Senate
Page S4093 · Official textThe Senate met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Honorable John Barrasso, a Senator from the State of Wyoming.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 115 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Prayer
Page S4093 · Official textThe Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Almighty God, Sovereign over this Nation and Lord of our lives, our desire is to glorify You through faithful service to our country. Grant us an earnest spirit and steadfast purpose in our work today. Lord, help us to know Your will, and having known it, to desire it above our own. Teach us to say what we mean and to mean what we say, speaking with wisdom, integrity, and praise. Grant our lawmakers resoluteness, intentionality, and courage. Quiet every distraction so that they may listen attentively to Your voice and speak with conviction and compassion. We pray in Your righteous and holy Name. Amen.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page S4093 · Official textThe Presiding Officer led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (174 characters)
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Appointment of Acting President Pro Tempore
Page S4093 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will please read a communication to the Senate from the President pro tempore (Mr. Grassley).
The senior assistant legislative clerk read the following letter:
Text printed in the Record (326 characters)
U.S. Senate,
President pro tempore,
Washington, DC, July 15, 2026. To the Senate:
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable John Barrasso, a Senator from the State of Wyoming, to perform the duties of the Chair.
Chuck Grassley,
President pro tempore.
Mr. BARRASSO thereupon assumed the Chair as Acting President pro tempore.
Reservation of Leader Time
Page S4093 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.
Conclusion of Morning Business
Page S4093 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Morning business is closed.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Page S4093 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Jeffrey T. Kuntz, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
Recognition of the Majority Leader (Executive Session)
Page S4093 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Armstrong)
The majority leader is recognized.
National Defense Authorization Act (Executive Session)
Pages S4093–S4094 · Official textMr. President, Americans tend to trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to national security. And, boy oh boy, do Democrats seem determined to demonstrate why that is the case.
Yesterday afternoon, Democrats voted against the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that authorizes spending for our Nation's defense. Their ostensible excuse was the conflict in Iran.
Well, in case they were operating under a misconception, I am happy to tell them that this year's National Defense Authorization Act is not an Iran funding supplemental. It is the annual--annual--legislation authorizing the basic needs of our military and the basic needs of our men and women in uniform, needs that exist no matter what is happening in Iran.
Let's just talk about what the Democrats voted against yesterday. They voted against a pay increase for our troops. They voted against quality-of-life improvements for our troops. They voted against the reform of the Pentagon's acquisition process.
They voted against funding for unmanned systems like drones and counter-drone measures, an essential--essential--security need in this day and age. They voted against shipbuilding efforts to strengthen our naval fleet. They voted against measures to maintain our Nation's airpower. They voted against including 38 of their own amendments. I could go on here, but you get the point.
Once again, Democrats are playing fast and loose with our Nation's security. I say "once again" because Democrats have been playing fast and loose with our Nation's security all year.
First, there was their recordbreaking full government shutdown last fall, which affected our military and all of our Nation's security Agencies, to say nothing of the impact that it had on air travel.
Then there was their recordbreaking shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which lasted a staggering 76 days.
Then, after that, Democrats refused to reauthorize a critical intelligence-gathering tool, which the Democrat leader himself has described as "a very important tool for ensuring our national security."
And now they have blocked the Senate from considering the National Defense Authorization Act. And who knows what is next?
In either a fit of self-delusion or an attempt to distract from their actions, Democrats are trying to peddle the narrative that somehow they can't agree to anything because Republicans are trying to make things partisan. That is right. Well, let me spend just a minute correcting the record here.
The National Defense Authorization Act the Democrats voted against yesterday? Bipartisan. That is right. The National Defense Authorization Act is bipartisan legislation. Four Democrats voted for the bill--for the bill--at the committee markup.
Democrats' recordbreaking full government shutdown in the fall? Well, that was because they wouldn't accept a nonpartisan, short-term, clean government funding extension to allow bipartisan negotiations to continue.
The Democrats' recordbreaking Department of Homeland Security shutdown? Well, that was also because Democrats couldn't take yes for an answer.
Democrats and Republicans had agreed on a bipartisan DHS funding bill. Democrats reneged on that agreement because they wanted to negotiate for more, and Republicans said yes to negotiation.
And then Democrats shut down the Department anyway, even though Republicans were willing to negotiate further--even though the White House repeatedly offered a robust package of reforms.
So as I said, I don't know whether it is self-delusion or deliberate deception, but I have heard few things more ludicrous than Democrats' narrative that they can't agree to legislation because Republicans are being partisan.
Here are the facts: Democrats can't bring themselves to authorize funding for our Nation's security, whether that is security at our border, funding for our military, or paychecks for our troops. It doesn't matter how bipartisan the bill is; Democrats can't bring themselves to support our Nation's security.
Is it politics? Do Democrats think that voting against our national defense and our Nation's military will gain them points with their base or do they simply think they can afford to ignore our Nation's defense needs until some hostile actor takes advantage of our weakness?
I don't know, but I do know that our Nation is less safe because of Democrats' actions.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Session)
Page S4094 · Official textThe Democratic leader is recognized.
Todd Blanche (Executive Session)
Page S4094 · Official textMr. President, anyone who can represent a known pathological liar like Donald Trump can have no integrity and should never be Attorney General.
We all know lawyers are supposed to represent their clients, but when you represent a client who just lies and lies and lies, pathologically, you should never be Attorney General.
The only thing today's hearing will confirm is that Todd Blanche represents one client alone, Donald Trump, and he will continue to represent that lying client when he is Attorney General. There will be no integrity. There will be no real basis of fact. He will just do whatever Trump wants. We know that.
But the central question today, at this hearing and on into the process, is not of what Trump wants but what Senate Republicans will do. Let me repeat that. The crucial question today is not what Trump wants, but what Senate Republicans will do.
Where are the Senate Republicans? Are Republicans really going to go to the mat for Blanche, after he aided Trump in his corruption every step of the way? Do Senate Republicans have no issue with Blanche masterminding Trump's MAGA slush fund, arranging Trump's sweetheart deal from the IRS, and refusing to release 3 million pages of the Epstein file? Come on, Republicans, you have no shame? Is there no bar that can block you from, prevent you from, putting a man like this as Attorney General?
Republicans have set the bar so low for our Nation's top law enforcement official that you have to dig for it. The American people don't trust Todd Blanche. Neither should Senate Republicans, plain and simple.
SAVE Act (Executive Session)
Page S4094 · Official textNow, let me talk a little bit about the SAVE Act. Republicans keep screwing around in reconciliation with Trump's voter suppression SAVE Act. Republicans should know by now that it ain't going to fly with us, with the courts, or with the American people. I will say it as many times as it takes: The SAVE Act is dead on arrival here in the Senate. I don't care how Republicans try to package their plan to resurrect the old ghost of Jim Crowe. We will kill it. Trump's blatant effort to strip Americans of their voting rights is withering in the courts, too. Yesterday--just yesterday--Trump lost his 14th and 15th cases trying to demand state voter rolls. Hey, Donald, what you are doing is illegal and unconstitutional, and the courts are making that very clear. Rightwing Republicans like the Senator from Utah can bluster all they want, but the SAVE Act is not going to become law. Trump will have to face all the voters, not just the ones he wants, in November. And the mess the Republicans find themselves in right now won't go away until they realize just how futile this effort to disenfranchise millions of Americans is. Instead, Trump has bragged on national TV that he plans to force a shutdown if he doesn't get his way on the SAVE Act. Trump said: Republicans have to pass SAVE, otherwise we are going to have a shutdown in November. Hear that, Republicans? You hear that, Americans? You hear that, voters? Trump says he is going to shut down the government to take away Americans' voting rights. Are Republicans going to go along with that? I remind Donald again--as I did yesterday--last time you bragged about shutting down the government with Nancy and me in the Oval Office didn't come out too good for you, Donald. This one will come out even worse. So I hope Republicans hear this. Trump says he is going to shut down the government so he can take away Americans' voting rights. How do you think that is going to go over in this country? Democrats aren't saying we want a shutdown; Trump is. Republicans ought to do themselves a favor and bury the SAVE Act once and for all.
Iran (Executive Session)
Page S4094 · Official textNow, on Iran, the hole Donald Trump keeps digging himself into has turned into a chasm. Trump continues to escalate his asinine war of whim with Iran. Yesterday, Trump renewed his threat to bomb Iran's civilian infrastructure--something that was criticized across the board the last time he lashed out. Democrats voted unanimously against the NDAA--unanimously--because the belief of our caucus is wide and deep: Congress cannot continue business as usual on the annual Defense bill when Trump is actively escalating one of the worst national security disasters in American history. That is what he is doing. Trump can't launch a directionless war, defy Congress' bipartisan demands that it end, refuse to level with the American people about the cost, and then expect Democrats to follow quietly and vote all the money he wants to continue this absurdity. We will not act like a rubberstamp when our servicemen are in harm's way abroad and Americans are getting crushed financially and at the gas pump here at home. No way. Democrats have not and will not go along with this war.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Executive Session)
Pages S4094–S4095 · Official textOn the ICE shootings, there's so much that mounts up: The cost, chaos, and corruption in this Trump administration is unfathomable. On the ICE shootings, we continue to see the painful consequences of the Republicans' refusal to make commonsense reforms to ICE. We recently learned that the ICE agent behind the shootings in Maine was a new recruit, only getting the job a few months ago. The victim of that killing wasn't even the target of the operation. ICE's recent orders to pause vehicle stops is too little too late, and that is before Trump reinstated the order 20 hours later. We need to stop this violence before it happens. The tragedies in Maine and Texas could have been prevented if Republicans had passed our bill to hold ICE to the same standards we expect from all other law enforcement. If Republicans had agreed to our proposal for body cameras, use-of-force training, warrant requirements, other basic reforms, the victims killed in Texas and Maine so tragically might be alive today. We can't let Trump's untrained, unaccountable agents continue to bring chaos to our streets. Republicans, where are you? Wake up. Rein in these rogue agencies. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
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
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Waiving Quorum Call (Executive Session)
Page S4095 · Official textI ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Kuntz nomination.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
National Defense Authorization Act (Executive Session)
Page S4095 · Official textMr. President, few votes in this body are as important as the vote to fund our troops, our military.
Yesterday, right here on this floor, the U.S. Senate--every single Democrat--voted to block that funding. And just 10 minutes ago, the minority leader came to the floor and bragged about the fact that the Democrats had blocked the funding for our military. He stood here and said they are proud of the fact that they are, once again, choosing politics over the security of our Nation.
That is what we're facing here in the U.S. Senate today. We're talking about the National Defense Authorization Act, and this Congress has passed this bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act every year for the past 65 years.
And when it came to the floor of the Senate yesterday, the minority leader said to the Democrats: Say no. Say no to the military.
I am going to go through the list of all the things they said no to yesterday. This year should be no different than the other years--65 years in a row.
This year's Defense bill gives our military every tool it needs to keep us, as Americans, safe. It invests in peace through strength at home and abroad. Importantly, this bill provides a pay raise for the men and women who defend our Nation.
Every single Democrat in this Chamber joined Senator Schumer, joined Bernie Sanders, and joined Elizabeth Warren and said: No, we are not voting for it. We are not voting for it.
That is what they said. They refused to allow the debate to even begin. This was before the bill even started the debate here on the floor of the Senate. And it is interesting because many of them flip-flopped. What do I mean by that? It means that, first, many of them voted for the bill in the committee in order to send it to the floor. Then it gets to the floor, and what happens? All of them vote to block it from even beginning the debate. Apparently, Democrats were for it before they were against it.
Here is what Democrats voted against: They voted against higher pay for our troops. They voted against better healthcare for our service members and their families. Democrats voted against better housing for our troops. Democrats voted against stronger deterrence. Democrats voted against a more lethal military. Democrats voted against a larger, stronger Navy.
Democrats even voted against a modern nuclear deterrent. Don't we want to deter nuclear war? This is at a time when nuclear weapons are proliferating all around the world. In my home State of Wyoming, we have F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The airmen who serve there are the lynchpin of our land-based nuclear force. The deterrence there has been known over the decades as our Nation's "ace in the hole." That is how it works--the desire to protect us as a nation.
Democrats voted against all of it. They actually even voted against expanding our military recruitment effort. They don't want us to be able to recruit for the military, and they don't want the military to be properly funded and equipped in a way that protects us as a nation.
Democrats actually even voted against more savings for taxpayers. Democrats voted against protecting women's sports at our military schools. No, they don't want any of that. Democrats voted against promotions based on merit and merit alone: Oh, no. You have merited and earned a promotion? No, you are not getting it on merit alone.
That is who the Democrats have become. That is the threat to our Nation--this far-leftist group that is telling the Democrats here on the floor of the Senate what to do. And for things that had been bipartisan in the past, they said: No, we can't do that anymore.
This far-left wing of the party is telling us what to do and how to march in step.
Democrats voted against ending harmful DEI mandates. They voted against stronger border security. They like open borders. They don't want border security. They voted against funding to combat against the cartels that are moving poison into the country--killing young people in record numbers. Democrats voted against stopping the flood of deadly drugs and illegal border crossings.
Just 2 days ago, right here on the Senate floor, the Senator from Maryland, Senator Chris Van Hollen, said this: Missile defense--to defend against incoming missiles for the American people--was wasteful spending.
It is remarkable. Defending the country is wasteful spending. That is who the Democrats have become.
The Democrats act like pennypinchers when it comes to paying our troops to protect our homeland; yet, they accept the astronomical cost of the waste, the fraud, and the abuse--free healthcare for illegal immigrants, the fraud that is happening like we are seeing in Minnesota, and all of those things. The Democrats are for all of that, but they are not for our troops, and they are not for defending our Nation. That is the Democrat Party of today.
The Democrats of today are radical; they are extreme; they are dangerous; they are scary. Well, the world is a dangerous place, and by voting against the National Defense Authorization Act, the Democrats are disrespecting the American troops; they are undermining American security; and Democrats are jeopardizing America's strength.
Look, our friend Lindsey Graham believed in peace through strength. I do, as well as do most Americans--but not the Democrat Party of today. It is time for us to act on that belief: that America is best when we are strong and it helps make us more safe. It is time for the Senate to pass a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, and it is time for Democrats to act like Americans.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
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. Sheehy)
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote at noon now begin immediately.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Pages S4095–S4096 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state.
The bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (307 characters)
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. 779, Jeffrey T. Kuntz, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
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 Jeffrey T. Kuntz, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, shall be brought to a close?
The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.
The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.
The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick).
I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) is necessarily absent.
The yeas and the nays resulted--yeas 51, nays 46, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (926 characters)
Armstrong Banks Barrasso Blackburn Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Graham Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall Moody Moran Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tillis Tuberville Wicker Young
Alsobrooks Baldwin Bennet Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman 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 Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden
Gallego
McConnell
McCormick
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ricketts). On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 46.
The motion is agreed to.
The Senator from Michigan.
Tribute to David Weinberg (Executive Session)
Pages S4096–S4097 · Official textMr. President, today, I am honored to recognize an exceptional public servant and Michigander who is sitting right next to me here. His name is David Weinberg.
For nearly 18 years, David has served on my team, guiding our office through major challenges and always delivering results for the people in Michigan as well as all across our country.
David's Michigan roots run deep. His great-great-grandparents Max and Jenny Fisher left Eastern Europe in the 1890s and sought an opportunity in the United States of America. They eventually settled in Kalamazoo, where Max's work as a peddler went on to become a three-generation family business of buying scrap metal and fabricating steel. They also founded their synagogue in Kalamazoo, which remains there today.
David's grandfather Martin Kalb first came to Michigan after enlisting in the Army, which stationed him at Fort Custer. He took an additional intensive language training program at the University of Michigan before deploying to Europe during World War II, where he served as an interpreter and a military police officer.
Martin's education started a long line of Wolverines in David's family. His grandmother Marcia was the first in her family to go to college, graduating with a degree in political science. David's parents Neal and Susan, who are up in the Galleries here today, met at the University of Michigan in 1970. And just 35 years later, David graduated with a political science degree as well.
Before becoming one of the longest serving members of my team, David got his start on Capitol Hill by working for two titans in Michigan's congressional delegation. David interned for venerable Congressman John Dingell and then served as a law clerk for Senator Carl Levin in his role as chairman of the powerful Subcommittee on Investigations.
In the 18 years that David has worked for me, I have been able to watch him grow from a recent law school graduate and junior campaign staffer to one of the longest serving staff directors in the U.S. Senate. Over the years, David has helped shape some of the most consequential policies that I have been privileged to work on as a legislative assistant and as a legislative director in both my House and Senate offices and, most recently, as staff director of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
During my tenure in the House, David helped create--and later expand--the State Small Business Credit Initiative which helped small businesses grow and create jobs.
He worked hand in hand with Senator Debbie Stabenow's team and across the aisle to deliver $170 million to support the city of Flint during its water crisis.
(Mr. ARMSTRONG assumed the Chair.)
On the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, David has led an incredible team, supporting my work to make government more efficient and effective for the American people. With his help, I have been able to enact bipartisan bills into law that save taxpayer dollars, streamline Federal contracting, track and improve Federal Agency performance, modernize Federal cloud computing, and dozens more.
He and I share a mindset that Congress can't just focus on the problems right in front of us; that we also have to look ahead, look ahead to the challenges that we will be facing in the future.
David helped me steer the Cyber Incident Reporting for the Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 across the finish line, passing what the Washington Post called "the most significant cyber legislation in history." Once this rule is finalized, it will help keep our critical infrastructure safe from dangerous cyber attacks and ransomware attacks.
He has also helped me look ahead and prepare for emerging threats by working to pass bipartisan legislation that strengthens the cyber security for State and local governments, secures our Federal supply chains, and improves our disaster preparedness, gives us the tools to defend against drone threats, and protects Americans' most sensitive genetic data.
He has also been instrumental in helping author cutting-edge legislation to prepare our Nation for emerging technologies. In 2017, he played a critical role in my efforts to craft bipartisan legislation--along with Senator Thune--to help guide the safe deployment of self-driving cars.
Through that process, David and I both became equally steeped in artificial intelligence policy. And since then, he has helped me enact several bills to help drive the responsible adoption and use of AI by the Federal Government.
David also understands the vital role that congressional oversight plays in making our government accountable to the public. He played a vital role in bringing together our Republican partners for major investigations led by my committee, including the January 6 Capitol attack and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
David has a keen--keen--understanding of exactly what it takes to be successful and be successful in moving bills or accomplish a goal in Congress. If there is a path of something getting in the way of being done, David will find it. Over the years, he has built incredibly strong relationships with fellow staffers on both sides of the aisle, which is how this place has to work. I watched him deftly handle markups on some of the most complicated legislation that this body considers.
Helping to keep both Democratic and Republican Senators together is absolutely important to advance critical bipartisan bills. He knows when a deal can be made to compromise on legislation without ever sacrificing core principles that drive my work on behalf of the people of Michigan. He is able to see around corners, identifying potential roadblocks and determining how to break through them in order to get things done.
David's ability to distill complex information to get to the heart of an issue and to find the right path forward have made him one of my most trusted advisers over these many years. I could speak at length about David's work ethic and the many ways in which he has helped me serve the people of Michigan.
But I have also been proud to witness some of the key moments of his life outside of work, including his marriage to Meghan, and the joy with which he has thrown himself into being a dad to his two sons Jay and Elliott.
In fact, David just recently celebrated perhaps one of his most important and impressive accomplishments: He is now a championship winning Little League coach.
And after seeing David in action over the years, I can't help but think there is a lot of overlap--a lot of overlap--in the skills it takes to be an effective U.S. Senator and managing a dozen sixth and seventh graders.
I have been proud to see everything that David has accomplished over these past 8 years, and I cannot wait to see all that he will accomplish in his next role.
David, Colleen and I are so grateful for all of your hard work and leadership over the years. We wish you all the best of luck as you head into your next chapter of your career, but you will always--always--be part of Team Peters.
Nomination of Jeffrey T. Kuntz (Executive Session)
Page S4097 · Official textMr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Jeffrey T. Kuntz to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
While Judge Kuntz was under consideration to fill a judicial vacancy, he was also presiding over Alexander v. Trump, in which he authored the majority opinion upholding a lower court's ruling that Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board could continue.
Judge Kuntz declined to directly answer my question about whether he made the defendants in Alexander aware, while the case was pending, that he was being considered by the plaintiff for a lifetime appointment to the bench.
Instead, Judge Kuntz argued that he was not under consideration for this nomination, claiming that he did not interview with the White House until 2 weeks after the case had been decided.
A closer look at the timeline suggests a different story. Judge Kuntz first discussed a possible judicial nomination with Senator Scott's office in November 2024, 2 months before he was assigned to this case.
Judge Kuntz issued the majority opinion in Alexander on February 12, 2025, ruling in favor of President Trump. Eight days later, he was contacted by the White House regarding a potential nomination.
In fact, Judge Kuntz discussed this case when he interviewed with the White House on February 28, just about 2 weeks after he issued his opinion.
It's hard to believe that it is simply a coincidence that just 8 days after Judge Kuntz issued a ruling favorable to President Trump, he was contacted by the White House about a nomination and interviewed about it shortly thereafter.
Yet again, we have another nominee who has been rewarded for his loyalty to the President with a lifetime appointment to the Federal bench. I urge my colleagues to oppose this nomination.
Recess
Page S4097 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2 p.m. today.
There being no objection, the Senate, at 1:06 p.m., recessed until 2 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr. Banks).
Vote on Kuntz Nomination (Executive Calendar)
Page S4097 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Kuntz nomination?
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 senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentuky (Mr. McConnell) and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick).
I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 46, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,102 characters)
Armstrong Banks Barrasso Blackburn Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Graham Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall Moody Moran Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tillis Tuberville Wicker Young
Alsobrooks Baldwin Bennet Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman 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 Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden
Gallego
McConnell
McCormick
The nomination was confirmed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. 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 actions.
(Mr. MORENO assumed the Chair.)
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted). The Senator from Kansas.
Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (Executive Calendar)
Pages S4097–S4098 · Official textMr. President, sadness entered the Senate over the weekend, and as we reflect upon the life of our colleague, our friend, our fellow citizen, our patriot toward the United States of America--and a friend, really, of the world--Senator Lindsey Graham, we honor his commitment to promoting liberty and fighting tyranny throughout the world.
Yesterday, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators by reintroducing legislation that he championed--the Sanctioning Russia Act. This legislation would meaningfully alter the course of Russia's unjust war in Ukraine, and it serves as a fitting tribute to the cause Senator Graham championed throughout his life and service in the U.S. Senate.
Last month, leaders of the G7 countries issued a joint statement declaring their "unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and [its] territorial integrity." This was a welcomed statement from the world's major industrialized democracies as Ukraine endures withering attacks from Russia, coupled with the renewed commitment to both Ukraine and article 5 at this month's NATO Summit.
These words, backed by President Trump, come at a pivotal moment in Ukraine's defense against Russia. While Ukrainian forces are making headlines--taking the battle to Russian territory, attacking Russian energy and defense infrastructure at increased rates, and placing Russian-held Crimea under pressure--the situation in the Donbas remains precarious.
The ingenuity and courage of the Ukrainian forces have reduced Russian progress to incremental gains and in some places have achieved reverses, but they still suffer a manpower shortage and, most alarmingly, lack critical air defense interceptors.
The G7 members agreed to "increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities." In recognizing the capabilities of Ukraine's defense industrial base, the statement says the countries are "ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in [Ukrainian production of its military equipment]."
Words, however, must be backed by action, and the United States and our allies must act quickly. For more than a year, I have advocated for Ukraine to receive access to cruise missiles. To the extent practicable, these weapons and Patriot interceptors should be expedited for Kyiv's use. Given the backlogs in our own defense industrial base and that of the Europeans', investing in and supporting Ukraine's domestic war production is not something to be considered but something to be done.
I am encouraged by President Trump's announcement at last week's NATO Summit of his intention to issue licenses for Ukraine to build Patriot interceptors domestically. While details remain to be worked out and while there are obstacles to overcome to make this announcement a reality, it signals to Vladimir Putin that his war is on borrowed time.
The same holds true in pressuring Russia's economy through oil and gas sanctions.
The G7 said:
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We will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors.
This statement coincides with the expiration of the most recent Treasury waiver on Russian oil sanctions, which was announced by President Trump last October. Those sanctions were having a significant impact by depriving Moscow of revenue. Secretary Bessent has not issued another waiver, nor should he.
The White House has taken an important step in endorsing longstanding legislation introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. I have cosponsored this legislation, which would punish countries that continue to buy Russian oil with crippling tariffs. This is a clear, clear message to friends and foes alike: You can do business with Russia or you can do business with the United States, but you can't do both.
I welcome Leader Thune's intention to bring this legislation to a vote soon, to send it to the President's desk for his signature, and to its becoming law.
Similarly, I call on our European allies to find new supplies of liquefied natural gas more quickly ahead of next year's deadline to phase out Russian purchases. The EU's imports of Russian LNG increased--they increased--in the month of May, reportedly providing Moscow with over $1 billion in revenue. It is imperative for European countries to treat the war in Ukraine with the urgency it deserves and choke off Russia's revenue streams.
Despite over 1 million casualties and a badly damaged national economy, Vladimir Putin's objectives have not changed. From the outset of the full invasion he ordered in February of 2022, he has sought to subjugate Kyiv's sovereign authority to Moscow. He will not succeed, but his failure in Ukraine may make him more dangerous elsewhere. In the fall of 2022, as Russia's war effort faltered, Russian officials repeatedly threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Given Russian drone activity in NATO territory recently, our European allies who border Russia have legitimate fears that Putin could escalate the war to include them.
President Trump is absolutely right to expect our allies to assume responsibility for their own security. Today and for the next several years to come, however, the undeniable fact is that American forces have capabilities which cannot be replicated by the rest of NATO. Our continued involvement and leadership are critical to deterring Putin should he believe that he can take action against NATO and succeed either by taking territory or by fracturing the alliance.
Last month's G7 statement is unequivocally clear in recognizing the threat Putin poses to European security. Through continued American leadership, Putin will fail in his goals to conquer Ukraine and split the West, and not just Europe but the entire world will be safer because of it.
Mr. President, this summer, from July 17 to 19--not too far away--residents of Burdett, KS, will come together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town's founding.
Burdett is a small community of fewer than 250 residents, and it is particularly meaningful to me as a place that I have represented since I was first elected to public office as a State senator.
The community is special to me because, on election night of that State senate race, Browns Grove Township was the very first township to report its voting totals, and the tally showed that I just might win my uphill race for the Kansas State Senate.
Some of my best remembrances are the Monday community potluck lunches and the annual Tri-County picnic in the city park. I have knocked on every door in Burdett and talked with members of the community about their hopes, their concerns, and how we can preserve our special way of life for another generation of Kansans.
This summer, as local residents commemorate Burdett's history, they will also pay tribute to one of their own: Clyde Tombaugh, whose significant contributions advanced the fields of scientific discovery and space exploration. It is impossible to visit Burdett without seeing the pride the community has in his accomplishments.
Born February 4, 1906, Clyde was raised on a farm just outside Burdett, and he quickly developed a love of astronomy and learning. As a teenager, he taught himself how to build his own telescopes out of spare parts that he found around the family farm.
Later, his commitment to research and exploration would lead him to make a remarkable discovery that made history and helped to unlock a new understanding of our solar system. On February 18, 1930, at the age of just 24, Clyde discovered the existence of Pluto, the only major planet discovered here in the United States.
Following this achievement, Clyde earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in astronomy from the University of Kansas, and he went on to make many more contributions to advancing the fields of scientific research and space exploration.
In 2015, NASA honored him by carrying a portion of his ashes aboard the New Horizons spacecraft on its mission to Pluto. The heart-shaped region of Pluto's surface was officially named Tombaugh Regio in his honor, paying tribute to his accomplishments and cementing the legacy of a Kansas farm kid in one of the most remote parts of our solar system.
As Burdett celebrates its 150th anniversary--and I say congratulations to them--it is a history that is embodied by the story of Clyde Tombaugh, someone with determination, hard work, and curiosity, whose discoveries helped to shape how future generations understand our universe.
For decades, this tight-knit community of Burdett has preserved his legacy and made certain the world remembers his contributions to science, research, and discovery.
I hope everyone passing through southwestern Kansas will take the time to visit Burdett to learn the history and the legacy of this little town on the plains of Kansas.
On behalf of the U.S. Senate to the citizens of Burdett--past, present, and future--I congratulate the community of Burdett on its 150th anniversary and express my gratitude for the way in which its residents have honored and preserved the memory of one of our most notable Kansans and how kind they have always been to me.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Hawaii.
Iran (Executive Calendar)
Pages S4098–S4100 · Official textMr. President, Donald Trump is dragging us back into war again, and no one is exactly sure why. He achieved almost none of his objectives that he set out at the beginning of war, while spending tens--if not hundreds--of billions of dollars and forcing Americans to pay more for everything, especially gas and groceries. It has been only a few days since the fighting resumed, and gas is already up to $4.89 nationally and $5.44 in Hawaii. And the President can't be bothered to explain why we are at war again and what we are supposed to be getting out of it.
So let's just go through his own stated objectives at the start of the war and see where we stand today.
No. 1, regime change: "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER"--all caps--Donald Trump said in the first week of war.
He told the Iranians:
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When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.
How did that work out?
The regime is intact. The regime is led by a younger ayatollah with the same last name, emboldened by the knowledge that they survived months of war against the world's greatest superpower. The Iranian opposition is weaker than it was before the war, and the Iranian people are no freer today.
Look, regime change wars rarely ever end well. And the idea that Trump was going to be able to go in and quickly topple the regime, much like he did in Venezuela a month earlier, was always absurd. But he did it anyway.
OK. Goal No. 2, no nuclear weapons: "We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. . . . They will never have a nuclear weapon," Trump said on the day he launched the war.
Now, it is true that heavy strikes last summer and the first phase of the war this spring have set back Iran's nuclear program. It is also true that in the memorandum of understanding--that has since fallen apart--Iran agreed to the same thing it agreed to under the JCPOA.
Under the Obama nuclear agreement, we got all of this without having to go to war. And the criticism of the Obama agreement--and I was on the floor defending it--was that it didn't last long enough--not that it wasn't any good, but that it didn't last in perpetuity; that it was only good for 10 years.
Now we have got nothing. Now we have got nothing.
To that point, having repeatedly ruled out allowing any uranium enrichment and demanding that Iran turn over its uranium stockpile, Trump has changed his tune on both: "It is a little hard"--"it is a little hard"--"when other people have it, other adjoining states have it, and you're not letting them have it for purposes of electricity and things like that."
This is Trump on uranium enrichment.
On acquiring stockpiles, he said:
Text printed in the Record (71 characters)
You could make the case, why even bother? It's not very valuable stuff.
Why even bother?
And that is the story of this war in a nutshell. Trump sets before us an impossible goal. And when it fails, he then moves the goalposts or backs down completely.
The next goal, obliterating Iran's missiles:
Text printed in the Record (122 characters)
We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally . . . obliterated.
He said that on February 28. But according to press reports, U.S. intelligence Agencies estimated that roughly 70 percent of Iran's pre-war missile stockpile was still intact as of May. And just this week, Iran started firing missiles again at tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and at military bases across the Middle East, demonstrating both its leverage and its ability to continue fighting.
OK. Well, what about the goal of cutting off Iran's funding for proxy groups?
The administration has mostly stopped talking about it, and there was no mention of Iran's support for Hezbollah or other groups in the MOU. In fact, the MOU allowed Iran to sell its oil freely, even though Trump's own State Department told Congress that oil exports are a primary revenue source for Iran's financing of proxies.
So all of the stated objectives of this war have not been met.
Finally, how are they doing on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and free?
Well, it is closed again, and Trump and Iran are back and forth going at it over who gets control and who gets to charge tolls. To be clear, this was never a problem prewar. And so now the objective in ending this war is just to get to the status quo before the war.
We went to war to eliminate their ballistic missile capability--not on the nuclear side. Not a success.
We went to war to change the regime. Not only not a success, but a terrible failure. We have got a younger and more radical and entrenched Ayatollah in the regime of Iran. And now they know they can withstand our best hit.
We went to war to eliminate their nuclear program; and not only did we not do that, but Donald Trump himself is kind of characterizing it like it is no big deal.
And so now we are negotiating not for any of the reasons that were stated to put our servicemembers in harm's way and to spend tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer funding for this war and to raise the price of gasoline by a buck, buck fifty a gallon, to raise the price of fertilizer and plastics and natural gas and electronics--to raise the price of almost everything.
We met none of our objectives, and now our objective is just to keep sea lanes open. Sea lanes were open. Sea lanes are always open. That is not a foreign policy objective of the United States of America in the sense that we have to work really hard to do it. Freedom of navigation is a basic principle that we enforce around the world, but we don't have to bomb anybody to get it.
And so now the endgame is: Let's try to get the strait open and pretend that the reasons that we went to war were not the reasons that we went to war.
And I think what is the most disgusting about all of this--you know, someone used to say: Armies don't go to war. Countries go to war. Now, why does that matter? You cannot go to war without the support of the American public. You cannot go to war without explaining to the American public what you are up to.
And what happened many months ago was Donald Trump woke up one morning and said: I guess we are taking kinetic action against Iran. And people are finding: OK, sorry, what? What exactly are we doing and why?
There was no buildup; there was no explaining; and most importantly for us as U.S. Senators, there was no vote on the authorization of the use of military force.
Now, they are going to say that under the War Powers Resolution, they have this ability to basically take military action if there is an imminent threat to the safety of the United States of America. And then they would have 60 days, and it is kind of complicated exactly how it works.
But what they have said now is that "No, this isn't a war." That is No. 1.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry. It is a war, but we have 60 days."
"Oh, the war is off because the MOU for the cease-fire is now being implemented."
And now the war is back on, and they are acting as if, as a legal matter, this new kinetic engagement is a second and separate war and the clock starts again and you have got 60 days again to delay Congress from weighing in.
And this is not some procedural nicety. This isn't me as a politician, like, protecting my prerogatives. The reason this matters is the people's representatives in the Congress have to vote before we go to war. And there are some narrow exceptions. If we are in danger, you don't want to have to, like, assemble Congress if we are in immediate danger. Fine. We are not in immediate danger. We were never in immediate danger.
If you want to claim that the ICBM array that the IRGC had was a danger to the United States, come down, at least testify before the Foreign Relations Committee and the Armed Services Committee, and then at least have a debate on the damn floor of the U.S. Senate.
And it is worse than that because to the extent that we have had any votes at all, we actually have prevailed. A majority of Members of this body have said that this war should come to a conclusion.
And so my Republican colleagues are saying: Hey, why don't we pass the Defense authorization? After all, it is a big bipartisan bill, and we always do it. That is true. We always do it.
And I think 13 out of 14 years or 12 out of 13 years, I voted for the National Defense Authorization Act. And the reason I voted no yesterday is because I am not voting for a defense bill until this war is over, and I am not voting for a defense bill until we get to debate the most important thing happening in terms of our national defense. We are at war, and we are being prevented from even overseeing it. We are just asked to fork over tens and tens of billions of dollars without so much as weighing in on this is an authorization of the use of military force.
The President, as the Commander in Chief of our military, may engage kinetically with another country. We have decided that. We have been elected. We have decided that.
None of that happened. Why? Because they don't have the votes for that. Why do they not have the votes for that? Because this war is stupid, and the public knows it.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Schmitt)
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
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Remembering Lindsey Graham (Executive Calendar)
Page S4100 · Official textMr. President, America lost a fearless patriot in our friend Lindsey Graham. He devoted his life to serving the people of South Carolina and this Nation. He never shied away from a difficult fight, and he always stuck to his principles.
It has been so moving to see all the tributes to his life and his legacy pour in from each side of the aisle. It speaks to who he was as a leader, statesman, and a public servant. He believed in robust, respectful bipartisan debate, and he knew that, in Washington, you can only solve problems by building a big tent and inviting people to join you. He did it time and again, across more than three decades in public office, working to protect our national security, strengthen our military, secure our border, protect kids online, and save our elections.
I had the honor of serving alongside him on the Judiciary Committee, including during his time as both chair and ranking member. He knew that peace and prosperity are only possible under the rule of law, and he fought to defend the rule of law.
Just a few months ago, Lindsey and I filed the 287(g) Expansion Act to encourage State and local law enforcement to partner with ICE and accomplish President Trump's goal of deporting criminal illegal aliens and keeping our communities safe.
Last month, we also introduced the Election Security Partnership Act to get more States to submit their voter rolls to DHS through the SAVE Program and secure our elections. On that issue, Lindsey was a champion of the SAVE America Act to ensure that only American citizens vote in American elections. The Senate should put election integrity measures on the floor for a vote and honor his legacy. That is exactly what he would encourage us to do.
It was so moving to see his sister Darline sworn into office yesterday to complete his term. My prayers are with her and with his family, friends, staff, and all who loved him. May he rest in peace.
Birth Tourism (Executive Calendar)
Pages S4100–S4101 · Official textMr. President, few things are more sacred than our citizenship. It is what empowers us to defend our freedoms, choose our elected representatives, and serve our Nation. It is what makes us "we the people." Yet, for years, one industry has undermined this cherished institution, and that industry is birth tourism. Each year, tens of thousands of foreigners give birth in our country with the intention and the only intention of securing U.S. citizenship for that child--for that child. These tourists are often wealthy nationals from China and Russia. Then they return to their home countries as soon as they receive that child's paperwork--their U.S. passport, their Social Security number. Behind this appalling practice is a multimillion-dollar industry that helps clients exploit our Nation's immigration laws. What they are doing is helping people circumvent the legal process. During President Trump's first administration, the Justice Department investigated this, and they actually charged 19 people for operating 3 birth tourism schemes in Southern California. These schemes brought thousands of Chinese nationals to our country to give birth. The operators actually instruct their clients on how to apply for visas and trick the system. They instruct them on how to deceive U.S. Customs officials about the purpose of their stay, and then they instruct them on where to get medical care, where they are going be housed. They also purchased flights and then made those housing arrangements for those individuals while charging them tens of thousands of dollars. This is fraud. What we do know is that among the customers of these birth tourism companies are Chinese Government officials, including individuals affiliated with state-owned radio stations and the Public Security Bureau in the Beijing Municipal Government. In a separate scheme, a company with branches in Miami and in Russia charged clients up to $49,000 to help them travel to our country to obtain citizenship for their newborns. On its website, the company boasted that it served--and I am quoting from the website--"the wives of dignitaries, oligarchs, and celebrities." So they admit they are committing fraud. They admit they are circumventing U.S. law. What is so interesting about this is they take it a step further. They have come here. They have defrauded the system. They have deceived U.S. officials. They have the baby. They get their paperwork, and they are going to exit the country. So these companies now advise these women on how to gain permanent residency status through their newborn's citizenship. Bear in mind, I have just said these are the wives and women who are a part of the Chinese Communist Party leadership. The website says, from Russia. It is oligarchs. It is celebrities. It is officials. They are giving birth and then having that child deemed a U.S. citizen and then leaving the country to rear that child with a Russian mindset or a Chinese mindset. Last week, Governor Greg Abbott launched an investigation into a Texas hospital that advertised childbirth packages in Mexico with the tagline "Have My Baby in Texas." So by exploiting our Nation's immigration laws, this industry helps clients obtain all the blessings of American citizenship and none of the responsibilities. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing. You know, the question to ask is, Is this what our men and women in uniform have fought for when we talk about defending our Nation, our sovereignty, our freedoms? To have a cheap, fraudulent company conduct fraudulent activity and sell U.S. citizenship? Well, that is what they are doing. Now think about what it takes to become a U.S. citizen if someone wants to be naturalized as a U.S. citizen. First, they must maintain continuous residency in the United States for 5 years, have good moral character, demonstrate an attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and a firm grasp of U.S. and American history, display proficiency in English, and take an oath of allegiance to the United States. Do those responsibilities and actions sound anything like what these birth tourism companies are out here selling? The answer is no, absolutely not. Again, the Democrats work overtime trying to make illegal legal. We saw it through Joe Biden with the open border. We saw it with Cabinet Secretary after Cabinet Secretary who tried to find workarounds, who tried to say: We are going to enforce part of the law but not all of the law. They want it to be convenient. They don't want any borders. They are just not going to stand and defend the United States. The children of birth tourists avoid all of those requirements for naturalized citizenship. Yet--get this--they can vote in our elections. The day they turn 18, they can be voting. They can serve in public office. And yes, indeed, on a U.S. passport, they can come and go as they please. To address this abuse of our laws, President Trump issued an Executive order last year that prohibited the newborn children of foreigners from obtaining U.S. citizenship. In a disappointing ruling earlier this month, the Supreme Court struck down that order, allowing this horrible practice of birth tourism to continue. The Trump administration has vowed to use every legal avenue available to them to end birth tourism in America. Congress should do everything in its power to support this effort, which is why this week, I have reintroduced the Ban Birth Tourism Act. This bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to ban birth tourism as a permissible basis for obtaining a temporary visitor visa to gain admission to our country. It would also add birth tourism to the list of immediately deportable offenses under the law. These measures would help ensure that future Democrat administrations cannot lay out the welcome mat for foreign visitors hoping to exploit our laws. The way I look at it, our citizenship, being an American--and we have all stood and celebrated our great Nation as we have celebrated America 250, and we know that to each and every citizen, being a citizen is one of the greatest blessings. It means you are part of the greatest people in the greatest country on the face of the Earth. It must never be for sale. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. (Mr. MORENO assumed the chair.)
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Justice)
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Honoring Sergeant Scott Ries (Executive Calendar)
Page S4101 · Official textMr. President, every day the men and women of law enforcement leave home not knowing what they will encounter. They live life with the uncertainty of what the next hazard is that they might encounter during the call that they receive to go protect and serve. Sergeant Scott Ries was shot and killed responding to one of those calls, and today I rise to honor one of Ohio's bravest sons, Sergeant Ries. We lost him on July 5, 2026, just a couple weeks ago.
Sergeant Ries served and protected his community until the very last moment when he was on one of those calls and was shot and killed and lost his life, and we all mourn his loss. Today, I want to take a few moments to honor his life, his service, and his legacy.
Sergeant Ries was 54 years old and a native of Doylestown. He was a 10-year veteran of the Rittman Police Department.
Before joining the Rittman Police Department, he served as a deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and as an officer with the Sugar Grove Police Department. You can see Sergeant Ries right there.
His colleagues remember him as someone who wanted people to know that when they called for his help, he would be there for them. And he was a person to respond with kindness and a community spirit.
Sergeant Ries was a devoted husband and father. I had a chance a few days ago to speak with his wonderful wife Michelle. He is remembered as someone who was deeply involved in his family's life, especially supporting his daughter's cheerleading activities.
Each year, in fact, Sergeant Ries and his wife Michelle volunteered their time raising money in a fundraiser for the cheerleaders. They would organize the dunk tank. Anybody that grew up in a small town knows what the dunk tank is. Pay a few dollars to throw a ball and dunk the police sergeant, and that is what Scott would do.
They helped support the cheerleading program, but it was one of the many things that he would do to help give back to his community and support life in a small town--a small, rural town in Ohio.
Sergeant Ries was also an alumnus of the Chippewa Local Schools and remained actively involved with the school long after graduation. A police sergeant in a small town, Chippewa Schools, is an important local leader, an important example, a mentor, someone to look up to, and that is who Scott Ries was. He certainly was that kind of figure in his local community.
Sergeant Ries was a dedicated public servant who put his life on the line every day and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community in responding to a violent call. But there is no way he could know it would have been his last because he responded as a dedicated public servant in law enforcement every single time he got the call.
His wife and children and loved ones and fellow officers remain in our prayers. I know how hard it is for them, having talked to several of them during the course of the last few weeks. They loved Scott, and it was hard for them, as you would expect, to confront his tragic loss. And we will mourn him. We will mourn his loss, honor his life that was defined by community, sacrifice, service, and courage.
So Sergeant Scott Ries gave his life protecting his community and his neighbors. I thank my colleagues for giving me a few moments to hear his story and to join me in honoring his service and celebrating his life.
So many times, so many days, these public servants, these law enforcement officials, are asked to show courage and give to their communities, and they do it humbly, as Scott Ries did for so many years. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to confront the tragedy of them losing their lives in service to their communities. We do that in honoring the life and service of Scott Ries.
I want to say to his wife Michelle and to his children and his colleagues in law enforcement that we will keep you in our prayers, we mourn his loss, and we honor his service.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Rhode Island.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 556 (Executive Calendar)
Pages S4101–S4102 · Official textMr. President, climate change is real. Simple proposition. Earlier this year, I came to the floor and asked my colleagues if they could all agree on that simple factual proposition. Well, they could not, so I return to the floor in hopes that our Republican colleagues could at least agree to some of the simple truths that make up the larger truth of climate change.
I asked if we could agree, for instance, that sea levels are rising as a consequence. There is really no dispute about that, but Republicans objected.
I asked if we could agree that the oceans are warming as a consequence. There is really no dispute about that either. In fact, they are warming by about 20 zettajoules a year. Nevertheless, Republicans still objected.
So I shifted my focus to economic threats. I asked if we could agree that climate change is driving up the cost of homeowners insurance or that it threatens home values. Very clear propositions demonstrated in real life. But, again, Republicans objected.
Well, the closer these threats are to your home, the harder they become to deny. So let me try a narrower simple truth today: Florida's insurance market is gravely stressed by climate risks. That is it. Can we all agree on that?
I have explained many times that climate change is driving an increase in severe storms, including hurricanes. This chart tracks billion-dollar climate disasters in the United States between 1980 and today. The pattern is crystal clear. As you can see, these events and their costs are increasing.
According to NOAA, of all the climate-driven disasters since 1980, hurricanes have caused the most damage--over $1.5 trillion total adding all that up--with an average cost of $23 billion per event.
And hurricanes hit southeastern States--particularly Florida--the hardest. Between 2020 and 2024, nine hurricanes hit Florida causing $244 billion in damages in Florida alone. They went on often to create more damage in other States--but $244 billion in Florida.
So what does the data show is happening in Florida insurance markets as a result? First, data I collected as chair of the Senate Budget Committee shows that Florida has, by far, the highest insurance nonrenewal rate in the country--that is the rate at which insurers say to their customer: I am sorry. I know you have been a good customer. We have been insuring you for years, but your property is now so endangered that we can no longer insure you. We are done. You have got to go find new insurance.
Florida: Highest nonrenewal rate in the country.
Second, Florida has, by far, the highest average premiums in the country--by some estimates, approaching $14,000 per year. Economists expect these costs to continue to rise.
This chart predicts future insurance rate increases as high as 300 percent in coastal Florida in the next 30 years--the period of a mortgage entered into today. Just do some quick math. If it is $14,000 now, a 300 percent increase, four times as much, you add--call it a $56,000 annual expense to own a home, and you run a present value of that simple math, that all comes off the value of the home.
Even at these high premium rates, many home insurers in Florida are at risk of insolvency. After catastrophic hurricane losses in recent years, many of the major insurers--including Farmers, Progressive, and AAA--all left the Florida market entirely leaving behind small, local, and less stable insurers. Many of those small, local, and less stable insurers have gone bust when claims come in. This insurance problem creates a mortgage problem in Florida. Banks won't finance a home mortgage unless the home is protected by insurance.
When banks originate mortgages, they often flip them to government- sponsored entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So, a new problem: Fannie and Freddie will only purchase mortgages which are protected by an insurer and only if that insurer has a requisite financial stability rating. Well, to obtain a financial stability rating, insurers pay a rating agency.
Given the insolvency risk in the Florida insurance market, how do insurance companies there obtain the stability rating required by Fannie and Freddie? Most go to an operation called Demotech. Mark my words, you will hear a lot more about Demotech as this situation worsens. Demotech has rated nearly all of these small, local companies that it covers "A" or above. Well, it turns out these ratings are too good to be true.
A recent investigation by the Wall Street Journal found that insurers rated by Demotech are 30 times more likely--30 times more likely--to become insolvent than those graded by other rating companies. So if Fannie and Freddie were to stop accepting mortgages with a high-risk Demotech-rated insurer, the Florida real estate market would come to a shuddering halt.
This is the share of the insurance market in Florida rated by Demotech. This is what is left of the traditional ratings, and this is Citizens Property Insurance, which, because it is State-backed, doesn't require ratings. It has its own separate problems.
But this Demotech problem is real. Almost 20 percent of Demotech-rated insurers in Florida have gone insolvent in the last decade--20 percent; 1 in 5, gone. An insolvent insurer is, of course, a disaster for homeowners who have to wait, eventually, to be paid by a State-run organization--the guaranty fund--that takes over for the failed, insolvent insurance.
Well, two problems result from that. One, the delay in paying claims destroys neighborhoods. It is great to get paid by your insurance company when you have a major claim and your house is wrecked, but if the money doesn't come soon, you can't rebuild and the neighborhood doesn't come back. And we see that in Florida now. Two, other Floridians are on the hook for all those claims. The guaranty fund transmits that cost to other Florida policyholders.
Now, Citizens Property Insurance--this one--the State-backed insurer of last resort, has a similar backstop when it can't pay claims, but in real life, those levees to prop up Citizens are often going to be uncollectible. There are credible scenarios in which the losses of Citizens Property Insurance exceed its ability to pay claims, and the assessment scheme fails. Those are plausible scenarios.
Well, to defend, Citizens engages in periodic depopulation efforts where it hands off to those same popup, politically connected, Demotech-rated local insurers tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of homeowners. Boom--the homeowner is dumped into an insurance company she has never heard of.
It is a cascade happening. The climate crisis clobbers home values, drives up insurance prices, and causes insurance insolvency in climate-risky areas across the country but nowhere so more than Florida.
This is a crisis for families in Florida. The human stories behind this are heartbreaking, and it is growing into a crisis for all of us. Florida's insurance market is the canary in the American climate risk coal mine. As climate change gets worse and risks spread, other States will find themselves in a similar position--my own, being a coastal State, amongst them.
So can we all agree on this simple truth: that Florida's insurance market is gravely stressed by climate risks?
Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of that proposition, S. Res. 556; further, that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there objection?
The Senator from Indiana.
Mr. President, reserving the right to object, it is pretty clear that this resolution is an attack on a red State by one of my colleagues from a blue State.
I respect my colleague, but this resolution doesn't pass muster. In fact, we know that the radical, Green New Deal agenda that was wrought on us in this country by the Biden administration raised gas prices in this country to astronomical rates, made life less affordable and more difficult for Americans all over this country. That is why they quickly turned the page on those policies and got rid of Biden and those radical Green New Deal policies and chose President Trump to come back to the White House.
We had really good news this week. Inflation rates came way down--down as much as we have seen it in many years--because of President Trump's policies to uproot Green New Deal policies, passing the Working Families Tax Cut bill that we passed that makes life more affordable for working families all over this the country.
It is pretty clear that this resolution is just a veiled attack on Florida.
I am not from Florida. Florida is a good State. And I love the State of Rhode Island. I did all of my Navy training there. I respect my colleague. It is ironic with this resolution because 2 percent of Rhode Islanders over the last 5 years have moved to Florida, and they moved to Florida especially after the pandemic--all of the mandates and higher taxes, and they are choosing a State that works, that is attracting them, just like people from all over the coast are moving to Florida because they like Florida, they like lower taxes, and they like the quality of life that Florida offers.
This resolution is just an attack on Florida.
I do invite my colleague--again, whom I respect and enjoy working with--to come to the Banking Committee. Let's work on bipartisan solutions and ideas to bring down the cost of living for all Americans. We can do that together. We can find solutions to do that. This resolution doesn't do that.
Mr. President, that is why I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The objection is heard.
The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. President, I appreciate my fine colleague from Indiana State whose Indiana University teaches the science of climate change. But I would like to say that this is not an attack on Florida; this is a warning to Florida of what is happening, what is already demonstrably beginning to happen as a result of sea level rise, worse hurricanes, and heavier storm bursts. I just want to make sure that characterization is clear. Florida is entitled to be warned about this risk. It is a risk we all share.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Ohio.
Legislative Session
Page S4102 · Official textMr. President, I 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.
Guatemala
Pages S4102–S4103 · Official textMr. President, in December 2022, I traveled to Guatemala as part of a congressional delegation led by Senator Tim Kaine. Four months earlier, to the shock and dismay of powerful rightwing forces in Guatemala's Congress and business community, Bernardo Arevalo, an anti-corruption activist, had been overwhelmingly elected President in an election widely recognized as free and fair.
Guatemala is one of Central America's most corrupt countries, so it was not surprising that his election triggered a frantic attempt by his opponents, led in part by then-Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who had been sanctioned by the United States, to invalidate the election on fabricated grounds of fraud and prevent Arevalo's inauguration. The purpose of our trip was to demonstrate our strong support for the choice of the Guatemalan people, in particular Guatemala's historically marginalized indigenous population, and for the integrity of the democratic process.
To the country's credit, Arevalo was inaugurated on January 15, 2024, and for the first time in decades, Guatemala has a President who is not beholden to the corrupt forces that have exploited political power for their own enrichment and used Guatemala's armed forces and police to harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and even murder their opponents.
But having failed to prevent Arevalo from taking office, those forces have carried out a relentless campaign, aided by counterparts and lobbyists in Washington with close ties to the Trump administration, to sabotage his efforts to reform the justice system and end the culture of corruption, violence, and impunity that has plagued Guatemala for generations. Career U.S. foreign service officers who stood up for the rule of law and democracy in Guatemala, were summarily replaced by U.S. Embassy appointees who reportedly urged members of Guatemala's Congress to support a rightwing candidate tainted by corruption for a seat on the constitutional court, or risk losing their U.S. visas.
Unlike President Trump and officials in his administration, I do not believe it is our role--using threats, inducements, or other means--to try to influence the outcome of election of foreign candidates for office, whether Presidents, legislators, or judges. We oppose such interference in our own sovereignty, and it is hypocritical and unwise to engage in such conduct ourselves.
I mention this because President Arevalo has another year and a half in his 4-year term. If political and economic forces in Guatemala, backed by nefarious associates of the Trump administration, continue to try to deny the will of the Guatemalan people and thwart Arevalo's anti-corruption mandate by using their influence to undermine the institutions of democracy for the benefit of themselves and their cronies, they will pay a price when the balance of power shifts in Washington. People here know the history of U.S. political and economic intervention in Guatemala dating back to 1954, and they have long memories when it comes to corruption and the manipulation of judicial and law enforcement institutions in that country.
The appropriate role of the United States in Guatemala, as in the rest of Latin America, is to support the people there by improving their lives through free and fair elections, equitable economic opportunities, and access to justice that conforms to international protections of due process. Too often, U.S. policy in Guatemala has strayed from those goals, motivated instead by greed and corrupt interests in our own country, and promoting the militarization of internal security. That is a recipe for a return to authoritarianism, ethnic and social division, and armed conflict. Guatemalans who choose that path should be forewarned that it will ultimately be their own, and the country's, undoing.
No President, even in the best of circumstances, can transform a country like Guatemala in 4 years, but President Arevalo deserves our strong support. At a time when the trend in Latin America is to elect leaders who equate law and order with subverting judicial independence, militarizing the police, and running roughshod over due process of law, President Arevalo has restored integrity to the office and defended the institutions of democracy. In the long run, that has the best chance of producing the transparency, accountability, stability, and prosperity the Guatemalan people need.
Remembering Sherman Stock
Page S4103 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Sherman E. Stock, who passed away on May 26, 2026, at the age of 98. As a dedicated public servant and lifelong advocate for our environment, Mr. Stock demonstrated his commitment through his involvement in important environmental projects such as Earth Day and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the establishment of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.
Mr. Stock was born in Milwaukee and attended Rufus King High School, where he met his high school sweetheart and wife of 70 years, Sally. The two settled in Hales Corners, WI.
Mr. Stock continued his education at Marquette University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his military service, Mr. Stock rose to the rank of captain and was stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, and northern New York. He then returned to Marquette, where he earned his juris doctor in 1958 and connected with then-State Senator Gaylord Nelson, whom he would eventually serve as legal counsel in the U.S. Senate.
During his 18 years in the Senate, Mr. Stock worked closely with Senator Nelson, sharing ideas about environmental projects, working zealously to protect our planet, and building a close friendship. Mr. Stock went on to work for Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl, serving as his Veterans Affairs adviser, cribbage opponent, and fishing partner. Following Governor Earl's departure from office, Mr. Stock worked for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers in Madison until he retired.
Throughout his decades of public service, Mr. Stock made a lasting impact not only on the people and natural lands of Wisconsin, but on communities across the Nation and around the world. While his most notable project may be Earth Day, he will be remembered by friends and family for his artistic expression, his love of travel, and his dedication to his community.
Mr. Stock is an inspiring example of putting your beliefs into action and leaving the world better than you found it. His passing is a great loss to all who knew him and worked alongside him, but the legacy will live on for generations to come. As we honor his remarkable life, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all those whose lives were enriched by knowing him.
Recognizing the Gaynor Cranberry Company
Pages S4103–S4104 · Official textMr. President, today I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Gaynor Cranberry Company, located in Wood County, WI. I am pleased to honor this family farm and commemorate this historic milestone.
The roots of the Gaynor Cranberry Company trace back to when brothers John Alexander Gaynor and James Gaynor immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Their journeys eventually led them to Wood County, where they established a cranberry farm in 1876 that became a foundational force in the industry.
With John Alexander's legal expertise and James' agricultural acumen, the brothers helped transform Wisconsin's cranberry industry from a wild harvest into the highly structured, scientifically advanced, billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. The practices they established and championed on their town of Cranmoor marsh built the legal, business, and operational foundations that have enabled Wisconsin to become the Nation's leading cranberry-producing State, producing more than half of the world's cranberry supply.
The Gaynor farm also hosted the first Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station from 1903 to 1917. It was my distinct honor as a U.S. Senator to play a role, 100 years later, in helping establish the second Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station to support the long-term success of our State's cranberry industry.
Margaret Gaynor became the sole heir following the deaths of John Alexander and James. In 1927, she named Charles Dempze as her successor, establishing a multigenerational family legacy. His son Gordon, who was born in the old experimental station house, assumed control of the company in 1968. He was later succeeded by his sons James and Gary.
Today, the Gaynor Cranberry Company is owned and operated by Gary Dempze and his wife Susan, alongside their children Jenna Dempze and Heidi Slinkman, who represent the fourth generation of this family farm.
Just as it did 150 years ago, the Gaynor Cranberry Company continues to move the industry forward. Its 200-acre cranberry crop is 100-percent verified sustainable. The farm remains committed to land stewardship, innovation, and community impact. It plays an active role in agricultural education for residents, researchers, and policymakers, while also inspiring the next generation to learn about cranberries and explore potential career pathways.
The Gaynor Cranberry Company's roots are deeply embedded throughout the Wisconsin cranberry industry. I congratulate all those who have played a role in this remarkable 150th anniversary, and I wish the Gaynor Cranberry Company continued success for generations to come.
Tribute to Mel Tonasket
Page S4104 · Official textMr. President, I rise today along with my colleague Senator Murray to join many in the Pacific Northwest community and Indian country to honor Mel Tonasket, a leader and member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Mel retired last week after more than 55 years of service to his Tribe, community, and country.
After serving the Nation in the U.S. Navy, Mel worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 8 years before being elected in 1970 to the Colville Business Council, the governing body of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Mel would continue to serve on the Colville Business Council as a representative of the district serving Omak, WA, at various times for the next 55 years, which concludes with his well-earned retirement.
Mel helped lead the Colville Tribes and Indian country during one of the most consequential periods in modern Tribal history. He was part of the generation of Native leaders who sought to reverse the Federal policy of termination and fought to preserve the rights and future of Tribal communities. That work helped protect the sovereignty of the Colville Tribes and contributed to a broader movement that reshaped Federal Indian policy.
Mel's impact extended well beyond his reservation. From 1973 to 1976, he served for 4 years as president of the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and oldest national Tribal organization in the United States. While President, he helped mobilize national support for landmark legislation, including the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Between breaks serving on the Colville Business Council, Mel worked for the Indian Health Service and retired from Federal service as the CEO of the Colville Service Unit, which provides healthcare to citizens of the Colville Tribes.
Over the course of his career, Mel served in numerous leadership roles and has represented Tribal governments in national and international forums. Through that leadership, he strengthened the voice of Tribal nations at the national level and helped secure protections and opportunities that continue to benefit Native families and communities today.
It is my honor to join the Colville Tribes, the people of Washington State, and all those throughout Indian Country in congratulating Mel Tonasket on this remarkable milestone. Mel, we wish you the best of luck in your retirement and hope you can create more memories in this next stage of your life.
Tribute to Sergeant Major David Marshall
Page S4104 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, SGM David J. Marshall, who currently serves as the deputy chief for the Army's Senate Liaison Division and will retire from Active Duty after 20 distinguished years of active Federal service at the end of this year. Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Marshall has personified the highest standards of Army professionalism and the soldierly values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage to the Army and our Nation. Many of us on Capitol Hill have enjoyed the opportunity to work with Sergeant Major Marshall and it is my privilege to recognize his achievements.
Sergeant Major Marshall is a distinguished leader whose career in the U.S. Army has been marked by unwavering dedication and exceptional service. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Sergeant Major Marshall embarked on his military journey with a commitment to excellence that would define his decades-long career.
Enlisting as a combat documentation production specialist in 2006, Sergeant Major Marshall began his service as a combat photographer at 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) and completed one combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He held various tactical and operational positions, including roles at American Forces Network Livorno, the Army Entertainment Detachment, the Cyber Center of Excellence Noncommissioned Officer Academy Detachment, the Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency, and 9th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne).
Sergeant Major Marshall was competitively selected to serve as an Army congressional fellow for the fiscal year 2023 and was assigned to my office. During his fellowship, he gained valuable insights into the workings of Congress and its relationship with the U.S. military, while also advising our team on defense and veterans' issues. His dedication and professionalism were evident in every task he undertook. For the past 3 years, he has served in the Army's Senate liaison office, where he has played a crucial role in answering congressional requests for information, staffing engagements between Army senior leaders and Members of Congress, and leading congressional delegations abroad to conduct defense oversight.
Sergeant Major Marshall's lengthy and diverse career was filled with experiences that have enriched him both as a soldier and a person. It is no surprise that he has been honored with numerous military awards and decorations including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, several Army Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, and the Signal Corps Bronze Order of Mercury, among others. His exemplary service and steadfast leadership have earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and superiors alike.
Any tribute to Sergeant Major Marshall would be incomplete without acknowledging the unwavering support of his wife Jillian and the joy brought by their son Miles. Jillian has stood by Sergeant Major Marshall at every step of his journey, providing love, care, and wisdom.
On behalf of the U.S. Senate and a grateful nation, I thank Sergeant Major Marshall, his wife Jillian, son Miles, and their entire family for the commitment, sacrifices, and contributions they have made throughout his honorable military service. Congratulations on completing an exceptional and successful career.
Tribute to Dr. Annie Norman
Pages S4104–S4105 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Annie Norman on her retirement as State Librarian of Delaware and director of the Delaware Division of Libraries. Throughout her 40-year tenure at the Delaware Department of State, Dr. Norman has remained an unwavering public servant dedicated to improving Delaware's libraries for all Delawareans. Her visionary leadership has transformed Delaware's library system, and her legacy will benefit generations of Delawareans for years to come.
Throughout her career, Dr. Norman served under five different administrations. For each Governor, Dr. Norman has been a trusted voice for the advancement of literacy and lifelong learning. Under her leadership, the Delaware Library Catalog was established and expanded to all Delaware public libraries, academic libraries, and many school libraries, allowing over 4 million books and other materials to be shared statewide.
Dr. Norman has been a leading voice in addressing our State's literacy challenges, serving as founder and co-chair of the Delaware Literacy Alliance alongside Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. In 2020, Dr. Norman oversaw the statewide launch of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which provides free books to all Delaware children from birth to age 5.
I am proud to have partnered with Dr. Norman to secure Federal funding and expand the division of libraries' teleservices kiosk program, which connects Delawareans in rural and underserved communities to healthcare, employment assistance, and legal services. During my years in the House of Representatives and now the Senate, I always appreciated the opportunity to meet with Dr. Norman to discuss Delaware's library funding needs, statewide literacy initiatives, and the many ways our libraries strengthen communities across the State.
Dr. Norman's contributions have been recognized with many awards and accolades across her career, including her appointment by President Biden to the National Museum and Library Services Board and her induction into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women. Dr. Norman's leadership has resulted in the expansion of more than two dozen libraries across the State and the delivery of state-of-the-art services through robust technology infrastructure. She has truly transformed Delaware's libraries into community hubs for Delawareans to gather, learn, and receive necessary services. I wish Dr. Norman the best of luck in her retirement.
Today, I invite my colleagues to join me and the people of Delaware in congratulating Dr. Annie Norman on her retirement and for an outstanding life of public service.
Tribute to Colonel Yolanda D. Gore
Page S4105 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize the incredible service of Colonel Yolanda D. Gore. COL Gore is preparing to finish her time as the 89th garrison commander of Fort George G. Meade, a role she executed with strength, vision, and principled leadership.
Born in Estill, SC, Colonel Gore joined the South Carolina National Guard immediately following her high school graduation. She served for 5 years until her commission in 2002 and subsequently graduated and earned her Army commission from South Carolina State University, SCSU. She earned a bachelor's degree in family and consumer science business and later went on to earn a master of arts in leadership and management from Webster University and a master of arts in strategic studies from the Army War College.
Colonel Gore served briefly as a signal officer before discovering her passion in the Adjutant General Corps. She led a diverse career through a variety of assignments, excelled in key leadership roles, and received numerous commendations before becoming the first woman to be installed as garrison commander.
Throughout her time as garrison commander, Colonel Gore has taken the role to new heights. She brought modernization to Fort Meade and the surrounding community by implementing a barracks renovation project, helping break ground on a child development center, and reforming physical security across the installation. She cultivated community and culture by expanding veteran and family outreach, extending options for community feedback, and leading major heritage and remembrance events. She has left an indelible mark on Fort Meade through these efforts and many others.
I am very grateful for Colonel Gore's commitment to progress and collaboration at every level of government. Fort Meade, the State of Maryland, and our Nation have all greatly benefited from her leadership.
Colonel Gore has been married to COL Michael Gore of Loris, SC, for 22 years. They are the proud parents of Shantell, a graduate of East Carolina University, and Morgyn Gore, a senior at Virginia Tech University.
Colonel Gore is preparing to complete a remarkable 2-year term spent in the pursuit of excellence, progress, and community. She has dedicated herself to leadership, and I thank her for her commitment. I invite my colleagues to join me in thanking Colonel Gore for her incredible service.
Message from the House
Page S4105 · Official textAt 2:10 p.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 bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
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H.R. 139. An act to make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1181. An act to prohibit payment card networks and covered entities from requiring the use of or assigning merchant category codes that distinguish a firearms retailer from general-merchandise retailer or sporting-goods retailer, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3074. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to permit cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6556. An act to prohibit the use of certain concentration limit exceptions with respect to mergers involving a failed bank unless the applicable agency determines such use is necessary to prevent significant economic disruption or significant adverse effects on financial stability, and for other purposes.
The message further announced that pursuant to section 201(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431), and the order of the House of January 3, 2025, the Speaker appoints the following individual on the part of the House of Representatives to the Commission on International Religious Freedom for a term ending May 14, 2028: Dr. David A. Anderson of Bowie, Maryland, to succeed Mrs. Vicky Hartzler. The message also announced that pursuant to section 803(a) of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Act (2 U.S.C. 803(a)), the Minority Leader appoints the following individual on the part of the House of Representatives to the Congressional Award Board: Ms. Cheryl Johnson of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Measures Referred
Page S4105 · Official textThe following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
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H.R. 139. An act to make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
H.R. 1181. An act to prohibit payment card networks and covered entities from requiring the use of or assigning merchant category codes that distinguish a firearms retailer from general-merchandise retailer or sporting-goods retailer, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
H.R. 3074. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
H.R. 6556. An act to prohibit the use of certain concentration limit exceptions with respect to mergers involving a failed bank unless the applicable agency determines such use is necessary to prevent significant economic disruption or significant adverse effects on financial stability, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Executive and Other Communications
Pages S4105–S4106 · Official textThe following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated:
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EC-4051. A communication from the Director, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, transmitting, pursuant to law, the annual report to Congress concerning intercepted wire, oral, or electronic communications for calendar year 2025; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4052. A communication from the Secretary of Energy, transmitting, proposed legislation to modify the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's deadline to submit to Congress its annual Selected Acquisition Reports on each new nuclear weapon system program, to include those undergoing life extension or major alteration; to the Committee on Armed Services.
EC-4053. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled "Child Welfare Outcomes 2023: Report to Congress"; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4054. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled "Medicare Beneficiary and Competitive Acquisition Ombudsman Report to Congress for Calendar Years 2022-2024"; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4055. A communication from the Director of the Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Merchandise Arriving Through All Modes Other Than the International Postal Network" (RIN1685-AA44) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 7, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4056. 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 26-1B) (OSS-2026-0523)); to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
EC-4057. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the Secretary of State's intent to designate the Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras as Foreign Terrorist Organizations; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
EC-4058. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Rescinding Portions of Department of State Title VI Regulations to Conform More Closely With the Statutory Text and To Implement Executive Order 14281" (RIN1400-AG13) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 14, 2026; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
EC-4059. A communication from the Register of Copyrights and Director, United States Copyright Office, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled "Proposed Schedule and Analysis of Copyright Recordation Fee To Go into Effect Fall 2026"; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4060. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Department of Education, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability Final Rule" (RIN1840-AE06) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 1, 2026; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
EC-4061. A communication from the Section Chief, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations" (RIN1545-BQ55) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 2, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4062. A communication from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, a petition which was filed on behalf of workers at the Savannah River Site, in Aiken, South Carolina, to be added to the Special Exposure Cohort; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
EC-4063. A communication from the Secretary of Energy, transmitting, proposed legislation to amend 10 U.S.C. Section 6273 to increase the Department of Energy's notification threshold before starting a minor construction project from $5 million to 50 percent of the minor construction threshold; to the Committee on Armed Services.
EC-4064. A communication from the Wildlife Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Migratory Bird Subsistence Harvest in Alaska" (RIN1018-BI70) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 25, 2026; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4065. 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 "Air Plan Approval; Michigan; Redesignation and Maintenance Plan for the Partial St. Clair 2010 1-Hour Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) NAAQS Nonattainment Area" (FRL No. 13222-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 13, 2026; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4066. A communication from the Associate Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled "Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Sixth Report to Congress: Highlights of the DERA Program"; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4067. A communication from the Assistant to the Board, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Financial Data Transparency Act Joint Data Standards" (RIN7100-AG79) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 25, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
EC-4068. A communication from the Regulatory Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Financial Transparency Act Joint Data Standards" (RIN1557-AF22) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 25, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
EC-4069. A communication from the General Counsel of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Financial Data Transparency Act Joint Data Standards (Joint-Agency Final Rule)" (RIN2590-AB38) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 25, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
EC-4070. A communication from the Deputy General Counsel for Operations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a nomination for a position covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 for the position of Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 13, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
EC-4071. A communication from the Acting Deputy General Counsel, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Rescinding Portions of DHS Title VI Regulations to Conform More Closely With the Statutory Text and to Implement Executive Order 14281" (RIN1601-AB22) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 25, 2026; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4072. A communication from the Senior Attorney, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Procedures in Regulating and Enforcing Unfair or Deceptive Practices" (RIN2105-AF38) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 7, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4073. A communication from the General Attorney, Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Increasing Flexibility on Disclosure of Airline Ancillary Fees" (RIN2105-AF34) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on July 7, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Reports of Committees
Page S4106 · Official textThe following reports of committees were submitted:
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By Mrs. CAPITO, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute:
S. 4949. A bill to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and for other purposes.
Executive Reports of Committee
Page S4106 · Official textThe following executive reports of nominations were submitted:
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By Mr. CASSIDY for the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
*Michael McDonald, of the District of Columbia, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities for a term of four years.
*James Macy, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2030.
*David M. Prouty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2031.
*Brett Matsumoto, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, for a term of four years.
*Nomination was reported with recommendation that it be confirmed subject to the nominee's commitment to respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
Introduction of Bills and Joint Resolutions
Pages S4106–S4107 · Official textThe 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. MORENO:
S. 4983. A bill to curb criminal activity by aliens, to defend against acts of international terrorism, to protect American workers from unfair labor competition, and to relieve pressure on public services by strengthening border security and stabilizing immigration into the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. COTTON:
S. 4984. A bill to amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure workplace choice and opportunity for young adults with disabilities; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. KIM (for himself, Ms. Hirono, and Mrs.
Gillibrand):
S. 4985. A bill to improve access to Federal services by individuals with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Ms. WARREN:
S. 4986. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by doulas, midwives, and lactation support providers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mr. Scott of Florida, and
Mrs. Gillibrand):
S. 4987. A bill to require the Federal Trade Commission to submit a report on foreign investment in the pharmaceutical industry of the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Durbin, and
Mr. Van Hollen):
S. 4988. A bill to promote equity in advanced coursework and programs at elementary and secondary schools; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Lujan):
S. 4989. A bill to improve the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of diagnosis in health care, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kelly, Mr.
Gallego, and Mr. Curtis):
S. 4990. A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to review and update Federal Aviation Administration regulations, policies, and guidance related to low-altitude airspace safety, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. ROUNDS (for himself and Mr. Heinrich):
S. 4991. A bill to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish an extremophile whole genome sequencing initiative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Ms. Hassan):
S. 4992. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to issue guidance relating to the review of applications for alteration or temporary or permanent occupation or use of certain hydropower projects, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
By Mr. MORAN:
S. 4993. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a precision oncology program for cancer of the prostate at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mrs. BLACKBURN:
S. 4994. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for credits against tax for domestic manufacturing of critical medical supplies and drugs; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Fetterman,
Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Sanders):
S. 4995. A bill to provide for the protection of agricultural workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. Booker, Ms. Warren, and
Mr. Sanders):
S. 4996. A bill to regulate market concentration and competition in the food and agriculture industry, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr.
Padilla):
S. 4997. A bill to set forth requirements for the regulation by the Food and Drug Administration of nitrous oxide products, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. PAUL:
S. 4998. A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to prohibit the use of authorities under such Act to surveil United States persons and to prohibit the use of information acquired under such Act in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding or as part of any criminal, civil, or administrative investigation; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr.
Blumenthal, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Hirono,
Mr. Markey, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Van Hollen):
S. 4999. A bill to prohibit certain transfers of aircraft provided by the Government of Qatar, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 5000. A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue cyber letters of marque and reprisal, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mrs. MOODY:
S. 5001. A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require ballots in elections for Federal office to be received by the close of the polls on the date of election; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal):
S. 5002. A bill to regulate compressed air dusters to prevent inhalant abuse; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Ms. Ernst):
S. 5003. A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to address registration exemptions for securities of issuers that are rural telephone companies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Ms. SMITH (for herself and Mr. Moran):
S. 5004. A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan) to provide for cost-sharing for oral anticancer drugs on terms no less favorable than the cost-sharing provided for anticancer medications administered by a health care provider; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. Lujan):
S. 5005. A bill to amend the Epstein Files Transparency Act with respect to enforcement by an attorney general of a State; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Sanders,
Ms. Warren, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mrs.
Murray):
S. 5006. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate work disincentives for childhood disability beneficiaries; to the Committee on Finance.
By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Schmitt):
S. 5007. A bill to restore competition in online search and digital advertising markets, to prevent exclusionary conduct by covered platforms, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions
Page S4107 · Official textThe following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
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By Mr. JUSTICE (for himself and Mrs. Capito):
S. Res. 804. A resolution commemorating the tenth anniversary of the 2016 West Virginia floods; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. Cramer):
S. Res. 805. A resolution celebrating the historic significance of the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup and welcoming the international community to North America for the first tournament hosted by 3 nations; considered and agreed to.
Additional Cosponsors
Pages S4107–S4109 · Official textAt the request of Mr. Barrasso, the name of the Senator from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand) 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. Marshall, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fetterman) was added as a cosponsor of S. 864, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to apply financial assistance towards the cost-sharing requirements of health insurance plans, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Cortez Masto, the name of the Senator from Maine (Mr. King) 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. Kelly, the name of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Reed) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1541, a bill to support the national defense and economic security of the United States by supporting vessels, ports, and shipyards of the United States and the U.S. maritime workforce. At the request of Mr. Daines, the names of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. Ernst) and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Merkley) were added as cosponsors of S. 1547, a bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Padilla, the names of the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Crapo) and the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Husted) were added as cosponsors of S. 2265, a bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and the 2034 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the request of Mr. Markey, the name of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Kaine) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2476, a bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to prohibit the exclusion of individuals from service on a Federal jury on account of disability. At the request of Mrs. Gillibrand, the name of the Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. Hassan) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2544, a bill to permit State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and grantees that receive eligible Federal grant funds to use such funds for investigating elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud, and to clarify that Federal law enforcement agencies may assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Risch, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2904, a bill to impose sanctions with respect to the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Banks, the name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2955, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish Federal penalties for the knowing and intentional administration of any abortion-inducing drug to a woman without her informed consent, if the abortion-inducing drug has been shipped or transported in interstate commerce, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Welch, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3127, a bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Wyden, the name of the Senator from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3207, a bill to prohibit the manipulation of rent prices in the United States, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cassidy, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mrs. Britt) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3275, a bill to reduce the risk to the national security of the United States posed by humanoid robots produced in certain countries, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Heinrich, the name of the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Armstrong) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3478, a bill to assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land. At the request of Mr. Cruz, the name of the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4009, a bill to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Durbin, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4347, a bill to prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in agricultural research. At the request of Ms. Ernst, the names of the Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) were added as cosponsors of S. 4378, a bill to combat fraud in Federal programs, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Moreno, the names of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) were added as cosponsors of S. 4429, a bill to prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale, resale, or introduction into interstate commerce in the United States of connected vehicles and related software and hardware associated with foreign adversaries. At the request of Mr. Lujan, the name of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kelly) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4506, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an investment credit for certain water reuse projects. At the request of Mr. Merkley, the name of the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4568, a bill to amend the definition of professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965. At the request of Ms. Rosen, the name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. Collins) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4576, a bill to strengthen Federal efforts to counter antisemitism in the United States and protect the Jewish community. At the request of Mr. Schatz, the name of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4606, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit certain population census tracts containing former military installations to be designated as qualified opportunity zones. At the request of Mrs. Shaheen, the name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Ossoff) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4612, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public awareness campaign with respect to screening for type 1 diabetes, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4775, a bill to amend the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to clarify liability protections for firearms and associated manufacturers and retailers, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Padilla, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4800, a bill to protect free speech by repealing the ground for deportability under section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to aliens whose presence or activities in the United States are reasonably believed to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences. At the request of Mr. Markey, the name of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4814, a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status. At the request of Mr. Daines, the name of the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4838, a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt certain employees engaged in outdoor recreational outfitting or guiding services from minimum wage and maximum hours requirements. At the request of Mr. Banks, the names of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) and the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) were added as cosponsors of S. 4954, a bill to declare that any person who enters the United States without authorization or for the purpose of engaging in birth tourism is considered an invader and to amend section 301(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude the children of invaders from birthright citizenship. At the request of Mr. Cassidy, the name of the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4963, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers under the Medicare program. At the request of Mr. Paul, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno) was added as a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 189, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect United States citizenship. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kelly) was added as a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 200, a joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. At the request of Mr. Markey, the name of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Whitehouse) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 323, a resolution urging the United States to lead a global effort to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race. At the request of Mr. Van Hollen, the name of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet) was added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 6273 intended to be proposed to S. 4784, an original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Whitehouse, the name of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) was added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 6356 intended to be proposed to S. 4784, an original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Durbin, the names of the Senator from New York (Mr. Schumer) and the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) were added as cosponsors of amendment No. 6646 intended to be proposed to S. 4784, an original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
Senate Resolution 804--Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the 2016 West Virginia Floods
Page S4109 · Official textMr. JUSTICE (for himself and Mrs. Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: Whereas, on June 23, 2016, several rounds of thunderstorms brought severe rainfall throughout West Virginia; Whereas the "thousand-year event" resulted in devastating floods across the State and flash flooding caused 23 fatalities; Whereas the Governor of West Virginia declared a State of Emergency in 44 of 55 West Virginia counties and the President declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); Whereas the storms inflicted catastrophic damage, estimated at $1,200,000,000; Whereas more than 500,000 people lost power, and thousands of homes and businesses were either damaged or destroyed; Whereas roads and bridges were washed out, and multiple schools were completely destroyed; Whereas communities across West Virginia were entirely underwater; Whereas countless first responders and neighbors stepped in to protect residents of affected communities; and Whereas West Virginia communities have shown great resilience and strength to rebuild homes, businesses, schools, and other sites affected by the floods: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate--(1) commemorates the tenth anniversary of the floods in West Virginia on June 23, 2016; and (2) honors the West Virginians who lost their lives and those who were affected by the floods.
Senate Resolution 805--Celebrating the Historic Significance of the 2026 Federation Internationale De Football Association (Fifa) World Cup and Welcoming the International Community to North...
Page S4109 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 805--CELEBRATING THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 2026 FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA) WORLD CUP AND WELCOMING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO NORTH AMERICA FOR THE FIRST TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY 3 NATIONS Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
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Whereas soccer is widely recognized as one of the most popular sports in the world, with billions of fans across every continent;
Whereas the 1994 Federation Internationale de Football Association (referred to in this preamble as "FIFA") World Cup, hosted by the United States, was the most attended in history, having drawn nearly 3,600,000 spectators;
Whereas the legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup fundamentally changed the trajectory of soccer in the United States, fueling the 1996 launch of Major League Soccer and the creation of new professional pathways for players from the United States;
Whereas the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a milestone in sports history as the first tournament to feature an expanded field of 48 national teams and a record 104 matches;
Whereas, for the first time in the history of the competition, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by 3 nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and
Whereas the "United Bid" of our 3 nations exemplifies the spirit of continental unity and cooperation among our great neighbors, with matches scheduled across 16 iconic host cities, including 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) welcomes fans and players from around the world to the United States for the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (referred to in this resolution as "FIFA") World Cup;
(2) thanks our neighbors and partners, Canada and Mexico, for their historic collaboration in bringing the FIFA World Cup back to North America;
(3) recognizes the 16 host cities for their dedication to fans and players from all 48 participating nations; and
(4) supports the continued use of sports as a banner of peace, friendship, and fair competition to unite the global public.
Text of Amendments
Pages S4109–S4116 · Official textSA 6694. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
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At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:
SEC. ___. NAVY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall continue the Navy University Research Initiatives (PE 0601103N) and shall carry out the activities funded under such program element during fiscal year 2027.
(b) Funding.--
(1) Additional funding.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation is hereby increased by $41,900,000.
(2) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 301 for operations and maintenance is hereby reduced by $41,900,000.
(c) Availability for Navy University Research Initiatives.--Notwithstanding section 4201, of the amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation, as revised by subsection (b)(1), up to $116,900,000 shall be available for Navy University Research Initiatives (PE 0601103N).
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SA 6695. Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Justice, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Bennet, and Ms. Rosen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
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At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1094. TECHNOLOGY GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN DOMESTIC MINING
EDUCATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Board.--The term "Board" means the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board established by subsection (d)(1).
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term "institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) Mining industry.--The term "mining industry" means the mining industry of the United States, consisting of the search for, and extraction, beneficiation, refining, smelting, processing, reprocessing, and recycling of, naturally occurring metal and nonmetal minerals from the earth.
(4) Mining profession.--The term "mining profession" means the body of jobs directly relevant to--
(A) the exploration, planning, execution, and remediation of metal and nonmetal mining sites; and
(B) the extraction, including the separation, refining, alloying, smelting, concentration, processing, reprocessing, and recycling, of mineral ores.
(5) Mining school.--The term "mining school" means--
(A) a mining, metallurgical, geological, or mineral engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., that is located at an institution of higher education, including a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); or
(B) a geology or engineering program or department that is located at a 4-year public institution of higher education located in a State the gross domestic product of which in 2021 was not less than $2,000,000,000 in the combined categories of "Mining (except oil and gas)" and "Support activities for mining", according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
(6) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy.
(b) Domestic Mining Education Strengthening Program.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey), shall--
(1) establish a grant program to strengthen domestic mining education; and
(2) under the program established in paragraph (1), award competitive grants to mining schools for the purpose of recruiting and educating the next generation of mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet the future energy and mineral needs of the United States.
(c) Grants.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the grant program established under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall award not more than 10 grants each year to mining schools.
(2) Selection requirements.--
(A) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall select recipients for grants under paragraph (1) to ensure geographic diversity among grant recipients to ensure that region-specific specialties are developed for region-specific geology.
(B) Timeline.--The Secretary shall award the grants under paragraph (1) by not later than the later of--
(i) the date that is 180 days after the start of the applicable fiscal year; and
(ii) the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Act making full-year appropriations for the Department of Energy for the applicable fiscal year is enacted.
(3) Recommendations of the board.--
(A) In general.--In selecting recipients for grants under paragraph (1) and determining the amount of each grant, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Board under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (d)(3).
(B) Selection statement.--In selecting recipients for grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(i) in response to a recommendation from the Board, submit to the Board a statement that describes--
(I) whether the Secretary accepts or rejects, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Board; and
(II) the justification and rationale for any rejection, in whole or in part, of the recommendation of the Board; and
(ii) not later than 15 days after awarding a grant for which the Board submitted a recommendation, publish the statement submitted under clause (i) on the Department of Energy website.
(4) Use of funds.--A mining school receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall use the grant funds--
(A) to recruit students to the mining school; and
(B) to enhance and support programs related to, as applicable--
(i) mining, mineral extraction efficiency, and related processing technology;
(ii) emphasizing critical mineral and rare earth element exploration, extraction, and refining;
(iii) reclamation technology and practices for active mining operations;
(iv) the development of reprocessing systems and technologies that facilitate reclamation that fosters the recovery of resources at abandoned mine sites;
(v) mineral extraction, refining, processing, reprocessing, and recycling methods that reduce environmental and human impacts;
(vi) technologies to extract, refine, separate, smelt, produce, or recycle minerals, including rare earth elements;
(vii) reducing dependence on foreign energy and mineral supplies through increased domestic critical mineral production and recycling;
(viii) enhancing the competitiveness of United States energy and mineral technology exports;
(ix) the extraction or processing of coinciding mineralization, including rare earth elements, within coal or other ores, coal or mineral processing byproduct, overburden, or residue from coal, minerals, or other ores;
(x) enhancing technologies and practices relating to mitigation of acid mine drainage, reforestation, and revegetation in the reclamation of land and water resources adversely affected by mining;
(xi) enhancing exploration and characterization of new or novel deposits, including rare earth elements and critical minerals within phosphate rocks, uranium-bearing deposits, and other nontraditional sources;
(xii) meeting challenges of extreme mining conditions, such as deeper deposits or cold region mining;
(xiii) mineral economics, including analysis of supply chains, future mineral needs, and unconventional mining resources; and
(xiv) mining practices that reduce environmental impact, including mining practices that reduce water usage, mitigate surface disturbance, and promote overall resource efficiency.
(d) Mining Professional Development Advisory Board.--
(1) In general.--There is established an advisory board, to be known as the "Mining Professional Development Advisory Board".
(2) Composition.--The Board shall be composed of 6 members, to be appointed by the Secretary not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, of whom--
(A) 3 shall be individuals who are actively working in the mining profession and for the mining industry; and
(B) 3 shall have experience in academia implementing and operating professional skills training and education programs in the mining sector.
(3) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) evaluate grant applications received under subsection (c) and make recommendations to the Secretary for selection of grant recipients under that subsection;
(B) propose the amount of the grant for each applicant recommended to be selected under subparagraph (A); and
(C) perform oversight to ensure that grant funds awarded under subsection (c) are used for the purposes described in paragraph (4) of that subsection.
(4) Term.--A member of the Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Board--
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Board; and
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2034.
(f) Repeal of the Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act.--The Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act (30 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.) is repealed.
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SA 6696. Mr. HUSTED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
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At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1050. REPORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF
DOMESTIC SUPPLY AND USE OF CRITICAL CHEMICALS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report assessing the national security implications of the domestic supply and use of critical chemicals that support petroleum refining and related industrial processes.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) An assessment of the domestic production capacity and supply chain for critical chemicals used in petroleum refining and related manufacturing processes, and identification of any significant irreplaceability and dependencies on foreign sources or single-supplier vulnerabilities.
(2) An evaluation of the role such chemicals play in supporting the defense industrial base, including their contribution to the production of fuels, materials, and other inputs necessary for military operations and defense manufacturing.
(3) An analysis of the extent to which domestic refining capacity supporting military fuel requirements relies on processes utilizing such chemicals, and the potential operational or logistical impacts to the Department of Defense if the availability or use of such chemicals were significantly constrained.
(4) An assessment of risks to the infrastructure and supply chains associated with the production, storage, and transportation of such chemicals, including physical security, cyber threats, and other potential disruption scenarios.
(5) Recommendations for actions the Department of Defense and other relevant Federal agencies could take to mitigate risks to the supply of such chemicals, including consideration of strategic stockpiling, diversification of supply sources, or other measures to strengthen the resilience of the defense industrial base.
(c) Form.--
(1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but shall include a classified annex.
(2) Matters for unclassified portion.--The unclassified portion of the report required by subsection (a) shall focus on high-level strategic risks and policy recommendations, ensuring that no information is released that could jeopardize the operational security of the domestic industrial base, including specific refining companies.
(3) Matters for classified annex.--Any site-specific vulnerability assessments, granular production capacities of individual refineries, or detailed transportation route mappings for hazardous chemicals shall be included only in the classified annex required by paragraph (1).
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SA 6697. Ms. LUMMIS (for herself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,599 characters)
At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII add the following:
SEC. 2873. EXPEDITED REVIEW OF LEASES FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
PROJECT AT F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYOMING.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) A project has been proposed connecting a new pedestrian bridge to on-base parking lot improvements at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, opening more than 2,000 parking spaces for public use in connection with Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Greenway trail system of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
(2) That project has been approved by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
(3) Funding for both the pedestrian bridge and the parking lot improvements has been secured by the City of Cheyenne and Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc.
(4) The leases required for the parking lot improvements and pedestrian bridge access have been approved by the Commander of F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and forwarded to Air Force Global Strike Command for further review.
(b) Expedited Review Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall expedite review of, and finalize, the leases described in subsection (a)(4).
(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of the leases described in subsection (a)(4), including any obstacles to completing review of such leases by the deadline described in subsection (b).
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SA 6698. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,088 characters)
At the end of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1094. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2026".
SEC. 1095. COVERED ITEM DEFINED.
In this subtitle, the term "covered item" means a device described in section 921(a)(34)(C) of title 18, United States Code, designed to prevent unauthorized use of firearms or ammunition that--
(1) is used to grant authorized access or prevent unauthorized access to a firearm or ammunition;
(2) is marketed and intended as a secure firearm storage or security product;
(3) is not eligible or intended for commercial or individual resale; and
(4) may use physical, electronic, or other security mechanisms that meet or exceed standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials or any successor standard.
SEC. 1096. CODIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAM TO FURNISH TO CERTAIN
VETERANS ITEMS USED FOR SECURE STORAGE OF
FIREARMS.
(a) Codification.--On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs in effect as of such date of enactment to provide covered items through the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service of the Department.
(b) Expansion to Include Certain Veterans.--The Secretary shall expand the program under subsection (a) to include veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code--
(1) with any assessed suicide risk documented via a comprehensive suicide risk evaluation conducted during the previous one-year period;
(2) who can independently use a covered item or can use a covered item with assistance;
(3) with respect to whom a clinician has determined that a covered item may mitigate suicide risk of the veteran; and
(4) who consent to receive a covered item.
(c) Additional Authority.--
(1) Modifications.--The Secretary may make such modifications to the program under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve or expand services provided under such program.
(2) Terms and conditions.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary may establish such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate, including--
(A) the types of covered items to provide; and
(B) other aspects of the program.
(3) Delegation.--The delegation of authority to the Secretary under this subsection is an express delegation of authority and shall be interpreted as such by any reviewing court or body.
(d) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section may be $10,000,000 and must be appropriated specifically for that purpose on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1097. PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
FURNISH TO CERTAIN VETERANS ITEMS USED FOR
SECURE STORAGE OF FIREARMS.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a five-year pilot program (in this section referred to as the "pilot program") to provide to an eligible individual, upon the request of the eligible individual--
(1) a covered item or a redeemable voucher to aid in the distribution of a covered item; and
(2) information relating to the benefits of, and options for, secure firearm storage.
(b) Distribution of Covered Items.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary may work with organizations that have experience, expertise, and business knowledge regarding covered items.
(c) Public Education Campaign.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall design and carry out a public education campaign to inform eligible individuals of the availability of covered items under the pilot program.
(2) Collaboration.--In carrying out the public education campaign required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may collaborate with organizations that have experience with respect to secure firearm storage devices.
(3) Assurance about lawful ownership of firearms.--The Secretary shall include in the public education campaign described in paragraph (1) material that assures eligible individuals that--
(A) their participation in the pilot program does not impact lawful ownership of firearms; and
(B) seeking mental health care or other treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs does not impact lawful ownership of firearms.
(d) Additional Authority.--
(1) Rules and conditions.--The Secretary may prescribe such rules and conditions on the operation of the pilot program as the Secretary determines appropriate, including--
(A) the types of covered items to provide under the pilot program; and
(B) other aspects of the pilot program.
(2) Interim guidance.--The Secretary may carry out the pilot program through interim guidance in advance of the issuance of regulations for such purpose.
(3) Delegation.--The delegation of authority to the Secretary under this subsection is an express delegation of authority and shall be interpreted as such by any reviewing court or body.
(e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the commencement of the pilot program, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for the duration of the
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes--
(1) a description of the pilot program in a manner consistent with applicable law;
(2) for the period covered by the report, the number of covered items distributed by the Veterans Health Administration and the number of covered items redeemed outside of the Veterans Health Administration under the pilot program;
(3) an assessment of efforts made to increase outreach and distribution of covered items under the pilot program to eligible individuals;
(4) an assessment of any obstacles to increasing outreach to eligible individuals;
(5) an identification of additional steps that will be taken during the one-year period after the submission of the report to improve the processes through which eligible individuals receive a covered item under the pilot program; and
(6) an identification of the service era and gender of each eligible individual who received a covered item under the pilot program, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN).
(f) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section may be $10,000,000 and must be appropriated specifically for that purpose on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Eligible individual.--The term "eligible individual" means a veteran or an individual described in section 1720I(b) of title 38, United States Code, who is not enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of such title.
SEC. 1098. EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with such organizations and agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall develop and make available to veterans educational and training materials regarding the benefits of secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy.
(b) Impact on Gun Ownership.--Educational and training materials made available under subsection (a) shall include information stating that seeking mental health care or other treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs does not impact lawful ownership of firearms.
SEC. 1099. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this subtitle may be construed--
(1) to authorize the collection of personally identifiable information of an individual who participates in the pilot program under section 1097 for the purposes of tracking firearm ownership;
(2) to require any such individual to register a firearm with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other Federal, State, Tribal, or local unit of government;
(3) to require mandatory firearm storage for any such individual;
(4) to prohibit any such individual from purchasing, owning, or possessing a firearm under section 922 of title 18, United States Code;
(5) to discourage the lawful ownership of firearms;
(6) to create or maintain a list of individuals participating in such pilot program; or
(7) to authorize the use or retention of personally identifiable information of an individual who participates in such pilot program or the program under section 1096(a) for the purposes of tracking or inferring firearm ownership or access to firearms.
(b) Personally Identifiable Information.--For purposes of this section, personally identifiable information of an individual does not include the service era or gender of the individual.
______
SA 6699. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,983 characters)
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1__. CHUGACH ALASKA LAND EXCHANGE OIL SPILL RECOVERY
ACT.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to authorize, direct, and expedite the exchange of land and interests in land between Chugach Alaska and the United States; and
(2) to consolidate Federal ownership of the surface and subsurface estate of Federal land and interests acquired under the Program.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ANSCA terms.--The terms "Native Corporation", "Regional Corporation", and "Village Corporation" have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
(2) Chugach alaska.--The term "Chugach Alaska" means the Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Regional Corporation.
(3) Chugach region land study report.--The term "Chugach Region Land Study Report" means the report and recommendations submitted to Congress by the Secretary pursuant to section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614).
(4) Federal exchange land.--The term "Federal exchange land" means the approximately 65,374 acres of fee simple land located in the Chugach Region as described in subsection (c)(5).
(5) Non-federal land.--The term "non-Federal land" means the parcels of subsurface land comprising approximately 231,000 acres--
(A) owned by Chugach Alaska and conveyed to Chugach Alaska pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
(B) described in subsection (c)(6); and
(C) for which--
(i) the United States has acquired fee title to the surface estate or a conservation easement on the surface estate pursuant to the Program; or
(ii) the State has acquired fee title to, and the United States has acquired a conservation easement in, the surface estate pursuant to the Program.
(6) Program.--The term "Program" means the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Habitat Protection and Acquisition Program of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.
(7) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
(8) State.--The term "State" means the State of Alaska.
(c) Land Exchange.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if Chugach Alaska offers to convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary shall accept the offer and convey, pursuant to section 22(j)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1621(j)(1)), all right, title, and interest of the Federal Government in and to the Federal exchange land subject to the reservation of public easements required under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)).
(2) Condition on acceptance.--Title to the non-Federal land exchanged in paragraph (1) shall be in a form that is acceptable to the Secretary.
(3) Treatment of land conveyed.--Except as otherwise provided, any land conveyed to Chugach Alaska under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be land conveyed by the Secretary under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(4) Valid existing rights.--The conveyances under paragraph (1) shall be subject to any valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, or other encumbrances of third parties in, to, or on the Federal exchange land or the non-Federal land as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(5) Conveyance of federal exchange land.--The Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, convey to Chugach Alaska--
(A) all right, title, and interest in and to the National Forest System land of the Forest Service identified in the Chugach Regional Land Study and Report, comprising approximately 63,414 total acres, comprising--
(i) T. 3 N., R. 10 E., Seward Meridian, Drier Bay Parcel, comprising approximately 2,996 acres of surface estate;
(ii) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 7 and 8 E., Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 7,876 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(iii) T. 2 N., R. 1 and 2 E., Seward Meridian, Snow River Parcel, comprising approximately 11,462 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(iv) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 8 W., Copper River Meridian, Hinchinbrook Island Parcel, comprising approximately 2,617 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(v) T. 17 S., R. 7 E., secs. 5, 8, 18, 19, and 30 through 33, Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 6,375 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(vi) T. 18 S., R. 7 E., secs. 6 and 7, Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 1,280 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(vii) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 24 through 26 and 36, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 2,240 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(viii) T. 16, S., R. 6 E., secs. 16, 19 through 21, and 25 through 36, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 8,305 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(ix) T. 17 S., R. 6 E., secs. 1 through 4, and 10, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 3,170 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(x) T. 16 S., R. 4 E., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 13, and 24, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising approximately 5,200 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(xi) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 5 through 9, and 15 through 22, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising approximately 6,165 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(xii) T. 19 S., R. 15 E., secs. 12 through 14, 23, 24, 26, 27, 33, and 34, Copper River Meridian, Robinson Mountains Parcel, comprising approximately 5,728 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(B) all right, title, and interest in and to the Federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service identified in the Chugach Regional Land Study and Report, comprising approximately 1,960 total acres, comprising--
(i) T. 21 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian, Taan Fjord Parcel, comprising approximately 450 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(ii) T. 21 and 22 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian, Kageet Point Parcel, comprising approximately 310 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(iii) T. 9 S., R. 2 W., secs. 5 and 6, Copper River Meridian, Thompson Pass Parcel, comprising 1,200 acres of surface and subsurface estate.
(6) Conveyance of non-federal land.--
(A) Conveyance.--The non-Federal land to which Chugach Alaska may convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest, that the Secretary determines to be applicable, includes--
(i) the approximately 130,469.93 subsurface acres, which comprises--
(I) T. 13 S., R. 1 W., sec. 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 467 acres;
(II) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 23 through 27, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,627 acres;
(III) T. 15 S., R. 2 W., secs. 3 through 9, 17 through 19, and 29 through 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 8,277.36 acres;
(IV) T. 16 S., R. 2 W., secs. 1 through 4, and 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,373.34 acres;
(V) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 32 and 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 240 acres;
(VI) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 3 through 7, portions of secs. 8 and 9, and secs. 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,486.36 acres;
(VII) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, and 15, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 962 acres;
(VIII) T. 13 S., R. 4 W., secs. 26, 27, and 32 through 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,494.05 acres;
(IX) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1 through 11, 15 through 21, 25, 30, and 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,750.98 acres;
(X) T. 15 S., R. 4 W., secs. 8 through 12, 16 through 22, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 5,839.15 acres;
(XI) T. 13 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 9 through 11, 14 through 20, a portion of sec. 21, and secs. 31 and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 4,216.36 acres;
(XII) T. 14 S., R. 5 W., sec. 1, a portion of sec. 2, secs. 6 through 12, 14 through 21, 29, and 30, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 9,057.6 acres;
(XIII) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 23 and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 292.97 acres;
(XIV) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 11, 13, 14, 23, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,980.69 acres;
(XV) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., secs. 32, 34, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 343 acres;
(XVI) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1 through 22, 24, 25, and 27 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 17,234.88 acres;
(XVII) T. 14 S., R. 7 W., secs. 2, 3, and 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 203 acres;
(XVIII) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 9 through 11, 13 through 29, and 32 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 9,282.25 acres;
(XIX) T. 14 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 5, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 629.25 acres;
(XX) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., sec. 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 10 acres;
(XXI) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., sec. 32, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1.19 acres;
(XXII) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 29, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 9,314 acres;
(XXIII) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 21 through 28, and 33 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 8,684.96 acres;
(XXIV) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 4 through 7, 18, and 19, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,120.50 acres;
(XXV) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 29 through 32, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,404.25 acres;
(XXVI) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 5 and 8, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 743 acres;
(XXVII) T. 3 S., R. 2 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 35, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,125 acres;
(XXVIII) T. 4 S., R. 2 W., secs. 2, 3, 4, and 11, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,225 acres;
(XXIX) T. 5 S., R. 3 W., secs. 18, 19, 20, 23, 26 through 29, and 32 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 3,670 acres;
(XXX) T. 5 S., R. 4 W., sec. 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 380 acres;
(XXXI) T. 6 S., R. 4 W., sec. 7, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 613 acres;
(XXXII) T. 5 S., R. 5 W., sec. 33, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 620 acres;
(XXXIII) T. 6 S., R. 5 W., secs. 4, 9, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 3,205 acres;
(XXXIV) T. 7 S., R. 5 W., sec. 4, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 230 acres;
(XXXV) T. 8 S., R. 6 W., secs. 7 through 12, 14 through 22, and 27 through 34, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,797.39 acres;
(XXXVI) T. 7 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 through 14, 16, 17, 23, and 24, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,031.78 acres;
(XXXVII) T. 8 S., R. 7 W., secs. 24, 25, 35, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 705.65 acres; and
(XXXVIII) T. 7 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26 (lots 1 through 4), 27, 28, and 29, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,831.97 acres;
(ii) the approximately 24,911.65 subsurface acres in which the fee title to the surface estate has been acquired by the State, and a conservation easement in the surface estate has been acquired by the United States, pursuant to the Program, which comprises--
(I) T. 16 S., R. 4 W., sec. 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 157.49 acres;
(II) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 35 and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,280 acres;
(III) T. 16 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,479 acres;
(IV) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs.
Text printed in the Record (6,011 characters)
4 and 9, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 579 acres;
(V) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., sec. 1, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 130 acres;
(VI) T. 9 S., R. 9 W., secs. 26, 27, 33, 34, and 35, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,524.26 acres;
(VII) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., secs. 15, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, 32, and 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,183.65 acres;
(VIII) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,145 acres;
(IX) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 304 acres;
(X) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 5, 7 through 30, and 33 through 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 14,712.25 acres; and
(XI) T. 4 N., R. 9 E., secs. 6, 7, 17, 18, and 19, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,417 acres; and
(iii) the approximately 75,655.4 subsurface acres in which a conservation easement in the surface estate has been acquired by the United States pursuant to the Program, which comprises--
(I) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,131.75 acres;
(II) T. 14 S., R. 2 W., secs. 4 through 8, and 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,104.92 acres;
(III) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 12 through 16, 21 through 23, and 28 through 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 5,319.37 acres;
(IV) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 6 through 8, and 17 through 20, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,899.44 acres;
(V) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 8 and 9, and the southern part of sec. 13, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 125 acres;
(VI) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, 12, 14, and 15, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 506 acres;
(VII) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 28 and 29, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 660.15 acres;
(VIII) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1, 5 through 8, 10 through 15, 22 through 27, and 34 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,516 acres;
(IX) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 27, 28, 33, and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,455.63 acres;
(X) T. 11 S., R. 6 W., secs. 25, 26, and 34 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,088.26 acres;
(XI) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 1 through 3, 8 through 10, and 16 through 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,777.5 acres;
(XII) T. 11 S., R. 7 W., sec. 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 577.8 acres;
(XIII) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., sec. 5 through 7, 10 through 15, and 18 through 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,596.93 acres;
(XIV) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 18 and 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 700 acres;
(XV) T. 10 S., R. 8 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,197 acres;
(XVI) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 4, 10 through 16, 21 through 26, 31, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 7,647.41 acres;
(XVII) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 12 through 14, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 591.75 acres;
(XVIII) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 3, 10, 11, 14 through 16, 21 and 22, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,112 acres;
(XIX) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 5 through 8, 18, and 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,220.5 acres;
(XX) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 13, 14, 17, 19 through 21, 23, 24, and 28 through 30, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,400 acres;
(XXI) T. 11 S., R. 9 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,157.75 acres;
(XXII) T. 12 S., R. 9 W., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 15, 22, 23, 24, 26, and 27, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,445.71 acres;
(XXIII) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., secs. 24 and 25, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 345.33 acres;
(XXIV) T. 2 N., R. 7 E., sec. 1, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 64.16 acres;
(XXV) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 24, 25, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 385.75 acres;
(XXVI) T. 1 N., R. 8 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 22, 23, 26, and 27, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,667.65 acres;
(XXVII) T. 2 N., R. 8 E., secs. 2 through 11, 26, 30, 31, 32, and 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 4,339.84 acres;
(XXVIII) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 11, 14 through 17, 19 through 23, and 26 through 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 11,339.4 acres;
(XXIX) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., sec. 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1.5 acres;
(XXX) T. 1 N., R. 9 E., secs. 1, 2, 11 through 14, and 24, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,560.25 acres; and
(XXXI) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 6, 7, 17 through 20, 29 and 30, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,720.65 acres.
(B) Management.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this paragraph shall--
(i) become part of the unit of Federal land in which the land acquired by the Secretary is located; and
(ii) be administered in accordance with that unit of Federal land.
(C) Exclusion of village corporation development and shareholder sites.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), Chugach Alaska shall exclude from the conveyance of non-Federal land all right, title, and interest in any land, not to exceed a total of 209 acres, that--
(i) a Village Corporation has retained development rights, other than timber development rights; or
(ii) has been designated for a shareholder homesite program.
(d) Maps, Estimates, and Descriptions.--
(1) Minor errors.--The Secretary and Chugach Alaska may correct, by mutual agreement, any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of any land conveyed or exchanged under this section.
(2) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, an acreage estimate, or a description of land in this section, the map shall control unless the Secretary and Chugach Alaska mutually agree otherwise.
______
SA 6700. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,556 characters)
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1__. UNRECOGNIZED SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES
RECOGNITION AND COMPENSATION ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the "Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act".
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to redress the omission of the southeastern Alaska communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell from eligibility under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) by authorizing the Alaska Natives enrolled in the communities--
(1) to form Urban Corporations for the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and
(2) to receive certain settlement land pursuant to that Act.
(c) Establishment of Additional Native Corporations.--Section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(e) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska.--
"(1) In general.--The Native residents of each of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, may organize as Urban Corporations.
"(2) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this subsection affects any entitlement to land of any Native Corporation established before the date of enactment of this subsection pursuant to this Act or any other provision of law.".
(d) Shareholder Eligibility.--Section 8 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1607) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(d) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.--
"(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enroll to each of the Urban Corporations for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell those individual Natives who enrolled under this Act to the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell, respectively.
"(2) Number of shares.--Each Native who is enrolled to an Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell pursuant to paragraph (1) and who was enrolled as a shareholder of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska shall receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in the respective Urban Corporation.
"(3) Natives receiving shares through inheritance.--If a Native received shares of stock in the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska through inheritance from a decedent Native who originally enrolled to the Native Village of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell and the decedent Native was not a shareholder in a Village Corporation or Urban Corporation, the Native shall receive the identical number of shares of Settlement Common Stock in the Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell as the number of shares inherited by that Native from the decedent Native who would have been eligible to be enrolled to the respective Urban Corporation.
"(4) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this subsection affects any previous or future allocation of acreage to any Regional Corporation pursuant to section 12(b) or 14(h)(8).".
(e) Distribution Rights.--Section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j)--
(A) in the third sentence, by striking "In the case" and inserting the following:
"(3) Thirteenth regional corporation.--In the case";
(B) in the second sentence, by striking "Not less" and inserting the following:
"(2) Minimum allocation.--Not less";
(C) by striking "(j) During" and inserting the following:
"(j) Distribution of Corporate Funds and Other Net Income.--
"(1) In general.--During"; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
"(4) Native villages of haines, ketchikan, petersburg, tenakee, and wrangell.--Native members of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell who become shareholders in an Urban Corporation for such a Native Village shall continue to be eligible to receive distributions under this subsection as at-large shareholders of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska."; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(s) Effect of Amendatory Act.--The Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act and the amendments made by that Act shall not affect--
"(1) the ratio for determination of revenue distribution among Native Corporations under this section; or
"(2) the settlement agreement among Regional Corporations or Village Corporations or other provisions of subsection (i) or (j).".
(f) Compensation.--The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"SEC. 43. URBAN CORPORATIONS FOR HAINES, KETCHIKAN,
PETERSBURG, TENAKEE, AND WRANGELL.
"(a) Definition of Urban Corporation.--In this section, the term `Urban Corporation' means each of the Urban Corporations for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.
"(b) Conveyances of Land.--
"(1) Authorization.--
"(A) Conveyances to urban corporations.--
"(i) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights and paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), the Secretary shall convey--
"(I) to the Urban Corporation for Haines, in accordance with clause (ii), the surface estate in 13 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Haines Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025;
"(II) to the Urban Corporation for Ketchikan, the surface estate in 8 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Ketchikan Selections', numbered 1 through 4, and dated June 27, 2025 (except the mining claim AA-91521 in Sec. 4, T. 78 S., R. 88 E., Copper River Meridian, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Kitkun Cove', numbered 1 of 4);
"(III) to the Urban Corporation for Petersburg, the surface estate in 12 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Petersburg Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025 (except the Lighthouse withdrawals USS Nos. 1710 and 1711, in Sec. 15, 16, and 22, T. 56 S., R. 76 E., Copper River Meridian, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Portage Bay East', numbered 1 of 3);
"(IV) to the Urban Corporation for Tenakee, the surface estate in 15 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Tenakee Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025; and
"(V) to the Urban Corporation for Wrangell, the surface estate in 13 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Wrangell Selections', numbered 1 through 5, and dated June 27, 2025.
"(ii) Haines phases; conditions.--
"(I) Conveyance phases.--The conveyance to the Urban Corporation for Haines under
clause (i)(I) in the selection area at Slate Creek, Berners Bay, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Haines Selections', map 2 of 3, and dated June 27, 2025 (referred to in this subclause as the `Map'), shall be completed in the following 2 phases:
"(aa) Phase 1.--The Secretary shall convey to the Urban Corporation for Haines the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 81 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. West Shore'.
"(bb) Phase 2.--Subject to the conditions described in subclause (II), and on an application for conveyance by the Urban Corporation for Haines, the Secretary shall convey to the Urban Corporation for Haines--
"(AA) the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 37 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. West Shore North'; and
"(BB) the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 55 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. East Shore'.
"(II) Phase 2 conditions.--The phase 2 conveyance described in subclause (I)(bb) shall occur on the earliest of the date on which--
"(aa) the Federal mining claims underlying the Federal land described in that subclause are relinquished;
"(bb) the Federal mining claims underlying the Federal land described in that subclause are abandoned, on a determination by the Secretary that the Federal mining claims are void and forfeited; and
"(cc) Coeur Alaska Inc. (or a successor in interest) consents that the Federal land described in that subclause can be conveyed prior to any relinquishment or abandonment of the Federal mining claims underlying that land.
"(B) Conveyances to regional corporation for southeast alaska.--Subject to valid existing rights, on the applicable date on which the surface estate in land is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall convey to the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska the subsurface estate for that land.
"(C) Congressional intent.--
"(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), it is the intent of Congress that the Secretary complete the interim conveyance of the surface estate in land to an Urban Corporation under subparagraph (A)(i) not later than the date that is 2 years after the applicable date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation under section 16(e)(1).
"(ii) Exception.--As the Secretary determines to be necessary, the Secretary may extend the 2-year deadline established by clause (i) by not more than 1 year for any individual parcel of land to allow for the conclusion of any pending appeal of a public easement decision for the applicable parcel pursuant to section 17(b), subject to the requirement that the final conveyance of the surface estate with respect to the applicable parcel shall be completed as soon as practicable after the date on which the appeal is concluded.
"(D) Finalization of entitlement.--The conveyances under subparagraph (A)(i) of approximately 23,040 acres of land to each Urban Corporation shall be considered to be the full and final satisfaction of the entitlement of the southeastern Alaska communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell under this Act, notwithstanding whether the surveyed acreage of the parcels of land described in subclauses (I) through (V) of that subparagraph is less than or more than 23,040 acres in the case of each Urban Corporation.
"(2) Withdrawal.--
"(A) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land described in paragraph (1) is withdrawn from all forms of--
"(i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
"(ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
"(iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
"(B) Termination.--The withdrawal under subparagraph (A) shall remain in effect until the date on which the Federal land is conveyed under paragraph (1).
"(3) Treatment of land conveyed.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, any land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
"(A)(i) shall be considered to be land conveyed by the Secretary under paragraph (3) of section 14(h); but
"(ii) shall not be subject to the requirements under that section that the land be vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved; and
"(B) shall be subject to all laws (including regulations) applicable to entitlements under section 14(h)(3), including section 907(d) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (43 U.S.C.
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1636(d)).
"(4) Public easements.--
"(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the conveyance and patents for the land under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be subject to the reservation before the conveyance of public easements under section 17(b).
"(B) Termination.--No public easement reserved on land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be terminated by the Secretary without publication of notice of the proposed termination in the Federal Register.
"(C) Reservation of easements.--In the conveyance and patent for any parcel of land under paragraph (1)(A)(i) for which the easement reservation process has not been completed by the date that is 2 years after the applicable date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation under section 16(e)(1), or, in the case of an appeal of a public easement under section 17(b), by the date that is 3 years after the applicable date of incorporation, the Secretary shall--
"(i) convey the parcel of land; and
"(ii) as part of the conveyance and patent for the parcel of land under clause (i), reserve the right of the Secretary to amend the conveyance and patent to include reservations of public easements under section 17(b) until the date of completion of the easement reservation process.
"(D) State of alaska easements.--Nothing in this Act modifies, changes, or terminates the rights-of-way granted to the State under--
"(i) section 4407 of the SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1777); or
"(ii) the 2006 memorandum of understanding between the State and the Forest Service to implement that section.
"(5) Hunting, fishing, recreation, and access.--
"(A) In general.--Any land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), including access to the land through roadways, trails, and forest roads, shall remain open and available to subsistence uses, noncommercial recreational hunting and fishing, and other noncommercial recreational uses by the public under applicable law--
"(i) without liability on the part of the Urban Corporation, except for willful acts of the Urban Corporation, to any user as a result of the use; and
"(ii) subject to--
"(I) any reasonable restrictions that may be imposed by the Urban Corporation on the public use--
"(aa) to ensure public safety;
"(bb) to minimize conflicts between recreational and commercial uses;
"(cc) to protect cultural resources;
"(dd) to conduct scientific research; or
"(ee) to provide environmental protection; and
"(II) the condition that the Urban Corporation post on any applicable property, in accordance with State law, notices of the restrictions on use.
"(B) Effect.--Access provided to any individual or entity under subparagraph (A) shall not--
"(i) create an interest in any third party in the land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i); or
"(ii) provide standing to any third party in any review of, or challenge to, any determination by the Urban Corporation with respect to the management or development of the land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), except as against the Urban Corporation for the management of public access under subparagraph (A).
"(6) Miscellaneous.--
"(A) Special use authorizations.--
"(i) In general.--On the conveyance of land to an Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
"(I) any guiding or outfitting special use authorization issued by the Forest Service for the use of the conveyed land shall terminate; and
"(II) as a condition of the conveyance and consistent with section 14(g), the Urban Corporation shall issue the holder of the special use authorization terminated under subclause (I) an authorization to continue the authorized use, subject to the terms and conditions that were in the special use authorization issued by the Forest Service, for--
"(aa) the remainder of the term of the authorization; and
"(bb) 1 additional consecutive 10-year renewal period.
"(ii) Notice of commercial activities.--The Urban Corporation, and any holder of a guiding or outfitting authorization under this subparagraph, shall have a mutual obligation, subject to the guiding or outfitting authorization, to inform the other party of any commercial activities prior to engaging in the activities on the land conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(iii) Negotiation of new terms.--Nothing in this paragraph precludes the Urban Corporation and the holder of a guiding or outfitting authorization from negotiating a new mutually agreeable guiding or outfitting authorization.
"(iv) Liability.--Neither the Urban Corporation nor the United States shall bear any liability, except for willful acts of the Urban Corporation or the United States, regarding the use and occupancy of any land conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i), as provided in any outfitting or guiding authorization under this paragraph.
"(B) Mutual use agreement for roads and facilities.--
"(i) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall seek to enter into a binding mutual use agreement for--
"(I) the use of National Forest System roads and related transportation facilities (including marine access facilities, log transfer facilities, sort yards, and associated log rafting and storage areas) in the Tongass National Forest by the Urban Corporation and designees of the Urban Corporation; and
"(II) the use of the roads and related transportation facilities (including marine access facilities, log transfer facilities, sort yards, and associated log rafting and storage areas) of the Urban Corporation by the Forest Service and designees of the Forest Service.
"(ii) Terms and conditions.--The binding mutual use agreement under clause (i)--
"(I) shall provide that the use of road and transportation facilities infrastructure by a third party shall not begin until the date on
which the third party signs a mutual use agreement entered into with the Urban Corporation;
"(II) shall provide that the State (including entities and designees of the State) shall be authorized to use the roads and related transportation facilities of the Urban Corporation on substantially similar terms as are provided by the Urban Corporation to the Forest Service;
"(III) shall include restrictions on, and fees for, the use of the National Forest System roads and related transportation facilities in existence as of the date of enactment of this section, as necessary, that are reasonable and comparable to the restrictions and fees imposed by the Forest Service for the use of the roads and related transportation facilities;
"(IV) shall not restrict or limit any access to the roads and related transportation facilities of the Urban Corporation or the Forest Service that may be otherwise provided by valid existing rights and agreements in existence as of the date of enactment of this section; and
"(V) shall provide for periodic updates to the mutual use agreement if the terms and conditions of the updated mutual use agreement are consistent with the terms and conditions described in subclauses (I) through (IV).
"(iii) Intent of congress.--It is the intent of Congress that the mutual use agreement under clause (i) shall be entered into as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section and in any case by not later than 1 year after the date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation.
"(iv) Continued access.--Beginning on the date on which the land is conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i) and ending on the effective date of a binding mutual use agreement entered into under clause (i), the Urban Corporation shall provide and allow administrative access to roads and related transportation facilities on the land under substantially similar terms as are provided by the Forest Service as of the date of enactment of this section.
"(C) Effect on other laws.--
"(i) In general.--Nothing in this section delays the duty of the Secretary to convey land to--
"(I) the State under Public Law 85-508 (commonly known as the `Alaska Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21); or
"(II) a Native Corporation under--
"(aa) this Act; or
"(bb) the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 note; Public Law 108-452).
"(ii) Statehood entitlement.--
"(I) In general.--Statehood selections under Public Law 85-508 (commonly known as the `Alaska Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21) are not displaced by the parcels of land described in subclauses (I) through (V) of paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(II) Boundary adjustments.--In the event of a dispute between an area selected as a Statehood selection and a parcel of land referred to in subclause (I), the Secretary shall work with the Urban Corporation and the State in good faith to adjust the boundary of the parcel to exclude any area selected as a Statehood selection.
"(iii) Conveyances.--The Secretary shall promptly proceed with the conveyance of all land necessary to fulfill the final entitlement of all Native Corporations in accordance with--
"(I) this Act; and
"(II) the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 note; Public Law 108-452).
"(iv) Fish and wildlife.--Nothing in this section enlarges or diminishes the responsibility and authority of the State with respect to the management of fish and wildlife on public land in the State.
"(D) Maps.--
"(i) Availability.--Each map referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be available in the appropriate offices of the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture.
"(ii) Corrections.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, may make any necessary correction to a clerical or typographical error in a map referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(7) Escrow funds.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this section, the escrow requirements of section 2 of Public Law 94-204 (43 U.S.C.
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1613 note) shall apply to proceeds (including interest) derived from the land withdrawn under paragraph (2).
"(c) Conveyance of Roads, Trails, Log Transfer Facilities, Leases, and Appurtenances.--
"(1) In general.--The land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall include all right, title, and interest of the United States in all roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land conveyed to the Urban Corporation.
"(2) Conditions.--The land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall be subject to all valid existing rights in accordance with section 14(g), including any reciprocal rights-of-way, easements, or agreements for the use of the roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances conveyed under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i).
"(3) Continuation of agreements.--
"(A) In general.--On or before the date on which land is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall provide to the Urban Corporation notice of all reciprocal rights-of-way, easements, and agreements for use of the roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land in existence as of the date of enactment of this section.
"(B) Requirement.--In accordance with section 14(g), any right-of-way, easement, or agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall continue unless the right-of-way, easement, or agreement--
"(i) expires under its own terms; or
"(ii) is mutually renegotiated.
"(d) Settlement Trust.--
"(1) In general.--Each Urban Corporation may establish a settlement trust in accordance with section 39 for the purposes of promoting the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries, and preserving the Native heritage and culture, of the community of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell, as applicable.
"(2) Proceeds and income.--The proceeds and income from the principal of a trust established under paragraph (1) shall--
"(A) first be applied to the support of those enrollees, and the descendants of the enrollees, who are elders or minor children; and
"(B) thereafter to the support of all other enrollees.".
Text of Senate Amendment 6694
Page S4109 · Official textSA 6694. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,071 characters)
At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:
SEC. ___. NAVY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall continue the Navy University Research Initiatives (PE 0601103N) and shall carry out the activities funded under such program element during fiscal year 2027.
(b) Funding.--
(1) Additional funding.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation is hereby increased by $41,900,000.
(2) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 301 for operations and maintenance is hereby reduced by $41,900,000.
(c) Availability for Navy University Research Initiatives.--Notwithstanding section 4201, of the amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation, as revised by subsection (b)(1), up to $116,900,000 shall be available for Navy University Research Initiatives (PE 0601103N).
Text of Senate Amendment 6695
Pages S4109–S4110 · Official textSA 6695. Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Justice, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Bennet, and Ms. Rosen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (8,061 characters)
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1094. TECHNOLOGY GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN DOMESTIC MINING
EDUCATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Board.--The term "Board" means the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board established by subsection (d)(1).
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term "institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) Mining industry.--The term "mining industry" means the mining industry of the United States, consisting of the search for, and extraction, beneficiation, refining, smelting, processing, reprocessing, and recycling of, naturally occurring metal and nonmetal minerals from the earth.
(4) Mining profession.--The term "mining profession" means the body of jobs directly relevant to--
(A) the exploration, planning, execution, and remediation of metal and nonmetal mining sites; and
(B) the extraction, including the separation, refining, alloying, smelting, concentration, processing, reprocessing, and recycling, of mineral ores.
(5) Mining school.--The term "mining school" means--
(A) a mining, metallurgical, geological, or mineral engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., that is located at an institution of higher education, including a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); or
(B) a geology or engineering program or department that is located at a 4-year public institution of higher education located in a State the gross domestic product of which in 2021 was not less than $2,000,000,000 in the combined categories of "Mining (except oil and gas)" and "Support activities for mining", according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
(6) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy.
(b) Domestic Mining Education Strengthening Program.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey), shall--
(1) establish a grant program to strengthen domestic mining education; and
(2) under the program established in paragraph (1), award competitive grants to mining schools for the purpose of recruiting and educating the next generation of mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet the future energy and mineral needs of the United States.
(c) Grants.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the grant program established under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall award not more than 10 grants each year to mining schools.
(2) Selection requirements.--
(A) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall select recipients for grants under paragraph (1) to ensure geographic diversity among grant recipients to ensure that region-specific specialties are developed for region-specific geology.
(B) Timeline.--The Secretary shall award the grants under paragraph (1) by not later than the later of--
(i) the date that is 180 days after the start of the applicable fiscal year; and
(ii) the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Act making full-year appropriations for the Department of Energy for the applicable fiscal year is enacted.
(3) Recommendations of the board.--
(A) In general.--In selecting recipients for grants under paragraph (1) and determining the amount of each grant, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Board under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (d)(3).
(B) Selection statement.--In selecting recipients for grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(i) in response to a recommendation from the Board, submit to the Board a statement that describes--
(I) whether the Secretary accepts or rejects, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Board; and
(II) the justification and rationale for any rejection, in whole or in part, of the recommendation of the Board; and
(ii) not later than 15 days after awarding a grant for which the Board submitted a recommendation, publish the statement submitted under clause (i) on the Department of Energy website.
(4) Use of funds.--A mining school receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall use the grant funds--
(A) to recruit students to the mining school; and
(B) to enhance and support programs related to, as applicable--
(i) mining, mineral extraction efficiency, and related processing technology;
(ii) emphasizing critical mineral and rare earth element exploration, extraction, and refining;
(iii) reclamation technology and practices for active mining operations;
(iv) the development of reprocessing systems and technologies that facilitate reclamation that fosters the recovery of resources at abandoned mine sites;
(v) mineral extraction, refining, processing, reprocessing, and recycling methods that reduce environmental and human impacts;
(vi) technologies to extract, refine, separate, smelt, produce, or recycle minerals, including rare earth elements;
(vii) reducing dependence on foreign energy and mineral supplies through increased domestic critical mineral production and recycling;
(viii) enhancing the competitiveness of United States energy and mineral technology exports;
(ix) the extraction or processing of coinciding mineralization, including rare earth elements, within coal or other ores, coal or mineral processing byproduct, overburden, or residue from coal, minerals, or other ores;
(x) enhancing technologies and practices relating to mitigation of acid mine drainage, reforestation, and revegetation in the reclamation of land and water resources adversely affected by mining;
(xi) enhancing exploration and characterization of new or novel deposits, including rare earth elements and critical minerals within phosphate rocks, uranium-bearing deposits, and other nontraditional sources;
(xii) meeting challenges of extreme mining conditions, such as deeper deposits or cold region mining;
(xiii) mineral economics, including analysis of supply chains, future mineral needs, and unconventional mining resources; and
(xiv) mining practices that reduce environmental impact, including mining practices that reduce water usage, mitigate surface disturbance, and promote overall resource efficiency.
(d) Mining Professional Development Advisory Board.--
(1) In general.--There is established an advisory board, to be known as the "Mining Professional Development Advisory Board".
(2) Composition.--The Board shall be composed of 6 members, to be appointed by the Secretary not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, of whom--
(A) 3 shall be individuals who are actively working in the mining profession and for the mining industry; and
(B) 3 shall have experience in academia implementing and operating professional skills training and education programs in the mining sector.
(3) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) evaluate grant applications received under subsection (c) and make recommendations to the Secretary for selection of grant recipients under that subsection;
(B) propose the amount of the grant for each applicant recommended to be selected under subparagraph (A); and
(C) perform oversight to ensure that grant funds awarded under subsection (c) are used for the purposes described in paragraph (4) of that subsection.
(4) Term.--A member of the Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Board--
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Board; and
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2034.
(f) Repeal of the Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act.--The Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act (30 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.) is repealed.
Text of Senate Amendment 6696
Pages S4110–S4111 · Official textSA 6696. Mr. HUSTED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,788 characters)
At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1050. REPORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF
DOMESTIC SUPPLY AND USE OF CRITICAL CHEMICALS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report assessing the national security implications of the domestic supply and use of critical chemicals that support petroleum refining and related industrial processes.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) An assessment of the domestic production capacity and supply chain for critical chemicals used in petroleum refining and related manufacturing processes, and identification of any significant irreplaceability and dependencies on foreign sources or single-supplier vulnerabilities.
(2) An evaluation of the role such chemicals play in supporting the defense industrial base, including their contribution to the production of fuels, materials, and other inputs necessary for military operations and defense manufacturing.
(3) An analysis of the extent to which domestic refining capacity supporting military fuel requirements relies on processes utilizing such chemicals, and the potential operational or logistical impacts to the Department of Defense if the availability or use of such chemicals were significantly constrained.
(4) An assessment of risks to the infrastructure and supply chains associated with the production, storage, and transportation of such chemicals, including physical security, cyber threats, and other potential disruption scenarios.
(5) Recommendations for actions the Department of Defense and other relevant Federal agencies could take to mitigate risks to the supply of such chemicals, including consideration of strategic stockpiling, diversification of supply sources, or other measures to strengthen the resilience of the defense industrial base.
(c) Form.--
(1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but shall include a classified annex.
(2) Matters for unclassified portion.--The unclassified portion of the report required by subsection (a) shall focus on high-level strategic risks and policy recommendations, ensuring that no information is released that could jeopardize the operational security of the domestic industrial base, including specific refining companies.
(3) Matters for classified annex.--Any site-specific vulnerability assessments, granular production capacities of individual refineries, or detailed transportation route mappings for hazardous chemicals shall be included only in the classified annex required by paragraph (1).
Text of Senate Amendment 6697
Page S4111 · Official textSA 6697. Ms. LUMMIS (for herself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,591 characters)
At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII add the following:
SEC. 2873. EXPEDITED REVIEW OF LEASES FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
PROJECT AT F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYOMING.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) A project has been proposed connecting a new pedestrian bridge to on-base parking lot improvements at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, opening more than 2,000 parking spaces for public use in connection with Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Greenway trail system of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
(2) That project has been approved by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
(3) Funding for both the pedestrian bridge and the parking lot improvements has been secured by the City of Cheyenne and Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc.
(4) The leases required for the parking lot improvements and pedestrian bridge access have been approved by the Commander of F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and forwarded to Air Force Global Strike Command for further review.
(b) Expedited Review Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall expedite review of, and finalize, the leases described in subsection (a)(4).
(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of the leases described in subsection (a)(4), including any obstacles to completing review of such leases by the deadline described in subsection (b).
Text of Senate Amendment 6698
Pages S4111–S4112 · Official textSA 6698. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,080 characters)
At the end of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1094. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2026".
SEC. 1095. COVERED ITEM DEFINED.
In this subtitle, the term "covered item" means a device described in section 921(a)(34)(C) of title 18, United States Code, designed to prevent unauthorized use of firearms or ammunition that--
(1) is used to grant authorized access or prevent unauthorized access to a firearm or ammunition;
(2) is marketed and intended as a secure firearm storage or security product;
(3) is not eligible or intended for commercial or individual resale; and
(4) may use physical, electronic, or other security mechanisms that meet or exceed standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials or any successor standard.
SEC. 1096. CODIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAM TO FURNISH TO CERTAIN
VETERANS ITEMS USED FOR SECURE STORAGE OF
FIREARMS.
(a) Codification.--On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs in effect as of such date of enactment to provide covered items through the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service of the Department.
(b) Expansion to Include Certain Veterans.--The Secretary shall expand the program under subsection (a) to include veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code--
(1) with any assessed suicide risk documented via a comprehensive suicide risk evaluation conducted during the previous one-year period;
(2) who can independently use a covered item or can use a covered item with assistance;
(3) with respect to whom a clinician has determined that a covered item may mitigate suicide risk of the veteran; and
(4) who consent to receive a covered item.
(c) Additional Authority.--
(1) Modifications.--The Secretary may make such modifications to the program under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve or expand services provided under such program.
(2) Terms and conditions.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary may establish such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate, including--
(A) the types of covered items to provide; and
(B) other aspects of the program.
(3) Delegation.--The delegation of authority to the Secretary under this subsection is an express delegation of authority and shall be interpreted as such by any reviewing court or body.
(d) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section may be $10,000,000 and must be appropriated specifically for that purpose on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1097. PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
FURNISH TO CERTAIN VETERANS ITEMS USED FOR
SECURE STORAGE OF FIREARMS.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a five-year pilot program (in this section referred to as the "pilot program") to provide to an eligible individual, upon the request of the eligible individual--
(1) a covered item or a redeemable voucher to aid in the distribution of a covered item; and
(2) information relating to the benefits of, and options for, secure firearm storage.
(b) Distribution of Covered Items.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary may work with organizations that have experience, expertise, and business knowledge regarding covered items.
(c) Public Education Campaign.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall design and carry out a public education campaign to inform eligible individuals of the availability of covered items under the pilot program.
(2) Collaboration.--In carrying out the public education campaign required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may collaborate with organizations that have experience with respect to secure firearm storage devices.
(3) Assurance about lawful ownership of firearms.--The Secretary shall include in the public education campaign described in paragraph (1) material that assures eligible individuals that--
(A) their participation in the pilot program does not impact lawful ownership of firearms; and
(B) seeking mental health care or other treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs does not impact lawful ownership of firearms.
(d) Additional Authority.--
(1) Rules and conditions.--The Secretary may prescribe such rules and conditions on the operation of the pilot program as the Secretary determines appropriate, including--
(A) the types of covered items to provide under the pilot program; and
(B) other aspects of the pilot program.
(2) Interim guidance.--The Secretary may carry out the pilot program through interim guidance in advance of the issuance of regulations for such purpose.
(3) Delegation.--The delegation of authority to the Secretary under this subsection is an express delegation of authority and shall be interpreted as such by any reviewing court or body.
(e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the commencement of the pilot program, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for the duration of the
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes--
(1) a description of the pilot program in a manner consistent with applicable law;
(2) for the period covered by the report, the number of covered items distributed by the Veterans Health Administration and the number of covered items redeemed outside of the Veterans Health Administration under the pilot program;
(3) an assessment of efforts made to increase outreach and distribution of covered items under the pilot program to eligible individuals;
(4) an assessment of any obstacles to increasing outreach to eligible individuals;
(5) an identification of additional steps that will be taken during the one-year period after the submission of the report to improve the processes through which eligible individuals receive a covered item under the pilot program; and
(6) an identification of the service era and gender of each eligible individual who received a covered item under the pilot program, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN).
(f) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section may be $10,000,000 and must be appropriated specifically for that purpose on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Eligible individual.--The term "eligible individual" means a veteran or an individual described in section 1720I(b) of title 38, United States Code, who is not enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of such title.
SEC. 1098. EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with such organizations and agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall develop and make available to veterans educational and training materials regarding the benefits of secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy.
(b) Impact on Gun Ownership.--Educational and training materials made available under subsection (a) shall include information stating that seeking mental health care or other treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs does not impact lawful ownership of firearms.
SEC. 1099. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this subtitle may be construed--
(1) to authorize the collection of personally identifiable information of an individual who participates in the pilot program under section 1097 for the purposes of tracking firearm ownership;
(2) to require any such individual to register a firearm with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other Federal, State, Tribal, or local unit of government;
(3) to require mandatory firearm storage for any such individual;
(4) to prohibit any such individual from purchasing, owning, or possessing a firearm under section 922 of title 18, United States Code;
(5) to discourage the lawful ownership of firearms;
(6) to create or maintain a list of individuals participating in such pilot program; or
(7) to authorize the use or retention of personally identifiable information of an individual who participates in such pilot program or the program under section 1096(a) for the purposes of tracking or inferring firearm ownership or access to firearms.
(b) Personally Identifiable Information.--For purposes of this section, personally identifiable information of an individual does not include the service era or gender of the individual.
Text of Senate Amendment 6699
Pages S4112–S4114 · Official textSA 6699. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,983 characters)
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1__. CHUGACH ALASKA LAND EXCHANGE OIL SPILL RECOVERY
ACT.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to authorize, direct, and expedite the exchange of land and interests in land between Chugach Alaska and the United States; and
(2) to consolidate Federal ownership of the surface and subsurface estate of Federal land and interests acquired under the Program.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ANSCA terms.--The terms "Native Corporation", "Regional Corporation", and "Village Corporation" have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
(2) Chugach alaska.--The term "Chugach Alaska" means the Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Regional Corporation.
(3) Chugach region land study report.--The term "Chugach Region Land Study Report" means the report and recommendations submitted to Congress by the Secretary pursuant to section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614).
(4) Federal exchange land.--The term "Federal exchange land" means the approximately 65,374 acres of fee simple land located in the Chugach Region as described in subsection (c)(5).
(5) Non-federal land.--The term "non-Federal land" means the parcels of subsurface land comprising approximately 231,000 acres--
(A) owned by Chugach Alaska and conveyed to Chugach Alaska pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
(B) described in subsection (c)(6); and
(C) for which--
(i) the United States has acquired fee title to the surface estate or a conservation easement on the surface estate pursuant to the Program; or
(ii) the State has acquired fee title to, and the United States has acquired a conservation easement in, the surface estate pursuant to the Program.
(6) Program.--The term "Program" means the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Habitat Protection and Acquisition Program of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.
(7) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
(8) State.--The term "State" means the State of Alaska.
(c) Land Exchange.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if Chugach Alaska offers to convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary shall accept the offer and convey, pursuant to section 22(j)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1621(j)(1)), all right, title, and interest of the Federal Government in and to the Federal exchange land subject to the reservation of public easements required under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)).
(2) Condition on acceptance.--Title to the non-Federal land exchanged in paragraph (1) shall be in a form that is acceptable to the Secretary.
(3) Treatment of land conveyed.--Except as otherwise provided, any land conveyed to Chugach Alaska under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be land conveyed by the Secretary under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(4) Valid existing rights.--The conveyances under paragraph (1) shall be subject to any valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, or other encumbrances of third parties in, to, or on the Federal exchange land or the non-Federal land as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(5) Conveyance of federal exchange land.--The Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, convey to Chugach Alaska--
(A) all right, title, and interest in and to the National Forest System land of the Forest Service identified in the Chugach Regional Land Study and Report, comprising approximately 63,414 total acres, comprising--
(i) T. 3 N., R. 10 E., Seward Meridian, Drier Bay Parcel, comprising approximately 2,996 acres of surface estate;
(ii) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 7 and 8 E., Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 7,876 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(iii) T. 2 N., R. 1 and 2 E., Seward Meridian, Snow River Parcel, comprising approximately 11,462 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(iv) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 8 W., Copper River Meridian, Hinchinbrook Island Parcel, comprising approximately 2,617 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(v) T. 17 S., R. 7 E., secs. 5, 8, 18, 19, and 30 through 33, Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 6,375 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(vi) T. 18 S., R. 7 E., secs. 6 and 7, Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 1,280 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(vii) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 24 through 26 and 36, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 2,240 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(viii) T. 16, S., R. 6 E., secs. 16, 19 through 21, and 25 through 36, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 8,305 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(ix) T. 17 S., R. 6 E., secs. 1 through 4, and 10, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately 3,170 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(x) T. 16 S., R. 4 E., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 13, and 24, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising approximately 5,200 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(xi) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 5 through 9, and 15 through 22, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising approximately 6,165 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(xii) T. 19 S., R. 15 E., secs. 12 through 14, 23, 24, 26, 27, 33, and 34, Copper River Meridian, Robinson Mountains Parcel, comprising approximately 5,728 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(B) all right, title, and interest in and to the Federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service identified in the Chugach Regional Land Study and Report, comprising approximately 1,960 total acres, comprising--
(i) T. 21 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian, Taan Fjord Parcel, comprising approximately 450 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(ii) T. 21 and 22 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian, Kageet Point Parcel, comprising approximately 310 acres of surface and subsurface estate; and
(iii) T. 9 S., R. 2 W., secs. 5 and 6, Copper River Meridian, Thompson Pass Parcel, comprising 1,200 acres of surface and subsurface estate.
(6) Conveyance of non-federal land.--
(A) Conveyance.--The non-Federal land to which Chugach Alaska may convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest, that the Secretary determines to be applicable, includes--
(i) the approximately 130,469.93 subsurface acres, which comprises--
(I) T. 13 S., R. 1 W., sec. 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 467 acres;
(II) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 23 through 27, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,627 acres;
(III) T. 15 S., R. 2 W., secs. 3 through 9, 17 through 19, and 29 through 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 8,277.36 acres;
(IV) T. 16 S., R. 2 W., secs. 1 through 4, and 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,373.34 acres;
(V) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 32 and 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 240 acres;
(VI) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 3 through 7, portions of secs. 8 and 9, and secs. 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,486.36 acres;
(VII) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, and 15, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 962 acres;
(VIII) T. 13 S., R. 4 W., secs. 26, 27, and 32 through 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,494.05 acres;
(IX) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1 through 11, 15 through 21, 25, 30, and 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,750.98 acres;
(X) T. 15 S., R. 4 W., secs. 8 through 12, 16 through 22, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 5,839.15 acres;
(XI) T. 13 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 9 through 11, 14 through 20, a portion of sec. 21, and secs. 31 and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 4,216.36 acres;
(XII) T. 14 S., R. 5 W., sec. 1, a portion of sec. 2, secs. 6 through 12, 14 through 21, 29, and 30, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 9,057.6 acres;
(XIII) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 23 and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 292.97 acres;
(XIV) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 11, 13, 14, 23, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,980.69 acres;
(XV) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., secs. 32, 34, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 343 acres;
(XVI) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1 through 22, 24, 25, and 27 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 17,234.88 acres;
(XVII) T. 14 S., R. 7 W., secs. 2, 3, and 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 203 acres;
(XVIII) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 9 through 11, 13 through 29, and 32 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 9,282.25 acres;
(XIX) T. 14 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 5, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 629.25 acres;
(XX) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., sec. 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 10 acres;
(XXI) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., sec. 32, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1.19 acres;
(XXII) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 29, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 9,314 acres;
(XXIII) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 21 through 28, and 33 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 8,684.96 acres;
(XXIV) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 4 through 7, 18, and 19, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,120.50 acres;
(XXV) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 29 through 32, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,404.25 acres;
(XXVI) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 5 and 8, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 743 acres;
(XXVII) T. 3 S., R. 2 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 35, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,125 acres;
(XXVIII) T. 4 S., R. 2 W., secs. 2, 3, 4, and 11, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,225 acres;
(XXIX) T. 5 S., R. 3 W., secs. 18, 19, 20, 23, 26 through 29, and 32 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 3,670 acres;
(XXX) T. 5 S., R. 4 W., sec. 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 380 acres;
(XXXI) T. 6 S., R. 4 W., sec. 7, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 613 acres;
(XXXII) T. 5 S., R. 5 W., sec. 33, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 620 acres;
(XXXIII) T. 6 S., R. 5 W., secs. 4, 9, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 3,205 acres;
(XXXIV) T. 7 S., R. 5 W., sec. 4, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 230 acres;
(XXXV) T. 8 S., R. 6 W., secs. 7 through 12, 14 through 22, and 27 through 34, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,797.39 acres;
(XXXVI) T. 7 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 through 14, 16, 17, 23, and 24, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,031.78 acres;
(XXXVII) T. 8 S., R. 7 W., secs. 24, 25, 35, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 705.65 acres; and
(XXXVIII) T. 7 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26 (lots 1 through 4), 27, 28, and 29, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 6,831.97 acres;
(ii) the approximately 24,911.65 subsurface acres in which the fee title to the surface estate has been acquired by the State, and a conservation easement in the surface estate has been acquired by the United States, pursuant to the Program, which comprises--
(I) T. 16 S., R. 4 W., sec. 6, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 157.49 acres;
(II) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 35 and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,280 acres;
(III) T. 16 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,479 acres;
(IV) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs.
Text printed in the Record (6,003 characters)
4 and 9, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 579 acres;
(V) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., sec. 1, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 130 acres;
(VI) T. 9 S., R. 9 W., secs. 26, 27, 33, 34, and 35, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,524.26 acres;
(VII) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., secs. 15, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, 32, and 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,183.65 acres;
(VIII) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,145 acres;
(IX) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 304 acres;
(X) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 5, 7 through 30, and 33 through 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 14,712.25 acres; and
(XI) T. 4 N., R. 9 E., secs. 6, 7, 17, 18, and 19, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,417 acres; and
(iii) the approximately 75,655.4 subsurface acres in which a conservation easement in the surface estate has been acquired by the United States pursuant to the Program, which comprises--
(I) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,131.75 acres;
(II) T. 14 S., R. 2 W., secs. 4 through 8, and 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,104.92 acres;
(III) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 12 through 16, 21 through 23, and 28 through 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 5,319.37 acres;
(IV) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 6 through 8, and 17 through 20, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,899.44 acres;
(V) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 8 and 9, and the southern part of sec. 13, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 125 acres;
(VI) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, 12, 14, and 15, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 506 acres;
(VII) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 28 and 29, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 660.15 acres;
(VIII) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1, 5 through 8, 10 through 15, 22 through 27, and 34 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,516 acres;
(IX) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 27, 28, 33, and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,455.63 acres;
(X) T. 11 S., R. 6 W., secs. 25, 26, and 34 through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,088.26 acres;
(XI) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 1 through 3, 8 through 10, and 16 through 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,777.5 acres;
(XII) T. 11 S., R. 7 W., sec. 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 577.8 acres;
(XIII) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., sec. 5 through 7, 10 through 15, and 18 through 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,596.93 acres;
(XIV) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 18 and 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 700 acres;
(XV) T. 10 S., R. 8 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,197 acres;
(XVI) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 4, 10 through 16, 21 through 26, 31, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 7,647.41 acres;
(XVII) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 12 through 14, and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 591.75 acres;
(XVIII) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 3, 10, 11, 14 through 16, 21 and 22, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,112 acres;
(XIX) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 5 through 8, 18, and 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,220.5 acres;
(XX) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 13, 14, 17, 19 through 21, 23, 24, and 28 through 30, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,400 acres;
(XXI) T. 11 S., R. 9 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,157.75 acres;
(XXII) T. 12 S., R. 9 W., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 15, 22, 23, 24, 26, and 27, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 6,445.71 acres;
(XXIII) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., secs. 24 and 25, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 345.33 acres;
(XXIV) T. 2 N., R. 7 E., sec. 1, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 64.16 acres;
(XXV) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 24, 25, and 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 385.75 acres;
(XXVI) T. 1 N., R. 8 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 22, 23, 26, and 27, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,667.65 acres;
(XXVII) T. 2 N., R. 8 E., secs. 2 through 11, 26, 30, 31, 32, and 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 4,339.84 acres;
(XXVIII) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 11, 14 through 17, 19 through 23, and 26 through 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 11,339.4 acres;
(XXIX) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., sec. 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1.5 acres;
(XXX) T. 1 N., R. 9 E., secs. 1, 2, 11 through 14, and 24, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,560.25 acres; and
(XXXI) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 6, 7, 17 through 20, 29 and 30, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,720.65 acres.
(B) Management.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this paragraph shall--
(i) become part of the unit of Federal land in which the land acquired by the Secretary is located; and
(ii) be administered in accordance with that unit of Federal land.
(C) Exclusion of village corporation development and shareholder sites.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), Chugach Alaska shall exclude from the conveyance of non-Federal land all right, title, and interest in any land, not to exceed a total of 209 acres, that--
(i) a Village Corporation has retained development rights, other than timber development rights; or
(ii) has been designated for a shareholder homesite program.
(d) Maps, Estimates, and Descriptions.--
(1) Minor errors.--The Secretary and Chugach Alaska may correct, by mutual agreement, any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of any land conveyed or exchanged under this section.
(2) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, an acreage estimate, or a description of land in this section, the map shall control unless the Secretary and Chugach Alaska mutually agree otherwise.
Text of Senate Amendment 6700
Pages S4114–S4116 · Official textSA 6700. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,556 characters)
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1__. UNRECOGNIZED SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES
RECOGNITION AND COMPENSATION ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the "Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act".
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to redress the omission of the southeastern Alaska communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell from eligibility under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) by authorizing the Alaska Natives enrolled in the communities--
(1) to form Urban Corporations for the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and
(2) to receive certain settlement land pursuant to that Act.
(c) Establishment of Additional Native Corporations.--Section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(e) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska.--
"(1) In general.--The Native residents of each of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, may organize as Urban Corporations.
"(2) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this subsection affects any entitlement to land of any Native Corporation established before the date of enactment of this subsection pursuant to this Act or any other provision of law.".
(d) Shareholder Eligibility.--Section 8 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1607) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(d) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.--
"(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enroll to each of the Urban Corporations for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell those individual Natives who enrolled under this Act to the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell, respectively.
"(2) Number of shares.--Each Native who is enrolled to an Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell pursuant to paragraph (1) and who was enrolled as a shareholder of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska shall receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in the respective Urban Corporation.
"(3) Natives receiving shares through inheritance.--If a Native received shares of stock in the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska through inheritance from a decedent Native who originally enrolled to the Native Village of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell and the decedent Native was not a shareholder in a Village Corporation or Urban Corporation, the Native shall receive the identical number of shares of Settlement Common Stock in the Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell as the number of shares inherited by that Native from the decedent Native who would have been eligible to be enrolled to the respective Urban Corporation.
"(4) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this subsection affects any previous or future allocation of acreage to any Regional Corporation pursuant to section 12(b) or 14(h)(8).".
(e) Distribution Rights.--Section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j)--
(A) in the third sentence, by striking "In the case" and inserting the following:
"(3) Thirteenth regional corporation.--In the case";
(B) in the second sentence, by striking "Not less" and inserting the following:
"(2) Minimum allocation.--Not less";
(C) by striking "(j) During" and inserting the following:
"(j) Distribution of Corporate Funds and Other Net Income.--
"(1) In general.--During"; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
"(4) Native villages of haines, ketchikan, petersburg, tenakee, and wrangell.--Native members of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell who become shareholders in an Urban Corporation for such a Native Village shall continue to be eligible to receive distributions under this subsection as at-large shareholders of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska."; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(s) Effect of Amendatory Act.--The Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act and the amendments made by that Act shall not affect--
"(1) the ratio for determination of revenue distribution among Native Corporations under this section; or
"(2) the settlement agreement among Regional Corporations or Village Corporations or other provisions of subsection (i) or (j).".
(f) Compensation.--The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"SEC. 43. URBAN CORPORATIONS FOR HAINES, KETCHIKAN,
PETERSBURG, TENAKEE, AND WRANGELL.
"(a) Definition of Urban Corporation.--In this section, the term `Urban Corporation' means each of the Urban Corporations for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.
"(b) Conveyances of Land.--
"(1) Authorization.--
"(A) Conveyances to urban corporations.--
"(i) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights and paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), the Secretary shall convey--
"(I) to the Urban Corporation for Haines, in accordance with clause (ii), the surface estate in 13 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Haines Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025;
"(II) to the Urban Corporation for Ketchikan, the surface estate in 8 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Ketchikan Selections', numbered 1 through 4, and dated June 27, 2025 (except the mining claim AA-91521 in Sec. 4, T. 78 S., R. 88 E., Copper River Meridian, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Kitkun Cove', numbered 1 of 4);
"(III) to the Urban Corporation for Petersburg, the surface estate in 12 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Petersburg Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025 (except the Lighthouse withdrawals USS Nos. 1710 and 1711, in Sec. 15, 16, and 22, T. 56 S., R. 76 E., Copper River Meridian, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Portage Bay East', numbered 1 of 3);
"(IV) to the Urban Corporation for Tenakee, the surface estate in 15 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Tenakee Selections', numbered 1 through 3, and dated June 27, 2025; and
"(V) to the Urban Corporation for Wrangell, the surface estate in 13 parcels of Federal land comprising approximately 23,040 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `Wrangell Selections', numbered 1 through 5, and dated June 27, 2025.
"(ii) Haines phases; conditions.--
"(I) Conveyance phases.--The conveyance to the Urban Corporation for Haines under
clause (i)(I) in the selection area at Slate Creek, Berners Bay, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Haines Selections', map 2 of 3, and dated June 27, 2025 (referred to in this subclause as the `Map'), shall be completed in the following 2 phases:
"(aa) Phase 1.--The Secretary shall convey to the Urban Corporation for Haines the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 81 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. West Shore'.
"(bb) Phase 2.--Subject to the conditions described in subclause (II), and on an application for conveyance by the Urban Corporation for Haines, the Secretary shall convey to the Urban Corporation for Haines--
"(AA) the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 37 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. West Shore North'; and
"(BB) the parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 55 acres, as generally depicted on the Map as `Slate Ck. East Shore'.
"(II) Phase 2 conditions.--The phase 2 conveyance described in subclause (I)(bb) shall occur on the earliest of the date on which--
"(aa) the Federal mining claims underlying the Federal land described in that subclause are relinquished;
"(bb) the Federal mining claims underlying the Federal land described in that subclause are abandoned, on a determination by the Secretary that the Federal mining claims are void and forfeited; and
"(cc) Coeur Alaska Inc. (or a successor in interest) consents that the Federal land described in that subclause can be conveyed prior to any relinquishment or abandonment of the Federal mining claims underlying that land.
"(B) Conveyances to regional corporation for southeast alaska.--Subject to valid existing rights, on the applicable date on which the surface estate in land is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall convey to the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska the subsurface estate for that land.
"(C) Congressional intent.--
"(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), it is the intent of Congress that the Secretary complete the interim conveyance of the surface estate in land to an Urban Corporation under subparagraph (A)(i) not later than the date that is 2 years after the applicable date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation under section 16(e)(1).
"(ii) Exception.--As the Secretary determines to be necessary, the Secretary may extend the 2-year deadline established by clause (i) by not more than 1 year for any individual parcel of land to allow for the conclusion of any pending appeal of a public easement decision for the applicable parcel pursuant to section 17(b), subject to the requirement that the final conveyance of the surface estate with respect to the applicable parcel shall be completed as soon as practicable after the date on which the appeal is concluded.
"(D) Finalization of entitlement.--The conveyances under subparagraph (A)(i) of approximately 23,040 acres of land to each Urban Corporation shall be considered to be the full and final satisfaction of the entitlement of the southeastern Alaska communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell under this Act, notwithstanding whether the surveyed acreage of the parcels of land described in subclauses (I) through (V) of that subparagraph is less than or more than 23,040 acres in the case of each Urban Corporation.
"(2) Withdrawal.--
"(A) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land described in paragraph (1) is withdrawn from all forms of--
"(i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
"(ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
"(iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
"(B) Termination.--The withdrawal under subparagraph (A) shall remain in effect until the date on which the Federal land is conveyed under paragraph (1).
"(3) Treatment of land conveyed.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, any land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
"(A)(i) shall be considered to be land conveyed by the Secretary under paragraph (3) of section 14(h); but
"(ii) shall not be subject to the requirements under that section that the land be vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved; and
"(B) shall be subject to all laws (including regulations) applicable to entitlements under section 14(h)(3), including section 907(d) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (43 U.S.C.
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1636(d)).
"(4) Public easements.--
"(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the conveyance and patents for the land under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be subject to the reservation before the conveyance of public easements under section 17(b).
"(B) Termination.--No public easement reserved on land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be terminated by the Secretary without publication of notice of the proposed termination in the Federal Register.
"(C) Reservation of easements.--In the conveyance and patent for any parcel of land under paragraph (1)(A)(i) for which the easement reservation process has not been completed by the date that is 2 years after the applicable date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation under section 16(e)(1), or, in the case of an appeal of a public easement under section 17(b), by the date that is 3 years after the applicable date of incorporation, the Secretary shall--
"(i) convey the parcel of land; and
"(ii) as part of the conveyance and patent for the parcel of land under clause (i), reserve the right of the Secretary to amend the conveyance and patent to include reservations of public easements under section 17(b) until the date of completion of the easement reservation process.
"(D) State of alaska easements.--Nothing in this Act modifies, changes, or terminates the rights-of-way granted to the State under--
"(i) section 4407 of the SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1777); or
"(ii) the 2006 memorandum of understanding between the State and the Forest Service to implement that section.
"(5) Hunting, fishing, recreation, and access.--
"(A) In general.--Any land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), including access to the land through roadways, trails, and forest roads, shall remain open and available to subsistence uses, noncommercial recreational hunting and fishing, and other noncommercial recreational uses by the public under applicable law--
"(i) without liability on the part of the Urban Corporation, except for willful acts of the Urban Corporation, to any user as a result of the use; and
"(ii) subject to--
"(I) any reasonable restrictions that may be imposed by the Urban Corporation on the public use--
"(aa) to ensure public safety;
"(bb) to minimize conflicts between recreational and commercial uses;
"(cc) to protect cultural resources;
"(dd) to conduct scientific research; or
"(ee) to provide environmental protection; and
"(II) the condition that the Urban Corporation post on any applicable property, in accordance with State law, notices of the restrictions on use.
"(B) Effect.--Access provided to any individual or entity under subparagraph (A) shall not--
"(i) create an interest in any third party in the land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i); or
"(ii) provide standing to any third party in any review of, or challenge to, any determination by the Urban Corporation with respect to the management or development of the land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), except as against the Urban Corporation for the management of public access under subparagraph (A).
"(6) Miscellaneous.--
"(A) Special use authorizations.--
"(i) In general.--On the conveyance of land to an Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
"(I) any guiding or outfitting special use authorization issued by the Forest Service for the use of the conveyed land shall terminate; and
"(II) as a condition of the conveyance and consistent with section 14(g), the Urban Corporation shall issue the holder of the special use authorization terminated under subclause (I) an authorization to continue the authorized use, subject to the terms and conditions that were in the special use authorization issued by the Forest Service, for--
"(aa) the remainder of the term of the authorization; and
"(bb) 1 additional consecutive 10-year renewal period.
"(ii) Notice of commercial activities.--The Urban Corporation, and any holder of a guiding or outfitting authorization under this subparagraph, shall have a mutual obligation, subject to the guiding or outfitting authorization, to inform the other party of any commercial activities prior to engaging in the activities on the land conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(iii) Negotiation of new terms.--Nothing in this paragraph precludes the Urban Corporation and the holder of a guiding or outfitting authorization from negotiating a new mutually agreeable guiding or outfitting authorization.
"(iv) Liability.--Neither the Urban Corporation nor the United States shall bear any liability, except for willful acts of the Urban Corporation or the United States, regarding the use and occupancy of any land conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i), as provided in any outfitting or guiding authorization under this paragraph.
"(B) Mutual use agreement for roads and facilities.--
"(i) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall seek to enter into a binding mutual use agreement for--
"(I) the use of National Forest System roads and related transportation facilities (including marine access facilities, log transfer facilities, sort yards, and associated log rafting and storage areas) in the Tongass National Forest by the Urban Corporation and designees of the Urban Corporation; and
"(II) the use of the roads and related transportation facilities (including marine access facilities, log transfer facilities, sort yards, and associated log rafting and storage areas) of the Urban Corporation by the Forest Service and designees of the Forest Service.
"(ii) Terms and conditions.--The binding mutual use agreement under clause (i)--
"(I) shall provide that the use of road and transportation facilities infrastructure by a third party shall not begin until the date on
which the third party signs a mutual use agreement entered into with the Urban Corporation;
"(II) shall provide that the State (including entities and designees of the State) shall be authorized to use the roads and related transportation facilities of the Urban Corporation on substantially similar terms as are provided by the Urban Corporation to the Forest Service;
"(III) shall include restrictions on, and fees for, the use of the National Forest System roads and related transportation facilities in existence as of the date of enactment of this section, as necessary, that are reasonable and comparable to the restrictions and fees imposed by the Forest Service for the use of the roads and related transportation facilities;
"(IV) shall not restrict or limit any access to the roads and related transportation facilities of the Urban Corporation or the Forest Service that may be otherwise provided by valid existing rights and agreements in existence as of the date of enactment of this section; and
"(V) shall provide for periodic updates to the mutual use agreement if the terms and conditions of the updated mutual use agreement are consistent with the terms and conditions described in subclauses (I) through (IV).
"(iii) Intent of congress.--It is the intent of Congress that the mutual use agreement under clause (i) shall be entered into as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section and in any case by not later than 1 year after the date of incorporation of the Urban Corporation.
"(iv) Continued access.--Beginning on the date on which the land is conveyed to the Urban Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i) and ending on the effective date of a binding mutual use agreement entered into under clause (i), the Urban Corporation shall provide and allow administrative access to roads and related transportation facilities on the land under substantially similar terms as are provided by the Forest Service as of the date of enactment of this section.
"(C) Effect on other laws.--
"(i) In general.--Nothing in this section delays the duty of the Secretary to convey land to--
"(I) the State under Public Law 85-508 (commonly known as the `Alaska Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21); or
"(II) a Native Corporation under--
"(aa) this Act; or
"(bb) the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 note; Public Law 108-452).
"(ii) Statehood entitlement.--
"(I) In general.--Statehood selections under Public Law 85-508 (commonly known as the `Alaska Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21) are not displaced by the parcels of land described in subclauses (I) through (V) of paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(II) Boundary adjustments.--In the event of a dispute between an area selected as a Statehood selection and a parcel of land referred to in subclause (I), the Secretary shall work with the Urban Corporation and the State in good faith to adjust the boundary of the parcel to exclude any area selected as a Statehood selection.
"(iii) Conveyances.--The Secretary shall promptly proceed with the conveyance of all land necessary to fulfill the final entitlement of all Native Corporations in accordance with--
"(I) this Act; and
"(II) the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 note; Public Law 108-452).
"(iv) Fish and wildlife.--Nothing in this section enlarges or diminishes the responsibility and authority of the State with respect to the management of fish and wildlife on public land in the State.
"(D) Maps.--
"(i) Availability.--Each map referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be available in the appropriate offices of the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture.
"(ii) Corrections.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, may make any necessary correction to a clerical or typographical error in a map referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i).
"(7) Escrow funds.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this section, the escrow requirements of section 2 of Public Law 94-204 (43 U.S.C.
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1613 note) shall apply to proceeds (including interest) derived from the land withdrawn under paragraph (2).
"(c) Conveyance of Roads, Trails, Log Transfer Facilities, Leases, and Appurtenances.--
"(1) In general.--The land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall include all right, title, and interest of the United States in all roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land conveyed to the Urban Corporation.
"(2) Conditions.--The land conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall be subject to all valid existing rights in accordance with section 14(g), including any reciprocal rights-of-way, easements, or agreements for the use of the roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances conveyed under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i).
"(3) Continuation of agreements.--
"(A) In general.--On or before the date on which land is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall provide to the Urban Corporation notice of all reciprocal rights-of-way, easements, and agreements for use of the roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land in existence as of the date of enactment of this section.
"(B) Requirement.--In accordance with section 14(g), any right-of-way, easement, or agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall continue unless the right-of-way, easement, or agreement--
"(i) expires under its own terms; or
"(ii) is mutually renegotiated.
"(d) Settlement Trust.--
"(1) In general.--Each Urban Corporation may establish a settlement trust in accordance with section 39 for the purposes of promoting the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries, and preserving the Native heritage and culture, of the community of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell, as applicable.
"(2) Proceeds and income.--The proceeds and income from the principal of a trust established under paragraph (1) shall--
"(A) first be applied to the support of those enrollees, and the descendants of the enrollees, who are elders or minor children; and
"(B) thereafter to the support of all other enrollees.".
Authority for Committees to Meet
Pages S4116–S4117 · Official textMr. President, I have 11 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 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. to conduct a classified briefing.
The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a business meeting.
The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 9:45 a.m.
The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.
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COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.
The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 9 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination.
The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.
The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct an open nomination hearing.
The Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.
The Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.
Appointment
Page S4117 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 194(a), as amended by Public Law 101-595 and further amended by Public Law 113-281, and upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, appoints the following Senator to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: The Honorable Ashley Moody of Florida.
Expressing the Sense of the Senate That Under No Circumstances Should Samuel Bankman-Fried Receive Executive Clemency, Including a Pardon or Commutation, and Affirming the Senate's Commitment To...
Page S4117 · Official textEXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD SAMUEL BANKMAN-FRIED RECEIVE EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, INCLUDING A PARDON OR COMMUTATION, AND AFFIRMING THE SENATE'S COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND INTEGRITY OF THE UNITED STATES FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 772.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows.
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A resolution (S. Res. 772) expressing the sense of the Senate that under no circumstances should Samuel Bankman-Fried receive executive clemency, including a pardon or commutation, and affirming the Senate's commitment to the rule of law and integrity of the United States financial system.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged and the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The resolution (S. Res. 772) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to. (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in the Record of June 17, 2026, under "Submitted Resolutions.")
Expressing the Condolences of the Senate and Honoring the Memory of the Victims on the Fourth Anniversary of the Mass Shooting at the Fourth of July Parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022
Page S4117 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 799.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
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A resolution (S. Res. 799) expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged and the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 799) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to. (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in the Record of June 24, 2026, under "Submitted Resolutions.")
Resolutions Submitted Today
Page S4117 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 804 and S. Res. 805.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and 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.
The resolutions were agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
(The resolutions, with their preambles, are printed in today's Record under "Submitted Resolutions.")
Orders for Thursday, July 16, 2026
Page S4117 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 16; 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, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Westercamp nomination; further, notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motion with respect to the Westercamp nomination ripen at 11:45 a.m.; that if cloture is invoked, the Senate immediately resume legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that if cloture is invoked on the nomination, all postcloture time be expired and the confirmation vote be set at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader no earlier than Monday, July 20; further, if Senator Wyden or his designee makes a motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 198, the Senate vote on the motion to proceed at 1:30 p.m.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Adjournment Until 10 A.m. Tomorrow
Page S4117 · Official textMr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.
There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:29 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Confirmation
Page S4117 · Official textExecutive nomination confirmed by the Senate July 15, 2026:
Text printed in the Record (102 characters)
Jeffrey T. Kuntz, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.