Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Introduce Bill Boosting Naval Aircraft Reliability, and Leveraging Texas Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the CMV-22 Reliability and Readiness Enhancement Act. This legislation authorizes the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to implement key equipment upgrades into CMV-22 fleets, which will enhance military readiness, support the Navy’s logistics capabilities, and deepen defense manufacturing resiliency.

Sen. Cruz said, “It’s crucial for our Navy to have a capable and readily available CMV-22 Osprey fleet in the Indo-Pacific, but equipment issues have hindered aircraft reliability. In Texas we have a highly skilled workforce able to address those equipment issues, and this will enable them to do so and enhance the Navy’s effectiveness. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill and help enact it into law.”

Sen. Cornyn said, “As our world becomes increasingly dangerous, there has never been a more critical time for America to invest in our military readiness. I am proud to lead this legislation alongside Senator Cruz to help modernize the Navy’s aircraft fleet, preserve our manufacturing and workforce capacity for mission-critical tiltrotors, and ensure our military is equipped with the best available resources to protect and defend the country.”

Click here to read the CMV-22 Reliability and Readiness Enhancement Act full bill text.

BACKGROUND

The CMV–22 Reliability and Readiness Enhancement Act will:

• Authorize nacelle improvement modifications across the CMV–22 fleet to reduce downtime and improve aircraft reliability.
• Leverage lessons learned from successful CV–22 upgrades already fielded by the Air Force.
• Prioritize FY25–26 aircraft to maximize near-term operational benefit.
• Preserve critical workforce and supplier capabilities in the tiltrotor industrial base.
• Direct a report to Congress within 180 days on implementation status, readiness metrics, industrial base impact, and future sustainment needs.
• Requires no new funding authorization and ensures continuity in the tiltrotor industrial base during the transition from V–22 production to next-generation aircraft manufacturing.