John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor having just listened to the minority leader of the Senate come to the floor, and I listened to what he had to say. You know, it has been 10 weeks now that Republicans have been in the majority and the Democrats have been in the minority after the historic victory in November. The contrast is pretty significant. Senate Republicans made promises to the American people. We promised to get the country back on track. We are keeping that promise. We are hitting the ground running, and we are not turning back. Most importantly for our successes, it has been because Republicans have remained united. As a result, we have a list of accomplishments as opposed to what we just heard the minority leader talk about. First, the Senate has now confirmed all 21 members of President Trump's Cabinet, and we did it at a record pace--a faster pace than the Democrats were able to do for Obama in 2009 and faster than they were able to do it for President Biden in 2021. The pace with which Republicans have confirmed President Trump's nominees to the Cabinet-- as POLITICO pointed out today--all completed before the Senate has taken a break. That is where we are today. Historic speed. With his team in place early, President Trump is able to execute effectively and efficiently the popular agenda for which he was elected. The Senate has prioritized confirming the President's national security team. We saw the horrific attack in New Orleans on New Year's. We continue to see chaos around the world. We need a national security team in place, we have prioritized that, and we have done it. The Senate also passed the Laken Riley Act. It is now law, signed by the President. It is the first significant piece of immigration enforcement law signed in decades and just in the first number of weeks. It is actually the first bill that President Trump signed into law as the 47th President of the United States. It is going to save lives. It is going to prevent human tragedy like we saw happen in Georgia to that young nursing student. I am very grateful to Senator Katie Britt of Alabama and Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina for their leadership in finding a bipartisan way to get this bill passed. We have also focused on our shared agenda with the House and with the President to move quickly to pass a budget that is focused on border security, energy security for our Nation, as well as America's peace through strength. The Budget Committee--Lindsey Graham, who is chairman of the committee, and the members of the committee did groundbreaking work, all focused on making America stronger, better, more secure. Senate Republicans are working with the House on a path forward now and working closely with Senator Mike Crapo of the Finance Committee, who is leading the charge to make sure we are not facing a $4 trillion tax increase, which is what the Democrats want. They want Americans to suffer the pain of $4 trillion in additional taxes. This is very important work to keep taxes low for hard-working families and continue to stimulate the economy. I heard a lot from the minority leader about 5 minutes ago. He was talking about the future of Medicaid and of Medicare. I am a doctor and work closely with patients on all of those programs. But what I heard Senator Schumer do as he stood right there--it sounded to me like he is threatening to shut down the government. He sounds like somebody who is going to tell his Members: Vote against keeping the government open. We are so distraught about 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: The heck with you; we are 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. Democrats are so mad--you saw it last week when the President made his speech to Congress, to the joint session, his address to the Nation, the way they acted during that statement by the Commander in Chief--those are people that are just mad at the voters. The American public liked what the President had to say that night. Overwhelmingly, those who saw the speech saw it as very positive, are happy with the direction of the country, happy with the leadership of the President. He is focused. He is forceful. He is effective, energetic, getting the job done. That is not what I heard from the Senate minority leader just a few minutes ago. He sounded like somebody who is going to command the troops: Hey, shut down the government because we are mad, and we are going to take it out on the American people. Let me set the record straight, because Republicans support Medicaid, and Republicans support Medicare. Just the other night, we passed Senator Dan Sullivan's amendment to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare. Not a single Democrat joined us. These programs are in trouble today. Why? Because of the previous administration. Joe Biden weakened them by making them available for scammers, and that is what has happened. People are sucking money out of these programs who don't deserve to be doing it and are taking the care needed from hard-working American families. Republicans want to protect and preserve and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. We want to do it for the people these vital programs were originally intended for--not for the scammers. Stopping scamming is a big part of this. Additionally, when I take a look at some of the things we have done over the last several weeks, one is that we have 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 something called the International Criminal Court. It is an illegitimate kangaroo court that targets Israel and does the bidding of Iran. Sanctioning the ICC would have sent a very strong message to the world--the message, of course, being ``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 actually tried to reverse President Trump's national energy emergency. America clearly faces an energy emergency. Energy prices went up 31 percent during the last 4 years under the Democrats' administration of punishing American energy. Well, led by Chairman Mike Lee of Utah, Republicans are taking the handcuffs off American energy. Look, we know unleashing American energy will help kick-start our economy. Senate Republicans also voted to protect girls and women in sports. Senator Coach Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has been a champion of women's sports in the Senate. His legislation was common sense to over 80 percent of Americans. It said: Biological men should not be allowed to compete in women's sports against our daughters, our sisters--simple as that. Democrats filibustered it. They are completely out of touch with the American people, the Democrats are. And they are putting our female athletes in harm's way. Senate Republicans also have erased some burdensome Biden regulations. We are cutting through the redtape, cutting redtape most significantly on American energy production. At the same time, we are also protecting America's financial freedom. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana led efforts to end a Biden regulation on energy production on the Gulf of America. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota led efforts to cut $7 billion in natural gas taxes on our energy producers. 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 on Apple Pay, on Venmo, Zelle, with other apps. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led efforts to push back against IRS attacks on crypto currency. Each of these resolutions passed the Senate, in spite of Democrat opposition. By reversing these heavyhanded rules, Republicans are making life more affordable for American families. And this week, the Senate is moving to pass lifesaving legislation that is called the HALT Fentanyl Act. Approximately 70,000 Americans are poisoned or killed by elicit fentanyl each year in the United States. It is the No. 1 killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. The HALT Fentanyl Act will aid efforts to crack down on drug dealers and criminal cartels that smuggle the poison into our country and into our communities. I am grateful that Leader Thune is putting this bipartisan legislation up for a vote. You can sum up these early weeks in the Republican-led Senate in three words: fast, forceful, and effective. We aren't wasting time. We are not wasting time. We are just getting started. Working together, Republicans are going to deliver for the American people. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the American people know our government is too big, and it spends too much. The American people want to see an end to this wasteful Washington spending. They want Washington to work for them, not for Washington. President Trump shares those views, and he wants government to work both efficiently and effectively. He is putting a stop to waste, to fraud, and to abuse. Democrats in this body are now, believe it or not, threatening a shutdown--a shutdown of the Government of the United States. Shutting down the government is not an outcome that President Trump wants. It is not an outcome that any of the Republicans want. It costs money to shut down the government; and then it costs even more money to open the government again. These shutdown-Democrats are acting irresponsibly. Why are they doing it? Because they want to defend the wasteful Washington spending that has gotten the American people so upset. What kind of waste have people been finding? Let me point out, Mr. President, what we have been seeing that President Trump and those working with him have been able to find in terms of government waste: $2 million to develop sustainable recycle models in the Balkans; $19 million on biodiversity conversations--conversations on biodiversity in Nepal; $47 million to improve learning outcomes in Asia; $1.5 million on ``voter confidence'' in Liberia, Africa; $21 million for voter turnout in India. That is why the Democrats want to shut down the government. They want to continue this reckless Washington spending. They want to stop Republicans from rooting out the waste, the fraud, and the abuse. This government runs out of money in 8 days. We need to pass legislation to get beyond that, but more and more Democrats in this Congress are calling for a shutdown as this deadline nears. Here is a headline from Politico this past week: ``Democrats are serious about a shutdown.'' Here is another from The Hill this past week: Democrats digging in against full-year CR as shutdown deadline ticks closer. Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said: Yes, Democrats would shut down the government. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey who is a member of the leadership of the Democratic Party said: Democrats will use every possible tool to stop President Trump. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, what did he say? He said he is open to shutting down the government. Democrats in House leadership also refused to come to the table and negotiate a spending deal. The Senate should reject these reckless efforts. A shutdown strains Border Patrol agents. A shutdown strains our military because we know, Mr. President, Border Patrol agents and our troops will have to work regardless, and they won't get paid during the shutdown. They get paid later, but not during the shutdown. It makes very difficult to make ends meet if the paycheck isn't there at the end of the week. These brave men and women should not have to pay the price because Democrats hate President Trump. These people make enough sacrifices on behalf of keeping our Nation safe and secure. Congress should be willing to make sure that they get a paycheck, not get caught in political games. Make no mistake, Mr. President, the American people want President Trump's urgent action. They want it to continue. President Trump is doing exactly what the American people voted for. Democrats calling for a shutdown are failing the American taxpayers. They are failing our servicemembers, and they are failing our Border Patrol agents. They sat on their hands during President Trump's inspiring address to the Nation the other evening. They oppose the commonsense changes that Americans voted for. If there is a shutdown, Mr. President, it will be driven by and directed by the Democrats. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer) and the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today having just heard the minority leader come to the floor and have his reflections on last night's address to the Nation by President Donald Trump. Well, a man is entitled to his opinion. This morning, however, CBS News reported on what the viewers at home thought about what they saw. The headline is ``Poll of Trump's 2025 joint address to Congress finds large majority of viewers approve.'' A large majority--76 percent of the viewers--approved of what they heard last night. They asked those viewers: Did the President spend time on talking about the issues that you care about? Two out of three said: Yes, indeed. His speech--how did it make people feel? What did they say? Almost 70 percent said: Hopeful. Hopeful for the future. Over half said: Proud. Proud of America. Speech viewers described the President as ``presidential,'' ``inspiring,'' and ``unifying.'' The question they asked is: Does President Trump have a clear plan for inflation? More than two out of three said: Yes. That is what the American people saw. So apparently the minority leader did not see the same speech or did not reflect the same way as the great majority of the American viewers at home, because last night, I believe people saw President Trump's bold agenda and rapid action in motion. That was focused on securing the border. Joint addresses to Congress are typically about making promises, but last night, it was different. President Trump spoke about the promises he is keeping, the action that he has already taken to make our country safer. The numbers tell the story. Under President Trump, in February, there were less than 9,000 illegal crossings at our southern border. That is the lowest in recorded history. Under Joe Biden, the border was a very different story. The border was wide open for members of criminal cartels, the drug dealers, people on the Terrorist Watch List. Last month was February. We are now into March. So we look at February 2022, 2023, 2024, and now with President Trump back in office. In February 2022, under Joe Biden, 160,000 illegal crossings; 2023, 157,000 illegal crossings; 2024, 190,000 illegal crossings; President Trump, less than 9,000. Joe Biden was having these numbers in a single day when he was in the White House. President Trump is securing the border. He is doing it boldly. He is doing it strongly. He is doing it with intention. One illegal immigrant said: It is too hard; you can't cross right now. That is the message we wanted. The American people wanted illegal immigrants to be hearing that it is too hard, don't even try it. Under President Trump, we actually have reverse migration. It is the reality. Cartel criminals once profited from the border invasion--not anymore. One smuggler told NBC News that his profits had fallen 80 percent. That is a good message for them all to hear. Illegal immigrants are turning around, and at the same time, illegal criminals in this country are being taken down. In my home State of Wyoming, ICE recently arrested two Mexican nationals, drug dealers. One man was found with a pound of methamphetamine. President Trump is taking coldblooded criminals like this off of our streets and getting them out of the country. President Trump is also fighting to stop the drug cartels, and these are the people who are flooding our Nation with deadly drugs. Fentanyl poisoning kills more than 70,000 American citizens each and every year. This is a crisis. On day one, President Trump listed these killer cartel members as terrorist organizations. No other President has taken such a bold step ever. And it is working. The cartels are now shutting down drug labs. The leaders are going into hiding. For the first time in years, the cartels are running scared. That is the way it should be. President Trump said he is going to do whatever it takes to keep Americans safe. President Trump began his first day in office by signing dozens of Executive orders. He cracked down on illegal immigrant criminals in each and every one of our communities. He empowered the Border Patrol agents. They are securing the border once again. He launched the largest deportation operation in history. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have started to deport the worst illegal immigrant criminals. President Trump also made sure American taxpayers stopped paying billions of their dollars on free hotels, on free phones, on free healthcare for illegal immigrants, which, of course, acted as a magnet to bring more illegal immigrants into the country. Not the message they are hearing today. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are for American citizens, not for illegal immigrants. President Trump's actions are going to protect and preserve these vital programs for the very people that the programs were intended from the beginning. The American public overwhelmingly supports what President Trump is doing. CBS News, the same people that did the poll this morning on how successful and how much the people of this country welcomed the President's address last night--well, last week, CBS News reported that 59 percent of Americans approved of President Trump's deportation program. And 64 percent say the President's actions are reducing illegal migration and crossings at the southern border. It is what the American people want. It is what they voted for in November--a secure border. People around this country oppose what the Democrats are doing in sanctuary cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and Boston. They oppose funneling their hard-earned taxpayer dollars to pay for benefits for illegal immigrants. People want safety, they want security, and they want some sanity coming out of Washington that they didn't have in the last 4 years. That is what President Trump and that is what Republicans are delivering. This is only the beginning. Last night, President Trump laid out a clear path forward. He said the Department of Homeland Security needs backup, needs manpower, we need to finish the wall. Manpower, technology, the wall, they are essential for full border security. That is why 2 weeks ago, the Presiding Officer and I and other Members of our colleagues here on the Republican side of the aisle passed a budget that increases for border security. Senate Republicans voted for more border agents, more detention beds, more deportation flights. Every Democrat, when having an opportunity to vote for those things, voted no. Securing the border is why I introduced a bill called the Build the Wall Act. My legislation finishes building the wall along the southern border, and it was paid for with unspent COVID money. The money is still there. Stopping the killer cartels is why the Senate needs to now pass the HALT Fentanyl Act. Lives are on the line. Fentanyl is the No. 1 killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Permanently listing deadly illicit fentanyl as a schedule I drug, I believe, will save lives. The HALT Fentanyl Act is bipartisan. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, 16 to 5. It passed the House of Representatives with the support of 98 Democrats, and I am grateful that Leader Thune is preparing to bring it to the floor. The Senate is going to deliver a secure border and safer communities. That is what the American people demand, and it is what the American people deserve. Waiving Quorum Call I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Blanche nomination.

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 Wyoming (Ms. Lummis). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 115, submitted earlier today.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, the American people want to see this war end. We want to see the killing and the bloodshed stopped. President Trump shares those views. He wants peace. He wants to end the war. President Trump and the administration are negotiating right now, today, to achieve that peace. He addressed it last night in his address to Congress and to the Nation. I think that President Trump is the very best hope to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. He has my full support as the negotiations continue. The entire Senate should support those efforts, and therefore, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and for the reasons I have given previously, we want the killing to end. We want the bloodshed to stop. There are active negotiations going on right now, and I think the best hope to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine is the efforts of President Trump today. For that reason, I object.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I have eight requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 6; that following the prayer and the 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 and resume Executive Calendar No. 25, Troy Edgar; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Edgar nomination, all time be expired at 1:45 p.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation; that following confirmation of the Edgar nomination, the Senate resume consideration of Executive Calendar No. 29, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture; further, that if cloture is invoked on the nomination, all time be considered expired and the Senate vote on the Chavez-DeRemer nomination at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader on Monday, March 10; that following the cloture vote on the Chavez-DeRemer nomination, the Senate proceed to legislative session and resume the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 18, S. 331, and the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, Senators should expect one vote at 11 a.m. tomorrow and three votes at 1:45 p.m.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice) and the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis).

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

Mr. BARRASSO. I move to proceed to Calendar No. 11, S.J. Res. 3.