Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in support of Judge Daniel Traynor's nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Judge Traynor is seeking to fill a seat being vacated by Judge Ralph Erickson, who will be taking senior status upon Judge Traynor's confirmation. I want to take this opportunity to thank Judge Erickson for his many years of serving on the bench. Whether at the State district court, the Federal district court, or as a circuit court judge, Ralph Erickson has been a dedicated public servant, and we thank him for his hard work over the decades.

I actually have known him since high school. He was on both the football team and the basketball team, and he is a huge guy. I remember he was a good lineman, and I remember that if he stood in the lane at basketball, you couldn't get anywhere near the basket. You had to kind of shoot a 3-pointer. A super guy, great sense of humor, good friend.

We will miss Ralph in terms of his full-time status, but the good news is, he will be on senior status and still involved. He is just a tremendous judge, and I am very confident that Judge Traynor will do a fantastic job carrying on his legacy.

Today, I have the privilege of supporting a nominee in Judge Traynor who embodies the highest standards of judicial service and who has dedicated his professional life to upholding the rule of law. Judge Traynor is a man of integrity, intellect, and deep faith in our constitutional system. He has earned a reputation as a thoughtful and fair jurist whose commitment to justice is respected by those who know him and those who have appeared before him.

Judge Traynor is a lifelong North Dakotan through and through. He was born in Devils Lake, ND. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of North Dakota and his juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Judge Traynor's roots in our State have shaped his understanding of the law's impact on individuals, on families, on businesses, and on our rural communities. Throughout his career, Judge Traynor has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and to the faithful application of the law.

Since his confirmation to serve as judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, Judge Traynor has distinguished himself through his diligence, impartiality, and careful attention to the facts and law before him. His judicial record reflects a deep respect for the Constitution and appreciation for the limited role of the judiciary and a commitment to deciding cases based on the law rather than on his personal opinion or policies.

The Eighth Circuit plays a critical role in interpreting and applying Federal law throughout our region of the country. The citizens it serves deserve a judge who approaches that responsibility with independence, impartiality, and fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Judge Traynor possesses each of these qualities. He does not legislate from the bench.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Judge Traynor is a devoted husband, father, and member of his community. His wife Patricia, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, along with their three children--Mary, Mack, and Joe--are rightfully proud of what Judge Traynor has accomplished. He understands the values of hard work, service, and responsibility that are central to the people of North Dakota and the Eighth Circuit.

I am proud to support his nomination. I am confident that he will serve with distinction on the court of appeals. For all these reasons, I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination.

With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to highlight and ask unanimous consent to pass a resolution I introduced to call for greater action from the Canadian Government to fight the almost annual wildfires that send smoke over the border, blanketing much of the United States.

Over the past several days, more than 100 million people nationwide have been under air quality alerts due to the smoke from Canadian wildfires. This smoke has real impacts to the health and well-being of individuals and families. In my home State of North Dakota, this is an issue we are very familiar with. Unfortunately, over the past number of summers, we have been experiencing hazy skies from wildfires in Canada.

The United States and Canada have a longstanding and close relationship based on our shared values and common interests. I know; I grew up 50 miles from the border. But with that shared border between the United States and Canada, we need to manage it to the benefit of the people that reside in both countries. I mean, we have water that flows up into Canada, and we are always working on water quality issues and all those kinds of things. We understand that what we do here in the United States affects our friends in Canada as well.

So we feel for those in Canada whose homes and communities are directly impacted by the fires. We also recognize and thank the thousands of firefighters and emergency responders who are working to combat wildfires and protect lives and personal property under dangerous conditions.

But at the same time, we need responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction, timber harvesting, grazing, and other forest restoration practices that help reduce the severity and frequency of catastrophic wildfires.

With more than 3,640 wildfires in Canada this year alone, it is clear that more action needs to be taken to prevent and stop these fires. And, in fact, in the United States, we have worked many years to help our friends in Canada battle these fires, but, clearly, more action needs to be taken.

So the resolution I have introduced does three things: Specifically, it recognizes the significant impact that smoke from the Canadian wildfires has on the safety, health, and well-being of the American people, and it calls upon the Government of Canada to take responsibility for the cross-border impact of these wildfires, including immediate efforts to extinguish the fires and prevent their reoccurrence. And finally, the resolution urges President Trump to further discuss with Canadian Prime Minister Carney the importance of extinguishing these fires and finding ways to prevent their reoccurrence, something that we can do together and we should do together for the mutual benefit of both our great countries.

So with that, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 811, which is at the desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, if I could, I am wondering if my colleague heard the speech I just gave. I guess I want to repeat it because maybe she might have missed it.

The United States and Canada--this is what I said, so I can't think of a bigger mischaracterization of what I just said. And I am not even sure why. If she wanted to come down and criticize our President, that is fine. She can do that, I guess, whenever she wants if that is what she wants to do. But to completely mischaracterize what I said, I don't think is fair.

So I am going to reiterate what I said just a minute ago for the record.

The United States and Canada have a longstanding and close

relationship based on our shared values and common interests.

I even referenced the fact that I grew up 50 miles from the Canadian border. I went back and forth to Canada so many times I couldn't even count.

But, and I go on, with a shared border between the United States and Canada, we want to manage it to the benefit of people residing in both countries.

We feel for those in Canada whose homes and communities are

directly impacted.

I am reading from the speech I just wrote; I was listening to the mischaracterization.

We also recognize and thank the thousands of firefighters

and emergency responders who are working to combat wildfires

and protect lives and personal property under dangerous

conditions.

At the same time, we need responsible forest management,

including hazardous fuels reduction, timber harvesting,

grazing, and other forest restoration practices that help

reduce the severity and the frequency of catastrophic

wildfires.

With more than 3,640 wildfires in Canada this year alone,

it is clear that more action needs to be taken to prevent and

stop these fires.

That is what I am calling for. And in the resolution itself, I make it very clear that this is something that is important to benefit both countries.

So, again, you know, I think it would be--if my colleague wants to object, I understand she has that right. But I think it is unfair to characterize that other than I am saying we need more action on these wildfires.

Now, if she feels we don't need more action on these wildfires, it is just fine, OK. But she shouldn't misrepresent what I am trying to do, which is call attention to the fact that we need more work done so we can avoid these wildfires in the future and that that is something that is mutually beneficial for both of our Nations.

And with that, I would yield the floor to my colleague the good Senator from Ohio.

And to my colleague from Washington, we work together on many things, important things. I appreciate that. I think we both come from border States and recognize the importance of this incredible bond and relationship that we have with our friends in Canada, and I want to make clear, I have tremendous respect, appreciation, and admiration for our friends and allies and that this is about working together for mutual benefit.

And with that, I would yield to my good friend and colleague from the State of Ohio.

Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my colleague but, most of all, to my friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.

We were all shocked to learn of his passing this weekend, and I mean it--stunned. It is hard to imagine the Senate without Lindsey. It already seems quieter. We will miss his humor, his advice, and, of course, his friendship.

Lindsey was dedicated to serving the people of South Carolina and the Nation. He spent nearly his entire adult life in public service, from the military to the South Carolina House, to the past 31 years--31 years--here, both in the House and in the Senate. In having spent 33 years in the Air Force, the South Carolina Air Guard, or the Reserves, Senator Graham was a staunch supporter of our men and women in uniform.

Since 2010, he served as co-chair of the National Guard Caucus. With his help, we were able to successfully convince the Department of Defense to change its policy and allow guardsmen and reservists to concurrently receive their Federal tuition assistance and their GI bill benefits in full.

Given our close, personal friendship and his ardent support of our servicemembers, our national defense, and our military, I liked to call him ``Grambo.'' For me, that was his nickname, ``Grambo''--you know, kind of like ``Rambo.'' Well, he was ``Grambo.'' He really was the Senate version of ``Rambo'' in all things military, and he was relentless, as we saw. I mean, right up until almost the day he died, he was working and advocating for our military, on behalf of American military strength, and our role as, truly, the leader of the free world.

As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Graham advanced conservative causes that have made our Nation stronger and more prosperous. He helped steer through the Working Families Tax--the One Big Beautiful Bill, or the OB3. It has got a lot of names, but the important point is that it really made a huge difference for our country and for working families. He cared about that. He cared about taking on the big challenges and doing big things.

Likewise, as the Budget chair, he was instrumental in helping us fund border security and law enforcement. He was a big part of helping us implement the Trump agenda, and that was so appropriate. Lindsey was really--you know, as they say in sports, he was a triple threat. He was a triple threat. He was a force in our Republican caucus, and he could work with the Democrats.

Of course, he had a tremendous relationship with President Trump, and they truly cared about each other. They were real friends. They worked together, but they truly were friends.

We will miss all of that.

As the former chairman and the senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Graham shaped the Federal judiciary. Think of how impactful that has been from the Supreme Court down to the district courts. He played a central role in the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices, including Justices Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Barrett, while also helping to oversee a massive conservative shift in the Federal judiciary.

I think the time that, on the Judiciary Committee, he really said what he thought, what he felt in his heart about Justice Kavanaugh was perhaps, if not his finest moment, one of his truly finest moments where he truly stood up and said what he felt was right on the national stage and made an incredible difference, a lasting and important, incredible difference. And it wasn't rehearsed; it was just Lindsey spontaneously being Lindsey, saying what was in his heart. There is that old saying: Speak from your gut and your heart. Boy, did he, and it made a huge difference. That was vintage Lindsey Graham.

His leadership on defense, judiciary, and budget issues will be felt for years to come.

But for all his accomplishments in the Senate and around the globe, Senator Graham was most proud of his family. He was a loyal and loving brother and uncle who once said of his sister:

Of all the things that have happened in my life, her

turning out so well is the highlight of it by far.

It is only fitting that his sister Darline will serve in his place. We extend her a warm welcome to the Senate like Senator Graham did with so many of us.

It is almost as if Lindsey and President Trump had one more call after the call that night where they talked. Lindsey had gotten back from Ukraine, and the President called him or he called the President. They talked on the phone, and it was shortly after that that Lindsey had his heart attack and died.

But it is almost like they had one more call--one more call--where Lindsey was able to call President Trump again or President Trump was able to call Lindsey and they talked about, you know, who should replace Lindsey during that period before the election when the people of South Carolina will elect their next Senator to replace Lindsey, and they decided on Darline.

And how fitting. How appropriate. So big thanks to President Trump for recommending to Governor McMaster that he appoint Darline. We are so pleased to have her here, and it is so fitting and appropriate.

My wife Mikey and I are praying for Lindsey and for his whole family. I have to say that my wife Mikey was always a big Lindsey fan. One time, we are at dinner or something, and she just tells Lindsey how much I like and respect Lindsey.

I said to her: Why did you do that?

She goes: Well, because you do. You really like him. You respect him.

So I just said: Yes, I know I do, but he is my buddy. You are not supposed to tell your buddy that; they are just supposed to know it.

But it is true. I think we all did, both sides of the aisle.

We will miss him incredibly. The country, the State of South Carolina will miss him. Our country will miss Lindsey Graham and his incredible service.

May God bless Lindsey and his entire family.

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

Madam President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 675 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that 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.

Madam President, I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me just now in--well, I had hoped he would be here. Unfortunately, I guess he is running a little late. So I have to say I just have to thank my colleague for joining me in passing this legislation.

S. 675 authorizes Federal funding in the use of artifacts and materials for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora,

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

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to ask unanimous consent to pass two bills--S. 1377, my Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act and Senator Gallego's Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act. I want to thank my colleague for joining me here today and for his work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of these bills today.

In the case of my bill, for generations, horses have been a living, breathing part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Their presence in the Badlands predates the establishment of the park itself and traces back to the region's early ranching heritage. Today, the horses remain one of the park's most recognizable and beloved features, enjoyed by more than 700,000 visitors annually when they come to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

But the horses are much more than just a visitor attraction; they are an important part of the historic landscape that reflects what Theodore Roosevelt himself experienced during his time in the Dakota Territory. His years in the Badlands helped shape his character, and they inspired the conservation ethic that would later define his Presidency. He was a rancher, so he was on horseback all of the time. He really credits North Dakota in that experience for rounding out his strength and vitality, which are some of the attributes that he needed to go on and be elected President. As a result, the horses of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park have become an enduring symbol of that legacy.

Yet, despite their importance, there have been repeated efforts to remove them from the park, including as recently as in 2022. Each and every time, those efforts are met with overwhelming public opposition not just from people in North Dakota but from people across the country who recognize the contributions the horses make to the park's incredible and colorful history. That is why we have introduced this legislation.

S. 1377 provides a balanced, commonsense, and durable solution. It ensures the National Park Service will continue to manage a healthy horse herd while providing permanent protection for an important part of the park's identity. Specifically, the bill directs the National Park Service to maintain a herd of not fewer than 150 horses--a population level consistent with the need for responsible management of a genetically diverse herd.

I greatly appreciate my colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine for joining me in introducing and sponsoring this legislation. Senator Kaine understands firsthand the important role of the wild ponies of the Chincoteague and Assateague Islands on Federal lands in his own State.

I also appreciate the support from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service and their willingness to provide certainty for the future of horses in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

This bill is about ensuring that future generations can experience the same landscape that helped shape one of our Nation's greatest conservation leaders. By passing this bill, we can ensure the future of wild horses at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

I would also like to thank Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and the Energy Committee's staff for their work in helping us advance this important legislation.

I am also pleased to work with Senator Gallego to pass his Cross- Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act today, and I appreciate his partnership.

Therefore, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 1377 and that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 430, S. 2033, and S. 1377.

I further ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment to S. 2033 be agreed to; that the bills, as amended, where amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, all en bloc.

Mr. President, with that, again, I want to thank my colleague Senator Gallego and turn to him for his comments.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, this week, the Senate took an important step by beginning debate on the SAVE America Act--a commonsense piece of legislation that safeguards our elections by implementing voter ID requirements and ensuring that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in our elections.

This is not a controversial idea. In fact, recent polling shows that over 70 percent of Americans support the bill.

Let me try that one more time. Over 70 percent of Americans support this bill. That means Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--over 70 percent.

That means that the American people agree that only eligible citizens should vote in our elections. It means the American people support voter ID as a reasonable and responsible safeguard.

The Presiding Officer was secretary of state in the Buckeye State-- huge State, millions of people. The Presiding Officer knows from his own experience that whether somebody is an Independent, whether they are Republican, whether they are Democrat, the law is that you have to be a citizen.

People want integrity--voter integrity--at the ballot box. This is a pretty fundamental concept, which is why Americans overwhelmingly support it.

The fact that you should have voter ID--just take voter ID. That is over 80 percent. I mean, think about it. Let's see. ID to get into a government building, to get a fishing license, to rent a hotel room, to rent a car. I mean, come on.

It just doesn't get any more fundamental; it doesn't make any more common sense. So it really shouldn't be a partisan issue. As I said, it is a commonsense issue, it is that simple, and this body should come together and vote and pass it.

So I urge our Democrat colleagues to join us and I guess just do what 70 to 80 percent of Americans want, what 70 percent of their own Democratic voters want. How about doing what their voters want--let alone ours--and the Independents?

So, somehow, the false choice they are bringing up there is that, gee whiz, if we do this, somehow you are denying voters access to the polls. Well, that is just not true. That is not true at all. In fact, when voters trust the process, they are more likely to participate. Think about it. If they trust the process, that makes them motivated to participate.

Again, it is not a burden to simply have a photo ID. They have to have it for everything else, so they certainly should have it when they vote.

For example, in my State of North Dakota, you know, elections are both secure and accessible. Our approach actually goes above and beyond. In North Dakota, my State, we already go beyond what is required in the legislation.

North Dakota officials across multiple State agencies conduct daily maintenance to ensure clean, updated, and accurate voter rolls. We also have a robust voter ID policy that requires an individual to provide a birth certificate, a passport, or a certificate of naturalization to get a driver's license. Now, this is to get a driver's license or a nondriver ID. But once you get that so you can drive your car, you are in great shape to vote.

Again, this is stuff that people have in their everyday lives, so to try to make it out that it is a problem--well, that just doesn't fly.

The American people expect us to protect the integrity of the election system.

Again, the Presiding Officer was secretary of state. That was his job every single day. But it is our job too. It is our job too. And the Voting Rights Act requires it, and that is exactly what this legislation does.

Americans support the SAVE America Act, and I urge our Democrat colleagues to join us in doing exactly what the American people are asking us to do, what they elected us to do.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to discuss a pivotal time for American energy security in light of the Iranian regime's continued actions to undermine the stability of global energy markets.

Over the past two decades, our Nation has transformed itself from a position of energy dependence to one of energy dominance.

In the early 2000s, our country produced roughly 5 million barrels of oil per day. Last October, U.S. producers delivered a record 13.86 million barrels daily, so almost 14 million barrels a day. We have gone from 5 million to almost 14 million barrels a day in domestic oil production. This tremendous increase was driven by the shale revolution, which reshaped global energy markets and strengthened our national security.

Americans consume about 13.8 million barrels of transportation fuels per day--so roughly 14 million barrels per day--which includes 9 million barrels of gasoline, illustrating how critical domestic production is to meeting the demand and how far we have come.

Innovation and American entrepreneurship in places like my home State of North Dakota and the Bakken formation have made that possible. Through advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, American producers cracked the code and unlocked oil reserves once thought

to be out of reach. As a result, we are able to better leverage our Nation's abundant oil and gas reserves--a vitally strategic asset in the face of instability in the Middle East and other parts of the globe.

To maintain our energy leadership, we must not only focus on sustaining production but also growing it and continuing to grow domestic energy production here at home. This means continuing to innovate and improve the amount of oil we can recover from the wells that we have already drilled. It is just common sense. Today, we only recover about 10 percent of the oil from unconventional shale formations like the Bakken in my home State--only 10 percent of the oil that is there and available.

That is why we are embarking on the next phase of the shale revolution, which we are calling Crack the Code 2.0. We are bringing together energy leaders and State and Federal partners, including the Department of Energy, to develop and employ enhanced oil recovery techniques using CO2 on a commercially viable basis. We are focusing on linking oil producers with our baseload coal-fired powerplants that provide a reliable source of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery--EOR, enhanced oil recovery. Doing so presents the opportunity to unlock 5 billion--5 billion--additional barrels of oil just out of the Bakken, just out of North Dakota, and billions more from other shale formations from Texas to Pennsylvania.

Sustaining and growing U.S. production means strengthening our ability to supply energy both domestically and abroad. As long as oil remains a globally traded commodity, stability matters, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainty. Iran is taking deliberate action to disrupt global energy flows by attacking energy infrastructure in the region and threatening oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Thankfully, the United States is in a much stronger position today because we have more than doubled our domestic production. As I said, we have gone from 5 to 14 million barrels a day. Our energy producers have become a stabilizing force in the global marketplace, limiting the ability of hostile regimes to weaponize access to energy, but we still need to produce more here at home, both now and for the long run.

The first phase of the shale revolution unlocked tremendous energy resources in our Nation. The next phase must focus on maximizing the responsible recovery of our vast energy reserves and extending the life of these oilfields to sustain and grow production. That is exactly what Crack the Code 2.0 is all about.

It is no surprise that we have seen oil prices rise and fall rapidly during the conflict with Iran. The Strait of Hormuz carries more than 20 percent of the world's liquid petroleum products, and 90 percent of the world's reserve surge production capacity is up-channel from the Strait. Despite Iranian threats, there are things that can be done to secure the Strait of Hormuz and reduce energy price volatility.

First, as the President has said repeatedly, Operation Epic Fury will be limited to weeks, not months, so we should expect oil price spikes to be short-lived.

Second, we continue to strike Iran's ability to project power, including Iran's ability to threaten ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Third, while operations continue, the administration is moving to increase insurance coverage for vessels that travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

Fourth, our Navy is capable of escorting vessels through the Strait if the President decides such escorts are necessary, reinforced by airborne overwatch of the Strait. Of course, we always have the option of utilizing our Strategic Petroleum Reserve as well.

So we have options to minimize disruptions to energy prices. But make no mistake, conducting this kind of campaign against Iran 20 or 30 years ago would have been a much bigger energy problem. When we were only producing 5 million barrels a day versus the 14 million today, which covers essentially what we use, it would have been a different equation. Iran deterred us from attacking due to its stranglehold on oil resources. The combination of robust American energy production and the power of the American military means the best Iran can do now is cause a temporary disruption. We will overcome that, and we will be better off for it in the long run.

Remember, energy security is all about domestic security. Energy security here at home is national security, and that is the path we are on. That is the long-term path we are on, which means greater security and safety, lower prices, and stability for all Americans in the future. It is about solving the problem. Are there temporary disruptions and difficulties to navigate? Of course, there are, but the long-run goal is energy security, which is national security for this Nation.

I want to conclude by thanking our incredible men and women in uniform. Our gratitude and prayers remain with those brave servicemembers who are carrying out these operations. They are doing an incredible job.

May God bless them.

Department of Homeland Security

On another note, Mr. President, we also extend our gratitude to the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security who have been working now without pay. We need to fund the Department of Homeland Security. It is that simple. We need to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which is more important now than ever.

We have offered to make reforms to ICE. We have offered to the Democrats ``body cameras'' and ``more training.'' The President has made changes at the DHS. He sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to defuse the situation there, and he recently nominated our colleague Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department. We have offered a clean continuing resolution, passing funding levels--get this. We have offered a clean continuing resolution, passing the funding levels agreed to under President Biden.

Did you hear that, Democrats? They were agreed to under President Biden. You are opposing what you supported under President Biden so that TSA workers don't get paid.

How can that make sense to anybody?

I hope the American public understands that because, at some point, they had better call their Democratic Representatives and ask: Hey, how does that make any sense whatsoever?

We have offered to pass legislation Democrats negotiated with us to fund DHS. We had an agreement. We negotiated the bill, and they agreed to it. It passed in the House. We negotiated it, and they agreed to pass the bill, but now they won't do that. So not only will they not pass that bill, but they won't pass the CR that they passed under the Biden administration.

Explain that to me, please. How could Republicans be holding it up when they won't pass their own legislation to fund the TSA? I hope people across the country understand that.

The bottom line is this: The Democrats need to join with us to get the DHS funded so we can pay hard-working Americans from the TSA to our Coast Guard to CISA--cyber security. How important is that? Cyber security--the folks who work to keep our Nation safe.

Look, if Democrats want to continue to debate ICE and ICE reforms, fine. We can do that. But, at the very least, join with us in passing a continuing resolution so that the TSA gets paid while we do it. Come on.

Again, I think the public has to say to our Democratic colleagues: OK. Fine. If you want to keep negotiating about ICE, fine. At least put a CR in place so that the TSA gets paid so, when people go to the airport, they aren't standing around for hours.

We are willing to do it right now--right now. Let's fund the DHS and move on from this unnecessary shutdown. We owe it to the hard-working Americans at the Department of Homeland Security.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to discuss how in North Dakota we are building on the pro-energy policies included in the Working Families Tax Cut Act through an initiative that we call Crack the Code 2.0.

This effort is about strengthening our Nation's energy security, keeping electricity reliable and affordable, and ensuring that America remains energy dominant for generations to come.

More than 20 years ago during my time as Governor, North Dakota cracked the code for the first time and unleashed the shale oil revolution in the Bakken formation in North Dakota. This success story didn't happen in a vacuum.

We established the State's oil and gas research council. We worked with the North Dakota Geological Survey to identify new recoverable energy reserves. We put in place the legal, tax, and regulatory framework needed to encourage innovation and attract investment. This empowered oil producers to deploy the latest and greatest technologies to unlock energy reserves once thought unreachable.

This success transformed North Dakota into one of the top energy producing States in the Nation and helped make the United States the world's largest oil and gas producer. Today, we are working to crack the code again.

Through Crack the Code 2.0, we are bringing together our oil and coal industries by leveraging enhanced oil recovery--or EOR--using captured CO2 from North Dakota's coal-fired powerplants to increase production from the Bakken oil formation.

This approach brings together two of our Nation's most abundant and strategic energy assets, our coal resources and our oil reserves, to achieve three goals:

First, double the oil recovery rate in the Bakken--double the oil recovery rate; extend the life of our baseload coal-fired powerplants; and deliver more affordable, reliable energy to American consumers.

Enhanced oil recovery is a proven technology that injects CO2 to produce oil that would otherwise remain trapped underground. For the past 25 years, Dakota Gasification Company has captured and transported CO2 for enhanced oil recovery in the Canadian Weyburn field. Matter of fact, I turned the crank on that pipeline back when we first started the project.

Now, we are working to advance EOR in unconventional shale formations like in the Bakken. And the Working Families Tax Cut Act provides the policy foundation to expand EOR opportunities in shale plays like the Bakken.

We worked with Senator Barrasso and others, including the Presiding Officer, to ensure that the law aligns 45Q tax credits and properly recognizes that the utilization of captured CO2 will work for EOR. Producers are recovering only between 5 to 10 percent of the oil in the Bakken and other shale plays, meaning billions of barrels remain untapped. The Bakken has already produced more than 5 billion barrels of oil, and enhanced oil recovery could unlock at least another 5 billion barrels of oil.

That is more than doubling the amount of recoverable oil from one of our most important energy formations. Doing so will help increase our energy independence and lower costs for American families.

To continue this effort, we convened a strategy session last year with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and North Dakota's energy leaders to develop our game plan for Crack the Code 2.0. Secretary Wright already knows North Dakota well, having pioneered technologies there that unlock the shale revolution in the Bakken.

Moving forward, we are working on a $171 million effort with Secretary Wright, industry partners, and our State on a large-scale pilot project to advance the technical and commercial viability of EOR in the Bakken.

Crack the Code 2.0 is also about keeping the lights on and strengthening our electric grid especially as electricity demand continues to soar in the United States. North Dakota's coal-fired powerplants can provide a reliable supply of CO2 that could be captured and put to productive use for EOR, creating a new revenue stream that helps keep our powerplants operating long into the future.

This is vital because we can count on our baseload coal-fired powerplants to provide reliable electricity available 24 hours a day and in every type of weather conditions. This is not simply good for North Dakota; it is critical for the United States.

Every additional barrel produced at home reduces dependence on foreign sources, particularly from OPEC and adversaries like Iran or Russia. Every megawatt of reliable baseload power protects grid reliability and affordability.

Ultimately, energy is the key input to economic activity and greatly impacts our quality of life. And our Nation is fortunate to have abundant reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas. The first effort to crack the code on the Bakken helped make our Nation a global energy powerhouse and strengthened America's geopolitical standing.

Crack the Code 2.0 builds on this legacy, once again harnessing American innovation and unlocking energy resources that will support our economic and national security for decades to come.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I do have a hold on one of the bills in this package. It is not the bill that Senator Sullivan is talking about. It is one of the other bills. But I do have a hold on one of the bills.

And it is because there are holds on the Democratic side on one of my priorities in the jurisdiction of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. That is S. 675, which is the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Museum Artifacts Act. This bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent last year.

I will try that one more time. The bill I am talking about passed the Senate by unanimous consent last year. Now, there are holds on it.

It is the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, and it is scheduled to open on July 4, 2026, in concert with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The library will honor our Nation's 26th President and ensure that future generations of Americans can access the rich history and enduring impact of President Roosevelt.

As President Roosevelt proudly claimed, he would not have ascended to the Presidency had it not been for his formative years in my State, North Dakota. President Roosevelt first traveled to the Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt bison and returned in 1884, while mourning the passing of both his wife and his mother. President Roosevelt called the Dakota Territory home for 3 years, while enjoying the vast beauty that the Badlands have to offer.

Fittingly, the Roosevelt Library will be located adjacent to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. My legislation would authorize funding for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library for continued construction and the preservation of President Roosevelt's history and his legacy. This funding would be contingent on matching funds from non-Federal sources.

The measure also authorizes interagency agreements to allow for the exhibition of collections associated with Theodore Roosevelt that are currently

in the custody of the Federal Government.

As I said, there are, unfortunately, Democrat holds on this noncontroversial, bipartisan--bipartisan--legislation. Now, my understanding is that these holds are unrelated--unrelated--to the legislation itself.

While I do have a hold on one of the bills in the package, I will acknowledge now that Senator Bennet has been working with me to help clear the holds on my Roosevelt Library bill, and I want to express my appreciation for his help, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.

So, therefore, at his request and in the spirit of good faith, I will not object at this time.

Mr. 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, notwithstanding the provisions of the Congressional Review Act, Calendar No. 290, S.J. Res. 86, Calendar No. 293, S.J. Res. 84 remain in status quo through January 16, 2026.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 185, S. 550.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.