Floor Statements

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.

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, we shortly will be voting on the nomination of Stephanie Sanders Sullivan to be the U.S. Representative to the African Union, and I take this time, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to urge my colleagues to support that nomination.

The African Union is the only continent-wide multilateral organization for diplomatic engagement and the advancement of peace and security in Africa. The U.S. Ambassador to the African Union plays a key role in representing the United States and advancing our national interests within this international body.

The AU is critically important to helping find a diplomatic solution to conflicts on the continent, such as the ongoing war in Sudan. That conflict has led to the impending famine and what credible organizations have called genocide. It will not be resolved without AU participation. We should be there to support the AU's vital efforts, but we have been absent.

The AU is also an essential voice in articulating continent-wide values related to democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, and gender equality--all values that we share.

The alarming trend of democratic backsliding in the Sahel cannot be reversed without AU involvement. We should be there to support its efforts in this area, but we have not been.

No, Mr. President, we have not been there, while the Chinese have been very active.

It is critically important that we have confirmed representatives to represent our national security interests. When we don't have Senate- confirmed representatives, it gives openings for our adversaries.

China is there. We are not because we have not confirmed this Ambassador position. It is against our national security interest to leave these positions unfilled because of a lack of Senate action.

This nomination has languished since February of 2023. For nearly a year and

a half, the United States has been a no-show, allowing others to engage in our absence. During this time, the United States has missed opportunities to add its voice and engagement to essential conversations on economic integration, the promotion of justice and the rule of law, durable solutions to crisis, and citizen engagement that impact the entire African continent.

China has been active. We have been missing.

We must get ourselves back into the game in the continent, and the nominee under consideration is well positioned to do this. Ambassador Sullivan has held numerous positions focusing on advancing U.S. interests in Africa. She has served as Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Congo and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs. Ambassador Sullivan is an experienced diplomat who knows and understands the continent and has demonstrated leadership skills that will serve us well at the AU headquarters.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on cloture and yes on the confirmation of Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the African Union. Let's get this done, and let's get this done today.

With that, I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Right to Contraception Act. Now more than ever, it is vital to codify reproductive rights. The right to contraception is not merely a matter of health, but a matter of autonomy and equality. We must protect a women's right to access to reproductive care.

This week, the Senate will vote on the Right to Contraception Act. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, those opposed to reproductive freedoms have consistently acted to restrict and ban access to reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, and even IVF.

In his concurrence in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, in support of decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas directly called into question

the right to contraception as a logical outgrowth of the Dobbs decision. Since the decision came down, it has become clear that restrictions and bans on abortion are just the first step in withholding reproductive health care and access, preventing women and their healthcare providers making the best decision without government intrusion.

For almost 60 years, people have had the right to access contraception. In 1965, the Supreme Court ruled, in Griswold v. Connecticut, that States could not block married couples from being able to access contraception. This ruling paved the way for the 1972 Supreme Court decision in Eisenstadt v. Baird, expanding the right to contraception to unmarried people.

Despite these protections and 96 percent of voters supporting access to birth control, some lawmakers continue to attack this basic right. Just as with abortion, extremists are making moves to undermine and eventually eliminate women's right to access birth control.

Contraceptives offer substantial benefits to many women and families across America. Women's reproductive choices and economic opportunities are linked. Research demonstrates that when women are given more control over family planning and childbearing decisions, educational, career, and professional opportunities open up to them.

With the Supreme Court decisions on Griswold and Eisenstadt, access to the pill was associated with a 1.7 percentage-point increase in the margin of women in professional careers. The gender gap in the workplace can also be narrowed when women have access to the pill at a younger age. Women with access to contraception in their early 20s earned $2,200 more per year by their early 40s than women who were not able to have access to contraception.

Although access to the pill correlates to an increase in women in the workforce, it is important to remember that there are an estimated 19 million women of reproductive age who live in contraceptive deserts.

Various findings on the role contraception plays in the lives of women and families reiterate the value of ensuring women continue to have full access to a range of contraceptive services and methods. It is abundantly clear that improved access to contraception contributes to economic and educational advancement of women in the United States.

As a result of the Dobbs decision and due to systemic inequalities, communities of color, young people, immigrants, low-income, and LGBTQ+ individuals face the consequences of this abortion ban. These communities are more likely to experience additional barriers to accessing reproductive health care. Birth control ensures more people can access the future they envision for themselves and their families.

I am proud that Maryland has been recognized as the first State to mandate contraceptive coverage in 1998. My State has long been a leader in supporting and protecting reproductive rights. On April 14, 2023, Governor Moore announced that the State would begin to stockpile mifepristone. Maryland remains committed to remaining a safe haven for abortion and reproductive health care access.

However, even in Maryland, where State law protects the right to choose, in April 2022, Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the Abortion Care Access Act. This act expands reproductive health care by allowing additional trained health professionals, including nurse practitioners, midwives, and physician assistants, to perform abortions.

Fortunately, Maryland's Legislature overrode this reckless veto, and the law took effect July 1, 2022. In response, Governor Hogan went on to withhold millions of dollars in State funds that was designated for the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program. Thankfully, Governor Wes Moore released those funds on his very first day in office in 2023.

This November, Marylanders have a choice to vote in favor of further protecting abortion by enshrining the right to reproductive freedom in our State's constitution. This would further impede the ability of opponents to take away abortion rights in the future.

This week, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will call a vote for the Right to Contraception Act, a bill I cosponsored that will codify the right to contraception to prevent further restrictions on reproductive health services for all Americans.

It is time to protect the right to birth control, and access to it, for all communities. The Right to Contraception Act is an especially important safeguard for these marginalized communities.

While it is urgent that we pass the Right to Contraception Act, we must also move forward other legislation, like the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade and prevent States from continuing to enact restrictions of reproductive freedoms.

This Congress, the Senate has also had to reel in colleagues who put our military in jeopardy by blocking the promotions of senior members of our military to protest the Pentagon's abortion policy.

Despite the notion that the Dobbs decision would be the end of judicial action on reproductive health by handing authority to individual States, we continue to see challenges to reproductive rights elevated to the Supreme Court. Last year, I signed onto a bicameral amicus brief for Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to advocate for the FDA's appeal that supports nationwide access to mifepristone. In the next couple of weeks, we expect that decision, as well as one in a case challenging the legal obligation of doctors to provide life- stabilizing emergency abortion care. I am proud to have also signed an amicus brief on this case, urging Justices to ensure that emergency departments will also provide patients with the care they critically need.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to dismantle barriers to women's health. The right to choose whether to have a child is fundamental, and it is a decision that should only be made by women in consultation with their healthcare provider, not with interference from Federal, State, or local governments. It is time for us to elevate the voices that truly know how much is at stake in the fight for reproductive freedoms. Lives are at risk in the generation and beyond.

We must vote to pass the Right to Contraception Act, and we must work every day until Roe v. Wade is the law of the land once again.

Madam President, I rise today in recognition of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The size and scale of the amphibious landing at Normandy 80 years ago was simply amazing. The Allied forces, consisting of soldiers and sailors from 12 countries, numbered 156,115, nearly half of which were American servicemembers. Over 11,500 aircraft and almost 7,000 naval vessels supported the largest amphibious assault in history. There were an estimated 10,000 casualties that day as the allies fought to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany. The amphibious landing and subsequent victory at Normandy was a testament of the Allies' logistical and industrial power. D-Day opened another major front where the bulk of America's Army could at last be brought to bear. D-Day also led to the liberation of France and denied the Nazis of key U-boat ports and V-weapons sites. By the end of June 1944, over 850,000 soldiers had arrived on the beaches of Normandy and were on the march across Europe. The Allied victory on those beaches not only meant the eventual defeat of the Nazis, but also kept the Soviet Iron Curtain at the German border instead of the English Channel.

Beyond all the facts and figures involved with the landing are the individual stories of heroism and bravery. One such story is that of Leonard Schroeder, the first American to land on the beaches of Normandy at Utah Beach. Leonard Schroeder, then a 25-year-old Army captain, was in the first wave of 20 Higgins boats. In his boat were 32 men, and they arrived at Utah Beach at 6:28 a.m. that morning, 2 minutes ahead of the scheduled H-Hour and thus ahead of their air support. Captain Schroeder led his men ashore wading the final 100 yards from their landing craft to the beach through barbed wire while under machinegun fire from the Nazis. Half of the men on Captain Schroeder's boat suffered casualties, including five fatalities. Captain Schroeder himself was shot twice, but carried on leading his men into harm's way. For his actions on D-Day, he earned the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. After the Normandy invasion, a Pentagon press release hailed him as ``the first GI to invade Europe'', and the Baltimore Sun wrote, ``When his boot touched French soil, it was a great moment in history.'' Captain Schroeder's story is one of thousands of examples of selfless bravery on the beaches of Normandy that day, but I chose to highlight his story as he is a native of Maryland. Leonard Schroeder was born in Linthicum Heights and attended the University of Maryland on a full athletic scholarship. While at UMD, he joined the Reserve Officer's Training Corps--ROTC--and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in June 1941, months before the attack at Pearl Harbor which led the U.S. to into World War II. After World War II, Leonard Schroeder continued to serve his country ultimately serving 30 years on Active Duty and retiring as a colonel in 1971. On the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Leonard reflected upon that historic day, stating, ``Today, I realize that to be the first man ashore is an immense honor, yet I do not merit it more than anyone else. Five of my men died down there at Normandy. They alone are the heroes.''

There are innumerable lessons to be learned from World War II and countless stories to be told, but maybe the most relevant to us today is the power of allies and partners working together to defeat authoritarian regimes. Much like the years preceding World War II, there are countries challenging democratic institutions in order to expand their regimes and suppress freedom. I urge every American to not take our democracy for granted. Millions across the globe do not have the freedoms we enjoy in the United States, which have been hard earned across generations.

The United States is the longest standing democracy in the world, but

our freedom has, does, and will come with a cost. Today is a day to remember what our American heroes accomplished on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago; tomorrow is a day to write the next great chapter of American history, for when we come together for a common cause, we are unstoppable.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Matthew Hackell and Josh Tupler, both fellows on the Foreign Relations Committee staff, be given floor privileges for the remainder of the 118th Congress.

Madam President, I rise to congratulate James K. Bredar upon the completion of his service as chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and his assumption of senior status.

I was pleased to work with former Senator Barbara Mikulski to recommend Judge Bredar to President Obama for appointment as one of my first Maryland Federal judicial nominations in 2010. Notably, the Senate confirmed his nomination by unanimous consent.

Judge Bredar served with great distinction for his nearly 7-year term as chief judge. In particular, I thank Judge Bredar for his vigorous oversight of the Federal consent decree between the U.S. Justice Department and the Baltimore Police Department, which arose out of the Freddie Gray case. This consent decree, when fully implemented, will guarantee effective, fair, and constitutional policing to Baltimore City residents.

I have greatly appreciated Judge Bredar's tireless advocacy for the needs of the judges, litigants, witnesses, court personnel, and visitors to the Federal courthouses in Baltimore and Greenbelt.

The Chief Justice of the United States showed his confidence in Judge Bredar's abilities through his past appointment as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction, as well his continuing service on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Budget.

I understand that Judge Bredar will continue to perform substantial judicial service as a judge on senior status, including taking on a new assignment to handle the complex litigation arising out of the recent Dali ship disaster at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

I congratulate Judge Bredar again for his remarkable service on the court. Marylanders can be proud and thankful of his extraordinary service to uphold the rule of law and to provide equal justice under the law to everyone who enters his courtroom. Judge Bredar has indeed lived up to his judicial oath to ``administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich.''

I extend my best wishes to Judge Bredar as he continues his service on the Federal bench in senior status.

Madam President, I rise today in recognition of May as Jewish American Heritage Month. Please, if we could just acknowledge that through the resolution that was passed by this body.

Since 1980, when President Jimmy Carter first celebrated Jewish American Heritage Week, our country has come together to recognize Jewish contributions to American culture, history, military, science, government, and more. Over the course of 250 years, since before the Revolutionary War, Jewish-American values and culture have been woven into the fabric of our Nation.

We in the Congress of the United States, despite our political differences, have historically stood united in our support for the Jewish community. This position aligns with our Nation's founding commitment to safeguard the right to worship free of persecution.

Countless Members in this body on both sides of the aisle have quoted George Washington's letter from 1790 to the Hebrew congregation in Newport, RI, in which our first President wrote:

For happily the government of the United States gives to

bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires

only that they who live under its protection should demean

themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions

their effectual support.

Jewish-American heritage commemorations have always shared a mix of celebration--with the anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel--with darker memories and commemorations, such as Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah.

This month, we also honor the victims of the Holocaust and lift up the lives of the survivors, nearly 40,000 of whom live in the United States. These men and women came to this country seeking refuge from unimaginable horrors. They have enriched our Nation and made us stronger.

We have an obligation to provide Holocaust survivors the community support and special services they need to live out their final days, and we must do all we can to ensure their stories are never forgotten.

The split screen between Jewish-American accomplishments and somber reflections is even more intense this year as war continues between Hamas and Israel.

As an American Jew, I can tell you that there is a level of trepidation and fear that has mushroomed throughout the American-Jewish community since the deadly attacks of October 7 by Hamas. In the wake of this horrific terrorism, anti-Semitic activities have soared, with documented verbal and physical threats against Jews in the United States and around the world.

I am pleased to say that, along with the President, majorities in Congress are taking steps and not sitting idly by. Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act. This bill codifies the U.S. Department of Education's need to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of ``anti-Semitism'' when enforcing Federal anti- discrimination laws. This legislation meets the seriousness of this moment

by providing clear guidance to address the full scope of discriminatory, anti-Semitic behavior.

As a cosponsor of the Senate companion, I urge my colleagues to stand with the Jewish-American community and vote for this legislation.

I am also pleased to join my colleagues in cosponsoring the Countering Antisemitism Act, which is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would strengthen efforts to combat rising anti-Semitism in the United States, including the establishment of a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism, who would oversee the Federal efforts to counter domestic anti-Semitism and lead an interagency task force. It requires analyses and threat assessments from executive Agencies and law enforcement on anti-Semitism and violent extremism.

Of great interest to many Marylanders is that the Countering Antisemitism Act also requires the FEMA Administrator to ensure the Agency has sufficient resources and personnel needed to carry out the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides critical security equipment and upgrades for many faith-based institutions and facilities across our State.

We are building on President Biden's National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism--the first ever--that identifies the problem we face today.

It states:

Loud voices are normalizing this venom, but we must never

allow it to become normal. Antisemitism threatens not only

the Jewish community, but all Americans.

I would like to take this moment to praise the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and its incredible staff for its efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation. I am proud to be a member of the museum's advisory council.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has always put education and countering anti-Semitism at the forefront of its mission and activities. Since October 7, it has ramped up in an unprecedented way and further cemented its role as an indispensable resource as well as a myth-buster in this national and international fight against anti- Semitism and hate.

Anti-Semitism did not start with the Hamas attacks. From the White supremacists chanting ``Jews will not replace us'' in Charlottesville, forcing Jews to leave their synagogue through the back door, to the rightwing extremist, armed with an AR-15 rifle and three handguns, who attacked the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 Jews and leaving 7 others wounded, this has been a violent scourge that goes back centuries.

No matter what your political affiliation, we all must speak out against this hatred and correct the misinformation that breeds it. The sobering reality is that threats against Jews continue to rise--not just in the United States but also around the world.

Just since 2015, I have had the honor to serve as the Special Representative on Combatting Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance for the parliamentary assembly of the world's largest regional security organization, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, best known as the OSCE. I have used this role to urge the OSCE's 57 participating states, the United States included, to develop strategies and invest the political will and resources necessary to eradicate hate by developing and sharing best practices, building broad-based interfaith coalitions, educating young people, and countering Holocaust denial and distortions.

Just as the obligation to combat anti-Semitism is not just an American endeavor, it is also not just a Jewish endeavor. The responsibility to rid our society of the scourge of anti-Semitism is a shared responsibility.

I was proud to be part of the U.S. delegation to the Berlin conference. In Berlin, Germany, in 2004, OSCE's participating states declared that anti-Semitism is a threat not only to Jews everywhere but also to democracy, human rights, and international stability. When societies permit anti-Semitism to thrive, they also allow conspiracies and disinformation and hate in all its forms to thrive.

In extreme cases, ignoring anti-Semitism can lead not only to the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions and the media, but it can foster extremism and lead to violence.

With the dangerous rise of anti-Semitism in recent months in the United States, Jewish students and faculty have been blocked from attending classes or campus events and have been regularly harassed and attacked on campus. Many are scared to attend classes or walk around. Jewish businesses and synagogues have been vandalized. Students and nonstudents have expressed concern about wearing clothing or jewelry that might be used to identify them as Jewish.

Throughout my career in public service, I have stood for the right of individuals everywhere to free speech and peaceful protests--even if I vehemently disagree with what they are saying. But it is another thing to target, threaten, and harass Jewish students or faculty on the basis of their identity.

As President Joe Biden said at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum recently, ``Violent attacks, destroying property is not peaceful protest. It's against the law. And we are not a lawless country. We're a civil society. We uphold the rule of law. No one should have to hide or be brave just to be themselves.''

As a Jewish American, I was raised with the understanding that tikkun olam, or repairing the world, was an essential part of every community. Through acts of charity, justice, and kindness, we were encouraged to make things better for those in need. This has been my mission over the years, and it is no hyperbole to say that it is more important today than ever before.

The Jewish people have survived the Holocaust. We have overcome terrorist attacks and anti-Semitism before. By holding fast to our values, we as a Jewish community will overcome these difficult times too.

So I want to end with a quote from Anne Frank, who was reflecting on the difficult times she was seeing when she wrote:

I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness,

I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us

too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look

up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for

the better, that this cruelty too will end, that peace and

tranquility will return once more.

My wish during this Jewish American Heritage Month is that we as Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike, find a way to come together. Only by rejecting anti-Semitism and all forms of hate, racism, and xenophobia will we find a path forward where all people can live together in peace and stability, with an abundance of hope and opportunity.

I thank my colleagues.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I rise today to honor Dr. George E. Lewis, for his outstanding service to our Nation and Maryland as he steps down as chair of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP Federal Advisory Commission. Dr. Lewis began his service in 1966, when he was commission as a second lieutenant in the Army. As an Army officer, Dr. Lewis contributed to significant advancements to protect and treat our Nation's warfighters and citizens.

He proudly accepted in 1989 the Pentagon responsibilities of both the executive assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Medical Research and Development and the Army Surgeon General's liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition. Dr. Lewis also was the senior medical biological warfare defense expert in the Pentagon during Operations Desert Shield and Storm.

In 1991, Dr. Lewis served as a U.S. delegate to the 1991 United Nations Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference. In August 1992, he was assigned as program manager for combat medical systems and assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Material Development Activity at Fort Detrick. In 1996, he retired after 30 years of military service.

Colonel Lewis's record of service and leadership extends well beyond his

military service. He has led efforts to preserve historical landmarks, to promote good citizenship, and to support tourism and the arts in Frederick County. He has been a critical partner to the C&O Canal NHP and Maryland's congressional delegation in the success of major initiatives including the restoration of the Catoctin and Conococheague Aqueducts, the reconstruction of the towpath at Big Slackwater, and the completion of a new park headquarters near the canal's midpoint in Williamsport.

In recognition of his years of service to our country and Maryland, Dr. Lewis was the recipient of the Department the Army Research and Development Achievement Award, and his personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit, two oakleaf clusters; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; and the Army Commendation Medal, one oakleaf cluster.

In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to Dr. George E. Lewis for his outstanding service to his country and community.

Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Each year, this month gives us the opportunity to celebrate the diverse group of peoples who make up Asian America. And there is much to celebrate; today, we see Asian Americans in every part of American society, from books and movies, to the highest halls of government.

President Biden has appointed AANHPI leaders to key positions in the administration, including Ambassador Katherine Tai, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar.

At the same time, we recognize the many barriers broken by those who came before, to pave the wide road which we now traverse today.

The AANHPI civil rights movement is inextricably tied with the Black civil rights movement that defined the mid-20th century, giving rise not only to well-known African-American activists like Martin Luther King, Jr, John Lewis, and Malcolm X, but also leaders like Grace Lee Boggs, Larry Itliong, and Patsy Mink.

For many of us, these latter three names are not as familiar; only now are we as a country beginning to truly recognize the importance of the Asian-American movement, and to teach its history to the next generation. Asian- American activists played a key role in calling out U.S. involvement in colonialist conflicts like the Vietnam war, as well as racist housing and development projects at home.

As we have seen time and again, failing to understand our history as a nation puts us at risk of repeating its mistakes. Our context in the 21st century is undoubtedly distinct from the challenges faced by the earliest Asian Americans. Yet hate crimes against the AANHPI community increased 167 percent from 2020 to 2021, in large part because of racist rhetoric echoed by the highest levels of government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though incidences of anti-Asian hate have decreased overall from 2021 to 2022, racially motivated incidents against Sikh and Muslim Americans have continued to rise.

Janelle Wong, a contemporary Asian-American activist and researcher for the nonprofit AAPI Data, said that ``Anti-Asian hate crimes . . . are often tied to national security or other kinds of U.S. foreign policy that heightened attention to Asian Americans in the U.S. We will expect them to go up again at some point, depending on what the national and international context is and the degree to which places in Asia are cast as a threat to the U.S.''

As the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will be the first to tell you that the Chinese Communist Party poses a significant national security threat to the United States in many arenas. But we as a country must be able to distinguish between China as a geopolitical entity and Chinese Americans and Chinese people with their own unique beliefs, hopes, and dreams. Sinophobia, and all other forms of racism and discrimination, cannot be excused in the name of geopolitical circumstance.

As a nation of immigrants, we should know better than to label people as ``un-American'' because they or their families were born someplace else.

The Biden administration has taken significant, meaningful steps to address anti-Asian racism over the last 3 years, including signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to make reporting hate crimes easier and hosting the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence, alongside significant actions to address gun violence.

The administration also launched the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AANHPI communities, addressing issues like anti-Asian hate and enhancing accessibility to government services in multiple languages.

Of particular note to me as a member of the Small Business Committee, Biden has provided over $22 billion in loans to AANHPI entrepreneurs through the Small Business Administration, achieving the highest Asian- American employment and entrepreneurship rates in over a decade.

And finally, recognizing the importance of honoring and protecting traditional cultures, the President signed legislation to establish a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

I am proud to join 400,000 Asian American, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in calling the State of Maryland my home. I recognize that the last few years have been difficult for the AANHPI community, and as a Jewish American, I want to take a moment to grieve with you in the face of what at times can feel like an overwhelming rise in hate and discrimination.

But I would urge you to keep pushing toward a fairer, more just future--and I will be right there with you.

In this last week of AANHPI Heritage Month, I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating the triumphs of this community in the face of great adversity and to continue our work to lift up and address their unique needs to ensure that we all can thrive.

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, 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, 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.