[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2208-S2209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Inflation

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, on inflation and the inflation 
ballroom, inflation is skyrocketing at the fastest pace in 3 years. The 
American people are hurting, and Donald Trump is to blame. Inflation 
rose to 3.8 percent in April because of Donald Trump's costly tariffs, 
his disastrous war with Iran, and failed economic agenda.
  So much for Trump's promise to bring down costs on day one--3.8 
percent, the highest in 3 years. And, again, it is all because of 
Trump's tariffs, his war with Iran, his failed economic agenda.
  The American people are furious about how Donald Trump and his MAGA 
majorities in Congress have turned a blind eye to the No. 1 issue 
facing the American people: their rising costs.
  A CNN poll this morning found that 77 percent of Americans say that 
Trump's policies have raised costs in their community, and that 
includes a majority of Republicans. Seventy-seven percent, including a 
majority of Republicans, blame Trump for their higher costs. Only 30 
percent of Americans approve of his handling of the economy. That is a 
record low.
  Among the most common words the poll's respondents used to describe 
their economic situation right now were: uncertainty, stress, dread.
  Donald Trump, are you hearing that? The American people look at your 
economic policies and describe them as filled with uncertainty, fill 
them with stress, fill them with dread. That is a pretty strong word.
  Instead of listening to the American people, Donald Trump and the GOP 
put forward a reconciliation bill that will

[[Page S2209]]

force Americans to pay for Trump's billion-dollar ballroom and tens of 
billions more for Trump's masked agents, while including zero--zero 
dollars--to bring down American costs. Ask Americans how many people 
want to see a billion dollars for a ballroom and no money to help 
reduce the cost of food, the cost of electricity, the cost of housing, 
the cost of childcare. When will Republicans take the hint? When will 
they realize that Americans want lower costs, not a gold-plated 
ballroom for our billionaire President.
  It seems all the President is concerned with these days are vanity 
projects, not things that make the American people's lives better.
  Democrats will fight Republicans' ballroom bill tooth and nail. And 
Republicans here in the Senate should do the same, if they have any 
sense.
  Can you believe it? You guys are walking off a cliff. Funding a 
billion-dollar ballroom when people are hurting? It makes no sense. No 
sense at all.