Senate
Page S2741 · Official textThe Senate met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the President pro tempore (Mr. Grassley).
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 99 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Prayer
Page S2741 · Official textThe Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Sovereign God, thank You that Your mercies endure forever. Show us Your ways. Teach us Your paths as You lead us with Your truth. Guard our hearts from fear and confusion when the road ahead is unclear. Give us patience when we want quick answers and faith when we cannot see the outcome. Lord, strengthen our Senators. May they trust in You when circumstances feel unstable as You remind them that You are steady, even when they are not. Order their steps according to Your will. Close every door that is not from You and give them wisdom to recognize the doors You have opened. We pray in Your amazing Name. Amen.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page S2741 · Official textThe President pro tempore 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.
Reservation of Leader Time
Page S2741 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sheehy)
Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.
Morning Business
Page S2741 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
The President pro tempore.
Tribute to Daniel Umemezie
Page S2741 · Official textI want to honor a young Iowan, so I am here to recognize Daniel Umemezie, who was recently named the 10th National Youth Poet Laureate.
Daniel is a recent graduate of Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, IA. That is 10 miles from my farm.
Daniel is already a master of poetry. Last year, he was named Iowa's Student Poet Ambassador. This year, he was named the 10th National Youth Poet Laureate. This makes him the first Iowan to receive this prestigious award in poetry.
Daniel's poetry uses his childhood growing up in Nigeria as inspiration for his work.
I want to congratulate Daniel on this achievement. Daniel, you are making the State of Iowa proud.
Iowa
Pages S2741–S2742 · Official textMr. President, on another matter, as I hold my 99 county meetings, I always hear from the farmers about the ag economy, and it is a top concern for all Iowans, of course, because Iowa is the No. 1 State in the Nation for food production.
Yesterday, I welcomed the opportunity to discuss what is on the minds of family farmers with Agriculture Secretary Rollins as she appeared for her annual oversight appearance before the Senate Agriculture Committee. And it happens that I believe that the Madam Secretary is a great advocate for the family farmers, and I appreciate how she is handling the Office of the Agriculture Secretary.
Now, back home in Iowa, I hear Congress could do more to help the farmers. For instance, I hear about year-round E15. Now, that is good for the consumers because it would reduce gas prices 20 to 40 cents, but it is also good because our major crop in Iowa--corn--is where ethanol is manufactured from.
And then I also hear from the agriculture community about we need to deal with the problem of the State of California having what is called Proposition 12, and that prohibits Iowa pork that isn't raised just exactly the way California says it is raised. It can't be sold in the State of California, and that ought to irritate Members of Congress because 1 of the 18 powers of Congress under the Constitution in article I is the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
So we have 1 State out of 50--California--saying that you can't sell pork in their State--and California is about 15 percent of the consumer market in the United States--if it isn't raised just exactly the way the law of California says it should be raised. So the farmers of Iowa are telling me: Get rid of Proposition 12.
Now, basics of a strong society is feeding your people. And the tax bill that the President signed last July 4, called the Working Families Tax Cut, was a good start to strengthening farm programs because we strengthened the farm safety net by raising support prices for corn to $4.10 and soybeans to $10 a bushel. But that isn't enough to help farmers that are underwater, not making a profit. So there is more work that needs to be done.
So here, in somewhat of a repetitive statement, it is time for the Senate to pass a 5-year farm bill. The last one was 2018. Inflation affecting agriculture demands that there be some changes in the 2018 farm bill and that we pass E15 by law and not rely on Presidential waivers anymore and that we pass Proposition 12 legislation to get rid of the bad environment in California for selling our product there--pork--because Iowa is the No. 1 pork producer in the Nation.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill 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.
Recognition of the Majority Leader
Page S2742 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The majority leader is recognized.
Measure Placed on the Calendar--S. 4744
Page S2742 · Official textMr. President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk due for a second reading.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will read the bill by title for the second time.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (182 characters)
A bill (S. 4744) to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar.
National Security
Page S2742 · Official textMr. President, last week, Senate Republicans passed legislation to fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next 3 years. On Tuesday, House Republicans passed the legislation, and, yesterday, the President signed the bill into law.
I am proud that we got this done, of course. Republicans are deeply committed to ensuring a safe country and safe communities, and border security and immigration enforcement are key parts of that. No country--no country--can be secure if bad actors can make their way freely across the borders or criminal illegal immigrants are able to operate freely within our neighborhoods.
So, as I said, I am proud that we got this done, but I also have to ask: How did we get here? How did we get to the point where one party has completely abdicated any responsibility for our Nation's security?
It is not just this bill. Democrats have been playing fast and loose with our national security all year. Their two recordbreaking shutdowns strained our Nation's critical national security Agencies, particularly Agencies at the Department of Homeland Security, which was shut down for a staggering 119 days, all told, this fiscal year. The TSA, responsible for the security of our Nation's airports, has seen a flood of resignations, thanks to Democrats' decision to make these critical workers go without pay for quite literally months.
And then there is border security and immigration enforcement. Democrats absolutely refused to provide so much as a dollar--a dollar--to fund the agents who provide security at our Nation's borders and remove criminal illegal immigrants from America's streets. I can't make that point enough.
If Democrats had their way, there would be zero--zero--physical presence at our Nation's borders and zero agents to remove criminal illegal immigrants who do make their way into our country. It is a breathtaking--breathtaking--level of irresponsibility.
I am still not done because I haven't yet talked about FISA. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is our Nation's most critical intelligence-gathering tool. Policymakers across the Federal Government from both parties rely on section 702 information on a near daily basis. And we were well on our way to reauthorizing it, with Democrat and Republican lawmakers here in the Senate working on an agreement. And then, as has happened more than once this year, Democrats backed out. Now, this critical tool is set to go dark on Friday, and what the consequences of that will be we cannot predict.
It is striking how weak Democrats' ostensible reasons have been for all of these actions. They are blocking a critical national security tool because they don't like the President's temporary, short-term pick for Acting DNI. They shut down the Federal Government twice and refused to fund border security and immigration enforcement because they couldn't take yes for an answer.
Ultimately, Democrats have made it clear this year that, for them, it is always politics over policy. And if our economy suffers, if our national security suffers because of Democrats' decision to shut down the government or refusal to fund border security, well, Democrats are apparently just fine with that.
Polls tend to show that Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to crime and national security. I think Democrats are making it very clear why that is. The fact that Republicans had to act alone to fund security at our Nation's borders is all the evidence you need to know to show that Democrats are fundamentally unserious about their national security responsibilities.
Republicans, of course, will continue to do everything we can to keep our country and our communities secure. It is too bad the same cannot be said of Senate Democrats.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill 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.
Recognition of the Minority Leader
Page S2742 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The Democratic leader is recognized.
Inflation
Pages S2742–S2743 · Official textMr. President, well, it may genuinely be impossible for Trump to be more out of touch with the American people than he already is. After Trumpflation reached a record high yesterday, Donald Trump said:
Text printed in the Record (49 characters)
The numbers are great . . . I love the inflation.
That is what he said. Those are his words.
Text printed in the Record (49 characters)
The numbers are great . . . I love the inflation.
That is when inflation hit a record high, long-time high of 4.2 percent. Look at this guy. How out of touch is he?
Donald Trump, the American people hate the inflation. They are shouting it from the rooftops every day: Bring costs down. And Donald Trump says "I love the inflation."
What is wrong with him? How out of touch is he? It is sickening, and you can't even make this stuff up. Americans are losing their homes. Parents are working multiple jobs just to feed their kids. Workers are walking to their jobs because they can't afford to fill up their tanks, but Donald Trump has the audacity to say "I love the inflation."
In fact, I was told that a veteran in New York one night had to choose between feeding his child and feeding his service dog. Isn't that--doesn't that make you sad?
What we are seeing from Trump isn't just benign neglect or blind indifference. Trump is actively rooting for the financial demise of the American people when he says "I love the inflation."
What is Trump thinking? Did Trump lose a bet where he had to say the most asinine, tone-deaf thing imaginable on national television?
Trump has torched the American economy with his tariffs, with his disastrous war in Iran, and with his unprecedented cuts to healthcare and other vital services. Now most arsonists flee the scene of the crime; Donald Trump calls a press conference. The only thing Donald Trump loves more than inflation is the corruption.
As Americans live through a financial nightmare, Donald Trump is living out his billionaire dreams: golden ballrooms, lavish gifts from foreign countries, sweetheart deals for his family business, taxpayer-funded cash payouts for him and his cronies through the slush fund.
Apparently, Senate Republicans love the inflation too, helping Trump every step of the way as he drives up costs and lines his pockets. You would think given how out of touch Trump is, given how he talks about loving inflation while the American people are suffering, that some of our Republican colleagues would have the guts to cross the aisle and join us in fighting this inflation. But instead, silence, fear, knees knocking because they are afraid of Trump.
Well, we will see how much Trump and the GOP love inflation come November.
Stock Buyback Accountability Act of 2026
Page S2743 · Official textMr. President, on stock buybacks, you know costs are skyrocketing, but corporations are making massive profits. And instead of using the profits to create jobs and invest in growth, corporations too often buy back their own stock to increase its value and reward executives.
I am introducing legislation today with Senators Wyden and Warren to rein in the stock buybacks that corporate executives use to line their own pockets to the detriment of the American people. Americans need more jobs and higher wages right now, not more privileges for millionaires and billionaires.
Our bill would quadruple the tax big corporations pay on these stock buybacks, which will both push companies to invest in their workers in the future and allow us to invest more in lowering costs and helping working families get ahead, with some of the money we could use when you collect that 4 percent on stock buybacks.
While Trump and Senate Republicans don't have any plan to lower Americans' costs--in fact, their policies are doing the opposite--Democrats continue to fight back against corporate giveaways and push for solutions to help the American people deal with skyrocketing costs in Trump's economy.
Let's not forget, if you are the CEO of a company and you are often measured by your stock price, buybacks raise that stock price. The damn shame of it all is those buybacks don't create a single new job or an investment in workers or an investment in equipment to increase productivity and produce more.
No. They simply raise the stock price, which benefits corporate executives and shareholders but not the American public.
So we ought to, at the very minimum, raise the tax which was put on at 1 percent to now 4 percent. And in addition, it will bring in revenues to the Federal Government, hopefully, that we can use to help lower costs for the American people. That is certainly what we would do.
William Pulte
Page S2743 · Official textMr. President, now on Bill Pulte. The whole job of the Director of National Intelligence is to keep America safe, but Trump's decision to appoint Bill Pulte--someone with absolutely zero relevant experience--is going to put Americans in danger.
Let me repeat, America. With Pulte in charge, we are in danger.
This job is so sensitive, we need real leadership in the intelligence community, not a national security novice sent to undermine the work of intelligence professionals. That is what Pulte is expert in. Trump has an enemy, he goes after them, even if the facts don't merit it. Look what he did to my attorney general in New York Letitia James, and with so many others, including Cook at the Federal Reserve.
He is just a hit man in a certain sense, a financial sense. And it is outrageous. He has no fidelity to fact. He is just a yes-man to Trump. Trump says: Go after one of my enemies--and Pulte does.
No one in their right mind would trust Bill Pulte, a person nicknamed "Little Trump" by his administration colleagues to speak truth to power, to conduct objective analysis, to resist efforts to politicize the intelligence community.
In a job where facts are so important and the President knowing the real facts is so important, to have this man who has no fidelity to facts in this job, again, is very dangerous for the American people.
Trump and Republicans need to put an adult in the room. Bill Pulte is not the man for the job, and my Republican colleagues know it.
Iran
Page S2743 · Official textMr. President, on Iran, for weeks, Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio have insisted their disastrous war in Iran is over. How stupid do they think the American people are?
This morning, Trump said he plans to take Kharg Island, which could even mean putting American boots on the ground. It doesn't take a military genius to see that Trump's fiasco of a war with Iran never ended, not with American helicopters being shot down, not when American bases are being attacked and American troops are coming under fire.
Saying this war is over is an insult--an insult--to the brave American servicemen who are risking their lives every day to fight it.
The only thing more absurd than the Trump administration's lies about the Iran war is that Republicans accept them at face value and just go along--too many, too many of them.
For months, Democrats have urged Republicans to support our War Powers Resolution to end this war for real. And for months, Republicans have failed to do so. Americans have made it clear they don't want this war. They don't want the high costs, gasoline and fertilizer and everything else that comes with it. And Trump has made it clear he is incapable of cleaning up this mess.
You just have to listen to his statements over a period of a few days, and they completely contradict each other. Typical of Trump. He doesn't care if he says one thing one day and says the total opposite thing the next day. The American people know he is lying to them. He doesn't care.
Trump is incapable given his way, his lack of concern for facts, his only concern being his own ego. He is incapable of ending the war, incapable of cleaning up his own mess.
Republicans need to stop buying the BS, show some spine, and help us bring our servicemembers home.
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.
The majority whip.
Energy
Pages S2743–S2744 · Official textMr. President, 12 years ago, Barack Obama drew a target on the back of American energy producers and, specifically, coal. Coal mines were under attack by the Obama administration, and his deliberate goal was to kill clean, affordable coal--the most available, reliable, secure source of energy we have in this Nation.
He tried to do it by shutting down coal mines all across the Nation and do it by shutting down coal powerplants that use that coal. And one of the targets that he painted on the back was that of the Dave Johnston Power Plant in Converse County, WY.
Now, the Dave Johnston Power Plant uses Wyoming coal. Our coal is some of the cleanest, most affordable, most available, most reliable coal in the world. It is low-sulfur coal. People around the world want to use Wyoming coal in coal-fired powerplants. It supports hundreds of good-paying jobs. It delivers affordable, available, reliable energy all across the Rocky Mountain West.
Obama wanted to take a sledgehammer to coal powerplants and, specifically, to the Dave Johnston Power Plant in Wyoming, and it was scheduled to close at the end of 2027.
Now, fortunately, the Trump administration has reversed the Democrats' harmful, heavyhanded regulations. The Dave Johnston Plant will keep its doors open. The jobs will be protected. The power it produces will continue to keep the lights on for families across the West. This is the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
We just heard the minority leader come to the floor and talk about costs. Well, let me tell you, Democrats love high energy costs because they don't want people to use fossil fuels. They think the higher the energy cost, the fewer fossil fuels will be used. And that is their worshipping of the climate god that they have continued to worship.
That is where we are today. Democrats want coal to remain in the ground. They want to treat coal as something to be punished, taxed, regulated, eliminated.
Here is the difference. Republicans understand national security begins with energy security.
When Joe Biden was President, he told his EPA--his Environmental Protection Agency--to prioritize climate over energy that is affordable, available, and reliable, used by the American people.
President Trump and Republicans see it differently. We put American families and American workers first.
Coal is a key economic driver in Wyoming. Wyoming produces nearly half of the coal in the United States. Wyoming truly is America's energy breadbasket. In Wyoming, the royalties, the taxes from mining their coal pays for education for every child in the State.
Coal mining provides jobs for Wyoming workers. These are good-paying, high-tech jobs.
When powerplants know that they will stay open, when they have that commitment, as they do now from President Trump, our coal producers can plan, can invest, and can produce.
President Trump's actions are going to bring down costs for American families.
And it is not just Americans who want Wyoming coal. Our allies overseas, especially in Asia, want it.
Last week, President Trump made a historic announcement. He announced a $75 million investment to support building the West Gateway Terminal Project in Oakland, CA. This facility will expand America's ability to export coal. It is also going to support good mining jobs.
Wyoming's Governor, Mark Gordon, joined President Trump in the Oval Office for the announcement. Governor Gordon told the President about his recent trips to Japan and Taiwan. Japan and Taiwan want American coal. They need it to keep their lights on, and they need it to power their own economies.
We have needed a new port and a facility like this on the west coast for a long, long time. One was supposed to be built 13 years ago, and the location was Oakland, CA.
What happened? Well, environmental extremists protested. They blocked the project. They sued. A decade of lawsuits followed.
This is no surprise to the Presiding Officer. You have seen these sorts of things.
The case went all the way to California's Supreme Court, and, finally, the court ruled with the people that want to develop the port. We need it. It is legal, now approved by the court.
So the new West Gateway Terminal has now been approved and is ready to move forward. With support from President Trump and the Trump administration, Wyoming coal will soon reach hungry Asian markets. This is what unleashing American energy really looks like. Clean Wyoming coal is the best in the world, and now it is going to continue to help power the world. Democrats talk like coal lives only in the past. They are wrong. Coal is the lifeblood of an affordable, prosperous future. Demand for energy continues to grow. We need more energy, not less, and Wyoming coal is there to deliver. And I am grateful that President Trump is doing what he is doing. Wyoming's energy workers and our coal communities now have the certainty that they need to do what they do best, and that is to power the country with coal--coal that is affordable, available, reliable--a secure source of energy for a long, long time to come. With the President's historic announcement, last week, the President continues to put American workers, American families, and American energy dominance first. 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.
Medicaid
Pages S2744–S2745 · Official textMr. President, if you or a loved one is diagnosed with a life-altering medical condition, the last thing you want to face is a mountain of government paperwork in order to get your care.
But when Republicans in Congress passed their One Big Beautiful Bill, President Trump's budget--that is what they call it--last year, they placed themselves in the middle of whether or not you get treatment.
In that law, the Republicans created a requirement for all Medicaid recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 to either work 80 hours a month or verify they are too sick to do so in order to maintain Medicaid coverage.
At first glance, that might just sound like a reasonable requirement. The reality is, the plan drowns eligible patients in paperwork, requiring those who are poor and sick to navigate a maze of government redtape to see a doctor.
To qualify for Medicaid, you need to have low or no income or perhaps have a disability. Now the Republicans want to put a paperwork requirement on this to prove that you can't work 80 hours a month.
Last week, the Trump administration took a look at this and decided to make a bad situation even worse. They announced the rules to implement these work requirements. The administration decided that documenting that you have a serious condition like cancer or Alzheimer's is not enough to avoid work requirements. Instead, they are further requiring patients to verify that these conditions actually impede your ability to work.
In case it is not obvious, a 64-year-old cancer patient, traveling 30 miles each direction every week to undergo chemotherapy, might not have the ability to show up to their shift, waiting tables. Under Republicans' work requirements, one misstep by a patient, provider, or State employee could mean the difference between having health coverage or not. Is this a burden?
What if we suggested that you file your income tax returns not only on April 15 but on October 15 as well--twice a year--to make sure we catch up with you? Is that a burden? Of course, it is.
Have Republicans in Congress really deemed you unworthy of getting cancer treatment because a signature was missing on one of the dozens of pages in the forms you had to submit to prove that you are unable to work?
In addition to creating this work requirement, Republicans in Congress also refused to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits in their Big Beautiful Bill--tax breaks for wealthy people but no benefits for those trying to pay their health insurance premiums.
Twenty-four million Americans rely on these tax credits to afford their health insurance, but they expired at the end of last year. Without them, insurance premiums have doubled or tripled for many families, the same families that are struggling to buy groceries, to pay their utility bills, to make sure that they have enough money for rent or mortgage. And how about the cost of gasoline while we are at it? We have decided these folks need to have an additional expense of health insurance premiums, according to my Republican colleagues.
Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune newspaper reported that more than 92,000 people living in my State have lost or dropped their health insurance this year due to the skyrocketing premiums and the Republican policy change eliminating tax benefits to help people pay for their health insurance.
Illinois is no outlier. Millions of Americans nationwide lost their insurance coverage because the Republican decision to change the policy priced them out of care. Listen to one of the stories.
Sharon Dunham, from Grand Rapids, MI, told the Wall Street Journal that she beat cancer twice and has multiple health challenges, but she had to drop her insurance altogether--drop her insurance altogether--this year when her monthly premiums increased by $300.
With inflation, which the President embraced yesterday and said that he dearly loves--add that to the health insurance premiums, she just couldn't hack it.
Sharon plans to go without insurance until she turns 65. She prays that she will last long enough to reach the Medicare eligibility age. In the meantime, she is terrified that her cancer might return and knows that without health insurance, "I can't do anything if it shows up."
Think about that for a minute. A vote here on the Senate floor has put this lady in a situation where she is battling cancer without health insurance.
Countless other families are making similar heartbreaking decisions like Sharon. Without health insurance, they are just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.
Republicans' Big Beautiful Bill doesn't stop just at that point. It also enacted the most severe cut to the SNAP program in history. From July 2025 to February 2026, more than 3\1/2\ million people have lost access to the program that actually puts groceries on their table.
One SNAP recipient, Presley Nassise, told the Public Broadcasting System that his benefits went from $200 to zero after the Republican cuts, after which he could only afford 1\1/2\ meals a day.
Go to your local food bank and ask them what is going on. They are being deluged and swamped by people who are struggling to make ends meet, struggling to pay for groceries.
And folks with limited income need a helping hand. I have been there. I have seen those food banks. And thank goodness for the people who open them, the churches and the volunteers that keep them open.
It is no wonder that more Americans are going without the food that they need now in 2026 than during the peak of COVID-19.
As the Big Beautiful Bill's provisions take effect, Republicans can no longer hide behind the statement that they have only tried to target waste, fraud, and abuse.
Americans are waking up to the reality that Republicans abandoned working families so they could provide tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country.
While Republicans are content to act like nothing is wrong, Democrats are continuing to fight to restore these programs.
It may not be popular in some circles to speak out for the poor and low-income people in this country, but I think we have an obligation to do so. If these people are trying to get by--struggling to get health insurance, to put food on their table, to be able to go to the kind of healthcare that keeps them alive--we have got to speak up for them.
I don't believe these are cheaters and chiselers and frauds. These are people who are trying to get by. And putting additional paperwork requirements on them--making it more and more difficult--making someone who has Alzheimer's file papers regularly with the government to prove they can't go to work, for goodness' sake, what has this Nation come to? We can do better than that.
I yield the floor.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Page S2745 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read the nomination of Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State.
Vote on Dahl Nomination (Executive Session)
Page S2745 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
Under the previous order, the question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Dahl 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 legislative clerk called the roll.
The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
Further, if present and voting: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) and the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) would have voted "yea."
I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet) and the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) are necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 49, nays 44, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,023 characters)
Armstrong Banks Barrasso Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Grassley Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McConnell McCormick Moody Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Shaheen Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tuberville Wicker Young
Alsobrooks Baldwin Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Slotkin Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden
Bennet
Blackburn
Coons
Graham
Hagerty
Moran
Tillis
The nomination was confirmed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the President will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Minnesota.
Remembering Melissa and Mark Hortman (Executive Session)
Pages S2745–S2747 · Official textMr. President, I rise today with my colleague from Minnesota Senator Smith on a somber anniversary week for our State and for our country.
One year ago, a horrific act of political violence took two Minnesotans from us who represented the best of our State, the best of us, Minnesota State Representative and our former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her dear husband Mark Hortman.
This is them with their kids, with Colin and Sophie who have been true to their memories since that date, grieving through the entire time, but always holding up their parents' memories.
That same night, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot. Despite taking nine bullets, as his wife Yvette took eight, John has courageously returned to the State senate with a tireless dedication to improving the lives of Minnesotans.
Melissa and Mark left behind a State in mourning, but their two incredible children Colin and Sophie rose through their grief and best captured their parents' legacy as they said:
Text printed in the Record (144 characters)
The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.
And that is exactly what Minnesotans have done. Thousands lined up to pay their respects to the Hortmans at the State capitol where Melissa was the first woman in Minnesota to lie in state. People planted trees to honor Melissa's efforts to strengthen urban and rural forests.
Donations poured in to Helping Paws the service dog nonprofit where the Hortmans volunteered and where their beloved Gilbert, who was also shot that night, was trained.
The organization established the Hortman Heroes Fund to train service dogs to help first responders and veterans with PTSD. Their dog Gilbert was actually going to be part of that program. And they trained their dog, but in the end, it was decided their dog was just too friendly to be part of the program in the end, and Melissa and Mark were happy to have him back. And he died with them that weekend.
Minnesota stood up in their names, for Gilbert, for their family, and mostly for Melissa and Mark, and we remember them.
Our State has lost a lot this year. Just weeks after we lost Melissa and Mark, we were once again shaken to our core by a deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and then the winter with 3,000 Federal Agents and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Our State has been at the center of America's heartbreak, but we have also been at the center of its courage and its hope. No one exemplified our State's courage and hope more than Melissa. I wish everyone in this Chamber knew Melissa. We treasured her in Minnesota. She is the epitome of what you want in a public servant, the epitome of someone who stood up for her neighbors.
I first got to know her when we were both running for office around the same time, both with little kids, me for the county attorney's office, her for State legislature.
We went door to door together, and even back then it seemed like she knew every story and every family in her district. She left a lasting impact on each of us, and over her 20 years in the Minnesota State House, she left a lasting impact on our State. As minority leader and then speaker, Melissa always guided her caucus with conviction and a sense of humor. She was always there to support her colleagues, but she also wasn't afraid to call out the all-male card game taking place when they should have been on the floor debating.
And after being chosen by her colleagues to be their speaker, the first thing she did for the State house was to get rid of the speaker's mute button because Melissa always listened to her colleagues, and she said at the time:
Text printed in the Record (55 characters)
I have a gavel . . . and a gavel is good enough for me.
And with that gavel, Melissa became one of the most consequential and arguably the best speakers in the history of our State. Because of Melissa, all Minnesota students get a school lunch so hunger doesn't stop them from learning and reaching their potential.
Because of Melissa, Minnesota voters can cast a ballot that works best for them, whether that is early voting, mail-in voting, or same-day registration.
Because of Melissa, women in Minnesota can access reproductive care and continue to make their own decisions about their futures.
And because of Melissa, who created the Minnesota Community Solar Program, which now bears her name, our State is a leader in clean energy and protecting the environment.
She was a generational leader. She led with integrity and courage. She consistently reached across the aisle to make life better for Minnesotans.
And her husband Mark, he was compassionate, smart, kind. I met so many people who worked with him in his workplace over the years and loved him just as much as the legislators loved Melissa.
As we remember Melissa and Mark, we must also continue to address the significant increase in threats and acts of political violence we have seen across the country against people of both parties. I want to extend my gratitude to the local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers who responded that night and who have continued to be there for our State.
It was Melissa, who once said that "in politics, often the easiest thing for anyone to do is run to a microphone, sharpen their dagger, and see who has the best press conference. But what's excruciatingly difficult in all this high emotion is to get people to the table," she said, "and to slog through the work that has to happen."
She was right then, and her words hold true today. Each of us has a responsibility to bring more people to the table and to take on the hard work.
Melissa and Mark met as volunteers, working to help kids in their community, and their dedication to serving others never wavered.
In her wallet, in her purse, after she died, they found a prayer that she always carried, by St. Francis of Assisi. It said this. It said:
Text printed in the Record (42 characters)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
May we all be instruments of peace just like Melissa.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Minnesota.
Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague Senator Klobuchar, who knew and loved and worked closely with Melissa for so many years. I know that this is a personal moment for her, to think about the loss that we experience every day not having Melissa with us but also just being able to capture who she was as a person.
And this really is a somber day for us. It is almost exactly a year since Melissa and Mark were assassinated at their home, along with the loss of their dog Gilbert, the same night that John and Yvette Hoffman were also shot and, thank God, survived.
You probably can relate to this because I know every party and every State has a big party dinner, and it was kind of incredible for us because Melissa and Mark were shot in the wee hours after our big party dinner. And so we had all been together just hours before we lost them.
And it was a horrifying act of targeted political violence that shocked our State and also transfixed the Nation as law enforcement searched for the perpetrator of this horror. And we collectively searched for meaning in these senseless acts.
And it is 1 year later, and in most ways this loss still feels so fresh to all of us. This solemn anniversary, I know, will probably bring a fresh wave of opinions and think pieces trying to answer the questions of what Melissa's death means and where we go from here, what this says about the state of American politics or what it might reveal about our frayed democracy.
And I have to tell you, honestly, that I don't have answers to those weighty questions, but what I know is that, today, I want to remember my friend Melissa and how she really exemplified what it should mean to be in public service, to be a public servant.
I love that Amy read that quote from St. Francis because that was all about the value of being a servant in the cause of helping people's lives be better. Melissa was born in Fridley, MN, which is a suburb of the Twin Cities. She was gifted. She was smart. She excelled because she worked really hard, not because anything was ever handed to her. And she really pretty much thought that any job that was worth doing was worth doing right. And that is the mantra that she carried with her, whether it was her first job making burritos to her last job leading Minnesota's House through a dramatic and consequential legislative session.
She felt a deep responsibility to put her talents to work in the cause of service. And, you know, it is interesting. She started in public service as an intern in this very body. We have interns here on the floor today. So think about that, where this woman's life took her.
She was an intern for Senator Al Gore and then Senator John Kerry and then she decided to go to law school. And there she served the cause of justice in the State courts and as a prosecutor where she fought against housing discrimination, and she won those cases.
And then she decided to get involved in local politics. After volunteering on campaigns, she decided to run herself. And she actually ran for office twice before winning. So she was tenacious. She was not afraid to persevere, even when she faced some headwinds because she really believed that she had something to offer, yes, but that she also had a responsibility to help.
Melissa and I got to know each other well when I was chief of staff to the Governor of Minnesota and she was coming into leadership in the State house.
And, you know, we all know well in this body that writing and passing legislation is an incredibly rewarding activity, but it also can be tiresome and frustrating, and it takes a really long time. It is inconvenient, and it can be pretty annoying too.
So when you are in those moments--as Senator Klobuchar was saying--and you are trying to hash it out and work it out and get people to the table, you need somebody like Melissa there because she knows how to get the job done. She would always be ready with a fresh idea about, like, what is it going to take to deliver a result here.
And she also was really funny. She was quick with a quip and a funny joke to keep the process moving and to keep people focused on taking what they were doing seriously without taking themselves too seriously.
I can tell you from personal experience that she also was pretty fun if you wanted to get together after all that work for a margarita.
As a legislator and eventually as speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa approached her work in this way: by leading with compassion and respect, always staying in touch with our shared humanity. And, of course, she was unafraid to demand the same respect in return, both for herself and for others.
She was a woman leader, a leader who was a woman in a time when, sometimes even to this day, women are sort of not paid as much attention to as they deserve.
And Amy was referring to this. Once on the house floor, Melissa called out a group of male legislators who were playing cards in a back room rather than paying attention to women legislators that were speaking on the floor about how a criminal justice bill was going to impact their communities.
And so Melissa called them out. And, I mean, they were pretty pissed. They were unaccustomed to being confronted by their rude behavior, and they actually demanded an apology. And Melissa's response was characteristically honest and simple. She said, "I'm really tired of watching women of color, in particular, being ignored. So [I will not apologize]."
And this became kind of a thing. The next day, all over the Minnesota State Capitol, people were wearing T-shirts that said, "I will not apologize." It was quite--it was quite a moment.
Melissa stood up for others. She spoke truth to power, and she insisted that we treat each other with dignity and respect because public service should be--you know, even in a climate like we are in today, public service is serious business, unlike some of the nonserious activities that we see every day here in Washington.
So here is Melissa's true legacy: Millions of Minnesotans are better off because Melissa Hortman did the work that she did.
They have healthier drinking water because Melissa secured the funding that will eliminate lead water service lines in Minnesota.
Minnesotan schoolchildren will be able to focus on their learning. They won't be hungry because Melissa helped pass free breakfast and lunch for all Minnesota families with their kids in school.
Starting this year, Minnesotans will have access to paid leave. Every Minnesotan will have access to paid medical and family leave to care for their new babies, to take care of a loved one who might be ill because Melissa never gave up on that project and believed that that should be something that everybody has.
One year after her death, I still can't quite believe that she is gone. We had our big party dinner just last Friday night, and I kept looking around and wondering--forgetting that she wasn't there.
And I know this summer, this fall, when I am out door-knocking, that I and a lot of people will be thinking about how she was always out there, doing the organizing of politics.
But, today, I am really focused on what Melissa and Mark meant to me and to all of us who had the privilege to know them. And my heart is with their family and their friends and especially their children Sophie and Colin. I know that they are comforted by the fact that so many people loved Mark and Melissa so much.
And I think that we would all do well to follow the advice of their children Sophie and Colin. And when they were asked so many times in the days after Melissa and Mark were killed, what people could do to help, this is what they told us. They said:
Text printed in the Record (509 characters)
If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do. Tell your loved one a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it. Bake something--bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone. Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something [new]. Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
That is a good inspiration for all of us every single day.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Banks)
The Senator from Minnesota.
Mr. President, 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.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act
Pages S2747–S2751 · Official textMr. President, I come to the floor today to ask unanimous consent to pass two bills--S. 1377, my Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act and Senator Gallego's Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act. I want to thank my colleague for joining me here today and for his work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of these bills today.
In the case of my bill, for generations, horses have been a living, breathing part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Their presence in the Badlands predates the establishment of the park itself and traces back to the region's early ranching heritage. Today, the horses remain one of the park's most recognizable and beloved features, enjoyed by more than 700,000 visitors annually when they come to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
But the horses are much more than just a visitor attraction; they are an important part of the historic landscape that reflects what Theodore Roosevelt himself experienced during his time in the Dakota Territory. His years in the Badlands helped shape his character, and they inspired the conservation ethic that would later define his Presidency. He was a rancher, so he was on horseback all of the time. He really credits North Dakota in that experience for rounding out his strength and vitality, which are some of the attributes that he needed to go on and be elected President. As a result, the horses of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park have become an enduring symbol of that legacy.
Yet, despite their importance, there have been repeated efforts to remove them from the park, including as recently as in 2022. Each and every time, those efforts are met with overwhelming public opposition not just from people in North Dakota but from people across the country who recognize the contributions the horses make to the park's incredible and colorful history. That is why we have introduced this legislation.
S. 1377 provides a balanced, commonsense, and durable solution. It ensures the National Park Service will continue to manage a healthy horse herd while providing permanent protection for an important part of the park's identity. Specifically, the bill directs the National Park Service to maintain a herd of not fewer than 150 horses--a population level consistent with the need for responsible management of a genetically diverse herd.
I greatly appreciate my colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine for joining me in introducing and sponsoring this legislation. Senator Kaine understands firsthand the important role of the wild ponies of the Chincoteague and Assateague Islands on Federal lands in his own State.
I also appreciate the support from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service and their willingness to provide certainty for the future of horses in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
This bill is about ensuring that future generations can experience the same landscape that helped shape one of our Nation's greatest conservation leaders. By passing this bill, we can ensure the future of wild horses at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
I would also like to thank Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and the Energy Committee's staff for their work in helping us advance this important legislation.
I am also pleased to work with Senator Gallego to pass his Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act today, and I appreciate his partnership.
Therefore, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 1377 and that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 430, S. 2033, and S. 1377.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bills by title.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (369 characters)
A bill (S. 2033) to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on existing programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit wildfire mitigation across land ownership boundaries on Federal and non-Federal land.
A bill (S. 1377) to ensure the maintenance of a herd of horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged of the relevant bill (S. 1377), and the Senate proceeded to consider the bills en bloc, (S. 2033) which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,046 characters)
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act".
SEC. 2. STUDY ON WILDFIRE MITIGATION ACROSS LAND OWNERSHIP
BOUNDARIES.
(a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on--
(1) the existing Federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit wildfire mitigation from being completed across land ownership boundaries on Federal and non-Federal land;
(2) whether changes to any program, rule, or authority identified pursuant to paragraph (1) would allow Federal land management agencies (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801)), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Fire Administration, States, local governments, and Tribal governments increased capacity or access to funding to mitigate wildfires; and
(3) the activities carried out pursuant to subsection (e) of section 103 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6513), including--
(A) how to improve the efficacy of such activities with respect to mitigating wildfire; and
(B) whether the enactment of such subsection has increased the access of Federal land management agencies and States to funding to mitigate wildfires.
(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that contains--
(1) the results of the study required under subsection (a); and
(2) recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation between Federal land management agencies and State, local, and Tribal governments.
I further ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment to S. 2033 be agreed to; that the bills, as amended, where amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, all en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there an objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The bill (S. 2033), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
The bill (S. 1377) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,344 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act".
SEC. 2. MAINTENANCE OF HORSES IN THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL
PARK.
Section 5 of the Act of April 25, 1947 (61 Stat. 54, chapter 41; 16 U.S.C. 245), is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that follows through "The Administration" and inserting the following:
"SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION, PROTECTION, AND DEVELOPMENT.
"(a) In General.--The administration"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(b) Maintenance of Horses.--
"(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred
to in this subsection as the `Secretary') shall maintain a
genetically diverse herd of horses in the South Unit of
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (referred to in this
subsection as the `Park'), with a population of not fewer
than 150 horses.
"(2) Management plan.--
"(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall develop
a plan to provide for the management of horses in the Park.
"(B) Requirements.--The plan developed under subparagraph
(A) shall provide for the cost-effective management of the
horses in the Park while ensuring that natural resources
within the Park are not adversely impacted.
"(3) Removal.--The Secretary shall not remove, or assist
in or permit the removal of, any horses from Federal land
within the boundaries of the Park--
"(A) unless the removal is carried out as part of a plan
to maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses; or
"(B) except--
"(i) in the case of emergency; or
"(ii) to protect public health and safety.
"(4) Monitoring and assessment.--The Secretary shall
annually monitor, assess, and make available to the public
findings regarding the population, structure, and health of
the horses in the Park.".
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, with that, again, I want to thank my colleague Senator Gallego and turn to him for his comments.
I yield the floor.
Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, I rise today to mark an important step in the fight against wildfires with the passage of my Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act.
Like many Western States, my home State of Arizona is a patchwork of Federal, State, Tribal, and private lands. The fires do not stop at property lines. That is why we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to reducing wildfires and improving wildfire mitigation across land ownerships no matter who owns that land.
When fires move faster than governments can coordinate, the fire has the advantage. The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act takes a practical step to fixing that. The bill supports the kind of collaboration between Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners that we know works. By studying and identifying the gaps in current Federal rules that present coordination between land ownership boundaries, we can bolster our firefighting efforts.
This couldn't be more timely. The West is getting hotter and dryer every year. In Arizona, we watched more than 200,000 acres burn across the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab National Forest.
The Dragon Bravo fire, one of the largest in Arizona's history, devastated iconic landscapes and the local businesses that depend on them.
In the face of these conditions, it is vital we have the research and coordination tools to ensure effective wildfire management.
At the same time, funding for the Forest Service's State, Tribal, and private forestry program is at risk. That is the funding that enables exactly the kind of cross-boundary collaboration this bill is designed to work with.
Congress needs to send a signal that we know this work matters, and we have the chance to do so today.
As we approach peak wildfire season, I have heard from people on the ground that cross-boundary collaboration is a top priority to keep our fire season from growing more dangerous and more expensive, and they are right.
The cost of inaction in lives and lands and dollars keeps climbing. So thank you, Senator Hoeven, and his team for helping me lead this effort. Today we take a very important step in that direction.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
Mr. President, section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, also known as FISA, is a critical national security tool. Well over half of every item in the President's daily brief is derived from section 702.
It has stopped terrorist attacks. It has stopped the flow of deadly drugs into our country. It has protected our troops overseas. It has allowed us to rescue troops overseas.
Regrettably, the Democrats, led by the two minority leaders, are going to allow this critical authority to expire tomorrow night.
Again, this program, which has been on the books for almost 20 years, is one of the most important intelligence tools that we have.
And why are they going to let it expire? I guess the minority leader is mad about who Donald Trump chose to run an intelligence Agency on an acting basis--an Agency that, by the way, has very little to do with section 702.
To the extent it does, legislation I proposed with Senator Warner and other leaders in this Senate would impose more guardrails on that Agency.
And, by the way, if the law expires tomorrow night, all the guardrails on that, and every other Agency, expire as well.
So even though we haven't been able to pass the legislation that Senator Grassley and I coauthored with Senator Warner and others, the responsible next step is to have a short-term extension of this legislation, especially as we begin welcoming literally millions of foreigners to this country for the World Cup and for the America 250 celebrations right around the corner.
If we don't extend it for at least a few weeks while we continue to try to work on our differences, the consequences could be severe. The consequences, to be frank, could be fatal. Americans should not have to face that risk because of partisan game playing by the minority leader of the Senate and the House.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask for unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the bill at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there an objection?
The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Oregon.
Reserving the right to object is particularly relevant here, because I am sure my colleague is aware that the bill--the 3-week bill--was just defeated in the House on a strong, bipartisan vote this morning.
The House is not back until the 23rd. So my understanding is you can't do anything.
Bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate have now rejected what I consider to be the surveillance status quo. I believe there just have been too many abuses of Americans' rights across multiple administrations, and Members of Congress are now standing up and saying: No more.
The only viable path forward is one that leads to real reforms. The Congress has already punted on section 702 twice this year. Every day that 702 is in effect without reforms is a day that Americans' rights are under threat. I believe Americans deserve new guardrails. If Congress is going to extend these authorities--and that is what we are talking about--those guardrails are essential. And, at a minimum, Americans deserve transparency about how these surveillance powers have been abused.
For those reasons, Mr. President, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The objection is heard.
The Senator from Arkansas.
Mr. President, let me try to respond to that fog of misunderstanding and misleading statements.
Section 702 does not surveil Americans. It is, to put it simply, about foreigners in foreign countries: so, say, an IRGC leader in Iran talking to one of his operatives in Lebanon; or a Russian in Moscow talking to a Russian in Mexico--all of whom are usually up to no good. The government is not permitted to use section 702 to target Americans, either here or in other countries.
It is called section 702 because, as is usually the case, laws have other sections to them--like title I has sections of the law that govern any targeting of an American--and those sections require a probable cause warrant, which is the Senator from Oregon's great crusade.
So-called reverse targeting of Americans, using section 702, is prohibited. Requiring a probable cause warrant for this information is akin to requiring a police officer to get a new warrant every time he goes into the evidence room to review lawfully collected evidence.
Now, for all the talk about transparency and oversight and privacy protections, I would point out that the legislation I have introduced has more than a dozen additional measures to include, for instance, criminal penalties for any abuse, to include more congressional involvement in the FISA Court's processes, more reporting to the committees on which the Senator from Oregon sits--just like the law we passed 2 years ago had many additional transparency measures and privacy protections.
And, as I pointed out, if this law is allowed to expire tomorrow night, so do all of those transparency measures and all those privacy protections.
So it is regrettable that we have reached this point, Mr. President. I just hope that the American people don't pay the consequences for the Democrats' reckless intransigence.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. President, again, like yesterday, I am making what I believe is a real offer now. I am offering, again, to extend section 702 of FISA for 5 weeks and give the public more facts about how these surveillance powers have been abused.
Defenders of the status quo seem to think that there is already enough transparency around government surveillance. So let me be very specific about what the bill that I am now proposing would do. It would require more public disclosure about violations of our surveillance laws, including section 702.
It would require more public disclosure about warrantless searches targeting politicians, journalists, and religious leaders. This particular category of searches more than tripled in 2025, and the FBI has refused to explain why.
It would require more public disclosure about warrantless surveillance of Americans outside of FISA, which the public knows virtually nothing about. And it would require the executive branch to redact and release a March 2026 FISA Court ruling that found serious violations affecting Americans' rights.
The executive branch is already required to release this ruling eventually. The chairman and the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, in fact, asked them to release it by May 15. But, unfortunately, they just brushed off the chairman and the vice chairman's request.
Mr. President, so as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4740; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there an objection?
The Senator from Arkansas.
You bet there is, Mr. President.
Mr. President, all of these ideas are totally unworkable and also beside the point.
The Senator from Oregon has never voted for section 702. He is an implacable, ideological opponent of this law.
These measures, too, are for what--a 5-week extension that he would then extend permanently? That doesn't sound like a very reasonable offer to me.
But almost every one of them is designed to make this program unworkable and to expose Americans to grave risk.
There are already, again, dozens of transparency measures and privacy protections in place under a law passed, just 2 years ago, by a Democratic Senate, signed by a Democratic President.
The legislation that Senator Grassley and I drafted with another Democratic Senator, the vice chairman of my committee--the Intelligence Committee--has nearly two dozen more. It is never enough for the Senator from Oregon.
So perhaps the minority leaders of the Senate and the House will eventually come to their senses and vote to support legislation that key leaders in their party have drafted to protect this country. But it will never be enough for the Senator from Oregon.
So I, of course, object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The objection is heard.
The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. President, just very briefly on this last point, the proposals I made yesterday and the proposals I made today are longer than anything else on offer--5 weeks--and I think that is the relevant fact.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Arkansas.
A 5-week extension for permanent, radical unworkable reforms. That is a farce.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The majority leader.
Mr. President, what the Senator from Arkansas and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee just said is absolutely accurate: The Senator from Oregon has consistently tried to kill this program and has never believed in it, has never voted for it. And it is a program that makes Americans more safe. That is a proven fact.
You ask any intelligence expert, any military planner in this country, the intelligence derived from the 702 program is something that has saved American lives in theaters of conflict, preventing terrorist attacks, preventing drug runners from getting drugs into this country.
Mr. President, 90 percent--90 percent--of the fentanyl disruptions coming into this country were stopped because of this program. This is a program that saves American lives.
And I have to ask the question. I mean, I can't, for the life of me, figure out why the Democrats continue to support policies that make this country less safe. TSA agents, I think, this year have worked without pay for almost as much time as they have worked with pay because Democrats have wanted to shut the government down, shut TSA down.
More recently, Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, two Agencies that are critical to keeping this country safe--they don't want to provide a single dollar--zero--zero dollars for ICE and CBP, making this country less safe.
And so what did we have to do? We had to use reconciliation to do something that ought to be a no-brainer around here: protecting the American people, keeping our borders secure, protecting people in our communities in this country from criminal illegal aliens.
I just don't understand this. And now this, blocking something that was negotiated on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, House and Senate--the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, his Democrat counterpart; the same thing on the House side--with reforms, a lot of reforms. Something was negotiated in a bipartisan way to get a bill on the floor that we could use to extend this program and continue to keep Americans safe.
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee made some public statements earlier today, and one was that having this shutdown is "obviously a high risk proposition." That is a quote. He went on to say that he believes it is "dangerous"--"dangerous"--for section 702 to lapse.
And what this is all about is a temporary acting position at DNI. So Democrats have decided to block a vote against something that many in the past have supported, that is keeping this country safe, because they don't like the person that President Trump is putting into a temporary acting role. These aren't linked.
This is a program that works, and it works effectively to keep Americans safe. And the reforms that have been proposed, the legislation that has been agreed upon by Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate, ought to be able to pass the U.S. Senate.
Mr. President, 100 percent of the President's intelligence priorities are informed by the 702 collection--100 percent. I am just really--I don't get it. I just don't get it.
So what I am going to do is suggest, because this acting temporary person doesn't even get into the acting temporary position until a week from tomorrow, June 19, I am going to suggest that we do at least a 1-week extension to keep the lights on at this Agency, at a time when we are hosting the World Cup. We have got 250th anniversary celebrations going on around this country.
This is a time of risk for the American people, and Democrats here in the Senate said: Well, sorry. We don't like this guy in the acting temporary position, and so we are going to shut the lights off on this program and put at risk the American people. It is an untenable, irresponsible position.
But since he doesn't take that position until a week from Friday, I think we ought to at least extend this program through a week from Friday and allow for some more time for people to figure out the long-term solution, if there is one.
So, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I am going to ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the bill at the desk. I will further ask that that bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there objection?
The Senator from Oregon.
Reserving the right to object.
Mr. President, as the majority leader knows, the bill that came up in the House had a strong bipartisan vote this morning. It was not something that one party simply tried to jam something through on the other; it was a strong bipartisan vote. It was defeated. The House is gone until the 23rd, so they can't do anything.
Now, with respect to a couple of the details made by the majority leader, I have already indicated that on offer is my proposal, which is longer than anything that has come up in the last day. It is a real offer.
By the way, it is not changing any surveillance powers at all. All my proposal does is offer some transparency, and I think transparency information is relevant when there has been evidence of Americans being spied on, and I think that is why it is important.
So for those reasons, Mr. President, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The objection is heard.
Let me just, again, say for the record, because the Senator from Oregon's proposal is designed to kill the bill--and there was a vote in the House. And I want to say there were 190 Republicans in the House who voted for a 3-week extension. And there would have been a lot of Democrats if they hadn't been told by their leadership, like they have been told here, not to vote for an extension.
This is an extension. This is an extension of current law. We have a proposal that has been negotiated by both sides that would be a longer term extension.
So if you are rejecting the 3-week extension, what I am suggesting here, and what you just objected to, because my understanding is--correct me if I am wrong--that the reason all the Democrats went south on this, in both the Senate and the House, was because of the nomination of a gentleman named Bill Pulte to be the acting temporary Director of the Office of National Intelligence.
If that is true and if he doesn't take office until a week from Friday, what objection could there possibly be--possibly be--to extending this program's authority until at least next Friday, so that we don't have a period where this program lapses, this program goes dark, at a time when there are literally hundreds of thousands of people coming into this country for the World Cup.
A 1-week extension, that is all we are saying. And the Democrats are going to object to that.
So, again, I will simply say this is, on its face, an irresponsible position that makes America and Americans less safe.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Ohio.
Mr. President, I will make my remarks very, very brief.
For those watching on TV, wondering what their government did this week, what you just witnessed on the floor of the U.S. Senate is one Democrat, at least, who is willing to have his position stated. The other ones are hiding because they know what they did today was so wrong.
At the end of the day, the most important job we have is to protect the American people. And because of Democrat political posturing, they made this country less safe.
And I hope and pray to God that nothing happens in this country where an American is killed or something happens to this Nation as a result of what we just witnessed here today.
This is another low point in the history of the U.S. Senate.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Smith nomination.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
I ask unanimous consent for the previously scheduled rollcall vote to commence.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state.
The legislative clerk read as follows: 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. 742, Justin D. Smith, of Missouri, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit. John Thune, Tim Sheehy, Pete Ricketts, Mike Rounds, John Barrasso, Ted Budd, Jim Banks, Rick Scott of Florida, Todd Young, David McCormick, Shelley Moore Capito, Jon Husted, John Boozman, Mike Crapo, Katie Boyd Britt, Eric Schmitt, John R. Curtis.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
By unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived.
The question is, Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the nomination of Justin D. Smith, of Missouri, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, shall be brought to a close?
The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.
The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant bill clerk called the roll.
The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty), the Senator from Florida (Mrs. Moody), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
Further, if present and voting: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) would have voted "yea" and the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) would have voted "yea."
I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet), the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons), the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen), and the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) are necessarily absent.
The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 47, nays 43, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (932 characters)
Armstrong Banks Barrasso Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Grassley Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall McConnell McCormick Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tuberville Wicker Young
Alsobrooks Baldwin Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gallego Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Slotkin Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden
Bennet
Blackburn
Coons
Graham
Hagerty
Moody
Moran
Rosen
Shaheen
Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). On this vote the yeas are 47, the nays are 43, and the motion is agreed to.
The motion was agreed to.
Executive Calendar
Page S2751 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the nomination.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Justin D. Smith, of Missouri, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Indiana.
Chicago Bears (Executive Calendar)
Pages S2751–S2753 · Official textMr. President, before we leave town for the week, I wanted to comment, share some really good news for the great State of Indiana. You might have seen the news late last week, but last Friday, June 5, the Chicago Bears board announced that they voted to officially advance the process of building a new stadium not in downtown Chicago but rather in Hammond, IN. I am a lifelong Indianapolis Colts fan, but today I want to talk about the Chicago Bears.
The No. 1 question that I have received over the last week is, Will the Chicago bears change their name to the Indiana Bears? And I have been assured that that will not be the case. They will remain the Chicago Bears, but their board, as I mentioned, voted to start this process to build their stadium in Hammond, IN.
Hammond is a part of, in Indiana, what we call "The Region"--Northwest Indiana, Lake County. Communities like Gary, East Chicago, and Hammond are blue-collar, working-class communities, rich from those steel-producing jobs that have been in that part of my State for generations, that have employed so many Hoosiers.
This is big news for Indiana. It is a shot in the arm for a part of my State that can really use it. And a lot of people are going to benefit from the development that will occur around this new site that is just 18 miles to the east of where the Chicago Bears are currently located, Soldier Field in downtown Chicago. It is only about a half-an-hour drive from the current site to where this new site will be in the community in Hammond.
And the reason I want to come and talk about this today is this isn't just about sports. This is about the tale of two cities, the tale of two States--a State with leadership, vision; a State that is open for business; and a State that is bankrupt, literally a State that has gone bankrupt with failed leadership, with blue-State policies that we have seen around the country, in other States like California. But Illinois, they take the cake in Illinois for liberal, leftwing policies.
And there is a lot--a lot--to unpack here about why the Chicago Bears--this iconic, over 100-year iconic football team and their ownership--made this decision to come to my State and abandon the policies of Illinois and the city, the once-great big city, great city of Chicago, that they are fleeing from.
I just want to suggest to you today that when it comes to States like Illinois--a liberal State, a high-tax State, an anti-family State, an anti-business State--it is a State that is destroying itself inside out. And then talk about a Republican, low-tax, pro-family, pro-business State like my State is thriving, and this great news just goes to prove it.
Now, I wanted to point out a few statistics that I have recently become aware of. According to CNBC data from last year, Indiana is the second-best State in the country when it comes to cost of living; Illinois, 34.
Indiana is ranked, according to CNBC--the same data--the best State in the country when it comes to the cost of doing business. We are open for business in Indiana. Illinois ranks among the worst States in the country for doing business.
Indiana, the ninth best State in the country for businesses--period--and that number keeps getting better for our State because we passed right-to-work laws. We have reduced our property taxes, income taxes, the tax burden in our State.
And by the way, in Indiana, we actually pass balanced budgets at our State legislature every 2 years. Illinois is a bankrupt State. They have so much debt in their State that the taxpayers are holding the bag for it.
So when it comes to cost of living and the cost of doing business, Indiana is a far better environment for families and businesses than Illinois.
But you also have to look at crime statistics because this tells a big part of the story too. According to FBI data, Illinois has one of the highest statewide homicide and robbery rates in the entire country. In fact, the robbery rate in Illinois is 152 percent worse than it is in the State of Indiana.
And I submit to you that is because Chicago and Illinois are truly on the frontlines of the "defund the police" mantra of the Democratic Party today. The soft-on-crime policies of blue States and leadership coming out of Illinois and Chicago tells a far different story than my State, Indiana, where we are focused on law and order. We support our police officers. We back the blue in Indiana. There is a big difference when it comes to crime statistics coming out of both States too.
I also want to talk about job statistics because I think this is important as well. It helps tell the story about why the Chicago Bears made this historic announcement last week.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indiana's unemployment rate right now is 3.2 percent. Illinois? Over 5 percent, 5.1 percent unemployment rate. That is nearly 60 percent higher unemployment in Illinois than it is in Indiana.
Then you talk about--you talk about tax rates, as I mentioned a little bit ago. The property tax rates in Illinois are nearly twice as high as they are in Indiana. Individual income tax rates--this is the same deal--almost twice as high in Illinois as what they are in Indiana.
And you are starting to see a bigger picture here. Why did the Chicago Bears make this incredible announcement to come to Indiana? Lower taxes, better for families, lower crime statistics, just 30 minutes to the east than what they deal with in Chicago.
The Presiding Officer and I know that people vote with their feet. In this case, an entire football team is voting with their cleats. The whole program is just moving 18 miles away into a State that works with better leadership in Indiana.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, 40,000 residents left Illinois for other States in 2025. Meanwhile, more people have moved to Indiana than have left Indiana. That is another huge difference.
And also, according to the same organization, the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois ranked No. 2 in the country for the most business losses of any State in the country.
I mean, this is a massive, giant, big sucking sound coming out of Illinois and Chicago--businesses that are taking their jobs, folding up their tents and their businesses, and moving to States like Indiana that are open to business, while Illinois pushes them out the door.
Illinois has lost at least 218 businesses--big and small--to other States since 2023. I mean, this is another testament to what the difference is between our States.
But then the last issue I want to talk about is what Illinois has done to make themselves--not just Chicago but the whole State of Illinois--the whole State of Illinois has designated itself as a statewide sanctuary jurisdiction, not a sanctuary city but the whole State of Illinois is a sanctuary State for illegal immigrants.
And just since January 20 of this year, according to the Department of Homeland Security, 1,768 criminal illegal aliens have been released in the State of Illinois--just over the last several months since January 20.
Compare that with my State, where my Governor, one of his very first acts as Governor last year, was to sign an executive order. And he told the Indiana State Police that in Indiana, the State police and all State agencies will assist President Trump and the Federal efforts for mass deportation to get violent illegal criminals out of Indiana, get them off of our streets. That is the type of leadership that America is looking to and the opposite of the type of failed leadership that you see coming out of Illinois.
I wanted to read just a couple of statements from leaders in my State about this historic announcement because it is such a big deal for us, the Chicago Bears moving to Indiana. Gov. Mike Braun said:
Text printed in the Record (375 characters)
Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great State!
We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the `85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our State and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before.
Governor Braun went on to say:
Text printed in the Record (212 characters)
Thank you to Speaker Huston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership. I also want to thank the entire Bears organization for their partnership in making this move a reality. Welcome to Indiana!
The speaker of the house in Indiana, my friend Todd Huston, who represents a State house district on the north side of Indianapolis and Hamilton County--Speaker Todd Huston was pivotal in the efforts at the State legislature to round up the incentive package to lure the Chicago Bears during the last session. He deserves a lot of credit for making this happen through his leadership.
Speaker Todd Huston said:
Text printed in the Record (638 characters)
I am thrilled the Bears ownership voted to develop a world-class stadium facility in Hammond. This will be a transformative project for Northwest Indiana, benefitting the entire state. The Bears have been transparent and terrific partners throughout the process.
Local elected leadership in Northwest Indiana and their constituents have been tremendous partners in making this happen. This is a fantastic win for Indiana, and I thank Governor Brawn and his leadership team. The Bears join a long line of companies and residents choosing Indiana to invest, grow, and pursue opportunity, and I look forward to many more making that choice.
Mayor Tom McDermott is actually a Democrat--a Democrat mayor of Hammond, IN. That shows the bipartisan nature of the leadership in my State that made this historic announcement possible.
Mayor Tom McDermott, the mayor of Hammond, said:
Text printed in the Record (517 characters)
The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, IN, because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment.
The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment.
I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I'm grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen Ryan Mishler and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!
I want to compare this a little bit. I mean, you heard from the Republican Governor, the Republican speaker of the house, the Democrat. Those are quotes from the Democrat mayor of Hammond and the other two.
By the way, the Illinois Legislature, before they left their State capitol last week, completely fumbled an opportunity to provide some kind of package to keep the Chicago Bears in Chicago. Their pattern of failed leadership was on full display as they left their statehouse last week. And it was after that that the Chicago Bears organization, leadership, ownership made this historic investment.
As you can imagine, a lot of embarrassment for the leaders in Illinois with this big announcement. In fact, Gov. JB Pritzker, this is what his office had to say--the opposite of what the Indiana leader had to say. This is what Governor Pritzker and his office had to say last week after this announcement was made.
According to Governor Pritzker's office:
Text printed in the Record (218 characters)
The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last 6 years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress.
He is blaming the Chicago Bears for his own lack of leadership. I mean, this is embarrassing for a guy who fancies himself as a potential Presidential candidate in 2028, and his biggest legacy--for JB Pritzker--is that he lost the Chicago Bears to Indiana. I mean, how embarrassing for a politician to have to live up to that?
Meanwhile, though, this is what Governor Pritzker had to say about illegal immigration. Get this. Governor Pritzker said:
Text printed in the Record (78 characters)
I am going to do everything that I can to protect our undocumented immigrants.
So you see what is going on here. Governor Pritzker is far more focused on protecting illegal immigrants in his State than he ever was on providing any type of leadership whatsoever to keep the Chicago Bears in Chicago or in Illinois. I mean, you see the type of failed leadership in Illinois that the successful leadership of Indiana has seized upon.
Then you hear from the socialist mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson. He had this to say. He said:
Text printed in the Record (679 characters)
Over the last several years, the Bears have stated their
intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today's announcement is
not surprising.
Again, the mayor of Chicago is blaming others for his own lack of leadership.
Yet the mayor of Chicago also had this to say:
Law enforcement is a sickness. This is a man who just doesn't have his priorities straight. He is anti-police. He is one of the "defund the police" Democrats from a city that has high violent crime rates, and he is mad that the Chicago Bears are saying: We are leaving Chicago and Illinois because there is a better deal to be had in the great State of Indiana, 30 minutes away from where we are currently located.
You see the type of failed leadership in Illinois and the type of successful leadership in my State of Indiana.
I want to just finish my thoughts with this because I think this sums it up. Another great Hoosier, Pat McAfee, sums this up quite well as we talk about what Indiana means and the type of leadership that we have in Indiana and how we have seized upon this incredible, historic opportunity and why the Chicago Bears have said "enough is enough" of the failed leadership and the high-tax, anti-family, anti-police, "defund the police," leftwing policies of Illinois. Pat McAfee sums this up quite well.
He said:
Text printed in the Record (95 characters)
Indiana has always been open for business. . . . They pieced this Bears' deal together so fast.
That is the type of great leadership that all of America is looking to.
For the first time in my life, I say: Go Bears!
I can't wait to drive an hour and a half up U.S. 30, from where I live, to go cheer on the Chicago Bears when this stadium is built in a few years in Hammond, IN. I think there are going to be a lot more Chicago Bears fans out there when this stadium is built. There are going to be a lot of Hoosiers who are going to go to this new stadium and a lot of people from Illinois who are going to be coming over the State line and seeing even more of the very best of what Indiana has to offer.
So this is good news for Indiana and bad news for Chicago and Illinois, but when you hear statistics like that, you cannot blame the Chicago Bears organization for making the decision they did.
With that, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Budd)
The Senator from California.
June 12 Anniversary (Executive Calendar)
Pages S2753–S2755 · Official textMr. President, 1 year ago tomorrow, you may recall that I was in the Federal building in West Los Angeles, on business, awaiting a scheduled briefing, when I was physically forced out of a press conference. I was forced to the ground and handcuffed--not because I had broken any laws, mind you, but for the simple fact that I tried to ask a question of then-Homeland Security Secretary Noem.
I was in that building--I was in that office--in my capacity as a U.S. Senator for a scheduled briefing with the four-star general in charge of U.S. Northern Command because I was seeking answers and had been seeking answers not just for days but for weeks and months on what had become an unprecedented, unlawful, cruel immigration enforcement campaign that Donald Trump had unleashed on Los Angeles.
You will remember the visuals of masked ICE agents not identifying themselves and of CBP officers who were armed as if they were heading into war, indiscriminately stopping people, sweeping up immigrants--undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, even some U.S. citizens. But they didn't care because they were going after anyone who looked like an immigrant. They were knocking down doors to homes without having signed judicial warrants. They were breaking the windows of cars and dragging people out of their vehicles. They were raiding worksites, the parking lots of home improvement stores, even public parks where kids and families were playing. This was all happening in a matter of days in Los Angeles.
It seemed like the administration was just doing one thing after another to escalate tensions. The President not only federalized and deployed National Guard troops into Los Angeles to assist with this "mission," but at one point, Active-Duty marines were sent into Los Angeles, but it was not for public safety reasons, as this was done against the wishes of the Governor, against the wishes of the mayor, and against the wishes of the police chief and the sheriff.
So, yes, I wanted answers--answers that weren't coming from the Department of Homeland Security here in the Senate during formal committee hearings and answers that weren't coming in response to formal inquiries that we had made as Senators or in response to letters that had been submitted by me and by several of my colleagues.
Instead, as I was in the Federal building awaiting a briefing and was told my briefing was delayed because the general was in a press conference with the Secretary of Homeland Security, I thought: Well, let me try to go in and listen. Maybe I will hear some of the information that I had been trying so hard to get.
So I was escorted by a National Guard member and an FBI agent to the press conference, where I stood to the side quietly and just listened. I heard not for the first time and not even for the first time that day that Secretary Noem shared with the public that the mission of this operation was to "liberate" Los Angeles from its duly-elected leaders. At that moment, I was compelled to speak up because that is not enforcing the law; that is an abuse of the U.S. military and of Federal law enforcement--a reflection of the desires of a wannabe dictator.
As you have seen from the video, before I could even get a question out, they did their best to try to silence me. They were sending a message. This wasn't just about me. They were trying to make clear to anybody in Los Angeles and anybody throughout California and anybody throughout the country what can happen if you dare disagree with this administration, because they don't like being questioned. That is for sure. They think they are above the law. They think the rule of law does not apply to them.
The good news is that is not what the American people believe. As one point of evidence, 2 days after that Homeland Security press conference experience, there was the first of the No Kings days that we have seen in the United States this last year--millions of people taking to the streets in their communities and cities across the country to declare "No Kings." Instead of being scared into silence, they did not feel intimidated; they stepped up, and they spoke out.
The American people have continued to speak out for our rights ever since. Across the country, Americans have been looking out for their friends, for their neighbors, for their coworkers, and for their communities. They have been documenting a lot of the abuses that they have seen in an effort to hold not just Federal agents but the Federal Government accountable. They have been speaking up for our rights through organizing and protesting--and not just in locations where raids and apprehensions and arrests have been taking place. We now see mobilizations around detention facilities, where we have heard reports of brutal, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions.
Just a couple of weeks ago, my colleague from New Jersey Senator Kim was out there with protesters. Again, he was the victim of cruelty, unnecessary physical abuse against a Member of the Senate. No American should have to experienced that.
What we have also seen at this time, again, is not just the mobilization of the American people, the voice of the American people, but we have seen the impact on the President's approval ratings and on his polling.
In this administration, I grant you, by the numbers, the President enjoyed strong approval ratings when it came to immigration, generally speaking. Flash-forward to today, and poll after poll shows that he is at historically low approval ratings both overall but especially when it comes to the cruelty of his immigration agenda.
It turns out that when Americans witness the President's policies not as he campaigned on--remember, he talked about going after the worst of the worst, but what we have seen in practice is anything but. So when we see the reality of what Donald Trump is doing, Americans don't approve. They don't approve of troops being deployed into American cities. They don't approve of Federal agents making indiscriminate stops, arrests, detentions, or even deportations. They don't approve of families being torn apart, of people being assaulted or pepper-sprayed and arrested for exercising their First Amendment rights. They don't approve of indiscriminate profiling of people based on their skin color.
It is shameful that there is now a term--the "Kavanaugh stops." A Supreme Court Justice sanctioned stops based on one's appearance, accent, occupation.
You don't enforce the law by violating the law. That is racial profiling, plain and simple.
And, of course, the American people have been horrified when they see U.S. citizens--including Alex Pretti and Renee Good--shot and killed in broad daylight by Federal agents for exercising their First Amendment rights.
This country has recoiled from this cruelty because this is not who we are as a country. We are better than this.
And, sadly, we know this administration pays close attention to their polling numbers, so they know public opinion has turned. Instead of rectifying, instead of being smarter on this, more responsible on this, they are simply just changing tactics. And what was once happening in plain sight is now intentionally being played out in areas that are a lot less visible--certainly not visible to the public.
We have learned recently, for instance, that immigration courts are scheduling massive mega master hearings is what they are calling them. Instead of a judge processing maybe 15 cases at a time--that is a significant workload--now they are hearing 100 or more. Oh, and by the way, there is also a lot fewer judges hearing these cases because the administration has fired more than 100 judges.
You combine fewer judges with less access to counsel by people who have a right to counsel, it comes down to the denial of true due process. That is their recipe for ramming through and ramping up deportations.
They are also trying to shut down legal immigration altogether. Let me repeat that. They are trying to shut down legal immigration by making it harder to seek asylum or even apply for a green card when you are eligible. They are increasingly targeting DACA recipients. With over 260 that have been swept up this last year and at least 86 of them deported from the only home they have ever known.
Even worse--again, adding to the cruelty--this administration is also running out the clock on renewing their DACA protections to the point where the protections expire and they become not just unemployable but far more susceptible to deportation.
But nothing exemplifies this administration's ongoing cruelty more than the conditions at detention centers like the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in my home State of California; the Dilley Detention Center in Texas filled with children; and, of course, Delaney Hall in New Jersey that has been in the news of late. We are constantly hearing reports about how overcrowded and unsanitary these facilities are. We are hearing about detainees given food that is infested with mold or maggots, inadequate access to clean drinking water, and how many are being denied medical care, including critical medical care.
The damage this administration is doing is incalculable. We do know that conditions in these facilities have contributed to the deaths of 51 detainees since the start of the second Trump administration--19 of them just in this year alone.
Again, most of these people do not have a criminal record. I have got to point that out because, again, for all the talk by President Trump, by the White House, by DHS, by a lot of our Republican colleagues about going after the "worst of the worst." If this administration was only targeting the dangerous, violent criminals that they so often talk about, there would be no debate. There would be no discussion because there would be no disagreements.
But the fact of the matter is the vast majority of the people that have been detained, that have been arrested, that have been deported, do not have violent criminal convictions.
And to the cruelty of the kicking down the door of your home, the terror of the broken car window and being dragged out, the pain of somebody being detained for days or weeks or months with challenging contact with family or lawyers, the conditions in these detention facilities--the vast majority of people that have been subject to this are not dangerous, violent criminals. Many may be undocumented, but they are otherwise hard-working, tax-paying, family-raising contributors to communities and our economy.
Last year was the deadliest year for people in ICE detention, and this year we are on track to surpass even that record.
And now on top of that, we learned just yesterday that this administration has detained 500 babies and toddlers who are now in ICE custody. That is right, 500 babies and toddlers locked up in these ICE facilities. Are they the "worst of the worst"? No. Are they the transnational gang leaders? Really? Babies and toddlers.
Look, all immigrants are human beings and deserve to be treated like it. They deserve better than what this administration is doing, which is why it is important for Americans to keep speaking out, exposing these abuses. Because exposing these abuses is part of our responsibility; stopping them is the other responsibility.
The American people deserve a better vision and a better plan for immigration than what this administration is delivering. The American people deserve and expect a plan that is rooted not in fear, but one that is rooted both in security and dignity, a plan that doesn't strive to just be tough on immigration for the sake of being tough, but one that is smarter on immigration policy and how we administer it.
We can secure our borders, but let's do it in a way that is secure and orderly and humane, while ensuring pathways to seek safety for those who need it.
That has been the tradition of our country.
We can and must modernize our legal immigration system to keep up with global competition while protecting American workers. Those two objectives are not mutually exclusive; they do go hand in hand.
We must ensure the law affords due process and keeps families together.
We must provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, for farm workers, and other long-term residents of the United States.
You know, I am not naive enough to suggest that all this is easily done, but we have to keep trying because the status quo confronting us today is clearly not working. Before we can even begin the work of modernizing our immigration system, we have to confront the abuses that are happening right before us. Again, it is not one or the other; we have to strive to do both.
The need for stronger oversight of ICE and CBP--which had been allowed to get away with far too much for too long--is undeniable. The need to ensure independent scrutiny of detention centers and these awful conditions is undeniable. But, again, DHS is putting up roadblocks even for Members of Congress to conduct our oversight responsibility in these Federal facilities. We need stronger protections for the civil liberties and the constitutional rights that define us as Americans, beginning with the First Amendment.
And should the American people vote Democrats into the majority next election, Democrats will wield every tool in our power to achieve these reforms.
But the most important thing that we can do as Americans in the meantime is to never stop speaking up in the face of cruelty and injustice.
Again, 1 year ago tomorrow, I was handcuffed for trying to ask a question. Not a day goes by that I don't see somebody here in Washington, in California, or many places in between, that they don't come up to me--complete strangers--acknowledging what happened and how it hurt them.
I thank them for sharing. I thank them for caring. And I remind them: Don't just remember that I was put to the ground and handcuffed, remember what happened immediately after. I got back up, and I spoke out. And I have continued to speak out, not because I am particularly brave, not because I am particularly determined, but because the people expect and deserve answers and they deserve leaders who, like them, refuse to be intimidated into silence.
A lot of the television cameras have moved on from what is happening in communities. The headlines have faded because there is no shortage of challenges that this country is confronting from the threats of wars abroad, an unauthorized war the President has dragged us into, economic pain; right? We talked a lot about the cost of groceries, the cost of housing, the cost of healthcare, the cost of utilities that working families are struggling with.
But the need for oversight on the Department of Homeland Security--and ICE and CBP especially--is absolutely there. The need for accountability remains. The need to defend due process and civil liberties and basic human dignity has not faded away.
One year ago, this administration tried to send a message, again, not just to me, to the country. And for the past year, I am so proud that the American people have been sending a message right back to the President.
And as long as I have the privilege of serving in this Chamber, I will continue to do the same. I will continue to stand by the American people and to keep asking questions and demanding answers. We have a lot of work to do. Let's keep going.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The majority leader.
Order of Business (Executive Calendar)
Page S2755 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, the postcloture time with respect to Executive Calendar No. 742 be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 15; finally, that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Legislative Session
Page S2755 · 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.
Recognizing Senator Lummis' Service Academy Appointment Committee
Page S2755 · Official textRECOGNIZING SENATOR LUMMIS' SERVICE ACADEMY APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding group of dedicated Americans whose work is often unseen but whose impact will be felt by generations.
As my time in this Chamber draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the responsibilities I have been privileged to carry on behalf of the people of Wyoming. Among them, few have felt more consequential or more personal than nominating young men and women across Wyoming to our Nation's service academies. Institutions like West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy do not simply train officers; they forge the character of those who will one day defend the freedoms we hold so dear. To have a hand, however small, in sending Wyoming's sons and daughters through those gates has been one of the true honors of this office. For years, I have relied on the help of Dr. Joe McGinley, Dr. Joe Schaffer, Val Rodekohr, Senator Tara Nethercott, Representative Tom Lubnau, Rt. Col. Tucker Fagan, and Ziggy Polinauskas to help select and prepare young people from every corner of our State to serve in America's armed forces.
The work of governing is often loud. Debates are televised, and our votes are recorded, but some of the most meaningful work done in service to this country happens quietly, in conference rooms and community centers by people like my nominations committee who will never see the spotlight. They may not earn widespread recognition, but history will feel the work they do in the careers of the leaders this committee has helped shape, in the units they will lead, and in the country they will serve.
I will be forever grateful for my committee's counsel, their expertise, and their unwavering commitment to Wyoming and our Nation's future. They are truly a part of what makes Wyoming so special, and I could not be prouder to have worked alongside them.
Tribute to Archbishop John C. Wester
Page S2755 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to commemorate and extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Most Reverend Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, NM, to celebrate his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, along with his upcoming retirement. Archbishop Wester has provided 50 years of dedicated service to the Catholic Church, which has been a blessing to countless parishioners, families, and communities across New Mexico and beyond.
Archbishop Wester was ordained as a priest on May 15, 1976. From Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of San Francisco in 1998, to Bishop of Salt Lake City in 2007, to then being installed as the 12th Archbishop of Santa Fe in 2015 at our beautiful and historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Wester's legacy is one of hope, kindness, and equity. Since his installation in 2015, he has been a beacon of support for vulnerable children and families. He has stood up for the poor and marginalized communities, supported humane immigration policies, and promoted peace. Archbishop Wester has reminded us about the importance of pursuing the "common good" in our communities.
As a devout Catholic myself, seeing Archbishop Wester's excellency has truly been a blessing. His leadership and presence at St. Francis of Assisi will be truly missed. Through our shared commitment to serving others and strengthening communities alongside so many local initiatives, I have come to greatly appreciate his compassion, humility, and dedication. I am grateful for voices like Archbishop Wester's, and I applaud his devotion not only to the Catholic Church, but also to the people of New Mexico.
As we celebrate this important milestone, I proudly stand before my distinguished colleagues to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Most Reverend Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe and extend my heartfelt congratulations to this remarkable milestone.
Messages from the President
Page S2755 · Official textMessages from the President of the United States were communicated to the Senate by Mr. Hanley, one of his secretaries.
Executive Messages Referred
Page S2755 · Official textAs in executive session the Presiding Officer laid before the Senate messages from the President of the United States submitting a nomination which was referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence and a withdrawal. (The messages received today are printed at the end of the Senate proceedings.)
Message from the House
Pages S2755–S2756 · Official textAt 11:51 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
Text printed in the Record (881 characters)
H.R. 7892. An act to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.
H.R. 8312. An act to establish fraud prevention and program integrity functions and data sharing authorities within the Department of Treasury and a permanent governmentwide Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery, and for other purposes.
H.R. 8340. An act to modify the government financial management plan, and for other purposes.
H.R. 8464. An act to amend title 31, United States Code, to authorize pausing and segmenting payments, and for other purposes.
H.R. 8467. An act to reform the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to ensure executive agencies focus on fraud prevention, and for other purposes.
The message also announced that the House has agreed to the following concurrent resolution, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
Text printed in the Record (183 characters)
H. Con. Res. 109. Concurrent resolution allowing Emancipation Hall to be used for a ceremony to dedicate the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Measures Referred
Page S2756 · Official textThe following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
Text printed in the Record (468 characters)
H.R. 7892. An act to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
H.R. 8340. An act to modify the governmentwide financial management plan, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Measures Placed on the Calendar
Page S2756 · Official textThe following bill was read the second time, and placed on the calendar:
Text printed in the Record (181 characters)
S. 4744. A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Executive and Other Communications
Page S2756 · Official textThe following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated:
Text printed in the Record (3,286 characters)
EC-3781. A communication from the Senior Counsel, Legal Division, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Statement of Ability to Repay and Immigration Status" received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
EC-3782. A communication from the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Practices Before the Department of Interior" (RIN1094-AA57) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
EC-3783. A communication from the Section Chief, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Employee Plans Annual Revenue Procedure for Determination Letters, Private Letter Rulings, and User Fees" (Rev. Proc. 2026-4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-3784. A communication from the Section Chief, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Notice of Intent to Issue Regulations Under Section 4960" (Rev. Proc. 2026-36) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-3785. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model" (CMS-5056-N) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-3786. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Medicaid Program; Delayed Implementation of Certain Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model" (CMS-5056-N2) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-3787. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Reducing Bureaucracy and Burden for Community Services Programs" (RIN0970-AD41) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
EC-3788. A communication from the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Rescinding Portions of Department of the Interior Title VI Regulations to Conform More Closely With the Statutory Text and to Implement Executive Order 14281" (RIN1093-AA30) received during in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2026; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduction of Bills and Joint Resolutions
Pages S2756–S2757 · Official textThe following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
Text printed in the Record (8,383 characters)
By Ms. BALDWIN:
S. 4748. A bill to establish the Foreign Investment Review Authority to determine whether foreign countries that have made investment commitments to the United States have complied with those commitments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Wyden):
S. 4749. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a Federal cause of action to address jawboning, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. BUDD (for himself and Mr. Bennet):
S. 4750. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the application of the advanced manufacturing investment credit with respect to semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in outer space; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen):
S. 4751. A bill to prevent, treat, and cure tuberculosis globally; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Ms. Cortez Masto):
S. 4752. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 4753. A bill to repeal the requirements of the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 with respect to dredging and dredged material; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. KING:
S. 4754. A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide for 3 primary care visits and 3 behavioral health care visits without application of any cost-sharing requirement; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 4755. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to propose a new nationwide permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for dredging projects, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 4756. A bill to permit the use of NATO and major non-NATO ally dredge ships in the United States; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. Schatz, and Mr.
Booker):
S. 4757. A bill to establish a Federal standard in order to improve the Nation's resilience to current and future flood risk; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 4758. A bill to eliminate certain requirements with respect to dredging and dredged material, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. Scott of South
Carolina):
S. 4759. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to authorize de novo review of innocent spouse relief by the Tax Court and other courts; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. COTTON:
S. 4760. A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
By Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for himself and Ms.
Hassan):
S. 4761. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Tax Court to order relief from a judgment or order; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Ms. Lummis):
S. 4762. A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct annual assessments on threats to the United States posed by the use of generative artificial intelligence for terrorism, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Schiff, Mr.
Van Hollen, and Ms. Warren):
S. 4763. A bill to establish an independent Children's Commission and position of Commissioner, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. COTTON:
S. 4764. A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Ms. Lummis):
S. 4765. A bill to provide for certain energy development, permitting reforms, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. CORNYN:
S. 4766. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to evaluate the safety, quality, and qualification pathways of printable energetic feedstocks for controlled additive manufacturing applications; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for himself and Ms.
Blunt Rochester):
S. 4767. A bill to extend the authorization of the African American Civil Rights Network; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. CORNYN:
S. 4768. A bill to provide for a requirement for networked autonomous kinetic capability against small unmanned aircraft systems; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Lee, and Mr.
Sheehy):
S. 4769. A bill to double the civil penalties for aliens who enter or attempt to enter the United States without authorization, aliens subject to a final order of removal who fail or refuse to depart from the United States, and employers that knowingly hire aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Kim, and
Mr. Rounds):
S. 4770. A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a centralized resource for access to data to facilitate biological research through enabling advanced computational methods such as artificial intelligence, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. SCOTT of Florida:
S. 4771. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect a fee for credible fear interviews, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MERKLEY:
S. 4772. A bill to prohibit States and local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of a renewable energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. WYDEN:
S. 4773. A bill to provide rental vouchers for the homeless, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Hirono,
Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Welch):
S. 4774. A bill to prohibit the distribution of false AI-generated election media, to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to prohibit the removal of names from voting rolls using unverified voter challenge databases, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Budd,
Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Crapo, Mr.
Curtis, Mr. Daines, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Justice, Ms.
Lummis, Mr. Risch, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Ricketts, and Mr.
Graham):
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; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. KIM (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Merkley,
Mr. Reed, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Booker, Mr.
Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Murphy,
Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Durbin):
S. 4776. A bill to repeal certain impediments to the administration of the firearms laws; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. BANKS:
S. 4777. A bill to establish the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Coons):
S. 4778. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to create evidence-based student success programs designed to increase participation, retention, and completion rates of high-need students; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions
Page S2757 · Official textThe following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
Text printed in the Record (1,553 characters)
By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Mr.
Gallego, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. King, Mr. Markey, Mr.
Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mr.
Schiff, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden):
S. Res. 766. A resolution acknowledging and apologizing for the mistreatment of, and discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served the United States in the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service and committing to the pursuit of equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and Federal civil servants; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. Cramer):
S. Res. 767. 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; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Bennet):
S. Res. 768. A resolution commemorating the anniversary of the antisemitic attack on participants in the Run for Their Lives walk in Boulder, Colorado on June 1, 2025; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mrs. Moody):
S. Res. 769. A resolution honoring the memory of the victims of the heinous attack at the Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Additional Cosponsors
Pages S2757–S2759 · Official textAt the request of Mrs. Britt, the names of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) and the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) were added as cosponsors of S. 639, a bill to allow a period in which members of the clergy may revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Murkowski, the name of the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) was added as a cosponsor of S. 870, a bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to enhance the longevity, dignity, empowerment, and respect of older individuals who are Native Americans, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Gillibrand, the names of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla), the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) and the Senator from California (Mr. Schiff) were added as cosponsors of S. 1289, a bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and to support programs at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center. At the request of Ms. Klobuchar, the name of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) was withdrawn as a cosponsor of S. 1410, a bill to provide for health coverage with no cost-sharing for additional breast screenings for certain individuals at greater risk for breast cancer. At the request of Ms. Klobuchar, the name of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kelly) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1410, supra. At the request of Mr. Kennedy, the names of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) were added as cosponsors of S. 1454, a bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Collins, the name of the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1805, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit nurse practitioners and physician assistants to satisfy the documentation requirement under the Medicare program for coverage of certain shoes for individuals with diabetes. At the request of Mr. Merkley, the name of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1874, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Baldwin, the name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2195, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the brave women who served in World War II as members of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. At the request of Mr. Barrasso, the name of the Senator from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2356, a bill to expand psychological mental and behavioral health services to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries by permitting reimbursement of psychological services provided by certain supervised psychology trainees, and facilitating the reimbursement of those services. At the request of Mr. Markey, the name of the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2451, a bill to ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff are paid a living wage. At the request of Ms. Klobuchar, the name of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Kaine) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2459, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers to contribute to ABLE accounts in lieu of retirement plan contributions. At the request of Mrs. Fischer, the name of the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kelly) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2828, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to reauthorize and update the Act, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Collins, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3267, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of blood-based dementia screening tests. At the request of Mr. Cotton, the names of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) and the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper) were added as cosponsors of S. 3741, a bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate regulations to improve nucleic acid synthesis security, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Moody, the name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3843, a bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development on frost or cold weather insurance, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Budd, the names of the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Justice) and the Senator from Florida (Mrs. Moody) were added as cosponsors of S. 3855, a bill to enhance bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and Israel, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Daines, the name of the Senator from Maine (Mr. King) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3940, a bill to amend the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to testify before Congress, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Van Hollen, the name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3981, a bill to amend the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2022 to extend the sunset, to require a determination with respect to the imposition of sanctions on certain persons of Burma, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Blumenthal, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4269, a bill to repeal certain student loan provisions, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Padilla, the name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Sullivan) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4368, a bill to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Kennedy, the name of the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4419, a bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to require only foreign entities to report beneficial ownership information, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Moreno, the names of the Senator from Montana (Mr. Sheehy) and the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Sullivan) 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. Durbin, the name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Ossoff) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4437, a bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to establish additional requirements for dealers, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Moody, the names of the Senator from Iowa (Mr. Grassley) and the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott) were added as cosponsors of S. 4446, a bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to prevent the importation of illicit pill press machines with the intent to counterfeit substances, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Peters, the name of the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4573, a bill to designate the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Murkowski, the name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Sullivan) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4638, a bill to remove administrative barriers to participation of Indian tribes in Federal child welfare programs, and increase Federal funding for tribal child welfare programs, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4650, a bill to amend the Plant Protection Act to improve plant pest and disease preparedness for specialty crops. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4651, a bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to increase access to Federal crop insurance for specialty crops. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4652, a bill to amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to reauthorize the specialty crop research initiative and establish a specialty crop mechanization and automation research and development program, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4654, a bill to amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to expand agricultural market access, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4660, a bill to provide appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture to make payments to producers of specialty crops. At the request of Mr. Schiff, the name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4661, a bill to amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to provide permanent disaster assistance for specialty crops, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cruz, the name of the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Cotton) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4677, a bill to provide a prohibition on certain reductions to MQ-9 aircraft units, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Boozman, his name was added as a cosponsor of S. 4744, a bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the request of Mr. Cramer, his name was added as a cosponsor of S. 4744, supra. At the request of Mr. Merkley, the names of the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan) and the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray) were added as cosponsors of S.J. Res. 196, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations".
Senate Resolution 766--Acknowledging and Apologizing for the Mistreatment Of, and Discrimination Against, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals Who Served the United States in The...
Pages S2766–S2768 · Official textMr. KAINE (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Gallego, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. King, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schiff, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Text printed in the Record (11,856 characters)
Whereas the Federal Government discriminated against and terminated hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (referred to in this preamble as "LGBT") individuals who served the United States in the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service (referred to in this preamble as "civilian employees") for decades, causing untold harm to those individuals professionally, financially, socially, and medically, among other harms;
Whereas Congress enacted legislation, led oversight hearings, and issued reports and public pronouncements against LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees;
Whereas the policy that led to the discharge and systematic screening of gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service members was codified in a 1949 decree by the newly consolidated Department of Defense, which mandated that "homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not be permitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces in any capacity and prompt separation of known homosexuals from the Armed Forces is mandatory";
Whereas the Federal Government maintained policies to drive hundreds of thousands of LGBT military service members, who honorably served the United States in uniform, including many who were fighting in wars around the world, from its military ranks;
Whereas, in 1993, Congress enacted the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103-160; 107 Stat. 1547), which contained the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prohibited lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members from disclosing their sexual orientation while they served in the Armed Forces;
Whereas, despite the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, LGBT military service members continued to be investigated and discharged solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of those military service members;
Whereas historians have estimated that at least 100,000 military service members were forced out of the uniformed services between World War II and 2011 simply for being LGBT, while countless others were forced to hide their identities and live in fear while serving, with many being denied access to the benefits granted to honorably discharged veterans;
Whereas, although the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was intended to allow qualified citizens to serve in the Armed Forces regardless of their sexual orientation, the policy was inherently discriminatory against LGBT military service members because it prohibited those service members from disclosing their sexual orientation;
Whereas, with the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 (10 U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111-321), Congress joined military leaders in acknowledging that lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members serve the United States just as bravely and well as other military service members;
Whereas the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 (10 U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111-321) and the 2016 policy shift of the Department of Defense, which permitted transgender individuals to enlist and openly serve in the Armed Forces, made the Armed Forces stronger and more effective;
Whereas, in 2023, 12 years after the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Department of Defense announced a proactive review initiative to identify veterans discharged due to their sexual orientation and assess whether an upgrade in discharge is warranted;
Whereas military leaders have likewise acknowledged that, in addition to lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members, transgender service members also serve the United States just as bravely and well as other service members;
Whereas, under the pressures of the Cold War, and at the instigation and direction of Congress, the Federal Government also pursued anti-LGBT policies, which resulted in tens of thousands of LGBT civilian employees being terminated;
Whereas the Department of State began investigations into employees for alleged homosexual activity as early as the 1940s;
Whereas following the targeting of gay employees in the Department of State by Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1950, the Senate held hearings on "The Employment of Homosexuals and other Sex Perverts in the Government", which--
(1) led to the issuance of a widely read report that falsely asserted that gay people posed a security risk because they could be easily blackmailed; and
(2) found that gay people were unsuitable employees because "one homosexual can pollute a Government office";
Whereas, in response to allegations against gay people made by Senator McCarthy, the Department of State increased its persecution of lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees;
Whereas more than 1,000 Department of State employees were dismissed due to their sexual orientation, and many more individuals were prevented from joining the Department of State due to discriminatory hiring practices;
Whereas thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals served honorably in the Department of State as Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service specialists, civil servants, and contractors, upholding the values, and advancing the interests, of the United States even as the country discriminated against them;
Whereas the effort to purge gay and lesbian employees from the Federal Government was codified in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 (18 Fed. Reg. 2489), which--
(1) defined "perversion" as a security threat; and
(2) mandated that every civilian employee and contractor pass a security clearance;
Whereas, over many decades, the Federal Government, led by security officials in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Civil Service Commission (referred to in this preamble as the "CSC"), and nearly every other agency of the Federal Government, investigated, harassed, interrogated, and terminated thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual civilian employees for no other reason than the sexual orientation of those employees;
Whereas these discriminatory policies by the Federal Government, the largest employer in the United States, encouraged similar efforts at the State and local level, particularly in higher education and the private sector;
Whereas, in 1969, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in Norton v. Macy, 417 F.2d 1161 (1969) that--
(1) "homosexual conduct" may never be the sole cause for dismissal of a protected civilian employee; and
(2) the potential embarrassment stemming from the private conduct of a civilian employee may not affect the efficiency of the Federal civil service;
Whereas, despite the decision in Norton v. Macy, the CSC continued its efforts to rid the Federal Government of gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees until 1973, when the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in Society for Individual Rights, Inc. v. Hampton, 63 F.R.D. 399 (1973) that the exclusion or discharge from Federal civil service of any lesbian, gay, or bisexual person because of prejudice was prohibited;
Whereas many Federal Government agencies, including the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of State, none of which were subject to the rules of the CSC, continued to harass and seek to exclude lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals from their ranks until 1995, when President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 12968 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note), which barred the practice of denying a Federal Government security clearance solely on the basis of sexual orientation;
Whereas transgender military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees continued to be harassed and excluded from Federal civil service until 2014, when President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13672 (79 Fed. Reg. 42971), which prohibited the Federal Government and Federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity;
Whereas, on January 9, 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry issued a formal apology for the pattern of discrimination against LGBT Foreign Service members and civilian employees at the Department of State;
Whereas, on January 21, 2025, Executive Order 14173 (90 Fed. Reg. 8633), rescinded Executive Order 13672 (79 Fed. Reg. 42971) and Executive Order 11246 (30 Fed. Reg. 12319), removing previous protections on the basis of gender identity for Federal employees and rescinding Federal contractor nondiscrimination protections, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
Whereas, on January 21, 2025, Executive Order 14148 (90 Fed. Reg. 8237), rescinded Executive Order 13988 (86 Fed. Reg. 7023), which made it the official Government policy of the United States across agencies to combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
Whereas, on January 27, 2025, Executive Order 14183 (90 Fed. Reg. 8757), was signed, implementing a ban on individuals from serving in the military based on their gender identity;
Whereas on May 8, 2025, the Department of Defense began the process of separating thousands of transgender servicemembers from military service with the promise to continue the policy in the months and years to come;
Whereas, despite persecution and systematic mistreatment by the Federal Government beginning in the early 1940s, including what historians have labeled the "Lavender Scare", LGBT individuals have never stopped honorably serving the United States;
Whereas LGBT individuals continued, as always, to make significant contributions to the United States through their work as clerks and lawyers, surgeons and nurses, Purple Heart recipients and Navy Seals, translators and air traffic controllers, engineers and astronomers, teachers and diplomats, rangers and Postal Service workers, and advisors and policy makers;
Whereas other countries throughout the world, including some of the closest allies of the United States, have apologized for similarly discriminating against LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees; and
Whereas, in order for the United States to heal and move forward, the Federal Government must accord all LGBT individuals who were discriminated against, wrongfully terminated, and excluded from serving in the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and
the Federal civil service the same acknowledgment and apology: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The Senate--
(1) acknowledges and condemns the discrimination against, wrongful termination of, and exclusion from the Federal civil service, the Foreign Service, and the uniformed services of the thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (referred to in this section as "LGBT") individuals who were affected by the anti-LGBT policies of the Federal Government;
(2) on behalf of the United States, apologizes to--
(A) the affected LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees; and
(B) the families of those service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees; and
(3) condemns any and all efforts within the Armed Forces or any Federal agency, department, office, or bureau to discriminate against LGBT individuals or undermine the dignity and respect to which such individuals are entitled;
(4) reaffirms the fundamental necessity for the Federal Government to honor its commitment to treat all military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees and retirees, including LGBT individuals, with equal respect and fairness.
SEC. 2. DISCLAIMER.
Nothing in this resolution--
(1) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or
(2) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.
Senate Resolution 767--Celebrating the Historic Significance of the 2026 Federation Internationale De Football Association (Fifa) World Cup and Welcoming the International Community to North...
Page S2768 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 767--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 referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
Text printed in the Record (2,499 characters)
Whereas soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated fan base of 3,500,000,000 people across every continent;
Whereas soccer remains the most accessible sport on the planet, requiring only a ball and a field of play, which allows it to serve as a universal language for people of all ages and backgrounds;
Whereas the 1994 Federation Internationale de Football Association (referred to in this preamble as "FIFA") World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, remains the most attended tournament in history, with 3,600,000 spectators;
Whereas the legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup fundamentally changed the trajectory of soccer in the United States, leading directly to 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 will be a milestone in sporting history as the first edition 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 FIFA World Cup will be 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 the world's fans and players to the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup;
(2) thanks our neighbors and partners, Canada and Mexico, for their historic collaboration in bringing the world's most popular tournament back to North America;
(3) honors the decades of peace and prosperity grounded in mutual respect that have characterized the relations between our 3 nations, making possible our joint hosting of the tournament;
(4) recognizes the 16 host cities for their dedication to providing a "home team" atmosphere for fans and players from all 48 participating nations;
(5) commits to upholding equal access to the tournament for teams, media, and fans of all nations and equal protection under the laws of the United States, acknowledging the heritage of the United States of freedom and justice on our 250th anniversary; and
(6) supports the continued use of sports as a banner of peace, friendship, and fair competition to unite a diverse global public.
Senate Resolution 768--Commemorating the Anniversary of the Antisemitic Attack on Participants in the Run for Their Lives Walk in Boulder, Colorado on June 1, 2025
Page S2768 · Official textATTACK ON PARTICIPANTS IN THE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES WALK IN BOULDER, COLORADO ON JUNE 1, 2025 Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
Text printed in the Record (2,290 characters)
Whereas, on June 1, 2025, participants in a peaceful walk organized by Run for Their Lives in Boulder, Colorado, held in solidarity with the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, were targeted in a violent antisemitic terrorist attack;
Whereas the attack was a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism directed at members of the Jewish community and their allies;
Whereas Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old participant, was critically injured in the attack and later died from those injuries, and numerous individuals sustained severe and life-altering injuries, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor;
Whereas the attack occurred amid an unprecedented rise in antisemitism directed at Jewish individuals and institutions in the United States following October 7, 2023, including harassment, intimidation, vandalism, violence, and acts of terrorism;
Whereas survivors of the attack and members of Colorado's Jewish community experienced profound trauma in its aftermath, underscoring the devastating impact antisemitic violence has on individuals, families, and entire communities; and
Whereas, 1 week after the attack, more than 15,000 people attended the Boulder Jewish Festival, standing in solidarity with the Jewish community and demonstrating resilience, compassion, and a steadfast rejection of antisemitism and hate: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the memory of Karen Diamond, who died on June 25, 2025, from injuries sustained in the antisemitic terrorist attack on participants in the Run for Their Lives walk in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025, and expresses its deepest condolences and support to the survivors, their families, and all members of the community impacted by the attack;
(2) commends the Boulder Jewish community, local leaders, medical personnel, first responders, and district attorney's office for their swift response, and for their courage and compassion in the aftermath of the attack; and
(3) reaffirms its commitment to combating antisemitism, terrorism, and all forms of hate-motivated violence and intimidation in the United States, and affirms the right of Jewish Americans to gather, worship, advocate, and live openly without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence.
Senate Resolution 769--Honoring the Memory of the Victims of the Heinous Attack at the Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016
Page S2768 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 769--HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HEINOUS ATTACK AT THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB ON JUNE 12, 2016 Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mrs. Moody) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
Text printed in the Record (1,453 characters)
Whereas, on June 12, 2016, a gunman inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targeted the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where he killed 49 innocent victims and wounded dozens more in a despicable attack;
Whereas the attack at the Pulse nightclub was an attack on the LGBTQ community, the Hispanic community, the City of Orlando, the State of Florida, and the United States;
Whereas the Orlando community continues to mourn the tragic loss of life but has demonstrated remarkable strength, unity, and resilience in the aftermath of the horrendous event;
Whereas June 12 is designated as "Pulse Remembrance Day" in the State of Florida to honor the victims and survivors of the senseless attack;
Whereas the people of the United States continue to pray for those affected by the tragedy; and
Whereas June 12, 2026, marks 10 years since the lives of the 49 innocent victims were tragically cut short by this senseless act of terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commemorates the 49 innocent victims killed in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, and offers heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and friends of the victims;
(2) honors the dozens of survivors of the attack and pledges continued resolve to stand against terrorism and hate; and
(3) expresses gratitude to the brave law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who responded to the attack.
Text of Amendments
Page S2769 · Official textSA 5820. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Whitehouse) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 567, to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (6,429 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) During the winter at Valley Forge, from 1777-1778, the Continental Army had difficulty recruiting the necessary quotas of men set by the Congress.
(2) At the same time, the State of Rhode Island was ordered to supply two battalions while a British force occupied the City of Newport.
(3) In January 1778, at the urging of Brigadier General James Varnum, General George Washington wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of the State of Rhode Island requesting assistance recruiting men for the Continental Line.
(4) On February 14, 1778, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to allow the enlistment of "every able-bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave".
(5) In addition, the Rhode Island General Assembly provided that any enlisted slave "upon his passing muster before Colonel Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free as though he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery".
(6) As a result, between February 1778 and June 1778, Colonel Christopher Greene, Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney, and Major Samuel Ward recruited men of African heritage and Indigenous descent who formed the core of the First Rhode Island Regiment.
(7) The First Rhode Island Regiment became among the first units in American History in which men of every race and ethnicity were recruited to serve.
(8) On August 29, 1778, at the Battle of Rhode Island, following an attempted siege of British-occupied Newport along with the newly allied French fleet, the First Rhode Island Regiment acted heroically in holding back Hessian forces and causing them to retreat.
(9) During the Battle of Rhode Island, the First Rhode Island Regiment's losses included three killed, nine wounded and eleven missing soldiers.
(10) Soldiers of color from the First Rhode Island Regiment continued to fight bravely to win American independence for 5 more years in an integrated Rhode Island Regiment that included men of African, European, and Indigenous descent.
(11) By early 1784, the last Rhode Island soldiers were discharged at Saratoga, New York.
(12) Their commander, Colonel Jeremiah Olney, praised the Regiment for "faithfully preserving in the best of causes, in every stage of service, with unexampled fortitude and patience through all the danger and toils of a long and severe war".
(13) Afterwards, some veterans of the First Rhode Island Regiment had to consistently resist efforts at re-enslavement and fought for back wages from the Rhode Island General Assembly.
(14) According to the Rhode Island State Archives, the First Rhode Island Regiment included at least the following soldiers: Babcock, Priamus (Primus); Bent, Prince; Bours, Cato; Brown, Priamus (Primus); Burk, Africa; Burroughs, John; Carpenter, Cudgo; Champlin, Dick; Champlin, Jack; Champlin, July; Champlin, Newport; Champlin, Sharper; Champlin, York; Clark, James; Coddington, Jack; Fones, Jack; Gardner, Cuff; Gardner, Hercules; Gardner, Minkl; Gardner, Preamus (Primus); Gardner, Rutter; Gray, Ebenezer; Green, Cuff; Greene, Cato; Greene, Jack; Greene, Pero; Greene, William; Hammond, Prince; Harriss, Cesar; Hazard, Backus; Hazard, Jabin; Hazard, Jacob; Hazard, Peter; Hazard, Peter; Lefavour, Thom; Mason, Warsen; Mawney, Cyrus; Minturn, Jack; Mowrey, Pero; Nichols, Thomas; Perry, Ganset; Phillips, Philow; Pierce, Titus; Potter, David; Randall, Prince; Rhodes, Bristol; Rhodes, Priamus; Rhodes, Richard; Rhodes, Samuel; Richmond, Ebenezer; Robinson, Mingo; Rodman, Isaac; Rodman, Mingo; Rodman, Prince; Rose, Cesar; Saltonstall, Brittain; Saunders, Sampson; Sheldon, Cesar; Slave; Slave; Smith, Juba; Sweeling, Query; Talbot, Sigby; Tanner, Quam; Tillinghast, Cuff; Updike, Cesar; Updike, Moses; Vaughan, Prince; Vernon, Cato; Watson, Fortune; Wells, Cesar; Wickes, Nat; and Willbour, Boston.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Rhode Island State Library.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Rhode Island State Library, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Rhode Island State Library should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
______
SA 5821. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Grassley) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 162, to amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to improve foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, and for other purposes; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,700 characters)
Beginning on page 4, strike line 22 and all that follows through page 6, line 8, and insert the following:
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2027.
(2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--In the case of a State plan approved under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this subsection, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this subsection. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES IN ANNUAL CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking "and" after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
"(8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2028 or any succeeding fiscal year--
Text of Senate Amendment 5820
Page S2769 · Official textSA 5820. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Whitehouse) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 567, to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (6,421 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) During the winter at Valley Forge, from 1777-1778, the Continental Army had difficulty recruiting the necessary quotas of men set by the Congress.
(2) At the same time, the State of Rhode Island was ordered to supply two battalions while a British force occupied the City of Newport.
(3) In January 1778, at the urging of Brigadier General James Varnum, General George Washington wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of the State of Rhode Island requesting assistance recruiting men for the Continental Line.
(4) On February 14, 1778, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to allow the enlistment of "every able-bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave".
(5) In addition, the Rhode Island General Assembly provided that any enlisted slave "upon his passing muster before Colonel Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free as though he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery".
(6) As a result, between February 1778 and June 1778, Colonel Christopher Greene, Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney, and Major Samuel Ward recruited men of African heritage and Indigenous descent who formed the core of the First Rhode Island Regiment.
(7) The First Rhode Island Regiment became among the first units in American History in which men of every race and ethnicity were recruited to serve.
(8) On August 29, 1778, at the Battle of Rhode Island, following an attempted siege of British-occupied Newport along with the newly allied French fleet, the First Rhode Island Regiment acted heroically in holding back Hessian forces and causing them to retreat.
(9) During the Battle of Rhode Island, the First Rhode Island Regiment's losses included three killed, nine wounded and eleven missing soldiers.
(10) Soldiers of color from the First Rhode Island Regiment continued to fight bravely to win American independence for 5 more years in an integrated Rhode Island Regiment that included men of African, European, and Indigenous descent.
(11) By early 1784, the last Rhode Island soldiers were discharged at Saratoga, New York.
(12) Their commander, Colonel Jeremiah Olney, praised the Regiment for "faithfully preserving in the best of causes, in every stage of service, with unexampled fortitude and patience through all the danger and toils of a long and severe war".
(13) Afterwards, some veterans of the First Rhode Island Regiment had to consistently resist efforts at re-enslavement and fought for back wages from the Rhode Island General Assembly.
(14) According to the Rhode Island State Archives, the First Rhode Island Regiment included at least the following soldiers: Babcock, Priamus (Primus); Bent, Prince; Bours, Cato; Brown, Priamus (Primus); Burk, Africa; Burroughs, John; Carpenter, Cudgo; Champlin, Dick; Champlin, Jack; Champlin, July; Champlin, Newport; Champlin, Sharper; Champlin, York; Clark, James; Coddington, Jack; Fones, Jack; Gardner, Cuff; Gardner, Hercules; Gardner, Minkl; Gardner, Preamus (Primus); Gardner, Rutter; Gray, Ebenezer; Green, Cuff; Greene, Cato; Greene, Jack; Greene, Pero; Greene, William; Hammond, Prince; Harriss, Cesar; Hazard, Backus; Hazard, Jabin; Hazard, Jacob; Hazard, Peter; Hazard, Peter; Lefavour, Thom; Mason, Warsen; Mawney, Cyrus; Minturn, Jack; Mowrey, Pero; Nichols, Thomas; Perry, Ganset; Phillips, Philow; Pierce, Titus; Potter, David; Randall, Prince; Rhodes, Bristol; Rhodes, Priamus; Rhodes, Richard; Rhodes, Samuel; Richmond, Ebenezer; Robinson, Mingo; Rodman, Isaac; Rodman, Mingo; Rodman, Prince; Rose, Cesar; Saltonstall, Brittain; Saunders, Sampson; Sheldon, Cesar; Slave; Slave; Smith, Juba; Sweeling, Query; Talbot, Sigby; Tanner, Quam; Tillinghast, Cuff; Updike, Cesar; Updike, Moses; Vaughan, Prince; Vernon, Cato; Watson, Fortune; Wells, Cesar; Wickes, Nat; and Willbour, Boston.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Rhode Island State Library.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Rhode Island State Library, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Rhode Island State Library should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Text of Senate Amendment 5821
Page S2769 · Official textSA 5821. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Grassley) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 162, to amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to improve foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, and for other purposes; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,700 characters)
Beginning on page 4, strike line 22 and all that follows through page 6, line 8, and insert the following:
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2027.
(2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--In the case of a State plan approved under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this subsection, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this subsection. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES IN ANNUAL CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking "and" after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
"(8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2028 or any succeeding fiscal year--
Authority for Committee to Meet
Pages S2769–S2770 · Official textMr. President, I have one request for a committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.
Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is 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 Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.
First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
Page S2770 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 567 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (174 characters)
A bill (S. 567) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
I ask unanimous consent that the Whitehouse substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 5820), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (6,421 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) During the winter at Valley Forge, from 1777-1778, the Continental Army had difficulty recruiting the necessary quotas of men set by the Congress.
(2) At the same time, the State of Rhode Island was ordered to supply two battalions while a British force occupied the City of Newport.
(3) In January 1778, at the urging of Brigadier General James Varnum, General George Washington wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of the State of Rhode Island requesting assistance recruiting men for the Continental Line.
(4) On February 14, 1778, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to allow the enlistment of "every able-bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave".
(5) In addition, the Rhode Island General Assembly provided that any enlisted slave "upon his passing muster before Colonel Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free as though he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery".
(6) As a result, between February 1778 and June 1778, Colonel Christopher Greene, Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney, and Major Samuel Ward recruited men of African heritage and Indigenous descent who formed the core of the First Rhode Island Regiment.
(7) The First Rhode Island Regiment became among the first units in American History in which men of every race and ethnicity were recruited to serve.
(8) On August 29, 1778, at the Battle of Rhode Island, following an attempted siege of British-occupied Newport along with the newly allied French fleet, the First Rhode Island Regiment acted heroically in holding back Hessian forces and causing them to retreat.
(9) During the Battle of Rhode Island, the First Rhode Island Regiment's losses included three killed, nine wounded and eleven missing soldiers.
(10) Soldiers of color from the First Rhode Island Regiment continued to fight bravely to win American independence for 5 more years in an integrated Rhode Island Regiment that included men of African, European, and Indigenous descent.
(11) By early 1784, the last Rhode Island soldiers were discharged at Saratoga, New York.
(12) Their commander, Colonel Jeremiah Olney, praised the Regiment for "faithfully preserving in the best of causes, in every stage of service, with unexampled fortitude and patience through all the danger and toils of a long and severe war".
(13) Afterwards, some veterans of the First Rhode Island Regiment had to consistently resist efforts at re-enslavement and fought for back wages from the Rhode Island General Assembly.
(14) According to the Rhode Island State Archives, the First Rhode Island Regiment included at least the following soldiers: Babcock, Priamus (Primus); Bent, Prince; Bours, Cato; Brown, Priamus (Primus); Burk, Africa; Burroughs, John; Carpenter, Cudgo; Champlin, Dick; Champlin, Jack; Champlin, July; Champlin, Newport; Champlin, Sharper; Champlin, York; Clark, James; Coddington, Jack; Fones, Jack; Gardner, Cuff; Gardner, Hercules; Gardner, Minkl; Gardner, Preamus (Primus); Gardner, Rutter; Gray, Ebenezer; Green, Cuff; Greene, Cato; Greene, Jack; Greene, Pero; Greene, William; Hammond, Prince; Harriss, Cesar; Hazard, Backus; Hazard, Jabin; Hazard, Jacob; Hazard, Peter; Hazard, Peter; Lefavour, Thom; Mason, Warsen; Mawney, Cyrus; Minturn, Jack; Mowrey, Pero; Nichols, Thomas; Perry, Ganset; Phillips, Philow; Pierce, Titus; Potter, David; Randall, Prince; Rhodes, Bristol; Rhodes, Priamus; Rhodes, Richard; Rhodes, Samuel; Richmond, Ebenezer; Robinson, Mingo; Rodman, Isaac; Rodman, Mingo; Rodman, Prince; Rose, Cesar; Saltonstall, Brittain; Saunders, Sampson; Sheldon, Cesar; Slave; Slave; Smith, Juba; Sweeling, Query; Talbot, Sigby; Tanner, Quam; Tillinghast, Cuff; Updike, Cesar; Updike, Moses; Vaughan, Prince; Vernon, Cato; Watson, Fortune; Wells, Cesar; Wickes, Nat; and Willbour, Boston.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Rhode Island State Library.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Rhode Island State Library, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Rhode Island State Library should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the First Rhode Island Regiment of the Revolutionary War.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The bill (S. 567), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025
Pages S2770–S2771 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 162 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (166 characters)
A bill (S. 162) to amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to improve foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
I ask unanimous consent that the Grassley amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 5821) was agreed to, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,701 characters)
Beginning on page 4, strike line 22 and all that follows through page 6, line 8, and insert the following:
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by this
subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2027.
(2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--In the case of a State plan approved under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this subsection, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this subsection. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES IN ANNUAL CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking "and" after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
"(8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2028 or any succeeding fiscal year--
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The bill (S. 162), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows:
Text printed in the Record (5,948 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. STATE PLAN AMENDMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 422 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(7), by inserting "through the development and implementation of a family partnership plan which meets the requirements of subsection (d) for identification, recruitment, screening, licensing, support, and retention of foster and adoptive families" after "are needed"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(d) Family Partnership Plan Requirements.--For purposes of subsection (b)(7), the requirements for a family partnership plan (in this subsection referred to as the `plan') are the following:
"(1) The plan is developed in consultation with birth, kinship, foster and adoptive families, community-based service providers, technical assistance providers, and youth with lived experience with foster care and adoption.
"(2) The plan describes--
"(A) how the State plans to identify, notify, engage, and support relatives (and others connected to the child) as potential placement resources for children;
"(B) how the State plans to develop and implement child-specific recruitment plans for every child in or entering foster care who needs a foster or adoptive family;
"(C) how the State plans to authentically engage children and youth in recruitment efforts on their behalf;
"(D) how the State plans to use data to establish goals, assess needs, measure progress, reduce unnecessary placements in congregate care, increase permanency, improve placement stability, increase the rate of kinship placements, improve recruitment and retention of families for teens, sibling groups, and other special populations, and align the composition of foster and adoptive families with the needs of children in or entering foster care; and
"(E) how that State will stand up or support foster family advisory boards for the purpose of improving recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families.
"(3) The plan provides that, not less than annually, the State shall collect and report on the State's actual foster family capacity and congregate care utilization, including the number, demographics, and characteristics of licensed foster families, including prospective adoptive families, the number of such families that haven't received a placement or are not being fully utilized and the reasons therefor, and the number, demographics, and characteristics of children placed in congregate care in-State and out-of-State.
"(4) The plan includes, and shall update not less than annually, a summary of the most recent feedback from foster and adoptive parents and youth regarding licensure, training, support, and reasons why parents stop fostering or why adoptive or legal guardianship placements out of foster care fail or foster and such adoptive of legal guardianship families struggle to meet children's needs.
"(5) The plan includes, and shall update annually, a report on the State's analysis of specific challenges or barriers to recruiting, licensing, and utilizing families who reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in foster care in the State, and the State's efforts to overcome those challenges and barriers.
"(6) The plan includes such other information relating to foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention as the Secretary may require.".
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2027.
(2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--In the case of a State plan approved under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this subsection, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this subsection. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES IN ANNUAL CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking "and" after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
"(8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2028 or any succeeding fiscal year--
"(A) State-by-State data on the number, demographics, and characteristics of foster and adoptive families in the State, and the number of potential foster and adoptive families not being utilized in the State and the reasons why;
"(B) a summary of the challenges of, and barriers to, being a foster or adoptive parent, including with respect to recruitment, licensure, engagement, retention, and why parents stop fostering, adoptions disrupt or dissolve, or foster or adoptive families struggle, as reported by States based on surveys of foster and adoptive parents; and
"(C) a summary of the challenges and barriers States reported on efforts to recruit a pool of families that reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in foster care in the State, and efforts to overcome those barriers.".
Orders for Monday, June 15, 2026
Page S2771 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 15; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at 5:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session and execute the order with respect to the Smith nomination.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Order for Adjournment
Page S2771 · Official textMr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Husted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Adjournment Until Monday, June 15, 2026, at 3 P.m.
Page S2771 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted)
Under the previous order, the Senate stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Thereupon, the Senate, at 4:43 p.m., adjourned until Monday, June 15, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Nominations
Page S2771 · Official textExecutive nomination received by the Senate:
Text printed in the Record (89 characters)
WALTER CLAYTON, OF NEW YORK, TO BE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, VICE TULSI GABBARD.
Confirmation
Pages S2771–S2772 · Official textExecutive nomination confirmed by the Senate June 11, 2026:
Text printed in the Record (72 characters)
BROCK DAHL, OF MARYLAND, TO BE LEGAL ADVISER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Withdrawal
Page S2772 · Official textExecutive Message transmitted by the President to the Senate on June 11, 2026 withdrawing from further Senate consideration the following nomination:
Text printed in the Record (195 characters)
WALTER CLAYTON, OF NEW YORK, TO BE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE TERM OF FOUR YEARS, VICE DAMIAN WILLIAMS, WHICH WAS SENT TO THE SENATE ON JANUARY 13, 2026.