Floor Statements

Madam President, we are about--at least many of us--ready to return home to our States and to visit with our constituents in person, and that is a common practice for me. I can indicate to my colleagues in the Senate that the conversations--they are wide-ranging at home, but certainly, if there is a theme, it is the consequences that Americans and Kansans are feeling in regard to inflation. The things at the grocery store, the price at the pump, rent--all those things are rising, and people are struggling to pay the bills. Things are being left out of what someone can afford in their budget because everything costs more.

Kansas is an energy-producing State. We certainly are an agricultural State. I would tell you, when I talk to farmers and ranchers, commodity prices have gone up. One might think that is something that would be very beneficial to farmers, but this inflation has raised the price of everything they purchase to create the crops that feed us across America and around the world.

One of the components and one of the reasons that inflation is rising so rapidly is energy costs. Even for my farmers, fertilizer is made from phosphates and natural gas. Diesel fuel is used in the vehicles and tractors and trucks. Our ability to provide that food for the world is being hampered because we are going to lose money when we grow crops even though they may bring a higher price than they did just a few months ago.

So many components of what we purchase in this country and one of the reasons costs are all rising is because of the price of oil and gas. I am confused by the policies that many in this body promote. At the same time, they are asking for relief at the pump. Yet, time and time again, what policies, what legislation, what conversations here, what actions are taken--particularly by Democrats--are to reduce the supply of oil and natural gas.

It makes no sense to me when the policy--in fact, how can it make sense for people to propose to eliminate the tax on gas? I suppose their interest in making gas more expensive is to reduce the use of oil and natural gas fossil fuels, but on the other hand, if they lower the tax on gas, it would lower the price, which is to encourage the ability to purchase.

President Biden asked the Russians to increase their production in order to alleviate the price at the pump in the United States. We have been talking to Europe about how we are going to help them solve their natural gas shortage should we have a crisis in Ukraine and natural gas can no longer be imported from Russia, and we are working to provide more natural gas.

We should be doing everything in our country to increase the supply. The definition of ``inflation'' is, I think, pretty basic. It is ``too few goods being chased by the same amount of dollars.''

Even this week in the Banking Committee, the conversation over the last month has been about whether or not the Federal Reserve, which has no ability, no legal ability, no purpose in setting the price of gas and oil--and they would do so by trying to restrict loans by financial institutions to oil and gas energy producers at the same time they are supposed to be combating inflation.

So it seems to me on one hand and on the other hand, they don't make any sense. They are not logical and in so many instances, hypocritical.

We want to have an energy policy that is to produce more. I am ``all of the above'' on energy, but the policies of this country which we see trying to eliminate oil and natural gas, fossil fuels, at a time in which the cost at the pump, the cost in agriculture, the cost at the grocery store is rising--we should be focused on trying to make certain that Americans can afford to live in this country. We will not achieve that by trying to eliminate or reduce the supply of natural gas and oil.

I will be talking to my constituents about this issue, as I return home this week.

I wish we could have a coherent conversation, discussion, on policy development.

We need to produce more. The days in which we became energy independent in the last administration were ones in which we felt a sense of relief, a sense of safety and security, and I long for the days in which we are able to recognize that our national security and our economics are benefited by a strong oil and gas industry meeting the needs of Americans, taking care of ourselves at home and providing greater national security as we deal with crises around the world.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I rise this afternoon here on the Senate floor to mark what will soon be the passage, in just a matter of moments, of a vital veterans bill and to thank my colleagues--both Republicans and Democrats--who came together to support the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act. This is an important bill, and it will remove hurdles for post-9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, in particular, who were exposed to burn pits, so they can receive healthcare from the VA without delay.

This legislation is cosponsored by every single member of the Senate VA Committee, and I commend each of my Senate colleagues in their support for this legislation.

Supporting our veterans has a way of bringing us together, and I am so glad that is true. I am on the floor this afternoon with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, and I appreciate how he and my Senate colleagues understand the urgency of this bill and are quickly moving to pass it by unanimous consent.

Post-9/11 veterans are the newest generation of American heroes to suffer from toxic exposure encountered during military service; and passing this legislation marks just a first step--a first step--of a phased approach to solving the complex challenges of caring for those veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic exposures.

For way too long, we have heard from veterans who got sick after exposure to burn pits and need lifesaving care. There is a bipartisan consensus on our committee that this phased approach--delivering healthcare now and reforming the benefit system next--is the most effective pathway forward for toxic exposure veterans and all other veterans as well.

Servicemembers are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We know that. We respect that. We honor that. We must match that level of commitment by crafting thoughtful and effective solutions to make certain we hold up our end of the bargain and continuously work toward the best outcomes for those who served and sacrificed.

I once joined a roundtable in Wichita, KS, with local members of the Vietnam Veterans of America and was moved by their stories--not only of their own health consequences from Agent Orange but their concerns of how their exposure was affecting the health of their children and grandchildren. From that veteran feedback, I introduced the Toxic Exposure Research Act with Senator Blumenthal, which was signed into law in 2016.

I have since heard from many veterans in Kansas and across the country who are sick and dying from the effects of toxic exposure caused by burn pits. Addressing the needs of veterans exposed to burn pits cannot wait. This legislation could be lifesaving for those exposed or suffering. When our men and women in uniform go into harm's way on our behalf, we owe it to them to take care of them when they come home for whatever injuries are incurred during their service. This is not a question of resources; this is a question of getting reform done the right way.

The Senate soon will act to pass this bill, moving us closer to completing phase 1 of this approach to provide timely, sustainable care to our veterans. I will continue to work with veterans, advocates in the VA, and, importantly, my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and its chairman, Senator Tester, of Montana, to make sure we are crafting legislative solutions that are veteran-centric.

I call upon my colleagues in the House to quickly take action and act on this bill and act on our promise as a nation so post-9/11 veterans who are suffering from toxic exposures can get the care they need.

I thank my colleagues on the committee, Chairman Tester, and our respective staffs for working to craft this feasible path forward. And I want to thank many veteran organizations that have expressed their support for this legislation, including the Disabled Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wounded Warrior Project, Iraq and American Veterans of America, the American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, and Military-Veterans Advocacy.

I am confident that if we continue to work together with the VA and with veterans' groups, we will keep the needs of veterans foremost in our minds and that we can deliver meaningful reforms for the current generation of veterans and for all those who come thereafter.

I yield the floor to the Senator from Montana.

Madam President, I rise this afternoon to express my support for the Postal Service Reform Act, a piece of legislation that we expected to be on the Senate floor this week and look forward to it appearing shortly.

The U.S. Postal Service has been struggling to stay financially solvent for years, and I am pleased Congress is finally--I say ``finally.'' I think for as long as I have been in the Senate and perhaps as long as I have been in Congress, we have been working to address

this issue, and I am pleased we are about to do so.

The Postal Service has long been an essential piece of American communication and commerce, but its financial condition has recently, at least, threatened its future. Kansas's rural communities, in particular, where broadband access to brick-and-mortar businesses is limited, rely heavily upon the essential services of the Postal Service as a means of staying connected and competitive.

The familiar sight of a U.S. Postal Service truck--the jeep, the truck that goes down our country roads making its deliveries--is part of the daily life for Kansas's farmers, ranchers, businesses, and neighborhoods.

For rural America, the Postal Service--their mailman or their mailwoman--is often the glue that keeps those communities connected to the rest of the country. In many instances, we rely upon our postal carriers to make certain that somebody is alive and well, that they are OK in their homes, and report odd behavior or a crime that might occur. Our postal carriers are a significant component of the fabric of our communities.

Unique in its ability to reach nearly every address in America, the Postal Service is an indispensable piece of infrastructure, in fact, created by the Constitution of the United States giving us the instructions to provide postal roads.

During the height of the pandemic, the Postal Service employees maintained their delivery routes, bringing essential medicines, groceries, and vital supplies to families' doorsteps.

We pay a lot of attention to veterans' issues, and I would highlight how important the Postal Service is for those who served our Nation. In most instances, it is how they receive their prescription drugs. It is beyond just handwritten cards and notes, although those are clearly important and, again, an important component of our life. We all enjoy receiving those. But the Nation is reminded firsthand about the irreplaceable role of the Postal Service.

As I said, in my earliest days since representing Kansas in Congress, I have advocated for the preservation of rural post offices and commonsense reforms to ensure the Postal Service's stability.

With every conversation I have had with the Postmaster General, I have reminded them perhaps they should spend less money on consultants and listen to their employees who might be the best people to tell them what they might do to improve their efficiency and save costs.

When a post office closes--and we have had a few of those happen too frequently in Kansas--it creates problems for businesses and families; it may cause significant harm to the local economy; and it certainly makes a difference in the lives of seniors in those communities.

For the past several sessions of Congress, the Senator from Delaware, Senator Carper, and I have introduced postal reform legislation and worked together with the goal of putting the Postal Service on firmer financial footing, improving service, and allowing for the development of new revenue streams and enhancing transparency through performance metrics.

I have indicated to the Postmaster General in my conversations that the solution to the post office's financial conditions cannot be simply reducing services. The more services are reduced, the less likely Americans will or can use the Postal Service.

So closing post offices, shortening the number of days in which mail is delivered, reducing the hours of the post office, slowing the delivery of the mail, closing mail-sorting centers can't be the solution to making certain that the post office has a bright future and that Americans are served.

The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which I hope is on the floor soon for our consideration, was passed by the House last week, and we look forward to its arrival here. It builds upon our previous attempts to accomplish postal reform.

Included in these reforms is the creation of a new Postal Service Health Benefits Program and focusing on reestablishing--stabilizing the USPS's finances, instead of funding benefits in advance.

The bill will allow the Postal Service to enter into agreements with State, local, and Tribal governments as a new method of revenue for the Agency.

I am also pleased that the bill will codify 6-day delivery, which is a provision I have long supported in my role as an appropriator and one that greatly benefits rural Kansas homes, where mail delivery is more difficult.

The Postal Service Reform Act represents a great step forward to ensure that Kansans and Americans can continue to rely upon the U.S. Postal Service. I am a sponsor of this bill, and I intend to support it when it arrives in the Senate for a vote and urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, last month, the American Red Cross began sounding the alarm on a national blood crisis, the first they have ever declared. COVID-19 has added extra volatility to the blood supply, and this shortage strains hospitals and patient care throughout America.

We continue to face that critical blood supply shortage today, with Kansas's blood supply standing at a 1- to 2-day inventory.

I have heard from medical professionals--doctors, nurses, others in Kansas about the tough decisions rural doctors and healthcare providers are having to make, including canceling surgeries, blood transfusions, and possibly not delivering babies because bleeding complications may require blood that these facilities just don't have.

My hometown of Plainville, KS, has a population of about 2,000. We are fortunate to have a county hospital with dedicated healthcare professionals and physicians. One of my hometown physicians, Dr. Sanchez, who I am told is not on Facebook very often but posted his plea--his plea for people to donate blood.

Dr. Sanchez's Facebook post says--this is his story: Today we had to tell a patient with heart disease that the blood transfusions that had prolonged his life with marked improvement in quality could no longer happen at Rooks County Health Center. My patient and his son were understandably upset. It just so happens that the same patient was told a few days previous that the melanoma cancer that he beat for 40 years back returned. And now no blood transfusion.

The doctor said that the hospital is considering canceling surgeries, possibly even not delivering babies. Our stock of common blood type A- positive and donor O-positive blood units are down over 30 percent, from six units to four units. Universal donor O-negative blood has been in short supply for months and maybe for years. Blood supplies are usually replenished at the American Red Cross every 3 weeks, but we have had no new units given or replaced.

That is one doctor, one hometown, one hospital--but it is people. It is people in Kansas. It is people in this country whom we know and care for, people we love, people in our families, and people we don't even know.

The most vulnerable patients among us rely on blood donations for transfusions to support essential treatments such as those of battling cancer or living with chronic diseases. There is no substitute. There is no alternative.

Our Nation can turn to the absence of blood donations. The only answer is for each of us stepping up to donate, helping to end this crisis and contribute to saving lives of those in our communities.

The shortage is severe, and it is affecting Kansas health providers and their ability to care for their patients. It will cost us lives.

Kansans pull together in times of need, and I encourage everyone in Kansas and across the country to donate. In the United States, every 2 seconds someone needs blood or platelets, and donating blood is one of the most tangible actions we can give to help save lives.

Donation centers provide specific guidance on blood donation process and safety measures taken within their centers. You can find a location that is accepting blood donations near you, and you can visit the American Red Cross website.

So this is a plea that we all consider donating blood to help save the lives of our friends, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I rise this morning to recognize and congratulate the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens men's basketball team on winning the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 men's basketball championship. Kansas has an unparalleled history of college athletes, and I am proud to recognize the Coffeyville Red Ravens' contribution to our State's many accomplishments.

On April 24, 2021, the Coffeyville Red Ravens brought home their first national championship trophy in nearly six decades. As an underdog in the national tournament with a No. 10 ranking, this accomplishment is a result of hard work, determination, and grit. During the championship game, freshman center Blaise Keita had a career high of 27 points, and Tylor Perry scored 18 points. Additionally, Blaise, Tylor, and Love Bettis were named to the All-Tournament team.

The honorable achievements of these players have earned rightful recognition for their commitment to excellence in college athletics. Athletics teach young men and women many valuable skills that serve them throughout their lives.

These lessons and this team's accomplishment were not possible without the leadership of Head Coach Jay Herkelman, who has been an instrumental member of the Red Ravens men's basketball program for nearly three decades. As a coach who has shown dedication to his players and his team, he has earned the title of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association's ``Coach of the Year'' five times. Furthermore, congratulations to Coach Herkelman, who is only 1 win away from reaching the remarkable milestone of 700 wins with the Red Ravens.

I am pleased to have introduced a resolution with Congressman LaTurner and Senator Marshall on behalf of these dedicated student athletes, coaches, team, and school, and to have had it unanimously pass the U.S. Senate last week.

Thank you to the players, the coaches, and the staff of the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens men's basketball team for bringing this win home.

Congratulations to all in Southeast Kansas, South Central Kansas, those who are students, those who are faculty, and those who lead this college. We are proud of their success.

The Coffeyville community has much to take pride in this strong program, and I look forward to their continued success.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today former majority leader and Kansas Senator Bob Dole was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

On December 11, 2021, Senator Dole's hometown of Russell, KS, said their final goodbyes to their favorite son and celebrated his life.

I ask unanimous consent that the remarks I gave that day be printed in the Record.

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

First of all, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak for up to 7 minutes and Senator Barrasso be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled rollcall votes.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I want to speak about a piece of bipartisan legislation that Chairman Tester and I introduced with the unanimous support of every member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, both Republicans and Democrats.

Consensus is often hard to find, as we know, in this body, but caring for our Nation's veterans--our heroes--has a way of bringing us together. I tell Kansans back home that the Senate on veterans affairs is one of the few places left on which Republicans and Democrats find common ground. I hope that continues, and I hope that spreads.

Caring for our Nation's veterans is an honor that we all have, and when you reach an agreement between some of the most liberal members of our committee and the most conservative members of our committee, you know that you have a really good deal.

I first learned about the issue of toxic exposure years ago, while attending an event for Vietnam veterans at home in Kansas. After hearing about their struggles with exposure to Agent Orange, I introduced the Toxic Exposure Research Act, which was signed into law in 2016 and mandates research on health conditions of children and grandchildren of veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service.

Our military veterans and their families and their survivors know exposure to toxic substances has become commonplace in modern warfare. Regrettably, the negative long-term health effects are sometimes not identified until long after the time of exposure, leaving veterans to face serious medical issues years after their service.

Toxic exposure during military service has created significant healthcare concerns for veterans, going back to mustard gas exposure in World War I and, most notably, the Vietnam generation's exposure to Agent Orange.

Despite these clear examples of lasting impact of military toxic exposures, struggles with health conditions associated with burn pits continue to plague the latest generation of veterans who served in the Global War on Terror.

I have spoken with veterans across Kansas and held a townhall meeting in my home State on the effects of toxic exposure on our veterans' health. My office continues to receive casework

from veterans regarding the burden of proof to gain access to healthcare. This legislation--the one that our committee will consider tomorrow--lessens that burden and creates a pathway for thousands of Kansas veterans and many more thousands of American veterans to receive healthcare for illnesses caused by toxic exposure.

For decades, toxic-exposed veterans have faced overwhelming barriers to getting VA healthcare and the services that they deserve. Post-911 veterans are the newest generation of American heroes to suffer from toxic exposures encountered in their military service.

These American heroes who put on the uniform and volunteered to go into harm's way on our behalf deserve to have their level of commitment matched by those of us who serve here in Congress. When our government sends troops to war, we make a pledge to care for them when they come home. Veterans who are made sick from service deserve medical care for those conditions.

The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act is an important first step in making certain our veterans receive the care they need as a result of their service.

I appreciate the entire Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for working together to craft this consequential legislation to care for our servicemembers who put their lives and health on the line for us. I also appreciate every member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee--Senators Tillis, Hassan, Sullivan, Manchin, Boozman, Sanders, Cassidy, Brown, Blackburn, Blumenthal, Tuberville, Hirono, Cramer, Sinema, and Rounds--for working together to better the lives of those who have served. Additionally, I am grateful for the support of many VSOs--veterans service organizations--that represent millions of veterans across the Nation.

This legislation is part of a comprehensive and phased approach. This first phase provides the VA with the authority it needs to expand healthcare for combat veterans. For many who are sick and suffering, time is running out, and our first priority is to get these veterans their healthcare now.

Our bill would also mandate training for the VA healthcare providers and benefit specialists to ensure a level of competence across the Department to make sure veterans receive exemplary treatment and service.

Our legislation would direct the VA to incorporate a clinical screening to inquire about a veteran's potential exposures and symptoms commonly associated with toxic exposure.

I talked to a veteran today who said she has been to the VA twice for care and treatment and has never been asked about whether she encountered any substance that could have been damaging to her health during her service. After speaking with these veterans, I have come to understand that this basic and preventive act of screening is not part of enrollment or basic care provided by the Department. That must change.

Solutions to this complex problem cannot be generated by Congress alone and require a coordinated and systematic approach that involves partnering with the VA. My view is that we make a commitment to those who serve that we will do our work. This is a significant step in getting us to a point at which we are living up to that commitment and doing it in a way that is not damaging to any other veteran.

I urge my colleagues to read our bill, to grow their understanding of this complex challenge, and to join our committee, every single member of the committee, in passing this bill to get one step closer to providing care and relief on one of the most pressing challenges facing veterans today.

Mr. President, today I want to speak about a piece of bipartisan legislation that Chairman Tester and I introduced with the unanimous support of every member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, both Republicans and Democrats.

Consensus is often hard to find, as we know, in this body, but caring for our Nation's veterans--our heroes--has a way of bringing us together. I tell Kansans back home that the Senate on veterans affairs is one of the few places left on which Republicans and Democrats find common ground. I hope that continues, and I hope that spreads.

Caring for our Nation's veterans is an honor that we all have, and when you reach an agreement between some of the most liberal members of our committee and the most conservative members of our committee, you know that you have a really good deal.

I first learned about the issue of toxic exposure years ago, while attending an event for Vietnam veterans at home in Kansas. After hearing about their struggles with exposure to Agent Orange, I introduced the Toxic Exposure Research Act, which was signed into law in 2016 and mandates research on health conditions of children and grandchildren of veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service.

Our military veterans and their families and their survivors know exposure to toxic substances has become commonplace in modern warfare. Regrettably, the negative long-term health effects are sometimes not identified until long after the time of exposure, leaving veterans to face serious medical issues years after their service.

Toxic exposure during military service has created significant healthcare concerns for veterans, going back to mustard gas exposure in World War I and, most notably, the Vietnam generation's exposure to Agent Orange.

Despite these clear examples of lasting impact of military toxic exposures, struggles with health conditions associated with burn pits continue to plague the latest generation of veterans who served in the Global War on Terror.

I have spoken with veterans across Kansas and held a townhall meeting in my home State on the effects of toxic exposure on our veterans' health. My office continues to receive casework

from veterans regarding the burden of proof to gain access to healthcare. This legislation--the one that our committee will consider tomorrow--lessens that burden and creates a pathway for thousands of Kansas veterans and many more thousands of American veterans to receive healthcare for illnesses caused by toxic exposure.

For decades, toxic-exposed veterans have faced overwhelming barriers to getting VA healthcare and the services that they deserve. Post-911 veterans are the newest generation of American heroes to suffer from toxic exposures encountered in their military service.

These American heroes who put on the uniform and volunteered to go into harm's way on our behalf deserve to have their level of commitment matched by those of us who serve here in Congress. When our government sends troops to war, we make a pledge to care for them when they come home. Veterans who are made sick from service deserve medical care for those conditions.

The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act is an important first step in making certain our veterans receive the care they need as a result of their service.

I appreciate the entire Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for working together to craft this consequential legislation to care for our servicemembers who put their lives and health on the line for us. I also appreciate every member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee--Senators Tillis, Hassan, Sullivan, Manchin, Boozman, Sanders, Cassidy, Brown, Blackburn, Blumenthal, Tuberville, Hirono, Cramer, Sinema, and Rounds--for working together to better the lives of those who have served. Additionally, I am grateful for the support of many VSOs--veterans service organizations--that represent millions of veterans across the Nation.

This legislation is part of a comprehensive and phased approach. This first phase provides the VA with the authority it needs to expand healthcare for combat veterans. For many who are sick and suffering, time is running out, and our first priority is to get these veterans their healthcare now.

Our bill would also mandate training for the VA healthcare providers and benefit specialists to ensure a level of competence across the Department to make sure veterans receive exemplary treatment and service.

Our legislation would direct the VA to incorporate a clinical screening to inquire about a veteran's potential exposures and symptoms commonly associated with toxic exposure.

I talked to a veteran today who said she has been to the VA twice for care and treatment and has never been asked about whether she encountered any substance that could have been damaging to her health during her service. After speaking with these veterans, I have come to understand that this basic and preventive act of screening is not part of enrollment or basic care provided by the Department. That must change.

Solutions to this complex problem cannot be generated by Congress alone and require a coordinated and systematic approach that involves partnering with the VA. My view is that we make a commitment to those who serve that we will do our work. This is a significant step in getting us to a point at which we are living up to that commitment and doing it in a way that is not damaging to any other veteran.

I urge my colleagues to read our bill, to grow their understanding of this complex challenge, and to join our committee, every single member of the committee, in passing this bill to get one step closer to providing care and relief on one of the most pressing challenges facing veterans today.

Madam President, confidence in our elections is vital to self-governance, and voting is a fundamental right. This is something that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

Article I, section 4 of the Constitution states that ``Times, Places and Manner'' of congressional elections ``shall be prescribed by the States.''

Over the last year, my Democratic colleagues have introduced and tried to pass several versions of what they call voting rights legislation--the For the People Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. But these wholesome titles are seriously misleading. The bills are partisan power grabs that will give the Federal Government unprecedented power over our elections and weaken the ability of State legislatures to administer their own election laws.

Federalizing election procedures would export traditional State authority to the Federal Government and defer decisions on how citizens elect their congressional representatives to Congress. This is inherently less responsive and less accountable.

This legislation would undermine State legislatures by sending taxpayer dollars to political candidates for the House of Representatives, weaken popular State voter ID laws, and make updating rolls more difficult.

According to a Gallup poll, 80 percent of Americans support voter ID laws. Yet, under this legislation, States would be required to accept essentially any document that includes a person's name as a valid form of ID. If you wanted to dispel the notion that voter fraud occurs in our elections, this is not a good start.

One-size-fits-all solutions--the approach the Democrats are pushing-- is completely unfit for Kansas and for the country.

Perhaps even more alarming--and this is the point that I would make more strongly than what I just said--more alarming than this Federal election takeover is the Democrats' proposed means of passing it.

President Biden and Majority Leader Schumer, realizing the limitations of their slimmest possible majority in the Senate, have advocated for weakening the legislative filibuster, the ability for the Senate to debate legislation until a 60-vote threshold is met.

Ironically, Democrats utilized the filibuster vote margin just last week to block sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline, making use of the same 60-vote threshold they are so determined to demonize.

The filibuster protects the minority. It doesn't necessarily mean Republicans or Democrats. It may mean just somebody with an odd idea. It may mean rural, where I come from, or urban, where other Members of the Senate come from. It may mean the ability for a Member of the Senate to speak on behalf of his or her constituents and advocate for their views. It allows every Senator to have the opportunity to garner more information, to seek out sponsors of a bill, to have conversations, and to pull people together before we decide on how to proceed on legislation. But the filibuster does more than that. It forces us--I am sorry it is necessary to force us, but it forces us to work together.

Freedoms and liberties are protected by process. In today's world, too many people want the outcome regardless of how the process works. That process is called the Constitution of the United States. And in our case, there are rules in the U.S. Senate that require a 60-vote for legislation to be considered and passed by the U.S. Senate.

In the circumstances that those are eroded, those process issues--I really want to highlight it again. It bothers me so much that in so many circumstances, we set aside process because we want an end result. But in doing so, we erode the personal freedoms of Kansans and all Americans, and those freedoms and liberties are diminished as a result.

I would say it is unusual for me to have as many of my colleagues on the floor as there are today while I speak, and in this case, most are Democrats. I would say that if we want to change the U.S. Senate--and I am a critic of the way we do business here. I never enjoyed serving in the U.S. Senate in which it worked well.

If we wanted to do something that would actually make a difference as opposed to changing the process by which we consider legislation, how about having committees that actually do their work; how about having hearings and markups and debate? Give me the chance--give all of my colleagues a chance to participate in this democracy of developing legislation.

But how many times have I voted on things that are garnered, put together, patchworked together, created by the leadership of the Senate or the leadership of the House or working together, a bill that is proposed by the White House? I want to have ownership. Even if I don't get my way, at least I had the opportunity, and it is the committee process that allows us to do that.

Instead of fixing something as fundamental as the Congress of the United States and having committees at work, we are going to change the process by which we can get to a bill or pass a bill and reduce the role that people who have different ideas play in that outcome.

Give me ownership of legislation through a committee process. Don't take away my ability to better represent Kansans and Americans and people in the minority by changing the 60-vote rule.

Americans voted for a Congress that is nearly a 50-50 split between the parties in the House and a precisely 50-50 split in the Senate. I don't think Americans voted to give one party free rein to implement an unprecedented power grab to nationalize elections and fundamentally reshape the way the Senate passes legislation.

Thankfully, there is bipartisan opposition to weakening the filibuster. A majority of Senators agree it would bring about massive uncertainty for Americans who don't want to be subjected to the dramatic political swings when one election occurs and one party is in power and then the next party is in power.

There is so much uncertainty because there was never the consensus to build a 60-vote margin for a piece of legislation.

We must have confidence in our elections. It matters. I want everyone who is legally entitled to vote to be able to vote. I understand that voting is a fundamental right, but Kansans know what is best for Kansans, and congressional Democrats would be wise not to underestimate our resolve in making our own determinations.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, today is an opportunity for me to remind our colleagues of the value of Senator Johnny Isakson. I particularly want to speak this afternoon about his work in regard to our Nation's veterans.

When Senator Isakson retired, resigned from the U.S. Senate, I replaced him as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, but I served the entire time he was the chairman. In fact, I have served the entire time I have been in the Senate and the entire time I have been in the House. And Senator Isakson and Congressman Isakson and I served together in both bodies.

I want to highlight for my colleagues and for Americans--and particularly the veterans across the country--that they had an advocate in Senator Johnny Isakson for them, for our Nation's veterans. He knew--he knew--the debt we owe to our veterans and kept that at the forefront of his mind and his heart as he led the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

His service as chairman was motivated by the stories of veterans who had touched his own life. Senator Isakson regularly spoke about two veterans--two veterans who shaped his approach as chairman: his college friend Jackson Elliott Cox III and Georgia native Noah Harris.

Jackson Cox volunteered to serve in the Marines in Vietnam and was killed by a sniper a month before he was scheduled to return home. Noah Harris had volunteered to serve in the Army after 9/11 and was killed while serving in Iraq. Both men volunteered to serve their country in the military during times of war, and both men gave their lives in that service.

Senator Isakson was compelled by their service to remember and speak about the men and women who gave their lives to defend our Nation and believed that we must also remember and honor those who made it home.

Senator Isakson was involved in a number of legislative successes that improved how our Nation serves its veterans after they leave the military, and I want to highlight four of those pieces of legislation.

First, the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act finally gave the VA the tools it needed to hold officials accountable following several scandals at the Department and set the expectation that the VA would maintain a high-performance workforce to serve our veterans.

Second, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 modernized the archaic benefits claims process at the VA and allowed VA to reduce its appeal backlog from nearly half a million appeals down to around 100,000. Veterans now have choices as to how they appeal benefits decisions and can receive timely decisions rather than waiting and waiting and waiting.

Third, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017, which is known as the Forever GI Bill, revolutionized veterans' education benefits by eliminating the 15-year window after service during which a veteran could use those benefits. It also invested in STEM education, IT and technology certification programs, and benefits for surviving families of veterans.

Finally, the VA MISSION Act is legislation I am proud to have championed alongside Senator Isakson. He knew that temporary programs put in place to address the Phoenix wait time scandal needed to be consolidated with existing options for care outside the VA, and I was honored to help him and the rest of Congress see the MISSION Act signed into law to give veterans clear choices on getting the care that best serves their needs.

Senator Isakson also felt a strong connection to veterans of the ``greatest generation'' who saved the world in World War II. On a visit in Europe, Senator Isakson came across the grave of Roy C. Irwin, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge on the very same day that Senator Isakson was born in Georgia. He spoke regularly about the perspective that visit gave him and how he thought about what Roy Irwin and so many others who served had done for him and for all of us.

In his last year as chairman, Senator Isakson led a Senate delegation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-day in Normandy, France. Despite the challenges his health may have posed for such a trip, he knew the importance of showing our World War II veterans and, in fact, the entire world that we remember their sacrifices and that as a nation, we honor the service of that generation and the example they set for generations to come.

Senator Isakson did not just remember the sacrifices of our veterans; he acted whenever he could to see to it that the benefits and services their country offered were delivered in the manner they deserved.

Before Army 1LT Noah Harris was killed in 2005, he and Senator Isakson exchanged letters, and Senator Isakson noted how Noah would always sign his letters ``IDWIC,'' which stood for ``I do what I can.''

Similarly, Senator Isakson sought to get to yes on solutions instead of just focusing on problems or Senate differences or people's differences. He always worked to do everything he could when someone needed help, and his service to veterans will shine as an example for others--for us--to emulate. We will remember Senator Isakson and the impact he had on our Nation's veterans, and that will be remembered for generations.

Senator Isakson served 6 years in the House and 14 years in the Senate. He died December 19 at age 76. Over two decades of service and certainly over two decades of service to America's veterans.

I want to extend my condolences to Senator Isakson's wife Dianne and his children, Julie, Kevin, and John.

Please know that we are thinking of you all and are praying for you during this challenging and difficult time.

May God bless that family, and may Johnny Isakson rest in peace.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor the upcoming retirement on January 1, 2022, of a true public servant and leader, Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.

Louis is the epitome of a dedicated civil servant, having spent the past 43 years of his career at both NOAA and NASA contributing to and leading the maturation and advancement of our Nation's weather prediction capabilities. Put simply, there is no aspect of today's weather forecast that Dr. Uccellini hasn't advanced during his storied career.

But Louis' contributions span far beyond science. Perhaps most notably, and certainly most visible to the public, are the organizational changes Louis has made to National Weather Service since becoming Director in 2013. The establishment and development of the Weather-Ready Nation program, a paradigm shift that refocused the entire NWS staff and mission, now enables forecasters to use weather information to deliver Impact-based Decision Support Services to emergency managers, which is empowering local officials to help citizens be ready, responsive and resilient to weather events. This is the real purpose of the weather forecast and is allowing the National Weather Service to better perform its mission of saving lives and protecting property.

Louis' mark on the National Weather Service will undoubtedly be felt for many years to come. On behalf of my constituents in Kansas and a grateful nation, I personally thank Dr. Louis Uccellini for his service to our Nation; wish him and his wife, Susan, well in retirement; and as Louis would say, ``I'll leave it at that.''

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.