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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bipartisan, bicameral Mystic Alerts Act passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the President's desk. This critical legislation modernizes America's emergency alert infrastructure by integrating satellite networks into the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, helping ensure Americans can receive critical, life-saving alerts even when traditional communications infrastructure is damaged or nonexistent.

“I am grateful that the Mystic Alerts Act is now heading to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. The July 4th floods of 2025 were a heartbreaking tragedy that claimed lives across our state. My legislation will ensure that Americans in rural areas receive life-saving alerts when disaster strikes and traditional networks fail. I thank Senator Cornyn for his partnership in leading the Mystic Alerts Act in the Senate, and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz for advancing it through his committee. This marks a crucial step in updating emergency preparedness nationwide,” said Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11).

Rep. Pfluger introduced this bipartisan legislation alongside Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Buddy Carter (GA-01), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) led the Senate companion legislation.

“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 Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). “This bill 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 look forward to President Trump signing it into law soon.”

“When storms, disasters, or threats to public safety threaten our state, crisis management is key,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff (R-GA). “This bipartisan bill with Senator Cornyn will help upgrade America's emergency alert systems to keep Georgia families safe and informed.”

“My family knows firsthand the heartbreak of the tragedy at Camp Mystic. My granddaughters were there when the floodwaters came, and they lost their nine-year-old cousin, Janie Hunt. Nothing can bring back the precious lives we lost, but we can honor their memories by taking action to help prevent another tragedy. I’m proud to see the bipartisan Mystic Alerts Act headed to President Trump’s desk and one step closer to becoming law," said Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01).

“In Houston and across the state of Texas, we are still heartbroken and grieving the loss of beloved family members and the destruction of communities along the Guadalupe River in the summer of 2025, a disaster made worse by communication gaps and failures,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07). “This new law is a small but important way to provide a meaningful response to the devastating floods and to learn from the tragedy so that communities across the country do not have to experience the same pain and loss that Texans did last year. Nothing can bring back those that we lost in the flood, but we owe it to their survivors and to everyone we represent to do all we can to try to prevent another tragedy like it. I am thankful for Congressman Pfluger, Congressman Veasey, and Congressman Carter’s partnership in this effort and am thrilled to see this bill become law.”

"I am honored to support the Mystic Alerts Act, and proud this act is being sent to the President’s desk today to be signed into law. This bill will ensure that emergency alerts can be disseminated via satellite even when commercial cell providers are unable to provide service. Supporting this piece of legislation serves as a significant step and response to the devastation caused by last year’s floods in Texas and as a reminder of the importance of preparing for future flood disasters in our nation. When disaster strikes, every second matters, and no family should be left without critical information simply because the power or cell service is down," said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33).

Background:

On July 4, 2025, a devastating flood occurred in Central and West Texas, claiming over 130 lives. Multiple reports noted 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 (FCC) to establish the necessary rules and policies to preserve the effectiveness of WEA infrastructure while integrating satellite communications.

• Create a new communications pathway to deliver emergency alerts in areas where other infrastructure has been destroyed or taken offline.