Floor Statements

Madam President, reserving the right to object, it saddens me that we are here because I wish we were here with a vote on the Senate floor to pass the Major Richard Star Act and other pieces of legislation that are so important to veterans, their families, and their caregivers across the country.

The Senator from Connecticut outlined all the things that he says his amendment to this legislation would do and be supported by, but the reality is, the Senator from Connecticut has tried time and time again to pass legislation similar to that, never to succeed.

Earlier this year, I was on the Senate floor at my seat here, standing here telling folks that maybe for once we will quit sponsoring pieces of legislation that benefit veterans but never get to the point in which they are actually passed. And I committed myself to finding a way in which passage of the legislation could occur, not just remarks on the Senate floor or in committee or in gatherings of veterans or speaking to our constituents at home of our support. In most instances, this would be the Major Richard Star Act, which has nearly every Member of the Senate as a cosponsor and many Members of the House of Representatives as cosponsors. But that has been the case for 6 years. I was looking for a path that would result in a result.

At the heart of the debate today are those tens of millions of servicemembers, veterans and caregivers, survivors and family members, and VA employees who would benefit by the legislation that I have introduced--the legislation that the Senator from Connecticut is offering to accept with some amendments.

These men and women have been waiting years--years--for the lifesaving benefits this bill would provide. What we will decide today will determine whether they can access the mental health treatments they desperately need, whether they can put food on the table and pay their bills on time, whether they are able to remarry after the loss of their servicemember or veteran spouse without sacrificing benefits they need to support their families, and much more.

The point of that sentence or few sentences is that this is a comprehensive piece of legislation that begins with the Richard Star Act--the one that I said was sponsored by most Members of Congress but never sees the outcome those veterans and military retirees deserve.

The stakes in this debate are high. I think the legislation we are talking about--perhaps debating about--is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation that will affect veterans, their family members, caregivers, and others certainly in my time as chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and perhaps my time in the U.S. Senate.

I have been a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 14 years in the House and now 15 years in the Senate. I have devoted effort, time, and attention to making sure we do right by those who serve our country.

I appreciate my colleague Senator Blumenthal--in fact, our shared determination, our dedication to the Richard Star Act. He has tried, as I understand by his words, eight times offering a unanimous consent, and each time, that effort has been unsuccessful.

Occasionally, I get complimented for effort. I appreciate compliments at any stage of what we are doing here, but what we really ought to be interested in is getting results--not results for a compliment but results because it makes such a difference in so many veterans' lives.

Today, the Senator from Connecticut--it is another example of his attempt to pass legislation--usually without an offset but today using an alternative offset. I respect his goal, but once again, as of July 22, the Congressional Budget Office has again confirmed to the committee that a rescission of unobligated funds to the Department of Defense in H.R. 1 does not offset mandatory spending and therefore does not qualify under the requirements of law to the Senate--excuse me--the requirements of law as the Senate does its work but as the House and Congress are obligated to abide by.

This plan does not meet the needs of the moment, and it will result in the failure by Congress once again to deliver to America's heroes.

There is a simple choice before us: We can either keep repeating failed efforts that result in no progress delivering for veterans and military families or we can step up and provide leadership needed to finally get them the help they need and deserve--action and results. We want action that has results. This is why shortly after this conversation, this discussion between the Senator from Connecticut and I, I will be asking for a unanimous consent agreement myself to pass the legislation with an offset that the Congressional Budget Office has determined to be a viable offset.

The Take Care of America's Veterans Act would expand benefits and healthcare to millions of veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors across our Nation.

It combines 60--I think our committee, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, deservedly has the reputation of working in a bipartisan way to get results. We combined, in our efforts to get the Richard Star Act, other pieces of legislation that are hugely important to the veteran community--60 pieces of bipartisan legislation chosen in this process of putting this package together for their sponsorship and support by Democrats and Republicans.

This is not a partisan effort; this is a desire, an effort to accomplish something that would benefit all of us who have made efforts to support our veterans and to make certain that we do it in a way that gets 60 votes in the U.S. Senate.

That includes the Major Richard Star Act, of which the Senator from Connecticut has been a longtime advocate. That is to address a longstanding injustice--something that is totally wrong--by allowing medically retired, combat-disabled veterans--they are not allowed to receive both benefits. This would allow medically retired, combat- disabled veterans to receive both disability compensation from the VA and their earned retirement pay from the DOD.

The Senator from Connecticut talks about our committee and the committee that he serves on as well, the Armed Services Committee. The Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction, but there are so many veterans that have consequences from the current law that we decided--I decided it was time for us to step forward and find a path forward.

This legislation, in addition to the underlying Richard Star Act, includes the Love Lives on Act. That allows surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers and veterans to remarry without losing the benefits they need to support their families.

It includes the Veterans' ACCESS Act to make it easier for veterans to get lifesaving treatment--and particularly mental health capabilities--and expands access to high-quality care in VA medical facilities and in the community as well.

Those of us from rural places understand the value of that community care, and in today's time of challenges with our veterans' mental health and suicide prevention efforts, that community care becomes even more important. Quick access is critical.

It also includes the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act to increase compensation benefits for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities and their families.

There are dozens of other bills--bipartisan bills sponsored and led by Republicans and led by Democratic Members of the Senate--that are included in the Take Care of America's Veterans Act to make certain the VA is equipped with the right resources, staff, facilities, and authorities to provide the support servicemembers, veterans, and their families need.

The question we generally are arguing about is the pay-for. Again, the law requires that. To pay for these improvements, this bill would codify elements of a rule that the VA proposed 4 years ago in the Biden administration, in 2022. The VA indicated then and now that it plans to change how the Department evaluates claims for service-connected disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. VA officials testified before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in January that the Department is moving forward, and VA officials confirmed that again just several weeks ago.

The reason this is important is that that means there are going to be changes that the VA is authorized to make in these two arenas in providing benefits to veterans.

The VA in the Biden administration--and apparently agreed to in the Trump administration--found there were ways to improve--they are required by law to evaluate the benefits they provide veterans, and if changes are appropriate because of medicine or science or changes in treatment, the VA can modify those benefits to reflect current science and medicine. The VA is going to do that. The offset is the fact that when the VA does that, it saves money. When the VA does that, however, it will be considered paying down the debt.

I don't know how it can be a radical idea or an unfair idea that if we are going to take the money out of the VA for those two circumstances--the VA is going to do that--why don't we capture a significant portion of that and actually use that money to provide benefits to veterans? It is not like we are taking something away. The VA is going to alter the formula in their normal course of business, and we are capturing the savings in part--we are capturing part of the savings to actually use it to help other veterans, their families, and their caregivers.

Once the Department finalizes the rule, the savings associated from that change in the rule will be lost. It will no longer serve as an offset for anything; it will just go into the General Treasury. It will be a lost opportunity for us to reinvest those funds in the long overdue improvements included in the Take Care of America's Veterans Act.

My colleague has stated that ``the costs of war include caring for our veterans.'' I share that sentiment. Military service is a family service. The cost of war also includes caring for spouses and children and caregivers and survivors. The Take Care of America's Veterans Act would do that and more.

So we had the opportunity to use something that is going to happen. We had the opportunity--we have the opportunity to make sure it is used to benefit veterans. The idea that we are taking a benefit away from someone is also false. This is prospective. After the rule changes, that is when we have the opportunity to make certain that we are still caring for our veterans. We are not taking anything away from any veteran that receives benefits today. In fact, there is a grace period in which veterans can continue to apply for these benefits after this legislation becomes law.

We are not taking anything away; we are using money that the VA says is no longer going to be spent and spending that money in a different way for veterans, often including the same veterans that receive those disability payments.

This legislation is strongly supported by many military and veterans organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, the Military Officers Association of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Tragedy Assistance Program--or TAPS--for Survivors, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Veterans Justice Alliance, the National Defense Committee, the Military Coalition, and Mission Roll Call.

It is also supported by the American Legion--the largest veteran service organization in the country--and by Medal of Honor recipients Britt Slabinski and Earl Plumlee, the president and vice president of the Medal of Honor Society.

It is also supported by Richard Star's brother, who has been an advocate for the Richard Star legislation since the beginning of this issue's arrival and certainly since the passing of his brother and his interest in making sure that his brother is honored.

These organizations know the challenges facing the military and veteran community. They know firsthand the high cost of continued inaction by Congress, the cycle of delaying veterans, caregivers, and survivors from receiving earned benefits.

It is not a perfect analogy, but I remember my own mother lobbying me because she was a ``Notch Baby'' in the Social Security system. If you were born in a certain set of years, your benefits were less than the people before you and the people after you.

My mom accused me of--Congress--maybe she wasn't accusing me personally--but accused Congress of just waiting until she died before making the change.

I want to make sure that we do not lose another veteran, another servicemember. I want to make sure we get a result and we get a result fast.

When I introduced this legislation, my assumption was that we could accomplish this--even in the Senate and the House in this difficult world we work in--that this legislation could be passed by Congress and signed by the President, this legislation that is supported by the White House. We could get this legislation done in the miracle of a month.

I didn't anticipate the opposition that has arisen. I have indicated to the Senator--the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs--an interest in working together to resolve differences, and we will work to do that.

But doing what we have done--what has been done time and time again-- of a UC request that has no result is unsatisfactory to me and unsatisfactory to the veterans and the veterans organizations I just listed. I am tired of waiting. Don't wait until our veterans are no longer living before you do something to protect their benefits and resolve an injustice that has gone on far too long.

The cycle of delaying veterans, caregivers, and survivors from receiving their earned benefits must end and must end now.

And with that, I object.

Mr. President, I object. I indicated my objection.

Mr. President, I have described the Take Care of America's Veterans Act in my remarks following the unanimous consent request by the Senator from Connecticut.

But, again, I would highlight that these are changes that are going to be made under normal statutory law by rules at the Department of Veterans Affairs. And the end result is that the money, when saved, will be--the reductions and the savings that occur will accrue to the General Treasury, as compared to the benefits that we want to provide to the veterans in this country.

Notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of Calendar No. 433, S. 4744. I ask unanimous consent that the Moran substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I look forward to continuing to work to make sure the veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to and to make certain that the VA does its job in a medical- and science-based manner and would await for the VA to accomplish that, which they indicated as recently as 2 weeks ago they were going to do.

Mr. President, the rulemaking process that was initiated in the Biden administration in 2022 has continued on the VA's list of work and has never been withdrawn and continues to be considered. And as I indicated now for the third time--indicated by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs--the Department--that it will be implemented.

I just know that repeating the same political talking points without a realistic alternative has prevented these bills--and particularly the Richard Star Act--from passing for years. It has been too easy for us to put our name on the legislation and never see it accomplished.

We can tell our veterans we are supporting them, we are working for them--I want a path forward that actually demonstrates that we are able to accomplish the elimination of this injustice and the support for veterans who desperately need our attention.

Our veterans should not have to--they know the cost of war. They should not have to wait for us any longer.

And, again, the offer that the Senator from Connecticut indicated, it is the same kind of UC request with something as was--that doesn't result in a result because it is not an offset that satisfies the law.

Mr. President, I have five requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. President, sadness entered the Senate over the weekend, and as we reflect upon the life of our colleague, our friend, our fellow citizen, our patriot toward the United States of America-- and a friend, really, of the world--Senator Lindsey Graham, we honor his commitment to promoting liberty and fighting tyranny throughout the world.

Yesterday, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators by reintroducing legislation that he championed--the Sanctioning Russia Act. This legislation would meaningfully alter the course of Russia's unjust war in Ukraine, and it serves as a fitting tribute to the cause Senator Graham championed throughout his life and service in the U.S. Senate.

Last month, leaders of the G7 countries issued a joint statement declaring their ``unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and [its] territorial integrity.'' This was a welcomed statement from the world's major industrialized democracies as Ukraine endures withering attacks from Russia, coupled with the renewed commitment to both Ukraine and article 5 at this month's NATO Summit.

These words, backed by President Trump, come at a pivotal moment in Ukraine's defense against Russia. While Ukrainian forces are making headlines--taking the battle to Russian territory, attacking Russian energy and defense infrastructure at increased rates, and placing Russian-held Crimea under pressure--the situation in the Donbas remains precarious.

The ingenuity and courage of the Ukrainian forces have reduced Russian progress to incremental gains and in some places have achieved reverses, but they still suffer a manpower shortage and, most alarmingly, lack critical air defense interceptors.

The G7 members agreed to ``increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities.'' In recognizing the capabilities of Ukraine's defense industrial base, the statement says the countries are ``ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in [Ukrainian production of its military equipment].''

Words, however, must be backed by action, and the United States and our allies must act quickly. For more than a year, I have advocated for Ukraine to

receive access to cruise missiles. To the extent practicable, these weapons and Patriot interceptors should be expedited for Kyiv's use. Given the backlogs in our own defense industrial base and that of the Europeans', investing in and supporting Ukraine's domestic war production is not something to be considered but something to be done.

I am encouraged by President Trump's announcement at last week's NATO Summit of his intention to issue licenses for Ukraine to build Patriot interceptors domestically. While details remain to be worked out and while there are obstacles to overcome to make this announcement a reality, it signals to Vladimir Putin that his war is on borrowed time.

The same holds true in pressuring Russia's economy through oil and gas sanctions.

The G7 said:

We will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the

oil and gas sectors.

This statement coincides with the expiration of the most recent Treasury waiver on Russian oil sanctions, which was announced by President Trump last October. Those sanctions were having a significant impact by depriving Moscow of revenue. Secretary Bessent has not issued another waiver, nor should he.

The White House has taken an important step in endorsing longstanding legislation introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. I have cosponsored this legislation, which would punish countries that continue to buy Russian oil with crippling tariffs. This is a clear, clear message to friends and foes alike: You can do business with Russia or you can do business with the United States, but you can't do both.

I welcome Leader Thune's intention to bring this legislation to a vote soon, to send it to the President's desk for his signature, and to its becoming law.

Similarly, I call on our European allies to find new supplies of liquefied natural gas more quickly ahead of next year's deadline to phase out Russian purchases. The EU's imports of Russian LNG increased--they increased--in the month of May, reportedly providing Moscow with over $1 billion in revenue. It is imperative for European countries to treat the war in Ukraine with the urgency it deserves and choke off Russia's revenue streams.

Despite over 1 million casualties and a badly damaged national economy, Vladimir Putin's objectives have not changed. From the outset of the full invasion he ordered in February of 2022, he has sought to subjugate Kyiv's sovereign authority to Moscow. He will not succeed, but his failure in Ukraine may make him more dangerous elsewhere. In the fall of 2022, as Russia's war effort faltered, Russian officials repeatedly threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Given Russian drone activity in NATO territory recently, our European allies who border Russia have legitimate fears that Putin could escalate the war to include them.

President Trump is absolutely right to expect our allies to assume responsibility for their own security. Today and for the next several years to come, however, the undeniable fact is that American forces have capabilities which cannot be replicated by the rest of NATO. Our continued involvement and leadership are critical to deterring Putin should he believe that he can take action against NATO and succeed either by taking territory or by fracturing the alliance.

Last month's G7 statement is unequivocally clear in recognizing the threat Putin poses to European security. Through continued American leadership, Putin will fail in his goals to conquer Ukraine and split the West, and not just Europe but the entire world will be safer because of it.

150th Anniversary of Burdett, Kansas

Mr. President, this summer, from July 17 to 19--not too far away-- residents of Burdett, KS, will come together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town's founding.

Burdett is a small community of fewer than 250 residents, and it is particularly meaningful to me as a place that I have represented since I was first elected to public office as a State senator.

The community is special to me because, on election night of that State senate race, Browns Grove Township was the very first township to report its voting totals, and the tally showed that I just might win my uphill race for the Kansas State Senate.

Some of my best remembrances are the Monday community potluck lunches and the annual Tri-County picnic in the city park. I have knocked on every door in Burdett and talked with members of the community about their hopes, their concerns, and how we can preserve our special way of life for another generation of Kansans.

This summer, as local residents commemorate Burdett's history, they will also pay tribute to one of their own: Clyde Tombaugh, whose significant contributions advanced the fields of scientific discovery and space exploration. It is impossible to visit Burdett without seeing the pride the community has in his accomplishments.

Born February 4, 1906, Clyde was raised on a farm just outside Burdett, and he quickly developed a love of astronomy and learning. As a teenager, he taught himself how to build his own telescopes out of spare parts that he found around the family farm.

Later, his commitment to research and exploration would lead him to make a remarkable discovery that made history and helped to unlock a new understanding of our solar system. On February 18, 1930, at the age of just 24, Clyde discovered the existence of Pluto, the only major planet discovered here in the United States.

Following this achievement, Clyde earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in astronomy from the University of Kansas, and he went on to make many more contributions to advancing the fields of scientific research and space exploration.

In 2015, NASA honored him by carrying a portion of his ashes aboard the New Horizons spacecraft on its mission to Pluto. The heart-shaped region of Pluto's surface was officially named Tombaugh Regio in his honor, paying tribute to his accomplishments and cementing the legacy of a Kansas farm kid in one of the most remote parts of our solar system.

As Burdett celebrates its 150th anniversary--and I say congratulations to them--it is a history that is embodied by the story of Clyde Tombaugh, someone with determination, hard work, and curiosity, whose discoveries helped to shape how future generations understand our universe.

For decades, this tight-knit community of Burdett has preserved his legacy and made certain the world remembers his contributions to science, research, and discovery.

I hope everyone passing through southwestern Kansas will take the time to visit Burdett to learn the history and the legacy of this little town on the plains of Kansas.

On behalf of the U.S. Senate to the citizens of Burdett--past, present, and future--I congratulate the community of Burdett on its 150th anniversary and express my gratitude for the way in which its residents have honored and preserved the memory of one of our most notable Kansans and how kind they have always been to me.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I have 11 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

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

Mr. President, I rise here on the Senate floor for the third time in the last 2 weeks to explain to my colleagues that we are about to vote on a district judge. The three times I have explained this is three different judges. Kansas has three vacancies, and we are in the process of having those filled. This is the third one, and we are about to vote on cloture in that regard. I rise today in support of the Honorable Anthony Powell to serve as United States district judge for the District of Kansas.

I have said before that this is an important responsibility for me and my colleagues to find the right people to serve in the judicial branch, and this is an issue that I have always taken very seriously.

Judge Powell is a graduate from George Washington University and Washburn University School of Law before going on to his law practice at Martin & Churchill in Wichita, KS.

He also served on Capitol Hill, including time as an intern for one of my predecessors Senator Bob Dole.

He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives for 8 years. He served as the majority whip. And following his time in the State legislature, he was a judge in the 18th Judicial District serving Sedgwick County--that is the county that Wichita is the county seat of--for a decade before being appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Judge Powell most recently served as the Kansas solicitor general, and I believe he has the qualifications, the integrity, and the commitment necessary to serve Kansans and perform duties of this new role.

I met Judge Powell during the selection process, although I knew him previously, and I appreciate his commitment to public service, devotion to our Constitution, and respect for the people of Kansas.

Judge Powell and his wife Betty have four children, and I am grateful to the entire family for their dedication to this service.

I was pleased to recommend Judge Powell's nomination to the White House, and I look forward to voting to confirm him to the federal bench in Kansas. And I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a date that is significant in the history of the U.S. Senate and that is especially meaningful to me and to my home State of Kansas.

Thirty years ago tomorrow, on June 11, 1996, Senator Bob Dole gave his final speech on the floor of this Chamber, marking his retirement as both majority leader and as a Member of the Senate. In his farewell speech, Senator Dole demonstrated the high regard he held for the people of Kansas.

He said:

If we could all go [home] and shake hands of all the people

who are responsible for us being here, it would take a long,

long time.

He grew up in a little town just down the road from my hometown. He grew up in Russell. Bob Dole was my Congressman when I was a kid, and I could tell even then how deeply respected and admired he was by the folks at home. He cared deeply about representing the people of our State. He represented them well, and he had a profound respect for the institution of the U.S. Senate.

He said in his final remarks that day, which was 30 years ago tomorrow:

The truth is that I would no more distance myself from the

Senate than I would from the United States itself. The body

is a reflection of America. It's what America is all about.

We come from different states and different backgrounds,

different opportunities, different challenges in our life.

His own service embodied those words. He brought the same values and character from rural Kansas to the role of Senate majority leader.

Bob Dole was an American hero who served in uniform during World War II and who sustained serious, serious injuries--grievous, really--in battle during that service. He loved his country deeply.

In his final remarks in this Chamber, he said:

We're much more than a place on a map, we're the United

States. And we're a beacon of hope, we're a magnet for the

oppressed and a shield against those who would put the soul

itself in bondage.

He never lost sight of what made our country special or the blessing of being an American.

He reflected:

I remember when the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet

Empire collapsed, a lot of people started coming to America.

And they were young and they were old and they were men and

they were women. . . . For the first time, in 70 years in

some cases, they had a right to travel. They could get on an

airplane without checking with the government and [without]

waiting for a year or two years or three years. They could go

to church, they could vote, and all these basic rights that

we [in the United States] take for granted.

And where did they travel to?

[T]hey came to America.

As he said goodbye on the floor of the Senate, Bob Dole reminded his colleagues not to lose sight of defending and preserving the American way of life.

He said:

I would hope that we will keep in mind that there are still

threats around the world. And also keep in mind that we're

the envy of the world.

In this Chamber, I use this desk--this desk was Senator Dole's--as a reminder of how his work on the floor resulted in many Americans having a better shot at the American dream.

He championed landmark legislation that transformed the lives of individuals with disabilities, legislation that transformed the lives of veterans, farmers, young children, families, and many, many more. He was a strong champion of Food for Peace, and he established the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, which uses U.S.-grown commodities to feed hungry schoolchildren and especially young people.

Senator Dole embodied the compassionate spirit of Kansans and farmers who feed the world, and Kansas continues to do that work today. These food aid programs remain among our Nation's most successful avenues of delivering American-grown food to hungry people around the globe.

A wounded veteran himself, Senator Dole spent his life advocating for individuals with disabilities, and he was instrumental in the passage of the landmark legislation Americans with Disabilities Act.

Senator Dole never forgot his fellow veterans, and he worked tirelessly to help them find success after their military service. These efforts continued after his election to public service as he was instrumental in the creation of the World War II Memorial, a place he could often be found greeting Honor Flights of World War II veterans.

Because of Senator Dole's work, my own dad, a World War II veteran, had the opportunity to visit this monument built in his honor.

Senator Dole knew the power of working with others to make the world better. And despite the difficulties, he found an opportunity in the U.S. Senate.

I will close with the words he delivered three decades ago:

[Y]es, the institution has its imperfections, or occasional

inefficiency.

And we're like America. We're still a work in progress in

the United States Senate.

The challenges he spoke of still remain. I believe what he would say today, as he said it then:

I'm an optimist. I believe our best tomorrows are yet to be

lived.

His legacy shows a difference that one person can make, regardless of their background, birthplace, or education.

Kansans and Americans held Senator Dole in the highest regard, and he lived a life worthy of that respect. May we resolve to practice that same kindness, respect, and honor that marked the life of Senator Dole.

So I rise today, here on the Senate floor, almost 30 years to the day in which Senator Dole left this institution. He left his country, his Nation, his State in better shape than it was when he arrived, and he always knew that the brighter days were yet to come. He found common ground with people that were hard to find common ground with, and he and the way he conducted himself should remain a role model for those of us who serve in his place today.

Thank you, Senator.

Mr. President, I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

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

Mr. President, earlier today, there was a discussion here on the Senate floor of the Major Richard Star Act, legislation that I cosponsored and strongly support. This legislation would allow medically retired veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive their full military retirement pay from the Department of Defense and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I came to the Senate floor in March to express my support for the Major Richard Star Act and to reiterate to my colleagues that I want to work together to see this bill signed into law this year. That is what I still seek to accomplish.

I have been working with my House colleague Chairman Mike Bost, the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee here in the Senate, with the legislative leadership, the majority leader's office here in the Senate on a comprehensive veterans package that would improve the delivery of healthcare, benefits and services for veterans, servicemembers, survivors, caregivers, military families, and VA staff.

Notably, this package that we are putting together that we have developed and continue to develop would include the Major Richard Star Act. Veterans who did not get a chance to complete their military career due to medical retirement should not be penalized because they received disability compensation from the VA.

This comprehensive legislative package also includes the bipartisan Veterans ACCESS Act, the Love Lives On Act, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, among a number of other bills sponsored by Republicans and by Democrats.

We are close to a final agreement to introduce this comprehensive veterans package. This is not anything out of the norm, but putting this package together, we are going to include the Major Richard Star Act for which the Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction, not the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

We are doing this because we see a way forward, finally, on the Major Richard Star Act becoming law. We are close to reaching an agreement on that package. We have worked extensively over months with veterans service organizations, a wide array--dozens of them--to garner their feedback, to seek their input, to determine whether they can be supportive, and continue to review this legislation in the way we intend, including the way we intend to pay for it.

In addition to working with veterans service organizations, Chairman Bost and I have met with our Democrat and Republican colleagues in both the House and Senate on our committees, the White House's Domestic Policy Council, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to make certain we are creating legislation that is sound policy, has widespread support, and the ability to gain the necessary votes.

Let me say that again: the ability to gain the necessary votes to be passed and signed into law and, most importantly, at the same time will meet the needs of our Nation's veterans.

It is easy to come to the floor and ask for unanimous consent to make a point, but we are doing something different. It takes hard work and consensus building to pass legislation that meets the needs of veterans and has the ability to become law.

This is not just like a symbolic thing that we are with our veterans; it is how do we make something that matters so greatly to them actual law and the benefits they would receive.

I, again, express my support for the Major Richard Star Act, but that means little--my saying that means little to the veterans who are currently being denied the benefits owed them for their military service. I have served on both the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees and often remark how the committees are the most bipartisan committees in Congress.

In 2020, I worked with then-ranking member Jon Tester, a Democrat, to pass the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, and when Senator Tester became chairman, I was the ranking member, and we worked to pass the PACT Act.

We were able to work together to pass these bills because it didn't matter which party controlled the Chamber but because we knew we owed veterans the healthcare and benefits they desperately needed, earned, and deserved.

Some of my colleagues would like to see this bill and many others pass without any offset of the costs. That is not and has not been a viable a path forward under either Republican or Democratic majorities. For 5 years, under both Republican and Democratic leadership, the Major Richard Star Act has been unable to pass either the House or the Senate, in significant part, due to the inability to offset the cost of the legislation, something required by law.

We can either continue to encounter this same roadblock--we can do this over and over and over again and see the same result--or we can work together to address the concerns that have prevented this bill from passing for the last 5 years.

Lots of sponsors on the Major Richard Star Act, one of the most sponsored pieces of legislation in Congress, but for 5 years it has not become law. It is my goal to change that, and we are developing a path to do exactly that.

The legislation that I plan to introduce pays for the Major Richard Star Act and other bipartisan and bicameral priorities in their entirety. Ensuring that veterans have the care and benefits they have earned is my primary concern. While some of these benefits typically are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and not the Department of Veterans Affairs, we don't let that technicality, that technical jurisdiction, stand in the way of helping veterans.

I choose to lead on this effort because I decided to be an original cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act, not to cosponsor it for the purpose of saying I cosponsored it but for the purpose of seeing it become law.

In the coming days, I will put forth a legislative package that accomplishes the goals of the Major Richard Star Act, and I will do so in a way that addresses the policy and cost concerns that have prevented this bill from passing the House or Senate despite widespread bipartisan support.

I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work with me on this path forward that restores benefits to retirees with combat- related disabilities, offsets the costs of those benefits, earns the support of veterans and advocates, and can feasibly pass the Senate and the House and be signed into law by the President. That would be a great day for us as a Congress, as a legislature, to make certain we do our work. More importantly, it would be a great accomplishment for the veterans who deserve the full benefits of what they have earned.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, the Senate will, here this evening, soon vote or at least begin the nomination process to vote for Tony Mattivi to serve as a U.S. district judge for the District of Kansas.

I have often said that one of the most important responsibilities given to the U.S. Senate is that of providing advice and consent on judicial nominations.

Over many years, I have had the opportunity to get to know Mr. Mattivi, and I have seen firsthand his dedication to public service, to our justice system, and to our country.

He is a graduate of the Metropolitan State College of Denver and Washburn University Law School in Topeka, KS. During law school orientation, he met his wife Mary, who now serves as a Shawnee County district judge, a State judge, and they have three children.

Mr. Mattivi served as a Federal prosecutor for more than 20 years, handling complex cases on behalf of the Department of Justice involving drug trafficking, violent crime, and terrorism.

Following his time in Federal service, Mr. Mattivi was confirmed as the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, providing him with additional capabilities and utilizing his capabilities in additional law enforcement responsibilities. He has provided strong leadership at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the KBI, and he has made the public safer, as is his priority.

I am the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, and in that regard, I have worked with Mr. Mattivi throughout his time as the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He has demonstrated his devotion to serving Kansans and improving the judicial system, and I am confident his experience in the courtroom and in law enforcement will aid him well on the Federal bench.

During the White House's selection process to fill vacancies in Kansas' U.S. district courts, I met again with Mr. Mattivi and had a serious conversation about this position--this being his becoming a district judge for the Federal District of Kansas. As he has throughout his career, he continued to impress me with his qualifications, experience, and commitment.

For these reasons, I urged the White House to nominate him, and I am confident Mr. Mattivi will serve Kansans well in performing this role. I now urge my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination to serve as a U.S. district judge for the District of Kansas.

Madam President, that concludes my remarks about Mr. Mattivi, and I now ask unanimous consent that the previously scheduled rollcall vote occur immediately.

Madam President, the Senate will shortly consider--in fact, tomorrow we will vote on cloture and the confirmation of the nomination of--Jeffrey Kuhlman to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. I rise this evening to urge my colleagues to support his confirmation.

During my time in the Senate, I have had the opportunity to vote on the confirmation of three current Kansas district court judges. With each nominee, I weigh the candidate's temperament, principles, experience, and commitment to administer equal justice under the law.

In addition to the three current court judges in Kansas, there are three additional vacancies in the district courts of Kansas. Mr. Kuhlman is the first of the three Kansans the Senate will be considering to fill those vacancies.

I certainly had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Kuhlman. I encouraged the White House to make his nomination to be a judge, and I was impressed. I would not have done that but for my sincere and real impression of his expertise, his legal experience, and his commitment to serving the people in Kansas.

I have always had a desire to see, as growing up in a small town in rural Kansas, that there might be Federal judges who could come from small towns, and I have always been looking for someone who practices law in a small town in our State that has Federal court experience.

Mr. Kuhlman is a native of western Kansas. He grew up in a county- seat town called Ness City, not too far from my hometown, and it has a population of just a little over a thousand. And maybe this doesn't matter to everyone--or to most people--but I want people who grew up in that manner to know that there is a future, that there are things that they can do, and that there is not a handicap to be a smalltown, rural Kansas kid.

In helping select candidates for the White House, I had the goal of making certain we selected qualified candidates from across the State, but I also was always interested in ``Could there be a rural person?''

Jeffrey earned his bachelor's degree in history from Kansas State University before receiving his law degree from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

After law school, Mr. Kuhlman returned to Kansas and was selected to serve a 2-year clerkship for who soon became Chief Judge Eric F. Melgren. In that role, he gained experience. He gained valuable and hands-on experience across all phases of Federal litigation.

Jeffrey then entered private practice as a litigation associate at a Wichita firm, the Hinkle Law Firm.

Mr. Kuhlman now has been a partner at Watkins Calcara in Great Bend, where his practice focuses on civil litigation, including municipal law, constitutional matters, commercial disputes, and personal injury cases.

Mr. Kuhlman and his wife Lauren--who is originally from Albert, an even smaller town--are raising their five young children in Great Bend, another small town in Kansas.

Mr. Kuhlman has demonstrated strong commitment to the rule of law, a deep respect for the Constitution, and a clear dedication to serving the people of Kansas. His experience both inside and outside the courtroom has prepared him well for the responsibilities

of the Federal bench, and I am confident in his professional competence and judicial temperament.

I am pleased to support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Jeffrey Kuhlman as a U.S. district judge for Kansas. I believe he would meet all of the qualifications and the desires of the Members of the U.S. Senate.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 5 minutes before the scheduled rollcall vote.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Pastor Rex Petty for devoting decades of his life to serving the people of Liberal, KS, as pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church and to congratulate him upon his retirement.

He started there as an associate pastor in 1984. Rex soon stepped into the role of interim pastor, and the congregation voted to keep Rex on to continue leading the church.

Recently, Rex celebrated an incredible milestone with his congregation: 40 years of ministry at Faith Tabernacle Church.

Delvin Kinser, the news director for Great Plains Christian Radio, said of Rex:

He is more than a local minister devoted to his own

congregation.

For decades, he has made the entirety of Liberal, Kansas,

his mission field. Pastors have come and gone, but Rex has

been a constant source of spiritual leadership [in] his

hometown.

His retirement leaves a tremendous void, but those who know

him have little doubt that he made the spiritual fabric of

[this] community stronger than it otherwise would have been

without him. Always cheerful, always positive, always about

Jesus! That is Rex Petty!

Rex's passion for service extends far into the Liberal community. He has been an involved member of the Liberal Ministerial Alliance, an organization that brings local churches together to care for the needs of the community. He is eager to minister to others, and he has often brought former NFL players to Liberal to share inspirational messages with students in southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Rex also served as the coordinator for the local Liberal High School Baccalaureate.

An avid sports fan, he can regularly be seen cheering in the stands at many local youth sporting events.

In a recent interview with the local paper, the Leader and Times, Rex said--this is Rex saying:

Maybe we don't have the highest mountains or a lot of the

lakes and streams and all that beauty other places have, but

[what] we have [is] the people. And that's been the most

wonderful thing about Liberal.

Rex is civic-minded. He takes pride in his community. He can often be found leading prayers before local government meetings. He was instrumental in creating the city's slogan: ``From Generosity to Prosperity.''

In this life of service of 40 years, he touched countless lives. Here are a couple of comments that others have made.

Rozelle Webb is the CEO of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, and she says:

Rex Petty has been a very ``Liberal'' pastor. He has given

his time and [his] heart, not only to his church and

congregation, but to everyone in our town. We will miss his

sincere love for Liberal.

Kansas State Representative Shannon Francis says:

Congratulations to my classmate--

Rex is a high school graduate of Liberal High School.

Congratulations to my classmate, Rex Petty, on his

retirement. Rex is what makes rural America great.

Rex is a hometown boy who returned home after college and

has spent 40 years ministering to his friends, family and

community members. His quiet, moral leadership has always

been a source of calm and comfort for our community. We will

miss him.

I would like to recognize an additional person, a person besides Rex. It is the person who supported Rex, and like him, is a cherished member of the Liberal community, his wife Eydie. She is committed to serving and investing in the life of others, including serving as a teacher in the Liberal Public Schools.

This summer, Rex and Eydie will celebrate 42 years of marriage. Together, they are passionate about helping others, and they can always be found volunteering for Liberal's Pancake Day and all other good causes. They passed their desire to serve on to their family, and their son Reid works on my staff as a district representative serving the people of Kansas.

When I am in town, Rex will always meet me with a warm smile and a steady handshake. He has set a remarkable example of service and legacy that will not--will not--be forgotten.

Earl Watt, the publisher of the Leader & Times summed it up pretty well by saying:

Thank you, Rex Petty, for being Liberal's Pastor.

I congratulate him. In fact, I congratulate them, Rex and Eydie, for their service to Kansans, and I wish them the best as they enter this new chapter.

I believe the world is changed one soul at a time. Reverend Petty committed his life to serving Jesus Christ. In that service he touched many lives loving his neighbor as himself. Rex Petty, a role model for us all.

I yield the floor.