[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 96 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3241-S3242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Rescissions

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on Tuesday, President Trump sent Congress 
proposed rescissions. A rescissions bill is a cut to already enacted 
and funded programs. Looking closely at those cuts that have been 
proposed by the administration, I would like to speak to them this 
morning on the floor.
  Where has the President suggested we cut a very miniscule percentage 
of the Federal budget to fund deficit-busting tax cuts for the 
ultrawealthy? From bipartisan programs--programs that both parties have 
supported for years: programs that help the poorest in the world 
survive, even lead a normal life, suffering from HIV and AIDS; that 
help countries become healthy democracies and trading partners, 
literally, for the United States; that support peacekeeping efforts to 
prevent the spread of war and migration; programs that counter Chinese 
influence and help stem the flow of illicit drugs; radio and TV 
stations that provide news for America. That is where the President 
turned to make the cuts that he wants the money for to pay for tax cuts 
for the wealthiest people in America.
  For as long as I have been in Congress, there has always been a 
strong bipartisan support for foreign assistance programs. You ask the 
average person in the street, in Illinois or Oklahoma: What percentage 
of the Federal budget do you believe is spent on foreign aid?
  The guesses are usually 10 to 20 percent. It is less than 1 percent.
  There was an understanding that modest efforts like those, which cost 
just over 1 percent of the Federal budget, were the right thing to do 
by both political parties. You see, by helping stem pandemics and war 
and helping countries become healthy, free-market democracies, we are 
actually helping

[[Page S3242]]

our own country. We are stopping wars and upheavals before they start 
and spill over borders, alleviating the future need to send our troops 
into harm's way and strengthening our own national security at home by 
mitigating instability around the world.
  We are creating allies in the process and trading partners for U.S. 
farmers and other American businesses that make for good jobs here at 
home.
  We are also demonstrating the best of America when it comes to our 
values--compassion and ingenuity--something President George W. Bush 
understood when he created PEPFAR, which has saved millions of lives 
around the world from HIV and AIDS.
  That is why Ronald Reagan and John McCain--no pushovers--understood 
the incredible power and strategic value of helping countries across 
the globe become free, democratic, and prosperous.
  So why in the world would we cut such low-cost but impactful 
programs? I don't understand it. If there were international programs 
that were ineffective--and I admit such work can be difficult and with 
mistakes--then the place to fix them is through the regular 
appropriations process, not the wholesale gutting of a complete program 
like USAID.