Senate
Page S4483 · Official textThe Senate met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Honorable Tim Sheehy, a Senator from the State of Montana.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 129 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Prayer
Page S4483 · Official textThe Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. You brought light out of darkness and order out of chaos. We know that You are able to bring peace, wisdom, and order to our Nation and world. Lord, use our lawmakers to accomplish Your purposes. Make them willing and faithful servants, bringing healing where there is pain, unity where there is division, and hope where there is despair. Use every experience in their lives--their joys and sorrows, successes and setbacks, victories and disappointments--to shape their character and bring glory to Your Name. Surround them with the shield of love, and fill their hearts with Your perfect peace. And, Lord, we thank You for our faithful page class. Bless them in all of their tomorrows. We pray in Your merciful Name. Amen.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page S4483 · Official textThe Presiding Officer led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Appointment of Acting President Pro Tempore
Page S4483 · Official textThe PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will please read a communication to the Senate from the President pro tempore (Mr. Grassley).
The senior assistant bill clerk read the following letter:
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Washington, DC, August 6, 2026. To the Senate:
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable Tim Sheehy, a Senator from the State of Montana, to perform the duties of the Chair.
Chuck Grassley,
President pro tempore.
Mr. SHEEHY thereupon assumed the Chair as Acting President pro tempore.
Reservation of Leader Time
Page S4483 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.
Conclusion of Morning Business
Page S4483 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Morning business is closed.
EXECUTIVE RESOLUTION (Executive Session)
Page S4483 · Official textThe ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the en bloc nominations pursuant to S. Res. 817, which are pending en bloc.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S4483, August 6, 2026, in the second column, the following appears: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nominations pursuant to S. Res. 817, which are pending en bloc.
The online Record has been corrected to read: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the en bloc nominations pursuant to S. Res. 817, which are pending en bloc.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The majority whip.
Republican Party Accomplishments (Executive Session)
Pages S4483–S4484 · Official textMr. President, I come to the floor today because yesterday I heard the minority leader on the floor speaking about the economy. He sounded upset, sounded upset to hear that Americans were keeping more of their hard-earned money. He actually called it "disastrous."
Ninety-seven percent of Americans benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts law. This is a benefit. This is not a disaster.
What I see as disastrous is the Democrats' demand to raise taxes. They want to raise taxes on hard-working Americans all across the country. Democrats continue to think that they know how to spend your money better than you do. I think it has been a lifelong obsession with them. It is part of their DNA. It has been going on for years.
Tax rates fell significantly this past year, and it is because Republicans cut taxes. So who are the people that benefited the most? Well, they are people with families that made less than $200,000 a year. That is where the benefits really hit home. It happened all across the country, from Connecticut to California, even though those States are represented by Democrats. People all across the country benefited. Families kept more of what they earned, and then they could make their own decisions about what to save, what to spend, what to invest.
You know who knows it? People on Social Security know it. They got to keep more of their hard-earned money. People who work overtime know it because of no tax on overtime. People who work for tips know it because their tips weren't taxed.
People understood and felt the improvement. One resident of Nevada recently said: I received the largest tax return in my entire life this year. Why? No tax on tips.
Every single Democrat in this Chamber voted against these things. They wanted people who work on tips to pay more in taxes. Democrats wanted people on Social Security to pay more in taxes. Democrats wanted people who work overtime to pay more in taxes, and that is a defining difference.
American people clearly understand this, and the American people are tired and sick of seeing their money, their taxpayer money, wasted on fraud, abuse, and corruption, and we are seeing those things across the country. People want to keep more of what they earn, and they know they are the best to judge how to spend it.
That is what Republicans are fighting for. We are going to continue to fight for that. That is the direction our country is headed.
And in November of 2024, people made a clear choice: They chose to vote for Republicans because they wanted America to be safer, stronger, and more prosperous. And we are today. Over the past 18 months, Republicans have upheld that commitment. We have delivered for the American people. We are making sure people keep more of what they earn.
More than 60 million Americans benefited from the new tax benefits since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts law.
Let me remind you about the Trump Accounts. More than 7 million American children are now signed up this year for this special new investment account. It is an astonishing thing. Families, friends, community groups, and even businesses are already investing in them. This is clearly strengthening the American dream for the next generation.
I also want to talk about the border because today our Nation's immigration laws are being strongly enforced. National security begins with border security. Absolutely zero illegal immigrants have been released into our country in over 14 months--absolutely zero--because Republicans have ended the reckless Joe Biden catch-and-release program. And what a disaster that was. Hundreds of thousands of illegal-immigrant criminals have now been arrested and deported since President Trump took office, and we are seeing the most secure border and the most successful deportation operation in all of American history.
This year, Republicans also passed the Secure America Act. This law ensures that immigration officials have the resources that they need to keep our country safe and to keep our communities safe for years to come.
I just want to mention affordability because today Congress is making it easier to build and easier to innovate. The largest housing reform bill in history is now the law of the land. We eliminated burdensome regulations, regulations that made it too costly to build a new home in America. And we are unlocking the American dream of home ownership for a new generation of Americans.
Congress also passed the first major digital asset bill in American history; it is called the GENIUS Act. My colleague Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming has been a leader on the issue. It is time for the Senate to build on that by passing the Clarity Act. America is safer and stronger when we innovate.
I also want to talk about some of the things we are doing here to make sure the President has his team fully in place, and those are confirmations. Today, Republicans are getting the President's team fully in place. Very soon, we will confirm an additional 74 nominees. Well, this will be clearly 600 people confirmed in the second Trump administration. Those are 60 more nominees than he had at this point in the first Trump administration, and we have done it in the face of historic obstruction by the Democrats.
Now we see these same Democrats are trying to tear down our country, and they are trying it all across the Nation. The Democrats' agenda is not for a better America, not for a better future for our children, no, no. It is not even an agenda; it is a manifesto. The Democrats have come up with a "manifesto"--that is their label for it, not mine, their label, the Democrats--the manifesto, and I see it as a roadmap to destroy America from people that hate America. When you listen to many of their candidates, it certainly doesn't seem like the thing that most Americans would want to see in their future.
These people and their manifesto--it is radical; it is extreme; it is dangerous; it is scary. That is what our Nation is facing today. The Democrats, every one of them, wants to raise taxes on American families. The Democrat mantra calls for opening the borders. Their manifesto wants to defund the police. The manifesto wants to abolish prisons. The manifesto wants to release convicted criminals into our communities all across the country. The Democrat manifesto wants to eliminate Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Under the extreme Democrat manifesto, the American people would be forced to pay more, earn less, and be less safe and secure. That is what we are facing now. Democrats have turned from a party of the extremists now to the party of radicals.
Republicans are going to continue to be the party of results. That is the choice people are facing. What do you want? Results? Safety? Security? Prosperity? Radicals opening the prisons? Opening the borders? Raising your taxes?
Republicans work fiercely to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Republicans are going to continue to fight for freedom, for liberty, and a continuation of American greatness because that is the future that I believe the American people want and deserve.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Session)
Page S4484 · Official textThe Democratic leader is recognized.
Trump Administration (Executive Session)
Page S4484 · Official textMr. President, on the Trump battleships, while American families can't even keep their heads above water, Donald Trump is spending his time building himself a "golden fleet" of battleships the Navy doesn't want.
Just get a load of this headline: "Cost of Trump's Namesake Warships Likely to Rise by 50 Percent or More."
Costs to rise by 50 percent or more.
As the article in the New York Times says, his goal is building a "golden fleet" of 15 battleships that cost $275 billion. Frankly, when Americans hear this, they have no idea whether they need the battleships. They know the only thing Trump cares about is having his name on things. So the fact that there is a fleet of Trump battleships--cost doesn't mean anything; necessity doesn't mean anything; that people are suffering and need help feeding their families, paying their electric bills, and paying the cost of gasoline means nothing to him. Having his name on a bunch of battleships--expensive battleships--is all he cares about.
Trump couldn't handle renovating a reflecting pool or building a ballroom, and now he thinks he is ready to design and construct 15 "Trump-class"--I mean, this guy, he knows no limits--"Trump-class" battleships that will cost more than a quarter of a trillion taxpayer dollars--a quarter of a trillion dollars. He has had a lot of vanity projects. They have been very expensive. This is the most costly vanity project yet.
The Navy never wanted these ships. The American people never asked for these ships. The only person who wants these "golden" ships is Donald Trump so he can slap his name on them.
Trump's willingness to drop $275 billion on another vanity project but not a single penny to lower costs for working Americans just confounds the imagination. Trump could use the money for these battleships to offset the entire nearly $200 billion cut he made to SNAP.
Feeding hungry kids or creating an unnecessary class of battleships to put your name on--which is more important, America? The answer is a lot different than what Trump thinks. But no. Trump would rather feed his own ego than feed the American people. He would rather feed his own ego than feed the American people by putting his name on a $275 billion, 15-battleship outlay.
The ballroom, the Reflecting Pool, the arch, and now the battleships--these are the reasons why more than 7 in 10 Americans think Trump is not focusing on the top issues facing the country.
Donald, the American people don't need a fleet of golden Trump-class battleships right now; they need a life raft.
Mortgage Rates (Executive Session)
Pages S4484–S4485 · Official textMr. President, on mortgage rates, as Trump focuses on his exorbitant vanity projects, Americans can tell what he is ignoring--lowering their costs. As if Americans weren't struggling enough already, they just saw mortgage rates hit their highest level in a year because of Trump's disastrous war and failed economic agenda. Trump has turned the American dream of owning a home into a pipedream. Let's not forget, when Trump called our bipartisan bill to lower housing costs a joke and refused to sign it, he was belittling the need for housing. The President acts like he is allergic to helping Americans. What does Trump have to say to the millions of families just trying to make it through the week as they drown in higher gas prices and grocery bills? Trump said yesterday that Americans are living in the "greatest economy we've ever had by far." Those were his words in Nevada yesterday. In practically the same breath, Trump said:
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We may have to send [oil prices] up.
The President has lost any grip on reality. He is so in his own world of creating monuments to himself that he is forgetting the American people all the time. It is not just that he doesn't think of them enough; he hardly thinks of them at all. The greatest economy we have ever had? Tell that to the family that is deciding between filling up their tank and filling up their fridge. Tell that to the veteran I met who said that he sometimes has to choose between feeding his child and feeding his service dog. Whatever fantasy world Trump is living in sounds a whole lot nicer than the economic hardship Americans are struggling with right now. Trump's playbook has only one page: Deny reality until the bill comes due, and then send it to you, America.
Nominations (Executive Session)
Page S4485 · Official textMr. President, finally, on nominations, Trump's main priority is his pointless vanity projects, but he has another: packing our government to the rafters with far-right wing extremists. Senate Republicans are ramming through a nominations package that will put a grab bag of charlatans and MAGA foot soldiers into the highest positions of power. The Senate GOP knows how absurd some of these nominees are, which is why they are trying to flood the zone and push them through with a single vote. They couldn't withstand the spotlight, they couldn't withstand the scrutiny that the individual nominations process would have done to them. All these nominees will have different jobs, but they share the same qualification: absolute loyalty to Donald Trump no matter how ridiculous his policies are. The American people expect more from their government than just blind loyalty to Donald Trump. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 832 (Executive Session)
Pages S4485–S4486 · Official textMr. President, I have been told that I am a lousy politician but a good Senator. I consider that a compliment. What would happen if everyone in the Senate stopped being a good politician for a moment and strove to be a good Senator when it comes to addressing the issue associated with Social Security?
Over 70 million Americans depend upon Social Security, and ultimately, all Americans will when they reach the age of retirement. Everyone in the Senate and most of the people in the country know that the Social Security System is going insolvent. When that occurs, by law, there will be a cut, if we wait for 6 years, of 22 to 28 percent--a 22- to 28-percent cut in benefits for everyone on Social Security and everyone who will be.
Members of Congress say they care about Social Security. They say they care about the seniors, they care about preserving promised benefits for current retirees and future generations.
We have had a bill before us called the PROMISE Act by Senator Dick Durbin, my Democratic Senator colleague from Illinois. That would have been a bill that would have set up a Commission, if you will, of the Social Security Advisory Board to put forward a proposal. But the House is out of session. That could not pass. So now I put up a Senate resolution. And we take out the involvement of the Social Security actuaries, and we ask that a group of Senators and Representatives, Republicans and Democrats, come together over the next 2 months in a process to produce a potential idea.
This, what I am about to propose, is not about a particular solution. This, what I am about to propose, is about a process by which a solution can be considered, given to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means for regular-order consideration, and then with a time agreement so that there will be, after that consideration by the Senate Finance Committee in which any member can replace the bill that is brought to them with an amendment in the nature of a substitute--that "any member" could be Bernie Moreno; it could be Elizabeth Warren; it could be Ron Wyden; it could be Bernie Sanders; it could be Bill Cassidy--putting up their own proposal if they don't like what this bipartisan, bicameral group of elected officials comes up with.
Now, this is merely a process. It does not attempt to point in any direction toward a solution. All it asks is that we be good Senators--putting politics aside and recognizing that if we don't do something sooner than later to fix the problem with Social Security, future Social Security beneficiaries can get as much as a 28.5-percent cut in benefits under current law.
So I am putting it to a test. Will the Senate take up the challenge? Will we put politics aside and step forward on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to actually work for the American people in a way which can ensure that Social Security exists?
So I ask unanimous consent on a path forward that all colleagues should be able to support. It merely, once more, creates a process to do what the American people sent us here to do: Debate solutions, consider proposals, and vote. It does not predetermine the outcome. It just says that Congress must consider a solution--anyone's solution, Democrat or Republican, left and right. It just asks us to do our job to consider the solution and to then go through regular order on the Senate Finance Committee, to be considered by all.
So will we be good Senators, or will we be good politicians? Will we deny progress for the sake of political success? Let's find out.
Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent to set up a process--only a process--for Congress to consider solutions. So my script is: As if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 832, which is at the desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Is there objection?
The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first of all, let me say that, for years now, Bill Cassidy and I have worked together in the Finance Committee on healthcare, trying to find bipartisan common ground. And I just want him to know how much I have appreciated working with him.
This is an issue we simply disagree on. And that happens. People have differences of opinion.
The Social Security crisis is a freight train barreling toward our Nation. Social Security will be depleted before the end of the next Presidential administration.
The resolution on offer now claims to be a quick solution to addressing the crisis. Instead, the resolution creates a fast track for Republicans to carry out a long-sought goal of slashing Social Security benefits for retirees and helping billionaires avoid paying their fair share. Each time Republicans get their hands on Social Security, it seems that cuts get made and life gets worse for seniors. Establishing this commission would be a fast track to cutting benefits.
The proposal on offer is a Senate-only process. Under the Constitution, bills raising taxes must originate in the House of Representatives. Because of this constitutional requirement, any Senate-only process, like the Cassidy proposal, could not include a tax increase. This means, under the Cassidy proposal, billionaires could not be required to contribute. We couldn't increase the payroll tax cap or include any other revenue increase. It would mean that the entire burden of Social Security solvency would fall on the backs of retirees and the disabled through benefit cuts. That is not a fair solution for the vast majority of Americans.
Here is the bottom line. Since my days as codirector of the Oregon Gray Panthers, I have a long record of working on a bipartisan basis to fix this problem and protect retired people from missing out on their hard-earned benefits. We can do that by updating Social Security to reflect the economy of America today, by ensuring that billionaires pay into Social Security with each paycheck, like teachers, nurses, and firefighters.
Supporting a scheme like this--a fast track to rip away Americans' hard-earned benefits while shutting them out of the debate--is just plain wrong in my judgment.
If Republicans had any real interest in wanting to shore up Social Security, they would be putting forth their own ideas and working with Democrats to protect the program rather than to undermine it. Democrats have several concrete proposals to protect and strengthen Americans' earned benefits without raising the retirement age, cost-of-living haircuts, or means-testing benefits. It all starts by finally requiring billionaires to pay what they owe, just like the rest of us.
Billionaire wealth has skyrocketed to over $9 trillion this year while working people struggle to scrape enough money together to pay for rent, gas, and groceries. This proposal, in my view, is effectively a wolf in sheep's clothing. It does nothing to protect Social Security and, instead, hands Republicans the key to the castle to start their work of ripping away Americans' hard-earned benefits.
For these reasons, I object.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The objection is heard.
The Senator from Louisiana.
Mr. President, it grieves my soul that once again politics and political rhetoric trumps that which we need to do for the country. Let me address the nature of the objection.
Actually, this is a Senate resolution, but it invites the House to participate; and the Constitution requires that anything raising taxes originates in Ways and Means in the House. And so, therefore, they would have to participate. That is the protection of our Constitution.
It is a bipartisan--by the way, this is a bipartisan proposal to set up this process. There is nothing partisan about it. Dick Durbin set up the PROMISE Act.
The House, unfortunately, left July 23 so we could not pass it. This is the best we could do with the House out of session in a bipartisan-initiated process.
Dick Durbin who is a senior Member of the Democratic caucus is the one who is my collaborator.
There is nothing in here to cut benefits. That is absurd. It sets up a process by which a solution can be considered. It does not dictate an outcome. And to suggest that what this does today is dictate an outcome is not telling the truth to the American people.
There is no fast track here. There is 2 months of open dialogue with the American people, and then it goes to the Senate Finance Committee and to Ways and Means for it to then be considered in regular order.
This is basically a time agreement, and time agreements are what we do all the time around here.
I agree with updating Social Security, but we are not going to get there if we say every time one side offers it: Oh, we can't do it because the other side is angling for advantage. Let's be good Senators, not be good politicians.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. President, just to respond just for a brief minute. You can't originate taxes in the Senate. So what that means is this proposal gives the billionaires a free ride.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from Louisiana.
Mr. President, one more time. The resolution invites the House to participate. The resolution says: Please Speaker, please, minority leader, appoint people to participate.
We recognize that Ways and Means have to originate this bill. I wish we could have passed the PROMISE Act, but there were objections to passing the PROMISE Act which would have had to have been passed by the House as well.
So in this, working as well as we can, knowing that Social Security is getting worse and worse by the day, we invite them to participate with the understanding that they could put in whatever they want.
The argument of my colleague from Oregon is that we somehow have a solution baked in. That is not true. This is only a process bill. And if the House wants to advance a bill which taxes billionaires, by golly, they can do it. They can do it under this bill.
Right now, they can't, because there is no mechanism for that bill to advance. We are creating a mechanism by which it can advance. And so, if you want to tax the billionaires, we create the opportunity. If you want to do nothing, you vote against this bill.
I have got limited time left, and I don't feel like sitting back and being a good politician when I should be a good Senator, working to fix Social Security because every day it gets worse and every day the law-required cut-in benefits to beneficiaries increases.
It doesn't get better by waiting 2 years; it gets worse. And opposing this resolution is like basically turning a blind eye to that deterioration.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from New Hampshire.
Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 5345 (Executive Session)
Pages S4486–S4487 · Official textMr. President, I want to thank Senator Cassidy and Senator Wyden for the colloquy we just heard because we do need to tackle a number of challenges in the Social Security system.
The most important job of government is, of course, to keep people safe. And increasingly, some of the most constant threats that Americans face are scams and identity theft.
There has been a sharp rise in identity theft and online scams, including the theft of Social Security numbers. Identity theft is more than an annoyance; it can cost people their savings, jeopardize their credit, and more.
This is a danger that we need to take seriously, just as we stopped highwaymen from menacing people on our streets, we similarly must stop the outlaws of the digital age from preying on our people.
Unfortunately, even as criminals steal Social Security numbers, their victims, ordinary Americans, feel as if they have no one to turn to for help. It is not as simple as finding a police officer on the corner to retrieve a stolen wallet or purse.
Criminals have modernized their methods. So the U.S. Government must modernize its response too. That is why I have introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley. Our bill would streamline the process for victims of identity theft to get help when their Social Security number is stolen, giving Americans a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration so that they can get the help that they need.
When someone's Social Security number is stolen, when they are at risk of losing their hard-earned Social Security benefits, they deserve better than to have to navigate a never-ending maze of hold times and transfers as they try to find someone within the government who can help.
This bill is only one step in the work we have to do to fight scammers, but it does mark a commonsense step that Americans from across the political spectrum can certainly get behind. This legislation will help keep more Americans safe, combat fraud and abuse, and makes our government work better for the American people.
Families are already struggling enough right now with high costs. They deserve to be able to keep the money and benefits that they have earned without being threatened by online criminals. And when they are threatened, they should have access to a straightforward and prompt process to get help.
Now, the House has already passed this bill on a strong bipartisan basis. So I hope that we can send this legislation to the President today.
Mr. President, therefore, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5345 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made laid and upon the table.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Is there objection?
The Senator from Texas.
Mr. President, reserving the right to object, on the merits, there are no substantive objections to this legislation. However, we do have a challenge between the two Chambers of Congress.
The Senate is doing its work. The Senate is taking up important pieces of legislation, reaching bipartisan agreement, and passing them; and they are going to the House of Representatives where right now they are simply sitting and languishing.
House leadership has decided to adopt a strategy that is, frankly, indefensible. It is a strategy where they pass bills that originate in the House; they ignore bills that originate in the Senate, and they let them die.
More than two-thirds of the bills to date that are passed into law have been bills that originated in the House of Representatives. There are numerous bills that this body has passed, often unanimously, 100 to nothing, that arrive in the House that no House Member has any substantive objections to them at all, and they simply put them in the freezer and do nothing.
My colleague knows sometimes if you want to change the behavior of another Chamber, the only way to do so is to exercise leverage. And so, I have placed holds on all House bills coming over here unless and until they start taking up and passing Senate bills. Both Chambers need to do their work.
Our Congress does not work if one of the two Chambers refuses to even consider legislation that has passed the other Chamber. I am in active negotiation with House leadership for them to start picking up and passing legislation here.
One of those bills is a bill I authored called TREY'S Law. TREY'S Law was named for a young man in Texas just outside the Dallas area who was a little boy that was sexually assaulted at a summer camp repeatedly.
He brought litigation. That litigation was settled, but as part of the settlement, he signed an NDA. He signed a contractual commitment to never tell anybody about the horrible sexual assault that he suffered.
He lived with that grief, with that sorrow for the rest of what turned out to be his very short life. At age 28, Trey took his own life. TREY'S Law, which is named for him, is passed in the State of Texas; it has passed in numerous other States like Missouri and Alabama.
It very simply says that NDAs are not enforceable to silence a victim of child sexual assault, that you cannot enforce contractual right to tell a child who has experienced that assault: You may not speak; you have no voice.
This legislation in the Senate was bipartisan. I authored it with Senator Gillibrand. It passed the Senate 100 to nothing. It is sitting in the House, and they have declined to move.
I say to my friend from New Hampshire, I am confident your legislation will pass and will pass the Senate as soon as the House ends its unreasonable blockade against Senate bills. I am in active negotiation with their leadership to get that result. We will get that result before the end of the year.
I hope we get that result soon. I would very much like to lift all these holds and pass important legislation the Senate has already passed.
However, because the House has not yet made that agreement, I have no choice but to object.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Objection is heard.
The Senator from New Hampshire.
Mr. President, I appreciate the efforts of the Senator from Texas to get legislation that we have passed here passed through the House of Representatives.
But I think it is really critically important to understand that while he is in these negotiations, people's identities are being stolen, people who need their Social Security benefits are going without as they try to navigate a complex and outdated Social Security system.
It is high time that we pass this bill. I am disappointed that we weren't able to send this bill to the President today. I understand the concerns of the Senator from Texas, but I really do think this is urgent for our people. I hope that my colleague from Texas and I can work together in a bipartisan way to get this over the finish line soon.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from Texas.
Unanimous Consent Requests (Executive Session)
Pages S4487–S4489 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to speak about the critical need for disaster relief in my home State of Texas for a Texas community that was devastated by historic wildfires. I will seek to improve the pending Disaster Tax Relief Act being considered by the Senate to address that acute need in Texas.
No doubt the current version provides relief that is also badly needed elsewhere. I would like to speak directly to the families of Spokane, WA, who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their sense of security. The people of Texas stand with you, and we are profoundly grateful to the firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect their neighbors. That is a pain families in Texas know all too well.
In 2024, Texas witnessed truly horrific wildfires. The Smokehouse Creek fire was the single largest wildfire in the history of the State of Texas. It killed two people. It burned more than 1 million acres. It destroyed more than 500 homes and businesses, and it killed approximately 15,000 cattle.
The Windy Deuce fire was among the most destructive and fast-moving wildfires ever to strike the Texas Panhandle. It burned more than 140,000 acres. Despite the horror and the destructiveness of these fires, they were not treated as qualified wildfire disasters under Federal law.
One result is that any relief payments are subject to Federal income taxes, which dramatically reduces the scope and effectiveness of the badly needed relief. Victims of other catastrophic wildfires do not incur such penalties on the relief they receive.
Disaster relief is important. I am proud to support disaster relief. Americans step in and help their fellow Americans in times of crisis. But disaster relief must be fair. Disaster relief cannot demonstrate favoritism, choosing some recipients as more worthy or luckier than others.
My amendment does something very simple. It includes in this disaster relief bill the worst wildfire in the history of the State of Texas. On any reasonable argument on the merits, the Texas Panhandle wildfires deserve to be included.
I would note also that the score of this provision is, in congressional terms, quite small: $31 million is what this addition costs. In this body, $31 million is a sum that is usually too small even to be written down. Moreover, the House of Representatives and, in particular, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee has explicitly committed that if and when we add this disaster bill, that the House, in September when they return, will take it up and pass it.
So this is the path, No. 1, to passing this disaster bill--which I very much want to do--but No. 2, to doing so in a way that does not unfairly leave out the Texans, the victims of the largest wildfire in the history of Texas. We have got to do both.
And so I will now propound a unanimous consent request to take up and pass my amendment to the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act to designate the Smokehouse Creek fire and the Windy Deuce fire as qualified wildfire disasters, ensuring that relief payments to those affected receive the same Federal tax treatment as victims of other qualified wildfires.
I urge my colleagues to pass this commonsense amendment today so that Texans receive the same treatment as other victims of wildfires. And I would note that if my colleagues choose not to accept the amendment, the alternative is going to be that nothing passes. That is not an alternative that is good for anybody, and so my hope is that common sense will prevail.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5366, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the Cruz 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Is there objection?
Reserving the right to object.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from Oregon. Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, earlier this week my home State set a new devastating record: Over 2 million acres in Oregon have burned in wildfires across our State this summer. That is the most in recorded history with 2 more months of fire season to go. Thousands of Oregonians have been under evacuation orders or are preparing to be. Our whole State is blanketed in thick smoke, making for some of the worst air quality in the world. Many have lost their homes, their livestock, their businesses, and livelihoods. When you lose your home in a wildfire, the last thing you should be worried about is being hit by a massive tax bill. The bipartisan tax relief bill being considered on the bill today would give the people of my State affected by these blazes some peace of mind. It would lift a massive tax burden and deliver financial relief to every American impacted by a federally declared natural disaster.
It is going to get rid of a totally unfair tax on settlement payments and ensure disaster victims can deduct losses after disasters.
This is an issue the Republicans created under Donald Trump in 2017, but Senator Cruz' amendment would derail a bipartisan proposal entirely. His amendment threatens the lifeline assistance in this bill for Americans that lose their home during a natural disaster.
The Senator from Texas has repeatedly opposed funding for federally declared disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Now he comes to the floor to hold the bill hostage in order to send money to his State for his own priorities while Donald Trump holds up disaster funding for Oregon wildfire victims.
The House has already passed this bill that was negotiated on a bipartisan basis. Now the Senate must do its job, and that is why I am offering up this version of legislation that has already passed through the House.
So, Mr. President, therefore, I ask the Senator to modify his request so that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5366 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
Is there objection to the modification?
Reserving the right to object.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from Texas.
I would note that I agree with virtually every word that was said by the Senator from Oregon. I agree that this tax treatment taxing someone on a disaster relief settlement from, say, the power company that caused the fire--giving someone a big tax bill for that relief that they are entitled to, it is unfair; it is wrong. I am enthusiastic about passing this bill and passing it now.
What I am not enthusiastic about is leaving thousands of Texans out because just like the citizens of Oregon who suffered devastating losses, just like the citizens of California, just like the citizens of Washington State who suffered devastating losses, there were also thousands upon thousands of Texans who suffered devastating losses. And my proposal is very simple: Let's be fair. Let's not exclude the Texans. Let's provide the relief that is right and just to everyone who has been impacted by these devastating wildfires.
I will point out also the Senator from Oregon said there is an urgency to pass this. I want you to understand that--everyone watching--there are two paths that we can go down. One path is when I decline to make this modification, the Senator from Oregon could say nothing, could just be quiet, and then the Presiding Officer would say, "No objection is heard," and this bill would pass the Senate with the Texans included so it would be fair. It would not be excluding people that are similarly situated. It would be treating everyone fairly, and it would go to the House.
The House will be back in September, and we have a commitment from the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the committee that has jurisdiction over this, to take this up and pass it. So if the Senator from Oregon chooses simply to say nothing, this bill moves on its way, and it is substantially closer to being signed into law and giving actual relief to the victims of these wildfires. However, the other path--and folks in the Gallery should listen for two words the Senator from Oregon says, "I object." What will happen is the bill dies. It doesn't pass. The victims in Texas get no relief; the victims in Oregon get no relief; the victims in California get no relief; the victims in Washington State get no relief.
I don't understand why that is a good outcome. I think that is a terrible outcome. But the Senator from Oregon has complete control over which of those two paths we go down.
I will not modify my request.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The objection to the modification is heard.
Is there objection to the original request?
Reserving the right to object.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore
The Senator from California.
Mr. President, colleagues, this disaster bill, this disaster tax bill includes important bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Senators Lummis, Wyden, and Sheehy to extend a critical tax provision for disaster survivors that we enacted into law last Congress. Two years ago, my Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Act made an important update to our Tax Code.
It made sure that individuals, families, and entire communities who suffered from wildfires received the full compensation that they were awarded in courts to rebuild their lives.
But, unfortunately, every year more devastating disasters take place, and so Congress must extend the same important financial protection to survivors of more recent wildfires.
That is what the House-passed version of the bill would do. But to be clear, disaster settlement funds are not income. They are not a financial windfall. They are certainly not winning the lottery. What they are is compensation, partial compensation in most cases, for what has been lost.
They are meant to give survivors an opportunity to begin to rebuild not just their homes but their lives.
This bill is not just for my constituents in California that have been impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires 1\1/2\ years ago; it is also for those victims in Oregon and Hawaii and other communities across the country that have experienced similar disasters.
Our bill would ensure that all recent wildfire victims throughout the country have access to the full value of their settlement without any unfair tax burden. It is common sense, and it is a bipartisan solution to protect Americans at the most difficult time of their lives.
We should pass this legislation now. Let's not keep survivors waiting, worrying, and wondering about their financial future any longer.
I want to thank Senators Lummis, Wyden, and Sheehy for their partnership, as well as my colleague Representative Mike Thompson in the House for his steadfast leadership on this issue.
I also want to recognize that the late Representative Doug LaMalfa was such a critical part of this effort. The House fittingly named this bill in his honor because it reflects the tireless leadership he brought to these issues impacting disaster-stricken communities throughout his career. He and I first served together in the California State Senate and then again here--he in the House; I in the Senate.
I would urge all of our colleagues to support the House-passed version of the measure and allow survivors to begin to rebuild their lives without unnecessary fear or delay.
Thank you.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there objection to the original request?
The Senator from Oregon.
I object to the Cruz request, and I want to take note of the floor right now because our proposal has bipartisan support on the floor this morning. In other words, talking about who has been trying to bring people together and the like, our proposal on this floor--the Senator from Florida, the Senator from California, the Senator from Oregon--is a bipartisan proposal. The Senator from Texas is not on the floor with bipartisan support.
I hope he will work with us over the course of the morning to get this worked out.
That is why I object to the Cruz proposal, and I object again.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The objection is heard.
The Senator from Florida.
First off, I rise to recognize all my colleagues that have spoken about the importance of disaster relief, and I think we all want to make sure we help our States. Right now, I rise in support of the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act.
Florida is no stranger to natural disasters. As we speak, we are in the middle of hurricane season, which started June 1. When I was Governor, I wanted Florida to be the national model for disaster relief. We prioritized preparedness, safety, and quick action. But once the storms pass, you know, like anyplace else, Florida is in the same position. Floridians had to rebuild. Families lost homes. Some lost everything they had.
When you are in that position, one of the worst moments of your entire life, you shouldn't have to worry about a rising tax bill. That is why I helped lead this bipartisan bill and previous bills to provide not just Floridians but all Americans all across this country tax relief after disaster strikes, including Texans and Oregonians.
Our citizens need certainty when they are piecing their lives back together; they don't need the government taking a cut of the money they need. This bill just gives certainty of necessary tax relief to victims of natural disasters so they can focus on getting back on track and not worrying about the IRS.
This bill is very critical to my State, but it is also about more than hurricanes. It is not just about hurricanes; this bill helps families affected by all natural disasters, including wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and any other scenario that can be declared a Federal disaster.
It is good for the entire country. It is a bipartisan bill, and it is a tribute to Doug LaMalfa, who passed away earlier this year.
This passed the House unanimously earlier this year, so if we pass this today, it will become law.
Americans don't need extra worries when the worst happens, and we shouldn't be an obstacle to their recovery. By passing this bill, we will make it easier to rebuild the American dream when hardships strike.
I am not going to give up. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues, including with my friend from Texas, to get this bill across the finish line for every Floridian and every American. I recognize the issue he is dealing with, and I look forward to working with him to try to solve the issues Texans are looking at right now.
I yield the floor
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Moody)
The Senator from New Hampshire.
Trump Administration (Executive Session)
Pages S4489–S4490 · Official textMadam President, I rise today to speak about a broken promise, a promise that the President made to the country when he took office.
Time and again, the President promised that "starting on day one" of his administration, he would "end inflation"--his words. A year and a half into his term, it is clear that the President not only has broken his word but that he disdains the very notion that he should even try to make good on his pledge.
Now, for the vast majority of Americans of all ages and walks of life, of all political stripes, costs aren't a partisan thing, and it is simply clear: It costs more to be an American with Donald Trump as President.
Part of why I am speaking today is because, as a new Joint Economic Committee minority report details, American life has become more expensive under this administration. As of June, in my home State of New Hampshire, the average Granite State family has had to pay an additional $4,400 for goods and services since President Trump took office. This toll is exacted from virtually every part of everyday life.
In Donald Trump's America, when a person wakes up and starts their day, they now drink coffee that costs around $10 a pound, a 25-percent increase since the President launched senseless trade wars, launched without the support of the American people.
After they finish their coffee and drive to work or to drop their children off at school, they do so in a car that now costs more to fill up every time they stop at the pump. Each Granite State family has spent $596 more on gas, in fact, since President Trump launched his reckless, illegal war against Iran--a war he launched without a plan to win.
Now, let's say our typical American has a doctor's appointment that day. Assuming that they are able to afford health insurance, they will receive care covered by a plan which premiums rose as much as 50 percent under President Trump. Why? Because the President let Affordable Care Act insurance premiums surge.
And at the end of the day, the average Granite Stater returns to a house or an apartment that is also more expensive, as families in our State have so far spent $1,108 more on rent or mortgage payments since President Trump started his term--all because the President refuses to address our country's housing crisis.
And after my constituent gets home and goes to pick up her mail, she opens another electric bill. Electricity has gotten so expensive that people in New Hampshire have had to pay $194 more so far this year than last year because the President caused a worldwide energy crisis and canceled clean energy projects.
Next on the list, my constituent goes into the kitchen to make dinner, where--you guessed it--the ingredients cost more than they did before Trump took office. Granite Staters paid $310 more for groceries last year than they did the year before.
So what has been the cost of the Trump Presidency, a Presidency where food, healthcare, gas, rent, and more have all become more expensive? The costs can be summed up by the figures in this report, but it can also be put more simply. For many in our country, the cost has been nothing less than seeing their chance at the American dream fade before their very eyes.
A year and a half into his Presidency, my Republican colleagues are making excuse after excuse for the President's failure to address the American people's basic needs. They need to stop--stop trying to advance the fiction that the President cares about lowering costs or perhaps is trying to lower costs but is getting some bad counsel from his advisers. If the President actually wanted to help the American people, he would listen to them. He would hear that this economy isn't working for them and, for some, well, it is breaking them. If he cared, this man who was supposed to understand the economy, as well as the hopes and dreams of the American people, would acknowledge that he needs to take action to lower costs. And even if he doesn't care, if this President believed that, in America, Presidents are accountable to the American people, he would be working to make life more affordable.
But this President neither cares nor thinks he is accountable to anyone other than himself and perhaps his billionaire backers. Just consider, he has attacked and dismissed anyone who says that there is a problem at all. He has called inflation a "hoax" and dismissed the cost-of-living crisis as--his words--"made up." He says this despite the fact that virtually every American of every political perspective--at least those who live outside the splendor of Mar-a-Lago--knows that American life has become more expensive under President Trump.
So when the American people say that their costs have gone up and the President dismisses inflation as a "hoax," is he saying that American families are lying? Is he suggesting that they should not believe their own eyes, their own understanding of math, when they look at the numbers at the cash register or at the gas pump? Because it is one thing not to solve a problem for American families; it is quite another to essentially say that the American people are lying.
What have American families done, what have the people who gave the President the privilege of serving in the highest office in our country done to have their biggest challenge, their greatest anxiety and fear dismissed by the President as a "hoax"?
Should we be surprised that a President who incited a mob to storm the Capitol and tried to overturn the voices and votes of the American people dismisses yet again what they have to say? Maybe the President would be more inclined to help the American people if they were a little less decent and a lot better connected. After all, this is President Trump's Washington, and we know well who this President is. He will save one of his corrupt campaign donors asking for a pardon, but he won't lift a finger to save American families a dime on their groceries.
And so I return to the President's promise. When he sought our country's highest office yet again, Donald Trump told the American people to put aside his corruption, his self-dealing, his poor character, his willingness to fan the flames of division and extremism, to forget the way he disrespects our veterans. He wanted us to even forget the attack on this Chamber, to forget the scars of the Capitol Police officers, forget all of this and more because he said he would bring down costs.
And now he is dismissive and contemptuous of anyone who asks him to make good on his pledge. He even undermines my Republican colleagues when they do try, in good faith, to lower costs. He actually threatened to block a bipartisan bill to bring down the cost of housing, a law that we were eventually able to pass.
Now, Donald Trump has made himself very, very clear. His Presidency will be defined not by lowering costs for families but by raising monuments to himself.
It doesn't have to be this way. The American people, right now, want an American dream that they can afford, a dream that doesn't belong just to a privileged few, a dream that is bigger than self-dealing, kickbacks, and self-enrichment schemes in the gilded rooms of Mar-a-Lago. The dreams of the American people aren't focused on golden luxury trappings. Their dreams are less gilded than all of that, but they are also far more noble.
Americans want their children to live better lives than they did; with quality, affordable healthcare that can help them rest easier at night; a decent education for their children; a place to build not a gilded ballroom but a home--a home in a country where we don't live fearing one another, divided over politics, but instead united as freedom-loving Americans who know that we are lucky to live in the greatest country on Earth, who love this country too much to ever hate our fellow Americans and who won't let the miracle of self-government die--not in the service of one man's ego, not for anything.
The American people want an America that is as good as this Nation's promise. They deserve a President whose word is as good as our people.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Connecticut.
Iran (Executive Session)
Pages S4490–S4492 · Official textMadam President, colleagues, the Trump administration has us stuck in a humiliating quagmire, a total deadlock in Iran. We are wasting billions of taxpayer dollars dropping bombs and firing missiles at Iran.
Iran responds with escalation. They keep the strait closed. They attack our bases. They attack our allies in the region. The war just expands and expands and expands.
In the last week, for instance, a new war is threatening to break out between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, which would likely result in the other strait at the bottom of the Red Sea being closed as well.
Trump personally pays no price for this stalemate. His corruption schemes, his cryptocurrency, his insider trading, the contracts to his sons, all of that has practically tripled his net worth in just 18 short months in office.
No, the price of this war is being plainly paid, first and foremost, by our soldiers who are being put in harm's way for a war that is making America weaker every day.
They are getting killed. They are sustaining life-altering injuries. Many of our soldiers and sailors and airmen have been in the region far past their scheduled deployment. They haven't seen their families in years.
And, of course, American consumers are paying the price as well. Here is the most relevant chart. This is familiar to you. This is what gas prices were doing until the war. They are creeping back well above $4 a gallon right now. That is not affordable for regular Americans, especially Americans who have to travel great distances for work, especially small business owners who rely on reasonable gas prices in order to be able to make their bills work.
Diesel prices are through the roof as well. Fertilizer prices are through the roof as well, all because of this war. No other reason--the war. The prices are this high because of the war. It is farmers, it is small business owners, it is the American public who are paying the price--not Donald Trump.
And so that is why the war is just wildly unpopular, like except for Trump's sort of hard-line supporters, the folks who just don't believe he can ever do anything wrong, nobody wants this war. If you are in a red State or a blue State, this war is deeply unpopular. The American public is smart; they are smarter than a lot of my colleagues give them credit for. They know a war with Iran is unwinnable. They don't want America stuck again in a quagmire, a stalemate in the Middle East.
So how does Trump handle this, a deeply unpopular war, a war that he is losing, a war that is driving up prices for the American public? Well, this is how he handles it: He gaslights.
He tells lies. And the essential gaslight is that: The war is about to end, don't worry. Yes, it appears that there is no end. It appears that you are going to have to continue to pay these prices forever. It appears that America has no endgame, but, don't worry, the war is about to end.
And so I just want to go through this pattern with you because it is really important to talk about the fact that the White House is just not being straight with the American public about what is going on in this war.
Over and over again the President declares that the war is about to be over. He is not telling the truth. He normally declares that the war is about to be over on Sunday night or Monday morning, right before the markets open. But now that we are 6 months into this war, we can see the pattern.
Let me go through it with you quickly. On March 23, Trump announces a deal. I am just going to give you his quotes, these are his words. He says:
Text printed in the Record (208 characters)
The United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.
The market impact is immediate. That post sends oil prices tumbling nearly 11 percent, but there is no deal. He just made it up. Two days later, the U.S. military is back to conducting strikes.
Text printed in the Record (114 characters)
USS Abraham Lincoln continues flight operations against military targets in Iran while sailing in regional waters.
On March 30, Trump announces another deal. This is Monday morning right before the markets open. He says:
Text printed in the Record (103 characters)
The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end--
Text printed in the Record (67 characters)
our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made . . .
One week later, there is no deal. The opposite. One week later, Trump posts that he is going to wipe out the entire civilization of Iran, "A whole civilization will die tonight," he posts, "never to be brought back again."
That is a war crime. The President is promising to kill millions of civilians. He tries to dial it back, but later on that same day he is back to announcing a deal.
Literally, "I am going to wipe out a whole civilization," that morning.
That night, on April 17, he says:
Text printed in the Record (181 characters)
We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate . . . a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.
Five days later, there is no deal. Trump announces a resumption of the war with Iran.
Now let's fast-forward 10 days later to April 17. He posts that a deal with Iran is imminent. "THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY . . . MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED," he posts.
Two days later, the strikes start again. On May 5, Trump says:
Text printed in the Record (101 characters)
Great Progress [being] made toward a Complete and Final Agreement [with the Representatives of Iran.]
Complete is capitalized; final is capitalized; agreement is capitalized; representatives is capitalized; Iran is capitalized.
Two days later, the deal is off. Surprise, surprise. Every time Trump announces a deal is imminent, it just disappears.
"U.S. forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes," CENTCOM announces 2 days later.
On May 25, right before the markets open: A deal is imminent.
Text printed in the Record (69 characters)
Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely!
Right before the markets open. That same day the U.S. military conducts strikes on Iran:
Text printed in the Record (121 characters)
U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Next Monday, right before the markets open, Trump posts:
Text printed in the Record (141 characters)
Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one . . .
Just sit back and relax, it will work out well in the end--It always does!
How is this working out well for the American public? How is that working out well for the American public? The next day there is no deal. The United States conducts strikes against Iran.
On June 17, Trump actually signs the deal, but it is not a real deal. He does this whole pomp and circumstance signing ceremony in Versailles. That deal was negotiated by diplomatic amateurs. There was nothing actually agreed to. There were words on a page, but from the literal moment the ink was dry, nobody could explain what they had agreed to. Most significantly, Iran thought that the agreement obligated Israel to stop its military operations in Lebanon. Israel did not agree to that.
Iran thought that it had been given control of the strait in that agreement; apparently the American delegation didn't think they made that concession.
Anyway, that agreement lasts 10 days. On June 27, Trump posts that strikes on Iran have resumed.
Let's just fast-forward to the last week because Trump is doing it again. On August 1, Trump posts--I am not sure that I transcribed this wrong or not, but it looks like it says:
Text printed in the Record (48 characters)
[T]he [perimeters] of a deal has been agreed to.
I will give him credit he said parameters.
Text printed in the Record (62 characters)
"[T]he parameters of a deal have been agreed to," on August 1.
On August 2, "The deal is imminent, having to do with the [Strait of Hormuz] and also, ultimately, the denuclearization of Iran."
The deal is imminent on the denuclearization of Iran.
August 4, just a night or two ago, Trump tells Fox News:
Text printed in the Record (35 characters)
We're having very good discussions.
Meanwhile, there were reports that Iran isn't even talking to the United States. Trump is saying a deal on the denuclearization of Iran is imminent, and Iran is saying: We are not even in the room.
I mean, we should not accept this level of gaslighting. The word of the President has to matter. Over and over again on 11 different instances, Trump says: A deal is about to happen, don't worry; the war is about to be over.
There is no deal. None of it is real, these promises. I wish it were real. I want to be clear about that. I want the war to end. I would basically support any agreement at this point to end this war.
I was glad that the President got a cease-fire, but I could tell by the terms it wasn't going to last. It wasn't a real agreement. But at this point, many of us are willing to support almost any agreement. It will be a humiliating agreement. It will be one in which Iran will essentially declare victory.
But this war is a disaster. America is losing. Consumers can't afford to pay these prices. Businesses are going under.
We had a record of farm bankruptcies in the last year. We look like a laughingstock, and we are running out of munitions. We don't have what we need to protect ourselves anymore.
Reports are that we have gone through half of our Tomahawks. Our allies in the region have fired 70 to 80 percent of their Patriot missiles. This is a crisis. It has to end.
But maybe there is an explanation for why Trump continues to do this gaslighting, particularly right before the markets open.
Trump announced now a week or so ago that if you pay him $100,000 a month, he will give you advance notice of American foreign policy decisions.
I don't understand why that is acceptable to anybody in this Chamber. If you pay Donald Trump $100,000, he will give you advance notice of America's foreign policy decisions.
If we are about to sign a peace treaty, and you give him $100,000 a month, he will give you advance notice of that. If strikes are going to resume against Iran, if you pay him $100,000 a month, he will give you advance notice of that. That is a subscription service for insider trading, and it is unquestionably lucrative.
On August 1, Trump posts that a deal is imminent. Remember, people still take him seriously. Not everybody knows about this history of gaslighting.
On August 1, Trump says that a deal is imminent, and the market impact is immediate. Oil prices fall by 5 percent right as the markets open.
The next day, right before the markets open, Trump says again "The deal is imminent"--another 5 percent drop.
And so you see how his statements move the market, and you can see how if you get advance notice of those statements, even by a few seconds, you can capitalize on that market movement. You know that if Trump says a deal is imminent and the markets are going to move 5 percent and you pay $100,000 to Donald Trump to get that information early, you can make a boatload of money.
And so maybe the war continues because Trump has found a way to monetize the war in a disgustingly corrupt way. I get that at some point we become immune to all of this, but can any of my Republican colleagues defend the President selling announcements from the White House for $100,000 a month in the middle of a war?
Is any Republican Senator willing to come down to this floor and defend the President of the United States setting up a subscription service for public policy announcements from the White House so as to advantage certain players in the marketplace who are willing to pay that amount of money?
Of course not. And if you know in your heart that it is corrupt, that it is wrong, then you should say something about it because the war might be continuing--not just because of incompetence but because the President has found a way to make money. More people are going to pay him $100,000 for these announcements in the middle of a war. Frankly, people would be willing to pay it absent a war, but he will make more money during a war because his announcements clearly move the markets in the middle of a very complicated conflict where the decisions of the U.S. Government immediately change oil markets.
The reason this war is dragging on endlessly--it does matter, and my colleagues should care about Trump's insider trading subscription scheme. It is just so discouraging that nobody on the other side of the aisle says anything about this when the credibility of the White House and of our country is just getting destroyed and sullied. But my Republican colleagues should also care that the war is being waged with a level of embarrassing incompetence that is making America weaker, that is getting us nowhere.
This body works best when the President's party stands up to him and says "enough," whether it is corruption or incompetence. That is what Johnson's party did during the Vietnam war. It is actually what the Democratic Party did with President Obama during the late stages of the Afghanistan war when many of us decided that America had to withdraw and opposed President Obama's party. It is what many of us did here during the early stages of the war in Yemen that President Obama was bringing the American military into. Many of us opposed it, got up on this floor and explained why we opposed it.
Republicans can do that too. You can say that this war has to end. You can say that the President should never ever personally benefit from a conflict overseas. You can say that the President of the United States should not sell access to White House statements. It would make a big difference for our democracy and for the American people, who are paying through the nose for the cost of this war, if you did.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Lummis)
The Senator from Florida.
Tribute to Deputy Raymond Tellez Ferriol (Executive Session)
Page S4492 · Official textMadam President, today, I have the honor of rising in recognition of a true Florida hero.
I know we hear a lot these days about entire political parties adopting platforms that want to defund and abolish the police, but in Florida, we do it a different way--an entirely different way. In fact, we watch what other crazy places are doing, and we just do the opposite, and it has worked out quite well.
One of my favorite parts of my job as a U.S. Senator now, after having been the Florida attorney general and having worked with law enforcement for many, many years, is to spotlight Florida's brave law enforcement heroes when they do something uniquely heroic. It shows why a free society operating under the rule of law has to have brave men and women to answer a call and stand on a line to bravely serve us. Today, it is an honor to recognize Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputy Raymond Tellez Ferriol with the Florida's Finest Award.
Earlier this year, Deputy Tellez Ferriol saved the lives of three young girls.
Many people know Florida is a peninsula. We are surrounded by the ocean. On this particular day, there was a rip current that was very close to shore. If you have lived in Florida for any time or even if you have traveled to Florida, you know that rip currents can be incredibly deadly, pulling even expert swimmers out to sea very quickly.
On this day, it was supposed to be a time of fun in the Sun, but it almost turned deadly when three young girls got caught in a very strong rip current and were struggling to stay above water and get back to shore.
Deputy Tellez Ferriol was on patrol in full uniform, just going about his day protecting Floridians. He heard bystanders screaming for help. He immediately ran over, and without hesitation, he went into the water to rescue these three young girls. He grabbed flotation devices and started swimming. Thankfully, he was able to get them back to shore safely, as in this area, the strong rip current was really pushing all of them out. It was because of his bravery and his quick thinking that these girls are still alive.
While this instance had a happy ending, it is worth reminding Floridians and everyone heading to Florida--and we know there are many moving to Florida. It doesn't matter where I go in the Nation; someone I talked to just had a family member move to my home State and is one of my new constituents. But it is always important to remind everyone who lives in Florida or who visits our State's beaches of the hidden dangers of rip currents. There have already been eight confirmed deaths due to rip currents since the start of this year in Florida. So we always advise folks to swim with a partner, to consider swimming when there is a lifeguard on duty, and to identify and know what each beach warning flag means.
But today is about recognizing Deputy Tellez Ferriol. He was there that day because he was serving his community as a guardian, as someone who signed up to put his safety behind the safety of others.
I, for one, am incredibly honored and incredibly thankful that there are people like Deputy Tellez Ferriol and others who answer the call so bravely to serve others as their profession. Law enforcement officers do so much every day to keep us safe, and it is always such a joy to highlight those who show exceptional bravery and save lives.
Today, I recognize one of Florida's finest, Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputy Raymond Tellez Ferriol.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Florida.
Legislative Session
Page S4492 · Official textMadam 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.
Usmma Athletics Act of 2026
Pages S4492–S4493 · Official textMadam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 434, S. 3266.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (95 characters)
A bill (S. 3266) to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (10,639 characters)
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "USMMA Athletics Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS OF THE UNITED STATES
MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
"Sec. 51329. Support for athletic programs of the United
States Merchant Marine Academy
"(a) Corporation for Support Authorized.--
"(1) Authority.--The Secretary of Transportation may establish, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, a corporation (in this section referred to as the `corporation') to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(2) Ownership.--All stock of the corporation shall be owned by the United States and held in the name of, and subject to be voted by, the Secretary.
"(3) Purpose.--The corporation shall operate exclusively for charitable, educational, and civic purposes to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(b) Corporate Organization.--The corporation shall be organized and operated--
"(1) as a nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
"(2) in accordance with this section; and
"(3) pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, its articles of incorporation, and its bylaws.
"(c) Corporate Board of Directors.--
"(1) Limitation on compensation.--The members of the board of directors of the corporation shall serve without compensation as members of the board, except for reasonable travel and other related expenses for attendance at meetings of the board.
"(2) Department of transportation employee membership.--
"(A) In general.--The Secretary may authorize employees of the Department of Transportation to serve, in their official capacities, as members of the board of directors of the corporation--
"(i) for the sole purpose of providing oversight and advice to, and in coordination with, the corporation; and
"(ii) who may not participate in the day-to-day operations of the corporation.
"(B) Limitation.--Employees serving as a member of the board of directors pursuant to an authorization under subparagraph (A) may not hold more than one-third of the directorships.
"(C) Applicability of limitation on compensation.--An employee serving as a member of the board of directors shall be subject to the limitation on compensation under paragraph (1).
"(D) Publication in federal register.--The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register an authorization under subparagraph (A) of an employee of the Department of Transportation to participate as a member of the board of directors.
"(d) Contracts and Cooperative Agreements.--
"(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter the corporation into contracts and cooperative agreements for the purpose of supporting the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(2) Sole-source contracts.--Notwithstanding section 3105 of title 41, United States Code, a contract or cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) may be a sole-source contract, subject to section 3304(a) of such title.
"(3) Acquisitions.--Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, a cooperative agreement under this section may be used to acquire property, services, or travel for the direct benefit or use of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(e) Leases.--For the purpose of supporting the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary may rent or lease to the corporation any real property located at the United States Merchant Marine Academy--
"(1) under such terms and conditions as are deemed advisable;
"(2) for a period not exceeding 5 years;
"(3) so long as such real property is not required for immediate use by the United States Merchant Marine Academy; and
"(4) so long as all proceeds from such rental or lease be retained and expended in accordance with subsection (j).
"(f) Support Services.--
"(1) Authority.--To the extent required by a contract or cooperative agreement under subsection (d), the Secretary may provide support services to the corporation while the corporation conducts support activities at the United States Merchant Marine Academy only if the Secretary determines that the provision of such services is essential for the support of the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(2) No liability of the united states.--The provision of support services under paragraph (1) may not result in any liability for the United States to the corporation.
"(3) Support services defined.--In this subsection, the term `support services' includes utilities, office furnishings and equipment, communications services, records staging and archiving, audio and video support, and security systems, in conjunction with the leasing or licensing of property.
"(g) Transfers From Nonappropriated Fund Operation.--
"(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may, subject to the acceptance of the corporation, transfer to the corporation all title to and ownership of the assets and liabilities of the Department of Transportation nonappropriated fund instrumentality, the function of which includes providing support for the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, including bank accounts and financial reserves in the accounts of such fund instrumentality, equipment, supplies, and other personal property.
"(2) Limitation.--In making a transfer under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not transfer any interest in real property.
"(h) Acceptance of Support.--
"(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept from the corporation funds, supplies, and services for the support of the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(2) Employees of the corporation.--For purposes of this section, employees or personnel of the corporation are not employees of the United States.
"(3) Funds received from other sources.--The Secretary may charge fees for the support of athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. To support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the Secretary may accept funds from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, funds from athletic conferences, game guarantees from other educational institutions, fees for ticketing and licensing, and any other consideration provided incidental to the execution of the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(4) Limitation.--The Secretary shall ensure that contributions under this subsection and expenditure of funds pursuant to subsection (j) do not--
"(A) reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Department of Transportation, or any employee of the Department of Transportation, to carry out any responsibility or duty of the Department in a fair and objective manner; or
"(B) compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the Department of Transportation, or any individual involved in such a program.
"(i) Trademarks and Service Marks.--
"(1) Licensing, marketing, and sponsorship agreements.--Subject to paragraph (2), a contract or cooperative agreement under subsection (d) may, consistent with section 109(h)(2) of title 49, United States Code, include an authorization for the corporation to enter into licensing, marketing, and sponsorship agreements (subject to the approval of the Secretary) relating to trademarks and service marks identifying the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
"(2) Limitations.--The corporation may not enter into any licensing, marketing, or sponsorship agreement pursuant to authority provided under paragraph (1) that--
"(A) may reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Department of Transportation, or any employee of the Department of Transportation, to carry out any responsibility or duty of the Department in a fair and objective manner; or
"(B) the Secretary determines involves the use of trademarks or service marks that would compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the Department of Transportation or any individual involved in such a program.
"(j) Retention and Use of Funds.--Funds received by the Secretary under this section may be retained for use to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and shall remain available until expended.".
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
"51329. Support for athletic programs of United States Merchant Marine Academy.". (c) Licensing Authority.--Section 109(h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "(3) Licensing of intellectual property.--"(A) Authority.--The Secretary may license trademarks and service marks owned or controlled by the Secretary with respect to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and may retain and expend fees received from such licensing in accordance with this paragraph. "(B) Designated marks.--The Secretary shall designate the trademarks and service marks with respect to which the Secretary will exercise the authority to retain licensing fees under this paragraph. "(C) Use of fees.--The Secretary shall use fees retained under this paragraph for the following purposes: "(i) For payment of costs incurred by the Secretary of securing trademark registrations and of operating the licensing program under this paragraph. "(ii) For support of athletic programs and recruiting activities of the United States Merchant Marine Academy under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, to the extent (if any) that the total amount of the licensing fees available under this section for a fiscal year exceed the total amount needed for such fiscal year under paragraph (1). "(D) Availability.--Fees received in a fiscal year and retained under this paragraph shall be available until expended. "(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph, the terms `trademark' and `service mark' have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in section 45 of the Act of July 5, 1946 (commonly referred to as the `Trademark Act of 1946'; 15 U.S.C. 1127). "(F) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the USMMA Athletics Act of 2026, the Secretary shall issue guidance to implement a trademark and service mark licensing program under this paragraph.".
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be 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 committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The bill (S. 3266), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act
Pages S4493–S4494 · Official textMadam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 198, S. 434.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (102 characters)
A bill (S. 434) to establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,993 characters)
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Office of Space Commerce.
(2) State.--The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(3) United states entity.--The term "United States entity" means--
(A) an individual who is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and
(B) a nongovernmental entity organized or existing under, and subject to, the laws of the United States or a State.
SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the "Committee").
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary.
(2) Qualifications.--
(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of representatives from a variety of space policy, engineering, technical, science, legal, academic, and finance fields who have significant experience in the commercial space industry, which may include previous Government experience.
(B) Limitation.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (i), the Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any employee or official of the Federal Government.
(ii) Exception.--The Secretary may appoint as a member of the Committee a special government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) who serves on 1 or more other Federal advisory committees.
(3) Term.--Each individual appointed as a member of the Committee--
(A) shall be appointed for a term of not more than 4 years; and
(B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which such term ends, may not serve as a member of the Committee.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be--
(1) to advise on the status and recent developments of nongovernmental space activities;
(2) to provide to the Secretary and Congress recommendations on the manner in which the United States may facilitate and promote a safe, sustainable, robust, competitive, and innovative commercial sector that is investing in, developing, and conducting space activities within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, including through the development and implementation of any regulatory framework applicable to the commercial space industry;
(3) to identify, and provide recommendations in response to, any challenge faced by the United States commercial sector relating to--
(A) the application of international obligations of the United States relevant to commercial space sector activities in outer space;
(B) export controls that affect the commercial space sector;
(C) harmful interference with commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(D) access to adequate, predictable, and reliable radio frequency spectrum;
(4) to review existing best practices for United States entities to avoid--
(A) the harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies; and
(B) adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter; and
(5) to provide information, advice, and recommendations on matters relating to--
(A) United States commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(B) other commercial space sector activities, as the Committee considers necessary.
(d) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Committee is established.
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the Peters substitute amendment at the desk be 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 committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 6748) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,058 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Office of Space Commerce.
(2) State.--The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(3) United states entity.--The term "United States entity" means--
(A) an individual who is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and
(B) a nongovernmental entity organized or existing under, and subject to, the laws of the United States or a State.
SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the "Committee").
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary.
(2) Qualifications.--
(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of representatives from a variety of space policy, engineering, technical, science, legal, academic, and finance fields who have significant experience in the commercial space industry, which may include previous Government experience.
(B) Limitation.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any employee or official of the Federal Government.
(ii) Exception.--The Secretary may appoint as a member of the Committee a special government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) who serves on 1 or more other Federal advisory committees.
(3) Term.--Each individual appointed as a member of the Committee--
(A) shall be appointed for a term of not more than 4 years; and
(B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which such term ends, may not serve as a member of the Committee.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be--
(1) to advise on the status and recent developments of nongovernmental space activities;
(2) to provide to the Secretary and Congress recommendations on the manner in which the United States may facilitate and promote a safe, sustainable, robust, competitive, and innovative commercial sector that is investing in, developing, and conducting space activities within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, including through the development and implementation of any regulatory framework applicable to the commercial space industry;
(3) to identify, and provide recommendations in response to, any challenge faced by the United States commercial sector relating to--
(A) the application of international obligations of the United States relevant to commercial space sector activities in outer space;
(B) export controls that affect the commercial space sector;
(C) harmful interference with commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(D) access to adequate, predictable, and reliable radio frequency spectrum;
(4) to review existing best practices for United States entities to avoid--
(A) the harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies; and
(B) adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter; and
(5) to provide information, advice, and recommendations on matters relating to--
(A) United States commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(B) other commercial space sector activities, as the Committee considers necessary.
(d) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Committee is established.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The bill (S. 434), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
MEASURES PLACED ON THE CALENDAR EN BLOC--S. 5271 and H.R. 7008
Page S4494 · Official textMadam President, I understand that there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator is correct.
The clerk will read the bills by title for a second time en bloc. The bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (286 characters)
A bill (S. 5271) to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
A bill (H.R. 7008) to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.
Madam President, in order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Objection having been heard, the bills will be placed on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV.
Executive Session
Page S4494 · Official textMadam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume executive session.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis)
The Senator from Maine.
Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act
Pages S4494–S4495 · Official textMr. President, I will soon ask that the Senate pass S. 2398, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. The Tick Act was approved by the Senate HELP Committee more than a year ago with strong bipartisan support.
I am proud to have authorized the original Tick Act in 2019 with my colleague Senator Tina Smith. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens Federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
The Tick Act essentially has three parts: First, it reauthorizes funding for the CDC's four Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases; second, it extends grants to State and local public health departments to help them treat, test for, and conduct public education campaigns about ticks and other vector-borne diseases; and, third, it requires HHS to implement its national strategy to combat vector-borne diseases.
Our bill is named after our former colleague Senator Kay Hagan. Kay, with whom I had the pleasure of serving, passed away in October of 2019 at the age of 66 from complications of a deadly tick-borne illness known as the Powassan virus. It is my hope that reauthorizing the Tick Act will help prevent future tragedies such as this one.
Tick-borne diseases are a major public health concern, and the incidents have exploded over the past 20 years. Each year, the State of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases of Lyme disease. Last year, Maine reported 4,257 cases. Undoubtedly, that understates the number of cases because many are not reported. But that amount alone is more than double the number of cases reported in my home State just 6 years ago. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set.
The Lewiston Sun Journal reported just last week that every community in Maine's Franklin County faces a high risk of tick encounters for this season. Nevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress, and we have made progress in the 6 years since this law was first enacted.
For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. It has always struck me, as I run, that every year my beloved Labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases and yet we cannot--we humans cannot--and I am hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference.
Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects, such as that research and others across the United States and public education campaigns--which are so important in teaching people what to do if they have a tick bite--that will all be allowed to continue.
I want to thank Senator Smith for partnering with me on this reauthorization, and I would note that we have 21 bipartisan cosponsors. I urge all of my colleagues to support this lifesaving legislation.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 154, S. 2398.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (79 characters)
A bill (S. 2398) to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italics, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,078 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the "Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act".
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS.
(a) National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 317U of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 284s) and other individuals, as appropriate" and inserting "appropriate individuals";
(2) in subsection (c), by striking "in coordination with" and inserting "acting through"; and
(3) in subsection (f), by striking "2021 through 2025" and inserting "2026 through 2030".
(b) Enhanced Support to Assist Health Departments in Addressing Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 2822(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-32(c)) is amended by striking "2021 through 2025" and inserting "2026 through 2030".
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered and agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.
I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there further debate on the bill?
Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 2398), as amended, was passed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Colorado.
Deondra Dixon Include Project Act of 2026
Pages S4495–S4498 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 1838, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act.
Thousands of Americans live with Down syndrome, and yet research has been underfunded for decades.
In 2017, Congress encouraged the National Institutes of Health, the NIH, to launch the INCLUDE Project--an effort to make groundbreaking discoveries about conditions that disproportionately affect people with Down syndrome, like Alzheimer's disease.
The INCLUDE Project brings together multiple NIH institutes under a coordinated approach that is already delivering significant scientific discoveries as well as new treatments.
The bipartisan, bicameral DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act will officially authorize the INCLUDE Project into law.
The bill will ensure that Congress and the American people have visibility into the scientific breakthroughs that are so needed for this community. The INCLUDE Project is already yielding significant scientific results, and Colorado is at the core of these scientific advances.
Today, Colorado is proudly home to the world's leading Down syndrome advocacy, research, and medical care partners at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer's and Cognition Center, and the Sie Center at Children's Hospital Colorado.
We need to make sure that improving health outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome remains a priority and do so in honor of DeOndra Dixon, an extraordinary person who was an advocate leaving a legacy that will help improve lives for generations.
This bill has support on both sides of the aisle, including Senators Jerry Moran and Cory Booker and Representatives Diana DeGette and Richard Hudson. We also thank Senators Bennet, Padilla, Capito, Coons, Van Hollen, and Ossoff for their support.
We are determined to get this bill across the finish line for DeOndra and for the thousands of Americans who will see their lives improve for the better by this critical research.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1838.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (225 characters)
A bill (S. 1838) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Hickenlooper substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 6751), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,975 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. DEONDRA DIXON INCLUDE PROJECT.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"SEC. 409K. DOWN SYNDROME RESEARCH.
"(a) In General.--The Director of NIH shall carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome to be known as the `INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE Project' or the `INCLUDE Project'.
"(b) Program Elements.--The program under subsection (a) shall include--
"(1) high-risk, high-reward research on the effects of trisomy 21 on human development and health;
"(2) promoting research for participants with Down syndrome across the lifespan, including cohort studies to facilitate improved understanding of Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions and development of new interventions;
"(3) expanding the number of clinical trials that are inclusive of, or expressly for, participants with Down syndrome, including novel biomedical and pharmacological interventions and other therapies designed to promote or enhance activities of daily living;
"(4) research on the biological mechanisms in individuals with Down syndrome pertaining to structural, functional, and behavioral anomalies and dysfunction as well as stunted growth;
"(5) supporting research to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions co-occurring with Down syndrome, including the identification of biomarkers related to risk factors, diagnosis, and clinical research and therapeutics;
"(6) research on the causes of increased prevalence, and concurrent treatment, of co-occurring conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and autoimmunity, in individuals with Down syndrome; and
"(7) research, training, and investigation on improving the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
"(c) Coordination; Prioritizing Nonduplicative Research.--The Director of NIH shall ensure that--
"(1) the programs and activities of the institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health relating to Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions are coordinated, including through the Office of the Director of NIH and priority-setting reviews conducted pursuant to section 402(b)(3); and
"(2) such institutes and centers, prioritize, as appropriate, Down syndrome research that does not duplicate existing research activities of the National Institutes of Health.
"(d) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out activities under this section, the Director of NIH shall, as appropriate and to the maximum extent feasible, consult with relevant stakeholders, including patient advocates, to ensure that such activities take into consideration the needs of individuals with Down syndrome.
"(e) Biennial Reports to Congress.--
"(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall submit, on a biennial basis, to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report that catalogs the research conducted or supported under this section.
"(2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include--
"(A) identification of the institute or center involved;
"(B) a statement of whether the research is or was being carried out directly by such institute or center or by multiple institutes and centers; and
"(C) identification of any resulting real-world evidence that is or may be used for clinical research and medical care for patients with Down syndrome.".
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.
Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Is there further debate?
Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass, as amended?
The bill (S. 1838), as amended, was passed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Maine.
Mr. President, I am very pleased that we could pass these two very important bills this afternoon.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that the University of Maine has an excellent lab that specializes in testing ticks for pathogens, and it has worked very closely with our game wardens, with foresters, with the others who are routinely in the woods of Maine and are exposed to tick bites. It actually has developed a little tick kit where you can send the tick into the lab, and it will be tested for pathogens.
So I would be remiss if I did not salute the University of Maine for its excellent work on tick-borne illnesses. This legislation is going to make a big difference in helping to advance their work, as well as the research at the MaineHealth research institute.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno)
The Senator from Colorado.
Mr. President, I also would be remiss if I didn't recognize, once again, the incredible partners that have been behind these Down syndrome advocacy, research, and medical care--primarily the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, but also the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer's and Cognition Center, and the Sie Center at Children's Hospital Colorado.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Democratic whip.
Mr. President, a few years ago, I met a young woman who lives in the Chicago suburbs. She told me a story of her college career and what it led to. It was something I had never heard before.
Her experience in trying to pursue a degree leading to law enforcement took her not to the normal, predictable academic sources, but to a new industry, which was opening up in our country--for-profit colleges and universities.
Hers was a sad story. She had been enrolled in one of these for-profit colleges and paid the tuition, took the courses--some of them in person, some of them online--and ultimately went to a counselor and asked if she was headed for a bachelor's degree because of her coursework, and he assured her that she was. She went on to say that she hoped to be able to get into law enforcement--that was her ultimate goal. He gave her assurances that that would happen.
She finished her degree at this for-profit college and university in Chicago and then took her certificate showing her graduation to would-be employers--police departments in the area. They laughed at her, and they said: That is not a real school. That is a for-profit school, and the courses you took don't count. If you want a degree in law enforcement that leads to a real job, you can't get it from a for-profit college and university.
Well, that was a heartbreak to her because she spent years working on it. But what was even worse was, she was so deeply in debt for student loans that she borrowed from this phony university.
She, when I met her, was living in her parents' basement, had no future ahead of her for doing what she thought was the right thing--getting a college degree.
What she didn't know, and what we know now, is that there are two numbers that tell the story of for-profit colleges and universities. You hear their names like University of Phoenix--that is probably the most prominent one people hear over and over--and you see their advertisements and brochures that are mailed to high school seniors enticing them to sign up for these for-profit schools.
What you don't know is that although only 8 percent of high school graduates go to for-profit colleges and universities--8 percent--30 percent of all student loan defaults are the students from these same schools.
What is going on here? Such a low number--8 percent--going on to these schools and such a high number of loan defaults. That is because they issue worthless degrees and entice these students into deep debt.
Many times, a parent or even a grandparent will cosign on the loans for these for-profit schools; and when everything falls apart, as it is likely to, everybody is held liable and responsible. That is why we have had an ongoing battle here in Washington for years against the for-profit college and university industry.
There was a legal battle in a case called Sweet v. McMahon, which has gone on for years. It finally, this week, came to an end, and it is an important case on the subject of for-profit colleges and universities.
It was the largest class-action settlement against the Federal Government in the history of our Nation. That is life-changing news for nearly half a million Federal student loan borrowers who will receive $23 billion in relief after being misled and defrauded by for-profit colleges.
If you listen to the radio on your morning commute or watch TV after a long days' work, then you have no doubt been hit with flashy advertising from institutions like the University of Phoenix looking to lure in unsuspecting students.
Here is the catch: These institutions often rip off those students, lying about their prospects for a job, their ability to have credits that transfer to any other school, or their likely salary after graduation.
In fact, these schools, as I mentioned, enroll only 8 percent of the students but account for 30 percent of all Federal student loan defaults. Too much debt; too little education.
NPR recently highlighted the story of Jessica Feindt of Michigan. She enrolled at the University of Phoenix to study psychology.
She said she "paid a lot out of pocket" and "through student loans."
She realized later that the school's recruitment counselor had repeatedly misled her, including by telling her that a degree would be accepted by Michigan graduate programs--that was false.
By the time she had learned her degree was useless, she was already underwater and deeply in debt. So she joined this class-action lawsuit, originally filed during President Trump's first term, to get relief. Mr. President, 4 years later--it took 4 years--she will finally see the relief, which she is entitled to.
The first Trump administration--go figure--denied nearly all of these claims by the students, which a Federal court described as "disturbingly Kafkaesque."
But in 2022, President Joe Biden and his administration settled the case and forgave the student loan debts of nearly 300,000 borrowers who had been defrauded. Under the terms of that settlement, borrowers who were not part of the original class had 5 months to file claims. If the Department of Education had not adjudicated the additional claims by early 2026, borrowers still waiting in limbo would be automatically entitled to relief.
But while the Trump administration can quickly green-light permanent tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, as in their so-called Big Beautiful Bill, they hesitated when it came to giving relief to these students who just wanted a fair shot.
In late 2025, the Trump administration asked for an additional 18 months to review the students' claims--students who were defrauded by these schools.
A Federal district judge said "enough." Last month, a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit unanimously upheld this decision. Good.
Like their tactics with DACA recipients and the slow-walking of renewal applications with the USCIS, the administration was asking for more time so that they could bleed out these borrowers and deny relief to hundreds of thousands of students deep in debt living in their parents' basement trying to figure out if they had a future.
This is where the priorities lie. I am glad these borrowers, after years and years of waiting, will finally get the relief they are entitled to.
For the last 15 years or more, I have sent a letter to every high school counselor in the State of Illinois. I send it about the first of the year and warn them: Be careful not to let your students be lured into these for-profit colleges and universities. They are going to send them brochures. They are going to tee them up with all sorts of things on the internet. It will be a dazzling display about the college, which is not a real college; it is a for-profit college and university.
Be careful. The time that you spend there, the money that you spend there may be a total waste or worse. It could be a debt that trails you for years and years, if not decades, in your life.
Thank goodness for these students, the thousands of students who are benefited by President Biden's decision. The courts finally stood by them and gave these students a second chance. It has been a situation I have run into time and again. I have threatened some of these for-profit schools as a way of getting them to drop the loans that they were enforcing on these students because I know what happens in the end.
Students need to be careful. You can't go wrong starting with city colleges and community colleges in your community. It is affordable. There are alternatives there. Most of the time, the hours that you earn there are going to be transferable to real colleges and universities. I beg my young students in Illinois to start there and the student counselors to do their job and discourage kids from getting involved with these for-profit schools.
Mr. President, last October, the Trump administration cut more than $7 billion in energy grant funding going to States across America, including more than $580 million for Illinois. At the time, the administration promised that these cancellations were meant to cut "waste, fraud, and abuse." But someone once told me that in politics there is always a good reason, and then there is always a real reason.
Of the 284 cancelled grants, how many do you think went to a State that voted for President Trump? 100? 50? 10? Of the 284 grants this administration revoked, only one went to a State that voted for Donald Trump. The rest went to blue States. At the time, the Trump administration went through pains to tell us that these cancellations were not political. We knew that could not be true. And now, we have proof.
The Department of Energy admitted in court documents that these cancellations were "based solely on the political identity of the recipient's state," or in other words "whether the recipient's location was in a Blue State." The administration wasn't making policy based on what's best for America. They were making decisions based on the President's vendettas. This is petty, it is unlawful, and it is wrong.
It is especially egregious to cancel these crucial grants when Americans' energy bills are skyrocketing. In the last year alone, Illinoisans paid $210 more for their power, and that number is only expected to go up in light of Trump's war with Iran. You would think that President Trump, who ran on bringing costs down on "day one," would make addressing these record price hikes his top priority. Instead, he has deeply undermined our capacity to lower prices, all to settle petty political scores.
In Illinois, more than $150 million of the cancelled awards were meant to upgrade the power grid. These upgrades would have made the grid more reliable in the face of rising energy demand. Now, that work is in jeopardy. When the government cancels funding for grid upgrades, those needs do not just go away. Instead, utility companies will pass along the cost of upgrades to consumers. My constituents are paying more for their electricity, heating, and cooling because of President Trump.
That is why I am leading Illinois Democrats in a letter to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and OMB Director Russ Vought outlining the harm these cancellations have done to our State over the past 9 months. I urge my Republican colleagues to join in urging this administration to reverse course and reject this administration's blatant defiance of Congress' authority under the Constitution. If this precedent is set, your State could be next to see its funding revoked.
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.
Mr. President, as the Presiding Officer knows, one of the privileges of being a Senator is the opportunity to work alongside dedicated, talented staff. They take the Senator's ideas and concepts and turn them into real legislation that improves the lives of our constituents and improves our country. Without them, we are unable to do our job.
As I near the end of my career in Congress, I reflect on the staff who have come and gone and the work we have done that will have a lasting impact on the Nation.
Today, I honor an invaluable member of my team, my HELP Committee deputy staff director, Danielle Janowski. She is leaving Capitol Hill after nearly 17 years of service.
Danielle joined my HELP Committee leadership team in 2023 when I became the ranking member. She had previously worked in the House and for Senators Ernst and Thune. As deputy staff director, she kept the trains moving. She made sure that staff were all rowing in the same direction and that every committee product was done on time and was of the highest quality.
Danielle is an institutionalist at heart, and it was through that lens that she always fought for the HELP Committee to be strategic, thorough, and professional. She cares about this institution and what it represents. She views it as her duty to mentor other young staffers to carry forward the traditions and collaboration that the Senate deserves.
It is because of her leadership that the HELP Committee has been successful in getting bills signed into law that lower the cost of healthcare, strengthen our education system, empower workers, and enhance our retirement system.
Importantly, Danielle has been a leader in the fight for life. She spearheaded my work to protect unborn babies and mothers, an issue so important to me and to the people of Louisiana. Her passion for this cause and her deep connection with the pro-life community made her indispensable and an effective champion. She was instrumental in leading the first pro-life hearing this Congress, my investigation into abortion pill manufacturers harming mothers, and our efforts to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood in the Working Families Tax Cuts. None of this would have been possible without her passion, strategic guidance, and unrelenting determination. Babies' lives have been saved, and families are better off because of the work that she led. And what can be more important than that?
What Danielle will be most remembered for on our HELP team is her exceptional leadership and friendship. She is beloved by everyone who worked with her--a trusted and calming presence during transitions and chaotic times. When there was conflict or when staff simply needed someone to talk to, Danielle was there. She is an advocate, a mentor, a sounding board, and a friend to everyone.
Her departure is not only a loss for the office but for the entire Capitol Hill community. But our loss is someone else's gain. I am proud she will continue her public service at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, leading policy to improve families' health and drive down the cost of care. She will continue to make a positive difference and be an invaluable partner to those who remain in Congress. I look forward to working with her in this new capacity.
It has been a pleasure to watch Danielle grow as a leader and as a person. I thank her for her service to my office, to the Senate, and to the Nation.
With that, I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Budd)
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Missouri.
Recognizing the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team
Pages S4498–S4504 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to honor one of the greatest teams to ever wear the black and gold, the 1960 Missouri Tigers. They finished 11 and 0. They conquered the Big Eight. They defeated the Navy Midshipmen 21 to 14 in the Orange Bowl in Florida. But their greatness can't be measured by their record alone; their story is about something deeper--perseverance after humiliation, accountability in the face of injustice, and the integrity of men who kept their word.
To understand what they accomplished, we must go back 2 years. Dan Devine arrived at Missouri in 1958 and inherited a program searching for its footing. His first team brought one terrible afternoon in Norman, OK. The Sooners beat Missouri 39 to nothing. It was a humiliating, dismantling, and devastating loss.
After the game, Coach Devine stood before his players in the visiting locker room, knowing full well many of those men would graduate having never beaten OU. Coach Devine looked at the younger men and made a promise: Two years from that day, Missouri would return to Norman, and Missouri would win.
That was no small pledge. Oklahoma ruled the conference at that time. The Sooners hadn't lost a conference game at home since 1942. Norman was where the soaring dreams of visiting teams came crashing down to reality. But a promise had been made by Coach Devine, so for 2 years, the Tigers went to work.
By the fall of 1960, Missouri had become a machine--powerful, disciplined, relentless. The Tigers went into Happy Valley and beat Penn State. They traveled to Lincoln, NE, and shut out the Cornhuskers. They defeated the powerhouse that was Colorado. Eight games, eight victories--not a single team put up double digits against them.
Then came the return to Norman. Oklahoma struck first. For a moment, the Tigers were seeing ghosts. For a moment, the boys in black and gold had "Boomer Sooner" ringing in their ears. For a moment, it felt like 1958 all over again. But this Missouri team did not panic; it answered.
Norris Stevenson, one of the great pioneers in Mizzou history, tore down the sideline for a 77-yard touchdown. Later, with Oklahoma threatening to seize the momentum, Stevenson broke free again, this time from 60 yards out. He finished with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Missouri finished with 41 points. And when the clock hit triple zeroes, the scoreboard read "Missouri 41, Oklahoma 19." Two years from the humiliating loss on the field, Dan Devine and his players walked out of Norman as victors--a promise they had kept.
The Tigers returned home undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the Nation. Only one obstacle remained between Missouri and an unblemished season. Unfortunately, that obstacle was Kansas.
Rivalry games can produce strange results. Sometimes, the underdog rises. Sometimes, the favorite has an off day. And sometimes, Kansas simply uses a player who wasn't eligible to be on the field.
The Jayhawks defeated Missouri on the scoreboard. For a few brief and fraudulent weeks, they called themselves conference champs, but there was a problem: The Jayhawks had discovered that the only way they could execute better than Missouri was by breaking the rules.
The Big Eight ordered Kansas to forfeit the victory and stripped the Jayhawks of the conference title. Kansas could keep the memory of the final whistle; Missouri kept the title. That distinction matters. A football game, yes, is a contest of strength, but it is a contest that is governed by rules. Without rules, victory means nothing. A championship obtained by cheating is not a championship at all.
The people of Kansas have spent more than six decades trying to turn a blatant penalty into a moral victory, but the truth is harder to bear, and facts are stubborn things. Missouri finished 11 and 0, reminding the conference and the American populace that cheaters never truly win.
But Missouri's season wasn't finished. On January 2, 1961, the Tigers took the field in Miami against fourth-ranked Navy. Watching from the stands was President John F. Kennedy. Navy had a Heisman Trophy winner named Joe Bellino. Missouri had a defense built to break the will of its opponent.
The Tigers held that year's Heisman winner just to 4 rushing yards. Then they overcame a 98-yard fumble return. They absorbed every blow Navy could deliver, and when the night was over, Missouri had won 21 to 14, securing the first bowl victory in school history.
Every generation needs examples of men who stuck to their word. Dan Devine made a promise in the ashes of defeat. His players believed him. His players were descendants of those who fought in Europe and the Pacific. His players were hardened by parents who had weathered the Great Depression. They accepted their coach's promise as their word when they spent 2 years earning the right to fulfill it. They did not complain about the humiliation they had experienced in Norman; they prepared for a return. They didn't allow the Kansas dishonesty to define their season; they trusted that the truth would prevail. When adversity followed them to Miami, they answered it with discipline, toughness, and ultimately victory.
More than six decades later, the 1960 Tigers still embody the character of Missouri. We are a people who work. We are a people who endure. We are a people who keep our promises.
The men of that team brought home a Big Eight championship and the Orange Bowl championship game in a perfect season, but their greatest legacy was the example they left behind: Stand firm, do the work, keep your word, run the ball, and never surrender what was rightfully yours.
Today, I am proud to honor Coach Dan Devine, Norris Stevenson, and every member of the undefeated 1960 Missouri Tigers. Their promise was kept, their championship was earned, their record remains perfect, and Kansas still lost.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 833, which is before the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (192 characters)
A resolution (S. Res. 833) recognizing the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team for its undefeated regular season, Orange Bowl victory, and claim to the 1960 National Championship.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 833) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to. (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record under "Submitted Resolutions.") I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from New Jersey.
I am grateful for your recognition, Mr. President.
And I am going to try to get this order right. This is legislative session. I am going to give some remarks and then ask for a unanimous consent on a bill.
But I really want to, first, talk about something really challenging, tragic, that happened in the State of New Jersey. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo died. He is dead, and it is a death that did not have to be.
He was detained by ICE on June 18. He was sent to Delaney Hall in my home city, in Newark, NJ--it is a detention center--and he never came out alive.
Mr. President, 20 years--20 years--Edwin lived in the United States of America, 20 years of building a life here, 20 years of being connected to people and community, 20 years of making here in America a way forward. And yet, in less than 2 months of detention, the immigration system in our country led to his death.
And in Delaney Hall, he is the third person in 9 months to die; the 23rd person to die in ICE custody this year--not the first warning sign, not the second, this is the third death at the same facility and yet nothing changes.
Let me tell you exactly how Edwin Lopez-Cornejo died because his family deserves to have his name said on the Senate floor and his story told plainly.
Edwin had diabetes. He had high blood pressure. He needed his medication to survive, and Delaney Hall denied it to him. The day before he died, he told his mother that his arm had gone numb, half his face had gone numb. And understand, this is not a minor complaint. This was a man that was having a medical emergency, telling someone exactly what was happening to his body.
Did anyone come to his aid? No. Did he get his medication? No. Less than 24 hours, he was dead.
Doctors have warned us, attorneys have warned us in New Jersey, families have warned us, a chorus of people in our communities--not politicians, not political activists--doctors, lawyers have been warning us, detainees who walked out of that building, with their testimony and the facts and the evidence, people have said over and over again that this facility is dangerous. It is not well run, and within it is a pattern of disregard for human decency.
DHS has known that Delaney Hall is nothing short of a travesty since they reopened it over a year ago. So who runs what is, for so many, a house of horrors? Who runs the institution that I saw myself when I went there and met people? This is not for serious criminals. This is not a place for folks who have done serious crimes in our country. This is a detention facility for people, many of them have been in our country for decades, many of them have American spouses, American children.
And when I went there, I saw mothers who were recently postpartum who were not getting the support. I saw a woman who lost her child while in that detention facility, had a miscarriage there, did not get the support that she needed. Story after story, people told me what is going on there, the horrors that are going on there.
And who runs it? The U.S. Government does not run that center. It is a private group called the GEO Group, a private for-profit prison that has high-level Republican officials among its former employees. This group won a billion-dollar contract: no competition, no bidding, lots of campaign contributions, a phone call, a signature, and they have a billion dollars of taxpayer money.
New Jersey had to sue this company just to get health inspectors through the front door of a facility operating on American soil, funded by American taxpayers, and our State couldn't even do basic health inspections.
They did not get--they did not get--the permits to open that place. They did not have inspections before they did so. This is a private company taking a billion dollars of American taxpayer money. The less they provide sanitary services, the less they provide doctors and medical professionals, the more profit they make off of taxpayers. At whose expense? At the decency of American people and at the expense of the lives of the people who are there.
We give them hundreds of millions of dollars. And what are the reports out of Delaney Hall? Spoiled food, contaminated water, staff who retaliate against people brave enough to speak up about the conditions. A billion dollars in inadequate accountability. A billion dollars in inadequate healthcare. A billion dollars and a man whose face is numb, whose arm is numb, who is asking for help--does not get treatment, does not get healthcare.
So, here is the truth. It is clear for the GEO Group that part of their business model is this cruelty: cut medical staff, skimp on food, let the air-conditioning go out during the hottest days in New Jersey, let the roof leak, cram more bodies into less space. Every corner cut is a dollar of their profit. Every dollar of their profit is a dollar that the GEO Group's executives get to celebrate on their next earnings call.
GEO Group's stock has more than doubled since February of 2026--more than doubled. You know why? Well, follow the money.
Three million dollars from the GEO Group and its executives went into Donald Trump's campaign, into his PAC, into his inauguration. It is a pay-to-play that is worse than that. A pay-to-play and people get hurt. Lives are lost.
Over $2 billion in Federal contracts to run facilities like Delaney Hall in our country. This is not immigration policy. This is not what we stand for. No one loses their humanity because they are incarcerated. No one should lose their basic rights because they are behind bars.
Look, I am all for what this administration promised it would do. They said they would go after the "worst of the worst." They said they would go after the people threatening our communities, menacing our families. We should all be supportive of that.
I believe we should have strong borders. I believe we should get criminals off of our streets. But the people actually locked up in that building in Delaney Hall? We know that more than 70 percent of the people have never been convicted of a single crime.
I met a high school student who had more of a Jersey accent than I do, who just wanted to walk with his class--rounded up. I have had the Catholic church reach out to me because of the sweeps they are doing around schools and churches. I have had family members beg me to get folks out in order to see their American children hit milestones like birthdays and graduations. I have been appealed to by everyone from priests to Republicans in our community. Many are following our laws.
But we in the U.S. Senate, Congress, hold the purse strings the administration depends on. We should be a check and a balance. We should demand that our taxpayer dollars are being used.
And when we see a body count climbing that is not normal, when we see more and more deaths, when we see a mother's son whose face went numb the night before, we should be asking for action and accountability.
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo's death was not a tragedy. A tragedy is something that no one could have prevented. This is a choice. Every single day the DHS keeps Delaney Hall open is another choice to let this happen, three times already. We should not make this choice.
Mr. President, I am now asking for a unanimous consent to pass the Delaney Hall Closure Act, which would close Delaney Hall within 90 days. They are out of excuses. We are out of time. How many more people should die?
So as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of my bill at the desk; that the bill be considered read three times and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Lummis)
Is there an objection?
The Senator from Missouri.
Madam President, reserving the right to object.
I have been advised to address this so-called Delaney Hall Closure Act.
My colleague's bill, though, really doesn't do anything to address the issues that he has raised. He doesn't hire a single doctor. He doesn't ask a single nurse. It doesn't require a single inspection. It simply orders the Department of Homeland Security to close Delaney Hall, cancel its contract, and permanently prevent ICE from using the facility again. Two pages, three commands: Close it, cancel it, never open it again. That is abolition with a short title.
The diagnosis is ideological, and the prescription was written before the patient entered the room. If something goes wrong at a hospital, you investigate what happened. You identify the failure. You discipline the people responsible. You repair the facility, improve the procedures, and make the hospital better. You don't unlock every door, abandon the building, and announce that healthcare itself was the crime.
If the bridge needs repair, you fix the bridge. You don't blow it up and congratulate yourself for preventing future traffic accidents. Yet that is the theory behind this bill. A tragedy did occur; therefore, Democrats say law enforcement must disappear.
But closing Delaney Hall doesn't eliminate the need for detention. It leaves three choices: transfer detainees somewhere else, possibly further from their families, lawyers and doctors; crowd them into another facility and further strain medical staff; or release people the law says should remain in custody, while this ceases the removals, and so they are not completed.
The bill provides no replacement capacity, no transfer plan, no continuity of care requirement, no additional medical funding. It removes a thousand-bed facility from the system and calls the resulting chaos compassion.
And let us be clear about why immigration detention exists. It is used to ensure appearances at immigration proceedings, facilitate lawful removals, and to protect the public from criminals.
My colleague and my friend from New Jersey says many detainees have not been convicted of crimes. That is beside the point. A person doesn't need a criminal conviction to lack a lawful right to be in the United States of America. That is our immigration laws. That is how we have operated for decades. And anyone detained can leave detention whenever they want. They must simply agree to return to their home country.
What Democrats demand is for illegal aliens to remain in America and be above the law.
Now, I am willing to take my colleague's concerns seriously. If Delaney Hall needs more doctors, let us fund more doctors. If it needs more nurses, better medication tracking, stronger inspections, faster emergency response, or better communication with families, let us write those regulations into law and pay for them.
I would gladly work with my friend the Senator from New Jersey on additional resources for safe and secure ICE detention facilities. But there is one problem. My colleague and others on his side have vowed to not give ICE one more penny.
We have just lived through this with a shutdown. We heard these words on the floor from many Members of the other side.
They also voted against a bill that allocated 45 billion to further fund and sustain the capabilities of ICE in their detention facilities.
So the position apparently is this: Vote against the beds. Vote against the facilities. Vow to deny the agency another dollar. Then point to a stray condition and demand that the facility close. You can't pull the batteries out of a smoke alarm and then pose behind the ashes demanding to know who failed. You can't starve a system, condemn the strain, and call abolition the only human solution. That is not good-faith oversight. That is not serious governance. That is not a viable solution. Democrats oppose the funding needed to enforce the law. They oppose the facilities needed to hold people safely. They oppose the removals that detention makes possible. Then, when the system shows any pressure, they point to that pressure as proof that enforcement itself must end. The sequence never changes: defund, obstruct, investigate, abolish. The goal for many Democrats is very clear. It is not better detention facilities; it is no detention at all. The bill does not make one detention facility safer; it shuts down a facility and pushes the problem somewhere else. A serious Senate would let the current investigation run its course, correct failures, and strengthen the system. An unserious Senate shuts down the building and pretends the law no longer needs enforcement. I object to using a pending investigation as a ploy to dismantle law enforcement. I object to defunding ICE and then blaming ICE for lacking resources. Fix what is broken. Hold wrongdoers accountable. Protect every person in Federal custody, of course, but we must enforce the law. For those reasons, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted)
Objection is heard.
The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. President, I appreciate the good-faith words of my colleague, and I will take it to heart that he is against unnecessary deaths and that the GEO Group should be investigated thoroughly and be held accountable. I do want to make followup points.
First of all, I live in North New Jersey. I used to run the police department as its mayor. There is nobody who feels more urgency for public safety in my city than I do. I hired many law enforcement officers and worked well with ICE, worked well with the FBI and with the DOJ--with all of the Federal law enforcement officers--in a coordinated effort to protect my community.
This idea that Democrats want to defund ICE is wrong. I actually believe we need law enforcement in our communities to keep us safe. But I want to make sure we do it in a way that comports with our values and our decency.
Let's be clear. There is no law enforcement agency in America that has more money than ICE has right now. As to this idea that the Democrats have done anything to defund it right now, ICE has more than the FBI, more than the ATF, and more than the Coast Guard combined. It is the most well-funded Agency there is. So the idea that they cannot provide for the basic needs of people who are in their facilities is a lie. This is not a money problem. ICE has all the money they need, and they are showing an inability to keep their inmates alive.
Now, I like my colleague's metaphor that if a bridge is broken, you close the bridge. I know this because, again, I was a mayor. If people are falling through holes on a bridge, we close the bridge. Do the inspections, but don't leave people in a hellscape where people continue to die in that facility. Keeping that open is irresponsible. ICE has enough money to transfer to other facilities the people who are a real threat. ICE has enough money to run around my State and overspend for real estate, as they have done in one of my towns. They are throwing cash around in a way that should offend Republicans and anybody who is fiscally prudent, but we are not holding the people accountable.
Yes, if something is broken, you stop using it. If people are dying because of a defect in a car, you don't use it. If people are falling through holes on a bridge, you close it. We have a responsibility to taxpayers' money, and we have shoveled this Agency more money than any law enforcement agency there is, and then we are not doing what is necessary to hold these people, like the GEO Group, accountable.
I will continue to stand for law enforcement. One of the reasons I got elected by my State is that we drove crime down in the city of Newark. Everybody saw it. Investment came back, and the population came back. I believe in creating safety in my community. This is not about the accusations that somehow, Democrats don't believe we should have strong law enforcement. If anybody believes in that, I know my record here in the Senate speaks to that.
How can we stand here and allow this from a facility in which multiple people have died in the most gruesome ways? How can we allow this from an organization that is supposed to be providing healthcare but is denying it? How can we allow this in accordance with our own values? Enough is enough.
Delaney Hall is a nightmare. I did not come to the floor to talk about closing facilities all over the country; I am talking about one facility with a record of people dying unnecessarily, with a record of people being denied medical care, with a record of people being denied healthy food--one facility that is failing. For this body to keep it open while waiting for something to change while more people are suffering and may die is irresponsible beyond compare.
I believe there is common ground on both sides of the aisle where we can achieve the highest levels of safety and also ensure that within our incarcerating facilities, people are treated with dignity. I have worked across the aisle with Senator Lindsey Graham, with Senator Chuck Grassley, and with Senator Mike Lee to improve conditions in the Bureau of Prisons. I hope that when it comes to ICE facilities and this private, for-profit company where people are dying that we can find some common ground to stop this nightmare from happening.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Delaware.
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act
Mr. President, one of the questions we all have to wrestle with in life is, Why do the innocent suffer? Why do the righteous find, at times, the circumstances of their lives to be so painful as to be beyond imagined? And how does one make purpose out of pain?
Of all the diseases that afflict mankind, ALS is one of the most cruel. It robs someone of their ability to speak, to walk, to move, to care for themselves, yet leaves them completely present and conscious.
Over the 16 years that I have served here in the U.S. Senate, I have been blessed by visit after visit from families going from office to office to ask not for themselves, not to lessen their pain or their suffering or their challenges but to try and turn their experience into a positive investment for others, lots of different families with lots of different challenges--mostly medical--sometimes the parents of children taken hostage in other countries or veterans who didn't get the benefits they were entitled to but often families whose loved ones or who they themselves are suffering with cancer, with Parkinson's, or with ALS.
Today, I am coming to the floor to celebrate a great and enduring friendship and partnership that has helped to make a difference in this dread disease. Through some of the visits to my office, I have gotten to know some amazing people: Craig and Kristen Colby of Delaware; Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya; Dan Tate, whom I knew from college.
My engagement in trying to tackle the ravages of ALS began earlier. A dear friend from Newark, DE, Alex Snyder-Mackler--his father Scott lived with and then died from ALS; my chief of staff lost his father to ALS; and my brother lost his best friend. And now today, my best friend from growing up, Dr. Jack Flynn, is bravely living through what has been a tragic and difficult diagnosis and a steadily worsening condition.
When you meet someone with ALS, they are always accompanied by someone by their side who knows every detail, who helps them to eat, to talk, to live, to communicate. And they are looking for ways to make meaning out of their suffering.
Through all of this, I have had an incredible partner and advocate, a dear friend--the senior Senator from the State of Alaska, my colleague Senator Lisa Murkowski. We are the cochairs of the Senate ALS Caucus, and I am blessed to have her with me on the floor today as we announce the next step forward in our work together on ALS.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Alaska.
Mr. President, we go through periods here in the U.S. Senate where there are frustrating issues that we deal with. There are hours of unknown as to what is going to happen. Are we going to be able to make something happen? Are we making a difference? And some days can be particularly discouraging.
We have a long way to go before this day is through, but to be here at the midpoint of this day and to be able to, as my colleague and friend from Delaware has stated, to be able to celebrate an accomplishment is a reminder that we do good here. And we don't do good on our own. It takes teamwork. It takes cooperation and collaboration. It takes advocacy. This is really what makes me just filled with a level of optimism and hope as we are talking about where we are at this moment for the ALS community.
The House passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act. We call it ACT for ALS. They passed it a few weeks ago, and then the Senate was able to pass it in wrapup. Yes, that means it passed by unanimous consent here yesterday. We are now in the final step of reauthorizing a program that is making a real difference for people living with ALS.
I think it is so important to just take a step back and say "What does that mean?" because we have not found the cure, unfortunately, for ALS. This legislation is not about this magical treatment that has come to be. But what we were able to do working together now 5 years ago when we passed the ACT for ALS Act, we created this pathway for individuals. It is kind of a roadmap. We said: If you are not eligible to participate in clinical trials to access investigational treatments, there is another way here for you.
We provided some pretty important funding to NIH and to FDA to accelerate the research, to improve the data sharing, to help speed up the development of new therapies. But what really comes about with ACT for ALS is it gives people who are living with ALS the opportunity to try.
Just let me try something. It might not work, but let me try because right now, the diagnosis I am living with offers no hope.
So this is something that gives those living with ALS some hope. This is a program that works. So we passed it 5 years ago. What we have now done is a reauthorization that allows us to build on this progress that we have made to ensure that individuals that are living with ALS can continue to access these clinical trials and the programs that continue to meet the needs of the patients and the researchers.
Senator Coons has mentioned the advocacy. Those caregivers, those who stand with and are wrapping their arms and their hearts around their loved ones who are dealing with ALS--this is about hope for them as much as those who are living with this dread disease.
My friend has acknowledged the names of those he calls friends.
Dan Tate--I was able to receive a text message on passage of the reauthorization here saying, you know, "Go dudes" or something like that. I don't know that I am a dude, but I loved the enthusiasm he had.
Brian Wallach has been an extraordinary partner over the years. You mentioned Sandra Abrevaya. Absolutely.
Then there is my personal advocate, my cousin Jenny Dwyer. It was through Jenny's husband Pat that our family learned of ALS, as Pat lived with ALS for 8 years; and as a family, we came to not only understand the disease and the awful progression, but it allowed us to understand some of what families go through who live with the almost daily heartbreak as you are watching your loved one progress through this diagnosis.
So to the advocates: Know that your work matters. Know that your stories matter. Know that you have made a difference.
So we are pleased to be able to be at this place where we can move to finally get this reauthorization into law. We have to work things through the two bodies here and get it signed in.
There is more that we have to do. We are working on some good things as the cochairs of the ALS Caucus--the Justice for ALS Veterans Act, which is a really good one, and the ALS Better Care Act. Again, these address some of the challenges that face individuals with ALS as well as their families when they are trying to access the care and access the benefits after a loved one has passed.
We know that for those that are living with ALS, every day matters, every day is precious, and we cannot afford to lose momentum when promising therapies are being studied. I am reminded if not weekly, maybe daily sometimes that people are waiting. People are waiting, and they are counting on us to show up for them.
So to all those in the ALS community: Thank you for your advocacy. Thank you for your heart and your passion and your persistence but also your willingness to open your hearts and to share your stories so that we can also become motivated and tenacious on your behalf.
I am very grateful for my friend from Delaware. It is hard, as I hear stories of your dear friend and as he goes through these stages of this disease. And know that even though I have not met Jack, he is in my heart as well, as well as the many, many whom we are advocating for.
With that, I thank again not only Senator Coons but all Members here in the Senate that have joined us in this effort to end ALS.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from Delaware.
Mr. President, I thank my colleague and friend from the truly great State of Alaska.
Our mutual friend Dan Tate, long known here as an active lobbyist, who is living with ALS, has been texting the two of us about the impact that this research has had on him and his condition and on many others.
He most recently texted me:
Text printed in the Record (39 characters)
NIH and FDA have done exceptional work.
The ACT for ALS bill that we helped get passed 5 years ago and that we are now reauthorizing--I will remind you that initially, advocates were seeking $10 million.
Do you remember the Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014? They were seeking $10 million in Federal medical research. This year, it was $115 million. In total over the years since we have passed this legislation through this Chamber, $391 million has been invested.
There are today 1,200 people living with ALS enrolled in a landmark genetic study, and there have been significant steps forward in experimental treatments.
Dr. Sabrina Paganoni of Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute said: We are at a turning point because we have a greater awareness of ALS, more funding for research than ever before, and more treatments in development than ever before.
When Lou Gehrig gave a speech announcing his retirement from baseball, he concluded by saying: I am the luckiest guy in the world. Many saw that as a bitter irony because he left an outstanding career in baseball to struggle and suffer through an ultimately terminal disease.
But I have to say that I am the luckiest man in the world to have the blessing of the great, enduring friendship of a colleague and partner from Alaska; of the steady and reliable and motivating input of so many advocates and cared-for people living with this dread disease; and the lifelong partnership and friendship of an amazing man, Dr. Jack Flynn.
In a determined effort to deliver hope and change, Senator Murkowski and I and all of us in this ALS Caucus are determined to get this bill to the President's desk, signed into law, and to deliver another generation of medical research to get us closer to that day when no one--no one--has to face the diagnosis or live with ALS and it will be a chapter in our history, not a threat for our future. But for today in this body, I am grateful for a chance to celebrate a significant step forward, a unanimous action by this Chamber, and the delivery of hope to so many around our Nation and our world.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The Senator from California.
Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable member of my staff who is retiring from public service: Mr. David Grannis.
I must admit I misled David into coming to the Senate floor for this speech. I told him I was coming to speak on something completely different because he is not fond of being the center of attention, particularly when he is the subject of praise, but he deserves it--both the praise and the surprise--since he has been known to play a practical joke or two himself. All I told him is I needed to discuss a very important matter on the floor of the Senate and I wanted him to hear it.
By the way, everything I made up on the way over here, you can completely ignore. That was a ruse.
What I wanted to come here to talk about was, in fact, David Grannis. David is no stranger to these farewell speeches. Congresswoman Jane Harman gave one about him leaving her office. Not to be outdone, Senator Feinstein has given two farewell-to-David speeches--one when he departed as staff director for the Senate Intelligence Committee and another when he left her office as chief of staff.
This speech today may be the last of its kind, or may not. You never know. But let me begin by quoting my former colleague, the late, great Senator Feinstein, who said:
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David led with wit and wisdom and demonstrated an uncanny ability to get the job done. He has been by my side for countless meetings with foreign leaders, ambassadors, military commanders, corporate chiefs, and local officials. David has served as a mentor for many members of my staff, and his professionalism and dedication are second to none. He is someone that I am proud to call a friend.
I cannot improve on those comments, so I will not try. Instead of sharing again his long list of accomplishments--the major pieces of legislation that he has helped to pass, the critical oversight that he has delivered, or the assistance he secured for so many grateful Californians--I want to talk about David as a person and what he has meant to the many dozens of us--probably hundreds of us--who have had the privilege of working with him.
When David first joined my office as a senior policy adviser, I knew we were gaining someone with a wealth of experience. I had known him from his time on SSCI and also serving with Senator Feinstein. But what I did not fully appreciate, what I could not have known was that our team was not only gaining someone with just incredible experience but also someone who cares so deeply about the people he works with and someone who is just a superlative mentor, particularly toward the junior staff, many of whom are here with us today to honor him.
His impressive CV does not mention his acerbic wit, his many practical jokes, his commitment to learning the lingo of the newest generation--seriously, he is quite committed to that; very awkward when he uses it, but he is quite committed to it--or the vigorous way he ensures that the staff keep the office refrigerator clean enough for surgical instruments. So, today, I want to do something a little different. I want to come here and laud once again his record of legislative service, yes, but more to the point, I want to share some of the stories of those who have had the privilege of working alongside him but who do not have the same privilege that I have to order him to sit here and listen to us say nice things about him--because, otherwise, he would not allow such a celebration; he would not allow us to share these stories of his mentorship and his presence, how he has uplifted our staff and colleagues, and how much he means to all of us--because his work is really the stuff of legend.
One of our young staff Andrea calls David "best friend." And that is not an exaggeration. He once told her that she should "heckle every staffer on our team who was late to their meeting regardless of who they were, and yes, [including the] Chief of Staff."
He has encouraged "spontaneous selfies" and participated in staff chats exclusively in all caps. Andrea, and all of us, know that he is someone who will never fail to make someone laugh during a very stressful day.
To know him is to be on the watch for practical jokes, sometimes by his hand and other times played upon him. And we won't even get into the "caps lock" incident or the role he has played as "Mr. Liquid." And I am not going to get into those things because I have no idea what they are.
When Sydney on our team noted that we would "lose a true institution" with David's departure, she may have been thinking about this interaction she had with David:
Sydney, then assistant to our legislative director, joined a staff delegation trip with a branch of our Armed Forces, and because she was one of the only Senate staffers on the trip, and perhaps because they thought Sydney was the legislative director herself, they named the trip "STAFFDEL DUCKOR," Sydney's last name. And so, when Sydney returned, David had printed a floor chart version of the STAFFDEL DUCKOR documents, alongside a 30-inch-tall headshot of Sydney--a floor chart that still, on occasion, is wedged in a place that Sydney will somehow run into it when she least expects it, like in a stairwell. Sydney's giant mug or the floor chart is sure to pop up at unexpected moments, courtesy of her mentor David Grannis.
As Ian, a former staffer for Senator Feinstein, noted, David had an "extraordinarily hard job over many years, even for a chief. But he did it so well and kept his cool, protecting the boss as well as the staff with that [s]-eating grin as his shield and that . . . wit as his sword."
Even when he is at his busiest, David has always had time for everyone from interns to LDs. As Ian put it, "He acted as if he wasn't too busy for you, [not] at all."
A consistent theme for David is talent spotting and uplifting staff. Megan, who was a young Feinstein staffer in her San Francisco office, found out when the Senator had a need for a new director of scheduling. David brought her out to interview. Now, Senator Feinstein wasn't convinced that Megan was the right fit, but David was not deterred. So he flew her out again, this time to staff the Senator, training her on how to do the job, and then made the case again to the Senator. And wouldn't you know it, she got the job.
As Megan told us, "It shaped my entire career trajectory, shaped me as a leader, and showed me how to lead a ship in troubled waters." She also noted that she eventually told David a couple of years later that "the Senator said she wanted to kick [him] in the pants when [he] recommended [Megan]."
Alexandra, a mentee of David's, remembered that he took a chance on her and remembered the time he took to engage interns and teach them about the Senate, like in a scavenger hunt that ended in the interns needing to get the torture report recreated in the documents room and have David autograph it, which he most gamely was pleased to do.
And when Brett was called by David to offer him a job, he did the sensible thing: He asked for a little bit of time to talk to his wife about it. And as Brett tells it, "There was a long pause. Then, in a tone I would come to know very well over the next several years, David said: `Really? You seriously need to think about this?"'
As Brett put it, "That's David in one line--you never quite know if he's teasing you, testing you, or just telling you the truth. Twenty-plus years in Congress, and he remains, to everyone who's worked with him, [kind of an] enigma. The enigma is the method. He protected the staff so [they] could just do the work. That wasn't an accident. That was David, protecting people who didn't even know they were being protected."
Even in our office, David had an eye for talent, never failing to mention when an intern or a junior staffer did a first draft or came up with an idea that was brought to him and then brought to me. He could do it with the smallest of projects. But he knew how to handle the biggest tasks, especially on the Intelligence Committee.
As Mike Buchwald told us, "David was known for approaching politically charged issues with integrity and a commitment to ensuring the Committee fulfilled its constitutional oversight responsibilities." That is the highest charge of the Intelligence Committee, as we saw with David's handling of the Senate CIA torture report, its creation, and its release.
It was because of David, Senator Feinstein, and the many talented members of the SSCI staff, that this report ever saw the light of day, culminating in a floor speech by Senator Feinstein for the ages. David and Mike worked on draft after draft of the speech, announcing the "painstaking process" to chronicle each of the CIA's abuses of power. But they were never sure the speech would actually see the light of day.
Finally, one morning at 9 a.m. David dropped by Mike's desk, saying simply, "Let's go to the floor. She's giving the speech."
She gave that speech right here, speaking truth to power, calling out abuses of power.
Dan, a SSCI staffer at the time, noted David's immense work with a bipartisan group of Senators to ban the CIA's "enhanced interrogation techniques," which included torture tactics such as waterboarding. As Dan put it, David "served our country in enormously consequential ways, almost entirely out of the public view. And because of the quiet, persistent work he did, the known history of the United States is different, and more honest, than it would otherwise be."
Now, I want to make one thing very clear. I don't want any of this praise to make you believe he is perfect. He is not. David, for example, would prefer that, today, I quote from the wisdom of Fangorn or Lothlorien, which I will not do because, for one, I have no idea who they are; and, what is more, I suspect it is some obscure reference to "Lord of the Rings."
He once gave a presentation to our staff at a brown bag lunch in which he said that, of the top 100 films ever made, three of the "Lord of the Rings" movies--three of them, mind you--were in the top 10. So you can see he is prone to occasional but glaring lapses in judgment.
I am sorry, David. You are just wrong about that. And I know that I am pissing off Stephen Colbert and a lot of other people by saying that. But really? Three of the greatest movies of all time, "Lord of the Rings" movies? I mean, does that even require discussion?
Another member of our amazing staff Sircey noted dryly that "behind the wit, David genuinely cared about the people he worked with--even if he wasn't always going to admit it." She cited specifically how he brought his wonderful humor to the--well, the bowels of the basement where our office was once located--actually, twice located--which David took to calling the "lower chamber."
Peter, a colleague from the Senate Intelligence Committee, remembered two benches. Senator Feinstein would occupy the "hot bench," peppering you with questions. David, in contrast, was a "cold bench," where he would just stare at you uncomfortably with a "resting ice face," kind of like I am getting right now, and allow for your own internal dialogue to wreck you. Both techniques were very effective.
When Peter, a former prosecutor, was told to run a hotline, he had no idea what to do--something I can relate to after joining the Senate after so many years in the House. So Peter asked David how to hotline something. And according to Peter, he just "stared at me for a long time. He then took a long, deep breath. And then he continued to stare." Classic David Grannis.
Deanna noted that David is the reason "so many of us got our start on Capitol Hill" through his steady advocacy.
Ricky noted a simple code to live by that David would repeat:
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Don't do anything stupid.
That is outstanding advice for Senators and staff alike.
Tonya said he was "never afraid to poke fun and turning almost anything into a punchline, he truly cared for and mentored so many young staffers."
Flavio said that "despite his seniority, or more likely because of it" through humor and pranks, David "makes our office laugh while teaching us the importance of timeliness and delivering praise" and always advocating for interns and junior staff, even if they didn't "always understand the pre-2001 movie references."
Megan said he shared important life lessons, Grannis style: Don't attend a meeting and change the agenda. And--if you think you have it bad, someone always has it worse.
When Jahari first moved from our Fresno office to DC, she was nervous, but in her telling, David was the first person she chatted with and immediately felt at ease. When other staff ask who has become her mentor, as she put it, "David is an easy answer."
This character of David is not new. During Senator Feinstein's first farewell speech about him, she noted the same:
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I . . . want to echo many of the comments that our committee staff has made about David.
[He] has been the rock upon which the staff's foundation is built.
Now, speaking of The Rock, I fear this speech would be incomplete without talking about the "big hunk of beef" incident, which I am told is a favorite story of David's.
David and Senator Feinstein's legislative director Rachel were staffing the Senator during a late-night vote-arama--something we have had a lot of experience at lately. It is around 2 a.m., and the Senator is flipping channels between CNN and the floor and random channels when she finally lands on a movie starring none other than The Rock. After a while, she just matter-of-factly states, "That's a big hunk of meat," causing David, at a safe distance, to laugh uncontrollably.
When I put out the call for recollections of David and their memories of his time on the Hill, the response, as you have heard just a small sample, was overwhelming. But now I want to share my own.
David has not only been a mentor to the staff, he has helped mentor me as well. We began working together almost 2 years ago when I was elected to the Senate; and in that time, I have been such an enormous beneficiary of his experience and his wisdom, his sense of humor, his poise under pressure, his intellect, and his friendship.
I am so lucky. I am so lucky to have had you on my team--so lucky.
On the most extensive range of issues--from foreign policy, to national security, to intelligence reform, to Senate procedure, and so much more--he has been the most extraordinary source of knowledge and expertise.
I have come to rely upon him implicitly and without hesitation. The respect he is held in by Senators and staff is unrivaled on the Hill--truly. He has dedicated himself to public service for decades now, and the Senate and the country are immeasurably better for it. He is the quintessential public servant.
Thank you, David. Thank you.
Finally, I want to end my comments by thanking David's wife Kerry and their wonderful children Sarah, Amelia, and Nathaniel. Senate staff make a lot of sacrifices to serve the public--financial and otherwise, late nights, weekends, missed trips--and their families are the ones who support them the most.
So thank you, David. I can't wait to see what you do next, and the legions of staff that you helped and influenced and mentored and supported can't wait either. We all thank you.
I yield the floor.
(Mrs. MOODY assumed the Chair.) (Mr. McCORMICK assumed the Chair.)
The PRESIDING OFFICER
The majority leader is recognized.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Page S4504 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 877 and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Marine Corps; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows:
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The following named officer for appointment as Chief of Space Operations and appointment in the United States Space Force to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601 and 9082:
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess
PN681-4--MARINE CORPS nomination of Vincent J. Noble, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 2, 2025.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S4504, August 6, 2026, in the third column, the following appears: PN681--MARINE CORPS nomination of Vincent J. Noble, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 2, 2025.
The online Record has been corrected to read: PN681-4--MARINE CORPS nomination of Vincent J. Noble, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 2, 2025.
========================= END NOTE =========================
Legislative Session
Page S4504 · 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.
Tribute to Nathan Fairholm
Page S4504 · Official textMr. President, today I recognize Nathan Fairholm, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks.
Nathan is a graduate of Vermillion High School in Vermillion, SD. Currently, he is attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where he is pursuing a degree in political science. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Nathan for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
Tribute to Tyler Groen
Page S4504 · Official textMr. President, today I recognize Tyler Groen, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks.
Tyler is a graduate of Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, SD, and a recent graduate of South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, having earned a degree in human biology. Next year, Tyler plans to attend medical school. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Tyler for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
Tribute to Walker Larson
Pages S4504–S4505 · Official textMr. President, today I recognize Walker Larson, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks.
Walker is a graduate of Aberdeen Christian School in Aberdeen, SD. Currently, he is attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in history. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Walker for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.
TRIBUTE TO TOM McNAMARA
Page S4505 · Official textMr. President, each of us serving in the Senate hopes to leave behind some sort of legacy. My own begins with the interns that have passed through my office. Over my four decades in Congress, I have had more than 3,000 interns work for me at one point or another, although my staff are convinced that the true number is even higher. These young people have covered me with glory, and it has been a great privilege to help them get their foot in the door of politics. Today, I would like to recognize one of my former interns, who has made a name for himself in his own right: mayor of Rockford, Tom McNamara.
Tom worked in my office in Washington, DC, in 2005, around the time he completed his undergraduate degree at John Carroll University. He arrived with a strong commitment to public service--a commitment instilled by his parents and honed during his time at school. At John Carroll, Tom volunteered at a correctional facility, where he assisted parolees and probationers who struggled with alcohol and substance use disorder. In between answering phone calls and giving tours of the Capitol, Tom's interest in the criminal justice system only deepened. He contemplated how he could improve the way we treat the incarcerated and how he could make his vision a reality.
After completing his internship, Tom took on a full-time role in my office as a staff assistant. But, in a great loss for my operations, he soon decided that he wanted to continue his education at John Carroll and returned to his alma matter to obtain a master's degree in nonprofit administration. While studying, he simultaneously worked at a nonprofit to help incarcerated individuals reunite with their families and reintegrate into society. But Tom couldn't stay away from Rockford for long. After completing his master's, he moved back to the Forest City to be closer to his family. Upon his return, he immediately plunged himself into a wide array of community service initiatives and began to assist candidates in various political races.
As Tom settled down in Rockford, he increasingly reflected on those who lacked the same opportunity. He could count on his fingers the number of his high school classmates who still lived in Rockford and was worried that this trend would continue unless someone fought to change it. Fortunately, Tom is not the kind of person to sit on the sidelines. In 2013, he ran to be alderman for Rockford's 3rd Ward, where he ran against a three-term Republican incumbent. Tom won and quickly got to work investing in Rockford. As alderman, Tom led initiatives to revitalize Rockford's housing market and spark new commercial developments across the city. When the city faced a budget crisis in 2017, Tom helped to craft a compromise resolution that spared the city from tax hikes while investing in public safety initiatives. With his success as a first-term alderman, it is no wonder that he won Rockford's 2017 mayoral race with 68 percent of the vote.
If you want to know how Tom has performed as mayor, just look at the numbers. In 2021, there were 2,301 instances of violent crime in Rockford. Last year, there were 1,359--a 41-percent decrease over the course of 5 years. In 2017, Rockford's property tax rate was 3.31 percent. Today, it is less than 2 percent. Property values have increased 56 percent since 2017, the number of vacant buildings has decreased by 17 percent, and the city is adding thousands of jobs as major corporations move in. It is remarkable to witness the transformation Rockford has undergone under Tom's leadership. Dilapidated factories are being turned into new homes and businesses, and people are flocking to what the Wall Street Journal has described as America's "top housing market." The problem of vacant homes has been reversed, and now Rockford is racing to construct enough houses for all those who hope to move to the area.
While these changes are the fruits of the labor of thousands of people committed to Rockford's future, it is important to note the central role Tom has played in the city's redevelopment. Tom brought together police and community groups for more effective violence prevention programs. He worked with businesses and the city council to incentivize new developments across the city and balance Rockford's budget. As mayor, he brought an infectious sense of hope and optimism that now permeates throughout the city. I have worked with Tom throughout the years on a variety of Federal initiatives in Rockford, where I have had the opportunity to see his love for his city and community firsthand.
Of course, if you knew Tom's family, none of this would be surprising. Public service runs in the McNamara blood. Tom's grandfather served on the city council and school board in Whiting, IN. And John, Tom's father, was a U.S. Army veteran, having earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam, and was mayor of Rockford during many of the Forest City's darkest years. Like Tom, John guided Rockford through an incredibly difficult time and helped the city recover from a devastating manufacturing recession. Also, like his son, John did it all with unyielding optimism. John was a dear friend of mine, and I know that he would be so proud to see all that Tom has accomplished.
While Tom is stepping down from his position as mayor, his time in public service is far from over. Later this year, he will become CEO of the Illinois Municipal League, an organization representing Illinois' 1,300 municipalities. I look forward to seeing how he will support the State of Illinois in this new role.
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to welcome Tom to the world of politics more than two decades ago. It has been a great honor to see him develop as both a leader and public servant. I hope the whole Senate will join me in congratulating Tom, his wife Sarah, and their children Olympia and Malachy as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
Arms Sales Notification
Pages S4505–S4506 · Official textMr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,620 characters)
Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-82.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-82 concerning Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Norway for defense articles and services estimated to cost $270 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office.
Recipients:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Sincerely,
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Norway
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $270 million.
Total $270 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case NO-B-VSJ was below the congressional notification threshold at $99.99 million ($0 in major defense equipment (MDE)) and included 155mm High Explosive (HE) M795 Projectiles. The Government of Norway has requested that the case be amended to include additional 155mm HE M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. This amendment will cause the case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus notification of the entire program is required. The above notification requirements are combined as follows:
MDE: None.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: 155mm HE M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (NO-B-VSJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 5, 2026.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
The Government of Norway has requested to buy additional 155mm High Explosive (HE) M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $99.99 million ($0 in major defense equipment (MDE)), included 155mm HE M795 Projectiles. This notification is for a combined total of the following non-MDE items: 155mm HE M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $270 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to meet current and future threats and increase its interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces. This proposed sale will enhance Norway's artillery and mid-range fire capability. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors will be American Ordinance, located in Middletown, IA; and General Dynamics, located in Camden, AR. While this purchaser typically requests offsets, there is currently no known offset agreement regarding the items being added to this case. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
Arms Sales Notification
Page S4506 · Official textMr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,894 characters)
Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT case 26-11558.
Pursuant to section 3(d) of the Arms Export Control Act, please find enclosed a certification of a proposed transfer of major defense equipment with an original acquisition value of approximately $ 255,900,000.
The transaction described in the attached certification involves the permanent transfer of (12) M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, (2,524) M26 unguided Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rockets, and (47,000) M509AI 203mm DPICM howitzer rounds to the Government of Ukraine via Turkish private entities MKE AS, ASFAT AS, and ARCA Savunma San. Tic. AS; Bulgarian private entity VTIC International Ltd.; and U.S. private entities Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group. This transfer is consistent with U.S. security assistance objectives.
The United States government is prepared to authorize this transfer, having taken into account political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations. Detailed information is contained in the attached certification.
Receiving Committees:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
We hope you find this information useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.
Sincerely,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Enclosure.
Notice of Proposed Permanent Transfer of Major Defense
Equipment *
(1) Name of the Countries or International Organization Proposing to Make Such Transfer: Government of Turkiye ("Turkiye").
(2) Description of Article of Service Proposed to be Permanently Transferred:
(12) M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers.
(2,524) M26 unguided Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rockets.
(47,000) M509AI 203mm DPICM howitzer rounds.
(3) Name of the Proposed Recipient of Such Article:
The Government of Ukraine, via Turkish private entities MKE AS, ASFAT AS, and ARCA Savunma San. Tic. AS; Bulgarian private entity VTIC International Ltd.; and U.S. private entities Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group.
(4) The Reasons for the Proposed Transfer:
Turkiye seeks to reduce its inventory of older defense articles to focus its financial resources on modernization and sustainment of existing systems.
Ukraine seeks to acquire these systems to bolster its offensive and defense fire support capabilities as it resists the Russian invasion. Ukraine already possesses munitions of the same or essentially similar type.
(5) Date Transfer is Proposed to be Made: Immediately after the congressional notification period is complete.
(6) Date Notification was Delivered to Congress: August 3, 2026.
* Major Defense Equipment is as defined in section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
Arms Sales Notification
Pages S4506–S4507 · Official textMr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,378 characters)
Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT case 26-11496.
Pursuant to section 3(d) of the Arms Export Control Act, please find enclosed a certification of a proposed transfer of major defense equipment with an original acquisition value of approximately $28,000,000.
The transaction described in the attached certification involves the permanent transfer of (70) M39 ATACMS Missiles to the Government of Ukraine via Turkish private entity MKE AS and U.S. private entities Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group. This transfer is consistent with U.S. security assistance objectives.
The United States government is prepared to authorize this transfer, having taken into account political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations. Detailed information is contained in the attached certification.
Receiving Committees:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
We hope you find this information useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.
Sincerely,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Enclosure.
Notice of Proposed Permanent Transfer of Major Defense
Equipment *
(1) Name of the Countries or International Organization Proposing to Make Such Transfer: Government of Turkiye ("Turkiye").
(2) Description of Article of Service Proposed to be Permanently Transferred:
(70) M39 ATACMS Missiles.
(3) Name of the Proposed Recipient of Such Article:
The Government of Ukraine, via Turkish private entity MKE AS and U.S. private entities Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group.
(4) The Reasons for the Proposed Transfer:
Turkiye seeks to reduce its inventory of older defense articles to focus its financial resources on modernization and sustainment of existing systems.
Ukraine seeks to acquire these systems to bolster its offensive and defense fire support capabilities as it resists the Russian invasion. Ukraine already possesses munitions of the same or essentially similar type.
(5) Date Transfer is Proposed to be Made: Immediately after the congressional notification period is complete.
(6) Date Notification was Delivered to Congress: August 3, 2026.
* Major Defense Equipment is as defined in section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
Nomination of Lieutenant Colonel Vincent J. Noble
Page S4507 · Official textMr. President, I am correcting the record and releasing my hold on Executive Calendar No. PN681-2, the promotion of Lt. Col. Vincent J. Noble.
When I placed a hold on this promotion on March 24, 2026, I had gathered, from public reporting, including a New York Times article from 2007, that Vincent J. Noble was part of a Marine unit that fired at civilians as he and his patrol traveled 7 miles along a highway in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2007, killing 19 civilians indiscriminately.
Following my initial public statement regarding my concerns about this military promotion, I received additional information from the Department of Defense clarifying the nature of Noble's conduct in March 2007, over which the U.S. Marine Corps Court of Inquiry had conducted an in-depth investigation.
Based on the official documents I have received from the Department of Defense related to Noble's time with the Marines, as well as additional public reporting from the Military Times, I now know that Noble was not involved in massacring civilians on March 4, 2007.
The U.S. Marine Corps Court of Inquiry convened in January 2008 determined the marines defended themselves appropriately and proportionally against the March 4, 2007, ambush, that no punitive or adverse administrative actions were warranted against the personnel of the convoy, and that the findings of the initial investigating officer were inconsistent with the evidence considered by the court.
I had originally received an incomplete and inaccurate representation of Noble's actions. Now, I am relieved to know he was not responsible for these civilians' deaths.
I have also been concerned with Lieutenant Colonel Noble's admission of falsified military records. However, these events have been dealt with by the Commander, Marine Forces Central Command, with Noble having pleaded guilty and admitting his conduct unbecoming an officer.
I remain hopeful that Noble proves to be a better colonel than he had been earlier as a captain, and I am releasing my hold.
Nomination of Kenneth Sorenson
Page S4507 · Official textMr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of Kenneth Sorenson to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Sorenson has devoted four decades to the Department of Justice, serving with distinction as an assistant U.S. attorney, first assistant U.S. attorney, criminal chief, senior litigation counsel, and most recently as acting and interim U.S. attorney. Throughout his career, he has successfully prosecuted complex cases involving espionage, terrorism, public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and violent crime, earning multiple awards from the Department of Justice and the FBI, including the prestigious J. Michael Bradford Award recognizing the Nation's most outstanding assistant U.S. attorney. His extensive experience, steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and record of public service make him well qualified to continue leading the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii, and I support his nomination.
Vote Explanation
Page S4507 · Official textMr. President, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, I participated in the Minnesota Farmfest Governor Forum in Redwood County, MN. Had I been present, I would have voted nay on the vote before the Senate to confirm Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rollcall vote No. 220, Executive Calendar No. 910.
Tribute to Jim Macrae
Page S4507 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize and thank Jim Macrae for his extraordinary career of public service and for his contributions to expanding access to primary care for all Americans. As he retires from the Health Resources and Services Administration after decades of dedicated leadership, he leaves behind a legacy that has made our healthcare system stronger.
Throughout his career, Jim has been a tireless champion for community health centers and the millions of patients who rely on them for high-quality, affordable primary care. As Associate Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Primary Health Care, he oversaw a huge expansion of community health centers, leading and strengthening one of our Nation's most successful healthcare programs and ensuring that community health centers can continue providing high-quality care in underserved communities across this country.
Primary care is the backbone of our healthcare system. Community health centers make up a major portion of that backbone. While we have made great progress towards ensuring all people have access to the primary care they need, there is much more to be done.
Community health centers provide affordable, quality primary medical, dental, and mental health care as well as access to low-cost prescription drugs to over 32 million people. In Vermont, nearly one out of every three people receive their primary healthcare through a community healthcenter across over 90 sites--something that I and my fellow Vermonters are very proud of. I thank Jim for his support of Vermont's work to build a vibrant network of community health centers across our State.
Over my years in the Senate and as chair and ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, I have worked hard to expand community health centers. Jim has been an effective partner in these efforts throughout the years. As Jim begins this well-earned retirement, I extend my deepest gratitude for his dedication to improving our healthcare system and the health of millions of Americans. We owe him our thanks and respect.
Recognizing the U.s. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Staff
Pages S4507–S4508 · Official textMr. President, as we move into the August recess, I would like to remind my colleagues that the bipartisan work the Senate does each day on behalf of the American people is possible in no small part because of our staff. Staff are always the first in line advocating for constituents and making American lives better, dedicating themselves to public service. As I wrap up my time in this Chamber and as the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I would like to thank my staff director Matthew Gallivan, my deputy staff director Danielle Janowski, and all of the staff that have served under their leadership: Margie Almanza, Ben Arquit, Will Arthur, Caroline Benson, Elizabeth Bielic, Bryce Billiot, Ty Bofferding, Garrett Buttrey, Daniel Chasen, Matthew Chingos, Sophie Conners, Claire Dunn, Cameron Durham, Jake Easter, Alaura Ervin, Keith Fernandez, Kyle Fortson, Patrick Fox, Romney Gripado, Kathryn Handler, Jackson Hern, Megan Kinner, Sinclair Kouns, Jeffrey Last, Stephen Lewernez, Alycia Maloney, Chad Miller, Anna Rose Moore, Clare Paoletta, Daniel Parker, Matthew Penner, Gigi Powers, TJ Prame, Joe Ramallo, Kristen Shatynski, Chung Shek, Michael Sinacore, Ryan Sweeney, Joanne Thomas, Matthew Thomas, Brianna Tibbetts, Dominic Travis, Todd Tuten, Luce Tysor, Jack Uhl, Micah Wortham, and Frank Zhang.
Tribute to Rebecca R. Briles
Page S4508 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Rebecca Redding Briles on over 30 remarkable years of dedicated service to the people of North Carolina.
Rebecca began her public service career with Congressman Bill Cobey before joining Congressman Howard Coble's office in 1995 as a caseworker and community outreach representative. Working in a one-person district office, she managed all constituent requests for the region while serving as a trusted liaison between North Carolinians and the Federal Government. She provided expert assistance on a wide range of issues involving Federal agencies, represented the Congressman at community events throughout North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, and built lasting relationships with constituents, local leaders, and public officials through her unwavering commitment to public service.
Rebecca continued her dedication to serving North Carolinians in Congresswoman Renee Ellmers' office from 2013 to 2015 as director of constituent services. In this leadership role, she managed operations across two district offices, mentored a team of constituent liaisons, and ensured that constituents received responsive, compassionate, and effective assistance.
In 2015, Rebecca brought that same leadership and steadfast dedication to my office as regional director of constituent advocacy. She has been a trusted resource, providing expert assistance on immigration and U.S. Department of State matters. Her work has helped employers secure critical workforce talent through successful visa coordination, including support for businesses expanding operations in North Carolina. She has also been a tireless advocate for veterans and Social Security beneficiaries.
When a North Carolina family faced severe financial hardship, Rebecca worked tirelessly to expedite the processing of their Social Security benefits. With the family's home on the brink of foreclosure, her persistent advocacy secured the timely release of those benefits, allowing them to remain in their home during a time of great need. This example reflects the compassion, persistence, and effectiveness that have defined Rebecca's work throughout her distinguished career.
Rebecca Redding Briles' lifetime of service to North Carolina stands as a testament to the extraordinary impact one dedicated public servant can make in the lives of others. I congratulate Rebecca on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her unwavering commitment and compassionate service to the people of the great State of North Carolina.
Tribute to Susan Rene Collins
Page S4508 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Susan Rene Collins on her remarkable 23 years of dedicated service to the people of North Carolina.
Rene began her public service career with then-Congressman Richard Burr as a constituent advocate and continued serving alongside him after his election to the U.S. Senate as a senior constituent advocate from 2003 to 2022. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the people of North Carolina, assisting thousands of constituents in navigating complex Federal agencies. She also led critical efforts during times of crisis, coordinating the rescue and evacuation of Americans from Lebanon, Peru, and Afghanistan. In addition, she helped North Carolina communities recover from devastating hurricanes by working closely with Federal, State, and local partners to ensure that countless families and individuals received the assistance they needed most.
Continuing her dedication to serving North Carolinians, Rene joined my office as a senior constituent advocate in 2022. She quickly became a trusted resource, providing expert assistance on immigration and U.S. Department of State matters. Her work has helped employers secure critical workforce talent through successful visa coordination, including support for businesses expanding operations in North Carolina and healthcare providers working to address physician shortages. She also continued her commitment to humanitarian service by assisting Afghan Special Immigrant Visa recipients in navigating the relocation process safely, reflecting her steadfast dedication to serving others with professionalism and compassion.
Rene's commitment to public service extends far beyond the ordinary. In one extraordinary case, she worked tirelessly to secure visas for a father and his young son, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer and required lifesaving treatment at Texas Children's Hospital. Not only did she obtain the visas, but she did so in record time, helping ensure the child received the medical care that ultimately saved his life. Her efforts forever changed the lives of that family.
Susan Rene Collins's lifetime of service to North Carolina stands as a testament to the extraordinary impact one dedicated public servant can make in the lives of others. I congratulate Rene on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her unwavering commitment and compassionate service to the people of the great State of North Carolina.
Tribute to Janine M. Osborne
Pages S4508–S4509 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Janine M. Osborne on her remarkable 41 years of dedicated service to the people of North Carolina.
Janine began her public service career as a district representative for Congressman Howard Coble. From 1985 to 2015, she managed constituent requests and served as a trusted liaison between constituents and all levels of government. She provided expert assistance on a broad range of Federal matters, represented the Congressman at public events, and built lasting relationships with constituents and public officials throughout North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District.
Janine continued her commitment to serving North Carolinians in Congressman Mark Walker's office from 2015 to 2021 as director of constituent services. In this role, she demonstrated exceptional leadership by supervising and mentoring a team of constituent liaisons while personally managing nearly half of all constituent cases received by the district office.
In 2021, Janine brought that same leadership and dedication to my office as deputy director of constituent services. She oversaw complex constituent casework, mentored staff, and served as a trusted resource. While carrying these responsibilities, she continued to maintain an active caseload, further strengthening the reputation my State offices have earned for delivering exceptional constituent service.
Janine's commitment to helping North Carolinians extends far beyond the ordinary. One of the most powerful examples of her dedication is her effort to secure the Medal of Honor for U.S. Army Captain Hugh R. Nelson, Jr. Spanning 7 years, this effort began in Congressman Walker's office and culminated in my office, where then- President Joe Biden posthumously presented Captain Nelson with the Medal of Honor. Her perseverance throughout this yearslong endeavor exemplifies her ability to carry an important mission across congressional offices and Presidential administrations while never losing sight of the individual she was determined to honor.
Janine Osborne's lifetime of service to North Carolina stands as a testament to the extraordinary impact one dedicated public servant can make in the lives of others. I congratulate Janine on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her unwavering commitment and compassionate service to the people of the great State of North Carolina.
Tribute to Becky Pringle
Page S4509 · Official textMr. President, I would like to recognize the accomplishments and service of Becky Pringle as she concludes her final term as the president of the Nation's largest labor union, the National Education Association, NEA. Throughout her tenure, Becky's passion and purpose has united 3 million educators and their allies across the country to use their collective power to fight for the respect and dignity our educators deserve and to protect the promise of public education for all students.
Becky has worked with the national union for more than 30 years. She first joined the NEA in 1981 as an eighth grade science teacher from Philadelphia and began her leadership journey as a local union president. She then served on the board of directors for NEA and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
During her tenure as NEA president, she helped focus the Nation's attention on how the pandemic impacted our students, schools, teachers, education support professionals, and school leaders. Becky's determination also strengthened the labor movement and expanded worker power, fighting to grow NEA membership at a time when workers and public sector unions are under attack. She has been recognized for her leadership by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Action Network, American Association of University Women, and President Barack Obama's Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
Becky understands that public education is the backbone of American democracy, where all people come together to learn and grow. Thank you, President Pringle, for your tireless dedication to our Nation's teachers, students, and school leaders across the country.
Tribute to Wildland and Aerial Firefighters
Page S4509 · Official textMr. President, as our nation reaches the height of another fire season, it is my honor to pay tribute to our wildland and aerial firefighters.
As we gather in the Senate today, wildland fire crews are working long days in difficult conditions across the country to protect resources, property, and their fellow Americans. As first responders, they don't get to choose when and where they are needed. One phone call can send them hundreds of miles from home for days or even weeks. Operating on the ground and by air, this profession demands endurance, quick thinking, and extraordinary precision to get the job done.
More often than not, success in getting the job done is measured by what never happens: a neighborhood that doesn't burn, a family that doesn't lose everything, a highway that remains open, a town that gets another chance. Those victories rarely make the evening news, but they matter just the same.
With catastrophic wildfires burning in our Nation today, It's worth taking a moment to honor the brave men and women leading our Nation's wildland fire response. They are neighbors, parents, sons, daughters, veterans, and friends. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary work under extraordinary circumstances, and they deserve our recognition and thanks.
Remembering Richard Calvin Montgomery
Page S4509 · Official textMr. President, I would like to honor the life and legacy of Richard Calvin Montgomery, an accomplished filmmaker, music industry executive, storyteller, and devoted community servant whose creativity, generosity, and commitment to uplifting others left an enduring mark on Prince George's County and beyond.
Born in Cleveland, OH, Richard pursued his education at Hampton Institute and Howard University. A proud initiate of the Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he remained deeply committed to his fraternity and the lifelong brotherhood it represented. He went on to build a distinguished career in broadcasting, music, and entertainment. From his early work at WHOV-FM and WHUR-FM to leadership roles with A&M Records, Venture Records, Alchemy Entertainment, and his own company, Mediaview Communications, Richard became a respected creative force whose work elevated artists, businesses, and communities throughout the Washington metropolitan region.
Richard believed every person and every community had a story worth telling. Whether producing films, documenting community events, or promoting the achievements of others, he used his remarkable gifts to preserve history, celebrate excellence, and inspire future generations. Just as impressive as his professional accomplishments was his generosity. He freely shared his time, talent, and encouragement, making others feel seen, valued, and supported.
I had the privilege of witnessing Richard's dedication to public service firsthand. During my tenure as Prince George's County executive, he served as our videographer, helping tell the stories of the programs and initiatives that strengthened our communities. During the global pandemic, his thoughtful storytelling helped us combat vaccine hesitancy, share trusted public health information, and reach residents with lifesaving messages. His contributions to our county were invaluable, and I will always be grateful for his friendship and unwavering commitment to serving others.
Richard's warmth, humility, and compassion touched everyone who knew him. His legacy lives on in the artists he championed, the stories he preserved, the communities he strengthened, and the countless lives he enriched through his friendship and generosity.
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the life of Richard Calvin Montgomery--a gifted storyteller, visionary creative, faithful servant, and proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., whose legacy of service and love for community will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Remembering Sheriff Sam Cochran
Pages S4509–S4510 · Official textMr. President, I am honored to recognize the life, legacy, and extraordinary service of Mobile native Sheriff Sam Cochran. After nearly five decades of service to our great State, Sheriff Cochran will be remembered for his extraordinary integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to protecting others.
Sheriff Cochran was born and raised in Mobile, a community he spent a lifetime serving. After graduating from McGill-Toolen High School and earning both a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in public administration from the University of South Alabama, he began a lifelong career in law enforcement. He was nominated to and graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy, a testament to his character, leadership, and heart for public service.
For over 31 years, Sheriff Cochran served with the Mobile Police Department, beginning as a police cadet and eventually rising through the ranks to become chief of police. During his decade as chief of MPD, he earned the trust and respect of both his fellow officers and the citizens he served through his principled leadership, dedication to bettering his community, and steadfast commitment to public safety.
In 2006, the Mobile County community elected him to serve as sheriff. During his four terms, Sheriff Cochran created an effective and respected law enforcement department. His efforts resulted in a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. His proudest accomplishment, though, was leading the fight against the methamphetamine epidemic and championing legislation that strengthened controls on pseudoephedrine purchases, which dramatically reduced methamphetamine production across our State. His efforts no doubt saved thousands of lives and protected countless families in Mobile and across the State of Alabama.
Sheriff Cochran was committed to sharing knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration with the next generation of law enforcement officers. His mentorship prepared and encouraged many to lead with the same integrity, devotion, and kindness he exhibited throughout his career. In 2015, he was appointed to serve as a commissioner on the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission. His work helped shape future law enforcement officers, properly set training standards, and influenced officials throughout Alabama.
Sheriff Cochran's service extended far beyond the badge. He devoted decades of his life to organizations that uplifted and protected others, including the Drug Education Council, where he served for 26 years and was honored with the Joseph Treadwell Award in recognition of his leadership in prevention and education. He also generously gave his time to the Child Advocacy Center, Penelope House, the Alabama Safety Institute, the Boy Scouts of America, the Mobile County Communications District, and numerous other civic organizations dedicated to strengthening our communities.
Those who knew Sheriff Cochran understood that, to him, leadership was never about recognition; it was about service, earning trust, leading with character, and leaving every institution stronger than he found it. His life stands as a testament to the enduring values of duty, honor, and selfless service.
Today, I proudly honor Sheriff Sam Cochran, his lifetime of faithful service, and his passion for leadership. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. May we honor his memory by striving to serve our communities with the same integrity, humility, and dedication that defined his remarkable life.
Remembering Benjamin Russell
Page S4510 · Official textMr. President, today I rise to remember the exceptional and abundant life of Benjamin Russell. Mr. Russell, or as many called him, "Mr. Ben," was not just an icon in the Alexander City community; he was truly a trailblazer for the entire State of Alabama. As we celebrate his life, we honor his entrepreneurial spirit, boundless curiosity, and remarkable generosity. When you think of a life well-lived, Benjamin Russell's 88 years here on earth immediately come to mind.
Mr. Russell was a lifelong resident of Alexander City, attending Benjamin Russell High School, named after his grandfather; Baylor School; Indian Springs School; Mercer University; and the University of Alabama. After graduating, he worked for Russell Mills for a decade before being elected president of Russell Lands, a family land and timber business. What started as a 15-person company grew into a four-pronged organization, shaping the Lake Martin region as we know it today--all thanks to the steady leadership, vision, and dedication of Mr. Russell. Russell Lands' employment of over 500 people, operation in several counties across Alabama, and continuous investment in Lake Martin's property value are in large part thanks to Mr. Russell's tireless work and devotion.
Russell Lands has continued to expand, now owning one of Alabama's top golf courses, the Willow Point Golf and Country Club, creating an entire marine division devoted to four full-service marinas on Lake Martin, and starting ECON Company to promote the use of waste wood as an energy alternative to fuel oil. Mr. Russell's leadership has been critical to identifying needs around his community and investing in smart solutions, earning him induction into the University of Alabama Business Hall of Fame.
Mr. Russell's legacy extends far beyond his exceptional professional success. In 1987, he founded CARE, the world's largest private relief and development agency. As its longtime chair, he helped raise over $9 million for the humanitarian agency through the campaign, CARE Alabama. Alongside his beloved wife and high school sweetheart Luanne, Mr. Russell cofounded Children's Harbor, a nonprofit devoted to serving the families of seriously and chronically ill children. He was a generous contributor and supporter of the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children at Children's of Alabama, Alexander City's Russell Medical Center, and the Benjamin Russell Center for Advanced Care. His philanthropy was transformational to the lives of children living with serious illnesses, as well as their families and loved ones.
His zeal and passion for life were evident to all who had the fortune of knowing him. Mr. Russell poured into a constantly evolving list of hobbies, from aviation to scuba diving, to demolition, to water conservation. He was endlessly curious, brave, and rich in experience. He had an insatiable desire to live life to the fullest and wore many hats throughout his 88 years: author, welder, artist, Eagle Scout, skydiver, hot air balloon aeronaut--the list goes on. But his most treasured titles were husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. His loss will leave an irreplaceable hole in his family and community.
It is an honor and a privilege to remember and honor Mr. Russell's consequential life. He was a cornerstone of Lake Martin and a driving force behind Alabama's success, and he leaves an indelible mark on our great State through his entrepreneurial spirit, overflowing generosity, and love of adventure. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, Alabamians and Americans who visit beautiful Lake Martin, and generations to come who will continue to benefit from his vision and leadership. May we all look to his example and be inspired to leave our own communities better than we found them.
Tribute to Renee Blacken of Bethlehem
Page S4510 · Official textMr. President, I am honored to recognize Renee Blacken of Bethlehem as August's Granite Stater of the Month for her extraordinary resilience, adventurous spirit, and commitment to expanding access to trauma recovery resources in northern New Hampshire.
Earlier this year, Renee became the first American and first solo female to complete the Atlantic Dash, rowing more than 3,200 miles alone across the Atlantic Ocean in a 6-meter wooden boat without a chase boat or resupply. After 65 days at sea, she arrived in Antigua, becoming the oldest American woman to complete a solo Atlantic row.
Renee undertook this extraordinary challenge not only to test her own limits, but also to support a cause deeply personal to her. After overcoming physical and mental health challenges with the help of trauma recovery resources, she founded the New Hampshire nonprofit Outdoor Adventuring for Good to expand access to trauma recovery programs throughout northern New Hampshire. Today, the organization is helping fund programs that support first responders, veterans, survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, and others on their healing journeys.
Throughout her voyage, Renee remained connected to Granite Staters by sharing updates with supporters and exchanging videos with students in classrooms across New Hampshire. She taught young people to embrace challenges, that extraordinary achievements are possible through courage, preparation, and perseverance, to believe in themselves, and to understand the importance of asking for help when facing difficult times.
Renee's historic achievement, courage, and dedication to ensuring others have access to the support they need are why I am proud to name her August's Granite Stater of the Month.
Recognizing America250 Pennsylvania Youth Essay Contest
Pages S4510–S4512 · Official textMr. President, I rise today to recognize two outstanding young Pennsylvanians, Brady Sirochman and Ronit Luthra, whose essays were selected as the winners of my America250 Pennsylvania Youth Essay Contest.
As our Nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, there is no more fitting place to reflect on the American story than Pennsylvania. Our Commonwealth was the birthplace of American independence and has stood at the center of our Nation's history ever since. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the fields of Gettysburg, from the furnaces and factories that powered America's rise to the communities that continue to strengthen our country today, Pennsylvania has helped define the American character.
Brady, a 10th-grade student at Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown, wrote about General George C. Marshall, a fellow Uniontown native whose extraordinary life demonstrated that the defense of liberty requires both the strength of a soldier and the wisdom of a diplomat. Ronit, an 11th-grade student at Downingtown High School East, wrote about Pittsburgh inventor and industrialist George Westinghouse, whose ingenuity, courage, and faith in the ideas of others helped electrify the modern world.
Brady and Ronit did more than recount the accomplishments of two remarkable Pennsylvanians. They considered what those lives tell us about America: that service matters, that bold ideas can change the world, and that our country is strongest when talented and determined people are given the opportunity to rise.
Their essays also offer great reason for confidence in America's future. Brady and Ronit represent the kind of thoughtful, curious, and engaged young leaders our Nation needs now more than ever. As we honor the Americans who shaped our first 250 years, we should also celebrate the young people who will carry their legacy forward and lead our country into its next 250. I congratulate Brady and Ronit on this well-deserved recognition, and I ask that their winning essays be printed in the Record below.
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Brady Sirochman Essay: There stands a soldier in the middle of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His look of determination, loaded musket, and bronze tint make him conspicuous to any passerby who roams through the five-way intersection which he watches. Behind the soldier, a series of nineteen flags tower above the streets below in unison as a symbol of prosperity. For the most part, Uniontown is a quiet place, situated on the border of the Keystone State and submerged in the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains. One would not expect a hero of international fame and notoriety to have been born here, and yet across the road from the soldier, on a bench flanked by a series of plaques, sits the statue of one, George Catlett Marshall Jr.
Marshall's story began in Uniontown over one hundred years ago on a cold New Year's Eve. The fourth child born of George Catlett Marshall Sr., a wealthy coke businessman, and Laura Emily Bradford Marshall, George C. Marshall grew up in Uniontown before leaving for the Virginia Military Institute to pursue a career in the armed forces. After graduating, Marshall was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry in February of 1902, in time to serve in the Philippine-American War. Marshall would continue to rise through the ranks of the military in the lead-up to World War I, during which he achieved the position of assistant chief of staff for the newly created 1st Division.
This role put him in prime position to be the first soldier of the AEF to step foot on European soil, and one of the first to enter the trenches of the Western Front. In addition, his dauntless planning in the Battle of Cantigny delivered the first American victory of the Great War. The culmination of Marshall's triumphs came not on the battlefield, but from Washington, when on September first, 1939, Marshall was sworn in as Army Chief of Staff by Franklin D. Roosevelt, just hours after the invasion of Poland. While serving as Army Chief of Staff, he organized the largest military expansion in American history, had a role in selecting the majority of American generals, and helped plan the D-day Invasion.
Most importantly, on December 16, 1944, Marshall was the first American general promoted to the five-star rank of General of the Army, placing him on par with his European counterparts. For his part in planning and carrying out the Allied victory, Winston Churchill once called him the "Organizer of Victory", while Harry Truman once stated "Millions of Americans gave their country outstanding service. George C. Marshall gave it victory." After the war, a change began to take shape in Marshall, transforming the five-star general into a peacekeeper. Shortly after retiring from his position as Army Chief of Staff, Marshall was sent on a mission to broker a peace deal in the Chinese Civil War.
Although a failure, Marshall remained committed to maintaining peace with the new Communist government in his position as Secretary of State, against the wishes of the Department of Defense and voices within his own department. While serving in his position as Secretary of State, he began the program which he is possibly most famous for today, the Marshall Plan. Through it, American aid would be sent to Europe in order to help rebuild from the destruction caused by World War II. In many ways Marshall not only won peace in Europe but also provided for its continued existence, while enhancing American interests in the region and preventing the spread of Communism into Western Europe.
For his work on the Marshall Plan, and other post-war achievements such as advocating for peace in the Middle East, bringing the Netherlands to negotiate with Indonesia, and serving as President of the American Red Cross, Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953, the only American army official to gain such recognition. On a bench, only a stroll away from where he was born, sits the statue of George C. Marshall as he watches over the soldier whom he organized the victory of and the flags of the nations whom he helped rebuild. The entire scene, and the story of Marshall's life, highlights America's role as both a sword and shield against the forces of tyranny.
Through his military career spanning service from the Philippines to Europe, and later his organization of the armed forces in World War II, we see his life as a personification of America's willingness to defend liberty aggressively. However, through his career post-war in the fields of diplomacy and government aide, we see his life as a personification of America's willingness to defend liberty peacefully. George C. Marshall is a unification of these two necessities, as at America's best, we understand the need for a soldier, as well as the need for a diplomat.
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Ronit Luthra Essay: Every American schoolchild learns the name Thomas Edison. On the other hand, far fewer learn George Westinghouse, even though it was Westinghouse, working out of Pittsburgh, who won the argument that decided how the modern world would be powered. His story deserves a place in our national memory, not because he was a genius, though he was, but because his life shows the greatness America produces when real talent meets a country willing to reward it. His combination of mechanical brilliance with a sense of obligation to the fellow citizens around him flourished in a country of opportunity such as that prevalent in the United States of America.
Westinghouse arrived in Pittsburgh following the Civil War, a young veteran who had served in both the Union Army and Navy. He carried no Ivy League pedigree and no inherited fortune. What he did have was a restless mechanical mind and a willingness to bet everything on his own judgment. At just twenty-two, he patented the railway air brake, a device that let an engineer stop an entire train at once rather than relying on brakemen scrambling between cars. The invention not only saved countless lives, but turned railroads from a dangerous form of transportation into the dependable network that carried and continues to carry a growing nation's people and goods. Such an invention also made him a man with the capital to think bigger.
And thinking bigger is exactly what he did. In the 1880s, when a major dispute broke out over the future of electricity, Westinghouse decided to throw himself into the center of it. While Edison had staked his reputation on direct current, a source of energy offering limited range, he was opposed by Westinghouse, who believed alternating current, a source of energy offering a greater range and power, was the answer. Ultimately, the conclusion of the controversy would be one to determine whether electricity stayed a luxury confined to a few wealthy city blocks or became something available to nearly every home in the country.
Over time, the fight escalated. Edison ran a public effort to frighten Americans away from the technology, arranging disturbing demonstrations meant to paint alternating current as deadly. Westinghouse answered not with theatrics but with results. He recognized the brilliance of an eccentric immigrant inventor named Nikola Tesla, bought his patents, and gave him the freedom to perfect the alternating-current motor. Where Edison offered fear, Westinghouse offered proof, and he let the better system speak for itself.
The verdict came in 1893, when Westinghouse won the contract to illuminate the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Before an audience of millions, he switched on a hundred thousand lamps at once, and the fair blazed with a light no city had ever seen. Two years later his company harnessed Niagara Falls, sending its power all the way to Buffalo and proving that the force of a river could run the machinery of an entire economy. Nearly every outlet in America today traces its lineage to a decision made in Pittsburgh by a man who trusted the evidence over the noise.
Yet the wattage is not what makes Westinghouse worth remembering. It is the character behind it. He treated his workers with a decency rare for his era, granting them a half-day off on Saturdays, building housing and pension plans, and sharing the rewards of the enterprise with the people who built it. When the panic of 1907 stripped him of control of the company he had founded, he
did not retreat into bitterness. He kept inventing until the end of his life, holding over three hundred patents. Ultimately, his life reveals what America is capable of at its best. Here was a nation that let a self-taught veteran with no advantages rise on the strength of his ideas alone, then rewarded him for backing an immigrant genius whom nearly everyone else had written off. The country asked no permission of any ministry or court before a private citizen remade the daily life of the entire world. The lightbulb over a farmhouse in Kansas and the current that today powers a data center racing to keep America ahead in the race for technological supremacy both owe a debt to Westinghouse's stubborn confidence in a better system.
While we tend to celebrate the loudest inventors, truthfully, it was people like Westinghouse, a determined Pennsylvanian, who got it right. He built things that lasted while treating people fairly, expanding what ordinary Americans could expect from their lives. In an age when many wonder whether the country's best days are behind it, his story reminds us that renewal has always been our national habit. America has produced individuals like him before, and if it stays true to the conditions that made him possible, it will produce them again.
Measures Placed on the Calendar
Page S4512 · Official textThe following bills were read the second time, and placed on the calendar:
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S. 5271. A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
H.R. 7008. An act to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.
Executive and Other Communications
Pages S4512–S4513 · Official textThe following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated:
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EC-4325. A communication from the Supervisory Attorney Advisor, Office of Economics and Analytics, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Auction of FM Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for February 2, 2027; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 114" (DA 26-798) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4326. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes; Amendment 39-23417" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7223)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4327. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes; Amendment 39-23414" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2025-2546)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4328. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes; Amendment 39-23410" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2025-3435)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4329. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes; Amendment 39-23411" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7217)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4330. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace Over New Bedford, Massachusetts" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-4819)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4331. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters; Amendment 39-23408" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2025-3436)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4332. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH; Amendment 39-23409" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7216)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4333. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Engines; Amendment 39-23404" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-2717)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4334. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amendment No. 4225" ((RIN2120-AA65) (Docket No. 31672)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4335. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amendment No. 4226" ((RIN2120-AA65) (Docket No. 31673)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4336. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amendment No. 4228" ((RIN2120-AA65) (Docket No. 31675)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4337. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amendment No. 4227" ((RIN2120-AA65) (Docket No. 31674)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4338. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace Over Westfield, Massachusetts" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-5248)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4339. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH Gliders; Amendment 39-23416" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7222)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4340. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes; Amendment 39-23401" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3872)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4341. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines; Amendment 39-23407" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7214)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4342. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes; Amendment 39-23425" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3874)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4343. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes; Amendment 39-23405" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3480)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4344. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Stay of Effective Date for Amendment of Using Agency and Controlling Agency for Restricted Areas R-5301, R-5302A, R-5302B, and R-5302C; North Carolina" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7162)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4345. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Establishment of Class E Airspace; Conneaut, Ohio" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3895)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4346. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Establishment of Class E Airspace; Geneva, Ohio" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-4027)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4347. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters; Amendment 39-23402" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-2292)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4348. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes; Amendment 39-23406" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3481)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4349. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-1336)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4350.
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A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes; Amendment 39-23422" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-4639)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4351. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes; Amendment 39-23413" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3873)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4352. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters; Amendment 39-23418" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3477)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4353. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters; Amendment 39-23427" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3869)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4354. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes; Amendment 39-23428" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-2714)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4355. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes; Amendment 39-23419" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-0015)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4356. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca, S.A.) Engines; Amendment 39-23415" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2025-2557)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4357. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH Gliders; Amendment 39-23420" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-4637)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4358. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes; Amendment 39-23412" ((RIN2120-AA64) (Docket No. FAA-2026-7218)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4359. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Establishment of Class E Airspace; Crown Point, Indiana" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-3764)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
EC-4360. A communication from the Manager of Legal Litigation and Support, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled "Establishment of Class E Airspace; Monee, Illinois" ((RIN2120-AA66) (Docket No. FAA-2026-5908)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 4, 2026; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Reports of Committees
Page S4513 · Official textThe following reports of committees were submitted: By Mr. PAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute: S. 2542. A bill to direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, and for other purposes. S. 4505. A bill to require the United States Postal Service to designate ZIP Codes for certain communities. By Mr. CASSIDY, from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute: S. 4689. A bill to strengthen literacy outcomes for all students, to amend the comprehensive literacy State development grant program, and to ensure Federal accountability and investment in research, teacher preparation, and evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading.
Introduction of Bills and Joint Resolutions
Pages S4513–S4516 · Official text=========================== NOTE =========================== On page S4513, August 6, 2026, third column, the following appears: ---INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS The online Record has been corrected to read: ---REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The following reports of committees were submitted: By Mr. PAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute: S. 2542. A bill to direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, and for other purposes. S. 4505. A bill to require the United States Postal Service to designate ZIP Codes for certain communities. By Mr. CASSIDY, from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute: S. 4689. A bill to strengthen literacy outcomes for all students, to amend the comprehensive literacy State development grant program, and to ensure Federal accountability and investment in research, teacher preparation, and evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading.---INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ========================= END NOTE ========================= The 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 (11,982 characters)
By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr.
Sullivan, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Merkley, Mr. King, Mr.
Schiff, and Mr. Van Hollen):
S. 5273. A bill to improve fisheries stock assessments by incorporating eDNA, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. SHEEHY:
S. 5274. A bill to prohibit the District of Columbia from requiring a person to wear a protective helmet to operate, or ride on, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr.
Whitehouse, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Welch):
S. 5275. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit orders or agreements relating to the release of tax claims by the President and related persons, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. SCHIFF (for himself and Ms. Ernst):
S. 5276. A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to adjust the time period for the eligibility of certain base and overtime wages associated with the repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. ROUNDS (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar):
S. 5277. A bill to establish a ranchland program to support the United States cow herd, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. LUJAN:
S. 5278. A bill to prohibit the speculative sale of event tickets, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. Kaine, and Mr.
McCormick):
S. 5279. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate November as National American History and Founders Month; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Markey,
Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Padilla):
S. 5280. A bill to require employers to provide paid annual leave to employees, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Lujan,
Mr. Markey, and Mr. Schatz):
S. 5281. A bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to strike provisions relating to the maximum civil penalties for violations of product safety standards; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. LUJAN (for himself and Mr. Heinrich):
S. 5282. A bill to withdraw certain Federal land in the Rio Chama Watershed area of the State of New Mexico from mineral entry, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Murray,
Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Van Hollen,
Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kaine, Ms.
Duckworth, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Heinrich,
Mr. Schatz, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Hirono,
Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Welch, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Slotkin,
Mr. Bennet, Mr. Kim, Ms. Smith, Mr. Markey, and Mr.
Peters):
S. 5283. A bill to end preventable maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker,
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Welch, Mr. Merkley, and Mr.
Padilla):
S. 5284. A bill to provide economic empowerment opportunities in the United States through the modernization of public housing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms.
Duckworth, Mr. Kim, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Welch):
S. 5285. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve the low-income housing credit; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 5286. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish the position of Coordinator for Disabled Small Business Concerns within the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
By Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mrs. Britt):
S. 5287. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to States to increase awareness and education for colorectal cancer and improve early detection of colorectal cancer in young individuals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Schiff, Mrs. Shaheen,
Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kaine,
Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Warren, Mr. Coons, Mr. Booker,
Mr. Wyden, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. Rosen):
S. 5288. A bill to restore press access to the Pentagon, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Ms. Slotkin):
S. 5289. A bill to protect the right to the free exercise of religion; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper):
S. 5290. A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue competitive grants and enter into cooperative agreements to respond to and address mountain pine beetles, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. SCHIFF (for himself and Mr. Young):
S. 5291. A bill to require the Comptroller General to evaluate Federal cybersecurity assistance to small business concerns, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
By Mr. MARKEY:
S. 5292. A bill to provide for green and resilient health care infrastructure, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. RICKETTS:
S. 5293. A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish prepositioning protocols for aerial wildfire suppression for early-season fine fuel wildland fires, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Ms. ERNST:
S. 5294. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to require all railroad freight cars operating on the United States general railroad system of transportation to meet certain manufacturing and content requirements, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. McCORMICK (for himself and Mr. Coons):
S. 5295. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to strengthen mentorship and career development support for early-career researchers receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Klobuchar,
Mr. Murphy, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Lujan,
and Mr. Bennet):
S. 5296. A bill to provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. SCHIFF (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida):
S. 5297. A bill to require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to submit a report regarding the use of coverage and reimbursement authorities to protect the markets for active pharmaceutical ingredients and key staring materials; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Curtis):
S. 5298. A bill to facilitate the leasing of United States Postal Service property for the development of housing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Armstrong):
S. 5299. A bill to amend the Head Start Act to establish Tribal certification standards for Indian Head Start programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
By Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Peters, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Van Hollen,
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Baldwin,
Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Warren, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kim, Ms.
Alsobrooks, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Schatz, and Ms.
Rosen):
S. 5300. A bill to ensure the transparency and integrity of casualty accounting and benefits and awards for military and civilian personnel during military operations, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schiff,
Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Gillibrand,
and Mr. Lujan):
S. 5301. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. MERKLEY:
S. 5302. A bill to create national standards for labeling of covered materials as recyclable, compostable, reusable, and refillable, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schiff,
Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Gillibrand,
Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Lujan):
S. 5303. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Van
Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Warren,
Mr. Schiff, Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Mr.
Gallego, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Lujan):
S. 5304. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide increased labor law protections for agricultural workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. McCORMICK (for himself, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Kaine,
and Ms. Hassan):
S. 5305. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to modify the grant program for mental health and substance use disorder services for students in higher education and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program to address youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. BLUMENTHAL:
S. 5306. A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider the effects of Commission-jurisdictional rates on the affordability of electricity for consumers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Rounds):
S. 5307. A bill to require a strategy to align immigration-related policies with the national interest in ensuring United States leadership and dominance in artificial intelligence and in strengthening the broader ecosystem of scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial innovation, while protecting national security; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. COONS (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms.
Klobuchar, and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 5308. A bill to designate Afghanistan under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit nationals of Afghanistan to be eligible for temporary protected
status under such section, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Heinrich, and Mr.
Schiff):
S. 5309. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide payments for alternative manure management practices under the environmental quality incentives program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
By Mr. ROUNDS (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper):
S. 5310. A bill to support the development of the robotics industry in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr.
Markey):
S. 5311. A bill to improve the safety of the air supply on aircraft, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr.
Text printed in the Record (11,894 characters)
BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr.
Merkley, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr. Reed):
S. 5312. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Reducing Youth Use of E-Cigarettes Initiative; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Rounds):
S. 5313. A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider cybersecurity risks from quantum computers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Ms. ERNST:
S. 5314. A bill to make certain individuals and entities ineligible to participate in Federal programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Cramer, and
Mr. Sheehy):
S. 5315. A bill to impose additional duties on goods imported into the United States to eliminate the deficit in trade in goods; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. RICKETTS (for himself and Ms. Slotkin):
S. 5316. A bill to amend title VIII of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to include biotechnology in the definitions of "prohibited technology" and "notifiable technology", and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Mr. Padilla):
S. 5317. A bill to enable schools serving grades 6 through 12 that are located in rural areas or that serve Native American students to remodel or build new facilities to provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed internet, to establish a program to support the modernization, renovation, or repair of career and technical education facilities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Booker, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Wyden):
S. 5318. A bill to create a new Federal grant program that provides grants to State libraries to allow schools with summer lunch programs to keep their libraries open for student use during the summer months; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Fetterman,
and Mr. Van Hollen):
S. 5319. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Kim, Ms.
Alsobrooks, and Ms. Blunt Rochester):
S. 5320. A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain securities trading and related communications by those who possess material, nonpublic information, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. LUJAN (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Baldwin, Ms.
Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hassan, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mr.
Reed, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Fetterman, Mr.
Kim, and Mrs. Murray):
S. 5321. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of, and expand access to, home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, to award grants for the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce and to award grants to support family caregivers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mrs. HYDE-SMITH:
S. 5322. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the credit amount for qualified elementary and secondary education scholarships; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Wicker, and Mrs.
Gillibrand):
S. 5323. A bill to designate a building of the Chancery of the United States in Pristina, Kosovo, as the "Elliot L. Engel Building"; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Padilla,
Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Wyden,
Mr. Sanders, and Ms. Warren):
S. 5324. A bill to establish the right to counsel, at Government expense for those who cannot afford counsel, for people facing removal; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mr. Kim):
S. 5325. A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to cease all immigration detention operations at the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr.
Wyden, and Mr. Crapo):
S. 5326. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to strengthen program integrity oversight for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. Warner, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Hickenlooper):
S. 5327. A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on suicide risk factors faced by construction workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, and
Ms. Rosen):
S. 5328. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share veterans' contact information with State veterans agencies to improve outreach, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself and Mrs. Britt):
S. 5329. A bill to improve space control and space superiority readiness; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. CURTIS (for himself and Mr. Daines):
S. 5330. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand and improve the advanced manufacturing production tax credit; to the Committee on Finance.
By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal,
Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Murray,
Mr. Padilla, Ms. Warren, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Markey, Mr.
Sanders, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Merkley, and Mr.
Schiff):
S. 5331. A bill to provide that no Federal funds may be used to carry out the final rule of the Department of Homeland Security entitled "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility", and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Wicker, Mr.
Hickenlooper, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith):
S. 5332. A bill to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain the Cooperative Institute Program; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr. Ricketts):
S. 5333. A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to develop a plan for how the United States will advance and advocate for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Cruz):
S. 5334. A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lubbock, Texas, as the "Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer VA Clinic"; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Hagerty):
S. 5335. A bill to amend the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to provide for fair audits and inspections for examinations; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mrs. FISCHER (for herself and Ms. Lummis):
S. 5336. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit liability at common law for failure to manufacture or equip a motor vehicle to an extent that exceeds applicable motor vehicle safety standards, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mrs. BRITT (for herself, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Cotton,
Mr. Cruz, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Risch, Mr.
Cramer, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Budd, Mrs.
Hyde-Smith, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr. Ricketts):
S. 5337. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for extensions of detention of certain aliens ordered removed, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. LEE:
S. 5338. A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standards for a product that is not technologically feasible and economically justified, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Ms. ALSOBROOKS (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Kim, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Rosen, and
Mr. Hickenlooper):
S. 5339. A bill to limit the duties that may be imposed with respect to school supplies and educational materials, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Ms. SLOTKIN:
S. 5340. A bill to require a drone posture review; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. King,
Mr. Warner, Mr. Schiff, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Wyden, Mr.
Scott of Florida, Mr. Peters, Ms. Collins, Ms.
Alsobrooks, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Kim, Ms. Slotkin, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Blunt
Rochester, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith):
S. 5341. A bill to require the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to delegate to the Commandant of the Coast Guard authority to enter into intergovernmental support agreements relating to installation-support services, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Ms. SLOTKIN:
S. 5342. A bill to require a report on the advisability and feasibility of establishing a Drone Center of Excellence within the Army National Guard; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Ms. SLOTKIN:
S. 5343. A bill to require congressional notification of the relief or early departure of certain general and flag officers; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Ms. SLOTKIN:
S. 5344. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to submit a report on efforts to support the production, testing, and sustainment of autonomous maneuver systems, components for such systems, and low-cost interceptors; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Ms. SLOTKIN:
S. 5345. A bill to provide for the delivery of artifical intelligence functional bills of materials, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. Lujan):
S. 5346. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for layer operation efficiency equipment; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Crapo, Mr.
Cruz, Mr. Daines, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Sheehy):
S. 5347. A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to modify the composition of certain judicial circuits, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Fetterman):
S. 5348. A bill to modify the report on limitations on performance of depot-level maintenance to include information on each facility; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. CORNYN:
S. 5349. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to eliminate any internal Department of Defense depreciated costs or cancel any internal Department debts associated with depots and arsenal from accounts of a military department or the Department that are associated with certain capital expenditures that no longer generate revenue due to mission changes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. HEINRICH:
S. 5350. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include foreign oil and gas extraction income in net CFC tested income, to include income from the extraction of minerals from oil shale and tar sands in the definitions of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mrs. GILLIBRAND:
S. 5351.
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A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to provide for public financing for Federal elections through vouchers directed by eligible voters to the candidates of their choice; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cornyn):
S. 5352. A bill to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. Hawley):
S. 5353. A bill to limit bonuses for executives of certain electric utilities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Daines,
Mr. Lujan, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Crapo):
S. 5354. A bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
By Mr. LANKFORD (for himself and Mr. Lee):
S. 5355. A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide a deadline for the receipt of ballots in elections for Federal office; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Lankford):
S. 5356. A bill to support Lebanon's rule of law and democratic institutions through sanctions and support, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Rosen, Ms.
Duckworth, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Kim, Mr. Coons, and
Mr. Reed):
S. 5357. A bill to impose requirements for certain Federal positions to promote transparency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
S. 5358. A bill to amend the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to provide the Financial Stability Oversight Council with duties regarding artificial intelligence in the financial sector, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. Marshall, Mr.
Barrasso, Mr. Ricketts, Ms. Lummis, and Mrs. Britt):
S.J. Res. 209. A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision"; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
By Mr. MORENO:
S.J. Res. 210. A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision"; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
By Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr.
Schiff, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms.
Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kim, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr.
Coons):
S.J. Res. 211. A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions
Pages S4516–S4517 · Official textThe following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
Text printed in the Record (3,496 characters)
By Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
S. Res. 832. A resolution establishing a process to assure the long-term fiscal stability of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. SCHMITT:
S. Res. 833. A resolution recognizing the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team for its undefeated regular season, Orange Bowl victory, and claim to the 1960 National Championship; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Fischer,
Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Kelly, and Mrs. Capito):
S. Res. 834. A resolution honoring and commending the 100th anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Tillis):
S. Res. 835. A resolution celebrating the July 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Ankara, Turkiye, and reaffirming priorities pertaining to transatlantic security and the United States commitment to NATO; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mr. King, Ms.
Cortez Masto, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Rosen,
Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms.
Murkowski, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Warner):
S. Res. 836. A resolution designating August 16, 2026, as "National Airborne Day"; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. King, Ms. Lummis, Mr.
Gallego, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cotton, Ms.
Hirono, Mr. Justice, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Capito, Ms.
Cortez Masto, Mr. Budd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cruz, Mr.
Kaine, Mr. Young, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Kennedy, Mr.
Merkley, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Hoeven, Ms.
Rosen, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Tillis, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Curtis,
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Ms.
Hassan, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Scott of Florida,
Mr. Reed, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Peters, Mr. Risch, Mr.
Heinrich, Mr. Husted, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Collins,
Mr. Warner, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Welch, Ms.
Warren, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Moody, Ms.
Smith, Mr. Schiff, and Ms. Blunt Rochester):
S. Res. 837. A resolution designating the week of August 22 through August 30, 2026, as "National Park Week" ; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. Warnock):
S. Res. 838. A resolution commemorating the first anniversary of the mass shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on August 6, 2025; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Schumer):
S. Res. 839. A resolution to authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in Federal Trade Commission v. Key Investment Group, LLC, et al; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Schumer):
S. Res. 840. A resolution to authorize testimony and representation by the Senate Legal Counsel; considered and agreed to.
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Wicker,
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cramer, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms.
Baldwin, Mr. Gallego, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Hickenlooper,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Rosen, Mr. King, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Klobuchar):
S. Res. 841. A resolution celebrating the 35th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine from the former Soviet Union; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Additional Cosponsors
Pages S4517–S4519 · Official textAt the request of Mr. Tuberville, his name was added as a cosponsor of S. 304, a bill to amend section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify those classes of individuals born in the United States who are nationals and citizens of the United States at birth. At the request of Mr. Sullivan, the name of the Senator from South Carolina (Ms. Graham) was added as a cosponsor of S. 556, a bill to impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in logistical transactions and sanctions evasion relating to oil, gas, liquefied natural gas, and related petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Ricketts, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 747, a bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to include information on improper payments under Federal programs, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Moody, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 978, a bill to amend the National Housing Act to establish a mortgage insurance program for first responders, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Gillibrand, the names of the Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. Hassan) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) 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 Mr. Banks, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1328, a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make changes related to family-sponsored immigrants and to reduce the number of such immigrants, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Lankford, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1390, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals. At the request of Mr. Marshall, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1551, a bill to deny tax deductions and other Federal funding for the costs of gender transition procedures. At the request of Mrs. Murray, the name of the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1663, a bill to prohibit commercial sexual orientation conversion therapy, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Whitehouse, the name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Ossoff) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1814, a bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for a code of conduct for justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Warren, the names of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch), the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks) and the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) were added as cosponsors of S. 2006, a bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination in the Armed Forces on the basis of gender identity, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Lummis, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2187, a bill to rescind amounts appropriated for grants that are not accepted by a State or local government and use the amounts for deficit reduction. At the request of Mr. Cotton, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2274, a bill to amend section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify those classes of individuals born in the United States who are not nationals or citizens of the United States at birth. At the request of Mrs. Gillibrand, the name of the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2544, a bill to permit State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and grantees that receive eligible Federal grant funds to use such funds for investigating elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud, and to clarify that Federal law enforcement agencies may assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Fischer, the names of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fetterman) and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts) were added as cosponsors 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 Mr. Wyden, the name of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2845, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate tax loopholes that allow billionaires to defer tax indefinitely through planning strategies such as "buy, borrow, die", to modify over 30 tax provisions so that billionaires are required to pay taxes annually, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cotton, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2941, a bill to discontinue certain exceptions from H-1B nonimmigrant visa numerical limitation. At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3051, a bill to build the capacity of the armed forces of Mexico to counter the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3052, a bill to promote recruiter access to secondary schools. At the request of Mr. Curtis, the name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3400, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require coverage of hearing devices and systems in certain private health insurance plans, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schmitt, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3674, a bill to expand and clarify the grounds for civil denaturalization proceedings for individuals who have defrauded a governmental program, joined a terrorist organization, or committed certain criminal offenses. At the request of Mr. Budd, the name of the Senator from South Carolina (Ms. Graham) was added as a cosponsor 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. Van Hollen, the name of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) 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. Lankford, the name of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4323, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require PDP sponsors of a prescription drug plan and Medicare Advantage organizations offering an MA-PD plan under part D of the Medicare program that use a formulary to include certain generic drugs and biosimilar biological products on such formulary, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Markey, the name of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4411, a bill to clarify eligibility for small business loans, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Shaheen, the names of the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith), the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich) and the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) were added as cosponsors of S. 4436, a bill to nullify certain rules related to foreign assistance. At the request of Mr. Durbin, the name of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Whitehouse) 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 Mr. Booker, the names of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) and the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) were added as cosponsors of S. 4443, a bill to increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Marshall, the name of the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4507, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals and freestanding birth centers to notify each mother of a miscarried fetus of her rights with respect to such fetus, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Scott of South Carolina, the name of the Senator from Washington (Ms. Cantwell) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4528, a bill to provide for the long-term improvement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Britt, the names of the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper) and the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan) were added as cosponsors of S. 4555, a bill to prohibit covered digital advertising platforms from displaying targeted advertisements directed to a minor that promote sports gambling platforms. At the request of Ms. Rosen, the names of the Senator from South Carolina (Ms. Graham) and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Kim) were added as cosponsors of S. 4576, a bill to strengthen Federal efforts to counter antisemitism in the United States and protect the Jewish community. At the request of Mrs. Shaheen, the name of the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4577, a bill to reassess the United States-Tanzania bilateral relationship, and for other purposes. At the request of Mrs. Shaheen, the name of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4612, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public awareness campaign with respect to screening for type 1 diabetes, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Merkley, the name of the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4720, a bill to amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to consider nations with open registries in the Secretary's identification of nations engaging in or endorsing illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing. At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the names of the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) were added as cosponsors of S. 4775, a bill to amend the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to clarify liability protections for firearms and associated manufacturers and retailers, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Markey, the names of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Warner) and the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Kaine) were added as cosponsors of S. 4814, a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status. At the request of Mr. Scott of Florida, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4834, a bill to limit expenditures for foreign student work authorizations, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Bennet, the name of the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4865, a bill to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities who need long-term services and support, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr.
Armstrong, the names of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) and the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy) were added as cosponsors of S. 4944, a bill to streamline permitting under the Natural Gas Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Schmitt, the name of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4973, a bill to amend section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the meaning of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. Graham, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Moreno) was added as a cosponsor of S. 5025, a bill to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Barrasso, the name of the Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines) was added as a cosponsor of S. 5204, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt individual account plans from certain prohibited transaction rules. At the request of Mr. Padilla, the name of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Welch) was added as a cosponsor of S. 5221, a bill to prohibit the purchase, sale, or exchange of nonpublic information, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. Banks, the name of the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich) was added as a cosponsor of S. 5267, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model to reduce chronic diseases by using Accountable Produce is Medicine. At the request of Mr. Lankford, the name of the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 606, a resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its suppression of the right of Iranians to peacefully assemble. At the request of Mr. Durbin, the name of the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 735, a resolution designating the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week". At the request of Mr. Daines, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 816, a resolution honoring 35 years of independence for the countries of Central Asia and recognizing the importance of the United States growing relationship with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. At the request of Mr. Risch, the names of the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Budd), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Crapo), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn) and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts) were added as cosponsors of S. Res. 826, a resolution honoring the contributions of small manufacturers of firearms to the economy, culture, and recreational heritage of the United States and recognizing the month of August 2026 as "National Shooting Sports Month". At the request of Mr. Risch, the name of the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 827, a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Inc. (SAAMI) and commending its work establishing industry standards that ensure the safe interoperability of firearms and ammunition. At the request of Mr. Hawley, the names of the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville), the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Banks) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) were added as cosponsors of amendment No. 6744 intended to be proposed to S. 4668, a bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.
Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
Pages S4519–S4521 · Official textS. 5304. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide increased labor law protections for agricultural workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Fairness for Farm Workers Act, which I am reintroducing today.
Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California--the agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. In fact, nearly half of the country's vegetables and over three-quarters of the country's fruits and nuts are grown in California.
Farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working through extreme weather conditions, injuries, disasters, pandemics, and more. Yet farmworkers have been unjustly excluded from labor laws. The time to address these inequities is now.
While the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act established Federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay, the law excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers--workers who were and remain overwhelmingly people of color. In 2016, California recognized the need to provide farmworkers overtime protection. The California overtime law, which ensures farmworkers will have an equal right to overtime pay, serves as the model for this Federal bill.
Farmworkers in California and across the Nation deserve an end to discrimination in labor laws. We must undo the discriminatory exclusion of farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act.
That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would improve the lives of farmworkers and their families, create equity in our food system, and benefit farming communities as the increased wages are spent in local businesses.
This bill will gradually implement overtime pay over the course of 4 years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry and greater prosperity to historically marginalized workers.
I want to thank Congresswoman Grijalva for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us to provide a measure of long-overdue fairness for our Nation's farmworkers. ______
Text printed in the Record (5,746 characters)
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Heinrich, and Mr. Schiff):
S. 5309. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide payments for alternative manure management practices under the environmental quality incentives program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act. This legislation will help dairy and livestock producers reduce methane emissions, improve air and water quality, and implement more sustainable alternative manure management practices.
As the leading dairy State in the country and the second in cheese production, California is the largest producer of milk, butter, and cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and queso fresco. Dairy operations contribute billions to California's economy but are also a significant source of California's methane emissions.
Recognizing the urgency of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions like methane, California and the dairy industry are working to reduce dairy methane emissions by 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030, largely due to the successes of California's own Alternative Manure Management Program, AMMP.
The COWS Act would allow alternative manure management practices to be eligible under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP, to help dairy and livestock producers transition towards pasture-based management, alternative treatment and storage practices, solid separation systems, and scrape technologies.
These practices, which have proven to be effective through the AMMP, will provide more resources for the dairy and livestock industry to modernize technologies for manure management that help boost profitability, improve water quality, and reduce methane and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations is critical for addressing the climate crisis. Because of the high construction and operation costs associated with anaerobic digesters, nondigester manure management practices can provide a more cost-effective alternative for family dairy and livestock operators seeking to improve air and water quality for their communities.
I would like to thank Congressman Costa for leading this bill in the House, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the COWS Act.
______
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Kim, Ms.
Alsobrooks, and Ms. Blunt Rochester):
S. 5320. A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain securities trading and related communications by those who possess material, nonpublic information, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, I am joined by Senators Van Hollen, Kim, Alsobrooks, and Blunt Rochester in introducing the Insider Trading Prohibition Act, a bill that will finally define the offense of insider trading. This legislation is desperately needed because in the absence of a statutory definition, the courts have cobbled together a dizzying array of interpretations of anti-fraud statutes, creating what is an inconsistent and complicated body of common law for deciding insider trading cases. What should be simple has become unnecessarily complex.
Indeed, Judge Jed Rakoff, who has presided over many insider trading cases before the Southern District of New York, wrote in a recent opinion that "the crime of insider trading is a straightforward concept that some courts have somehow managed to complicate."
Consider the following hypothetical example. A financial analyst receives information about XYZ Corporation's earnings from a company insider, like an executive or board member, before this information is publicly released. The analyst then shares this inside information with her portfolio manager, who subsequently trades in XYZ stock.
I suspect most Americans would agree that the portfolio manager was given an unfair advantage.
But the courts are not so sure. They have left an open question whether this very trade would constitute illegal insider trading. Experts agree that this kind of judicial uncertainty is one reason among many of why Congress must clarify the law of insider trading.
Current SEC Chair Paul Atkins said in response to questions for the record that "following several high-profile insider trading cases, in 1988 Congress adopted the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act, but despite the statute's name, did not define `insider trading' because of lack of consensus of how to define it. Almost four decades later, the situation is even muddier as courts have applied the concept to various fact patterns."
Former SEC Commissioner Robert J. Jackson and former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara have written that "[t]he shoddy state of American insider-trading law affects everyone. Prosecutors and regulators are stuck enforcing laws that are ill-suited to 21st-century misconduct. Lawyers struggle to tell their clients what they can and cannot do within the bounds of the law. And ordinary Americans are left asking whether financial markets are stacked in favor of those who skirt the rules."
Columbia Law School Professor John C. Coffee, Jr., noted that "there is general agreement today that the law of insider trading has grown overly complex and technical. As a result, it is hard for the public to understand its logic or for practitioners to give advice with respect to the scope of the prohibition. Moreover, to the extent that insider trading is judge-made law, disparities and inconsistencies among the U.S. circuit courts becomes inevitable because there is little in the way of a definitive statutory text to provide precise guidance."
State regulators agree too. For example, Maryland Commissioner of Securities Melanie Senter Lubin has stated on behalf of the North American Securities Administrators Association that "defining the standards for insider trading liability by statute would add greater clarity and consistency to this important area of the law."
This is precisely what my colleagues and I are doing in our bill. We are seeking to finally distill the offense of insider trading to clear bright line rules. Simply put, if a person trades a security on the basis of information that the person is aware is material and nonpublic and is aware was wrongfully obtained, then that person has engaged in unlawful insider trading.
Under our legislation, insider trading would be prohibited if a trader knows or has reason to know that her information was wrongfully obtained, for example, through theft, bribery, hacking, misappropriation, or a breach of a fiduciary duty for a personal benefit. We do not intend to restrict those who take the time to independently develop their own information from publicly available sources from trading on the independently developed information.
By cracking down on those who rig securities markets to favor the well connected, our legislation provides everyday investors with a fair shot at seeing some returns after investing their hard-earned savings. Incidents of insider trading and the perceived pervasiveness of the practice have for years served to validate the public's worst assumptions about Wall Street culture. It is time we clearly define what is appropriate under the law and take this meaningful step towards improving the integrity of our securities markets for professional traders and retail investors alike.
I would like to thank my Banking Committee colleagues for working with me on this legislation, and I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting the Insider Trading Prohibition Act. ______
Text printed in the Record (3,073 characters)
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Wicker, and Mrs. Gillibrand):
S. 5323. A bill to designate a building of the Chancery of the United States in Pristina, Kosovo, as the "Eliot L. Engel Building"; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The building of the Chancery of the United States located at Arberia, Nr.25 Rr. 4 KORRIKU in Pristina, Kosovo, shall be designated as the "Eliot L. Engel Building".
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the "Eliot L. Engel Building".
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cornyn):
S. 5352. A bill to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the
Desalination Reauthorization Act.
This bill would reauthorize BOR's programmatic approval to
provide grants for desalination projects, which will
otherwise expire this year. It would also allow public-
private partnerships to compete for this funding.
The bill would also reauthorize the desalination and water
purification research program and amend it to authorize
advanced pilot projects. Advanced pilots can cover the gap in
developing new technologies known as the Valley of Death
between a successfully validated laboratory prototype and a
commercially viable, scalable product. During this phase,
public grants typically dry out, while private investors
demand proven market traction before committing capital.
The Federal cost-share under the program is limited to 24
percent of the cost of any desalination project. The bill
would direct the Reclamation cannot administratively impose a
maximum funding amount that each desalination project can
receive, which would allow large desalination plants to
receive the full 25 percent cost-share. I believe it is
important that the bill support desalination projects of
varying sizes. Large projects can allow multiple water
districts in a region to participate and can lower the unit
cost of the water produced.
The desalination projects supported by these Bureau of
Reclamation programs have supplemented local supplies,
provided flexibility during water shortages, and diversified
the water supply.
Desalination offers a drought-proof water supply
alternative, and we need to keep funding both commercial
desalination projects and research to lower its costs and
reduce its environmental impacts.
I would like to thank Senator Cornyn for coleading this
bill.
Introductory Statement on S. 5304
Pages S4519–S4520 · Official textS. 5304. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide increased labor law protections for agricultural workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Fairness for Farm Workers Act, which I am reintroducing today.
Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California--the agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. In fact, nearly half of the country's vegetables and over three-quarters of the country's fruits and nuts are grown in California.
Farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working through extreme weather conditions, injuries, disasters, pandemics, and more. Yet farmworkers have been unjustly excluded from labor laws. The time to address these inequities is now.
While the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act established Federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay, the law excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers--workers who were and remain overwhelmingly people of color. In 2016, California recognized the need to provide farmworkers overtime protection. The California overtime law, which ensures farmworkers will have an equal right to overtime pay, serves as the model for this Federal bill.
Farmworkers in California and across the Nation deserve an end to discrimination in labor laws. We must undo the discriminatory exclusion of farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act.
That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would improve the lives of farmworkers and their families, create equity in our food system, and benefit farming communities as the increased wages are spent in local businesses.
This bill will gradually implement overtime pay over the course of 4 years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry and greater prosperity to historically marginalized workers.
I want to thank Congresswoman Grijalva for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us to provide a measure of long-overdue fairness for our Nation's farmworkers.
Introductory Statement on S. 5320
Pages S4520–S4521 · Official textState regulators agree too. For example, Maryland Commissioner of Securities Melanie Senter Lubin has stated on behalf of the North American Securities Administrators Association that "defining the standards for insider trading liability by statute would add greater clarity and consistency to this important area of the law." This is precisely what my colleagues and I are doing in our bill. We are seeking to finally distill the offense of insider trading to clear bright line rules. Simply put, if a person trades a security on the basis of information that the person is aware is material and nonpublic and is aware was wrongfully obtained, then that person has engaged in unlawful insider trading. Under our legislation, insider trading would be prohibited if a trader knows or has reason to know that her information was wrongfully obtained, for example, through theft, bribery, hacking, misappropriation, or a breach of a fiduciary duty for a personal benefit. We do not intend to restrict those who take the time to independently develop their own information from publicly available sources from trading on the independently developed information. By cracking down on those who rig securities markets to favor the well connected, our legislation provides everyday investors with a fair shot at seeing some returns after investing their hard-earned savings. Incidents of insider trading and the perceived pervasiveness of the practice have for years served to validate the public's worst assumptions about Wall Street culture. It is time we clearly define what is appropriate under the law and take this meaningful step towards improving the integrity of our securities markets for professional traders and retail investors alike. I would like to thank my Banking Committee colleagues for working with me on this legislation, and I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting the Insider Trading Prohibition Act.
Senate Resolution 832--Establishing a Process to Assure the Long-Term Fiscal Stability of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund
Pages S4521–S4523 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 832--ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO ASSURE THE LONG-TERM FISCAL STABILITY OF THE FEDERAL OLD-AGE AND SURVIVORS INSURANCE TRUST FUND AND THE FEDERAL DISABILITY INSURANCE TRUST FUND Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:
Text printed in the Record (11,995 characters)
Resolved,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS TO ASSURE SOCIAL SECURITY
SOLVENCY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Long-term solvency.--The term "long-term solvency" means the financial ability of the Trust Funds to pay 100 percent of scheduled benefits for a period of at least 50 years that begins on the date of adoption of this resolution.
(2) Social security bill.--The term "Social Security bill" means a bill introduced pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) or subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).
(3) Trust funds.--The term "Trust Funds" means the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
(b) Bipartisan Working Group.--
(1) In general.--Not later than August 10, 2026, the Majority Leader of the Senate shall establish a bipartisan working group (in this section, referred to as the "working group") that shall develop recommendations and legislative language to achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds. Such legislative language shall not include provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(2) Composition.--
(A) In general.--The working group shall consist of--
(i) 3 Senators from the Committee on Finance of the Senate, appointed by the Chairman of the Committee;
(ii) 3 Senators from the Committee on Finance of the Senate, appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee;
(iii) 3 Senators appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; and
(iv) 3 Senators appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(B) Discretionary house participation.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives may each appoint 4 members to the working group.
(C) Chairpersons.--Not later than 14 calendar days after the appointment of all members under subparagraph (A),the Majority Leader of the Senate and Minority Leader of the Senate shall select co-chairs of the working group from members of the working group.
(3) Request for information.--The working group shall, for the purpose of carrying out this section, issue a request for information to the public regarding ways to achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds.
(4) Public listening sessions.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the working group shall, for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, hold such public listening sessions, sit and act at such times and places, request attendance of stakeholders and production of books, papers, and documents, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer oaths as the working group considers advisable.
(B) Procedures.--
(i) Announcement.--The working group shall make a public announcement of the date, place, time, and subject matter of any public listening session to be conducted under this subparagraph not later than 7 calendar days before the date of the public listening session, unless either co-chair of the working group determines that there is good cause to begin such public listening session on an earlier date.
(ii) Written statement.--The working group shall request that each stakeholder appearing before the working group file a written statement of the proposed testimony of the stakeholder not later than 2 calendar days before the date of the appearance of the stakeholder.
(5) Technical assistance and consultation.--Either co-chair of the working group may request that the head of any Federal agency provide technical assistance to, and consult with, the working group in order for the working group to carry out its duties under this subsection, and the head of any Federal agency is requested to comply with any such request.
(6) Assistance from the architect of the capitol.--Either co-chair of the working group may request that the Architect of the Capitol provide suitable space to house the operations of the working group, and the Architect of the Capitol is requested to comply with any such request.
(7) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than October 1, 2026, the working group shall submit to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and make available to any Member of Congress upon request, a report that contains detailed recommendations and proposed legislative language that meets the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(B) Alternative proposals.--As part of the report described in subparagraph (A), the working group shall include not less than 2 separate legislative proposals that meet the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(c) Consideration of a Social Security Bill.--
(1) Introduction.--
(A) Introduction of social security bill.--
(i) Working group legislative language.--One of the legislative proposals contained in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b), upon receipt by the Senate, shall (by request) be introduced not later than November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, by the Majority Leader of the Senate, for himself, or any Member of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader. If the Social Security bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any Member of the Senate may introduce the Social Security bill on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Social Security bill shall be referred to the Committee on Finance of the Senate under subparagraph (B).
(ii) Members of congress legislative language.--
(I) In general.--In the case that the working group does not submit proposed legislative language pursuant to subsection (b), not later than November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, the Majority Leader of the Senate, for himself, or any Member of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader shall (by request) introduce legislative language subject to subclause (II). If legislative language is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any Member of the Senate may introduce legislative language subject to subclause (II) on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the legislative language shall be referred to the Committee on Finance of the Senate in accordance with subparagraph (B).
(II) Requirements.--Such legislative language shall--
(aa) achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, as certified by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration);
(bb) be introduced by at least 1 Member associating with the majority party and at least 1 Member associating with the minority party; and
(cc) not include provisions that do not include changes to the outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(B) Committee consideration.--
(i) In general.--A Social Security bill introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Finance (in this clause, referred to as the "Committee").
(ii) Amendments.--It shall be in order for the Committee to consider and adopt amendments to the Social Security bill. It shall not be in order for the Committee to consider or adopt any amendment to the Social Security bill that causes the bill to not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds or that includes provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(iii) Reporting.--The Committee shall report the bill on November 18, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session. If the Committee fails to report the bill within that period, the Committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(2) Filing deadline and certification.--
(A) Filing deadline.--Not later than November 18, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, Members may file substitute amendments, and amendments shall be printed in the Congressional Record on the day such amendments are filed.
(B) Certification.--Not later than November 30, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration and the Parliamentarian of the Senate) shall certify whether the complete substitute amendments filed under subparagraph (A) meet the criteria described in items (aa) and (bb) of paragraph (3)(A)(iii)(II) and print the list of certified amendments in the Congressional Record.
(3) Procedures.--
(A) Consideration in senate.--
(i) In general.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than November 30, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, for the Majority Leader of the Senate or the Majority Leader's designee to move to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill at any time after that period. A motion to proceed is in order even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the motion to proceed to the Social Security bill are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill is agreed to, the Social Security bill shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
(ii) Consideration.--All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the Social Security bill and against consideration of the Social Security bill are waived. Consideration of the Social Security bill and of all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall not exceed a total of 30 hours. Debate shall be divided equally between the Majority Leader and Minority Leader or their designees. A motion to further limit debate on the Social Security bill is in order, shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members duly chosen and sworn, and is not debatable. Any debatable motion or appeal is debatable for a period not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and Minority Leader. All time used for consideration of the Social Security bill, including time used for quorum calls and voting, shall be counted against the total 30 hours of consideration.
(iii) Restriction on amendments and motions.--
(I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (II), an amendment to the Social Security bill, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the Social Security bill is not in order.
Text printed in the Record (4,555 characters)
All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the consideration of substitute amendments to the Social Security bill are waived.
(II) Substitute amendments.--
(aa) In general.--It shall be in order in the Senate to consider any substitute amendment to the Social Security bill that, as determined by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration), achieves long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, with such determination to be submitted by the Chairman and Ranking Member for printing in the Congressional Record. It shall be in order in the Senate for the sponsor of a substitute amendment to make minor or technical modifications to such amendment.
(bb) Extraneous provisions.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any substitute amendment to the Social Security bill that--
(AA) does not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds; or
(BB) includes provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(cc) Limit on debate.--Consideration of any amendment described in this subclause and any debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to 2 hours, equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. Adoption of a substitute amendment shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An amendment described in this subclause is not divisible and no amendment to a substitute amendment shall be in order. All time used for consideration of any amendments described in this subclause shall come from the 30 hours of consideration described in clause (ii).
(iv) Adoption of amendments.--If more than one of the amendments described in clause (iii)(II) is adopted, then only the one receiving the greater number of affirmative votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of
the Senate. In the case of a tie for the greater number of affirmative votes, then only the last amendment to receive that number of affirmative votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the Senate. Action on all other amendments shall be vitiated.
(v) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage shall occur immediately following the conclusion of consideration of a Social Security bill, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested. Passage shall require an affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. If the Social Security bill is passed, the Secretary of the Senate shall cause the bill to be transmitted to House of Representatives before the close of the next day of session of the Senate.
(vi) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a Social Security bill shall be debatable for a period not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.
(B) Receipt of house of representatives measures.--
(i) Identical bill.--If the Senate receives from the House of Representatives a bill that is identical to the Social Security bill pending in or passed by the Senate, the bill so received shall not be referred to committee, shall be placed on the calendar, and shall not be debatable, and the vote on passage of the Social Security bill in the Senate, whether occurring before or after such receipt, shall be considered to be the vote on passage of the bill received from the House of Representatives.
(ii) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Social Security bill, consideration of the veto message in the Senate under this section shall be limited to 1 hour, equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader or their designees.
(4) Suspension.--No motion to suspend the application of this subsection shall be in order in the Senate.
(5) Rule of construction.--If the House of Representatives passes a Social Security bill that is different from such a bill passed in the Senate, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the House of Representatives and Senate from resolving such differences through a conference committee.
Senate Resolution 833--Recognizing the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team for Its Undefeated Regular Season, Orange Bowl Victory, and Claim to the 1960 National Championship
Page S4523 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 833--RECOGNIZING THE 1960 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI TIGERS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR ITS UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON, ORANGE BOWL VICTORY, AND CLAIM TO THE 1960 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Mr. SCHMITT submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
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Whereas the University of Missouri Tigers Football Team (referred to in this preamble as the "Tigers") completed the 1960 regular season undefeated with a record of 10 wins and 0 losses;
Whereas the Tigers defeated the United States Naval Academy 21 to 14 in the 1961 Orange Bowl to complete an undefeated 11-win season;
Whereas the 1960 Tigers were led by legendary head coach Dan Devine, whose leadership and discipline helped establish the University of Missouri as a national football powerhouse;
Whereas the Tigers captured the 1960 Big Eight Conference Championship and finished the season ranked among the top teams in the United States;
Whereas the Tigers defense was among the most dominant in college football in 1960, allowing only 59 points throughout the entire season;
Whereas the 1960 Tigers recorded victories over nationally respected opponents, including Pennsylvania State University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Nebraska;
Whereas the 1960 Tigers were led by All-Americans and standout players, including Mel West, Norris Stevenson, Danny LaRose, and Conrad Hitchler;
Whereas Danny LaRose was recognized as a consensus All-American, excelling as a 2-way player, and earned 16 first-place votes for the Heisman Trophy;
Whereas the 1960 Tigers represented the values of discipline, toughness, teamwork, and competitive excellence that continue to define college football in the State of Missouri and throughout the United States;
Whereas the accomplishments of the 1960 Tigers continue to be celebrated by generations of Missourians, alumni, students, and college football fans across the United States;
Whereas the 1960 Tigers remain one of the greatest teams in the history of University of Missouri athletics; and
Whereas the 1960 Tigers secured a lasting place in college football history through their undefeated season and claim to the national championship: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team for its historic undefeated season; and
(2) honors the players, coaches, staff, students, and supporters whose dedication contributed to the success of the team.
Senate Resolution 834--Honoring and Commending the 100th Anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Page S4523 · Official textMr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Kelly, and Mrs. Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
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Whereas the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (in this preamble referred to as " `GCSAA") was founded in 1926, as the National Association of Greenkeepers of America, to do great work advancing the art and science of greenkeeping;
Whereas GCSAA is the top golf-course management association in the United States and worldwide;
Whereas GCSAA is the professional association for the men and women who manage and maintain the game's most valuable resource--the golf course;
Whereas GCSAA provides education, information, and representation to over 20,000 members in more than 78 countries;
Whereas GCSAA serves its members, advances their profession, and improves communities through the enjoyment, growth, and vitality of the game of golf;
Whereas the golf industry, which contributes $226,500,000,000 annually to the United States economy, recognizes GCSAA as a key contributor in elevating the game and business;
Whereas golf courses managed by GCSAA members provide substantial environmental and community benefits;
Whereas GCSAA believes golf course management should be sustainable for the future of the game and the earth;
Whereas GCSAA is at the forefront of the golf industry's efforts to promote environmental stewardship and helps its members manage courses in an environmentally responsible manner;
Whereas GCSAA provides members and the golf course industry with the tools and information necessary to enhance their environmental stewardship;
Whereas GCSAA shepherded the establishment of environmental best management practices guidelines in all 50 States;
Whereas GCSAA funds research that helps golf facilities manage their courses more efficiently and sustainably;
Whereas GCSAA's First Green program introduces elementary through high school students to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) concepts through field trips to golf courses;
Whereas GCSAA's First Green curriculum benefits students by helping them apply their classroom knowledge in an outdoor setting, understand how STEAM concepts connect, and find new inspiration in their schoolwork and in the possibility of a career in golf or a STEAM-related field;
Whereas GCSAA's workforce development initiatives provide career guidance, professional development, certificate and certification opportunities, and scholarships to help individuals build meaningful careers;
Whereas GCSAA provides advocacy and outreach to its members to help ensure the future of the profession and the game of golf;
Whereas the late golf legend Arnold Palmer once said, "The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and all golf course superintendents are probably the most important entity that we have in golf"; and
Whereas GCSAA members have been keeping the game of golf on course for a century and are committed to making the next 100 years even more remarkable: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Senate Resolution 835--Celebrating the July 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Ankara, Turkiye, and Reaffirming Priorities Pertaining to Transatlantic Security and the United States...
Pages S4523–S4524 · Official textORGANIZATION SUMMIT IN ANKARA, TURKIYE, AND REAFFIRMING PRIORITIES PERTAINING TO TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY AND THE UNITED STATES COMMITMENT TO NATO Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
Text printed in the Record (4,625 characters)
Whereas the July 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit (also known as the "Ankara Summit"), was held on July 7-8, 2026, in Ankara, Turkiye, and convened all 32 NATO Allies and NATO Partners.
Whereas the Ankara Summit took place during the fifth year of the Russian Federation's unprovoked, illegal, full-scale war against Ukraine;
Whereas, at the Ankara Summit all NATO Allies reaffirmed our collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty;
Whereas at the Ankara Summit all NATO Allies reaffirmed the Alliance's "unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" and
collectively pledged $80,000,000,000 in military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine in 2026;
Whereas, to further strengthen its capabilities for collective defense, at the 2025 NATO Summit in the Hague, Netherlands, all members of NATO committed to defense spending of 5 percent of each country's gross domestic product, which includes a commitment to spend 1.5 percent of each country's gross domestic product on investments in defense related infrastructure and capabilities, by 2035;
Whereas core defense spending among our NATO Allies has increased by more than $139,000,000,000 in 2025 compared with 2024;
Whereas NATO continues to support efforts to maintain stability in the Western Balkans, particularly through the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and NATO Headquarters Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which closely coordinates with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Operation Althea, the European Union force that is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina (also known as the "Dayton Agreement" or the "Dayton Accords"), done at Dayton November 21, 1995;
Whereas each NATO communique since the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has acknowledged Russia as a significant and direct threat to NATO Allies;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation, in addition to continuing its campaign of aggression and violence against the people of Ukraine, has conducted hybrid warfare against NATO Allies, including specific efforts to--
(1) violate Romania's air space through numerous drone incursions, including on May 29, 2026, when a Russian drone struck a residential building in Galati, injuring civilians;
(2) conduct reconnaissance on the United Kingdom's critical undersea cable and energy infrastructure using the Russian intelligence-gathering vessel, Yantar; and
(3) attack and disrupt railroad infrastructure and commercial air cargo in Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Whereas these threats have prompted NATO to respond with strengthened resolve through joint military exercises, such as Baltic Sentry, launched in January 2025, and Arctic Sentry, launched in February 2026, and with critical support to Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity through such actions as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative;
Whereas our NATO Allies and Partners have committed more than $4,800,000,000 to Ukraine's defense through the PURL initiative;
Whereas the Ankara Summit welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss NATO continued support for Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression; and
Whereas Senator Lindsey Graham attended the NATO Summit in Ankara during his final overseas trip before his sudden passing: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) reaffirms the enduring bipartisan commitment of the United States Senate to the North Atlantic Treaty and the United States' obligations to NATO collective defense under Article 5 of the Treaty;
(2) commends our NATO Allies for committing $80,000,000,000 in support for Ukraine in 2026 at the Ankara Summit and for delivering on a significant increase in defense spending across the Alliance;
(3) recognizes that all 32 NATO Allies, including the United States, have pledged to invest at least 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense and defense related spending by 2035, and encourages all Allies to formalize plans to meet this benchmark;
(4) calls on the Department of Defense to engage the Department of State in its force posture review to ensure that all NATO Allies and United States partners are consulted and fully engaged in the review process; and
(5) welcomes NATO continued support for Ukraine through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the PURL initiative, and encourages all NATO Allies to continue significant support for Ukraine in sustaining its fight against Russian aggression.
Senate Resolution 836--Designating August 16, 2026, as "National Airborne Day"
Page S4524 · Official textSENATE RESOLUTION 836--DESIGNATING AUGUST 16, 2026, AS "NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY" Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mr. King, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Warner) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
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Whereas the members of the airborne forces of the Armed Forces of the United States have a long and honorable history as bold and fierce warriors who, for the national security of the United States and the defense of freedom and peace, project the ground combat power of the United States by air transport to the far reaches of the battle area and to the far corners of the world;
Whereas, on June 25, 1940, experiments with airborne operations by the United States began after the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized by the Department of War;
Whereas, in July 1940, 48 volunteers began training for the Army Parachute Test Platoon;
Whereas the first official Army parachute jump took place on August 16, 1940, to test the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat forces behind a battle line by means of a parachute;
Whereas the success of the Army Parachute Test Platoon, before the entry of the United States into World War II, validated the airborne operational concept and led to the creation of a formidable force of airborne formations that included the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions;
Whereas included in those divisions, and among other separate formations, were many airborne combat, combat support, and combat service support units that served with distinction and achieved repeated success in armed hostilities during World War II;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne units during World War II prompted the evolution of those units into a diversified force of parachute and air-assault units that, over the years, have fought in Korea, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf region, and Somalia, and have engaged in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo;
Whereas, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the members of the United States airborne forces, including members of the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 11th Airborne Division, the 75th Ranger Regiment, special operations forces of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, and other units of the Armed Forces, have demonstrated bravery and honor in combat, stability, and training operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other theaters in the Global War on Terrorism;
Whereas the continued evolution of United States Army airborne units allowed for the reactivation of the 11th Airborne Division on June 6, 2022, to lead the Armed Forces of the United States in Arctic warfighting capabilities, support United States Indo-Pacific Command operations, and continue the storied legacy of the 11th Airborne Division that dates back to World War II;
Whereas the modern airborne forces also include other elite forces composed of airborne trained and qualified special operations warriors, including Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions, Navy SEALs, and Air Force combat control and pararescue teams;
Whereas, of the members and former members of the United States airborne forces, thousands have achieved the distinction of making combat jumps, dozens have earned the Medal of Honor, and hundreds have earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, or other decorations and awards for displays of heroism, gallantry, intrepidity, and valor;
Whereas the members and former members of the United States airborne forces are all members of a proud and honorable tradition that, together with the special skills and achievements of those members, distinguishes the members as intrepid combat parachutists, air assault forces, special operation forces, and, in the past, glider infantry;
Whereas individuals from every State of the United States have served gallantly in the airborne forces, and each State is proud of the contributions of its paratrooper veterans during the many conflicts faced by the United States;
Whereas the history and achievements of the members and former members of the United States airborne forces warrant special expressions of the gratitude of the people of the United States; and
Whereas, since the airborne forces, past and present, celebrate August 16 as the anniversary of the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16 is an appropriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates August 16, 2026, as "National Airborne Day"; and
(2) calls on the people of the United States to observe National Airborne Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
Senate Resolution 837--Designating the Week of August 22 Through August 30, 2026, as "National Park Week"
Pages S4524–S4525 · Official textMr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. King, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Justice, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Budd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Young, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Reed, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Peters, Mr. Risch, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Husted, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Collins, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Welch, Ms. Warren, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Moody, Ms. Smith, Mr. Schiff, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Text printed in the Record (2,062 characters)
Whereas, on March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park for the enjoyment of the people of the United States;
Whereas, on August 25, 1916, Congress established the National Park Service with the mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations;
Whereas the National Park Service continues to protect and manage the majestic landscapes, hallowed battlefields, and iconic cultural and historical sites of the United States;
Whereas the units of the National Park System can be found in every State and many territories of the United States, and many of those units embody the rich natural and cultural heritage of the United States, reflect a unique national story through people and places, and offer countless opportunities for recreation, volunteerism, cultural exchange, education, civic engagement, and exploration;
Whereas, in 2025, the national parks of the United States attracted 323,014,305 recreational visits;
Whereas visits and visitors to the national parks of the United States are important economic drivers, responsible for contributing $56,300,000,000 in economic output in 2024;
Whereas the dedicated employees of the National Park Service carry out their mission to protect the units of the National Park System so that the vibrant culture, diverse wildlife, and priceless resources of these unique places will endure for perpetuity; and
Whereas the people of the United States have inherited the remarkable legacy of the National Park System and are entrusted with the preservation of the National Park System throughout its second century: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of August 22 through August 30, 2026, as "National Park Week"; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and support the treasured national parks of the United States.
Senate Resolution 838--Commemorating the First Anniversary of the Mass Shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on August 6, 2025
Page S4525 · Official textMr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. Warnock) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Text printed in the Record (993 characters)
Whereas, on August 6, 2025, 5 soldiers at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were shot and wounded by a fellow soldier;
Whereas all 5 victims survived the attack;
Whereas unarmed soldiers responded immediately to subdue the shooter and to render first aid to the victims, saving lives and preventing further tragedy;
Whereas the unarmed soldiers acted selflessly, putting their own lives at risk; and
Whereas the Fort Stewart community has remained valiant and supportive since the incident: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes and honors the victims of the shooting;
(2) commends the actions of the Fort Stewart soldiers that responded to subdue the shooter;
(3) commends the bravery of the first responders;
(4) acknowledges those that continue to support the Fort Stewart community in the wake of the shooting, including religious leaders and mental health care providers; and
(5) expresses support for the victims, their families, and the Fort Stewart community.
Senate Resolution 839--To Authorize Representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in Federal Trade Commission V. Key Investment Group, Llc, Et Al
Page S4525 · Official textMr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Schumer) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
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Whereas, in the case of Federal Trade Comission v. Key Investment Group, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-02716, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the defendants have issued subpoenas for the production of documents to Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Ben Ray Lujan;
Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent current and former Members of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for evidence relating to their official responsibilities; and
Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent Senator Blackburn and Senator Lujan in this matter.
Senate Resolution 840--To Authorize Testimony and Representation by the Senate Legal Counsel
Page S4525 · Official textMr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Schumer) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Text printed in the Record (1,611 characters)
Whereas, the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has requested employee testimony from the office of Senator Elizabeth Warren for use in a criminal threat investigation;
Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent current and former employees of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for testimony or documents relating to their official responsibilities;
Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; and
Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may promote the administration of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That employees of the office of Senator Elizabeth Warren from whom relevant evidence may be necessary are authorized to provide testimony in this investigation and any future legal proceedings in this matter, except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted.
Sec. 2. The Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent the employees of Senator Warren's office in connection with the production of testimony authorized in section one of this resolution.
Senate Resolution 841--Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine from the Former Soviet Union
Pages S4525–S4526 · Official textMrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Gallego, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Rosen, Mr. King, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
Text printed in the Record (4,450 characters)
Whereas, on August 24, 1991, the elected Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine declared the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union with an overwhelming majority of the vote;
Whereas, on December 1, 1991, more than 90 percent of Ukrainian citizens voted in a national referendum in support of independence, with majorities in every region;
Whereas, on February 8, 1994, Ukraine was the first member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States to join the Partnership for Peace program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has since deepened its relationship with NATO, recognized as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner;
Whereas, on November 22, 2004, Ukrainians peacefully took to the streets in protest of a fraudulent presidential election, beginning the Orange Revolution and resulting in new elections under free and fair conditions;
Whereas, on November 21, 2013, the Euromaidan protests began, resulting in the Revolution of Dignity and the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych by the Verkhovna Rada;
Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale, unprovoked, and illegal invasion of Ukraine, following its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its illegal occupation of parts of the Donbas region in 2014;
Whereas the United States has played a vital role in supporting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and self-defense of Ukraine in the wake of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion in 2022, and continued United States diplomatic leadership remains essential to advancing efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation;
Whereas the integration of Ukraine's battle-tested defense-industrial capabilities into the broader trans-Atlantic security architecture represents a return on investment for United States and NATO allied funding that extends beyond support for Ukraine's self-defense to a direct strengthening of allied security;
Whereas the international community and the United States recognize the sovereignty, independence, and full territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized 1991 borders; and
Whereas Ukraine has continued to strengthen its democracy and has prioritized closer engagement with NATO and the European Union: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the courage and resolve shown by the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of sovereignty and democracy;
(2) remembers the Euromaidan protests of November 2013 as a major step forward in the journey of Ukraine toward democracy;
(3) affirms the Crimea Declaration issued and announced by the Department of State on July 24, 2018, which rejects the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and pledges to maintain that position until the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored;
(4) condemns the February 24, 2022, illegal and unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine and occupation of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation;
(5) honors and solemnly remembers the more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians and the many Ukrainian servicemembers who have lost their lives since February 24, 2022, in defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of the Russian Federation's aggression;
(6) welcomes reports that United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff intends to make his first visit to Kyiv in the coming months and encourages President Trump's continued efforts with international partners to achieve a just and lasting peace agreement for the Ukrainian people;
(7) encourages the United States Government to commit to a strong security guarantee for Ukraine, which is necessary for Ukraine to reach a durable peace agreement with a belligerent Russian Federation;
(8) encourages the United States Government, including the Department of Defense, to take all appropriate steps to incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine's demonstrated advances in drone warfare, counter-drone defense, and rapid defense-industrial innovation to strengthen United States military readiness and warfighting capabilities;
(9) encourages the Government of Ukraine to continue implementing crucial reforms to fight corruption, build strong and free markets, and strengthen democracy and the rule of law; and
(10) celebrates 35 years of Ukrainian independence and the strong partnership between the peoples and governments of the United States and Ukraine.
Amendments Submitted and Proposed
Pages S4526–S4529 · Official text=========================== NOTE =========================== On page S4526, August 6, 2026, in the first and second columns, the following appears: SA 6669. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department to Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table. The online Record has been corrected to omit this section. ========================= END NOTE ========================= =========================== NOTE =========================== On page S4526-S4527, August 6, 2026, the text of amendment SA 6669 appears. The online Record has been corrected to omit this section. ========================= END NOTE ========================= SA 6747. Mr. BUDD (for himself, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rounds, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Banks, and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 6732 proposed by Ms. Collins to the bill H.R. 6500, to extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (28 characters)
Strike section 2019.
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SA 6748. Mrs. MOODY (for Mr. Peters) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 434, to establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,066 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Office of Space Commerce.
(2) State.--The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(3) United states entity.--The term "United States entity" means--
(A) an individual who is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and
(B) a nongovernmental entity organized or existing under, and subject to, the laws of the United States or a State.
SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the "Committee").
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary.
(2) Qualifications.--
(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of representatives from a variety of space policy, engineering, technical, science, legal, academic, and finance fields who have significant experience in the commercial space industry, which may include previous Government experience.
(B) Limitation.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any employee or official of the Federal Government.
(ii) Exception.--The Secretary may appoint as a member of the Committee a special government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) who serves on 1 or more other Federal advisory committees.
(3) Term.--Each individual appointed as a member of the Committee--
(A) shall be appointed for a term of not more than 4 years; and
(B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which such term ends, may not serve as a member of the Committee.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be--
(1) to advise on the status and recent developments of nongovernmental space activities;
(2) to provide to the Secretary and Congress recommendations on the manner in which the United States may facilitate and promote a safe, sustainable, robust, competitive, and innovative commercial sector that is investing in, developing, and conducting space activities within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, including through the development and implementation of any regulatory framework applicable to the commercial space industry;
(3) to identify, and provide recommendations in response to, any challenge faced by the United States commercial sector relating to--
(A) the application of international obligations of the United States relevant to commercial space sector activities in outer space;
(B) export controls that affect the commercial space sector;
(C) harmful interference with commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(D) access to adequate, predictable, and reliable radio frequency spectrum;
(4) to review existing best practices for United States entities to avoid--
(A) the harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies; and
(B) adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter; and
(5) to provide information, advice, and recommendations on matters relating to--
(A) United States commercial space sector activities in outer space; and
(B) other commercial space sector activities, as the Committee considers necessary.
(d) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Committee is established.
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SA 6749. Ms. LUMMIS (for herself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 1525, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, and for other purposes; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,451 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Common Cents Act".
SEC. 2. SPECIFICATIONS OF 5-CENT COINS AND CEASING PRODUCTION
OF ONE-CENT COINS.
Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking "weighs 5 grams." and inserting the following: "weighs--
"(A) 5 grams, with respect to such coin that is an alloy of copper and nickel; or
"(B) between 4 and 6 grams, with respect to such coin as described in subsection (c)."; and
(B) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by striking "except as provided under subsection (c) of this section,"; and
(ii) by striking "and weighs 3.11 grams";
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the sixth sentence--
(i) by inserting "either" before "an alloy"; and
(ii) by inserting "or a composition described in subsection (c)" before the period;
(B) by inserting "with respect to such coins that are an alloy of copper and nickel" after "nickel required"; and
(C) by striking "Except" through "zinc" and inserting "The one-cent coin is composed of copper and zinc";
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) 5-cent Coin.--
"(1) In general.--The 5-cent coin may be a coin with an inner layer of zinc and an outer layer of nickel.
"(2) Composition.--The Secretary may prescribe the composition of zinc and nickel in the 5-cent coin, subject to testing and evaluation that such composition--
"(A) reduces the cost incurred to produce such coin; and
"(B) to the greatest extent practicable, has a minimal adverse impact on machines designed to accept coins."; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
"(bb) Ceasing Production of One-cent Coin.--
"(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall cease production of one-cent coins for general circulation, but may continue to produce and issue one-cent coins for sale as numismatic items.
"(2) No effect on legal tender.--Any one-cent coin that is minted and issued on any date before the date of the enactment of this subsection shall remain legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.".
SEC. 3. CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) In General.--Any person, including a financial institution, selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction may, if exact change cannot be provided at that time of such transaction, round the covered amount in the following manner:
(1) Rounding down.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B), in any case in which the covered amount ends with 1 cent, 2 cents, 6 cents, or 7 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(2) Rounding up.--
(A) In general.--In any case in which the covered amount ends with 3 cents, 4 cents, 8 cents, or 9 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(B) Small transactions.--In any case in which the covered amount totals $0.01 or $0.02, such amount may be rounded up to $.05
for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(b) Additional Authority to Round.--With respect to a person, including a financial institution, conducting a cash transaction with a customer of the person, the amount of cents in the sum of the transaction may be rounded, if such rounding is in favor of the customer, as follows:
(1) Up to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the person is paying the customer in cash.
(2) Down to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the customer is paying the person in cash.
(c) Employer Payments to Employees.--
(1) In general.--With respect to an employer providing a cash payment to an employee in an amount that is not divisible by 5 cents, if the employer chooses to round the amount of cents in such payment, the employer shall round the amount of cents in such payment up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 cents.
(2) No rounding requirement.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require rounding by an employer described in paragraph (1) who provides a cash payment to an employee in an exact amount.
(d) Application.--Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to any transaction for which payment is made by any demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to require any person to round a payment as described in subsections (a) or (b).
(f) Covered Amount Defined.--In this section, the term "covered amount" means--
(1) the total transaction amount, including taxes; or
(2) in the case of a person selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction, the amount of change due to the customer if the customer provides a cash payment that exceeds the total transaction amount, including taxes.
SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL LAW WITH
RESPECT TO CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) Federal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any Federal requirement, law, regulation, or standard based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(b) State and Tribal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any requirement, law, regulation, or standard of a State, Tribe, or a political subdivision of a State based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or of any order thereunder shall excuse noncompliance with any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law, regulation, ordinance, or requirement establishing a minimum wage, providing for overtime pay requirements, or providing for paid leave.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC PLAN AND REPORT ON COIN TERMINAL OPERATIONS
AND COIN DISTRIBUTION STABILITY.
(a) Strategic Plan and Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that outlines a strategic plan for the acceptance of penny orders and deposits at commercial coin terminals providing services under agreements with the Federal reserve banks nationwide, including--
(1) a description of the Board's approach to limiting disruptions in penny supply and maintaining the stability of and efficiency of the coin distribution system, to the greatest extent practicable;
(2) an evaluation of such coin terminals where the Federal reserve banks no longer accept penny deposits or penny orders;
(3) an assessment of whether processing penny deposits or penny orders at such coin terminals could mitigate any challenges related to ceasing the production of the penny, including challenges related to the implementation of rounding practices;
(4) an assessment by the Secretary of the Treasury, which the Secretary shall conduct and deliver to the Board not less than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act--
(A) on the impact of penny supply and demand disruptions, and rounding practices for check cashing, on low-income communities, older consumers, debanked, unbanked, and underbanked individuals, including feedback from State or local entities; and
(B) that includes recommendations to the Congress to address any adverse impacts identified under subparagraph (A); and
(5) any additional considerations the Board determines relevant to maintaining penny distribution stability.
(b) Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after submission of the report required under subsection (a), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that evaluates the progress of implementing the strategic plan described in subsection (a), including--
(A) any material changes to the plan; and
(B) any identified or emerging stress in the penny distribution system.
(2) Successive reports.--The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available 2 additional reports that evaluate the progress described in paragraph (1) on dates that are not later than--
(A) 18 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a); and
(B) 30 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a).
SEC. 6. DISCONTINUATION OF CIRCULATION OF COINS.
Section 5111 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking "and" at the end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(5) may discontinue the minting for circulation of any coin that is described in paragraph (1) (and that is minted for circulation, as of the date of enactment of this paragraph) only in accordance with the procedures described in subsection (e)."; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(e) Discontinuation.--
"(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered committees' means--
"(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
"(B) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
"(2) Requirements.--The Secretary of the Treasury may not discontinue the minting for circulation of a coin described in subsection (a)(5) unless the Secretary--
"(A) not later than 60 days before that discontinuation, and in coordination with the Director of the United States Mint, submits to the covered committees notice regarding that discontinuation, which shall include--
"(i) a description of the reasoning for that discontinuation, including fiscal and operational considerations; and
"(ii) a comprehensive plan for phasing out the circulating coin, taking into consideration--
"(I) the potential impacts of that discontinuation on consumers and businesses; and
"(II) the potential economic impacts of that discontinuation; and
"(B) not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the notice required under subparagraph (A), provides a briefing to the covered committees regarding the plan for implementing that discontinuation.".
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered committees.--The term "covered committees" means--
(A) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Financial institution.--The term "financial institution" means any person, other than an individual, the business of which is engaging in financial activities in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)).
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SA 6750. Ms. COLLINS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 6500, to extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (142 characters)
Amend the title so as to read: "A bill making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes.".
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SA 6751. Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Moran) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1838, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome, and for other purposes; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,984 characters)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. DEONDRA DIXON INCLUDE PROJECT.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
"SEC. 409K. DOWN SYNDROME RESEARCH.
"(a) In General.--The Director of NIH shall carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome to be known as the `INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE Project' or the `INCLUDE Project'.
"(b) Program Elements.--The program under subsection (a) shall include--
"(1) high-risk, high-reward research on the effects of trisomy 21 on human development and health;
"(2) promoting research for participants with Down syndrome across the lifespan, including cohort studies to facilitate improved
understanding of Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions and development of new interventions;
"(3) expanding the number of clinical trials that are inclusive of, or expressly for, participants with Down syndrome, including novel biomedical and pharmacological interventions and other therapies designed to promote or enhance activities of daily living;
"(4) research on the biological mechanisms in individuals with Down syndrome pertaining to structural, functional, and behavioral anomalies and dysfunction as well as stunted growth;
"(5) supporting research to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions co-occurring with Down syndrome, including the identification of biomarkers related to risk factors, diagnosis, and clinical research and therapeutics;
"(6) research on the causes of increased prevalence, and concurrent treatment, of co-occurring conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and autoimmunity, in individuals with Down syndrome; and
"(7) research, training, and investigation on improving the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
"(c) Coordination; Prioritizing Nonduplicative Research.--The Director of NIH shall ensure that--
"(1) the programs and activities of the institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health relating to Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions are coordinated, including through the Office of the Director of NIH and priority-setting reviews conducted pursuant to section 402(b)(3); and
"(2) such institutes and centers, prioritize, as appropriate, Down syndrome research that does not duplicate existing research activities of the National Institutes of Health.
"(d) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out activities under this section, the Director of NIH shall, as appropriate and to the maximum extent feasible, consult with relevant stakeholders, including patient advocates, to ensure that such activities take into consideration the needs of individuals with Down syndrome.
"(e) Biennial Reports to Congress.--
"(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall submit, on a biennial basis, to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report that catalogs the research conducted or supported under this section.
"(2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include--
"(A) identification of the institute or center involved;
"(B) a statement of whether the research is or was being carried out directly by such institute or center or by multiple institutes and centers; and
"(C) identification of any resulting real-world evidence that is or may be used for clinical research and medical care for patients with Down syndrome.".
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SA 6752. Mrs. MOODY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4668, to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (628 characters)
At the appropriate place in title I, insert the following:
SEC. __. RECOGNIZING HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(d)) is amended--
(1) in the heading of such subsection, by striking "Who Are Not High School Graduates" and inserting "From Non-Traditional Settings"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(3) High school graduate.--For purposes of this title, a student who has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law shall be considered a high school graduate.".
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SA 6753. Mrs. MOODY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4668, to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (165 characters)
At the end of title II, add the following:
SEC. 208. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on January 1, 2028.
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SA 6754. Mrs. MOODY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4668, to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (612 characters)
On page 146, strike line 4 and insert the following:
"(f) Exemption for Covered Institutions That Attempt to Withdraw From Conference Within Grace Window.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to any merger, consolidation, or acquisition with respect to a covered institution that, as of the date of enactment of this section, is a member of a covered conference if, not later than 180 days after that date, the covered institution files a notice that satisfies the contractual obligation of the covered institution for purposes of withdrawing from the covered conference.
"(g) Definitions.--In this section:
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SA 6755. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4688, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to classify qualified energy-efficient draft alcohol property as 15-year property for purposes of depreciation; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Text printed in the Record (19 characters)
Strike section 205.
Notice of Intent to Not Object to Proceeding
Page S4529 · Official textI, Senator Ron Wyden, do not intend to object to proceeding to the nomination of Vincent J. Noble for appointment in the United States Marine Corps Reserve to the grade of colonel, dated August 6, 2026.
Authority for Committees to Meet
Page S4529 · Official textMr. President, I have four requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.
Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:
The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting.
The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing.
The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11 a.m., to conduct a hearing.
Text printed in the Record (55 characters)
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting.
Order of Procedure
Pages S4529–S4530 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to consideration of H.R. 5334; further, that the only amendments in order be the following to be offered by the sponsor or their designee and with 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each vote and up to 5 minutes under the control of Senator Graham prior to the vote on passage: Graham-Blumenthal No. 6711, Graham No. 6712, and Paul No. 6715; further, that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the Paul amendment, if offered, and upon disposition of the Paul amendment, the Graham-Blumenthal amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; finally, if passed, the Graham amendment to title No. 6712 be agreed to; that the title, as amended, be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; further, following disposition of H.R. 5334, the Senate resume executive session and vote on confirmation of the nominations en bloc; finally, that the cloture motion with respect to amendment No. 6732 to H.R. 6500 ripen following disposition of the nominations en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Resolutions Submitted Today
Page S4530 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions which are at the desk: S. Res. 836, S. Res. 837, S. Res. 838, S. Res. 839, and S. Res 840.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for evidence related to an investigation of an individual who made a threat against Senator Elizabeth Warren in a communication sent to the Senator's office. The U.S. attorney's office investigating the matter is seeking employee testimony from Senator Warren's office for use in its investigation and in any future legal proceedings arising in this matter. The Senator would like to cooperate with this request by providing relevant employee testimony from her office.
This resolution would authorize employees in the office of Senator Warren to provide relevant testimony in this investigation and any future legal proceedings in this matter, with representation by the Senate legal counsel.
I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolutions were agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
(The resolutions, with their preambles, are printed in today's Record under "Submitted Resolutions.")
Orders for Friday, August 7, 2026
Page S4530 · Official textMr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Friday, August 7; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nominations en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 817 postcloture; further, notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:30 a.m. the Senate proceed to legislative session and execute the order in relation to H.R. 5334; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Friday's session of the Senate, that the motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.
The PRESIDING OFFICER
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Adjournment Until 10 A.m. Tomorrow
Page S4530 · Official textMr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.
There being no objection, the Senate, at 9:43 p.m., adjourned until Friday, August 7, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Confirmations
Page S4530 · Official textExecutive nominations confirmed by the Senate August 6, 2026:
Text printed in the Record (342 characters)
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS AND APPOINTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE TO THE GRADE INDICATED WHILE ASSIGNED TO A POSITION OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTION 601 AND 9082:
LT. GEN. DOUGLAS A. SCHIESS
MARINE CORPS NOMINATION OF VINCENT J. NOBLE, TO BE COLONEL.