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WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) made the following statement regarding the passing of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: This week, President Hugo Chavez went to meet his Maker. His legacy will not soon be forgotten. Chavez's death has left the people of Venezuela with the world's 2nd highest misery index, 4th highest murder rate, and a 22% inflation rate. His record is a prime example of how socialist policies degrade freedom, stifle innovation, and hurt those least off in...

Greetings, What an incredible two months! Thank you for allowing me to update you about what I'm working on in Washington and around Texas through this newsletter. There's nothing more important than keeping the lines of communication clear between my office and my constituents, and I'd like to use this newsletter to keep you apprised of my positions on various issues, votes I have cast, and major media appearances. It's truly an honor to represent you and the great state of Texas in the U.S....

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) made the following statement regarding his “no” votes on today’s sequester bills: The Constitution assigns Congress the power of the purse and the responsibility to appropriate federal funds. Congress should take up that obligation, pass a budget, and finally get serious about reducing federal spending. Today, forty-six cents of every dollar the federal government spends is borrowed. Our national debt exceeds the size of our...

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement on Jack Lew’s nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury: Our country faces grave economic and fiscal challenges, and, unfortunately, Jack Lew and President Obama have consistently failed to provide serious solutions. We need a Treasury Secretary who will champion pro-growth policies, to restore our economic strength and to help get 23 million Americans back to work. We need a Treasury Secretary who will help...

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today released the following statement regarding his vote against invoking cloture on the nomination of Sen. Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary: Chuck Hagel will be confirmed because Senate Democrats stood united behind President Obama's nomination of the most controversial Secretary of Defense in modern times. No one has ever been confirmed to the position with more than 11 "no" votes, until today when a record number of senators voted against his...

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined 13 Republican senators in supporting Sen. John Cornyn's (TX) call for President Obama to withdraw former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense. “If confirmed, Senator Hagel would be the most controversial Secretary of Defense in history,” said Sen. Ted Cruz. “In the last 50 years, no other Secretary of Defense has been confirmed with more than three members voting against him and in the entire history of the...

HOUSTON, TX – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today highlighted the importance of small businesses to the Texas and national economies and his efforts to reverse the Obama Administration’s misguided policies that are stifling job creators’ ability to thrive. He visited Lodge Lumber, a Houston-based small business. “This is what America is all about, small businesses. They are the backbone of our economy. If we want to turn our economy around and get Americans back to work,...

LEANDER, TX – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today held a press conference discussing the importance of defending the Second Amendment in the wake of calls for increased gun control at the federal level. He spoke at LaRue Tactical, a nationally-renowned gun manufacturer located outside of Austin. “Evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that when the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, their homes and their families are taken away, that violent crime increases and citizens...

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today released the following statement on the Senate’s decision to extend debate on the nomination of Sen. Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary: Today the Senate rightly voted to continue debate on Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination. There is no reason to rush his nomination to a vote until he has adequately responded to multiple requests from members of the Armed Services Committee for additional information. Twenty-five senators have asked Senator...

WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), today defended Americans’ right to bear arms in a subcommittee hearing that explored proposals to reduce gun violence while protecting the Second Amendment. One of the witnesses to testify was former Texas Rep. Suzanna Hupp, a victim of the 1991 Luby’s mass shooting in Killeen, Texas. Sen. Cruz is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Below are excerpts of Sen....

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement responding to the President’s State of the Union address: The President had an opportunity to reach across the aisle and propose policies to produce economic growth. Unfortunately, he chose instead to embrace unabashed liberalism. President Obama only knows how to grow government, not the economy. Under President Obama, the economy is entering its fifth year of substandard annual growth – 0.8% on...

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spokesman Sean Rushton issued the following statement regarding Sen. Cruz's Violence Against Woment Act vote, which defends states' jurisdiction over criminal law: For many years, Senator Cruz has worked in law enforcement, helping lead the fight to ensure that violent criminals—and especially sexual predators who target women and children—should face the very strictest punishment. Indeed, Senator Cruz has personally argued and successfully...

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding Pope Benedict's resignation: Pope Benedict has led the Catholic Church with humble strength for nearly eight years. Throughout his tenure, the Pope has stood for principle, a true intellectual powerhouse who has made a deep impact on the life of countless Christians throughout the world. My prayers are with Catholics in Texas and worldwide during this momentous transition. Pope Benedict will be dearly...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today announced key staff in his Washington, D.C. office. He has named Brooke Bacak legislative director, Amanda Carpenter senior communications advisor and speechwriter, Catherine Frazier press secretary, Scott Keller chief counsel, Kimberly Levernier administrative director, Max Pappas senior economist and director of outreach, Sean Rushton communications director, and Dougie Simmons director of scheduling. He previously announced Chip Roy his...

Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam veteran with an honorable history fighting for his country, and I commend his personal valor and sacrifice. But the man who testified before Congress Thursday to become our nation’s next secretary of Defense sounded very different from the one who, for the past two decades, has advocated that the U.S. adopt a weakened posture on the world stage. As a two-term senator and active participant in foreign policy discussions, Hagel repeatedly declined to...

Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam veteran with an honorable history fighting for his country, and I commend his personal valor and sacrifice. But the man who testified before Congress Thursday to become our nation’s next secretary of Defense sounded very different from the one who, for the past two decades, has advocated that the U.S. adopt a weakened posture on the world stage. As a two-term senator and active participant in foreign policy discussions, Hagel repeatedly declined to...

WASHINGTON, DC -- In the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing today, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel about his views on U.S. foreign policy, citing a 2009 Al Jazeera interview done by former-Sen. Hagel. Armed Services Committee Q&A Al Jazeera Interview Clips

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during the Q&A at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on guns:   Judiciary Committee Slides  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced legislation to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, that President Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010. The bill has 32 Republican co-sponsors. “I promised the voters of Texas that the first bill I would file as a U.S. Senator would be to repeal every last word of Obamacare, and that's a promise I’m proud to keep,” said Cruz. “Unfortunately, this bill will not pass in...