WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised President Trump’s State of the Union address, discussed his guest, National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez, and highlighted this administration’s successful efforts under Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to rein in government spending and reduce the skyrocketing national debt. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“It was an exciting night with members of the House, Senate, and Supreme Court gathered along with our military leadership to hear about the impressive year that we have had under President Trump here in the Congress and, of course, at the White House.” 

“We had an appearance from the USA Men’s Hockey team, who recently won the gold medal at the Olympics, and the President recognized – appropriately so – so many of our nation’s heroes in a tremendous display of patriotism that I know I welcomed. Unfortunately, many of our Democratic colleagues disgracefully chose to boycott the President’s address.”  

“I was honored to have as my guest the President of the National Border Patrol Council, Paul Perez, who’s worked for 29 years in the U.S. Border Patrol and has done a magnificent job leading that organization of incredible patriots when Democrats have demonized law enforcement across the country.”

“One of the accomplishments that I would like to highlight today is the improvement in our nation’s fiscal situation through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and the work of the Office of Management and Budget director, Russ Vought.”

“Last year, we made important reforms in our mandatory spending programs to make sure that, for example, illegal aliens don’t receive free health care and strengthening work requirements for able-bodied adults who are receiving government benefits.”

“But I would argue that we need more than just trimming around the edges… we need a full change of mindset when it comes to our spending problem. That’s where Russ Vought comes in.”

“Under his leadership, the Office of Management and Budget are on track to reduce the deficit by more than $15 trillion over the next ten years.”  

“Of course, this work on taxes and spending represents just one small piece of the President’s impressive record, as we were reminded last night. President Trump is helping to Make America Great Again, and his State of the Union was a powerful reflection on how far we’ve come this last year and what the future might look like – the bright future.”