The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was formed after the 9/11 attacks, understandably to try to address some of the failures that led to those attacks. Unfortunately, I think we can now assess a couple of decades on, that it is something of a failed experiment itself. I remember my first days on […]

Mr. President, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, also known as FISA, is a critical national security tool. Well over half of every item in the president’s daily brief is derived from Section 702. It has stopped terrorist attacks. It’s stopped the flow of deadly drugs into our country. It’s protected our troops […]

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and I will object. First, let me just set the context here. The senator from Oregon has always expressed hardcore ideological opposition to Section 702, which a large majority of the Senate and the House, under Democratic and Republican hands, across Democratic and Republican administrations, has always deemed […]

Today, I urge my Senate colleagues to vote to confirm the nomination of the Honorable John Thomas Shepherd to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Throughout his career, Judge Shepherd has worked to uphold the rule of law, preserve public safety, and keep crime out of our state. Whether representing […]

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today delivered the below opening statement at the Intelligence Committee’s annual Worldwide Threat Assessment hearing. Below are his remarks as delivered. Senator Cotton: Good morning. I call this hearing to order. Welcome to the Senate’s annual Worldwide Threats Assessment hearing. Let me begin by welcoming our esteemed panel […]

I’d like to take a moment up front to recognize the American heroes who have lost their lives in the line of duty as part of Operation Epic Fury. I extend my deepest condolences and offer my prayers to their families and loved ones. I also say with absolute confidence: these American heroes will not […]

“One of the most despicable pieces of legislation,” an “attack on our sacred right to vote,” and “a voter suppression bill.” These are just some of the hysterical things that Democrats have said lately about the SAVE America Act. I disagree, and so do most Americans. In fact, 64 percent of adults say that the […]

As I mentioned, the nominee has previously appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and our Lieutenant General Rudd has previously testified for his nomination at the Armed Services Committee. Our committee has sequential referral. Our goal for this hearing is to consider the nominee’s qualifications and give members ample opportunity for thoughtful deliberation. General […]

Today is a great day in America. Nicolas Maduro, an indicted drug trafficker and illegitimate communist dictator who has the blood of hundreds of Arkansans and thousands of Americans on his hands, is behind bars in a prison in New York. Again, he was an illegitimate communist dictator in league with all of America’s enemies […]

I’m saddened to share that Norman Podhoretz, a towering figure of American letters and politics, passed away last night. Not many men truly change the course of history. Those who do usually do it through their actions, like General U.S. Grant’s brilliant military campaigns in the Civil War. Fewer still do it with a combination […]

Thank you, Chairman Grassley, Senator Durbin, and members of the Judiciary Committee. Good morning. I’m pleased to join Senator Boozman today to introduce a civil servant and a fellow Arkansan, Mr. David “Clay” Fowlkes. I’d first like to thank Clay for his many years of public service and for agreeing to continue to this service […]

In January of 1974, millions of Americans traveled to work and school in darkness. Commuter trains were delayed. Schoolchildren carried flashlights. Tragically, some of these kids were struck by cars and killed while walking to school in the dark. One woman from Long Island, speaking to The New York Times, summed up the black mood […]

At long last, our friends in Israel have won the war by defeating the depraved Hamas savages that launched the heinous, unprovoked attack from Gaza on Oct. 7. After the most devastating assault on Jews since the Holocaust, which was followed by two years of fighting, suffering, and death, the living hostages are home, and […]

Incredibly, the Democrats are here to condemn President Trump’s recent strikes against narco-terrorists operating in our backyard. Maybe they want to distract from the Schumer Shutdown by tying the president’s hands and siding with narco-terrorists who have the blood of hundreds of thousands of Americans on their hands. Whatever the reason, this would be foolhardy. […]

Good afternoon. This hearing will come to order. I’d like to welcome you all to today’s hearing to consider the nominations of Mr. Peter Metzger to be the assistant secretary for intelligence and analysis at the Department of the Treasury and Mr. Joshua Simmons to be the general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. I […]

Senator Cotton: Here we go again. Hamas is on the verge of defeat, so it’s cranked up the propaganda machine once again. Now, Hamas wants the world to believe that Israel has undertaken a campaign of deliberate starvation of the Gazan population. And, as usual, Hamas can count on an international media and political chorus […]

Senator Cotton: Today, I urge my colleagues to confirm Warren Stephens to be our next United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. President Trump could not have chosen a more well-qualified or well-suited person to lead the special relationship between our two nations. Warren Stephens is a family man, businessman, philanthropist, and patriot who is a […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 April 9, 2025 Cotton Again Blocks Democrats’ Attempt to Extend TikTok Ban Deadline “Let me say bluntly to any American who wants to invest in some half-assed TikTok deal—Congress will never protect you from going into business with Communist China.” Click here to view Senator Cotton’s […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 April 9, 2025 Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Cotton’s Opening Remarks at Confirmation Hearing for Intelligence Officials Washington, D.C. — Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today delivered the below opening statement at the confirmation hearing of Aaron Lukas to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Joseph […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 April 9, 2025 Cotton Supports Mike Huckabee’s Confirmation as Ambassador to Israel Click here to view Senator Cotton’s floor speech. Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today spoke on the Senate floor prior to the vote confirming Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel. Senator Cotton’s floor speech may […]