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, 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 small businesses in my home State of Idaho. Today, I am pleased to honor the Stagecoach Inn as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for February 2025.

The Stagecoach Inn was founded in 1959 by Willie Schrier, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and a trained horse jockey. Willie was a pioneer in the food and bar industry, priding himself on providing high-quality service and a great meal to every customer at the Stagecoach Inn. For over two decades, Willie successfully ran the business before passing it down to his fraternal twin daughters Mary and Marian Schrier in 1980. The sisters, alongside their cousin Nettie Allen, maintained the restaurant's reputation for exceptional food and hospitality.

The sisters sold the establishment in 2009, and much to the dismay of many Treasure Valley residents, new management closed the businesses in 2011.

Luckily, a group of loyal customers and former staff rallied to recruit Wanda Martinat, a longtime server at the Stagecoach, and customers Fred and Francie Oliver, to acquire the restaurant. The Olivers dedicated countless hours to updating the facilities while maintaining its beloved 1960s atmosphere. With their encouragement and partnership, the Stagecoach Inn reopened its doors in 2015, welcoming back many of its original staff.

Wanda Martinat's story is one of perseverance and deep Idaho roots. Her parents' families endured the injustices of World War II when they were forcibly relocated to the Minidoka internment camp. Her mother was 13 at the time and her father, age 17, had joined the U.S. Army to avoid internment. After the war, her parents met in Caldwell and had seven children, Wanda being the middle child. Her parents passed down their values of resilience and hard work, which has shaped her approach to managing and co-owning the Stagecoach Inn.

Today, the Stagecoach is thriving and remains a feature of Idaho's political and social fabric. Throughout its history, the restaurant has been known as a gathering place where business contracts were signed on drink coasters and political discussions that changed Idaho's legislative landscape occurred.

Congratulations to the team at the Stagecoach Inn on their selection as the February 2025 Small Business of the Month. Thank you for serving Idaho as small business owners and entrepreneurs. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), Woman's Century Club in Nampa, ID--a remarkable organization that has been at the forefront of community service and education since its inception in 1900. As the first service club established in Nampa, the Woman's Century Club has demonstrated commitment and dedication to enhancing the lives of Idahoans.

Since joining the GFWC Idaho Federation of Women's Club, members have worked tirelessly to uplift their community. The club's motto, ``You find yourself when you lose yourself in the service of others,'' embodies their commitment to service and the betterment of society.

The Women's Club has initiated and supported many notable projects, including the establishment of the Carnegie Library in 1908, the creation of the Rose Garden at Lakeview Park, and the organization of the local Red Cross Chapter. These impactful efforts have enriched the community and set a precedent for future generations of service.

In 2023, the club made significant contributions to Idaho's local food banks, showcasing their commitment to alleviating hunger and supporting those in need. The club also recently made a 2-year commitment to support the Idaho Youth Ranch, an organization that provides resources like counseling, job training, and scholarships to Idaho teens facing trauma and challenging circumstances.

The Woman's Century Club continues to inspire Idahoans through their annual Student Art and Poetry Contest, scholarships for high school seniors, support for local veterans, and programs focused on preventing domestic violence.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, I am proud to recognize the members of the Woman's Century Club, both past and present, for their unwavering dedication and hard work. Their spirit of generosity and compassion has transformed the lives of countless Idahoans in Nampa and the greater Treasure Valley. Let us honor their legacy and continue to support the invaluable work they do to improve our community.

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.

Madam 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.

Madam 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, reserving the right to object, I want to rise today to talk about what Senator Coons is attempting to do here.

I have to say, a lot of us have said for years that the greatest national security threat that Americans face is our skyrocketing national debt.

President Trump agrees with us and is committed to doing something about this. We must confront this, and to do so, hard choices are going to have to be made, and all--all--parts of government will have to be looked at very closely.

The idea of merging USAID and the State Department is not new and has been floated by nearly every administration since the latter part of the last century.

I am supportive of the Trump administration's efforts to reform and restructure the Agency in a way that better serves U.S. national security interests.

I am fortunate enough to talk with Secretary Rubio virtually daily, sometimes multiple times a day, and I was aware this was coming. As I said, I have encouraged that this be looked at. Today, along with a number of my colleagues on relevant committees on both sides of the aisle and the Hill, I received notification that Secretary Rubio is beginning the process of merging USAID into State. I had received this informal notice earlier than this.

There is a lot of work to do in this effort, and there is a process set up for doing this. Secretary Rubio is following that process and looks forward to working with all of us as he goes through that process. It is my hope that all of my colleagues in both parties will help to do this important work.

I have to say that this is just one Agency. There are many, many, many Agencies out there, and this is going to be coming down the pike on every amount of government spending. Elections have consequences, and this is one of the consequences, that we are going to do our best to reduce spending--do it by efficiencies, by combining where it is necessary.

I will continue to be in close coordination with Secretary Rubio on this as it moves forward. As a result of that, I object to the proposed S. Res. 51.

Mr. President, first of all, to my good friend from Delaware, I know that he is aware that a number of the programs here have already received a waiver because the case was made for those programs, and that is appropriate.

But, look, as I started to say at the beginning, this is about the debt of the United States. The fact that we are borrowing $1 trillion every hundred days--it can't go on.

This institution, as long as I have been here, has been trying to do something about it. We have tried over and over and over again to make something happen. What do we do? We create a study group. The study group sits down, they talk for 2 years, they create a great big report, and nothing ever comes of it. This President is making things happen.

One of the Agencies that a lot of us have had concerns about over the years is USAID and how the money was being spent. We are going to have a look at it. I have no doubt that when we are done with that, everyone is going to have a say, and at the end of the day, we will, as we do in a democracy, vote, and that will be the end of it.

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

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about the ICC bill and the vote we are going to have immediately following the lunch hour.

When the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister for defending their country against an unprovoked brutal attack on their homeland, the ICC was exceeding its mandate. There is no question about that in my mind. Further, there is no question in my mind that it is a clear demonstration of the Court's inability to focus on justice and determine what is justice and determine what is right and what is wrong.

The ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel. This clearly political move erased the last illusions of legitimacy for the organization and is just another example of partisanship and anti- Semitism infecting our international organizations like the United Nations, the ICJ, and, of course, the ICC. This needs to end.

The United States needs to stand in solidarity with our ally Israel, not only by providing them with the assistance they need for their self-defense but by sanctioning the ICC to compel the organization to change its corrupt behavior in countering this blatant anti-Semitism wherever it appears.

I look forward to working with the Trump administration and Secretary of State Rubio, whom I believe will be excellent partners in rooting out the corruption in our international organizations. And I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill to support our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.

This is a unique opportunity to vote, and a vote on this will very clearly state whether you stand on the side of Israel or you stand on the side of the United States, and that we will not cede jurisdiction over our citizens to such a corrupt and blatantly inequitable institution as the ICC.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following disposition of Calendar No. 1, S. 5, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 2, Marco Rubio of Florida to be Secretary of State; further, that the Senate vote on confirmation of the Rubio nomination with no intervening action or debate; finally, that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. I would also ask unanimous consent that immediately prior to that vote, I be given 3 minutes to debate and my distinguished colleague from New Hampshire also be given 3 minutes to debate prior to calling the vote.