John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of Bob and Celia Kirkwood, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming 2026 honorees. Since 1969, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming has been inspiring young people to reach their full potential. Local boys and girls participate in educational and athletic programs that provide enrichment and help them become productive, responsible and caring citizens. From leadership development to a focus on healthy lifestyles, the club provides top-notch opportunities for each member. For over 55 years, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming has connected youth with dedicated volunteers and mentors. The club serves over 13,000 youth each year across its four-county territory, helping each member become their best self. Each year, at its annual breakfast, the organization highlights an individual or couple for their commitment to giving back to the community. This week, they will honor Bob and Celia Kirkwood with this prestigious recognition. On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming will host their annual awards and recognition breakfast in Casper. They will honor the Kirkwoods for their unwavering dedication to the Casper community. Bob and Celia's commitment to the youth of Natrona County is certainly worth celebrating. It is fitting that the Boys and Girl Club of Central Wyoming is publicly recognizing their legacy of service and strong investment in our next generation of leaders. Bob and Celia have been married for 47 years and are the proud parents of Michael Kirkwood, Tom and Cassie Kirkwood and grandparents to Josie. They center their life on faith and are proud that Wyoming has always been home. In 1982, Bob joined his father's business Kirkwood Oil and Gas. Alongside his brother Steve, they have diversified the company to include oil and gas operations, pipeline management, and real estate. He remains an industry advocate and trusted adviser to many around the State. Celia focused her time on raising their sons. From volunteering throughout their education to serving as a Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year judge, she is committed to giving back to those who need it most. Celia shines behind the scenes, making sure to concentrate on faith, family, and community service. Beyond the Boys and Girls Club, Bob and Celia passionately support Saint Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School, the Wyoming Rescue Mission, and True Care. Our community is fortunate that, where there is a need, the Kirkwoods are willing to step up to help their friends and neighbors. Bob and Celia are guided by their faith. They encourage the members of the Boys and Girls Club to ``make sure the path you are on leads to the life you truly want and do not be afraid to adjust along the way. Remember, God knows best; trust Him.'' For decades, the couple has led by example and have generously given back to the community they love so much. The Kirkwoods live their mission of meeting real needs and building lasting impact through consistent, practical action. The Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming is instrumental in providing young people with a safe, nurturing, and inspiring space to develop and learn. The opportunities afforded to members allow them to become the future leaders we need. These impressive goals would not be possible without the passion and generosity of Bob and Celia. They are exemplary role models of selfless leadership. It is with great honor that I recognize this incredible couple and their ongoing dedication to Casper. I encourage my colleagues to join me in celebrating Bob and Celia Kirkwood for everything they have done and continue to do to make Casper a better place for all.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell). Mr. DURBIN: I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kelly) is necessarily absent.

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are neccessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis) and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis) and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Cotton), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today because yesterday I heard the minority leader on the floor speaking about the economy. He sounded upset, sounded upset to hear that Americans were keeping more of their hard-earned money. He actually called it ``disastrous.'' Ninety-seven percent of Americans benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts law. This is a benefit. This is not a disaster. What I see as disastrous is the Democrats' demand to raise taxes. They want to raise taxes on hard-working Americans all across the country. Democrats continue to think that they know how to spend your money better than you do. I think it has been a lifelong obsession with them. It is part of their DNA. It has been going on for years. Tax rates fell significantly this past year, and it is because Republicans cut taxes. So who are the people that benefited the most? Well, they are people with families that made less than $200,000 a year. That is where the benefits really hit home. It happened all across the country, from Connecticut to California, even though those States are represented by Democrats. People all across the country benefited. Families kept more of what they earned, and then they could make their own decisions about what to save, what to spend, what to invest. You know who knows it? People on Social Security know it. They got to keep more of their hard-earned money. People who work overtime know it because of no tax on overtime. People who work for tips know it because their tips weren't taxed. People understood and felt the improvement. One resident of Nevada recently said: I received the largest tax return in my entire life this year. Why? No tax on tips. Every single Democrat in this Chamber voted against these things. They wanted people who work on tips to pay more in taxes. Democrats wanted people on Social Security to pay more in taxes. Democrats wanted people who work overtime to pay more in taxes, and that is a defining difference. American people clearly understand this, and the American people are tired and sick of seeing their money, their taxpayer money, wasted on fraud, abuse, and corruption, and we are seeing those things across the country. People want to keep more of what they earn, and they know they are the best to judge how to spend it. That is what Republicans are fighting for. We are going to continue to fight for that. That is the direction our country is headed. And in November of 2024, people made a clear choice: They chose to vote for Republicans because they wanted America to be safer, stronger, and more prosperous. And we are today. Over the past 18 months, Republicans have upheld that commitment. We have delivered for the American people. We are making sure people keep more of what they earn. More than 60 million Americans benefited from the new tax benefits since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts law. Let me remind you about the Trump Accounts. More than 7 million American children are now signed up this year for this special new investment account. It is an astonishing thing. Families, friends, community groups, and even businesses are already investing in them. This is clearly strengthening the American dream for the next generation. I also want to talk about the border because today our Nation's immigration laws are being strongly enforced. National security begins with border security. Absolutely zero illegal immigrants have been released into our country in over 14 months--absolutely zero--because Republicans have ended the reckless Joe Biden catch-and-release program. And what a disaster that was. Hundreds of thousands of illegal-immigrant criminals have now been arrested and deported since President Trump took office, and we are seeing the most secure border and the most successful deportation operation in all of American history. This year, Republicans also passed the Secure America Act. This law ensures that immigration officials have the resources that they need to keep our country safe and to keep our communities safe for years to come. I just want to mention affordability because today Congress is making it easier to build and easier to innovate. The largest housing reform bill in history is now the law of the land. We eliminated burdensome regulations, regulations that made it too costly to build a new home in America. And we are unlocking the American dream of home ownership for a new generation of Americans. Congress also passed the first major digital asset bill in American history; it is called the GENIUS Act. My colleague Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming has been a leader on the issue. It is time for the Senate to build on that by passing the Clarity Act. America is safer and stronger when we innovate. I also want to talk about some of the things we are doing here to make sure the President has his team fully in place, and those are confirmations. Today, Republicans are getting the President's team fully in place. Very soon, we will confirm an additional 74 nominees. Well, this will be clearly 600 people confirmed in the second Trump administration. Those are 60 more nominees than he had at this point in the first Trump administration, and we have done it in the face of historic obstruction by the Democrats. Now we see these same Democrats are trying to tear down our country, and they are trying it all across the Nation. The Democrats' agenda is not for a better America, not for a better future for our children, no, no. It is not even an agenda; it is a manifesto. The Democrats have come up with a ``manifesto''--that is their label for it, not mine, their label, the Democrats--the manifesto, and I see it as a roadmap to destroy America from people that hate America. When you listen to many of their candidates, it certainly doesn't seem like the thing that most Americans would want to see in their future. These people and their manifesto--it is radical; it is extreme; it is dangerous; it is scary. That is what our Nation is facing today. The Democrats, every one of them, wants to raise taxes on American families. The Democrat mantra calls for opening the borders. Their manifesto wants to defund the police. The manifesto wants to abolish prisons. The manifesto wants to release convicted criminals into our communities all across the country. The Democrat manifesto wants to eliminate Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Under the extreme Democrat manifesto, the American people would be forced to pay more, earn less, and be less safe and secure. That is what we are facing now. Democrats have turned from a party of the extremists now to the party of radicals. Republicans are going to continue to be the party of results. That is the choice people are facing. What do you want? Results? Safety? Security? Prosperity? Radicals opening the prisons? Opening the borders? Raising your taxes? Republicans work fiercely to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Republicans are going to continue to fight for freedom, for liberty, and a continuation of American greatness because that is the future that I believe the American people want and deserve. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Schwartz nomination and the en bloc nominations.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today's Democrat Party has been taken over by extremists. It is happening all across the country. Extremists are winning Democrat primaries all across the country, from east to west. The minority leader, who spoke a little earlier today, seems to be very happy about it. Just yesterday, when talking to the press, the minority leader said this. He said these extreme candidates make their party stronger. Well, Senator Schumer may be thrilled with the direction that his party is taking, and now look what happened last night in Michigan. The Democrat candidate for Senate winning the primary yesterday in Michigan is truly an extremist--radical, extreme, dangerous, and, in my opinion, scary. He has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, and just recently he hit the campaign trail with a leftwing activist, a political activist who blamed 9/11--we are almost near the 25th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 on the United States of America-- blamed those attacks on America and the American people. This is a Democrat Party that has a manifesto and a mantra. They have a radical set of beliefs, and they are clearly those of the Democrat nominee in Michigan. The driving force in the Democrat Party today wants to abolish prisons. The driving force in the Democrat Party today has endorsed any and all efforts to release dangerous prisoners from the jails onto the streets of communities all across the country. The driving force in the Democrat Party is calling to defund the police. The driving force in the Democrat Party is calling to eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country. They don't want borders, don't think we ought to have borders. They want ICE completely eliminated. Democrats want to go back to the dangerous Biden years when it comes to protecting our borders, and 10 million illegal immigrants flooded into this country. The Democrats want millions and millions more to come into America. What do they want to do in terms of funding for these things? Well, the Democrats want to have hard-working taxpayers pay for healthcare for all the illegal immigrants who come here. Radical ideas like that were once the fringe of the Democrat Party. No longer. No, no. That fringe now controls the Democrat Party. As a senior Senator who is a Democrat said, who sits right over there--he said it is a sign that the Democrat Party is ``alive and well.'' Senator Schumer said yesterday it makes their party stronger. It doesn't make America stronger. It makes America weaker. It makes America more vulnerable. That is where we are today. Democrats seem willing to tear up the Constitution and tear down America. If you listen to some of these candidates, it sounds like they hate America. They want America to fail. That seems to be what they are aiming for. Well, Republicans are not going to allow that to happen--no. We are going to continue to fight the extremists, and we are going to continue to fight for freedom, for liberty, and for continued American greatness.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``yea.'' Mr DURBIN: I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono), and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar) are necessarily absent.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the American people deserve a government that is open and is functioning. The American people know that government shutdowns cause significant pain to them personally and harm to our Nation. We have had two painful shutdowns in the last year, and the Democrats--and the Democratic leader just left the floor--have caused both of them. Democrats have proven that they are willing to make life harder for Americans, and they do it every time they shut down the government. They think it helps them politically. Actually, that is what Senator Schumer had said in the past--because in October of 2025, Schumer and the Senate Democrats chose to shut down the entire government, shut it down for 43 days. That is a record--a record--in the history of our Nation. And Senator Schumer actually said at the time--he said: Every day gets better for us. I am not sure who the ``us'' was. It is not the American people, not the people who were suffering in the long lines at the airport, and with TSA and the flights that were canceled and people that weren't getting paid. Every day got worse for the American people. It might have been better for Senator Schumer but not for people at home in my State and in the Presiding Officer's. It seemed to the Democrats that the American families were just collateral damage as they tried to make a political message. Servicemembers weren't able to pay their mortgages, as they had to wait for their paychecks to come in. Flights canceled, airport screening lines stretched--I remember the video. They stretched for hours. Park rangers, TSA agents all missed paychecks. Democrats said it got better for them every day. Government employees living paycheck-to-paycheck had to struggle to make ends meet, to pay the bills. We saw people lining up at food banks. The American people responded and offered help to their neighbors. The Democrats said it got better for them every day. People on food assistance lost that assistance. And less than 4 months later, the Democrats did it again. That time, they blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security. That shutdown lasted 75 days for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats voted to defund America's law enforcement Agencies. That seems to be their mantra: defund the police; get rid of ICE, get rid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; open the borders; let anybody in. That is who that party is now, and we are seeing it even today in the Michigan primary, where they have radical, extreme, dangerous, scary people running and who may win primaries and have been winning primaries in the Democrat Party across the country. These are people that put the safety and security of the American people at risk. They do it because they think it may give them a political advantage. It doesn't help the American people. Recall that during the last shutdown, the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, we in this country faced terrorist threats. In Texas, there was a man wearing clothing that said ``Property of Allah.'' He was arrested. He shot into a crowded restaurant, just shot into the restaurant. People were killed. ``Property of Allah.'' Apparently, that is OK in some people's minds. Most Americans don't think so. In Michigan, a man whose family member was tied to Hezbollah rammed a truck full of explosives into a synagogue. Over 100 children and their teachers were inside. This is the threat we face. By shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, Democrats put the safety of illegal immigrants--and specifically illegal immigrant criminals--above the safety and security of American citizens. That is whom the Democrats choose to prioritize, and we are seeing the Democrats do that in campaign ads and in campaign speeches all across the country as the most radical of the radicals seem to be winning Democrat primaries this year. So the question is, Are Democrats going to choose to shut down the government a third time? We were able to get on the bill yesterday. The onus is on them. The Republicans are ready to move forward. We have an appropriations process. That is the way that government funding is supposed to work. Right now, the Democrats are stonewalling every single Appropriations Committee right here in the U.S. Senate, and it is shameful. Senator Susan Collins, our colleague and friend from Maine, is the chair of the Appropriations Committee. She has a history of working with bipartisanship, and integrity is so much a part of her leadership style. Democrats have rejected every good-faith measure that she has put forward in terms of the Appropriations Committee. Recall that when the Democrats were in charge of Congress and Joe Biden was in the White House, Senator Schumer blocked 11 of the 12 appropriations bills from even coming to the floor, even coming here for debate. He didn't want any of them--none. Republicans are committed to repairing the damage that has been done to the process by the Democrats. Senator Collins has carefully crafted a reasonable continuing resolution. That is what we voted to get on last night. It keeps the government open. So that was just the first step. Now we have to move forward. We will see what the Democrats say today. Here is the choice facing every Senate Democrat this week: Vote to keep the government open or force the Nation into another painful shutdown. We are going to find out. People have already lived through these two painful Democrat shutdowns over the last year. People don't want a third. They have suffered enough. Senator Schumer this morning said he wants to avoid a shutdown. Time for them to prove it. The question is, Do Democrats in this body have the courage to stand up to the extremists who have taken over their party? We are going to find out. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from South Carolina (Ms. Graham), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, at the 114th Wyoming State Fair, Senator Lummis and I will have the pleasure of introducing Mark Eisele as a 2026 inductee to the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. Mark Eisele comes from a long line of Wyoming ranchers, dating back generations. However, Mark built his livestock operation on his own from the ground up. Mark has long been an iconic leader for Wyoming agriculture. His career led him to the historic King Ranch near Cheyenne. This is where he first worked as an employee before acquiring the historic ranch. Today, Mark and his wife Trudy, along with their three children, raise Red and Black Angus cow/calf pairs and retained yearlings through branded beef programs. The family also manages a custom haying operation and harvests alfalfa and native grass hay. Throughout his career, Mark has valued maintaining healthy rangelands. He has long believed that a healthy rangeland is the foundation of a successful cattle operation. Through Mark's leadership, the King Ranch has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit for over 20 years. Mark has led the King Ranch to embrace research and innovation through projects on livestock production, economic efficiency, flexible stocking strategies for erratic and variable precipitation, adaptive grazing management for poisonous plants, targeted grazing for invasive cheatgrass, soil carbon responses to grazing management, and habitat conservation. The Eisele family's stewardship efforts have earned widespread recognition. They received the Wyoming Stock Growers Association Environmental Stewardship Award and the Leopold Conservation Award in 2015. More recently, the ranch received the 2023 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. This was followed by the 2025 Chuck Jarecki Rancher Land Stewardship Award presented by the International Society for Range Management. Along with receiving many accolades, Mark has committed his career to serving the agriculture industry as an advocate. Mark has been a longtime member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and served as the president from 2011 to 2013. After years of committee work within the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Mark was elected president for the 2024 to 2025 term. He has become one of the Nation's leading voices for beef producers. Mark's dedication and service to Wyoming's agriculture industry makes him an outstanding choice for the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. It is a great honor to participate in Mark's induction. I congratulate Mark Eisele as a 2026 inductee into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Mr. BARRASSO

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