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, the Gem State is made strong by the hard-working, dedicated, and selfless actions of Idahoans. Across our State, hundreds of thousands of veterans, first responders, volunteers, and public servants go above and beyond for the communities they call home. These people are pillars of our State and are essential to keeping Idaho the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

To recognize these exceptional individuals, I am proud to launch the Idaho Service Spotlight to honor the Idahoans whose service and leadership have made a lasting impact on the Gem State. It is especially fitting that we begin this initiative on Idaho Day, the anniversary of Idaho's statehood and a celebration of the people whose contributions continue to shape our exceptional quality of life.

Today, I am pleased to recognize Hank Thornton of St. Maries as an Idaho Service Spotlight recipient for the month of July 2026.

Hank has devoted his life's work to those who served our Nation. An Air Force veteran himself, Hank has seen firsthand the struggles many men and women face when returning home from military service. After a young local veteran took his life, Hank recognized a severe lack of support for veterans in north central Idaho and took action. He started knocking on doors, talking to the community, and eventually founded the Veterans Outreach Center, Inc., of Benewah County in 2018.

The outreach center has since become a lifeline for local veterans, providing mental health resources, warm meals, and so much more. Hank and his team make house calls to any veteran who may be experiencing difficulties, offering support and connecting them with community resources. Their selfless actions have helped hundreds of veterans build a life worth living and dramatically reduced veteran suicides in the region. As the organization grew, the center expanded to include a food bank, serving hot meals twice a week and ensuring Benewah County families and veterans do not go hungry. While the center initially began as Hank's vision, the entire community has rallied behind it, donating a property in downtown St. Maries, funding to maintain daily operations, and providing grants.

Outside of the center, Hank is the heartbeat of the St. Maries community. He is president and commander of the St. Joes Valley Search and Rescue, team leader for the Idaho Governor's Challenge on suicide prevention, vice president of the Benewah County Public Gun and Archery Range, and 2nd vice commander of American Legion Post 25.

On behalf of the people of Idaho, I thank and congratulate Hank for being selected as an Idaho Service Spotlight recipient for the month of July 2026. You reflect the very best of our State, and Idaho is stronger because of your actions.

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 Titan Batteries in Pocatello as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for July 2026.

Trent Clawson founded Titan Batteries in 2015 after learning that no commercially available drone battery could power a cross-country flight. He took matters into his own hands and began building high- performance, long-range batteries in the unfinished basement of his then-home in Bentonville, AR.

Four years later, in May of 2019, Trent moved the business to Idaho, where his wife grew up. As he became acquainted with the production process, Trent made the decision to keep all manufacturing right here in the Gem State. That investment paid off, as Titan quickly expanded from 11 employees to more than 80 in only 6 months.

Now, Titan engineers batteries for drone manufacturers supplying the U.S. military and other critical defense programs. Every battery design is crafted specifically to meet the unique demands of the mission it will power

and support America's fleet of drones. Titan's success is proof that American ingenuity and domestic manufacturing remain strong, encouraging more companies to keep their supply chain in the U.S.

Congratulations to Trent and the Titan Batteries team on being recognized as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for July 2026. Your dedication to excellence makes Idaho proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, the Gem State is made strong by the hard-working, dedicated, and selfless actions of Idahoans. Across our State, hundreds of thousands of veterans, first responders, volunteers, and public servants go above and beyond for the communities they call home. These people are pillars of our State and are essential to keeping Idaho the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Today, I am pleased to recognize Narcisse ``Nars'' Desautel as an Idaho Service Spotlight recipient for the month of July 2026.

Corporal Nars Desautel's life has been defined by service, perseverance, and love of country. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II, Nars was stationed in the Philippines as a warehouse foreman, supporting military operations throughout the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participating in the Luzon campaign. He stayed in the Army until the very end of the war, earning several awards, including the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Service Ribbon with one bronze star.

After WWII, Nars returned home and built a life rooted in family and hard work. In 1957, Nars relocated to Lewiston, ID, where he began a successful 25-year career with Potlatch Corporation. Even in retirement, Nars' commitment to serving others did not waver. Alongside his wife Kathleen, he spent more than a decade as a campground host and maintenance employee at the Kelly Forks Work Center in the Nez Perce- Clearwater National Forest. There, he welcomed visitors and cared for Idaho's public lands until the remarkable age of 87.

During fire season, Nars often went beyond his regular duties to drive trucks and assist with transportation to help keep recreationalists and firefighters safe. Kathleen supported these same efforts, working in fire camps to feed firefighters. Their children have many memories of the camps where their parents would run around caring for those protecting Idaho's lands from fire.

Through it all, Nars has remained devoted to his family, which includes 9 children, 20 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Now a resident of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston, Nars continues to inspire those around him with his patriotism and joy. As he approaches his 106th birthday, Nars is a testament to the values Idahoans and the ``Greatest Generation'' embody: service to country, dedication to family, commitment to community, and gratitude for every day.

On behalf of the people of Idaho, I thank and congratulate Nars Desautel for being selected as an Idaho Service Spotlight recipient for the month of July 2026. You reflect the very best of our State, and Idaho is stronger because of your actions.

Mr. President and fellow Senators, I come to the floor here to support the bill we are going to vote on here pretty quickly, and that is on a Russia and Iran sanctions bill. It is no secret that this thing has been worked on for a long, long time. It is also no secret that this is a bipartisan effort--I think you heard both sides speaking about this--and there is good reason for that.

At nearly 4\1/2\ years, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dragged on far too long. We all want to see this war end.

Now, with Russia's forces taking heavy losses on the battlefield and its economy showing signs of strain, Putin's war machine is in crisis. It is time to ramp up the pressure on Russia and finally bring this conflict to an end. To help accomplish this, this bill would impose sanctions against two of our foremost adversaries at the current time-- Russia and Iran--as they deepen cooperation and coordination against U.S. interests.

Along with many provisions in this final bill, I have worked to secure language that will target Russia's illicit shadow fleet ships that are used to prop up its energy sector and fund its war against Ukraine. This has been a very, very significant, ongoing problem. If you can stop them from shipping the oil, you can stop the money flow.

This bill gives the President the tools and the leverage he needs to finally bring a lasting peace to Ukraine and work toward ending the fight in the Middle East.

For many reasons, peace and stability in Europe are in America's interests. Russian aggression threatens this stability, and it can't be tolerated.

I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation and send it to the President's desk as soon as possible.

I yield the floor.

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.

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, for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

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.

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.