[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2099-S2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST
Mr. PAUL. Madam President, the most recent assassination attempt
makes approval of a secure White House addition more urgent. The
National Planning Commission, of which I am a member, voted 8 to 1 to
approve the White House addition. Lawfare, though, is currently
delaying construction.
It is clear that the threats of violence against our President are
not going away; they keep getting worse. So to prevent further delay,
Congress should authorize the White House ballroom and get it on a path
to completion. Let's get it built.
I am very glad that this latest assassination attempt was stopped,
but it is concerning that the would-be assassin got so close and that
these types of threats are growing more frequent.
The fact I even have to qualify my remarks to specifically say that I
am talking about the latest assassination attempt rather than the one
before it or the one before that should make us all think clearly on
how seriously we need to be taking this.
We do need to improve security for the President, and one solution is
already right in front of us. The most significant thing we can do--
something that will make the biggest improvement in security--is have a
secure event space in the White House ballroom project. Its designs are
complete. The project has already broken ground. Funding has already
been secured from private donors, not taxpayers. My proposal today
doesn't involve any tax money.
Congress doesn't need to reinvent the wheel here. I have a
straightforward bill, which I will move to pass in a moment, to give
this project clear, legal authority to proceed. By passing my bill, we
can help build the ballroom with no more legal delays, no more
bureaucratic delays, improved reporting and progress updates to
Congress, and no added cost to taxpayers.
I support the building of the ballroom, and the Senate can do
something right now to make it happen. Let's do the right thing without
delay. Let's formalize and authorize the White House ballroom.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of my bill which is at the desk. I further ask
that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. McCORMICK). Is there objection?
The Senator from Massachusetts.
Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, Donald
Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Well, today is day 464 of
Donald Trump's Presidency, and we are in a full-blown affordability
crisis.
We are 2 months into Trump's illegal war with Iran, a war that,
according to experts, is costing taxpayers over $1 billion a day.
American families are getting flattened by rising costs on just about
everything, from groceries, to rent, to gas. Just today, gas prices hit
a new high since Trump started his war. People are stretching
themselves to the brink just to pay their bills. But what is the
biggest issue of the day, according to Republicans in Congress? Fast-
tracking Donald Trump's gold-encrusted ballroom.
Another recent Republican plan would send $400 million to the White
House--I guess to buy more gold leaf and onyx marble for the want-to-be
King. But I want to be clear: It is common sense that we can, of
course, protect the President without shoveling millions of dollars
into Trump's ballroom in the middle of an affordability crisis.
This bill to rubberstamp Trump's latest vanity project is a giant
slap in the face to American families, just plain and simple. Americans
are selling their plasma to pay for groceries and gas. Think about
that.
Americans right now today are selling their blood just to pay their
bills. And what is the Republicans' solution? Dump more money into
Donald Trump's golden-crusted vanity project, and let's do it on the
fast track because it is that urgent.
Well, here are a few other ideas for things we could fast-track to
actually help the American people: We could reverse Trump's and the
Republicans' giant healthcare costs that kicked millions of Americans
off their health insurance and jacked up insurance premiums for
millions more; or we could deliver affordable childcare for every
American family; or we could undo Republicans' cuts to food assistance
for families; or we could put a stop to Trump's across-the-board
tariffs; or we could end Donald Trump's war with Iran. And, look, the
list goes on and on.
[[Page S2100]]
But nowhere on the list of ways to lower costs for American families
is rubberstamping Donald Trump's lavish ballroom. Remember, Trump's
ballroom has already become a tool for what looks like corruption in
plain sight.
Since day one, giant corporations have lined up to dump millions of
dollars into Trump's ballroom, and that includes Meta, Apple, Amazon,
Google, Microsoft, Comcast, Coinbase, and Palantir.
And those are just the people and the entities that we know of.
Others are being kept secret from the American people because Donald
Trump has let them stay anonymous.
So what do they have to hide? And what are all these donors expecting
in return? And by the way, if Congress bankrolls this ballroom for
Trump's corporate donors like other Republicans are proposing, what
happens to all those private donations?
So, by the way, I want to make that point again: If Congress
bankrolls this ballroom for Trump's corporate donors like the other
Republicans are proposing, what happens to all those private donations?
If Trump is using his ballroom to facilitate a giant pay-to-play
scheme, then the American people deserve to know.
Instead of dumping even more money into Trump's golden ballroom, we
need to put an end to this corruption and focus on lowering costs for
American families. That is what Democrats are laser-focused on.
Republicans should join us and get it done.
I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
The Senator from Kentucky.
____________________