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Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, just yesterday, I heard the minority leader once again misrepresent the Republican agenda. With respect, once again, he is wrong.

Let me set the record straight because the Republican agenda is actually very popular. The latest Rasmussen poll was very clear. A majority--a majority--of Americans believe our country is finally heading in the right direction. This is the highest number of Americans who have graded our country heading in the right direction basically this century. Why? Because Americans are done with the painful Democrat years of high prices and open borders.

The contrast is significant. They are witnessing firsthand the Trump turnaround, and they are actually happy that Republicans are delivering for them after what they have been through for the previous 4 years.

Let's take a look at gas prices. Gas prices were 50 cents a gallon cheaper this year than they were Memorial Day last year. Families now save about $10 every time they fill up, and they are going to feel this relief all summer long.

Senate Republicans are adding to the success. We are working on the bold agenda to make America stronger, safer, more prosperous, more affordable. Let me outline why we are doing this and why it is so urgent.

Our mission is to stop a $4 trillion tax increase. That would be the highest, biggest tax increase in the history of our country. Every one of the Democrats supports this all-out assault on our wallets, on our pocketbooks, on the purses of the people all across the country. We are talking about the largest tax increases in America's history. Our goal is to make these tax cuts permanent.

Ignore the scare tactics that we hear from the other side of the aisle. This is a lifeline for middle-class families and for small businesses. This is about allowing people to keep more of what they earn. It is their hard-earned money.

We are also going to end taxes on tips. In Wyoming, 10,000 workers will benefit from this--hard-working waiters, bartenders, tour guides-- all of them. We are also going to make sure that police officers and firefighters will owe no taxes on overtime. Seniors will keep more of their Social Security. Small business owners will keep more of their earnings. We will also relieve them of these incredible paperwork burdens that are a drag on their ability to build their businesses.

Republicans will also strengthen and preserve Medicaid for the Americans who need it the most. This means 1.4 million illegal immigrants will stop receiving taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits. It was never intended for them. It is wrong. Benefits like that don't belong to them. These people are in the country illegally. They should not be benefiting from the work of hard-working Americans. Democrats want to keep all these benefits flowing to all these illegal immigrants. Well, that makes it harder for the American medical patients to get to see a doctor. I know; I practiced medicine for a long time and took care of a lot of Medicaid patients. What the Democrats have done to Medicaid--and now illegal immigrants receiving it, over 1 million--is making it harder for the American public to get to see a doctor.

To bring prices down, we are actually focusing much, much more on American energy and producing American energy--American energy that was under attack in the last administration by Biden and the Democrats. Affordable, reliable American energy is going to lower costs for people, will bring down the cost of heating your home, will bring down the cost of filling the tank.

With all the artificial intelligence breakthroughs, we need more energy to power those data centers. This is going to be done with American manufacturing. To win the AI race we are now in against China, we need more energy, not less. Republican policies will make America energy dominant once again.

Republican policies will also invite the world to build and invest right here at home in America. No more outsourcing our energy or our innovation or our destiny--Americans will be in charge.

On border security, Republicans are resolute. We will finish the wall, deport illegal immigrants, and stop the flood of illegal fentanyl that is destroying and killing communities around our country. Border Patrol agents will get the tools and the backup they need as well as the pay they deserve. These are strong measures, and they will secure the border.

Sunday, just 2 days ago, there was a terrorist attack in Boulder, CO. It is a sad reminder of the stakes. The terrorist was in the country illegally. He was here because of the open border policy in the Biden administration--one the Democrats want to continue. Every Senate Democrat right now in this body has voted to keep the borders open and opposed securing the borders.

This terrorist overstayed his visa. Joe Biden and the Democrats never kicked him out. Actually, they gave him a work permit, and even that has expired.

What do we know now? We know that investigators have found that he planned his hateful, anti-Semitic attack and was planning it for over a year, and he targeted Jews. He screamed ``Free Palestine.'' Twelve people were injured. Eight were hospitalized. Among the victims was an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. This is the human cost of dangerous Democrat policies.

Republicans will make our cities sanctuaries of safety, not sanctuary cities, not dens of crime and chaos, which is what Democrats have welcomed.

Republicans are also rebuilding our military might. Our bold legislation will make our military the strongest fighting force in the world. Our military will be lethal, intimidating, and ready to fight. We are also investing in the Golden Dome for America. This revolutionary missile shield is vital for our Nation's security. It is going to stop deadly threats from adversaries who want to threaten the American people and our Nation as a whole. That is deterrence. That is restoring peace through strength.

This is the bold Republican agenda that we are fighting for: cutting taxes on tips and overtime and Social Security, stopping the largest tax increase in history, strengthening and preserving Medicaid, ending taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, securing our borders, creating safer communities, providing for a strong national defense, and once again making America energy dominant.

Democrats oppose all of these improvements to our Nation. Why are Democrats for open borders? I wish they would come down and explain it. Why are Democrats for a $4 trillion tax increase? I am waiting for them to speak up. Why are Democrats for taxpayer-funded healthcare for 1.4 million illegal immigrants? I will tell you why. It is because they are absolutely out of touch with the American people.

Americans voted to get the country back on track. Senate Republicans are getting it done, and we are building a future of safety and prosperity for all Americans.

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