“I’m proud of the priorities for Texas included in this year’s NDAA, and I will continue to fight for our servicemembers and ensure America continues to show peace through strength.”
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill advanced key national security priorities for Texans, including Texas bases and military communities.
Sen. Cruz said, “I was honored to author several provisions in this bill that enhance Texas’s position as the critical state in protecting America’s national security, and that more broadly enhance the national security and prosperity of Americans.
“I am particularly proud to have authored language maintaining B-1 bomber operations at Dyess Air Force Base through 2030, strengthening Coast Guard programs, and modernizing Red River Depot into a premier hub for drone systems. The NDAA provides our military bases and servicemembers with modernized technology, advanced equipment, essential resources, and a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members. These investments strengthen our national security and support Texas communities and military families.
“I’m proud of the priorities for Texas included in this year’s NDAA, and I will continue to fight for our servicemembers and ensure America continues to show peace through strength.”
“I am particularly proud to have authored language maintaining B-1 bomber operations at Dyess Air Force Base through 2030, strengthening Coast Guard programs, and modernizing Red River Depot into a premier hub for drone systems. The NDAA provides our military bases and servicemembers with modernized technology, advanced equipment, essential resources, and a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members. These investments strengthen our national security and support Texas communities and military families.
“I’m proud of the priorities for Texas included in this year’s NDAA, and I will continue to fight for our servicemembers and ensure America continues to show peace through strength.”
This year’s NDAA included language to bolster America’s national defense and support servicemembers around the world, including at military bases across Texas. It included 10 provisions by Sen. Cruz:
- The B-1 Protection Act extends the existing prohibition on reductions to the B-1B bomber fleet through September 30, 2030, ensuring that the mission of Dyess Air Force Base—home to one of the largest concentrations of B-1 assets in the United States Air Force—is preserved.
- Small-UAS Industrial Base Working Group and SkyFoundry Authorization intends to modernize and transform Red River Army Depot (RRAD) into the nation’s premier organic industrial base hub for small, unmanned aircraft systems (s-UAS), allowing the Department of War to rapidly develop, produce, and field s-UAS at scale.
- The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes programs and activities to strengthen the Coast Guard’s critical mission of protecting America’s borders, facilitating maritime commerce, enhancing deterrence, and improving support for Coast Guard personnel and their families. Chairman Cruz previously championed the largest investment in Coast Guard history through the Commerce Committee’s title in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act ensures that drug traffickers who utilize remote-controlled or autonomous vessels to smuggle illegal narcotics can be prosecuted for drug trafficking.
- MILCON: Dyess B-21 Low Observable Corrosion Facility & Mission Planning Facility prepares Dyess Air Force Base to receive the B-21 Bomber. The Low Observable Corrosion facility is a specialized maintenance facility designed to preserve the stealth capabilities of the aircraft. The Mission Planning Facility will provide secure operations planning space in support of B-21 operations.
- MILCON: B-21 Mission Planning Facility provides secure operations planning space in support of B-21 operations.
- MILCON: Dyess Gate Repairs improves perimeter gates, which pose significant security and operational risks. These critical infrastructure upgrades are essential to host nuclear-capable B-21 aircraft and support Dyess AFB’s nuclear mission.
- FLRAA Product Acceleration Act authorizes the Secretary of the Army to accelerate the procurement of the future long-range assault aircraft by initiating early production of not more than 24 such aircraft, and for other purposes.
- Clarification of Land Conveyance provision removes restrictive language in the FY 2005 National Defense Authorization Act, allowing the Texas A&M University System to establish a university on the conveyed property without unnecessary constraints.
- Limitation on use of funds for deactivation of Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades prohibits funds from being used towards deactivating Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades (ECABs) until the Department of War (DoW) submits a plan to address any operational capability gaps that could result from their deactivation.
