Floor Statements

Mr. President, across America, 1.3 million people live in nursing homes. Many of us have parents, grandparents, or other loved ones who rely on these homes for care and community in their golden years. We understand just how vital nursing homes are--whether it is in urban, suburban, or rural areas--to help seniors in our country thrive.

But, unfortunately, a Federal rule that is still in place from the Biden era is putting many of America's nursing homes in jeopardy, especially those in our rural communities. Last year, under President Biden, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a rule that placed strict, unrealistic regulations on nursing homes. The rule requires a registered nurse to be present 24/7 in these homes and requires 3\1/2\ daily hours of dedicated nursing care for each resident. If this rule is not stopped, the regulations will be imposed on every nursing home in America over the next few years.

It does sound nice to be able to have a nurse on hand in nursing homes every moment of the day or night, but that is not the reality. The reality is that

these homes are already facing historic staffing shortages. Across the country, nursing homes lost more than 200,000 workers from February 2020 to December 2022. These shortages have already caused many nursing homes to close down.

Since 2015, 44 nursing homes and 35 assisted living facilities have shut their doors in my State--in Nebraska--alone. These closures deprived Nebraskans of over 3,000 beds. They hurt seniors who wanted to stay in their home community to be close to their family, to be close to their friends.

This CMS rule will worsen this crisis. According to the Agency itself, 75 percent of America's nursing homes will have to increase staffing to comply with this regulation. Under the Biden administration's rule, nursing homes now have to scramble so that they can find staff in the midst of these really overwhelming shortages. If they fail, they have to shut their doors; they have to deprive seniors of care and housing.

That is why, today, I reintroduced legislation to stop this Biden-era rule in its tracks. My Protecting Rural Seniors' Access to Care Act will prevent the rule's misguided requirements from going into full effect. It will also establish an advisory panel on the nursing home workforce, representing various stakeholders, including members from rural and underserved areas. This will ensure that the government hears voices outside the big cities--those big cities on the coasts--when it comes to our nursing homes.

Nursing homes are few and far between in rural areas of our country. If one facility closes, the next closest one could be many miles or even many hours away. Just one closure could be detrimental to seniors in some of our communities.

But if our nursing homes stay open, seniors won't have to face that upheaval of finding a new place to live, of moving, of leaving their home communities, leaving their loved ones, leaving their friends, and having that upheaval in their final years. They won't have to leave their family. They won't have to leave loved ones. They won't have to experience the loneliness, the uncertainty, the depression that can come along with moving to an unfamiliar place.

My bill advocates for these seniors, for their care, and for their families. It fights for our rural communities and for our nursing homes in my State of Nebraska and across this country. I will keep pushing for this legislation until the President signs it into law so that we can protect our seniors from a rule that would only harm them, harm their families, and harm their caretakers.

Mr. President, in America, our news cycle is often fraught with controversy and dispute. From watching the news or scrolling through social media, it might seem like there are very, very few issues that Americans can agree on. It may be true that we disagree on some big issues--important issues--but behind the headlines and the social media posts, there are many things that Americans agree on, and one of those is paid family and medical leave.

The Pew Research Center found that the vast majority of Americans support paid parental leave--up to 82 percent. That is really a broad consensus. And 85 percent of Americans say people should receive paid leave to deal with their own serious health conditions, and 67 percent say they should receive leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

We rarely see Americans nowadays so united on other issues, but it is for good reason that Republicans and Democrats come together on paid family leave. The reality is that Americans shouldn't have to choose between their paychecks and caring for their families. That is why I spearheaded our Nation's first-ever Federal family leave policy in 2017 with Senator Angus King.

As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we passed a paid family and medical leave tax credit that encourages businesses to offer leave to their employees. Employers are able to receive the tax credit if they voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Our credit increases access to paid leave without penalizing small businesses with limited resources, like a government entitlement program or a mandate from the government would.

Almost 8 years later, this tax credit is about to expire, and Congress is set to work on another tax package. So now is the perfect time to pass my bill with Senator King to make our tax credit permanent and also to improve it.

Yesterday, we introduced the PFML Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Representative Feenstra is leading the introduction of companion legislation in the House. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill supports additional options for financing paid leave, such as paid family leave insurance. It also allows employers to begin offering paid leave to workers sooner after being hired.

The legislation includes a strategy for educating employers and employees about the option to receive this credit, and it requires the Small Business Administration and the IRS to provide targeted outreach and assistance to those who need it. That will raise awareness of the credit, and it will expand the number of Americans who have paid leave.

Passing this bill in our upcoming tax package will deliver on the promises

Republicans made to the American people this past November. We promised to make families' lives better, more prosperous, more affordable. More access to family leave will contribute to that goal.

Our tax credit is tried and true, one with a bipartisan track record of success. It is the paid family leave solution that will do the most good with the smallest pricetag.

So I urge my colleagues to join me in pushing for this legislation's inclusion in this year's tax package. This is how we expand paid family and medical leave for employees across this entire country. This is how we deliver for the American people. I am determined to get this done, and I hope my colleagues will join me.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, 480. That is the number of days since terror shook the Middle East. It has been 480 days since Hamas's unprovoked attack; 480 days since Hamas brought brutal terror on Israel and the citizens of more than 30 countries; 480 days since American family members and friends were kidnapped.

Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The illegitimate court--which acts as prosecutor, jury, and judge-- brought politically motivated charges for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Since when did self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks and atrocities become a war crime?

The ICC has forgotten too quickly who started this war, who turned a music festival into a graveyard, who attacked unprovoked, bringing devastating carnage on defenseless victims.

The ICC has forgotten the seven Americans still in Gaza, our fellow country men and women. They have forgotten the remains of the innocent Hamas victims that Hamas keeps--the hostages even in death. They have forgotten the corpses in the streets, the babies and the soldiers beheaded, the people burned alive in their cars. They have forgotten the doors riddled with bullet holes, the ground stained with blood, the smell of decaying flesh.

The ICC has forgotten the hell Hamas inflicted on Israel and many other nations. And, instead, it vilifies a nation seeking justice and the chance to live in peace. This is not surprising. From the beginning, the United States has rejected this body.

From President Clinton to President Trump, every President-- Democratic and Republican--has never recognized the ICC's jurisdiction over our Nation. In fact, no President has even submitted the Rome Statute establishing the ICC to the Senate for advice and consent. We have never ratified it.

And why? Because entrusting an international governing body with authority over U.S. citizens risks undermining the very freedoms and sovereignty that define this Nation.

The ICC has repeatedly sought to impose its authority over the United States and over our allies. And now, it has alleged that Israel has committed war crimes.

Meanwhile, the tribunal conveniently turns a blind eye to atrocities in China, hiding behind the excuse of nonmembership, despite the fact that neither the United States nor Israel are members. The hypocrisy of the ICC is breathtaking.

Well, enough is enough. Earlier this month, the House passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act on a bipartisan basis. I am deeply--deeply--disappointed that my Democratic colleagues who voted against moving forward on this legislation did that here in the U.S. Senate. I sincerely hope that they reconsider. Our sovereignty is non- negotiable. Allowing the ICC to operate unchecked and without consequence grants them authority where they should have none. Worse, it sets a standard that encourages repetition.

We have a responsibility to protect the sovereignty of our Nation and our allies. This moment demands courage, and it demands conviction. And we must rise to meet it.

I yield the floor.

Good afternoon.

Endurance through the years is the ultimate test. To persevere through time is the truest measure of an idea, an institution, and a nation.

Our Founders wrote the Constitution so that America could withstand all the twists and turns of time. They wrote it to guide us and to preserve forever our right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But as much as the truths and principles enshrined in our Constitution remain the same, our democracy promises the American people the power to change, to chart their own destiny.

That is the beauty. That is the importance of democracy. It allows the endurance, the permanence of a nation through change. It allows nations, like our United States, both to avoid the obstacles and to seize the opportunities God has placed before us, all while staying true to our founding principles.

Today is our country's 60th inauguration ceremony. Like all the others before it, it is a celebration of our right to set our uniquely American course. The past several years have been trying at times for many, many Americans and also for the nations of the free world that we humbly strive to lead.

In November, Americans chose again to steer this Nation toward greatness--the secure, safe, and prosperous future that our Founders envisioned for all of us. And today, we celebrate not only their decision to do so but also the simple right and wisdom of a free people to make their own choice so that their Nation might endure.

And now, allow me to welcome Archbishop Timothy Doland and Reverend Franklin Graham, who will deliver our invocation.

Please rise.

Archbishop DOLAND. Be still and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme on the Earth. Let us pray.

Remembering General George Washington on his knees at Valley Forge, recalling Abraham Lincoln at his second inaugural: ``with malice toward none, with charity for all, with the firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right,'' remembering General George Patton's instructions to his soldiers as they began the Battle of the Bulge eight decades ago, pray. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night. Pray by day.

Observing the birthday of the Reverend Martin Luther King, who warned, without God, our efforts turn to ashes. We, blessed citizens of this one Nation under God, humbled by our claim that in God we trust, gather, indeed, this inauguration day to pray for our President Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisers, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his Vice President, for the large blessings upon Joseph Biden, for our men and women in uniform, for each other whose hopes are stoked this new year, this inauguration day.

We cannot err in relying upon that prayer from the Bible upon which our President will soon place his hand in oath. As we make our own the supplications of King Solomon for wisdom, as he began his governance, God of our fathers, in Your wisdom, You set man to govern Your creatures, to govern in holiness and justice, to render justice with integrity, give our leader wisdom, for he is Your servant, aware of his own weakness and brevity of life.

If wisdom, which comes not from You be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem. Send wisdom from Heaven that she may be with him, that he may know Your designs.

Please, God, bless America. Please, mentor every flaw. You are the God in whom we trust who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Reverend GRAHAM. Mr. President, in the last 4 years, there were times, I am sure, you thought it was pretty dark. But look what God has done. We praise Him and give Him glory.

(Applause.)

Let us pray.

Our Father and our God, Thou has said blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.

As the Prophet Daniel prayed: ``Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. For wisdom and might are his. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings. He raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.''

Our Father, today, as President Donald J. Trump takes the oath of office once again, we come to say thank you, O Lord, our God.

Father, when Donald Trump's enemies thought he was down and out, You and You alone, saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by Your mighty hand.

We pray for President Trump; that You will watch over, protect, guide, direct him. Give him Your wisdom from Your throne on high. We ask that You would bless him and that our Nation would be blessed through him.

We also ask that You would bless and protect Melania, his First Lady. We thank You for the beauty, the warmth, and grace that she shows not only to this Nation but to the whole world.

We thank You for Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha and their young family. May he be a strength to President Trump, to stand beside him, to hold up his arms like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle.

The Prophet Samuel reminded the people it was You that brought them up from the land of Egypt. And he said, now stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord. So, Father, we take this moment to stand still, to remember the great things that You have done for this Nation.

Thank you for the protection, the bounty, the freedoms that we so enjoy. We remember to keep our eyes fixed on You. And may our hearts be inclined to Your voice. We know that America can never be great again if we turn our backs on You. We ask for Your help.

We pray all of this in the name of the king of kings, the lords of lords, Your son, my Savior, and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

(Christopher Macchio performed ``O, America'' accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus.)

MUC EDWARDS. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Associate Justice Kavanaugh to administer the Vice Presidential oath of office.

The Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, BRETT KAVANAUGH, administered to the Vice President-elect the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, which he repeated as follows:

I, James David Vance, do solemnly swear that I will support

and defend the Constitution of the United States against all

enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and

allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely,

without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and

that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the

office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Associate Justice KAVANAUGH. Congratulations, Mr. Vice President.

(Applause.)

MUC EDWARDS. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Chief Justice Roberts to administer the Presidential oath of office.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR., administered to the President-elect the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, which he repeated, as follows:

I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear that I will

faithfully execute the office of President of the United

States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve,

protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So

help me God.

The Chief Justice. Congratulations, Mr. President.

(Applause.)

(United States Marine Band performs ``Battle Hymn of the Republic.'')

(Applause.)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and pleasure to introduce to you the 45th and the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.

(Applause.)

I now call on Rabbi Ari Berman, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, and Rev. Frank Mann to provide prayers of benediction.

Rabbi BERMAN: Let us pray.

Almighty God, your profit Jeremiah walked the streets of Jerusalem and blessed its inhabitants with:

(English translation of statement made in Hebrew as follows:)

Blessed is the one who trusts in God.

Thousands of years later, this great Nation, which adopted these words as its motto, ``In God We Trust,'' stands at a moment of historic opportunity. Americans are searching for meaning.

Our merciful Father, help us rise to meet this moment. Bless President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance with the strength and courage to choose the right and the good. Unite us around our foundational Biblical values of life and liberty, of service and sacrifice, and especially of faith and morality, which George Washington called the indispensable supports of American prosperity.

Guide our schools and college campuses, which have been experiencing such unrest, to inspire the next generation, to pair progress with purpose, knowledge with wisdom, and truth with virtue.

Hear the cry of the hostages, both American and Israeli, whose pain our President so acutely feels. We are so thankful for the three young women who yesterday returned home and pray that the next 4 years brings peace to Israel and throughout the Middle East.

Almighty God, grant all Americans the opportunity to realize our shared dream of a life filled with peace and plenty, health and happiness, compassion and contribution. Stir within us the confidence to rise to this moment, for while we trust in God, God's trust is in us, the American people.

America is called to greatness, to be a beacon of light and a mover of history.

May our Nation merit the fulfillments of Jeremiah's blessing, that like a tree planted by water, we shall not cease to bear fruit.

May all of humanity experience Your love and Your blessing. May it be Thy will and let us say amen.

Pastor SEWELL. Let us pray for our 47th President.

Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that You gave our 45th and now our 47th President a millimeter miracle.

We are grateful that You are the one that have called him for such a time as this; that America would begin to dream again.

We pray that we would fulfill the true meaning of our creed that ``We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.''

We pray that You use our President; that we would live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we are so grateful today that You will use our 47th President so we would ``sing with new meaning `My country `tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!' ''

And because America is called to be a great nation, we believe that You will make this come true.

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New

Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New

York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of

Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of

Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous [hilltops] of

California!

But, God, we are asking You not only that, ``Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill [in] Mississippi''--from every State, every city, every village, and every hamlet.

And when we let freedom ring, we will be able to speed up that day, where all of your children, Black men and White men, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, will be able to sing in the meaning of that old Negro spiritual: Free at last, free at last. Thank you, God Almighty, we are free at last.

If you believe where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, come on, put your hands together and give your great God great glory.

(Applause.)

Reverend MANN. Almighty and Eternal God, we gather here today in reverence, joined in our shared hopes and dreams for our beloved Nation.

In this sacred moment of the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance, we turn our hearts to You, seeking Your divine assistance and abundant blessings upon this pivotal moment in history.

We come before You with profound gratitude for the many gifts You have bestowed upon our land. Thank You for the freedoms we cherish, for the strength of our communities, and for the resilience of our spirit.

As our President and Vice President embrace their newly appointed roles, we humbly implore that Your everlasting love and wisdom will envelope them. Grant them the clarity of mind to navigate the challenges that lie ahead and the compassion to serve all citizens with fairness and integrity.

May their hearts be filled with a giving spirit and sincere understanding for those whom they represent.

May they be beacons of hope in times of uncertainty and prophetic voices in defending the dignity of all created life.

We pray for a spirit of collaboration to flourish in our government and across our Nation, fostering an environment where dialogue and heartfelt listening will prevail over division or discord.

May each decision made by our President and Vice President reflect the values of justice and peace.

As we embark on this new chapter, we also seek Your comfort, O God, for those who feel lost or disheartened. In this time of transition, may Your light shine upon them, reaffirming their belief in a brighter tomorrow.

May we all strive to lift one another, supporting our fellow citizens with kindness and empathy, recognizing that together, we can overcome any adversity.

Grant us the strength to endure, the courage to face our fears, and the clarity to see the light that remains, even when clouds of uncertainty may gather.

Inspire our new leaders to be champions for the vulnerable and advocates for those whose voices are often silenced. May they pursue policies that

promote the well-being of all, seeking to build bridges that will foster unity and belonging.

As we stand witness to this inauguration, we hold fast to the faith, to our faith, and the goodness of each of us and the possibility of change.

We trust that with Your guidance, O God, our Nation can move forward to a future filled with promise, prosperity, and understanding.

And, finally, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the beloved parents of President Trump. Without Mary and Fred Trump, this day would never be the miracle that has just begun. From their place in Heaven, may they shield their son from all harm by their loving protection and give him the strength to guide our Nation along the path that will make America great again.

Let us go forth now with these words of President Trump's emblazoned on our hearts: As long as we have pride in our beliefs, courage in our convictions, and faith in our God, then we will not fail.

We stand tall. We stand proud because we are Americans. And Americans kneel to God and to God alone.

Amen.

(Applause.)

MUC EDWARDS. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for our national anthem.

(Performance of the national anthem by Christopher Macchio, the Naval Academy Glee Club, the Armed Forces Chorus, and the United States Marine Band.)

(The inaugural ceremony was concluded at 12:58 p.m.)

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of the following bills, which were received from the House: H.R. 8413 and H.R. 8219.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be considered read a third time and passed en bloc, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, working with the rest of the Nebraska delegation, as well as the Bureau of Reclamation, I have introduced legislation supported by all parties. It transfers ownership of the land from the Federal Government to local officials, benefiting everyone involved.

The residents and their local government officials support this bill. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee supported it, passing it earlier this year by a voice vote. The Bureau of Reclamation, which we worked with through this process, also supports my bill.

Chairman Manchin himself has even withdrawn his original concern about this bill's impact on a larger land package. I am grateful to him for understanding how important this issue is to my State.

I appreciate my colleagues for understanding the gravity of this situation. This bill will now be on its way to the President's desk.

I want to thank Representative Adrian Smith and the entire Nebraska congressional delegation for their work over many years. It wouldn't have been possible without their collaboration and their support.

But, most importantly, I want to thank the citizens at Swanson and Red Willow, as well as the other local leaders. The love these Nebraskans have for their communities and their determination to save them, that made all the difference.

I also want to thank my colleague from Hawaii Senator Hirono for putting forward a bill that will help her constituents and her State as well.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, again, thank you to my colleague from Hawaii. Thank you for my colleagues here in the Senate for passing this unanimous consent tonight. I look forward to our two bills being signed by the President of the United States and having them in law in a few days.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise again today to request passage of the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act.

Over the past 50 years, the residents of the Swanson and Red Willow Reservoirs communities have built friendships, started supportive businesses, and enjoyed the recreation that Southwest Nebraska has to offer.

Now, starting on February 1, in less than 2 months, these people will be forcibly removed from the reservoirs unless this bill passes. This is per a contract signed between local parties and the Bureau of Reclamation.

I worked with the Nebraska delegation, the residents, the small businesses, the Bureau, as well as both Democrats and Republicans on the ENR Committee to draft a bill that would solve this issue.

Senator Hirono and I are following regular order, but we have to use unanimous consent. Our bills passed the House. Our bills have passed out of the Senate ENR Committee.

This is what we all say in here, what we all tell our constituents, that this has to happen: We need to follow regular order. We travel our States talking about regular order all the time. We say one side or the other is not following it. This is the way to do bills.

This needs to happen. We need one subject bills, another demand of our constituents, instead of piling 150 bills that aren't in a package yet, trying to get them into a package.

But I understand we will have an objection. Senator Hirono and I paired a Democrat bill with a Republican bill so that we can move forward and other Members can then move forward on noncontroversial bills for our people at home and for our people who support this.

So as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of H.R. 8413 and 8219, which were received from the House. I further ask that the bills be considered read a third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

I am astounded by this once again. As I have said, the situation is dire. My constituents will lose their homes. The communities they have built for the last 50 years will be destroyed.

I don't know of any other bill, in the 100 or 150 bills, that is on this kind of time crunch. My bill has to pass now. Yes, it is a priority. As the Senator from California, his bills are a priority as well for himself, his constituents. I respect that. But we are on a time crunch. This has to pass now or next week. Maybe we won't be home for Christmas because I plan to keep coming back here and get this done.

We did our work; we did it the right way; and we did it on time. We have presented a solution that everyone--and I mean everyone--agrees with. It is so uncontroversial, it was voice-voted out of committee. Even the Senator from West Virginia who objected last night--he doesn't have any concerns with this legislation.

Nebraskans' very homes and communities are now on the line in this final hour. They cannot wait. They should not have to pay the price for stalled negotiations. Saying there is going to be an agreement after working a year on an agreement, saying there is going to be an agreement on this 100- to 150-bill land package--come on. That isn't even realistic at this point in time. Going to work through the weekend. You know, I hope it comes together, but come on.

These are noncontroversial bills. And using my constituents as political pawns instead of moving bills in normal order, which we all tout, is unacceptable. In fact, it is absurd. We better do better.

I yield the floor.

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

Madam President, I come before you today to discuss a grave situation that is unfolding in the southwestern part of my State.

Two Nebraska communities--one at Swanson Reservoir and the other at Red Willow--are at risk. Over the past 50 years, residents of these two communities have built friendships. They have started and supported businesses, and they have enjoyed the recreation that the local area offers. But in just 2 months, these Nebraskans will be forced to leave. They will be forced out of their homes over a disagreement between the Federal Government and local stakeholders on how the land should be managed.

The good news is, there is a simple solution to this problem. In working with the rest of the Nebraska delegation as well as the Bureau of Reclamation, I have introduced legislation that benefits all parties. It transfers the ownership of this land from the Federal Government to local officials.

I want to thank Congressman Adrian Smith, especially, for introducing companion legislation in the House.

Once the counties control the land around these reservoirs, the residents of Red Willow and Swanson can work with local authorities to chart a better path forward--one that preserves the communities and one that also improves the recreation areas.

Since I introduced this bill, I have heard from over 1,000 Nebraskans about how urgently they need this land transferred. I have received numerous letters of support from local communities and businesses. Everyone--everyone--involved supports this bill. The residents and their local government officials support this bill. Our colleagues on both sides of the aisle have offered no objection to this bill. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed this bill on a voice vote. We also worked with the Bureau of Reclamation on this solution. Everyone--everyone--agrees that my bill offers the best future for the hundreds of Nebraskans who call these areas home. It is time to do what is right and to save these communities.

I yield to the Senator from Hawaii.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of H.R. 8413 and H.R. 8219, which were received from the House. I further ask that the bills be considered read the third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, this really is outrageous. My legislation cannot wait. As I have said, it passed the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on a voice vote. Last week, it passed the full House of Representatives unanimously.

The bill is different from the rest of the package that my colleagues are negotiating. Nebraskans are watching this bill--they are watching my bill--because Nebraskans will be kicked off their land starting in February--2 months from now--if it is not signed into law.

I have been working with the chair. I have been working with his team for over a year--over a year--on this legislation, incorporating feedback from them and continuously emphasizing the urgency with my legislation. None of my colleagues are objecting to policy in this bill. They know it is the right thing to do. In fact, my colleague objecting has already voted in favor of the bill in committee. Rather, objecting to this legislation is choosing to use these people, their homes, and these reservoirs and the small businesses as political leverage for unrelated matters.

I have heard from over 1,000 constituents who are in support of this legislation. They know that it will chart a better path forward for that local community and the Federal Government. They did not ask to be used as political leverage.

I hope my colleague will reconsider his objection. Otherwise, I will continue coming to this floor, day after day this week, asking for unanimous consent; although, I have been told by our cloakroom that there is no time available tomorrow for any action like this on the floor. It needs to happen now.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today, I rise to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the U.S. Army, MAJ Bobby Brown. Major Brown, an Active-Duty adjutant general Officer, was competitively selected to serve as an Army congressional fellow for the fiscal year 2022.

Hailing from Lincoln, NE, Major Brown was assigned to support our neighbors to the south, working with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas. During his fellowship, he gained valuable insights into the workings of Congress and its relationship with the U.S. military, while also advising Senator Moran on defense and veterans' issues. His dedication and professionalism were evident in every task he undertook.

Major Brown's journey from Nebraska to Washington, DC, is marked by a distinguished record of service. After earning his undergraduate degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University and commissioning as an infantry officer through the University of Nebraska at Lincoln ROTC program, he held various tactical and operational positions. These included roles in the 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd Ranger Battalion, the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, and 7th Army Training Command.

His early years of service honed his discipline, diligence, and dedication, shaping both his career and character. In the infantry, he served as an infantry rifle platoon leader and executive officer, roles that were foundational for his leadership skills. In 2016, Major Brown deployed to Afghanistan as the deputy chief of operations for the 2nd Ranger Battalion, deepening his understanding of America's military role abroad and his commitment to our national security.

Transitioning to the Adjutant General's Corps in 2017, Major Brown excelled in human resources roles, serving as a battalion human resources officer in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. His natural people skills and leadership potential led to his selection for two company commands--one for the headquarters and headquarters company for 7th Army Training Command and the other for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, both located in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

For the past 2 years, he has served in the Army's congressional budget liaison office, where he has played a crucial role in answering congressional requests for information, staffing engagements between Army senior leaders and Members of Congress, and leading congressional delegations abroad to conduct defense oversight.

Any tribute to Major Brown would be incomplete without acknowledging the unwavering support of his wife Michelle and the joy brought by their 1-year-old son John Robert Brown. Michelle has stood by Major Brown at every step of his journey, providing love, care, and wisdom.

Major Brown's lengthy and diverse career is filled with experiences that have enriched him both as an officer and a person. It is no surprise that he has received numerous awards and commendations, including the Ranger Tab. Nebraska is proud to call Major Brown one of its own, as he continues a treasured legacy of Nebraskans dedicated to protecting our State and our Nation.

On behalf of the State of Nebraska, the U.S. Senate, and a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Major Brown for his service. We wish Bobby, Michelle, and John all the best as they continue their journey in the U.S. Army.

Mr. President, today, I rise to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the U.S. Air Force, Maj. Tiara Puro.

Major Puro was competitively selected to represent the Department of the Air Force in the Department of Defense Legislative Fellows Program, where she has worked with my office over the past year.

Though Major Puro is not originally from my State, she fits right in--a perfect example of what we call ``Nebraska nice.'' Each day, Major Puro is known to walk into each room in our office, greeting every member of our staff warmly. Generous with her time and expertise, she cheerfully answers questions about our national defense from interns and staff.

Major Puro did spend time in my home State of Nebraska. She earned a degree in general studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating in 2011. But it was before her time in Nebraska, back in her home State of Utah, that her experience with the military began.

Major Puro enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a paralegal specialist while still in high school. Once a month, she drove to the armory in Vernal to train with the 1457th Engineer Battalion as part of the Delayed Entry Program. A week after graduating from high school, she shipped to basic combat training at Fort Jackson, SC.

Major Puro's decision to serve our country in the military solidified that fateful day in September 2001. After the second plane collided with the south tower of the World Trade Center, she called her unit to ask what she could do to help. Major Puro was among the 4,500 Utah National Guard members who provided security for the Winter Olympic games in Utah a few months later.

After earning her bachelor's degree in Nebraska, Major Puro commissioned in the Air Force as a personnel officer. Her first assignment was to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, as the individual mobilization augmentee to the commander of the military personnel flight. This assignment trained Major Puro in the organizational and interpersonal skills she has used throughout her career.

From 2013 to 2015, she volunteered to serve on an extended Active- Duty tour in support of the Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA) in the International Airmen Division. Over the years, Major Puro has deployed twice, in support of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. These deployments added new dimensions to Major Puro's understanding of our military and its operations.

In 2019, Major Puro was assigned as the operations officer for the 301st Force Support Squadron at the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base in Texas. There, she contributed to a team that keeps the 301st Fighter Wing up and running. The team managed required paperwork, tracked the movement of the wing's members, and helped the 301st Logistics Readiness Squadron move resources.

Prior to her selection for the Legislative Fellows Program, Major Puro served as the chief of the Active Guard Reserve Management Branch of the Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center at Buckley Space Force Base, CO. There, she oversaw management of the Active Guard Reserve Program, supporting strategic guidance and operational execution of 6,003 positions.

Major Puro has spent years serving our Nation. And anyone who knows

Major Puro knows her commitment runs in the family. All five of the Puro sisters serve in America's military, whether in the Air Force, Army, or Navy. Major Puro is the oldest of the five, and she has led each of her sisters in this direction. Major Puro even administered the oath of office to commission one of her sisters as an officer. The service-oriented siblings have become known as ``sisters in arms.''

Major Puro is an outstanding, experienced officer who has spent years serving our country with diligence and excellence. She is an officer of strong character, displaying kindness, integrity, and dedication wherever she goes. She has served our Nation well in the Air Force, and she has served Nebraska well as a legislative fellow in my office.

On behalf of the State of Nebraska, the U.S. Senate, and a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Major Puro for her service. We wish Tiara all the best as she continues her journey in the U.S. Air Force.

Madam President, over the past few months, we heard from both sides of the aisle about how American families need more support. We have heard discussions about the child tax credit, childcare costs, and dozens more issues that affect parents and their children.

Earlier this year, Senator Vance summed up nicely what could be a mission statement for Republicans to use on this issue. He said:

We want to provide more options so that people are raising

families in a thriving and happy way in this country.

Madam President, my colleagues and I are here today to talk about Republican solutions. And I want to talk specifically about one solution to the family leave problem that has not just Republican but also bipartisan support.

Across America, only 27 percent of workers in the private sector have access to paid family leave. The other three-fourths have to choose between making ends meet and taking care of their families, whether that is welcoming a newborn or nursing an aging parent. That is not a choice that Americans should have to make.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have proposed a few ideas to solve this problem. Some of them advocate for a new nationwide government entitlement program, some advocate for a mandate that would force businesses to pay out of pocket for their employees' leave.

Neither of those options is practical or politically realistic. Our Nation is already trillions of dollars in debt and a mandate, well, that would squash small businesses that simply don't have the resources to survive while paying an employee who is not at work.

But there is a solution, a way to offer employees paid time off without creating a new mandatory program or forcing businesses to suffer huge losses. What I am talking about here are the mom-and-pop businesses especially, Main Street businesses that maybe they have one employee, two employees, maybe five.

And we have a solution. There is a way to offer employees paid time off without creating a new mandatory program or forcing those small businesses to suffer losses. We can provide tax benefits to businesses that offer employees paid leave, which will, in turn, free up resources that businesses can use to pay the salaries of their workers on leave. This is a tried-and-true method. It works. I know because I have done it before.

In 2017, Senator Angus King and I created the first nationwide paid family leave policy in the history of the United States. We created a tax credit for employers who voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave to their employees, and President Trump signed it into law. But that tax credit is going to expire, and it is going to expire at the end of 2025.

To ensure that businesses can keep offering paid leave, we need to make sure that we make that credit permanent as well as make it easier for businesses to qualify for it and to use it. So that is why Senator King and I have, again, introduced the Paid Family Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Our bill makes that credit permanent, and it also expands it. It supports additional options for financing paid leave, such as paid family leave insurance. It also allows employers to begin offering paid family medical leave to workers sooner after being hired.

Our bill also includes a strategy for educating businesses and employees about the option to receive this credit so that more people know about it. It requires the Small Business Administration and the IRS to conduct targeted outreach and technical assistance for those who need it, which will raise awareness of the credit and expand the number of Americans who have paid leave.

This is a Republican solution, and it is one that everyone can get on board with. It already has a track record of bipartisan support here in Congress, and we have the perfect opportunity to pass this tax credit yet again in the new year.

As my colleagues on the Finance Committee begin working on tax policy for 2025 and onward, I would urge them to remember America's families; remember how much they need access to paid family leave and remember what they voted for this past November--an administration who will look out for parents and for kids. We have a solution for America's paid leave problem. It is just a matter of expanding it and enacting it.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, my home of Nebraska is home to an array of people, places, and pursuits. It is home to Husker football and the College World Series, our beautiful State capitol building in Lincoln, and our world-famous zoo in Omaha. Nebraska is home to plains and prairies and cities and small towns and to the breathtaking natural beauty of the Nebraska Sandhills.

That unique beauty of the Nebraska Sandhills, where we raised our three sons, is where I began my travels last month during the August State work period. In total, I visited over 35 communities with over 100 stops, from Kimball to Blair and Red Cloud to Norfolk.

One visit especially near and dear to me was the Valentine Community Schools. Years ago, I served on the Valentine School Board, where I saw these schools up close and advocated for their improvements. The Valentine Community Schools are still doing great, educating bright kids who will go on to lead our State.

Farther west, I toured the Scottsbluff and Bridgeport schools. The Scottsbluff school system follows a career academy-focused curriculum, and I was impressed to see the creativity and innovation that educators are applying to that work. It is a testament to Nebraskans' dedication to progress in our local communities.

Along with the schools and educators across the State, I visited healthcare facilities and the doctors and nurses and medical professionals who keep them going.

When I toured CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, NB, I heard about their incredible life flight capabilities. Rural Americans--well, they often live hours away from the nearest hospital, and in emergencies, that can be deadly. Good Samaritan is responding to those risks by life-flighting patients all across Nebraska and even into South Dakota at times.

While in Central Nebraska, I visited Kearney Police Department and the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department. These two departments share a really unique setup in the same building where they can collaborate and use a larger range of resources. By linking together Kearney and Buffalo County law enforcement, they are more efficient, and they do an excellent job in protecting their communities.

The August work period every year brings me fresh motivation and gratitude. I saw the ways that Federal legislation is creating real change in my home State. I saw progress all across Nebraska--in education, in healthcare, in law enforcement, in manufacturing, in agriculture, in economic development, and countless other sectors.

Most of all, I saw Nebraskans in their local communities dedicating their lives and dedicating their careers to investing in the people around them. Those are the people whom I represent here in the U.S. Senate. And just as they are dedicated to investing in Nebraska, I am dedicated to advocating for Nebraskans.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, today, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Becton, Dickinson and Company's Columbus, NE, branch. Just after World War II, BD established its first facility outside of its New Jersey headquarters in Columbus. Columbus offered a new frontier for BD to geographically diversify its manufacturing operations. Over the decades, Columbus has grown into a cornerstone of BD's global operations, boasting 2,100 employees today.

From modest beginnings to its rise as a world-class medical technology manufacturer, BD's trajectory has mirrored Columbus's own dynamic evolution. We celebrate this 75-year journey of a storied past, thriving present, and a healthier future.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that myself and Senator Tuberville be permitted to speak for up to 7 minutes, Senator Cardin for up to 10 minutes, and Senator Tillis for up to 2 minutes prior to the scheduled rollcall vote.

Madam President, as election season approaches, our political discourse has been heated, to say the least. From an assassination attempt a couple of weeks ago to destructive protests across Washington last week, the friction within America is undeniable.

My colleagues and I are here today to discuss one of the things Americans do agree on: defending our Nation.

We all see the tension simmering around Taiwan and South Korea and the tension exploding in Israel and Ukraine. And we see the threats China and Russia pose to our Nation. These threats are decades in the making. And while they sound far away--they are, after all, around the other side of the world--the close connections between the security of the world's democracies and the economies of the world mean that these developments impact our everyday lives.

America should have woken up and gotten ahead years ago, but, at the very least, we must wake up now.

The most critical job we have in the U.S. Senate is providing for our national security, and we do that through our National Defense Authorization Act. We passed the NDAA out of the Senate Armed Services Committee last month with bipartisan approval. It includes provisions that will benefit our servicemembers and that will bolster our national defense.

I supported a pay raise for members of our military and secured funding for several Nebraska military construction projects.

This year's NDAA also included important provisions to address issues within the munitions industrial base, contributing to thousands of good-paying jobs throughout the country while providing for our national security.

The bill incorporated elements of my Restoring American Deterrence Act to foster a skilled nuclear manufacturing and vocational trade workforce. We heard about the importance of that need at our SASC hearing yesterday, when members received the report from the Commission on the National Defense Strategy.

I am hopeful that the full Senate will recognize the bipartisan importance of passing the NDAA, just as we did on the Armed Services Committee. But before we can do that, Majority Leader Schumer must prioritize bringing the NDAA up for a vote.

Just as these threats impact our everyday lives, so also does our response or lack thereof. This is a matter of urgency. Our defense is not something we can deal with in 5 years, in 10 years. It is something that we must address now, and we had better get started.

If we fail to ensure that we can produce munitions at scale, we will run out of missiles within weeks of a conflict. If we fail to field and equip a modernized Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, or Space Force, one day Xi will think: Maybe we can win.

Preventing that day will prevent a conflict that would touch the life of every American citizen in ways this country hasn't seen since the Second World War. The majority leader should have reflected that by bringing the NDAA to the floor before the August State work period, and now he needs to bring it to the floor as soon as possible. But instead of doing our most important constitutional job, we have been seeing political show votes on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

America's safety--America's safety--is a bipartisan responsibility, a bipartisan duty that requires bipartisan commitment.

Let's show Americans that despite all the fights and disagreements, we can unite in the Senate around the most important issues; we can prioritize our security; and we can and we must pass this year's NDAA.

Madam President, reserving the right to object, could I have the Senator please clarify which bill she called up.

2770?

Thank you.

Madam President, like many of my colleagues, I am concerned about artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes in the context of political speech and election administration. But the Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act is not a solution to this problem. The bill recycles provisions from the partisan For the People Act. It is overly broad, and it would prohibit the distribution of political ads that include AI-generated audio or visuals, including commonly used image and video editing programs. It greatly expands the regulation of protected speech and uses vague terms that will inevitably chill that speech.

This bill does not balance First Amendment rights with the evolving challenges that we have with the digital age; and, therefore, Madam President, I object.