Floor Statements

Madam President, had there been a rollcall vote on the motion to adjourn, I would have voted nay.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize and commend the outstanding students who served as interns in my office during the summer of 2026. These talented young men and women dedicated their time, energy, and skills to serving the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania while gaining firsthand experience in the legislative process and public service.

Throughout the summer, our interns made meaningful contributions to the daily operations of the office. They assisted constituents through phone calls, supported legislative and communications efforts, conducted policy research, and helped ensure that our office continued to provide responsive service to Pennsylvanians. Each week, our Washington, DC, interns also played a significant role in Keystone Coffee, a weekly event I look forward to that allows me to meet with constituents from around the Commonwealth.

Our first college summer session played an instrumental role in supporting my office's Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, helping coordinate one of the office's signature events that brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the future of energy and technological innovation.

The second college summer session, in my Washington, DC, office, provided invaluable support during the inaugural Great American State Fair, helping showcase Pennsylvania's rich agricultural heritage, manufacturing excellence, and vibrant communities while welcoming thousands of visitors to celebrate our Commonwealth.

Our two high school internship sessions also demonstrated remarkable initiative and creativity. Working on emerging artificial intelligence projects, these students explored innovative ways technology can strengthen constituent services and improve the efficiency of congressional offices. Their curiosity, technical skills, and fresh perspectives reflect the next generation of American leadership.

Public service depends upon young people who are willing to step forward, learn, and contribute to their communities. I am grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and enthusiasm each of these interns brought to my office, and I congratulate them on a successful summer. These lessons in service and hard work will carry them well beyond this summer. I have no doubt they will continue to accomplish great things in their academic pursuits, careers, and service to our Nation. I ask that the names of these outstanding interns be entered into the Congressional Record: Aarushi Dedhiya, Alexandra Bauman, Allie Ross Tomas, Andrew Vescio, Anna Diederich, Arabella Kushner, Arden Ryan, Arlo Cohen, Avani Ganesan, Beauregard Baker, Bridget Fitzpatrick, Cameron Blews, Carter Kojima, Catherine Kolosky, Charlotte Walter, Christopher Stauffer, Claudia Kronk, Colin Neary, Emily Montgomery, Frederick Malek, Gigi Griffin, Georgina Songhurst, Hannah Levine, Helena Inzerillo, Jack Conner, Jenna Witters, John Wayne-Kravitz, Juliana Burke, Kathryn Hucaluk, Lauren Oschal, Lilly Banks, Lucas Konzelmann, Mackenzie Mercuri, Maddalena DiMuccio, Michael Ricks, Noah Steirer, Peyton Cosover, Rafe Poole, Ryan Jubulis, Sahana Patel, Savanna Friel, Spencer Havey, Tim Schugsta.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize two outstanding young Pennsylvanians, Brady

Sirochman and Ronit Luthra, whose essays were selected as the winners of my America250 Pennsylvania Youth Essay Contest.

As our Nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, there is no more fitting place to reflect on the American story than Pennsylvania. Our Commonwealth was the birthplace of American independence and has stood at the center of our Nation's history ever since. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the fields of Gettysburg, from the furnaces and factories that powered America's rise to the communities that continue to strengthen our country today, Pennsylvania has helped define the American character.

Brady, a 10th-grade student at Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown, wrote about General George C. Marshall, a fellow Uniontown native whose extraordinary life demonstrated that the defense of liberty requires both the strength of a soldier and the wisdom of a diplomat. Ronit, an 11th-grade student at Downingtown High School East, wrote about Pittsburgh inventor and industrialist George Westinghouse, whose ingenuity, courage, and faith in the ideas of others helped electrify the modern world.

Brady and Ronit did more than recount the accomplishments of two remarkable Pennsylvanians. They considered what those lives tell us about America: that service matters, that bold ideas can change the world, and that our country is strongest when talented and determined people are given the opportunity to rise.

Their essays also offer great reason for confidence in America's future. Brady and Ronit represent the kind of thoughtful, curious, and engaged young leaders our Nation needs now more than ever. As we honor the Americans who shaped our first 250 years, we should also celebrate the young people who will carry their legacy forward and lead our country into its next 250. I congratulate Brady and Ronit on this well- deserved recognition, and I ask that their winning essays be printed in the Record below.

Brady Sirochman Essay: There stands a soldier in the middle

of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His look of determination, loaded

musket, and bronze tint make him conspicuous to any passerby

who roams through the five-way intersection which he watches.

Behind the soldier, a series of nineteen flags tower above

the streets below in unison as a symbol of prosperity. For

the most part, Uniontown is a quiet place, situated on the

border of the Keystone State and submerged in the rolling

hills of the Appalachian Mountains. One would not expect a

hero of international fame and notoriety to have been born

here, and yet across the road from the soldier, on a bench

flanked by a series of plaques, sits the statue of one,

George Catlett Marshall Jr.

Marshall's story began in Uniontown over one hundred years

ago on a cold New Year's Eve. The fourth child born of George

Catlett Marshall Sr., a wealthy coke businessman, and Laura

Emily Bradford Marshall, George C. Marshall grew up in

Uniontown before leaving for the Virginia Military Institute

to pursue a career in the armed forces. After graduating,

Marshall was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry

in February of 1902, in time to serve in the Philippine-

American War. Marshall would continue to rise through the

ranks of the military in the lead-up to World War I, during

which he achieved the position of assistant chief of staff

for the newly created 1st Division.

This role put him in prime position to be the first soldier

of the AEF to step foot on European soil, and one of the

first to enter the trenches of the Western Front. In

addition, his dauntless planning in the Battle of Cantigny

delivered the first American victory of the Great War. The

culmination of Marshall's triumphs came not on the

battlefield, but from Washington, when on September first,

1939, Marshall was sworn in as Army Chief of Staff by

Franklin D. Roosevelt, just hours after the invasion of

Poland. While serving as Army Chief of Staff, he organized

the largest military expansion in American history, had a

role in selecting the majority of American generals, and

helped plan the D-day Invasion.

Most importantly, on December 16, 1944, Marshall was the

first American general promoted to the five-star rank of

General of the Army, placing him on par with his European

counterparts. For his part in planning and carrying out the

Allied victory, Winston Churchill once called him the

``Organizer of Victory'', while Harry Truman once stated

``Millions of Americans gave their country outstanding

service. George C. Marshall gave it victory.'' After the war,

a change began to take shape in Marshall, transforming the

five-star general into a peacekeeper. Shortly after retiring

from his position as Army Chief of Staff, Marshall was sent

on a mission to broker a peace deal in the Chinese Civil War.

Although a failure, Marshall remained committed to

maintaining peace with the new Communist government in his

position as Secretary of State, against the wishes of the

Department of Defense and voices within his own department.

While serving in his position as Secretary of State, he began

the program which he is possibly most famous for today, the

Marshall Plan. Through it, American aid would be sent to

Europe in order to help rebuild from the destruction caused

by World War II. In many ways Marshall not only won peace in

Europe but also provided for its continued existence, while

enhancing American interests in the region and preventing the

spread of Communism into Western Europe.

For his work on the Marshall Plan, and other post-war

achievements such as advocating for peace in the Middle East,

bringing the Netherlands to negotiate with Indonesia, and

serving as President of the American Red Cross, Marshall was

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953, the only American army

official to gain such recognition. On a bench, only a stroll

away from where he was born, sits the statue of George C.

Marshall as he watches over the soldier whom he organized the

victory of and the flags of the nations whom he helped

rebuild. The entire scene, and the story of Marshall's life,

highlights America's role as both a sword and shield against

the forces of tyranny.

Through his military career spanning service from the

Philippines to Europe, and later his organization of the

armed forces in World War II, we see his life as a

personification of America's willingness to defend liberty

aggressively. However, through his career post-war in the

fields of diplomacy and government aide, we see his life as a

personification of America's willingness to defend liberty

peacefully. George C. Marshall is a unification of these two

necessities, as at America's best, we understand the need for

a soldier, as well as the need for a diplomat.

Mr. President, Pennsylvania is wrestling country. The sport fits the character of our Commonwealth. From smalltown school gymnasiums to the biggest stage in college athletics, generations of Pennsylvanians have learned on the mat that nothing is given and everything is earned.

Our proud tradition is embodied by a team that has once again set the standard for intercollegiate wrestling and is here with us in the Gallery today. So I rise to honor the 2026 NCAA national championship Penn State Nittany Lions and submit a resolution congratulating them on their fifth consecutive national championship and their 13th title in the last 15 NCAA championships. This recognizes the

dedication, the teamwork, and the perseverance that made this historic achievement possible.

When I watch wrestling, I see the best of Pennsylvania and the best of America: hard work, courage, resilience, humility, and respect. In this remarkable group of young men, those virtues are on full display.

I grew up wrestling across Pennsylvania--from Shikellamy to Shickshinny, from Selinsgrove to Schuylkill Haven--and years later, I had the privilege of serving as the cocaptain of the Army wrestling team at West Point. Last year, I sat in the front row in Philadelphia at the NCAA national championships, alongside President Trump, as Penn State defended its title.

I have spent much of my life around wrestling mats, and what I learned there is simple: Wrestling reveals character. For 7 minutes, there is nowhere to hide. No teammate can take your place. No excuse can score a takedown. The work you did or didn't do when nobody was watching shows up under the lights. That is why wrestling is more than a sport. It teaches the virtues that have always sustained America, and no program--no program--in the country embodies those virtues more consistently than Penn State wrestling.

This season, the Nittany Lions went 15 to 0. They completed their sixth straight undefeated season and extended dual-meet winning track record to 86. Then they went to the national championships in Cleveland and raised that standard again. The team scored 181.5 points, breaking the NCAA record that Penn State had set just the year before.

This is not just a good weekend; this is sustained excellence. Six Nittany Lions reached the national finals, tying the school record. Luke Lilledahl, Josh Barr, Levi Haines, and Mitchell Mesenbrink returned as champions, and Mitchell delivered one of the tournament's most defining performances, winning in the finals by a technical fault and earning the second straight national title for him and the tournament's ``Outstanding Wrestler.''

But the most compelling statistic is that every one of Penn State's 10 NCAA qualifiers scored points toward the record total, and 8 became All-Americans. That is teamwork. That is excellence.

There is so much discussion these days about how boys become good men, and Penn State wrestling has found a winning formula: Demand excellence, teach discipline and humility, and bind individual ambition to a purpose larger than oneself.

That is why Coach Cael Sanderson's legacy is bigger than 13 national titles. He has built more than a championship program; he has built a culture that forms young men into the kinds of leaders our communities and our country needs.

Cael often points to the Old Testament story of Nehemiah, who was rebuilding Jerusalem's wall when the enemies repeatedly tried to lure him away. Nehemiah's response was simple:

I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down.

Coach Cael and his fellow coaches and the Penn State wrestling team are doing great work. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we in this body are striving to do great work too: preserving the liberty we inherited, renewing the character that sustains it, and proving that a free people can accomplish hard things together. But to be a champion, as this group knows, each of us needs to renew that great work every single day. The Penn State wrestling team understands that, and America sometimes needs to be reminded of it.

I ask my colleagues in this body to join me in this resolution recognizing what this remarkable team has accomplished.

To the Penn State Nittany Lions, congratulations on another historic championship. Pennsylvania is proud of you. The Senate honors you.

We are Penn State.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a distinguished American, RDML Eric H. Ver Hage, U.S. Navy, a native of Mechanicsburg, PA, upon the occasion of his retirement after more than 42 years of distinguished service to our Nation. On June 13, 1984, he reported from his home in Upper Allen Township to the Harrisburg Military Entrance Processing Station, beginning a career that took him from enlisted electronics technician to Naval Academy midshipman to surface warfare officer, and ultimately the Military Deputy and Deputy Assistant Secretary of War.

Over his career, Rear Admiral Ver Hage commanded USS CARR (FFG 52) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Divisions at Corona and Port Hueneme, led the multi-billion-dollar Aegis Ashore program to completion in Romania, and served as commander of the NAVSEA Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers and of the Navy Regional Maintenance Centers, where he directed a global workforce of roughly 10,000 and a $5 billion annual budget. He most recently served as Military Deputy and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for International and Industry Engagement, strengthening our defense industrial base and international armaments cooperation.

Rear Admiral Ver Hage's retirement ceremony will be held tomorrow on July 31, 2026. He will officially be released from Active Duty on September 30, 2026, closing 42 years, 3 months, and 17 days of service to our Navy and our Nation. His four decades of service stand as a model of the dedication, integrity, and leadership our Nation depends upon, and he leaves the Navy stronger for having served. In recognition of his service, and in this milestone year of America's 250th anniversary, a U.S. flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol on July 4, 2026, in Rear Admiral Ver Hage's honor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a distinguished American, William ``Bill'' Howard Richardson, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Born on July 31, 1936. Bill has led a life of extraordinary consequence: as a devoted family man, a Navy veteran, an esteemed educator, a civic leader, an avid environmentalist, and, to those who know him best, a much-admired bohemian spirit.

A 1958 graduate of Yale University, Bill went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy aboard an icebreaker, before returning home to earn his MBA from NYU. He built a distinguished career as a respected educator and civic leader, settling in northern California alongside his beloved wife Betsy. Together, they raised four children, and Bill now delights in the joy of 11 grandchildren. Bill has a legacy of love and family that spans generations.

In honor of this milestone birthday, and as our Nation celebrates 250 years of independence, a flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol on July 4 of this year in tribute to Bill's life and service.

Today, we join with Bill's many friends and family to celebrate the love, respect, and affection we hold for this special man and to wish him continued health and happiness in the years ahead.

Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the war in Ukraine and to say something that has been a long time coming: The tide is turning against Vladimir Putin.

For more than 4 years, Russia has waged a brutal, unprovoked war of aggression against a free and sovereign Ukraine. Putin bet that Kyiv would fall in days. He bet that the West would fracture in response. And when that didn't work, he bet that Ukraine would break in a few months. He was wrong on every count, and today he finds himself in a moment of weakness.

President Trump promised peace through strength, and his strategy is working. By restoring American deterrence, by driving our allies to historic levels of defense investment, and by pairing diplomacy with the credible threat of crushing economic pressure, President Trump has changed the trajectory of this war. And Putin--Putin is weaker today, and Ukraine is stronger. And now--now--is the time for America to lean into this strategic opportunity and to drive Putin's war machine into the ground.

Let's consider the facts. For the first time since 2023, Ukrainian forces have retaken more territory than Russia has gained. The Institute for the Study of War assesses that the war's momentum is shifting in Ukraine's favor, that Russia's spring and summer offensive has stalled, and that Russia cannot recruit soldiers fast enough to replace its losses--losses that are estimated to be between 30,000 to 40,000 per month.

Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, Russia has suffered approximately 130 casualties for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory gained. And as you see in chart 2, the red area circled in green here is all that Russia has been able to conquer in the last 18 months. This is not a Russian war machine on the march; it is a war machine that is grinding itself to dust.

How has Ukraine done it? Well, they have done it through courage and ingenuity and innovation. Ukrainian drone operators now dominate the battlefield, extending the kill zone more than 10 miles beyond the frontlines. Ukraine has built, under fire, one of the most sophisticated defense technology sectors in the world. Ukraine produced over 3.5 million drones last year and is now deploying more than 10,000--10,000--drones daily.

Last week, at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, which I hosted, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that most Russian recruits arriving on the frontlines survive an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before they are killed or wounded, with drones causing over 80 percent of those battlefield casualties.

Our own warfighters--our own American warfighters--are beginning to implement the lessons learned on the Ukrainian battlefield, and I applaud Secretary Hegseth and Army Secretary Driscoll for leaning into these innovations--innovations that our Armed Forces require.

Ukraine has also proven it can strike deep into Russia itself. Russian oil refineries, airfields, ammunitions depots, and logistics hubs hundreds of miles from the border are no longer sanctuaries. The war Putin started is now arriving on his own doorstep.

And this matters. This matters to us here in America for a simple reason: Ukraine has demonstrated beyond any doubt its ability and its willingness to defend its own sovereignty. The Ukrainian people are not--and I repeat, are not--asking American soldiers to fight for them; they are asking for the tools to finish the job themselves. As someone who wore our Nation's uniform, I understand the difference, and we have a critical opportunity to seize this momentum, to increase the pressure on Russia, to halt its unprovoked aggression.

No one has worked harder to end this war than President Trump. And, let's face it, Ukraine is not a perfect partner. Corruption remains a serious problem, and it should be held accountable to the reform commitments it has already made. President Zelenskyy has shown a willingness to come to the table at a time when Putin has rejected peace and continued firing on Ukrainian civilians.

You had better believe--you had better believe that Beijing is watching our next move very closely. If unbridled aggression pays in Europe and if unbridled aggression pays in the Middle East, it will be attempted in the Taiwan Strait. That is one of the many reasons I applaud the President for showing similar resolve against the threat from Iran. This, combined with increasing the pressure on Putin, will ensure that China gets the message:

America is serious about peace through strength.

But to be clear, we cannot confuse the current momentum we see on the battlefield with victory--two very different things. Putin is still betting on one thing: that he can outlast us, that our attention will drift, that our resolve will soften and his oil revenues will fund this war machine long enough to exhaust Ukraine's defenses.

Our job, the job of this body, is to prove him wrong, and that means striking at the one thing--the one thing--that keeps the Kremlin's war going: money. Money is what keeps the Kremlin's war going. That is why I am proud to support two strong bipartisan bills that would give President Trump additional tools to leverage in the pursuit of peace.

The first is the appropriately named Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act. Senator Graham championed a foreign policy rooted in American strength, from the defense of Ukraine to the cause of freedom everywhere. As you see on chart 3, this legislation would authorize sweeping sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, state- controlled entities, and the shadow fleet that Putin has used to evade sanctions. It would give our President the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas and the top five countries facilitating Russian oil sanctions evasion. Finally, it would cut Russia off from U.S. capital and energy markets by prohibiting U.S. investment in Russia, purchases of Russian sovereign debt, and broker-dealer funded transfers involving the Russian Government.

The message is simple: If you bankroll Putin's war, you will pay a price in the American capital markets.

The second bill is bipartisan legislation that I have introduced with my colleagues here in the Senate--Senator Coons, Senator Husted, and Senator Warren--the Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act. As you see on chart 4, the DROP Act targets the single most important source of revenue propping up the Kremlin's war machine: oil. This legislation fills a gap in our sanctions posture by requiring targeted sanctions on anyone, anywhere, dealing in Russian-of-origin oil--the purchasers, the shippers, the financiers, and the executives who profit from them.

Now is the time to move on these Russia sanctions bills to give the President the tools and the leverage he needs to end this conflict, and now is the time to increase the pressure on Putin's unbridled aggression.

This is a bipartisan cause because it is an American cause.

Peace comes through strength--never through weakness, never through wishful thinking. And the tide is turning. Ukraine is doing its part on the battlefield, and now--now--the United States must capitalize on this strategic opportunity to weaken Putin's Russia.

I urge my colleagues to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act and the DROP Act without delay. Give our President--give our President--the tools he needs to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs

The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10 a.m., to vote on nominations.

committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs

The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

committee on finance

The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

committee on health, education, labor, and pensions

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 9:47 a.m.

committee on health, education, labor, and pensions

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 11:45 a.m.

committee on the judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct an executive business meeting.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to thank guest Chaplain Dr. Gurwant Kaur for delivering the Sikh prayer to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Nation's independence and commitment of Sikh Americans to protect our Nation's freedom. In addition to being a practicing physician, Dr. Kaur also serves as an additional granthi (priest) at the Blue Mountain Gurdwara near Allentown, PA.

Sikhism is the world's fifth-largest religion with nearly 30 million followers worldwide, including hundreds of thousands in the United States. It was founded by Guru Nanak born in West Punjab (Pakistan) in 1469. Sikh soldiers fought in both World Wars along with Allied forces to protect the free world. Sikhs began migrating to the United States over 150 years ago and have since established large Sikh communities in several U.S. States, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Historically, Sikhs have showcased a commitment to serving individuals from all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, demonstrating their generosity and deep sense of community and are very proud and patriotic Americans.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation on a critical subject for the American people. I rise because Congress--this Congress--has a historic opportunity over the next 6 months to deliver an energy and economic bonanza for the American people by overhauling our broken permitting process.

President Trump has shown bold leadership, cutting redtape and attracting transformational investment. Just last year--just last year--he helped catalyze $92 billion of new investment for the Keystone State at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh. And since then, other enormous investments in advanced manufacturing and transformation energy infrastructure have been made in our Commonwealth.

But the President cannot carry this alone. A true overhaul requires Congress to reclaim its article I responsibilities and to ensure that the Federal Government is a partner to American energy dominance, not an obstacle to American energy dominance--and an obstacle is exactly what our permitting system is today. It is what it has become.

A McKinsey study found $1.5 trillion in critical infrastructure is frozen in permitting limbo, holding back 2.4 trillion in economic activity.

It takes 5 years--5 years--to get a permit for a powerplant. That is longer than it took us to win World War II. Transmission lines take nearly 8 years.

The supply-demand gap tells the same story. From 2013 to 2024, U.S. natural gas demand surged 49 percent, and pipeline capacity grew by 26 percent; storage capacity, 2 percent. Demand--demand for energy--is sprinting, and capacity is crawling.

And nowhere--nowhere in America--is that failure felt more acutely than in Pennsylvania. Our Commonwealth is an energy superpower. But because so much of our energy infrastructure crosses State lines, rivers, and wetlands, nearly every project in Pennsylvania needs Federal approvals, and the current system makes that almost impossible to obtain.

Take the PennEast Pipeline, a project that would have delivered Pennsylvania natural gas to New Jersey homes and businesses. Environmental activists weaponized this permitting system to kill it. Over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs--gone. And PennEast is just one example among many.

And here is the sad irony: Pennsylvania ranks third in the Nation in electricity production, second in the Nation in natural gas, and second in nuclear power. And yet, Pennsylvania families face a 20-percent hike in energy prices that are projected over the next 3 years; Pennsylvania businesses, up to 30 percent.

If we lacked the needed capital or the workers or the reserves, rising prices, they might make sense. But we have all three. The obstacle holding back Pennsylvania energy is Washington made. And it is time--it is time--for Congress to fix it. We must do better.

And done right, permitting reform will force Federal and State governments to move faster, to clear the backlog, and to unleash a wave of investment across our economy. It will lower prices. The projects stuck in limbo could power more than 50 million homes. That backlog drives up cost on everything, from farming to fighter jets. Cheaper energy means cheaper everything. It will create great--great--high- paying jobs. Every new nuclear plant, every new pad, every oil rig, every pipeline, every new power line unlocked by reforms, means thousands of jobs--thousands of jobs--for welders, electricians, pipefitters, and engineers in small, industrial towns across America-- towns like Bloomsburg, PA, where I grew up.

And it will make us more secure. We are in a head-to-head race with communist China for AI leadership, and the stakes are existential. We cannot afford to lose, and we cannot win without more energy.

The recent fighting in the Strait of Hormuz is a stark reminder: We cannot rely on the rest of the world to power our future. We must build it ourselves, and we must be the supplier--the supplier of choice--to our allies around the world.

And that--for all those reasons--that is why I am introducing the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act. This is gold standard--the gold standard--for what Pennsylvania and the country needs.

The bill addresses four chokepoints. First, it stops opponents from weaponizing the Clean Water Act as a general-purpose veto, setting hard deadlines and limiting reviews in actual water quality concerns; No. 2, it scraps the outdated rule forcing American LNG exporters to seek case-by-case Federal approval before selling our natural gas abroad; No. 3, it modernizes nuclear licensing to match today's technology and decades--decades--of proven safety in America and around the world; and No. 4, it brings common sense to environmental litigation which activists routinely use to kill projects that have already cleared every single regulatory hurdle.

Now let me be clear--let me be clear--this is not an argument--this is not an argument--for abolishing environmental standards. It is not an argument for shutting down public debate. It is an argument for decisions that are timely, decisions that are lawful, and decisions-- and this is most important--that are final.

We can do both: We can protect our natural resources, and we can still build America's future.

And now--now, my friends--is the moment. We have a pro-energy President. A Republican Congress determined to unleash American energy. I have spoken with many, many of my Democratic colleagues who want projects, who want these same kinds of projects unlocked in their States too. The common ground on this topic is real, and the American people are demanding--they are insisting--that we seize the moment.

Now, I know with all the issues going around, I know that time is short and the priorities are many. Some are urgent, like ending the DHS shutdown. But we must be ruthless in our prioritization. If we let this moment slip, we lose a golden--golden--opportunity for lower costs, to create jobs, and to transform our economy.

President Trump laid the blueprint, and I am encouraged by the bipartisan conversations that are already underway, but it is up to us. It is up to us to make this momentum permanent. And it is up to us--us in this body--to unleash a new era of American security dominance.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to implore my Democratic colleagues one more time: End this ridiculous shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security.

Every day--every day--the stakes get higher, and every day the real- world consequences get more severe. Shutting down DHS to make a point on immigration is reckless, and it is devoid of basic, fundamental common sense. It weakens the Agencies that protect the homeland. It punishes--punishes--the men and women across TSA, CISA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the rest of DHS, who stand watch every day over this country, and it burdens Americans who depend on those public servants.

So what has this shutdown accomplished? What has it brought us?

Well, first, it endangers America and endangers Americans. Since combat operations began in Iran, the homeland has seen five major attacks: an ISIS-inspired bombing attempt outside of Gracie Mansion in New York City; a terrorist shooting in a ROTC classroom at Old Dominion; a vehicle attack at Temple Israel in Michigan; a terrorist shooting at a bar in Austin, TX; and a pro-Iran cyber attack on Stryker, one of America's great medical products companies, whose systems support patient care in hospitals across the country.

These threats come on top of the violence already made possible by the Biden administration's disastrous, catastrophic border policies. Just last Thursday, we saw it on the television. Just last Thursday, an illegal immigrant shot and killed an 18-year-old Loyola Chicago student, Sheridan Gorman.

The killer had crossed the border in 2023, was caught and released, and then, after a later shoplifting arrest, was released once again. And now, sadly, tragically, a young woman is dead at his hands.

And that is why we must keep DHS fully operational, including ICE. We don't know what threats exist among the 10 million illegal immigrants who entered our country during the Biden administration. But we do know that those risks are growing, and they are made much worse, much more severe because of the carelessness of the Democrats in shutting down and not being willing to fund DHS.

And yet, in our moment of real national need, Democrats are choosing performance theater over the safety of the American people. It is irresponsible. It is callous. It is disgraceful. And it must stop. It must stop. We are 40 days into this. It must stop.

Now, second, shutting down DHS hurts the very people who step forward to protect us--to protect all of us. The average TSA agent earns about $50,000 a year. Many live paycheck to paycheck, and those are the paychecks my Democratic colleagues chose to withhold to stage this stunt.

Now, fortunately--and thank God--President Trump, earlier today, has intervened and directed the new Secretary of Homeland Security to find a way to pay these folks.

But, tragically, much of the damage has already been done. Too many Pennsylvanians are already paying the price. TSA officers in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh airports have had to rely on food banks-- that is right, food banks--to get by. The men and women standing between the traveling public and the danger that faces us should not have to depend on charity because Congress can't do its job.

The consequences of this shutdown are mounting. Last Sunday--last Sunday--one in four TSA agents in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh airports called out--25 percent. Twenty-five percent didn't come to work because Democrats have forced them to work without pay. They can't do it. They can't protect their families and come to work and not be paid. Not many Americans can.

And since the shutdown began, at least 450 TSA agents have quit--450 trained professionals gone out of the TSA force. Replacing them will cost money. It will take time. And until then--until then--the risk, the threat facing the American people has gone up. It is irresponsible. It has got to end.

Third, this shutdown imposes real costs--real costs--on the American people, and that creates real vulnerabilities. We have all seen the images: these airport security lines snaking out of the terminal into the parking garages. Families heading out on spring break, workers traveling across the country to see loved ones, people hitting the road for work--all are victims of a politically manufactured crisis.

And I wish I could say it was just the airports, but the consequences go far beyond the airports. The World Cup security preparations in cities around the world--including Philadelphia--have already fallen behind. Security grants for houses of worship are tied up. Local communities are without critical DHS threat information sharing. Our cyber security readiness is diminished. And in Pennsylvania, firefighters and first responders have lost access to critical DHS training.

The bottom line--the bottom line is this shutdown is petty, political theater putting American lives at risk. It is unacceptable, and it has to stop.

And to be clear, I reject--I reject--the false choice between funding and reforms. We can address the legitimate concerns the American people have had about immigration enforcement, while fully funding DHS. We can secure the homeland and insist on professionalism and competence.

That is why I support the commonsense reforms that Republicans in Congress and the administration have put forward: body cameras for ICE, funding for deescalation training, increased transparency requirements, and regular inspections of detention facilities. These are serious proposals. They are commonsense proposals. They have been offered by the administration and Congress in good faith--by Republicans in Congress in good faith--and yet the Democrats have turned their head.

It is because they don't want to find a resolution to this. They want to try to use this as an issue for political advantage in the midterms. And the American people are suffering, and they deserve better. The American people deserve better.

So, moreover, I am confident that my former colleague Markwayne Mullin, whom we confirmed on Monday, will bring the leadership required for DHS at this critical moment. He is the right man to meet this moment.

Now, whatever our differences are in this Chamber over policy, shutting down the government is never the right answer. It is never the right answer. Our citizens who put us here expect more.

President Obama's DHS Secretary, Jeh Johnson, said last week:

We need to get out of the business of coupling policy

disagreements in Congress with funding the government.

And shutting down the Department of Homeland Security for the third time this Congress amid major combat operations in the Middle East is not merely wrong; it is reckless.

And I am proud that my friend and fellow Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman agrees that shutting down the government is ``wrong.'' He and I can always be depended on to walk together on this for a better Pennsylvania.

I urge my colleagues across the aisle and I urge the others in the Democratic Party to fund DHS, protect America, pay the men and women who are defending us--putting themselves in harm's way, defending the homeland--and relieve the American people of these ridiculous, politically instilled, unnecessary burdens.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Sewickley Academy Panthers on their remarkable achievement in winning the 2026 PIAA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship.

On March 20, 2026, the Panthers secured the title with a decisive 52- 36 victory over the Old Forge Blue Devils at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. This victory marked the program's sixth appearance in a PIAA championship game and its fourth State title, adding to previous championships earned in 1997, 2010, and 2017.

The Panthers' journey to this championship is especially noteworthy given their narrow loss in the 2025 PIAA Class 2A title game by a single point. Demonstrating extraordinary resilience and determination, the team returned to Hershey 1 year later to claim the championship. Sewickley Academy completed the 2025-2026 season with an outstanding record of 30 wins and just 1 loss, with their only defeat occurring in overtime during the regular season.

Throughout the season, the Panthers displayed both offensive excellence and defensive dominance, averaging 68.5 points per game while holding opponents to just 30.2 points per game. Their performance brought great pride and distinction to Sewickley, Allegheny County, and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I commend the players, coaches, and staff of Sewickley Academy for their dedication, sportsmanship, and pursuit of excellence. It is with great pride that I recognize their achievements and bring them to the attention of the U.S. Senate.

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