[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SENATE DEMOCRATS

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I don't think at this point there are too 
many people who think Democrats were actually interested in reforms of 
Border Patrol and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement because it was 
pretty clear from their actions that they were not.
  If you are interested in getting reforms, you don't say no when you 
are repeatedly offered a robust reform package, even if you can't get 
every single thing you want.
  But Democrats, of course, said no again and again and again. And 
eventually, they just walked away completely and refused to provide 
even a dollar of funding for Border Patrol or ICE. Clearly, they 
decided that having a political issue for November was more important 
than reforms.
  And you certainly don't have to take my word for it because the 
Democrat leader came out last week and admitted that the decisions he 
and his party have made in this Congress have been about one thing, and 
that is improving Democrats' prospects in November. This is a quote: 
``We made a lot of strategic decisions that got us to this place--it 
didn't happen by accident,'' the Democrat leader said, referring to his 
view of his party's position. And you know what he ticked off as some 
of the most strategic decisions? Democrats' two recordbreaking 
government shutdowns. That is right.
  Democrats shut down the government twice to try to improve their 
chances in November, not to help hard-working Americans, not to get 
reforms at ICE and Border Patrol--no; to improve their chances in 
November.
  Let's just run down some of the consequences of Democrats' choices. 
The disastrous situation at U.S. airports that resulted from Democrats' 
decision to cut off funding for air traffic controllers, for one. There 
are the incredible lines that Americans faced at TSA in the middle of 
that shutdown, the TSA officers who have left in droves thanks to 
Democrats' decision to force them to work without pay for quite 
literally months this fiscal year.
  There is the strain Democrats' actions placed on our national 
security Agencies and the people entrusted with protecting our Nation. 
And then there were the government workers lining up at food banks 
charging necessary expenses on credit cards and wondering if they would 
be evicted from their homes because they couldn't afford to pay next 
month's rent.
  The damage Democrats have caused have been immense. And for what? For 
what? To improve their chances in November. Democrats would like you to 
believe they are the party of the little guy, of everyday American 
workers, but a better insight into their real attitude might be gained 
by the Democrat leader's statement earlier in Democrats' first 
government shutdown when he said this:

       Every day gets better for us.

  The ``us,'' of course, being Democrats.

       Every day gets better for us.

  When the Democrat leader made this statement, military families were 
on the verge of missing pay. So were a lot of civilian government 
employees like the Capitol Police officers who stand on guard for us 
around this building. People were wondering how they would cover their 
rent, their food, their commuting costs, their electric bills.
  But none of that was on the Democrat leader's mind. All he could 
think about was whether the shutdown was good for Democrats' polling.
  Then there is the article that came out last week about what House 
Democrats' first bill would be should they take the majority in 
November. Democrat leadership, of course, have been trying to push the 
narrative that Democrats' big interest is in making life more 
affordable for everyday Americans. But as last week's article made 
clear, it turns out that House Democrats are by no means agreed that 
affordability should be at the top of their priority list; they are 
interested in other issues like a reboot of their proposed Federal 
election takeover, or simply trying to undo anything President Trump 
has done presumably--presumably--simply because President Trump has 
done it.
  I wonder if they would try to undo the tax relief Republicans passed 
for working families which every single Democrat voted against. Hard to 
know, but as the Democrat leader made clear last week, one thing is for 
sure: It is not the American people who are top of mind for Senate 
Democrats; it is their election prospects in November.
  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.

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