Texas

State Senators:

Ted Cruz (R)

Term Start: January 3, 2013

Full Name: Rafael Edward “Ted” Cruz
Date of Birth: December 22, 1970
Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Early Life and Education: Ted Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to an American mother and Cuban father. He moved to Texas with his family as a child. Cruz attended Second Baptist High School in Houston, Texas, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Princeton University in 1992. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1995.

Personal Life: Ted Cruz is married to Heidi Cruz, and they have two daughters. The family resides in Houston, Texas. Known for his dedication to conservative values and his willingness to challenge the political status quo, Cruz continues to work towards policies that promote individual freedom, economic prosperity, and national security.

Early Career: After law school, Cruz served as a law clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court. He then worked in private practice before joining the George W. Bush presidential campaign as a domestic policy advisor. Cruz later served as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice and as the Director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission.

From 2003 to 2008, Cruz served as the Solicitor General of Texas. He argued several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, focusing on issues such as Second Amendment rights and state sovereignty.

Political Career:

U.S. Senate: Elected in 2012, Cruz has served as a U.S. Senator from Texas since January 3, 2013. He was re-elected in 2018. Cruz is known for his strong conservative stance and his advocacy for limited government and free-market principles.
Presidential Campaign: In 2016, Cruz ran for the Republican nomination for President. He finished second to Donald Trump, securing a significant following among conservative voters. His campaign emphasized his commitment to conservative principles and his opposition to the political establishment.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Ranking)
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Rules and Administration
Committee on the Judiciary

Legislative Achievements:

Tax Reform: Cruz was a strong supporter of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017, which aimed to lower taxes for individuals and businesses and stimulate economic growth. He advocates for a simplified tax code and lower taxes across the board.
Healthcare: Cruz supports the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He advocates for market-based healthcare reforms that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to services.
National Security: Cruz is a vocal advocate for a strong national defense. He supports robust defense spending and policies to enhance military readiness and capabilities. He has also focused on issues related to cybersecurity and counterterrorism.
Second Amendment: Cruz is a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights. He has consistently voted against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership and supports legislation that protects the right to bear arms.
Judicial Appointments: Cruz has been a strong advocate for the appointment of conservative judges to the federal judiciary. He has supported nominees who adhere to originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution.

Senator Cruz is known for his dedication to tax reform, healthcare reform, national security, Second Amendment rights, and judicial appointments. His background in law and public service, along with his extensive experience in the U.S. Senate, shape his legislative priorities. He continues to advocate for policies that promote limited government, free markets, and individual liberties.

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee plays a vital role in shaping policies that impact economic development, technological innovation, transportation systems, and scientific advancements within a country or region.

Foreign Relations: Committee plays a crucial role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, providing a check on the executive branch’s conduct of international relations, and ensuring that America’s global engagements reflect the values and interests of its citizens.

Rules and Administration: Committee ensures that the Senate functions smoothly and efficiently by overseeing its rules, administration, elections, and public access.

Judiciary: Committee plays a role in shaping the nation’s legal framework and ensuring the fair administration of justice. Its work impacts a wide range of issues, from the confirmation of judges to the protection of civil liberties and the enforcement of federal laws.

Voting patterns

Senator Cruz has a voting record that reflects his commitment to conservative principles, limited government, free-market policies, and individual liberties.

Key Voting Patterns:

Tax Reform:

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Cruz was a strong supporter of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017, which aimed to lower taxes for individuals and businesses and stimulate economic growth. He advocates for a simplified tax code and lower taxes across the board.
Fiscal Responsibility: Cruz supports measures to reduce government spending and address the national debt. He has consistently voted for budget resolutions and policies aimed at fiscal restraint.

Healthcare:

Affordable Care Act Repeal: Cruz supports the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He has voted multiple times to dismantle the ACA and advocates for market-based healthcare reforms that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to services.
Healthcare Reform: Cruz has introduced and supported legislation aimed at expanding health savings accounts (HSAs) and allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines to foster competition.

National Security:

Defense Spending: Cruz is a vocal advocate for a strong national defense. He supports robust defense spending and policies to enhance military readiness and capabilities. He has voted for the “National Defense Authorization Act” to ensure military readiness.
Cybersecurity: Cruz has focused on issues related to cybersecurity and counterterrorism. He supports measures to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure and improve the ability to respond to cyber threats.

Second Amendment:

Gun Rights: Cruz is a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights. He has consistently voted against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership and supports legislation that protects the right to bear arms. He has opposed efforts to implement universal background checks and restrictions on specific types of firearms.

Judicial Appointments:

Conservative Judges: Cruz has been a strong advocate for the appointment of conservative judges to the federal judiciary. He supports nominees who adhere to originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution. He played a significant role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Social Issues:

Pro-Life Stance: Cruz holds a strong pro-life stance and has consistently voted for legislation that restricts abortion and protects the rights of the unborn. He supports defunding Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortion services.
Religious Freedom: Cruz advocates for policies that protect religious freedom and has supported measures that allow individuals and organizations to exercise their religious beliefs without government interference.

Immigration:

Border Security: Cruz supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing the borders and enforcing immigration laws. He has voted for measures to increase funding for border security and enhance the capabilities of immigration enforcement agencies.
Merit-Based Immigration: Cruz advocates for a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes skills and contributions to the U.S. economy. He supports policies that streamline the immigration process for high-skilled workers.

Senator Cruz’s voting record reflects his commitment to conservative principles, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, limited government intervention in healthcare, a strong national defense, and traditional social values. His stance on environmental issues prioritizes economic growth and energy independence while reducing regulatory barriers for energy production.

Full Name: John Cornyn III
Date of Birth: Ferbruary 2, 1952
Birthplace: Houstion, Texas, U.S.

Early Life and Education: John Cornyn was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in San Antonio. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1973. Cornyn went on to earn a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1977 and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1995.

Personal Life: John Cornyn is married to Sandy Cornyn, and they have two daughters. The family resides in Austin, Texas. Known for his dedication to public service and his pragmatic approach to governance, Cornyn continues to work towards policies that promote security, justice, and opportunity for all Americans.

Early Career: After completing his education, Cornyn practiced law in private practice as an attorney, and later served as a district judge in Bexar County, Texas. In 1990, he was elected to the Texas Supreme Court, where he served until 1997. His judicial experience provided him with a deep understanding of legal and constitutional issues.

John Cornyn (R)

Term Start: December 2, 2002

Political Career:

Texas Attorney General: In 1998, Cornyn was elected Attorney General of Texas. During his tenure from 1999 to 2002, he focused on consumer protection, supporting law enforcement, and upholding the rights of Texans. Cornyn also worked on initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Attorney General’s office.
U.S. Senate: In 2002, Cornyn was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding retiring Senator Phil Gramm. He has been re-elected multiple times and is known for his work on judicial issues, national security, and fiscal policy. Cornyn served as the Senate Majority Whip from 2013 to 2019, demonstrating his leadership within the Senate.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Finance
Committee on the Judiciary
Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

Legislative Achievements:

Judicial Appointments: Cornyn has played a significant role in the confirmation of federal judges and Supreme Court justices, advocating for nominees who adhere to conservative judicial philosophies.
National Security: Cornyn is a strong advocate for robust national security measures. He supports increased defense spending, improved cybersecurity, and policies to combat terrorism.
Healthcare: Cornyn supports market-based healthcare reforms and has voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He advocates for policies that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to healthcare services.
Economic Policies: Cornyn supports tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate economic growth. He was a proponent of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and advocates for policies that reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.
Immigration: Cornyn supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing the borders and enforcing immigration laws. He has introduced and supported legislation to increase border security and enhance the capabilities of immigration enforcement agencies.

Senator Cornyn is known for his dedication to judicial appointments, national security, healthcare reform, economic policies, and immigration. His background in law and public service, along with his extensive experience in the U.S. Senate, shape his legislative priorities. He continues to advocate for policies that benefit Texans and the nation.

Committees

Finance: Committee plays a crucial role in shaping the economic direction of a country or region by influencing fiscal and monetary policies that impact individuals, businesses, and governments.

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between national security needs and the protection of civil liberties by ensuring that intelligence operations are conducted lawfully and effectively.

United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Committee plays a role in shaping U.S. drug policy and enhancing efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse on both national and international levels.

Voting patterns

Senator Cornyn has a voting record that reflects his commitment to conservative principles, national security, judicial appointments, healthcare reform, economic policies, and immigration.

Key Voting Patterns:

National Security:

Defense Spending: Cornyn consistently supports robust defense spending. He has voted for the “National Defense Authorization Act” to ensure military readiness and enhance the capabilities of the U.S. military.
Cybersecurity: Cornyn supports measures to improve the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure and protect against cyber threats. He has voted for legislation aimed at enhancing cybersecurity defenses.

Judicial Appointments:

Conservative Judges: Cornyn has played a significant role in the confirmation of conservative federal judges and Supreme Court justices. He supports nominees who adhere to originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution.
Judiciary Committee: As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Cornyn has been involved in vetting and confirming judicial nominees, advocating for those who align with conservative judicial philosophies.

Healthcare:

Affordable Care Act Repeal: Cornyn has consistently voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He supports market-based healthcare reforms that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to services.
Prescription Drug Costs: Cornyn has supported measures to lower prescription drug prices through increased market competition and transparency.

Economic Policies:

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Cornyn was a strong supporter of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017, which aimed to lower taxes for individuals and businesses and stimulate economic growth. He advocates for a simplified tax code and lower taxes across the board.
Regulatory Relief: Cornyn supports reducing regulatory burdens on businesses to foster economic development and job creation. He has voted for measures aimed at deregulation and streamlining government processes.

Immigration:

Border Security: Cornyn supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing the borders and enforcing immigration laws. He has introduced and supported legislation to increase funding for border security and enhance the capabilities of immigration enforcement agencies.
Merit-Based Immigration: Cornyn advocates for a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes skills and contributions to the U.S. economy.

Social Issues:

Pro-Life Stance: Cornyn holds a strong pro-life stance and has consistently voted for legislation that restricts abortion and protects the rights of the unborn. He supports defunding Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortion services.
Second Amendment: Cornyn is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights. He has consistently voted against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership and supports legislation that protects the right to bear arms.
Religious Freedom: Cornyn supports policies that protect religious freedom and has voted for measures that allow individuals and organizations to exercise their religious beliefs without government interference.

Voting Rights and Election Security:

Election Integrity: Cornyn has supported measures aimed at enhancing election security and integrity. He advocates for policies that ensure fair and transparent elections and has voted against legislation he believes would undermine these principles.

Senator Cornyn’s voting record reflects his commitment to conservative principles, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, limited government intervention in healthcare, a strong national defense, and traditional social values. His stance on environmental issues prioritizes economic growth and energy independence while supporting the development of renewable energy sources.