|
November 6, 2015
Greetings,
This week, I had the opportunity to shine light on multiple issues that have a tremendous impact on the American people. Not only did the Senate successfully pass legislation revoking the Obama Administration’s “Waters of the United States” rule, an abusive and unconstitutional intrusion on hardworking families, I also continued fighting hard for Kate’s Law on the Senate floor so that America’s sons and daughters can feel safe from violent criminal illegal aliens.
Additionally, I was able to address the Obama Administration’s failure to support American victims of terrorism and its scandalous targeting of innocent businesses and conservative groups.
While important steps have been taken this week, there is still much work to be done on behalf of Texans and American families. I remain committed to heeding the will of hardworking citizens in the Lone Star State.
Please keep reading for more updates on the latest in the Senate.
Keep Texas strong,
Ted Cruz
Sen. Cruz Votes to Repeal Overreaching WOTUS Rule
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz voted for Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) joint resolution, which he cosponsored with 48 of his colleagues. The measure, which passed 53-44, nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers’ “Waters of the United States” rule, which massively expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States.
“I am pleased to join with my colleagues to rein in one aspect of the Obama Administration’s lawlessness. This Administration wages a war on jobs, making it more and more difficult for hardworking Americans to provide for their families. Today, we have sent a message to the President that enough is enough. The EPA’s new WOTUS rule is unconstitutional, plain and simple. It is costly and tremendously harmful to families, farmers, and ranchers in Texas and across the country and would allow the federal government to determine what one can and cannot do with his or her own property,” Sen. Cruz said.
Read the full release here.
Sen. Cruz: Approving Keystone Would Have Been a Step in the Right Direction
Today, Sen. Cruz issued the following statement after the Obama Administration rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline:
“Today, President Obama once again confirmed what most of us already knew: he does not care about American jobs or the American economy. He remains controlled by a radical environmentalist agenda, which seeks the elimination of whole segments of our economy.
“Approving Keystone would have been a step in the right direction. America needs a strong pro-jobs energy agenda that will free us from the Obama economy’s persistent stagnation and spur economic growth. This is why I introduced the American Energy Renaissance. We must empower the private sector to create good-paying jobs by harnessing our nation’s energy resources and removing federal impediments to energy exploration, development and trade.”
Read Sen. Cruz’s full statement here.
Sen. Cruz Seeks Passage of Kate’s Law and Legislation to Honor Chinese Dissidents
Sen. Cruz on Wednesday asked for unanimous consent to pass both Kate’s Law and his resolution to rename the plaza in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. as “Liu Xiaobo Plaza.”
On Kate’s Law, Sen. Cruz said, “This shouldn’t be a red state/blue state issue,” Sen. Cruz said. “The American people are tired of politicians standing with violent criminal illegal aliens. This should bring us together. We should stand together and say, ‘We will protect the American citizens.’”
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) objected to Sen. Cruz’s request and blocked Kate’s Law from passage, contending Kate’s Law would be too costly to implement. In response, Sen. Cruz remarked, “If it costs too much to lock up murderers, rapists, kidnappers, then you know what? -- We need to spend the money it needs to lock up every single murderer we can. I am sorry that the Democratic Party doesn’t want to spend the money to lock up murderers-- apparently it is cheaper to lose our sons and daughters.”
Sen. Cruz’s resolution to rename the plaza in front of the Chinese embassy would honor Dr. Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been imprisoned for peacefully advocating for basic political freedom the People’s Republic of China (PRC) refuses to allow.
“In America, we should stand with victims of oppression,” said Sen. Cruz. “In America, we should stand with Christians being persecuted by the brutal communist totalitarian dictatorship. In America, we should stand for women’s rights, for women being forced to commit forced abortions. These are horrific acts of brutality. They are inhumane. They are contrary not only to American values, but to human rights across the globe, and they are carried out as a matter of policy.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) objected to Sen. Cruz’s efforts to honor pro-democracy dissident Dr. Liu Xiaobo, which prevented his measure from passing.
Read the release and watch the full exchanges here.
Sen. Cruz Shines Light on Obama Administration’s Failure to Stand With American Victims of Terrorism
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz chaired a hearing for the Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts titled “Justice Forsaken: How the Federal Government Fails the American Victims of Iranian and Palestinian Terrorism.” This hearing focused on the federal government’s failure to support the American victims of Iranian and Palestinian terror in their search for justice.
“The history of Palestinian and Iranian terrorism against Americans is extensive and continues to this day. Americans have long been the targets of Palestinian hijackings, suicide bombings, and assassinations, in part because of our nation’s close relationship and friendship with Israel,” Sen. Cruz said. “In litigation, the Administration sides with the terrorist against American citizens, and when negotiating with the Ayatollah Khamenei, the Administration ignores American hostages languishing in Iranian prisons; it ignores the victims of terrorism… That is a national disgrace.”
Read the full release, including Sen. Cruz’s opening statement, and watch the video here.
Sen. Cruz and Rep. Diaz-Balart Introduce Bill to Designate Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, urging the Secretary of State to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. The U.S. has officially listed individual members, branches, and charities of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists, but has not designated the organization as a whole. The Muslim Brotherhood poses a direct and severe threat to U.S. national security through radical jihadist attempts to eliminate and destroy America and its allies.
“This bill recognizes the simple fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is a radical Islamic terrorist group. For years, American presidents of both parties have correctly designated the Brotherhood’s various affiliates, such as Hamas and Ansar al-Sharia, as terrorist groups. Now we can reject the fantasy that their parent institution is a political entity that is somehow separate from these violent activities,” Sen. Cruz said. “A number of our Muslim allies have taken this common-sense step, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. As this bill details, the Brotherhood’s stated goal is to wage violent jihad against its enemies, and our legislation is a reality check that the United States is on that list as well.”
Read the full release and bill text here.
Sen. Cruz Demands Answers from Associate AG Nominee on Operation Choke Point
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz questioned the Hon. Stuart Delery, nominee for U.S. Associate Attorney General. Mr. Delery approved Operation Choke Point, a Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative that unconstitutionally sought to choke off access to banking services for gun dealers and other lawful business enterprises.
“The DOJ has an obligation to defend the Constitution, and instead, this Administration’s DOJ has consistently violated the constitutional rights of American citizens and has treated the Bill of Rights with contempt,” Sen. Cruz said. “By cutting off financial resources to lawful small businesses, Operation Choke Point is an abuse of power that undermines the integrity of the DOJ.”
Read the full release here.
Sen. Cruz Asks DOJ to Preserve All IRS-Related Documents
On Monday, Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) preserve all Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents and information for investigation under the next administration. Sen. Cruz’s letter comes after the DOJ recently closed its investigation into improper targeting of conservative groups by the IRS.
“Make no mistake: the IRS’s targeting of ordinary citizens for their political viewpoints under this Administration is not a minor issue, and represents a significant breach of the public trust. Even a casual observer of the IRS targeting scandal could not help but come to the conclusion that there is a strong appearance that the IRS, under this Administration’s political leadership, used the coercive tools available to the tax collection agency to harass people with conservative viewpoints,” Sen. Cruz wrote.
Read the full release and letter here.
Sen. Cruz: A Week Fighting for Freedom
For a full overview of Sen. Cruz’s week, check out his Medium post here.
A Regional Update from Southeast Deputy Regional Director Will Miller
South Central Texas Deputy Regional Director Will Miller recently worked with many local pastors and faith-based groups during the fight against taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood and Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). He also attended a meaningful prayer service with local pastors at the site where Deputy Goforth was killed.
In his role, Miller focuses on uniting faith-based groups in the fight for religious freedom. Miller is pictured above with Rev. Rafael Cruz, Sen. Cruz’s father and a passionate fighter for religious freedom.
|
