Cruz News: November 17, 2018

November 17, 2018

Greetings,

This week, Congress passed my bipartisan National Timing Resilience and Security Act, which establishes a reliable alternative timing system to GPS satellites. Currently, there is no domestic back up system to GPS, and crucial infrastructure – including gas stations, medical devices, and ATMs – could shut down and pose immediate threat to life and the economy in the United States should it be disrupted for even just a few hours. It is important both to our national and economic security that we have an alternative GPS timing system, and I am grateful for Sen. Ed Markey’s leadership on this issue. I am hopeful this bill is swiftly signed into law. 

On Thursday, I was pleased to introduce Bernie McNamee at the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ nominations hearing. Bernie was nominated by President Trump to serve as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Throughout his career, Bernie has demonstrated a commitment to public service and implementing policy that will benefit the American people. I have every confidence he will make an exceptional commissioner at FERC.

Finally, Congress recognized the tremendous service and sacrifice of Texas veterans by renaming the Mission Post Office as the “Mission Veterans Post Office Building.” I was proud to work with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) on this bipartisan tribute to those who have answered the call to defend our country and the freedoms we hold dear, and look forward to seeing President Trump signing this measure into law.

Last year millions of Texans across the Gulf Coast felt the impact of Hurricane Harvey. In response, Congress worked together to pass crucial tax relief legislation in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma, including the Cruz-Cornyn-Rubio legislation. This bipartisan bill eliminated the tax penalty for hurricane victims who wanted to withdraw from retirement accounts to pay for the costs of repairs from storm damages. 

Those Texans hit by this disastrous hurricane still have the ability to withdraw money from their 401k plans or any other retirement plans in order to rebuild from the storm without having to pay the 10 percent penalty that typically applies. Retirement account withdrawals must be made by December 31, 2018. Texans who are still rebuilding have until the end of the year to access their savings without a penalty. I strongly urge my fellow Texans to contact your tax advisor for more information or go to the IRS website at irs.gov.

Please read below for an update from this last week.

Keep Texas Strong,

Ted Cruz

Sens. Cruz and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) issued statements applauding the passage of their bipartisan National Timing Resilience and Security Act, which directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide for the establishment, sustainment, and operation of a land-based, resilient, and reliable alternative timing system to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. Read more...

Sen. Cruz introduced Bernie McNamee, nominated by President Trump to serve as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, at the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ hearing to consider various nominations. Read more...

Sens. Cruz, John Cornyn (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) released statements after their bill to rename the U.S. Postal Office in Mission, Texas as the “Mission Veterans Post Office Building” passed the U.S. Senate. Read more...

The Service Academy Nominations Board, established by Sen. Cruz in 2013, held its annual meeting to review applications and recommend the most qualified Texas candidates for nomination to our nation’s distinguished service academies. Read more...

The full press releases may be viewed here.