“We hit the ground running. Most importantly, Republicans have remained united. Together, we’ve accomplished a lot for the American people for which we’re proud.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate floor about how the Senate Republican majority is keeping our promises to the American people.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“This week marks the tenth week of our new Republican-led Senate. Senate Republicans made a promise to the American people. We promised to get this country back on track. We are keeping that promise.
“We hit the ground running. Most importantly, Republicans have remained united. Together, we’ve accomplished a lot for the American people for which we’re proud.
“First, the Senate confirmed 21 members of President Trump’s cabinet at record speed. It is a faster pace than President Obama had in 2009. It is a faster pace than President Biden had in 2021. It is a historic pace of confirmations by the United States Senate. With his team in place early, President Trump has been able to execute effectively and efficiently on his popular agenda.
“The Senate also prioritized confirming President Trump’s national security team. We see the chaos around the world after four years of weakness. Prioritizing these confirmations makes America safer.
“The Senate also passed the Laken Riley Act. It is now law. The Laken Riley Act is the first significant immigration enforcement law in decades. It was the first bill President Trump signed into law as our 47th President. It will save lives. I am grateful to Senator Katie Britt of Alabama and Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina. Their leadership on the Laken Riley Act was irreplaceable.
“The Senate also unlocked our shared Republican agenda. Senate Republicans moved quickly to pass a budget that secures the border, restores peace through strength, and unleashes American energy. Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and members of the Budget Committee laid the groundwork. It will make America stronger. Senate Republicans are working with the House on a path forward.
“As we do, I want to thank Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo. He is leading the charge to stop Democrats’ $4 trillion tax increase. Democrats want Americans to suffer the largest tax increase in history. Chairman Crapo’s important work will keep taxes low for hardworking families.
“I heard a lot from the Minority Leader about five minutes ago. He was talking about the future of Medicaid and Medicare. I’m a doctor. I work closely with patients on all of these programs. What I heard Senator Schumer do is he stood right there, and it sounded to me like he was threatening to shutdown the government.
“He sounds like somebody who’s going to tell his members to vote against keeping the government open. ‘We are so distraught at the fact that President Trump has been elected, so mad at the voters because they elected a Republican House and a Republican Senate as well as sent President Trump back to the White House, that we just want to say, to heck with you, we’re going to shut down the government.’
“It costs money to shut down the government. It costs money to reopen the government. It impacts services for the American people.
“Let me set the record straight. Republicans support Medicare and Medicaid. We passed Senator Dan Sullivan’s amendment to protect and preserve Medicare and Medicaid. No Democrat joined us.
“These programs are in trouble today because of the last administration. Joe Biden weakened them by making them available to scammers. Republicans want to protect, preserve, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. We want to do this for the people these vital programs were originally intended for. Stopping scammers is a big part of that.
“Additionally, Senate Republicans reaffirmed our friendship with Israel. Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch of Idaho introduced bipartisan legislation to impose severe sanctions on the International Criminal Court. This kangaroo court targets Israel and does the bidding of Iran. Sanctioning the ICC would have sent a strong message to the world. That message is this: America stands with Israel. Senate Democrats filibustered it. 45 Democrat Senators chose to abandon our closest ally.
“Senate Republicans also successfully blocked destructive Democrat legislation attacking American energy production. Democrats tried to reverse President Trump’s National Energy Emergency. America clearly faces an energy emergency. Energy prices jumped 31 percent after four years of Democrat regulations and restrictions. Led by Chairman Mike Lee of Utah, Republicans are taking the handcuffs off of American energy. We know that unleashing American energy will kickstart our economy.
“Senate Republicans also voted to protect girls’ and women’s sports. Senator and Coach Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has been such a champion for women’s sports in the Senate. His legislation was common sense. It said biological men should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Simple as that. Democrats filibustered it. Democrats are completely out of touch with the American people. They’re putting our female athletes in harm’s way.
“Senate Republicans have also erased burdensome Biden regulations. Republicans are cutting through the red tape. We are cutting red tape most significantly on American energy production. At the same time, we are protecting Americans’ financial freedom.
“Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana led efforts to end a Biden regulation on energy production in the Gulf of America. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota led efforts to cut $7 billion in natural gas taxes on energy production.
“Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska led the efforts to rein in unaccountable bureaucrats from snooping in your digital wallet. Democrats wanted to spy on everything you buy or do with Apple Pay, with Venmo, with Zelle, and with other apps. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led efforts to push back against IRS attacks on cryptocurrency.
“Each of those resolutions passed the Senate. By reversing these heavy-handed rules, Republicans are making life more affordable for American families.
“And this week, Senate is moving to pass life-saving legislation. It’s called the HALT Fentanyl Act. 70,000 Americans are poisoned and killed by illicit fentanyl each and every year. It is the number one killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. The HALT Fentanyl Act will aid efforts to crack down on the drug dealers and cartels that smuggle this poison into our communities. I am grateful to Leader Thune for putting this bipartisan legislation up for a vote.
“You can sum up the first ten weeks of the Republican-led Senate in three words: Fast, forceful, and effective. We aren’t wasting time. We are just getting started.
“Working together, Republicans will deliver for the American people.”
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