Floor Statements

Mr. President, today, I want to recognize a U.S. marshal who has served his country and the great State of Kansas for 34 years.

Craig Beam grew up on his family's farm in Esbon, KS, and graduated from White Rock High School in Burr Oak. He continued his academic career at Great Bend Community College, where he earned an associate's degree in criminal justice. Craig later continued his education at Washburn University, where he played football and received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.

After completing his degree, Craig got his first law enforcement job with the Paola Police Department and later joined the Springfield Police Department in Missouri. After serving in local law enforcement for several years, Craig joined the U.S. Marshals Service in 1992 and served as a marshal until his retirement.

Throughout his tenure with the U.S. Marshals Service, Craig demonstrated his leadership, serving as the director of the Federal Fugitive Task Force for the District of Kansas, which averages 200 arrests per month, and as the Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Kansas.

In 1993, Craig received the U.S. Marshal's Service Director's Distinguished Service Award for his heroic actions during the August 5, 1993, terrorist attack on the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka. He bravely protected judges, cleared hallways, and escorted civilians to safety during the attack.

The U.S. Marshal Service's motto is ``Justice, Integrity, Service,'' all of which Craig has modeled for the last 34 years. As he retires with the title of Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, I know Craig will continue to uphold the values of the marshals in retirement.

Thank you, Craig, for your years of service, sacrifice, and leadership. I wish you the best in the next chapter of life and hope you enjoy this well-deserved retirement.

Mr. President, today I want to recognize the first responders who responded to a tragic multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate- 70 on March 14 and remember the victims of this accident.

Kansas is well-known for its windy plains and expansive prairies, but these features of our State can, on occasion, create dangerous weather conditions. Leading up to March 14, high sustained winds coupled with dry conditions on the plains had created the right conditions for a dust storm. In the afternoon of March 14, a dust storm ripped unobstructed across western Kansas, leading to a sudden and deadly dust storm on I-70.

The storm led to low visibility and hazardous driving conditions on I-70 between the two rural communities of Colby and Goodland, near the Colorado border. What began as a few collisions on I-70 quickly spiraled into a hazardous pile-up involving more than 70 vehicles, including several semi-trucks.

Despite the hazardous conditions, first responders from the neighboring communities rushed to the site of the accident still battling the low visibility and dangerous conditions brought on by the dust storm.

In rural communities, the police and fire forces are small and are often supported by volunteers. These men and women dropped what they were doing and put themselves at great risk to help the folks involved in the massive crash.

With limited resources and hazardous conditions, the first responders reacted quickly and with great skill to extract folks from their vehicles and transport them to the closest hospitals.

Goodland Fire Chief Brian James summed up the emergency response like this: ``I don't think people realize the dedication these men and women give to make this community safe and secure. We had to think outside the box to get patients transported to hospitals in Goodland and Colby by using our fire department support vehicle with EMTs in the back to using patrol vehicles from Goodland Police Department, Sherman County Sheriff's Office and Kansas Highway Patrol. I'm sorry for the lives lost in this incident, but I'm grateful for the ones we could save.''

Emergency crews poured in from neighboring counties doing everything they could to help. This included firefighters, EMTs, police, highway patrol officers, sheriffs and dispatchers from the Goodland Fire Department, Brewster Fire Department, Northwest Kansas Ambulance Service, Colby Fire Department, Goodland Police Department, Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Game Warden W300, Thomas County EMS, Wallace County EMS, Cheyenne County EMS, and Sherman County Dispatch.

These men and women put themselves at great risk to respond to this accident; and I have no doubt that their efforts saved many lives. I want to thank all the first responders for their service to the Kansans and travelers who they assisted on I-70.

I also want to thank the hospitals who received and treated the victims from the crash. Rural hospitals have small staffs and limited resources, but the medical centers in northwest Kansas did an outstanding job treating and transporting those who were injured.

Citizens Medical Center in Colby treated 30 patients and transported 5 who needed additional care. Goodland Regional Medical Center treated 26 patients and transported 3 who needed additional care. Thank you to the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff who worked through the night and into the weekend treating patients and sending them safely on their way.

I also want to express my gratitude to the Kansas Highway Patrol whose work continued through the evening, and into the weekend, clearing the interstate so it could be re-opened.

This tragic accident led to the deaths of eight people. My heart goes out to the families who lost a loved one in this tragedy on I-70. Losing a loved one is painful, especially in sudden tragic circumstances. It is times like this that communities pull together, and we remember how blessed we are to have neighbors and strangers who are willing to risk their lives to help others.

I hope everyone uses this tragic accident as a reminder to hold your loved ones a little closer and thank the men and women who put their own lives at risk for the sake of others.

Stay safe and may God bless.

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

Mr. President, today, I want to recognize Pete Bunce, the president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, GAMA, who is retiring next month. Pete is a dedicated leader and a stalwart in the aviation industry. He has done a remarkable job advocating for the interests of general aviation manufacturers, many of which call Kansas home.

I first met Pete during my time in the House of Representatives, when he was the Director of the U.S. Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison in the House. We worked together on military, veterans, and transportation issues. When he went over to GAMA, I knew the association would be in good hands, and he has taken it to new heights during his illustrious 20 years at the helm.

Throughout his storied career, Pete has engaged regulators, policymakers, and elected officials to promote general aviation. As part of his legislative affairs efforts, he led GAMA during the passage and implementation of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, which modernized the certification standards and methods for small aircraft. He and his team have also provided valuable industry insights through numerous FAA reauthorizations, including the latest bill passed last Congress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pete and his team strongly advocated for the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) program, which I helped successfully manage through Congress to strengthen the aviation industry's fragile supply chain and keeping highly skilled workers in the industry.

Pete and his GAMA team were also was intimately involved with consideration and passage of the Advanced Air Mobility and Coordination Act. I hope that report, which should be delivered by the administration in the near term, will help lay the foundation for this critical industry and the innovations it will bring.

Pete has been recognized for his noteworthy service to the general aviation industry with many accolades including being named the 2007 Aviation Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation, awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence in 2009, inducted as one of the 70 Living Legends of Aviation in 2010, inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame, presented with the NAA Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award in 2022, and bestowed with the EAA's Freedom of Flight Award in 2024.

Pete has done so much to advance the welfare of the general aviation industry, one which he has loved and cherished since first learning to fly as a teenager and working at his local airport.

Thank you, Pete, for your steadfast service to the general aviation industry, especially within the great State of Kansas. I wish you ``Blue Skies and Tailwinds'' during your well-earned retirement. I hope you enjoy retirement and spending more time with your lovely wife Patty.

Mr. President, today, I want to recognize Jones Heritage Realtors of Pittsburg, KS, as they celebrate 120 years in the real estate business.

Jones Heritage Realtors was founded in 1905 by Frank A. Jones in Pittsburg. In 1908, Frank's brother Ernest joined the business, and together, they established their family business selling real estate and insurance.

Paul S. Jones joined his father Frank in 1946, and a few years later, Frank's daughter Ruth Jones Sherman joined the family business in 1953. Ruth was the first female realtor in the city of Pittsburg and worked for the agency for 34 years.

Brian K. Jones, Paul's son, joined the business in 1979 and purchased his father's interest in the agency in 1985. Even after transferring his share of the company to his son, Paul remained active in the management of the family operation for several years.

As the leader of Jones Heritage Realtors, Brian has served his community numerous ways, serving as a member of the local Rotary club, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburg Land Bank Board of Trustees, Crawford County Mental Health Board, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Family and Children Together, Explore Crawford County, and the Pittsburg Board of Realtors.

He is active in the National Association of Realtors and served as its director and region 9 vice president in 2015. As a member of the Kansas Association of Realtors, Brian served as the 2010 president, the chairman of Real Estate Business Resources, the Associations for Profit Company, and is on the board of directors and executive committee. Brian was also awarded the 2002 Kansas Realtor of the Year and 2013 Distinguished Service Award.

Brian has invested his time and resources into his community, and individuals in Pittsburg have expressed their gratitude for Brian and Jones Heritage Realtors. Blake Benson, the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President said, ``Jones Heritage Realtors is among Kansas' most notable corporate citizens. From its beginning in 1905 through today, the company has always prioritized community involvement among its brokers and realtors and our region has benefitted greatly from their support. We look forward to continuing this relationship well into the future.''

Kim Froman, city of Pittsburg Director of Community Development and Housing, said, ``Brian's extensive knowledge and experience with real estate has made him an ideal advocate for housing initiatives within the City of Pittsburg. He dedicated nine years of service to the Pittsburg Land Bank Board of Trustees, including three years as chairperson, while also holding multiple other positions on community boards. All of this combined experience has greatly impacted the housing market and community within the City of Pittsburg, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future.''

Today, Jones Heritage Realtors is an integral component of the growth and economic development of the Pittsburg community. The firm has handled numerous commercial, industrial and residential transactions and has developed several residential and commercial areas throughout the city.

With 120 years and three generations of knowledge and experience in the Pittsburg community, Jones Heritage Realtors has a prominent influence in the local real estate industry and will continue their legacy of excellence for years to come.

Congratulations to Brian and his team on this milestone.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, in my conversations with Kansans, I frequently point to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs as proof that we can still work together, that unity is attainable, and that we are able to set aside our partisan differences and frustrations to find a way to work together to put our Nation's veterans first because they did that for us when they put on the uniform and took a vow to defend and protect our country.

The Senate has to work together with the administration, with the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations, and the broad veteran community across the country. This resolution divides the Congress and the administration and makes it more difficult for us to find consensus. We should work together. We should work together to determine what is the right kind of workforce at the VA--a workforce that enables the Department to better care for veterans.

Approving this resolution drives a wedge between this body--this Senate, this Congress--and the executive branch, and I don't see how that helps veterans.

Additionally, this resolution was designed to lock in at the VA the status quo as of January 19. I don't know if any of my colleagues believe the VA

was doing everything just right prior to this administration.

I commit today to all my colleagues to work with them to make certain the VA retains an effective workforce that can deliver our promises to veterans, but we will only achieve that by working together and working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to find the desirable outcomes. We need more information, and we need to be working together to achieve that. Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, this amendment is unnecessary. Full funding to carry out the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson PACT Act is not in jeopardy. The PACT Act received widespread bipartisan support, bicameral commitment, because we care about toxic-exposed veterans and their families, and this is not a partisan issue.

Republicans have always fought to fully fund the VA. When the VA comes back to Congress asking for more money, like they did last September, because of unexpected shortfalls, we said yes. The administration and this Congress will continue to prioritize full and uninterrupted funding of the VA, including funding necessary to fulfill the laws, like the PACT Act, that Congress enacted.

I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment.

Vote on Amendment No. 659

Mr. President, today I want to speak about a program that has shaped our Nation's humanitarian efforts and made a significant impact on my home State of Kansas, a program called Food for Peace.

In 1953, agricultural surpluses had reached an alltime high, but the price of storing excess commodities was too expensive to rationalize, and it was at risk of going to waste.

Kansas farmers, like Cheyenne County's Peter O'Brien, worked hard to cultivate and grow these commodities. Looking for a solution, Peter suggested at a local Farm Bureau meeting that maybe the excess food could be sent to countries in need. Peter understood that, out of our abundance, we have a moral duty and opportunity to feed the hungry. His idea sparked the origin of a program we now know as Food for Peace.

Another Kansan, one of my predecessors, Andy Schoeppel, led the Food for Peace Act in the Senate, which was signed into law by President Eisenhower, another Kansan, in 1954, and Senator Bob Dole from Russell, KS, later championed the reauthorization of Food for Peace.

The program's premise was simple but impactful: By leveraging the food surpluses we produce in Kansas and across the Nation, we could address famine around the world, while creating new markets for our commodities and bolstering our agricultural economy.

The first shipments of American wheat and corn were sent to Korea and Greece in 1954, and by the end of Food for Peace's initial year of operation, it had fed 1.2 million people. Over the last 70 years, the program has fed more than 4 billion people in more than 150 countries, all with American-grown commodities.

Hunger, whether driven by price increases or food shortages, can act as a catalyst for protest and armed conflict. We have seen how food can be used as a weapon of war as radical Islamic groups in Syria used food as a means to recruit soldiers. We have witnessed regions of the world that are critical to America's strategic interest descend into chaos due to people not having access to affordable food.

In a turbulent world, stricken with conflict, American leadership is more than just our military and our economic might. Food aid provided by the United States reduces despair and increases stability within fragile countries by enabling economic productivity and minimizing the risk of radicalization.

For countless individuals around the world, their survival is dependent upon the resources provided by the American people. These vulnerable populations rely on the strength and prosperity of the United States. However, much work remains in the ongoing battle against hunger, and part of that battle is improving the process and programs that administer our aid.

Food for Peace is administered by the USAID, and the inefficiency of USAID has been a growing concern. The Agency struggles with bureaucratic delays, mismanagement, and a lack of coordination, which undermines its ability to deliver effectively aid to those in need. This inefficiency not only wastes taxpayer dollars but also diminishes the impact of America's foreign aid in addressing global crises.

Reports suggest that millions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to promoting tourism in Lebanon and Egypt, funding the purchase of electric vehicles for Vietnam, and inadvertently supporting the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan.

Even more concerning, it has been confirmed that $9 million intended for civilian food and medical supplies in Syria fell into the hands of terrorist organizations linked to al-Qaida, due to the failed oversight of USAID.

Amid these concerns of corruption, President Trump has taken steps to dismantle USAID. In conjunction with the President's action and with approval of the White House policy team, I have introduced a bill with Senator John Hoeven and Senator Roger Marshall and Representative Tracey Mann to move Food for Peace from the turbulent USAID program and move it to the Department of Agriculture, in an effort to prevent waste and bring the program closer to farmers that depend upon it.

USDA has a long and proven history of managing agricultural policy and programs that support American farmers, food distribution systems, and global security efforts. USDA has boots on the ground and the infrastructure already in place to support the logistics for food assistance. The Agency understands how to move crops efficiently, sustainably, and quickly. This knowledge is indispensable when responding to international crises, where speed and reliability can mean the difference between life and death. By placing Food for Peace under USDA's authority, we make certain that the program is in good hands and can continue to bring revenue to American agriculture.

As of just a little over an hour ago, the Senate confirmed the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. I have no doubt she will be an excellent advocate for our Nation's farmers, and I appreciate the conversations we have already had on this legislation. The Secretary has told me she is excited about this proposal and looks forward to working together on this issue.

We produce more than we can consume in this Nation. So without programs to export to, our ability to make a living in agriculture in Kansas and across the country disappears.

In fiscal year 2023 alone, $713 million of U.S.-grown commodities were purchased by the Food for Peace program, putting money back into the hands of farmers. In rural America, food assistance programs like Food for Peace put American-grown products in the hands of the hungry, and this food is a tangible extension of the hard work and dedication of farmers and ranchers.

I am pleased to help find ways to make our delivery of food aid more effective, more efficient, and remove the challenges and things that we have seen that are so disturbing.

America is the greatest country on Earth and the most prosperous. Food for Peace bolsters the farmers who feed us, creates a more stable world, and feeds the hungry.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 119th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Ranking Member Blumenthal, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, I appear before the U.S. Senate today to ask for support and for adoption of a resolution honoring the memory of 67 lives that were lost in a tragic accident that occurred last week over the Potomac River and to recognize the heroic efforts of hundreds of first responders who supported the rescue and the recovery operations in the aftermath.

Last Wednesday, January 29, American Airlines flight 5342 traveling from Wichita, KS, to Washington, DC, and

U.S. Army Aviation Brigade Priority Air Transport 25 collided over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National. There were no survivors.

This collision is the deadliest aviation incident America has witnessed in nearly 25 years, and I am heartbroken at the loss of life and the pain experienced by family, friends, and loved ones of the victims.

This loss is personal. It is Kansas. This loss is personal; I have taken this flight many times. My wife and I have taken this flight, as have thousands of other Kansans traveling from our home State to the Nation's Capital.

Since this crash we have learned that, as expected, Kansans were among the victims. And I extend my prayers and deepest condolences to the friends and family of all 67 victims from across the country and even around the globe.

Among the victims are husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughter, friends and coworkers. There are not words we know to express the devastating loss that families and friends of victims are now experiencing.

Even as we mourn the 67 killed in this tragedy, we are reminded of the American spirit of solidarity and support displayed over the course of the last 8 days. I trust that this spirit will persist as we continue to mourn and to heal.

I am joined by several of my colleagues whose constituents are among the victims. Their participation demonstrates that this loss is felt not only at home in Kansas but across country. We are all grieving and, together, we can help bear each other's burdens.

Immediately following the crash, hundreds--hundreds--of first responders from more than 40 local, State, and Federal Agencies responded to the scene, working tirelessly through the night and into the days that followed on rescue and recovery operations.

The first responders from the District of Columbia, from Virginia, from Maryland, along with various Federal Agencies, acted bravely, swiftly, and courageously in harsh conditions.

This resolution commemorates the victims and acknowledges their loved ones' deep loss. And we will promise, in this resolution, to continue to help carry those burdens for them.

This resolution also expresses gratitude to law enforcement and to emergency medical personnel, to all the first responders who arrived to try to make a difference. And they did.

I yield the floor.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia. Mr. President, with your permission, I would like to yield to my colleague from Kansas, Senator Marshall.

Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Virginia, Senator Warner.

I very much value the remarks of my colleagues from Virginia and my home State colleague from Kansas.

I would use this moment to thank all the folks in this Chamber. Colleagues and staff, people I work with and know, people I work with and sometimes don't know have been so gracious and kind in their care and concern for people, in most instances, they don't know.

It is this reminder that tragedy brings us together. It is a reminder that the Senate could use on a daily, frequent basis that there is more that brings us together than pulls us apart.

But the expression of care and concern for the people who were on this flight once again demonstrates that in the human heart, there is something that still exists about how we value and appreciate the lives of others.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 64, which is at the desk.

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

Mr. President, I am here this morning--now, this afternoon--because, in just a few moments, we will be asked to make a decision as to whether or not Congressman Doug Collins should be confirmed as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I am speaking today to encourage my colleagues to make that happen.

I believe caring for the men and women who have served our Nation in

uniform, for the loved ones they leave behind, and for their families is one of our Nation's most sacred obligations. We owe those who served all that they are entitled to and perhaps more.

I remember making a commitment when I was in high school to express my gratitude and respect for those in uniform. I never envisioned being a U.S. Senator and, now, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where our responsibilities are greater than just respect and gratitude. That is certainly important, but now we are here to make certain that all the promises we made to those who serve are kept.

I want a VA Secretary who understands the VA's mission. I want a Secretary who will put veterans first. I want a Secretary who recognizes the VA's importance in serving veterans and contributing to a safe and successful future for our Nation. The success they had in uniform, I want them to have that success as a veteran, as a civilian, as a citizen.

Congressman Collins is that person. Through his own service, which continues in the Air Force Reserve, Congressman Collins knows firsthand service in the uniform, and he knows the benefits and challenges that veterans face and the challenges their families face.

In his testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he demonstrated significant understanding of the policies he will be expected to administer at the Department of Veterans Affairs and proved to me and to others that he is prepared to lead the VA into the future.

He is committed to working closely with Members of Congress and certainly the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and to make sure that our input is understood, taken into account, and, hopefully, implemented. His nomination was reported out of the committee in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner. On a rollcall vote, the vote was 18 to 1.

I am thankful for Congressman Collins' interest in serving in this capacity. I ask my colleagues to support his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to improve the lives of veterans, caregivers, survivors, and military families.

I yield the floor, but before I do, I ask that the vote scheduled at 12:15 occur immediately.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. President, for the entire time that I have been a Member of the U.S. Senate, I have had the privilege of having on my team a Kansan who invests his time, his energy, his passion--he gives his heart for helping my constituents, for helping our constituents, for helping Kansans and Americans.

Tyler York has worn many hats in my office. He was a district representative, a caseworker, a videographer, and a legislative adviser. Tyler and I first met when he was completing his degree at Kansas State University and I needed some help and he helped me in 2010 on my Senate campaign. As a result of being a recent graduate of Kansas State University, Tyler was open to new opportunities and got the job driving me across Kansas. And during a 2-hour drive on I-70 from Manhattan to the airport, it became apparent to me that this young man was someone I wanted on my team and I benefited from his service every day.

At least, in this instance, I was right about him.

Tyler York joined my newly formed Senate team in Washington, DC, doing both constituent services and legislative work. A Kansan through and through, after a few years in Washington, DC, like many, Tyler decided to continue his work as a district representative to get back home to Kansas.

Tyler quickly became integrated, became a part, became familiar with the communities in South Central Kansas. And whether he was meeting with local leaders, making community visits, or assisting Kansans with problems they were having with the Federal Government, you could always count on Tyler to be diligently working with a smile on his face to solve a problem, to help people, to get things done.

Through his time assisting folks with Federal issues, doing what we all here call casework, Tyler became our go-to guy for issues related to many things, including the U.S. Post Office. As many of my colleagues know, we had lots of casework involving the challenges of the U.S. Post Office getting the mail delivered. Ready, willing, and able, he stepped up to every task. Tyler worked, especially in rural areas, to improve the consistency and the quality of the Postal Service. His work on this issue and others certainly did not go unnoticed.

I would like to share some of the comments I received from community leaders once they learned that Tyler was moving on. Lona DuVall, president and CEO of Finney County Economic Development Corporation shared:

We so appreciated Tyler York's role in expanding Senator

Moran's southwest Kansas presence. Senator Moran recognized

that our region was growing and we had needs that differed in

many ways from other areas of the State [of Kansas], and he

chose well in appointing Tyler, a native of our region, to

create southwest Kansas office.

Tyler did a great job of providing connectivity between our

region and the Senator's office in Washington, DC, and we

will be forever grateful for Tyler's leadership in

representing [us for] our region's needs at the Federal

level. We wish Tyler only the best in his future endeavors.

Steve Dyer, former president of the Garden City Chamber:

Tyler's dedication to serving Kansans on behalf of Senator

Moran was always evident. He was responsive to our needs,

always prompt and available, and he worked his tail off to

ensure that our voices were heard, our questions were

answered, and our needs were met.

And then Megan Barfield, president and CEO of the Great Bend Kansas Chamber of Commerce:

I have had the privilege of knowing Tyler for 5-plus years

now during my time at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce.

He's always presented himself as one of the most engaged and

truly genuine people I know. I had little experience in

legislative affairs coming into my role, and I could always

call on Tyler and trust him with whatever questions or

direction I needed. Great Bend and Barton County thank you

and we will miss you, Tyler.

Much of Tyler's most important work happened during times of hardship and adversity. In March of 2017, a wildfire burned across western Kansas, stirred up by high winds and fueled by dry prairie grasses. The fire lasted nearly a week and burned more than 450,000 acres across Kansas. Farms, ranches, businesses, and homes were lost to the fires. And this fire occurred around Ashland, KS, in the county that is Tyler's hometown and home county and it was one of the main victims of that fire. So his hometown, his neighbors, the people he grew up with were in jeopardy.

It was a devastating time for the community, but they had a great ally in Tyler. They knew him and they trusted him. In the weeks following the fire, Tyler worked nonstop connecting first responders, landowners, and local leaders with Federal emergency resources. He kept me informed and updated on the situation on the ground and helped create legislation that changed the way the Federal Government delivers aid to help pay for fencing and the loss of cattle. That legislation became law and made a significant difference then and continuing.

He took great care of the people of Ashland, not just because it was his job, but because he truly, truly cared about them.

Tyler's help also extended beyond the borders of Kansas to the country of Afghanistan. Following the U.S. military's abrupt withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, we began receiving calls--as I recall, we received more than a thousand inquiries from Kansans asking what I, what we could do to help people who were stranded in Afghanistan; people who helped our soldiers, our interpreters, people who had a religion different than what the Taliban's beliefs are. A thousand-plus Kansans said: We need your help to get somebody out of Afghanistan that we know.

Tyler quickly became personally invested in these cases. This was a very difficult time for all of us and Tyler worked day and night making phone calls, contacting embassies. He was one of those individuals who took the people's problems, which in this case were life and death, to heart.

It was a difficult time for Tyler and for our office, as he wanted to have success in getting every individual that he learned about out of Afghanistan. He helped rescue 23 people, including children, from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021.

One set of Kansans Tyler helped was the family of U.S. Army veteran Fatima Jaghoori. She had this to share about Tyler:

Tyler truly embodies the American spirit, helping others

see the vision of American Dream by building ties with

community members, listening to Kansans and working

tirelessly for Americans. In one of the most uncertain times

in history, Tyler acted to ensure all Kansans were heard,

welcomed, and supported. Words cannot express my gratitude

for Tyler [and for Senator Moran]. Tyler is the compass,

pointing at the direction to be a great American and a

greater man. Tyler became friends of those people he helped

escape from Afghanistan. He became a part of their

families.

I know that this job often took Tyler on the road, driving around Kansas and missing valuable time with his family--with Alyssa, his wife. I want to express my gratitude to Tyler's family for supporting him in his work and for

being gracious when he had to miss dinner or an important event because he was pulled away for work.

Tyler spent his entire career on Capitol Hill in my office, and for that, I would like to express my gratefulness to him. While I am saddened that his time working for me has concluded, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with him and beside him over the last 14 years.

He kept good stats on the work that he did. It is quite impressive: 4,091 meetings; 2,053 individuals, families, and organizations he has assisted with casework; 761 reports or memos drafted; 105 counties visited--that is every county in Kansas; 11 years of working to pass legislation to reform the post office; 3 new USDA programs developed as a direct result of the 2017 fires in Clark County.

In the next phase of his career, Tyler will still be helping Kansans as an executive officer with the Wichita Area Builders Association in supporting homebuilders, their customers, and the regional industry in South Central Kansas.

Tyler, with your invaluable experience, joyful attitude, and your constant drive to improve not only yourself but those around you--and I include me as being improved by your presence in my personal and professional life--you are and will be dearly missed. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and I look forward to hearing of your continued service to our State and its people.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, for the past 8 years, I have benefited from the service, hard work, and loyalty of my communications director and deputy chief of staff Tom Brandt.

Tom has worked in three congressional offices and is well-known and respected in the Senate by reporters, staffers, and my colleagues. His career as a staffer on Capitol Hill is concluding, and I am sad about that; but he will continue serving the American people as he pursues one of his other passions, and that is a passion for space exploration and NASA.

I want to express my gratitude to him for his service to the people of Kansas and to me. Tom is from Oakland Park, KS, and comes from a long line of Kansans. He embodies Kansas values of hard work, determination, and generosity, and I know he learned these traits from his role models, his parents Carl and Nancy Brandt.

You have raised a great son, and I thank you for that.

His career on Capitol Hill began in Missouri Senator Roy Blunt's office, first in the House and then in the U.S. Senate. He earned Roy's trust early on as a driver. That is how we often meet some of our best members of our staff. And he, too, maintained a relationship with Roy during his tenure here in the U.S. Senate. I asked Roy to tell me something about Tom, and he said:

Tom Brandt came to work for me in the House and was such an

asset that I asked him to join our Senate press team. Tom

always understood how to take advantage of the moment and the

value of a clear message. I know Senator Moran and his office

will miss Tom when he leaves as much as we did.

Tom's career took him to work on various campaigns and, eventually, back to Capitol Hill where he worked for Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins during her time as the House GOP conference vice chair.

It was in her office that Tom was able to first pursue his passion for NASA. Lynn provided me with some thoughts, in her words, that she wanted to share about Tom:

Tom is one of my all-time favorite co-workers.

When I asked her--this is me talking now--when I asked her whether I should hire Tom Brandt, she said: He is the best I ever hired.

He is hardworking, honest, intelligent, kind and funny. Tom

has a deep appreciation for his home State of Kansas and

served it extremely well in his time in my office.

That is Lynn Jenkins speaking.

But, in many ways, it was his penance, as you see Tom is

perhaps the worst kind of traitor a native Kansan can be--he

chose to attend college at the University of Missouri. Tom's

interest in NASA and space policy is lifelong.

Again, Congresswoman Jenkins speaking.

Years ago, when he worked as my communications director, he

requested to handle my office's space legislative portfolio.

Given I represented a district with no NASA presence and

didn't serve on any committee of jurisdiction, no one [in our

office actually handled that topic.] In response, my Chief of

Staff told Tom, ``Sure, go for it, but it never comes up.''

Tom did take it and immediately reached out to NASA staff.

Soon after, he set up my office's first of many interactions

with NASA.

That is the end of Lynn Jenkins' quote.

After working in the House and private sector, Tom began working in our office in 2017. It became evident to me early on that one of Tom's greatest strengths is his ability to quickly build friendships and collaborations. He can quickly put folks at ease with his warm smile and personality. I always thought that smile, he was smirking at me every time I saw him. I got accustomed to that smile as something much better than a smirk.

He will take the time to talk with frustrated constituents to assure them they have been heard and that he will do his best to help. And Tom always follows through on his promises.

The relationships he formed over the years expands from everyone-- House Members, U.S. Senators, staff in both places--and these relationships have aided Tom in his work.

Early on in his time in my office, he took a trip to Taiwan and established relationships with officials he met in the Taiwanese Government, and he maintained those relationships after returning home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan generously offered to send face masks and personal protection equipment to the United States. Tom reached out to his individual friends he had made, and he asked them if any of that equipment could be sent to Kansas to help the hospitals that were in desperate need. Tom's request resulted in Taiwan sending 100,000 surgical masks to Kansas.

In a moment of great need, Tom found a way to bring help and aid to the people of his home State.

In his role as communications director--I expected a lot of press to be sitting in the Gallery, but I see none. In his role as communications director, Tom has been a steadying hand helping me untangle my own thoughts and express my positions in a way that is more clear and winsome.

When I have had to speak after taking an unpopular stand or something that had caused me to be misunderstood--either on policy or legislation--Tom always had my back, advocating for me and my positions, even when he had to face the anger of those who disagreed.

He has helped clear the way for tough but important legislation. I would highlight one, the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act that was born out of our investigation into the abuses of gymnasts and other American athletes.

He has shown compassion toward veterans suffering from illnesses as the result of their service, and we worked together to pass the PACT Act to help those who had encountered Agent Orange and burn pit victims.

And he has always shown grit and determination, working through the night on many occasions, helping me find exactly the right words to say to express my position to my constituents and the world.

As an Eagle Scout, Tom lives by the Eagle Scout motto: ``Be prepared.'' He is always prepared with the right answer and for the tough questions from reporters, like the time a reporter reached out to see if ``Senator Jerry Moran was playing golf with Vice President Pence.'' Tom, in all his wisdom, responded, ``Mike Pence golfs?''

Again, he has the gift to communicate.

While I congratulate Tom on his new job at NASA, his absence will be felt not only by me and by our team but by his many friends and colleagues on Capitol Hill.

Tom, we will miss your communications and policy expertise, your humorous quips and one-liners, your loyalty to the Kansas City Chiefs and Red Friday, and, above all, your friendship and passion for making the world a better place for Kansans and Americans.

I will miss, Tom, our nearly daily walks as I come over here to vote. It is a difficult job to be a comms director for a Senator who almost always shies away about visiting with reporters. Thanks for helping me explain my errors and celebrating our accomplishments. You had no responsibility for the errors and a great deal to do with the accomplishments.

Thank you for doing your job so well--pretty good for a Mizzou grad.

I yield the floor.