Political speech, timestamped and in context

Ron Johnson: “The law that's at stake here that we're discussing is the Empowerment Control Act. Surprisingly very poorly…”

Featuring: Ron Johnson, Republican | U.S. Senate, Wisconsin

'Congress Is Certainly Not Fiscally Responsible': Ron Johnson Defends Trump's Pocket Rescission

Published October 1, 2026

Reserving the right to object. I'd like to make two points. First of all, The law that's at stake here that we're discussing is the Empowerment Control Act. Surprisingly very poorly written. The good senator from Oregon said that the General Accountability Office, the non partisan General Accountability Office, believes that pocket rescissions are illegal. Well, the fact is that's a reversal of their previous position. (00:07–00:20)

STATEMENT

Asserts that the Empowerment Control Act is poorly written.

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See the main statements from Ron Johnson in this video

“The General Accountability Office, the non-partisan General Accountability Office, believes that pocket rescissions are illegal. Well, the fact is that's a reversal of their previous position.”
Asserts that the GAO's current position on pocket rescissions is a reversal of their previous stance.00:21-00:36
“Every president since President Ford believed he had or she had that ability to do a pocket rescission.”
Asserts that every president since Ford believed they had the ability to do a pocket rescission.00:36-00:48
“This storied chamber, chambers include the House has allowed this country to accumulate $40 trillion in debt with no end in sight.”
Asserts that the U.S. has accumulated $40 trillion in debt.01:27-01:43
“Over the course of the next 10 years that the total estimate of additional deficits and added debt is $26 trillion.”
Asserts that the estimated additional deficits and debt over the next 10 years is $26 trillion.01:43-01:52
“The Biden administration lost track of hundreds of thousands of children who were probably sold into involuntary servitude, sex slavery.”
Asserts that the Biden administration lost track of children who were likely sold into servitude or slavery.03:16-03:29
“70% of it is for funding the HHS Refugee and Entrant Assistance Program.”
Asserts that 70% of the $810 million is for the HHS Refugee and Entrant Assistance Program.02:39-02:51
“70% of the 810,567,000,000 is simply money we don't have to spend to try and handle unaccompanied children that the Biden administration got lost track of.”
Asserts that 70% of the $810 million is unnecessary spending due to the Biden administration losing track of children.03:39-03:54