Thune Discusses the Work Ahead for Congress

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Madam President, there is no doubt about it, Tuesday night was a tough election night. “It was certainly not the outcome that we had hoped for. “But it was the outcome the American people chose. “And we have to listen to them. “I’m proud of what Republicans have been able to accomplish for the American people in the 119th Congress – most especially the Working Families Tax Cuts, which allows hardworking Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. “But the American people let us know that they need more. “Inflation is still too high, and just going to the grocery store can take a huge chunk out of a family’s budget. “And steep gas prices have only increased that burden. “And so I think the election gave us two things, Madam President: “One, an opportunity to reflect on what we as a party need to do better. “And two, a clear message that this coming Congress needs to double down on the work that we’ve been doing on affordability. “As I said, I’m proud that this Republican Congress has put more money in Americans’ pockets with the Working Families Tax Cuts. “And I’m proud too of other measures we passed like the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which will help address the cost of housing by increasing supply. “But as the American people have emphasized, there is more work to be done. “A very good start would be the bipartisan permitting reform legislation that we will vote on this evening – legislation that Republicans wanted to bring up earlier this fall. “Energy prices affect pretty much everything when it comes to affordability, Madam President. “High energy costs don’t just mean higher gas and electric bills, they mean higher costs for a wide variety of goods and services – from hot dogs to home repairs. “And so one of the biggest things we can do to address affordability for the long term is to ensure a reliable and affordable energy supply. “And that starts with ensuring that energy projects don’t face unnecessary permitting barriers. “Madam President, regrettably my Democrat colleagues delayed consideration of permitting reform legislation before the election. “But I’m hopeful that later today they will allow us to proceed to the bill, and hopefully finish it this week. “Republicans are paying attention. The American people are paying attention. “Tonight is the first opportunity for Democrats to show whether they are serious about addressing costs, or whether their rhetoric on affordability was just that. “Madam President, I want to offer my congratulations to all those who won on Tuesday. “And I want to especially welcome our new Republican senators – and our new Democrat senators as well. “And I want to say to my Democrat colleagues – new and old – that Republicans are ready to work with you to address the American people’s concerns. “As I suggested, we can notch our first bipartisan win for the American people before the new Congress even starts by passing permitting reform in the coming days. “But I do want to say one thing, Madam President. “Republicans are ready and willing to work with our Democrat colleagues. “But that does not mean rubberstamping a leftist agenda. “It does not mean standing by while Democrats attempt to dismantle the tax relief that we passed for the American people. “It does not mean standing by while Democrats attempt to reinstate the chaos that existed at the border under the Biden administration. “I hope my Democrat colleagues realize … what this election was … and what it was not. “This election was a sign of Americans’ frustration with the high cost of living that they’ve been dealing with, literally, since the opening days of the Biden administration. “It was not – it was not – a mandate for radical policy and socialist fantasies. “And so while Republicans are prepared to work in a bipartisan way, we will also emphatically oppose Democrats when required to protect hardworking Americans and our system of government. “We will oppose any attempt to balloon the size of government or tear down American institutions, as the Democratic Socialists would like to do. “In fact, growing the size of the government is the last thing we should be doing if we want to make life more affordable for hardworking Americans. “And I hope my Democrat colleagues realize this. “The American people are not looking for socialist government and leftist fantasies. “They’re looking for lower gas prices. They want their grocery bills to stop growing. They want to be able to afford to buy a house for their growing family. “And if Democrats are committed to real work on those issues, then Republicans are ready to work with them. “My Democrat colleagues have spent a lot of time talking about affordability this election cycle. “But they don’t exactly have a stellar record on delivering. “Their signature bill in the 117th Congress – the so-called American Rescue Plan Act – helped plunge the country into an inflation crisis from which we’re still trying to fully emerge. “And Democrats unanimously voted against tax relief for hardworking Americans in the 119th Congress. “So Madam President, we will see what the 120th Congress brings. “I hope it will bring a lot of bipartisan work to address the challenges facing the American people.”