[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S635-S636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, tonight the President of the United 
States will give the State of the Union Address. Americans are going to 
hear two things from the President. They are going to hear a record of 
progress that puts America back on track. They will also hear a plan to 
build on that progress.
  In the 2024 election, Americans demanded safety and prosperity, and 
Republicans have delivered. Republicans cut taxes for Americans. We 
eliminated wasteful Washington spending. We rolled back regulations 
that strangled businesses and punished small businesses all across the 
country. We restored American energy dominance.
  Today, America is safer, more secure, and more prosperous than it was 
when Joe Biden left the White House a little over a year ago. For the 4 
years of his Presidency, painfully high prices punished American 
families. Republicans' policies have changed all of that. Our focus is 
affordability. The proof is in the pockets of the American people.
  Last year, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cut law. Every 
Democrat--every single Democrat in this body--voted against it. That 
law benefits every single American taxpayer.
  Every working American receives a permanently lower tax rate. Every 
working American receives a permanent increase in the standard 
deduction.
  Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and Main Street small 
business owners receive permanent relief from the dreaded death tax.
  All parents are going to receive a permanent increase in the child 
tax credit--$2,200 for each child each year. Waiters, barbers, and 
bartenders are going to keep more money because of no taxes on tips. 
Nurses, firefighters, police officers, and coal miners will keep more 
money because of no tax on overtime.
  Millions of seniors living on Social Security will receive higher 
payments as a result of no taxes on Social Security.
  New parents can save and invest in their child's future through the 
historic new Trump accounts.
  Republicans didn't stop with cutting taxes--oh, no. We also removed 
burdensome government regulations that strangled our economy. Just this 
month, in a historic decision, the Trump administration ended the so-
called endangerment finding. That was an Obama-era regulation that 
raised car prices and limited consumer choice. This is the single 
largest action to cut burdensome regulation by any administration ever, 
and it is going to make life more affordable.
  It follows a year of rolling back redtape. Last year, President Trump 
eliminated 646 regulations, and his actions saved hard-working 
Americans over $200 billion.
  This is just the beginning. So what are the results so far? Inflation 
is at the lowest it has been in 5 years. More Americans are working--
millions more--and wages are going up. The economy continues to see 
robust growth. Productivity grew twice as fast last year as it has over 
the past decade. That is what we have been able to deliver. These are 
the facts and figures.
  Let me put it in personal terms. Because of the economic policies 
enacted in the past year, workers in America now have $1,400 more in 
each and every one of their pockets than they did before President 
Trump took office. From the gas station, to the grocery store, to the 
pharmacy, paychecks are going further. Families are feeling financial 
relief, and more relief is on the way because there is more work for us 
to do.
  Let's consider what the Democrats--the people on the other side of 
the aisle--want to do instead.
  Joe Biden and the Democrats' reckless tax and spending agenda caused 
the worst inflation in 40 years. Record-high inflation. Sky-high 
prices. Today, these Democrats are determined to bring that back--that 
pain, that suffering. They want it all again.

[[Page S636]]

  These Democrats tried to raise taxes on American workers by $4 
trillion. Every single Democrat in this body--every single one of them 
on the other side of the aisle--voted in favor of the largest tax 
increase in America's history. We stopped them. We stopped them. Had 
these Democrats gotten their way, Americans would be paying more taxes 
today, not less. The refund checks coming would be smaller rather than 
larger, which is what they are going to get with the Republican plan 
when they get their tax refunds this year.
  Even now, Democrats are still trying to raise your taxes. These 
Democrats are trying to undo the very policies that are putting more 
money back into the pocketbooks and the purses of American families.
  Americans rejected the failed agenda of high prices and of open 
border and of high taxes. The American people chose safety and 
prosperity instead.
  So, today, America is heading in the right direction. This is an all-
American economic comeback, and we are going to continue to build on 
it, and people are going to hear that tonight when the President 
speaks.
  Tonight, President Trump will lay out his vision for continuing to 
make America safer and more prosperous for the people who are here, the 
citizens of this country, and Senate Republicans are going to work 
closely with him to do precisely that.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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