Austin News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed the difficulty of his decision as he voted against cloture on the foreign aid package. In his statement, Sen. Cruz highlighted various aspects of the bill that influenced his vote.

Cruz voiced his strong support for military aid to Israel, emphasizing its significance, especially during times of conflict. He lamented the delays in providing emergency military aid to Israel due to Democrat obstruction, underscoring the critical nature of supporting the nation in times of need.

Furthermore, Sen. Cruz pointed out the importance of the bill's provisions related to national security, such as compelling the Chinese Communist Party to relinquish control of TikTok in the U.S. and allocating $8 billion to support Taiwanese allies in defending themselves against CCP aggression.

However, Cruz expressed reservations about certain aspects of the package, particularly concerning the allocation of funds for humanitarian aid to Gaza and migration and refugee assistance. He raised concerns about potential misuse of these funds and criticized the lack of measures to address border security, especially the Texas-Mexico border.

Cruz concluded his statement by highlighting his amendment, H.R. 2, aimed at securing the Texas-Mexico border, which he believes is crucial in addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the United States. The senator reiterated his stance on prioritizing border security before allocating funds to other international aid efforts.