Cruz Passes Bill To Keep B-1 Bombers at Dyess Air Force Base Through 2026

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) released a statement regarding President Joe Biden (D) signing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). One of the measures within the bill included one authored by Sen. Cruz, which looks to ensure that bomber aircraft, specifically B-1s, are not prematurely cycled out of Dyess Air Force Base through 2026.

In his statement, Sen. Cruz provided a rationale for this request, mentioning that the B-21s need to be ready in time to replace the B-1s.

“I’m proud that my amendment to ensure B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas are maintained for several more years or until their successors, the B-21s, are operational gained bipartisan support in this year’s NDAA package,” said Cruz. “This language will have a huge impact on the Abilene community and safeguards our military readiness.”

Additionally, the Texas senator’s press release stated that four other measures authored by Cruz were included in the FY24 NDAA.

Some of these efforts included the passing of a provision to “streamline the presidential permitting process for building four bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas.” The Cruz team believes this will “boost the Texas and U.S. economy by billions.”

Furthermore, Sen. Cruz mentioned a few other measures he passed including a legal language barring the Department of Defense (DoD) from “maintaining JROTC programs at any private school operated or controlled by entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party,” as well as accountability for the “corrupt officials responsible” for the viability of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Finally, Cruz’s press release highlights another bill of his that will “call attention to how the dictatorship in Venezuela seizes American hostages, including Texans.”

At the beginning of December, Senators Cruz and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Reauthorization Act of 2023 in hopes of ensuring that the current sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his regime remain in place.

Sen. Cruz added that appeasement has only resulted in “more violent aggression” by the Maduro regime.

“Appeasement of the Maduro regime has only resulted in more violent aggression and repression by the regime. Now is exactly the wrong time to weaken American sanctions meant to hold the regime accountable,” said Sen. Cruz.

The bill would reauthorize the Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014.