John Cornyn

Electoral integrity

Criminal justice

Fiscal policy

Healthcare

Education

Economy and labor

Environment and energy

Immigration

National security and foreign policy

Civil rights and liberties

Social policy

Technology and data

Civil liberties and government power

Government accountability and transparency

Infrastructure and public investment

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor about religious freedom, discussing how countries like Nigeria enforce blasphemy laws that restrict religious freedoms and imprison people for religious offenses, while warning that America must remain vigilant to protect its foundational principles of individual liberty and freedom of speech.

Cornyn highlighted the nomination of former Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell to be Assistant Secretary of War for Sustainment, describing Birdwell's survival of the September 11 Pentagon attack, his 20 years of Army service, and his 16 years representing Texas State Senate District 22.

Cornyn introduced S. 4501, the Barring American Citizenship by Keeping Out Foreign Fraudsters (BACK OFF) Act, which would bar aliens from admission to the United States for birth tourism purposes and make those involved in birth tourism inadmissible and deportable.

Cornyn sought unanimous consent for the Senate to pass H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act, which requires Health and Human Services to conduct background checks on potential sponsors and all household members before placing unaccompanied minors with them and bars criminal alien sponsors from custody of children.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor to explain the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Section 702, discussing its history, purpose, and importance to national security intelligence gathering on foreign nationals overseas.

Cornyn rose to commemorate the official designation of the United States Ambassador's residence in The Hague, Netherlands as Adams House, honoring the diplomatic legacy of John Adams and John Quincy Adams and the U.S.-Netherlands relationship.

Cornyn co-sponsored S. 4317, a bill to withhold Federal highway funding from States that issue driver's licenses to individuals without verifying legal status.

Cornyn co-sponsored S. 4317, a bill to withhold Federal highway funding from States that issue driver's licenses to individuals without verifying legal status.

Cornyn introduced S. 4293, the No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act, which would close the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, direct the Secretary of the Interior to sell federal land associated with the monument, and transfer funds previously allocated for the monument to the Debbie Smith Act to support survivors of sexual abuse.

Cornyn spoke in support of President Trump's military operations against Iran, stating that dismantling the Iranian regime's arsenal would serve American security interests and contribute to world peace.

Cornyn spoke in favor of the SAVE America Act, stating that it would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for federal elections, and argued that voter ID requirements are common sense and supported by 70 to 80 percent of Americans polled.

Cornyn argued that Democrats were unwilling to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other immigration law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security, and stated that polls show 70 to 80 percent of Americans support the SAVE America Act, which requires citizenship verification and photo identification for voting.

Cornyn introduced S. 4123, the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026, which would prohibit the use of federal funds or TSA resources to provide Members of Congress with expedited security screening at airports.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor praising the Working Families Tax Cut Act and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought for improving the nation's fiscal situation under President Trump's administration.

Cornyn spoke about the threat of the New World screwworm parasite spreading from Mexico to Texas cattle herds and its potential impact on beef prices for American consumers.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor about low voter turnout in recent special elections in Texas, noting that a State senate seat election was decided by only 15 percent of registered voters and a House seat election in Houston's 18th District was won with only 5.6 percent of registered voters participating.

Paul Amdt. No. 4272

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4236

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4234

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4286

Sanders Amdt. No. 4290

Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Merkley Amdt. No. 4287

H.R. 7148, as Amended

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 7148

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 3627

Motion to Invoke Cloture: H.R. 6938

H.R. 6938

Is the Point of Order Well Taken Re: To the Privilege Status of S.J. Res. 98

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 84

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6938

Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 98

Confirmation: Alexander C. Van Hook, of Louisiana, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana

Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 86

Cornyn reflected on the Trump administration's progress, including Cabinet confirmations and passage of the working family tax cuts act, while stating that Democrats prevented passage of normal appropriations bills and caused government shutdowns.

Confirmation: Joshua Simmons, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency

Confirmation: Sara Bailey, of Texas, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy

Confirmation: Keith Bass, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

Cornyn spoke about what he characterized as the Biden administration's abuse of parole authority to allow approximately 1 million foreign nationals into the United States, citing several parole programs including ones for Afghans, Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, and connected this to a fatal incident involving an Afghan national.

Cornyn asked for the yeas and nays on the Maxwell nomination.

Cornyn stated that the Senate and House have released a final reconciled text of the National Defense Authorization Act and that the legislation is critically important because it ensures the military has necessary resources to achieve current missions and address future challenges.

Cornyn stated that he has been pushing to ensure that several provisions, including addressing outbound investment transparency, are included in the final National Defense Authorization Act legislation.

Cornyn spoke about the perpetrator of a shooting incident involving two National Guardsmen, explaining how Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was paroled into the United States by the Biden administration in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome without congressional authorization or standard visa processing.

Cornyn stated that the Senate has three scheduled workweeks before Christmas and commended Senate leadership for accomplishing significant legislative work in the past 11 months, including confirming President Trump's Cabinet, passing a reconciliation tax package, passing the first draft of the National Defense Authorization Act, and passing government funding bills.

Cornyn co-submitted Senate Resolution 487 expressing support for the designation of the week beginning November 3, 2025, as "National School Psychology Week."

Cornyn requested that the name of Senator Moody from Florida be added as a cosponsor of S. 65, a bill to allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

Cornyn argued that the Senate should invoke the nuclear option to restore the historical process for considering presidential nominees, characterizing the obstruction of President Trump's nominees as mindless blocking that prevented work on bipartisan solutions to national problems.

Cornyn stated that the Senate should not leave town without ensuring President Trump has his nominees and team in place, noting approximately 140 backlogged nominees have been obstructed by Democrats who object to all of them rather than picking and choosing specific nominees to oppose.

Cornyn stated that the Senate had confirmed 107 of President Trump's nominees in the first six months of his second term while 147 lower-level nominees remained pending confirmation, and that Senate Democrats had not allowed voice votes or unanimous consent on any of Trump's civilian nominees.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor about the threat posed by the New World screwworm parasite to Texas cattle production and the broader U.S. livestock industry, noting that an outbreak in Texas could cost U.S. livestock producers approximately $1 billion and the general economy $3.7 billion.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor about the National Defense Authorization Act, discussing accomplishments of the Republican majority and President Trump in his first six months, and explaining why defense authorization legislation is important given current global threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor to defend the One Big Beautiful Bill, stating that it prevents hard-working taxpayers from facing the largest tax hike in American history and that Republicans accomplished what Democrats were unwilling to do.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor to update colleagues on Central Texas flooding recovery efforts, noting that more than 119 deaths had been confirmed including 36 children in Kerr County and 170 people missing, and described specific victims including two 8-year-old girls from Austin named Linnie McCown and Mary Stevens who died at Camp Mystic.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor about the catastrophic floods that occurred in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, describing the death toll of more than 100 people including 27 young campers at Camp Mystic, and recounting an aerial and ground tour he conducted of the flooded areas in Kerrville.

Cornyn delivered a speech describing the constitutional powers and authorities of the President of the United States across the legislative, executive, diplomatic, military, and judicial domains.

Cornyn spoke about the Department of Government Efficiency, stating that it has identified $175 billion in savings and that the Office of Management and Budget has sent its first rescissions package to Capitol Hill.

Cornyn explained the budget reconciliation process and the Byrd rule, stating that the House passed President Trump's tax bill and that the Senate must now work with the Parliamentarian to determine what provisions survive the Byrd bath before the legislation can proceed.

Cornyn introduced the State Border Security Assistance Act, legislation designed to reimburse states including Texas for border enforcement costs totaling over $11 billion spent during the Biden administration.

Cornyn introduced and moved for passage of S. 1596, the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas in memory of a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in June 2024.

Cornyn delivered remarks on the Senate floor describing Russia as a police state, contrasting fundamental differences between Russia and the West in the context of Ukraine peace negotiations, and praising President Trump's efforts to end the conflict.

Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor to praise the Department of Government Efficiency and Elon Musk's efforts to reduce government waste, fraud, and abuse, and to defend the initiative against what he characterized as false Democratic arguments about privatizing Social Security.

Cornyn spoke in support of implementing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in means-tested programs as part of the budget reconciliation process to reduce government spending.

Cornyn introduced S. 1582, a bill to provide for the regulation of payment stablecoins, and objected to his own request for a second reading to place the bill on the calendar under rule XIV.

Cornyn thanked President Trump, Secretary Rollins, Secretary Rubio, and Deputy Secretary of State Landau for securing a new water agreement with Mexico to deliver water to South Texas, and stated that the agreement addresses Mexico's longstanding non-compliance with the 1944 water treaty.

Cornyn reported on his visits to Texas businesses including Daikin Texas Technology Park in Waller County and Alliance in Tarrant County, and discussed the importance of extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions with constituents including Andy Ellard, owner of Manda Machine Company in Dallas.

Cornyn stated that if President Trump's tax cuts are not extended, the result would be a multitrillion-dollar tax increase affecting 62 percent of American taxpayers, with an average $1,700 tax increase for a family of four earning $80,000 annually and a $3,000 average increase for Texas constituents.

Cornyn expressed gratitude to President Trump for attempting to broker a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine and stated that both Ukraine and Russia must be willing to negotiate and make concessions to achieve lasting peace.

Cornyn described attending a meeting with Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency team, recounted his prior meetings with Musk dating back 15 years, and discussed Musk's businesses and contributions to Texas.

Cornyn discussed the need to address outbound investment flowing from American investors into China, stating that such investments are fueling China's military buildup and modernization.

Cornyn expressed support for Governor Greg Abbott's request to reimburse Texas for border security expenses incurred during the Biden administration and stated that securing the nation's borders is a federal responsibility.