Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Mr. President, it has been almost a year since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cut, 1 year since Republicans delivered permanent tax relief to the American people and put more money in their pockets. I am proud to say that it is working. At the start of this year, hard-working Americans saw their take-home pay go up as the new tax law took effect. They saw its impact again in April when they filed their taxes. Many Americans saw a significant boost in their tax refunds. The New York Times interviewed three dozen Americans, who reported that "many of the taxpayers said they had received their largest refund in years," allowing them to pay down debt, save more, or cover the cost of a vacation or a new bed. Last week, we got yet more news that shows that the Working Families Tax Cut is working. The Treasury Department released data showing that 97 percent of Americans who filed taxes this last year actually got a tax cut. Take a look at that. That is a pretty stunning number, if you think about it--97 percent. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut, 97 percent of taxpayers got a tax cut this year, collectively saving about $82 billion on their tax bills. And who was it--who was it--that benefited from the Working Families Tax Cut? Well, I will give you a hint. It is in the name: working families. Almost every one of the 97 percent of American taxpayers who saw a tax cut this year earned less than $200,000. Nearly 70 percent earned less than $100,000. So if you take a look at this chart, you will be able to see just exactly what I am talking about. If you look at the dark-blue line, those are the number of people who are making less than $100,000 a year who benefited from the new tax deductions in this bill. And if you look at the light one, that is the number of people under $200,000 who got a benefit. I will get into each of those specifics here in just a minute, but I think it is important to point out that the beneficiaries of the Working Families Tax Cut were working families. In other words, the Americans benefiting from this bill were people who got up every day to go to work to provide for their families. They are not rich. They are people who spend nights at the kitchen table putting together their budgets, trying to make ends meet and save a little bit for the future. And that is who Republicans were thinking about when we wrote the Working Families Tax Cut, and as the numbers show, that is who is benefiting. I have said that the Working Families Tax Cut is about putting more money in hard-working Americans' pockets, and that is exactly what this bill did. It let working Americans keep more of their hard-earned money--money that they would have had to send to the IRS if not for the Working Families Tax Cut and that they can now spend, invest, and save as they see fit. The Working Families Tax Cut delivered real taxing savings to the American people through a number of tax relief policies. Permanent lower tax rates reduced Americans' tax burdens across the board, and the now permanently doubled standard deduction helped 127 million Americans reduce and simplify their taxes this year. Nearly 40 million families claimed the newly enhanced $2,200 child tax credit in 2025. And as you can see from the chart, almost all of those families had incomes below $200,000. And I said before, two-thirds earned less than $100,000. And again, that is from the enhanced child tax credit, which is the bottom number down there. A New York Times story in April on this year's larger tax refunds highlighted Nicole Mendoza, a 68-year-old Georgian who "works a couple of shifts a week at a Cracker Barrel in Canton, Ga., to supplement her Social Security income and savings. All told, Ms. Mendoza said, she earned about $38,000 last year and paid $551 in federal income taxes." And Ms. Mendoza told the Times:

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I got back every penny.

This year, millions of hard-working Americans like Ms. Mendoza were eligible for additional tax relief thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut. Americans earning between $100,000 and $200,000 last year who took advantage of new tax relief in this bill saw an average tax cut of $1,250. Older Americans were able to take advantage of the enhanced senior deduction, which helped 35 million seniors this past year. And 7.5 million tipped workers were able to take advantage of no tax on tips. Fully 90 percent of Americans who took advantage of no tax on tips earned less than $100,000; 99 percent--99 percent--earned less than $200,000. So if you look at the tipped wages, the number there on top, the dark-blue bar represents the number of people who were making less than $100,000 who benefited from no tax on tips. The lighter-blue bar represents the number of people making less than $200,000 in their income this year who benefited from no tax on tips. So look at that. I mean, 90 percent of people--90 percent of people--who get tipped wages and get the benefit of no tax on tips made less than $100,000 a year, and 99 percent, less than $200,000 a year. That is pretty stunning, if you think about it, if you talk about actually working families out there, people who are trying to make ends meet. And those numbers, I think, represent just how important that particular provision was in the bill, and the savings they are seeing is significant. A bartender in Beloit, WI, said that he more than doubled his Federal tax refund. Katie, who is a DoorDash driver in Oklahoma, said:

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It increased my refund from $300 to $2,000.

Another DoorDash driver in Oregon said:

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[No Tax on Tips] has changed life. I worry less about being able to cover all my expenses and I am able to work less which is better for my health and family.

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

That is the Working Families Tax Cut in action. And I haven't even talked about no tax on overtime, which, like everything else I have talked about this morning, is overwhelmingly benefiting middle- and lower-income Americans. Last year, Republicans promised to deliver lower tax bills for hard-working Americans, and the data released last week proves that is exactly--exactly--what this bill does. The Working Families Tax Cut is delivering for working Americans. As they have every time that Republicans have lowered taxes for working people, Democrats have resurrected their dusty, old talking points about tax cuts for the rich. I can't count the number of times that I have heard a Democrat Senator say this bill was just about tax cuts for billionaires. Well, look at the data. Does this look like a billionaire tax cut to you? Seventy-five percent of Americans taking the overtime deduction made less than $100,000 a year; 90 percent of those taking no tax on tips made less than $100,000 a year; and 97 percent of Americans who filed their taxes this year got a tax cut. This is real tax relief for hard-working Americans, and the American people are seeing it with their own eyes. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore

The clerk will call the roll.

The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Session)

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The Democratic leader is recognized.

Economy (Executive Session)

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Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

Mr. President, this morning's inflation numbers reaffirm what the American people already know: Trumpflation is getting worse and worse, with no end in sight. Trumpflation hit 4.2 percent last month, a 3-year high. Another month of Trump's illegal Iran war, another month of Trump's tariffs, another month of Republican control of Congress, and what does America get? A new alltime high for Trumpflation. Just about everything is getting more expensive. In the past year, the price of fresh produce has gone up 6 percent; meat, 7.6; electricity, 6; airfare, 26.7; and gasoline by a staggering 45-percent increase. Is it any wonder that polling this week found that 70 percent--70 percent--of American voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the cost of living? That number includes a whole lot of Republicans. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but nearly 17 months since taking office, he and his MAGA majorities in Congress haven't lifted a finger to lower Americans' costs. But let's be clear. Republicans aren't just failing to address the affordability crisis; they are making it worse--actively making it worse. Republicans are driving up costs with their expensive tariff tax, with their disastrous war with Iran that is leading to recordbreaking gas prices, with their trillion-dollar cut to healthcare, and with the rest of this radical, hard-right agenda that so misserves the American people. Trump's tariffs are costing American families more than $1,700 a year on average. American families have had to pay an additional $750 on average during these past few months just to meet skyrocketing costs of gasoline because of the Iran war. Instead of focusing on helping Americans weather this dire financial moment, Republicans are helping Donald Trump get even richer. As Americans' costs go up, Donald Trump keeps putting his hand into the till to make money for himself and his family. Republicans are more concerned with Trump's golden ballroom than with helping Americans afford housing. Republicans would rather give taxpayer-funded payouts to Trump and his cronies through his MAGA slush fund than help Americans put food on the table. Republicans continue to fight for Trump and his corruption rather than lower costs for working families.

William Pulte (Executive Session)

Pages S2708–S2709 · Official text

Mr. President, on Pulte, last night, Donald Trump characteristically and stupidly doubled down on his reckless decision to appoint Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence. The law, of course, requires the DNI to have extensive experience in national security, but Pulte doesn't have any. DNI--Director of National Intelligence--isn't an entry-level position, but Donald Trump is treating it like one by appointing Pulte. The only experience Pulte has is helping Donald Trump wage a crusade against Trump's political enemies. At a time when our Nation is at war and is preparing for massive security events like the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary, we need a DNI who is committed to telling hard truths, not one who is committed to telling Donald Trump whatever he wants to hear. This is dangerous. This could be disastrous, having Pulte in charge.

Nomination of David M. Prouty (Executive Session)

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Mr. President, now on David Prouty's nomination to the NLRB, today, the Senate HELP Committee will consider the nomination of David Prouty to continue serving on the National Labor Relations Board. From his time working for the Major League Baseball Players Association to his tenure as general counsel for UNITE HERE! and for an SEIU local that represented 175,000 workers, Prouty has spent a lifetime defending the rights of organized labor across the country. For the past 5 years, Prouty has been a force for reason and a voice for workers on the NRLB even as Republicans tried to undermine that vital institution--hurt working families and hurt the unions that represent them. Between August 2025 and January 2026, Prouty served as the only sitting member of the NLRB after Trump's unprecedented purge of the Board's only other Democratic member, a great member, Gwynne Wilcox and the expiration of the Chair's term. Trump's gutting of the NLRB paralyzed it for the better part of a year until it regained a quorum. While I am pleased Prouty was nominated for another term, Trump continues to try to undermine our workers and their right to organize by trying to stack the NLRB with partisan loyalists committed to shielding employers from accountability. I urge my colleagues to support Prouty's nomination so that workers have someone who will speak up for them on the NLRB for years to come.

Commissioners Letter (Executive Session)

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Mr. President, on our Commissioners letter, in addition to his attacks on the NLRB, Donald Trump has refused to nominate and confirm Democratic Commissioners and Board members to vacancies at numerous Agencies that are required by law to have bipartisan members. It is outrageous. Every other Republican President has gone along with the fact that there have to be a number of Democrats on these Boards. Every other Democratic President has gone along with the fact that there have to be Republicans. Only Trump, once again, has smashed these positive, bipartisan values. So today, I join our Senate Democratic ranking members in calling on Trump and Leader Thune to start following the law and stop refusing to nominate or confirm these Commissioners. Shortly after taking office, Trump launched an unprecedented purge of over a dozen Democratic Commissioners and Board members across the Federal Government--officials who uphold election security, protect consumers, keep our roads safe, and perform other vital services for America. Trump removed these officials without a second thought and has either left these crucial positions vacant or filled them with MAGA loyalists committed to serving him rather than serving the American people. Democrats will continue to call out Republicans for trying to undermine these Agencies and the crucial services they provide to Americans every day. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore

The clerk will call the roll.

The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Pete Ricketts (R-NE)

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of South Carolina)

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Waiving Quorum Calls (Executive Session)

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Pete Ricketts (R-NE)

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum calls with respect to the Powell and Dahl nominations.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Agriculture (Executive Session)

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Pete Ricketts (R-NE)

Mr. President, this is the 250th anniversary year of the founding of the United States of America--the greatest Nation the world has ever seen. Agriculture has been a part of this country since our founding, and agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska. We must always work to support our farmers and ranchers. It is a privilege for me to be able to do so as a Senator from the great State of Nebraska. However, these are tough times in our industry of agriculture. We have seen widespread drought and wildfires. We have seen commodity prices in corn and soybeans be depressed and input prices be high. This puts a lot of pressure on our farming families. We, also, as recently as in the last day or so, have seen more wildfires in the State of Nebraska, in the northwest portion of our State, around Chadron and Fort Robinson. Our Governor is taking the appropriate action to be able to help fight these fires. But it is in very rugged terrain, and it is going to be difficult for our firefighters there. So I ask that all Nebraskans and Americans keep the firefighters and all of those who have been impacted by these fires in their thoughts and prayers as we go through it. One of the other challenges we are now facing in agriculture has to do with one of the bright spots in our industry, and that is the beef industry. Now, the beef industry is the No. 1 industry in the State of Nebraska--we are the beef State--but this industry is being threatened by the New World screwworm. This is a parasite that we had wiped out back in the 1960s and that is now making a reappearance. In fact, we have had six confirmed cases--five in Texas and one in New Mexico. They are in livestock, but in the case in New Mexico, it actually involves a dog. This is why Mexico is taking the steps to prevent all livestock from coming across the border, including pet dogs. It is to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm. Today, I am sending a letter to our Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins, to encourage her to continue to expedite the steps we are taking to combat the New World screwworm. The way we do that is by producing sterile flies that ultimately then wipe out the population here in this country, like we did before. Panama has the only facility in North America right now that is capable of producing these sterile flies, while Mexico is set to have a facility come online later this summer. Panama is producing about 100 million screwworm sterile flies right now, and Mexico is distributing those. The USDA is distributing about 8 million a week in the affected areas of Texas right now. So we are trying to combat that right now. The USDA is also investing another $750 million in a facility at Moore Air Force Base, near Edinburg, TX, so that, when it comes along, it will be able to produce about 300 million screwworm flies a week to be able to help combat this. With the roughly 100 million a week that are being distributed right now, we are working on it. But to get there, we need to have more. This is where the USDA's investment is so critical to be able to help combat this. I appreciate the work that Secretary Rollins and the USDA are doing. I encourage them to continue to expedite this so we can combat this disease. I would also point out that all of these investments are in addition to what the Senate Republicans did in the Working Families Tax Cut last year, wherein we added to the programs with regard to animal biosecurity and parasite mitigation. We actually were able to add about $233 million a year to the USDA's budget in three different programs, which is seven times the level of funding that was being done before--again, all of this to help make sure we continue to protect our strong agricultural industry in the United States. Of course, as I always remind people, food security is national security. In addition, one of the things that we have been able to do is to have Secretary Rollins and Under Secretary Fordyce come to Nebraska to see the damage that was done by the previous wildfires. The previous wildfires burned about a million acres in Nebraska and displaced tens of thousands of cattle--sadly, costing the life of one Nebraskan who was caught in that fire. One of the things farmers and ranchers have told us is that they need to have flexibility and not regulatory redtape when it comes to this recovery. I am happy to report that the USDA is working with farmers and ranchers to provide that flexibility. One of the areas, for example, is that a lot of fencing was destroyed, and the USDA is giving us the flexibility to be able to replace that fencing with different sizes of fences. As for the regulations, again, somebody had some reason for them in the past, but they required that you had to replace the fencing with the exact same post fence. And that is not all available, given the widespread damage. So we are getting some flexibility to replace it with different sized fencing. I also introduced, this week, the FENCE Act--the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment Act--for our farmers and ranchers to be able to replace the fencing that they have lost with electronic fencing. We have collars, for example, to fit cattle with so that they can have virtual fencing. The FENCE Act would be able to get dollars from the Emergency Conservation Program so that another tool will be available for our farmers and ranchers to be able to recover from these fires. In addition, I also want to credit Fish and Wildlife and the USDA for working to open up the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge for grazing, as well to be able to help our ranchers out from that standpoint. So there is a lot of work going on to help our farmers and ranchers recover from these terrible fires. In addition, in the Working Families Tax Cut, I mentioned the money that we are putting toward biosecurity. We also made a number of great improvements for agriculture. We were able to make the death tax exemption permanent. That is important to allow for farmers and ranchers to be able to pass on the family farm and ranch to the next generation. It is one of the reasons I say that our farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists. It is because they want to pass along that family farm or ranch to the next generation so that they will take care of their land and their animals. But the death tax could get in the way of being able to do that. By making that death tax exemption permanent, we are assisting farmers and ranchers in being able to pass along that ranch. About $200 billion in farm and ranch assets will now go to the next generation of farmers and ranchers and not to the government. This will assist them, and that was all done in the Working Families Tax Cut. We were also able to update reference pricing for things like corn and soybeans, especially given the tough time. For our row crops there, this is especially important. But we were able to update that reference pricing for the first time in 11 years. That was an important thing we got done in the Working Families Tax Cut. We were able to renew the 45Z renewable fuel tax credit. Renewable fuels are a win-win-win situation. Consumers save money at the pump. The last time I filled up, it was with a 10-percent blend of ethanol at my local grocery store, and I saved 55 cents a gallon. It helps clean up the environment, and it is also good for our farmers and ranchers. So promoting renewable fuels is something we want to continue to do, and we were able to renew that 45Z tax credit to be able to encourage companies to invest in renewable fuels. We were also able to double the amount of money for trade promotion. In Nebraska, about a third of everything that we grow and we raise goes overseas. We are the largest beef exporting State, for example. So we want to have more trade relationships. We doubled the amount of money for programs like our Foreign Market Development and the Market Access Programs with an initial $285 million to be able to open up those trade opportunities in markets around the world to be able to help our farmers and ranchers. We also doubled the program for our new farmer and rancher program, from 5 years to 10 years, to be able to help out those new producers coming into the industry to be able to take advantage of some of the benefits in that program and to give them a leg up as they start their careers in agriculture. These were all great things that we did in the Working Families Tax Cut, and there are actually many, many more things that we did for agriculture in there. Having said that, we still need to get a 5-year farm bill. Our current farm bill authorizations run out on September 30. We have been living on extensions. Our farmers and ranchers deserve the certainty of a 5-year farm bill. I am pleased to report that the House has passed their version of the farm bill. It includes some of my priorities--priorities around things such as rural microentrepreneurship and flood resiliency. There is my AFIDA Improvements Act, which would help us deter communist China from buying farmland around our sensitive military installations, like at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. So we need to get a 5-year farm bill done. My esteemed colleague from Arkansas, who is the chair of the Ag Committee, has been in Nebraska to hear directly from farmers and ranchers about our priorities for the farm bill, and I know he is working diligently to be able to get that farm bill passed, as I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do. We must work to find common ground and get this passed. Again, this is not only about making sure that our farmers and ranchers have that certainty of a 5-year farm bill. It is that food security is national security. This is a national security issue as well. So it is very important that we get that done. Also, in the farm bill, I would like to see one of my priorities with regard to fair labels. One of the things that we have seen is that products are being put on the market that market themselves as one thing but are not really. My FAIR Labels Act would address this specifically with regard to meat. We don't want something that is grown in a petri dish or something that is actually a plant to be labeled as meat or beef. Consumers should know exactly what they are consuming, and so my FAIR Labels Act would require that if you are real beef or real pork or real chicken, you can say that on the label. But if you are not, if you are a plant-based product, if you were cultured in a lab, you cannot claim that title of being meat. This is one of the priorities that would make sure that not only would we be properly representing agriculture but consumers would know exactly what they are purchasing. Also, one of the things that I did when I was Governor of Nebraska is have the SNAP Next Step, which is encouraging our families on SNAP to be able to get better paying jobs by helping with job coaching, with resume writing, things like that. This would be another thing that we could add into the farm bill since a lot of the farm bill--most of the spending in it, like 80 percent of it--actually has to do with the Food Stamp Program, the SNAP program. This would be a great way to be able to help those families be able to reduce their dependency. When I was Governor, of the families that participated in that, 60 percent were able to end their need for food stamps and the other 40 percent reduced their need for food stamps. So that is a great way to be able to do it. And then, finally, another thing that we can do to be able to help agriculture is pass E15 all year-round. Again, Adrian Smith, one of my esteemed Congressmen from the State of Nebraska, helped pass this in the House.

It is now for us in the Senate to be able to pass this. And I would point out that we have actually had E15 all year-round through emergency waivers from the EPA for the last 8 years. The refineries that were worried about this--again, the sky has not fallen. I believe that there is an opportunity for us to find common ground to be able to get this passed in the Senate. This is important, again, for our farmers who would like to have that certainty. It would help create demand for our corn, for example. What it would do is, by passing a law that says you can use E15 all year-round, it would give consumers a choice to be able to choose that, and we would not have to go to the EPA for that emergency waiver every summer. It would then give certainty to our marketers to invest in the infrastructure to distribute E15. And, once again, this is something that can help mitigate high gas prices. I saved 55 cents a gallon just on E10; you can save more on E15. So I encourage my Senate colleagues to take a look at this to be able to work with my colleagues like my senior Senator from the State of Nebraska to be able to find common ground to get this passed. We have been doing it by emergency waiver for the last 8 years. It is something we continue to do. Let's make it permanent so we get more investment in the infrastructure to help give consumers more choice and help them reduce their fuel costs at the pump. All of this would also help out our farmers and ranchers. Our farmers and ranchers are the backbone of Nebraska, and they have been the backbone of our country since its founding. We need to continue to support our farmers and ranchers. This is very important not only for our industry of agriculture but so that we can continue to feed our Nation and, indeed, the rest of the world. I yield the floor.

David McCormick (R-PA)

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The clerk will call the roll.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Kansas.

Nomination of Anthony J. Powell (Executive Session)

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Mr. President, I rise here on the Senate floor for the third time in the last 2 weeks to explain to my colleagues that we are about to vote on a district judge. The three times I have explained this is three different judges. Kansas has three vacancies, and we are in the process of having those filled. This is the third one, and we are about to vote on cloture in that regard. I rise today in support of the Honorable Anthony Powell to serve as United States district judge for the District of Kansas. I have said before that this is an important responsibility for me and my colleagues to find the right people to serve in the judicial branch, and this is an issue that I have always taken very seriously. Judge Powell is a graduate from George Washington University and Washburn University School of Law before going on to his law practice at Martin & Churchill in Wichita, KS. He also served on Capitol Hill, including time as an intern for one of my predecessors Senator Bob Dole. He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives for 8 years. He served as the majority whip. And following his time in the State legislature, he was a judge in the 18th Judicial District serving Sedgwick County--that is the county that Wichita is the county seat of--for a decade before being appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Judge Powell most recently served as the Kansas solicitor general, and I believe he has the qualifications, the integrity, and the commitment necessary to serve Kansans and perform duties of this new role. I met Judge Powell during the selection process, although I knew him previously, and I appreciate his commitment to public service, devotion to our Constitution, and respect for the people of Kansas. Judge Powell and his wife Betty have four children, and I am grateful to the entire family for their dedication to this service. I was pleased to recommend Judge Powell's nomination to the White House, and I look forward to voting to confirm him to the federal bench in Kansas. And I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination. I yield the floor.

Cloture Motion (Executive Session)

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The PRESIDING OFFICER

Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

Cloture Motion (Executive Session)

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We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 745, Anthony J. Powell, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for the District of Kansas. John Thune, Tim Sheehy, Pete Ricketts, Mike Rounds, John Barrasso, Ted Budd, Jim Banks, Rick Scott of Florida, Todd Young, David McCormick, Shelley Moore Capito, Jerry Moran, Jon A. Husted, John Boozman, Mike Crapo, Katie Boyd Britt, John R. Curtis.

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore

Under the previous order, the mandatory quorum call under rule XXII has been waived. The question is, Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the nomination of Anthony J. Powell, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, shall be brought to a close? The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.

The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll.

John Barrasso (R-WY)

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Crapo), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) would have voted "yea" and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted "yea."

I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet) and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent. The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 48, nays 45, as follows:

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Armstrong Banks Barrasso Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McConnell McCormick Moody Moran Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tuberville Wicker Young Alsobrooks Baldwin Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Shaheen Slotkin Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden Bennet Blackburn Crapo Graham Moreno Smith Tillis (Mr. DAINES assumed the Chair.) The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis). On this vote, the yeas are 48, the nays are 45. The motion is agreed to. The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.

Remembering Bob Dole (Executive Session)

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Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a date that is significant in the history of the U.S. Senate and that is especially meaningful to me and to my home State of Kansas. Thirty years ago tomorrow, on June 11, 1996, Senator Bob Dole gave his final speech on the floor of this Chamber, marking his retirement as both majority leader and as a Member of the Senate. In his farewell speech, Senator Dole demonstrated the high regard he held for the people of Kansas. He said:

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If we could all go [home] and shake hands of all the people who are responsible for us being here, it would take a long, long time.

He grew up in a little town just down the road from my hometown. He grew up in Russell. Bob Dole was my Congressman when I was a kid, and I could tell even then how deeply respected and admired he was by the folks at home. He cared deeply about representing the people of our State. He represented them well, and he had a profound respect for the institution of the U.S. Senate. He said in his final remarks that day, which was 30 years ago tomorrow:

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The truth is that I would no more distance myself from the Senate than I would from the United States itself. The body is a reflection of America. It's what America is all about. We come from different states and different backgrounds, different opportunities, different challenges in our life.

His own service embodied those words. He brought the same values and character from rural Kansas to the role of Senate majority leader. Bob Dole was an American hero who served in uniform during World War II and who sustained serious, serious injuries--grievous, really--in battle during that service. He loved his country deeply. In his final remarks in this Chamber, he said:

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We're much more than a place on a map, we're the United States. And we're a beacon of hope, we're a magnet for the oppressed and a shield against those who would put the soul itself in bondage.

He never lost sight of what made our country special or the blessing of being an American. He reflected:

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I remember when the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Empire collapsed, a lot of people started coming to America. And they were young and they were old and they were men and they were women. . . . For the first time, in 70 years in some cases, they had a right to travel. They could get on an airplane without checking with the government and [without] waiting for a year or two years or three years. They could go to church, they could vote, and all these basic rights that we [in the United States] take for granted.

And where did they travel to?

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[T]hey came to America.

As he said goodbye on the floor of the Senate, Bob Dole reminded his colleagues not to lose sight of defending and preserving the American way of life. He said:

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I would hope that we will keep in mind that there are still threats around the world. And also keep in mind that we're the envy of the world.

In this Chamber, I use this desk--this desk was Senator Dole's--as a reminder of how his work on the floor resulted in many Americans having a better shot at the American dream. He championed landmark legislation that transformed the lives of individuals with disabilities, legislation that transformed the lives of veterans, farmers, young children, families, and many, many more. He was a strong champion of Food for Peace, and he established the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, which uses U.S.-grown commodities to feed hungry schoolchildren and especially young people. Senator Dole embodied the compassionate spirit of Kansans and farmers who feed the world, and Kansas continues to do that work today. These food aid programs remain among our Nation's most successful avenues of delivering American-grown food to hungry people around the globe. A wounded veteran himself, Senator Dole spent his life advocating for individuals with disabilities, and he was instrumental in the passage of the landmark legislation Americans with Disabilities Act. Senator Dole never forgot his fellow veterans, and he worked tirelessly to help them find success after their military service. These efforts continued after his election to public service as he was instrumental in the creation of the World War II Memorial, a place he could often be found greeting Honor Flights of World War II veterans. Because of Senator Dole's work, my own dad, a World War II veteran, had the opportunity to visit this monument built in his honor. Senator Dole knew the power of working with others to make the world better. And despite the difficulties, he found an opportunity in the U.S. Senate. I will close with the words he delivered three decades ago:

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[Y]es, the institution has its imperfections, or occasional inefficiency. And we're like America. We're still a work in progress in the United States Senate.

The challenges he spoke of still remain. I believe what he would say today, as he said it then:

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I'm an optimist. I believe our best tomorrows are yet to be lived.

His legacy shows a difference that one person can make, regardless of their background, birthplace, or education. Kansans and Americans held Senator Dole in the highest regard, and he lived a life worthy of that respect. May we resolve to practice that same kindness, respect, and honor that marked the life of Senator Dole. So I rise today, here on the Senate floor, almost 30 years to the day in which Senator Dole left this institution. He left his country, his Nation, his State in better shape than it was when he arrived, and he always knew that the brighter days were yet to come. He found common ground with people that were hard to find common ground with, and he and the way he conducted himself should remain a role model for those of us who serve in his place today.

Remembering Eliza Walker (Executive Session)

Pages S2712–S2713 · Official text

Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the life of Ms. Eliza Walker. I had the opportunity to first get to know Ms. Walker. I am one who starts my day in the Senate gym and go there and go to the cafeteria, and I met Ms. Walker at one of the cash register stands in that Senate cafeteria. And almost every morning--3 days a week, at least--we would have a conversation as I stopped to pay my bill. She was a bright light, a good start to anyone's day, and I was saddened recently to hear of her passing. Ms. Walker always greeted me and all of her customers with a warm smile, and she and I often visited about our families and the latest happenings in our lives. She concluded every encounter with me and every customer that I saw her with, with "Have a blessed day." She was dedicated to serving others, and she always treated everyone with kindness. There are lots of people I meet in this Capitol Complex, and all of them are nice and respectful. I appreciate that because it is a place that I work and spend a lot of time. I am away from my own family, and I appreciate the kindness of others that compensate for some of those absences. And while many Americans know the Capitol as a symbol for our democracy, few see the countless public servants whose daily efforts and daily work preserve and sustain this place. Ms. Walker was one of those individuals whose professionalism, compassion, and work ethic left a positive impact on all who met her. Doug Markley, Ms. Walker's supervisor, had this to say about her:

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She was an icon at the Senate, and I miss her here every day. She was a woman of great faith and dedicated to being of service. On many occasions, if she knew I was facing a challenge, she would take my hand or put her hand on my shoulder and say a prayer for me. It was always a welcome gesture of support. It was her belief in doing what was right that was her strength and her selflessness stood out to all who knew her.

Ms. Walker was deeply devoted to her family, and I always enjoyed hearing about them in our frequent conversations. A mother to 4 children, a grandmother to 10 grandchildren, a great-grandmother to 13 great-grandchildren--her love for her family was central in her daily life, perhaps only exceeded by her love for her Savior. We often discussed our church activities, and I was pleased to learn that she knew many of the same old church hymns that I grew up with. Her faith guided her in every aspect of her life. A devoted member of the Vision Church in Washington, DC, Eliza served as a source of wisdom and counsel, and she was someone who blessed many in that community. Wanting to share her faith and wisdom with the next generation, she became a publisher. She was an author in 2017 of her book "Mothers Wits From the Past." She dedicated her time and talent and treasure into her work and offered unique perspectives and practical guidance from a life lived well. There are many individuals whose contributions occur quietly and sometimes without recognition, but the service and kindness and the kind touch--it affects countless lives. Ms. Walker lived her life well, showed up every day with integrity, dedication, and pride in her work. On behalf of the U.S. Senate, we are grateful for her service, for her example of compassion, for the way in which she touched many lives with her faith and generosity. As the scripture says:

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Well done, good and faithful servant.

My prayers are with Ms. Walker's family, her friends, her church community, and her colleagues. She is deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in the hearts of all of us who knew her. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Vermont.

Mr. President, first of all, I want to thank my colleague from Kansas for making beautiful remarks about a beautiful person. Thank you, Senator.

Thank you, Senator.

Affordability (Executive Session)

Pages S2713–S2714 · Official text

Mr. President, 103 days ago, President Trump started a war, a war with Iran. He started it. It was a unilateral decision he made based on the Venezuela model, where he would be in and out. It would be over quickly, as he said. It hasn't worked out that way. This war is illegal and unconstitutional. And, in my view, it is a shameful moment in the history of this U.S. Senate where, even though this war is into its fourth month, this body--which is invested with the authority under article I to declare war--has not even had a vote on whether this war is authorized. But I also want to point out what the problems are that the American people are experiencing as a result of this war. First of all, none of the President's goals have been met. He was going to decapitate the regime, and it was going to be regime change. Failed. He was going to end the missile program. Failed. And he was going to get rid of the nuclear material. Failed. What did happen is that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, and that fact is creating immense economic hardship on people across this country and really around the world. Americans who were already struggling to make ends meet--ironically struggling at a time when our economy, in some ways, has never been stronger--they say the cost of living is getting worse and worse. And, of course, that is, No. 1, due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It has put immense pressure on our farming and food production system, leading to long-term price increases. And what we are hearing is that it is going to be a 4.2 percent inflation, when a year ago it was 2.4 inflation. So folks showing up to the grocery store, they are going to be paying 19 percent more for ground beef, 50 percent more for tomatoes compared to last year. Rising diesel and fertilizer costs could spell disaster for many farms. We are seeing more and more farm foreclosures. This is a real pressure in Vermont, but it is a pressure that is already all around our country. And, as you know, Mr. President, higher oil prices also translate directly into higher energy costs and burdens, and it is especially true for rural households. Rural America uses about 14 percent more energy and spend a higher share of their income on home energy costs than those in urban areas. So that really affects all of us who serve rural constituencies, and that definitely is true in Vermont. Also, plastic products that are made of oil have spiked 40 percent, and that price change has--or will very soon--be passed on to our consumers. So this is really costing everyday people a lot more. And even before the start of the war, rural households were already spending nearly $600 more per year on gas than folks in urban areas. They have to drive to get to wherever it is they are going: to work, their child's school, to a hockey practice, everything. You have got to get on the road. And let's not forget about what is happening with air travel. It is a real crisis. United Airlines is predicting that airlines could increase ticket prices by as much as 20 percent in response to the current oil market dynamics. It is putting a real squeeze on jet fuel. President Trump brushes these concerns off. You know, what he says inexplicably is: Once you explain that this is all about Iran having a nuclear weapon, people are willing to pay a little bit more. And he also asserted that gas prices are going to drop at the pump "very quickly." Well, that is simply not true. And also this plan about this military engagement that he is involved with, along with Prime Minister Netanyahu, is not having the intended goal of getting rid of the nuclear stockpile and material that Iran has. Last year, the average household in Chittenden County--I want to get back to the cost--home to Burlington, which is our State's largest city, paid around $1,800 in gas. As a direct result of this war and the closure of the Strait, that is going to go up to 2,300 bucks a year. That is $500 more. And many commuters in our State and others have changed their daily routines. They have got to change the way they live their lives because they have got to scrimp and save so they can afford the gas. And oftentimes they are staying home rather than going out. Dennis, a retired doctor in Vermont, even said:

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We're definitely driving less now.

You know, we shouldn't impose these kind of decisions on Americans for a pointless and destructive war. It is not doing us any good and causing us a lot of pain. But President Trump has repeatedly shown that he has no qualms about doing this. He says:

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I don't think about Americans' financial situation.

I believe him. He doesn't think about it. Because any of us who are thinking about it know that Americans' financial situation has deteriorated as a result of this war. You know, I think the President and all of us who serve here, our No. 1 priority should be finding ways to make American lives better and more affordable. That is not what the President says is his goal. So while the President isn't thinking about this affordability challenge, let me tell you who is, and it is Vermonters. It is people in your State, Mr. President. Herbie in South Burlington said:

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Honestly, gas prices are ridiculous. It's just way too much to fill up. We're barely saving anything, maybe 50 bucks a month. With prices of gas and food and everything else going up, we've eaten through our savings.

Creating enormous economic insecurity. David, a Vermonter who works in the construction industry, said:

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It's painful to the pocketbook.

Sarah, a substitute teacher in Burlington said about the increase in gas prices:

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It's definitely going to be a new budget item, in a different category.

Ryan Bellavance the president of Bellavance Trucking, a revered small business in our State, operates a fleet of nearly 100 trucks based out of Barre said:

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It's gonna to be fine until the people stop buying, you know? And then everything comes to a halt.

That is down the road and not that far down the road. You know, this war, this march to war in the Middle East, has also pushed affordable air travel out of reach. The closure of the strait means that airlines are facing up to $24 billion in additional fuel expenses this year, a cost which will be directly passed on to consumers. For airlines to break even, an increase of $1 a gallon on jet fuel is the equivalent of a $50-per-roundtrip-ticket increase for flying passengers. And we are not talking about the future. In April, every single major U.S. airline raised checked baggage fees. Spirit Airlines--which many Americans relied on for more affordable travel--met its demise. But we need more than predictions. The American people deserve transparency about how the skyrocketing jet fuel prices will impact their wallets in the coming weeks and months. I partnered with my colleagues from Illinois Senator Duckworth and Connecticut Senator Blumenthal in writing a letter to Airlines for America--whose members include major carriers like Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and UPS--seeking information about the measures that airlines plan to take in response to these higher jet fuel costs and how rising prices will hurt our broader air travel industry. And by the way, one of the threats to our air travel industry is service that goes to rural airports. The essential service that is so vital to the well-being of the economies of rural parts of Vermont and rural parts of America. But what is really close to my heart is what has happened to America's farm country. Vermont's farmers and producers, who are already contending with incredible economic challenges as a result of the trade war and the tariffs, are now struggling to figure out how they are going to pay, literally, the highest diesel prices since 2022. And to make matters worse, we are now in planting season. That means that farmers now have to spend at least $350 more per day just for a full run of one of their tractors. They use a lot of fuel and it is diesel fuel and diesel is expensive. And by the way, diesel prices already make up more than 60 percent of the fuel costs for farm operations. Lindsey Brand of the Northeastern Organic Farming Association of Vermont said it best:

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Diesel fuel powers some farm equipment and the trucks to transport food. We've heard from some farms that distribute regionally that trucking costs have doubled since the Strait closed.

The war has also surged the price of fertilizer--including urea, which is what most farmers use for their crops--to 27 percent higher than it was before the war. No matter which way you look at it, the war in Iran has been a disaster on all fronts. It has nowhere near come close to achieving its goals, and there are no negotiations going on. Essentially, there is a dance. It is about trying to do face-saving for Trump. But also, economically, it has had an immediate and wicked impact on families that are already struggling to afford essentials as a result of the affordability crisis. You add this to the trade war, to the tariffs, to the loss of markets, and it is a grim situation. We can change it. We have got to end the war. And we have got a dilemma here. The President actually does want a negotiated outcome, but his partner in this war, President Netanyahu, wants to intensify the war. We should end this war through diplomacy. The goals we seek will not be accomplished through military means. They must be achieved through diplomacy. We have to come to grips with the reality that this war continues to escalate the incredible pressure that our families, our farmers, our industries, our small businesses are facing. We have got to bring it to an end. We have got to get inflation down. We have got to make America more affordable. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore

The clerk will call the roll.

The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted)

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previously scheduled rollcall vote begin forthwith.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Powell Nomination (Executive Session)

Page S2714 · Official text

The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Powell nomination?

Tom Cotton (R-AR)

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second.

The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.

John Barrasso (R-WY)

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) would have voted "yea."

I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet), the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen), and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent. The result was announced--yeas 50, nays 44, as follows:

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Armstrong Banks Barrasso Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McConnell McCormick Moody Moran Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tuberville Wicker Young Alsobrooks Baldwin Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Slotkin Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden Bennet Blackburn Graham Shaheen Smith Tillis The nomination was confirmed. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis). Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the President will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Cloture Motion

Page S2714 · Official text

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

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We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 765, Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State. John Thune, Ted Budd, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Chuck Grassley, Katie Boyd Britt, Roger Marshall, John Boozman, John Cornyn, Tim Sheehy, Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Rounds, Tommy Tuberville, Bernie Moreno, Tim Scott of South Carolina, John Barrasso, Steve Daines, Shelley Moore Capito.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Under the previous order, the mandatory quorum call under rule XXII has been waived. The question is, Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the nomination of Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State, shall be brought to a close? The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.

The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.

John Barrasso (R-WY)

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) would have voted "yea."

John W. Hickenlooper (D-CO)

I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet) and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent. The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 44, as follows:

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Armstrong Banks Barrasso Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McConnell McCormick Moody Moran Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Shaheen Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tuberville Wicker Young Alsobrooks Baldwin Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Slotkin Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden Bennet Blackburn Graham Smith Tillis The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 44. The motion is agreed to. The motion was agreed to.

Executive Calendar

Pages S2714–S2715 · Official text

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The clerk will report the nomination.

The legislative clerk read the nomination of Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Kansas.

Order of Business (Executive Calendar)

Page S2715 · Official text

Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, the postcloture time with respect to Executive Calendar No. 765 be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, tomorrow; finally, that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion 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, it is so ordered.

Legislative Session

Page S2715 · Official text

Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Colorado.

Trump Administration

Pages S2715–S2716 · Official text

Mr. President, this weekend, my eldest son Theodore--Teddy--is going to graduate from college. Over the past couple of decades, I have been lucky to serve as mayor of Denver, as Governor of Colorado, and now as a U.S. Senator, but the greatest title of all is "Dad." Teddy and now my 3\1/2\-year-old son Jack give my life and my public service real meaning. Like millions of parents, I catch myself thinking about them and their future constantly. Will Teddy's generation be able to afford a home? Will our healthcare system still be a broken mess when they have to take their own kids to the hospital? Will the hiking trails I took Teddy on as a boy still be there when he has children? These aren't just my worries; they are the worries of many Coloradans. Americans were right to be frustrated before President Trump took office. Our country was recovering from a global pandemic. Costs were too high. Help was too slow. So when President Trump came along and made promises--no more expensive wars, lower costs on day one, a government that finally works for working people--Americans took the deal. But President Trump didn't just fail to keep his promises, he broke them, and now Americans are paying the price. The President promised no more expensive, deadly wars. Instead, we are stuck with a war in Iran with no exit, no strategy, no end in sight. Every time you fill up your gas tank or buy your groceries, you are paying the price. The President promised lower costs on day one. A year and a half later, household debt has hit a recordbreaking $18.8 trillion--$18.8 trillion in terms of household debt. The average American household has $105,000 in consumer debt, and families are spending money they don't have on necessities they can't go without. The President promised a government that worked for Americans. Instead, he gutted Medicaid and our healthcare coverage. He slashed food assistance. He dismantled programs designed precisely for moments like these when families are already underwater. It is as if President Trump started a wildfire for the American people and then took away every bucket of water. I hear from Coloradans every single day, and for years--long before this administration--they have been telling me the same three things: I can't afford to get sick. I can't afford my rent. I am scared about the kind of world my children will be inheriting. While President Trump is busy spending trillions on bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, my colleagues and I are trying to solve real problems--the ones Coloradans tell us about every day. When Coloradans told us they couldn't make the rent, we got to work. Over my first 5\1/2\ years in the Senate, we secured over $800 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law and congressionally directed spending for affordable housing in Colorado. That money turned a Durango Best Western into apartments. It delivered badly needed workforce housing in Alamosa, CO. It helped convert the Stay Inn in Denver into housing for the homeless. We have heard from Coloradans who have risked their lives to afford healthcare--stretching their prescriptions, skipping the ER, and avoiding pricey ambulance rides--so when we wrote the Inflation Reduction Act, we allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time ever, and we capped the cost of insulin at 35 bucks. Americans couldn't afford their premiums, so we expanded the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which helped lower costs by $2,400 a year for millions of Americans. That is $200 a month. Across the State, we met with communities ravaged by drought and wildfire. We knew we needed to adapt to our hot, dry future. We need to do a better job of adapting to that hotter and dryer future, so we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the single largest climate investment in human history--$4 billion for the Colorado River Basin, hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy that created jobs and lowered energy costs. Then we created the Colorado River Caucus in the Senate to help conserve the West's most significant and scarce resource. That is what governing actually looks like. It is putting Coloradans at the center of everything we do. And when this administration threatened to take it all away, we fought at every turn. When they slashed $1 trillion from Americans' healthcare to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations, we refused to fund their corrupt government. When they moved to sell off 3 million acres of our public lands to pay for tax breaks for the billionaires, we stopped them in their tracks because Colorado's public lands are not for sale--not now, not ever. And just last week, when they tried to pass a taxpayer-funded slush fund for election criminals, we stood up. Time and time again, we fought this administration--not over politics; we fight because Colorado's pain should never be their profit. Good government isn't flashy. Good government is built on thankless hours spent fighting to keep people at the table without bullying or bribing, without compromising our values to get there. That is the only way we are going to pull Americans out of this mess. It starts by helping Americans get their heads above water and then building a country that actually works for them. We will end the tariffs and the war that are driving up costs for everybody, because a family in Grand Junction shouldn't be paying high prices at the grocery store for this administration's reckless policy decisions. We need to restore the healthcare this administration cut. Then we need to go further: We need to get and fully operate universal health coverage. I recently spoke with a Coloradan whose husband put off chemotherapy so she could get lifesaving surgery. They couldn't afford for both of them to have health insurance in both cases, so it became a tradeoff that no family should be making. No family--not just in Colorado but anywhere in the country--should be making that kind of a tradeoff in the wealthiest country in the world. This administration told Americans you can't lower costs and protect our resources. Their bright solution? Send energy costs through the roof while the Colorado River runs dry. That is not a tradeoff; it is a failure. The only way forward is a clean energy economy that lowers your bills and keeps Colorado's farms, forests, and rivers healthy for the next generation. This weekend, my son is going to cross the stage and start his adult life. Back in Denver, Jack is probably outside somewhere covered in dirt--after all, his first word was "dirt." The reason I believe my kids are going to be OK is the same reason I believe yours will be too: America never gives up. From Gettysburg to Selma, from Ludlow to Minneapolis--each time Americans face adversity, we grow stronger. I see it in Colorado every week: neighbors showing up to help each other, protecting each other, sharing what they have--food, childcare, a bed to sleep in--even when they don't have that much themselves. It is that spirit that gives me hope for my children's future and yours. It is the American spirit. It is the spirit that this administration can't defund, can't destroy. Here is my promise to Colorado and to our country--one that can't be broken: If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and take on the tough fights, there is no peril, no problem, no President that we can't overcome. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Rhode Island.

Climate Change

Pages S2716–S2718 · Official text

Mr. President, today marks the 308th time that I have stood on the Senate floor and asked my colleagues to wake up to the realities of climate change. This also marks 308 times that my Republican colleagues have ignored my call to wake up. They even refuse to acknowledge the simple truths that the climate is changing, oceans are warming, sea levels are rising, and our fossil fuel emissions are the principal cause. In the last several weeks, Republicans have sent someone to the floor to object each time I sought unanimous consent to pass a resolution affirming these very simple truths. The Senate's record of failure profoundly disappoints me. In fact, it angers me. I am angry on behalf of the homeowners in Florida, Louisiana, back home in Rhode Island, and across the country who are paying double or triple what they used to for property insurance because climate risk is making floods, storms, and wildfires more frequent and severe. I am angry that these same families are paying more than ever for groceries due to increasingly frequent and severe droughts, heat waves, floods, and storms. This is a tragedy. But, worse, it is a preventable tragedy. Ignoring it will not make climate change go away; it will leave Americans poorer and American communities more vulnerable and less prepared. America can do big things. Our history shows that. And I believe a challenge of the magnitude of climate change justifies congressional action. So here I still am, speaking because I still believe in the power of this body to take action, to serve the people whom we took an oath to serve, and to use the awesome power that our constituents have granted us to solve the greatest problems facing our country today. This is a significant anniversary. Republican Senator John Chafee, whose distinguished career in the Senate spanned from 1976 to 1999, and who also served as Governor of my State and Secretary of the Navy, shared my belief. On a note of personal disclosure, when he and my father both came back from World War II as marines from the Pacific theater, they ended up as roommates in college. So there is some personal family affection there, as well as professional appreciation. Well, exactly 40 years ago this week, while serving as chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution, Senator Chafee convened a 2-day, 5-panel hearing on the greenhouse effect, climate change, and ozone depletion. Senator Chafee believed Congress had a role in addressing both the hole in the ozone layer and the rising temperatures and global disruptions caused by climate change. The 1986 Chafee hearing witnesses included scientists and policymakers--among them, Dr. James Hansen, who went on to become a leading advocate for decisive climate action and served NASA with great distinction; Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, later an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change participant and Nobel prize recipient; and even then-Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. Also testifying were President Reagan's EPA Administrator, Lee Thomas, and his Commerce Deputy Secretary, Clarence Brown. In Senator Chafee's opening remarks, he warned of what he called two "critical problems facing the world." First was "the growing use of manmade chemicals" that were significantly depleting the ozone layer, and second was the "buildup of greenhouse gases, which threaten to warm the Earth to unprecedented levels." Those problems had to be addressed, Senator Chafee warned 40 years ago, because--and I will continue with his words here--"there is a very real possibility that man--through ignorance or indifference, or both--is irreversibly altering the ability of our atmosphere to perform basic life support functions for the planet." He asked the scientists to educate the public on the scientific consensus on ozone depletion and climate change, and he urged the government officials to take immediate action to, as he said, "put the brakes on" these looming crises and ensure a livable planet for future generations. Notably, Ronald Reagan's appointees acknowledged the climate crisis and agreed to take action. This is not the first time I have brought this graph to the Senate floor. This is the so-called Keeling Curve, well known in science circles. This chart shows the change in carbon dioxide concentration in the Earth's atmosphere. As you can see, it has accelerated rapidly since 1950. Last month, the Member whom the Republicans sent to the floor to object to my statement of the science made the point that CO2 levels have naturally fluctuated over many, many years of geologic time. Well, yeah, that is true. Here is what that looks like. This is 800,000 years ago--800,000 years ago. For the last 800,000 years, the carbon concentration in the atmosphere has never gone above 300 parts per million. It has varied up and down. But something very, very different happened when our Industrial Revolution began and we started emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, like methane, into the atmosphere. There it is--up like a rocket. The notion that this can be explained by that is just plain preposterous. This is also not the first time I have come to the floor to speak about the 1986 Chafee hearings. I did so 10 years ago, in 2016, to mark those hearings' 30th anniversary. Then, as now, I reflected not only on the reality of climate science, which is virtually undisputed except among those on fossil fuel's payroll, and the climate costs that have accrued since 1986. But I also spoke about the shocking transformation of the Republican Party from the 1980s to today. In June of 1986, a Republican Senator, concerned by the same data that I am sharing with you now, committed to immediate and urgent action. He directed a panel of Ronald Reagan-appointed officials to outline their plans to address the crisis, and they did so. At that time, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was approximately 348 parts per million. In June of 2016, when I recognized the 30th anniversary of this hearing, the fossil fuel billionaire-backed Supreme Court had just stayed the Clean Power Plan, EPA's first-ever attempt to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from powerplants. Then-Candidate Donald Trump promised to rescind the Clean Power Plan when he got into office, and the U.S. House of Representatives voted to officially denounce a carbon price. They went to bat to protect the freedom to pollute for their fossil fuel donors. In 2016, the concentration of CO2 had climbed from 348 parts per million to 404 parts per million. These are measurements, by the way, not opinions. Today, President Trump, approaching the halfway point of his second term, calls climate change a "hoax." Hoax. His EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin rescinded EPA's greenhouse gas endangerment finding--an action flatly at odds with known science and with the law--and then celebrated what he called "driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion." Really. And to bring things full circle, earlier this spring, 40 years after a senior Reagan administration Commerce official acknowledged the reality of climate change, today's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a strident opponent of affordable renewable energy, denies the science. The Republican Party steps backward. Today, as I speak, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is north of 430 parts per million--348, up to 404, and now up to 430. In just four decades, atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased by nearly 25 percent due to fossil fuel combustion. As climate deniers are fond of pointing out, CO2 doesn't harm or kill people. What it does is trap heat in the atmosphere--enormous amounts of heat--and it is that heated atmosphere that harms and kills people through more violent extreme weather events, wildfires, and rising seas. Here you see global average temperatures. Back in 1986, they were 0.46 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial norm. Now, they are 1.4 degrees above that preindustrial norm. That difference, nearly a full degree, has already had profound consequences for our planet. For one, our oceans are heating every year by the zettajoule. If you don't know what a zettajoule is, let me tell you. It has 21 zeroes after it. You can either call it a billion trillions or a trillion billions. It is an enormous number. The entire production and consumption of energy by the human species on planet Earth is half a zettajoule. And because of the heating generated by the greenhouse gases, more than 24 zettajoules of excess heat go into the ocean every year. A multiple of our total energy consumption as a species is absorbed by the oceans. If you want to know why they are warming, if you want to know why reefs are dying, if you want to know why fisheries are moving around, if you want to know why seas are rising, if you want to know why storms are worsening, there is your answer: zettajoules of excess heat into the oceans caused by fossil fuel. And all of that has economic cost. In this building, I have grown, I suppose, accustomed to the fact that nobody cares about anything that can't be monetized, and they only care about it to the extent that it is monetized. So here is some monetization of what all that means. In 1986--here--there were three--one, two, three--three billion-dollar disasters in the United States. Last year, there were 23 billion-dollar disasters. The recent L.A. wildfires alone destroyed thousands of homes and did tens of billions of dollars in damage. And guess what happens when that kind of damage soars? Insurance moves with it. You actually don't have to be directly affected by a climate change-driven extreme weather event, a hurricane, or a wildfire to be paying the price for climate change. Back in 1986, when Senator Chafee held his hearings, homeowners insurance premiums averaged about $150 annually. In today's money, they averaged $470, roughly. Today--today--premiums average almost $2,500, and--no surprise--the largest increases are in the highest climate risk areas. In Florida and Louisiana, homeowners insurance premiums average more than $10,000, and they are predicted to increase--doubling, even tripling--off the proverbial charts. Climate change is no longer tomorrow's problem, and it has moved from the science department into the economics department. It is here today. And whether my colleagues care to admit it or not, we are all already paying for it. Economists estimate that it costs every household an average of around $500 per year in heightened climate cost, and that is a conservative estimate. In many coastal and wildfire-exposed parts of the country, that average annual cost is already north of $1,000 per household cost. And that hidden climate tax, brought to you by the fossil fuel industry, is steadily rising year after year. This is what 40 years of inaction and obstruction following the Chafee hearings has wrought: huge costs and increasing economic dislocation. What was once a scientific issue, a prediction, is now knocking at our door and causing immediate economic harm. And then there is the politics. In 1986, the hope and determination to tackle climate change was a bipartisan thing. Today, climate change has been replaced in the Republican Party by climate denial. When I got here in 2007, climate change was still a bipartisan concern. We had major climate legislation in this body--four different measures that I recall, each significant, each that would have changed the trajectory that these pages will face in their lifetime. But then--then--the 2010 Citizens United decision came down.

That decision unleashed a vast fossil fuel-funded armada of front groups that spread around climate disinformation, perhaps the biggest fraudulent operation in the country's history, and unlimited dark money into our politics--perhaps the largest corruption enterprise in American history. Back in 1986, Senator Chafee did not face a politics awash in fossil fuel dark money, and the armada of climate denial front groups did not exist; and so the Senate was able to focus more on the public interest and less on fossil fuel's special interests. Today, objecting to my calls to this body to recognize the reality of climate change, the objector sent here accused me of "subscribing to Chicken Little scare tactics." That is the 2026 Republican position. Back in 1986, Republican John Chafee, before this became the "House of Mammon," opened his climate change hearing by saying something very different. He said:

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This is not a matter of Chicken Little telling us the sky is falling. Forty years of fossil fuel influence has made a sickening difference. The 1986 Chafee hearing is also illustrative of the power of Congress when, uncorrupted by a powerful special interest, it acts decisively in favor of the public. At the time of the Chafee hearing, depletion of the Earth's protective ozone layer was allowing dangerous levels of solar radiation to penetrate the atmosphere. Twin holes in the ozone layer had formed around the North and South Poles, and the ozone holes were growing. Scientists worried that, absent immediate action, the holes would grow big enough to threaten the survival of life on Earth. That fear is ancient history now. Why? Not because we mocked the scientists for fearmongering, but because we did as the science advised and phased out the use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. In 1990, just 4 years after the Chafee hearings, Congress passed the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act, which required this phaseout. No surprise, the scientists were right, and the phaseout worked. Chlorofluorocarbons stay in the atmosphere for decades. So it took years to see the effects of the ban. But beginning in the 2000s, the ozone holes stabilized and then began to shrink. And if current policies remain in place, scientists expect a return to pre-1980s levels, a healing of the ozone holes, within the next four decades. We could still do the same for climate change: Follow the science, pass a law to implement policies that would reduce and eventually eliminate carbon pollution, remove the already emitted carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and restore our climate's natural health, halt and eventually reverse dangerous sea level rise and the dangerous cycle of ever-worsening storms and wildfires, and fend off the insurance collapse that this trajectory portends. Many of us watched the recent Artemis II mission with awe--with awe of the astronauts who traveled farther than any human has gone before and with awe of NASA's ingenuity to be able to send them there. Astronaut Christina Koch, speaking from over 200,000 miles away from Earth, spoke to future generations. She said: We will explore. We will build. . . . We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. . . . We will found companies. We will bolster industry. We will inspire. But, ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.

Her closing words would resonate, I think, with Senator John Chafee. Forty years ago, he said:

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It seems that the problems man creates for our planet are never ending. But we have found solutions for prior difficulties, and we will for these as well.

With those words of his, I salute the memory of Senator John Chafee, whose seat I now hold. He was an inspiring and farsighted public servant. We need more of them. I should add that the NASA scientists who made that remarkable Artemis voyage possible have no doubts about the climate science. Those climate doubts, that fake climate denial, are precisely coextensive with the reach of the fossil fuel industry's corrupt political influence. There are two paths that emerged from Senator Chafee's hearing. One was the path of science to success against ozone depletion. The other--the one we have unfortunately chosen--is the path of climate denial fraud and dark-money political corruption that leads to failure. We can do better, but only if we wake up. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Illinois.

Mr. President, let me thank my colleague from Rhode Island and recall affectionately that, when I came to the Senate in 1997, John Chafee was serving. And I had an opportunity to meet with him and to work with him on something that he loved called the Atlantic Forum. He asked me to join him in a bipartisan way to lead that effort in the Senate--such a compliment for a freshman Senator to have that kind of request from a man of his stature. He served our country so well in World War II, maybe even in the Korean war, as well, in the Marine Corps, before he was elected Governor of your State. I attended his memorial service in Providence, and it was quite a crowd, as there should have been. Thank you for bringing up his name in this positive way.

To the Senator, through the Chair, I, too, was at that memorial service. It probably was the first time we saw one another. Thank you.

Social Security

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Mr. President, I was first elected to the House of Representatives, here in Washington, in 1982. That is a long time ago, but I remember very well my first year in the House. Politically, I was scared to death. It was my first election victory, and I had defeated a 22-year Republican incumbent Congressman. I was looking over my shoulder every day, every minute, every bill, every vote, thinking: This is it. I can't get this done. And then they came around and told us something I didn't want to hear at all. They said: Incidentally, the Social Security system is going broke, and it will happen within a year or 2, and we have to fix it. I thought to myself: This is the end of me. No matter what they come up with--whatever proposal it is--the controversy will be so intense that it will cost me my congressional seat. I listened to the debate, and I saw the end product that was suggested, in 1983, for 50 years of solvency for Social Security and decided, in the end, that the responsible thing to do was to vote for it. We passed it. We waited to see what the electorate would do. Not a single Member of the House of Representatives of either party lost an election attributable to the Social Security vote. By making some hard decisions in a timely fashion, saving Social Security, we did the right thing for America, and, politically, it turned out to be a safe thing, whether we believed it at the time or not. So now we face another crisis in Social Security. The 50 years of solvency which we bought in 1983 is running out. The Social Security Board of Trustees releases a report that tells us about the status of Social Security finances. Their 2026 report, released yesterday, should send alarm bells through Congress. According to the Board of Trustees, the Social Security trust fund will be unable to make full scheduled payments in 2032.

So the effort that I was involved in, in 1983, paid off. We bought 50 years, but now what are we going to do? Just 6 years from now, Social Security will only be able to pay 78 percent of current benefits. What does that mean? I will give you a rough illustration. The average Social Security check in the United States is around $2,500. If you reduce it by 22 percent, people will receive about $450 less each month. It means that beneficiaries across our Nation will see their benefit checks cut by 22 percent. Twenty-two percent means $455. It is about or around the average a retired household spends on groceries each month. That could be devastating. We cannot let it happen. Roughly, 70 million Americans--seniors and people with disabilities--rely on Social Security for food, medication, housing, and utilities. In my home State Illinois, over 2.3 million people receive Social Security. Twenty percent of seniors in Illinois rely on it for all or nearly all of their income. It is all they have. Each year, Social Security lifts 533,000 seniors 65 and over out of poverty in my State. Social Security is a lifeline that they earned after a lifetime of hard work. But many beneficiaries still struggle with living expenses. Every day, seniors are forced to make decisions most Americans pray they will never have to face, like whether to buy groceries or pay the utility bill, refill their medications or pay their rent or mortgage. Now, if we do nothing--if Congress does nothing--with this Board of Trustees report, every single Senator faces the prospect of making do with $455 less a month in just 6 years. These are not hypotheticals. Every single Senator has received these heartbreaking stories from constituents about what they are doing, struggling to survive on a fixed income or Social Security. One of my constituents Kimberly shared her appreciation of Social Security and said it is traced back to her grandmother, who was a maid and commuted to the suburbs from Chicago to work each day. Kimberly said her grandmother stopped school in the ninth grade and had a family of eight children. When she retired after her husband died, she relied heavily on Social Security. Kimberly said:

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Social Security was [my mom's] monthly stream of income--her only monthly stream of income.

So why haven't we done something to avoid this deadline in 2032? It is because we have a fear of doing what is right and maybe politically unpopular. Every year, when the Social Security Trustees Report is released, we again bury our heads in the sand and say: Thank goodness some future Congress will take care of this problem. Social Security is a bedrock promise we made to America--the most fundamental safety net program in America--and I am concerned that Congress will wait until the absolute last minute to try to do anything to save it. That would make it extremely difficult and make it irresponsible conduct and unacceptable. Earlier today, I released a bipartisan statement. Yes, Senators of both political parties issued a statement together. Senators Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Thom Tillis, and I are saying to Congress: Don't wait. Do something. We must find a way for Congress to debate this issue in a transparent, fair, and bipartisan way, a mechanism that forces us to make meaningful, important policy choices. Several of us have been working together, trying to figure out how we can strengthen Social Security for future generations of retirees. We say to our colleagues: Join us in doing what we were elected to do--legislate on hard issues and protect this lifeline program, Social Security, for our kids and grandkids, because we do not have a shortage of ideas. What we lack is the will to do it. There are many bills that are out there. The senior Senator from Vermont has a bill to address this crisis; the junior Senator from Rhode Island, the same; the senior Senator from Hawaii, equally. The senior Senator from Louisiana is working on it as well. Good ideas are out there, but we need to come together on a bipartisan basis and agree on a path that buys 50 years of solvency at a minimum. Those Senators worked their proposals for a long time. They want to present them to the Senate, and they should. But to do that, we have to do something we haven't done in a long time. Get ready. Buckle your seatbelts. I am talking about legislating, actually bringing a measure to the floor and opening it to amendment. We would say: You could offer an amendment, if you wish, to anyone's proposal for Social Security, but whatever you do, it has to buy a minimum of 50 years of solvency for Social Security. And then let's vote. There will be some ideas that will be crazy and that you wouldn't even consider them. But I think we can work to a bipartisan solution to our challenge as well. These measures should be debated, receive a vote, and have their own chance to become law. Let's not run away from this responsibility anymore. Let's not say: It is somebody else's problem. We were elected to solve problems, and there is no greater problem than the solvency and the future of Social Security. If you think I am making that up, blowing smoke, ask senior citizens how important Social Security is. They will tell you it is critical for their survival. We were sent to Congress to legislate and work on hard issues. Four Senators--two Democrats and two Republicans--are stepping forward and saying: We can work on this together. We owe it to our kids and grandkids to protect and bolster this critically important program. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Oregon.

Unanimous Consent Requests

Pages S2719–S2720 · Official text

Mr. President, the Senate is now debating section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires on Friday. Last week, the Senate resoundingly rejected a bill that would have continued the surveillance status quo. It is clear the path to 60 votes in the Senate on section 702 runs through real reforms. There is no reason why the Senate can't start moving forward with surveillance reform now. I and other colleagues have introduced comprehensive, bipartisan, bicameral surveillance reform legislation, which would protect both Americans' rights and national security. We have been championing these reforms for some time, but I understand the Senate is divided on the issue. So Senators are going to need to get to work trying to forge a path forward. So I am prepared to put some real offers on the table right now. So I am going to start by asking unanimous consent to pass a simple bill that makes one very important reform. It would require government agencies to get a warrant before using section 702 to read the communications of Americans. It contains a number of exceptions, including for emergencies, and our analysis is that it would be very feasible for the executive branch and the FISA Court to implement it. Most importantly, it would finally bring section 702 in line with the principles of the Fourth Amendment. Law-abiding Americans are getting swept up in section 702 now, and this bill would require that government agencies get a warrant if they want to read Americans' emails, text messages, or other sensitive communications. And let me note: A number of Republicans in both the Senate and the House have sponsored or cosponsored legislation to create the kind of warrant I am talking about. This bill is only one part of my comprehensive surveillance reform bill. It doesn't address numerous other concerns related to FISA or other intelligence authorities and the sale of Americans' location data. It is not a long-term solution by itself; it will, however, extend section 702 of FISA for 9 months, well into next year. So I would ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4738, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Is there an objection? The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, the Senator from Oregon is prepared to let this essential foreign intelligence surveillance tool go dark unless we accede to his demands. And frankly, the demand for a warrant to search lawfully collected foreign intelligence makes no sense whatsoever. Section 702 is probably the most important law most people have never heard about. It protects American citizens by saying that only foreigners can be the object of surveillance, but necessarily sometimes, when the communication is between a foreign target and an American citizen or a U.S. person, that call is documented in metadata, so-called--time, place, and persons who have made the call. That is lawfully collected intelligence. What this requirement would mean is that the FBI, mainly, would have to go out and try to prove the elements of a crime, a probable cause that a crime has been committed, in order to get a judge to issue a warrant to look at lawfully collected intelligence, which is basically the metadata. If content is required or asked for by the FBI, they have to go before a judge and establish why that is. But one of the basic points of confusion is that some people think that gathering intelligence is the same thing as investigating a crime. It can be sometimes, but basically seeking intelligence is forward-looking in order to prevent future acts, for example, of terrorism. Criminal investigations look backward to see if a crime has been committed and are subject to criminal penalties, which do include, particularly with U.S. persons involved, all the constitutional protections that U.S. citizens and U.S. persons enjoy. Foreigners do not enjoy Fourth Amendment protection against this sort of surveillance. So first of all, I believe that this is misguided. We have heard from the intelligence community that this requirement will slow down collection of intelligence, including and during occasions where time is of the essence. So courts have found that none of these queries require or implicate Fourth Amendment protection. So the very foundation for this argument has been rejected by the courts that have reviewed it. Senator Wyden's bill would be akin to asking police officers to get a warrant every time they happen to look at legally collected evidence in their evidence locker. It makes no sense whatsoever. Requiring a warrant for every query of already lawfully collected information in the 702 database would significantly hinder the ability to respond to emerging threats. For that reason, I object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The objection is heard. The Senator from Oregon.

Mr. President, I think it is unfortunate what my friend from Texas is saying. Let me be clear. The warrant requirements that I am talking about are sponsored or cosponsored by Republican Members both in the Senate and in the House. And my bill does not require a warrant to search metadata. A warrant is only required to read the contents of Americans' communications.

Mr. President, if the Senator will allow me to respond--

Of course. Mr. CORNYN.--what we are talking about is the contact between the foreign target and the U.S. person or American citizen. We are not talking about content. That would require another step to find that content approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. So I think there is some confusion about what is already collected and what would seek to be collected but which would require another step.

Mr. President, without continuing this well into the evening, let me just say that I am quite certain that the senior Republicans who have sponsored or cosponsored these ideas understand what this is all about, and I believe we will continue this conversation. Mr. President, I am now going to move to another unanimous consent request to pass an even narrower bill that is hard to see anybody objecting to. It would not make any changes to surveillance law, but it would significantly increase public transparency about the impact of surveillance on Americans' rights. It would create some new reporting requirements that would help inform Congress and the public about surveillance activities that impact American citizens. It would direct the executive branch to declassify a March 2026 FISA Court ruling on section 702 that found significant violations affecting Americans. The executive branch is already legally required to declassify the report, and they have had 3 months to work on it; in my judgment, it needs to be redacted and released in the next couple of weeks so they can inform the surveillance debate here in the Senate. The chairman and the vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, which I am honored to serve on, called on the executive branch to redact and release this court ruling by May 15, but the executive branch simply disregarded their request. This bill also extends 702 for 5 weeks. On this point, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4740; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Is there objection? The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, once again, the Senator from Washington is objecting to a clean extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, section 702, which would prevent us from going dark on foreign intelligence risks and threats to our country. As for the sorts of things that he has talked about here, since 2024, Congress has passed dozens of transparency and accountability reforms that have actually worked. Congressional oversight, of course, is critical. The Senator and I and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee are here. We all serve on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that performs important oversight functions to make sure that the balance between privacy and security is the right balance. Indeed, the bipartisan Cotton, Grassley, and Warner bill, which is available to us to vote on, has almost two dozen additional protections included. We should be taking up that bill, not threatening to go dark and create dangers to our Nation. Also, it is not just the program that expires on Friday. There is a lot of oversight protection built into the current bill and past FISA reauthorizations. If that goes dark, all of those previous protections that were negotiated, that I know the Senator from Washington believes in--those would go away. So, in addition to being in danger--the American people and our national security--it would eliminate the very sorts of privacy protections and transparency that the Senator from Washington is arguing for here on an expanded basis. Under those circumstances, I object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The objection is heard. The Senator from Oregon.

Mr. President, I have served on the committee for many years with my friend, and I appreciate him and don't want to give him a hard time. I am a U.S. Senator from Oregon, though, and I think I have been called the Senator from Washington.

I am sorry. I had a mental warp there.

Our friendship will continue. Now, Mr. President, I think, at this point, my colleague has a unanimous consent request that he wishes to make. Then I will respond, and we will complete our business for the night. So my colleague, I would say, ought to make his unanimous consent at this point.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Texas.

I apologize to my friend the Senator from Oregon. I do know the difference between Oregon and Washington, and I am not confused about that. Mr. President, there is a risk of this necessary and critical intelligence tool not being extended. The President has called for an extension for, I think, up to 3 weeks, July 2, in order for further negotiations to take place so that, hopefully, there can be bipartisan buy-in to the ultimate product that comes out of this. To that end, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the bill at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Is there objection? The Senator from Oregon.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object. I would only close my remarks by saying every day that section 702 is in effect without reforms is a day that Americans' rights are, unfortunately, under threat. If there is going to be an extension of these authorities, there need to be some guardrails or at least some transparency that would allow Congress and the American people to understand the abuses that have taken place and the need for the kind of reforms that I and, as I say, senior Republicans in both the Senate and the House have been backing. For those reasons, I object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The objection is heard. The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, all we are asking for is an extension--a clean extension--of the current law, which includes a lot of the reforms that the Senator from Oregon has advocated for and gotten included in the current state of the legislation. As I said, those will go away if this program goes dark after this Friday. Further, as for the authority to work with the various institutions that are essential to collecting this foreign intelligence for the safety and security of the American people, that will go away, endangering the American people and our national security. In fact, 60 percent--60 percent--of the President's daily intelligence brief contains 702 intelligence product. The Senator from Oregon knows that well. This is simply too big a risk for us to take to allow this to go dark. All we are asking for is a little bit of additional time to continue these negotiations in order to find consensus so that we can continue to protect the American people while finding the appropriate balance between our national security and individual privacy rights.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Oregon.

Mr. President, just very briefly before I leave the floor, I only want to say to my friend that I am always interested in talking to him about ideas, to bring people together and find some common ground. I have said, as we have gone through this debate, that Ben Franklin summed it up as, basically, liberty and security aren't mutually exclusive. We can figure this out, but we are going to have to start talking. We are going to have to have some negotiations. I have enjoyed talking with my friend from Texas and would be happy to continue it in the future. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, as one last response, there is absolutely no justification for risking this program going dark on Friday. These negotiations can and should continue. That is how we solve problems around here on a bipartisan basis, but we don't risk catastrophe with our national security in exchange for demands that could well be addressed during an extension until July 2. So I regret we find ourselves in this situation. The clock is ticking on our national security because this program will go dark come Friday. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senator from Texas.

Executive Calendar

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Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar No. 693; Calendar No. 713, with the exception of RDML Michael E. Campbell and RDML Matthew W. Lake; and all the nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Coast Guard with the exception of PN846; that the nominations be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions and the Senate then resume legislative session.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows:

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The following named officer for appointment in the United States Coast Guard to the grade indicated under title 14, U.S.C., section 2121(d): Rear Adm. (lh) Jason P. Tama The following named officers for appointment in the United States Coast Guard to the grade indicated under title 14, U.S.C., section 2121(d): Rear Adm. (lh) Amy B. Grable Rear Adm. (lh) Ralph R. Little Rear Adm. (lh) Jeffrey K. Randall Rear Adm. (lh) Wilborne E. Watson PN769-1 COAST GUARD nominations (251) beginning HILLARY R. ADAMS, and ending JOSHUA J. ZIRBES, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of January 13, 2026.

Legislative Session

Page S2721 · Official text

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The Senate will now resume legislative session.

Measure Read the First Time--S. 4744

Page S2721 · Official text

Mr. President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading, S. 4744.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

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

The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

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A bill (S. 4744) to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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

The objection having been heard, the bill will receive a second reading on the next legislative day.

Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

Pages S2721–S2723 · Official text

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 265, S. 872.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The clerk will report the bill by title.

The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

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A bill (S. 872) to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, and for other purposes.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with amendments, as follows: (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are in boldfaced brackets, and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are in italic.)

Text printed in the Record (9,054 characters)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025". SEC. 2. OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENT REPORTING. (a) Other Transaction Agreements.--Section 2(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (4)(A)-- (A) in clause (ii), by adding "or [and]" and the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(iii) [includes]include other transaction agreements;"; and (2) in paragraph (7)-- (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking "(2)(A)(i)" and inserting "(4)(A)(i)"; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking "(2)(A)(ii)" and inserting "(4)(A)(ii)". (b) Data Standards.--Section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(e) Other Transaction Agreement Data.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, the Secretary shall ensure that, with respect to the website established under section 2, or any successor website-- "(1) data relating to other transaction agreements is automatically transmitted to the website,; and "(2) a centralized view of the data described in paragraph (1) is available on the website.". (c) Annual Report on Unreported Funding.--Section 2 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(h) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall post to the website established under this section a report that includes-- "(1) the total amount of Federal spending on Federal awards for which data has not been posted to the website; and "(2) the reason data on the Federal spending described in paragraph (1) has not been posted to the website, including whether the Federal spending was-- "(A) national security-related or classified; "(B) a grant or contract awarded or entered into by a legislative or judicial branch agency; or "(C) a subaward below a primary subaward.". (d) Implementation Plan.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Director.--The term "Director" means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (B) Relevant agency.--The term "relevant agency" means a Federal agency (as defined in section 2(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note)) that has the authority to enter into an other transaction agreement, as determined by the Director. (C) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury. (D) Usaspending.gov.--The term "USAspending.gov" means the website established under section 2 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). (2) Initial compilation.--If the Secretary has not yet complied with subsection (e) of section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by this section, by the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director and the heads of relevant agencies, shall publish on USAspending.gov a report that lists and includes a detailed description of all other transaction agreements entered into by the relevant agencies for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which the report is published. (3) Plan.--If the Secretary has not yet complied with subsection (e) of section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by this section, by the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director and the heads of relevant agencies, shall submit to Congress a plan that includes-- (A) the status of including data relating to other transaction agreements on USAspending.gov; and (B) actions underway and planned to ensure that the data described in subparagraph (A) is fully incorporated into USAspending.gov by the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 3. OTHER AMENDMENTS. (a) Inspector General Reports.--Section 6(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)-- (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "each Federal agency" and inserting "each agency described in [paragraphs (1) and (2)] paragraph (1) or (2) of section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code"; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking "Federal agency" and inserting "agency"; and (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking "Federal agency" and inserting "agency"; and (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: "(2) Deadlines.--The inspector general of each agency described in [paragraphs (1) and (2)] paragraph (1) or (2) of section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report described in paragraph (1)(B)-- "(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025; and "(B) not less than frequently than once every 2 years after the date described in subparagraph (A) until the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 on the date of submission of the report required under section 3521(f) or 9105(a)(3) of title 31, United States Code, for the applicable fiscal year.". (b) Full Disclosure of Federal Funds.-- (1) In general.--Section 3 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (A) in subsection (b)-- (i) paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency" and inserting "a Federal agency or a component of a Federal agency included on the list posted under subsection (e)(2)"; and (ii) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "to be posted" and inserting "to be posted by a Federal agency or a component of a Federal agency included on the list posted under subsection (e)(2)"; and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(c) Quality of Information.-- "(1) In general.--The Secretary and the Director, in consultation with the heads of Federal agencies, shall establish requirements to ensure that the information to be posted under subsection (b) that is posted by a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency is complete and accurate. "(2) Federal agency responsibility.--The head of each Federal agency or component of a Federal agency posting data under subsection (b) shall ensure that the data is complete and accurate. "(3) Authority to verify accuracy.--The Secretary and the Director may verify that the data posted under subsection (b) by a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency are complete, accurate, and consistent. "(d) Display Standards.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall ensure that the heads of Federal agencies that post information under subsection (b) comply with display standards established by the Secretary. "(e) Agency Reporting Determination.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director, shall-- "(1) assess and make a determination with respect to which Federal agencies and components of Federal agencies are required to post information under subsection (b); "(2) publish a list of the Federal agencies and components of Federal agencies determined under paragraph (1) on the website established under section 2(b)(1); and "(3) provide to the head and inspector general of each Federal agency or component of a Federal agency included on the list published under paragraph (2) written notice of the inclusion of the Federal agency or component of a Federal agency on the list.". (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)(A) shall take effect on the date on which the Secretary publishes the first list under section 3(e)(2) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by paragraph (1). SEC. 4. GAO REPORT. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall make recommendations for any updates the Comptroller General of the United States determines advisable to clause [52.204.10] 52.204--10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation with respect to incorporating requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

I now ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered and read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendments were agreed to. The bill (S. 872), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows:

Text printed in the Record (8,973 characters)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025". SEC. 2. OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENT REPORTING. (a) Other Transaction Agreements.--Section 2(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (4)(A)-- (A) in clause (ii), by adding "or" and the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(iii) include other transaction agreements;"; and (2) in paragraph (7)-- (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking "(2)(A)(i)" and inserting "(4)(A)(i)"; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking "(2)(A)(ii)" and inserting "(4)(A)(ii)". (b) Data Standards.--Section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(e) Other Transaction Agreement Data.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, the Secretary shall ensure that, with respect to the website established under section 2, or any successor website-- "(1) data relating to other transaction agreements is automatically transmitted to the website; and "(2) a centralized view of the data described in paragraph (1) is available on the website.". (c) Annual Report on Unreported Funding.--Section 2 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(h) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall post to the website established under this section a report that includes-- "(1) the total amount of Federal spending on Federal awards for which data has not been posted to the website; and "(2) the reason data on the Federal spending described in paragraph (1) has not been posted to the website, including whether the Federal spending was-- "(A) national security-related or classified; "(B) a grant or contract awarded or entered into by a legislative or judicial branch agency; or "(C) a subaward below a primary subaward.". (d) Implementation Plan.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Director.--The term "Director" means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (B) Relevant agency.--The term "relevant agency" means a Federal agency (as defined in section 2(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note)) that has the authority to enter into an other transaction agreement, as determined by the Director. (C) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury. (D) Usaspending.gov.--The term "USAspending.gov" means the website established under section 2 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). (2) Initial compilation.--If the Secretary has not yet complied with subsection (e) of section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by this section, by the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director and the heads of relevant agencies, shall publish on USAspending.gov a report that lists and includes a detailed description of all other transaction agreements entered into by the relevant agencies for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which the report is published. (3) Plan.--If the Secretary has not yet complied with subsection (e) of section 4 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by this section, by the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director and the heads of relevant agencies, shall submit to Congress a plan that includes-- (A) the status of including data relating to other transaction agreements on USAspending.gov; and (B) actions underway and planned to ensure that the data described in subparagraph (A) is fully incorporated into USAspending.gov by the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 3. OTHER AMENDMENTS. (a) Inspector General Reports.--Section 6(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)-- (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "each Federal agency" and inserting "each agency described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code"; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking "Federal agency" and inserting "agency"; and (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking "Federal agency" and inserting "agency"; and (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: "(2) Deadlines.--The inspector general of each agency described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report described in paragraph (1)(B)-- "(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025; and "(B) not less than frequently than once every 2 years after the date described in subparagraph (A) until the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 on the date of submission of the report required under section 3521(f) or 9105(a)(3) of title 31, United States Code, for the applicable fiscal year.". (b) Full Disclosure of Federal Funds.-- (1) In general.--Section 3 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended-- (A) in subsection (b)-- (i) paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency" and inserting "a Federal agency or a component of a Federal agency included on the list posted under subsection (e)(2)"; and (ii) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "to be posted" and inserting "to be posted by a Federal agency or a component of a Federal agency included on the list posted under subsection (e)(2)"; and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(c) Quality of Information.-- "(1) In general.--The Secretary and the Director, in consultation with the heads of Federal agencies, shall establish requirements to ensure that the information to be posted under subsection (b) that is posted by a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency is complete and accurate. "(2) Federal agency responsibility.--The head of each Federal agency or component of a Federal agency posting data under subsection (b) shall ensure that the data is complete and accurate. "(3) Authority to verify accuracy.--The Secretary and the Director may verify that the data posted under subsection (b) by a Federal agency or component of a Federal agency are complete, accurate, and consistent. "(d) Display Standards.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall ensure that the heads of Federal agencies that post information under subsection (b) comply with display standards established by the Secretary. "(e) Agency Reporting Determination.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director, shall-- "(1) assess and make a determination with respect to which Federal agencies and components of Federal agencies are required to post information under subsection (b); "(2) publish a list of the Federal agencies and components of Federal agencies determined under paragraph (1) on the website established under section 2(b)(1); and "(3) provide to the head and inspector general of each Federal agency or component of a Federal agency included on the list published under paragraph (2) written notice of the inclusion of the Federal agency or component of a Federal agency on the list.". (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)(A) shall take effect on the date on which the Secretary publishes the first list under section 3(e)(2) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note), as added by paragraph (1). SEC. 4. GAO REPORT. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall make recommendations for any updates the Comptroller General of the United States determines advisable to clause 52.204-10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation with respect to incorporating requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

The Calendar

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Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 410, S. 736; Calendar No. 411, S. 825; Calendar No. 412, S. 3041; Calendar No. 414, S. 4394; Calendar No. 419, S. 1890.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the measures en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask further unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments, where applicable, be agreed to; and that the bills, as amended, where amended, be considered read a third time.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act

Page S2723 · Official text

The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 736) to increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a phone in a correctional facility, and for other purposes, which was reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. =========================== NOTE =========================== On page S2723, June 10, 2026, first column, the following appears: The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 736) to increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a phone in a correctional facility, and for other purposes, which was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. The Record has been corrected to read: The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 736) to increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a phone in a correctional facility, and for other purposes, which was reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. ========================= END NOTE =========================

Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025

Page S2723 · Official text

The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 825) to require the Attorney General to propose a program for making treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder available to public safety officers, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendments as follows: (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are in boldfaced brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are in italic.)

Text printed in the Record (5,705 characters)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Public safety officers serve their communities with bravery and distinction in order to keep their communities safe. (2) Public safety officers, including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and 911 dispatchers, are on the front lines of dealing with situations that are stressful, graphic, harrowing, and life-threatening. (3) The work of public safety officers puts them at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. (4) It is estimated that 30 percent of public safety officers develop behavioral health conditions at some point in their lifetimes, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, in comparison to 20 percent of the general population that develops such conditions. (5) Victims of post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder are at a higher risk of dying by suicide. (6) Firefighters have been reported to have higher suicide attempt and ideation rates than the general population. (7) It is estimated that between 125 and 300 police officers die by suicide every year. (8) In 2019, pursuant to section 2(b) of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-113; 131 Stat. 2276), the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice developed a report (referred to in this section as the "LEMHWA report") that expressed that many law enforcement agencies do not have the capacity or local access to the mental health professionals necessary for treating their law enforcement officers. (9) The LEMHWA report recommended methods for establishing remote access or regional mental health check programs at the State or Federal level. (10) Individual police and fire departments generally do not have the resources to employ full-time mental health experts who are able to treat public safety officers with state-of-the-art techniques for the purpose of treating job-related post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. SEC. 3. PROGRAMMING FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Public safety officer.--The term "public safety officer"-- (A) has the meaning given the term in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284); and (B) includes Tribal public safety officers. (2) Public safety telecommunicator.--The term "public safety telecommunicator" means an individual who-- (A) operates telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 911 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers; (B) takes information from the public and other sources relating to crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters; and (C) coordinates and provides information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. (b) Report.--Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice, shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on-- (1) not fewer than 1 proposed program, if the Attorney General determines it appropriate and feasible to do so, to be administered by the Department of Justice for making state-of-the-art treatments or preventative care available to public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators with regard to job-related post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder by providing public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators access to evidence-based trauma-informed care, peer support, counselor services, and family supports for the purpose of treating or preventing post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder; (2) a draft of any necessary grant conditions required to ensure that confidentiality is afforded to public safety officers on account of seeking the care or services described in paragraph (1) under the proposed program; (3) how each proposed program described in paragraph (1) could be most efficiently administered throughout the United States at the State, Tribal, territorial, and local levels, taking into account in-person and telehealth capabilities; (4) a draft of legislative language necessary to authorize each proposed program described in paragraph (1); and (5) an estimate of the amount of annual appropriations necessary for administering each proposed program described in paragraph (1). (c) Development.--In developing the report required under subsection (b), the Attorney General shall consult relevant stakeholders, including-- (1) Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local agencies employing public safety officers [and] public safety telecommunicators; and (2) non -governmental organizations, international organizations, academies, or other entities, including organizations that support the interests of public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators, and [the interests of] family members of public safety officers, [and] public safety telecommunicators. The committee-reported amendments were agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

=========================== NOTE =========================== On page S2723, June 10, 2026, third column, the following appears: (2) non-governmental organizations, international organizations, academies, or other entities, including organizations that support the interests of public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators,and[the interests of]family members of public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators. The committee-reported amendments were agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. The Record has been corrected to read: 2) non-governmental organizations, international organizations, academies, or other entities, including organizations that support the interests of public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators, and [the interests of] family members of public safety officers, [and] public safety telecommunicators. The committee-reported amendments were agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time ========================= END NOTE =========================

Tribal Warrant Fairness Act

Pages S2723–S2724 · Official text

The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 3041) to allow the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in certain Tribal criminal matters, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:

Text printed in the Record (1,622 characters)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Tribal Warrant Fairness Act". SEC. 2. DEFINITION. In this Act, the term "Indian Tribe" means any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation individually identified (including parenthetically) on the most recent list published by the Secretary of the Interior under section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS. (a) U.S. Marshals Service.--Section 566(e)(1) of title 28, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting "including Tribal fugitive matters (on the request of an Indian Tribe, as defined in section 2 of the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act, as applicable)," after "matters,"; and (2) in subparagraph (D), by inserting "Tribal," after "local,". (b) Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000.--Section 6 of the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 (34 U.S.C. 41503) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) by inserting "and Indian Tribes, as defined in section 2 of the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act" after "components"; and (B) by striking "and local" and inserting "local, and Tribal"; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking "Federal or State law" and inserting "Federal, State, or Tribal law". The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

Promoting Police Leadership Act

Page S2724 · Official text

The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 4394) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to improve the COPS program with respect to training command-level personnel, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:

Text printed in the Record (7,388 characters)

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Promoting Police Leadership Act". SEC. 2. COMMANDER CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. (a) Definitions.--Section 901(a) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10251(a)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (32), by striking "and" at the end; (2) in paragraph (33)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and (3) by adding at the end the following: "(34) the term `command-level personnel' means law enforcement officers employed by a State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agency whose responsibilities include managing, directing, or overseeing law enforcement operations within a geographic subunit of the jurisdiction in which such agency has primary responsibility for law enforcement activities.". (b) Cops Program.--Section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(q) Training in Improving Police Command-level Personnel Leadership, Management, and Effectiveness.-- "(1) Training curricula.-- "(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Attorney General shall develop training curricula or identify effective existing training curricula for command-level personnel relating to-- "(i) leadership and strategic thinking; "(ii) critical incident response and management, including understanding, preparing for, and responding to the effect of critical incidents on officers and communities; "(iii) risk management; "(iv) officer wellness; "(v) data analysis and data-driven policing tactics; "(vi) evidence-based decision making; and "(vii) building community trust. "(B) Requirements.--The training curricula developed or identified under this paragraph shall include-- "(i) primarily in-person instruction and peer-to-peer learning; "(ii) a framework for a practical, evidence-based problem solving component under which participating command-level personnel-- "(I) identify and develop a proposed solution to a leadership, operational, or management challenge relevant to personnel in the command-level personnel's employing law enforcement agency; "(II) receive feedback from curriculum instructors and other participating command-level personnel to refine the proposed solution accordingly to meet the needs of the law enforcement agency and community served; and "(III) present a final, implementable product emphasizing evidence-based strategies to program instructors and the command-level personnel's district or geographic command; and "(iii) the incorporation of pre-course and post-course assessments to measure knowledge acquisition and leadership competencies relevant to the training curricula. "(C) Consultation.--The Attorney General shall develop and identify training curricula under this paragraph in consultation with relevant law enforcement agencies of States and units of local government, organizations and fraternal associations representing law enforcement officers, universities with appropriate law enforcement or leadership programs, and any other entities the Attorney General determines appropriate. "(2) Certified programs and courses.-- "(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which training curricula are developed or identified under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall establish a process to-- "(i) certify training programs and courses offered to command-level personnel which incorporate 1 or more of the training curricula developed or identified under paragraph (1), or equivalents to such training curricula, which may include certifying training programs or courses offered on or before the date on which the Attorney General establishes the process; and "(ii) terminate the certification of a training program or course that fails to meet the standards developed or identified under paragraph (1). "(B) Partnerships with educational institutions.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which training curricula are developed or identified under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall develop criteria to ensure that entities which offer training programs or courses that are certified under subparagraph (A) collaborate with educational institutions to evaluate and continuously improve the curricula and coursework of those educational institutions. "(3) List.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Attorney General completes the activities required under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General shall publish a list of law enforcement agencies of States and units of local government employing law enforcement officers who have successfully completed a course using the training curricula developed or identified under paragraph (1), or equivalents to such training curricula, which shall include-- "(A) the total number of law enforcement officers that are employed by the law enforcement agency; and "(B) the number of law enforcement officers who have completed such a course.". SEC. 3. ATTORNEY GENERAL REPORTS. (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the activities carried out as a result of the amendments made under section 2. (b) Contents.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, information on-- (1) steps taken by the Attorney General to develop or identify curricula under section 1701(q)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by section 2; (2) any assessments conducted or identified by the Attorney General on the effectiveness and utilization of curricula developed or identified under section 1701(q)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by section 2; (3) recommendations for curriculum updates and improvements; and (4) barriers to training implementation. SEC. 4. GAO REPORT. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall-- (1) conduct a review of the actions taken by the Attorney General pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by this Act; and (2) submit to Congress a report on the review conducted under paragraph (1), which shall include a description of-- (A) the process for developing and identifying curricula under section 1701(q)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by section 2, including the effectiveness of the consultation by the Attorney General with the agencies, associations, and organizations identified under that section; and (B) the certification of training programs and courses under section 1701(q)(2) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by section 2, including the development of the process for certification and its implementation. SEC. 5. STATE CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING STANDARDS. Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to preempt or replace the authority of any State or local government, including any Peace Officer Standards and Training entity or similar certifying body, to set and enforce certification, training, or qualification standards for law enforcement officers.

The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

Carla Walker Act

Pages S2724–S2727 · Official text

The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 1890) to establish a grant program for certain State and local forensic activities, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:

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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Carla Walker Act". SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE FORENSIC ACTIVITIES. Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: "SEC. 3061. DEFINITIONS. "In this part: "(1) Accredited forensic laboratory.--The term `accredited forensic laboratory' means a forensic laboratory that-- "(A) is accredited by an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement; or "(B) attests, in a legally binding and enforceable manner, to prepare and apply for an accreditation described in subparagraph (A) not later than 2 years after date on which the forensic laboratory-- "(i) first receives a grant under this part; or "(ii) first receives a request for analysis from an eligible entity receiving a grant under this part. "(2) FGG dna analysis and searching.--The term `FGG DNA analysis and searching' means-- "(A) forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis of a forensic or reference sample of biological material by an accredited forensic laboratory to develop a forensic genetic genealogy profile; and "(B) the subsequent search of that genetic genealogy profile in a genetic genealogy service. "(3) Forensic analysis.--The term `forensic analysis' means an expert examination, interpretation, or test-- "(A) requested by a law enforcement agency, a coroner or medical examiner's office, a prosecutor, a criminal suspect or defendant, or a court; and "(B) performed on physical or biological evidence for-- "(i) investigative purposes, including to determine the identity of unidentified human remains; or "(ii) prosecutorial, defense, or court-ordered judicial purposes. "(4) Forensic genetic genealogy profile.--The term `forensic genetic genealogy profile' means a single nucleotide polymorphisms-based genetic profile generated from a forensic or reference sample by an accredited forensic laboratory for the purpose of conducting FGG DNA analysis and searching. "(5) Forensic laboratory.--The term `forensic laboratory' means a facility, entity, or site that-- "(A) offers or performs forensic analysis; and "(B) follows appropriate evidentiary, documentation, and quality assurance requirements for use in judicial proceedings. "(6) Genetic genealogy service.--The term `genetic genealogy service' means a repository of genetic data containing genetic profiles submitted by individuals that permits search by a law enforcement agency for forensic genetic genealogy purposes. "(7) Interim policy.--The term `Interim Policy' means the `Interim Policy on Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching' of the Department of Justice dated November 1, 2019, or any successor policy. "(8) Law enforcement agency.--The term `law enforcement agency' means an agency of the United States, a State, a political subdivision of a State, or an Indian Tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of criminal law. "SEC. 3062. DNA ANALYSIS GRANTS. "(a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' means-- "(1) a State; "(2) a Tribal, county, or local law enforcement agency; "(3) a publicly funded accredited forensic laboratory; "(4) a State, Tribal, county, or local prosecutor's office with a forensic laboratory capability; "(5) a medical examiner's office; and "(6) a coroner's office. "(b) Authorization of Grants.--The Attorney General may award a competitive grant to an eligible entity for the purpose of using any technology used in a forensic laboratory-- "(1) to conduct whole genome sequencing technology to assess not less than 100,000 genetic markers; and "(2) that is compatible with genealogical databases. "(c) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time and in such form as the Attorney General may require. "(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds from the grant for any of the following purposes: "(1) To carry out DNA analyses of physical evidence collected under applicable legal authority using the technology described in subsection (b) if the submission of such physical evidence to the Combined DNA Index System has failed to produce an investigative lead. "(2) To carry out DNA analyses of unidentified human remains using the technology described in subsection (b) if submission of such samples to the Combined DNA Index System has failed to produce an investigative lead. "(3) To outsource an activity described in paragraph (1) or (2) for the use of technology described in subsection (b) and searching to-- "(A) an accredited publicly funded forensic laboratory; "(B) a medical examiner or coroner's office; "(C) a State, Tribal, county, or local prosecutor's office with a forensic laboratory capability; or "(D) a nongovernmental accredited forensic laboratory. "(e) Requirements and Limitations With Respect to Genetic Genealogy.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section-- "(1) with respect to a forensic profile derived from a candidate forensic sample for which a sufficient quantity of DNA exists and which meets the eligibility requirements of the Combined DNA Index System, before attempting to use FGG DNA analysis and searching with respect to the forensic profile-- "(A) shall upload the forensic profile to the Combined DNA Index System; and "(B) may only proceed with FGG DNA analysis and searching if a search of the uploaded forensic profile in the Combined DNA Index System fails to produce a probative and confirmed DNA match; "(2) with respect to an eligible entity that is a law enforcement agency, may not arrest a suspect based solely on a genetic association generated by a genetic genealogy service; "(3) with respect to an eligible entity that is a law enforcement agency or an entity conducting genetic genealogical research on behalf of a law enforcement agency or to inform a criminal investigation, shall-- "(A) identify as a law enforcement agency to any genetic genealogy service; and "(B) enter and search forensic genetic genealogy profiles only in a genetic genealogy service that provides explicit notice to users of the genetic genealogy service and the public that law enforcement may use the genetic genealogy service to investigate crimes or identify unidentified human remains; "(4) shall seek informed consent from third parties before collecting reference samples directly from an individual that will be used for FGG DNA analysis and searching, unless case-specific circumstances provide reasonable grounds to believe that this requirement would compromise the integrity of an investigation; "(5) shall treat all forensic genetic genealogy profiles and genetic genealogy service account information and data as confidential government information consistent with any applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; "(6) shall use biological samples and forensic genetic genealogy profiles only for law enforcement identification purposes; "(7) shall take all reasonable and necessary steps and precautions to ensure that others who have authorized access to biological samples and forensic genetic genealogy profiles follow the same limitation of use of those samples required under paragraph (6); "(8) whenever possible, shall use only genetic genealogy services that configure service site user settings that control access to forensic genetic genealogy profile data and associated account information in a manner that will prevent that data and information from being viewed by other service users; "(9) shall conduct covert collection of a DNA sample for the purpose of performing FGG DNA analysis and searching in accordance with applicable State and Federal law; and "(10) may not use a biological sample or a forensic genetic genealogy profile to determine the genetic predisposition for disease or any other medical condition or psychological trait of the donor of the sample or profile. "(f) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall promulgate regulations to promote the reasoned exercise of investigative, scientific, and prosecutorial discretion in cases that involve forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching. Such regulations shall incorporate the requirements and limitations set forth under subsection (e). "(g) Authorization of Appropriations.-- "(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. "(2) Limitations on use.-- "(A) In general.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this section-- "(i) subject to subparagraph (B), shall only be made available to carry out forensic genetic genealogical analysis; and "(ii) shall not be made available for staffing, training, travel, or equipment. "(B) Administrative costs.--The Attorney General may use not more than 10 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this section for administrative costs. "SEC. 3063. GRANTS FOR FORENSIC EQUIPMENT AND DATABASE SEARCHING. "(a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' means-- "(1) a publicly funded accredited forensic laboratory; "(2) a State, county, local, or Tribal prosecutor's office with a forensic laboratory capability; "(3) a medical examiner's office; and "(4) a coroner's office. "(b) Authorization of Grants.--The Attorney General may award a grant to an eligible entity for the purpose of-- "(1) purchasing equipment for FGG DNA analysis and searching; or "(2) funding searches to generate investigative leads for criminal investigations or unidentified human remains. "(c) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time and in such form as the Attorney General may require. "(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds from the grant-- "(1) to purchase forensic equipment, including supplies, reagents, consumables, and validation expenses, for genetic genealogy techniques to generate investigative leads for criminal investigations or unidentified human remains; and "(2) for genealogical database searching. "(e) Department of Justice Policy.--Other than an activity involving unidentified human remains, an activity carried out using funding from a grant under this section shall be carried out in compliance with-- "(1) the Interim Policy; and "(2) the regulations promulgated under section 3062(f). "(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. "SEC. 3064.

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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. "(a) Regulations.--The Attorney General may promulgate guidelines, regulations, and procedures to carry out this part, including guidelines, regulations, and procedures relating to the submission and review of applications for grants under sections 3062 and 3063. "(b) Accountability.-- "(1) Records.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this part shall maintain such records as the Attorney General may require to facilitate an effective audit relating to the receipt of the grant, the use of amounts from the grant, outsourcing activities, and compliance with-- "(A) section VIII, entitled `Sample and Data Control and Disposition', of the Interim Policy; and "(B) the regulations promulgated under section 3062(f). "(2) Access.--For the purpose of conducting audits and examinations, the Attorney General shall have access to any book, document, or record of an eligible entity that receives a grant under this part, a State or unit of local government within which the eligible entity operates, and any entity to which the eligible entity outsources work using amounts from the grant if the Attorney General determines that the book, document, or record relates to-- "(A) the receipt of the grant; "(B) the use of funds from the grant; or "(C) compliance with-- "(i) section VIII, entitled `Sample and Data Control and Disposition', of the Interim Policy; or "(ii) the regulations promulgated under section 3062(f). "(3) Suspension and debarment.--In carrying out this part, the Attorney General shall comply with part 180 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. "SEC. 3065. REPORTS. "Not later than1 year after the date on which an eligible entity receives the final disbursement of funds from a grant under section 3062 or 3063, the eligible entity shall submit to the Attorney General a report that includes-- "(1) the amount of funding the eligible entity received from the grant for each fiscal year for which the grant was awarded; "(2) the number of cases for which the eligible entity submitted for testing using FGG DNA analysis and searching during the previous year; "(3) the number of cases for which the eligible entity performed testing using FGG DNA analysis and searching during the previous year; "(4) the type of testing relating to FGG DNA analysis and searching performed by the eligible entity during each year for which the grant was awarded, including-- "(A) the name of any laboratory to which the eligible entity outsourced the testing; "(B) the type of sequencing equipment and method used for the testing; and "(C) the results of the testing, such as whether the testing resulted in successful victim or perpetrator identification, no identification, ongoing analysis, or incomplete analysis, and the time it took to obtain a result; "(5) during each year for which the grant was awarded, the number of cases in which FGG DNA analysis and searching-- "(A) resulted in a searchable profile in a publicly available genetic genealogy service; "(B) generated a lead resulting in a victim or perpetrator identification; "(C) generated a lead but did not generate a victim or perpetrator identification; and "(D) did generate a lead and resulted in a victim or perpetrator identification by the end of the grant period directly resulting in an arrest; and "(6) during each year for which the grant was awarded, the average number of days it took to make any identification between the date of sample submission for FGG DNA analysis and searching and the date of delivery of test results to the requesting office or agency. "SEC. 3066. NO PREEMPTION. "Nothing in this part shall be construed to preempt any law (including a regulation) of a State, or a political subdivision of a State, containing requirements that provide equivalent or greater protection than the requirements of this part.". SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Forensic Laboratory Needs Working Group of the National Institute of Justice, shall submit to Congress a report-- (1) on the awards and practices reported to the Attorney General under section 3065 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by this Act; (2) on forensic genetic genealogy analysis technologies and how best to implement forensic genetic genealogy analysis for eligible entities (as defined in section 3063(a) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by this Act); and (3) that includes any recommendations relating to-- (A) expected funding needs; and (B) whether regulations are needed for the use of forensic genetic genealogy analysis technology.

The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the measures en bloc.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Hearing no further debate, the bills having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bills pass en bloc? The bills were passed en bloc as follows: The bill (S. 736) was passed as follows:

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act". SEC. 2. PROHIBITED PROVISION OF A PHONE. Section 1791(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: "(4) in the case of a violation of subsection (a)(1), imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both, if the object is specified in subsection (d)(1)(F) of this section;"; and (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by inserting ", in the case of a violation of subsection (a)(2)," before "(d)(1)(F)". SEC. 3. REVIEW OF POLICIES. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall-- (1) conduct a review of the policies of the Bureau of Prisons pertaining to inmates who make, possess, obtain, or attempt to make or obtain a prohibited object, as defined in section 1791(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code; and (2) update those policies as needed to improve protections for incarcerated individuals and staff.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The bill (S. 825), as amended, was passed as follows:

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Public safety officers serve their communities with bravery and distinction in order to keep their communities safe. (2) Public safety officers, including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and 911 dispatchers, are on the front lines of dealing with situations that are stressful, graphic, harrowing, and life-threatening. (3) The work of public safety officers puts them at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. (4) It is estimated that 30 percent of public safety officers develop behavioral health conditions at some point in their lifetimes, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, in comparison to 20 percent of the general population that develops such conditions. (5) Victims of post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder are at a higher risk of dying by suicide. (6) Firefighters have been reported to have higher suicide attempt and ideation rates than the general population. (7) It is estimated that between 125 and 300 police officers die by suicide every year. (8) In 2019, pursuant to section 2(b) of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-113; 131 Stat. 2276), the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice developed a report (referred to in this section as the "LEMHWA report") that expressed that many law enforcement agencies do not have the capacity or local access to the mental health professionals necessary for treating their law enforcement officers. (9) The LEMHWA report recommended methods for establishing remote access or regional mental health check programs at the State or Federal level. (10) Individual police and fire departments generally do not have the resources to employ full-time mental health experts who are able to treat public safety officers with state-of-the-art techniques for the purpose of treating job-related post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. SEC. 3. PROGRAMMING FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Public safety officer.--The term "public safety officer"-- (A) has the meaning given the term in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284); and (B) includes Tribal public safety officers. (2) Public safety telecommunicator.--The term "public safety telecommunicator" means an individual who-- (A) operates telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 911 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers; (B) takes information from the public and other sources relating to crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters; and (C) coordinates and provides information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. (b) Report.--Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice, shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on-- (1) not fewer than 1 proposed program, if the Attorney General determines it appropriate and feasible to do so, to be administered by the Department of Justice for making state-of-the-art treatments or preventative care available to public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators with regard to job-related post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder by providing public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators access to evidence-based trauma-informed care, peer support, counselor services, and family supports for the purpose of treating or preventing post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder; (2) a draft of any necessary grant conditions required to ensure that confidentiality is afforded to public safety officers on account of seeking the care or services described in paragraph (1) under the proposed program; (3) how each proposed program described in paragraph (1) could be most efficiently administered throughout the United States at the State, Tribal, territorial, and local levels, taking into account in-person and telehealth capabilities; (4) a draft of legislative language necessary to authorize each proposed program described in paragraph (1); and (5) an estimate of the amount of annual appropriations necessary for administering each proposed program described in paragraph (1). (c) Development.--In developing the report required under subsection (b), the Attorney General shall consult relevant stakeholders, including-- (1) Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local agencies employing public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators; and (2) nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, academies, or other entities, including organizations that support the interests of public safety officers, public safety telecommunicators, and family members of public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

The bills (S. 3041, S. 4394, and S. 1890), as amended, were passed.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Morning Business

Pages S2727–S2728 · Official text

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statue. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed tin the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-73. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-73 concerning the Department of the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Denmark for defense articles and services estimated to cost $842 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Denmark. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $724 million. Other $118 million. Total $842 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Two hundred (200) AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) with Extended Range. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: JASSM test and support equipment, and containers; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; weapon system support; precise positioning Global Positioning System; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; site surveys; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Air Force (DE-D-YAP). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 5, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

Denmark--Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range

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The Government of Denmark has requested to buy two hundred (200) AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: JASSM test and support equipment, and containers; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; weapon system support; precise positioning Global Positioning System; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; site surveys; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $842 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Denmark's capability to meet current and future threats by providing the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) with the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes, strengthening RDAF F-35 aircraft capabilities. Denmark will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, FL. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Denmark. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) All Up Round is a low-observable, highly-survivable, subsonic cruise missile designed to penetrate next-generation air defense systems enroute to target. The JASSM-ER is designed to kill hard, medium-hardened, soft, and area type targets. The extended range over the baseline was obtained by going from a turbo jet to a turbo-fan engine and by reconfiguring the fuel tanks for added capacity. Precise positioning is provided by either selective availability anti-spoofing module or M-Code. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that Denmark can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Denmark.

Arms Sales Notification

Page S2728 · Official text

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-63 Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-63 concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Italy for defense articles and services estimated to cost $30.6 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Italy. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $28.1 million. Other $2.5 million. Total $30.6 million. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant (AAVC-7A1). Four (4) Assault Amphibious Vehicles. Recovery Variant (AAVR-7A1). Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: support equipment; radar scattering camouflage netting kits; unclassified technical manuals; and other related elements of program and logistics support. (iv) Military Department: Navy (IT-P-LHM). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 4, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. The Government of Italy has requested to buy three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs), Command Variant (AAVC-7A1); and four (4) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Recovery Variant (AAVR-7A1). The following non-MDE items will also be included: support equipment; radar-scattering camouflage netting kits; unclassified technical manuals; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The estimated total cost is $30.6 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Italy's capability to meet current and future threats by modernizing and ensuring Italy's continued expeditionary capability to counter regional threats. Italy will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The AAVs will be transferred from United States Marine Corps stock. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Italy. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act

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(vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle used to maneuver surface assault elements of the landing force. Its equipment from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent operations ashore. 2. The AAVC-7A1 family of vehicles includes the Command Variant, which is an armored assault amphibious full-tracked landing vehicle. The vehicle provides a mobile task force communication center in amphibious operations from ship to shore through surf zone to inland objectives. 3. The AAVR-7A1 family of vehicles includes the Recovery Variant, which is an armored assault amphibious full-tracked vehicle. The vehicle is designed to recover vehicles and provide field support maintenance. 4. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 5. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 6. A determination has been made that Italy can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 7. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Italy.

Arms Sales Notification

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-50. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-50 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Republic of Korea for defense articles and services estimated to cost $106 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Republic of Korea. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $60 million. Other $46 million. Total $106 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Seven hundred eight (708) KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits. Fifty-eight (58) KMU-572 JDAM guidance sets. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: weapons support equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Air Force (KS-D-YBE). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-D-YBB. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 4, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. The Republic of Korea has requested to buy seven hundred eight (708) KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits; and fifty-eight (58) KMU-572 JDAM guidance sets. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: weapons support equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $106 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea's capability to meet current and future threats by expanding its critical air defense capability in the region and ensuring interoperability with U.S. forces. The Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) are bomb bodies with warhead-specific tail kits that contain Inertial Navigation System (INS) Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance, which provide accurate and adverse weather smart munitions. The JDAM can target enemies from a modest standoff range at high and low altitudes against land and surface targets, day or night. The JDAM can receive target coordinates from preplanned mission data from the delivery aircraft onboard aircraft sensors, during captive carry, or from a third-party source via manual or automated aircrew cockpit entry. 2. The KMU-557 is the tail kit for a GBU-56 (2,000-pound Laser JDAM). 3. The KMU-572 is the tail kit for a GBU-38 (500-pound JDAM). 4. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 5. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 6. A determination has been made that the Republic of Korea can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 7. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Republic of Korea.

Arms Sales Notification

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-72 Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-72 concerning the Department of the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of the Republic of Korea for defense articles and services estimated to cost $292 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Republic of Korea. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $272 million. Other $20 million. Total $292 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Seventy (70) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles. (AMRAAMs) Two (2) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: AMRAAM containers, control sections, and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons system support; classified and unclassified publications, classified and unclassified software; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Air Force (KS-D-YBF). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-D-YBB. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense. Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 9, 2026. *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. Republic of Korea--AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles The Republic of Korea has requested to buy seventy (70) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs); and two (2) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: AMRAAM containers, control sections, and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons system support; classified and unclassified publications, classified and unclassified software; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $292 million. The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea's capability to meet current and future threats by expanding its air defense capability, deterring aggression in the region, and ensuring interoperability with U.S. Forces. The Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a supersonic, air- or surface-launched, aerial intercept, guided missile featuring digital technology and micro-miniature, solid-state electronics. AMRAAM capabilities include look-down/shoot-down, multiple launches against multiple targets, resistance to electronic countermeasures, and interception of high and low-flying maneuvering targets. This potential sale will include AMRAAM guidance sections, control sections, and containers. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that the Republic of Korea can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Republic of Korea.

Arms Sales Notification

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-74 Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-74 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Kuwait for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.98 billion. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Kuwait. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $0. Other $1.98 billion. Total $1.98 billion. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (IMDE): None. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: counter-unmanned aerial systems platforms Roadrunner-Munition and Anvil-Kinetic; launch boxes; lattice command and control; Long-Range Sentry Tower with Fire Control; Long-Range Sentry Tower-82 Mobile; Extended Range Sentry Towers; Maritime Sentry Towers; pulsar electromagnetic warfare; menace tactical operations centers; generators; publications; personnel training; software development; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Implementing Agency: Army (KU-B-ULR). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None Known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 5, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy counter-unmanned aerial systems platforms. The following non-major defense equipment items will be included: counter-unmanned aerial systems platforms Roadrunner-Munition and Anvil-Kinetic; launch boxes; lattice command and control; Long Range Sentry Tower with Fire Control; Long Range Sentry Tower-82 Mobile; Extended Range Sentry Towers; Maritime Sentry Towers; pulsar electromagnetic warfare; menace tactical operations centers; generators; publications; personnel training; software development; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.98 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that has been an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future threats by providing electronic and kinetic defeat capabilities against unmanned aerial systems. Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its military police forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Anduril, located in Costa Mesa, CA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Kuwait. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The Roadrunner system is a twinjet, vertical takeoff and landing, high explosive interceptor that is capable of subsonic flight to deliver hard kill effects on Group 3 (mid-sized) threat aircraft. 2. Pulsar is a counter multi-mission electromagnetic warfare system, capable of wide area coverage using networked Pulsar systems for autonomous spectrum monitoring, detection, tracking, and coordinated effects against small-unmanned aircraft systems (s-UAS) threats. It provides signal disruption and jamming of position, timing, navigation, command link, and video downlink signals to/from the ground control station. 3. The Long-Range Sentry Tower with Fire Control combines a fire control radar and MidWave Infrared (MWIR) thermal optic on a continuous pan-tilt unit (PTU), providing sensor measurements enabling a single-track for a Roadrunner engagement to defeat s-UAS Groups 1-3 (small to mid-sized). 4. The Anvil-Kinetic (Anvil-K) is a kinetic, drone-on-drone engagement interceptor that utilizes a Millimeter Wave onboard radar for terminal guidance. It is cued by a Sentry Tower and does not require operator input for guidance. Anvil-K uses speed and a hardened fuselage to defeat Group 1 s-UAS at lower cost per engagement. 5. The Menace-I is a fully integrated, mobile command, control, communications, and computing solution. Menace is a complete roll-on/roll-off transportable, Intelligence Community Directive 705 compliant solution for processing up to classified information with a TEMPEST compliant computing rack. Menace is equipped with built-in Proliferated Low Earth Orbit, Geostationary Orbit, cellular, high-frequency, ultra-high frequency, very-high frequency, and Tactical Data Link communications. The system is self-sustaining with an onboard 60kW multi-fuel generator. 6. The Long-Range Sentry Tower 82 combines long-range radar, MWIR thermal optic on a continuous PTU, and a computer system with enclosure to enable detection of s-UAS Groups 1-3. 7. The Long-Range Sentry Tower-82 Mobile is a trailer mounted capability that combines a long-range radar, MWIR thermal optic on a continuous PTU, and provides sensor measurements enabling a single-track for a Roadrunner engagement to defeat s-UAS Groups 1-3. 8. Extended Range Sentry Tower combines solar-powered, MWIR thermal optic on a continuous PTU capable of autonomously detecting people and vehicles at ranges of over 10 km with no human intervention. 9. Maritime Sentry Tower combines solar-powered maritime radar with MWIR thermal optic on a continuous PTU capable of autonomous detection of maritime vessels at ranges of over 20 km with no human intervention. 10. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 11. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 12. A determination has been made that Kuwait can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 13. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Kuwait.

Arms Sales Notification

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-37. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-37 concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of New Zealand for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.5 billion. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of New Zealand (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $0.70 billion. Other $0.80 billion. Total $1.50 billion. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Five (5) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters. Seven (7) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (5 installed, 2 spares). Fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability AntiSpoofing Module (10 installed, 4 spares). Five (5) Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems. Two hundred twenty-five (225) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles. Two hundred twenty-five (225) WGU-59A/B APKWS II guidance sections (single variant). Sixty-five (65) AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles. Four (4) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles. Five (5) digital magnetic anomaly detection systems. Five (5) M240D 7.62mm machine guns. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE will also be included: T700-GE-401D engines; M514 impulse cartridge/cartridge actuated devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/cartridge actuated devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/cartridge actuated devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges; GAU-21 crew-served guns (including pintle and laser pointer); M299 guided missile launchers; LAU-61 digital rocket launchers; AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios with communications security; AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispenser, electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems; AN/AAS-44C(V) multispeetral targeting systems; KIV-78-Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic applique; Joint Mission Planning Systems; AN/ ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals; AN/SSQ-53 directional frequency analysis and recording sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62 directional command activated sonobuoy system sonobuoys; AN/ SSQ-36 bathythermograph sonobuoys; training simulators/ operational machine interface assistants; aviation maintenance weapons loading trainer; tactical operational flight trainer; AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures systems; APS-153(V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communications equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of the New Zealand MH-60R helicopters; training equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support . (iv) Military Department: Navy (NZ-P-SAK). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NZ-P-GES. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 4, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. The Government of New Zealand has requested to buy five (5) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters; seven (7) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (5 installed, 2 spares); fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (10 installed, 4 spares); five (5) Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems; two hundred twenty-five (225) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles; two hundred twenty-five (225) WGU-59A/B APKWS II guidance sections (single variant); sixty-five (65) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; four (4) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles; five (5) digital magnetic anomaly detection systems; and five (5) M240D 7.62mm machine guns. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: T700-GE-401D engines; M514 impulse cartridge/ cartridge actuated devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/ cartridge actuated devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/ cartridge actuated devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges; GAU-21 crew-served guns (including pintle and laser pointer); M299 guided missile launchers; LAU-61 digital rocket launchers; AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios with communications security; AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispenser, electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems; AN/AAS-44C(V) multi-spectral targeting systems; KIV-78--Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic applique; Joint Mission Planning Systems; AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals; AN/SSQ-53 directional frequency analysis and recording sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62 directional command activated sonobuoy system sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-36 bathythermograph sonobuoys; training simulators/operational machine interface assistants; aviation maintenance weapons loading trainer; tactical operational flight trainer; AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures systems; APS-153 (V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communications equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation;personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of the New Zealand MH-60R helicopters; training equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.5 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve New Zealand's capability to meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater security for its critical infrastructure. New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense. New Zealand will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, located in Owego, New York. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of one (1) U.S. Government representative and four (4) contractor representatives to New Zealand on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter focuses primarily on anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The MH-60R also performs search and rescue, naval gunfire support, surveillance, communications relay, logistics support, personnel transfer, and vertical replenishment missions. The MH-60R carries several sensors and data links to enhance its ability to work in a network centric battle group and as an extension of its home ship/main operating base. 2. The mission equipment subsystem consists of the following sensors and subsystems: an acoustics system capable of future dipping sonar and sonobuoy operations, multi-mode radar (MMR) with integral identification friend or foe (IFF) interrogator, radios with communications security, electronic support measures, integrated self-defense, and multi-spectral targeting system. The aircraft processes sensor data onboard and transmits data via common data link (also referred to as Hawklink). The aircraft is night vision compatible. It can carry AGM-114A/B/K/N/R Hellfire missiles, as well as MK 46/54 torpedoes to engage surface and sub-surface targets. a. The RT-2036(C) radios are capable of Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and beyond LOS communication and can transmit clear or secure voice using single channel ground and airborne radio system security features. ARC-210 Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency radios contain embedded sensitive encryption algorithms and keying material. b. The Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation System is a sensor that combines positioning and inertial sensor inputs to provide accurate location information for navigation and targeting. c. The Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) antenna electronics interfaces with the ADAP controlled reception pattern antennas to ensure availability of global positioning signals to the aircraft. d. The IFF AN/APX-123 A(V) transponder is capable of both Mode 5 and Mode S secure modes and provides its own ship positional information. e. The KIV-78 is Type 1 NSA-certified Communications Security (COMSEC) for IFF. The KIV-78 provides cryptographic and time-of-day services, concurrent Mode 4/5 operations as well as concurrent interrogator/transponder operations. The KIV-78 IFF system is deployed to identify cooperative, friendly systems. f. The KY-100M provides for secure voice and data communications in tactical airborne and ground environments and is a self-contained terminal that includes COMSEC. The KY-100M is based on the KY-99A architecture with enhanced interface capability. It includes KY-99A's operational modes and KY-5's operational modes. g. Acoustics algorithms are used to process dipping sonar and sonobuoy data for target tracking and for the Acoustics Mission Planner, which is a tactical aid employed to optimize the deployment of sonobuoys and the dipping sonar. h. AN/APS-153 MMR with an integrated IFF and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar provides target surveillance and detection capability. i. Digital Magnetic Anomaly Detection capability is being introduced into the MH-60R in response to a fleet need for a submarine detection capability, which will be effective in acoustically harsh environments. j. Advanced Data Transfer System with Type 1 encryption for data at rest. k. AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures system identifies the location of an emitter. 3. The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter can carry airborne low frequency sonar, LAU-61 digital rocket launchers, advanced precision kill weapons system, GAU-21 crew served guns, and M240 crew served guns. a.

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The WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II (APKWS-II) All Up Round (AUR) (Rotary Wing) and WGU-59A/B APKWS-II AUR (Single Variant) is a design conversion of an unguided Hydra 2.75-inch rocket with a laser guidance kit to give it precision-kill capability. As a lowcost weapon, it is intended as an inexpensive means to destroy targets while limiting collateral damage in close combat. The APKWS consists of an APKWS-II guidance section (Single Variant Block Upgrade) developed by BAE Systems, Inc., a legacy 2.75-inch MK66 Mod 4 rocket motor, and the M151 or MK-152 high-explosive warhead. b. The AGM-114 Hellfire missile is an antiarmor, laser guided, air-to-ground weapon that uses a shaped charge warhead to defeat hard point targets with minimal exposure of the launch helicopter to enemy fire. The Hellfire weapon system consists of an AGM-114 series missile(s) and M299 launcher. The missile consists of four major sections: seeker, guidance warhead, propulsion, and control. The M299 launcher can carry one to four missiles on each launcher. The length, weight, and physical characteristics of the Hellfire missile are the same as the base missile allowing full compatibility with launch platforms. c. The M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles-114 training missile also has the same external shape and length as the tactical missile. Internally, it contains no explosives but has ballast to simulate the weight and center of gravity of the tactical missile. It is used for captive flight training and cannot be launched. The missile has an operational laser seeker that can search for and lock on laser energy. Training missiles are identified by blue colored bands around the warhead and propulsion sections. Training missiles are certified for captive flight. 4. The MH-60R is also equipped with the AN/USQ-190A Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS), which is a secure, jam-resistant communication and positioning system that employs a defined waveform in the 960-1215 megahertz UHF range for packet message communication and 16 kilobit digital voice and packet message communication. MIDS significantly increases force command and control effectiveness. The tactical digital information link-J series message standard is employed by the system as defined in NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 5516 and U.S. Military Standard 6016. The embedded hardware features provide communications security. MIDS JTRS builds on the earlier MIDS-low volume terminal's capabilities with the addition of concurrent multi-netting (CMN) and concurrent contention receive (CCR) functions. CMN and CCR dramatically expand the number of platforms and network-enabled systems that can be reliably included in a Link 16 network. These enhancements allow a single MIDS JTRS terminal to simultaneously receive messages on up to four nets, compared with on a single net in terminals without CMN and CCR, within a single Link 16 time slot, allowing a user to "hear" messages from up to three additional sources at once. 5. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 6. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 7. A determination has been made that New Zealand can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 8. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of New Zealand.

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-47 Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-47 concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of New Zealand for defense articles and services estimated to cost $69 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of New Zealand. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $42 million. Other $27 million. Total $69 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment: Twenty (20) MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes all up round. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: storage and issue facilities; recoverable exercise torpedoes; air launch accessories; classified and unclassified torpedo spare parts; torpedo containers; torpedo support equipment including test equipment and tools; torpedo support services; unclassified books and other publications; other technical assistance including technical support, technical program management, infrastructure support, test equipment sustainment, exercise firing assistance, contract management, and initial follow-on technical support; in-country torpedo training; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Navy (NZ-P-ALM). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: Navy (NZ-P-ALA). (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 4, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. The Government of New Zealand has requested to buy twenty (20) MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes all up round. The following non-MDE items will also be included: storage and issue facilities; recoverable exercise torpedoes; air launch accessories; classified and unclassified torpedo spare parts; torpedo containers; torpedo support equipment including test equipment and tools; torpedo support services; unclassified books and other publications; other technical assistance including technical support, technical program management, infrastructure support, test equipment sustainment, exercise firing assistance, contract management, and initial follow-on technical support; in-country torpedo training; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $69 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve New Zealand's capability to meet current and future warfare threats and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure. New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense. New Zealand will have no difficulty absorbing these capabilities into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. There are no contractors associated with this sale. As there are no contractors associated with this sale, there will be no offset agreement. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the permanent assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to New Zealand. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo all up round is a conventional torpedo that can be launched from surface ships, rotary and fixed wing aircraft. The MK 54 MOD 0 is an upgrade from the MK 46 Torpedo. The upgrade to the MK 54 MOD 0 entails replacement of the torpedo's sonar and guidance and control systems with modern technology. The new guidance and control system uses a mixture of commercial-off-the-shelf and custom-built electronics. The warhead, fuel tank, and propulsion system from the MK 46 torpedo are re-used in the MK 54 MOD 0 configuration with minor modifications. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that New Zealand can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to New Zealand.

Arms Sales Notification

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There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-64. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-64 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of the United Kingdom for defense articles and services estimated to cost $160 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of the United Kingdom. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $69 million. Other $91 million. Total $160 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Thirty-six (36) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies. Eighteen (18) AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system processor replacements (10 installed, 8 spares). Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: LAIRCM missile warning sensors, control interface units, and user data module cards; testing and test equipment; major and minor modifications and maintenance support; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; software delivery and support; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Air Force (UK-D-QEE). (v) Prior Related Cases; if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission; Fee; etc.; Paid; Offered; or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this trme. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 5, 2026. *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. United Kingdom--Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures The Government of the United Kingdom has requested to buy thirty-six (36) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (28 installed, 8 spares); and eighteen (18) AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system processor replacements (10 installed, 8 spares). The following non-MDE items will also be included: LAIRCM user data module cards, missile warning sensors, and support equipment; testing and test equipment; major and minor modifications and maintenance support; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; repair and return support; software delivery and support; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $160 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom's capability to meet current and future threats by providing modern protection for large air mobility platforms, ensuring the operational readiness of the Royal Air Force. The United Kingdom will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the United Kingdom. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is a self-contained, directed-energy countermeasures system designed to protect aircraft from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. The LAIRCM system features digital technology micro-miniature solid-state electronics. The system operates in all conditions, detecting incoming missiles and jamming infrared-seeker equipped missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system consists of multiple infrared missile warning sensors, the Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly, a system processor replacement, a control interface unit replacement, and a classified memory card user data module. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET. 3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that the United Kingdom can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of the United Kingdom.

TRIBUTE TO CINDY McCAIN

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Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Mr. President, I rise today to honor my friend Cindy McCain for her incredible work as executive director of the World Food Programme. Cindy assumed leadership of the World Food Programme in 2023 and has since been a clear voice for hungry families around the world. She has done this work during a critical period of time, as hunger and food insecurity reached alarming levels. She has been an advocate for people around the world facing hunger, malnutrition, displacement, and trauma, and she has been a leader in delivering vital assistance. In recent years, we have seen global food insecurity rise around the world, primarily as a result of conflict and the ensuing displacement, continuing climate shocks and droughts that disrupt food supplies, and a world economy characterized by uneven growth and high food prices. As leader of the World Food Programme, Cindy strengthened the ability of the WFP to respond to all of these factors and worked to modernize the agency so that it could sustain and improve its work delivering food assistance. Cindy has been a clear voice for food aid in Ukraine and Gaza. She has been steadfast in her support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and worked tirelessly to help Ukraine maintain and build its agricultural sector. She also visited Gaza in August of 2025, pointing out the deepening crisis and calling for a surge of aid to help suffering families. And as this administration worked to dramatically cut out global food assistance programs, Cindy defended them strenuously, meeting with Democrats and Republicans in Congress and urging them to hold strong in supporting global food aid. At a time when too many are walking back from decades of consensus about the value of foreign aid and hunger relief, Cindy has been a true leader, not just in delivering aid abroad, but in reminding us here of our obligations around the world. Cindy's public service, just like that of her husband before her, is a true reminder that targeted and smart foreign assistance is vital not just for hungry people, but for our national interests and American security as well. A month before he passed away, my husband John and I visited John and Cindy at their ranch in Arizona. Even while battling brain cancer, he continued to be engaged in the issues of our time, and he continued to have that signature McCain humor and that grit. My last memory of John was something that happened on that visit. He pointed to a sentence in his book and said, "That's all that matters." The sentence was this: "Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself." Cindy has been dedicated to changing and saving lives--fighting to end world hunger, with horrific conflicts and a changing climate. We are so grateful to her for her strength, inspiration, and dedication.

Tribute to Sheriff Chris Goetz

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Mr. President, with my colleague Senator Mike Crapo, we honor Sheriff Chris Goetz of Idaho as he announces his retirement after more than 17 years as sheriff and nearly three decades of service with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office. Throughout his career, Sheriff Goetz has been a pillar of our community, exemplifying dedication and leadership and earning the respect of colleagues and residents alike. He is a lifetime member of the Western States Sheriffs Association and has served on the Idaho Sheriffs Association Board of Directors since 2010. Among his many notable accomplishments, Sheriff Goetz is one of only three sheriffs in Idaho history to serve as president of the Idaho Sheriff's Association twice. This unique distinction further demonstrates his commitment to public safety, the people of Clearwater County, and Idaho. Sheriff Goetz's contributions to his community extend far beyond law enforcement. He is a past president of the Idaho Association of Counties and has volunteered countless hours to the Sunnyside Rural Fire District, for which he serves as assistant fire chief. Sheriff Goetz is also the president of the Clearwater County 4-H Leaders Council and a member of the 4-H Livestock Sale Committee and the Weippe Rodeo Association. As Sheriff Goetz begins this next chapter, we extend our sincere appreciation for his impressive and heroic tenure in public service. He has undoubtedly made a profound impact on Clearwater County, and his dedication to keeping our citizens safe will leave a legacy that is felt across Idaho for generations to come. On behalf of the people of Idaho, we wish Sheriff Goetz many happy years in retirement filled with family, new adventures, and continued contributions to the Gem State.

Messages from the President

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Messages from the President of the United States were communicated to the Senate by Mr. Hanley, one of his secretaries.

Executive Messages Referred

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In executive session the Presiding Officer laid before the Senate messages from the President of the United States submitting sundry nominations which were referred to the appropriate committees. (The messages received today are printed at the end of the Senate proceedings.)

Message from the House Received During Adjournment

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Under the authority of the order of the Senate of January 3, 2025, the Secretary of the Senate, on June 9, 2026, during the adjournment of the Senate, received a message from the House of Representatives announcing that the Speaker has signed the following enrolled bill:

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S. 2. An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res 33.

Under the authority of the order of the Senate of January 3, 2025, the enrolled bill was signed on June 9, 2026, during the adjournment of the Senate, by the Acting President pro tempore (Mr. Curtis).

Message from the House

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At 11:00 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Alli, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bill, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:

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H.R. 5408. An act to accelerate workplace time-to-contract under the National Labor Relations Act.

Measures Discharged

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The following joint resolution was discharged from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c), and placed on the calendar:

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S.J. Res. 192. Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations".

Measures Read the First Time

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The following bill was read the first time:

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S. 4744. A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Enrolled Bill Presented

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The Secretary of the Senate reported that on June 9, 2026, she had presented to the President of the United States the following enrolled bill:

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S. 2. An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.

Executive and Other Communications

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The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated:

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EC-3763. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act, the notification of enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability (RSAT Case 26-0Y); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3764. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Air Force's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of Vietnam for defense articles and services estimated to cost $100 million (RSAT Case 26-39); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3765. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Air Force's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of Denmark for defense articles and services estimated to cost $842 million (RSAT Case 26-73); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3766. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Air Force's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of the United Kingdom for defense articles and services estimated to cost $160 million (RSAT Case 26-64); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3767. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Navy's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of New Zealand for defense articles and services estimated to cost $69 million (RSAT Case 26-47); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3768. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Air Force's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of Republic of Korea for defense articles and services estimated to cost $106 million (RSAT Case 26-50); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3769. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Navy's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of Italy for defense articles and services estimated to cost $30.6 million (RSAT Case 26-63); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3770. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(d) of the Arms Export Control Act, a certification of a proposed transfer of major defense equipment with an original acquisition value of approximately $46,100,000 (RSAT Case 26-11529); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3771. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Navy's proposed letter(s) of offer and acceptance to the Government of New Zealand for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.5 billion (RSAT Case 26-37); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3772. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Office of the General Counsel. Department of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, three (3) reports relative to nominations, vacancies, designations of service in acting roles, discontinuations of service in acting roles and actions on nominations for positions covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3773. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to an action on a nomination and a change in previously submitted reported information for a position covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 for the position of Director General of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, and Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-3774. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to action on a nomination and change in previously submitted reported information for a position covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 for the position of Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-3775. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to action on a nomination and change in previously submitted reported information for a position covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 for the position of Under Secretary for International Trade, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committee on Finance. EC-3776. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Medicaid Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model" (RIN0938-AV65) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 2, 2026; to the Committee on Finance. EC-3777. A communication from the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems; Delay of Effective Date" ((RIN0581-AE54) (Docket No. AMS-FTPP-22-0046)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-3778. A communication from the Acting Branch Chief of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Extending the Reporting Deadline Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule for 2025; Correcting Amendments" (RIN2060-AX03) (FRL No. 12720.1-03-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2026; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3779. A communication from the Director, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Department of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports" (RIN1245-AA10) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-3780. A communication from the Acting Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Removal of Environmental Clearance Officer Review and Comment for Assessments for Projects Over 200 Lots/Dwelling Units or Beds" (RIN2502-AJ82) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Introduction of Bills and Joint Resolutions

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The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:

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By Mr. WARNER: S. 4728. A bill to require the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to work with Sector Risk Management Agencies to update sector-specific plans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. By Mr. COTTON: S. 4729. A bill to impose mandatory minimum sentences for conspiracy to smuggle biological agents into the United States and for making false statements to Federal agents in connection with such smuggling, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Husted): S. 4730. A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize capacity building grants for community college agriculture and natural resources programs; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. By Mr. LUJAN (for himself and Mr. Heinrich): S. 4731. A bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to establish subaccounts in the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance. By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Padilla): S. 4732. A bill to authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. By Mr. KAINE: S. 4733. A bill to establish a grant program supporting teacher and school leader induction programs in public schools, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. By Ms. WARREN (for herself and Mr. Blumenthal): S. 4734. A bill to require a review of acquisitions by investment companies involving acquisition of controlling interest of major defense suppliers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. MERKLEY: S. 4735. A bill to establish procedures for determining the public interest with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. By Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. Marshall): S. 4736. A bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide additional opportunities for older individuals to volunteer at facilities that serve older individuals or individuals in younger generations, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr. Cramer): S. 4737. A bill to expand eligibility for certain housing programs for qualified volunteer first responders; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. By Mr. WYDEN: S. 4738. A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, protections relating to warrantless queries for the communications of United States persons, and for other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. By Mr. WYDEN: S. 4739. A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, to prohibit reverse targeting of United States persons and persons located in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. By Mr. WYDEN: S. 4740. A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to improve transparency, and for other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. By Mr. BANKS (for himself and Mr. Moreno): S. 4741. A bill to require certain commercial entities to implement age verification methods; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. By Mr. KELLY (for himself, Mr. Banks, and Mr. Young): S. 4742. A bill to authorize certain labor market data collection activities and to improve Federal measurement of the workforce impacts of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. By Ms. WARREN (for herself and Mr. Blumenthal): S. 4743. A bill to require the Office of Financial Research to compel data relating to the financing of artificial intelligence development, provide that data to Congress, and issue recommendations to financial regulatory agencies and Congress to mitigate financial stability risk, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. By Mr. MORAN: S. 4744. A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs; read the first time. By Mr. HUSTED (for himself and Mr. Moreno): S. 4745. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio, as the "Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building"; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Booker): S. 4746. A bill to provide that certain discriminatory conduct by covered platforms shall be unlawful, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Ms. ERNST: S. 4747. A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to authorize pausing and segmenting payments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Additional Cosponsors

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At the request of Mr. Barrasso, the name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski) was added as a cosponsor of S. 142, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to wildland firefighters in recognition of their strength, resiliency, sacrifice, and service to protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of the United States, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schmitt, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno) was added as a cosponsor of S. 382, a bill to ensure equal protection of the law, to prevent racism in the Federal Government, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cassidy, the name of the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley) was added as a cosponsor of S. 952, a bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a uniform 8-digit subheading number for all whiskies. At the request of Mr. Marshall, his name was withdrawn as a cosponsor of S. 1326, a bill to prevent States and local jurisdictions from interfering with the production and distribution of agricultural products in interstate commerce, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Grassley, the name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1404, a bill to combat organized crime involving the illegal acquisition of retail goods and cargo for the purpose of selling those illegally obtained goods through physical and online retail marketplaces. At the request of Mr. Cassidy, the name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1406, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the payment method for oxygen and oxygen related equipment, supplies, and services, to increase beneficiary access to oxygen and oxygen related equipment, supplies, and services, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Klobuchar, the name of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1410, a bill to provide for health coverage with no cost-sharing for additional breast screenings for certain individuals at greater risk for breast cancer. At the request of Mr. Young, the names of the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) were added as cosponsors of S. 1717, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure prompt coverage of breakthrough devices under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Moody, the name of the Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1782, a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability in cases of organ transplants. At the request of Mrs. Hyde-Smith, the name of the Senator from California (Mr. Schiff) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1919, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a domestic cotton consumption credit. At the request of Mr. Coons, the names of the Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal) were added as cosponsors of S. 1974, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to allow certain public health data modernization grants to be used to track hospital bed capacity, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Lee, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2343, a bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to prohibit disparate-impact claims. At the request of Mr. Cruz, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2376, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity. At the request of Mr. Grassley, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3394, a bill to direct the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the sentencing guideline relating to child sexual abuse material. At the request of Mr. Grassley, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3397, a bill to make coercion of children to commit harm a criminal offense, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Grassley, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3398, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to criminalize intentional threats to distribute child sexual abuse material, and to provide appropriate penalties for the use of child sexual abuse material to extort or coerce victims. At the request of Mr. McCormick, the names of the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice), the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Warnock) and the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn) were added as cosponsors of S. 3900, a bill to promote human rights, internet freedom and accountability in Iran, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Shaheen, the names of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Banks) and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker) were added as cosponsors of S. 4189, a bill to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin. At the request of Mr. Ricketts, the name of the Senator from Nebraska (Mrs. Fischer) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4464, a bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to ensure that consumers can make informed decisions in choosing between meat and poultry products and cell-cultivated protein products, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Warner, the name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4467, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act with respect to nursing facility requirements, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Scott of South Carolina, the name of the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4528, a bill to provide for the long-term improvement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Grassley, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 236, a resolution calling for the return of abducted Ukrainian children before finalizing any peace agreement to end the war against Ukraine.

Authority for Committees to Meet

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Mr. President, I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet in closed session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a business meeting. The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations. The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

Orders for Thursday, June 11, 2026

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Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 11; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, 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, that, at 11:30 a.m., the Senate proceed to executive session and execute the order in relation to the Dahl nomination; also, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motion filed during today's session ripen at 1:45 p.m.

The PRESIDING OFFICER

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Adjournment Until 10 A.m. Tomorrow

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