Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-04-21

SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2035

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Context

On 2026-04-21, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPRO" in the Senate. The speech addressed immigration and also covered the environment, foreign policy. It referenced legislation including HR1, S1850, S1854, among other bills.

Full Text

SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2035

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1850-S1854] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2035 THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis). The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) setting forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire. Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I defer to Senator Graham. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina. Order of business Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I have a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent that for the duration of the S. Con. Res. 33, the budget resolution for fiscal year 2026, the majority and the Democratic managers of the resolution, while seated or standing at the managers' desk, be permitted to deliver floor remarks, retrieve, review, and edit documents, and send email and other data communications from text displayed on wireless personal assistant devices and tablet devices. I further ask unanimous consent that the use of calculators be permitted on the floor during consideration of the [[Page S1851]] budget resolution; further, that the staff be permitted to make technical and conforming changes to the resolution, if necessary, consistent with amendments adopted during Senate consideration, including calculating the associated change in the net interest function and incorporating the effect of such adopted amendments on the budgetary aggregates for Federal revenue, the amount by which the Federal revenue should be changed, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt and debt held by the public; further, I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each voting consideration of S. Con. Res. 33. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from New Hampshire. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4364 Ms. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, more than 2 months ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs that President Trump had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were unlawful. That means that more than $166 billion in taxes--or tariffs--under IEEPA were illegally collected, and they are owed back to the importers who paid them. Now, this wasn't a shocking outcome because the law that the President tried to use for these tariffs--IEEPA--had never been used to impose tariffs. It does not even mention the words ``tariff'' or ``duty'' once, anywhere, in that law. And so 15 months ago, a number of us introduced legislation to clarify that IEEPA cannot be used for tariffs. Congress then submitted three amicus briefs, arguing that these tariffs were unlawful. The lower courts agreed. And on February 20, the Supreme Court blocked the tariffs and said that they should be repaid. Now, 2 months later, here we are. No refunds have been paid, and the administration says it could take another 60 to 90 days before any refunds will be paid out. Yesterday, some businesses were finally able to apply for refunds in the Customs and Border Protection's new system, but that system didn't allow businesses to even apply for refunds they have been waiting the longest for. This new system, which is called CAPE, disadvantages small businesses who may not know they need to file to receive refunds. Those who don't have large legal teams to pursue these claims and have to take time away from their businesses just to give Customs information that it already has, they are not going to be able to comply with these requirements. It also makes small businesses more likely to sell their refund claims to Wall Street banks like the one run by the Secretary of Commerce's sons and to sell those claims for a significant discount. This administration was ready to reimpose a 10-percent tax on everything Americans import on the same day the Supreme Court ruled, but it took 2 months to roll out a partial refund system. That has real costs. It hurts small businesses who are already struggling with high prices and shouldn't have to wait months to get refunds for unlawful taxes. It hurts our economy, with businesses unsure when or even if they will be able to reinvest this money. And it hurts taxpayers because these refunds have to be paid with interest. That means that every day of delay adds $22 million to the bill for these unlawful and damaging tariffs. That is $1.3 billion more just since the Supreme Court ruled with billions more to come. Those are added costs because this administration failed to prepare for the obvious outcome. So let's be clear on what is happening. President Trump's tariffs raise prices across the board, and now he is slow-walking getting out the refunds that Americans are entitled to. There is a better answer. That is the Speedy Tariff Refund Act, legislation that Senators Markey and Wyden and I have been working on. It is a bill that would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within 30 days, that it use the information it already has, and that all of these refunds be paid now. The bill prioritizes refunds to small businesses rather than putting them at a disadvantage to big companies. Those businesses have already had to deal with added costs they can't easily absorb and constantly shifting tariffs that make it impossible to plan. So this is not complicated. The Court said these tariffs were unlawful. The money was collected. It should be returned promptly and in full. It is time to pass our bill. It is time to return the $166 billion to the American people because every day we delay adds another $22 million to the tab. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon. Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to request unanimous consent to pass the Speedy Tariff Refund Act. The bill forces the Trump administration to immediately return the money it has stolen from American businesses under Donald Trump's illegal tariffs. Nothing illustrates the hostility that Donald Trump has shown toward helping Americans seek refunds better than his comments to CNBC this morning. Donald Trump said this morning that it would be ``brilliant'' if companies do not seek refunds and that he will remember those who don't. That sounds like a threat to me. The President of the United States basically said he will remember those who don't seek a refund or come forward. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's so-called ``emergency'' IEEPA tariffs. The Court's ruling was clear: the tariffs were illegal, and the administration must refund the money to the American importers that paid the tariffs. It has now been 2 months since the Supreme Court's decision. Not a single penny has been paid back. The Trump administration is deliberately delaying these refunds, even after Trump's own lawyers claimed that they would be issued. While Donald Trump funnels money to his vanity projects and illegal war, his administration is doing everything it can to avoid returning the money it stole from American companies. That is why I quoted the President's threat this morning. I have heard from countless small business owners who paid the tariffs but still have no idea when or if they will ever get their money back. This leaves businesses and workers on a financial rollercoaster, questioning if they are going to be able to keep their doors open. Yesterday, Customs and Border Protection began accepting refund requests through yet another online system, which is already riddled with glitches and errors. But instead of paying refunds automatically, Customs and Border Protection is requiring businesses in America to file yet another round of paperwork to get a refund. This is just more bureaucratic red tape, making it harder for Americans to get their money back. Customs and Border Protection is even excluding whole categories of imports from the refund system for now, and they are doing it despite the Court of International Trade's order to pay refunds of all IEEPA tariffs. It is as clear as Crater Lake that Oregonians can't rely on this administration to return their money, so Congress needs to step up. My bill requires the administration to pay tariff refunds, with interest, within 30 days. It applies to every importer who paid IEEPA tariffs, not just certain imports, and it makes it clear that CBP must pay the refunds automatically without requiring additional paperwork. I am sure my Republican colleagues are also hearing from small businesses in their States that are desperate to get a tariff refund. I urge them to join me, Senator Markey, Senator Shaheen, and to do it today. The Senate can act today to put money back in the pockets of small businesses and ensure Donald Trump no longer keeps scamming Americans out of the tariff refunds they are owed. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4364, the Speedy Tariff Refund Act; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection? The Senator from Idaho. Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I rise to speak in opposition to the Speedy Tariff Refund Act of 2026. [[Page S1852]] I share my colleagues' support for ensuring that any administrative processes are efficient and easy to navigate, especially for small businesses, but this legislation is unnecessary. The bill would require the U.S. Customs an

Referenced legislation: HR1, SCONRES33, S4364

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SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2035 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1850-S1854] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SETTING FORTH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND SETTING FORTH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2035 THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis). The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) setting forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire. Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I defer to Senator Graham. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina. Order of business Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I have a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent that for the duration of the S. Con. Res. 33, the budget resolution for fiscal year 2026, the majority and the Democratic managers of the resolution, while seated or standing at the managers' desk, be permitted to deliver floor remarks, retrieve, review, and edit documents, and send email and other data communications from text displayed on wireless personal assistant devices and tablet devices. I further ask unanimous consent that the use of calculators be permitted on the floor during consideration of the [[Page S1851]] budget resolution; further, that the staff be permitted to make technical and conforming changes to the resolution, if necessary, consistent with amendments adopted during Senate consideration, including calculating the associated change in the net interest function and incorporating the effect of such adopted amendments on the budgetary aggregates for Federal revenue, the amount by which the Federal revenue should be changed, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt and debt held by the public; further, I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each voting consideration of S. Con. Res. 33. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from New Hampshire. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4364 Ms. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, more than 2 months ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs that President Trump had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were unlawful. That means that more than $166 billion in taxes--or tariffs--under IEEPA were illegally collected, and they are owed back to the importers who paid them. Now, this wasn't a shocking outcome because the law that the President tried to use for these tariffs--IEEPA--had never been used to impose tariffs. It does not even mention the words ``tariff'' or ``duty'' once, anywhere, in that law. And so 15 months ago, a number of us introduced legislation to clarify that IEEPA cannot be used for tariffs. Congress then submitted three amicus briefs, arguing that these tariffs were unlawful. The lower courts agreed. And on February 20, the Supreme Court blocked the tariffs and said that they should be repaid. Now, 2 months later, here we are. No refunds have been paid, and the administration says it could take another 60 to 90 days before any refunds will be paid out. Yesterday, some businesses were finally able to apply for refunds in the Customs and Border Protection's new system, but that system didn't allow businesses to even apply for refunds they have been waiting the longest for. This new system, which is called CAPE, disadvantages small businesses who may not know they need to file to receive refunds. Those who don't have large legal teams to pursue these claims and have to take time away from their businesses just to give Customs information that it already has, they are not going to be able to comply with these requirements. It also makes small businesses more likely to sell their refund claims to Wall Street banks like the one run by the Secretary of Commerce's sons and to sell those claims for a significant discount. This administration was ready to reimpose a 10-percent tax on everything Americans import on the same day the Supreme Court ruled, but it took 2 months to roll out a partial refund system. That has real costs. It hurts small businesses who are already struggling with high prices and shouldn't have to wait months to get refunds for unlawful taxes. It hurts our economy, with businesses unsure when or even if they will be able to reinvest this money. And it hurts taxpayers because these refunds have to be paid with interest. That means that every day of delay adds $22 million to the bill for these unlawful and damaging tariffs. That is $1.3 billion more just since the Supreme Court ruled with billions more to come. Those are added costs because this administration failed to prepare for the obvious outcome. So let's be clear on what is happening. President Trump's tariffs raise prices across the board, and now he is slow-walking getting out the refunds that Americans are entitled to. There is a better answer. That is the Speedy Tariff Refund Act, legislation that Senators Markey and Wyden and I have been working on. It is a bill that would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within 30 days, that it use the information it already has, and that all of these refunds be paid now. The bill prioritizes refunds to small businesses rather than putting them at a disadvantage to big companies. Those businesses have already had to deal with added costs they can't easily absorb and constantly shifting tariffs that make it impossible to plan. So this is not complicated. The Court said these tariffs were unlawful. The money was collected. It should be returned promptly and in full. It is time to pass our bill. It is time to return the $166 billion to the American people because every day we delay adds another $22 million to the tab. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon. Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to request unanimous consent to pass the Speedy Tariff Refund Act. The bill forces the Trump administration to immediately return the money it has stolen from American businesses under Donald Trump's illegal tariffs. Nothing illustrates the hostility that Donald Trump has shown toward helping Americans seek refunds better than his comments to CNBC this morning. Donald Trump said this morning that it would be ``brilliant'' if companies do not seek refunds and that he will remember those who don't. That sounds like a threat to me. The President of the United States basically said he will remember those who don't seek a refund or come forward. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's so-called ``emergency'' IEEPA tariffs. The Court's ruling was clear: the tariffs were illegal, and the administration must refund the money to the American importers that paid the tariffs. It has now been 2 months since the Supreme Court's decision. Not a single penny has been paid back. The Trump administration is deliberately delaying these refunds, even after Trump's own lawyers claimed that they would be issued. While Donald Trump funnels money to his vanity projects and illegal war, his administration is doing everything it can to avoid returning the money it stole from American companies. That is why I quoted the President's threat this morning. I have heard from countless small business owners who paid the tariffs but still have no idea when or if they will ever get their money back. This leaves businesses and workers on a financial rollercoaster, questioning if they are going to be able to keep their doors open. Yesterday, Customs and Border Protection began accepting refund requests through yet another online system, which is already riddled with glitches and errors. But instead of paying refunds automatically, Customs and Border Protection is requiring businesses in America to file yet another round of paperwork to get a refund. This is just more bureaucratic red tape, making it harder for Americans to get their money back. Customs and Border Protection is even excluding whole categories of imports from the refund system for now, and they are doing it despite the Court of International Trade's order to pay refunds of all IEEPA tariffs. It is as clear as Crater Lake that Oregonians can't rely on this administration to return their money, so Congress needs to step up. My bill requires the administration to pay tariff refunds, with interest, within 30 days. It applies to every importer who paid IEEPA tariffs, not just certain imports, and it makes it clear that CBP must pay the refunds automatically without requiring additional paperwork. I am sure my Republican colleagues are also hearing from small businesses in their States that are desperate to get a tariff refund. I urge them to join me, Senator Markey, Senator Shaheen, and to do it today. The Senate can act today to put money back in the pockets of small businesses and ensure Donald Trump no longer keeps scamming Americans out of the tariff refunds they are owed. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4364, the Speedy Tariff Refund Act; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection? The Senator from Idaho. Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I rise to speak in opposition to the Speedy Tariff Refund Act of 2026. [[Page S1852]] I share my colleagues' support for ensuring that any administrative processes are efficient and easy to navigate, especially for small businesses, but this legislation is unnecessary. The bill would require the U.S. Customs an Referenced legislation: HR1, SCONRES33, S4364