August Pfluger Advances 'Mystic Alerts Act' After Deadly Texas Floods

U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R) is pushing forward new legislation aimed at improving emergency alert systems nationwide following the deadly July 4 floods in Central Texas.

Speaking during a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup, Pfluger advocated for his bill, the Mystic Alerts Act, which would integrate satellite technology into existing wireless emergency alert systems to ensure warnings reach Americans even when traditional networks fail.

The bipartisan legislation passed unanimously out of the committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.

"When disaster strikes, communication infrastructure is often the first thing to fail," especially in rural areas," said Pfluger. "We must ensure every American receives life-saving emergency alerts when it matters most."

The bill was inspired in part by the catastrophic flooding that impacted Central and West Texas, including Camp Mystic, where Pfluger said two of his daughters were staying at the time. The disaster exposed vulnerabilities in emergency communication systems, particularly in rural areas with limited infrastructure.

The Mystic Alerts Act would allow alerts to be transmitted via satellite when cellular networks are down, aiming to close gaps in coverage that can delay or prevent critical warnings during emergencies.

Lawmakers from both parties have backed the measure, including Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D), Mark Veasey (D), and Buddy Carter (R-GA). Rep. Carter, whose family was also impacted by the flooding, emphasized the personal stakes behind the legislation.

"Camp should be a place of joy... but for those girls, the trauma they experienced will stay with them forever," said Carter, referencing the loss of his granddaughter's cousin during the floods.

Experts have previously testified that integrating satellite networks into emergency alert systems is a critical step toward strengthening public safety and addressing communication gaps, particularly in remote or underserved areas.

With unanimous committee support, the Mystic Alerts Act reflects a growing push in Congress to modernize emergency communications, driven by recent tragedies and the need to ensure no community is left without critical warnings when disaster strikes.