Floor Statements

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

Willow is a native of Sundance. She attends Sheridan College, where she is studying to obtain her associates of science in social 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 Willow 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.

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

Eirini is a native of Athens, Greece. She attends Georgetown University, where she is studying to obtain her bachelor's in political science and economics. 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 Eirini 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.

Madam President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Kassidy 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.

Kassidy is a native of Casper. She recently graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor's in psychology and criminal 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 Kassidy 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 come to the floor having just listened to the minority leader of the Senate come to the floor, and I listened to what he had to say.

You know, it has been 10 weeks now that Republicans have been in the majority and the Democrats have been in the minority after the historic victory in November. The contrast is pretty significant. Senate Republicans made promises to the American people. We promised to get the country back on track. We are keeping that promise. We are hitting the ground running, and we are not turning back.

Most importantly for our successes, it has been because Republicans have remained united. As a result, we have a list of accomplishments as opposed to what we just heard the minority leader talk about.

First, the Senate has now confirmed all 21 members of President Trump's Cabinet, and we did it at a record pace--a faster pace than the Democrats were able to do for Obama in 2009 and faster than they were able to do it for President Biden in 2021. The pace with which Republicans have confirmed President Trump's nominees to the Cabinet-- as POLITICO pointed out today--all completed before the Senate has taken a break. That is where we are today. Historic speed.

With his team in place early, President Trump is able to execute effectively and efficiently the popular agenda for which he was elected. The Senate has prioritized confirming the President's national security team. We saw the horrific attack in New Orleans on New Year's. We continue to see chaos around the world. We need a national security team in place, we have prioritized that, and we have done it.

The Senate also passed the Laken Riley Act. It is now law, signed by the President. It is the first significant piece of immigration enforcement law signed in decades and just in the first number of weeks. It is actually the first bill that President Trump signed into law as the 47th President of the United States. It is going to save lives. It is going to prevent human tragedy like we saw happen in Georgia to that young nursing student.

I am very grateful to Senator Katie Britt of Alabama and Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina for their leadership in finding a bipartisan way to get this bill passed.

We have also focused on our shared agenda with the House and with the President to move quickly to pass a budget that is focused on border security, energy security for our Nation, as well as America's peace through strength. The Budget Committee--Lindsey Graham, who is chairman of the committee, and the members of the committee did groundbreaking work, all focused on making America stronger, better, more secure.

Senate Republicans are working with the House on a path forward now and working closely with Senator Mike Crapo of the Finance Committee, who is leading the charge to make sure we are not facing a $4 trillion tax increase, which is what the Democrats want. They want Americans to suffer the pain of $4 trillion in additional taxes. This is very important work to keep taxes low for hard-working families and continue to stimulate the economy.

I heard a lot from the minority leader about 5 minutes ago. He was talking about the future of Medicaid and of Medicare. I am a doctor and work closely with patients on all of those programs. But what I heard Senator Schumer do as he stood right there--it sounded to me like he is threatening to shut down the government. He sounds like somebody who is going to tell his Members: Vote against keeping the government open. We are so distraught about the fact that President Trump has been elected, so mad at the voters because they elected a Republican House and a Republican Senate, as well as sent President Trump back to the White House, that we just want to say: The heck with you; we are going to shut down the government.

It costs money to shut down the government. It costs money to reopen the government. It impacts services for the American people.

Democrats are so mad--you saw it last week when the President made his speech to Congress, to the joint session, his address to the Nation, the way they acted during that statement by the Commander in Chief--those are people that are just mad at the voters.

The American public liked what the President had to say that night. Overwhelmingly, those who saw the speech saw it as very positive, are happy with the direction of the country, happy with the leadership of the President. He is focused. He is forceful. He is effective, energetic, getting the job done.

That is not what I heard from the Senate minority leader just a few minutes ago. He sounded like somebody who is going to command the troops: Hey, shut down the government because we are mad, and we are going to take it out on the American people.

Let me set the record straight, because Republicans support Medicaid, and Republicans support Medicare. Just the other night, we passed Senator Dan Sullivan's amendment to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare. Not a single Democrat joined us.

These programs are in trouble today. Why? Because of the previous administration. Joe Biden weakened them by making them available for scammers, and that is what has happened. People are sucking money out of these programs who don't deserve to be doing it and are taking the care needed from hard-working American families.

Republicans want to protect and preserve and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. We want to do it for the people these vital programs were originally intended for--not for the scammers. Stopping scamming is a big part of this.

Additionally, when I take a look at some of the things we have done over the last several weeks, one is that we have reaffirmed our friendship with Israel. Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman

Jim Risch of Idaho introduced bipartisan legislation to impose severe sanctions on something called the International Criminal Court.

It is an illegitimate kangaroo court that targets Israel and does the bidding of Iran. Sanctioning the ICC would have sent a very strong message to the world--the message, of course, being ``America stands with Israel.'' Senate Democrats filibustered it; 45 Democrat Senators chose to abandon our closest ally.

Senate Republicans also successfully blocked destructive Democrat legislation attacking American energy production. Democrats actually tried to reverse President Trump's national energy emergency. America clearly faces an energy emergency. Energy prices went up 31 percent during the last 4 years under the Democrats' administration of punishing American energy. Well, led by Chairman Mike Lee of Utah, Republicans are taking the handcuffs off American energy. Look, we know unleashing American energy will help kick-start our economy.

Senate Republicans also voted to protect girls and women in sports. Senator Coach Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has been a champion of women's sports in the Senate. His legislation was common sense to over 80 percent of Americans. It said: Biological men should not be allowed to compete in women's sports against our daughters, our sisters--simple as that. Democrats filibustered it. They are completely out of touch with the American people, the Democrats are. And they are putting our female athletes in harm's way.

Senate Republicans also have erased some burdensome Biden regulations. We are cutting through the redtape, cutting redtape most significantly on American energy production. At the same time, we are also protecting America's financial freedom.

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana led efforts to end a Biden regulation on energy production on the Gulf of America. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota led efforts to cut $7 billion in natural gas taxes on our energy producers. Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska led the efforts to rein in unaccountable bureaucrats from snooping in your digital wallet. Democrats wanted to spy on everything you buy or do on Apple Pay, on Venmo, Zelle, with other apps. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led efforts to push back against IRS attacks on crypto currency.

Each of these resolutions passed the Senate, in spite of Democrat opposition. By reversing these heavyhanded rules, Republicans are making life more affordable for American families.

And this week, the Senate is moving to pass lifesaving legislation that is called the HALT Fentanyl Act. Approximately 70,000 Americans are poisoned or killed by elicit fentanyl each year in the United States. It is the No. 1 killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.

The HALT Fentanyl Act will aid efforts to crack down on drug dealers and criminal cartels that smuggle the poison into our country and into our communities. I am grateful that Leader Thune is putting this bipartisan legislation up for a vote.

You can sum up these early weeks in the Republican-led Senate in three words: fast, forceful, and effective. We aren't wasting time. We are not wasting time. We are just getting started.

Working together, Republicans are going to deliver for the American people.

I yield the floor.

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice).

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice).

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

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice).

I ask for the yeas and nays.

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice).

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

Mr. President, the American people know our government is too big, and it spends too much. The American people want to see an end to this wasteful Washington spending. They want Washington to work for them, not for Washington.

President Trump shares those views, and he wants government to work both efficiently and effectively. He is putting a stop to waste, to fraud, and to abuse. Democrats in this body are now, believe it or not, threatening a shutdown--a shutdown of the Government of the United States.

Shutting down the government is not an outcome that President Trump wants. It is not an outcome that any of the Republicans want. It costs money to shut down the government; and then it costs even more money to open the government again.

These shutdown-Democrats are acting irresponsibly. Why are they doing it? Because they want to defend the wasteful Washington spending that has gotten the American people so upset. What kind of waste have people been finding?

Let me point out, Mr. President, what we have been seeing that President Trump and those working with him have been able to find in terms of government waste:

$2 million to develop sustainable recycle models in the Balkans; $19 million on biodiversity conversations--conversations on biodiversity in Nepal; $47 million to improve learning outcomes in Asia; $1.5 million on ``voter confidence'' in Liberia, Africa; $21 million for voter turnout in India.

That is why the Democrats want to shut down the government. They want to continue this reckless Washington spending. They want to stop Republicans from rooting out the waste, the fraud, and the abuse.

This government runs out of money in 8 days. We need to pass legislation to get beyond that, but more and more Democrats in this Congress are calling for a shutdown as this deadline nears. Here is a headline from Politico this past week: ``Democrats are serious about a shutdown.''

Here is another from The Hill this past week:

Democrats digging in against full-year CR as shutdown

deadline ticks closer.

Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said:

Yes, Democrats would shut down the government.

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey who is a member of the leadership of the Democratic Party said:

Democrats will use every possible tool to stop President

Trump.

Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, what did he say? He said he is open to shutting down the government.

Democrats in House leadership also refused to come to the table and negotiate a spending deal.

The Senate should reject these reckless efforts. A shutdown strains Border Patrol agents. A shutdown strains our military because we know, Mr. President, Border Patrol agents and our troops will have to work regardless, and they won't get paid during the shutdown. They get paid later, but not during the shutdown. It makes very difficult to make ends meet if the paycheck isn't there at the end of the week.

These brave men and women should not have to pay the price because Democrats hate President Trump. These people make enough sacrifices on behalf of keeping our Nation safe and secure. Congress should be willing to make sure that they get a paycheck, not get caught in political games.

Make no mistake, Mr. President, the American people want President Trump's urgent action. They want it to continue. President Trump is doing exactly what the American people voted for.

Democrats calling for a shutdown are failing the American taxpayers. They are failing our servicemembers, and they are failing our Border Patrol agents. They sat on their hands during President Trump's inspiring address to the Nation the other evening. They oppose the commonsense changes that Americans voted for.

If there is a shutdown, Mr. President, it will be driven by and directed by the Democrats. Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer) and the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).