Ted Cruz

And I feel confident every member of this chamber has done just about anything I listed well, except shoveling snow.

I'm not convinced many of my colleagues have snuggled snow, although they do shovel other things.

The question is not whether Americans are bright enough to obtain photo ID.

We know they can, and we know they do.

The real question is, why would we not require the same level of verification for something as consequential and vital as voting?

Are our Democrat colleagues saying voting doesn't matter?

Or is it something else?

Voting is not just another everyday activity.

It rolls around every year or a few years.

It is the vehicle that protects the principles of our republic in safeguarding what matters.

This legislation is necessary because there are individuals and systems that can undermine confidence in our elections if proper safeguards are not in place.

And one of the most apparent ways that we've seen is through the masses of illegal immigrants that our Democrat colleagues let in through open borders over four years.

During the Biden administration, more than 12 million illegal immigrants flooded into this country.

The vast majority through my home state of Texas.

Now, Mr. President, understand that was not an accident.

That was not something the Democrats could not stop.

That was their desired outcome.

How do we know that?

Because the instant President Trump was sworn into office for his second term,

illegal border crossings plummeted 99% overnight.