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April 2026 →

SenateFloor Session

April 17, 2026

Speeches 4Members 2

Congressional Record ↗Watch on C-SPAN ↗

Senate Floor VideoThe Senate does not publish its floor video for embedding. C-SPAN keeps the whole day.Watch on C-SPAN ↗

Amending the Fisa Amendments Act of 2008 to Extend the Authorities of Title Vii of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Through April 30, 2026

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of H.R. 8322, which was received from the House.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection to proceeding to the measure?

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

Reserving the right to object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

Madam President, Americans understand that every single day there are abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. And the reality is, a growing number of Democrats and Republicans are now saying that a straight extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act law is absolutely unacceptable in any way, shape, or form.

So it is clear it is time for real reforms to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance by a government that they rightly do not trust.

So for the last hour or so, I have been speaking to colleagues in the other body of the House. And they have told me, unequivocally, that this short-term extension makes reform more likely and expiration makes reform less likely.

But make no mistake about it, opponents of reform have shown no willingness, for years and years, to negotiate meaningful reform. And those of us in a bipartisan, bicameral way who have insisted that this time will be different want to emphasize that this morning.

The reality is that the country believes that security and liberty are not mutually exclusive. We can have both. A good bill that we are insisting on will do that. A bad bill will give us less security and less liberty.

So I hope that opponents of reform are going to understand what is going on in the Congress and in the country and start talking about what is genuinely good reform and what it would look like.

I will say that I am now the longest serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and I have never seen the concern on both sides of the aisle, that is bicameral, for real reform.

So I have talked to my colleagues in the House, and their views have been particularly important because they have told us about their work last night and what it means for real reform.

And we are going to be following that here every single day because Ben Franklin said--you are going to hear me talk about that--anybody who gives up their liberty for security doesn't deserve either.

We are going to insist on it.

I yield the floor.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The bill was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I know of no further debate on the bill.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?

The bill (H.R. 8322) was passed.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Official Text ↗

Measure Read the First Time: S. 4344

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the Calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

The bill will receive its second reading on the next legislative day.

Official Text ↗

Morning Business

Josh HawleyRepublican, Missouri

Madam President, had there been a recorded vote on H.R. 8322, a bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026, I would have voted nay.

Official Text ↗

Nomination of Colonel Thomas M. Siverts

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

Madam President, I release my hold on the promotion of Col. Thomas M. Siverts, PN793-2, on the Executive Calendar.

In March 2026, I raised concerns about Colonel Siverts' appearance on an episode of a podcast known as The Berm Pit, which is anti-Semitic and racist.

I requested the Marine Corps to provide me with a copy of this podcast episode, so I could review the nature of his participation in this podcast. I was first told the podcast was not accessible, but the Marine Corps provided me with a copy of the episode after I objected to the promotion of Colonel Siverts. I have since been able to review the podcast episode, and I did not have any concerns with the exchange on the podcast.

Further, Colonel Siverts wrote a letter to me unequivocally condemning anti-Semitism and racism, noting that at the time of his appearance on the podcast, the podcast had no association with the hateful ideologies expressed by others on different episodes of the podcast months later.

Colonel Siverts made clear that the ideologies of anti-Semitism and racism are antithetical not only to the values of the Marine Corps, but to who he is too.

My concerns have been addressed, and I support the Senate confirming Colonel Siverts' promotion to brigadier general.

Official Text ↗

Orders for Monday, April 20, 2026

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, April 20; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, at 5:30 p.m., that the Senate proceed to executive session and execute the order of April 15 in relation to Calendar No. 671, Andrew Davis, and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Monday's session of the Senate, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection.

Official Text ↗

Adjournment Until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 P.M.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

There being no objection, the Senate, at 10:58 a.m., adjourned until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Official Text ↗

Amending the Fisa Amendments Act of 2008 to Extend the Authorities of Title Vii of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Through April 30, 2026

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of H.R. 8322, which was received from the House.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection to proceeding to the measure?

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

Reserving the right to object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

So it is clear it is time for real reforms to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance by a government that they rightly do not trust.

So I hope that opponents of reform are going to understand what is going on in the Congress and in the country and start talking about what is genuinely good reform and what it would look like.

I will say that I am now the longest serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and I have never seen the concern on both sides of the aisle, that is bicameral, for real reform.

So I have talked to my colleagues in the House, and their views have been particularly important because they have told us about their work last night and what it means for real reform.

We are going to insist on it.

I yield the floor.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The bill was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I know of no further debate on the bill.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?

The bill (H.R. 8322) was passed.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Official Text ↗

Measure Read the First Time: S. 4344

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the Calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

The bill will receive its second reading on the next legislative day.

Official Text ↗

Morning Business

Josh HawleyRepublican, Missouri

Official Text ↗

Nomination of Colonel Thomas M. Siverts

Ron WydenDemocrat, Oregon

Madam President, I release my hold on the promotion of Col. Thomas M. Siverts, PN793-2, on the Executive Calendar.

In March 2026, I raised concerns about Colonel Siverts' appearance on an episode of a podcast known as The Berm Pit, which is anti-Semitic and racist.

Colonel Siverts made clear that the ideologies of anti-Semitism and racism are antithetical not only to the values of the Marine Corps, but to who he is too.

My concerns have been addressed, and I support the Senate confirming Colonel Siverts' promotion to brigadier general.

Official Text ↗

Orders for Monday, April 20, 2026

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection.

Official Text ↗

Adjournment Until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 P.M.

John ThuneRepublican, South Dakota

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

There being no objection, the Senate, at 10:58 a.m., adjourned until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Official Text ↗

April 17, 2026

Bills Debated

(Legislative Day of April 14, 2026) Routine Proceedings, pages S1829-S1831 Measures Introduced

Measures Passed

Davis Nomination: Agreement

Adjournment

Amending the Fisa Amendments Act of 2008 to Extend the Authorities of Title Vii of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Through April 30, 2026

Measure Read the First Time: S. 4344

Morning Business

Nomination of Colonel Thomas M. Siverts

Orders for Monday, April 20, 2026

Adjournment Until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 P.M.

Amending the Fisa Amendments Act of 2008 to Extend the Authorities of Title Vii of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Through April 30, 2026

Measure Read the First Time: S. 4344

Morning Business

Nomination of Colonel Thomas M. Siverts

Orders for Monday, April 20, 2026

Adjournment Until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 3 P.M.