Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) applauds the passage of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on Thursday after a week of debate and consideration by both parties. Sen. Cruz introduced or cosponsored more than a dozen amendments that were successfully adopted by the committee. "Congress' first priority is to provide for the national defense and ensure our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have everything they need...

Greetings, We pray for the people throughout the state, and especially in East, Texas, as they continue to recover from the devastating storms that destroyed homes and businesses early this week. It has been remarkable to see our communities come together to help and support our neighbors. Keep Texas strong, Ted Cruz   Sen. Cruz Introduces Commercial Space Launch Act On Tuesday, Sen. Cruz filed the Commercial Space Launch Act of 2015 (CSLA) with U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Gary...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray requesting that he publicly make clear that the agency will not participate in Operation Choke Point or any similar initiative. Operation Choke Point, as the letter explains, is "an enforcement initiative designed to pressure banks and other financial institutions to terminate the accounts of certain politically disfavored businesses, such as casinos, tobacco...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today filed an amendment to the Trade Act of 2015 to lock in assurances that this legislation cannot be used to change federal immigration law. "The Obama Administration has repeatedly assured Members of Congress that there is nothing in the Trade Act of 2015 that would allow the President to unilaterally make changes to federal immigration laws. I agree, and we should put it in writing and make it binding law," said Sen. Cruz. "I am a strong...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding S. 1297, the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 (CSLA), that he filed with U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) that extends the International Space Station (ISS) until 2024 and ensures stability for the continued development and growth of the U.S. commercial space sector, among other initiatives. "In 1984, President...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressing strong concern over the ongoing postponement of the State Department's Iran Human Rights Report. "States that routinely oppress their own citizens as a method of survival lack legitimacy and pose security threats to their neighbors," the senators wrote....

May 8, 2015 Greetings, What we saw this week in Garland was a heartbreaking act of terrorism and it is a reminder of the continued threats we face. We are grateful for the heroic actions of law enforcement that thwarted this attack and prevented what could have been a terrible loss of life. But it underscores the need for vigilance. Keep Texas strong, Ted Cruz     Sen. Cruz Speaks on His Iran Amendment; Votes on Iran Nuclear Review Act Click to view video On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz asked...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement regarding votes on the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act: "This bill was a missed opportunity. If Congress had acted to defend our constitutional authority - if Congress had adopted the Cruz-Toomey amendment - then we would be able to stop a bad Iran deal. Instead, the odds are now overwhelming that under these ground rules President Obama will negotiate, and Congress will acquiesce to, a terrible deal that allows...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement regarding the decision reached on Thursday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit about the National Security Agency's data collection program. "The court's ruling today confirms what the American public already knew: The National Security Agency's data collection program went too far in collecting the phone records of Americans," said Sen. Cruz. "Congress should immediately pass the USA...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today asked for unanimous consent on his amendment, cosponsored with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act that would require affirmative Congressional approval of any Iranian nuclear deal before sanctions relief can occur. Sen. Cardin, D-Md., objected to his request. "Our first priority should be stopping a bad Iran deal that jeopardizes the lives of millions of Americans and millions of our allies," Sen. Cruz said....

May 1, 2015 Greetings, This was a proud week for Texas educators. Shanna Peeples of Amarillo was named the National Teacher of the Year. Ms. Peeples has dedicated her life to helping students achieve what seems unimaginable. It’s a testament to the impact one teacher can have on the lives of others, and of the hope teachers throughout the state bring to our students. As teachers finish out the last weeks of the semester, I want to thank them for their tireless efforts to, as Ms. Peeples...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement urging Congress to formally disapprove of the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA) and the Human Rights Amendment Act (HRAA) recently passed by the District of Columbia in order to protect First Amendment rights for D.C. citizens. "The D.C. Council has proposed two measures that trample the very rights the First Amendment was designed to protect - the right of citizens to freely practice their faith,"...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote the following op-ed for The Washington Times about the necessity for Congress to have proper oversight over any deal President Obama might make with Iran. It must be the top priority for the Senate to be able stop a bad Iran deal that jeopardizes U.S. national security. An excerpt of the Senator's op-ed is below. Full article may be viewed here. Congress must approve of any Iran dealWashington TimesBy: Sen. Ted CruzApril 29, 2015 Today,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today released the following statement regarding the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 filed today. Sen. Cruz is an original co-sponsor of the bill: "A clean reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act's bulk record collection program is not acceptable," said Sen. Cruz. "It is absolutely critical for Congress to balance the privacy interests of law-abiding citizens against the public's interest in national security. The USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 strikes the right...

HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today released the following statement regarding today's oral arguments in the Supreme Court concerning whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to license marriages between two people of the same sex and to recognize same-sex marriages licensed and performed in another state: "In recent years, federal judges have defied the power of the people to define marriage through their elected representatives as a covenant between one man and one...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson regarding the increased security threats due to violent criminals entering the country illegally and, in thousands of cases, being permitted to stay. "I am very concerned by the lack of enforcement at the border, the lack of enforcement of our immigration laws. I am concerned on multiple levels, number one, from a perspective of national...

HOUSTON, Texas -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement in response to the riots in Baltimore: "Today 85,000 Baltimore city children will not be going to school. Buildings have been set ablaze, stores have been looted, the police in the streets have been seriously injured, and strict curfews have been imposed. "No man, woman, or child should fear for his or her safety in America--not in their schools, not in their neighborhoods, not in their cities--but today families are...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today announced he recently promoted former Deputy State Director Katharine Priddy McAden to State Director. "Katharine has done a tremendous job at representing the people of Texas and I am happy she will continue to fight for Texans as our State Director," Sen. Cruz said. "She is committed to fighting for conservative principles, for limited government and to advance the cause of liberty. Her leadership and service will help ensure Texas...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, have filed an amendment (#1152) to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which would require affirmative Congressional approval of any Iranian nuclear deal before sanctions relief can occur. "The Constitution makes clear that Congress must approve international agreements like the one President Obama is negotiating with Iran," said Sen. Cruz. "A nuclear Iran is the single greatest threat to our national...