John Thune

“The Democratic Party is moving toward socialism. Socialists are winning Democratic elections and bringing extreme ideas into the party. Their platform wants the government to take over healthcare, housing, schools, and business. They want to get rid of police, prisons, the military, and border enforcement. They even want to eliminate the Senate and change how our whole government works. Some of their leaders are open communists, and that leads to taking away people's freedom.”

“Mr. President, there is no doubt that the Democrat Party has moved sharply left in recent years, but this election cycle has seen the Democrat Party take a big step further toward full-blown socialism. New York City’s new Democrat mayor, a self-proclaimed Democrat socialist, might be the most notable example, but he is far from alone. Around the country, socialists have been winning Democrat primaries, and it is no exaggeration to say that socialism is rapidly gaining a prominent new role in the Democrat Party. So let’s talk a little bit about socialism and the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America. When you look at the platform, right away, you see some predictable things; namely, government control of almost everything. Healthcare, business, housing, education, energy-- all of these sectors would come under government control in a democratic socialist state. And when I say ``government control,’’ I don’t just mean they would be hit with a lot of regulations; I mean government control. Government would become the ultimate decisionmaker for American families in most aspects of their life. Take healthcare, for example. We often talk about the doctor-patient relationship in medicine. Well, under democratic socialism, that would be a lot more like the government-patient relationship. It is the government that would decide what healthcare Americans are eligible for, what medications they can take, and when and where they are able to access care. Americans place a high value on choice and freedom, but freedom and choice do not last very long when government takes over, and under democratic socialism, government would be truly taking over. I could dedicate a whole speech to what happens when government takes control of the economy and the means of production and of healthcare and education and energy. But there is more to the Democratic Socialist platform that I want to talk about. I guess I have to hand it to Democratic Socialists. Despite their plan for government takeover of most aspects of American life, they do have a couple of cuts on the table. But the nature of those cuts is a big problem. Democratic Socialists would like to defund the Pentagon; they would like to abolish immigration enforcement; and they would like to eliminate the police. That is right. The official platform--the official platform of the Democratic Socialists states that their goal is to ``demilitarize police departments, disempower police unions, and redirect funding to public services as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system.’’ Think about that: ``as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system’’--the official platform of the Democratic Socialists of America. I don’t think I need to explain to anyone just how unhinged that is. If anyone thinks we can keep our communities safe while fully abolishing the police and prison system, I have some oceanfront property in South Dakota to sell them. The problem is that Democratic Socialists do believe this. Swept up in their utopian fantasies, they believe that by implementing the right system--socialism--they can somehow do away with human evil and remove the need for police or prisons--or armies, for that matter. But, of course, no system is going to be able to fully eliminate evil. No matter how many social programs you put in place or how much education the government provides, there are always going to be men and women who choose to harm others for their own ends. And the idea that we would eliminate the men and women who protect society from these people-- well, again, I don’t think I need to explain to anyone just how quickly the peace and safety that we take for granted would evaporate, on both the local and national scale. And the Democratic Socialist platform doesn’t end there. Everything I have discussed so far would remake our country on a massive scale to the point of its being unrecognizable as the free, secure, and prosperous Nation that we have known over the past 250 years. But Democratic Socialists would take it even further. Their platform calls for officially changing our system of government, for eliminating the Senate and replacing ``the President and Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress.’’ Those aren’t tweaks around the margin; that is a full abolishment of the American system. That is the elimination of the checks and balances that define our government and help prevent any one branch from exceeding its lawful authority, and it is the elimination of real protection for minority rights. ``[W]e know complete victory will require building a new society from the ground up’’ the authors of the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America write. And that is exactly what they propose to do: eliminate the American system and build another in its place. And this is the political organization that is currently finding a home in the Democrat Party. Democrats are giving a home to an organization that is not merely dedicated to the radical expansion of government but to the actual elimination of our system of government. Why? Well, at its worst, socialism moves into full-blown communism-- the economic system that characterized the Soviet Union and oversaw not merely the exploitation of workers and ordinary people but the complete loss of freedom for millions and the death of millions more. And just in case you think that has nothing to do with the Democratic Socialists of America, think again. The Wall Street Journal reports that several members of the Democratic Socialists’ National Political Committee are ``dedicated Marxists and communists.’’ One of the organization’s national cochairs, in fact, is a member of the Democratic Socialists’ Red Star Caucus whose goal is not merely socialism but communism. Communism--the hallmark of some of the world’s most repressive regimes. So I ask again, why are Democratic Socialists finding a home in the Democrat Party? I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”

“Republicans have cut taxes, secured the border, and helped small businesses over the last two years. Democrats have opposed these efforts and want to run the whole country like California. California has high taxes, strict energy rules, blackouts, and high living costs. People and businesses are leaving that state. Republicans are working to block these kinds of regulations nationwide.”

“Mr. President, last week, I came to the floor to discuss some of the things this Republican majority has delivered over the last 2 years: permanently lowering taxes for families, a secure border. We have worked to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and make home ownership more affordable, and we have delivered regulatory relief and tax policies to help our Nation’s small businesses as well as family farms and ranches. Republicans have spent the last 2 years delivering on our agenda, and it should be pretty clear what we stand for: more money in your pocket, safer streets, and new and more opportunities to get ahead. Our Democratic colleagues, however, have spent much of the last 2 years opposing this agenda. They have cast a lot of ``no’’ votes and criticized Republicans’ agenda at seemingly every turn. So one has to wonder: What do Democrats stand for? What is their vision for this country? Well, I think their last stint in power is pretty instructive: Democrats’ vision for the country looks a lot like the Big Government vision Democrats have implemented in California. You don’t have to take my word for it. A Los Angeles Times headline a few days before President Biden took office read ``Make America California again? That’s Biden’s plan.’’ ``California,’’ the article went on to say, ``is emerging as the de facto policy think tank of the Biden-Harris administration and of a Congress soon to be under Democratic control.’’ That is right. In the words of the L.A. Times, Democrats leaned on California for inspiration in setting a progressive policy agenda for the Biden administration. Democrats’ push to raise taxes mirrored California’s high tax rates-- the highest individual rates in the country. The Biden administration’s disastrous approach to illegal immigration embraced the sanctuary policies and soft-on-crime laws for which California is the poster child. On regulation, Democrats were determined to follow the lead of the most regulated State in the Union--especially on energy. Never mind the fact that over the years, Californians have faced rolling blackouts, been asked to limit their electricity usage, and paid some of the highest energy prices in the country--Democrats still tried to take the California plan national. On more than one occasion, the Biden administration basically gave the pen to California regulators to write the rules that would affect all Americans. That is what happened with electric vehicles. The Biden administration not only implemented its own California-style electric vehicle mandate, it also allowed California to impose a de facto EV mandate on the rest of the country. Fortunately, Republicans rescinded that mandate just last year, and our work continues to block other mandates of the same sort. We have a number of resolutions in the pipeline to address painful California regulations that have created de facto mandates for the entire country. Senators Ricketts and Husted have resolutions related to California’s strict emissions standards targeting gas-powered vehicles. Senator Schmitt has another on California’s unrealistic emissions standards for cars. Senators Sullivan and Moreno have introduced resolutions related to commercial shipping vessels. Senator Lummis’ resolution would block a California rule restricting small motors for things like lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Yes, as this list suggests, California will regulate just about anything that moves, ignoring the fact that these types of rules restrict consumer choice and lead to higher prices for working families. As I mentioned, California’s rush to electrification strained its power grid to the point that it faced rolling blackouts and high energy prices, and regulators had to ask residents not to charge their electric vehicles at certain hours. It confounds me as to why we would try to do the same thing nationwide. And that is exactly what Democrats tried to do during the Biden administration. Over the summer, U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of States on a number of criteria. Here is how California ranked: 46th in energy, 41st in pre-K through 12 education, 48th in employment, and 50th in affordability--last place. And I struggle to think of a Democrat who has critiqued the way California is run. Instead, as I have said, Democrats continue to seek to impose a California-style regulatory regime on the whole country. And when it comes to illegal immigration, the national Democratic Party is now to the left, if you can imagine that--to the left of California. Earlier this year, national Democrats tried to completely defund Border Patrol and immigration enforcement, a move that would have effectively made America a sanctuary country. And I fully expect that a Democrat government here in Washington would be spending taxpayer dollars on benefits like healthcare for illegal immigrants, as California has done. President Reagan, the Governor of California in another era, once said: Well, Americans are leaving California in droves. In each of the past 6 years, the Golden State has had the largest net loss of population on the U-Haul index. Businesses and employers are leaving, taking jobs and opportunities to other States. That should be instructive. That should be instructive to us here. But Democrats don’t--or perhaps won’t--take the hint. California ranks last--dead last--in affordability, but it is the first place Democrats look to for ideas on how to govern. We could do better. Republicans are doing better. And that is why so many Californians are moving to red States and leaving Democrats’ failed policies behind. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”

“I spent the summer traveling across South Dakota and listening to our farmers, small businesses, and workers. Republican tax cuts helped our farmers and businesses. I am disappointed that Senate Democrats voted against the farm bill, but I will keep working to support our producers.”

“Mr. President, late summer in South Dakota is one of my favorite times of the year. And as usual, I spent a lot of it crisscrossing the State, talking to South Dakotans and seeing some of the great things that are happening from Sisseton to Spearfish to Sioux Falls. Late summer, of course, is fair season, and I made the rounds of multiple fairs: Brown County, Turner County, Butte-Lawrence Counties, the State fair, Dakotafest. I love the chance to meet so many South Dakota families and to hear what is on their minds. And, of course, if I can eat a little fair food while I am at it, it is even better. I particularly value the opportunity I have at these fairs to hear from the men and women of South Dakota’s leading industry, which is agriculture. The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a terrific agribusiness meeting at the Brown County Fair, and the Dakotafest congressional forum always provides me with a lot of valuable feedback from South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Outside the fair circuit, I also had the chance to talk to South Dakota ag producers at a number of other stops, including the CHS Southwest Grain elevator in Lemmon and the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit. Farmers and ranchers are facing a lot of headwinds right now, and I am committed to do everything I can in Washington to help producers. I am proud that the Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cut legislation strengthened a number of programs producers depend on, such as crop insurance and commodity and livestock programs. And while I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have chosen to put politics ahead of producers and unanimously opposed the farm bill, which was voted on yesterday at the Senate Ag Committee, I haven’t given up. Another big perk of the past few weeks has been the opportunity to visit South Dakota small businesses. I got to tour Gameday Social’s new headquarters in Sioux Falls, sit down with ranchers and other community leaders at the Lazy Spurr in Bison, tour Woodland Cabinetry in Sisseton, and more. I love hearing from small business owners about how the Working Families Tax Cut is helping their businesses, and I value the opportunity to hear what else we can do in Washington to help small businesses grow and thrive and create jobs. It is always an honor to get to talk to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect their fellow Americans. Over the past few weeks, I had the chance to visit with South Dakota sheriffs at a roundtable in Flandreau, chat with members of the Lemmon Volunteer Fire Department, and show the Under Secretary of the Army around Ellsworth Air Force Base. Anticipation is building for the arrival of the B-21 bomber, which is the future of the long-range strike, and we had some great discussions about the preparations that are underway. We also had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the South Dakota industrial base and academia about their contributions to the joint force, like the work that VRC Metal Systems in Box Elder is doing on cold-spray maintenance technology. There were so many other great moments from my travels: getting to tour Spearfish High School’s Career and Technical Education Center; visiting Dakota State’s Applied Research Corporation to discuss how South Dakota can be a leader in cyber security and national intelligence; interacting with students at Black Hills State University; participating in the groundbreaking of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Technical College, which is a deeply meaningful moment for me as a former Jim Abdnor staffer. Late summer in South Dakota can’t be beat, and I am very proud to be from our great State. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 24 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want the Senate to pass the Clarity Act. It sets clear, light rules for cryptocurrency across the country, just like we did for stablecoins last year. The bill protects investors from fraud, stops companies from misusing customer money, and clearly divides oversight between regulators. We made over one hundred changes that Democrats asked for, so I urge them to vote for this bill now.”

“Mr. President, last year, Congress passed the GENIUS Act, which is the first bill regulating digital assets ever to become law. And the GENIUS Act was a landmark bill for more reasons than just being the first. It applied a light-touch approach to digital asset regulation that provides clear rules of the road for stablecoins, while allowing space for continued innovation and encouraging that innovation to happen right here in the United States. We have already seen the positive effects of that approach. Stablecoin market capitalization increased by 49 percent in 2025, due in part to the regulatory clarity provided by the GENIUS Act. Visa and Mastercard have been investing in stablecoin-linked credit cards amid heightened demand for such cards. Visa alone tripled its offer of stablecoin-linked credit cards last year, and one Visa executive called the GENIUS Act a huge turning point for the industry. Thanks to clear regulatory guidelines for stablecoins, the digital asset industry is moving in the right direction in the United States. That is a stark contrast to how things were under the Biden administration. Not long ago, digital assets operated in a legal gray zone in this country. The Biden administration was regulating crypto companies with arbitrary enforcement measures, subjecting crypto firms to numerous lawsuits. And these hostile actions led a number of U.S.-based companies to consider moving out of the United States altogether. We can all agree that the United States should be the world’s leader in financial innovation, and as the GENIUS Act proves, innovation surges with certainty. When we passed the GENIUS Act over a year ago, I said market structure legislation would be the next logical step. Today, thanks to the leadership of Senator Lummis and Chairmen Scott and Boozman and a lot of hard work from a number of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Senate has the opportunity to take that step with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The Clarity Act would apply the same approach that we took on stablecoins in the GENIUS Act to the entire digital asset ecosystem. It would provide clear rules of the road while encouraging innovation to happen right here in America. To begin with, the Clarity Act distinguishes the jurisdictions of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, while ensuring that the CFTC and the SEC still work together to harmonize their rules. The Clarity Act also ensures that companies can’t skirt securities laws that apply to other financial assets, and it protects the growing number of Americans investing in and utilizing digital assets. It provides everyday Americans with the information they need to make investment decisions, prevents value manipulation schemes, and ensures that law enforcement has the tools that it needs to go after bad actors and fraud. Anyone concerned about another failure like the FTX collapse a few years ago should want to see the Clarity Act passed quickly. This bill would prevent another FTX. It would require exchanges to be subject to examination and provide transparency so that regulators can intervene before harm becomes widespread. It would prevent companies from using customers’ funds as their own, as FTX did, and it would ensure that exchanges and their affiliates can’t trade on their own platforms. This bill has support from large financial institutions and law enforcement organizations, and it has had bipartisan support from the beginning. As I said, this bill has been a bipartisan work in progress for over a year, with roots that go back even before that. In the last year, 126 substantive changes have been made to the bill at the request of our Democrat colleagues. The Clarity Act was reported out of the Banking Committee on a bipartisan vote, and, over the weekend, Senators Lummis, Boozman, and Scott released a final draft that incorporated even more of Democrats’ demands, in the interest of moving forward with this bill. The question now is whether Democrats will take yes for an answer. Digital assets are firmly rooted in the United States. One in five American adults has invested in or used cryptocurrency. The overwhelming majority of crypto owners want clear rules of the road and protections like those provided in the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act. This is a shared priority for Republicans, Democrats, and President Trump. We have been working at it now for over a year. The only reason for this progress to end now would be if Democrats choose politics over good policy. And now is not the time for political games. We have seen what regulatory certainty did to promote innovation and growth in stablecoins. We have an opportunity to do that across the entire digital asset industry by passing the Clarity Act. We should take the opportunity before us to ensure this innovation happens right here in America and that the United States remains the leader in financial technology well into the future. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”

“I am thanking Aiden Whitley for his hard work as an intern in my Rapid City office. He is a college student from Edgemont, South Dakota, studying political science. I wish him success in the future.”

“Mr. President, today I recognize Aiden Whitley, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Aiden is from Edgemont, SD, where he graduated with his high school diploma from homeschool. Currently, he is attending Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in political science. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Aiden for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 44 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want to recognize Morgan Schroeder, an intern in my Rapid City office. She has worked hard for my staff and for South Dakota. I thank her for her service and wish her the best.”

“Mr. President, today I recognize Morgan Schroeder, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several months. Morgan is a graduate of White Lake High School in White Lake, SD. Currently, she is attending Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, where she is pursuing a degree in political science. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Morgan for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 28 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want to thank Cruz Collin for his hard work as an intern in my South Dakota office. I wish him success in the future.”

“Mr. President, today I recognize Cruz Collin, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Cruz is a graduate of the International School of Toulouse in Toulouse, France. Currently, he is attending the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR, where he is pursuing a degree in renewable energy engineering and applied physics. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Cruz for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.”

“I am congratulating the Capitol Guide Service on its 150th anniversary. Tour guides have shown visitors the Capitol and taught them about our government since 1876.”

“Mr. President, this year, we celebrate 150 years of the Capitol Guide Service. Since 1876, Capitol guides have welcomed visitors to the U.S. Capitol and shared with them the history, art, and architecture that make this building a symbol of American democracy. Over the last 150 years, their uniforms have changed, but the mission of the Capitol guides remains the same. Generations of Americans have passed through this building and learned about our Nation and our government from the Capitol Guide Service. And thanks to these men and women, visitors from around the world can see and understand this building and the business of the American people being done within its walls. When the first guides began their tours in 1876, Constantino Brumidi was still at work, statues were still arriving from the States, and many States had not yet been admitted to the Union, my own included. The guides in this building are not only history-tellers; they are witnesses to history in the making. I congratulate them on 150 years of welcoming visitors to the Capitol, and I wish them the best in their continued service.”

“Democrats left the country with high prices and an open border. Republicans fixed these problems over the last two years. We cut taxes permanently, stopped taxes on tips and overtime, cut regulations, and lowered medicine costs. We also secured the southern border, dropping illegal crossings by ninety percent.”

“Madam President, it is hard to believe that we are in the last few months of the 119th Congress. Two years ago at this time, Democrats were still in charge, and the country was dealing with the two defining legacies of the Biden administration: a historic inflation crisis and a historic immigration crisis. And I don’t use the word ``historic’’ lightly, but those two crises were truly historic. Democrats presided over the worst inflation crisis in 40 years, with inflation reaching 7, 8, and 9 percent. And they presided over 4 straight years--4 straight years--of recordbreaking-- recordbreaking--illegal immigration. Republicans’ priority when we came into office was dealing with the effects of these crises, and that started with preventing a massive tax hike on hard-working Americans. As everyone knows, during the first Trump administration, Republicans passed a historic reform of our Tax Code. We cut tax rates across the board, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction. But that tax relief was scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The standard deduction, which is claimed by 90 percent of Americans on their taxes, would have shrunk, increasing the amount of Americans’ income the government could tax. Tax rates would have increased. The child tax credit would have been reduced by 50 percent. For a typical family in my State, that would have meant sending an additional $2,500 a year to Washington. Well, Republicans were not going to let that happen. And so in 2025, we passed the Working Families Tax Cut--sometimes known as the One Big Beautiful Bill--to prevent this massive tax hike on hard-working Americans. We made the increased standard deduction permanent; we made the lower tax rates permanent; and we made the increased child tax credit permanent. In other words, more money in American families’ pockets permanently. But we didn’t stop there. We were well aware that Americans had had a very rough time financially under the Biden administration and so we took action to put additional money in hard-working Americans’ pockets. In 2017, we had doubled the child tax credit. In 2025, we not only made that increase permanent, we boosted the child tax credit even further and indexed it to inflation so its value will never go down. We also implemented no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, substantially lowering the tax bills of millions of hard-working Americans, from Uber and Lyft drivers to hairdressers, to police officers. And we added a new bonus deduction for seniors, making retirement more affordable for millions of older Americans. And our efforts to help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money didn’t stop with the Working Families Tax Cuts. We have also spent this Congress cutting burdensome regulations that have driven up prices for hard-working Americans, from the California electric vehicle mandate, which would have forced Americans into costly electric cars, to regulations that would have driven up the cost of appliances. We passed landmark housing legislation in June to help keep hard- working Americans from being priced out of the housing market, and we took action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter as well. We passed a law to ensure that patients get the savings from any discounts or rebates from their purchases at the pharmacy counter in their healthcare plans. We removed incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to promote higher priced medications at the expense of seniors. And we improved access to more affordable generic drugs. As I said, in addition to reducing taxes and working to lower costs, Republicans were also committed to dealing with the Biden border crisis. President Trump took action immediately to get the situation at our southern border under control, and the reduction in illegal immigration has been staggering. During the last full year of the Biden border crisis, which was fiscal year 2024, there were well over 2 million illegal immigrant encounters at our southern border. Well, we are almost done with fiscal year 2026, and do you want to know how many encounters there have been at the southern border? Fewer than 120,000. We are looking at somewhere on the order of a 90-percent decrease. And do you want to know how many of those illegal immigrants have been released into the United States? Zero. That is right, not a single illegal immigrant has been released into the United States during the entire 2026 fiscal year. Now, that has been the case for 15 straight months, in fact, under President Trump. And I don’t need to tell anyone what a massive turnaround that is from the Biden administration, which presided over the release of millions of illegal immigrants into our country’s interior. The dangers of the unchecked illegal immigration that we saw under the Biden administration are manifold. And to help prevent anything like that from happening again, the Working Families Tax Cut included substantial resources to help guarantee the security of our Nation’s border from additional Border Patrol agents to security technology. We also boosted funding for our national defense and for law enforcement. Safer communities and a safer country, that has been and will continue to be a Republican priority. Our work isn’t done, but I am proud of what we have been able to do this Congress to put more money in Americans’ pockets and to help make our country more secure. And hard-working Americans will continue to be at the top of Republicans’ agenda. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”

“It has been 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Many young Americans were not alive then, so we must make sure we do not forget the heroes who risked their lives to help others that day.”

“Madam President, on Friday, our Nation paused to observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The passage of time has only emphasized the need for remembrance. For many of us, the events of that day are as fresh and clear as they were yesterday. But there are so many young Americans--young adults even, now--who were not alive then and who do not remember the grief of that day, the evil we saw, and the patriotism and resolve that rose from the ashes. There are young men and women who have never heard the stories of the heroes--the firefighters, the first responders, the men and women of Flight 93, the ordinary Americans who placed the lives of others above their own. In the darkness of that day, the very best of America stood up, and I pray that we will never forget their example.”

“I ask that the Senate adjourn until Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10 a.m.”

“Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 4:56 a.m., adjourned until Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10 a.m.”

“I am asking the Senate to approve its schedule and vote times for next week.”

“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, September 10, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 14; 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, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, at 5:30 p.m., the cloture motion with respect to the Byrne nomination ripen; finally, notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motion with respect to the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 423, H.R. 3633 ripen on Tuesday, September 15, at 2:15 p.m.”

“I am asking to print the text of my bill in the official record. The bill limits the pay and benefits for Postal Service leaders.”

“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 5373. A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to limit the compensation and benefits provided to executive officers of the Postal Service, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 37 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I ask that Senate leaders be allowed to appoint people to commissions and committees while the Senate is away.”

“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to Commissions, Committees, Boards, Conferences, or Interparliamentary Conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.”

“I am asking the Senate to agree on a plan to debate and vote on this resolution by October 2.”

“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at a time to be determined by the majority leader in concurrence with the Democratic leader, no later than Friday, October 2, H. Con Res. 89 be discharged from the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate proceed to its consideration; further, there be 6 hours of debate only, with time divided between the leaders or their designees on the concurrent resolution and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution.”

“I am asking the Senate to set the schedule and voting rules for this bill, a presidential nomination, another bill, and our upcoming recess.”

“Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that all pending amendments and motions be withdrawn and the only amendments remaining in order be the following to be offered by the sponsor or their designee and with 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each vote: Collins No. 6732; Collins No. 6750; and Budd No. 6747; further, upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the Budd amendment, if offered; and upon disposition of the amendment, the Collins amendment No. 6732, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; finally, if passed, the Collins amendment to the title, No. 6750, be agreed to and the title, as amended, be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; further, that following disposition of H.R. 6500, the cloture motion with respect to the Blanche nomination ripen and, if cloture is invoked, all time be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination and, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate resume legislative session; provided, that it then be in order for the Senator from Ohio Mr. Husted or his designee to move to proceed to S. 5271 and present a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed and the motion ripen immediately and the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture without intervening action or debate; provided, that if the cloture motion is agreed to, the motion to proceed be agreed to and that there be up to 2 hours of debate on the bill, with no amendments or motions in order, and that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on the bill with a 60-affirmative vote threshold required for passage; further, if cloture on the motion to proceed is not agreed to, it then be in order for the majority leader to make a motion for the Senate to adjourn pursuant to this order and if the Senate has agreed to a motion to adjourn pursuant to this order, when the Senate completes its business on Saturday, August 8, following the recognition of the majority leader to dispense with wrapup items, the Senate convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted, on the following dates and times: August 10 at 10 a.m., August 13 at 8 a.m., August 17 at 1:30 p.m., August 20 at 11:30 a.m., August 24 at 12:30 p.m., August 27 at 8 a.m., August 31 at 11:30 a.m., September 1 at 12:30 p.m., September 4 at 10 a.m., September 8 at 1:15 p.m., and September 10 at 3 p.m.”

“Senate Republicans have kept our promises over the last 19 months. We cut taxes for most Americans, reduced regulations to lower living costs, and made medicine and housing more affordable. We also funded the border wall, hired more border agents, cracked down on illegal immigration and fentanyl, and spent more money on the military. We are working hard and getting results.”

“Mr. President, just before I begin my remarks, I would associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from South Dakota pertaining to the Postal Service and their work in South Dakota. If there was a way to build an incredibly inefficient model, they have figured out how to do it. It needs to be fixed. I share his view, and we will work with him to insist and ensure that they make changes that improve the service that affects the constituents, the people that we represent and serve. Mr. President, when this Congress began last year, we had a long to- do list. The American people had made their priorities clear. As I said from the start, this Republican majority was ready to deliver. Republicans were committed to strengthening our economic future, ending the Biden border crisis and making America safer and stronger in the years ahead. That is exactly what we have been working on these last 19 months, and the American people are seeing the results of our efforts. The clearest example came this April when 90 percent of Americans saw a tax cut which meant more of their hard-earned money stayed in their pockets instead of going to the IRS. That was thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts. That was Republicans’ top priority last year. The American people had suffered for years through an inflation crisis caused by Democrats’ reckless spending, and they were facing a massive tax hike, $2,500 for a typical family in my State if Congress had failed to act. But the Working Families Tax Cuts made sure that tax hike never came. Republicans delivered permanent--permanent--tax relief that benefited 97 percent of taxpayers this past year. We implemented new tax cuts like no tax on tips or overtime, raised the child tax credit, gave seniors an additional $6,000 deduction, and provided America’s small businesses and family farms and ranches with significant and permanent tax relief too. And Republicans haven’t just put more money in hard-working Americans pockets. We have been working to bring down costs, and one of the ways we are doing that is by lifting unnecessary and burdensome regulations that drive up the cost of things that Americans need. We passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which cuts redtape and that has contributed to home ownership becoming more affordable for many Americans. We did away with Biden-era regulations that would have driven up the cost of household appliances and energy. We got rid of electrical vehicle mandates that were going to force Americans into pricey electric cars that they didn’t want, and we have taken concrete action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter as well. We passed a law to ensure that patients get the savings from any discounts or rebates from their purchases at the pharmacy counter and their healthcare plans. We removed incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to promote higher priced medications at the expense of seniors. And we approved access to more affordable generic drugs. These are policies that change the math of families’ budgets: more money in their pockets, lower costs for the things that they need. And beyond that, we have also taken actions to strengthen our economy for the long term. We have seen positive news about a boost in manufacturing in our country thanks, in part, to the Working Families Tax Cuts. Other provisions in that law make education pathways more affordable, strengthen our skilled workforce, and create opportunity for the future. The law also bolstered programs that America’s farmers and ranchers depend on, and the Working Families Tax Cuts made a generational investment in rural healthcare providers in all 50 States, putting those providers on a more secure path forward so that Americans in rural areas can continue to have access to quality, affordable healthcare close to home. I mentioned that ending the border crisis was another priority for the Senate majority, and we didn’t waste any time getting to work on that either. The first bill we passed was the Laken Riley Act, requiring that illegal immigrants who are arrested for certain crimes aren’t put back on the streets. We also passed the HALT Fentanyl Act to ensure that law enforcement has the tools it needs to go after fentanyl and fentanyl analogs that have taken too many--too many--American lives. And then there is the border itself. President Trump took swift action to secure the border early last year, and in the Working Families Tax Cuts, we provided the resources necessary to hire more agents, finish the border wall, and keep the border secure permanently. Today, illegal border crossings have slowed to a trickle. It has been like that for just about the entire Trump administration, an incredible feat considering how bad things were under President Biden. And thanks to our efforts, the resources are in place to ensure the border stays secure for the long term. Beyond the border, we have also been focused on strengthening our military. The Working Families Tax Cuts made a generational investment in our military readiness. We complemented those efforts in last year’s annual Defense bill which, among other things, made significant reforms to the way the Pentagon does business to ensure that tax dollars are being spent to maximum efficiency and effectiveness for our men and women in uniform. And this year’s National Defense Authorization Act builds on those efforts as well. We have been busy. The Senate has taken close to 900 votes since last January. We have been in Washington a lot more than in previous years. We have also done a lot of things that haven’t been done in a number of years. As I said, we made generational investments in border security, military readiness, and in rural healthcare. We approved the most significant tax relief bill in decades. We confirmed 21 Cabinet nominees faster than the last three incoming administrations. And we passed the first crypto bill ever. We approved a rescissions package that cut billions in Federal spending for the first time in literally three decades. Our work continues. Earlier this afternoon, we passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, giving the President critical tools to bring peace to Ukraine. We also approved another slate of 74 Trump administration nominees, bringing our total to 590. And I expect to move forward on additional items very soon. We have been working our way through our to-do list and delivering real wins for the American people. And the work goes on. I yield the floor.”

“I am asking the Senate to end our meeting for the day and meet again tomorrow.”

“Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 9:43 p.m., adjourned until Friday, August 7, 2026, at 10 a.m.”

“I am setting the Senate's schedule for tomorrow. We will meet at 10 a.m. to work on a group of nominations and then take up a bill at 11:30 a.m.”

“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Friday, August 7; 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 notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817 postcloture; further, notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:30 a.m. the Senate proceed to legislative session and execute the order in relation to H.R. 5334; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Friday’s session of the Senate, that the motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s actions.”