Thune, the Senate’s Republican leader, spends most of his floor time advancing his party’s agenda: defending the Working Families Tax Cuts, the Rural Health Transformation Program, farm bill priorities, and confirmation of the administration’s nominees, frequently with South Dakota examples such as Ellsworth Air Force Base, CRP grazing, and local businesses. He routinely frames Democrats as reflexively partisan, attributing Senate blockage of bills to election-year politics and portraying the party as moving toward socialism and California-style policies, and he often draws sweeping conclusions from limited evidence—for instance, inferring Democrats’ electoral motives from a bill’s House passage or a collapsed negotiation, or inferring toleration of illegal voting from opposition to photo ID—rather than establishing those motives directly. He does support many claims with specific figures—nomination confirmation rates, tax cut totals, program funding amounts by state—and, unusually for a party leader, he tends to stay on the question at hand and argue in measured, largely non-inflammatory language even when characterizing opponents sharply. Alongside partisan speeches, he handles the Senate’s routine procedural business and regularly pays tribute to interns, constituents, and South Dakota institutions.Written by AI from their statements. Updated .
Average grade
B+
The average grade of 54 analysed statements. 27 more were analysed but were too short to grade.
83 / 100 over 54 statements
Signal71 / 100
Relevance68 / 100
Respect100 / 100
Clarity97 / 100
The usual mix, except that they lose points less than most for Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.Less often than most members.What the tags mean →
Averaged over the 54 of 92 statements graded so far.
“I want the Senate to pass this resolution. It allows Senator Warren's staff to give testimony in a criminal investigation into someone who threatened her.”
“Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for evidence related to an investigation of an individual who made a threat against Senator Elizabeth Warren in a communication sent to the Senator’s office. The U.S. attorney’s office investigating the matter is seeking employee testimony from Senator Warren’s office for use in its investigation and in any future legal proceedings arising in this matter. The Senator would like to cooperate with this request by providing relevant employee testimony from her office. This resolution would authorize employees in the office of Senator Warren to provide relevant testimony in this investigation and any future legal proceedings in this matter, with representation by the Senate legal counsel.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for evidence related to an investigation of an individual who made a threat against Senator Elizabeth Warren in a communication sent to the Senator’s office. The U.S. attorney’s office investigating the matter is seeking employee testimony from Senator Warren’s office for use in its investigation and in any future legal proceedings arising in this matter. The Senator would like to cooperate with this request by providing relevant employee testimony from her office. This resolution would authorize employees in the office of Senator Warren to provide relevant testimony in this investigation and any future legal proceedings in this matter, with representation by the Senate legal counsel.
“I am asking the Senate to take up these five resolutions together.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions which are at the desk: S. Res. 836, S. Res. 837, S. Res. 838, S. Res. 839, and S. Res 840. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions which are at the desk: S. Res. 836, S. Res. 837, S. Res. 838, S. Res. 839, and S. Res 840. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
“I am asking the Senate to set the schedule for debate and votes on this bill, its amendments, and several nominations on Friday.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to consideration of H.R. 5334; further, that the only amendments 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 and up to 5 minutes under the control of Senator Graham prior to the vote on passage: Graham-Blumenthal No. 6711, Graham No. 6712, and Paul No. 6715; further, that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the Paul amendment, if offered, and upon disposition of the Paul amendment, the Graham-Blumenthal amendment, 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 Graham amendment to title No. 6712 be agreed to; that the title, as amended, be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; further, following disposition of H.R. 5334, the Senate resume executive session and vote on confirmation of the nominations en bloc; finally, that the cloture motion with respect to amendment No. 6732 to H.R. 6500 ripen following disposition of the nominations en bloc.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to consideration of H.R. 5334; further, that the only amendments 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 and up to 5 minutes under the control of Senator Graham prior to the vote on passage: Graham-Blumenthal No. 6711, Graham No. 6712, and Paul No. 6715; further, that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the Paul amendment, if offered, and upon disposition of the Paul amendment, the Graham-Blumenthal amendment, 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 Graham amendment to title No. 6712 be agreed to; that the title, as amended, be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; further, following disposition of H.R. 5334, the Senate resume executive session and vote on confirmation of the nominations en bloc; finally, that the cloture motion with respect to amendment No. 6732 to H.R. 6500 ripen following disposition of the nominations en bloc.
“I am thanking Walker Larson for his hard work as an intern in my Washington office.”
“Mr. President, today I recognize Walker Larson, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Walker is a graduate of Aberdeen Christian School in Aberdeen, SD. Currently, he is attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in history. 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 Walker for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.”
Mr. President, today I recognize Walker Larson, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Walker is a graduate of Aberdeen Christian School in Aberdeen, SD. Currently, he is attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in history. 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 Walker for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
“I am thanking Tyler Groen for his hard work as an intern in my Washington office.”
“Mr. President, today I recognize Tyler Groen, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Tyler is a graduate of Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, SD, and a recent graduate of South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, having earned a degree in human biology. Next year, Tyler plans to attend medical school. 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 Tyler for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, today I recognize Tyler Groen, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Tyler is a graduate of Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, SD, and a recent graduate of South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, having earned a degree in human biology. Next year, Tyler plans to attend medical school. 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 Tyler for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
“I am thanking Nathan Fairholm for his hard work as an intern in my Washington office.”
“Mr. President, today I recognize Nathan Fairholm, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Nathan is a graduate of Vermillion High School in Vermillion, SD. Currently, he is attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, 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 Nathan for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.”
Mr. President, today I recognize Nathan Fairholm, an intern in my Washington, DC, 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. Nathan is a graduate of Vermillion High School in Vermillion, SD. Currently, he is attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, 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 Nathan for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
“I am asking the Senate to approve this group of Marine Corps nominations all at once.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 877 and all nominations on the Secretary’s desk in the Marine Corps; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 877 and all nominations on the Secretary’s desk in the Marine Corps; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action.
“I ask that the Senate end work for the day and meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m.”
“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 7:12 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 10 a.m.”
Official Congressional Record
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 7:12 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 10 a.m.
“I am asking the Senate to end work for today and meet again on Thursday at 10 a.m. At that time, we will continue working to approve a group of presidential nominees together.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 6; 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 nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817, postcloture; further, that all time during recess, adjournment, leader remarks, and morning business count postcloture on the nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday’s session of the Senate, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s actions.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 6; 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 nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817, postcloture; further, that all time during recess, adjournment, leader remarks, and morning business count postcloture on the nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday’s session of the Senate, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s actions.
“I ask the Senate to approve this change and pass this bill right now.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Hassan amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Hassan amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
“I ask the Senate to approve this resolution without debate.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
“I am asking the Senate to take up this resolution.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 831, which is at the desk. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 831, which is at the desk. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
“I want the Senate to pass the new farm bill. It supports farmers and ranchers by improving crop insurance, farm loans, and disaster relief. It also allows year-round sales of cheaper E15 fuel and brings better internet and water systems to rural towns.”
“Mr. President, America’s farmers and ranchers got some good news at the end of last week. After a lot of hard work from members of the Agriculture Committee, Chairman Boozman released the text of a 5-year farm bill, which is slated for a markup tomorrow, and it will, I hope, be headed soon to the floor. As someone who hails from an ag State who has been part of the drafting of now five farm bills, I know how important the farm bill is and how much work goes into getting it right. As I made clear at the start of this Congress, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority. That started last year with the Working Families Tax Cuts, which strengthened the farm safety net, bolstered critical farm programs, and delivered tax relief to America’s agriculture producers, including relief from the unfair death tax and making the 199A deduction permanent. It continues this year with this farm bill, which builds on the important measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts in order to give farmers and ranchers certainty into the future. After the Working Families Tax Cuts raised reference prices last year, this farm bill makes further improvements to commodity programs as well as crop insurance--cornerstones of the farm safety net. It modernizes farm loan programs to get America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers off to a strong start, and it strengthens other programs that producers depend on. It improves the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program, so it covers the cost of hauling feed or water and opens the program to producers dealing with drought or other adverse weather conditions. It includes my CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act, which will make the Conservation Reserve Program a more working lands-oriented option for producers. CRP plays a very significant role in South Dakota’s economy by helping to provide habitat for pheasants, but producers in my State have been frustrated for years with how the program is managed--in particular by the fact that its restrictions on land use can be excessive. That is why I introduced the CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act. My bill allows grazing options, including fencing and water distribution, on all CRP acres. On top of that, it increases the annual CRP payment limits for the first time in the program’s 40-year history. This bill will make CRP an attractive option for more producers and open up access for livestock forage in drought conditions. The farm bill also includes a number of bills I have worked on that make it easier for producers to do business and get their products to market. It includes a bill that I worked on with Senators Grassley, Klobuchar, and Baldwin that establishes reporting requirements on fertilizer prices, which will bring more transparency to the fertilizer marketplace by helping producers to make more informed and cost- effective choices for their operations. Another bill of my mine, the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, will facilitate the creation of industry-led, voluntary standards for precision ag technology that will help more farmers adopt this promising tool. My Strengthening Local Processing Act gives smaller processors access to critical information and allows more meat products approved by a State inspector to be sold across State lines. The farm bill is about more than just what happens on a farm or a ranch; it also supports America’s rural communities. That includes water infrastructure, rural development, and healthcare, among other critical services. It also includes our continued effort to provide broadband in unserved communities, and I am pleased that this bill will help ensure that broadband dollars are going to communities that need it in places where 90 percent or more of the residents lack access to basic internet services. There is a lot more I could talk about with this bill--a lot more. This is a bill that will provide real support and certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers. That is good news for all Americans who depend on our hard-working producers for food, fuel, and fiber. Fuel is the final thing I want to discuss this morning. For decades, the seasonal sale of E15 has been a win-win for America’s farmers and for the American people. It has strengthened the agriculture economy while providing the American people with an affordable source of homegrown energy. For many years, it has been a priority for me and for many of my colleagues here to allow E15 to be sold all year. It has taken a lot of work to get here, but I am very proud that this farm bill delivers permanent--permanent--year-round E15. This is something that is going to further help producers and help bring down fuel costs for all Americans. I want to thank Chairman Boozman as well as Senators Daines, Capito, and Fischer for all of their hard work on this issue. I am looking forward to getting it across the finish line. I spend a lot of time with farmers and ranchers back home in South Dakota, and they have talked to me about the uncertainty and the headwinds they face. I have listened to their priorities and made them my own. As I said, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority, and with the Working Families Tax Cuts and now this farm bill, we are making real progress on the challenges facing our producers. But, of course, our work is never finished. There will be more to do in the future to support and strengthen American agriculture, and America’s producers can be confident that their needs will always be at the top of my list. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, America’s farmers and ranchers got some good news at the end of last week. After a lot of hard work from members of the Agriculture Committee, Chairman Boozman released the text of a 5-year farm bill, which is slated for a markup tomorrow, and it will, I hope, be headed soon to the floor. As someone who hails from an ag State who has been part of the drafting of now five farm bills, I know how important the farm bill is and how much work goes into getting it right. As I made clear at the start of this Congress, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority. That started last year with the Working Families Tax Cuts, which strengthened the farm safety net, bolstered critical farm programs, and delivered tax relief to America’s agriculture producers, including relief from the unfair death tax and making the 199A deduction permanent. It continues this year with this farm bill, which builds on the important measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts in order to give farmers and ranchers certainty into the future. After the Working Families Tax Cuts raised reference prices last year, this farm bill makes further improvements to commodity programs as well as crop insurance--cornerstones of the farm safety net. It modernizes farm loan programs to get America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers off to a strong start, and it strengthens other programs that producers depend on. It improves the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program, so it covers the cost of hauling feed or water and opens the program to producers dealing with drought or other adverse weather conditions. It includes my CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act, which will make the Conservation Reserve Program a more working lands-oriented option for producers. CRP plays a very significant role in South Dakota’s economy by helping to provide habitat for pheasants, but producers in my State have been frustrated for years with how the program is managed--in particular by the fact that its restrictions on land use can be excessive. That is why I introduced the CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act. My bill allows grazing options, including fencing and water distribution, on all CRP acres. On top of that, it increases the annual CRP payment limits for the first time in the program’s 40-year history. This bill will make CRP an attractive option for more producers and open up access for livestock forage in drought conditions. The farm bill also includes a number of bills I have worked on that make it easier for producers to do business and get their products to market. It includes a bill that I worked on with Senators Grassley, Klobuchar, and Baldwin that establishes reporting requirements on fertilizer prices, which will bring more transparency to the fertilizer marketplace by helping producers to make more informed and cost- effective choices for their operations. Another bill of my mine, the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, will facilitate the creation of industry-led, voluntary standards for precision ag technology that will help more farmers adopt this promising tool. My Strengthening Local Processing Act gives smaller processors access to critical information and allows more meat products approved by a State inspector to be sold across State lines. The farm bill is about more than just what happens on a farm or a ranch; it also supports America’s rural communities. That includes water infrastructure, rural development, and healthcare, among other critical services. It also includes our continued effort to provide broadband in unserved communities, and I am pleased that this bill will help ensure that broadband dollars are going to communities that need it in places where 90 percent or more of the residents lack access to basic internet services. There is a lot more I could talk about with this bill--a lot more. This is a bill that will provide real support and certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers. That is good news for all Americans who depend on our hard-working producers for food, fuel, and fiber. Fuel is the final thing I want to discuss this morning. For decades, the seasonal sale of E15 has been a win-win for America’s farmers and for the American people. It has strengthened the agriculture economy while providing the American people with an affordable source of homegrown energy. For many years, it has been a priority for me and for many of my colleagues here to allow E15 to be sold all year. It has taken a lot of work to get here, but I am very proud that this farm bill delivers permanent--permanent--year-round E15. This is something that is going to further help producers and help bring down fuel costs for all Americans. I want to thank Chairman Boozman as well as Senators Daines, Capito, and Fischer for all of their hard work on this issue. I am looking forward to getting it across the finish line. I spend a lot of time with farmers and ranchers back home in South Dakota, and they have talked to me about the uncertainty and the headwinds they face. I have listened to their priorities and made them my own. As I said, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority, and with the Working Families Tax Cuts and now this farm bill, we are making real progress on the challenges facing our producers. But, of course, our work is never finished. There will be more to do in the future to support and strengthen American agriculture, and America’s producers can be confident that their needs will always be at the top of my list. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
“I ask that the Senate finish its work for today and meet again tomorrow morning.”
“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 10:21 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.”
Official Congressional Record
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 10:21 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
“I am setting the Senate's schedule for Wednesday, August 5. We will return to work at 10:30 a.m. to debate moving to a funding bill, and we will vote on a nomination at 2:15 p.m.”
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5; 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 resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 6500, postcloture, upon conclusion of leader remarks; further, if cloture is invoked on the Schwartz nomination, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at 2:15 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday’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.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5; 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 resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 6500, postcloture, upon conclusion of leader remarks; further, if cloture is invoked on the Schwartz nomination, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at 2:15 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday’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.
“I am asking the Senate to let Senator Whitehouse bring this resolution to the floor for debate on Wednesday.”
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, Senator Whitehouse or his designee be authorized to return the Senate to legislative session for the purposes of making a motion to proceed to Calendar No. 532, S.J. Res. 187, during Wednesday’s session of the Senate.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, Senator Whitehouse or his designee be authorized to return the Senate to legislative session for the purposes of making a motion to proceed to Calendar No. 532, S.J. Res. 187, during Wednesday’s session of the Senate.
“I am asking the Senate to approve this change and pass this bill.”
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
“I ask the Senate to pass this resolution right now without any debate.”
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
“Republicans passed major tax cuts that made earlier tax relief permanent and helped working families. We ended taxes on tips and overtime, raised the child tax credit, and gave seniors a larger deduction. These cuts put more money back into people's pockets, and we will keep working to make life more affordable.”
“Mr. President, a week or 2 ago, I came down to the floor and talked about growing up in a small town in South Dakota. As I said in those remarks, I carry those South Dakotans with me in a special way in my work here in Washington. When I consider bills or look at regulations, I think about what kind of impact they will have on those Americans, on hard-working people without a lot of extra money in the budget, on people living paycheck to paycheck or, as was the case with some of the farmers I grew up with, harvest to harvest. I think about how to ensure that government isn’t standing in their way or taking up all the extra money in their budget. And it was hard-working Americans like the South Dakotans I grew up with who were at the top of my mind when Republicans drafted our landmark tax relief legislation back in 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut tax rates across the board, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction. It put more money in hard- working Americans’ pockets, money that they were able to use for their particular needs--from childcare to home repairs, to medical bills, to a family vacation. And those same hard-working Americans were our focus last year when we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts. Our first aim with the Working Families Tax Cuts was making the 2017 tax relief permanent, and that is exactly what we did. We made the lower tax rates permanent. We made the increased child tax credit permanent. And we made the increased standard deduction permanent. But that was just the beginning. We weren’t content with a permanent extension of the 2017 tax relief. We wanted to do more for working families, and so that is what we did. As I said, our 2017 tax relief bill doubled the child tax credit. Well, the Working Families Tax Cuts not only made that permanent; it increased the child tax credit even further and then indexed it to inflation so its value will never go down. I said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction. Well, the Working Families Tax Cuts boosted the standard deduction even further. And we didn’t stop there. We instituted two big new tax relief measures: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime. That meant major new tax relief for a whole host of working Americans--waiters, delivery people, bartenders, Uber and Lyft drivers, nurses, factory workers, paramedics, police officers, and many others. And that still isn’t all. We instituted a new $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors, and we created new tax-advantaged investment accounts to help parents save for their children’s future, starting with an initial $1,000 investment from the Federal Government for babies born between 2025 and 2028. And that is far from the only thing we did to help the next generation get a headstart on their American dream. The Working Families Tax Cuts also made some significant improvements to the traditional 529 education savings plan, allowing those savings to be used for a greater variety of education-related expenses, like tutoring or home school materials and vocational and continuing education. On the higher education side, we implemented accountability and reforms and put downward pressure on the cost of college degrees. We also made permanent a policy I authored that allows employers to pay off a portion of their employees’ student loans, without the employee having to pay taxes on the repayment amount. And on top of all that, we created the Workforce Pell Program, which will provide financial assistance to Americans in shorter term skills and career training programs, whether they are just starting out or looking to switch careers or develop new skills in their current field. This tax season, more than 35 million seniors claimed the new bonus deduction for older Americans. More than 29 million American workers were able to deduct overtime pay from their taxes, resulting in substantial tax savings. And more than 7.5 million workers deducted their tips on their taxes, ensuring they were able to keep more of their hard-earned money. And that is not to even mention the countless hard-working Americans who were able to take advantage of the increased standard deduction and the enhanced child tax credit. Tax refunds were up this season, and it is no surprise. It is the Working Families Tax Cuts at work. I may live in Sioux Falls now, which is one of South Dakota’s bigger cities, but I spent a lot of time in smalltown South Dakota. And whenever I am there, I am proud to be able to share the details of the Working Families Tax Cuts and report that Republicans are delivering for working families. And we are going to continue to build on the Working Families Tax Cuts to expand opportunity and make life more affordable for hard- working Americans. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Mr. President, a week or 2 ago, I came down to the floor and talked about growing up in a small town in South Dakota. As I said in those remarks, I carry those South Dakotans with me in a special way in my work here in Washington. When I consider bills or look at regulations, I think about what kind of impact they will have on those Americans, on hard-working people without a lot of extra money in the budget, on people living paycheck to paycheck or, as was the case with some of the farmers I grew up with, harvest to harvest. I think about how to ensure that government isn’t standing in their way or taking up all the extra money in their budget. And it was hard-working Americans like the South Dakotans I grew up with who were at the top of my mind when Republicans drafted our landmark tax relief legislation back in 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut tax rates across the board, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction. It put more money in hard- working Americans’ pockets, money that they were able to use for their particular needs--from childcare to home repairs, to medical bills, to a family vacation. And those same hard-working Americans were our focus last year when we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts. Our first aim with the Working Families Tax Cuts was making the 2017 tax relief permanent, and that is exactly what we did. We made the lower tax rates permanent. We made the increased child tax credit permanent. And we made the increased standard deduction permanent. But that was just the beginning. We weren’t content with a permanent extension of the 2017 tax relief. We wanted to do more for working families, and so that is what we did. As I said, our 2017 tax relief bill doubled the child tax credit. Well, the Working Families Tax Cuts not only made that permanent; it increased the child tax credit even further and then indexed it to inflation so its value will never go down. I said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction. Well, the Working Families Tax Cuts boosted the standard deduction even further. And we didn’t stop there. We instituted two big new tax relief measures: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime. That meant major new tax relief for a whole host of working Americans--waiters, delivery people, bartenders, Uber and Lyft drivers, nurses, factory workers, paramedics, police officers, and many others. And that still isn’t all. We instituted a new $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors, and we created new tax-advantaged investment accounts to help parents save for their children’s future, starting with an initial $1,000 investment from the Federal Government for babies born between 2025 and 2028. And that is far from the only thing we did to help the next generation get a headstart on their American dream. The Working Families Tax Cuts also made some significant improvements to the traditional 529 education savings plan, allowing those savings to be used for a greater variety of education-related expenses, like tutoring or home school materials and vocational and continuing education. On the higher education side, we implemented accountability and reforms and put downward pressure on the cost of college degrees. We also made permanent a policy I authored that allows employers to pay off a portion of their employees’ student loans, without the employee having to pay taxes on the repayment amount. And on top of all that, we created the Workforce Pell Program, which will provide financial assistance to Americans in shorter term skills and career training programs, whether they are just starting out or looking to switch careers or develop new skills in their current field. This tax season, more than 35 million seniors claimed the new bonus deduction for older Americans. More than 29 million American workers were able to deduct overtime pay from their taxes, resulting in substantial tax savings. And more than 7.5 million workers deducted their tips on their taxes, ensuring they were able to keep more of their hard-earned money. And that is not to even mention the countless hard-working Americans who were able to take advantage of the increased standard deduction and the enhanced child tax credit. Tax refunds were up this season, and it is no surprise. It is the Working Families Tax Cuts at work. I may live in Sioux Falls now, which is one of South Dakota’s bigger cities, but I spent a lot of time in smalltown South Dakota. And whenever I am there, I am proud to be able to share the details of the Working Families Tax Cuts and report that Republicans are delivering for working families. And we are going to continue to build on the Working Families Tax Cuts to expand opportunity and make life more affordable for hard- working Americans. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
“We are voting to approve 74 of President Trump's civilian nominees this week. Democrats tried to slow down this process more than ever before. Even so, by the end of this week, we will have approved 95 percent of the eligible civilian nominees. We will keep working quickly to make sure the president has his team in place.”
“Mr. President, this week, we will move our fifth block of civilian nominees, which includes 74 well-qualified individuals. By the end of the week, we will have cleared 95 percent of the civilian nominees who are eligible for floor consideration--95 percent. At this same point in President Trump’s first term, there were 155 unconfirmed nominees on the calendar. This year, that number is on track to be about 10. It is the best confirmation track record in a quarter century. As I said, we will have confirmed 95 percent of the civilian nominees available for confirmation, meaning that we are doing better at this point than we were during President Obama’s first term, President Trump’s first term, or President Biden’s. It didn’t always look like we would be able to achieve this. From the very beginning of his second term, Democrats met President Trump’s nominees with a historic level of obstruction. And when I say historic, I do mean historic. Up until extremely recently, President Trump was the only President on record--the only President on record--not to have had any civilian nominees approved by unanimous consent or voice vote. That used to be the standard way of approving these nominations. During President George H. W. Bush’s 4 years in office and President Clinton’s first 4 years, both Presidents had 98 percent of their civilian nominees--98 percent--confirmed through unanimous consent or voice vote. President George W. Bush and President Obama both had 90 percent. And then we get to President Trump’s first administration. Democrats introduced an unprecedented new level of partisanship into the historically bipartisan confirmation process, forcing time-consuming votes on civilian nominees who would once have gone by unanimous consent or by voice vote. But despite this--despite this new level of partisanship--both President Trump in his first term and President Biden had more than half of their nominees confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. And then we get to President Trump’s current administration. As I said, until recently, he had not had one single nominee confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote--zero. So the fact that we are standing here today with a civilian nominations calendar about to be essentially cleared is pretty impressive. But we have been on a mission to ensure that the President has his nominees in place so that he can do the job the American people elected him to do. That included taking action to restore the Senate tradition of en bloc confirmation of largely noncontroversial nominees. And, most of all, it included putting in the work--lots of work in committees, lots of work on the floor, and lots of votes--lots and lots of votes. That has paid off. We have confirmed 52 article III judges, 91 percent of the U.S. attorneys that have made it out of committee this Congress, 23 Cabinet members, and the list goes on. And we are going to continue to ensure that nominees are confirmed in a timely fashion and that the President is able to have his team in place. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. President, this week, we will move our fifth block of civilian nominees, which includes 74 well-qualified individuals. By the end of the week, we will have cleared 95 percent of the civilian nominees who are eligible for floor consideration--95 percent. At this same point in President Trump’s first term, there were 155 unconfirmed nominees on the calendar. This year, that number is on track to be about 10. It is the best confirmation track record in a quarter century. As I said, we will have confirmed 95 percent of the civilian nominees available for confirmation, meaning that we are doing better at this point than we were during President Obama’s first term, President Trump’s first term, or President Biden’s. It didn’t always look like we would be able to achieve this. From the very beginning of his second term, Democrats met President Trump’s nominees with a historic level of obstruction. And when I say historic, I do mean historic. Up until extremely recently, President Trump was the only President on record--the only President on record--not to have had any civilian nominees approved by unanimous consent or voice vote. That used to be the standard way of approving these nominations. During President George H. W. Bush’s 4 years in office and President Clinton’s first 4 years, both Presidents had 98 percent of their civilian nominees--98 percent--confirmed through unanimous consent or voice vote. President George W. Bush and President Obama both had 90 percent. And then we get to President Trump’s first administration. Democrats introduced an unprecedented new level of partisanship into the historically bipartisan confirmation process, forcing time-consuming votes on civilian nominees who would once have gone by unanimous consent or by voice vote. But despite this--despite this new level of partisanship--both President Trump in his first term and President Biden had more than half of their nominees confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. And then we get to President Trump’s current administration. As I said, until recently, he had not had one single nominee confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote--zero. So the fact that we are standing here today with a civilian nominations calendar about to be essentially cleared is pretty impressive. But we have been on a mission to ensure that the President has his nominees in place so that he can do the job the American people elected him to do. That included taking action to restore the Senate tradition of en bloc confirmation of largely noncontroversial nominees. And, most of all, it included putting in the work--lots of work in committees, lots of work on the floor, and lots of votes--lots and lots of votes. That has paid off. We have confirmed 52 article III judges, 91 percent of the U.S. attorneys that have made it out of committee this Congress, 23 Cabinet members, and the list goes on. And we are going to continue to ensure that nominees are confirmed in a timely fashion and that the President is able to have his team in place. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
