Floor Statements

Madam President, I join my colleagues this evening to express my deep concerns. And I share your outrage, Senator Kaine, about the Trump administration's decision to recklessly take away funding for critical programs that hard-working Americans rely on to get ahead.

The President promised the American people when he was campaigning that he would lower costs, and instead he is putting services that millions of people count on at risk, including in my home State of New Hampshire.

Last Friday, the administration sent its request to cancel over $800 million in Federal funding. And because today marks the end of the fiscal year, there is not enough time for Congress to stop these funds from being eliminated.

This deliberate move, as my colleagues have said, is a pocket rescission, and it is illegal. Let me say that again. It is illegal, plain and simple.

Over the past week, I have heard from countless constituents in New Hampshire about the importance of the programs that are being cut by this pocket rescission.

This funding provides housing counseling support as Senator Murray and Senator Kaine have said. That is vital to people in New Hampshire who are trying to afford housing.

It provides vital healthcare research that saves lives and education programs. It is abundantly clear that these cuts won't bring down costs. They won't keep our neighborhoods safe, and they certainly won't make our country any stronger.

Now, it is not up to the President and unelected bureaucrats at the Office of Management and Budget to decide where the Federal funding goes. They can't cancel a program simply because they don't like it. That is what they are trying to do, but it is illegal because our Constitution grants Congress--not the executive branch--the power of the purse; Congress writes the checks and the administration is not supposed to just tear them up.

Even the GAO, the nonpartisan congressional watchdog, has concluded that this move is illegal, not to mention that several of our Republican colleagues have also acknowledged that it is illegal.

When I talk with Granite Staters, one thing I consistently hear is that the cost of housing is a pain point for families already struggling with high prices.

The average price of a house in New Hampshire now is over $550,000. Too many young families can't afford that, and with housing prices hitting those highs, too many people are being priced out of this critical part of achieving the American dream.

That is why Federal programs like the Housing Counseling Program are just so important. Housing Counseling helps families buy homes, avoid foreclosures, and secure affordable rents.

Since the program began in 2009, it has helped over 4.2 million households across the country avoid foreclosure. In New Hampshire, thousands of families have used Housing Counseling to lower their home purchase price, to reduce their debt, and to secure safe and stable housing.

For example, Jake and Lisa are a young married couple who lived in an apartment in Grafton County, which is in the northwest part of our State. Their landlord decided to sell their apartment, and Jake and Lisa needed to relocate. But because of high housing costs, they struggled to find a home that was in their price range.

They couldn't afford to use a buyer's agent, so they turned to a HUD- certified housing counselor. In one instance, their housing counselor helped them obtain a home inspection that revealed major heating and electrical issues, and without this help, they might have closed on a home that would have cost them in the long term.

Their housing counselor also helped them create a plan that allowed them to pay their debts while maximizing their savings. And just a few months ago in a happy ending, Jake and Lisa officially became homeowners. But without their housing counselor, who knows when, or even if, Jake and Lisa would have been able to achieve this milestone?

Sadly, they are not alone. Too many families are still looking for a safe and affordable place to call home. And Housing Counseling isn't the only program in jeopardy.

This administration has left $230 million in Federal rural housing funds unspent. Now, Russ Vought may not think that is a lot of money, but in New Hampshire, we think that is a lot of money. And we should be doing everything possible to help families put a roof over their head, especially in the most rural parts of our country where affordable housing options are too often few and far between.

By letting this funding expire, the administration is sending a clear message to Americans: Addressing sky-high housing prices isn't one of the priorities of the Trump administration.

Now, in addition to cutting programs that help Americans find housing they can afford, the administration has cut funds that allow students to master foreign languages and become more well-rounded scholars and to do business around the world.

I mean, the President says he wants to do business around the world. He wants the United States to be a global business hub. How can we do that if we have people who can't communicate in foreign languages? And the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships program has made it possible for students from New Hampshire to attend universities that specialize in foreign languages and international relations.

These fellowships provide the skills for Americans to be the bridge to other countries and to understand cultures around the world and to do business around the world. Eliminating 1,900 fellowships denies young Americans, including Granite State youth, from developing the skills to serve our country, to improve international relations, and to strengthen our national and economic security.

The administration has also eliminated $28 million in funding appropriated to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This includes cutting a grant program at Dartmouth College--Dartmouth College where we have the only medical school in New Hampshire.

The grant program is designed to improve healthcare quality and access for rural populations living in Northern New England. The program focused on improving care for kids with complex medical needs and for better coordinating that care for cancer patients.

This doesn't seem wasteful to me, but that is what the Trump administration said when they rescinded these funds.

Now, it is not just healthcare funding that was gutted as we know. OMB also canceled funding for a program that has helped Americans build safer communities since the 1960s. The Department of Justice Community Relations Service was established in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with a mission to help States and communities address and heal from incidents of discrimination.

The idea behind this program is pretty simple. If we get people talking to each other--something that might be helpful in the Senate-- we can constructively deal with incidents like swastikas painted on synagogues or racial slurs that are used in schools, and we can foster understanding and help avoid outbreaks of violence.

I have seen very directly how this program can help. In 2022 at a middle school and high school in Dover, NH, which is next to the community where I live, tensions amongst students reached a boiling point after some students decided to write racially biased and anti- Semitic posts on social media.

The leadership of the schools reached out to CRS for help in defusing the situation, and CRS offered a program it had developed called the School-Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together, or School-SPIRIT--an appropriate name.

In this instance, the schools in Dover used School-SPIRIT to convene key school administrators, students, and community stakeholders to identify the biases and prejudices that were driving tensions and to formulate a plan to help diffuse those tensions through communicating.

All in all, this was a success story for the school and for the entire community. And yet, despite the many positive outcomes all over the country, Russ Vought all by himself decided that CRS needed to be shut down.

All of this is to say that these abrupt cuts to programs Americans rely on have only created uncertainty and frustration at a time when people are already feeling immense financial burdens. They are feeling uncertainty and anxiety about what is happening in this country. These programs matter to people in New Hampshire.

They make a difference in their lives. But the President and his cronies and this administration couldn't seem to care less. It is part of a disturbing but all-too-common pattern from this administration-- bypassing Congress, skirting legal authority, and leaving families to pay the price. And what is the administration prioritizing instead? Well, they are driving up prices. They are driving up the cost of gasoline, they are driving up the cost of groceries, they are driving up the cost of home heating oil that people in New Hampshire are going to depend on because the weather is starting to get cold, and they are doing it because of a needless and costly war in Iran.

The President is also spending Federal resources, as we have heard, for ads to promote himself and his administration. He is spending Federal resources to put his name on as many things as possible, to build a ballroom, to change the color of the Reflecting Pool, to build an arch that is going to obstruct the view of Arlington Cemetery. Americans don't see those as priorities. They are concerned about how they are going to pay for their groceries, how they are going to pay for their gasoline, how they are going to pay for childcare, and this administration is doing nothing--zero, nada, nothing--to help the American people.

So let me close with this. As a former Governor, I know how important it is to ensure that tax dollars are being spent efficiently and responsibly. But let me be clear. Taking a sledgehammer to programs Americans rely on every day isn't responsible governing.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats can stop this from happening again, and I look forward to working with my colleagues so that no administration, Republican or Democrat, tries to cut congressionally mandated investments again.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I come to the floor this evening to try to discharge 10 career ambassadorial nominees from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

In the 21 months the Trump administration has been charged with America's national security, we have seen a complete hallowing out of our diplomatic service. Even with wars in the Middle East, in Sudan, Ethiopia, in Ukraine, and a growing Ebola crisis and strikes against United States bases and diplomatic facilities, over 100 diplomatic posts remain empty. Meanwhile, China--who I think almost everybody in this Chamber would acknowledge is the United States' biggest competitor--has 170 Ambassadors in posts around the world.

Despite continued commitments from Secretary Rubio to send more career Ambassadors to the Senate for consideration, only 13 career Ambassadors have been confirmed under this

administration. We need Ambassadors on the ground to keep Americans safe, to be held accountable by the Senate when things go wrong.

We have a crisis of U.S. leadership across the world. Not only has the President failed to nominate career experts to represent Americans, but he has gone a step further: He has arbitrarily recalled more than 30 career Ambassadors from countries across Africa, from the Middle East, from the Pacific, from the Western Hemisphere. These are all regions where the PRC is engaging our partners as we retreat.

We need American leadership overseas because competition with China doesn't just happen in the Indo-Pacific, and it doesn't just happen here at home, and it doesn't just happen in Africa or Latin America; it happens in every corner of the globe.

Ensuring American businesses can compete for market access, offering alternatives to China's debt-trap diplomacy tactics, shoring up our alliances, and attracting international talent are why we need Ambassadors to represent the United States on the ground across the globe.

Further, we know that China and Iran are working together to target American citizens and American infrastructure in the Middle East. If the Trump administration is serious about confronting China, we cannot let the Chinese write the future of foreign policy. This would be a dereliction of duty.

We don't know where the next crisis point may be, and without American leadership on the ground, we risk being caught flatfooted.

Now that these posters are up, I want to point out that, as I was talking about, we have 100 vacancies across the world. What we see here is where the United States has not filled ambassadorial posts. All this white, we don't have Ambassadors in those places. Look at China. They have Ambassadors in all those places.

This isn't a partisan issue. When our allies and adversaries alike see the United States represented abroad, we need to speak with one voice. Career Ambassadors are nonpartisan public servants, often with decades of experience in the regions where they serve.

So today, I am asking for unanimous consent to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the nominations of 10 career ambassadorial nominees, and I am here to urge the Trump administration to take seriously our national security agenda.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of PN1255-12, Peter Lord, Ambassador to Benin; PN1255-9, Keith Heffern, Ambassador to Gabon; PN1022-36, Daniel Travis, Ambassador to Sierra Leone; PN1022-39, Henry Wooster, Ambassador to Kenya; PN1201-4, Joshua Harris, Ambassador to Malaysia; PN1255-15, Nutan Patel, Ambassador to Cabo Verde; PN1255-7, Steven Gillen, Ambassador to Kyrgyz Republic; PN1255-8, Charles Goodman, Ambassador to Togo; PN1255-13, John McIntyre, Ambassador to Malawi; and PN1255-6, Natasha Franceschi, Ambassador to Nicaragua; and that the Senate proceed to their en bloc consideration and vote without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, just to clarify since I wasn't clear on one of the names, PN1255-15, Nutan Patel, N-U-T-A-N P-A-T-E-L, Ambassador to Cabo Verde.

Mr. President, I just want to point out how important it is to get our career Ambassadors on the ground, and hopefully, the administration will offer more career Ambassadors as nominees to the Senate.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, well, one issue that I hope will be at the top of the agenda when President Trump meets with Xi Jinping on Thursday is China's support for Iran.

Two months ago, Iranian ballistic missiles struck the housing area at the U.S. airbase in Jordan. That attack killed three American soldiers and wounded four more.

United States officials told the Wall Street Journal--and we can see this mockup of that article--that Iran got high-resolution satellite imagery of that base from Chinese entities before the attack. Unfortunately, this wasn't a surprise because senior Trump officials had warned for months that Chinese companies were giving Iran imagery that could be used to target American personnel.

In May, the administration sanctioned several Chinese companies over precisely that activity. Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff recently returned from the Middle East, where they saw the damage Iran's attacks have done to United States facilities.

It is not only satellite imagery that Iran relies on to carry out attacks against Americans. China also provides a critical economic lifeline to Iran. According to the Treasury Department, 90 percent of Iran's oil exports go to China. That is billions of dollars in revenue for the Iranian regime, and much of that oil is sold in defiance of United States sanctions, through shadow fleets, front companies, and Chinese refineries. That money supports Iran's military, its weapons programs, and its terrorist proxies.

China is also a source of the parts and materials that Iran needs to build its weapons. The United States Treasury Department has repeatedly sanctioned Chinese and Hong Kong companies for supplying components for Iran's ballistic missiles and attack drones. Those are the same types of weapons that Iran is using to attack American forces.

This cannot be treated as a side issue. When President Trump sits across from President Xi at the White House, he should use his leverage to do three things: first, to stop Chinese companies from giving Iran satellite imagery and targeting support; second, stop Chinese networks from supplying parts for Iran's missiles and drones; and third, stop the purchase and trade of sanctioned Iranian oil.

If we want to bring this war to an end, we need to cut off the outside support that allows Iran to keep fighting, and that starts with China. The administration should enforce our sanctions against the Chinese entities helping Iran, and if China doesn't stop, Congress should impose additional consequences.

I hope the President will also think about the weapon that Congress gave him when we passed the Russia sanctions bill because it allows us to tariff the Chinese companies that are purchasing Russian oil and gas. China is the No. 1 purchaser of Russian oil and gas, so they are the top funder of the war in Ukraine as well as being one of the top funders of the war in Iran. So I hope the President will take this opportunity to use the tools that we have given him and to point out to President Xi that China needs to start behaving differently.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to honor Mr. Ganesan N. Annamalai and recognize his contributions to our country as an exceptional public servant in the Department of the Air Force.

As an Air Force Senate Liaison Officer from October 2023 to August 2026, Ganesan performed his duties with distinction, supporting the 118th and 119th

U.S. Congresses. With roots in both Nashua, NH, and Austin, TX, Ganesan is a graduate of George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University and has served as a civilian in the Department of the Air Force for more than 8 years. He has demonstrated exceptional and unrivaled leadership in service to the U.S. Government throughout his career.

In his role as Air Force liaison officer to the Senate, Ganesan 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. He facilitated seamless collaboration on behalf of the Department of the Air Force across 62 congressional offices, serving as the principal Air Force liaison to 34 Senators and their respective staff. Ganesan supported delegations for Members of Congress and staffers to showcase Air Force equities in the United States and abroad, including to the Reagan National Defense Forum and the Paris Air Show. Through these interactions, he strengthened international collaboration and cultivated relationships crucial for advancing shared defense priorities. Most notably, Ganesan's strategic support was vital to the successful execution of more than 280 engagements for senior Department of the Air Force leadership. This included coordinating 43 posture hearings and managing the critical confirmation activities for the 27th Secretary of the Air Force, the 24th Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the 3rd Chief of Space Operations. Ganesan's direct involvement and stewardship enabled Members of Congress to make informed decisions about Air Force oversight, funding and resources.

Ganesan's leadership and composure were instrumental during his detail to the White House Situation Room as a duty officer from September 2024 through August 2025. He meticulously documented developments during the initial hours of emerging crises, providing real-time analysis directly to the President and other senior government officials. He led his team in convening urgent calls and providing robust intelligence to the Nation's most senior officials, exhibiting remarkable poise under extreme pressure. His efforts were central to supporting the National Security Council across two administrations, directly enabling the execution of 496 high-level phone calls, 23 official trips, and 29 critical policy meetings.

I ask my colleagues and all Americans to join me in recognizing my fellow Granite Stater Ganesan Annamalai for his many contributions to the safety and security of our great country. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to Cindy Rosenwald and recognize her decades of public service. Cindy is currently wrapping up her final term in public office, bringing to a close a remarkable 22-year career in the New Hampshire Legislature. After 14 years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and 8 years in the New Hampshire Senate, she leaves a legacy of resilience, creative problem-solving, and genuine care for her constituents.

Cindy spent her early years in Rye, NY, before earning a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree from Rivier University. Following her education, she pursued a varied career in communications, healthcare, and teaching. She has held positions in hospital marketing and public relations and was formerly a vice president at Ted Bates Advertising, where she continued to work with healthcare and packaged food clients. Before entering the political arena, Cindy also worked in education, holding positions at multiple local universities. In addition to working as a writing instructor at her alma mater Rivier College, Cindy held positions at New Hampshire College--now Southern New Hampshire University--and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she eventually served as an adjunct professor.

Fueled by her experience in the realm of social services, Cindy's transition into politics began in 2004 when she was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing the Hillsborough 30th district. During her tenure in the House, she became known as an active participant in legislative matters and a fierce advocate for affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, and policies to help working families. She was notably a key voice in the fight to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, championing relief for Granite Staters who had gone without health insurance and put off needed care.

In 2018, Cindy continued this work after winning election to represent New Hampshire's 13th district in the State senate, which encompasses six wards in Nashua, NH. As one of the legislature's most tireless advocates for mental health care, she was the prime sponsor of legislation to raise reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. With a keen focus on the future, Cindy also turned her attention to growing New Hampshire's economy, leading the successful effort to bring municipal cash reserve investments back to the State. She truly embodies what it means to be a public servant, and her advocacy for the well-being of Granite Staters is both unwavering and unmatched.

Over more than two decades of public service, Cindy has fostered genuine relationships built on trust, courage, and partnership. She will soon conclude her fourth term in the New Hampshire Senate, but her persistent advocacy will leave an unforgettable mark on us all. Many of Cindy's colleagues, past and present, regard her as a visionary leader who fought long and hard to make New Hampshire a healthier and more compassionate State. She sought meaningful change through legislation, and she strove to ensure that no Granite Staters fell through the cracks. Cindy's enduring commitment to public service is an inspiration to us all. On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I ask my colleagues and all Americans to join me in thanking Cindy Rosenwald for her many years of service to New Hampshire and her fellow Granite Staters. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and recognize its 125 years of dedicated service to land conservation and sustainable forestry.

The Forest Society began with eight Granite Staters back in 1901. Concerned that New Hampshire's White Mountains were being rapidly clear-cut, they formed the Forest Society with a clear mission: to perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire through their wise use and their complete reservation in places of special scenic beauty. Inspired by great conservationists like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, they formed the Forest Society at a time when Americans across the country had begun to appreciate mountains for their unparalleled beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. As Americans increasingly recognized the need to protect the Nation's natural landscapes, the Forest Society set its sights on the White Mountains and promptly got to work.

With former New Hampshire Gov. Frank W. Rollins serving as the Forest Society's first president and Philip W. Ayres serving as its first forester, the group's earliest efforts focused on land conservation projects in the northern reaches of the State. It first lobbied for the State of New Hampshire to buy Crawford Notch, and the purchase was finalized in 1911 after 3 years of hard work. Later that same year, the Forest Society famously advocated for the passage of the Weeks Act alongside the Appalachian Mountain Club, AMC. Known as one of the most important conservation laws in American history, the Weeks Act authorized the Federal Government to purchase private land to restore and protect forests and watersheds. It led directly to the establishment of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, and thanks in large part to the public support the Forest Society generated for its passage, Granite Staters will continue to enjoy the many environmental, economic, and recreational benefits of this land for generations to come.

The Weeks Act was a defining public policy achievement for the Forest Society, but its work was just getting started. Also in 1911, the group began to acquire land of its own, purchasing hundreds of acres on Mount Sunapee to protect it from clear-cutting. In the years that followed, the Forest Society acquired or helped protect some of New Hampshire's most treasured natural and recreational spaces, including Lost River Gorge, Mount Monadnock, the Old Man of the Mountain, and the Flume. By 1994, Forest Society reservations encompassed 24,584 acres across the State, a testament to its commitment to protecting New Hampshire's wilderness. Today, the Forest Society owns more than 68,000 acres in over 200 reservations and protects tens of thousands more through conservation easements and other arrangements. Over its 125-year history, the Forest Society has worked alongside landowners, municipalities, government agencies, and other conservation organizations to help protect more than 1 million acres of open space across New Hampshire.

In recent years, the Forest Society has continued to advocate tirelessly for the wise use of our forests. It has remained a key supporter of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program LCHIP, a program that provides competitive grants for land conservation and preservation projects that permanently protect landscapes in the Granite State. After a 2019 fire left two historic buildings at The Rocks Estate destroyed, the organization pivoted and used the loss as an opportunity to reimagine the historic estate. In 2020, the Forest Society launched its Forest Society North at The Rocks campaign, beginning a multi-year effort to renovate the site and expand its conservation, education and forestry work in the North Country. Another recent accomplishment is the Forest Society's work to preserve Mount Major and the surrounding land. As one of New Hampshire's most beloved hiking destinations, Mount Major's immense popularity has heightened the risk of trail erosion and damage to vegetation. The Forest Society has led numerous volunteer efforts to preserve this special place for Granite Staters and visitors to enjoy. With these projects and more, the Forest Society continues to embody its original objective of promoting the wise use of land through conservation and advocacy.

The 125th anniversary of the Forest Society is worthy of celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on more than a century of advocacy and hard work that have supported the longstanding mission of the Forest Society: to promote the protection and wise use of land through education and by example. I ask all Americans to join me in honoring this milestone, recognizing the generations of members, volunteers, landowners, and partners who have contributed to its story and saluting the next generation of Forest Society staff, volunteers, and supporters who will carry this legacy into the future.

Mr. President, I am so pleased to come to the floor this morning to join Senator Blumenthal, one of the sponsors of this legislation, to remember Senator Lindsey Graham and to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this legislation: the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. And I so appreciate Darline Graham's being here and her support for this.

So I am here to support the underlying bill, but I also am here to oppose the Paul-Wyden amendment. Now, I understand the concern of some of my colleagues on tariffs. I share those.

I co-led an amicus brief, challenging the President's illegal use of IEEPA to impose tariffs, and appreciated Senator Wyden's partnership on that. That argument prevailed at the Supreme Court.

I also oppose any abuse of the tariff authorities that are currently on the books. But the authority in this bill to impose tariffs is very narrowly scoped, and it contains clear guardrails. It explicitly says that the only countries that can be subject to tariffs are the top five purchasers of oil or gas--the top five--and the top five sanctions evaders for Russian oil.

So if we are going to be successful at putting pressure on that we need to put pressure on to get Vladimir Putin to the table, we have got to shut down the money that he is getting from oil and gas, and that is what this bill would do.

These tariffs have one purpose: to make it more costly for countries to keep buying the Russian energy that funds Putin's war.

This amendment does not restore Congress' constitutional authority over trade, which listening to the authors, you might question. And if this amendment is adopted, President Trump's existing tariff authorities remain exactly where they are today. The only thing that would change would be our ability to put pressure on countries that are still buying Russian energy. So I oppose this amendment. I urge my colleagues to oppose it as well.

And I think one of the critical issues here is the urgency of where we are in this war right now. The momentum is on Ukraine's side. This is Russia's worst summer of the war yet, but we know the situation can change quickly against Ukraine.

China is supporting Russia's efforts to regain battlefield advantage by helping the Russians develop their own version of Starlink, one of the things President Zelenskyy raised a concern about the last time Senator Graham and I had a chance to meet with him in Ankara at the NATO summit.

According to President Zelenskyy, that technology that China is working on can be available as early as November. That would advance Russia's drone technology to catch up with Ukraine. The battlefield could look significantly different in the next 6 to 12 months, and that could roll back Ukraine's advantages.

Now is the time to put more pressure on Putin. This legislation, if it is advanced before the August recess, will be ahead of Russia's upcoming elections. They hold their legislative elections in mid- September. After that, Putin is likely to be required to change conscription in response to the severe shortage of recruits because they are losing 35,000 Russians a month.

Advancing the legislation ahead of Russia's upcoming elections will increase pressure on Putin to seriously revisit prospects for a peace deal.

And make no mistake: Russia is watching what we do. We have the history of this war to show that every time the United States backs away from putting pressure on Russia, from helping Ukraine, from funding the war, Russia ramps up its attacks in Ukraine. It kills more civilians.

And that is where we are. If we can't shut down the funding for the war machine that Russia is using against Ukraine, then they are going to keep at it. We have to show the determination that the United States feels to support this emerging democracy that Senator Blumenthal was so eloquent to talk about.

So that is why there is real urgency for what we are doing today, not just to pass this underlying sanctions bill but to make sure that the tariffs that are funding Russia's war machine can shut down the oil and gas that is keeping that war machine going.

So I hope all of my colleagues will oppose this amendment and support the underlying bill.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators Shaheen, Blumenthal, and Schumer be recognized for up to 1 minute each.

Mr. President, colleagues, every day that Russia earns billions from energy exports, it has more resources to finance this war. Every day that Putin has those resources, he gains more time. Every day that Putin gains more time, more Ukrainians are killed.

This legislation is what President Zelenskyy asked us to do. This is what Senator Graham worked so hard to achieve. I hope we can give it an overwhelming vote.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, while I voted No on S. Res. 817, which calls for an up or down vote on 74 nominations, en bloc, I would have voted yes on the following nominations if I had the opportunity to vote on each nomination separately:

1. Calendar No. 729: John Breslow, of Arizona, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Republic of Cyprus.

2. Calendar No. 730: Todd Steggerda, of Virginia, to be

Representative of the United States of America to the Office

of the United Nations and Other International Organizations

in Geneva.

3. Calendar No. 731: Adam Cassady, of Virginia, to be

Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.

4. Calendar No. 732: Preston Wells Griffith III, of

Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of

America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations.

5. Calendar No. 733: Preston Wells Griffith III, of

Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of

America to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

6. Calendar No. 734: Fleet White, of Virginia, to be an

Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs).

7. Calendar No. 739: Kenneth Sorenson, of Hawaii, to be

United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii for the

term of four years.

8. Calendar No. 740: Johnson TeeHee II, of Oklahoma, to be

United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma

for the term of four years.

9. Calendar No. 746: Timothy VerHey, of Michigan, to be

United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan

for the term of four years.

10. Calendar No. 748: Jack Chambers, of West Virginia, to

be United States Marshal for the Southern District of West

Virginia for the term of four years.

11. Calendar No. 749: Jason Holt, of Oklahoma, to be United

States Marshal for the

Northern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years.

12. Calendar No. 757: Michael Kavoukjian, of Florida, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Kingdom of Norway.

13. Calendar No. 761: Eric Wendt, of California, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Republic of Albania.

14. Calendar No. 762: David Brat, of Virginia, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Commonwealth of Australia.

15. Calendar No. 781: Sean Costello, of Alabama, to be

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama

for the term of four years.

16. Calendar No. 822: David M. Prouty, of Maryland, to be a

Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of

five years expiring August 27, 2031. (Reappointment).

17. Calendar No. 823: Brett Matsumoto, of Maryland, to be

Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, for a

term of four years.

18. Calendar No. 826: Kaveh Farzad, of Maryland, to be an

Assistant Secretary of Energy (International Affairs).

19. Calendar No. 835: Christopher Michael De Bono, of the

District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of

fifteen years.

20. Calendar No. 836: Sharon E. Goodie, of the District of

Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of

the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

21. Calendar No. 837: Bradford Pentony Wilson, of New

Jersey, to be Archivist of the United States.

22. Calendar No. 842: Michael Christopher DiLorenzo, of the

District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of

fifteen years.

23. Calendar No. 843: Craig Edward Leen, of the District of

Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of

the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

24. Calendar No. 844: Christine Michelle Macey, of the

District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of

fifteen years.

25. Calendar No. 845: John Barlow Timmer, of the District

of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court

of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

26. Calendar No. 848: James Andrew Crowell IV, of the

District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the

District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen

years.

27. Calendar No. 849: Stuart Gordon Nash, of the District

of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of

Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years.

28. Calendar No. 850: Rudolph Bauer, of South Carolina, to

be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to Belize.

29. Calendar No. 853: Barbera Thornhill, of North Carolina,

to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat

Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large.

30. Calendar No. 854: Christopher Anderson, of Wisconsin,

to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

United States of America to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

31. Calendar No. 855: Stanley Brown, of Virginia, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

32. Calendar No. 856: Joseph Burkhalter, of Georgia, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Republic of Moldova.

33. Calendar No. 857: John Hurley, of California, to be

Representative of the United States of America to the

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with

the rank of Ambassador.

34. Calendar No. 858: Daniel Perez, of Florida, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to Brazil.

35. Calendar No. 859: Laurence Socha, of Illinois, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Republic of The Gambia.

36. Calendar No. 860: Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be an

Assistant Secretary of State (Western Hemisphere Affairs).

37. Calendar No. 863: Brendan Hanrahan, of New York, to be

an Assistant Secretary of State (European and Eurasian

Affairs).

38. Calendar No. 864: Donald Blome, of Illinois, to be an

Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs).

39. Calendar No. 865: Katherine Bowles, of Alabama, to be

an Assistant Secretary of State (Legislative Affairs).

40. Calendar No. 868: Thomas B. Chapman, of Maryland, to be

a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a

term expiring December 31, 2028. (Reappointment).

41. Calendar No. 869: Karen Jean Hedlund, of New York, to

be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for a term

expiring December 31, 2030. (Reappointment).

42. Calendar No. 874: Roger Mason, of Virginia, to be

Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

43. Calendar No. 899: Mark Cruz, of Oregon, to be Director

of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human

Services, for the term of four years.

44. Calendar No. 903: Christopher Nassar, of Oklahoma, to

be US Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.

I want to applaud Senator Schumer's comments about supporting this legislation to try and end the war in Ukraine. I applaud Senator Britt and Senator Wicker, and, of course, Senator Blumenthal who has worked for over a year to get to this point and thank Senator Darline Graham for her efforts to support this legislation.

I had the privilege of traveling with Senator Graham earlier this month on what tragically turned out to be his final codel.

We all know that he was a tireless advocate for Ukraine. He knew that Ukrainians stand on the frontlines of freedom. This legislation is designed to cut off Vladimir Putin's most important resource in his war against Ukraine: his money.

And you can see from this poster, what this legislation does is impose mandatory sanctions that target Russia's war machine; it clamps down on Russia's shadow fleet; it strengthens financial and export restrictions; and it

enforces targeted duties on top purchasers of Russian oil and gas.

This includes sanctions against the Russian central bank, which keeps Russia's war economy afloat; Sberbank, the country's largest lender; and Gazprombank, which has helped finance Russia's energy exports. It also sanctions Russia's energy sector and the executives who run it, the major state energy projects that generate billions for the Kremlin, and future arctic energy projects designed to keep that revenue flowing.

For the first time, this bill would impose sanctions on the Russia shadow fleet and any foreign vessel that is used by the Russian Government for sanctions evasion. It would impose tariffs on imports from the top five countries buying Russia crude oil or natural gas, and it would impose tariffs on imports from those top five countries facilitating Russia's oil sanctions evasion.

We know who topped that list in 2025; it was China. They topped both lists. They continue buying Russian oil, even as Russia kills civilians and kidnaps Ukrainian children.

And as sponsors of this bill, we have worked hard to protect our allies, those who have worked hard to get off of Russia's natural gas purchases.

Now, some have raised concerns about the tariff provisions in this bill. They say that President Trump has used tariffs indiscriminately to target our closest allies.

Well, I agree. But in the case of this bill, Congress is explicitly directing these tariffs for one unambiguous purpose: to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin and end his unprovoked war against Ukraine. That is why this bill is narrowly targeted at the worst actors supporting Russia.

I saw the consequences of Putin's strategy firsthand earlier this year on a congressional visit to Odessa. It was winter. Ours was the first official congressional delegation to visit Odessa. The Russians had destroyed every bridge going into the city, except the one that our convoy crossed over that the engineers--Ukrainian engineers--had managed to patch together.

And, sadly, it is not a new phenomenon because Russia deliberately targets civilian infrastructure to break the will of the Ukrainian people, and it attacks American businesses. It attacks the grain silos of ships that help feed the world.

And you can see what they are doing. This is a rescue worker at a Philip Morris factory in Kharkiv. They have attacked Coca-Cola, Cargill, Mondelez. Others have been deliberately hit. And when we met with businesspeople who were working for those American companies in Ukraine, they said they believed they were being deliberately targeted by Russia.

So for those people who are concerned about the tariffs, consider the cost of continuing to do nothing. Pressure is the only language Vladimir Putin understands. It is the only thing he responds to, and that is why it is critical that we pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act today.

The Ukrainians are making great progress. They are striking deep inside of Russia. They are targeting defense factories and oil facilities that enable Putin's war. And now is the time for us to do everything possible to put pressure on Putin. President Zelenskyy supports this bill. Everything that reduces Russia's revenues reduce the ability for Russia to continue the war against Ukraine.

As ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I believe this is the only bill that Congress has before it that has a realistic path forward for imposing new sanctions on Russia. This is our best opportunity to support Ukraine, who are defending not just their country, but the rest of Europe from an increasingly aggressive Russia.

And so I call on all my colleagues to vote for this bill to send Vladimir Putin a bipartisan message in a language that he understands. Let's pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 50, On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Amdt. No. 4308).

I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 52, On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: H.R. 6644 as amended).

I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 54, On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 7147).

I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 59, On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the Appalachian Mountain Club and recognize its 150 years of dedicated service in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of our country. As the Nation's oldest continuously operating outdoor recreation and conservation organization, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has encouraged generations of Americans to venture outside and protect the region's most beautiful and prized mountain landscapes.

AMC began with a call from Professor Edward Charles Pickering for ``those interested in mountain exploration'' to attend a meeting in early January 1876 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to news reports at the time, the meeting drew interest from 30 to 40 people. They gathered in an era when more Americans were beginning to appreciate mountains for their unparalleled beauty, their open space for recreation, and their considerable value for scientific study of the natural world. In the early years of the organization, members set their sights on New Hampshire's White Mountains to visit, create accurate maps, build accessible trails, and collect data in a variety of fields from botany to geology to meteorology. They published the first edition of Appalachia in 1876, which grew into the Nation's leading and longest running journal on outdoor exploration and conservation. In 1888, AMC opened its first backcountry hut in the Presidential Range and dramatically reshaped the culture of hiking in the region. The Madison Spring Hut has not only offered overnight shelter to exhausted hikers, but also contributed to scientific research, supported trail stewardship and visitor safety, and helped protect a fragile alpine environment. AMC still operates a network of eight huts in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and they epitomize the organization's founding philosophy of making mountain experiences more accessible while also promoting stewardship of the landscape.

AMC's advocacy for the passage of the Weeks Act in 1911 is another example of its work at the intersection of conservation and recreation. Known as one of the most important conservation laws in American history, the Weeks Act authorized the Federal Government to purchase private land for the purpose of restoring and protecting forests and watersheds. It led directly to the establishment of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire and later dozens of other national forests in the eastern United States. Today, nearly 20 million acres of forestland have been permanently protected through the Weeks Act. Thanks in large part to the public support AMC generated for its passage, Americans will enjoy the many environmental, economic and recreational benefits of these lands for generations to come.

The Weeks Act was a defining public policy achievement for AMC, but it was far from its last. Throughout the next century, its members and volunteers would continue to advocate for smart,

forward-thinking legislation and programs that balance recreation, scientific research, conservation, and public access to this valuable mountain environment. AMC launched the Maine Woods Initiative in 2003 to conserve land, support sustainable forestry, create new trails, and enhance climate resilience across Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness. It also championed the Highlands Conservation Act in 2004 that protected thousands of acres of forestlands and watersheds in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Most recently, AMC promoted the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act and the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This legislation is helping to tackle a substantial backlog of maintenance projects on Federal public lands.

While promoting and raising public awareness for conservation, AMC never lost sight of one of its earliest objectives: to build and maintain public trails. It remains one of the Northeast's largest trail stewards. AMC crews care for more than 1,800 miles of trails across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including many of New Hampshire's most popular routes. In 2021, I was proud to secure Federal funding used by AMC to restore and realign the Franconia Ridge Loop Trail, one of the Northeast's premier hikes. I was also pleased to see AMC open the Cardigan Mountain All-Persons Trail in 2023, a half-mile trail in Alexandria, NH, that allows people with wheelchairs and other mobility devices to take in a tranquil mountain setting.

The 150th anniversary of the Appalachian Mountain Club is worthy of celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on a century-and-a-half of advocacy and hard work that has strengthened our connection with each other and the natural world. It is also a chance to look forward and recommit to the longstanding mission of this worthy organization: to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. I ask all Americans to join me in recognizing these enduring contributions and saluting the next generation of AMC staff, volunteers, explorers, and stewards who will carry forth this legacy in the next 150 years and beyond.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Marcia ``Marty'' Sink and recognize her decades of advocacy on behalf of Granite State children. Marty will retire at the

beginning of July as president and CEO of Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire, CASA NH. She leaves a legacy worthy of our praise and our gratitude.

Marty is known throughout New Hampshire for her dedicated leadership and steady management of an organization that she brought to the Granite State nearly four decades ago. Her path to CASA NH began with a disheartening experience with an overwhelmed and overworked child protection and juvenile family court system. After she and her husband became foster parents in their mid-30s, Marty witnessed massive gaps in the systems put in place to protect abused and neglected children. In one case, they cared for an infant for 2 years prior to his adoption and never saw his guardian ad litem. Marty asked herself how a person could make recommendations to a court on a child's best interests if they never met the child or foster parent. Around the same time, Marty read a story about a Seattle, Washington-based organization that recruited volunteers and trained them to serve as guardians ad litem. She called Court Appointed Special Advocates and asked how she could get involved. They told her that New Hampshire did not yet have a CASA program, but they offered logistical support and some starting funds for Marty to open a new State chapter. She launched CASA NH in 1989.

CASA NH grew slowly in the early years, but Marty took careful steps to build trust within the court system and garner support within the community. With the first crew of volunteers, she met with judges and community leaders to ease their concerns that people with no background in law or social work could be effective advocates for children in the system. CASA NH started in 1989 with 10 volunteers covering cases in 2 courtrooms. Word spread quickly about the value of CASA volunteers. According to its most recent annual report, the organization now comprises 664 volunteer advocates. In 2025, they served over 83,000 hours, drove over 737,000 miles, and met with nearly 1,500 children. This substantial growth and significant impact are a testament to Marty's leadership and her efforts to attract fellow advocates who share her commitment to the organization's mission. They seek to provide something to children that is impossible to quantify yet critical to their health and long-term well-being: a stronger foundation for a better, brighter, and more hopeful future.

There is nothing more important to the future of our country and State than to ensure the next generation can grow and thrive in safe and welcoming homes. But sadly, not every child is afforded the necessity of a nurturing home. That is why the work of CASA NH and all its volunteer advocates is so important. They offer a strong voice, a sympathetic ear, and a stable presence in times of uncertainty and despair in a young child's life. Children feel supported by a CASA NH volunteer who stands beside them in a courtroom, learns their unique story, provides a dependable human connection, or offers unwavering encouragement and assistance as they find a safe and permanent home.

For nearly 40 years, Marty has worked tirelessly to turn this vision of CASA NH into a reality for thousands of New Hampshire children. She has also built a strong organization that is poised to continue its advocacy and community involvement long after she begins a well- deserved retirement. Marty says she will continue to serve and support children and families in New Hampshire, but she is looking forward to stepping back from the all-consuming nature of her job. I know that she will find meaningful ways to contribute to New Hampshire and the world.

Marty's decades of community leadership will be celebrated later this month, and her friends, family and colleagues have already joined together to reflect on her many achievements. I join them in spirit for this celebration of Marty, and I once again thank her for all she has done for our Granite State.

Mr. President, while I voted no on S. Res. 690, which calls for an up or down vote on 49 nominations, en bloc, I would have voted yes on the following nominations if I had the opportunity to vote on each nomination separately:

1. Cal. #615--Andrew Benson, of Maine, to be United States

Attorney for the District of Maine for the term of four

years.

2. Cal. #621--Gregory LoGerfo, of Massachusetts, a Career

Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-

Counselor, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the

rank and status of Ambassador at Large.

3. Cal. #622--Eric Meyer, of California, to be Ambassador

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of

America to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

4. Cal. #623--Jennifer Wicks McNamara, of Virginia, to be

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United

States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

5. Cal. #648--Daniel Edwards, of North Carolina, to be an

Assistant Secretary of Transportation.

6. Cal. #649--Steven Haines, of Virginia, to be an

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis

(part of the International Trade Administration focused on

supply chains).

7. Cal. #653--Zachary Keller, of Louisiana, to be United

States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana for the

term of four years.

8. Cal. #654--Ryan Raybould, of Texas, to be United States

Attorney for the Northern District of Texas for the term of

four years.

9. Cal. #664--Gregory Gilmore, of Illinois, to be United

States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois for the

term of four years.

10. Cal. #665--Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member

of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of five

years expiring June 30, 2031. (Reappointment)

11. Cal. #675--Robert Rotter, of Iowa, to be United States

Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa for the term of

four years.

12. Cal. #677--David St. Pierre, of Maine, to be United

States Marshal for the District of Maine for the term of four

years.

13. Cal. #678--Brian Birdwell, of Texas, to be an Assistant

Secretary of Defense.

14. Cal. #680--Lee Lipton, of Florida, to be Ambassador to

the Republic of the Philippines.

15. Cal. #681--William Long, of Missouri, to be Ambassador

to the Republic of Iceland.

16. Cal. #682--Jared Novelly, of Missouri, to be Ambassador

to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without

additional compensation as Ambassador to the Independent

State of Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Niue.

17. Cal. #683--Robert Sweeney, of Texas, to be United

States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank

of Ambassador.

18. Cal. #685--Asel Roberts, of Virginia, to be Ambassador

to the Republic of Slovenia.

19. Cal #686--Wesley Brooks, of Florida, to be Assistant

Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental

and Scientific Affairs.

20. Cal. #687--Frank Garcia, of Virginia, to be an

Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs).

21. Cal. #688--Matthew Anderson, of Colorado, to be Deputy

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.

22. Cal. #689--Michael Graham, of Virginia, to be a Member

of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term

expiring December 31, 2030. (Reappointment)

23. Cal. #700--Steven Lewis, of Missouri, to be United

States Marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri, for the

term of four years.

24. Cal. #701--Priscilla Lopez, of Florida, to be United

States Marshal for the Southern District of Florida for the

term of four years.

25. Cal. #712--James Stuart, of Minnesota, to be United

States Marshal for the District of Minnesota for the term of

four years.

26. Cal. #714--Yeouk Kim, of Texas, to be Representative of

the United States of America to the Association of Southeast

Asian Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador.

27. Cal. #715--Ademola Adewale-Sadik, of New York, to be

Director of the African Development Bank for a term of five

years.

Mr. President, I defer to Senator Graham.

Mr. President, more than 2 months ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs that President Trump had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were unlawful. That means that more than $166 billion in taxes--or tariffs--under IEEPA were illegally collected, and they are owed back to the importers who paid them.

Now, this wasn't a shocking outcome because the law that the President tried to use for these tariffs--IEEPA--had never been used to impose tariffs. It does not even mention the words ``tariff'' or ``duty'' once, anywhere, in that law.

And so 15 months ago, a number of us introduced legislation to clarify that IEEPA cannot be used for tariffs.

Congress then submitted three amicus briefs, arguing that these tariffs were unlawful. The lower courts agreed. And on February 20, the Supreme Court blocked the tariffs and said that they should be repaid.

Now, 2 months later, here we are. No refunds have been paid, and the administration says it could take another 60 to 90 days before any refunds will be paid out.

Yesterday, some businesses were finally able to apply for refunds in the Customs and Border Protection's new system, but that system didn't allow businesses to even apply for refunds they have been waiting the longest for. This new system, which is called CAPE, disadvantages small businesses who may not know they need to file to receive refunds.

Those who don't have large legal teams to pursue these claims and have to take time away from their businesses just to give Customs information that it already has, they are not going to be able to comply with these requirements.

It also makes small businesses more likely to sell their refund claims to Wall Street banks like the one run by the Secretary of Commerce's sons and to sell those claims for a significant discount.

This administration was ready to reimpose a 10-percent tax on everything Americans import on the same day the Supreme Court ruled, but it took 2 months to roll out a partial refund system. That has real costs.

It hurts small businesses who are already struggling with high prices and shouldn't have to wait months to get refunds for unlawful taxes. It hurts our economy, with businesses unsure when or even if they will be able to reinvest this money. And it hurts taxpayers because these refunds have to be paid with interest.

That means that every day of delay adds $22 million to the bill for these unlawful and damaging tariffs. That is $1.3 billion more just since the Supreme Court ruled with billions more to come. Those are added costs because this administration failed to prepare for the obvious outcome.

So let's be clear on what is happening. President Trump's tariffs raise prices across the board, and now he is slow-walking getting out the refunds that Americans are entitled to. There is a better answer. That is the Speedy Tariff Refund Act, legislation that Senators Markey and Wyden and I have been working on. It is a bill that would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within 30 days, that it use the information it already has, and that all of these refunds be paid now.

The bill prioritizes refunds to small businesses rather than putting them at a disadvantage to big companies. Those businesses have already had to deal with added costs they can't easily absorb and constantly shifting tariffs that make it impossible to plan.

So this is not complicated. The Court said these tariffs were unlawful. The money was collected. It should be returned promptly and in full. It is time to pass our bill. It is time to return the $166 billion to the American people because every day we delay adds another $22 million to the tab.

I yield the floor.