Cruz News: October 13, 2018

October 13, 2018

Greetings,

For far too long, Social Security has been wrongly tied to Medicare Part A enrollment. On Tuesday, I introduced the Retirement Freedom Act with Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) to address this problem. This bill would empower America’s senior citizens by allowing them to utilize private health insurance without losing their Social Security benefits. Seniors should be able to choose a health insurance plan that fits their needs, without the fear of losing their Social Security benefits, and I am hopeful my colleagues in Congress will act swiftly to create more healthcare options for seniors.

Across the Lone Star State, Texans are thrilled with the historic tax cuts, the job-killing federal regulations we’ve rolled back, and the strong, constitutionalist judges we’ve confirmed to the federal bench. However, there is still more Congress can do to deliver on the promises we made to the American people. This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with job creators and city officials from Killeen, Conroe, and El Paso. We discussed the military’s expansion in Texas, making the tax cuts permanent, reducing the burden of federal regulations, and reforming healthcare, among other issues. On Wednesday, I penned a letter with Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Louie Gohmert in support of the City of Lufkin’s request for a foreign trade zone (FTZ) which, if established, will incentivize further investment in the city and create more good paying jobs and opportunity for Texans. Jobs and economic growth continue to be my top priority in the Senate, because they are the top priority of Texans. Additionally, I sent a letter with Senator Cornyn and Rep. Jodey Arrington to the Secretary of the Air Force inviting her to visit Dyess Air Force Base.

On Thursday, I penned an op-ed with Rep. Kevin Brady in the Dallas Morning News. We highlighted our bipartisan Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, which would repeal the current Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and replace it with a fairer formula. For decades, our teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants have been subjected to an unfair, one-size-fits-all approach to calculating their earned Social Security benefits. I am hopeful Congress will act swiftly to replace this formula, and ensure our public servants are treated fairly as the accomplished individuals they are, receiving Social Security in line with their work history.

Texas benefited from a number of policies aimed at strengthening our port infrastructure and mitigating against future hurricane damage this week. On Wednesday, I voted for the bipartisan America’s Water Infrastructure Act, which includes projects that will begin to help shield a number of our Gulf Coast cities from the impacts of hurricanes and storm surges, and increase economic growth in several of our port communities. I take seriously my responsibility to work with Texas port communities, Gulf Coast city officials, and job creators to ensure they have the resources needed to remain a strong economic engine for our state and our country. I was also pleased the Department of Commerce announced this week its intention to allocate $10 million in grants to the state of Texas to enhance critical port infrastructure to support business development and disaster resiliency. According to grantee estimates, the projects combined are expected to create and retain nearly 16,000 jobs and spur almost $46 million in private investment. The ports of Port Arthur and Beaumont are making strides down the road to recovery.

Our prayers are with those Americans in the path of Hurricane Michael, and we continue to lift up those Americans recovering from Hurricane Florence. Both of these recent hurricanes are a stark reminder of the importance of taking all steps necessary to prepare our homes and families for any future weather event. For those seeking preparedness information and resources, please refer to the federal and state resources listed here.

Please read below for an update from this last week.

Keep Texas Strong,

Ted Cruz

Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced that they are accepting applications for a judicial vacancy in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. Read more...

Sen. Cruz introduced the Retirement Freedom Act, which would empower senior citizens and create more healthcare options by allowing them to utilize private health insurance without losing their Social Security benefits. Read more...

Sens. Cruz, John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) this week penned a letter in support of the City of Lufkin’s request for a foreign trade zone (FTZ) to Andrew McGilvray, Executive Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board. Read more...

Sen. Cruz issued a statement praising the Senate’s final passage of the bipartisan America’s Water Infrastructure Act. Read more...

Several news outlets covered Sen. Cruz’s support for Justice Kavanaugh's confirmaiton. Read more...

Sen. Cruz and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) penned an op-ed for the Dallas Morning News highlighting their bipartisan Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. Read more...

Sen. Cruz this week held meetings in his Washington, D.C. Senate office with Killeen city leaders and members of the Conroe/Lake Conroe and El Paso Chambers of Commerce. Read more...

Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) released statements after the Senate approved the nomination of Jeremy Kernodle to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler. Read more...

Sens. Cruz and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) applauded the Senate for unanimously passing their bipartisan bill, which imposes sanctions on those who use civilians as human shields, including terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as their enablers. Read more...

Sen. Cruz issued a statement applauding the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration announcement allotting $10 million in grants to the state of Texas to enhance critical port infrastructure to support business development and disaster resiliency following Hurricane Harvey. Read more...

Sens. Cruz, John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) on Thursday penned a letter inviting Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force, to visit Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. Read more...

The full press releases may be viewed here.