubio tax relief bill, which provided $5.5 billion in targeted tax relief. 

This week, Congress followed through on our promise to give Texans the next significant package of emergency assistance we need to recover and come back stronger than ever. I’m proud that Senator Cornyn and I were able to work with our colleagues to increase overall disaster relief from $81 billion to $89 billion; to significantly increase Texas’s share of that relief; to provide vital relief to cotton farmers devastated by Harvey; and to significantly increase the funding for critical Army Corps flood management projects that will help Texas mitigate against future flooding events, such as potentially beginning construction on the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay coastal barrier or building a third reservoir in the Houston area.

Furthermore, as part of the budget agreement, Congress fulfilled its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense and fund our military. The world is a dangerous place, and for too long our military has been weakened and our readiness has been undermined. This agreement turns that around by increasing military funding by $165 billion and honors the commitment we owe our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen to give them the resources they need to protect our great nation.

On Wednesday, I addressed members of the Texas Water Conservation Association at the 14th annual Texas Water Day, where I discussed major legislative victories for Texans in 2017, including the repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate and a massive reduction in burdensome federal regulations. Jobs and economic growth remain my number-one priority, as they are the top priorities of Texans – and I am committed to ensuring we deliver on the promises we made to the American people. 

I also delivered the keynote address to the 21st Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference, where I discussed my commitment to ensuring the long-term future of the International Space Station and urged the Senate to confirm Rep. Jim Bridenstine as NASA Administrator. As Texans, we take pride in our nation’s efforts in space. From the first private rocket launch on Matagorda Island to the successful SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch this week, which was first tested in McGregor, we have always been a leader in space, and I have every confidence we will continue leading space exploration.

As the Winter Olympics begin this week in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with three Texans on Team U.S.A., Heidi and I look forward to cheering on each of our athletes. We are confident that they will make Texas and the United States of America proud.

My Senate office continues to work to ensure swift and effective service to Texans and Texas communities in need of federal assistance following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. If you need additional information or assistance during the recovery and rebuilding process, please do not hesitate to contact my office or utilize the federal and state resources listed here.

Please read below for an update from this last week.

Keep Texas Strong,

Ted Cruz

Sen. Cruz joined Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) in introducing Eric’s Law, a bill that aims to deliver justice to victims and their families in federal death penalty cases. Read more...

Sen. Cruz addressed members of the Texas Water Conservation Association for the 14th annual Texas Water Day. Read more...

Sen. Cruz, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competiveness, delivered the keynote address to the 21st Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference. Read more...

Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) released the following statements after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced the Senate will soon consider revised disaster relief legislation that includes $8 billion in more funding available for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts than the version that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in December. Read more...

Sen. Cruz released the following statement in advance of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony, recognizing the three Texans on the U.S. Olympic team. Read more...

Sen. Cruz issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s budget agreement. Read more...

Sen. Cruz joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dick Durbin (D- Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing the Cambodia Accountability and Investment Act (CARI). Read more...

Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced that they are accepting applications for judicial vacancies in Texas. Read more...

The full press releases may be viewed here.