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April 8, 2016
Greetings,
This week, I continued to push back against President Obama’s unconstitutional executive amnesty. Texans have witnessed the harmful effects of an unsecure border, which endanger the lives of citizens and pose risks to American families. The Obama administration must adhere to and respect the rule of law, rather than the personal views of the President and what he thinks the law should be.
In an attempt to rein in the lawless actions of the Obama administration, the State of Texas has championed the fight against the Administration’s 2014 executive amnesty, and I am proud to continue leading efforts against the President’s lawlessness.
Please keep reading for an update on the latest in the Senate.
Keep Texas Strong,
Ted Cruz
Sen. Cruz: Prayers for Those Affected by Shooting at Lackland Air Force Base
Sen. Cruz today released the following statement in the wake of a deadly shooting at Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas:
“As details of this horrific incident continue to unfold, Heidi and I pray for peace, comfort, and safety for those involved. We continue to lift up in prayer each of our servicemen and servicewomen who face inconceivable danger on a routine basis. It is tragic to once again see an active shooter commit murder at one of our domestic military bases, where servicemembers and their families should feel safe and secure. I applaud all of the first responders for their swift response to this horrible act. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and stand by to offer assistance as needed.”
Sen. Cruz Joins Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case Challenging Obama’s Unconstitutional Executive Amnesty
On Monday, Sen. Cruz joined an amicus brief on behalf of 43 Senate Republicans in support of a challenge to the Obama Administration’s November 2014 executive amnesty, which unilaterally extends legal status and work authorization to more than four million illegal aliens. The challenge is led by the State of Texas and includes a majority of the nation’s governors and state attorneys general.
The U.S. Supreme Court took up this case (United States of America v. State of Texas) after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in November of 2015 affirmed a preliminary injunction by a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas, blocking the Obama Administration from moving forward with its executive actions on immigration. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in this case on April 18.
“There is little doubt that the Executive adopted the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (‘DAPA’) program as part of an explicit effort to circumvent the legislative process… For decades, Congress has acted with great care to prescribe the categories of foreign nationals who may enter this country, who may remain, who among them may be allowed to obtain employment, and who may enjoy benefits under federal law,” the senators’ brief states. “To elevate the Executive’s policy preferences above those encoded in federal law would eviscerate the comprehensive scheme that Congress has enacted, and disrupt the balance of powers between the political branches.”
Read Sen. Cruz’s full release, including the amicus brief in its entirety, here.
Sen. Cruz Joins Amicus Brief Supporting Texas Landowners
Last week, Sen. Cruz joined an amicus brief on behalf of 22 members of the Texas congressional delegation in support of private landowners along the Red River. The Bureau of Land Management has recently made waves by claiming thousands of acres of privately owned Texas land along the Red River. It has done so by utilizing—in apparent violation of a nearly 100-year-old Supreme Court precedent and tradition—an arbitrary and bizarre gradient boundary survey method that has adversely impacted private landowners.
The brief states: “Secure property rights, which are recognized and protected by government, have been and will continue to be vital to our American way of life. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has overstepped its constitutional and legal authorities by arbitrarily claiming thousands of privately owned acres of land along the Red River in Texas. The BLM’s incorrect application of the gradient boundary survey method is in violation of the explicit U.S. Supreme Court instructions in Oklahoma v. Texas and runs counter to the long-established responsibility of the federal government to protect the private property rights of its citizens.”
Read Sen. Cruz’s full release, including the amicus brief in its entirety, here.
Sens. Cruz and Lee: DOJ’s Enforcement of FACE Act Appears Warped and Biased
Sen. Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) last week sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch regarding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) seemingly lopsided enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994. The senators are concerned about what appears to be an exceptionally heavy bias within the DOJ toward pursuing cases regarding abortion access over cases involving religious liberty.
“The DOJ’s brazen pursuit (and subsequent online promotion) of—at best—frivolous prosecutions in the abortion context, combined with its failure to list any prosecutions or enforcement activities in the religious worship context, gives the distinct impression of a warped and biased enforcement of FACE by the DOJ,” the senators wrote.
The letter can be read in its entirety here.
Cruz, Senators Introduce Bill to Help Return Art Stolen by Nazis
On Thursday, Sen. Cruz was joined by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to introduce the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, which facilitates the return of artwork stolen by Nazis during the Holocaust to their rightful owners or heirs. The HEAR Act would ensure that claims in the United States to Nazi-confiscated art are resolved in a fair and just manner on the merits, and are not barred by state statutes of limitations and other procedural defenses.
“The phrase ‘never forget’ is more than a slogan,” said Sen. Cruz. “‘Never forget’ means working to right all the terrible injustices of the Holocaust, even if many decades have passed. The HEAR Act will empower the victims of this horrific persecution, and help ensure that our legal system does everything it can to redress the widespread looting of cultural property by the Third Reich as part of its genocidal campaign against the Jewish people and other groups… The HEAR Act will make it clear that the United States takes a strong stand against the looting and trafficking of antiquities and other artifacts. I am proud to have worked closely with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to introduce this bill.”
The complete bill text and additional details about the bill are available here.
Sen. Cruz Works to Stop the Internet Handover to Foreign Governments
On Monday, Sens. Cruz, James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) sent a follow-up letter to Dr. Stephen Crocker, chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), demanding a response to a series of unanswered questions that remain from previous congressional oversight letters concerning ICANN’s relationship with the Chinese government and the planned transition away from U.S. government oversight of the Internet.
“On March 3, 2016, we sent you a letter requesting information to gain a better understanding of the potential implications of ICANN’s relationship with the Chinese government and its impact on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition. Since then, ICANN has submitted to the U.S. government an IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal that seeks to end U.S. government oversight of the IANA functions. Given this recent development and congressional concerns over ICANN’s transparency, accountability, and relationship with the Chinese government, it is imperative that we receive a response to our letter,” the senators wrote.
“…To our dismay, ICANN has failed to respond in full to questions posed in two oversight letters. We are therefore resending our questions and ask that you and Mr. Chehadé provide a response to all unanswered questions (provided below) from our February 4 and March 3 letters as soon as possible, but no later than 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2016.”
Read the latest Cruz-Lankford-Lee letter in its entirety here.
Sen. Cruz’s Office Opens Service Academy Nomination Process
Each year, Sen. Cruz has the honor of nominating qualified candidates to compete for appointment to United States service academies. Each applicant must complete a thorough application and selection process, ensuring that the most qualified candidates are nominated to lead our servicemen and servicewomen in combat. All applications must be submitted no later than October 14, 2016.
More information on the nominations process, including access to the online application and questionnaire, can be found here.
North Texas Deputy Regional Director Emily Nicholson Attends HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation 2016 Weekend to Remember
Last week, Sen. Cruz’s North Texas Deputy Regional Director Emily Nicholson attended the HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation’s 2016 Weekend to Remember in Weatherford, Texas.
The organization provides support for wounded veterans as they face the many challenges encountered during the rehabilitation, reintegration, and healing process.
A Regional Update from East Texas
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz’s State Director Katharine McAden, State Field Director Jason Wright, and East Texas Regional Director Daniel Alders attended the grand opening for Red River Army Depot’s new maintenance facility, the Maneuver Systems Sustainment Center. The MSSC is a $44 million facility, occupying over 230,000 square feet. It will allow the Depot to provide even greater support to our nation’s soldiers as they work to repair and overhaul tactical vehicles for our military.
In the picture, Alders, McAden, and Wright present Col. Grubbs with a certificate of Commendation from Sen. Cruz to the Red River Army Depot.
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