Floor Statements

Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong support of the nomination of Courtney O'Donnell to be the U.S. Representative to UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

From threats to historic world heritage sites, to the dangers women and girls face across the globe, to the recent surge of anti-Semitism and intolerance around the world, it is critical

that the United States advance our interest at UNESCO and that we have a confirmed Ambassador.

I am going to underscore the point of the need for a U.S. Ambassador confirmed presence at UNESCO. Because of the current major escalation of anti-Semitism here in America and around the world, one of UNESCO's specific mandates is to combat anti-Semitism and promote Holocaust education, to ensure that other countries teach future generations about the Holocaust, and combat Holocaust denial.

Today, that mission is more important than ever before in recent times. That is why we need a confirmed U.S. Representative who has the experience to advance U.S. priorities, from championing Holocaust educational programs, to advancing girls' education in STEM, to developing responsible international standards on science and technology, including for AI.

Courtney O'Donnell is the right person for this job, and I am very proud to support her nomination, and I am very pleased that she is willing to serve in this capacity. She currently serves in the Office of the Vice President as a Senior Advisor and the Acting Chief of Staff for Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, where she focuses on countering anti-Semitism, among other issues. She has played an integral role in developing and implementing the administration's anti-Semitism policies. She understands the need for strong U.S. leadership. She understands the urgency of advancing efforts to combat anti-Semitism. She has a proven track record of working to counter anti-Semitism and Holocaust denialism through her work on the U.S. national strategy to combat anti-Semitism.

Don't just take my word for it; let me quote from the president of the World Jewish Congress, who says that Ms. O'Donnell's efforts to combat anti-Semitism ``demonstrate a profound commitment to eradicating hate and promoting Holocaust education'' and that her confirmation would be a ``necessary step'' to ensure that ``UNESCO continues to uphold its ongoing commitment to partner with Israel, preserve Jewish heritage, combat disinformation, and expand Holocaust education efforts.''

The American Jewish Committee said that Ms. O'Donnell's confirmation will ``bring U.S. leadership to UNESCO on issues of global concern to the Jewish community and advance American values of pluralism and freedom of expression.''

The National Council of Jewish Women and Better World Campaign have echoed these points, writing in strong support of her confirmation.

She committed to do that at the hearing we had before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she said she would work ``aggressively to combat antisemitism and counter anti-Israel bias.''

We know that we have challenges in our international organizations on anti-Israel bias. We know that. We need a champion, a confirmed Ambassador who will be a champion to represent America to fight that type of anti-Semitic activities and anti-Israel activities and to speak out in favor of Holocaust education and implement strategies to combat anti-Semitism.

This should be a clear vote by my colleagues to want to have America's presence at UNESCO to fight anti-Semitism, when we know how prevalent it is today and how it is growing today.

So I urge my colleagues to support cloture and confirm Ms. O'Donnell to be the U.S. Representative to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization without any further delay. I know we will have a chance to vote on that shortly.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to honor Georgette ``Gigi'' Godwin, president and chief executive officer, for her nearly two decades of leadership in service to Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Godwin's extensive experience in government, business, and nonprofits has been a tremendous asset to the chamber and to the broader Montgomery County community. Ms. Godwin has been a tireless advocate for the greater metropolitan area's business community. She has successfully championed policies that promote economic growth and job creation and has fostered strong partnerships with elected leaders and stakeholders in her community and across the country.

Through her leadership, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce created the National Veteran Institute for Procurement, a free technical training program that has graduated roughly 2,500 veteran- owned businesses from all 50 United States and territories, and the GovConNet Council, which advocates for small business Federal Government contractors, and spearheaded the Small Business Runway Extension Act.

Ms. Godwin's organization has been a go-to thought leader for both the Senate and House Small Business Committees, and I am proud to have been able to observe the advocacy of this fine organization firsthand.

Her dedication is not limited to office hours. Throughout her career, she has served on committees and on the boards of numerous organizations, demonstrating her dedication to public service. These organizations include the Montgomery College's board of trustees, the Montgomery County Business Roundtable on Education, Committee for Montgomery, the Montgomery County Executive's business advisory board, and Imagination Stage.

In conclusion, I. extend my gratitude to Gigi Godwin for her outstanding leadership and her many contributions to not only Montgomery County, MD, but to servicemembers and business leaders across the country. She is a true champion for every group she touches, and we are all grateful for her service and dedication.

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.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong support of the confirmation of Donna Ann Welton to be the United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This is a country that earned independence after centuries of colonial rule under the Dutch and, then, Indonesian Governments. Today, we still see senior figures coming to power in Indonesia that could drag up the Timor- Leste's painful past.

From helping our Peace Corps volunteers working in the country, to being a partner in Timor-Leste's energy transition, we need an Ambassador working in our Embassy that will support the democratic ambitions of Asia's youngest country.

Ms. Welton's experience and expertise means she is ready to hit the ground running. She recently served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs and Operations in the Bureau of Political- Military Affairs. Ms. Welton began her career with the United States Information Agency in the Republic of Korea and has served in Afghanistan and Finland. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and someone who will stand up for human rights and advance good governance efforts in this important part of the world.

I am pleased that my colleagues voted to confirm Ms. Welton to be Ambassador to Timor-Leste.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I take this time, along with Senator Van Hollen, to update our colleagues on the tragic events that took place in Baltimore on March 26 of this year when the Dali, an almost 1,000- foot container vessel, ran into the support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and, within seconds, the bridge collapsed. It was a sight that was seen around the world in horror. It was a horrific event, and it had a major impact not only on my community in Baltimore but also around the Nation.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is part of I-695 and part of the I-95 corridor on the east coast of the United States. It also is a bridge that is over the only channel into the Port of Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore is the third busiest port in the United States. It is No. 1 in roll-on, roll-off cargo, and it is critically important to our national economy, our supply chains, et cetera. This bridge is a major thoroughfare for the Northeast corridor. Over 34,000 vehicles a day were transporting through the Francis Scott Key Bridge prior to it being destroyed.

Now, the immediate impact: I think we have all seen the images of how the bridge collapsed and that part of the bridge was actually on the Dali vessel. The heart of the channel was completely blocked by the debris of concrete and steel.

The immediate tragedy was the loss of life. When the Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, there were eight people on the bridge. They were doing dangerous work, repair work, in order to keep our roads safer. Of the

eight people who were on the bridge, two were able to be rescued; six perished as a result of the tragedy; and one of those, still, the body has yet to be recovered. That is part of the priorities that we are facing in dealing with this tragedy.

I want to just pause for one moment to once again thank the first responders. As I indicated, what happened to the Dali, it lost power. Within a matter of seconds after losing power, it struck the pier that protected the support beams and hit the support beam, and the bridge collapsed. Literally, within seconds after it lost power, the tragedy occurred.

The extremely fast response by first responders was able to stop traffic from going onto the bridge, saving many, many lives. And we thank our first responders for their quick thinking and their responding to protect public safety because this could have been a lot worse in regards to the loss of life.

I also want to give a shout-out to our Federal Agencies for their immediate response. I think the public should understand that the Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Army Corps of Engineers were all on the scene on the day of the tragedy and started the unified command--a unified command where the Coast Guard took the lead but all Agencies worked together.

They worked very closely with the State of Maryland, Governor Moore providing that leadership in our State, and our State agencies working with the unified command. They worked with our local government officials. There are three jurisdictions that are directly impacted by the bridge collapse: Baltimore City, and Mayor Brandon Scott was part of that unified command providing the leadership we needed from the city; Johnny Olszewski, the County Executive from Baltimore County, was also part of that team; and Steuart Pittman, the County Executive from Anne Arundel County, all became part of that unified command.

Within literally hours, Secretary Buttigieg was on the scene of the catastrophic event. President Biden has visited the site and provided direct leadership in directing the Federal Government to use all means to help Baltimore deal with this tragedy. Many other Federal officials were there.

I will give a shout-out to Administrator Guzman of the Small Business Administration setting up outreach offices for small businesses that were impacted so that they could get the type of help from the Federal Government, the Small Business Administration, that could be offered. And there were many, many others that were there.

I can't underscore too strongly the impact that this bridge collapse had on the economies of our region. It was interesting: The Small Business Administration accepted applications from every surrounding State because small businesses in surrounding States were also impacted by the channel being closed into the Port of Baltimore. There are about 15,000 jobs directly related to the Port of Baltimore. As I said, it is the third largest port in the United States, as 1.1 million containers are handled annually through the Port of Baltimore and $80 billion in import-export goes through the Port of Baltimore every year. And on March 26, the channel was closed. Ships that were in the port could not leave, and no new vessels could come in.

When you looked at the wreckage, we all thought it would take an incredible amount of time before the channels could be cleared; but thanks to the unified leadership, thanks to the resources of the Federal Government and the partnership of State and local governments, there was very quick action to deal with the Port of Baltimore. Almost immediately, two alternative channels were opened--one for 11 feet and one for 15 feet.

Remember, the main channel was 50 feet. So you are not going to get any major vessels, but we at least could get some tugs and barges through to do a little bit of activity to keep the port still operating.

And just recently, under the leadership of our Federal partners, we were able to open up the northern part of the channel to a 35-foot depth. That was very important because, within a month, we were able to get about 75 percent of the vessels going in and out of the port, which was critically important for the businesses.

We hope that, by the end of this week, we are going to have a 45-foot channel opened for the port. And by the end of this month, we hope that we will have a 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel reopened for full operations of the Port of Baltimore. That is a Herculean task and could not have been done but for the unified command and the cooperation of all partners. And we thank them for that because, I must tell you, I met with so many business owners who didn't even know if they could survive as a result of the bridge collapse. And with the government providing help, the Federal Government providing help--but it is critically important to get the port opened as quickly as possible.

We also are moving forward immediately on the replacement of this bridge. It is absolutely essential that the Francis Scott Key Bridge be replaced as quickly as possible. We know that is going to take some time. We know you are not going to be able to replace a bridge of this magnitude in a matter of months. It is going to take longer than that.

We recognize that.

But as I said before, there are 34,000 vehicles that are now finding other ways to transport through this area. Now, if they have hazardous material, they cannot go through the tunnels that go through the port area of Baltimore that were alternatives to the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Hazardous materials are not permitted in the tunnels. That means they either have to go through side roads or they have to go around the beltway, which adds at least a half an hour or so to the trip. And when you are dealing with thousands of containers and moving many by truck, you can imagine the extra time and extra cost involved as a result of the bridge being out. So it is critically important that we replace the bridge as quickly as possible. The traffic jam problems are real. We have to get this done as quickly as possible.

Now, we know that it is going to take some time. We have an estimate of cost that the State of Maryland has provided to the Federal Government, a range between $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion. I want to thank the Biden administration again--and Secretary Buttigieg--for the release of funds under the Emergency Relief Program, which has already been made available to our State. These are 100 percent Federal funds during this period of time, and we thank them for that.

This project will qualify for emergency relief funding under the Department of Transportation. Those funds are, by law, 90-10. But we have legislation in to carry out what President Biden requested--and I will get to that in one moment--that the Federal Government pay 100 percent of the cost of the replacement of the bridge. We had the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act that Senator Van Hollen and I have filed. We have also filed it as an amendment to the FAA bill. We are looking for the first opportunity to get this bill to the finish line, and I would urge our colleagues to find a way that we can get that bill passed as quickly as possible.

Let me just quote from OMB Director Young, who said that ``this authorization''--this is legislation that the Biden administration has urged Congress to pass:

This authorization would be consistent with past

catastrophic bridge collapses, including in 2007, when

Congress acted in a bipartisan manner within days of the I-

35W bridge collapse in Minnesota.

She went on to say that waiving Federal cost share is routine in disasters of national significance. This is a disaster of national significance. It may be the largest disaster of a bridge collapse ever from the point of view of insurance claims and third-party liability. So we are talking about a very disastrous situation, and it is very appropriate that the Federal cost share be waived.

I want to assure our colleagues--and we put this in the legislation-- that any third-party recoveries in regards to the bridge replacement, whether it is insurance coverage or whether it is third-party liabilities coverage, will go back to the Emergency Relief Fund and the Federal taxpayers. Federal taxpayers are on the hook right now for the cost of the replacement of the bridge. They will get all the recoveries in regards to it if this legislation were to pass.

I want to thank my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, for their

support of our needs here. I have gotten calls from our Democratic and Republican colleagues offering their support, and we thank them very much for that. I hope that we can find a way to move this promptly.

I know that there are not too many bills that make it to the finish line. And we are running out of time in this Congress, so I would urge the cooperation of our colleagues to find the appropriate spot. And we hope it can be on the FAA bill, but we need to get this done as quickly as possible.

So let me just assure our colleagues that the story of the Francis Scott Key Bridge doesn't end with this tragedy. We are a very resilient community. The bridge will be rebuilt. The Port of Baltimore will be back to full strength and continue to grow. It has been growing at a very fast rate and will continue to show that type of growth.

As Governor Moore says, we are Maryland tough and Baltimore strong. We intend to make sure the Port of Baltimore has everything it needs to continue its growth and that the bridge is replaced.

With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I just wanted to compliment my colleague Senator Van Hollen for his comments. I think he has said it the way that everyone in Maryland feels. We have worked together as a team on this. This is a national tragedy. We thank our Federal partners for their help. We are proud of the unified efforts that have evolved.

I appreciate Senator Van Hollen's comments about just ordinary citizens who have really rallied behind the situation, helping their neighbors, providing food, providing opportunities that were lost as a result of the bridge collapse. It has really been gratifying to see the unity and support of our community.

We need this legislation passed. I urge our colleagues to find a way that we can get this done as quickly as possible.

I thank my colleague Senator Van Hollen for his incredible leadership during this time.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, this week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week. Each year since 1985, this special week has been observed in honor of our Nation's public servants. Today, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the 20.2 million Federal, State, county, and local public servants in the United States of America.

Our country relies on the critical work of the everyday heroes in the public sector workforce, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their steadfast service. From astronauts to astrophysicists, caseworkers to court clerks, detectives to doctors, servicemembers to superintendents, teachers to transit workers, America's public servants comprise one of our Nation's most critical and often maligned assets. Every American feels the impact of the crucial work public servants perform in all aspects of their lives. Thanks to first responders, servicemembers, social workers, and every public servant in between, over 330 million Americans can rest knowing their loved ones are protected, the rule of law is respected, and that the public sector is here to make their lives more effective.

The talented public servants who tirelessly work to improve our Nation and the lives of the people who comprise it are amongst the bravest and most honorable individuals on the globe.

On their first day of school, our children are entrusted to the teachers who provide them an educational foundation to guide them throughout their lives. When a novel disease impacts our communities, it is researchers who innovate and pursue medical solutions, as our doctors, nurses, and EMTs care for patients on the frontlines. It is our postal workers who deliver critical checks, medication, and information to our veterans and seniors who await the arrival of benefits they have earned.

America's public servants demonstrate their commitment to their communities in a diverse set of essential roles. What all members of the public sector workforce have in common, though, is their motivation to help our Nation progress and prosper.

The public sector workforce--particularly at the Federal level--have a sense of duty and a love of their community and country that compel them. So many public servants could earn higher salaries in private sector jobs, but their motivation is more than pecuniary gain.

At the heart of the U.S. Government are civil servants, individuals who are classified as nonpartisan career Federal employees. These public servants are not committed to a particular ideology or political figure in their official capacity. In recent years, however, these folks have faced threats to their civil service status at the hands of the very partisan influence they are supposed to be protected from.

Civil servants elect to work for the American people first, and they deserve the opportunity to carry out their service without fear of being relieved of duties or retaliation based on nonallegiance to a political party. That is why I commend the Biden administration and the Office of Personnel Management for issuing the final rule in opposition to the previous administration's Schedule F classification.

Our civil servants honorably serve our Nation without political fear or favor. OPM's reiteration of support for nonpartisan Federal employee protections is a crucial victory, not only for the 2.2 million individuals currently under this classification but for every American and the integrity of our institutions.

Every year, the Samuel J. Heyman Public Service to America Medals are awarded to esteemed Federal employees who are recognized by their Agency colleagues and the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service for their distinguished service. This year, the seventh State admitted to the Union--my home State of Maryland--is proud to celebrate seven outstanding individuals nominated as finalists. All of them are highly deserving of recognition for their service.

Today, I would like to take a moment to thank these Marylanders:

Wanda Brown and Darnita Trower of the Internal Revenue

Service; Judy Chen and Jay Evans of the USDA Agricultural

Research Service; Hari Kalla of the Federal

Highway Administration; Marc Levitan of the National

Institute of Standards and Technology; and Janet Woodcock of

the Food and Drug Administration.

I thank them for their exceptional service to the American people.

Just 7 percent of America's Federal workers are under the age of 30. I join President Biden in urging young Americans to consider careers in public service. We need your talents, your energy, your ideas, and your idealism to ensure that America remains prosperous, secure, and a beacon of liberty for all humanity.

I hope we can all agree that we want the best and brightest to serve. These individuals and their fellow honorees represent the best our Federal workforce has to offer. But we should be grateful for all public servants who are in every State and Territory of our country and who go to work each day determined to make a positive difference for their fellow Americans. We should be grateful all year long.

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.

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, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I come to the floor to talk about the pending business, the supplemental appropriations bill that came over to us from the House of Representatives.

In February of this year, I was in Munich for the security conference, and the question that was asked of me the most by just about every world leader is whether the Congress would pass the Ukraine supplemental appropriations bill. Our colleagues around the world understood how important the supplemental appropriation passage was to the security of Ukraine and its ability to defend itself.

I want to tell you, when I was asked that question by the world leaders, I said, yes, we would pass it. I don't know if they were so convinced that we would get it done, and I am not so sure how convinced I was at that time that we would be able to reach a point where we would be able to keep the supplemental intact and be able to pass it. For, you see, the aid in that supplemental is so critical to the defense in Ukraine. Ukraine is literally running out of ammunition. The U.S. leadership is absolutely indispensable.

It also, of course, includes the humanitarian assistance and so many other important issues. But it also represents U.S. leadership, the ability for us to keep the coalition of the democratic states and the West together in our campaign to make sure that Mr. Putin does not succeed in taking over Ukraine and then moving to other countries in Europe.

Now we can definitely answer the question. By our actions in this body, we can tell our friends around the world that, yes, the supplemental appropriation will pass, will be signed by President Biden, and the aid will be flowing to Ukraine to defend itself.

So much depends on the passage of this supplemental. First and foremost, it is the defense of Ukraine--incredibly brave people in Ukraine who are holding up the defense against a great, mighty Russian army. They have been very, very successful, but they need to have the ability to defend themselves. That is what they are asking the United States to do: not to provide the soldiers but to provide the wherewithal so we will not have to send our soldiers to Europe.

It is the frontline for defense of democratic states, where we all know that Russia will not stop with Ukraine if they are successful; that Moldova and Georgia, the Baltic States, and Poland are all very much in the view of what Mr. Putin wants to take over.

But there is more to the supplemental than just Ukraine. There is the financing for the Middle East. Israel is defending unprecedented Iranian drone attacks. We saw that last week. They need our assistance to make sure that they can protect against these missiles and drones.

We know the leaders of Taiwan are looking to passage of this supplemental because they have to look across the Taiwan Strait at the People's Republic of China and their aggressive language and their concerns about whether China will use force against Taiwan. The passage of this supplemental gives great hope to Taiwan that the United States is with them.

Then, as I mentioned earlier, the humanitarian workers who are desperate to help in the Sudan need our resources in order to meet that crisis that is going on every day. The passage of this supplemental will help the humanitarian workers deal with the humanitarian crisis that we have in the Sudan, that we have in Gaza, and that we have in Ukraine and so many other areas around the world.

So, yes, it has been difficult to understand the delay in getting this done, and it has affected Ukraine's ability to defend itself, the delay in getting the supplemental to the finish line. So it is absolutely essential, as Senator Schumer said, that we complete our work as quickly as possible and to remove any doubt about America's support of Ukraine. If there was any doubt, the vote in the House of Representatives on the Ukraine package passed by a strong bipartisan vote of 311 to 112.

Now, the entire package enjoys strong bipartisan support, and that is critically important for the success of our foreign policy--$60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Taiwan and our Indo-Pacific partners, and $9 billion for global humanitarian assistance. But in addition to the appropriations that were in the bill when we passed it in the Senate months ago, the House added some additional provisions which, quite frankly, I think all strengthen the bill.

It provides a way to hold Russia accountable for its own actions, the damage it has caused. That is a positive addition to the package. It strengthens our sanctions against some of our most extreme adversaries. That also strengthens the bill.

I was pleased that there was a reauthorization of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, a bill that I authored that deals with trying to avoid conflicts from turning into genocide or atrocities so we can prevent having to deal with the challenges we see in so many parts of the world. We need to invest in prevention, and the Elie Wiesel Act gives us the tool to do that.

I want to recognize President Biden for his leadership on these issues, his leadership globally in keeping the coalition together in support of Ukraine and our foreign policy objectives in the free world, and also for what he did here in the United States: staying true to the principles, connecting the dots for the American people, and dealing with the strategy so we can finally get this bill to the finish line. I congratulate the Biden administration for staying with this and helping us reach this moment where we are on the verge of passing the Supplemental Appropriations Act.

It reinforces our foreign policy that is rooted in our values that promote human rights and defend democracy--a foreign policy drawn by basic human decency. That is what the U.S. foreign policy is about, and this supplemental reinforces our objectives in each one of those categories.

This gives the world a credible vision of the future--a future that discourages dictators and autocrats, a future for a Europe whole and free, a future for a thriving Indo-Pacific, a future for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East, and a future that prioritizes civil society movements and human rights around the world.

I know that the challenges we face today on the global stage seem immense because they are. Anyone can see that. Russia is relentlessly bombing Ukraine's oil and gas sector. Ukraine is running out of ammunition. But, shortly, we will take a historic vote--a vote that, as President Zelenskyy says, gives Ukraine ``a chance at victory.''

So I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the supplemental that passed the House of Representatives. I urge them to vote yes to funding America's foreign policy and national security priorities, yes to supporting the war-stricken people of the world who will not give up hope for democracy, yes to standing up with our allies and partners across the globe, and yes to a future American leadership on the global stage that is based on our values.

Earth Day

Madam President, on Monday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Since April 22, 1970, millions have come together worldwide to highlight the urgent action needed to save our planet.

In 1970, the American environmental movement began in earnest as concerned individuals mobilized en masse to protect the planet.

The status quo was unacceptable--rivers so polluted they caught fire, children getting sick just from playing outside, and wildlife showing clear signs of distress.

In Congress, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin championed the Earth Day movement, with the hope of bringing environmental awareness to the political and national stage.

Back then, the exact causes of our planet and people's ailments were not totally understood. The American people were not aware the extent to which the reliance on fossil fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides were causing irreparable harm.

We know a lot more now. However, we are still learning about how harmful everyday products are. Items that we accept as part of our daily life--plastic products, for example--are ubiquitous.

This year's Earth Day theme, planet vs. plastics, reminds us that the threat of plastic pollution continues to grow. Plastics are actively causing harm to human life, animal life and our Earth.

It is estimated that the average American ingests more than 70,000 microplastics in their drinking water supply. The origins of these plastics range from littering to stormwater runoff, to poor wastewater management in treatment facilities.

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues we currently face. Microplastics and microfibers are smaller than 5 millimeters in size. An estimated 50 to 75 trillion pieces of microplastics are in the ocean. Because these microplastics are so small, many animals mistake them for food. These microplastics have been found to attract and carry pollutants that are present in the water, making them carriers of various harmful chemicals.

Evidence such as this prompted then-President Barack Obama to pass the Microbead-Free Waters Act. The Microbead-Free Waters Act helped to ban plastic microbeads in certain products from being sold in the United States.

However, this same regulation does not apply to the limiting of microplastics in bottled water or microfibers in clothing.

When synthetic clothes are washed in the washing machine, an estimated 3.5 quadrillion microfibers are released--a process known as microfiber shedding. This particle is the most prevalent type of microplastic found in the Chesapeake Bay. With over 3,000 miles of coastline, Maryland is extremely vulnerable to plastic marine debris and its environmental consequences.

A study by NOAA took samples of various locations of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and found that 98 percent of the samples contained microplastics.

A modeling exercise conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that the majority of plastic pollution in the Chesapeake Bay stays within the local waters and is not exported to the ocean.

The study suggests that the bay acts as a catchall for plastics, with about 94 percent of microplastics staying in the system, most likely on or along the shores. Only 5 percent of the particles were carried from the bay to the ocean, and 1 percent remained suspended in the water column.

In 2020, Maryland produced nearly 12 million tons of solid waste, with 13 percent attributed from plastics, including plastic bags.

Research concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in carryout services and grocery store visits, resulting in a 30 percent increase in plastic waste in 2020.

My home state of Maryland has taken many steps to combat plastic pollution. In September 2020, Maryland made history by becoming the first State to enact a ban on expanded polystyrene foodware, the single-use plastic foam that is often used for takeout cups and containers.

In October 2021, Baltimore effectively banned the use of plastic bags used for grocery and restaurant services, while also imposing a 5-cent bag tax on alternative bag use. The Salisbury City Council unanimously approved a ban on certain types of plastic bags that took effect on July 1, 2023. These are all significant steps my home State has taken to address plastic waste.

Plastics not only threaten the marine life, like oysters and crabs, that call the Chesapeake Bay home, but they can also negatively impact the economy and health of Maryland and the region at large.

In light of the threat of microplastics and the broader environmental challenges we face, I am proud of the accomplishments we have made to address the plastic pollution crisis.

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was signed into law in December 2020. One of the crucial components to this Act was the authorization of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The NOAA Marine Debris Program serves as a model for finding ways to track marine debris, including plastics, around the world.

Congress must continue to take action to support legislation that seek to reduce the use and production of plastic and improve recycling facilities.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, introduced by my colleague Senator Dick Durbin.

Last year, I was privileged to lead a bipartisan delegation to Dubai for COP28. During this summit, we emphasized that the United States is concerned about the impacts of climate change and is ready to continue taking action to combat it.

At the summit, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the U.N. Environment Programme warned of the climate implications of plastics to our coastal ecosystems and oceans. He urged the plastic industry to find nonplastic alternatives for products to help the environment.

When Earth Day was first celebrated, the topic of environmental protection was not as partisan as it is today. Our focus should be on passing legislation that works to protect and preserve our Earth. We see the evidence before us. The longevity of our Earth is at stake.

While Earth Day only comes around once a year, it should be celebrated every day. We must not forget the responsibility we have to protect our planet. On this Earth Day, I celebrate the progress we have made so far and ask that we reaffirm our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

With that, I would yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, a year ago, artillery and gunfire erupted in the capital of Sudan. Smoke filled the air as people ran for their lives. It was the beginning of a vicious war between two armed factions: the SAF--the Sudanese Armed Forces--and the RSF--the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

In the last year, there has been absolute devastation in Sudan. At every turn, unarmed Sudanese have been in the crosshairs. These armed groups have committed extrajudicial killings. They have indiscriminately bombed civilian targets, like hospitals. They have used rape and sexual violence against women of certain ethnic groups as a weapon of war. They have razed cities and towns, killing inhabitants and strangling commerce and trade. They have destroyed farmlands and forced farmers to leave, preventing harvests. They have looted humanitarian supplies, attacked aid workers,

and blocked aid delivery. The World Food Programme's Sudan director said this May could bring ``unprecedented levels of starvation.''

According to the United Nations, more than 15,000 people have been reported killed, with an additional 10- to 15,000 in one town in Darfur alone.

Eight million people have fled their homes. Twenty-five million, including 14 million children, need humanitarian assistance, very basic materials like food, water, medicine, and clothing.

The president of Doctors Without Borders said:

Sudan is one of the worst crises the world has seen for

decades.

As I speak, the town of Al Fashir is under siege. Millions of civilians are trapped in that city, which is controlled by the SAF. The people in this town have no access to aid, and the international community has no plan to protect them should the RSF mount a full-scale assault.

My colleague on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Booker, has just come back from the region. He gave us a firsthand account of the hunger, the violence, and the trauma the Sudanese people are facing. Last week, Samantha Power testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the imminent famine. Just this week, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights released a report concluding that the RSF is committing genocide in Sudan.

The evidence is clear and overwhelming. We must take action now.

At this week's humanitarian conference in Paris, the United States announced an additional $100 million in aid to respond to the conflict. The United States has been the largest donor to date. The French are