John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for 4 years, America has watched as Joe Biden and the Democrats ran our country and our economy into the ground. That is what we have seen in the last 4 years. And every measure shows it: 10 million illegal immigrants, $5 trillion in wasted Washington spending, the worst inflation in 40 years, energy prices rising over 30 percent, a weak and failed foreign policy. That is what the American people saw over the last 4 years. In November, Americans chose a new path. Senate Republicans promised to get America back on track, and we are delivering. I was at the Rose Garden on Wednesday and heard President Trump talk about our budget. He gave it his complete and total endorsement. So, today, the Senate budget is the building block for our bold Republican agenda. It fulfills our promises to secure the border, to rebuild our economy, and to restore peace through strength. Most importantly, it represents, in every way, a 180-degree turn from the deadly, destructive liberal failures of the past 4 years. First, the Republican budget, what does it do? It gets rid of the waste that is out there--not Medicare, not Social Security, not Medicaid. We want to protect those vital programs. We want to preserve them. We need to preserve them for the people who they were intended to serve and who need them the most. Seventy-two percent of Americans and even 55 percent of Democrats will say that they support cutting the waste and the fraud and the abuse because they have seen lists of dollars that have gone out from this last administration. They say: This seems like a waste. This seems like fraud. This is an abuse of taxpayer dollars. We have a government that is too big, and it spends too much. Yet, for some reason, Senate Democrats continue to come to the floor. They seem to be most upset that the waste that they support is being exposed--exposed for the massive amount of waste that it is. The last time we voted on the budget, Senator Sullivan from Alaska offered an amendment to preserve and protect Medicaid and Medicare. Not a single Democrat voted to support that piece of legislation. The question now is, Will Democrats continue to protect the schemers and the scammers who continue to weaken these vital programs, because they are out there? Second, the Republican budget moves toward locking down the border with $175 billion in additional funding. It puts us on the path to finish the wall. It allows us to hire more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Border Patrol agents, and it allows us to extend our detention capacity. Look, illegal immigrants that are criminals are going to be deported from our country, not released into our communities. This is the opposite of what happened in the last 4 years, under the previous administration. It is exactly what Americans need after 4 years of ``wave them through''--Joe's approach, which was an open border. Illegal crossings have dropped 94 percent since President Trump took office. Democrats said it couldn't be done without a new law. No, we didn't need a new law; we needed a new President, and the American people voted for that President. Let's take a look at March of 2024--that was last year, Joe Biden's last year in the White House--compared to March of 2025, which was Donald Trump's first year in the White House. In March of 2024, Joe Biden's last year in the White House, there were 137,000 illegal crossings at our southern border--137,000. This March, under President Trump, there were 7,000. From 137,000 to 7,000. No new law; a new President. Now we need to deport the illegal immigrants with criminal records, and there are hundreds of thousands of them. They are already in the country. This budget ensures law enforcement will get the resources they need to make our communities safer. The third thing we want to do is we need to stop Democrats' goal of raising taxes by $4 trillion. Ninety percent of Americans got a tax cut from the Trump tax cuts in 2017. Our budget puts Congress on a path to make the tax cuts permanent. Permanency means certainty and stability for families and workers and, of course, for those who create jobs. Republicans want to ensure that Americans keep more of their hard- earned money--that is what people want--in their pocketbooks, in their wallets. What is the tax-and-spend Democrats plan for all of this? Crushing 20 million businesses and erasing 6 million jobs with the largest tax hike in history. That is what we are going to get if we get a $4 trillion tax hike. For Republicans, a $4 trillion tax increase is a nonstarter. For Democrats, it is their entire agenda. Fourth, the Republican budget means American energy dominance. No more liberal handcuffs on American energy. We are going to go back to energy independence. Affordable, reliable, available American energy is the best way to grow the economy and to lower costs for people. With more energy production, Wyoming, my home State--American energy breadbasket, superpower of energy--we all win. America wins. The Federal Government also wins if we do this. It is going to see, actually, a revenue increase as we produce more American energy. Because some of this is on Federal lands, the revenue comes to the government. And energy prices go down. Finally, the Republican budget rebuilds the military. We do it with $150 billion. We know weakness invites conflict. Strength is what deters wars. Today, there is a threat of terrorism all around the world. There is a threat from communist China. China is rapidly building up its military. There is a threat from Iran. Iran is racing towards a nuclear weapon. This budget will make America feared again. It will make our military more lethal, more intimidating. I suspect that Democrats are going to fight these commonsense policies. Well, I have news for my colleagues. Democrats lost at the ballot box in November. Republicans won, and we are going to win now. We are going to continue to fight for the American people because the win isn't about us as a party. The win is about our country. It is about the families all across the country. The American people gave us a mission and a mandate: Secure the borders, lower taxes, affordable energy, peace through strength, and, of course, efficient, effective government. The Senate Republicans have a bold budget blueprint, and it is delivering for the American people. The Republican revolution of common sense is here. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators is necessarily absent: the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Crapo).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Oz nomination.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I just listened to my colleague from Kansas. It is just commendable, the example he has set of going and visiting absolutely every single one of the hospitals in the State of Kansas. It is an example for all of us to get out and talk to our constituents and listen to what they have to say. The senior Senator from Kansas has, I think, set an example for all of us. He visits every county in his State repeatedly, yearly, and it is a model for all. So I am happy to hear him address these issues in this body this morning. Current Policy Baseline Mr. President, I also heard speak the Senator from New York, Senator Schumer, and what I heard him do is something different. What he did is he mischaracterized a budget term called the ``current policy baseline.'' First and foremost, the Budget Committee has consulted with the Senate Parliamentarian on the substitute amendment that we are bringing to the Senate today. The Parliamentarian has deemed it appropriate for consideration under the Congressional Budget Act. The Budget Act is also clear. The Budget Committee chairman decides the baseline. I served in this body when it was the Democrats who were arguing in favor of the current policy baseline. That was in 2013 when President Barack Obama was in the White House. The Obama administration and the Senate Democrat majority at the time argued that a current policy baseline was the ``appropriate reference point'' when it extended existing tax policy. Senate Republicans are simply following the law and the standard that the Obama administration wanted followed in 2013. The current policy baseline is how we make the tax cuts permanent. It is how we stop a $4 trillion tax increase--a tax increase supported unanimously by today's Senate Democrats because, for the Senate Democrats, their favorite day is coming soon: tax day, April 15. Millions of Americans today are filling out their tax forms, and people are going to spend time this weekend trying to get it right. As they do, I ask myself and wonder if these people who are working so hard at home--hard-working people, earning money, and having to fill out their tax forms--if they realize that Democrats right here in the U.S. Senate want to raise those taxes by a cumulative number of $4 trillion. Look, a $4 trillion tax increase on American families would be devastating. Senate Republicans are fighting against it. Republicans want to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent. We want to reverse the Democrat failures of the past 4 years. We are focusing on getting America back on track. Let's look at the tax cuts that occurred a number of years ago. Tax reform restored fairness and simplicity to the Tax Code. Americans are better off because of it. It is one of the things that resulted in the best economic times of my life. Within 2 years of passing the tax cuts, the United States added millions and millions of new jobs. Unemployment fell dramatically to its lowest point in 50 years. Many businesses grew and invested. Most importantly--most importantly--hard-working Americans had more money in their pockets to spend. In Wyoming, I heard of one local business owner who used the tax cuts to give his employees a raise. He also expanded his business--more jobs, more economic opportunities for people in his part of the State of Wyoming. This is what happens when Washington taxes less and taxpayers get to keep more of their hard-earned money. It is good for families, and it is good for businesses. It is good for our Nation. In Wyoming and across the country, millions and millions of workers are benefiting from the higher pay, the bigger bonuses, and the best opportunities that come from lower taxes. By making these tax cuts permanent, businesses and families will get the stability and the certainty they need in order to thrive. Ninety percent of Americans saw their taxes go down because of tax reform. It would be disastrous if the tax-and-spend Senate Democrats-- those who brought us the highest inflation in our lifetime--were to choke off the chance for Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. American families would see their taxes go up if the Democrats get their way. Twenty million businesses would see their taxes go up if Democrats get their way. Six million jobs and $540 billion in wages could be erased if Democrats get their way. In all, families, workers, and job creators are facing a $4 trillion tax increase. When Republicans passed this Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Speaker Nancy Pelosi--she was Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time, from California--famously dismissed the savings and the bonuses and the benefits. She said that these wins for workers--she described them as ``crumbs.'' Democrats continue to dismiss the burden of higher taxes. Listen to what Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said. She said that cutting taxes was nothing more than ``tossing a few crumbs'' at the American people. Listen to what Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey said. He blamed workers who received bonuses from tax reform for ``driving up the debt.'' I don't recall him saying that in his last 25 hours on the floor of the Senate. He didn't repeat it again. Democrats are out of touch with America's families. That is what is happening here. It has been proven by the results of the November election, and their condescending liberal attitude is a threat to the American dream. They just think they know better than everybody else. It is wrong for Democrats to force hard-working taxpayers to pay for wasteful Washington spending. Fortunately for the hard-working taxpayers of this country, President Trump is in the White House, Senate Republicans are in the majority, and common sense is coming to Washington. Senate Republicans are going to continue to put an end to this wasteful Washington spending because we stand with the American workers, with the job creators, and with the small businesses of this country. Hard-working taxpayers are soon going to see where each and every Senator stands. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) and the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for the last 4 years, when Joe Biden was President, the American people knew that the southern border had been thrown wide open. So many of the television stories were done at the southern border. So what has happened now with the criminal cartels? The criminal cartels were watching closely. They knew that Joe Biden hadn't just thrown up the southern border, he had also thrown open the northern border. The criminal cartels noticed, and they took advantage. There are unique threats to the United States at our northern border. President Trump is taking the bold, decisive, swift action that is necessary to secure that border as well. His actions are working, and he is not going to let up. Canada is making changes. They have agreed to deploy to the border more technology--that is helpful; more law enforcement officers--that is helpful. Canada also created their first-ever national fentanyl czar. That is helping. Democrats have said in the past that they want to see the northern border secured. They sure aren't acting like that today. Let's take a look at what some of the Democrats have said in the past. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said in March: Strengthening security of our northern border is vital to keeping both New Hampshire and our country safe. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said in September that Border Patrol agents at the northern border are ``struggling to address a dramatic increase'' in illegal border crossings. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a member of the Democrat leadership, called for, in January of 2022, an ``expansion of Federal anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling efforts'' on the northern border. Now, today, however, Democrats are going to bring to the floor a resolution to throw out the commonsense action that a number of them had previously called for to secure the northern border. They want to get rid of that. The message is clear: Democrats remain the party of open borders. They lost an election being the party of open borders and high prices. Today, they want to become once again known as the party of open borders. The largest, longest land border in the world is the border between the United States and Canada. That northern border is twice as long as our southern border with Mexico, and so much of that northern border, as the Presiding Officer knows, is unguarded. The northern border stretches across 13 States--New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Hampshire--and then you get out west. Vast areas. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testified before Congress last week. What did he say? Well, he spoke about the threats facing our country today, and he issued a stark warning. He said: Known and suspected terrorists are flowing in through our northern border more [now] than they are at the southern border. These are the facts. The northern border is now a hotspot for terror suspects, for drug cartels. In the Biden administration, we would come to the floor and talk about how many terror suspects were captured while coming across the southern border. The number is astonishing now at the northern border. The cartels got the message. President Trump is doing what he promised to do at the southern border--secure the southern border--so they are coming up to the northern border, with 143 terror suspects already caught this year at our northern border by Border Patrol agents. Why so many? Because that is where they are coming from now. They realize they have no chance at the southern border, so now the assault is coming at the northern border. If that is how many we have captured, how many have we not? This is a threat to the safety of our communities. The Mexican cartels also have a growing presence at the northern border. You would think the Mexican cartels--that their presence would be at the southern border, adjacent to Mexico, but I am telling you the Mexican cartels now have a greater presence at our northern border, which would be a surprise to most people. CBS recently interviewed a drug smuggler, a smuggler who works for a major Mexican cartel. That smuggler revealed a chilling fact. He said that the cartel is moving pounds and pounds and pounds of fentanyl across our northern border each and every month. Human traffickers are also taking advantage of our open northern border. In 2024, in just 1 sector, more than 19,000 people crossed into our country illegally. There have been more illegal crossings in one sector in 1 year than in the previous 17 years combined. We are talking about the border between the United States and Canada. The explosion of drug smuggling and human trafficking is hurting our American communities, and the impacts are felt way beyond the border. Fentanyl overdose deaths are the leading cause of death in young adults. Illegal immigration strains our communities, it strains our schools, and it strains our hospitals. President Trump and Republicans are determined--determined--to stop this surge at our borders, both the northern border and the southern border, because this is a life-and-death issue for the American public. Canada needs to continue to work closely with us to intercept deadly drugs and terror suspects. The security of both of our nations depends upon it. The best way to protect our communities is to secure our borders. Now, this is not what Senator Kaine's resolution does. The resolution that the Democrats are going to bring to the floor today and that probably every one of them is going to vote for is going to undermine the work that the United States and Canada are doing to secure the northern border. Fortunately, for the safety of the American people, the House of Representatives will not take up this legislation even if it passes the Senate, and it is never going to make it to President Trump's desk. Senate Republicans are moving forward this week on major legislation that includes strong border provisions, protecting the border. This legislation will give the Border Patrol agents the tools they need to secure the border and deport criminal illegal immigrants--both northern and southern. Republicans are out there, focused, working every day to make our communities safer. Democrats are not. They continue to be the party of open borders. Republicans are focusing on results, and the results speak for themselves. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley) and the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Schmitt).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy) and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds).

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, let me start with a simple truth, something we both know. It is good to produce more American energy-- energy that is available, affordable, and reliable. It is good for our workers, good for our country, good for our safety, and good for our Nation's security. We in America are an energy superpower, and under President Trump and Republicans, we are finally beginning to act like it. Last week, President Trump announced a dramatic change. America is going to produce more critical minerals, in addition to more energy, unlike what we had been doing for years in the last administration by locking away our critical minerals. They need to be developed. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is spearheading this change. It is part of the bold agenda of ``mine, baby, mine.'' It is exactly what America needs to do to get back on track. There is a growing demand for critical minerals, and America must boost our mining workforce in order to meet it. That is why, this week, I have introduced bipartisan legislation to support our mining schools. The students we recruit, the students we train, the students we empower, the talent that we unlock will fuel America's energy dominance for generations to come. We need to fuel our success by fueling theirs. A vital piece of the Trump energy dominance strategy is unleashing clean coal. President Trump wants America to produce more coal. I agree. This is good for Wyoming, and it is good for America. Wyoming is America's energy breadbasket. We have world-class coal, and Wyoming's Powder River Basin produces the cleanest burning coal in the world. Now, the climate alarmists are going to say that coal is the energy of the past. They are misinformed. Clean coal is the energy of the future. Tomorrow's technologies are going to need more affordable, reliable, available energy, not less. America is making bold innovations in new technology. Only an ``all of the above'' energy approach is going to sustain it. Coal is one of the most affordable, reliable, and abundant sources of energy on the entire planet. In America today, it is much cleaner than ever before. With it, we can power our data centers. We can win the energy race. We can win the artificial intelligence race. Clearly, this is a focus against communist China, and Wyoming energy producers and Wyoming energy workers are going to lead the charge to victory. American energy dominance is the source of our Nation's strength. It keeps America and our allies safe and secure now and into the future. We learned from Europe an important lesson: Dependency is deadly. Europe banned fracking because climate zealots in Russia told them to. Europe shut down nuclear powerplants because the extremists told them to. Unreliable and unaffordable energy sources couldn't keep up with the demand for energy. As a result, you know what happened. Europe, last year, spent $23 billion on Russian oil and gas, and $23 billion is actually more money than Europe sent in aid to Ukraine. If this doesn't prove that energy dependence is self-defeating, nothing else will. Under the Trump administration, things are now different. America finally has an ``all of the above'' energy strategy. On day one, President Trump declared a national energy emergency. President Trump slammed the brakes on Joe Biden's electric vehicle mandate. I have legislation that pulls the plug on the Democrats' electric vehicle subsidies. President Trump withdrew from the disastrous Paris climate deal. President Trump lifted the self-destructive Biden ban on liquefied natural gas exports. President Trump created the National Energy Dominance Council. The President and Republicans are serious about building the infrastructure we need to power our Nation. President Trump supports new natural gas pipelines and more powerplants. This is a 180-degree turn from the previous administration. For 4 years, the previous administration went on a regulatory rampage. Heavy-handed Washington bureaucrats attacked American energy producers and American energy workers, including those in my home State of Wyoming, and the costs were catastrophic. Let me ask a few rhetorical questions: Does anyone believe that America was better off when energy prices rose 31 percent? Of course not. Does anyone believe that we were better off begging dictators to power our Nation? Of course not. Were Americans more prosperous? No, we were not. The truth is, American energy is not the enemy of the economy. American energy is the engine of the economy. American energy is a God- given blessing, and we finally have an administration that treats it that way. So I applaud Secretary Burgum, Secretary Wright, and Administrator Zeldin. They are America's energy all-stars. Their bold actions are restoring American energy dominance. Republicans in Congress are working aggressively on legislation that will fully unleash American energy, and here is why: When we produce more affordable, reliable American energy, our Nation is better off. When we empower energy producers and energy workers, America is better off. America has the energy; we have the workers; and we have the capacity to produce energy responsibly. Today, America has a Senate majority that is committed to making America energy dominant. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I traveled last week to visit with over 150 members of our Wyoming Army National Guard. They are stationed in Jordan and in Syria, and they are a long way from home--nine time zones away from Wyoming. They are there to keep our country safe and free. One year ago, our adversaries were growing bolder, stronger, and more aggressive. That was a year ago. Today, America is stronger, safer, and much more secure. President Trump is restoring peace through strength. This is a dramatic change from what we saw in the previous administration. Within days of taking office, President Trump began freeing American hostages--Marc Fogel, Keith Siegel. Almost a dozen former hostages who were held by our adversaries are now safe on American soil. President Trump is bringing American citizens home. He is also bringing America's enemies to justice. Let's look at the recent precision strike in Yemen against the Houthi terrorists. Remember who the Houthis are. They are Iran-funded terrorists. Their official slogans say ``Death to the United States'' and ``Death to Israel.'' They are a direct threat to the American people and specifically to our servicemembers and to American trade. Since October 7, 2023, the Houthis have attacked U.S. Navy ships 174 times. They have attacked U.S. commercial ships 145 times. Iran provides them with high-tech missiles and precision-guided drones. These attacks continue. Why? Because Joe Biden and the Democrats were weak, and Joe Biden, their President, projected weakness. President Trump is strong, and he projects strength. President Trump responded firmly with overwhelming strength. I am grateful for our servicemembers who carried out the attacks. President Trump sent a clear message to the terrorists: Stop or get destroyed. He also sent a clear message to Iran: You will not escape accountability. This is a remarkable change from his predecessor. Joe Biden appeased Iran. His administration gave Iran $100 billion in sanctions relief. President Trump is keeping up maximum pressure on Iran, and the Houthi strike proves it. President Trump knows that Iran is responsible for the chaos in the Middle East. Since taking office, President Trump rightfully has hit Iran with 94 new sanctions. President Trump also placed sanctions on Iran's so-called ghost fleet. These are the oil smugglers who move Iranian oil to China. These sanctions against Iran help put communist China on notice. These fleets are moving Iranian oil and selling it to China at a discount, making Iran richer and making China more powerful. Remember, 90 percent of Iran's exports of oil go to communist China. We saw a lot of it under the last administration. As the Wall Street Journal editorial board recently wrote, ``[T]he Iranian oil-export problem is really a Chinese import problem'' because they are getting the cheap oil. President Trump is responding firmly to this new axis of evil. Here in the West, President Trump is taking historic action against the killer cartels. He recently designated killer cartels as ``foreign terrorists.'' With this designation, he can move more aggressively to deport illegal immigrant criminals who are members of these deadly groups. The President of the United States is our Commander in Chief, and President Trump takes the role seriously. He is reestablishing our military as the most lethal and intimidating force in the world. Under the Trump administration, recruitment has surged to its highest level in 15 years. This is important because history teaches us an important lesson. And what is that lesson? Weakness invites conflict. Strength deters war. When our military is prepared, America is strong and projects strength. President Trump is also the best chance for peace between Russia and Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine must come to an agreement on a longlasting cease-fire. President Trump and his administration are pursuing an end to the killing and to the bloodshed. In the Middle East, peace and prosperity are also necessary. That begins with American support for Israel. The Senate should confirm Governor Mike Huckabee to be America's Ambassador to Israel. Overall, President Trump is off to a strong start. His swift actions are making America safer and stronger. Fully restoring peace through strength, however, requires congressional action as well. In the Senate, Republicans are preparing legislation to do just that. Republicans will rebuild our military, improve military readiness, expand shipbuilding, and invest in the newest technologies to keep America safe, and that includes an Iron Dome for America. All of this makes our military more lethal. Americans strongly support these policies. They know that this is the path toward safety and security. Republicans are going to bring back peace through strength. We will get America back on track. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes, followed by Senator Cruz for up to 10 minutes, prior to the scheduled rollcall vote.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Makary nomination.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, you know better than anyone, having just won election to this body, that Americans elected Republicans all across the country to get our country back on track. That is what this last election was about, and Republicans are keeping our promises. Today, more Americans say our country is on the right track than they have said for the last 20 years, and that is because President Trump and Republicans' commonsense revolution is working. By contrast, what we see with the Democrats--they have abandoned all common sense. The American people are resoundingly--amazing numbers-- according to a recent poll--CNN did a poll. They are no friends of Republicans. What did they say? They said that only 29 percent of the American people view the Democratic Party favorably. Even worse, according to a recent NBC poll, only 27 percent of Americans had a positive view of the Democrats. The Democrat approval rating is at its alltime low in the history of polling in this country. Why is that? Well, let me tell you. It is because Democrats in this body--in this Senate--are taking positions and continuing to take positions that are truly radical. Democrats in this body support people who support terrorism. That is who they side with. They refuse to protect women in sports. Eighty percent of Americans say we need to protect women and girls in sports against biological men. Democrats refuse to stand with Israel. Democrats, through their votes, are trying to support higher energy prices, not lower energy prices. It was inflation which cost them the election--the open borders and the high prices of the last administration. Democrats are refusing to protect taxpayers. In terms of specific wasteful Washington spending that we have been seeing, Democrats are refusing to allow us to remove some of this wasteful Washington spending. They want Americans to pay higher taxes-- $4 trillion in increased higher taxes is what they are hoping for at the end of this year. The minority leader, who just spoke, appeared last week on a television show called ``The View.'' What did he do? He spent his time attacking not the abuses against America but against hard-working and successful American families--people who just want to keep more of their hard-earned money; people who don't want to see the government waste it, fritter it away, as we have seen from these examples and lists of money being spent in ways you just wouldn't think makes sense to anyone. The minority leader had nothing good to say about the innovators or the job creators, the hard-working Americans who make this country great. Over the last 4 years--the 4 years of the last administration-- wasteful spending caused the worst inflation in 40 years. Democrats raised our taxes. They took our money, and they spent it recklessly. Today, Democrats are pulling out all the stops to block our bold Republican agenda. This is an agenda that the American people support. How do they do it? They don't have the votes in the House. They don't have the votes in the Senate. They don't have the White House. How can Democrats and their radical views be reflected in what is happening in this country? You know they are doing it through radical district court judges. That is what the American people are hearing about today in the news--radical district court judges who oppose President Trump, oppose his agenda. How many district court judges are there in the country? The number is 677. That is how many there are in the United States. Last week, 1 of them--1 of the 677, just 1 of them at the district court level--ordered a nationwide ban to stop deportation of illegal immigrant gang members. This is wrong. One district court judge in one district court out of 677 of these district judges is saying ``stop'' for the entire country. Well, these gang members, these illegal immigrants, they are part of a criminal group, and it is a criminal group designated by President Trump as terrorists. They are murderers and rapists. They are drug dealers. They threaten the safety and security of every American community. Last month alone, there were 15 nationwide injunctions issued against the Trump administration by who? By activist district judges from Washington to Seattle. These activist district judges think they know better than the American people. Their radical order blocks signature pillars of our Republican agenda, the agenda the American people voted for in November. These radical activist judges are protecting criminals, they are protecting terrorists, and they are after people that we know we need out of the country--they want to keep them here. They are against accountability. It is clearly an effort by the Democrats and their activist judges to try to undo the will of the voters. Let me be very clear. When partisan, unelected district court judges try to micromanage the President of the United States, that is not judicial review, it isn't checks and balances, it is purely partisan politics, and it is wrong. Radical district judges are not going to succeed in blocking Republicans from getting this Nation back on track. I applaud President Trump. He is fighting to uphold the rule of law. He is appealing these bad rulings. He is representing the values of the American people. Let me go back to where I began. Last week, NBC reported Democrats are at the lowest level of support in the history of polling. At the same time, more Americans say that our country is on the right track than they have in the last 20 years. The Republican agenda for America continues to be popular. Americans want to escape the last 4 years of high prices and open borders. Republicans' shared agenda will deliver safer communities, secure borders, affordable prices, and peace through strength. Republicans are committed, Mr. President, to getting America back on track. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), the Senator from Nebraska (Mrs. Fischer), and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), the Senator from Nebraska (Mrs. Fischer), and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts).