Floor Statements

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Hall Roberts' Son of Postville, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Hall Roberts' Son has a long and distinguished history beginning in 1864 when it was founded by Hall Roberts, Sr., who created a family- owned general mercantile company to sell products such as coal, animal pelts, and steel. Today, Hall Roberts' Son is a wholesale distributor of agricultural products serving hundreds of customers in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The business was passed down through three generations of the Roberts family and is currently owned by Chris Hoffert who serves as president. The company has 13 shareholders, including some of the founder's nieces, and employs 35 people.

Due to this company's exceptional customer service, Hall Roberts' Son has received numerous awards spanning several decades. Hall Roberts, who founded the Hall Roberts Community Pool in 1972, was awarded the Service to Youth Award in the same year. The pool has been renovated three times since its opening and continues to serve as a refreshing gathering spot in Postville.

In 1995, the business was chosen as the grand marshal for the Postville Homecoming Parade. Most recently, Hall Roberts' Son was recognized with the Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award in 2023. The owners are pillars of the community and work to support Iowa charities and events such as the Big Four Fair, Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, the Childcare Center, and Dollars for Scholars.

At its core, Hall Roberts' Son emphasizes quality distribution service while giving back to the community. Over the years, the business has adapted to the ever-changing agriculture industry, distributing products quickly and effectively to customers all across Iowa and the United States. This year, Hall Roberts' Son looks forward to celebrating its 160th anniversary. I want to congratulate the entire Hall Roberts' Son team for their hard work and dedication to providing exceptional products and services. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to honor Marcus Lumber of Marcus, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Founded in 1920, Marcus Lumber traces its roots to Roger T. Leavitt and his family's purchase of the Thomas Patton Lumber Company. The business passed from Roger to his two sons John and Roger E., who expanded the business into plumbing and heating services as the company shifted away from coal sales. By the 1970s and 1980s, the family's third generation--Bob, Jim, and Tom--joined the company, further growing its pole barn division and modernizing operations. Today, the business is continued by the fourth generation, including Clay, Grant, Kent, and Hunter, who have added a full-service electrical division.

The Leavitt family prides itself on being a small business rooted in Iowa. Their resilience and commitment have carried them through the decades. In 2004, a devastating fire destroyed their store and delivery fleet. With true Iowa grit and determination, the Leavitt family rebuilt with a modern 18,000-square-foot facility. They later added a large showroom in 2017, which allows customers to explore products and visualize their projects. The company has continued to grow and employs nearly 60 team members today. It also has a new location in Storm Lake and a satellite location in Sioux City.

Throughout the years, Marcus Lumber and the Leavitt family have remained involved in the community, actively participating in organizations

such as the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation. Their industry leadership and local impact have been recognized with numerous awards. In 2017, Marcus Lumber was named Business of the Year by the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation. The company also received the Showplace Cabinetry President's Club Award in 2019, 2023, and 2024, placing them among the top Showplace Cabinet dealers nationwide. In 2020, Jim Leavitt earned the Tri-State Lumberman's Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2023, Clay and Grant Leavitt were named to the LBM Journal 40 Under 40 list. Equally important to Marcus Lumber is giving back to the community, and it regularly supports local projects with generous donations.

For more than a century, Marcus Lumber has been a trusted partner to homeowners, contractors, and other small businesses across Cherokee County. Their story is a testament to the resilience, innovation, and community spirit that define Iowa's small businesses. I congratulate the Leavitt family and the Marcus Lumber team on their remarkable contributions and look forward to their continued success.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Orange City Family Animal Care of Orange City, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 1984, Dr. Dave Bomgaars established the Orange City Veterinary Clinic with the goal of providing exemplary veterinary services for the animals of northwest Iowa. Over the years, Dr. Bomgaars expanded the practice by adding more veterinarians and partners. In 2014, Dr. Laura Vander Stelt joined the practice as a companion animal veterinarian. Companion animal veterinarians primarily care for cats, dogs, and small animals typically owned by families and individuals. The team continued to grow with the addition of a technician and receptionist to care for and greet the animals and their owners. In 2018, Pipestone Veterinary Services bought the practice and renamed it the Orange City Family Animal Care. In 2023, Dr. Vander Stelt purchased Orange City Family Animal Care to broaden the scope and services available. Under her leadership, the business has thrived, growing to 10 employees and prompting the construction of a larger facility in downtown Orange City.

In addition to providing exceptional veterinary care, Orange City Family Animal Care is deeply engaged in community service. The clinic contributes to local schools and sports booster organizations and educates children on responsible pet care. When a puppy tragically perished in a fire in nearby Alton, the clinic donated pet oxygen masks to two local fire departments, so they are prepared for future pet emergencies.

Orange City Family Animal Care's commitment to excellence has earned well-deserved recognition. In 2023, the Northwest Iowa Review named Dr. Vander Stelt the runner-up for both People's Choice Awards Best of Northwest Veterinarian and People's Choice Awards Best of Northwest Veterinarian Clinic. This year, the clinic's newest veterinarian Dr. Hoogland was recognized by the Northwest Iowa Review on its 20 under 40 list and has also been nominated for the People's Choice Awards Best of Northwest Veterinarian.

I commend Dr. Vander Stelt and her entire team for their entrepreneurial drive, remarkable growth, and generosity to the community. The care they provide for companion animals in northwest Iowa leaves a lasting impact on the Orange City community. I look forward to following their continued growth and success in the years to come.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak up to 5 minutes preceding this evening's scheduled vote.

Madam President, today the Senate will vote to advance the nomination of Dr. Casey Mulligan to be the Chief Counsel of the Office of Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote yes in support of his nomination.

Over the past few years, the cost of regulations for small businesses has been out of control. The previous administration created more than 1,100 final rules, costing $1.8 trillion. The Biden administration's regulatory costs were 600 times higher than that of the first Trump administration, and 3.7 times higher than that of the Obama administration.

In stark contrast, during his first 6 months back in office, President Trump's deregulatory actions have already saved an estimated $86 billion and 52.2 million hours in paperwork.

Small businesses back in Iowa and across the country can now spend more time building their business and hiring employees, instead of dealing with pointless redtape.

While SBA Administrator Loeffler and the White House are working hard every day to optimize the regulatory landscape, small businesses deserve a Senate-confirmed Chief Counsel to help advance this mission. The Office of Chief Counsel For Advocacy has been vacant, without a Senate-confirmed occupant, for nearly a decade. This key role champions the interests and protection of small businesses, and President Trump nominated a highly qualified individual for this role.

Dr. Casey Mulligan's unique mix of academic success and real-world experience makes him an ideal candidate for this job. Dr. Mulligan received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, where he currently serves as an economics professor. In addition, Dr. Mulligan also owns two small consulting and economic research businesses.

Over the years, he has conducted extensive research on the economic effects of regulation on small businesses. At the SBA Office of Advocacy, Dr. Mulligan will serve as an advocate for small businesses nationwide.

The Office of Advocacy's duty remains the same regardless of party: to stand up for the little guy and warn regulators when their proposals could harm small firms.

Dr. Mulligan understands the significance of Main Street and the need to evaluate every burden placed on America's entrepreneurs.

Again, I urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of Dr. Mulligan as Chief Counsel of the Office of Advocacy at SBA.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Sweets by Keke of New Hampton, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In January 2021, mother-daughter duo, Jenny and Kenzie Bouillon, started Sweets by Keke in their garage with the vision of selling homemade baked goods to their community. By October, Sweets by Keke expanded to a location on East Main Street in New Hampton, IA, where the bakery still operates today. The name, Sweets by Keke, is inspired by Kenzie, who helps run the family business with her mom Jenny, her dad Randy, and siblings Chelsie and Carver. When the business was just taking off, Kenzie was a high school student and took classes towards her associate's degree from Northeast Iowa Community College. In May of 2021, Kenzie graduated with both her high school and college diplomas, highlighting her hard-working character that has led to the business' success.

The sweets are made from special Bouillon family recipes. Two fan favorites are their cheesecakes and sugar cookies. Cheesecakes are a specialty product made by Kenzie, who creates and rotates new flavors weekly, including raspberry swirl, sea salt caramel, key lime, and more. The bakery produces a wide variety of products, including homemade mini cakes, apple cinnamon snickerdoodles, and custom sugar cookies. Sweets by Keke also offers lunch specials. The business has become the go-to spot for the Chickasaw County community for baked goods for holidays, weddings, and events.

Sweets by Keke not only serves quality baked goods but also gives back to their community. Jenny and her family are consistently contributing to local fire departments, schools, and more. Every spring, the family works with local schools through the National Honor Society to provide prizes and sweet treats for their annual proms. Sweets by Keke also donates and provides baked goods year-round for local events supporting army veterans, a cause that is very near and dear to the family. Sweets by Keke is also a member of the New Hampton Chamber of Commerce.

Through their sweet offerings and dedication to the community, Sweets by Keke has become a standout business in New Hampton, IA. This year, Sweets by Keke looks forward to celebrating its fourth anniversary in Iowa. I want to congratulate Jenny and Kenzie Bouillion and the entire Bouillion family for their hard work and dedication to providing exceptional services to families across Iowa and beyond. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Sponheim Sales and Services of Nora Springs, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Founded in 2015 by Dean Sponheim, a fourth-generation Mitchell County farmer, Sponheim Sales and Services is the culmination of decades of agricultural innovation and a deep commitment to soil health and sustainability. Dean, along with his son Josh and longtime colleague Rachel Amundson, launched the acclaimed one-stop shop to provide cover crop seed, aerial application, custom seeding services, and more. What began as an effort to improve farming practices beyond conservation evolved into a full-service operation supporting farmers across Iowa.

Dean's journey began in the late 1990s, when he started strip-tilling and providing custom strip-till services. By 2012, Dean was aerially applying cover crops. With the official establishment of Sponheim Sales and Services a few years later, the team expanded to offer cover crop seed sales, custom seed cleaning, drilling, interseeding, and contracting with local oat and rye growers. Recently, they have partnered with Continuum Ag to help farmers participate in sustainability-driven markets while reducing their environmental footprint.

Today, Sponheim Sales and Services continues to operate out of Nora Springs, IA, serving farmers across the region, while carrying forward the family's Century Farm legacy. The business remains highly involved within the community, actively participating with organizations such as the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. Dean also serves on the Rock Creek Watershed Advisory Board and contributes to national conservation efforts through the National Strip-Till Conference. In 2014, Dean was recognized with the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award, a testament to his commitment and ongoing pursuit of sustainable farming. In addition to these leadership roles, Sponheim Sales and Services is dedicated to supporting its local community, sponsoring many schools and county fairs. The team is a trusted resource for farmers seeking professional guidance, offering skills and knowledge drawn from years of firsthand experience and continuous learning.

Last year, I witnessed the entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to land stewardship demonstrated by Sponheim Sales and Services firsthand. As a trusted partner to local farmers and a leader in conservation agriculture, this family-owned business continues to make a positive impact across our State and region. I want to congratulate Dean, Josh, Rachel, and the entire Sponheim Sales and Services team for their outstanding work, and I look forward to their continued success supporting Iowa's agricultural future.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Groom Curriculum of Emmetsburg, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 2022, Sierra Elbert founded Groom Curriculum with the vision of teaching others the intricacies of pet grooming. From a young age, Sierra assisted her mother with dog grooming, naturally growing her skills and expertise and now serves as the president and founder of Groom Curriculum. As the first nationally collegiate approved dog grooming curriculum provider, the small business offers a 10-week continuing education workforce program specializing in dog grooming, where students earn a professional grooming credential upon completion. Groom Curriculum currently works with 21 community college programs, workforce training organizations, and registered apprenticeship programs across the country.

Groom Curriculum ensures student success from all walks of life by removing barriers and guiding students from education to employment. With Groom Curriculum, students learn the skills needed to start a job or run their own dog grooming business. To ensure the curriculum prepares students for excellence and proficiency, the program upholds the educational standards established by the American Kennel Club.

Within 3 years, Sierra Elbert and her team, including Patricia Pierce, Shelby Mitchel, and Rachel Colant, have led the way for Groom Curriculum to be recognized and commended nationwide. Elbert was recently named the 2025 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Iowa Small Business Development Center. Groom Curriculum currently holds a national accreditation from the National Council for Continuing Education and Training and is supported nationally by the World Pet Association.

Groom Curriculum further serves as a community provider by regularly hosting free webinars for dog groomers across the country to support continuing education and promote safe, professional grooming practices. Furthermore, the business has participated in high school career day events to introduce grooming as a skilled trade and has provided free tuition vouchers to select students to reduce financial barriers to training. The team at Groom Curriculum also donates their time to groom dogs in need of homes, further amplifying Groom Curriculum's positive impact within the community.

I want to congratulate Sierra and the entire Groom Curriculum team for their hard work and dedication to providing an exceptional service to families and businesses across Iowa. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.

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

Mr. President, all Americans can take great pride in our Nation's generosity that has saved millions of people around the world from starvation and disease, and our government Agencies coordinating aid efforts should be eager to share details about how their use of taxpayer money makes the world a better place. Yet, over the past decade, USAID repeatedly rebuffed my request for information, using intimidation and shell games to hide where money is going, how it is being spent, and why.

As a result of my oversight, I learned that the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is a rogue bureaucracy operating with little accountability and even sometimes at odds with our Nation's best interests.

What warranted such secrecy and stonewalling? Here is just some of USAID's questionable spending that I uncovered: Money intended to alleviate economic distress in war-torn Ukraine was spent sending models and designers on junkets to New York City and fashion weeks in Paris and London at a cost of more than $203,000, $148,000 went to a pickle maker, a dog collar manufacturer fetched $300,000, and a custom carpet manufacturer collected $2 million.

Elsewhere, $20 million was awarded to Sesame Workshop, which produces ``Sesame Street,'' to create content for Iraq. Two million dollars went toward promoting--get this, folks--promoting tourism to Lebanon--a nation that our very own State Department warns against traveling to due to the risks of terrorism and kidnapping.

Yes, folks, 2 million bucks for tourism to Lebanon when we are saying: Don't travel there.

Also, $67,000 was spent to feed edible insects to children in Madagascar, and over $800,000 was sent to China's notorious Wuhan Institute of Virology to collect coronaviruses.

What exactly was our International Development Agency developing at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology? Well, if the CIA, the FBI, and other experts are correct that the COVID virus likely originated from a lab leak, USAID may have had a hand in a once-in-a-century pandemic that claimed the lives of millions.

There is no shortage of other questionable USAID projects, but President Trump is putting an end to this deep state operation.

The foreign assistance programs that do advance American interests are now being administered under the watchful eye of Secretary Marco Rubio. This includes projects previously supported by USAID that were caring for orphans and people living with HIV.

Imagine how much more good work like this could be done with the dollars that instead financed fashion shows, supported ``Sesame Street'' programs in Iraq, or ended up at China's Wuhan Institute.

Overseas projects without merit are being ended, and the tax dollars that were paying for them will be refunded if the Senate passes the rescissions bill.

It also cancels taxpayers' subsidies to public broadcasting. Too often, these programs are partisan propaganda. And you don't have to take my word for it. A National Public Radio senior editor recently confessed, and I will quote this editor's words, not mine:

It's true NPR has always had a liberal bent.

He admits the organization has zero--zero--Republicans in editorial positions. Come on, folks, even CNN has Scott Jennings to roast the loony liberal lunatics on that failing network.

NPR has the right to say whatever the heck they want, but they don't have a right to force hard-working Americans to pay for their political propaganda being masked as a public service.

Defunding this nonsense is causing a lot of squealing from the big spenders around here. Washington insiders are more upset at this effort to stop wasteful spending than at the misuse of taxpayer dollars. In fact, saving tax money is such a crazy concept in Washington that Democrats are threatening to shut down the entire government if this bill passes. It says a lot about the other side's priorities when they are willing to take hostage funding for veterans and senior citizens to prevent $9 billion in unnecessary waste, fraud, and abuse from being trimmed from our $7 trillion annual budget. The interest that we are paying on our debt alone is costing nearly $3 billion every single day--every day.

If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week--every week.

Folks, the simple truth is, if you can't find waste in Washington, it is because you simply are not looking. With our national debt now exceeding $37 trillion, the real question we should be asking isn't why is government spending now being scrutinized, but, rather, why did it take so long?

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns on the Committee on Agriculture be granted floor privileges through August 1, 2025: Amara Jackson, Jodi Robinson, Keeton Dassinger, Patrick Phillips, and Mary Eichenberger.

Mr. President, today the Senate will vote to advance the nomination of Mr. William Briggs to be the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote yes in support of his nomination.

As chair of the Small Business Committee, I have had the honor of getting to know Mr. Briggs and have seen firsthand what he is bringing to the table. He is sharp; he is steady; and he is the right person for the job.

Throughout the committee's rigorous nomination process, Mr. Briggs showed up prepared. He was respectful and ready to engage. The professionalism and seriousness with which he approached the committee made it clear that he would be ready to lead on day one.

In fact, Mr. Briggs is no stranger to the responsibilities of SBA leadership, having previously served as the Acting Administrator of the Office of Capital Access.

During his nomination hearing, he emphasized how his previous work rolling out the Paycheck Protection Program equipped him with practical knowledge and the necessary experience to effectively root out fraud and waste throughout the SBA.

As we continue to uncover and pursue fraud, it is critical that we have a Deputy Administrator who can identify and evade those pitfalls while simultaneously ensuring the Agency's day-to-day operations are running smoothly.

Mr. Briggs has also committed to working hand in hand with SBA's field offices to ensure that small businesses from any community, instead of just certain demographics, can access the support that they deserve.

This position isn't just professional for Mr. Briggs, but it is also personal. As a former entrepreneur who ran two small businesses, he knows what it is like to balance the books, tackle redtape, and manage employees.

He also understands the pressures and uncertainty that so many small business owners face every single day. The one-two punch of his government experience and private sector entrepreneurship makes Mr. Briggs the perfect candidate to help Administrator Loeffler make the SBA more accountable, more efficient, more transparent, and more focused on its core mission, which is helping America's job creators succeed.

Let's give Main Street America someone who will fight with them and for them.

Again, I urge all of my colleagues to support Mr. Briggs' nomination for Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Edd the Florist of Ottumwa, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

After emigrating from Germany, Margaret and Karl Wilz moved from Chicago to Ottumwa to purchase Edd the Florist from Edd Buckley in 1956. Currently owned and operated by their son Hans, Edd the Florist remains strong under its second generation of leadership. Hans works alongside six employees, including Cathryn, who has been with the business since its early days when she was his father's assistant. When extended family comes to town during busy holidays to help at the shop, the operations of Edd the Florist are a true family affair.

Hans expanded his parents' business by incorporating other retail items and gifts, in addition to contemporary and traditional floral arrangements for any occasion. The inclusion of home goods, food, and gifts has made the storefront a one-stop-shop in Ottumwa. The business also supports the community by featuring other Iowa small businesses' products. Additionally, Edd the Florist opens its parking lot and partners with local food trucks to bring new dining options to Ottumwa. Thanks to strong support from the community, Edd the Florist was voted southern Iowa's best florist for 2024 by readers of the Ottumwa Courier.

The Wilz family has made integrating into the community a core priority for the business. Karl served as the president of the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce and started the first Oktoberfest in the town. Hans also instituted a charity rubber duck race in Ottumwa. The proceeds support local organizations such as the Ottumwa YMCA and First Resources Corp., which offers a variety of services to children, families, and those with disabilities. In addition to owning the business for the last 30 years, Hans currently serves in the Iowa General Assembly as State representative for house district 25. In August, thanks to decades of hard work and community support, Edd the Florist will celebrate its 69th anniversary.

The entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Edd the Florist is clear. I want to congratulate Hans Wilz, his family, and the entire team for their hard work and dedication to their community and providing exceptional products and services to families across Iowa. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 2372 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, too many of the idle rich are living high off the hog, collecting government checks for not working, while at the same time earning a million dollars or more from some other side venture. Thousands of out-of-work millionaires were paid more than $271 million in unemployment assistance during just the first 2 years of the Biden administration.

In 2022, the most recent year data is available, nearly 6,000 millionaires were paid almost $58 million in jobless benefits. That is $10,000 each for each millionaire not work. The question is, Why?

Able-bodied millionaires shouldn't expect handouts made possible by the overtaxed and overworked Americans. My amendment ends freebees for freeloading fat cats by disqualifying anyone making a million dollars or more from being eligible for unemployment income support.

The Senate previously approved a similar proposal by a vote of 100 to 0 that unfortunately never became a law.

We can't afford to miss this opportunity to save as much as $100 million by passing my amendment. So let's show some bipartisan unity for reducing the deficit by getting millionaires back to work.

Mr. President--

Mr. President, I am happy to take a voice vote.