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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following today’s vote on the Military Justice Improvement Act amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) at a press conference today in support of the measure. The amendment required 60 votes to pass and was not agreed to by a vote of 50-49. Highlights of Sen. Cruz’s remarks are below and may...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) penned the following op-ed for The Washington Times calling upon the State Department to comply with its statutory obligations and immediately release the report on Iran’s human rights practices. Full article may be viewed at here. State Dept. must release the Iran human rights report nowBy: Sen. Ted CruzWashington TimesJune 16, 2015 A little over a month ago, five Senate colleagues and I sent a letter to Secretary of State John...

June 12, 2015 Greetings, This week I had the opportunity to visit Edinburg and meet with border officials, and our priority remains the same – we must secure the border to protect Texans and promote legal immigration. Law enforcement officials in the region continue to work tirelessly to keep our families safe from criminals and drug traffickers. I thank them, and I remain committed to doing everything I can to address the border crisis. Keep Texas strong, Ted Cruz   A Regional Update...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) spoke to POLITICO about the upcoming Supreme Court decision in King v. Burwell and Congress’s response to the decision: “I think the best legislative option is to allow states to opt out,” Cruz said in the Capitol. “I am cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court will conclude in King vs. Burwell that the Obama IRS disregarded the plain language of the statute and acted lawlessly. And when that occurs, it will be a real...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement after a vote this afternoon on reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Sixty-five senators voted to keep Ex-Im alive, while 29 Republicans and one Independent joined Sen. Cruz in voting to end Ex-Im and the Washington cronyism it represents. Sen. Cruz looks forward to ensuring the Export-Import Bank charter expires permanently after its statutory expiration...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today applauded the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for ruling in favor of several health and safety provisions in Texas legislation, House Bill 2, which ensures that abortion clinics meet the safety standards of state Ambulatory Surgical Centers and requires that abortionists qualify for admitting privileges at a local hospital. House Bill 2 also bans abortions after 20 weeks.  “This week Texas has once again led the way in...

EDINBURG, Texas -- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today attended a briefing with border security enforcement officials and received an update on security efforts in the region. Following the briefing, Sen. Cruz held a media availability. "We need Congress to bring people together and start solving these problems," Sen. Cruz said. "To stop talking about it and to work together to solve it. And I will say again, it was encouraging listening to local sheriffs, local chiefs of police, local law...

June 5, 2015 Greetings, This week, I held a hearing in the Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight to answer Americans’ questions about the Treasury Department and IRS’s unlawful Obamacare rulemaking that is imposing billions of dollars of taxes on Americans. Unfortunately, the Treasury officials who helped write the rule refused my request to attend. Their failure to respond to Congress and answer the people typifies the Obama Administration’s contempt for the law and disregard...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today held a hearing in the Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts to examine the Department of Treasury’s rulemaking that has disregarded the text of the law and illegally enabled the IRS to provide federal Obamacare subsidies to millions of Americans. Sen. Cruz invited Treasury officials, but they refused to attend. “I wanted to take just a few minutes to discuss the empty table...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regarding his outrage that the State of Israel may be added to the U.N.’s list of “parties to conflict who commit grave violations against children.”  “This designation would falsely and shamefully equate Israel with some of the most barbaric terrorist organizations around the world,” Sen. Cruz wrote. “Mr. Secretary-General, I submit...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement regarding the Senate's passage of the USA FREEDOM Act. Sen. Cruz is an original cosponsor of the bill: "The USA FREEDOM Act is the right policy approach. It protects the civil liberties of every American. It ends the federal government's bulk collection of personal data from law-abiding citizens. And at the same time it ensures that we maintain the tools that are needed to target violent terrorists and prevent...

AUSTIN, Texas - Texans who sustained property damage as a result of the ongoing severe storms and flooding are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance. The presidential disaster declaration of May 29 makes disaster aid available to eligible families, individuals and business owners in Hays, Harris and Van Zandt counties. "FEMA wants to help Texans begin their recovery as soon as possible, but we need...

June 1, 2015 As thousands of Texans have endured devastating storms, we lift up all those who have suffered loss, particularly of loved ones. This wave of storms has swept through nearly every region, and while the damage is unimaginable, it has been inspiring to see citizens, churches, and communities join together to help those in need. Last week, I toured affected areas in Houston, Wimberley, and San Marcos and met with Gov. Abbott and state and local officials to assess the damage and ensure...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew regarding the department’s refusal to supply key witnesses for an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing about the rulemaking process for Obamacare subsidies.  “This refusal is unacceptable and interferes with Congress’s and this Committee’s obligation to ensure proper functioning of federal agencies and the federal rulemaking...

HOUSTON - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today attended two press conferences with state and local officials, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker, where they addressed concerns regarding flooding throughout Texas. At the Houston Office Of Emergency Management, Sen. Cruz said: "Today Texans are hurting, Texans are hurting throughout the community of Houston, they are hurting up in Wimberley and across the State. We have seen lives...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), today released the following statement regarding legislation to establish trade promotion authority: "The American middle class is getting crushed by the Obama economy," said Sen. Cruz. "Middle class incomes are stagnating, and the labor force participation rate has not been this low since the Carter Administration. While I have serious concerns about the all-too-typical Washington backroom deals that enabled this bill to get to the floor, I could...

May 22, 2015 Greetings, As we approach Memorial Day, let us never forget the sacrifice of those who shed their blood so that we might remain free. This Monday, scattered petals throughout the land remind us of liberty born anew because of their sacrifice. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on this incredible gift of freedom, and to remember all those we’ve lost in battles to preserve it. Keep Texas strong, Ted Cruz   Sen. Cruz Receives Bipartisan Support for NDAA...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter expressing strong concern over the ongoing publication delay of the Defense Department's Annual Report on the Military Power of Iran. They have requested the report be published no later than May 30, 2015. This follows a letter Cruz, Isakson, Perdue, Rubio and others sent last week regarding the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) delivered the following statement this morning at an executive session of the Senate Commerce Committee. The Cruz-Nelson-Peters Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act was reported out of committee for consideration by the full U.S. Senate. Full text below and video available above. “Today we build upon the Commercial Space Launch Act that was first signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and last amended in 2004,”...