John Thune

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the only nominations received by the Senate during the 119th Congress, First Session, to remain in status quo, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXXI, paragraph 6, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, be the following: Executive Calendar Nos. 241, 503, and PN Nos. 415, 446, 587, 588, 593, 595, 620, 621, 622, 658, 675, 676, 677, 680, 681, 682, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712-1, 712-2, 713, 714, 715-1, 715-2, 716, 717, 718, 719, and 720.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 592; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I say thank you to all the staff here for a very long year and wish everybody a Merry Christmas and happy holidays and ask that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, either today or tomorrow, we will confirm another nominations package, bringing the total number of the President's nominees confirmed this year to more than 400. That far exceeds the total confirmations of both President Trump's previous term and President Biden's. It is an impressive number on its own, but it is particularly impressive when you consider the obstacles the Democrats have put up. I am not exaggerating when I say that President Trump's nominees have faced a historic level of obstruction from Senate Democrats. When you look at this term, President Trump remains the only President on record not to have had a single civilian nomination confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. Let me repeat that. President Trump remains the only President on record not to have had a single civilian nomination confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. Democrats have required a rollcall vote on every single one of the President's nominations, an unprecedented level of obstruction in modern times. Now, of course, Democrats would like you to believe that they have engaged in this historic level of obstruction because the President has put up, in the words of the Democrat leader, ``historically bad nominees.'' The only problem is a lot of these nominees have gotten Democrat votes on final passage. So either Democrats are voting for ``historically bad nominees'' or something else has been going on here. That something else looks a lot like petty partisanship. It became abundantly clear, a while ago, that the real reason Democrats have been dragging out nominations for Assistant Administrator of the Office of Solid Waste and Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is nothing more than petty politics. Democrats cannot deal with the fact that the American people elected President Trump, and so they have engaged in this pointless political obstruction and revenge. Republicans, however, have not been daunted. We have just kept plowing through confirmations, racking up an impressive number of hours in session and a historic number of votes in the process. In September, we took steps to restore Senate precedent on largely noncontroversial Presidential nominees to ensure that no other President has to face the kind of petty partisanship President Trump has encountered. When the American people elect a President, they expect that President to be able to get his or her team in place. That doesn't mean that Senators should never oppose nominations, but it does mean the nominations should not be held up for purely partisan reasons. Or, in the words of the Democrat leader, just a few short years ago: That doesn't mean we don't disagree. But it does mean, when nominees are held up, opposed, or blocked--it's for a legitimate purpose, not for leverage in partisan games, to score political points at the expense of public safety. Democrats have engaged in a lot of partisan games this year, but Republicans have just kept doing our jobs. I am proud of just how much we accomplished on nominations, and I look forward to continuing to get the President's team in place in the new year. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 532.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, this week, the Senate will be taking up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. For the 65th consecutive year, the NDAA is the product of a bipartisan process in both Chambers. This bill reflects the input, expertise, and tireless efforts of many of our colleagues, and I am especially grateful for the work of our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee and for the leadership of Chairman Wicker on this year's bill. This annual Defense bill is critical to ensuring the U.S. military is prepared for any threat we face--and not just the threats that may come in the next year. It is about putting us on a path that will ensure our military can deter and, if necessary, defeat any threat that may arise in the future. Unfortunately, this long view has not always prevailed, and we have continued to see the consequences of underinvestment in our military. In the last few years, we have had repeated reminders that the world remains a dangerous place, that there are evil people in the world bent on aggression, and that there are those who wish America and our allies harm. Sadly, that was clear this weekend. My prayers today are with the families of the three Americans--two soldiers and an interpreter--who were killed in Syria on Saturday in an apparent ISIS attack. The surest way of securing peace and keeping it is through restraint. It is a long-held tenet of American national security, and it is a view that the American people widely share. Republicans have made it a priority to restore peace through strength, and we know we have no time to waste. That is why we made a generational investment in our Armed Forces in the One Big Beautiful Bill this summer. The NDAA before us this week builds on that important work. It aims to grow our Navy fleet to deliver more ships capable of deploying American power anywhere in the world and help narrow the gap between China's shipbuilding and our own. It supports the construction of the Golden Dome missile defense system to keep our country safe from missile, drone, or other airborne attacks. It proposes to ramp up munitions production and to ensure that we have sufficient munitions for whatever may come our way--with the added benefit of helping to revitalize the industrial base and support industries in South Dakota and across the country. Then there is our airpower. The National Defense Authorization Act supports delivery of next-generation aircraft. That includes the B-21 Raider, the sixth-generation stealth bomber that will soon be making its home at South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base. I am proud that this bill fully authorizes the B-21 Program and procurement of these aircraft, which will be the backbone of our future bomber force, as well as the military construction efforts underway at Ellsworth to support this new mission. Investing in weapons and technology is important, but strengthening our military also means supporting the men and women who wear the uniform, and this bill has their back. For one, it authorizes the first increase in Active-Duty end strength in several years. It will help ensure that we can sustain the record recruitment levels that we have seen this year. It also supports critical investments in servicemember quality of life. That includes a 3.8-percent pay raise for our troops. It includes investments in on-base housing, education opportunities, childcare, and other support for military members and their families. This bill will help rebuild our military, but what makes this year's National Defense Authorization Act exceptional is not how it rebuilds but how it reforms. Thanks to Chairman Wicker's leadership, this NDAA will make the most significant reforms to the way the Pentagon does business in a generation. It takes dozens of burdensome rules and laws off the books, streamlines the buying and innovation processes, and ensures more American businesses will be able to contribute to America's arsenal, including small businesses and startups. This bill will harness the full strength of American innovation to get American's men and women in uniform the very best capabilities our country has to offer--and not just get it to them but get it to them faster and at a lower cost to the taxpayer. These reforms will make our military stronger, more agile, and more ready for whatever the mission may be. And that needs to be our mission here, to do whatever it takes to support American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians. We ask a lot of the brave Americans serving in uniform and they give a lot and I am proud that this year's National Defense Authorization Act will help ensure that they have what they need to keep America safe in a dangerous world. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 546, which is at the desk.

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

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 355 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the Booker-Schmitt substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 258, S. 865. The clerk will report the bill by title.

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 17; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, morning business be closed, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany S. 1071, postcloture, and that all postcloture time be expired at 11:30 a.m.

Mr. THUNE

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

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 257, S. 856.

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, it has been a busy year here in the U.S. Senate. The new Republican majority has been working hard to deliver on our promises to the American people, and while there is still more to accomplish, we have gotten a lot done in just 1 year. We are putting more money in Americans' pockets and supporting farmers, ranchers, and small businesses and helping them grow. We are making America safer and stronger, investing in law and order here at home and a strong military to safeguard our national security. We are creating a brighter future with new opportunities for Americans wherever they live and whatever their American dream may be. I want to take some time today to talk about how Republicans' agenda is at work in my home State of South Dakota, and I want to begin with the tax relief that Republicans have delivered. Whether I am visiting a small business in Isabel, SD, or talking to farmers at Dakotafest, higher prices are a concern for South Dakotans, as they are for many Americans. Affordability begins with more money in your pocket, which is exactly what Republicans have delivered with the working families tax cuts. If Congress failed to act this year, a typical family in South Dakota would have had less money in their budget. They would have been looking at a $2,500 tax hike next year. A typical farm would have seen a $5,000 tax hike. Tens of thousands of small businesses would have seen their taxes go up as well. Republicans were determined not to let that happen. Thanks to the working families tax cuts, which we passed in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, South Dakotans won't see a tax hike next year. Instead, they will start seeing tax relief in the new year when the new tax law takes effect. They will be able to take advantage of a larger child tax credit, a bigger standard deduction, and a bonus deduction for seniors this tax season. They will see larger tax refunds come April, and they can expect that to be the new normal because the working families tax cuts deliver permanent--permanent--tax relief. That is right--no tax hike next year; no tax hike ever. Working families aren't the only ones who will be benefiting from tax permanence. Thanks to Republicans' tax cuts, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners can also look forward to having more breathing room in their budgets next year. They will benefit from permanently lower tax rates. The 199A deduction now is also made permanent. The full expensing provision, also now permanent, makes it easier to replace a piece of equipment and upgrade their operations. And the now- permanent research and development expensing provision is already helping South Dakota businesses innovate. Then there is the death tax relief. South Dakotans believe the death tax is fundamentally flawed. It threatens too many family farms and ranches and family businesses. Republicans agree. And so in the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans permanently raised the death tax exemption threshold to protect a lot more family farms, ranches, and businesses from this unfair tax. South Dakota farmers and ranchers are always at the top of my priority list. These hard-working South Dakotans are seeing more than tax relief. The One Big Beautiful Bill made significant updates to the farm safety net to support farmers and ranchers through the economic headwinds they continue to face. Our bill increases reference prices for every covered commodity and makes these prices more responsive to market conditions in the coming years. It increases crop insurance coverage and affordability. It supports livestock producers by making existing programs more responsive to drought and by funding prevention of animal diseases that can devastate livestock. And it invests in critical conservation programs, including programs that support South Dakota's wild bird populations, something that matters a lot this time of year as hunters flock to our State for pheasant season. Republicans also made the Agriculture appropriations bill a priority. This year's bill, which was signed into law in November, supports agricultural research programs and facilitates marketing U.S. ag products both domestically and internationally. And it provides robust funding for the Farm Service Agency, which producers depend on to access the programs which keep their operations running smoothly. We are not just strengthening farms and ranches; we are also working to support rural communities in South Dakota and across the country. The needs of rural areas look a little different from other places' needs. They do receive attention from the new Republican majority this year. As I said, we prioritized the Ag appropriations bill, which delivered significant funding for rural broadband. And I worked with the Trump administration to develop internet access to unserved areas. Then there is healthcare. Folks whose homes are in a rural area know simply accessing a doctor or emergency room can be challenging. That is all the more true with the troubling trend of rural hospital closures over the last several years. With the One Big Beautiful Bill, Republicans have taken action to support rural hospitals. All 50 States have now applied for funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill's Rural Health Transformation Program, including South Dakota. South Dakota intends to address key priorities with this funding. The State is looking to recruit healthcare professionals to rural areas and train professionals for rural needs, incentivize regional hubs for emergency services and maternal health, and bolster healthcare facilities that serve rural parts of our State. This fund will truly be transformative for healthcare providers in South Dakota and other rural areas across the country. We also used the One Big Beautiful Bill to repeal a burdensome staffing regulation that would have threatened the viability of a number of South Dakota nursing homes. The Biden staffing mandate was unworkable in my State and many others. The One Big Beautiful Bill rescinded it, ensuring South Dakota nursing homes can continue serving our residents. There is a lot more I could talk about that we have accomplished for South Dakota this year. There are the investments in Ellsworth Air Force Base, including full funding for the B-21 mission and supporting infrastructure. There is the support for local law enforcement in the One Big Beautiful Bill and new border security resources to help stop illegal immigration and the flow of drugs across our southern border. Ron Parsons is confirmed and back on the job as South Dakota's U.S. attorney. We have repealed electric vehicle mandates that were simply not realistic for a State like ours, where long distances and cold weather are a fact of life. The Biden administration's WOTUS rule has been repealed as well, saving farmers and ranchers from massive compliance costs. And we are even doing our part to keep the pheasant population in our State strong. I come here every day to work for South Dakota, and we have done a lot this year that South Dakotans can be happy about. But it is not just my State. Republicans' agenda is supporting Americans in all 50 States. We are working to make America safer and more secure, put more money in Americans' pockets, and create new opportunities for a brighter future. Mr. President, we are keeping our foot on the gas. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the motion to concur in the House message to accompany S. 1071.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 560.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 574.