You won't hear about it from the mainstream media, but not only did Texas Senator Ted Cruz pass a new FAA reauthorization bill. It was also the #100th bill of his career.
"It was overwhelmingly adopted, there were only 4 'no' votes cast out of a hundred Senators" Cruz said, "So we built wide consensus, and this bill is going to make a real difference for jobs in Texas, and my #1 priority in the Senate is jobs."
The FAA Reauthorization bill will deliver to Texas:
- A historic $4 billion per year in funding for airport infrastructure projects that will boost capacity and safety at airports across Texas and the nation.
- Five additional exemptions to statutory “perimeter rule,” allowing new round-trip flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) from locations previously excluded from direct flights. This will provide the ability for a direct flight from San Antonio to DCA, delivering a more convenient travel experience for members of the military traveling from Joint Base San Antonio, business travelers, and tourists.
- Directing the FAA to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers. Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON) for both the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas have been understaffed in recent years, contributing to delayed flights and tower closures.
- Creating a Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies for aviation technologies like electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft like air taxis. This center would test these technologies and oversee the development and related activities of testing corridors and other flight demonstration zones. Importantly, the Center would also work to facilitate partnerships between industry, academia, and related government agencies to further unleash innovative aviation technologies.
- An adjustment to the bill’s discretionary airport improvement program funding structures that would boost McKinney National Airport’s efforts to become the third primary commercial airport in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. While the terminal expansion will be primarily financed at the local level, the bill expands McKinney National’s eligibility for up to $20 million in federal funding.
- Reforms aimed at better integrating commercial space activities into the national airspace system to assist launch providers in navigating complicated airspace, a boost for Texas’ thriving commercial space industry.
- Provisions that could benefit Texas universities seeking to develop aviation-related curriculum and workforce development programs such as Texas Women’s University and Angelo State University.
- Reforms to FAA’s State Block Grant program to level the playing field – putting Texas on par with non-Block Grant states.
- Funding that will improve the operational capabilities for the FAA’s UAS test range managed by Texas A&M and located in Corpus Christi, Texas.
- A measure addressing the recent devastating wildfires in Texas by directing the FAA to develop a plan to better integrate the use of unmanned aircraft systems to help fight wildfires.
- A provision that will streamline approvals to allow for more drone operations for offshore oil and gas facilities in international waters.
"It's critically important for the state of Texas" Senator Cruz told KTRH, "What this bill does is, it directs the FAA to hire significantly more Air Traffic controllers, which will help on safety, and will help on reducing delays."
And there is no delay for the race for November. As has been noted here, Democrats have targeted Senator Cruz as their #1 priority, outside of the White House. But as it turns out, the leftist elites who are funding the radical anti-Israel protests, are also funding Democrats.
"These left-wing billionaires who are funding these anti-American, anti-Israel protests have given Colin Allred $80,000 to his campaign" noted Cruz, "If he doesn't support what these radicals are calling for, then he should give the money back. And of course, he's not doing that."
Senator Cruz also has a new book out: 'Unwoke - How To Defeat Cultural Marxism In America'.