John Barrasso Touts Bill To Limit Lower Courts From Issuing 'Sweeping Injunctions' To Block Trump Agenda

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During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke about the Judicial Relief Clarification Act.

Transcript

00:00President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated.

00:03Without objection.

00:04Mr. President, last Friday, President Trump signed into law our historic legislation

00:09to deliver safety and prosperity for the American people.

00:14Every Democrat in this chamber voted against it.

00:18So once again, Democrats do what they do.

00:21They turn to the courts to try to undo what Congress has done.

00:26But this time, it's about the government funding of Planned Parenthood.

00:31Now, we just heard the minority leader come to the floor and say, quote,

00:35people want fair judges who will uphold the law.

00:40By Monday afternoon, Democrats have filed a lawsuit in Boston, Massachusetts,

00:45challenging the very law that was just signed on the 4th of July.

00:51Now, I've spoken about this Massachusetts district court in the past.

00:55Look, this is one of the Democrats' favorite venues when they want to obstruct the law,

01:01the law of the land.

01:03That's because 11 of the 13 judges were appointed by Democrat presidents.

01:07Well, by Monday evening, an unelected district court judge appointed by President Obama

01:12granted a temporary injunction.

01:14There they go again.

01:16Another temporary injunction blocking the law of the land.

01:20The judge did not issue a legal opinion or explain her decision.

01:27Instead, this one lone judge, who has a history of radical rulings and partisan activism from the bench,

01:35halted the duly enacted law.

01:38As a result, millions of taxpayer dollars could be forced to be spent.

01:42This is money that taxpayers will never be able to recover.

01:48One judge, one district trying to dictate and derail national policy and a national law.

01:57This is another example of radicals in robes undermining the elected branches of our government.

02:03As law professor Elizabeth Foley recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal,

02:09the separation of powers, she said, is, quote,

02:12under assault by rogue judges claiming national power.

02:18Over 40 nationwide injunctions have been filed against the Trump administration in the first six months.

02:25Thirty-five of them were issued by district courts in just four states in the District of Columbia.

02:31California, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Washington State.

02:36This is nearly triple the number of injunctions that President Biden faced his entire four years in office.

02:44Democrats continue to use the courts to try to reverse President Trump's popular policies.

02:52Democrats aren't seeking an unbiased review.

02:56They are using the courts as a political tool.

03:00It's not how the Constitution is supposed to work.

03:05Even Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, has opposed nationwide injunctions.

03:12In 2022, Justice Kagan said, quote,

03:15it just can't be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks

03:23and leave it stopped for the years it takes to go through the normal process.

03:29I agree with Justice Kagan.

03:32The Supreme Court has recently and repeatedly taken steps to rein in these radical judges.

03:37The Supreme Court has overturned 11 injunctions against the administration just since January.

03:44That includes Tuesday's eight-to-one order in the case of Trump versus the American Federation of Government Employees.

03:52This abuse of the courts needs to end.

03:57That's why I support the Judicial Relief Clarification Act.

04:00This legislation was written by Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

04:08His legislation would limit lower courts from using sweeping injunctions to block national policies.

04:16Additionally, the Senate must move quickly to confirm judges who apply the laws as written,

04:22not judges who try to legislate from the bench.

04:25Later today, we're going to begin the process of confirming President Trump's first judicial nominee this term.

04:33It is for President Trump's nominee to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

04:38Her name is Ms. Whitney Hermendorfer.

04:41She is smart.

04:42She's tough.

04:44She's ready to serve.

04:46She has the full backing of her home state senators, Senator Blackburn and Senator Hagerty of Tennessee.

04:52She also has the support of the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Grassley.

04:59Mr. President, the Constitution is clear.

05:02Congress controls federal spending.

05:05The power of purse belongs to Congress.

05:08It doesn't belong to unelected district court judges with a gavel and a grudge.

05:14The American people deserve better.

05:16Enough is enough.

05:18It's time to restore constitutional order.

05:20It's time to rein in rogue judges.

05:23It's time to confirm judges who respect the rule of law.

05:29Thank you, Mr. President.

05:30I yield the floor.

05:32Suggest the avenue.

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