Tag Archives: senator john cornyn

WASHINGTON – On the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the government shutdown and the need for bipartisan negotiation on legislation the president would support.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“One of the most important responsibilities of Congress is to fund the vital services provided by our government, and in so doing, provide paychecks to the hardworking public servants who keep the cogs of government turning.”

“This semantic debate has led us to a partial government shutdown now 13 days in without a clear end in sight.”

“Later, the House Democrats will consider a wholly unserious proposal that funds the remaining portions of government without a significant investment in border security. I believe that’s a nonstarter. They know it, and we know it. The president won’t sign it, and so the Majority Leader has said it will not be considered here in the Senate.”

“My constituents… they’re not interested in show votes. They want real border security, something our Democratic colleagues used to support and have voted for time and time again.”

“But the debate has somehow shifted from, ‘How do we solve this problem?’ to ‘Who’s going to win?’ No longer is it a search for solutions. It is about embarrassing your political opponent and scoring points.”

“Rather than working with those with whom we occasionally disagree, members are resorting to guerrilla warfare, almost literally the law of the jungle. This practice is not only unproductive, it prevents us from securing the border and getting those workers impacted by this partial shutdown back to work.”

“It’s going to take a negotiated agreement between the parties, between the houses of Congress, and the president.”

“Democrats in the House should take our colleagues’ wise words to heart and return to the negotiating table with the president.”

“It’s time to wash off the war paint, Madam President. We know how to solve problems when we want to. And as we begin a new Congress, I urge all of our colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to stop trying to score political points and start being productive and in so doing, govern.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON – On Thursday on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the migrant crisis at our Southern border. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found above.

“Coming from Texas, with a 1,200 mile common border with Mexico, caravans are not unheard of. In fact, we have many caravans showing up on a daily basis at border patrol stations: unaccompanied children, families. What has happened is that the cartels – these transnational criminal organizations that have figured out as part of their business model that they can make money by shipping migrants up through Mexico into the United States, or ship drugs up from Mexico into the United States, or traffic in children and women for sex slavery – they figured out they can make money because of the gaps in our border security, because of the characteristics of our law that make it impossible for us to deter many of the immigrants coming from Central America.”

“This is a phenomenon that has been occurring on a daily basis for the foreseeable past, and it’s because of a glitch in our laws that our Democratic colleagues are well aware of, that we’ve tried to fix. But they simply will not cooperate with us in order to fix them.”

“About 40 percent of my constituents in Texas are of a Hispanic origin, many of whom live along that international border, who understand that the cartels that traffic in people, and drugs, and contraband are criminal organizations that threaten their security and safety. So I feel very strongly about this issue.”

“We can’t forget that our border communities are critically important, and any solution we find must somehow balance our normal compassion for people who are vulnerable and people who are seeking a better life, balancing that compassion with the rule of law and our ability to protect our own sovereignty by securing our borders and controlling illegal immigration into the United States.”

“In the coming weeks, I hope we can work with the Administration to determine a course of action that addresses the real needs of legitimate asylum seekers without rewarding illegal activity.”

“We need to send a message that the United States alone cannot bear the burden of this mass migration, and we need to ensure that those who seek to enter the United States do so legally.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON –On the floor of the Senate Chambers, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed Friday’s successful vote to advance Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and detailed the shameful tactics used by Democrats to derail and destroy his nomination.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found above, courtesy CSpan.

“What the Senate just voted for was to end the games, character assassination, and the intimidation tactics that unfortunately have characterized so much of this confirmation process.”

“The FBI investigation was a useful way to demonstrate to the American people that none of these allegations that have been made against Judge Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct have been proven.”

“There have been seven background investigations by the FBI of Judge Kavanaugh during his public service. The FBI has talked to more than 150 witnesses.”

“I feel badly for Dr. Ford in particular. She wanted none of this three-ring circus. She sent a letter to the ranking member and asked that her identity remain confidential, only to find, after the first confirmation hearing, that it was leaked to the press.”

“When we gave her an opportunity to have a bipartisan, professional investigation staff come out to California and interview her confidentially, she said, ‘nobody explained to me that was an option.’ Well, the lawyers that the ranking member referred her to apparently didn’t even tell their own client that she had the opportunity to avoid this three-ring circus.”

“We decided that Dr. Ford should be given an opportunity to tell her side of the story.”

“Throughout the hearing, we listened to Dr. Ford and we tried to understand what she was telling us.”

“We took her allegations seriously and treated her the same way we would want our wives or our daughters treated.”

“But we know at the end of the day there was no other witness who could corroborate or confirm what she said, even the ones she identified as having been present.”

“The other thing about these allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh is they are completely out of character.”

“We all had a chance to read the FBI report which failed to corroborate Dr. Ford’s allegations, and then today we did exactly what we needed to do, which is to vote. To stop the circus, stop the hijinks, stop the character assassination, and vote. So I’m glad our colleagues decided to close off debate.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

Tuesday on the floor of the Senate Chambers, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called for a fair process ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh this week.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found above.

“We need a fair process. We need not to assume somebody is guilty because an allegation has been made.”

“I firmly believe that a fair process means that both the accuser and the accused should be required to provide information to the Congress, to the Senate, to the Judiciary Committee under the same conditions.”

“We have really done everything we possibly can, acceded to every reasonable demand being made by Dr. Ford and her lawyers, to give her an opportunity to be heard. We welcome – we welcome – her testimony, and we will listen to her at the hearing.”

“So far this process has been patently unfair, both to Dr. Ford and to Judge Kavanaugh.”

“As a result of the way this was handled by the ranking member, her letter, which she requested remain confidential, and her complaint, which she requested remain anonymous, was leaked to the press, a media firestorm ensued, and I’m confident this is not what Dr. Ford wanted.”

“It’s important that Dr. Ford be given the chance to talk about what she believes happened to her. We are in the middle of an important national conversation about sexual assault and how certain people in positions of power wield their influence to coerce and intimidate women, in the workplace and at large.”

“The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I believe, has done an extraordinary job under very difficult circumstances. He has been extraordinarily gracious in trying to accommodate Dr. Ford.”

“Let’s not lose sight of why Judge Kavanaugh was nominated in the first place: his qualifications and the respect that he enjoys from all of those who have interacted with him professionally and personally. His work has been praised by legal practitioners and scholars alike.”

“We will try our best to get to the truth this week. We will listen carefully. But we will remember all of the evidence, and then we will vote on whether to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.”

Then, at a press conference, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) stressed the importance of a fair process in advance of this week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“As the father of two adult daughters, as I’m approaching this hearing, I’m thinking, ‘I want to make sure I treat Dr. Ford the same way my daughters would be treated in the event they were making an accusation, or my mother, or my wife.’ To me that’s, I think, the appropriate way for me to think about it.” 

“So I think that’s important to keep in mind, that we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the way that this letter was mishandled, and we must insist on a fair process for everyone involved.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON – Thursday morning on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called on the Senate to consider tougher sanctions on Russia.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found above.

“My concern with this resolution is that it is purely a symbolic act.”

 “I think we should consider sanctions, not sort of sense of the Senate resolutions that have no sting or no impact, certainly no deterrent effect on what we all want to discourage, which is Russian involvement in our 2018 elections. And that’s why the Majority Leader today asked the Chairmen of the Banking and Foreign Relations Committee[s] to hold hearings and recommend additional measures that could respond to or deter Russian malign behavior.

“That’s the way we ought to do our work, through our committees of jurisdiction.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON –Tueday on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) offered his support for President Trump’s recent military action against the Syrian regime in response to chemical attacks on innocent civilians.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found above

“This action demonstrates American leadership in the face of gross human rights violations. And as we all recall President Obama’s redline, which was not enforced, which, indeed, is a provocation in and of itself.”

“I’m glad this President has seen fit now, not just once but on two occasions, to punish the Syrian regime for such gross human rights violations. These actions are consistent with our values and the legal authorities provided to the president under the Constitution.”

“I want to offer my support for both the mission that was carried out and the underlying objective which was to degrade Syria’s capability to research, develop, and deploy chemical weapons, ones that have clearly done tremendous amounts of harm.”

“We’re grateful to our allies, Great Britain and France, who played a pivotal role in the mission and we’re also grateful to our uniformed military for its meticulous planning, flawless execution and courageous leadership.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON –  On Thursday, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) voted for the Secure and Succeed Act, a proposed solution for DACA recipients that provides a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young adults and strengthens border security.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks from the Senate floor just before the vote are below, and video of his remarks can be found above.

“It is a good starting point because it could actually be signed into law and solve the challenge we promised to address.”

“It would provide them a predictable and productive future. I’m glad to be a cosponsor of this legislation which is called the Secure and Succeed Act. It does… provide a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million people who are DACA eligible.”

“Just as importantly, this bill provides a real plan to strengthen border security, utilizing more boots on the ground, better technology, and additional infrastructure, and enhance and modernize our ports of entry.”

“On Tuesday the Majority Leader tried twice to open the debate and start voting, but both times there were objections heard by our Democratic colleagues. This despite their repeated promises over the years to address the DACA issue once and for all.”

“I believe sincerely that Republicans and Democrats alike both want to provide certainty to these DACA recipients, but we’ve got to address the underlying problems with our border security and our flawed immigration system as well.”

“We know the clock is ticking.”

“We don’t hold children responsible for their parents’ mistakes, and that’s why we should embrace this proposal.”

“There are about 124,000 DACA recipients in my state of Texas, and I will proudly cast a vote soon to ensure that they stay here and contribute to our schools, our churches, and our communities. We are a nation of immigrants.”

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Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

WASHINGTON –Tuesday on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the benefits workers in Texas and across the nation will receive as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found above                                                                       

“More than 100 companies have announced they will give wage increases, they’ll increase their charitable contributions, and will give out bonuses to their employees. One million Americans are receiving money they previously didn’t have, thanks to passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

“In some places, we’re learning that families will enjoy lower utility rates based on what gas and electric companies are doing for their residential customers in light of their new tax savings. In places like Michigan, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Arizona, the utility regulators in those states are looking at the tax reduction of those investor-owned utilities and how that will calculate into the rate of return that they are guaranteed under the law.”

“We should listen to the voices of the job creators like one in New Braunfels, which is between Austin and San Antonio, called Rush Enterprises. Rush Enterprises specializes in commercial vehicles and it reported last month that it planned to give each of its 6,600 employees a $1,000 bonus after President Trump signed the tax reform bill into law.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of that demonstration of the great Texas spirit: employers paying it forward. This gentleman went on to say that his company believes tax reform will be beneficial not only for his office and his employees, but also for his community and for overall economic growth.” 

“I look forward to hearing many more such stories in the days ahead.”

WASHINGTON –On the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the importance of tax reform to helping middle class families keep more of their hard earned money.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found above.

“We set about reforming our tax code with three goals in mind… How do we simplify the code? How do we let people keep more of what they earn, more take-home pay, a better standard of living, and how do we make America’s economy more competitive?”

“You would think those would be the sorts of things that our friends across the aisle would want to work with us on, but apparently not. Instead, what we get is these sort of reckless and really buffoonish sort of allegations.”

“The simple truth is that the Senate bill will lower tax bills on millions of working-class Americans. It will lower taxes, not raise them, on the working class. Again, by nearly doubling the standard deduction and lowering rates across the board and doubling the child tax credit, the Senate tax reform plan will lower taxes for every income group. The Senate tax plan was written with working families in mind.”

“A family of four earning a median income of about $70,000 will see a $2,200 savings in their tax bill each year. It may be easy for folks living in the rarefied air in Washington, D.C. to shrug that off and say, ‘$2,200 is no big deal to me.’ But to the people I represent, $2,200 tax savings a year is a big deal.”

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the importance of modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as the fourth round of negotiations between the United States, Mexico, and Canada come to a close.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below:

“Today is the fourth of seven rounds of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trade has always been an important element in our economy, and certainly in my state, in Texas. We know that just between the United States and Mexico, that bilateral trade supports five million jobs. Between Canada and the United States, that bilateral trade supports eight million jobs in the United States.”

“So while we are working hard to pass pro-growth tax reform, which will allow American families to keep more of what they earn and improve their standard of living, we’re also looking to modernize these existing trade agreements to add to the growth of our economy and jobs right here in the United States.”

WASHINGTON – Thursday the U.S. Senate passed legislation 80-17 to keep the government funded and raise the debt ceiling through December, including $15.25 billion in new disaster relief funding available for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) urged his colleagues to keep Texans recovering from Hurricane Harvey in mind ahead of the vote. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found here.

“It’s hard to believe, but not even two weeks have passed since the storm first tore through our towns great and small. And of course, communities are still reeling from the devastation.”  

“The fourth-largest city in the country is known for energy, and that’s what we here in Washington must devote to ensuring that aid is expedited.”

“These [funds] will be available to Texas families that, like the woman I met in Meyerland, are removing the rugs, the furniture, and rebuilding the very walls of their home.”

“I hope my colleagues will keep in mind the scope of this catastrophe and deliver this funding to those whom Harvey has caused much more than just dollars.”

WASHINGTON – Monday on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the ongoing effort to replace Obamacare with real health care reform. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below:

“Many of our friends across the aisle, in fact all of them so far here in the Senate, have made clear they want nothing to do with providing any help or any aid to the people who are being hurt by the failures of Obamacare.”

“And now they’re in the process of attacking those of us who are trying to help people who are hurting rather than lending a helping hand and working together with us in a bipartisan way.”

“For those Americans, I want to make sure they understand, notwithstanding all the scare tactics: Medicaid is not going away.”

“In my state alone, in the state of Texas, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, as many as 600,000 new low-income Texans will benefit from the provisions of the Better Care Act. It will help qualify them for a tax credit not available to them under Obamacare.”

“By providing low-income Americans access to private insurance instead of Medicaid, we can assist those who were previously left out of the health care market and will now be able to purchase a plan of their choice, perhaps for the first time.”

“Our plan also frees consumers from government mandates requiring them to buy insurance they don’t want and they can’t afford. This way families can choose what works best for them, free from the penalty by the government. And for some individuals, they may choose to go with no plan at all.”

“We’re going to continue to talk and listen and exchange ideas on how we can continue to make improvements. But, in the end, the choice is clear. You either ultimately support Obamacare and the status quo, or you’re willing to try to work with us to do something better.”

“That’s simply the choice that people are going to have. A no vote against an alternative is simply a vote for the status quo under Obamacare.”