Austin News

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee has advanced four pieces of legislation with strong bipartisan support, announced Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The bills, which include the Fire Ready Nation Act, the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act, the National Landslide Preparedness Reauthorization Act, and the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act, will now proceed to the full Senate for consideration.

The Fire Ready Nation Act aims to improve wildfire prediction and response by reforming the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and deploying more federal meteorologists to wildfire frontlines. Co-introduced by Sen. Cruz and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), this bill includes amendments from Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to ensure better communication of fire locations in rural areas and enhance Texas's weather monitoring network.

“Texans have seen devastating wildfires consume hundreds of thousands of acres across the Lone Star State,” said Sen. Cruz. “Better forecasting and preparation for such disasters will greatly reduce the damage from fires in the future.”

Texas has experienced significant wildfire activity this year, with 170 wildfires burning 1.25 million acres statewide.

The Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act seeks to combat illegal red snapper fishing by developing a standard methodology for identifying their country of origin. Introduced by Sens. Cruz, Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), this legislation mandates NOAA and NIST to create technology that can identify whether fish were caught in Mexican or U.S. waters.

“Cartel-backed criminal entities are poaching red snapper in American waters,” said Sen. Cruz. “We can crack down on illegal fishing by dangerous criminal gangs with new technology.”

Additionally, amendments incorporated into Chairwoman Cantwell’s National Landslide Preparedness Reauthorization Act aim to modernize water observing systems at USGS to aid drought research in South Texas.

“I would like to thank the Chair for incorporating my amendments,” stated Sen. Cruz.

Lastly, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act requires TSA to update its guidelines for screening infant liquids during travel security checks. Cosponsored by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Ted Cruz, this bill seeks to minimize contamination risks during TSA screenings.

“Far too often, families traveling with infants are subjected to inconsistencies when going through TSA’s screening,” said Sen. Cruz.