Floor Statements

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale

may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Congressman Russ Fulcher to honor Mayor John Evans, a remarkable leader whose dedication and vision have profoundly shaped the Garden City community. After 20 years of service, Mayor Evans is retiring and marking the end of an important era for this city.

Mayor Evans, a Vietnam war veteran and lifelong public servant, has been a steadfast presence in Garden City since 1989. First elected mayor in November 2005, he previously served on the city council for a decade and 3 years on the Garden City Planning & Zoning Commission. Under his strong leadership, Mayor Evans has guided the city through significant growth and business development. Since the start of his 30- year tenure, Garden City's population has nearly doubled from over 6,000 residents in 1990 to 13,000.

Throughout his time in office, Mayor Evans has fostered a vibrant and safe community. He oversaw the construction of essential infrastructure, including the Garden City West and Whitewater Park bridges, and enhanced pedestrian accessibility and neighborhood connectivity.

As he prepares to pass the torch, Mayor Evans leaves behind a legacy of service, collaboration, and community spirit that will continue to inspire. His dedication has truly transformed Garden City for the better and positioned it for a bright future.

On behalf of the residents of Garden City and all who have benefited from his efforts, we extend our sincere gratitude to Mayor John Evans for his extraordinary service. We wish him all the best in his retirement, knowing that his impact on the community will be felt for years to come.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor All Hands Vending in Rexburg as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

Dan and Theresa Willis, both Navy veterans, founded All Hands Vending in January 2020 with the mission of helping companies enhance employee retention and workplace environments through breakroom services. After his own experience with low company morale, Dan knew he wanted to make a difference in company culture. All Hands Vending strives not only to serve food and drinks to businesses, but also to positively impact a central factor in a business's bottom line: employee morale.

To this end, All Hands Vending developed AI Markets, which are state- of-the-art micro-markets that serve as an alternative to traditional vending machines, providing companies with greater control over their breakrooms

and resolving the challenges presented by conventional vending units.

Dan, who was stationed aboard a frigate tasked with intercepting drug smugglers attempting to travel to the U.S., and Theresa, who served in Afghanistan, brought their military backgrounds, precision, and integrity into the mission of All Hands Vending.

Today, the Willises continue their service by putting charitable giving at the center of their company's values. During the holiday season, their All Hands Helping Santa program brings Christmas joy to children across eastern Idaho by partnering with local organizations to buy and deliver hundreds of gifts to families in need.

Thank you, Dan and Theresa Willis, for your service to our country, and congratulations to All Hands Vending for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor American Patriot Plumbing in Athol as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

American Patriot Plumbing opened in 2022 after Matt Rude retired from the Idaho Army National Guard. Matt joined an engineer battalion when he enlisted in 2003. He served two combat tours and over 20 years as a combat engineer heavy demolition expert and petroleum supply specialist.

Upon retiring, Matt had years of experience as both an engineer and plumber, thanks to years of working for his father's plumbing company. His unique skillset from the Army National Guard and 27 years of plumbing experience allowed the perfect opportunity for him to start American Patriot Plumbing.

American Patriot Plumbing specializes in residential, commercial, and remodel plumbing, diagnosis and repair, water heaters, sewer line repair, and water supply line installations. As both a veteran and a third-generation plumber, Matt serves the Athol and surrounding areas with military precision and a lifetime of experience.

Thank you, Matt Rude, for your service to our country, and congratulations to American Patriot Plumbing for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Iron Mule in Boise as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

Iron Mule was founded in 2018 through the merger of two Idaho coffee companies: Cafe Mule and Ironside Roasting Co. Matt Bishop started Cafe Mule in 2016 to serve free trailside coffee in the Boise Foothills. The business was inspired by Matt's experiences in the Marine Corps and as a special forces team leader in the National Guard, during which he completed several deployments to Iraq and South America. While serving overseas, Matt greatly valued the moments where he could sit down and build connections with people from different backgrounds over a cup of tea. He set out to bring this back to Idaho.

Ironside Roasting Co. was founded in 2015 by Colin Seeley and operated as a small batch, craft coffee roastery in the Boise area. In early 2018, Matt and Colin's paths crossed, and the two quickly brewed up an agreement to join forces and create Iron Mule. Through their partnership, Colin would roast coffee for Cafe Mule, and Matt would produce and package cold brew coffee for Ironside Roasting Co. Today, Iron Mule operates with a small team to sell three unique coffee brands: Ironside Roasting Co., Cafe Mule, and Draft Mule.

While Matt and Colin do not have a brick-and-mortar store in Boise, Iron Mule operates one of the largest coffee roasting facilities by volume in the State and remains heavily involved in the community by donating to trail maintenance organizations and hunting and fishing- oriented wildlife conservation groups.

Thank you, Matt Bishop, for your service to our country, and congratulations to Iron Mule, Inc., on being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Lava Hillside Suites and The Rooftop Bar in Lava Hot Springs as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

As Bannock County natives, Cody and Brandon De Los Reyes grew up traveling to Lava Hot Springs and always felt like one thing was missing: the perfect hotel. When the De Los Reyes brothers, both Air Force Reservists, returned home from deployment in the Middle East, they began looking for land in southeast Idaho to open their dream business. With the help of their father, who is also a military veteran, the De Los Reyes built Lava Hillside Suites from the ground up, using the money Cody and Brandon saved during their combined eight deployments.

Lava Hillside Suites opened in 2018, and by 2020, Cody and Brandon had completed the nearly 14,000-square-foot structure, along with The Rooftop Bar. The hotel features nine rooms that comfortably sleep six guests, each with a covered outdoor patio and all heated by the natural hot waters of Lava Hot Springs. With the addition of The Rooftop Bar, the hotel has become a popular attraction for both locals and those visiting the famous hot springs.

Cody and Brandon serve in the Air Force Reserves in the 67th Aerial Port Squadron at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. SMSgt Cody De Los Reyes enlisted in 2002 and will retire at the end of the year. He deployed four times, earned a bachelor's degree from the Idaho State University, and received 23 medals throughout his service. CMSgt Brandon De Los Reyes enlisted in 2003, was selected to facilitate the Air Force Reserve Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, deployed four times, and was awarded 27 medals throughout his career.

Thank you, Cody and Brandon De Los Reyes, for your service to our country, and congratulations to Lava Hillside Suites and The Rooftop Bar for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Lock, Stock, and Barrel Gunworks in Twin Falls as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

Paul ``Wes'' Wilson opened Lock, Stock, and Barrel Gunworks in April 2019 after returning to Idaho from Alaska, his last duty station in the Army. During his service, he earned airborne wings, served as a drill sergeant and jumpmaster, and completed a combat tour in Afghanistan. After 8 duty stations and 20 years of service, Wes retired from the Army as a sergeant first class.

Before coming back to the Gem State, Wes owned a carpentry business in Alaska and earned a degree in gunsmithing from the Colorado School of Trades, graduating with honors. Between his education, background as a former Army infantryman, and his experience as an accomplished big- game hunter and skilled gunsmith, Wes is well-equipped to service a wide range of guns.

Today, Lock, Stock, and Barrel Gunworks specializes in custom pistol builds, stock repair, and muzzle brake installation. Over the past 6 years, Wes and his business have gained a positive reputation as a trusted resource in the Twin Falls shooting community.

Thank you, Wes Wilson, for your service to our country, and congratulations to Lock, Stock, and Barrel Gunworks for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor The Outback in Pierce as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

Harv and Colleen Nelson purchased The Outback in 2006 by converting bunkhouses originally built in the 1930s into nightly rental cabins. Harv, a Marine Corps veteran, served 24 years as an Active-Duty combat engineer officer, light armored vehicle officer, and operations analyst. After serving across many duty stations, both domestically and abroad, Harv retired as a lieutenant colonel in the fall of 2002.

During the remodel of The Outback, Harv's engineering experience proved invaluable as they expanded from 9 to 16 units, renovated, and upgraded the original bunkhouses. His experience is still a goldmine, as upkeep of 90-year-old cabins can be an uphill battle, but Harv describes owning and maintaining The Outback as winning the lottery.

Colleen, who earned a degree in recreation management from the University of Idaho while raising four children and moving around with the Marine Corps, quickly became accustomed to the ins and outs of running the lodge. She and Harv work with two part-time employees who keep The Outback open for visitors.

The Nelsons are very active in the Pierce community. Harv previously served as a Pierce City councilman, the president of the Pierce-Weippe Chamber of Commerce, and was an EMT for Clearwater County Ambulance. Until he retired from State of Idaho service in 2023, Harv served as the program coordinator for the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy and assistant fire chief, and he continues to serve as an elder in his church. This involvement has helped knit Harv and Colleen into the fabric of the Pierce community. Harv encourages other veterans who want to make an impact to find a small Idaho town and get involved.

Thank you, Harv Nelson, for your service to our country, and congratulations to The Outback for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State. This month, I am proud to recognize the veteran-owned small businesses that make Idaho's communities and economy thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Table VIII Overland Catering Company in Boise as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for November 2025.

Table VIII Overland Catering Company started in January 2024 when Alexander Balderas, call sign ``Combat Knife,'' decided to pursue a dream that had been in his heart for years. Alexander, a veteran of the Marine Corps, Army, and Army Reserves with a combined 24 years of service, served as a cook and culinary arts instructor during four combat missions. Upon returning to civilian life, he worked as the senior chef at the Boise VA Medical Center.

Alexander opened Table VIII after connecting with other veterans in Boise who were able to help him navigate life after service and managing PTSD. Alexander credits much of his success to the family, friends, and community that supported him through the struggles he faced.

The name Table VIII honors Alexander's military experience and comes from a training term used by his Army unit. During training, his unit went through gunnery tables I to VIII to assess and qualify crews on their ability to effectively engage targets. When his unit completed table VIII, Alexander would help the team celebrate with a feast after a week of ``meals ready to eat''--MRE--in the field.

Today, Table VIII offers catering services for galas, fundraisers, weddings, off-road events, and exclusive functions for veterans and first responders. While Alexander and his team specialize in smaller gatherings of around 30, they can serve a specialized menu for up to 300 with the aid of his wife and volunteers.

Thank you, Alexander Balderas, for your service to our country, and congratulations to Table VIII for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for November 2025. You are an outstanding example of the immeasurable impact veterans have in communities across Idaho and the U.S. You make the Gem State proud, and I look forward to your continued success.

Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today, I am proud to honor DK Donuts in Boise as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for October 2025.

DK Donuts first opened its doors in the 1980s and has become a beloved institution in the Treasure Valley. The current owner Angkearot Long took over operations in 2004 and purchased the business 5 years later. Under his ownership, Angkearot has kept DK strong by maintaining the old-school donut shop everyone knows and loves. Offering a variety of sweets, from traditional cakes and glazed donuts to their famous bacon maple bar, DK Donuts is a Boise staple, even drawing customers from across State lines.

When leasing troubles for the 40-year-old donut shop arose last year, many fans worried the iconic store might close for good. Fortunately, Angkearot was able to work out a deal, signing a multiyear lease and continuing the delicious DK legacy that loyal customers keep coming back for.

Earlier this year, DK Donuts opened a second location in Nampa, managed by Angkearot's daughter Vimean Rath. Embracing innovation, Vimean expanded the menu to include baked goods, sandwiches, and a range of drink options, allowing customer to enjoy their goods all day long.

Congratulations to Angkearot Long, Vimean Rath, and all the employees at DK Donuts on being recognized as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for October 2025. Your dedication to excellence makes Idaho proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, we are here today to talk about a resolution put forth by the Democrats that is very, very not well- taken.

We are all aware in this body that on September 4, President Trump notified Congress of his initial strike against narcoterrorists who were bringing deadly and illegal drugs into this country--the first of four such strikes.

Now, my colleague just referred to the fact that the President can-- if there is an imminent attack on our country, that they can strike. This wasn't an imminent attack; this was an actual attack. It was in progress. It was going on. People were attacking our country by bringing in poisonous substances to deposit into our country that would have killed Americans all over America, including your constituents.

Fortunately, most of those drugs are now at the bottom of the ocean. Had that not happened, I guarantee there would have been hundreds-- maybe thousands--of people in this country that would have been killed with the tremendous amount of drugs that were being brought in. The facts of that are obviously well-known, well-reported, and if you want to see more, it is certainly available in the Intelligence Committee.

The people carrying those drugs were terrorists, plain and simple. They were trafficking drugs that financed a designated foreign terrorist organization. These strikes were fully compliant and fully justified under the President's article II constitutional authority-- and not only authority but duty as Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces to defend this country. And he took an oath to do so.

So why are we here today? We are looking at a resolution saying that he can't do this anymore. This is nonsense. It is unreasonable. It is why the American people look at Congress and say: Are you people crazy? You have the President of the United States trying to do something about this terrible scourge that is going on in America, and you in Congress are saying: Don't be doing that anymore unless you come here and ask us for permission to do it.

So these actions are political, pure and simple. These actions here are political. This was a good decision on the part of the President, and the President acted legally. So what are my Democratic friends doing here? They are putting forth this joint resolution No. 83 to stop the President from acting in the way he has just acted to stop these drugs from coming into the country. So let's look at what it says. Let's look at the actual language:

Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use

of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against any

organization designated on or after February 20, 2025--

His date of inauguration--

as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated

global terrorist, any states in which those entities operate,

or any non-state organization engaged in the promotion,

trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs.

You are telling the President to stop using this against organizations and people who are trafficking drugs for distribution and on the way to the United States.

And it goes on to say that he can't do this unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force by this organization.

How long do you think it would take him to get that? Those drugs not only would have been delivered to the United States, they would have not only been distributed in the United States; there would be dead Americans, and we would still be here yapping about it.

So even if this passed--and it is not going to, but if it did pass, he is not going to obey this order. He can't obey this order. He took an oath to defend this country. When he sees an attack like this coming--an attack of drugs or explosives or anything else that is going to kill Americans--he not only has the authority to do something about it; he has the duty to do something about it.

We should have a resolution out here not condemning what he did and telling him ``don't do this anymore''; we should have a resolution out here thanking him for the hundreds--probably thousands--of lives that he saved with these four attacks, including constituents in your districts.

Thank you, Mr. President, for what you did. Thank you. And continue the good work of taking these drugs out of the traffic and putting them on the bottom of the ocean.

My friends, this is Trump derangement syndrome. These people hate President Trump; I get that. But simply because you hate him, you should not wallow in that hate like you have and produce this kind of a product that stops the President from doing what he is supposed to do. This is shameful and it should be defeated and it is going to be defeated.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.