Chuck Grassley
Senator for Iowa · Republican · United States
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4173-S4174] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Socialism Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr.”
“I am glad some Democrats share this concern, as Democrat pollster Mark Penn wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Democrats could take a playbook out of the 1947 effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Hubert Humphrey, as recently reported in the Washington Post. Socialism is a failed ideology and experiment.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands.”
“One analysis about Venezuela's experience with socialism put it this way: So, what are the results of socialism in Venezuela? Well, we have experienced hyperinflation. We have people eating garbage, schools that do not teach, hospitals that do not heal, long and humiliating lines to buy flour, bread, and basic medicines.”
“According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report, if the United States had moved toward Nordic country-style policies in the 1970s, by 2018, America's GDP would be at least 19 percent smaller, coming out to about 11,000 fewer dollars of wealth per person here in the United States.”
The complete record
Every one of 190 lines we hold for Chuck Grassley, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“(2) PROTECT our children act of 2008.--Section 2 of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 21101) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ``(1) Child exploitation.--The term `child exploitation' means-- ``(A) any conduct, attempted conduct, or conspiracy to engage in conduct that-- ``(i) violates chapter 110 or section 2261C, 2422(b), or 2423 of title 18, United States Code; or ``(ii) involves a minor and violates section 1591 or chapter 109A of title 18, United States Code; or ``(B) any sexual activity involving a minor for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.''.”
“(B) Section 3509.--Section 3509(a)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``physical abuse, sexual abuse, or exploitation'' and inserting ``child abuse''. (C) Section 5032.--Section 5032 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (i) in the first undesignated paragraph-- (I) by striking ``or section 1002(a)'' and inserting ``section 1002(a)''; and (II) by striking ``section 922(x) or section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title'' and inserting ``or section 922(x), section 924(b), (g), or (h), or section 2261C(b)(1) or (2) of this title''; and (ii) in the fourth undesignated paragraph, by striking ``section 922(x) of this title, or in section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title'' and inserting ``section 922(x), section 924(b), (g), or (h), or section 2261C(b)(1) or (2) of this title''.”
“(b) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Title 18.-- (A) Chapter 110.--Chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (i) in section 2252A(g), by inserting ``section 2261C,'' after ``section 1591,''; and (ii) in section 2258A-- (I) in subsection (a)-- (aa) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``online child sexual exploitation and to prevent the online sexual exploitation of children'' and inserting ``, and to prevent, online child sexual exploitation and online coercion of children''; and (bb) in paragraph (2)(A)-- (AA) by striking ``or 2260 that involves child pornography,'' and inserting ``2260, 2261C, or 2422(b), or''; and (BB) by striking ``, or of 2422(b)''; (II) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``sexual'' and inserting ``online''; (III) in subsection (c)-- (aa) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; (bb) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children'' after ``sexual exploitation''; and (cc) in paragraph (3), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; (IV) in subsection (d)(5)(A)(ii)(II), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; (V) in subsection (g)(3)-- [[Page S3776]] (aa) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; (bb) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; and (cc) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``, kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and inserting ``or kidnapping, online coercion, or enticement crimes involving children''; and (VI) in subsection (h)(5), by striking ``the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation or preventing the online sexual exploitation of children'' and inserting ``or preventing the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation or online coercion of children''.”
“``(c) Penalty.--Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate-- ``(1) subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both; or ``(2) paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both.''. SEC. 123. CLERICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. (a) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2261B the following: ``2261C. Coercion of children to commit harm.''.”
“``(b) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for any person, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, to intentionally coerce a minor, directly or through an intermediary, to-- ``(1)(A) die by suicide or attempt to die by suicide; or ``(B) kill or attempt to kill any individual; ``(2) kill or attempt to kill any pet, emotional support animal, service animal, or horse; ``(3) strangle, suffocate, poison, burn, lacerate, or inflict serious bodily injury or substantial bodily injury on any individual (including the minor), pet, emotional support animal, service animal, or horse; or ``(4) commit or attempt to commit arson.”
“Subtitle B--Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online SEC. 121. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Act'' or the ``ECCHO Act''. SEC. 122. COERCION OF CHILDREN TO COMMIT HARM. Chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2261B the following: ``Sec. 2261C. Coercion of children to commit harm ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section: ``(1) Coerce.--The term `coerce' includes the use of extortion, threats, fraud, deceit, duress, intimidation, harassment, humiliation, degradation, or manipulation. ``(2) Minor.--The term `minor' means any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years. ``(3) Substantial bodily injury.--The term `substantial bodily injury' has the meaning given that term in section 113.”
“(e) Repeals.-- (1) Laws.--The following provisions of law are repealed: (A) Section 632 of the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, 1992 (28 U.S.C. 994 note; Public Law 102-141). (B) Sections 2 and 3 of the Sex Crimes Against Children Prevention Act of 1995 (28 U.S.C. 994 note; Public Law 104- 71). (C) Section 401(i)(1) of the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 (28 U.S.C. 994 note; Public Law 108-21). (2) Guidelines.--Section 2G2.2(b) of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual is amended by striking paragraph (7). (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date on which the amendments to the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements required under subsection (b) take effect.”
“(d) Authority for United States Sentencing Commission.--In carrying out this section, the United States Sentencing Commission-- (1) may amend provisions of the Federal sentencing guidelines that were promulgated pursuant to any other specific congressional directives or legislation directly amending the guidelines and promulgate amendments that would result in sentencing ranges different than those that would have applied under such directives or legislation; and (2) in developing a guideline that comports with the requirements of this section, particularly accounting for the factors set forth in subsection (c)(3)-- (A) may-- (i) design the specific offense characteristics, including the increase in offense level that each offense characteristic would provide; and (ii) define any terms; and (B) may not lower the applicable base offense level provided in section 2G2.2(a) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.”
“(c) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (b), the United States Sentencing Commission shall-- (1) ensure that the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements reflect-- (A) the seriousness of the offenses described in that subsection; (B) the need to afford adequate deterrence to commission of the offenses; (C) the need for just punishment for the offenses; (D) the need to protect the public from further crimes of a defendant convicted of any such offense; and (E) the need to differentiate among offenders based on their culpability and potential dangerousness; (2) avoid duplicative punishment within the applicable guidelines and under the Federal sentencing guidelines for substantially the same conduct; (3) develop a guideline that accounts for-- (A) whether, prior to, during, or after the offense at issue, the defendant engaged in, conspired to engage in, or attempted to engage in-- (i) an act of prohibited conduct against a child; or (ii) a pattern of activity involving prohibited conduct against a child, whether involving a single victim or multiple victims; (B) whether, prior to, during, or after the offense at issue, the defendant-- (i) participated in a group dedicated to child sexual abuse material or prohibited conduct against a child; or (ii) encouraged, instructed, required, or similarly caused another individual to commit an offense involving child sexual abuse material or prohibited conduct against a child; (C) whether the defendant engaged in multiple acts, not accounted for in the defendant's criminal history or counts of conviction, involving child sexual abuse material over an extended period of time or with a high degree of frequency; (D) whether the defendant intentionally used, or promoted the use of, software, technology, procedures, or any other means to conceal the offense or the identity or location of the defendant or any victim, or to destroy evidence for an improper purpose, unless accounted for in the conduct of conviction; (E) whether 3 or more online channels, technologies, platforms, or methods were used to commit the offense; (F) gradations in-- (i) the severity of the depicted sexually explicit conduct, including especially severe physical or emotional trauma; and (ii) the age or physical development of the minor; (G) the number of items of child sexual abuse material or the number of victims involved in the offense; (H) whether the offense involved distribution of child sexual abuse material, accounting for the nature of the distribution, including-- (i) distribution in order to receive any valuable consideration; and (ii) distribution through any method that does not limit who can obtain the material or how many individuals can obtain the material; (I) whether the offense involved the production, creation, or manufacture of child sexual abuse material that is not subject to the cross reference in section 2G2.2(c)(1) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual to section 2G2.1 of the Manual; (J) whether the offense was the direct and proximate cause of the victim's death by suicide; and (K) any other conduct or factors that the United States Sentencing Commission determines appropriate to reflect the seriousness of the offense and differentiate among offenders; (4) make any necessary conforming changes to the guidelines; and (5) ensure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing, as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.”
“(b) Directive.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of an offense under section 1466A, 2251(d)(1)(A), 2252, 2252A, or 2260(b) of title 18, United States Code, in order to reflect the intent of Congress that penalties for the offense under the guidelines and policy statements-- [[Page S3775]] (1) appropriately account for-- (A) the actual and potential harm to victims and to the public from the offense; and (B) changes that have occurred since the relevant guidelines and policy statements were last amended with respect to-- (i) typical offense behavior; and (ii) the use of modern computer and internet technologies; and (2) to better reflect the current spectrum of offender culpability.”
“(3) Prohibited conduct against a child.--The term ``prohibited conduct against a child''-- (A) means-- (i) conduct committed against a child relating to-- (I) kidnapping; (II) illegal sexual abuse, contact, or activity; (III) live streaming of child sexual abuse; (IV) using a child to produce child sexual abuse material; or (V) sexual exploitation, including child sex trafficking; or (ii) an attempt or conspiracy to engage in any conduct described in subclauses (I) through (V) of clause (i); (B) does not include-- (i) conduct involving or similar to advertising, transporting, mailing, distributing, receiving, possession, accessing, or viewing child sexual abuse material; or (ii) acquitted conduct, to the extent that such conduct is excluded from the scope of relevant conduct under section 1B1.3(c) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual; and (C) does not require a conviction.”
“It is imperative that the Federal sentencing guidelines account for these interests and ensure that offenders face advisory sentencing ranges that appropriately account for the scale, complexity, and dangerousness of these offenses. SEC. 113. AMENDMENT OF FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINE RELATING TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age. (2) Child sexual abuse material.--The term ``child sexual abuse material'' has the meaning given the term ``child pornography'' in section 2256(8) of title 18, United States Code.”
“(3) Offenders have also been increasingly adept at globalizing their offenses, including by, for example, paying adults overseas to provide customized child sexual abuse material, which may be video recorded or live-streamed, to offenders in the United States. (4) Meanwhile, as the complexity, scale, and dangerousness of online child sex crimes has worsened, long-existing sex crimes against children continue to flourish on the dark web, through social media and related applications, and otherwise. (5) Effective investigation and prosecution are a critical component of the efforts of the United States to keep children safe, punish those who victimize them, and deter would-be offenders.”
“This subtitle may be cited as the ``Sentencing Accountability For Exploitation Act'' or the ``SAFE Act''. SEC. 112. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Over many years, the complexity and scale of online child sex offenses have worsened, as offenders have taken advantage of technological developments to target and victimize ever-increasing numbers of children. (2) In addition, offenders have pursued increasingly dangerous ways of victimizing children, including by resorting to organized efforts at extorting and manipulating children into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and other types of degrading and dangerous acts.”
“TITLE II--COMBATING ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME Sec. 201. Short title. Sec. 202. Findings. Sec. 203. Amendments to title 18, United States Code. Sec. 204. Establishment of a Center to Combat Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime. TITLE III--LIEUTENANT OSVALDO ALBARATI STOPPING PRISON CONTRABAND ACT Sec. 301. Short title. Sec. 302. Prohibited provision of a phone. Sec. 303. Review of policies. TITLE IV--COMBATING ILLICIT XYLAZINE Sec. 401. Short title. Sec. 402. Definitions. Sec. 403. Adding xylazine to schedule III. Sec. 404. Amendments. Sec. 405. Arcos tracking. Sec. 406. Sentencing Commission. Sec. 407. Report to Congress on xylazine. TITLE I--JAMES T. WOODS ACT SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. This tile may be cited as the ``James T. Woods Act''. Subtitle A--SAFE Act SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE.”
“(a) Short Title.--This division may be cited as the ``James T. Woods Community Safety Act''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this division is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I--JAMES T. WOODS ACT Sec. 101. Short title. Subtitle A--SAFE Act Sec. 111. Short title. Sec. 112. Findings. Sec. 113. Amendment of Federal sentencing guideline relating to child sexual abuse material. Subtitle B--Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Sec. 121. Short title. Sec. 122. Coercion of children to commit harm. Sec. 123. Clerical and conforming amendments. Sec. 124. Severability. Subtitle C--Stop Sextortion Sec. 131. Short title. Sec. 132. Criminalizing threats to distribute child sexual abuse material. Sec. 133. Penalties for threats to distribute child sexual abuse material. Sec. 134. Severability.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3774-S3780] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6579. Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: DIVISION _____--SAFER STREETS AND COMMUNITIES SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.”
“And I think we should show our appreciation for the hard work, as just 2 days before he passed, he was in Ukraine, meeting with Zelenskyy, and he was announcing that he was going to move forward with some very important legislation putting additional sanctions on Russia because of their invasion of Ukraine. And I think we can show our gratitude and appreciation of Senator Graham by moving that legislation forward. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.”
“He was a bold leader, an impassioned national security hawk. He spoke his mind, as we all know, and we all know that he had the capability and the desire to work across the aisle. He was at the center of some of the most famous deal- making groups in the past 30 years. He loved the Senate as an institution, and his hard-working staff was like family to him. Most importantly, he dutifully served the people of South Carolina, and his roots ran strong through him every day of his life. [[Page S3728]] Barbara and I are praying for Senator Graham's family as we all grapple with the loss of a great man.”
“And in the year 2016, when he announced he was going to run for President, I had the privilege of showing him around a time or two during his campaign for President. He was a fan of the good people of my State of Iowa, identifying with our shared values of hard work, of faith, and genuine care for one another. I also worked closely with Senator Graham on the Senate Budget and Judiciary Committees, and we worked together for decades. He was a coveted ally on legislation, and, as chairman of those Committees, he was always fair, and he was always productive. From Supreme Court confirmations to criminal justice reform and border security, having Senator Graham in your corner was a great asset. He will be remembered for his many accomplishments as a national figure for the Republican Party. Senator Graham deeply loved his country.”
“Frequently, Senator Graham would hold court there, and in holding court, he was making every Senator laugh, no matter what the challenge we were dealing with on that particular day. He was infectious in the way he told a story, and, of course, there was always a punch line. I was no stranger to being the butt of his jokes. Senator Graham loved to tell people how frugal I was and that if I were ever to open my billfold, dust and moss would come out of it. I don't know how many times I have heard that. Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the Halls of Congress. Senator Graham was no stranger to my home State of Iowa, as it is first in the Nation for Presidential elections.”
“Mr. President, it is a sad day for all of us in the Senate and particularly those that are very, very close to Lindsey Graham, and that would be most Senators and, obviously, his staff. So I would like to take a moment to honor the life of our fellow Senator Lindsey Graham. We were shocked by the sad news yesterday of his untimely death. Senator Graham was a devoted public servant, through his military service as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, as well as being elected to office continually since 1992. Senator Graham was a very forceful and quick-witted presence in every room that he entered. His warm nature made everyone his friend, and I feel blessed to be one of them. A few feet from right here is the Senate cloakroom.”
“It says ``donor'' right there on my driver's license. And, of course, besides encouraging people to be organ donors, I am keeping a close eye on how the Federal Government is implementing this new law that we passed in a bipartisan measure to give people the chance at a lifesaving transplant. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.”
“Through my bipartisan oversight and the 2023 Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network law that we passed, the Federal Government is making long overdue changes. The law improved the management and the oversight of our organ transplant system and encouraged participation from competent and transparent contractors. To build on those reforms, in March, the President signed a continuing resolution that provided authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from organ transplant member institutions. This action by our President ensures the 2023 law can be implemented properly. I encourage all Americans to consider being organ donors and to understand the impact it can have on saving lives. So when you get your driver's license, you can tell them you want to be an organ donor.”
“Mr. President, April is National Donate Life Month. This is a month to raise awareness about the lifesaving importance of organ donation. There happen to be over 103,000 Americans on the national organ transplant waiting list. We should have confidence that our organ transplant system is efficient and that the system is also fair. Sadly, my oversight, dating back as far as 2005, has uncovered decades of corruption and mismanagement in that system. It has left vulnerable patients to die. They are on the waiting list while unused organs from generous American donors go to waste. Speaking of waiting lists, I have been concerned about reports of those on the wait-list being skipped over. This furthers the distrust in the organ donation system.”
“The result was announced--yeas 52, nays 46, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 223 Leg.] YEAS--52 Banks Barrasso Blackburn Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Graham Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McCormick Moody Moran Moreno Mullin Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tillis Tuberville Wicker Young NAYS--46 Alsobrooks Baldwin Bennet Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Shaheen Slotkin Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Wyden NOT VOTING--2 McConnell Whitehouse The joint resolution (H.J.”
“Under the previous order, all debate time on H.J. Res. 42 is expired. The clerk will read the title of the joint resolution for the third time. The joint resolution was ordered to a third reading and was read a third time. Vote on H.J. Res. 42 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The joint resolution having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the joint resolution pass? Mr. BARRASSO. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk called the roll. Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell). Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Whitehouse) is necessarily absent.”
“While I have been in Washington only a few months, I can see the drag that the inflationary policies of the last administration have had on the American people, and it is my priority to make America and Ohio better places to work, live, and thrive. That is why repeal of unnecessary regulations is so important. This bill contributes to the goal of cutting redtape for manufacturers, which gives consumers more choices and lower costs. This commonsense bill that has earned bipartisan support in the House is ready to be passed in the Senate and sent to the President's desk. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation when we vote today. A vote for this bill is a vote for making life easier and more affordable for American consumers. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER.”
“President, I am proud to stand here and lead this commonsense legislation to reverse the cumbersome Biden-era regulation that we are addressing today. This resolution overturns a Biden-era Department of Energy rule that expands paperwork, testing, and reporting requirements for home and commercial appliance manufacturers, without improving performance standards. In other words, this rule wastes time and money, raising costs without delivering meaningful energy savings on items like dishwashers, clothes washers, and HVAC systems--things that people need to live and thrive every day. These are just everyday products that Ohioans depend on, and this Biden-era overreach makes it harder to afford them and leaves consumers with fewer choices and more costs.”
“We will work to end America's dependence on China for medicine, for minerals, and for manufacturing. This isn't about isolation; this is about our independence. President Trump is working every day to stop China from raiding our factories, from gutting our industries, and from stealing our jobs. Other leaders dealt with China from a position of weakness. Never again. President Trump is dealing with them from a position of strength. China must hear us loud and clear: Freedom is a powerful force. We will never give it away. We will not compromise our safety, our prosperity, or our liberty. We will never stop standing up for the American people. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio. H.J. Res. 42 Mr. HUSTED. Mr.”
“For far too long, previous leaders let China get rich while Americans got ripped off. President Trump is changing everything. His bold actions and determination are finally turning the tide. In his first 100 days, President Trump created over 450,000 American jobs. His [[Page S2682]] economic agenda is sparking an industrial revival. Hundreds of billions of dollars in private new investments is pouring into the United States. ``Made in America'' is back stronger than ever. Seventy-five countries are now lining up for trade talks with the United States. This is a testament to President Trump's skills as a dealmaker. More will come. Republicans are going to continue to champion policies that secure our supply chains and bring manufacturers home.”
“It has the world's second most advanced air force. China has quadrupled their intercontinental ballistic missiles from 100 to 400. China produces 70 percent of the world's drones. China's shipyards vastly outpace our shipbuilding ability, and as the U.S. Secretary of Navy put it, one Chinese shipyard ``has more capacity than all of our [U.S.] shipyards combined.'' China's territorial grabs and provocative actions threaten global peace. China's purchase of 90 percent of oil sales fuels global terrorism. To counter China's military aggression, America must undertake a massive military revival. We must ensure America's strength is unmatched, now and into the future. President Trump has long known that the Chinese Communist Party is the primary threat to peace, to our prosperity, and to the freedom in the world today.”
“China's role in the fentanyl crisis is equally alarming. A recent report from the House Select Committee on Communist China exposed the depth of the Chinese Communist Party's involvement. Ninety-seven percent of the illicit fentanyl ingredients come from China. The Chinese Government subsidizes these ingredients, and it shields traffickers from prosecution. This crisis has killed nearly 50,000 Americans last year, and this is a direct result of China exporting illicit fentanyl. President Trump has rightly acted to stop this deadly flood of drugs into our country. Ambassador David Perdue will press China to end its exports of fentanyl. Militarily, China's rapid buildup is a growing menace. Their military spending has skyrocketed. Today, China has the world's largest army. It has the world's largest navy.”
“We said never again would we find ourselves in this dependent position. The costs of inaction are real. Since China joined the World Trade Organization back in 2001, more than 2 million American jobs vanished--jobs that our Republicans in Congress and in the White House are working to bring back with our economic policies. China's intellectual property theft alone costs America $600 billion a year. The Department of Justice links China to four out of five economic espionage cases. China is infiltrating our culture, our skies, and our farmland. They do this because they see us as weak. Today, China owns farmland in 27 States, often near military bases. My Wyoming colleague Senator Cynthia Lummis has legislation that would stop China from buying farmland next to Federal lands. This will be a safeguard to our national security.”
“China abused our free enterprise and our open markets. At the same time, they slammed the door on American businesses. This came at the expense of American jobs, American innovation, and American security. The risks of dependency are serious. Just this year, China banned exports on several critical minerals that came to the United States. These critical minerals are vital for our technology as well as our national defense. So what is next? medical supplies? Today, 90 percent of U.S. antibiotics are stamped with ``Made in China.'' We can't forget the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic. We saw how dangerous it is to depend upon communist China for anything but certainly for lifesaving medicines and supplies. Every American agreed that the United States needed to work aggressively to bring these critical supply chains home.”
“He is a proven leader, former Senator, extensive experience dealing with China that he has had in the past equips him to represent American interests abroad, and he will do it firmly. His confirmation shows Beijing that under President Trump, America will put our workers, our families, and our security first. The United States seeks a relationship with China, one that is fair, one that is respectful, and one that is reciprocal. Yet China's predatory actions demand a robust response. China's economic abuses are outrageous. What we are seeing is a predatory playbook. And using it in the past, China has gained an unfair advantage over global trade. China rigged the game with subsidies from the state, with currency manipulation, with market access barriers, and forced technology transfers.”
“Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Wyoming. Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that the junior Senator from Ohio be allowed to complete his remarks before we go to the vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. China Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about America's future. It is a future that must be secure. It is a future that must be prosperous, and it is, most importantly, a future that must be free of all dependency from communist China. For decades, weak policies allowed China to exploit our workers, exploit our innovation, and exploit our markets. Under Republican leadership, America is once again reclaiming our strength. Yesterday, the Senate confirmed David Perdue to be the Ambassador to China.”
“Complying with a new rule costs money that could otherwise go toward innovation, improvements, or investing in employees. For small business owners, a new regulation can mean late nights trying to figure out what it means and how to make the business work while following the rules. Regulations can lead to higher costs and less choice for consumers. That is why we believe that regulatory power should be used judiciously, and it is why we are committed to eliminating rules that impose unjustified burdens. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sheehy).”
“Major source pollutants are more heavily regulated, but the Biden administration's rule says that even if you reduce potential emissions below the threshold established in law for classification as major source pollutants, it doesn't matter; you are still subject to the stricter major source rules. Once in, always in. That is wrong. Worse, it removes an incentive to reduce emissions, undermining the very purpose of the Clean Air Act. So this week, the Senate will vote to eliminate this backward regulation. We have made progress on reining in excessive regulation, and the American people can count on Republicans to continue our efforts. We know that rules out of Washington can frequently have very negative consequences in the real world.”
“Proponents of this rule claim that more efficient appliances will save businesses money in the long run, but in the case of at least one new standard, the Department of Energy estimates that it will take more than 90 years--90 years--for a business to see those savings--in other words, longer than any business owner will survive at the head of his or her business. I thank Senator Moody for leading this effort to eliminate an unnecessary burden on America's small businesses. This week, the Senate is also taking up Senator Curtis's resolution to overturn the Biden administration's major source rule. This rule isn't just burdensome; it is backward. The Clean Air Act has two categories of pollutants: major source and area source.”
“to comply with updated requirements.'' A manufacturers association said that the proposed [[Page S2681]] reporting standards had ``no practical utility.'' Another objected to what they called ``burden without benefit.'' The same could be said of another Biden-era regulation we will be voting to overturn later this week. Last year, the Biden administration finalized a rule setting stricter standards for commercial refrigerators and freezers. These are the refrigerators and freezers that we see at convenience stores, in restaurants, and at grocery stores. In other words, it impacts a lot of small operators. These stricter standards threaten to drive up costs and reduce choice for the owners of these businesses--costs, I might add, that will inevitably be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.”
“Later today, we will vote on a resolution blocking the Biden administration's onerous appliance standards regulation--an effort that is going to be led here in the Senate by Senator Husted. This rule imposed stricter reporting requirements on a number of household appliances: dishwashers, dehumidifiers, pool heaters, air- conditioners, light bulbs, and the list goes on. Reporting and certification requirements may not sound like much, but there is a lot of front-end work that has to be done--work that costs time and money and can place a huge burden on businesses and drive up prices for consumers. In its public comments on the Biden administration's appliance standards, Carrier, an appliance manufacturer, said that the Department of Energy failed to adequately account for the ``cost and burden . . .”
“He heaped thousands of hours of paperwork on business owners, energy producers, and other hard-working Americans. And to what end? Well, often, these regulations were part of the Biden administration's radical climate agenda: efforts to tie up conventional energy production, force the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and even go after things like household appliances. Those days are over. We are no longer regulating our way to the Green New Deal. President Trump has moved swiftly to unleash energy production and remove regulatory barriers, and Republicans in Congress are joining those efforts. To date, we have passed a number of resolutions blocking Biden-era regulations through the Congressional Review Act, and we will continue those efforts this week.”
“He can't stand the idea of others disagreeing with him. So, instead, he tries to crush anything he views as opposition. That is not strength; that is a sign of deep, deep, deep insecurity. The more Donald Trump tries to take America down this ominous road, the more he will face resistance. Democrats will oppose his agenda. The courts will oppose his attacks. Most of all, the American people will resist his hostile takeover of our democracy. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized. Business Before the Senate Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, over the last 4 years, the Biden administration subjected Americans to an onslaught of regulations. Altogether, the Biden regulatory agenda cost $1.8 trillion.”
“Either kiss the ring, bow before the throne, or watch your back--that is the ethos of Donald J. Trump. Republicans howled at the Moon for years about weaponizing government, but no President in American history has weaponized the government like Donald Trump has in 100 days. The Department of Justice has become his personal henchman. He is assaulting the freedom of the press. He is assaulting our education system and institutions of higher learning. His deportation force is expelling American citizens with no due process. Let me repeat that. Donald Trump is deporting American citizens with no due process, and the American people don't like it. One of the traits of a dictator is someone hostile to all forms of accountability, to all forms of criticism. That is Donald Trump to a tee. He is scared of debate. He is scared of opposition.”
“They are aiding and abetting Donald Trump as he wants to add $52 trillion to the national debt. They want to help the richest of the rich while telling the working people to get lost. The Republican agenda boils down to five dismal words: ``Billionaires win; American families lose.'' This is a recipe for failure if there ever has been one. Finally, as Donald Trump destroys our economy, the American people cannot and will not stand by as he also tries to destroy our democracy. Donald Trump is everything the Founding Fathers worried about when they wrote the Constitution. They feared a man who would see the rule of law as a nuisance, who would consider the truth as an inconvenience, and who would regard his fellow citizens as little more than subjects.”
“Elon Musk talked a big game on cutting waste and reducing fraud, but DOGE is attacking Social Security, attacking veterans' care, attacking cancer research. That is not cutting waste, Mr. Musk. That doesn't make the government more efficient. That puts a dagger to the programs that America needs and which make our country strong. The list goes on. Rooting out corruption? Failure. Transparency? Failure. The rule of law? Failure. Economic optimism? Failure. It is one big ``f'' word: ``failure.'' While our economy sinks in real time, while consumers get saddled with Donald Trump's tariffs, Republicans are complicit. They are coconspirators. They are aiding and abetting Donald Trump as he cuts taxes for billionaires. They are aiding and abetting Donald Trump as he wants to obliterate Medicaid.”
“Senate Republicans know deep down that Donald Trump's tariff policies are awful for their States, so they have to choose today: Stick with Trump or stand with your States. But the failures don't stop there, just at tariffs. What about his promise to bring down costs? Again, failure--failure to bring down costs. Grocery prices are up. Housing is up. Rental housing is up. The price of a new car is up. Household appliances are up. Big retailers are warning that Donald Trump's trade war will make the problem far, far worse. Foreign policy? Total failure. Putin is emboldened. China is not coming to the table. Our allies are all losing trust. He is ready to break up the European alliance over Ukraine. DOGE? Total failure.”
“We are seeing it happen in real time. Because the tariff policy has been such a mess, such a failure, today, later today, Senators Wyden, Kaine, and I will force a vote here in the Senate to stop Donald Trump's trade wars. Our Republican colleagues have an opportunity to stop Donald Trump. Our resolution presents Republicans with a choice: Stand with Donald Trump or stand with American families. The GDP number today should be a wake-up call to Republican Senators now more than ever. Four voted with us the last time on tariffs about Canada. Many more should vote with us this time given the new numbers and given that this resolution covers all of the countries that Donald Trump has so failed on with tariffs.”
“Every day, he changes his mind. One day, he says yes to tariffs; the next day, no. One day, this country is on the list; the next day, that country is on the list. No tariffs. Double the tariffs. On and on and on. As he is doing this, his policy advisers have different explanations for what he is doing and why he is doing it. Businesses pay the price for Donald Trump's failed policies. When businesses don't know what the President will do next, they can't plan for the future. They are not going to hire workers. I have talked to business leaders--small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and big businesses--in New York, and I am sure this is true around the country. They are holding off on any new spending because they don't know what Donald Trump will do next. His chaos is just totally impeding our economy.”