Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Diversified Energy on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and to commend the company, its employees, and the communities it serves for a quarter century of responsible energy production.

Founded in 2001 by its current chief executive officer Rusty Hutson, Diversified Energy has grown into a recognized leader in the responsible management of low-decline natural gas and oil assets. Over 25 years, the company has shown that mature, long-life energy assets can be operated safely, efficiently, and sustainably while delivering reliable energy to families and businesses across the region.

Diversified's model rests on long-term stewardship. By focusing on low-decline production, the company extends the productive life of existing wells, limits the need for new surface disturbance, and makes the most of resources that have already been developed. Their approach has also made measurable progress in reducing methane emissions. These efforts show that energy production and environmental responsibility can advance together.

For 25 years, Diversified Energy has contributed to economic development, job creation, and energy reliability. Its success is also the success of the men and women who have built it and the communities that have supported it. I congratulate Diversified Energy on this milestone and thank its employees for their dedication. I wish the company continued success in the years ahead.

Madam President, I rise today to honor Tim NeCastro on the occasion of his retirement as president and chief executive officer of Erie Insurance, effective December 31, 2026, capping a distinguished 30-year career with the company.

An Erie native and graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School and Gannon University, Mr. NeCastro joined Erie Insurance in 1996 following his work at the Plastek Group and Ernst & Young. He rose through roles in finance, services, and sales, led the company's expansion into Kentucky in 2014. He was named president and CEO in 2016. Under his leadership, Erie Insurance grew to nearly $13 billion in premium and more than 7 million policies in force across 12 States and the District of Columbia, celebrated the company's 100th anniversary in 2025, and remains the largest employer and only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Erie County, PA.

Mr. NeCastro's impact extends well beyond the company he led. As founding board president of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation and board chairman of Infinite Erie, he has helped drive more than a billion dollars in transformational investment in his

hometown. He has also served the community through leadership roles with the Mazzini Charitable Foundation, the Erie Community Foundation, Team Pennsylvania, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the Pennsylvania Society, and the Robert Irvine Foundation.

Alongside his wife Lisa, Mr. NeCastro has been a devoted supporter of causes across the region, leading the campaign that raised $18.5 million to renovate and expand the expERIEnce Children's Museum and currently cochairing United Way of Erie County's Uniting for Education endowment campaign to support local students. Following his retirement as CEO, he will continue to serve the Erie community as president of the Erie Insurance Foundation.

On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, I congratulate Tim NeCastro on a remarkable career and thank him for three decades of service to Erie Insurance, his tireless work to revitalize his hometown, and his lasting commitment to Pennsylvania. I wish him and Lisa the very best in retirement.

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

Mr. President, 2 years ago, Baby KJ was born with a rare, often fatal genetic disorder, and today he is walking and talking. How? Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania--funded by the National Institutes of Health--saved his life with the world's first personalized gene-editing therapy.

And, today, CHOP seeks the next miracle--the next miracle cure--at its Morgan Center for Research & Innovation, which I visited last week.

Now, these breakthroughs are possible because NIH funds foundational science that saves lives and lowers the cost of disease. Federal research and private enterprise have made American medicine the envy of the world, and AI

is accelerating that discovery like never before.

And, yet, at this most exciting moment in medical history, I fear we will surrender our lead to China through underinvestment and mismanagement.

This summer, the White House rightly called for a new golden age of American science. Reaching that critical goal takes more Federal R&D investment and long-overdue reform.

Now, we as Conservatives should recognize that basic research--like national security--is a public good that private capital rarely funds, and government fills the gap with funding long-term, high-risk work.

I know those of us who believe deeply in fiscal discipline may hear a call for more Federal R&D spending and ask: Why--why, especially at a time of enormous deficit and debt? And that is the right question. The Federal Government should not spend more simply for the sake of spending more.

But funding basic research saves lives. It lowers the cost of disease, it creates new industries, and it strengthens America's competitiveness. And if we do this right, this investment will more than pay for itself. And nowhere--nowhere--is that case more clear than in medical science.

The Federal Government spends $7 trillion a year. Yet, less than 1 percent of that goes to NIH research, and that sliver delivers outsized returns. NIH's Diabetes Prevention Program, for example, cut type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. NIH-supported eye disease research halved legal blindness from wet macular degeneration, saving roughly $28.5 billion. And CAR T-cell therapy, pioneered at Penn with NIH support, reengineered patients' T cells to attack cancer-producing, decade-long remissions and replacing years and years of costly treatments. The list goes on and on.

And, nationally, every NIH dollar also generates $2.50 in economic activity. In Pennsylvania, for example, NIH research sustains over 21,000 jobs and generates more than $5 billion annually.

Now, earlier this year, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and I saw how researchers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are using artificial intelligence to detect cancer, to speed drug recovery, and to make surgery far more precise--amazing--amazing to see what is happening.

And, yet, America's global leadership is slipping. China is closing the gap. They have increased R&D spending from 36 percent of what we spend in the United States to parity in 2024.

And, meanwhile, we are underinvesting in discovery. Federal R&D fell from 1.9 percent of GDP in 1964 to 0.6 percent of GDP in 2024. And since 2003, the NIH budget has shrunk by more than 10 percent, adjusted for inflation.

Sadly, we have also let politics intrude on science. The Biden administration NIH, for example, gave CHOP--the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia--$155,000 to develop training on ``structural racism'' and ``intersectional microaggressions.'' Such initiatives abuse taxpayer money, and they undermine the public trust.

Finally, NIH has become opaque and bureaucratic. Nearly 1 in 3 grant dollars goes to overhead. Taxpayers can't easily see researchers' financial ties to industry, and young scientists--young scientists with some of the biggest, boldest ideas--they often have to wait until the age of 42 to receive major funding from NIH.

Each of these failures has a fix. First, rather than cut NIH by 40 percent, as OMB proposed last year, we should double the $48 billion budget within 5 years.

Now, I understand these are big numbers, but if these dollars yield discoveries that trim our $5.3 trillion health bill by just 1 percent, they will more than pay for themselves. And, more importantly, they will demonstrate that this AI revolution, it truly helps everyone.

Second, we must prioritize merit-based science. This administration rightly reassessed grants lacking merit, and it canceled nearly 1,400 midstream--many over diversity, equity, and inclusion language that was in their proposals.

Now, while some of these grants deserve to be canceled, some were legitimate research with buzzwords that were inserted to get approval from the Biden administration. On half of those grants alone, taxpayers had already spent $1.3 billion for work that will never be finished.

So rather than waste that investment, we should let those researchers revise their applications for legitimate research and keep working. And that is why last week, I led five Senate Republican colleagues in a letter, urging the administration to do just that.

Third, we must demand accountability. We must replace NIH's costly overhead with one that rewards efficiency, makes institutions compete for infrastructure dollars, and gives the smaller research centers a fair shot at receiving those grants.

I will soon introduce the Sunshine for Researchers Act to require federally funded researchers to disclose their industry ties. And my bipartisan NIH Mentorship Modernization Act, introduced with Senator Coons, would help retain these amazing great, young scientists.

At this critical--critical--moment, incrementalism is our greatest enemy. America was built by pilgrims and pioneers who dared to push beyond the known. We must summon that spirit again by investing boldly, by prioritizing science, and by reforming relentlessly.

And if we dare--if we dare--KJ's story can be the beginning of a new golden age of American science that burns bright for decades to come.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to honor Allegheny County Airport, known to Pennsylvanians as AGC, as it celebrates 95 years of service to the National Airspace System, to southwestern Pennsylvania, and to our Nation.

Ninety-five years ago, on September 11, 1931, Allegheny County Airport opened as the Nation's third-largest commercial airport and one of the first modern air facilities built with a paved runway system. That bold beginning set the tone for nearly a century of leadership in American aviation.

Today, AGC continues to serve as a premier gateway for business and general aviation. As an FAA-designated General Aviation Reliever Airport within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, it preserves critical airspace efficiency for Pittsburgh International Airport while supporting the economic vitality of the region, including during major national events such as the 2025 U.S. Open and the 2026 NFL Draft.

AGC's role extends well beyond commerce. Nearly 20 percent of all flights at the airport are dedicated to lifesaving patient care through STAT MedEvac operations, making it an indispensable partner in emergency air medical logistics and time-sensitive organ transport across the region.

The airport has also long served as a center of aerospace education and workforce development. It is home to the accredited Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and an ATP Flight School, both of which prepare the next generation of certified technicians and commercial pilots to serve our Nation's skies.

Over the course of its 95-year history, Allegheny County Airport has facilitated countless critical VIP and executive movements, including historic visits by Presidents Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.

On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, I congratulate Allegheny County Airport on this remarkable milestone and thank its leadership, employees, and partners for 95 years of service, safety, and excellence. I look forward to its continued success for decades to come.

Madam President, I rise today to honor VisionCorps of Lancaster, PA, as it celebrates its 100th anniversary of service to individuals who are blind or vision impaired.

VisionCorps was founded in 1926 by a group of local businessmen committed to helping veterans blinded during the First World War, and others who were blind, learn a trade. What began as a small workshop teaching skills such as basket weaving and chair caning has grown, over a century, into a comprehensive rehabilitation and support services organization serving thousands of Pennsylvanians.

Today, VisionCorps provides low vision occupational therapy, safe travel training, assistive technology instruction, employment services, and independent living support to help individuals who are blind or vision impaired overcome barriers and live fuller, more independent lives. Serving communities across southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania, the organization has also built meaningful employment pathways for people who are blind, including through its long-standing partnership with the National Industries for the Blind.

For a century, VisionCorps has stayed true to its founding purpose: empowering individuals who are blind or vision impaired to attain independence. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, I congratulate VisionCorps on its 100th anniversary and thank its staff, volunteers, and supporters for a century of changing lives.

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.