Press Releases

COLUMBIA, SC — Today U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered remarks at the South Carolina GOP 2013 Silver Elephant Dinner paying tribute to former senator Jim DeMint (R-SC). Below are a video and excerpts:

RUSH TRANSCRIPT

“Today, President Obama was down in Mexico and said Mexican gun violence was due to US guns. Well, I would suggest a place he could start, is to stop his Department of Justice from selling guns to Mexican drug cartels.

“I don’t know anyone who embodies courage more than Senator Jim DeMint. Jim DeMint has many characteristics. Being utterly fearless is perhaps the most unusual. He reminds me of a Texan: Chuck Norris. Some people wear superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas. Chuck Norris wears Jim DeMint pajamas.

“Jim DeMint said the Senate is not going to change unless we change the people who are in the Senate. And he began to get involved in Republican primaries. This was not done. And he began going all over the country saying, ‘I want to find strong, principled leaders who are willing to stand and fight.’

“He was concerned our freedom was in jeopardy and he got behind candidates like Mike Lee, like Rand Paul, like Marco Rubio, like Ron Johnson, like Pat Toomey. In every one of those races the graybeards decided someone else should win, but Jim DeMint stuck his neck on the line and in every one of those races, those leaders won with the support of the grassroots.

“In 2012, three Republicans were elected to the Senate: Jeff Flake, Deb Fischer, and myself. Jim DeMint’s support was critical. I would not be in the U.S. Senate if it were not for Jim DeMint.

“That legacy has transformed the U.S. Senate. Pick any issue, pick any fight and the people who are charging into battle and leading that fight are the Rand Pauls, the Mike Lees and the Marco Rubios. They are there because of Jim DeMint’s leadership and that’s how you turn the country around.

“Right now we are seeing our seeing our freedom under assault every day because our constitutional liberties are threatened. In my view, we should stand for the Constitution and every part of the Constitution…

“As Obamacare is being implemented, it’s getting less and less popular because more and more people are realizing it’s not working. A couple of weeks ago the senior architect of Obamacare said it’s becoming a ‘train wreck.’ I agree with him…

“The unemployment we see in this economy doesn’t fall uniformly over the population. It falls most severely on the most vulnerable among us. If you have a college degree, unemployment right now is 3.8 percent. It’s a pretty robust labor market for high-skilled college graduates. If you don’t have a high school degree unemployment is over 12 percent. Hispanics, it’s nearly 10 percent. African Americans, 14 percent. Young people, aged 16-19 it’s over 25 percent

“You know, one third of young people aged 25-29 are moving back in with their parents. One third. In the Obama economy, the people who are being hit the worst, are young people, are single moms, are African American, are Hispanics, are those who are struggling to climb up the economic ladder…

“Change can happen quickly. Because of the legacy of Jim DeMint and the leaders in the House and the Senate, who are fighting, I am convinced that, with your help, we are going to take back the Senate in 2014.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today issued the following statement:

Today marks the dark anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that overturned a Texas law that prohibited abortion on demand. Since that 1973 ruling, more than 55 million lives have been lost to abortion.

Defending life, at its core, includes protecting both the unborn child and his or her mother from an irreversible injustice. 



We cannot know how many inventors, musicians, scientists, athletes, physicians, and entrepreneurs were never allowed to breathe their first breath of life. We cannot know the medical cures, artistic masterpieces, thriving businesses, and life-transforming charities that never came into existence.

Today we mourn those 55 million souls.

I have been honored to defend the dignity of human life, helping successfully defend the federal Partial Birth Abortion Act, state parental notification laws, and Texas’s law prohibiting state funds for groups that provide abortions.

No right is more precious and fundamental than the right to life, and any just society should protect that right at every stage, from conception to natural death.

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HOUSTON, TX — U.S. Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued the following statement:

“I congratulate U.S. Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) on being appointed to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jim DeMint. I’m confident Rep. Scott will be a strong voice for conservative principles in Washington, DC, and look forward to joining together to fight for conservatism as part of the incoming class of Republican senators.

“I also want to credit Gov. Nikki Haley for her leadership through this process and for representing the interests of the people of South Carolina with her pick.”

HOUSTON, TX — U.S. Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R-TX) today congratulated U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) on being named president of the Heritage Foundation.

“Jim DeMint is a friend, and hero, and a patriot. In the modern era, no other person has had a greater impact reshaping the U.S. Senate, helping bring Republicans back to our conservative roots. Sen. DeMint’s move to Heritage is a sign of the conservative movement’s strength and confirms that Heritage will remain an intellectual powerhouse for decades to come,” said Cruz.

“Jim DeMint will be an extraordinary leader of Heritage. His combination of brilliance, principle, common-sense, creativity and–above all else–courage will be an ideal fit for the conservative movement’s leading think tank, and his leadership will ensure that Heritage remains a vital resource for the Senate, the House, and conservatives across the Nation,” Cruz continued.

“I also congratulate Heritage Founder and outgoing-President Ed Feulner for his tremendous leadership,” Cruz added. “Before Ed, the conservative movement in Washington, DC was almost non-existent, and scholarly analysis of policy was dominated by the Left. Today, Heritage’s dominance has raised the bar for all policy organizations and enabled major conservative policy successes such as welfare reform and tax rate reductions. Equally important, many bad liberal ideas were stopped before enactment. It’s a sign of Ed’s success that only someone of Jim DeMint’s stature could be considered to replace him.”

Cruz concluded, “Under Ed Feulner, Heritage laid the foundation for the Reagan Revolution; under Jim DeMint, Heritage will continue laying the foundation for the next conservative revolution, a national renewal of the incredible promise of conservative ideals to help every American achieve the American Dream.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — While many in the nation’s capital are pressing hard for billions in new tax hikes, U.S. Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R-TX) today praised U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) for proposing a dramatically simplified, pro-growth tax system. Gohmert’s flat tax plan was announced at a press conference featuring supply-side leaders Art Laffer and Steve Forbes.

“A flat tax is an ideal antidote to the short-sighted Washington drive to raise tax rates,” said Cruz. “Virtually every school of economics agrees that higher taxes would reduce growth and increase the chances of another recession, and yet that is precisely what the Beltway establishment is pushing for. Without increased economic growth, our Nation will continue to struggle under high deficits and, even more importantly, middle-income workers will continue to struggle to find jobs and better wages.”

“Jack Kemp’s tax cut proposal in 1978 gave Americans a striking remedy for that era’s disastrous stagflation; three years later, under Reagan’s leadership, it passed into law and the economy boomed,” Cruz added. “Today, a flat tax presents a vital contrast to the current era’s obsession with high taxes, spending, deficits, and debt — all of which are frustrating economic growth and killing jobs.”

Sen.-elect Cruz has long advocated for fundamental tax reform such as a flat tax or Fair Tax. For more information, please visit www.tedcruz.org.

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WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator-elect Ted Cruz today announced Chip Roy as his chief of staff.

“Chip brings an incredible range of talents to the table. His experience in the U.S. Senate combined with his years of service as a federal prosecutor and work in state government, campaigns and the private sector make him uniquely qualified to serve Texas in this role,” Cruz said. “Moreover, he is a proud Texan and a principled movement conservative who was an early supporter of my campaign. I have known him for years and I am grateful to him and his family for agreeing to join me in this important job.”

Roy most recently served as a senior advisor to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Prior to that, he was appointed by Gov. Perry as director of State-Federal Relations for the State of Texas. He is also a past Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas and formerly served Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) as staff director of his leadership office and senior counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition, he spent nearly 3 years as an investment banking analyst with NationsBanc Capital Markets.

Roy holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Governor Perry praised the choice, saying “Senator-elect Cruz’s selection of Chip is great news for Texas. While I will miss his trusted counsel and consistent voice for liberty, he will take that much needed voice to Washington and serve Ted and our great state well.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — Today U.S. Senator-elect Ted Cruz (R-TX) made the following statement:

“We are keeping all those involved in last night’s tragic train accident in Midland in our thoughts and prayers. It’s particularly heart-wrenching that this happened to military heroes. We wish the injured a full recovery.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen-elect Ted Cruz (TX) today responded to being named vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Cruz and co-vice chairman U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (OH) will serve under chairman and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (KS).

“I’m honored by this selection,” Cruz said. “Our country faces grave fiscal and economic challenges, and I’m very glad to have the opportunity to do everything I can to help retire Harry Reid as Majority Leader. It’s critical that Constitutional conservatives have a strong voice within the NRSC so that together we may build upon lessons learned from this election cycle and elect strong candidates who are committed to pro-growth economics and restraining the job-killing growth of the federal government.”

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“Ted has stood time and again for the rights of veterans,” says Kyle

AUSTIN — Ted Cruz, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, announced today the formation of a statewide coalition of dozens of veterans across Texas supporting his campaign headed by Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, State Senator Brian Birdwell, and Navy SEAL hero Chris Kyle.

“As a retired Marine Vietnam veteran, and the father of a Marine currently serving, I’m proud to support my friend Ted Cruz for election to the United States Senate,” said Texas Land Commissioner and retired Lt. Col. Jerry Patterson. “Ted will keep the promise to those of us who have served this nation, and he will defend the constitution while insuring our Armed Forces are second to none.”

Texas State Senator and retired Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell said: “I’m excited to stand with my fellow veterans in support of Ted Cruz, and I’m proud to endorse his candidacy to be the next United State Senator from Texas. I trust that Ted will defend those who have defended this nation.”

“Ted has stood time and again for the rights of veterans and to reduce the size, power, and spending of the federal government,” said retired Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, winner of five bronze and two silver stars, and author of the bestseller American Sniper. “I support his mission to continue the fight in Washington.”

Cruz said: “It is truly humbling to have the support of these Texas heroes. The sacrifices they have made for our state and our country are worth honoring, and I intend to do so in the U.S. Senate.”

Cruz has successfully represented over three million veterans before the U.S. Supreme Court in Salazar v. Buono, defending the constitutionality of the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial, which was erected in 1934 to honor WWI veterans. Along with co-counsel Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Institute, Cruz represented as amici The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the American Ex-Prisoners of War. In April 2010, the Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision in favor of the veterans.

Below is a list of some of Cruz’s endorsements:

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Click here to download this release and list of veterans for Ted Cruz

“Ted Cruz knows the federal government faces significant budgetary problems, and the best way to address those problems is by increasing revenues through economic growth,” says Mayor Richard Cortez of McAllen.

AUSTIN — Ted Cruz, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, announced today the endorsement of a coalition of 60 mayors from across the state.

In recent days, Cruz has been endorsed by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas and National chapters of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, NRA-Political Victory Fund, Gun Owners of America, the National Federation of Independent Business, National Right to Life Committee, the Texas Alliance for Life, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, the Texas Association of Realtors, the Associated Builders & Contractors of Texas, dozens of Texas small business leaders, the Texas Municipal Police Association, and more than 50 sheriffs from across Texas.

“Ted Cruz knows the federal government faces significant budgetary problems, and the best way to address those problems is by increasing revenues through economic growth,” said Mayor Richard Cortez (McAllen). “When the federal government removes the regulations that hinder businesses growth, businesses will be able to raise revenue and add jobs to our economy. As Reagan said, the best social program is a job.”

“In the U.S. Senate, Ted will bring the power of Texas ideas – for economic growth, liberty, and common-sense spending reform – to a federal government badly needing these ideas,” said Mayor Alan McGraw (Round Rock).

“I’m grateful for the support of these Texas leaders,” Cruz said. “I look forward to working with them to advance the interests of Texas and the nation.”

Alongside Attorney General Greg Abbott, as Solicitor General of Texas Ted worked to increase penalties for felons who enter the country illegally and to strengthen border security. Ted successfully defended voter ID laws, and stood up for the law that ensures sexual predators will be fully monitored and brought to justice.

Cruz has been endorsed by Cathie Adams, Ernest Angelo, David Barton, George P. Bush, Hispanic Republicans of Texas, Kelly Shackelford, George Strake, Peggy Venable, National Right to Life Committee, Texas Alliance for Life PAC, Young Conservatives of Texas, Concerned Women PAC, Family Research Council Action, Club for Growth PAC, FreedomWorks PAC, Gov. Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, and many others.

Cruz and his wife Heidi live in Houston with their four-year-old daughter, Caroline, and one-year-old daughter, Catherine.

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Click here to download this release and list of Mayors for Ted Cruz