Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of William F. Pickard, a distinguished entrepreneur, education advocate, business titan, philanthropist, and co-owner of the Michigan Chronicle, who passed away on June 12, 2024, at the age of 83.

William Pickard was born on January 28, 1941, in La Grange, GA. He earned degrees from Flint Mott College, Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and Ohio State University. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1971 with the purchase of his first McDonald's franchise in Detroit, later expanding to own several franchises.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as the first Chairman of the African Development Foundation. He continued to diversify his ventures, including purchasing Regal Plastics Company in 1984, founding Bearwood Management Company, Inc., in 1987, and serving on the National Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board under President George H.W. Bush.

In 1998, Pickard founded Grupo Antolin Primera Automotive Systems and ARD Logistics, followed by Vitec LLC in 1999. He also invested in the MGM Grand Casino in Detroit and founded the Global Automotive Alliance, a holding company for several automotive parts manufacturers. His influence extended to the media industry in 2003 when he helped fund Real Times Media, LLC, which acquired the Chicago Defender and other African-American-owned newspapers.

Throughout his career, Pickard received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Michigan University in 1980 and being named Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News in 2001. In 2016, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed him as a trustee on the Western Michigan Board of Trustees. He published ``Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship'' in 2017, the same year Western Michigan University named a residence hall in his honor.

In addition to his business accomplishments, Pickard was a comanaging partner of MGM Grand Detroit Casino and co-owner of five Black-owned newspapers, including the Michigan Chronicle. His extensive philanthropic efforts supported causes such as the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Motown Historical Museum, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Pickard's dedication to education and community development was exemplified by his generous contributions to Western Michigan University, his alma mater, and Wayne County Community College District. In recognition of his lifetime of service and philanthropy, he was awarded the Michigan Lifetime Humanitarian Award in 2019.

I trust that my Senate colleagues will join me in recognizing the extraordinary contributions of William F. Pickard and extending our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations.

Mr. President, soon, the Senate will have an opportunity to ensure that essential Federal resources remain available to fire departments all across our country.

Every day, firefighters risk their health and safety to protect our communities. They don't just respond to fire emergencies; they also help keep us safe from threats like chemical hazards, terrorist attacks, and even active shooters.

The Fire Grants and Safety Act gives our firefighters the support they deserve. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes two vital grant programs administered by FEMA. These programs help fire departments purchase safety equipment, address staffing needs, train their staff, and provide cancer screenings to first responders.

The bill also reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration, which represents firefighters at the Federal level. The USFA helps ensure that our local fire departments get the proper support, and it takes the lead on data collection, research, education, and training for the fire service.

Federal programs like these enable fire departments to do their jobs safely and effectively, and I have seen it firsthand while visiting local departments across my home State of Michigan. Without these programs, many fire departments would simply not have the resources and equipment they need to stay safe in the line of duty. Every day, firefighters have our backs, and now we can do the same for them.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Paul, Senator Carper, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Collins for their help in advancing this legislation. I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for their work to get this bill passed out of the House of Representatives.

Now it is time to finish the job. Let's finish the job and send this bipartisan legislation to the President and help firefighters everywhere keep our communities safe.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the work and legacy of the Kresge Foundation, an organization founded and headquartered in suburban Detroit, as they celebrate 100 years of philanthropy. Over the past century, the Kresge Foundation has remained true to its profoundly simple yet decidedly impactful founding mission to ``promote the well-being of mankind,'' while also serving as a leader and example for philanthropic efforts the world over. It is a privilege and honor to recognize the centennial milestone of this singular organization on June 11, 2024.

The Kresge Foundation was founded in Detroit in 1924 by department store businessman and philanthropist Sebastian Spering Kresge, whose S.S. Kresge Co.--and later, Kmart--brought affordable goods to everyday Americans in communities across the country. To help commemorate the 25th anniversary of his company's founding, Mr. Kresge set aside a $1.3 million gift for the initial endowment of his foundation, followed up shortly after by an additional donation of 500,000 shares of common stock in the S.S. Kresge Co. This founding endowment not only allowed the Kresge Foundation to establish itself and its mission but to grow alongside the company it shares its name with, ultimately expanding into the global philanthropic organization it is today.

Beginning with its first charitable donation in 1925--a $100 grant to the Salvation Army of Detroit--and expanding outward from there, the Kresge Foundation has built a record of transformative and innovative philanthropic work over its history. Through its grant-making efforts, particularly the use of its signature challenge grants, the Kresge Foundation has awarded over $5 billion in funding over its 100 years to worthy causes across all 50 States, Washington, DC, two U.S. territories, and 18 countries around the world.

Today, its multifaceted work spans six key priority areas, which include arts and culture, community development, the city of Detroit, environment, education, and health and human services. From supporting cutting-edge medical research at the Kresge Eye Institute in Ann Arbor to building bridges to promising futures for Detroit school children at the School at Marygrove, the foundation's impact truly spans the breadth of human endeavor and need.

Perhaps its cornerstone partnership, however, lies with its commitments to

the city of Detroit and its residents. Across the history of the foundation and the city itself, the collaboration between the two has proven indispensable, with the Kresge Foundation playing a key leadership role in navigating the city's ever-evolving opportunities and challenges. Notable efforts include opening up access to the city's waterfront with the creation of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; setting the city on a sustainable, forward-looking path through the drafting of the Detroit Future City plan; stabilizing and reconnecting neighborhoods across the city through the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit program; fostering a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem through the creation of the Gilda Awards, and, finally, assisting with the city's exit from bankruptcy and ensuring that the solutions put forward to address the city's financial challenges were always rooted in principles of justice and inclusivity. Overall, the ongoing collaboration between Detroit and the Kresge Foundation has amounted to over $1 billion in investment made across the city. The impact of those investments on Detroit's many communities, neighborhoods, and families cannot be overstated.

Given this incredibly rich history and exceptional legacy of impact and partnership, I ask you to join me in recognizing the Kresge Foundation as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. As they begin their second century of philanthropic leadership, I am confident that they will continue to build on that good work.

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau on the completion and dedication of the Henry G. Marsh Mural and Plaza Project beneath the I-675 bridge. Sharing the late mayor of Saginaw's name, the Henry Marsh Plaza now highlights a main gateway to downtown Saginaw with improvements to infrastructure, increased safety and space for pedestrian use. It is a privilege and honor to recognize the life and accomplishments of Henry Marsh and the commitment of Go Great Lakes Bay and the many other Saginaw leaders that came together to create this community gathering space.

Descended from an enslaved grandfather, Henry Marsh was born in 1921 in Knoxville, TN. His upbringing in the deep South enabled him to personally witness the struggles of Black Americans attempting to earn equal status as citizens. In 1942, Marsh was drafted into the U.S. Army for World War II, serving in North Africa, and Sicily--arriving at Anzio Beachhead in Italy just 3 days before the Allied invasion.

In December 1945, Henry Marsh was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and returned to Knoxville College where he was a founding member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on campus and served as the organization's president. Henry and his wife Ruth were married in September 1948 in Virginia, before Marsh enrolled at Wayne State University Law School where he earned his law degree in 1950.

Henry and his family moved to Saginaw in 1954, where he opened a law practice and became deeply involved in the community. In 1960, he was approached by a group of businesspeople known as the Committee of Fifty, to run for Saginaw City Council. He became the first African- American to be elected to the council and received the highest vote total of all the candidates.

In 1967, Henry Marsh became the first Black mayor of Saginaw and one of the first three Black ayors elected in the U.S. Marsh held office during the tumultuous late 1960s. Three months into his term, riots broke out in Detroit and within 2 days, made their way to Saginaw. During his tenure as mayor, Saginaw was named an ``All-American City'' by Life Magazine, as well as a model city by HUD. Marsh served as mayor until 1969, when he returned to his law practice and remained deeply involved in the Saginaw community until his death in 2011 at age 89.

Encompassing a 1,560-square-foot area, the Henry Marsh Mural illustrates the late mayor's life and contributions to the city. The artist Stephen Hargash created a mural that showcases Marsh's devotion to his faith, family, and community. The mural reconnects Saginaw's North and South sides and acts as a centerpiece for the new urban space known as Henry Marsh Plaza.

Born out of a promise Annette Rummel, CEO of Go Great Lakes, made to the late mayor to turn the bridge named after him into a space he could be proud of, this mural and plaza project has transformed the area into a well-lit, pedestrian friendly space that reunites the community. This project is one of several legacy projects completed as part of the 2024 Memorial Cup hosted in Saginaw.

I trust that my Senate colleagues will join me in congratulating the Go Great Lakes Bay Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Saginaw leaders on the completion of the Henry Marsh Mural and Plaza Project honoring the legacy of Mayor Henry G. Marsh.

Madam President, we are living through a new era in a fight for reproductive freedom.

This month marks 2 years since the extreme conservative majority on the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. This decision, which was enabled by Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues, has been an absolute disaster for our country.

Republican lawmakers have stripped abortion access from millions of women. They have made clear that they won't stop until they get a national abortion ban. This is all part of an extreme agenda that will go even further--a mission to take away basic freedoms for women all across our country.

We have to step up and protect reproductive health now. Contraception could be the next frontier in that fight.

Republican Governors in Virginia and Nevada have vetoed bills to protect access to birth control. The Arizona legislature has blocked similar legislation. That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Right to Contraception Act.

This legislation is very simple. It guarantees every single American the right to access contraception and ensures that healthcare professionals can provide it without interference from extreme Republican politicians.

Birth control is a pillar of reproductive health care. It is safe. It is effective. It gives millions of women control over when they want to start a family. And some contraceptives have an array of other health benefits, like helping to prevent certain kinds of cancer.

Birth control also helps expand economic opportunity for women all across our country. Access to birth control is linked to better educational outcomes, more professional opportunities, and higher lifetime earnings.

For all those reasons, access to contraception is an issue with overwhelming bipartisan support. More than 90 percent--90 percent--of Americans believe that everyone should be able to access the contraceptives they need.

We must take every measure to prevent dangerous bans on birth control, especially because barriers and access disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities. Black, Hispanic, low-income, and uninsured women are more likely to have issues accessing and affording contraception. Every person should be able to receive this essential care and have the freedom to plan for their future however they see fit.

I call on my colleagues to vote in favor of the Right to Contraception Act. Republicans are bent on taking away reproductive freedoms for women everywhere, and we need to stop them from turning back the clock.

We should also not stop at contraception. We must work to expand access to all sexual and reproductive health services. That means abortion, contraception, gender-affirming care, maternal healthcare, and so much more.

Starting a family is one of the most important--and, clearly, one of the most personal--decisions that a person can make. And politicians should be absolutely nowhere near it.

Let's guarantee women have the reproductive freedom that they deserve.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, tomorrow, the Senate will consider legislation that would send critical resources to secure our borders. This legislation was forged by serious bipartisan negotiations, but when it first came to the Senate floor this past February as part of a foreign aid package, my Republican colleagues voted against it and blocked us from even having a debate on this most serious of issues.

They plan, unfortunately, to do the same tomorrow. They are, once again, refusing to even come to the table to help strengthen our border security and support lawful trade and travel that drives our economy.

This bill is not perfect. It is not comprehensive immigration reform. We must keep working toward a broader approach where we modernize immigration laws and address the immigration system as a whole. But we cannot let that hold us back from taking action right now to secure our borders. This legislation is a meaningful step in the right direction. It would address some of our most pressing challenges on the issue and tackle them head-on.

The bill would allow us to hire more than 2,000 CBP officers, addressing a critical shortage of frontline personnel who safeguard our national security at points of entry each and every day. It would provide $2 billion for advanced screening technology. This would allow CBP to expand use of these tools, helping them to identify illegal cargo and stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl from reaching and poisoning our communities. Fentanyl overwhelmingly enters this country through our ports of entry.

This bill also aims to change the asylum application process, a priority that Congress has been unable to pass for decades.

Republicans in Congress certainly like to talk about the need to secure our borders, but they use this issue to stoke fear in our communities all across the country. But when you get a commonsense bill, like the bill that we have before us, to vote on--a bill that aims to address the problems they claim that they want to solve--they simply walk away.

They talk the talk, but they refuse to walk the walk. We need to walk the walk. And that is why Republicans walked away last February. They took orders from Donald Trump, when he told them to vote against this bipartisan legislation. They made it abundantly clear that Republicans would rather campaign on this issue than actually fix it. They would rather throw rocks than solve the problems facing our country. And, unfortunately, it looks like they are going to do it all again tomorrow.

Americans deserve better. Our communities deserve better. Our frontline personnel deserve better. The victims of the fentanyl crisis deserve better. Those fleeing often horrendous conditions in their home countries and seeking asylum on our southern border, they deserve better. And it is an absolute shame that my Republican colleagues have decided not to act, because these challenges are not going to go away on their own.

As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have worked hard to craft bipartisan bills and pass commonsense border security legislation in my committee. I have had the opportunity to work with key Senators on this issue, including Senators Lankford, Sinema, and Murphy, who helped broker this deal in the first place; and I am going to keep working with any Member of this Chamber who is willing to come together and find common ground and forge solutions to help our country. And I hope some Republicans join me.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following Senators be permitted to speak prior to the scheduled vote: Senator Peters for up to 5 minutes, Senator Lujan for up to 5 minutes, Senator Schmitt for up to 5 minutes, and Senator Hawley for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. President, I rise now in support of Adrienne Noti's nomination to be an associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

The DC Superior Court is the local trial court here in the Nation's Capital. It handles some of the highest caseloads in the entire country. It decides matters that impact the freedom, the livelihood, and the safety of families all across the District of Columbia.

Unfortunately, the superior court has struggled with high judicial vacancy rates in recent years. Mr. President, 12 of the 62 seats on the court are now vacant, and two more will open up in the coming months. This places serious burdens on current judges and delays resolutions for the parties before the court.

The District of Columbia deserves to have these seats filled by dedicated, qualified judges. Adrienne Noti is more than up for the job. She has spent the last 10 years as a magistrate judge on the DC Superior Court, and in that role she has worked across every division, from domestic violence to family law to landlord-tenant issues to criminal cases. She has proven herself to be fair and effective and has shown a deep commitment to the local community here in the District of Columbia.

Before she joined the DC Superior Court, Judge Noti spent a decade in family law, representing underserved

clients and teaching as a clinical law professor. She has spent her career fighting for equal justice and teaching others in the legal community how to do the same.

Judge Noti is highly qualified to serve as an associate judge on the DC Superior Court, and it is past time that we confirm her nomination.

While I am glad we will soon fill one vacancy on the superior court, we must take additional action to confirm the six other nominees that my committee has advanced this Congress, many with strong, strong bipartisan support.

These are not controversial nominations. And I hope that my colleagues will join me in working together to quickly confirm the other nominees and ease the vacancy crisis facing the superior court.

Today's vote is a critical step in that work. And I urge my colleagues to join me in confirming Judge Adrienne Noti to be an associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, when my three children were born, it was unlike anything else I have ever, ever experienced before. Those 3 days were the best in my life, and it is hard to put into words how beautiful and how daunting it is to have a child.

Every American who wants to be a parent should have that opportunity, and when they are faced with medical challenges while starting a family, they should have the right to pursue every resource to help them navigate that process. IVF is one of those tools, and it has helped countless Americans. For those who have experienced frequent miscarriages, suffered from genetic disorders, or are otherwise affected by infertility, IVF is an essential procedure. It is safe. It is necessary. And it has given millions of people the chance to have a family.

Last week, a ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court put the future of IVF in jeopardy. So my Democratic colleagues and I went to work. We proposed a bill that would protect the right to seek IVF treatment for all Americans. I am grateful to Senators Duckworth and Murray for leading the charge on this legislation, and I was proud to be one of the cosponsors.

But, yesterday, Republicans blocked the Senate from passing it. They decided to put politics before protecting a critical medical procedure. They have put this resource at risk, one that has allowed millions of women and LGBTQ Americans to have children. They think that they know better than doctors. They think they know better than parents. They think they know more than four decades of proven science. The bill they opposed is literally pro-life and pro-family. Yet Republicans refused to put it on the floor.

Let's not forget how this all started. Senate Republicans stood with former President Trump when he stacked the Supreme Court with extreme judges. And when the Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it ripped the right to make choices about reproductive healthcare away from millions of women.

And now conservatives across the country feel empowered to take it even further. The ruling in Alabama is just the latest instance in the war against reproductive freedom. It could keep millions of Americans from starting families, and Senate Republicans are just fine with that.

We don't know how far this will go. We don't know what other proven procedures Republicans will try to take away from families in the future. We don't know what effect these rulings will have on new innovations in fertility science. We don't know if they are going to come after birth control next. But one thing is very, very clear: This is just the beginning of their efforts to deny reproductive freedom.

IVF should be available to every American citizen who needs it. And when someone is choosing to have children, politicians should never get in the way.

I call on my Republican colleagues to support the Access to Family Building Act, to stop playing politics and instead stand behind the millions of Americans who simply want--who simply want--the chance to start a family.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise in support of Hampton Dellinger's nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel.

Federal employees must be able to report waste, fraud, and abuse across government without fear of retaliation. Whistleblowers have exposed serious safety shortfalls, wasteful spending, and corruption. They help keep government accountable, and they are indispensable in the oversight work of Congress and the inspectors general.

The Office of Special Counsel protects whistleblowers' rights. The Agency investigates their disclosures and prosecutes instances of retaliation against vulnerable employees.

In addition to those responsibilities, OSC helps ensure that the Federal Government is free from improper partisan activity and protects our servicemembers and veterans from employment discrimination.

Mr. Dellinger is well qualified to lead the Office of Special Counsel. He has nearly three decades of legal experience, including as a senior official in the North Carolina Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice. He has worked with whistleblowers in both the public and private sector and has advanced policies that protect whistleblower rights.

Most importantly, Mr. Dellinger has demonstrated the utmost integrity throughout his career. He is willing to take on powerful interests for the public good and will lead OSC in an independent, nonpartisan way.

I urge my colleagues to join me in confirming Mr. Dellinger to this important role today.

Mr. President, yesterday the Senate considered legislation that would have provided critical aid to our allies and provide resources and authorities to secure our northern and southern borders. The legislation was forged by good-faith, bipartisan negotiations.

But instead of coming together to advance a vital border security bill, my Republican colleagues blocked it--blocked it--from receiving any further debate and potential modification. My Republican colleagues voted against advancing legislation that would make meaningful changes at our border for the first time in decades. It would have provided the personnel, the resources, and the authorities needed to secure our borders, address regional migration trends, and support lawful trade and travel that drives our economy.

I serve as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and I have worked to advance several bipartisan bills to secure our borders. But the legislation we had yesterday was rejected by my Republican colleagues, which would have addressed some of the most pressing challenges at the southern border and actually take them on immediately.

The bill would have allowed us to hire more CBP officers and agents, the men and women who are on the ground protecting our national security and managing our border crossings. It would have provided resources to install more advanced screening technology, tools that help identify illegal cargo and stop dangerous drugs like

fentanyl from reaching our communities. It would have helped the Federal Government go after criminal organizations that traffic harmful drugs across the border.

The bill also aimed to streamline the process for asylum seekers arriving at our southern border, while ensuring individuals who do not qualify are quickly removed. It would have helped to ensure that unaccompanied children who arrive at the border--some of the most vulnerable people in our immigration system--have access to counsel, and it would have established a pathway to permanent residence for Afghan allies who risked their lives in the defense of our national security.

Now, the bill wasn't perfect. It was not meant to be a comprehensive immigration reform, but it was a bipartisan effort to address the challenges that we are now seeing at the southern border. And that is why the National Border Patrol Council, which represents frontline border security professionals, fully supported it, and they urged us to take action. They needed these tools. They were crying out: Please, give us these tools at border.

The conservative editorial board of the Wall Street Journal put it simply in their headline, and it was: ``A Border Security Bill Worth Passing.''

Republicans in Congress initially demanded border security measures to be part of this bill. But in the minute that we actually had a strong, bipartisan security bill on the floor, they decided to walk away. Maybe it is because they have been listening to former President Trump, who publicly fought to sink this bipartisan effort. He doesn't care about making our border more secure or supporting our CBP agents on the frontline or keeping fentanyl out of our communities. He only cares about his chances in November, and he thinks that, if we solve this problem, it is going to hurt his election.

Clearly, Republicans in Congress agreed, and they have made it abundantly clear that they would rather campaign on this issue than actually pass legislation to fix it. They would rather play politics and see themselves on TV and on their favorite network talking about it rather than rolling up their sleeves and actually solving the problem.

My colleagues who worked on this comprehensive bill set a much needed example of bipartisanship. I am proud to work alongside Senator Murphy in our caucus, and I am grateful to serve as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and work closely with both Senators Sinema and Lankford. These are three committed lawmakers, people who did actually roll up their sleeves and actually worked to get things done in a meaningful way. And I certainly appreciate their hard work in negotiating this comprehensive bill.

We are all aware of the challenges we face at the southern border, and it is a shame that a vast majority of my Republican colleagues have decided not to act.

We could still take a critical step to help our allies, however, who are now facing existential challenges. Our international partners are fighting for democracy. Ukraine is standing up to a reckless dictator and protecting its people from his violent campaign. In October, Israel weathered the deadliest terrorist attacks in its history. Taiwan continues to face aggression from the Chinese government. In order to help preserve democracy and stability on the global stage, the United States must stand at their side. We can send help to our international partners when they need it the most.

It has been almost 2 years since Putin initiated his unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. In response, the Ukrainian people have shown incredible bravery and resolve. They have stood up in the face of this dictator to defend their sovereignty and their democracy. They are fighting a courageous battle, not only to protect their own country but to show the world the importance of protecting liberty against an authoritarian regime. For months, Ukraine has needed the United States to help in this fight and provide more military assistance as they push back on Russian forces. And now we have an opportunity to move a bill forward that would send this critical aid to our ally. It will help the Ukrainian Army get the weapons, the intelligence, and the training resources that they need to win this war. It will also include significant humanitarian aid, money that will go directly to those most immediately affected by this conflict.

My home State of Michigan is home to a vibrant Ukrainian-American community. Every day I hear from constituents who are urging the United States to act and act soon, not just to help Ukraine but to defend democratic values all across the globe.

If we fail to pass this legislation, it will play right into Putin's hands. The Ukrainian victories will be nullified, their resolve will have been wasted, and their independent democracy will be in grave danger. We cannot and must not let that happen. I commend President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for their response to Putin's invasion, and I implore my colleagues to pass the bill before us and send them the aid that they so desperately need.

We also now have the ability to send urgently needed resources to Israel in their fight against Hamas and provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza who have been caught in the crossfire of this conflict. Israelis are reeling from horrific attacks on October 7, 4 months ago. Many families are still praying for the safe return of family members being held hostage by Hamas. Others are mourning their loved ones who were killed in the initial attack, and there is no question that the country will never, ever be the same.

I stand with Israel and all those in the region seeking peace and security by passing this legislation. We can support both our key ally in the region and provide relief for innocent civilians in Gaza who have shouldered the burdens of this war.

As we send this urgently needed support, I want to reiterate my calls for both parties to minimize civilian casualties and work toward a lasting peace.

We had a chance to address all of these challenges at once yesterday; but, unfortunately, a significant bipartisan agreement failed, congressional Republicans decided they do not want to secure our border. But today, we can send help to our allies and we can still help protect democracy across the world. The stakes are too high not to act.

I urge my colleagues to vote for the bill before us now and join me in supporting this vital assistance.

Mr. President, as a result of travel with President Biden to Michigan, I was unable to attend vote No. 31 on February 1 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 477, Lisa W. Wang, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade. During the President's visit, I was able to discuss with him the unique capabilities of Selfridge Air Force Base, to recognize the hard work of Michigan autoworkers, and to emphasize Michigan's national leadership in manufacturing. I would have voted yea on the Motion had I been able to attend.

As a result of travel with President Biden to Michigan, I was unable to attend vote No. 32 on February 1 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 476, Joseph Albert Laroski, Jr., of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade. During the President's visit, I was able to discuss with him the unique capabilities of Selfridge Air Force Base, to recognize the hard work of Michigan autoworkers, and to emphasize Michigan's national leadership in manufacturing. I would have voted yea on the motion had I been able to attend the vote.

As a result of travel with President Biden to Michigan, I was unable to attend vote No. 33 on February 1 on the Confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 477, Lisa W. Wang, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International

Trade. During the President's visit, I was able to discuss with him the unique capabilities of Selfridge Air Force Base, to recognize the hard work of Michigan autoworkers, and to emphasize Michigan's national leadership in manufacturing. I would have voted yea on the motion had I been able to attend.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Warren Symphony Orchestra located in Macomb County, MI. Founded in 1972, the Warren Symphony Orchestra and its musicians have worked to provide cultural enrichment, entertainment, and youth education to the Macomb community by supporting and advancing a local orchestra of professional quality. What began as a small project aimed at replacing the Warren Consolidates Schools string program has grown over the past 50 years into thriving arts and culture destination for residents of Warren and Macomb County.

The Warren Symphony Orchestra--WSO--opened its first season in 1973- 1974, playing their first concert on May 5, 1974. Over the next decade, the WSO benefited from growing community support, hosting concerts such as ``Music of the 20s'' and ``A Salute to Poland in April,'' the latter of which celebrated the history of the Polish community in the city of Warren. In this period, the WSO also began to form traditions, including a series of concerts performed by the WSO at the St. Dorothy Church in Warren, the beginning of yearly youth concerts, and General Motors sponsoring the WSO's opening night. By 1979, subscriptions to the Warren Symphony Orchestra had increased by over 143 percent and the WSO began to gain acclaim. The spring performance was chosen by the Detroit Free Press as one of the 10 best performances of the 1979-1980 season in metro Detroit. The WSO has been chosen seven times--2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2014, 2015, and 2017--as Outstanding Community Orchestra at the Detroit Music Awards. Over the years, the WSO has engaged and inspired the Warren community through the delivery of unique concert experiences and themes. Memorable among them was the All-American concert in the spring season of 1982, which features 2 choruses and 2 orchestras: 198 singers, 116 orchestra players, and 1 conducting, accounting for a total of 315 musicians, and a fully staged opera performed in accompaniment with Oakland University in the 2000- 2001 season, to name a few.

In line with their mission of youth education, the Warren Symphony Orchestra has a long history of performing with local youth choirs, bands, and artists. This is in addition to the free music education materials that the WSO provides to the youth in the Macomb community, as well the reoccurring youth concert series that reaches as many as 2,000 elementary students annually.

The Warren Symphony Orchestra has been enriching the lives of Warren and Macomb residents since 1972. As they celebrate their 50th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the cultural and educational contributions that the Warren Symphony Orchestra has made over the past five decades. I wish the Warren Symphony Orchestra continued growth and prosperity in the years ahead.