[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3213-S3214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Trump Administration

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today having just 
listened to the minority leader in the Senate talk about his view of 
the world and the economy and what the American people are seeing. 
Well, it is a misguided view, misunderstood, because he is clearly not 
seeing what so many Americans are seeing today in their lives.
  So I rise to share some outstanding economic news with the Nation 
because people back home are seeing that America is getting back on 
track.
  Americans want, need, and voted for affordable prices. Today, 
inflation is at a 4-year low. Inflation has fallen every month since 
President Trump and Republicans took office.
  Americans want, need, and voted for higher wages. Income has risen 
nearly every month--actually, every month--since President Trump and 
Republicans took office.
  Americans want, need, and voted for affordable groceries. Egg prices 
have dropped 61 percent under Republican leadership.
  Today, Americans are feeling upbeat about the economy. Last month 
brought the largest boost in consumer confidence in 4 years. Americans 
are confident about their future. A majority of Americans now say the 
country is finally heading in the right direction. This is after 4 
years of high prices.
  CNN's own poll this weekend--this is CNN--they found that Republicans 
have a better economic plan than the Democrats. Not by 1 point--no, no, 
CNN didn't say by 1 point or by 2 points, but by 12 points--double 
digits. In the CNN poll, Republicans have a better economic plan than 
the Democrats. When it comes to the economy, Americans trust 
Republicans over Democrats. CNN on-air reporters appeared shocked and 
stunned--the video is astonishing.
  Look, Americans trust us because they are seeing real results. They 
are seeing Senate Republicans here fighting for them. Republicans have 
used the Congressional Review Act to reverse 18 punishing regulations 
and rules out of the previous administration. The most recent was when 
we ended California's leftwing electric vehicle mandate. You remember 
that? That is the one that said you had to buy an electric car. They 
were going to ban gas-powered cars by the year 2035. We got rid of 
that, and the American people are grateful.
  Now we are working on a comprehensive economic plan to deliver safety 
and prosperity for all Americans. Here are the facts: Republicans are 
committed to stopping a $4 trillion Democrat tax increase. It would be 
the biggest tax increase in American history. We cannot let it happen, 
in spite of the fact that the Democrats want it to happen. We also cut 
taxes on tips and overtime. Hard-working Americans will keep more of 
the hard-earned money and put it in their pockets, not in the 
government till. Seniors will be able to keep more of their social 
security. They have earned it.
  Republicans will also strengthen Medicaid for Americans who need it. 
Medicaid is a vital service. But let's talk about those who need it, 
because it is a trillion-dollar program, and what we see is that 
billions of dollars are being lost year after year to not just waste, 
fraud, abuse, but also to corruption. And that is taking the resources 
away from the people who need it.
  Remember, it is the Democrats who put millions upon millions of 
healthy, working-age adults onto Medicaid. Many of them absolutely 
refuse to work. Democrats want them to stay on Medicaid forever; 
Republicans want them to find a job.
  So the American Enterprise Institute, an organization that everyone 
in the Senate is familiar with, they came out with a report last week 
and said how nondisabled Medicaid recipients without children spend 
their time. So let's take a look at how folks who are working-age 
individuals who choose not to work who are taking Medicaid benefits--
interfering with sometimes other people who need the Medicaid much more 
than they do. But how is it working? How do they spend their time?
  Well, for Medicaid recipients who are not working, they say that, 
after sleeping, watching television and playing video games is how they 
spend their time. How much time? An average of 4.2 hours per day 
watching television and playing video games, rather than looking for 
work or working or volunteering or in school or education or preparing 
themselves to work. Apparently, they spend about 22 minutes looking for 
work. It is quite a disproportionate effort that shows where their 
priorities are. They are not looking for jobs. They are not looking to

[[Page S3214]]

get off Medicaid. They like the life--television and video games. The 
Democrats want them to stay on it forever, and they want the American 
taxpayers to pay for it.

  The American people are fed up with that sort of abuse of our 
taxpayer dollars.
  It was Democrats who gave 1.4 million illegal immigrants Medicaid 
benefits. How many people in our home States want that to happen? Very 
few in my home State and, Mr. President, I am sure very few in yours.
  The California Governor--do you know what he wants? He wants to add 
even more illegal immigrants onto the Medicaid rolls.
  Republicans want Medicaid for Americans who need it, not for 1.4 
million illegal immigrants.
  And it was the Democrats who spent over $1.8 billion from Medicaid 
for transgender surgeries for minors. How many people in our home 
States think that is a use of government money?
  Republicans will also unleash affordable, reliable American energy. 
These are the things that are making the economy strong, that lower 
prices at gas stations and on electric bills.
  Senate Republicans are building a stronger, more prosperous America. 
That is why we have such good economic news and why people are saying: 
Yes, we are getting on the right track.
  What are the Senate Democrats doing? They continue to be committed to 
obstructing the Republican agenda, and they say they are going to do it 
every step along the way. That is what we see coming from the minority 
leader. They want to stop President Trump from even getting his team in 
place. The Democrats are filibustering every one of the President's 
nominees.
  Actually, by the end of this week, the Senate Republicans will have 
confirmed 74 nominees from President Trump that he nominated since 
January--74 nominated. The Democrats have filibustered 73 of the 74. 
The only one they didn't was Senator Marco Rubio. In the Foreign 
Relations Committee, last week, they said, ``We are sorry we voted for 
you,'' because they don't like what he is doing.
  I reviewed nomination records stretching back to the 1980s. Thirteen 
of these positions that require confirmation in the Senate have never 
before had a rollcall vote in the U.S. Senate--done by voice vote or 
unanimous consent. The Democrats have filibustered all of them. That is 
how obstructive they are.
  They filibustered the Chief of Protocol for the State Department or 
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. These are 
not controversial individuals. These are people that the Democrats say 
we are just going to try to stop President Trump no matter what he 
tries to do.
  They even filibustered the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 
and Engineering, all to tie up the Senate, to waste time, and to try to 
slow down an administration that is working so hard to get our country 
back from the last 4 years of open borders and high prices that cost 
them the House, the Senate, and the White House.
  These aren't based on objections of somebody's qualifications for 
those positions. This is all meant to obstruct President Trump and 
obstruct the will of the voters. Lest the minority leader forget, it is 
President Trump who won all seven of the battleground States in the 
Presidential election in November of 2024.
  Well, Republicans are working through it. We have confirmed every one 
of President Trump's Cabinet at a record pace, and we are going to 
continue to work on all of these qualified nominees and get them all 
confirmed.
  We are united on whether it is confirming nominations or passing our 
comprehensive economic plan. We are united on our mission. We will 
build an America that is safe and prosperous and strong, and not just 
for today but for generations to come.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.