U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz spent the day in Corpus Christi on Aug. 25, visiting the local naval air station, having lunch with the mayor and holding a veterans roundtable. Fresh off his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for president, Cruz seems to have turned his attention back to the constituent concerns of his home state.
He began the day at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, where he was given a briefing and a tour. He was taken to the Navy’s training facilities, where he inspected equipment used by U.S. Navy pilots. He even climbed aboard one plane and sat in the pilot’s seat. 
Cruz also reportedly discussed a proposed wind farm south of the city. No details have been released about the discussion, but the issue has been in the news. 
The Federal Aviation Administration recently sent a letter to the city denying its request for a review of its position on the proposed Chapman Ranch Wind Farm. Also, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy have signed a memorandum of understanding with wind farm company Apex Clean Energy stating that the 86 turbines to be installed would not be a problem for nearby naval air stations or the Corpus Christi International Airport. The city council, the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and the Nueces County commissioners disagree. (Read: Chapman Ranch wind farm closer to reality 8/25/2016)
Lunch was spent at the Railroad Seafood Station Brewing Company in the city’s downtown area with Mayor Nelda Martinez. The two reportedly discussed the local economy, jobs and legislation relating to U.S. 69 and the Port of Corpus Christi.  
Cruz left lunch to participate in a roundtable discussion with local military veterans and leaders at the Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority’s new building in uptown. 
“In Texas, we’re blessed with a strong military and veteran presence,” Cruz said. “We are a state that reveres our veterans, and Corpus Christi is a community that has a long and storied military history.”
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi has trained thousands of U.S. Navy pilots in its 75 years. It employs nearly 13,000 people and contributed more than $2 billion to Texas’ economy in 2015. 
“Texas’ 1.7 million veterans have risked everything to keep us safe,” Cruz said at the meeting. “Unfortunately, our veterans struggle with the VA on a daily basis.”
He called the Veteran Administration’s management, bookkeeping and long wait times unacceptable and a disgrace. 
Cruz serves on the Armed Service Committee. As a candidate for president, he promised that, if elected, he would make the VA and its employees criminally liable for denying care to vets. He also advocated allowing veterans to seek medical treatment outside the VA.
“I remain committed to empowering veterans to choose their own doctor,” he said at the Aug. 25 meeting in Corpus Christi. “[I] am confident that, by working together, we can craft bold and innovative solutions that provide veterans with the quality care that they deserve.”
He also listened. After the public portion of the meeting, Cruz met privately with veterans before leaving the city. 
He visited another military base this month during a series of trips across the state to meet with constituents. On Aug. 12, he toured Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene.