John Cornyn: “this week, the Senate returns from the August State work period. That is what we call the period of time when we are not…”

“this week, the Senate returns from the August State work period. That is what we call the period of time when we are not here in Washington, DC, doing our job. But the truth is, we really haven't been in session very much here in DC for a long, long time, and September is no exception. When we are in session here typically these days, it seems like we are in session for 2\1/2\ days while the rest of America works at least 40 hours a week and many of my constituents in Texas work much longer hours than that. Senator Schumer, who sets the schedule here in the U.S. Senate, has had us working--well, generously--about half time. I won't mince words. This Democratic Senate is on a collision course with itself, and the Republicans have been ringing the alarm bell for months. After Leader Schumer's summer of show votes and months spent on President Biden's controversial and often unqualified nominees, the Senate will be in session just 11 more days--11 more days--in September. And we face an impossible to-do list. But it is by design. It is no surprise to anyone. Some of what is on this list is some of the most basic tasks of governing. That is what we are supposed to be doing here. But I am not confident we will be able to even get that done in a timely manner. The first on my list is the National Defense Authorization Act, something we have done more than 60 years in a row.…”