[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 48 (Thursday, March 13, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SENATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, Senators have been seeing a lot of each 
other lately--in fact, too much, some might say. The Senate is 
hopefully about to wrap up its 10th consecutive week in session--the 
Senate's longest in-session stretch in over 15 years--10 weeks that 
includes late nights, weekend work, and even an all-night session. We 
have a lot of accomplishments to report back to our constituents when 
we are back in our States next week.
  The Senate has confirmed 21 members of President Trump's Cabinet, and 
we have done it at the fastest pace since 2001. That is right. The 
Senate has gotten through hearings, markups, and floor votes on 21 
Cabinet nominees at a record pace. As a result, President Trump has 
more of his Cabinet in place today than any President since George W. 
Bush. We have also confirmed a lot of sub-Cabinet officials and a new 
FBI Director. Senate committees are continuing to hold hearings and 
send more of the President's nominees to the floor for a vote.
  The Senate Republican majority has also been working to execute our 
legislative agenda. At the top of the priority list is securing the 
border.
  The first bill we sent to President Trump's desk was the Laken Riley 
Act, which ensures that criminal illegal immigrants are detained when 
they are arrested for certain crimes and not returned to America's 
streets. Senator Britt led the debate on this bill on the floor, and we 
had an amendment process that made this bill stronger by adding Senator 
Ernst's bill, Sarah's Law, and elements of Senator Budd's bill, the 
POLICE Act.
  Senate Republicans also passed a budget resolution to unlock the 
process to provide resources to carry out President Trump's border 
agenda. We have already seen border crossings plummet in response to 
President Trump's border security measures. Criminal illegal immigrants 
have been arrested and deported from cities around the country. But to 
continue these efforts and maintain a secure border will require 
additional resources, and we are determined to deliver.
  We are also working to address the fentanyl crisis by passing the 
HALT Fentanyl Act. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify 
fentanyl-related substances as schedule I drugs and provide law 
enforcement with the critical tools to go after the people who are 
bringing this poison into our country and killing Americans. I expect 
that we will pass this bill soon.
  Senate Republicans are also working to eliminate some of the Biden 
administration's burdensome regulations. As part of our promise to 
unleash American energy, we passed Senator Hoeven's resolution to block 
the Biden natural gas tax, and we also passed Senator Kennedy's 
resolution overturning a rule that would have stifled energy 
development in America's waters. To promote financial freedom, we 
passed resolutions from Senators Ricketts and Cruz to protect America's 
financial privacy. There will be more regulatory relief to come.
  It has been a busy couple of months, and we have gotten a lot done. 
We could have done even more if Democrats hadn't repeatedly chosen to 
use the filibuster. That is right. A few short months ago, when 
Democrats were in the majority, they were making plans to destroy the 
filibuster. Now that they have been in the minority for 10 weeks, they 
have already used the filibuster three times.
  What are the bills that they blocked? Well, first, there was the 
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act--a bill that simply 
requires doctors to give a baby born alive after a failed abortion the 
same medical care that any other baby would receive. Then there was the 
ICC sanctions bill, which would have supported our ally Israel and 
protected American servicemembers abroad. Just last week, every 
Democrat joined a filibuster against Senator Tuberville's bill to keep 
biological men out of women's and girls sports. Now Democrats are 
threatening yet a fourth filibuster--this time to shut down the Federal 
Government tomorrow.
  I have to say, it is funny how Democrats' opposition to filibuster 
changes with the prevailing winds.
  I promised last year that 2025 would be a busy year, and these past 
10 weeks are just the beginning. Republicans are working to deliver for 
the American people, and we are just getting started.

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