Senator Cruz discusses FAA reauthorization act's impact on safety

Senator Ted Cruz | Senator Ted Cruz Official Website

By Austin News

May 17, 2024

As the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, I am proud of the major bipartisan victory we secured following the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. This bill will create thousands of jobs across Texas and bolster investment in aerospace technology to enhance public safety and customer transparency. Safety remains the top priority whenever an American boards a flight. This comprehensive legislation aims to deliver a safer and more convenient travel experience for consumers nationwide.

"There's a lot in this bill on the consumer side, but there's also a lot on the safety side because the most important thing and the top priority [for] the FAA should be ensuring safety. When you and I get on a plane, and we put our kids on a plane, the number one thing we want is to know that we're going to land and our family's going to be safe. So, this is a major investment, not just in safety, but also in modernization. Modernization of air traffic control, but also some of the next stages of how air travel is changing."

The FAA Reauthorization Act exemplifies successful bipartisan compromise in Congress. I was proud to lead this effort alongside Chairman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to improve our nation's aerospace industry.

"It really was building bipartisan compromise, and I have to say the way this bill moved forward, I think is a model for how legislation should move forward... For months, I've been working with [Chairman] Maria Cantwell... We negotiated this bill to reach a bipartisan compromise. In drafting it, we solicited priorities from our colleagues. This bill incorporates over 200 different amendments from both Republicans and Democrats addressing needs in their states... Out of 100 senators, there were only four 'no' votes."

Investing in Texas benefits both the state and country; one such avenue for investment is cryptocurrency. I recently discussed its potential with Tyler Page, CEO of Cipher Mining at the Digital Chamber’s Blockchain Summit.

"I want Texas to be [an] oasis for crypto in general, and for Bitcoin mining in particular... We have competition primarily from Florida... It would be bad if Texas were [the] only game in town... Texas is a state founded by people who began drilling holes in [the] ground... That ethos is fundamentally who Texas is."

I also spoke with Carl Higbie on Newsmax about Joe Biden's use of executive privilege during interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur investigating him.

"Executive privilege is [a] very important protection of [the] presidency...[but] that was not what was happening here... If Joe Biden was having a conversation with Merrick Garland about what [the administration's policy], that could be protected by executive privilege. In this instance,... he committed multiple felonies knowingly...[but] The Biden Department of Justice concluded Joe Biden,...is too incompetent to stand trial...[This is a joke]. They know [the media will roll over]."

I remain committed to fighting for what benefits Texas.

God Bless!

Keep Texas Strong,