Ted grew up in Texas. His father, Rafael, fled Cuba after being tortured and imprisoned and came to Texas with just $100 sewn into his underwear. Rafael got a job washing dishes making 50 cents an hour and learned English. He worked hard and attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a degree in mathematics. He later started a small business in the oil and gas industry. Today, Rafael is a pastor in Dallas.
Sen. Cruz continues to work with local, state, and federal officials to ensure Texans from Rockport to Beaumont have the resources they need to recover and rebuild from the devastating winds and floods of Hurricane Harvey.
A key component to recovery is the Cruz-Cornyn-Rubio tax relief bill, which provides significant tax relief for those who were directly affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. By providing additional tax deductions and waived penalties for withdrawals from tax-advantaged accounts, Texas storm survivors are to keep more of their money as they rebuild. There are also tax credits available for the hundreds of small businesses that kept paying their employees, even if those employees were unable to come to work or the business was shut down, during the storms. Additionally, by lifting the usual limits on charitable giving, this bill allows more people nationwide to help Texans impacted by Harvey.
Led by our Hurricane Harvey recovery working group, Sen. Cruz continues to work to ensure swift and effective service to Texans and Texas communities in need of federal assistance following the storm. If you need additional information or assistance during the recovery and rebuilding process, please do not hesitate to contact our office or utilize the federal and state resources listed here.