https://web.archive.org/web/20230514131052/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/politics/ted-cruz-senate-taiwan-noodles/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The cafeteria menu in the Senate building, which has been serving chinese style cuisine on Fridays as a tradition for over 15 years, changed the name of "Chow Mein" to "Taiwan noodles" in a culinary rebuke of communist mainland China lead by hard line GOP Texas senator Ted Cruz over the dictatorial country's various human rights abuses and democratic crack downs.

The name change was celebrated by Cruz and a bipartisan group of his senate colleagues. The group, which included Democrats Joe Manchin (D-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), among others, held a news conference to celebrate the new menu.

"This action today is a small, but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of communist China. From stealing our technology to the persecution of Christians, if President Biden won't stand up to these international bullies we will" said Senator Cruz, the sub chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. "Don't forget the Ughyers" interjected democratic Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.

Cruz began the effort by contacting his fellow Texas senator John Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Internal Affairs committee, which among other roles has power over the senate cafeteria. Cornyn circulated a letter suggesting such a move. Cruz said he was following the example of a local restaurant owner in his home state.

"I represent Texas, the state with the most military bases and active duty troops. As I've watched these men and women wave goodbye to their loved ones being sent all over the world to guarantee our security and freedom, I am reminded of the deep love they have for the freedom of this nation and their desire to fight. We cannot surrender our culture to the Marxist menace"

The recent event rings similar to a food name controversy in 2004 when french fries served in the House of Representatives were renamed to "freedom fries" in response to French criticism of the US war in Iraq

"Had I been in congress at the time, I would have absolutely supported the change. Absolutely" Stated Cruz when asked about the similarities.

The name change was criticized by independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.

"That's completely ludicrous to me," he said while leaving today's session with a box of donuts in hand.

The United States has accused the ruling Chinese Communist Party of subverting journalism, democracy, and a long list of human rights violations, including what the biden administration has called a genocide against the ethnic Ugyhur group in the eastern Xinjiang province.

Officials with the CCP Embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment.