Senate Republicans are ready to begin carrying out President-elect Donald Trump's historic mission, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said Wednesday as he outlined the Senate's path forward. Ta.
Thune is just beginning his term as Republican leader, but he is already on a very different path from his predecessor, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who frequently sparred with and belittled Trump during his time as leader. is walking.
“The American people gave President Trump and the Republican Party a mandate,” Thun said in a floor speech Wednesday. “It’s time to start executing.”
Thune, who called the illegal immigration crisis “one of the most important issues of this last election,” is pushing for a vote Friday to advance the Laken-Reilly Act. This will be the first parliamentary vote the Senate will take under his leadership.
Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant last year, has become a tragic symbol of America's failure to secure its borders.
“Mr. Laken's killer not only entered the country illegally, he was arrested in the United States twice — twice — and was never deported,” Thune said. The bill that bears her name would “guarantee that undocumented immigrants who are arrested for crimes such as theft or robbery will be deported, as Laken's killer was. It is.”
He added, “And while this bill sounds like a common-sense measure, and it is, even though it had bipartisan support in the House, Senate Democrats unanimously opposed it last year. Let's see what they do when the new Senate majority brings it to a vote.”
The Laken-Reilly Act passed the House on Tuesday despite opposition from 159 Democrats.
Mr. Thune is preparing to introduce another bill, expected to pass in the House of Commons in the coming days, that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for acts he deems anti-Israel.
Thune said the Senate “will vote to support our ally Israel, but my friends across the aisle seem to be having a hard time at times.”
“After the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and former defense minister in November, I called on Democratic leaders to introduce the ICC sanctions bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives. ,” Thun said. “ICC misconduct only enables terrorists who seek to wipe Israel off the map, and they cannot be allowed to go unchecked.”
He continued, “In November, if the leader [Chuck] Schumer won't bring the ICC sanctions bill to the floor, but Republicans likely will. And we will soon make good on that promise and vote in support of our ally Israel. ”
Thune plans another “common sense” and timely vote in January.
“As thousands of pro-life Americans come to Washington for the 52nd March for Life, we will take up the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” he said on the floor. “This simple bill simply states that a baby born alive after an attempted abortion is entitled to the same protections and health care that any other newborn is entitled to.”
He added: “This vote will ask Democrats to answer whether live babies born after attempted abortions should receive medical care or be left alone. It shouldn't be a difficult question.”
The Senate has a mission that goes beyond legislating. They must advise, agree with, and approve President Trump's numerous executive branch nominees.
Thune promised to begin holding confirmation hearings next week.
“We will work to ensure that each candidate receives a fair process without unnecessary delay or obstruction,” he said. “And we intend to quickly approve these nominees so that the Trump-Vance administration can hit the ground running.”
Mr. Thune also discussed the budget reconciliation process. This process allows Congress to make policy changes bypassing the 60-vote threshold needed to pass most legislation. These negotiations are expected to prioritize border security, energy and tax policy, and Thun said all of these issues contain important elements of national security.
“First, the border security policies that President Trump expects to implement must be adequately funded to maximize their effectiveness.” “Increasing the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, increasing detention space, and providing barriers and technology are just some of the resources we need to secure our borders.”
He also touted military investments, saying he was “committed to investing in improved military readiness to help restore America's power to deter our adversaries and maintain peace.”
One of the tax priorities for Republicans, Thune promised, is to “extend the tax cuts that Republicans put in place during the first Trump administration.” “These pro-growth policies put more money in Americans' pockets and helped create a strong economy before the pandemic. We are extending them to protect the economy and Americans from next year's $4 trillion tax increase. I need to.”
It's a big job, but Thune says it's “just the beginning.”
“We have a lot of work to do,” he admitted. “But the American people chose the right team to get it done.”
Bradley Jay is the deputy political editor at Breitbart News. please follow him X/Twitter and Instagram @BradleyAJaye.
