WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) underscored the urgency of addressing our national debt in the Senate’s version of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and detailed additional priorities for the legislation, including extending the Trump tax cuts to avoid an average tax increase of $3,000 in Texas and implementing work requirements for means-tested programs. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“One of the most important things that we need to do in this budget reconciliation process is to finally come to grips with our national debt.”

“We are now spending more money on interest on the national debt than we are to defend our nation, which is the number one job of the federal government.”

“If we want the United States to maintain its standing in the world, if we want to be able to have the resources to defend the nation and deter our adversaries, we have to at least begin to get our fiscal house in order, and this bill — the big, beautiful bill from the House — we’re going to make it even more beautiful here in the Senate.”

“I was happy to see that the House bill included work requirements that go into effect in 2026, and I hope the Senate will include this policy in our bill as well.”

“Failure is not an option. If the President’s tax cuts are not extended, the American people will face the largest tax increase in American history… back home in Texas, my constituents will see their taxes increase on average $3,000 next year.”

“As I’ve traveled my state as I did during the course of this most recent recess, my constituents have emphasized to me time and time again how much they are depending on these tax cuts being renewed, especially our small businesses that have depended on the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to hire more staff, to purchase equipment that they could then expense, and to provide additional benefits to their employees.”

“All of these small businesses, which are the primary job-creating engine in America, would be hurt, and would suffer increased costs, and have to cut somewhere in their business.”

“The American people are depending on us to pass the President’s agenda through this One Big Beautiful Bill.”