WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr ahead of the agency’s upcoming August Open Commission Meeting discussion on, “Modernization of the Nation’s Alerting Systems,” encouraging the Commission to review emergency systems utilized during the recent Central Texas floods to help inform new policy making and encourage participation by state and local disaster management officials:

“As you are aware, the State of Texas was recently impacted by catastrophic flash flooding that took the lives of more than 130 Texans, including dozens of children. This disaster shocked the nation and ignited a vigorous discussion on how our Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) can be improved to mitigate future loss of life during major disasters. I want to thank you and your staff for the Commission’s quick action to brief my office on your agency’s efforts to manage and improve these systems before, during, and after the flooding in Texas,” wrote Sen. Cornyn.

“I encourage you to make every effort to ensure robust participation by state and local disaster management officials who are on the front lines of rapid response efforts. Their input will be critical for ensuring the systems work not only at a technical level, but in a manner that invites robust, nationwide utilization. The Commission should also conduct a thorough review of the operational integrity and performance of warning infrastructure activated during the flooding in Texas. By all accounts available at this time, emergency alerts were transmitted as designed by the system, but it is the responsibility of Congress and the Commission to constantly evaluate whether the design can be improved,” he continued. 

“I look forward to working with you and the Commission to ensure our nation’s emergency alert infrastructure is sufficient to mitigate future loss of life,” he concluded.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

July 29, 2025

The Honorable Brendan Carr

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE

Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Carr.

As you are aware, the State of Texas was recently impacted by catastrophic flash flooding that took the lives of more than 130 Texans, including dozens of children. This disaster shocked the nation and ignited a vigorous discussion on how our Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) can be improved to mitigate future loss of life during major disasters. I want to thank you and your staff for the Commission’s quick action to brief my office on your agency’s efforts to manage and improve these systems before, during, and after the flooding in Texas.

On July 17, the FCC published PS Docket No. 25-224 on “Modernization of the Nation’s Alerting Systems”. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) could not come at a more critical time. The questions posed by the Commission and the responses that will be submitted, especially regarding the transmission capabilities of alerting systems, will illuminate policy areas for the Commission and Congress to consider in the near future.

As the Commission solicits comment on the Notice, I encourage you to make every effort to ensure robust participation by state and local disaster management officials who are on the front lines of rapid response efforts. Their input will be critical for ensuring the systems work not only at a technical level, but in a manner that invites robust, nationwide utilization. The Commission should also conduct a thorough review of the operational integrity and performance of warning infrastructure activated during the flooding in Texas. By all accounts available at this time, emergency alerts were transmitted as designed by the system, but it is the responsibility of Congress and the Commission to constantly evaluate whether the design can be improved.

I look forward to working with you and the Commission to ensure our nation’s emergency alert infrastructure is sufficient to mitigate future loss of life.

Sincerely,

Senator John Cornyn

U.S. Senator