Floor Statements

Mr. President, in a moment, I am going to be making a unanimous consent request. I am going to wait for Senator Grassley to be on the floor.

Let me just, if I might, explain what the unanimous consent will be. It deals with H.R. 766. I am a proud sponsor of the Preventive Health Savings Act since the 113th Congress as it stands. The Congressional Budget Office scores budgetary implications of preventive health legislation in a 10-year timeframe, limiting Congress's ability to understand the long-term impacts of meaningful prevention policies.

This bicameral, bipartisan legislation would direct CBO to more accurately reflect the long-term cost saving potential of preventive healthcare initiatives and encourage the use of data-informed preventive health measures.

On March 19 of this year, the House of Representatives passed this legislation by voice vote.

Now, here is the challenge we have. This legislation will allow us to implement preventive healthcare sooner. That will save lives and will save dollars. To just give you one example, we now have a multicancer blood screening test that could be implemented for certain targeted populations.

The longer that is delayed--and being reimbursable under our healthcare system--the more people are not going to have the advantage of that, and more lives are going to be lost. And later detection of cancer, we know, is a more costly type of care that is needed, and it costs more money.

So we have a chance today, because this is a House-passed bill, to send this bill to the President, and that is why I will be making a unanimous consent request in regards to the bill.

I know that Senator Grassley has other legislation that he has been trying to get attached. I will urge him not to do that because it will, obviously, mean this bill will not pass. His issue is not related to the issue that this bill is about.

I want to thank Senator Whitehouse and Senator Grassley for their help on the Budget Committee itself. But this is our last opportunity to do something meaningful to implement preventive healthcare that will save lives and actually save dollars for the taxpayers of this country. There is no question about it. This bill saves money, and we can get it done now.

Any amendment on it, obviously, would have to go back to the House, and there is no possibility that the House would agree to it.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 766, which was received from the House and is at the desk; 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.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, if I might--and, again, I appreciate Senator Grassley's comments about this Senator. I feel the same about Senator Grassley. He has been an incredible voice in the U.S. Senate, particularly on transparency, particularly against waste, and has taken on some of the most challenging battles here on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

I have worked on this legislation now for several Congresses. My partners are Senator Crapo, Senator Cramer, Senator King. We have all worked on this bill together.

And the bill is very simple. It just allows a more realistic budget window for preventive healthcare. And it is something that we have been talking about for a long time so that we don't get trapped with high upfront costs that have large savings, and we never get to the savings because CBO cannot score it under the current budget rules.

The challenges that Senator Grassley is raising are not in this bill. We have worked very closely with the budget people to make sure that this bill does not contain the concerns that Senator Grassley is raising.

The Senator might be raising a very legitimate concerns, but it is not this legislation that is causing it. This legislation only allows us to be able to implement in a more realistic way preventive healthcare services with legitimate cost estimates and offsets so that we can get the savings from preventive healthcare and implement preventive healthcare sooner, saving lives and dollars.

We can make progress on this issue now. The problem is twofold with the request that is being made. First, the potential abuse is not in this legislation. It deals with a broader issue. And then, secondly, if this bill is amended, I think Senator Grassley also understands the chances of passage are zero. There is no possibility that this bill can be taken up in the House at this late stage.

So this is our last opportunity. I came to the floor today and not before because I respect greatly Senator Grassley and his concerns, and I was hoping we could find a path forward for that to happen. But there is no path forward for that to happen now, and by including the request, I would be sacrificing both bills. And I would hope the Senator would recognize that and allow this modest improvement for preventive healthcare to go forward.

With that, I regretfully object.

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

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

Madam 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.

Madam 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.

Madam President, I come to the floor today to introduce the American Foreign Affairs Talent Expansion Act, or the American FATE Act, legislation that can serve as a blueprint for my colleagues who hope to promote diversity in diplomacy and development in the future.

Throughout our Nation's history, the diplomats who have conducted our foreign policy and diplomacy have never represented the full spectrum of the population of the United States.

While the Biden administration has made important strides in changing this dynamic, the senior ranks of the Department of State and many of our international affairs Agencies still fit the old ``pale, male, and Yale'' description.

This is certainly nothing new, and that is why for close to two decades, I have led and supported legislative and other efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in our international affairs and national security institutions and Agencies.

From the Biden administration's equality and racial equity Executive orders to my own introduction of the 2019 National Security Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Act and recurring annual appropriations requests, I have fought for underserved and marginalized communities throughout my Senate career.

That includes serving as the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly's inaugural Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for 57 countries.

I have supported the placement of chief diversity officers at our foreign affairs Agencies.

I have backed career pipelines named after former colleagues like the State Department Charles Rangel and USAID Donald Payne Fellowship Programs.

I have pushed for partnership opportunities with historically black colleges and universities and minority businesses.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which I chair, has shaped a values-based foreign policy built upon diverse expertise.

Whether it is our State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism or the Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice or establishing a transatlantic institute focused on representation and inclusion honoring former colleague Representative Alcee L. Hastings, the proof is in the pudding, and the advances we have made span both sides of the aisle.

Senator Marco Rubio, a longtime member of the committee, is nominated to be the next Secretary of State and, if confirmed, will be the first Latino to serve in this role.

My successor, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, is continuing to make history by shattering yet another glass ceiling as the first woman in leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

As far as we have come, however, we still have a way to go.

The legislation I am introducing today creates a framework for the future.

It will uphold the principles of the merit system in international affairs Agency recruitment, hiring, promotion, and leadership practices, including fair and equitable treatment of personnel without regard to political affiliation.

It will strengthen career pipelines by expanding paid internships and midcareer employment opportunities in the Foreign Service.

It commends the work of our locally employed staff at our embassies and bolsters efforts to retain top talent in the United States and overseas.

It will expand business, research, and partnership opportunities, including opportunities for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.

And it will strengthen equity and anti-discrimination efforts overseas.

The promise of equal opportunity for all is enshrined in our Constitution and intrinsic to American values.

Our Nation's rich cultural diversity is a strength that should be at the heart of how we conduct diplomacy and development efforts overseas.

So, before I leave the Senate, I call on my Democratic and Republican colleagues to bring our country together to ensure all perspectives and voices are heard.

I urge my colleagues to continue to advance American values by codifying diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in our international affairs and national security infrastructure and overseas policies.

Madam President, I come to the floor today to introduce the American Foreign Affairs Talent Expansion Act, or the American FATE Act, legislation that can serve as a blueprint for my colleagues who hope to promote diversity in diplomacy and development in the future.

Throughout our Nation's history, the diplomats who have conducted our foreign policy and diplomacy have never represented the full spectrum of the population of the United States.

While the Biden administration has made important strides in changing this dynamic, the senior ranks of the Department of State and many of our international affairs Agencies still fit the old ``pale, male, and Yale'' description.

This is certainly nothing new, and that is why for close to two decades, I have led and supported legislative and other efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in our international affairs and national security institutions and Agencies.

From the Biden administration's equality and racial equity Executive orders to my own introduction of the 2019 National Security Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Act and recurring annual appropriations requests, I have fought for underserved and marginalized communities throughout my Senate career.

That includes serving as the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly's inaugural Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for 57 countries.

I have supported the placement of chief diversity officers at our foreign affairs Agencies.

I have backed career pipelines named after former colleagues like the State Department Charles Rangel and USAID Donald Payne Fellowship Programs.

I have pushed for partnership opportunities with historically black colleges and universities and minority businesses.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which I chair, has shaped a values-based foreign policy built upon diverse expertise.

Whether it is our State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism or the Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice or establishing a transatlantic institute focused on representation and inclusion honoring former colleague Representative Alcee L. Hastings, the proof is in the pudding, and the advances we have made span both sides of the aisle.

Senator Marco Rubio, a longtime member of the committee, is nominated to be the next Secretary of State and, if confirmed, will be the first Latino to serve in this role.

My successor, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, is continuing to make history by shattering yet another glass ceiling as the first woman in leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

As far as we have come, however, we still have a way to go.

The legislation I am introducing today creates a framework for the future.

It will uphold the principles of the merit system in international affairs Agency recruitment, hiring, promotion, and leadership practices, including fair and equitable treatment of personnel without regard to political affiliation.

It will strengthen career pipelines by expanding paid internships and midcareer employment opportunities in the Foreign Service.

It commends the work of our locally employed staff at our embassies and bolsters efforts to retain top talent in the United States and overseas.

It will expand business, research, and partnership opportunities, including opportunities for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.

And it will strengthen equity and anti-discrimination efforts overseas.

The promise of equal opportunity for all is enshrined in our Constitution and intrinsic to American values.

Our Nation's rich cultural diversity is a strength that should be at the heart of how we conduct diplomacy and development efforts overseas.

So, before I leave the Senate, I call on my Democratic and Republican colleagues to bring our country together to ensure all perspectives and voices are heard.

I urge my colleagues to continue to advance American values by codifying diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in our international affairs and national security infrastructure and overseas policies.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1607 and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 278, S. 1277; Calendar No. 333, H.R. 1727; Calendar No. 602, S. 3543; H.R. 6826, which was received from the House and is at the desk; H.R. 6843, which was received from the House and is at the desk; and H.R. 1607.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment, where applicable, be agreed to; that the bills, as amended, if amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, first, I want to thank Senator Cassidy for his cooperation in putting together this package. It is a package of bills that were favorably considered by the committee. They are noncontroversial. I want to thank also Senator Kelly for his help in putting together this package.

Let me just, if I might, talk about two of the issues we just passed: First, H.R. 6826, to designate the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.

I want to first acknowledge Congressman Sarbanes, who is on the floor, who has represented me so well in the House of Representatives. He has also decided not to run for reelection and served for 18 years in the House of Representatives.

Mr. President, I hold the Sarbanes seat in the U.S. Senate. Paul Sarbanes was a dear friend. He was a Senator's Senator. He was deeply respected by all Members of this body. I think it is particularly appropriate that he is honored with the naming of the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine visitor center and education center.

The late Paul Sarbanes was a tireless advocate to preserve Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD. Senator Sarbanes worked to honor the site and elevate the history of the War of 1812 in the national consciousness throughout his career.

I got to know Senator Sarbanes when we were both elected at the same time to the Maryland House of Delegates many years ago. He would go on to serve in the House of Representatives on the Judiciary Committee, which was given the responsibility of the first Article of Impeachment against President Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

Later, while serving in the Senate in the aftermath of the 2002 Enron scandal, Sarbanes worked in a bipartisan manner to pass the Sarbanes- Oxley legislation. Then-President George W. Bush called the Sarbanes- Oxley bill ``the most far-reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.''

He had a long and distinguished career of public service to the Nation, and, throughout, he never forgot his Baltimore roots. He saw Fort McHenry as a national treasure in the city and a site worth celebrating. This legislation acknowledges his long-term advocacy for the preservation of the site and the improvement of the visitor experience by designating the visitor and education center the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center. It is a fitting tribute to name the visitor center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine after a true American hero: Paul S. Sarbanes.

Mr. President, I also would like to call my colleagues' attention to H.R. 1727, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission Extension Act, which we just approved.

I am proud to have worked together with Representative Trone and Senators Capito, Van Hollen, Manchin, Warner, and Kaine on this legislation. The C&O Canal National Historic Park is 184.5 miles long and covers 20,000 acres, winding north and west along the Potomac River, from the heart of Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD. The park includes a canal and contiguous towpath that provides runners, cyclists, and backpackers access to hundreds of historic structures that tell a story of this critical economic artery.

The Advisory Commission was established in 1971, and it has been reauthorized at nominal cost by Congress every 10 years for the past three decades with overwhelming bipartisan support. There is no better wealth of knowledge of the unique issues the C&O Canal and its resources face than the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission. Government works better when policymakers listen to the people who know them best, and this commission ensures that all surrounding communities have a voice in shaping their future.

I am proud to work together with my neighboring delegations to keep this commission running strong.

So, Mr. President, once again, I want to thank my colleagues for their cooperation in getting this done, and I particularly want to acknowledge, as earlier, Representative John Sarbanes. He has worked his entire career on good governance, and there is no stronger need in our society than an advocate for good governance in our community. He has done a great job in the House of Representatives.

He is also known for his work on the Chesapeake Bay, as the leader of No Child Left Inside, getting young people to understand the importance of Chesapeake Bay so we have advocates for the future. I congratulate John Sarbanes for his incredible record in the House of Representatives and wish him the best.

I thank the Presiding Officer for the courtesies that were just extended.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of S. 920 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I will withhold my request.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 91, S. 920.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today out of my concern for the victims of human trafficking.

Nearly two and half decades ago, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. In an effort to eliminate this scourge of modern-day slavery at home and abroad, the original legislation established a framework known as the ``3 Ps''--protection, prevention, and prosecution. This approach to combating human trafficking has been so effective that it has been reauthorized across Republican and Democratic administrations with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is important legislation that saves live and protects innocent people.

The last time the reauthorization of the international provisions passed, it was signed into law by President Trump. However, for 3 years now, the authorities of the international anti-human trafficking programs have been expired. It is past time for Congress to act. I am here today to ask that the Senate pass this substitute amendment to the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act because I know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle want action before we adjourn.

This substitute amendment is a combination of all the provisions of the House-passed bill and the Senate provisions reported favorably out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in June 2023 by voice vote. There is bipartisan support to enhance these programs and policies, including from my colleague Senator Risch, the ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee. Republicans and Democrats alike want to help the 27 million people who are victims of forced labor and sexual exploitation. And we want to hold perpetrators of these crimes to account.

This reauthorization will incorporate anti-trafficking measures into all USAID development programs, combat trafficking of domestic workers by UN officials or foreign missions, and require the President take into account anti-trafficking efforts by other countries when we give them development assistance. When I talk about a values-based foreign policy for the United States, these are the kinds of policies I am talking about.

And so I ask that the Senate pass this substitute amendment to the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, S. 920.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Cardin substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to introduce legislation that's essential for securing America's leadership in the defining geopolitical challenge of our time. Days from now, I will conclude my service as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and my time in public office will draw to a close. But even as I prepare to leave this Chamber, the work of protecting our Nation's interests and values must continue with urgency.

Today, I introduce the RESOLVE Act of 2024, an effort to mobilize America's strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools in response to the profound challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, PRC. This bill represents a comprehensive approach, a culmination of lessons learned and priorities identified over years of bipartisan debate and collaboration. It reflects an understanding that America's strength is not defined by military might alone, but by the breadth of our alliances, the resilience of our economy, and the integrity of our values. The RESOLVE Act sets the stage for Congress and our Nation to counter the PRC's growing influence, strengthen alliances, and maintain U.S. leadership in this pivotal moment.

To remain competitive, we must think beyond sanctions and reactive policies. Instead, we must adopt a proactive strategy, one that invests in our partnerships, defends our principles, and sets a positive agenda for our engagement abroad.

This bill authorizes approximately $6 billion over 5 years, including $2 billion in mandatory funding infrastructure that is strategic from the perspective of U.S. national security and economic security interests. These are investments to secure America's future, strengthening our allies when they are targeted by economic coercion, safeguarding critical supply chains, and equipping our diplomatic corps for a new era of strategic competition.

And it does so with four clear priorities: first, with tools to counter economic coercion. When the PRC threatens through tariffs, sanctions, or diplomatic pressure to retaliate against our partners and allies when they make sovereign decisions that Beijing doesn't like, we must stand ready to help.

This bill establishes a dedicated defense fund to respond to major economic threats, creates the Office of the Chief Economist at the State Department, and ensures we have the tools to support countries that choose to stand with us and foreign their own sovereign interests. It addresses supply chain resilience and advances efforts to secure critical minerals that are essential to the U.S. economy.

Second, it strengthens U.S. economic engagement and infrastructure development.

Through new authorizations for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and appropriations for strategic infrastructure, this bill enables us to crowd in with U.S. private sector and convening power to offer comprehensive economic development solutions an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative and build durable partnerships based on shared prosperity and trust.

Third, it reinforces our commitment to human rights and public diplomacy.

Whether it is promoting internet freedom in Hong Kong, defending Uyghur communities against oppression, or empowering foreign service officers to share America's story more effectively, this bill ensures our leadership is rooted in the values that define us.

And finally, it modernizes the State Department for the challenges ahead.

We can't meet tomorrow's challenges with yesterday's tools. By establishing new roles like an Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Affairs and a Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technologies, the RESOLVE Act ensures our diplomatic institutions are equipped to lead the global community in this new era of competition.

We cannot address the challenges posed by the PRC simply with punitive actions and strongly worded speeches alone. These tools have their place, but they are not enough.

We must offer a compelling vision of partnership, one that helps nations resist coercion, empowers them to thrive, and builds a coalition of countries that are aligned not by fear, but by opportunity.

While the RESOLVE Act does not have a Republican cosponsor, it was crafted with significant input from our colleagues across the aisle and reflects a diverse range of perspectives.

Throughout its development, we consulted with Members of both parties, incorporating ideas that represent a balanced, programmatic, and sensible approach to U.S.-China policy.

This legislation reflects priorities that transcend party lines and speak to our shared interest in advancing America's leadership. The bill does not include everything I would like to have seen, nor does it include every proposal from my colleagues. It is the result of compromise, and that is how strong national security legislation gets done.

I firmly believe that America's national security is strongest when we work together, when we forge a compromise, build coalitions, and deliver results that endure beyond a brief political moment.

The RESOLVE Act provides a foundation for such bipartisan collaboration, and I remain hopeful that its thoughtful framework will inform future efforts to ensure that America remains a global leader in this era of strategic competition.

I have no doubt the text in this bill will serve as a blueprint for bipartisan work in the future because America's national security is best protected when we come together to confront the challenges we face.

When we fail to do so, it is Beijing that benefits, and it is the American people that lose.

This is not just another bill, it is a reflection of what it could mean for Democrats and Republicans to lead together with confidence and clarity in an uncertain world.

I leave this Chamber confident that the RESOLVE Act provides a roadmap for the work ahead, and it is now up to my colleagues and the next Congress to carry this effort forward.

Let us rise to this moment together, ensuring that America leads not just with power, but with unified purpose.

Madam President, early this month, we commemorated World AIDS Day, and so I come to the floor today to speak about the need for America to stay the course in the fight to end HIV/AIDS.

Two decades ago--when the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was established under George W. Bush--an HIV/AIDS diagnosis was a death sentence in many parts of the world. Today, the possibility of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic is no longer a dream; it is a realistic prospect. And it should not be a partisan issue.

Let's remember that it was President Trump who signed the PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018. We need to set aside the manufactured allegations motivated by hyper-partisanship that have prevented the PEPFAR reauthorization and look at the facts.

First of all, PEPFAR is not only the most successful global health program; it is arguably the most successful foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan. It has earned the United States an enormous amount of goodwill around the world and distinguishes us from our strategic competitors. We launched this billion-dollar program because it was the right thing to do, not because we expected a quid pro quo.

Our adversaries have never engaged a program of such enormity and what little they do comes with strings attached. I would argue PEPFAR is one of the most effective soft power tools we have. So it is no wonder that countries around the world are looking to the U.S. for leadership in ending the deadly epidemic for once and for all.

Look at the numbers. Over the past 20 years, PEPFAR has saved 25 million people. Thanks to PEPFAR, more than 5 million children have been born HIV-free. PEPFAR also helps kids who are orphans because one or both of their parents died from AIDS. It includes family-centered programming, nutritional support, access to education.

At the beginning of 2024, PEPFAR launched a 2-year initiative titled ``Safe Births, Healthy Babies.'' The goal is to eliminate mother-to- child transmission and improve maternal and neonatal healthcare in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. Within these three countries alone, PEPFAR is reaching over 200,000 pregnant women living with HIV, and potentially averting 7,000 new infant HIV infections.

These are the facts. And the incredible thing is, we may be on the verge of a further breakthrough.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in July found that twice-yearly injections of lenacapavir--a drug used to treat HIV/AIDS--was 100 percent effective in preventing AIDS transmission in women--100 percent.

There is more work to be done to understand the long-term results. But we may be on the verge of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as we know it over the course of the coming Trump administration.

Now, even if we passed PEPFAR today, we still have work to do. According to the Global Fund, in 2023, 210,000 new infections were estimated among girls and young women.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS among girls and young women is three times higher than boys and young men. In 2023, 44 percent of all new infections were among girls and women of all ages. These disturbing trends are the result of discrimination and violence preventing access to lifesaving care for girls and young women. UNAIDS reports that an estimated 1.3 million people became infected with HIV in 2023 alone.

Let me talk about one of the biggest problems we are facing: We have lately been reauthorizing this program on a year-to-year basis. This is undermining our progress and threatening our future. A year-to-year reauthorization sends the message to partner governments that HIV/AIDS is no longer a priority. This will impact not just HIV/AIDS prevention but overall health structures that grew out of vital HIV/AIDS programs.

We need a 5-year reauthorization. A 5-year reauthorization makes all the difference if we want to end the HIV/AIDS threat by 2030. Five years allows organizations implementing PEPFAR to plan their activities with predictable timelines. It allows more efficient procurement of commodities and supplies. It helps retain medical staff and assure clients that they will be able to obtain continuous care. Without a 5- year reauthorization, there are no guarantees. Without a 5-year reauthorization, we will be putting millions at risk of new HIV/AIDS infections and death.

I know that for many Americans, the HIV/AIDS epidemic can seem far away. But let me end with this warning: This summer, a UN report found that for the first time, more than half of new HIV infections occurred outside of Sub-Saharan Africa. Preventing this spread isn't just the right thing to do, it isn't just the moral thing to do, it is in America's national security interest to do this.

And so, to my colleagues here in Congress, I urge you to support a 5- year reauthorization of the PEPFAR program. Let's end the scourge of HIV/AIDS once and for all.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to say good-bye, as difficult as this may be.

Marylanders have trusted me to represent them for 20 years in the Maryland General Assembly, 8 years as speaker of the house, 20 years in the House of Representatives, and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, including now chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Let me start by thanking Marylanders for giving me your trust to represent you in this august body. You have supported me in 18 elections. The Hebrew letter for 18 is chai, which also means life--58 years of my life.

My grandparents came to this country over 100 years ago to escape the pogroms of Europe, and they settled in

Baltimore and built a life for their family. Their grandson now serves in the U.S. Senate. This is a great country.

Marylanders have allowed me to pursue my ambition of public service, to help others whose voices and needs are often ignored in the halls of power. In my family, I was taught from a young age that it is our responsibility to make the world a better place--tikkun olam, repair the world--and help those who are less fortunate and are in need-- tzedakah, charity.

These principles were demonstrated to me by the communal activities of my parents. These principles--these values--have been my North Star that has guided my public service as a legislator. Of course, the work of a legislator is not always easy. It requires perseverance, patience, a sense of humor, and optimism that we can make the world a better place, even in the face of often horrible, seemingly insurmountable challenges.

But as I look back at my time here, it is the hardest battles that were some of the most rewarding. Each one reflects the values I cherish and the collective will to help make the world around us and our communities a better place to live.

On the Senate Finance Committee, I have had a front seat advancing health policy. I was fortunate to serve with the champion of healthcare, Senator Ted Kennedy. He was a mentor to me as to steps we can take so that all Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare.

Healthcare should be a right for everyone in this country and not a privilege only for those who can afford it.

I was proud to be part of the Congress that passed the Affordable Care Act. That law included my legislation that elevated the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH. As much progress as this has brought, the struggle for healthcare equality continues.

Today, Medicare coverage includes legislation I authored for screening and preventive care, saving lives and dollars. And all health insurance now covers pediatric dental care, which was legislation I authored after the tragic death of Demonte Driver, a 12-year-old in Maryland whose life could have been saved with a simple tooth extraction.

I partnered with Senator Rob Portman in both the House and in the Senate to expand retirement security, particularly for lower wage workers. Thanks to legislation we coauthored that has been enacted into law, more employers are providing opportunities for their employees to participate in retirement plans. Our legislation included a saver's credit for lower wage workers and automatic enrollment provisions that have dramatically increased participation by employees. In the last 10 years, participation in retirement savings for the lowest income quintile of Americans has increased by 135 percent.

In affordable housing and economic development in underserved communities, I have worked with Senator Cantwell on improvements to the low-income housing tax credit. I have authored successful legislation to expand the new markets tax credits and historic tax credits, which have been used for economic development and affordable housing opportunities across Maryland and our Nation.

Examples of the use of these tools in Maryland include the Justice Thurgood Marshall Center in Baltimore, the Natty Boh building in Baltimore, and the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center in Annapolis. And, yes, just yesterday, Senator Van Hollen and I were at the Southern Stream Health and Wellness Center, which used new markets tax credits with Bishop Hickman, which is energizing and revitalizing communities in East Baltimore.

On the Environment and Public Works Committee, I have had the opportunity to expand the Federal Government's commitment to our infrastructure. The recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law included many of my priorities. For example, it included funding for reconnecting communities that had been divided and disadvantaged through ill-conceived transportation projects. The poster child for this initiative is the Franklin-Mulberry corridor in Baltimore. It was not surprising that Baltimore received funding in the first round of Federal grants.

I am equally proud of the expansion of the Transportation Alternatives Program, or TAP. I was the author of the TAP program, which allows governments to make their own priority decisions on the use of part of the Federal highway funds. That has been a favorite source of funds to provide trails for local communities that connect neighborhoods for walkers and bikers, including, for example, the rehabilitation of the C&O Towpath in Washington, Frederick, and Montgomery Counties.

Myrna and I take advantage of these paths to absorb the beauty of our communities that are now connected through paths and trails.

Older communities still have lead pipes bringing drinking water into their homes and schools, threatening the health of our children. The bipartisan infrastructure law provides significant help to eliminate this public health threat, including $82 million in Federal grants for Maryland. It also provides unprecedented increases in transit funding, a priority of mine which is particularly important to traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities.

This law allows Maryland to move forward again with the transit Red Line in Baltimore. Funding for Amtrak enabled Baltimore to begin construction of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel to expedite travel along the Northeast corridor.

One of my top priorities as a Maryland Senator has been to promote the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and the Federal partnership has been essential in this cause. The bay is a national treasure, the largest estuary in our hemisphere and iconic to Maryland. It is in our DNA, particularly important to our economy and our way of life.

I first started fighting for the bay in the Maryland General Assembly. When I was speaker of the house, I partnered with Governor Harry Hughes to establish the multi-State effort to save the bay. It led to the partnership with six States and the District of Columbia and the Federal Bay Program.

Maryland Senators have taken the Federal lead, starting with Senator Mac Matthias, then Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, and now Senator Chris Van Hollen and myself.

During my years in the Senate, I have worked with my colleagues to increase funds for the bay, including the EPA, NOAA, the Army Corps of Engineers, wastewater treatment funds, watershed grant funds, agriculture land preservation funds, oyster restoration funds, removal of invasive species--from the nutria to the blue catfish--and many, many more.

I particularly want to note with pride funding for Poplar Island and Mid-Bay--location for dredging disposals--that have been used for environmental restoration and a noncontroversial location necessary to keep our channels commercially competitive.

Our work on the Chesapeake Bay is working and has become a global model of multijurisdictional cooperation.

The Environment and Public Works Committee helps each region of our country that suffers from a catastrophic event that destroys infrastructure. I thank the leadership of the committee for reaching out to Maryland after the tragic loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Biden administration has been there every step of the way to help Maryland, and I am confident that Congress will provide the resources and authority to move forward on the construction of the new bridge as quickly as possible.

I have been both a chair and ranking member on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. I am so proud of the bipartisan work of the committee, working with Senator Rubio, particularly during COVID. The historic relief packages we designed not only saved many small businesses but truly helped to save our economy during the pandemic.

I am particularly proud of the focus I brought to help traditionally underserved communities. Senator Warner and I worked to provide support for the CDFIs so financing options were available in underbanked communities. Including nonprofits and returning citizens to the program once again provided help and services in often forgotten neighborhoods.

During my chairmanship, Maryland expanded from one to four women's business centers. Two are located at

HBCUs. In addition, Maryland opened its first Veterans Business Outreach Center. Because of these programs, small businesses are thriving in Maryland, especially those led by women and, particularly, women of color.

My service in Congress built on my record of inclusion started with my service in the Maryland General Assembly. As a Baltimore City legislator, I fought for equalization in State educational funds to favor poorer property wealth jurisdictions, such as Baltimore City. I helped develop the Maryland hospital all-payer rate system for equal healthcare access regardless of economic circumstances. Under this system, Maryland has avoided having charity hospitals. As a Member of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, I have helped preserve and strengthen the Maryland hospital rate system.

I was the leader in the State of Maryland for the development of the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Credit Program, which allows seniors to remain in their homes.

And as speaker of the house, I appointed the first woman and the first African American to chair a standing committee.

One of my proudest accomplishments as a legislator came in the U.S. Senate. It was the passage and enactment of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. This law was inspired by the death of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian tax attorney who was murdered, 15 years ago last month, for uncovering corruption. His story has been told to the world by his client Bill Browder and came to my attention as the chair of the Helsinki Commission.

When I was first elected to Congress in 1987, my family was deeply involved in the cause of getting Soviet Jews out of the Soviet Union. My wife Myrna was a leader of the Maryland Committee for Soviet Jewry. My close friend, Representative Steny Hoyer, chaired the U.S. Helsinki Commission that took up the cause of Soviet Jews and gave me the opportunity to become involved. Steny and I traveled together to several countries behind the Iron Curtain to give hope to those who were living in countries where their leaders denied their citizens basic human rights.

So when Sergei Magnitsky was killed, it was clear to me that those who violated his basic rights needed to be held accountable, even if the Russian Government refused to act. The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act targeted those individuals who were complicit in his jailing and murder. It blocked these individuals from enjoying the benefits of America, from traveling to our country and using our banking system. It put their reputation, ability to travel, and access to their assets at risk.

These policies were influenced by Senator Scoop Jackson's legislation, the Jackson-Vanik Law, that denied trade privileges to countries that blocked their citizens from emigrating. When Jackson- Vanik was repealed because its purpose had been accomplished, it was appropriate that that legislation was used as the vehicle to replace Jackson-Vanik with Magnitsky.

The original Magnitsky Law focused on human rights abuses in Russia, and, in 2016, I authored the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which expanded the legislation around the world.

These laws have given birth to a whole new international legal framework for upholding human rights and deterring corrupt actors. The European Union and other governments around the world have replicated the Magnitsky system. As of this year, the U.S. program has sanctioned more than 650 foreign persons and entities.

But I have to underline a really important point. These laws were not easy to pass. The pushback from Russia alone was historic and continues to this day. But it was the bipartisan support that allowed these bills to make it through the process. I want to acknowledge Senators Dick Lugar, John McCain, and Roger Wicker, my partners in getting the Magnitsky Laws enacted. As a result, they have not only been enacted, but they have been very effective.

Despite setbacks and opposition, we never gave up hope, and, today, corrupt leaders fear the Magnitsky sanctions. The safety of human rights defenders has benefited from these laws.

Over and over again, in my work as a legislator, I have seen the importance of never giving up. Across my years in Congress, I have seen what I thought would be a dream come true. I have seen the Soviet Jews liberated from the former Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall torn down, former communist-controlled countries now NATO allies, and political prisoners released to freedom. It is great to see my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza free from being imprisoned in Russia.

As Vaclav Havel, the reform leader of the Czech Republic, said, ``There is only one thing I will not concede: that it might be meaningless to strive in a good cause.'' Each of us can make a difference. Never give up hope.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, ``Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.''

As my friend and classmate in the House of Representatives--along with my classmate Kweisi Mfume--Representative John Lewis, said, we should all be willing to get into ``good trouble.''

As that famous philosopher from Baltimore, Babe Ruth, stated, ``Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.''

I often speak about the need for a value-based approach to policymaking. This has rung true in healthcare and the environment, promoting a dignified retirement, creating economic opportunities for all. Perhaps nowhere has this been more fundamental than when it comes to foreign policy and national security.

President Biden got it right when he spoke about our international engagement. He said:

We must start with diplomacy rooted in America's most

[cherished] democratic values: defending freedom, championing

opportunity, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule

of law, and treating every person with dignity.

As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I made promoting value-based foreign policy decisions a top priority. In addition to the Magnitsky Act, I am especially proud of my work with Todd Young on the Combating Global Corruption Act that was enacted in 2023. That legislation requires each of our Embassies around the world to evaluate how effective the country in which our Embassy is located is in fighting corruption. The model used for this legislation is similar to the trafficking in persons tier rankings and reports, with consequences against countries that are not making acceptable progress to improve their rankings against human trafficking.

Leading globally against human trafficking and corruption is America's value-based foreign policy at its finest. America's strength is in our values. We need to lead globally with our strength.

My ability to promote legislation and policies that uphold core universal values was made possible because of my incredible partners, because of their deep values and commitment. There is no way I could have achieved what I have been able to achieve if it weren't for my incredible staff. Their loyalty, their dedication to public service, and their talent made the Cardin Team.

In 38 years in Congress, I have only had two chiefs--Dave Koshgarian and Chris Lynch. Both led by example and recruited the very best to public service.

For over 25 years, Debbie Yamada has attempted to manage the impossible--me.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a complete list of the staff I have been blessed to have during my terms in the U.S. Senate.

Our staff works long hours for less compensation than many of them could make in the private sector because of their commitment to public service.

To my staff, you have made Team Cardin a championship team.

I also want to salute the people who make this institution work. My heartfelt thanks to the floor staff, committee staffs, security staff, and all those who work behind the scenes to make the Senate work. I recognize and salute your dedication.

As I said at the beginning, I don't want to say goodbye. This is especially true of my colleagues, my Senate family--and you are family. These past 18 years have been the honor of my life. You have my undying gratitude for partnering with me to serve our country.

I started in the Senate in 2007 with a class of 10 new Senators. Senators Webb, McCaskill, and Corker are no longer in the Senate. I regret that Senators Tester, Brown, and Casey will be leaving with me at the end of this term. To the remaining three--Senators Klobuchar, Sanders, and Whitehouse--we count on you to carry on our class traditions.

I was blessed to have two seat mates during my 18 years in the Senate who are trusted friends. Senator Barbara Mikulski welcomed me to the Senate and made my transition so productive. Senator Chris Van Hollen and I have worked in unity for the people of Maryland. I know that he will continue to serve the people well as the senior Senator along with newly elected Angela Alsobrooks.

But the partners that made public service possible for me are my family. Myrna and I met in elementary school. Last month, we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary--amazing that she put up with all those years. She is my strongest supporter. I could not have had the career that I had without her unconditional support and confidence.

Myrna shares my commitment of giving back to the community, and she keeps me properly grounded. When I became speaker of the house, she sent me a card to remind me of this. The card read: ``To the rest of the world you may be a roaring lion, but in this house, you are just a pussycat.''

(Laughter.)

I put that card on my desk in Annapolis as a constant reminder.

My son of blessed memory and my daughter Deborah supported my public career, never complaining about the family sacrifices they had to make, and I know there were many.

Finally, some parting advice. I know that many people across this country and around the world are concerned about the direction of the United States, but I am optimistic we will get through these challenges.

Now, some people might say: Optimistic? How can that be?

They read the news and say: What about our justice system? What about the rule of law? What about our democracy? What about the threat of autocracies around the world and here at home? What about the resurgence of corrupt, blatantly transactional politics?

I recognize these threats. I am not naive to the dangers and challenges as we all look ahead. There are many challenges ahead of us, but we must not give up hope.

The Senate--this body of 100 Members in a nation of 335 million Americans--sustains my hope. In a 6-year term representing constituents across the United States, we have the time and resources to engage each other. We have the time to constructively work across the aisle to find areas of common agreement.

There is no institution like this in the world. It is a great honor to be a Senator, but it comes with responsibilities--to debate and vote on important issues of our times.

Over the last 18 years, I have seen firsthand how the Senate works best when we work together. I cited many examples of my successful efforts to do just that--working across the aisle to enact pension reform, small business COVID relief, advancing value-based foreign policy, and many more.

We don't have to agree on every single issue, and we never will, but when we defend the constitutional powers of this institution and the prerogatives of the legislative branch together, we create positive results for this country. The Senate is where the rubber meets the road. It is the dividing line between democracy and autocracy.

To my colleagues in the Senate, you play an important role in our democratic check and balance system. Never has it been more important for us to fight to protect our democracy, to defend the rule of law, and to stand up for our common values.

As Senators, you need to demonstrate to the American public by your actions that you can practice civility, that differences can be resolved constructively without harsh terms. We need to remember that compromise was how our Nation was formed. It can be a good thing and bring people together.

Compromise on policy but never on principles or values. Treat people with respect even when you disagree. I made that the guiding principle in my office. My staff call it Cardinesque.

Finally, let us all make it a priority to promote better knowledge and understanding of history, civic engagement, and, again, civility.

Whether promoting American values or investing in domestic priorities here at home, I ask you to let your values guide you to leave our world and our community a fairer place, a healthier place, a more peaceful place, a more prosperous place for all to benefit. Let that be our North Star.

I yield the floor.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. President, first, I am incredibly grateful for the kind comments that my Senate family has said. I have said that my colleagues are my family, and they were certainly a lot less objective than my real family has been about some of my legislative actions.

So, first, to Senator Van Hollen, he pointed out that we work together; we trust each other; and we have been able to get more done because of it. That trust has never been broken. And the two of us have been able to share information. We share a common vision of what we want for Maryland and this Nation, and it has made my service in the U.S. Senate so much more rewarding knowing that my colleague is a person who shares the burdens of our office of representing the people of Maryland and takes equal responsibility to make sure we get things done in a unified way.

So, Senator Van Hollen, thank you for those very kind comments, and it is mutual. Your leadership here has benefited our State to an incredible degree.

And to Senator Collins, I have been at several bipartisan groups with Senator Collins. She has a way of just reaching out and bringing people together. And I must tell you, she sort of glossed over what we did in response to January 6 and the passage of the electoral college reforms. That was not an easy task to get that to the finish line, and Senator Collins was the leader on that effort and allowed me to have input where it was needed in order to bring people together. But that is what she does all the time; she always looks for common ways. There is a reason why our appropriators seem to be able to get along through the leadership of Senator Murray and Senator Collins. I think it is a real example for all of us.

And then to Rabbi Booker.

(Laughter.)

I want to know when he is going to start a synagogue because I am going to join that synagogue. I want everyone to know. His d'var Torah is a lot better than a lot of Rabbi's d'var Torahs. He is just an incredible addition to our Senate family, and I will follow him anywhere.

And to Senator Wicker, you know, what we have been able to do together, it has been an incredible run. I have been with you around the world. We have stood up to dictators, and we have helped friends. We stood by people who had no other help around them so that their rights could be heard, and we have gotten a lot done together.

There is no question that we would not have had the victories on the Magnitsky bills without your personal involvement, working within your caucus to make sure that it was not politicized and we got it to the final line, and you took a lot of hours for us, and I very much appreciate that. More importantly, human rights defenders appreciate your gallantry in the U.S. Senate to get those bills to the finish line and bills that don't have your name on it. As I mentioned, you were responsible to make sure we had vehicles to get them completed.

So I thank you for your friendship. I thank you for Gayle. And it has been, as I said, a real pleasure to have that type of relationship.

I am often asked by my colleagues: Do you ever talk to Republicans? I mean, they think we are so divided here, and this is a family. And that is why I said in my parting comments, I really see the hope of our future in the relationships that have been developed here in the U.S. Senate. We can work together. We can resolve these issues. We know what our responsibilities are about. We know we have challenges in this country, but we also know we need to listen to each other, and that is what I think we do here in the Senate. We have got to do it in a more effective way. And my colleagues that are with me today have been champions in listening to each other to get the work done for the American people.

Mr. President, I am deeply honored to serve in this body, and I thank you for your attention.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.