Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) urged Senate Republicans to begin work on a second reconciliation bill in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below: 

“Every time I look at or read an article about the One Big Beautiful Bill, I am shocked—though that sounds pejorative, maybe ‘impressed’ would be a better word—at its breadth. . . . It’s just an extraordinary piece of legislation. My only regret with respect to the bill is that we did it without Democratic votes. We did it with all Republican votes. I wish that hadn’t been the case. I wish we had been able to convince some of our Democratic colleagues to join with us.

“Well, the obvious question when I make that statement is: How’d you do that? How’d you get past the filibuster? It takes 60 votes. You don’t have to be an astrophysicist to know that about the United States Senate. Well, as you know, Madam President, we did it through reconciliation. Under reconciliation, only a majority vote is required.”

. . .

“We passed the reconciliation bill on July 1, about five months ago. Something that even members of the media are not aware of is that we have the authority before the midterm elections to do two more reconciliation bills. . . . So, why have we sat around for five months and not started on the second reconciliation bill? I just don’t get it. I don’t get it. I mean, in my opinion, and really, I’m just making an observation. To me, it’s a 12-piece bucket of stupid not to do another reconciliation bill and to waste five months before we even start on a second reconciliation bill, assuming that we get started tomorrow.

“I mean, humans are supposed to have evolved as a species. Why would we not do a second reconciliation bill? Think of what we could do. I mean, moms and dads all across America tonight are going to lie down to sleep, and they won’t be able to. What are they worried about? Well, they’re worried about the cost of housing, for one thing. They’re worried about the cost of home insurance. They’re worried about the cost of flood insurance. They’re worried about the cost of health insurance. We all know that. They’re worried about the cost of living.”

. . .

“If we do not take advantage of this opportunity to lower the cost of living for the American people through reconciliation, when we only need 51 votes to do it, it’s legislative malpractice. It’s legislative malpractice. It is as dumb as a bowl of noodles. So, that’s my plea to my colleagues tonight. . . . We should get started tomorrow.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.