Floor Statements

Mr. President, shortly, we will be voting on Elizabeth Richard to be the State Department's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, the motion in regard to invoking cloture. I speak

in favor of her nomination as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

We need someone at the helm of our civilian and diplomatic efforts on counterterrorism who has the experience of working in some of the most dangerous and challenging environments. We need someone who is qualified to direct and successfully implement the Department's counterterrorism programs and who can work hand in hand with the Department of Defense on counterterrorism issues. We also need someone who has proven they will stand up for American values.

The threat from terrorism has not gone away but has changed dramatically. Not only has terrorism spread across more countries, but today it takes on a different form.

Protecting our Nation from the evolving counterterrorism threat is absolutely critical to the security of the United States. That is why we must have an experienced leader at the helm of the Bureau of Counterterrorism and why we must confirm Ambassador Richard without delay.

Ambassador Richard has over three decades of experience in the Foreign Service. She has served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State; as Deputy Chief of Mission in Yemen; as Border Coordinator in Pakistan; and as Ambassador to Lebanon--a career diplomat who has served our Nation. Throughout her tenure, she has led efforts with our partners and allies to confront the challenges from terrorist groups.

Ambassador Richard's nomination was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a voice vote. She has overwhelming endorsements from military and civilian leaders alike, including the support of some of our most experienced and senior national security officials, from General Votel, retired four-star general and former commander of Special Operations Command and Central Command; to General Nagata, former commander of Special Operations Command Central and Director of Strategy for the National Counterterrorism Center; to retired Major General Fontes of U.S. Army Cyber Command.

All endorse her candidacy, as does Jeffrey Feltman, the former Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs of the United Nations, Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, and U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; as has Anne Patterson, former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Egypt, and Colombia, and Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs.

I could go on.

Ambassador Richard has earned the support because of her long career. They all speak highly of her ability and qualifications to lead the Department's counterterrorism policy. As one of them said, she is ``among the very finest diplomats our nation has produced.''

I have every confidence she will lead the CT Bureau with distinction. This is a serious position, and it demands someone with the experience and caliber that Ms. Richard possesses. She has the skill, knowledge, and capacity to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

I urge my colleagues to support her nomination.

With that, I yield the floor.

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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter

references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I rise today to share news with the Senate. Dennis Gray Maxwell--Gray to all of us--my floor director and most senior legislative adviser since I arrived in the Senate almost 17 years ago, is retiring at the end of December. For many of us, Senators and staff alike, this is heartbreaking news, as we will miss Gray's good counsel, impeccable speechwriting skills, remarkable knowledge of Senate history, and award-winning home brew. He always has a relevant story, whatever the circumstance. And, of course, Gray was the one who got us to finally put the Senate Democratic Conference rules in writing, so it is no wonder that he knows them inside and out better than any Senator or parliamentarian.

Gray loves the Senate. He loves it for all it was meant to be, as drafted by the Founding Fathers, and all that it should be in modern times--a respected

entity dedicated to upholding the values and ideals that drive this great Nation forward. Year after year, Gray has dedicated himself to finding ways to preserve the Senate's role as the world's greatest deliberative body, which has not always been easy. It pains him to see the rules abused or when 10 years of work to pass a significant law, like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, is undone in 10 minutes. But he does cherish the days when we finally clear a record vote-a-rama or come together in a landmark bipartisan vote.

Gray has worked for so many Senators over the years that his love of this institution should not surprise anyone. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Heinz, Jim Jeffords, Bill Cohen, Moynihan again, Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin, Frank Lautenberg and, since 2007, he has been part of Team Cardin. This impressive list, nearly 40 years in the making, is why I jumped at the opportunity to hire Gray.

A registered Independent his whole life, Gray lives the words of John F. Kennedy: ``Men of goodwill and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics.''

I hired Gray because, on January 3, 2007, despite being a State delegate, including speaker, for a total of 20 years, and a Member of the House of Representatives for 20 years, I had zero direct experience in the U.S. Senate. Gray Maxwell had more than two decades of legislative service in the Senate with some of the most consequential Senators to walk these halls. I wanted to learn from him. I had brought over some core staff from my House office, but I knew that if I had Gray on my team, he would help me quickly translate my previous legislative experience into this new arena. Today, I love being a Senator, and I credit Gray for sharing his fever for the institution and showing me what great things we could accomplish.

Gray's path to public service perhaps was unexpected. The summer after he graduated Stanford University, he came to Washington, DC, to work at a branch of his father's law firm before starting law school. His life would change though, when his roommate, who worked for Senator Moynihan, told Gray there was an opening as a legislative correspondent, or LC. Gray loved everything about the job and the position. He was promoted quickly within the office and even met his future wife, Eileen, during this time. Eileen, a fifth-generation Washingtonian, came from a long line of public servants and had joined the Foreign Service. Some may not know this, but Gray passed both the written and oral Foreign Service exams in an effort to join his wife for her new posting in Bolivia. In the end, they decided to stay in Washington, and Gray's long career in the Senate would take off.

I have been told that there were quite a few conversations with Gray's dad to explain that he would not be returning home to Connecticut or going to New York to become a lawyer. But life would be okay. His dad came around eventually. He would become one of Gray's greatest cheerleaders and immensely proud of everything his son would accomplish--despite not being a lawyer.

During the late 80s, Gray worked for Senator John Heinz and served as legislative director of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, of which Heinz was a cofounder. Gray was serving as the Senator's legislative director at the time of his tragic plane crash in 1991. He went on to work for Senator Jim Jeffords as his legislative director and then worked for another Republican who made a career working across the aisle, Senator Bill Cohen. He later would rejoin Senator Moynihan's staff as legislative director.

Gray and Senator Moynihan had a close, almost father-son relationship. This is obvious to anyone who has heard Gray tell a story from his Moynihan days. Every tale, even something that might seem embarrassing, like slipping on the floor while walking with the Senator through the Senate, is coated with a sense of care and respect for the man and lawmaker. I know it was a difficult task for Gray when he had to call the then-recently retired Senator on September 11, 2001, to tell him that New York and our Nation was being attacked.

Gray has been a witness to history during his nearly 40 years in the Senate, and he has done his part to make history, as well. As a lifelong public servant, Gray has become one of the most vociferous champions for public service unions and Federal workers, generally. He meticulously combs through data annually from the Office of Personnel Management and other official sources to create the most accurate snapshots of Federal workers in every State and the District of Columbia. Among other uses, these charts have been invaluable each time one of my colleagues dares to attack Federal workers or attempts to use veterans and civil servants as pawns in yet another partisan game or government shutdown. Gray relishes every opportunity to lift up stories about Federal workers, serves as a watchdog for attacks on well-earned benefits, and consistently advocates for the rights of all Federal employees and retirees.

During the Trump years, Gray led the charge to pass S. 24, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which guarantees back pay to Federal workers furloughed during a government shutdown. Thanks to Gray's doggedness, if and when we have another shutdown of the Federal Government, no longer will hundreds of thousands of Federal workers have to wait and see if Congress will provide relief to those workers caught in the crossfire.

Another project Gray helped carry over the finish line was the National Memorial to Fallen Journalists. Based on his work and coordination with stakeholders, days before the 1-year anniversary of the fatal ``Capital Gazette'' shooting in Annapolis--the most deadly newsroom shooting in American history--Gray helped finalize legislation I introduced with Senator Rob Portman. Our bill authorized a privately funded memorial within the District of Columbia to honor journalists, photographers, broadcasters, and media workers killed in the line of duty. In later stages, he would identify the ultimate location of the memorial, across the street from the Voice of America and, coincidently, across the street from the National Museum of the American Indian, where Gray's wife Eileen would work until her retirement in December 2022.

Far too many pieces of legislation that have become law have Gray Maxwell's fingerprints on them for me to name every one. But let me talk briefly about one recent bill that goes to the heart of Gray's integrity and strong belief that Congress should be a leader in protecting civil rights and values. Back in 2020, Senator Chris Van Hollen and I introduced legislation in the Senate that would remove from the U.S. Capitol a statue of fellow Marylander and Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. Taney was the author of the infamous Dred Scott decision that ruled that African-Americans were not U.S. citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery. In addition to removing the Taney bust, our bill authorized the placement of a new bust of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African- American to serve on the Nation's highest Court, and also a Marylander. The bill was reintroduced this Congress and approved unanimously by the Senate in 2022. Following House passage, President Joe Biden signed the measure into law, and the massive Taney bust was removed in February of this year. If not for Gray's legislative acumen and pure persistence, the bust of a man who actively helped prolong slavery would still greet visitors to the Old Supreme Court Chamber.

I am thankful that Gray shared his knowledge of the Senate with me. I also am grateful that he shares this bounty with every new staffer and intern that walks into our office. Capitol Hill can be a magnet, attracting young people. If we want them to stay, we need more people like Gray to share their experiences and adventures. He is teaching the next generation about how they fit into the history, and the future, of our legislative branch of government. He also is constantly learning, with an understanding that these young people bring with them new perspectives and different ways of solving age-old problems.

I would ask unanimous consent that, after my remarks, the full text of Robert F. Kennedy's ``Ripple of Hope'' address, which was delivered June 6, 1966, at the University of Capetown, South Africa, be entered into the record. Gray

gives a copy of this speech to every new intern in our office and takes time from his hectic schedule to discuss it with each group. Anecdotes and surveys from interns year after year mention this discussion and how it stays with them long after their semester is complete. RFK's words echo throughout our work.

He said: ``It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.''

Gray is proof positive that one person can make a difference.

Finally, I would like to thank Gray for being there for me and for the Senate even when everyone else was home or working elsewhere. Maybe they were asleep because the Senate was voting at 2 a.m. Maybe they were teleworking because of the pandemic. Yes, as media reports have recounted, Gray was one of the few people who worked in his Senate office throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He actually insisted that he come in so that his wife could be comfortable teleworking from their apartment. Truth be told, traffic was easier, and there were very few people around at that time, so it was seemingly a safe thing to do. We still took precautions. Even if he and I were in the office at the same time, he stayed in his office, and I stayed in mine, and we talked by phone. We wore facemasks and used antibacterial wipes on every door or item we touched.

In another extreme case, Gray was one of only two staffers who were in our Hart office on January 6, 2021. He and our chief of staff, Chris Lynch, sheltered in place together all day while the Capitol was being overrun. Gray charged through the Trump years and the pandemic, but the days and months after January 6 definitely took their toll. I can understand why he and Eileen began to spend more and more time out in rural Rappahannock County, Virginia, where they rented a cottage during the pandemic. They now have a beautiful home on 6 acres of land and are surrounded by wheat and cornfields and dairy farms. I would try to entice them to Maryland, but they have been visiting this area for 40 years, ever since Gray bought Eileen her very first riding lesson as a birthday gift. Even from Virginia, he will forever be a part of Team Maryland and the Cardin family.

I wish Gray all the best in his retirement. He is a good man with a good heart, who has done phenomenal things for the Senate and our Nation. He will be missed, especially by this Senator.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we start the vote now.

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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, on this Veterans Day, I want to express my profound admiration for the unwavering service and sacrifices of our veterans. Their commitment to our Nation, its people, and the values we hold dear transcends generations. Democracy requires constant vigilance, and it is facing tough challenges at home and abroad. Despots and authoritarians worldwide would like nothing more than to see us retreat from defending freedom. But in the face of adversity, the United States stands resilient thanks to the courageous men and women who have worn the uniform.

From the American Revolution, where the Maryland Line fought bravely under General George Washington, to the defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner during the War of 1812, to today, where Maryland is home to almost 400,000 veterans, our State has a proud history of fighting for freedom.

Our veterans are among the best our country has produced. Each one answered the call to serve their country, leaving friends and family to go in harm's way. In today's divisive world, I especially want to thank our veterans for coming together from all walks of life to serve a purpose greater than themselves. Our veterans come from all over the country, from all backgrounds, races, and religions. Time and time again, veterans put their country before themselves and make sacrifices that most Americans do not even realize. They miss birthdays, anniversaries, births, funerals, and countless other life events so they can stand guard on the frontlines of our Nation's defense. Most servicemembers volunteer to join the military not long after graduating high school or college. Some serve a few years, and others make the military a career. All of them have earned the title of veteran.

In Maryland, prominent military installations stretch across the State from Aberdeen Proving Ground in the north to Patuxent River in the south. Marylanders have always answered the call when our liberties have been attacked. During World War II, Maryland produced over 5,000 B-26 Marauder aircrafts that bombed Nazi fortifications in advance of Allied landings on D-Day. Baltimore's shipyards built 384 Liberty cargo ships during the war to transport troops and supplies to Europe. Marylanders have stood shoulder to shoulder, unphased in the face of monumental challenges.

Marylanders from across the State continue to volunteer to serve our country, both overseas and at home with our Active-Duty military components, Reserves, and National Guard units. Our veterans' dedication to country and democracy is felt around the world. Unfortunately, many of our veterans know all too well the cost of war. Our brave men and women continue to serve their communities even after their time in uniform is over.

Our veterans are humble patriots, and while I know they appreciate the public thanking them for their service, I want to encourage each Marylander to go a step further this Veterans Day: shop at a veteran- owned business, donate to a veteran's charity, hire a veteran for your company, or call a veteran and ask them to share stories about their time in the service. Our veterans are among the most highly trained, educated, and responsible citizens, and their skills make them incredibly valued members of their communities and their companies. On this Veterans Day--and every day of the year--put your thoughts into action and show our veterans how much we truly appreciate their service.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I have come to the floor to speak about Hamas's attack on Israel. I joined with Senator Reed--10 Senators, 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans--to visit Israel 2 weeks ago. We saw the brutality of Hamas firsthand. We met with the families of the hostages. We made it clear that we stand with Israel's right to defend itself, and we strongly support President Biden's efforts and the supplemental appropriations to provide those funds to Israel.

So why do I have concern about the unanimous consent request that has been presented? Because it is not bipartisan. If you want to look at bipartisanship, look at the work of Senator Murray and Senator Collins on the Appropriations Committee. They have worked to get the type of unity we need in order to pass appropriations bills and get them into law, consistent with the agreements that were reached earlier this year, recognizing the division in our Congress. We need to have a bipartisan supplemental appropriations bill on the floor as quickly as possible.

So I am extremely disappointed by the action of the House because it is urgent that we consider the supplemental appropriations bill, and, because of the action in the House, it will now be delayed. Make no mistake about that. If the House would have acted in a responsible, bipartisan way, including the package that was submitted by President Biden, we would have had an excellent opportunity to pass a supplemental appropriations bill before November 17--the date, by the way, that our continuing resolution expires.

I am now deeply concerned, as a result of what happened in the House, as to whether we are going to be able to get that supplemental appropriations bill done before November 17, and it is urgent that we do this.

So let me speak about Ukraine. Ukraine is the frontline in defense of democracy. We know that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was not just aimed at taking over Ukraine. Mr. Putin would not stop with Ukraine. The Baltic States are clearly in his vision, and Moldova, Georgia, and beyond.

And as Senator Reed pointed out, it is a lot better for us to have the frontline with the use of our funds defending our democracy than having to send American soldiers to Europe.

It is urgent we get assistance to Ukraine. We missed an opportunity 2 months ago. We have got to show the world that we are committed to the defense of democracy--U.S. leadership.

Just think about the message it would send if we say: We are going to help Israel, but I am sorry, Ukraine, we don't have time for you.

That is giving Mr. Putin a gift. We can't do that.

U.S. leadership is critically important. We need to make sure that we provide the leadership, and, quite frankly, our allies around the world are joining us, providing in total more assistance than we are. But it is absolutely essential that America lead, and we must get this Ukrainian aid moving forward. We need to do it in a bipartisan way.

It is a good investment. It is a good investment in protecting our democracy in Ukraine. It is a good investment in degrading Russia's military.

So let me try to connect the dots here, if I might, because Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is very much related to Hamas's attack in Israel. Two of the most dangerous and brutal dictatorships in the world, Iran and

North Korea, have joined forces with Putin to support Russia's war efforts. Make no mistake about it. It was Russia that invaded Ukraine. Iran's proxy, Hamas, attacked Israel. Connect the dots.

We can't ignore Russia and think we are going to be safe in the Middle East. We need to provide the type of security that will help us with our own national security.

Iran is building factories in Russia to pump out new drones. North Korea is sending munitions to help Putin rearm his forces. We need a supplemental appropriations package that counters all of these threats, and we need to do it now.

So for the sake of our national security, we can't waste time. That is exactly what the House is doing by sending us this supplemental appropriation. We need to come together and show the leadership--the bipartisan leadership--in the Senate. Keep the package together. Let's put America's security first, and let's get to work immediately.

Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli, whom President Biden nominated to serve as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health--NIH. As current director of the National Cancer Institute--NCI--and a distinguished professor and surgeon, Dr. Bertagnolli certainly possesses the experience that will make her an effective leader for our Nation's preeminent research center.

The NIH serves as the pinnacle of biomedical and behavioral research in the United States and provides valuable insights that are used around the world for saving lives and improving people's health. Whether we know it or not, the NIH and the research done there has touched all of our lives by giving our healthcare professionals the resources they need for success. We in Maryland are proud to have the NIH headquartered in Bethesda, with so many in our State contributing to its important mission.

Thanks to Dr. Bertagnolli's decades of experience as a physician- scientist, she has obtained a well-rounded view of medical research that I am confident will properly inform her decisions as NIH Director. Her work to better understand the development and treatment of various types of cancer highlights the diligence and effectiveness that qualify Dr. Bertagnolli for this position.

As NCI Director, Dr. Bertagnolli has demonstrated her leadership capabilities alongside her efficacy as a researcher, working with the Biden Administration to reignite the Cancer Moonshot, which aims to reduce cancer mortality by 50 percent over the next 25 years. This ambitious goal reflects the determination of our cancer research professionals and President Biden's continued commitment to investing in programs, consortia, and research projects that aim to end cancer as we know it. The NCI, along with spearheading the Cancer Moonshot initiative, has also partnered with the Biden Administration to address disparities in cancer outcomes for Americans living in low-income areas, working to implement community-based programs in locations facing persistent poverty.

Just a few weeks into her tenure as director of NCI, Dr. Bertagnolli's work became much more personal as she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer following a routine mammogram. She was forced to balance her new role as our Nation's leading cancer researcher with her own personal battle with the disease. I cannot commend Dr. Bertagnolli enough for the strength she has shown to continue her service to Americans in the face of such a daunting challenge.

If the Senate confirms Dr. Bertagnolli today, I would encourage her to take aim at some of the most pressing healthcare issues facing our country. As things stand, significant health disparities exist in the United States, with many Americans not receiving equitable access to care. Dr. Bertagnolli's confirmation provides her with the chance to utilize the NIH's National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities to work towards solutions for underserved populations that aren't receiving the care they need. Her new role would also empower her to build a stronger, more diverse healthcare workforce, one that would be well-equipped to face the challenges of today.

As a Marylander, I would be proud to welcome Dr. Bertagnolli to our State. She will be tasked with addressing many crucial and complex issues as Director of the NIH, but I am confident that she is up to the challenge.

I ask the Senate colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Bertagnolli for the outstanding work she has done as a researcher and surgeon, to support her confirmation, and to wish her well in her new role should she be confirmed.

Mr. President, on October 7, Hamas brutally assaulted Israel, killing over 1,000 people--Israelis--and taking 240 hostages. On October 22, I was in Israel with 10 Senators--5 Democrats, 5 Republicans. We were there to see firsthand what Hamas had done.

To tell you that it was beyond description--it hit each one of us extremely hard. We saw the anguish in the country. The most difficult meeting we had was not with the war cabinet--and we met with the war cabinet, the major members of the war cabinet--but it was meeting with the families of the hostages.

It broke our heart. The hostage families told us: You are not going to see tears because there are no tears left in our body.

Unspeakable things happened, and the horror was beyond description.

I know my colleague Senator Collins has put up a photo of Abigail, a 3-year-old--a 3-year-old--who was taken hostage by Hamas.

We expressed to the Israelis our commitment to stand with Israel, Israel's right and obligation to defend itself, the need to take out Hamas, and our commitment to do everything we possibly can to bring the hostages home safely.

I want to start by thanking President Biden for his extraordinary leadership on behalf of our Nation in that mission. He has held meetings with the hostage families, with government leaders from Israel and other countries, and so have we.

We have had numerous meetings here in Washington and in our States with families of the hostages. We have had personal meetings and calls with leaders of other countries that we think could play a constructive role in bringing the hostages home.

We are committed to always putting a spotlight on the hostages until they are brought home safely. We stand ready to do anything we possibly can.

So let me just give you an example of my weekend. On Friday night, the Jewish community in Baltimore hosted a Shabbat dinner with 240 empty seats at a table. My wife Myrna represented me at that gathering, reading a letter that I had written in solidarity with the community.

On Saturday, I attended religious services at B'nai Israel in Montgomery County, and I was proud of what that congregation did to put a spotlight on the hostages and demanding their safe return. Cantor Perlman rendered a beautiful rendition in honor of our continued commitment to bring the hostages home.

And then, on Sunday, on which we normally have morning prayers at our congregation at Beth Tfiloh--normally, there might be 15 or 20 who might show up for morning prayers on a Sunday morning--we had in excess of 240 representing every hostage, remembering their plight in our prayers, and making it clear that we are committed to doing everything we can to bring them home.

So that is why I am on the floor, speaking to my colleagues and expressing my views as a Senator, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and as a human, that we will not forget the hostages, and we will continue to do everything we can to bring them home.

On October 7, for many, the last they heard from their loved ones was the moments before the attack began, or, worse, just as they were being taken hostage. One woman was texting with her family as Hamas terrorists approached. She wrote:

If I don't live, stay happy in your life and take care of

mom and dad all your life.

Then:

They're here.

One man's wife and children were missing after the attack. The soldiers could not identify them among the dead. But then they learned that someone had seen them being led off away alive, being taken hostage. The person said: Well, it sort of felt like winning the lottery.

Winning the lottery because your loved one was abducted and not murdered? Such painful combinations of hope and dread, but this is the unspeakable shock and grief being felt by so many since October 7, because, for every hostage, there are family members and loved ones praying that they are still alive, who cannot sleep at night as they imagine the pain and danger the hostages are facing in the tunnels of Gaza right now, who have been enduring a nightmare since October 7.

On my trip to Israel we met with the families of the hostages, like the family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was last seen loaded into a truck by Hamas after losing his arm in a grenade attack.

I am on the floor today because I want to tell just a few of the stories of those Hamas abducted and represent all the families of the hostages, families whose young children are being held by terrorists. Their stories are moving not only because of their suffering but because of their bravery.

I heard about a family that Hamas captured at gunpoint. In a moment of incredible heroism, the mother handed her toddler to her husband because he was a faster runner. He ran with bullets flying overhead so their daughter could be safe.

Yarden, the mother, is still in captivity. The families of the hostages will not give up. Their grace and bravery in the face of such horror is an inspiration.

The father of Itay, the father of Edan, the parents of Omer--all three of whom are from the New York area and even live near each other--they didn't know one another until this terrible tragedy unfolded and which now has brought them together.

Many of the families are communicating with each other, working together through WhatsApp groups. Within hours of the attack, they have created a website called ``Bring Them Home Now.'' They are making sure the world hears their pleas. I want to make one thing crystal clear: We hear you. We stand with you in your effort to return your family members home safely. And I can assure you the Biden administration is working around the clock to help bring them home. They are working with governments who have the ability to negotiate using all the leverage they have to release them.

American personnel from the FBI and the Pentagon are working to support Israeli special operators. U.S. Special Forces are offering their expertise on hostage situations. Secretary Blinken said that ``the entire United States Government will work every minute of every day'' to bring them home. ``Working as though these family members are our own,'' as I am.

President Biden has spoken repeatedly with Prime Minister Netanyahu. They have discussed efforts to locate and secure the release of hostages, including American citizens. On behalf of the Foreign Relations Committee, I want to assure you that we in the United States Senate stand with you as well. We must keep up the effort for the sake of those being held in Gaza. Don't forget they can come home safely. I am not naive. It will be tough, but it can happen.

One of the hostages that has already been released is an 85-year-old woman from a kibbutz in southern Israel, whose husband remains in Hamas captivity. She described her experience in

Gaza, being beaten while lying on a motorcycle and going through tunnels. Like many of the hostages, she lived near the Palestinians in the kibbutzim outside of Gaza. They would regularly drive Palestinian patients from Gaza to the hospitals in Israel for treatment.

Like Lilach, a woman that Hamas murdered, who actually worked in the field of trauma relief focusing mainly on children, she was a longtime activist of Women in Black, an anti-war movement that was established by Israeli women after the first intifada. Seven of her family are still being held hostage, including a 3-year-old.

The cruel irony of the Hamas terrorist attack is that those who face the worst of October 7 believe the most in peace. They cared for their Palestinian neighbors. They believed in the two-state solution. This attack has changed their community and all of Israel forever.

I know that the kind of sheer evil we saw in the attack on October 7 is shocking and horrible. I was 15 months old when the Auschwitz- Birkenau and other concentration camps were liberated. I was too young to understand the headlines. But when I grew up, I heard the stories of life and death from survivors firsthand.

This experience of the Holocaust was imprinted on me and on an entire generation of Jews. It shaped our values in how we work, how we enact policy, and how we live with our families. It guides me today here on the floor of the Senate. It tells me that, despite this being the darkest days for Jews since the Holocaust, we must have faith. Despite bearing witness to some of the most horrific evil acts ever committed, we must find a way to reserve hope.

So, in closing, to the families of loved ones who are being held by Hamas: Do not lose hope. We will never stop standing with you. To the hostages themselves, you are not alone. We will not stop working for your safe return. I pray that you will be back home soon playing soccer, practicing piano, celebrating your birthdays, living life in Israel that is safe and secure and at peace.

That is our prayer, but it is also our mission. We will not rest until we do everything we can for the safe return of the hostages.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear constituent, Benson ``Buzz'' Roberts, in recognition of his imminent retirement as president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders--NAAHL--and his 45 years of dedicated service in the affordable housing and community development field.

Throughout his career, Buzz has been an influential voice on housing and community development policy and practices. He has been among the most important leaders in helping to advance key legislation to support the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, and more recently my Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit. As the lead Senate sponsor on legislation to expand New Markets Tax Credits and legislation to create Neighborhood Homes credits, I have personally been witness to Buzz's thoughtful leadership and relentless advocacy in support of these critical initiatives. Buzz has also been a key champion of many other key housing and community development initiatives over the years, including HOME Investment Partnerships grants, the Capital Magnet Fund, Treasury Department funding for Federal Housing Administration multifamily risk-sharing loans, and regulatory changes to the Community Reinvestment Act.

Buzz began his career as a community development organizer. He later served at a national association of nonprofit neighborhood development groups before serving for over 20 years as the senior vice president for policy and program development at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation--LISC--a leading nonprofit investor in affordable housing and community revitalization. Buzz then went on to serve as the first Director of the Office of Small Business, Community Development and Housing Policy at the U.S. Treasury Department.

In 2015, Buzz joined NAAHL as its president and CEO. NAAHL is a national association that brings together banks, Community Development Financial Institutions, and other capital providers. During his time at NAAHL, Buzz has helped further the mission of the organization, which is to expand economic opportunity through responsible private financing for affordable

housing and inclusive neighborhood revitalization. This includes ensuring that policies continue to be in place to support the critical work of NAAHL members and the millions of people in the Nation who need affordable and sustainable housing. Buzz also serves as a board member of several national and local nonprofit organizations and coalitions and has written extensively about affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.

Buzz has spent his life advocating for affordable housing, community revitalization, and lifting families out of poverty. What a wonderful vocation for a truly special person. I know that NAAHL members, current and former colleagues, and industry friends will miss him. I ask that my fellow colleagues here in the U.S. Senate join me in thanking Buzz Roberts for his lifelong commitment to serving families and communities in need and congratulating him on his well-deserved retirement. I wish him all the best.