[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 163 (Friday, October 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S6925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1337

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, earlier this week, I stood here and issued 
a very clear warning: Vital cyber security protections that have 
safeguarded our economy, our infrastructure, and our government for 
over a decade have now expired. For the past 10 years, these safeguards 
defended against increasingly aggressive and sophisticated cyber 
security attacks. Without them, there is no question our Nation is at 
greater risk of a major cyber security breach than ever before.
  We didn't have to reach this point. Back in April, Senator Rounds and 
I introduced a clean, bipartisan 10-year extension of these critical--
absolutely critical--security authorities. The Trump administration 
fully supports this effort. They fully support a 10-year extension. 
Businesses and stakeholders across industries who count on this law 
want to see a clean 10-year extension.
  Over the past few months, we have heard from more than 100 of them 
urging us to pass legislation that will give them the long-term 
certainty of these protections. That is a key point, long-term 
certainty for these protections, so that they defend their systems and 
protect their customers.
  Every single day we delay reauthorizing this law, we leave our 
hospitals, our power grids, our financial systems, and more 
increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks. We must pass this legislation 
without delay to restore these vital defenses and protect our Nation. I 
urge my colleagues to immediately address this serious national 
security risk and pass this clean, long-term extension today.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule 
XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 
1337 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the 
bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, it is good to see that fake outrage is alive 
and well in the Senate. We have Democrats coming to the floor worried 
about the government being shut down, although they are the ones that 
have shut the government down.
  Ironically, every Democrat in this body voted for the exact same 
spending levels that are in this continuing resolution. Last December, 
these Biden spending levels were put forward by Democrats. Now, you 
have every Democrat who voted for the spending levels now voting 
against them without any rhyme or reason or explanation. So, really, to 
come to the floor and complain about the government shutting down a 
program when the Senator has every ability to vote in a few minutes to 
open the government back up is quite fake outrage.
  I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Michigan.
  Mr. PETERS. Let's be really clear, this has absolutely nothing to do 
with annual appropriations whatsoever. It doesn't have to do with the 
shutdown. This is a law that expired at the end of the fiscal year to 
protect our cyber security across the country. It is about restoring a 
law that has been in place for 10 years. It is not about the 
appropriations process.
  This is simply about national security. So to use that as an excuse 
and to put our country at risk is simply unconscionable, given the 
broad bipartisan, bicameral support you have in the Senate and in the 
House and including the strong support from the Trump administration. 
This is simply irresponsible, and I think you will find it is basically 
one person standing in the way of providing critical protection for 
cyber security for the entire country. That is not the way this process 
is supposed to work.
  I would hope folks would come to their senses, and we can provide 
this essential protection before it is too late.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.