Sen. Cruz Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on ATM Robberies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, issued the following statement after Senate passage of the Safe Access to Cash Act. This bipartisan legislation applies the same federal penalties to robberies involving off-site automatic teller machines (ATMs) as those that apply to robberies involving ATMs at financial institutions. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for passage. Sen. Cruz said, “In Texas and across the country, criminals are increasingly targeting ATMs, putting workers, bystanders, law enforcement, and first responders in danger. This common-sense legislation strengthens federal penalties to deter these criminals and disrupt the organized networks behind these robberies. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill through the Senate, and I urge the House to pass it and send it to the President’s desk.” Click here to read more about the bill. BACKGROUND: The Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 currently applies to banks and financial institutions, but not to standalone ATMs in malls, convenience stores, or other public locations. Robbers and thieves are increasingly targeting ATMs, with theft rates rising dramatically each year since 2019. ATMs can be robbed in as little as three minutes and may hold as much as $250,000. Houston is currently tied with Chicago and Philadelphia as one of the cities facing serious ATM theft. Sens. Cruz and Gallego introduced the bipartisan Safe Access to Cash Act in February 2026.