Cornyn Slams Democrats’ Sluggish Start to 118th Congress
Democrats control the Senate. Their leadership continues to put all of these important and pressing issues on the back burner.
It took two and a half months for our Democratic colleagues to put a bill on the floor – two and a half months.
Let members do what they came here to do – which is to legislate, which is to address the priorities of the American people which are being ignored by this Democrat-led Senate.
WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the Democrat-controlled Senate’s failure to address challenges Texans are facing, including inflation, crime, and the border crisis. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“Democrats control the Senate. Their leadership continues to put all of these important and pressing issues on the back burner. Just look at what the Senate has done, or rather, look at what it has not done since the beginning of this year.”
“Nothing to address the border crisis, nothing to combat inflation, nothing to stem violence, nothing to deal with the drugs that are taking the lives of our sons and daughters all across America. Now, the irony is the two resolutions that did pass were Republican priorities.”
“It took two and a half months for our Democratic colleagues to put a bill on the floor – two and a half months. At the start of the 116th Congress, Republicans held the majority in the Senate. Members were sworn in on January 3rd, a Thursday. The following Tuesday, the Senate voted on a bill related to U.S. policy in the Middle East.”
“That’s what leadership looks like. Identify your priorities, hold hearings, build consensus, put bills on the floor, and let members do what they came here to do – which is to legislate, which is to address the priorities of the American people which are being ignored by this Democrat-led Senate.”
“This new chapter of divided government requires Republicans and Democrats to work together. Unfortunately, we can’t make any progress in the Senate or in the Congress unless the Majority Leader allows us to take up, amend, and to vote on legislation – legislation that addresses the priorities of our constituents, the people we represent.”
“In the coming months, Congress will need to address the debt ceiling.”
“We also need to pass an annual defense authorization bill, something we’ve done for more than the last 60 years.”
“We need to take action to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border, to bring down drug prices for consumers, and to unleash the power of American energy.”
“We need more people in this chamber, in this city, in this country, who want to be part of solving these problems, but we can’t until the Majority Leader that controls the Senate is willing to put bills on the floor that actually address the priorities and concerns of the people we represent. I hope he will give us that chance.”