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Originally Published in Concho Valley Homepage on December 17, 2025.

The office of U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, sent out a press release detailing his plan to modernize public safety communications and strengthen emergency preparedness.

According to the press release, Pfluger outlined his plan to modernize public safety communications and improve emergency preparedness for rural communities during a House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing focused on strengthening emergency alert systems.

Following the July 4 floods in Texas, Pfluger has emphasized the urgent need to ensure all Americans, especially those in rural areas, can receive life-saving emergency alerts when a disaster happens.

During this hearing, Pfluger previewed his upcoming legislation named the Mystic Alerts Act, which would integrate satellite networks into wireless emergency alert processes. During the hearing, expert witnesses testified that the Mystic Alerts Act is a critical step toward closing the digital divide and strengthening public safety communications nationwide.

The press release stated that the witnesses included Capt. Jack Varnado, President of APCO International and 9-1-1 Director of Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and International Strategy, AST SpaceMobile, Matthew Gerst, Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, and Jeannette Sutton, PhD, Associate Professor of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, University at Albany.

The press release included a link to a video of Pfluger’s talk with the witnesses.