Amy Klobuchar

“I voted against this bill. I want to ban members of Congress from owning or trading stocks, but this bill still lets them do that. It also includes harmful rules that would make it harder for people to vote by mail.”

“Mr. President, I rise to discuss my vote on rollcall vote No. 253, the motion to proceed to the Stop Insider Trading Act. I strongly support efforts to remove potential conflicts of interest, promote strengthened ethical standards, and restore public trust in government. That is why I voted for commonsense legislation--the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act--which became law and bans lawmakers from trading on nonpublic information and requires lawmakers to disclose stock trades. And, it is why I am a cosponsor of the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, led by Senator Ossoff, which would ban Members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks and similar investments while in office. But instead of voting on that legislation today, Senate Republicans brought to the floor a bill that would continue to let members own and sell stocks and to trade stocks in privately held companies and therefore potentially profit from insider knowledge. As someone who has never owned individual stocks, I believe this bill simply isn’t strong enough. I am also disappointed that congressional Republicans have attached unrelated provisions to this legislation that would undermine voting rights. The bill includes provisions to restrict access to the ballot box that are more severe than any law in any state. The bill would effectively end voting by mail and create new burdens for voters and election officials. Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than our free and fair elections and the right of Americans to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Voting is how the American people make their voices heard and ensure their elected leaders are held accountable. While I have long supported efforts to ensure that lawmakers cannot use insider information to profit off of their elected office, we should not be making it harder for eligible Americans to cast their ballot. For that reason, I opposed the bill.”

“I want the Senate to pass this resolution to pull our troops out of the war with Iran. Congress never approved this war. It has gone on for six months with no plan to end it. It has killed American troops, cost billions of dollars, and driven up gas prices. The President must end it.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to urge the Senate to assert its constitutional authority and to demand accountability for the grave costs that servicemembers, their families, and the American people have shouldered because of the President’s war in Iran. After more than 6 months--6 months--it is clear that the President had no plan when the war started and has no plan for how to end it. To be clear, Iran is a terrorist state and should never have a nuclear weapon, and the regime’s aggression in the region and repression of Iranian citizens must end. That is why I have long supported sanctions against Iran as well as the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated by President Obama and our allies. And I opposed President Trump’s decision to take us out of that agreement. Our ultimate goal must be peace in the region. But more than 6 months into this conflict, American servicemembers have been killed, including my constituent MSG Nicole Amor, who was among those killed by an Iranian strike on a United States facility in Kuwait on March 1. Innocent civilians across the region have also been killed, and the costs keep mounting. Beyond the toll on human life, the costs of the war to taxpayers is staggering. The Pentagon recently estimated that it has already spent $42 billion on this unauthorized war so far--$42 billion. This is money that could be used to expand childcare or to restore healthcare premium tax credits to help millions of Americans who have seen their healthcare premiums double or triple this year or how about the 8 million people who, just this last year, have given up coverage entirely? That $40 billion, that could have extended the tax credits to help people afford their insurance premiums for over a year. And now the President is asking for $70 billion more. That is 2 more years of those tax credits. As a result of this war, American families continue to face spiking gas prices, costing consumers more than $800 per family in higher gas and diesel costs. American people, outside of what I just outlined that the Pentagon has spent of its taxpayer money, have spent over $100 billion on this war in higher prices. In Minnesota, gas prices are up more than a $1.50 since the day before the war started. Diesel prices--right as farmers are going to harvest--have doubled across the country. These higher fuel prices also make trucking, in addition to farming and freight, more expensive, hitting families and small businesses over and over again when you add to that the tariffs. That is why Congress must step up and assert our authority under the Constitution. Congress did not authorize this war. And more than 6 months in, Congress still has not authorized this war--6 months in. And our colleagues on the other side of the aisle keep just giving up their authority. Why even come here? Why even take this job if you are going to just let one President run over you and be able to make his own calls and just say: Hey, we are going to a war. It is going to cost the American people over $100 billion. It is going to spike up prices across the country. Innocent people are going to be killed, and then we are going to lose soldiers at the same time. In fact, both Houses of Congress have passed resolutions to stop this unauthorized war. I have voted a dozen times to stop this war, unless Congress passes an authorization, and I will continue to vote that way until Congress restores its role in decisions of war and peace. The American people are asking what this war has accomplished: Are we closer to a strong and strict agreement to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions? The answer is no. Are we now dealing with Iranian leaders who are less hardline? The answer is no. Have we preserved open shipping routes that are so important for trade? Answer, no. It is time for the President to end this war. It is time for the work to bring costs down for the American people and foster lasting peace in the region. This is our moment. I yield the floor.”

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“We must continue to support our firefighters and emergency workers. Years after September 11, they still risk their lives every day to protect our communities. Congress needs to make sure they have the equipment, benefits, and help they need to stay safe.”

“Mr. President, in the years since September 11, that obligation has taken many forms. The Congressional Fire Services Caucus has worked to ensure that the needs of America’s first responders remain a priority in Washington, DC--advocating for the resources, protections, benefits, and support they need to serve their communities and return home safely. The work of the Fire Services Caucus reflects a responsibility that extends far beyond any single anniversary: to understand the needs and challenges of our local fire and EMS personnel, to stand with those who stand ready to protect us, and to ensure that our Nation does not forget the sacrifices made every day in service to others. Across our cities, towns, and rural communities, first responders answer emergency calls regardless of what awaits them at the scene. They respond to fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents, natural disasters, and much more with the same dedication and sense of duty that defined those who responded on September 11. The work of the fire and emergency services is indispensable to the safety and well-being of every American.”

“I want the Senate to block this amendment. The spending bill already bans fake hemp products, but it gives us four more weeks to make good rules for natural hemp. Natural hemp supports farmers and small businesses, brings in tax money, and should not be quickly banned.”

“Mr. President, I rise this evening on behalf of myself and Senator Sheehy and several others, Democrats and Republicans. I represent farmers, small businesses, brewers, and consumers in my State, and I urge my colleagues to table Senator Budd’s amendment and give this body 4 more weeks to work toward legislation that supports a thriving hemp industry, ensures proper regulation, and protects kids from dangerous products. As is, the bipartisan continuing resolution that is before us delays a ban on naturally produced hemp products for 4 weeks while taking synthetic hemp derivatives off the market. That is important to note. That is included in this continuing resolution. The original ban, the broad ban, the entire ban--and I know that in my State, we have safety rules in place that have worked very well. The product is taxed. We have not had issues with it since we put those rules in place. The original ban was tucked into a bill to reopen the government last November. Many Members didn’t have the chance to learn about it. There had been no hearings. Now they have learned more. Bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House--bipartisan bills--to regulate this market. Back then, that ban moved forward without input from the people who would be impacted. In my State alone, hemp products brought in $16 million of State tax revenue in 2025. Senator Budd has raised concerns about certain hemp products, and I agree with him. That is why bad actors that sell synthetic products will not be allowed to sell them, in this continuing resolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to table this amendment and maintaining the bipartisan agreement included in the continuing resolution. Mr. President, I move to table amendment No. 6747, and I ask for the yeas and nays.”

“I was not here for the vote to confirm Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If I had been here, I would have voted no.”

“Mr. President, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, I participated in the Minnesota Farmfest Governor Forum in Redwood County, MN. Had I been present, I would have voted nay on the vote before the Senate to confirm Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rollcall vote No. 220, Executive Calendar No. 910.”