Floor Statements

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Macy for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Macy is a native of Wheatland, WY. Macy is currently enrolled at Montana State University, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in business and military science. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Macy for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Charleigh Mellish for her hard work as an intern in my office in Cheyenne, WY. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Charleigh is a native of Cheyenne. She graduated in 2025 from South High School. She is a sophomore at Hastings College, where she plays on the collegiate softball team. After she graduates with majors in philosophy and religion, along with minors in sociology and writing, she hopes to attend law school at the University of Wyoming. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Charleigh for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Payton Smith for his hard work as an intern in my office in Cheyenne, WY. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Payton is a native of Cheyenne. He graduated in 2024 from Central High School. He is a senior at Rutgers University, where he is a member of the Rutgers Pre-Law Society and the Conservation Club. After he graduates with a major in political science, along with minors in environmental science and creative writing, he hopes to attend law school and eventually practice environmental law. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Payton for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Zach for his hard work and dedication as an intern in my Sheridan, WY, office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Zach is from Sheridan, WY. He recently completed his freshman year at George Mason University where he studied political science. He is currently working with a Navy recruiter for enlistment in the reserves. After completing training, he will serve as a reservist while enrolled at Purdue, studying international affairs and participating in ROTC. His end goal is serving as an officer while on active duty with the U.S. Navy. He has demonstrated an exceptionally strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Zach for the resolute dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Ella for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Ella is a native of Jackson, WY. Ella is currently enrolled at the University of Southern California, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in law and social justice. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Ella for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Wyoming's Crum Electric on its 50th anniversary. This outstanding Wyoming-based business has spent five decades helping power American communities, industries, and economic growth.

David H. Crum founded Crum Electric Supply in 1976 in Casper, WY. He grew it into one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the Rocky Mountain region. Since its founding in 1976, Crum Electric has grown from a single location electrical distributor into a trusted partner serving customers at 10 locations across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and South Dakota. Throughout that journey, the company has remained committed to the values that define American business: hard work, innovation, integrity, and exceptional customer service.

David has been a longtime leader in the industry. He served as the National Association of Electrical Distributors Chairman in 1996. He also received the Arthur W. Hooper Award in 2005. It is the association's highest individual honor for service and leadership. In 1999, the University of Wyoming recognized David with its Distinguished Alumni award.

In 2024, David announced his retirement after leading the company for nearly 50 years. David's legacy continues with his son Dave, who is now at the helm of Crum Electric as its CEO.

Electrical distributors like Crum Electric are often the unsung heroes of our economy. They ensure contractors, manufacturers, utilities, and businesses have the products and expertise needed to build schools, hospitals, factories, energy infrastructure, and the technologies that keep Wyoming and our country moving ahead.

As America modernizes its electric grid, expands domestic manufacturing, and invests in new energy technologies, Crum Electric will continue to play an indispensable role in strengthening our Nation's infrastructure and supply chains.

Congratulations to the entire Crum Electric team, past and present, on 50 years of excellence. I wish them continued success for many years to come.

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from Alabama (Mrs. Britt), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from Nebraska (Mrs. Fischer), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), the Senator from Florida (Mrs. Moody), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), and the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville).

Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Flowers nomination; further, that the Senate recess tomorrow from 12:30

until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly conference meetings and that all time during leader remarks, recess, and adjournment count postcloture on the Flowers nomination; and finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that following the remarks of my Republican colleagues, the Senate proceed to legislative session and that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Westercamp nomination.

Mr. President, over just the last couple of weeks, the people of Wyoming have celebrated two very important events: July 4, Independence Day, as America turned 250; and July 10, Wyoming Statehood Day. My home State of Wyoming turned 136 that day. We celebrated both of those great occurrences all across the State for a full week.

We had the iconic Cody Stampede Rodeo in Cody, WY. We saw volunteers in Gillette serve over 4,000 hot dogs at the Independence Day community celebration. We saw the Boy Scouts in Sheridan serve over 1,000 pancake breakfasts. And my Rotary Club in Casper celebrated the values that started our country. We had Wyoming best-selling author C.J. Box read the Declaration of Independence at a community gathering in Carbon County. The streets were packed for the Independence Day parade in Cody, and people then gathered at Veterans Park for the annual ``Let Freedom Ring'' celebration. The seats were full for the Big Wyo Rodeo in Sheridan and the Casper Rodeo finals just this past Saturday night. Our entire congressional delegation attended parades and festivities all across the Cowboy State.

This is the America that we saw these past 2 weeks. Yet there is another vision being offered to this country today, and we see it on the other side of the aisle. It is the vision being offered by the Democrats, and it is a dark vision, indeed. It is a vision of open borders, of high taxes, and of lawlessness. It is a vision that damages our communities and disrespects the values that Americans hold dear.

Today's Democrat Party has taken a radical turn to the left. Today's Democrat leadership is enabling it. America's largest city--the hometown of the minority leader, Senator Schumer--is now being run by a professed socialist. Our Nation's Capital is about to elect one as well.

People proclaiming to be socialists are winning Democrat primaries across the country. In Michigan, a Democrat front-runner for the U.S. Senate is campaigning with an extremist who blames America for the September 11 terrorist attacks. These were the attacks that 25 years ago cost the lives of 2,977 Americans.

Extremism drives the Democrat Party, and its influence within the party is growing. Here is what they want: Democrats want open borders. Democrats want to defund the police. Democrats want to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats want to abolish the U.S. Border Patrol. Democrats want to weaken law enforcement. They want to make it harder to remove illegal immigrant criminals from our communities. Democrats want to pack the Supreme Court. They want judges who will rewrite the law and ignore the Constitution. Democrats want to abolish the electoral college. They want to make it possible for only a handful of big cities in blue States to control the selection of the next President. Democrats want higher taxes. They want hard-working American families to pay for healthcare for illegal immigrants. Democrats want to keep affordable, available, reliable American energy in the ground.

That is today's Democrat Party. They are radical, they are extreme, they are dangerous, and they are scary.

You may have noticed that, in the middle of a heat wave, the new Democrat mayor told New Yorkers to turn up their air conditioning to 78 degrees. Why? Because the New York power grid was collapsing.

How could that be? Why was the New York power grid collapsing? Well, because New York Democrats--pressured by climate extremists--shut down reliable nuclear powerplants.

Welcome to the Democrat Party of 2026.

Alarmingly, in this very Chamber, Democrat leaders are cheering on the radical left. After socialists swept their primaries this summer, one Democrat Senator said that ``this is a very good trend.''

Another said it is a sign that their party is ``alive and well.''

Another said we are now seeing the ``future of the Democrat Party.''

By contrast, Republicans continue to deliver results. We passed the Working Families Tax Cut law. We stopped the largest tax increase in American history. We put more money back into the pockets of millions of hard-working Americans. Ninety-six percent of Americans who make under $200,000 a year benefited from the Working Families Tax Cut law.

Republicans secured the border. We passed the largest investment in border security in American history. We fully funded ICE and Border Patrol for the next 3 years, and we are deporting illegal immigrant criminals.

The contrast is clear: Democrats stand for high taxes, open borders, and lawlessness. Republicans stand for freedom, liberty, and American greatness.

America is worth defending. America is worth celebrating. America is worth fighting for. That is what Republicans are committed to doing, and that is what we did as the people of Wyoming over the Fourth of July.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) would have voted ``Yea.''

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker).

Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) would have voted ``nay'' and the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.