[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 73 (Monday, April 27, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Shooting
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the events of Saturday night were
horrifying. It is difficult to believe that this is the third time--the
third time--President Trump has faced an assassination attempt. And, as
we know, the shooter's ambitions in this instance extended even
further, to other administration officials and the Vice President.
I am very grateful that tragedy was averted and that all attendees at
the dinner are safe, but I remain deeply disturbed by the fact that we
are looking at the third such instance now in 2 years.
I am thankful for the many law enforcement officers who responded,
particularly those who secured the shooter before he could harm the
President or anyone else at the event, and I am particularly thankful
for the Capitol Police, who activated quickly to provide support at the
scene and helped not only Members but staffers to make their way home
safely.
Saturday night's events were a grim reminder of the need for law
enforcement. And, incredibly, some of the law enforcement officers who
responded are working for a Department that is currently completely
unfunded thanks to Democrats' refusal to negotiate on an Appropriations
bill.
I very much hope that, after the weekend's events, we can all agree
that law enforcement Agencies at the Department of Homeland Security
and the entire Department need to be funded as quickly as humanly
possible.
On Thursday, we passed the budget resolution, and we are now one step
closer to completing a bill to fund border security and immigration
enforcement for the next 3 years. So why are we here? Why are we being
forced to consider a reconciliation bill to fund border security and
immigration enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security? And why
are we moving to fund these priorities for the next 3 years?
The answer is because Democrats have refused to fund border security
and immigration enforcement. They refused to fund Immigration and
Customs Enforcement. They have refused to fund Border Patrol. They have
opted not to protect our borders.
Perhaps realizing what an untenable position that they are in--
Democrats have placed themselves in--we have heard a lot of bluster
from the Democrat leader on this issue. He would like people to think
that we are here because Republicans refused to agree to any ICE
reforms and that we somehow prefer funding border security and
immigration enforcement through reconciliation. Give me a break.
As the record abundantly--abundantly--reflects, Republicans bent over
backward to reach an agreement with Democrats. The White House not only
implemented its own ICE reforms after the events in Minnesota, it
repeatedly offered Democrats a robust package of legislative reforms.
The Democrat leader had the nerve to mention body cameras the other
day, as if Republicans have refused to agree to body cameras.
So let me just refresh his memory. Back in January, Republicans and
Democrats had agreed on DHS funding legislation. And do you know what
it contained? More money for body cameras. And then when Democrats
reneged on our agreement and demanded more, the White House offered
Democrats a number of other things including--that is right--still more
money for body cameras.
We are here not because Republicans wouldn't agree to accept reforms
but because Democrats would not accept any agreement, no matter how
substantive.
The record would suggest that they never really wanted one; that they
were in search of a talking point, not a solution, a political issue
that they could use in November. But I think it remains to be seen how
well ``defund law enforcement'' and ``defund the border'' are going to
play for them this fall because let's be very clear: That is what this
is.
Democrats refuse to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement at all.
They refuse to fund Border Patrol at all. What does that mean? It means
they have refused to provide any funding for deporting criminal illegal
immigrants, no matter how heinous their crimes. It means they have
refused to provide any funding for a physical presence at the border.
I talked about the Biden border crisis on the floor last week, about
the 4 years of recordbreaking illegal immigration at the southern
border that occurred on President Biden's watch.
Well, what Democrats are opting for now is even worse. At least we
had the Border Patrol under President Biden. Now Democrats are
reeling--reeling--opting for borders that are entirely open.
The evils of the Biden border crisis are still being felt. Last
month, 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a college student taking a walk
with her friends, was shot by an illegal immigrant who entered the
country under President Biden and was released from custody in 2023.
And Sheridan is just one of a number of American women who were
killed by illegal immigrants who entered the country during the Biden
border crisis.
Millions--millions--of illegal immigrants, some of them dangerous
individuals, were released into the interior of the country under
President Biden.
The Biden border crisis facilitated the passage of drugs across the
southern border. It facilitated the passage of dangerous individuals.
It left communities and cities, including blue cities far from the
border, overwhelmed with the influx of migrants.
I won't recapitulate everything that I said last week on the Biden
border crisis, but it underscores the breathtaking--breathtaking--
irresponsibility of Democrats' current position. Border security and
immigration enforcement are crucial--crucial--functions of government.
They are essential to maintaining public safety, and Democrats have
opted not to fund them at all: No personnel at our borders, no Federal
agents taking dangerous criminal illegals off of our streets.
``Open the borders'' and ``defund law enforcement''--that is the
position the Democrats now own.
As for Republicans, we will continue to move forward to fund these
critical functions of government. As long as we are in charge, we will
do everything in our power to ensure that our borders are secure and
dangerous criminals are not on our streets.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.