AUSTIN – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Representative August Pfluger (TX-11) released the following statements after their Mystic Alerts Act, which will allow wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) to be delivered via satellite communications technologies when other pathways fail during emergencies, including disasters like the Fourth of July floods in Central Texas last year, was signed into law by President Trump:

“More than 130 people were tragically killed in the July 4th floods that ravaged Central Texas last year, many of whom did not receive emergency alerts due to compromised cellular networks that were knocked out by the storm,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This law will address this technology shortfall and honor the memory of those lost by ensuring Texans and all Americans can receive wireless emergency alerts on their mobile devices via satellite even when disaster strikes, and I appreciate President Trump signing it into law.”

“When storms, disasters, or threats to public safety threaten our state, crisis management is key,” said Sen. Ossoff. “Our bipartisan law will help upgrade America’s emergency alert systems to keep Georgia families safe and informed.”

“I am grateful that President Trump signed the Mystic Alerts Act into law. After the devastating July 4th floods, it was clear that families in rural communities can’t be left in the dark when cell networks go down. By bringing satellite technology into our emergency alert system, we’re making sure warnings reach people when they need them most. I’m thankful to Senator Cornyn for championing the Mystic Alerts Act in the Senate and to Chairman Ted Cruz for moving it through the Senate Committee on Commerce. This law is a major step forward for emergency preparedness, and it means more Americans will get the warnings they need, no matter where they live,” said Rep. Pfluger.

Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed it unanimously on April 20, 2026. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on Sept. 30, 2026, and video of Sen. Cornyn discussing the bill on the Senate floor can be found here.

Background:

On July 4, 2025, a devastating flood in the Texas Hill Country tragically killed 28 individuals at Camp Mystic in Kerrville in addition to more than 100 other individuals across Central Texas. There were multiple reports of undelivered WEAs throughout the areas impacted by the disaster once cellular infrastructure was damaged.

The Mystic Alerts Act will:

• Allow cellular companies to partner with satellite communications providers to deliver WEAs during emergencies;
• Direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish the necessary rules and policies to preserve the effectiveness of WEA infrastructure while integrating satellite communication;
• And create a new communications pathway to enable the delivery of emergency alerts in areas where other infrastructure has been destroyed or taken offline.