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Cruz News: June 24, 2018

 


June 24, 2018

Greetings,

Americans have been rightly horrified by the images and videos coming from our southern border, where tearful children are being pulled away from their mothers and fathers. No one wants to see children taken away from their parents. On Tuesday, I introduced the Protect Kids and Parents Act to end the separation of immigrant families, double the number of immigration judges, and expedite the asylum claim process. On Friday, Sen. Cornyn and I toured immigrant detention facilities for children in South Texas, and held a roundtable with local officials at the Weslaco Border Patrol Station. I remain hopeful that both my Republican and Democratic colleagues can join together to keep families intact and end the crisis on the border, while ensuring that our immigration laws are enforced and our nation is secure. Read the text of the bill here. A one page summary may be viewed here. 

Six months ago, Congress passed historic tax cuts for hardworking Americans. There is no doubt that the economy has taken off, opportunities are expanding, and Americans are able to keep more of their hard-earned money. The tax cut bill also included my Student Opportunity Amendment, which expanded 529 Savings Plans to ensure that each child receives an education that meets their individual needs, instead of being forced into a one-size-fits-all approach to education or limited to their zip code. This week, I introduced the Student Empowerment Act, which expands this benefit to include homeschool students, who were wrongfully excluded from benefiting from this provision by Senate Democrats, and significantly expands the types of expenses that can be used by all families. By allowing all students – including public, private, religious, and homeschool students – to use 529 savings accounts to cover eligible educational expenses, such as tutoring, standardized testing fees, and educational therapies for students with disabilities, we’re investing in the next generation of students and expanding school choice. Read the text of the bill here. A one page summary may be viewed here.

This week, Sen. Cornyn and I, along with 13 of our colleagues in the Texas congressional delegation, penned a letter to Mark Esper, Secretary of the Army, making the case for Austin to be chosen as the site of the new Army Futures Command Headquarters (ARFCOMHQ). Given the region’s crucial role in Texas’s long history of supporting America’s military, we sincerely hope to welcome the next ARFCOMHQ to Austin.

Last year Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented damage to our Gulf Coast communities. While we continue to rebuild, we must also take all steps necessary to prepare for the hurricane season ahead. For those seeking information or assistance during the recovery and rebuilding process, please do not hesitate to contact my office or use the federal and state resources listed here. 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,

TC Sig
Ted Cruz

 

“All Americans are rightly horrified by the images we are seeing on the news, children in tears pulled away from their mothers and fathers. This must stop." Read more...

Sens. Cruz and Mike Lee (R-Utah) participated in a press conference calling on the Senate to vote on the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act this week. Read more...

Sen. Cruz issued a statement praising the Senate’s passage of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act of 2019. Read more...

Sen. Cruz, member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in a hearing with  FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz examining the Inspector General’s Report on political bias among FBI investigators during the 2016 Presidential Election. Read more...

Sen. Cruz introduced S. 3091, the Protect Kids and Parents Act, joined by 18 original cosponsors. Read more...

Sen. Cruz issued a statement applauding President Trump for withdrawing the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Read more...

Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) released statements after President Trump announced his intention to nominate John Garrison as U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler. Read more...

Sen. Cruz addressed Texas members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Read more...

Sens. Cruz, Rand Paul (R-Ky.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) requested National Science Foundation (NSF) Inspector General Allison Lerner investigate the NSF’s grant-making process, relaying their concern that the NSF has “issued several grants which seek to influence political and social debate rather than conduct scientific research” in contradiction of federal law and the agency’s mission. Read more...

Sen. Cruz introduced the Student Empowerment Act. Read more...

Sen. Cruz, member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to take swift actions to address the separation of illegal immigrant families at the southern border. Read more...

 

The full press releases may be viewed here.