Ted Cruz presses Customs and Border Protection for coronavirus preparedness plan

Washington D.C. - Texas Senator Ted Cruz has joined Senators Martha McSally of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas in sending a letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency in asking for the agency's readiness to prevent the transmission of coronavirus across American ports of entry. 

“As southern border Senators, we are concerned about the possible spread of the coronavirus across our borders,” the Senators wrote. “We are similarly concerned about recent reports that the virus is spreading in Europe. Border shortcomings by the European Union have resulted in the spread of the virus across a number of nations, and it is essential that the United States not repeat these mistakes. We write to ask how your agency is prepared to address the threat presented by the coronavirus at U.S. borders.”

In the letter, the Senators have asked acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan a series of questions on how his agency plans on preventing the virus from spreading and whether or not they have the necessary resources available to handle an outbreak on the border. 

Senator Cruz is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space and will be holding a hearing on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, to address the role that commercial air travel plays in both spreading and containing coronavirus. 

You can read the full letter below