Floor Statements

Madam President, I want to start out by thanking my dear friend and colleague Senator Cortez Masto for leading the effort to fix this terrible provision.

I have to say I am extremely disappointed in what just happened. Senate Republicans are, once again, showing that they couldn't care less about the impacts of their new extreme law.

Last week, President Trump signed into law Republicans' disastrous ``Big Beautiful Betrayal,'' which, among all the terrible cuts to healthcare, to food assistance, and all of the rest, the ``Big Beautiful Betrayal'' included a damaging provision that will impose a higher tax burden for people who play games at casinos--casinos not just in Nevada but all around this country--and lose money.

You heard that right. Under Republicans' new law, individuals who play blackjack or poker while they are on vacation or wherever they are at--any other games at casinos--will now owe taxes to the government on the money that they lost. That is because Republicans' extreme law placed a new limit on the amount of gaming losses that Americans can deduct.

What does this actually mean? It means if someone wins a big jackpot in Las Vegas and then loses that jackpot later on, they would still be liable for paying 10 percent in taxes on gaming ``income,'' even though they hadn't brought home anything.

Their loss equaled their win. They had no winnings at all.

How can that be right? How does it make sense? I don't know. It is Senate Republican math. That is what they seemed to use in their ``Big Beautiful Betrayal Bill.'' It is not just bad math; it is bad policy.

What makes it even worse is that Senate Republicans snuck in this provision in this terrible bill so they can collect more money from people so that they can pay for more tax giveaways to billionaires. This is exactly what is happening, and it is shameful.

This is going to hurt people who visit casinos. It is going to hurt Nevada's gaming industry more broadly, which supports nearly a third of the jobs in our State. It generates billions of dollars for our local economy.

That is why Senator Cortez Masto and I agreed that we must pass our FULL HOUSE Act and eliminate this new tax burden.

I am extremely disappointed that Washington politicians are refusing to fix the terrible policy they enacted that is going to hurt my State--our State--and our economy.

We need to restore the full wagering loss deduction and bring fairness back to our tax system. I won't stop working and won't stop pushing until this gets done.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, on July 8, 2025, due to unavoidable travel delays because of the weather, I missed rollcall vote No. 373. Had I been present, I would have voted no on vote No. 373, cloture on the nomination of Preston Griffith to be Under Secretary of Energy.

On July 8, 2025, due to unavoidable travel delays because of the weather, I missed rollcall vote No. 374. Had I been present, I would have voted no on vote No. 374, cloture on the nomination of Bryan Bedford to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 2717, and I ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, I rise today to call for a vote on my amendment to protect critical investment and production tax credits for solar and wind projects.

For our Nation to be truly energy independent and to be able to compete with China, we must be a global leader on the energy sources of the future, like solar and wind. But these projects just don't happen overnight. By the time many of these projects are ready to come online, the tax credits to help make them financially viable will have expired because of this bill.

This bill will kill the clean energy industry, costing thousands of good-paying jobs, and will raise energy costs for hard-working families. My amendment gives these industries the runway they need. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong opposition to the devastating and dangerous tax-and-spending bill that Senate Republicans are trying to jam through this weekend on a party line vote, a bill that will gut essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP just to pay for even more tax breaks for billionaires.

So let's be clear about what is happening here. This ``Big Beautiful Betrayal,'' it isn't about fiscal discipline. It is fiscally reckless. It isn't about responsibility or doing what is best for average Americans. It is about misguided priorities. It is about giving more to the ultrawealthy on the backs of hard-working families.

This bill will take away healthcare and food assistance from people and families who need it most just so DC Republicans can pay more for tax cuts for those who need them the least. DC Republicans want to have more tax cuts for those who need them the least.

Once again, Republicans in Congress are putting the interests of the ultrawealthy above the needs of hard-working families, children with disabilities, seniors, and Americans who rely on Medicaid each and every day.

Earlier this year, I held a roundtable in Las Vegas with Nevada families who

rely on Medicaid. For them, Medicaid is not just a talking point. They are not simply pay-fors in a budget bill. Medicaid is a lifeline. It literally keeps their children alive.

I talked to people like Jessica, whose daughter Kay--well, she is 4 years old. She was born with Down syndrome and was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Jessica relies on Medicaid to help cover the cost of weekly physical, speech, and occupational therapies for Kay, all of which are responsible--well, they are helping her learn to walk, to use utensils, to write her own name.

Imagine when her mother sees her write her own name. It is a proud moment.

Kay also has a cardiologist, an endocrinologist to manage conditions related to her Down syndrome. Medicaid covers these doctors. It covers her insulin. It covers the insulin pump that allows Jessica to manage her daughter's diabetes around the clock, all because Kay can't communicate when her blood sugar is dangerously low or high.

And Jessica said something at that roundtable I will never forget. She told me:

I can't imagine losing Medicaid . . . obviously I'm going

to have [to try] to give up something, because I'm not gonna

let her go without insulin and the lifesaving care she needs.

And I can't [even] imagine having to think about what I'd

have to cut or what I'd have to do--

What I would have to do--

in order to pay for the lifesaving care that she needs and

deserves.

Kristy, another Nevada mom, was also at that roundtable. Her daughter Sadie is 13. She has been bravely battling an aggressive form of leukemia for the past 2 years. Since her diagnosis, Sadie has spent more than a year and a half in and out of the hospital undergoing treatment for her cancer--all covered, thankfully, by Medicaid.

Sadie's father--well, he passed away during the COVID pandemic, sadly, and Kristy became Sadie's sole caregiver and sole provider.

Medicaid is critical, and, simply put, it is lifesaving. So why are Republicans looking to cut it? So billionaires can get another tax break? So that Republican lawmakers can hand out trillions of dollars in tax giveaways to the wealthiest 1 percent while thousands of people lose access to lifesaving care?

The cuts proposed to Medicaid--well, they are going to affect veterans and Nevadans with cancer who can't work and who will be kicked off their health insurance, the insurance that they need to stay alive. It will kick the family caregiver, who takes care of both her aging parents, maybe off her own coverage.

The majority of adults on Medicaid already work, and Republicans are counting on savings from these hard-working Americans losing coverage, too, because of paperwork? Paperwork is just going to be so bureaucratic, so full of redtape. The goal is to make it so hard, so damn burdensome, that nobody can do it. No one can go to work, take care of their sick loved one, be sick themselves. They are hoping they drop off, even if they technically qualify. This is where they find their savings.

Aren't we supposed to cut redtape and improve the lives of our constituents? And so this is just cruel. It is a lose-lose situation. People can't work because they have a life-threatening illness, or they are working and they miss the complicated new paperwork which people are hoping that they can't do so they will drop off; and that is where they will find the savings. They will lose their health insurance, and maybe they will drop off, and they will lose their life too.

All for a tax break for the wealthiest, for the billionaire Cabinet of our current President. This is just shameful.

This bill would also slash SNAP, as my colleagues before me have told you some of the statistics. SNAP, the nutrition program that helps nearly one in six Nevadans put food on the table. Most of these recipients are children. When they cut this program, you tell me what our families are supposed to do. You tell me what families are supposed to do when they cut food assistance. How are they going to put food on the table? What will they say to their hungry children? Sorry, kids. You have to go hungry so billionaires can get a tax break.

This just can't be right. This just can't be right.

And it doesn't stop there. This bill threatens thousands of good- paying union jobs in Nevada, across our country, by letting critical tax credits for solar, for wind projects expire before those projects can even get off the ground.

You know, in Nevada, we have more solar jobs per capita, more than any other State in the Nation, and we have enough solar energy to power nearly 1.3 million homes. It is a growing, terrific industry in Nevada. We need all the energy we can get at an affordable price.

And this bill--this bill is going to decimate this important and growing industry, not just in my State but in States across this country.

And on top of that, Republicans have added an additional new tax on wind and solar projects. It just won't kill the industry. Like I said, it is going to raise prices on hard-working families, families who are already paying too much for their energy.

I thought we were supposed to be lowering prices, creating opportunities, expanding and investing in our infrastructure and in our Nation. But this bill is going to add more taxes, slash products, and raise energy prices for hard-working families.

And all of this is causing companies across the country to stall or cancel projects over the uncertainty of losing access to the tax credits. This means fewer jobs, less investment, and just more families wondering, actually, how they are going to make ends meet.

And we are talking about an industry that supports nearly 280,000 American workers: electricians, technicians, construction crews. I could go on and on about all the jobs that are in our solar and wind industry. And we are pulling the rug right out from under them--right out from under them--and killing thousands, hundreds of thousands, of clean energy jobs.

Again, I want to remind you that all of this is for one purpose and one purpose alone: to give tax breaks to billionaires.

So anyone who supports this bill is not pro-worker. They are not looking out for underdogs, for hard-working families. They are just focused on making the rich, well, richer. And I am not going to stand by and let Nevada families lose access to their healthcare, to their food assistance, to their jobs--all so billionaires can pad their pockets.

And I want to remind people what Democrats--what we did--when we used the reconciliation process. We expanded health insurance subsidies; and for the first time, we gave Medicare the authority to negotiate for lower drug prices for our seniors. We invested in our clean energy future. We cut costs for families, instead of cutting lifelines.

And this DC Republican bill is extreme; it is cruel; and it is not what the American people want.

People want lower costs. People want economic security. Parents want their kids to have care when they are sick and a fair shot to thrive.

They don't want their future sold off to billionaires.

So I say to my Republican colleagues: Please don't turn your backs. Please don't turn your backs on families who need you, who need this, the most.

I want you to come look at my Nevada moms and my Nevada dads in the eyes and tell them they don't matter, that their children don't matter, that the lives of their kids don't matter because they won't get the care they need. And I shudder to think of the consequences.

Please, come to Nevada. Sit with these parents and tell them that they don't matter. I don't know how you could face them and gut Medicaid to give billionaires a tax cut, but that is what you are about to do. The American people deserve better. And I will fight every single step of the way to make sure that they get it.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, on June 16, 2025, I missed rollcall vote No. 313. Had I been present, I would have voted no on vote No. 313, cloture on the nomination of Gary Andres to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.

On June 17, 2025, I missed rollcall vote No. 314. Had I been present, I would have voted no on vote No. 314, motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Olivia Trusty to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2025.

Mr. President, as we approach the 13th anniversary of DACA, I rise today in support of this program and the thousands of Nevadans who rely on it.

My State of Nevada is home to more than 12,000 DACA beneficiaries who

know of no other country as their own. They grew up in our communities and contribute to our Nation and to our economy. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family members. Many of them are now even raising their own families here--sending their kids to school, taking them to soccer practice, and going to the park on weekends.

But Washington has failed them. What started out as a temporary program meant to protect Dreamers, while Congress worked to pass a more permanent solution, has turned into a decades-long lifeline for so many. Washington's gridlock and its inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform, with a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, has left them to depend on DACA. It has also opened the doors to attacks from the Trump administration and rightwing extremists.

During his first term, Donald Trump rescinded DACA and threw this critical program into a tailspin, leaving the future of Dreamers and their families to depend on court case after court case.

Can anyone in this Chamber imagine the stress, the fear, the uncertainty that they have had to endure all of these years, not knowing if they would be separated from their families or not?

In his second term, Trump has been relentless--relentless--in attacking and separating hard-working, law-abiding immigrant families, increasing fear and worry in our immigrant communities, including DACA recipients.

If DACA were to end, millions of Dreamers across our Nation would be at risk of having to leave the only country they have ever known, the only place they have ever called home. Parents would face separation from their children, leaving families forever traumatized. And our economy and communities would greatly suffer.

And just imagine--just imagine--the message we would be sending. Nevadans who have done everything right since they arrived in our State, Nevadans who were brought here as kids through no fault of their own and who followed the rules when government asked them to--who followed the rules--Nevadans who have graduated college, Nevadans who have served in the military, Nevadans who have started businesses in our communities, Nevadans who are currently protected could now lose the only life they have ever known.

So it is past time that politicians in Washington stopped using Dreamers as a political football and finally passed a law that permanently protects them. These hard-working Americans deserve to have peace of mind, and they deserve a life without fear.

I want Dreamers to know they have allies in their corner. As Nevada's Senator, I will do everything in my power to protect all of our communities and keep families--keep families--together. Since day one in the Senate, I have been pushing my colleagues to come together, in a bipartisan way, to pass a permanent solution, one that gives Dreamers permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship--a pathway to citizenship now, now--while we continue to work on comprehensive immigration reform that this country so surely needs--surely needs. It shouldn't be a partisan issue.

As long as I am in the Senate, I won't stop fighting for it. I want everyone to know that, in the meantime, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect DACA and the thousands of Nevadans who rely on it.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, in response to the Trump administration's reckless decision to rescind Nevada's approval to receive its share of Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding, I hereby announce that I intend to object to the nominations of Arielle Roth to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information (PN22-25), Paul Dabbar to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce (PN26-12), Pierre Gentin to be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce (PN22-6), and Harry Kumar to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce (PN26-26). I have submitted to the legislative clerk formal notices of my intent to object to these nominees.

Mr. President, I rise today to shine a light on Donald Trump's dismantling of yet another critical program that Nevadans and young people across our Nation rely on--the Job Corps Program.

Job Corps was established by Congress to provide young people with the skills training that they need to access good-paying, in-demand jobs. It is the largest residential career training program in the entire country, providing young people--many of whom were previously homeless or at risk--with housing and skills training in fields like manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.

Once they graduate, they enter the workforce and contribute to our communities and our economy. They learn the skills necessary to build their lives, to build their futures. It is truly a great program that has helped more than 3 million people have a chance at the American dream since 1964.

Unfortunately, Job Corps centers across the country received a stop work order at the end of last week that instructed them to close their doors and send all of their students back home, including Nevada's Job Corps campus, the Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center, in Reno, NV. This is going to be devastating--devastating--for the tens of thousands of young people who are currently enrolled in all 50 States.

The Trump administration--well, it claims it supports trade schools and job training, but, frankly, if this administration really knew anything about the Job Corps Program, they would know that they are trade schools. They are centers where students go, where they study, where they work hard, and where they earn their certifications that allow them access to good-paying jobs. So why is Donald Trump closing down this program and taking away the opportunity for these students to work? It just doesn't make any sense.

Shutting down this program will also immediately evict more than 300 students at the Nevada campus alone, many of whom have nowhere else to go, students like Samuel, who wrote to me, saying:

I am a nineteen-year-old student who attends Sierra Nevada

Job Corps. I happen to be a paraplegic who was adopted at the

age of seven. Since then, I've had many health issues and

trials, which made it very difficult for me to do all of my

school classes. . . . Then I came to Job Corps eight months

ago and am actually doing very well.

Job Corps has provided me with more than just an education

and vocational training; it has offered me a safe haven, a

community, and a path forward.

The comprehensive support [allows] me to focus on my

personal and professional development without the constant

worry of where I will sleep or how I will eat. For

individuals like myself, Job Corps is NOT merely a program;

it is a LIFELINE. The prospect of its closure is not just a

policy issue; it is a PERSONAL CRISIS.

Without Job Corps, I face the grim reality of UNEMPLOYMENT,

of HOMELESSNESS, and the continuation of a cycle of POVERTY

that has been difficult to break.

When rumors of the Trump administration's cruel plan came out, countless Nevadans who care about Job Corps immediately reached out to my office, many sharing their stories of students this program helps.

Job Corps is life-changing, lifesaving for these young people. Since the stop work order went into effect, those students themselves have been reaching out and speaking out too, students like Selena from Reno, who wrote in, saying:

Since being at Job Corps, I have earned six credits in the

three months that I have been here. . . . I also have

received my chainsaw certification and respirator

certification. . . . If Job Corps closes, I won't have any

other chance at an education. I'll leave with an incomplete

trade and be unemployable in what I trained in, and I'll

leave with no diploma.

And Pamela said:

I worked SO hard to get where I am now. Months ago, I was

struggling, trying to figure out life. I didn't know what to

do. I was working from warehouse to warehouse until I heard

about Job Corps.

That's when I knew if I came here to Job Corps, I could do

something with my life and show my son that it is NEVER too

late to accomplish your goals. . . . Now, I'm here working

with 100 percent of my strength and energy. . . . But if Job

Corps closes, I will have no other education opportunities.

These stories are heartbreaking. They are hard to hear. These young people and so many more like them have gained hope and confidence. This administration is going after kids who want to grow, who want to learn, who want to work, who are trying to do the right thing, students who are trying to do what they have been told their whole lives to do: Get an education,

work hard, and get a good-paying job to be able to live the American dream.

This closure is not only going to hurt those kids, this closure is going to hurt those looking to serve our Nation, those young folks who wish to join our military, students like Anthony, who wrote:

I was recommended to go to Job Corps by my older brother,

who had graduated from here back in 2013, and he is now

working as a contractor for the United States Air Force, and

he believes it's all thanks to Job Corps.

If Job Corps closes, I will be at a disadvantage in my

pursuit of joining the military, which is my goal. Without

Job Corps, I will be unable to earn my diploma and unable to

leave with the required certifications for the career that I

think will be amazing for my future.

So now just imagine tens of thousands of students just like Samuel, just like Selena, Pamela, and Anthony who are working on building a better life for themselves, working hard. They want to build a better community for everyone. That is who the Trump administration is sacrificing, students like Samuel, Pamela, Selena, and Anthony, kids who want to build a life for themselves. And for what and for whom? Tax cuts for the ultrawealthy--that is who.

As I share these stories, students at Sierra Nevada Job Corps are walking across the stage right now, which could be their final graduation. Meanwhile, sadly, this administration is working overtime to give billionaires like Elon Musk more government contracts, more money, and more tax breaks and putting the American dream out of reach for thousands of students in need. It is putting their future and the future of our communities at risk. Again, I say, for what and for whom is the sacrifice of our kids? It is to give billionaires a bigger tax break.

This program has support from both sides of the aisle. There are Job Corps centers in blue States and red States. Since 1964, this program has helped literally thousands of young folks build a career and build a life. We cannot allow Donald Trump to end Job Corps and kill the dreams and opportunities for young people across our country.

Mr. President, I urge my colleagues in both parties to join me in supporting Job Corps and pledging to do everything we can do to fight back against any and all efforts to defund this critical trades program--a critical program for the lives of our young students.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I want to begin by thanking my colleague from Florida for his bipartisanship and his partnership, including to pass this bipartisan resolution to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month by unanimous consent.

I also want to take a moment to speak about the horrific murders that took place last night. Like so many other Jews in America and around the world, I woke up this morning heartbroken by the news of yet another unspeakable act of anti-Semitic violence that occurred late last night, this time--this time--in our Nation's Capital, less than 1 mile from where I am standing this very moment. This shooting occurred outside of the Capital Jewish Museum, where the American Jewish Committee was holding a large event. And the shooter went there specifically to target and kill Jews and people whom he perceived to be Jewish.

This is anti-Semitism--plain and simple. There is no justification in the world for carrying out or condoning this violent and vile hate crime. It is pure anti-Semitic violence.

My heart is shattered for the two Israeli Embassy workers who were killed, Yaron and Sarah--taken from us far, far too soon. Both were committed to public service, social action, peace, the betterment of the world. They were a young couple in love.

I have read reports that Yaron was planning to propose to Sarah next week in Israel.

They were cruelly taken from us far too soon at the beginning of their lives. May their memory be a blessing, and may their killer be brought to swift justice.

It is a tragedy that these innocent lives were cut short by hate, and it continues to be a tragedy that these incidents continue to occur in the United States and all over the world.

Over the last few years alone, we have seen anti-Semitic hate and extremist violence. It has done nothing but increase across this country. All over America, Jewish people, we have been threatened, beaten, verbally accosted. We have been killed just because of our faith, just because of whom they are--because of whom we are.

We have seen horrendous anti-Semitic incidents and attacks on Jewish communities, at schools and on college campuses, and Jewish-owned places of business, and on synagogues and places of worship.

And incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States and globally have risen dramatically since Hamas's brutal terrorist attack on October 7. All of it--all of it--is wrong and has no place in our country, no place in our society, no place in the world.

Those who commit these egregious acts, they want to send a message. They want to terrorize Jews. They want to scare Jews. They want to intimidate us. And it is vital that we all stand up together and send a clear and forceful message, and the message is this: We will not be afraid.

We will not be afraid.

We cannot be silent. There is desperate need to confront dangerous and growing anti-Semitism in our country and around the world to show that bigoted efforts to intimidate us will not work. We cannot be afraid. We cannot be silent.

That is why I am here on the Senate floor today. By passing this resolution and recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month, we are not just celebrating the numerous accomplishments and contributions that Jews have made to our country, we are sending the message back, a message that Jewish people have a place in America; that this is our home as well; that our lives, that they have value and they have meaning, just like anyone else; and that our country stands with it.

So I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for allowing this resolution to pass, and I want to thank Senator Scott of Florida for his partnership in the effort to counter anti-Semitism and hate everywhere.

So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 246 submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Thank you, Madam President. Again, thank you to all my colleagues for passing this important resolution unanimously today.

Madam President, hard-working families in Nevada and all across this country are struggling to make ends meet because of rising costs on everything, from groceries to housing, all of which has been made worse by Donald Trump's tariffs that are driving prices even higher.

Nevadans, our families, we are being squeezed, and they need real relief. They need us to work together to lower costs for them. That is why I introduced the No Tax on Tips Act alongside Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, which would eliminate Federal income taxes on tipped wages.

For so many service and hospitality workers, tips aren't extra; it is part of their income that they use to make ends meet. Tips are how Nevadans pay their rent, cover their groceries, take care of their families, their kids.

And Nevada has more tipped workers per capita than any other State. So this bill would mean immediate financial relief for countless hard- working families.

No tax on tips was one of President Trump's key promises to the American people, which he unveiled in my State of Nevada. And I am not afraid to embrace a good idea wherever it comes from. So I agreed we need to get this done.

This is not a time for politics. It is a time for progress for hard- working Americans. This bipartisan bill is a good idea that has support from Democrats and Republicans. So we should pass it as soon as possible without any poison pills.

The problem is that the House Republicans have included a version of the No Tax on Tips Act in their bigger budget bill--a bill that cuts Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs families rely on, to give more tax breaks for billionaires and the ultrawealthy.

So we shouldn't be forcing working families to choose between keeping their healthcare or keeping their tips, which is why we want this bipartisan bill to pass on its own--on its own--not part of a harmful, extreme budget bill.

If we are serious about providing service employees with financial relief, let's do it now. Let's do it today because the American people, they get sick and tired of Washington games.

So let's pass this bill without playing politics, without taking away healthcare and food assistance from families who need it the most. Let's pass it by itself.

That is why I am calling on the Senate to pass the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act right here, right now, as a stand-alone bill. We are going to cut taxes for real hard-working Americans, for Nevadans, for everyone, not just for billionaires. We are going to cut taxes on service workers' tips without cutting Medicaid or SNAP. And let's get this done with strong guardrails so CEOs and the ultrawealthy don't exploit loopholes meant to help working people. Let's pass it today.

Nevadans sent me here to fight for them, and so I am going to keep working to lower costs, to raise wages, and to make sure people who power our economy--our working families--can keep more of what they earn. And through this bipartisan bill, it shows that I am not going to allow Washington gridlock and partisanship to block a bill without a fight. That is why we are going to pass it today, taking matters into my own hands, with the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to pass our bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act by unanimous consent.

And so, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 129 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Madam President, I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, before I yield my time to the Senator from Texas, I just want to say this is great news for Nevada. Our bill just passed. Our hospitality and service staff are working harder than ever while being squeezed by rising costs. This bill is not the be-all and end-all, but it is going to offer immediate financial relief while the Senate continues to work to lower costs and find other avenues of relief for hard-working families.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor a great American and an exceptional member of the U.S. Air Force, Col. Kristin ``Norris'' Beitz.

As deputy chief of the Department of the Air Force's Senate Liaison Division from June 2022 to July 2023, Colonel Beitz performed her duties well and without reservation, supporting the 117th and 118th U.S. Congresses. Hailing from Reno, NV, Colonel Beitz is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and has served in the Air Force for over 20 years, including 12 in our shared home State of Nevada. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional and unrivaled officership. Colonel Beitz is a command pilot with over 3,000 hours of flight time in the A-10, MQ-1B, and MQ-9 aircraft. She is a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, NV, where she also served as an instructor.

Colonel Beitz distinguished herself through her professional character and dedication to serving our Nation in uniform, leading five action officers in the Senate Air Force Liaison Office. In this role, she advised Department of the Air Force senior leaders and helped develop strategic engagement opportunities to advance U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force priorities. Her leadership facilitated seamless collaboration on behalf of the Department of the Air Force across 62 congressional offices, supporting over 30 delegations for 150 Senators, Representatives, and staffers to showcase Department equities in the United States and abroad. Most notably, under her leadership, she drove preconfirmation engagements for the second-ever Chief of Space Operations and worked with the Senate Space Force Caucus to coordinate three events critical to educating Members and their staff on the Department of Defense's newest service. Her efforts helped solidify the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and ensured the Department of the Air Force's support of the National Defense Strategy in its Reoptimization for Great Power Competition.

Additionally, Colonel Beitz co-authored the Department of the Air Force's Distinguished Public Service Award for the then-retiring ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the late-Senator Jim

Inhofe, and served as a direct liaison for the joint military presentation ceremony as the Secretary of the Air Force honored Senator Inhofe's 56 years of public service. She led the congressional delegation to the Air Force's B-21 bomber unveiling and the bicameral 2022 Reagan National Defense Forum. Colonel Beitz's significant efforts led to over 200 successful engagements between this governing body and senior Department of Defense officials, including the Secretary of the Air Force. All of these engagements helped Senators and their staffs understand defense equities and their impact on national security. Due to her direct involvement and stewardship, Members of Congress were able to make informed decisions and ensured the Department of the Air Force was properly resourced and funded. After serving in this crucial role and becoming a fixture on Capitol Hill, Colonel Beitz moved on to serve as the director of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Washington, DC, office.

Colonel Beitz's contributions extend far beyond operational excellence. She played a pivotal role in working with my office on the unique challenges faced by remotely piloted aircraft crews, such as those at Nevada's Creech Air Force Base, where Colonel Beitz served for many years. Her insight and advocacy helped shape my National Defense Authorization Act priorities to address these gaps and oversights. Colonel Beitz's dedication to supporting those in uniform, even beyond her formal liaison duties, has been invaluable. She has continued to serve as a resource to my office on these and other issues.

I would be remiss not to mention the personal connections Colonel Beitz has fostered during her time here. I have personally enjoyed meeting her parents and children at our constituent coffees--the Battle Born Breakfast--and her son outside of the Senate Chamber as he interviewed me for his elementary school project. Colonel Beitz's thoughtfulness and capacity to connect with others on a personal level while performing her duties at the highest echelon of professionalism is a true testament to her work ethic and care for those around her.

Colonel Beitz and her husband, Col. Andy Beitz, who is also a command pilot and recently retired from the U.S. Air Force, have together flown over 6,000 hours as Air Force aviators and have instilled a legacy of service for their children Ezekiel and Eloise. They have sacrificed much as a family in service to our Nation. I am thankful for Col. Kristin Beitz's service in the Air Force, in the Senate, and with my office on issues of vital importance to the defense of the United States. I salute this American patriot whose selfless service has kept our country safe and strong. She is ``Battle Born.''

Mr. President, I represent a State that Donald Trump won in November. And one of the reasons he did was his promise on the campaign trail that he would lower costs for Nevada families.

He said this:

[O]n day one, we will end inflation and make America

affordable again.

And he said--and I am going to quote again:

When I win, I will immediately bring prices down starting

on day one.

Well, it has now been 74 days since he was sworn in, and it is clear that he actually didn't mean any of that. He betrayed the American people, and he lied to Nevada families.

Instead of lowering costs, he has done the opposite and imposed policies that have actually raised the costs. Two days ago, President Trump proclaimed April 2 as ``Liberation Day,'' the day the administration announced the most sweeping tariff hikes in almost a century.

And just in the last 48 hours, this is what has happened: The stock market had its single worst day since 2020, at the start of the pandemic. It was on track to match or exceed that loss today. Car companies have already had to lay off hundreds of workers at their U.S. plants. And nearly half of the 60 countries that were targeted by President Trump have already announced retaliatory tariffs, which will only raise prices further and hurt American small businesses--Nevada's small businesses.

And all of this is before many of these tariffs actually go into effect at midnight tonight.

Most importantly, these tariffs, well, they are reckless, and they will decimate businesses around the country, and, like I said, including in my great State of Nevada.

I have already heard from Nevadans and Nevada business owners who are worried about how these new tariffs will impact their businesses, their livelihoods, and their families, including the founder of a small business in Reno.

They wrote to me saying:

We maintain a small production facility in Reno . . . these

duties will force us to raise retail prices by 37 percent,

and we don't believe our customers will accept that. This

policy could wipe us out entirely.

And I am going to quote again:

I'm not asking for a favor. I'm asking for leadership that

reflects the urgency and reality that we face. These tariffs

do not bring jobs back. They raise prices, punish small

businesses, and put livelihoods at risk, while making it

harder for companies like mine to do what we've done for

thirteen years: create jobs, innovate, and support our

families.

And it is not just our small businesses in Nevada that will be hit the hardest. Our families--our families--already being squeezed by the high costs, are going to see prices go up even further.

And let's be clear, these tariffs--Trump's tariffs--they are a national sales tax. From your medication to gas, to the groceries you buy, Republican tariffs will increase the cost for goods for hard- working families across this country, things we rely on every single day.

Tariffs are also going to increase what you pay at the fuel pump. They are going to increase the price of construction materials, making housing even more expensive.

Through his national sales tax, Trump is passing along higher costs to everyone, no matter where you live--passing them on to everyone. That is what Trump's sales tax is doing. That is what Trump's tariffs are doing.

In fact, a nonpartisan policy research center recently found that these new taxes, well, they are going to cost the average family nearly $4,000 a year--$4,000 a year--all while increasing home prices by roughly $20,000 and car prices by $3,000.

Where will it end? It makes absolutely no sense. It is just plain cruel to hurt families by raising costs when their budgets are already squeezed.

And this also hurts Nevada's local economy because when people start tightening their wallets because prices are higher everywhere they go, we start to see a decline in tourism, the very backbone of Nevada's economy. And we are already seeing the impacts. Domestic travel into Harry Reid International Airport was already down last month, which means fewer hotel rooms booked and fewer tourists visiting the entertainment capital of the world. International travel in the United States is also down, which is driving our visitor numbers down--again, hurting our economy more and more every day.

In fact, in the wake of Trump's tariffs on Canada that went into effect last month, bookings for flights from Canada into the United States are already down--down by 70 percent--compared to this time last year.

And here is the most troubling part: A recent report estimates that up to 14,000 hospitality jobs could be at risk due to decreased international travel as a direct result of Trump's tariffs.

When President Trump was confronted about the rising costs due to these tariffs, well, what did he say? Well, he said this. President Trump said:

I couldn't care less.

``I couldn't care less.'' That is actually what he said to all of us, to all of you. And that should tell you everything you need to know about where his priorities lie.

Donald Trump isn't focused on the American people, on all of us. He is focused only on making himself and his billionaire friends even richer.

While everyday families are paying the price, the wealthiest individuals and corporations are going to get more tax cuts, better tax cuts, leaving working families to shoulder the financial burden of his reckless decisions. And they will feel it every month at the kitchen table, when they go to pay their bills, every week when they go to the grocery store, every week when they go to the gas pump, when they try to buy a new home or even repair the one that they have now.

This isn't the direction we should be heading. As Democrats, we believe in a fairer economy, one where working

families are not left behind. We believe in policies that create good- paying jobs, reduce costs for families, and hold corporations accountable for their actions. We believe in an economy that rewards hard work and makes it easier for the middle class to thrive.

We owe it to our constituents, like the Nevada small business owner who wrote to me worried about how Trump's tariffs will hurt him. And that is why we are all here, because we have a responsibility to our constituents, to our family, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our communities to support policies, well, that benefit them, and to stand up to policies that do not, policies that hurt them, like Trump's reckless tariffs, Trump's national sales tax.

So it is time to put the needs of the American people first. It is time to deliver real relief to our workers, to our families, to our businesses that have been struggling for far too long.

So I urge my colleagues across the aisle to stand up against Trump's reckless tariffs, to stop this extreme Republican budget, which will increase costs on all Americans, on all families, on everyone, no matter what ZIP code or State you live in.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, we are here today to talk about our Federal budget. Republicans are, once again, going to use the budget reconciliation process to pass a massive new tax cut for billionaires-- a massive new tax cut for the billionaires--and the ultrawealthy, paid for by cutting programs and services critical to Americans' health, like Medicaid.

This is going to affect children, families, even the men and women who serve our country. This would be on top of devastating cuts that Elon Musk and Donald Trump--well, that they are already implementing across the government--cuts that are hurting men and women who bravely served this country, cuts that are hurting our national security, and cuts that, sadly, cruelly, are making life harder for our veterans.

I don't have to tell anyone here the Department of Veterans Affairs provides essential care to the men and women who served this Nation as well as their families who worry about them every single day.

These services are not a luxury for our veterans; they are a necessity. They are a promise that we, as a nation, will take care of those who are willing to risk their lives for our safety and for our freedom. This is the very least we can do for those who sacrificed so much.

But instead of working to cut down on wait times at the VA or expanding access to these critical services for our veterans, the Trump administration announced a plan to cut 80,000 employees from the Agency, where one-quarter of those employees are veterans themselves, as Senator Klobuchar just alluded to.

It is bad enough that those 80,000 people are out of a job, through no fault of their own, but on top of that, this misguided action is only going to make those wait times longer--make them worse--and it is going to limit the Agency's ability to care for and to support our veterans.

Of course, we are not just talking about healthcare here. The VA provides services on everything from short- and long-term housing options, life insurance, pensions, education stipends, and assistance for our--our--veterans, not Democrat or Republican veterans, our veterans, the veterans who served the United States of America, not a red America, not a blue America, America. These are our veterans. It is our responsibility.

The VA plays a pivotal role and particularly plays a role in groundbreaking public health research.

This is not the first time that Trump and Musk are attacking the government Agency that our veterans depend on. I can't even believe I am saying this, but they have gone after the Veterans Assistance Hotline and the Veterans Crisis Line--the Veterans Crisis Line. This line provides veterans with lifesaving mental health support and support for navigating the complexities of getting the care they need. Could you imagine?

These cuts, they are just not numbers on a page. These are real people--employees who work tirelessly to make sure that our veterans have someone to talk to in their deepest, darkest moments, many of these employees veterans themselves.

I have had veterans come to my office in tears who are there helping younger veterans who come back to save them from the brink of suicide. They cry to me: Please don't cut these services.

We have to help each other. These hotlines save lives every day. That is what my veterans services folks are telling me. It is what I know, and it is what we all know.

Firing these staff members, it means fewer people answering the phone when a veteran is in need. We don't know what hour of the day that will be. There are going to be fewer people to help guide them through the system. There would be fewer people ensuring that they receive the benefits that they have earned through their service.

Veterans, they already face long wait times for medical appointments, overwhelmed VA staff, and a system that is already stretched far too thin to meet the demand. Now these layoffs are only going to exacerbate the problem. It is just unconscionable. Frankly, it is just plain cruel.

I, for one--and I hope everyone here, I know everyone in Nevada-- believe that our veterans deserve respect and deserve so much better.

You don't have to take it from me. Veterans in my State of Nevada are paying attention. They have been reaching out to my office every single day to push back on these reckless actions.

In fact, I am going to read a letter I got from a veteran in Reno. A veteran wrote to me, and I am just going to quote their letter:

I am a Nevada veteran, raised in Reno. I joined the Marine

Corps after high school and served honorably to then return

home to begin my studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Veterans have fought for their fellow countrymen and women

due to their selflessness and sense of responsibility to

protect our communities. Senator, I am asking you to return

the favor and protect our Veterans from President Trump's

attack on the PACT Act and his cutting of VA jobs.

That is just one of the letters I recently received.

Another veteran from Las Vegas wrote to me. Again, I am going to quote their words. It starts like this:

I, as a veteran, am concerned with the continued attacks on

the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am currently awaiting a

benefits claim for a condition that the army claims to have

caused, as well as receiving treatment only through the VA.

I served two tours in the army as a combat medic and [I] am

entitled to my benefits. These attacks delay care and create

undo anxiety both regarding my health and [my] finances. I

implore you to fight with everything you can.

This is from a combat medic, imploring me to do everything I can.

So the idea that cutting jobs at the VA for the sake of ``government efficiency,'' it is nothing more than a smokescreen. This isn't wasteful spending. This is not wasteful spending. I can't say that often enough. Taking care of our veterans, it is not a waste. Serving our veterans, it is not a waste. Our veterans are not a waste, and this isn't wasteful spending.

The people who work at the VA, they serve our country, and they serve those who have served our country. And they are proud of it. They provide services that help our veterans access critical healthcare and the benefits they rely on. By failing to protect that, we are failing our veterans, plain and simple.

It doesn't end there. Congressional Republicans are following suit, and they are proposing cuts to other critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP, both of which millions of veterans rely on to pay for more of their tax breaks for billionaires. So they are going to cut Medicaid, cut SNAP, cut the VA. Why? Because billionaires, the people who need it least, are going to take it from the people who need it most. I am going to say that again. They are cutting benefits for people who need it the most to give it to billionaires who need it the least. They don't need any more money. They have plenty.

More than a million veterans live in a household that participate in SNAP, that food assistance program. Ten percent of veterans under the age of 65, well, they are covered by Medicaid. Make no mistake, cuts to SNAP, cuts to Medicaid, just like cuts to the VA, are going to hurt our veterans and their families.

We cannot allow these cuts to go through without understanding their devastating consequences. The men and women who served our Nation deserve better. We have promised them better.

Veterans aren't the only ones being impacted by these devastating cuts from Elon Musk and the Trump administration. Every single one of us--all of us--are being put at risk. The very safety of our Nation is threatened by the cuts this administration is making.

We have heard, time and time again, from those in Congress who prioritize a very strong national defense that we have to protect our military. And, of course, I am right here with them. Of course, we need to make sure our military has the funding and the resources to protect itself, protect our freedoms, and make sure Americans are safe around the world.

But, you know, our security as a nation isn't just protected with our military might. Defense is just one of the three legs of a stool which our national security stands upon. Without diplomacy and development, our defense is weakened--the three-legged stool: defense, diplomacy, and development.

Yet the Trump administration has gutted USAID. And even the current Republican agenda has proposed even more cuts that would reduce our global leadership, leaving us with a national security strategy that is dangerously out of balance.

For decades, USAID has been the cornerstone of our foreign policy. The Agency has worked to help prevent conflicts, respond to global pandemics, promote democracy, and strengthen the economies of our partners, which all of that, in turn, strengthens us and creates new opportunities for us. And it does all of this for less than 1 percent of the Federal budget.

Despite this, the Trump administration and Elon Musk have cut efforts to vaccinate populations against infectious diseases and to trace outbreaks. Do you know what? This leaves Americans abroad and at home at high risk.

They have cut programs that foster stability in the areas that are on the brink of war. And they have cut programs in which our partners and allies depend on.

Now that we have stepped away from our leadership role around the world, we are seeing those who do not share our values--China and Russia. When we leave, who rushes in to fill the gaps? They do. Make no mistake, China and Russia are there to fill the gaps. And I ask this question: How does any of this make us safer?

We cannot afford to ignore the importance of diplomacy and development in our national security strategy. To do so would be to ignore the lessons of history, which tell us that investing in peace and stability abroad is just as crucial as investing in our military at home.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration has not only gutted USAID, it has also cut funding to the State Department for support for counterterrorism, counternarcotics, cyber security, anti-trafficking, and so much more.

These programs are not wasteful spending. They are investments in our national security, in the health of our citizens, in the safety of the world. These efforts help us build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future for the United States, and they must be prioritized alongside defense or, make no mistake, we will all pay the price.

At a time when global instability is on the rise, it is critical that we take a comprehensive approach to security.

Our military men and women are indispensable, and so are the diplomats and aid workers who help build the conditions for lasting peace and prosperity around the world.

The stakes are incredibly high. By attempting to eliminate entire Agencies like USAID or slashing national security programs at the State Department, the Trump administration is undermining our long-term security. By slashing funding for the VA and cutting jobs that support our veterans--cutting the Veterans Crisis Line--the administration is turning its back on those who have already sacrificed so much for this country.

And this isn't just a matter of dollars and cents; this is about our values,

about who we are as a people, about what we stand for, what we respect, who we honor, who we care for, and how we stand up for each other. It is about ensuring that the men and women who serve in this country and those who protect our national interests around the world have the support, respect, and what they need to succeed and protect each and every one of us.

We can't afford to let these cuts go through, and I urge my colleagues to stand with our veterans and their families, our military and their families, and our global security partners. Let's protect the people who protect us. Let's invest in the diplomacy and development efforts that keep us safe. Let's ensure that the men and women who have proudly served this Nation get the care and respect they deserve.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 2152 and ask that it be reported by number.

Madam President, middle-class families are being squeezed by high costs, particularly now that President Trump has essentially enacted a sweeping national tax through his tariffs.

Instead of giving billionaires more tax giveaways, we need to give hard-working families financial relief.

My amendment is simple. It will level the playing field by cutting taxes for the middle class and small businesses, while ensuring big corporations and the ultrawealthy pay their fair share.

It is time we put hard-working families first, and it is about time to give those tax breaks to middle-class families and small businesses in each of our States.

I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, since October 7, when Hamas launched the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel's history, Israel has continued to face a barrage of threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies in the region. Attacks on Israel, they didn't just happen on October 7. That is when it started.

The resolutions we are debating today will hurt Israel's ability to defend itself against these attacks. These resolutions would block weapons that are critical to restocking Israel's defenses and deterring Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others.

Just this weekend, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel.

If passed, these resolutions would embolden more attacks like these from Iran and, again, its terrorist proxies. It would send a disastrous statement to the world, emboldening terrorism and potentially prolonging wars in the region.

Now, I know some on my side of the aisle are considering supporting these resolutions because they may disagree with the current Israeli Government. But let's be clear. Support for the U.S.-Israel relationship is not an endorsement of all the actions of any one Israeli Government, in the same way that other nations' support for America does not equal an endorsement of all the actions, well, by the Trump administration.

So I urge my colleagues to stand with and stand for our historic and mutually beneficial relationship with Israel and the Israeli people.

As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel has been our strongest ally in the region, and the passage of these resolutions, well, it would damage our bond for years to come.

Government leaders, politicians, well, they come and go, but our commitment to Israel's security must be ironclad.

Restricting much needed arms to Israel because you don't agree with everything the current government is doing will leave our ally vulnerable, not only to current threats of terrorism but to future threats of terrorism.

While Israel has an absolute right to defend itself and the aid provided to Israel is critical to its defense, I do share the concerns of many of my colleagues about the need to limit civilian casualties during these conflicts. That is an important reason why I oppose these resolutions.

The joint direct attack munitions, or JDAMs--the very same guidance kits that would be restricted by one of these resolutions--would actually help convert unguided, dumb bombs into more accurate ones. These save civilian lives by enabling the Israeli Air Force to hit military targets more precisely than they would without JDAMs.

By providing Israel with JDAMs, which make weapons more precise and more accurate, we are helping Israel to defend itself, while also working to minimize civilian casualties.

The munitions these resolutions would block are also critical because Israel continues to face threats from both above and below the ground. For this reason, it is essential that Israel be able to reach all their military targets, including reinforced concrete structures like terror tunnels, weapons depots, factories, and rocket missile sites.

These resolutions would undermine these capabilities.

I know many of you here are torn. You want to do what is right for Israel, the United States, and the region. And I believe that we all share a goal of ending the war between Hamas and Israel, and we all look forward to a future without hostilities where the hostages taken by Hamas are finally all freed.

Right now, 59 hostages--only about half of whom are still believed to be alive, including a living American hostage--still are in Hamas captivity. They are still in Hamas captivity. And I think we can all agree that freeing all of these hostages is a fundamental piece to ending the war.

Passing these resolutions could threaten that goal. We have seen Hamas harden their stances on negotiations when they perceive gaps between the United States and Israel. After almost 550 days--550 days-- the hostages cannot afford to have Hamas delay one day longer.

So to best ensure the safety and security of Israel and the Palestinian people, to end civilian casualties on both sides, and to ensure we never ever have another October 7 again, Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power in Gaza in any capacity.

I still hold hope for a future where two states live side by side in peace--a future that is free from Hamas, which has devastated countless lives in the region, of both Israelis and Palestinians.

And the key component of making this a reality is to make sure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge to push Hamas out of Gaza for good.

Passing these resolutions would do the opposite. It would allow Hamas to entrench even further in Gaza, believing Israel's stockpiles are decimated, allowing them to expand their foothold, emboldening their current and future assault of Israelis and oppression of the Palestinians.

Blocking these arms sales will hurt Israel. It will send the wrong message to Hamas, to Iran, and to all of its terrorist proxies that America is abandoning our ally.

So I want to be clear. I want to repeat this: The message to terrorists, if these bills are passed--the message to terrorists--will be that they can continue without impunity.

If we are serious about preventing another atrocity like October 7, if we are serious about limiting civilian casualties, if we are serious about ensuring that Israel can defend itself, if we are serious about sending a message to terrorists around the globe, if we are serious about a stable path forward, and if we are serious about stability in the region and a safe and secure State of Israel, someday living alongside a peaceful, independent Palestinian State, I urge all of my colleagues to vote no on these resolutions.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the legacy of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, who passed away on March 15 at the age of 87. For 32 years, Congresswoman Lowey proudly served her district in the House of Representatives, fighting on behalf of women, children, and families not just here in America, but also around the world. She served on the prestigious House Appropriations Committee for 28 years, ultimately becoming the first woman to serve as the committee's chair. She was a tireless advocate to help those society often overlooked. She was also someone I was lucky to call a friend. She was kind, funny, and a master legislator that I was lucky to learn from.

In Judaism, the term ``tikkun olam'' refers to the concept that Jews are commanded to repair and improve the world. Few people have embodied this concept more beautifully than Nita. Throughout her time in Congress, she championed issues of importance to the Jewish people, creating the House Bipartisan Taskforce to Combat Antisemitism and advancing legislation to protect Jewish communities in America and abroad. She was a lifelong supporter of the US-Israel relationship, using her powerful role on the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee to ensure Israel's defense needs were supported. Yet she never gave up hope for a future two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, pushing through the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA), landmark legislation that established a fund supporting joint Israeli-Palestinian economic projects and people-to-people peacebuilding efforts, in her final years in Congress.

But Nita's call to repair the world was far reaching, and she was driven to help all people, especially women and girls. When she first got to Congress and learned that NIH clinical trials weren't required to include women or people of color--remarking that ``even the lab rats were male''--she spearheaded a bill that changed that. She fought fiercely for women's reproductive rights and services in the U.S. and abroad, believing that when women have control over their own bodies, they are able to control their own destinies. And as a former PTA president in the Bronx, Nita knew the transformative impact education has for all children, particularly girls. An advocate for all forms of foreign assistance, Nita believed that U.S. international development hinged on education, often referring to it as ``the single greatest force multiplier in foreign aid.'' Through her leadership, she turned the United States into the global leader for international basic education, working for more than a decade to pass the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act and push funding for these programs to an all time high. Thanks to

Nita's legacy, millions of children around the world have the chance at a better future.

Nita was beloved by legislators on both sides of the aisle, as evidenced by the many bipartisan statements after she passed. But this love could not match that of her family, including her three children, her eight grandchildren, and her devoted husband Stephen Lowey. No matter how pressing her responsibilities were in DC, Nita's family remained the center of her life, and her commitment was an example to us all.

Nita was a force to be reckoned with, and her legacy will long outlive her. Her memory will be a blessing to the millions of lives that have benefited from her work, and she will continue to be an inspiration to me and all those who are compelled to repair the world.