Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss his recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal on the principles needed to reach a commonsense agreement between Republicans and Democrats on transmission reforms and President Biden’s push for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. He also commended Speaker McCarthy for reaching an agreement on the debt ceiling with President Biden.

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On the Latest Permitting Provision Included in the Debt Ceiling Deal:

“Investment only happens in an environment of certainty—one year for an environmental assessment, two-year shot clock for environmental impact statements. You’re taking [project timelines] from six, seven, eight, 10 years down to one and two years, which means investment will follow.”

“With 25 agencies, or even if there’s five agencies, they don’t do things concurrently, they do them chronologically. […] That’s one of the ways the bureaucracy holds things up, and this gets to that cost issue—the PAYGO issue. Not only does it cost the economy money to have these long permitting processes, it costs the government money because the bureaucrats are working all the time running the clock. It’s a much bigger deal I think than many people might realize.”

On Wall Street Journal Transmission Op-Ed:

“[Liberal states] worship at the altar of climatology, so all of this makes sense to them, but what we are lacking is enough electricity generation to do all the things this infrastructure would demand. Whether it’s electric vehicle charging stations or getting electricity from North Dakota to a neighboring state that doesn’t want the type of electricity North Dakota creates, so they want to get somebody else’s electricity. They want regional transmission organizations to be required to send more electricity to other places, except there’s not enough electricity.”

“It’s like building the cart before the horse. You simply have to do things in chronological order to have any type of a transition and wishing [traditional energy sources] away with crazy proposals like electric vehicle charging stations before there’s enough electricity or enough electric cars to use it. It’s typical socialism.”

On Debt Ceiling Negotiations:

“It’s hard for me to imagine a deal that would pass the House of Representatives wouldn’t easily pass the Senate. The alternative to this deal would be a clean debt ceiling increase. Whether you vote for it or not, you’re facilitating that by voting against it.”

Source: United States Senator for South Dakota John Thune

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Fiscal Responsibility Act, legislation that would strengthen work requirements in federal programs, limit discretionary spending, end the costly student loan payment moratorium, and temporarily raise the debt ceiling to avoid default – all without raising taxes. The bill would also rescind more unspent federal funds than any bill in the history of Congress by clawing back unspent COVID funds and repealing excess Internal Revenue Service funds, among other priorities. Thune applauded Speaker McCarthy’s leadership in forcing President Biden to the negotiating table and noted that these spending reforms are the first step in a larger campaign to get our nation’s fiscal house in order and ensure a better economic future for the American people.
Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):
“Mr. President, we got some good news over the weekend with the announcement that the president and Speaker McCarthy had reached an agreement on debt ceiling legislation.
 
“The bill they agreed on, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, will increase the debt ceiling and finally – finally – after two years of out-of-control spending, begin to rein in our nation’s budget.
 
“And I am tremendously grateful to Speaker McCarthy, and to House Republicans, for their tireless work to make sure that any legislation to raise the debt ceiling was paired with meaningful spending reforms.
 
“The Fiscal Responsibility Act cuts discretionary spending next year and then limits discretionary spending increases to 1 percent each year over the subsequent five years.
 
“It claws back unspent COVID funds, repeals excess IRS spending, and ends the student loan repayment moratorium, which is currently costing taxpayers $5 billion a month.
 
“In fact, the bill rescinds more unobligated government money than any bill in American history.
 
“It also places into statute ‘pay-go’ rules on the executive branch, which would require government agencies to accompany new spending proposals with proposals that would save taxpayer dollars.
 
“On top of all of this, the Fiscal Responsibility Act makes a down payment on permitting reform to help get energy projects off the ground more quickly, which will help encourage domestic energy production and drive down energy prices for American families.
 
“It also strengthens work requirements in federal programs to help able-bodied Americans move from welfare to work.
 
“And while this legislation doesn’t go as far as it should – and as Speaker McCarthy wanted – when it comes to funding for needed military modernization and readiness, the bill does provide an increase in defense funding and avoids a CR while leaving open the possibility of supplemental funding as needed. 
 
“And it’s worth noting that this is the first time in recent history we have increased defense spending while decreasing nondefense spending.
 
“Perhaps just as important as what’s in the bill is what’s not in the bill: tax increases.  
 
“Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans held the line and ensured that the debt ceiling increase was not used as a vehicle to collect more taxpayer money.
 
“And they also ensured that the bill did not contain any new government programs.
 
“Now, Mr. President, is this a perfect bill?  Does it have everything Republicans would have liked to include to get our nation’s fiscal house in order?
 
“No, it doesn’t.
 
“But perfect bills are rare – and they’re even more rare in divided government.
 
“This is a good bill – and thanks to the efforts of Speaker McCarthy, a better bill than we might have hoped for.
 
“Let’s not forget that Democrats wanted to pass a debt ceiling increase without any spending reforms at all.
 
“This bill may not be perfect, but it makes a real start at getting spending under control.
 
“Now, Mr. President, our efforts can’t end with this bill.
 
“Our national debt has already exceeded the size of our economy, and the interest on our debt is going to consume a greater and greater share of the federal budget.
 
“On our current trajectory, within a few short years we are going to be spending more just meeting the interest on our nation’s debt than we will on national defense.
 
“By 2044, we will be spending more on interest than on Medicare.
 
“And by 2050, we will be spending more on interest than on Social Security.
 
“More on interest than on Social Security.
 
“Mr. President, Social Security is the largest line item in our nation’s budget and consumes approximately one-fifth of total federal spending each year.
 
“The fact that our national debt is on track to grow to the point where we are paying more just on interest than on Social Security should be a wakeup call to lawmakers in both parties that spending reform has to be a top priority here in Washington.
 
“And let’s be very clear, we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
 
“Tax revenues in 2022 reached a multi-decade high of 19.6 percent of GDP, well above the historical average.
 
“We are not suffering from a lack of revenue.
 
“Federal spending, however, has soared to unsustainable levels.
 
“The federal budget for 2023 is up approximately 40 percent from 2019, the last budget before the pandemic. 
 
“40 percent.
 
“That is unsustainable.
“And whatever Democrats may say, we are not going to be able to fund that kind of reckless spending by taxing better-off Americans.
 
“We have to get spending under control.
 
“Mr. President, any American who has ever found himself or herself mired in credit card debt knows that serious debt has serious consequences.
 
“Our national debt is already reducing the economic growth we could otherwise achieve.
 
“And if our debt continues along its current trajectory, the consequences will be severe.
 
“Diminished economic opportunities and growth.
 
“And increasing difficulty meeting our government’s most basic responsibilities, from national defense to Social Security and Medicare.
 
“The best thing we can do for the future of our country – and for hardworking American families – is to get our nation’s spending under control.
 
“And so, Mr. President, I want to once again express my gratitude to Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans for ensuring that the debt limit increase we’ll be voting on is matched with real spending reforms.
 
“They’ve achieved an important victory.
 
“And I hope that the Fiscal Responsibility Act will be just the first step in a larger campaign to get our nation’s fiscal house in order and ensure a better economic future for the American people.
 
“Mr. President, I yield the floor.”

Source: United States Senator for Maryland Chris Van Hollen

May 31, 2023

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with their Senate colleagues in reintroducing a resolution recognizing the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and honoring the lives and legacies of the nearly 300 Black individuals who were killed and the nearly 9,000 Black individuals who were left homeless and penniless as a result. 

The resolution also condemns the violent white mob, including white municipal officials and law enforcement officials who directly aided and abetted the unlawful violence, but were never held accountable. It encourages schools and universities to incorporate the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre into their curriculum, and recognizes Congress’s commitment to acknowledge and learn from the United States’ history of racism and racial violence. 

“Just over 100 years ago in Tulsa, a vicious, racist mob tore through a thriving Black community – murdering hundreds of people, destroying families, and decimating a vibrant local economy – yet the survivors never got the justice they deserved,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This resolution is about condemning this brutal act of terror and directly confronting the painful truths of our past as we continue the critical work to advance social justice and racial equity in our nation.”

“The racist mob and law enforcement officials who committed atrocities at the Tulsa race massacre were never prosecuted or held accountable,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Over 100 years later, this resolution is a step towards acknowledging and reversing the legacy of white supremacy in this country and continuing the fight for racial justice.”

“Our country must continue to reckon with the horrific history of violence and discrimination against Black Americans,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “The Tulsa Race Massacre was an incredibly dark and horrid stain on the history of our nation. Terror has been inflicted on Black communities for centuries, and justice requires actively working to acknowledge, heal, and reverse that history. This resolution is a stark reminder and recommitment to continue our fight against racist violence and to reverse the legacy of slavery and white supremacy in our country.”

“The Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the worst cases of violence against the Black community in our country, but so many Americans have never heard of it,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “This resolution is critical to acknowledging this horrific tragedy and reaffirming our commitment to learning from our past to build a better, more just future.”

“The Tulsa Massacre was a brutal, hate-fueled attack that claimed the lives and livelihoods of many Black Americans,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.  “Our resolution recognizes a dark moment in our nation’s history and calls on us to continue the fight for racial justice.”

“A century ago, hundreds of Black Americans were murdered at the hands of a white mob in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood district. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,’ and after decades of organizing for justice, we still see the legacy of the Tulsa Massacre in our nation today,” said Senator Ed Markey. “This resolution recognizes the lives lost in the Tulsa Massacre and the systemic violence that Black Americans continue to face today, as we recommit to our work to abolish white supremacy.”

“On the 102th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we honor the lives and legacies of the hundreds of Black individuals who were killed and the thousands who were left homeless in the Greenwood District,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Our resolution invites us to acknowledge and reflect on the history of racial violence in the United States so that it will never be repeated. We must continue to educate ourselves in order to uproot systemic racism and form a more perfect union.”

“The victims who lost their lives and the survivors who lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones during the Tulsa Race Massacre deserve to have their stories heard,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “Educating future generations on the atrocities committed is essential to understanding and learning from our nation’s troubled history of racial violence. We need to stand together against the racism that led to this massacre and continues to drive violence and discrimination in our country today.”

“The atrocities committed during the Tulsa Race Massacre upended the lives of thousands of Black Oklahomans, and destroyed the thriving neighborhood that was once dubbed Black Wall Street,” said Senator Cory Booker. “Today, I join my colleagues in introducing this resolution that will acknowledge this dark history and honor those who lost their lives. We must vow to never repeat history and to fight racial injustices whenever and wherever they arise.”

This resolution led by Senator Warren was co sponsored in addition to Senator Van Hollen by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The resolution was also endorsed by the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, National Coalition for History, and the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center.

“The Organization of American Historians strongly supports Sen. Warren’s resolution on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre,” said Beth English, Executive Director, Organization of American Historians. “The OAH hopes that this resolution contributes to a broader acknowledgement of and reckoning with this brutal and deadly attack on a Black community.”

“Everything has a history, including white supremacy and the many forms of violence, coercion, and cultural practices that have legitimated and enforced it,” said  Jim Grossman, Executive Director, American Historical Association. “What happened in Tulsa was extreme, but not unusual. It is part of our nation’s heritage. We must acknowledge that heritage, learn from it, and do whatever each of us can to ensure that it is just that—heritage, rather than continuing practice.”

“The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 stands apart as one of the most violent and lethal atrocities ever to terrorize a Black American community,” Lee White, Executive Director, National Coalition for History. “While acknowledgment is not the same thing as repair or redress, truthful remembrance can and often does catalyze both. Such is our greatest hope for this legislation and why we endorse it wholeheartedly.”

“Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma stands in solidarity with Senator Warren and others in Congress in recognizing the solemn anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre,”said Raymond Doswell, Executive Director, Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center. “At the History Center, every day of the year, we educate thousands to the horrors of those fateful events. At the same time, we extoll the brave creators of Black Wall Street along with the equally brave and resilient survivors of the tragedy.  These are examples of black excellence in our history that should never be buried and never be forgotten. Telling the whole story of Greenwood, and similar communities across the nation, will reveal the truth of African American history and set the stage for racial reconciliation.  We thank Senator Warren and her colleagues for reminding the nation of the continued dialogue needed to make the nation whole.”

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

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Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (May 31, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with 21 Senate colleagues, in reintroducing a resolution recognizing the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and honoring the lives and legacies of the nearly 300 Black individuals who were killed and the nearly 9,000 Black individuals who were left homeless and penniless as a result. 

The resolution also condemns the violent white mob, including white municipal officials and law enforcement officials who directly aided and abetted the unlawful violence, but were never held accountable. It encourages schools and universities to incorporate the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre into their curriculum, and recognizes Congress’s commitment to acknowledge and learn from the United States’ history of racism and racial violence. 

“A century ago, hundreds of Black Americans were murdered at the hands of a white mob in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood district. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,’ and after decades of organizing for justice, we still see the legacy of the Tulsa Massacre in our nation today,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution recognizes the lives lost in the Tulsa Massacre and the systemic violence that Black Americans continue to face today, as we recommit to our work to abolish white supremacy.”

“The racist mob and law enforcement officials who committed atrocities at the Tulsa race massacre were never prosecuted or held accountable,” said Senator Warren. “Over 100 years later, this resolution is a step towards acknowledging and reversing the legacy of white supremacy in this country and continuing the fight for racial justice.”

“Our country must continue to reckon with the horrific history of violence and discrimination against Black Americans,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “The Tulsa Race Massacre was an incredibly dark and horrid stain on the history of our nation. Terror has been inflicted on Black communities for centuries, and justice requires actively working to acknowledge, heal, and reverse that history. This resolution is a stark reminder and recommitment to continue our fight against racist violence and to reverse the legacy of slavery and white supremacy in our country.”

“The Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the worst cases of violence against the Black community in our country, but so many Americans have never heard of it,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “This resolution is critical to acknowledging this horrific tragedy and reaffirming our commitment to learning from our past to build a better, more just future.”

“Just over 100 years ago in Tulsa, a vicious, racist mob tore through a thriving Black community – murdering hundreds of people, destroying families, and decimating a vibrant local economy – yet the survivors never got the justice they deserved,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This resolution is about condemning this brutal act of terror and directly confronting the painful truths of our past as we continue the critical work to advance social justice and racial equity in our nation.”

“The Tulsa Massacre was a brutal, hate-fueled attack that claimed the lives and livelihoods of many Black Americans,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.  “Our resolution recognizes a dark moment in our nation’s history and calls on us to continue the fight for racial justice.”

“On the 102th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we honor the lives and legacies of the hundreds of Black individuals who were killed and the thousands who were left homeless in the Greenwood District,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Our resolution invites us to acknowledge and reflect on the history of racial violence in the United States so that it will never be repeated. We must continue to educate ourselves in order to uproot systemic racism and form a more perfect union.”

“The victims who lost their lives and the survivors who lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones during the Tulsa Race Massacre deserve to have their stories heard,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “Educating future generations on the atrocities committed is essential to understanding and learning from our nation’s troubled history of racial violence. We need to stand together against the racism that led to this massacre and continues to drive violence and discrimination in our country today.”

“The atrocities committed during the Tulsa Race Massacre upended the lives of thousands of Black Oklahomans, and destroyed the thriving neighborhood that was once dubbed Black Wall Street,” said Senator Cory Booker. “Today, I join my colleagues in introducing this resolution that will acknowledge this dark history and honor those who lost their lives. We must vow to never repeat history and to fight racial injustices whenever and wherever they arise.”

This resolution was co sponsored by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The resolution was also endorsed by the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, National Coalition for History, and the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center.

“The Organization of American Historians strongly supports Senator Warren’s resolution on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre,” said Beth English, Executive Director of Organization of American Historians. “The OAH hopes that this resolution contributes to a broader acknowledgement of and reckoning with this brutal and deadly attack on a Black community.”

“Everything has a history, including white supremacy and the many forms of violence, coercion, and cultural practices that have legitimated and enforced it,” said  Jim Grossman, Executive Director of American Historical Association. “What happened in Tulsa was extreme, but not unusual. It is part of our nation’s heritage. We must acknowledge that heritage, learn from it, and do whatever each of us can to ensure that it is just that—heritage, rather than continuing practice.”

“The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 stands apart as one of the most violent and lethal atrocities ever to terrorize a Black American community,” Lee White, Executive Director of National Coalition for History. “While acknowledgment is not the same thing as repair or redress, truthful remembrance can and often does catalyze both. Such is our greatest hope for this legislation and why we endorse it wholeheartedly.”

“Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma stands in solidarity with Senator Warren and others in Congress in recognizing the solemn anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre,” said Raymond Doswell, Executive Director of Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center. “At the History Center, every day of the year, we educate thousands to the horrors of those fateful events. At the same time, we extoll the brave creators of Black Wall Street along with the equally brave and resilient survivors of the tragedy.  These are examples of black excellence in our history that should never be buried and never be forgotten. Telling the whole story of Greenwood, and similar communities across the nation, will reveal the truth of African American history and set the stage for racial reconciliation.  We thank Senator Warren and her colleagues for reminding the nation of the continued dialogue needed to make the nation whole.”

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Source: United States Senator for Michigan Debbie Stabenow 2

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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

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Source: United States Senator for Indiana Todd Young

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Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

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Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have introduced bipartisan legislation to protect the more than 250,000 Documented Dreamers — children of long-term visa holders — living in the United States. The America’s CHILDREN Act would close existing gaps by preventing documented children raised and educated in the country from being deported as their families remain. The gaps in American immigration laws that force these young adults to leave the United States also prevent American companies from attracting and retaining critical talent.

“Our legislation would protect ‘Documented Dreamers’ who were brought to the United States legally as children and have lived in this country for many years,” said Senator Collins.  “It makes no sense that children of long-term legal immigrants, who have been raised and educated in America, can be forced to self-deport even as their parents and other family members are permitted to remain in this country.  This would be a vast improvement to our legal immigration system and ensure the children of legal immigrants can continue to contribute to their communities and the economy.”

“America’s Documented Dreamers have spent almost their entire lives as part of our communities – going to school, forming relationships, contributing to the economy, and working hard to better the nation we all love,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan America’s CHILDREN Act would create a simple path for Documented Dreamers who are here legally to receive permanent residency and avoid deportation. These talented Americans want to contribute to our rich tapestry of ideas and move the economy forward; we should let them. This legislation is a no-brainer — our neighbors deserve to continue living their American dream.”

Over 250,000 children and young adults are Documented Dreamers living in the United States as dependents of employment-based nonimmigrant visa holders. These individuals have grown up in the United States and have attended American schools and universities.

These children can remain in dependent status on a parent’s employment-based nonimmigrant visa until they turn 21 but are then no longer able to be on their parent’s visa. Due to decades-long backlogs, many of these young adults turn 21 before a visa number for a green card finally becomes available. As a result, they lose their temporary status at 21 and are expelled from the country.

Along with being unfair to these young people and their families, the policy is a significant detriment to the nation’s employers and communities. Despite being educated in our schools and universities, Documented Dreamers often must take their skills and talent to other countries.

The bill is cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).

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