[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14615-14616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      SENATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE 115TH CONGRESS

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, 2 years ago the American people entrusted 
Republicans with the Senate majority. At that time, things were in a 
bad way here in the Senate. Under Democratic control, the legislative 
process almost ground to a halt. Important bills weren't getting 
passed, and those that did get passed were frequently drafted behind 
closed doors, with Republicans and many rank-and-file Democrats shut 
out of the process, which, of course, means that the American people's 
voices were frequently shut out of the process.
  When Republicans took control, we knew that getting the Senate 
working again had to be our first priority, and that is what we did. We 
opened up debate so Senators from both parties could make their voices 
heard. We started drafting legislation in committee again so that bills 
were the result of discussion and compromise instead of being dictated 
by Democratic Party leaders. And we got the Senate passing real, 
substantial legislation again--a balanced budget, appropriations bills, 
the first major Energy bill since the Bush administration, and the 
first significant education reform since 2002.
  I am particularly proud of two bills that the committee I chair, the 
Commerce Committee, worked on--a Federal Aviation Administration bill 
with major airport security provisions and the first long-term 
Transportation bill since 2005.
  The terrorist attacks in Brussels and Istanbul that occurred this 
year broadcast airport security challenges--particularly the soft 
target offered by large crowds in unsecured airport areas. Those were 
problems we had been working on in the Commerce Committee for months 
before the attacks, and in July we passed an FAA bill that addresses 
them and more. The bill we passed requires the TSA to look at ways to 
improve security checkpoints to make the passenger screening process 
more efficient and effective, and it significantly increases the 
security presence in unsecured areas in airports. It also improves 
vetting of airport employees to address the insider terrorist threat--
the risk that an airport employee would give a terrorist access to 
secure areas. The Senate passed this bill in July, and the President 
signed it into law a couple days later. I am proud of this law, which 
is the kind of substantial legislation we should be passing for the 
American people.
  I am also proud of the Transportation bill we passed, part of which 
came out of our committee. When Congress fails to provide certainty 
about the way transportation funding will be allocated, States and 
local governments are left without the certainty they need to authorize 
projects or to make long-term plans, important investments in 
infrastructure that support the economy are shelved, and jobs that 
depend upon transportation are put in jeopardy. The Transportation bill 
we passed changes all that. It reauthorizes transportation programs for 
the long term and provides 5 years of guaranteed funding. That means 
States and local governments will have the certainty they need to 
invest in big transportation projects and the jobs they create, and 
that, in turn, means a stronger economy and a more reliable,

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safe, and effective transportation system.
  I am proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past 2 years, 
but there is a lot left to be done. Some of the most important measures 
we passed in the 114th Congress went nowhere, thanks to opposition from 
the Democrats and the White House--an ObamaCare repeal; legislation to 
overturn some of the Obama administration's most burdensome 
regulations; legislation to address the dangerous problem of so-called 
sanctuary cities, which refuse to work with Federal immigration 
officials to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. I am 
hopeful that with a Republican President, we will be able to address 
these issues and many more in the 115th Congress.
  Republicans have big plans for the 115th. If there is one thing this 
election made clear, it is that the Obama economy is not working for 
American families. Republicans are committed to fixing that.
  Growing our economy is going to be our No. 1 priority next Congress. 
There are a number of things we can do to get our economy healthy 
again. We can reform our Tax Code to reduce the burden on American 
families and businesses. Right now, our Nation has the highest 
corporate tax rate in the developed world. More and more, American 
companies are focusing their business operations overseas because the 
tax situation is so much better abroad. That means American jobs are 
going overseas with them. We have lost our competitive edge in an 
increasingly global economy. Instead of pushing corporations out of 
this country, we should bring our Nation's corporate tax rate in line 
with those of other countries to keep more jobs here in the United 
States.
  Another big thing we can do is repeal some of the burdensome 
government regulations that are weighing down businesses. While some 
government regulations are necessary, every administration has to 
remember that regulations have consequences. The more resources 
individuals and businesses spend complying with unnecessary government 
regulations, the less they have to focus on the growth and innovation 
that drive our economy and create new opportunities for workers. The 
overregulation of the last 8 years has left businesses with few 
resources to dedicate to growing and creating jobs.
  Another thing we need to do is address our national debt, which has 
nearly doubled over the past 8 years. All that debt is a drag on the 
economy. It slows growth and reduces economic opportunity. It is time 
to get our government back on a budget.
  Another way we can help lift the burden on American families is by 
repealing and replacing ObamaCare. I don't need to tell anyone that the 
President's health care law is broken. The promise of lower premiums 
and affordable health care has given way to the reality of giant 
premium increases and massive deductibles. A Gallup poll released 
yesterday found that 80 percent of Americans want major changes to 
ObamaCare or want the law repealed and replaced completely. It is time 
to give the American people health care reform that actually works.
  Another priority for the 115th Congress will be national security. 
Americans are rightly worried about the threat posed by terrorist 
groups like ISIS, which has spread violence and devastation not only in 
the Middle East but across Europe and beyond. Republicans are committed 
to defeating ISIS abroad and to keeping Americans safe here at home.
  We are also committed to keeping Americans safe by securing our 
borders. We must have secure borders and policies that encourage legal 
immigration while discouraging illegal immigration.
  There are other priorities we need to address: confirming a Supreme 
Court nominee who will judge based on the law and the Constitution; 
protecting religious liberty; and the list goes on.
  Republicans are aware of the trust the American people have placed in 
us, and we are committed to earning it. We are going to spend the 115th 
Congress fighting for the American people's priorities. We have a real 
chance to get things done in the next Congress, and I look forward to 
working with my colleagues here in the Senate on both sides of the 
aisle to address the challenges that are facing our Nation.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.

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