Floor Statements

Mr. President, when the Biden administration ordered the evacuation of families of U.S. diplomats from Ukraine last month due to the increased threats of Russian military action and crime, a Ukrainian official clapped back: ``Quite frankly these Americans are safer in Kyiv than they are in [Los Angeles] . . . or any other crime-ridden city in the U.S.''

Yes, that is what a Ukrainian official said. The comment really struck a nerve because it may not be so far from the truth. In fact, an L.A. Police Department detective says the out-of-control crime in the city is ``so violent, we're telling people `don't visit,' because we don't think we can keep you safe right now.'' The city was surrendered to criminals by the L.A. district attorney on his first day on the job in 2020 when he banned bail and prohibited prosecuting even the most serious crimes, like murder and rape, to the fullest extent of the law.

The consequences of giving ``get out of jail free'' cards to criminals shouldn't surprise anyone. Flash mobs of thieves breaking into local businesses are giving new meaning to ``door busters'' as they ransack city stores like bargain shoppers on Black Friday.

Looters are robbing trains like it is the Wild West, making off with millions of dollars' worth of merchandise, including pistols and shotguns. A Union Pacific Railroad official says that even when apprehended, criminals boast that they will face no serious charges, and within hours, they are let back out on the streets.

But most troubling, over the past 2 years, Los Angeles has experienced a shocking 94-percent increase in homicides. The L.A. sheriff says it is probably one of the biggest jumps ever, and he lays the blame on the woke policies of both the district attorney and the county board.

These senseless acts of violence aren't confined to liberal Los Angeles, and neither is the revolving-prison-door approach that is allowing career criminals to roam our streets. The U.S. murder rate hit its highest point in a quarter of a century last year. More and more felons are being released across the country as a result of permissive policies being pushed by progressive politicians and lenient district attorneys who view punishment as the real crime.

Democrats in New York, for example, recently pushed through a State law requiring the release of suspects arrested for stalking, arson, robbery, and other misdemeanors without bail. They require the release without bail. And despite the dramatic increases in crime in New York City, a Democrat district attorney released a list of crimes--I am serious about this, folks--released a list of crimes on his first day in office that would no longer be prosecuted, including resisting arrest. The DA claims longer sentences don't deter crime or result in greater community safety.

But a former New York City police commissioner points out the obvious--that when you say you are not going to prosecute certain crimes, you are sending a strong message to criminals. And it is the wrong message to criminals. He notes that since the penalty was taken away, stealing a car has become a game. As a result, vehicle theft is driving up the city's crime rate, and the New York Post reported just last week that the Big Apple is becoming a live action version of the game Grand Theft Auto.

But the wave of crime that has been unleashed is far more deadly than just stolen property. New York City's murder rate spiked an astounding 47 percent last year, and the killing spree is continuing into 2022. The latest victims include a teenager who was working at Burger King and two young police officers.

Refusing to keep dangerous, repeat criminals with a history of violence behind bars allows anyone, at any time, to become the victim of an entirely preventable crime.

For example, the low bail set by a Wisconsin District Attorney's Office last November resulted in the release of a violent criminal with a very long list of charges going back 15 years, including running over a woman with a Ford Escape. Within days of being released, he drove that same SUV into a crowded Christmas parade, injuring more than 60 people and killing 6, including a 5-year-old child and several members of the Dancing Grannies, who were entertaining the crowds at that Christmas parade. In a split second, the joy of the season was turned into a gruesome crime scene because a violent, repeat offender was set free. The Democrat district attorney has since admitted the release was ``a mistake.''

Folks, we cannot afford any more of these mistakes by public officials who are putting their personal political agenda ahead of protecting our public.

If letting criminals out of jail without bail isn't bad enough, progressive politicians are even--get this--providing perks for perpetrators. The Biden administration, for instance, is allowing illegal immigrants to use arrest warrants as alternate forms of ID at airports to clear security checkpoints and board airplanes--arrest warrants. Seriously, folks.

Some liberal cities, like New York and San Francisco, have cash for criminals, programs that actually pay prior offenders in the hopes that they won't shoot anyone. Great plan. That is right--the same gang calling to defund the police wants to fund felons.

A California cash for criminals program may have allowed some individuals to get away with murder. As long as the participants pledge to improve, they are still paid. Even when caught with a gun or, worse, suspected of murder, they get paid.

Folks, it is one thing to give first-time, nonviolent offenders a second chance, but rewarding career criminals by letting them loose and paying them an allowance is itself criminal.

Democrats' approach to criminal justice can be summed up as ``take no prisoners'' literally.

Instead of admitting their approach has backfired, liberals keep looking for excuses, and they play the blame game. To address the rise in carjackings in Chicago, for example, progressive politicians proposed banning the video game Grand Theft Auto. Perhaps the real problem is making crime all fun and games, with no real-world penalties and only rewards, just like the video game.

A retired police officer who was carjacked in his own driveway south of the city says the carjackers know that even if they are caught, ``they are going to get right back out.'' That is because the area's State attorney promised to reduce the prison population, and by golly, she is keeping that promise by dismissing tens of thousands of criminal cases. As a result, about 100 people charged with murder in Cook County have been let out on the city streets.

The Chicago police superintendent is even warning that the Cook County court is ``making us all less safe by releasing violent offenders.'' The horrifying numbers speak for themselves.

Chicago had more murders last year than any other city in the United States with nearly 800 homicides. That is more people than in the small community I grew up near--800 homicides.

Shootings in the city are up a shocking 63 percent since 2019. One of the fatal victims was a 7-year-old girl who was gunned down at a McDonald's by a gang member who was allowed out of prison despite being charged with other crimes. The suspects in another recent shootout, which left one dead and two others wounded, were released without charges.

Public officials charged with enforcing the law who signal that it is OK to commit crime by reducing or eliminating penalties are engaging in criminal negligence. It is time to put an end to prosecutors being partners in crime.

I took the first step towards making our streets safer by introducing legislation to increase the penalties for some

violent offenders and child predators, including life imprisonment for repeat offenders.

Folks, progressive prosecutors need to stop playing politics and start doing their job, which is enforcing the law. Criminal penalties are not just suggestions; they are put in place to protect the public. Parents shouldn't have to worry about the safety of their children, and no one should feel unsafe, especially in their own neighborhood.

Let's get serious about crime so that the only people in America who are afraid to walk the streets are the criminals.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Therese Giles, a devoted public servant who tirelessly served our Nation with distinction in the Department of the Navy for almost four decades. Therese recently retired on December 31, 2021, after a successful 37- year government civil service career as an honored and distinguished senior flight controls computer scientist.

Therese's remarkable career and her immeasurable contributions to our national security can be categorized by so many unbelievable ``firsts'' and by a lifetime of selfless service.

As a child, Therese was always intrigued with the next technological offering--from watching NASA put the first man on the Moon, to the advances in next generation communications, to the invention of the integrated core processer. Inspired by these ``firsts,'' she pushed to be one of the firsts in her class, team, and field, carrying a life's dream of making a difference in the technical field where women were very scarce and disappointingly undervalued.

At a time when women weren't encouraged to pursue technical careers and weren't thought of as computer scientists, Therese pushed forward and persevered to achieve undergraduate and advanced degrees in mathematics and computer science.

Wanting to be part of something bigger than herself, Therese found her calling with the Navy's aviation research and development command. As a junior software computer scientist in the mid-1980s, she was instrumental in developing the innovative, first-ever, advanced digital flight controls architecture that revolutionized the way all Navy and Marine Corps jet aircraft operated.

Therese was also instrumental in resolving the catastrophic failures of the V-22 Osprey in the early 1990s and generating the software solutions that eventually returned the V-22 to flight and to the successful combat operations of today.

With similar accomplishments across the F-14, A-6, F-18, E-2, and the F-35 spectrum of aircraft, Therese directly contributed and helped develop the flight control and safety control systems of the majority of every naval aircraft from 1985 to current day.

Throughout these many successes and ``firsts,'' Therese has remained committed to supporting and inspiring the next generation of young women in STEM fields. Serving as an avid mentor, teacher, and leader of the people around her, Therese has been a North Star role model for generations of up-and-coming young women to follow their dreams and become technical leaders in public service.

In addition to her thirst for discovery and problem solving, a primary reason for Therese's tenacious focus is that she had personal ``skin in the game'' when it came to our Nation's security. Four of Therese's siblings proudly served in our Nation's military: Therese's brothers VADM Mat Winter, USN; CDR Tom Winter, USN; Capt. Steve Winter, USMC; and sister CDR Elizabeth Winter Scruggs, USNR, all put their lives in harm's way during their military careers to ensure our Nation's security. Therese's husband, Tim, is himself a retired member of the government civil service and an Army veteran. This is a family where duty and service run deep.

Therese, as you and your family celebrate your well-deserved retirement, I congratulate you and thank you for almost four decades of unbelievable and lasting impact. I thank you for the many years of sacrifice you and your family have made in service to our Nation. I join my colleagues in the Senate and all Americans in expressing our sincere appreciation and wish the very best for you, your husband, your son Eric, and daughter Meghan on your next exciting chapter.

Madam President, first, I would like to wish a very happy and healthy new year to you and to all of our staff and pages who make the Senate run so efficiently every single day and frequently late into the night. The world's most deliberative body has unpredictable hours, which all too often means missing important events with family because we are here going back and forth on the pressing issues of the day.

This is why we have a Senate, after all--to give voice to the various viewpoints of Americans from each State and then try to resolve those differences. It isn't always easy since, unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate's unique rules require us to work together across party lines.

I know what it is like to work with my Democratic friends. In fact, I was named as one of the most bipartisan Senators of either party in the past 25 years. That is what it takes to get things done here because the rules force us to reach consensus.

The Senate was created specifically to prevent a mob rule mentality. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, described the Senate as the ``anchor'' of the Federal Government that would act as a ``necessary fence against fickleness and passion.'' George

Washington famously said that the Senate was established to cool legislation passed by the House in the same way that a saucer cools hot tea.

Folks, we certainly have seen a lot of hot mess coming over from the House. It is very concerning that the saucer intended to cool heated passions is itself beginning to boil over as a result of hot air from within.

Senate Democrats are threatening to blow up the Senate to fundamentally change the U.S. Senate and to radically transform our country. It cannot be understated how detrimental this action would be to America. It would unravel two centuries of American representative democracy. It would silence millions of Americans and destroy what comity remains within this body.

I have to ask my colleagues, which side of history do you want to be on? Do you want to go down in history books as the ones who turned the Senate, the world's most deliberative body, into the House of Representatives?

The law of our land would dramatically sway back and forth, and the resulting political uncertainty would all but erase what little trust the people have in our governing institutions and lead to even greater political divisions. I don't think this is a future any of us want and certainly not the one that was promised by President Biden when he pledged--when he pledged--to the American people not to divide but to unify our country.

When the threat of blowing up the Senate arose during Mr. Biden's time in this institution, he spoke passionately against it. I don't often quote Joe Biden, but I would urge you all to listen to his full speech on the matter.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to have his speech printed in the Congressional Record following my remarks.

Then-Senator Biden warned:

History will judge us harshly, in my view, if we eliminate

over 200 years of precedent and procedure in this body and, I

might add, doing it by breaking a second rule of the Senate,

and that is changing the rules of the Senate by a mere

majority vote.

Senator Biden concluded:

This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the

arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab by the

majority party.

Flash-forward 17 years later. Joe Biden is still in Washington, and he and his Democratic counterparts are the ones who are exercising that arrogance of power.

Now as the President, Biden just yesterday declared:

We have no option but to change the Senate rules, including

getting rid of the filibuster.

So how and why are we at a point where nuking the Senate could even be a possibility? Plain and simple: The Democratic leader, who has participated in hundreds of filibusters over the past 5 years-- hundreds, folks; hundreds--wants to have his way regardless of the longstanding rules of this institution, the viewpoints of other Senators, or even, folks--get this--the wishes of the citizens of his own State.

Just last week, the Democratic leader said the filibuster was being used to ``embarrass the will of majority,'' and therefore ``the Senate will debate and consider changes to the Senate rules on or before January 17.''

Folks, it is not the Senate rules embarrassing the majority but, rather, their two-sided flip-flopping on the importance of the filibuster to this institution and to our democracy.

Not so long ago, the Democratic leader said that eliminating the filibuster would turn ``the cooling saucer of democracy into the rubber stamp of dictatorship.'' It will be ``a doomsday for democracy.'' Today, he is the one with the finger on the nuclear button, all because he can't get his way.

This is the kind of power grab you would expect from tyrants in socialist nations, who seem to be where the Democrats are taking many of their cues from these days. Tyranny is no way to run a democracy, and destroying the U.S. Senate for a power grab is certainly not the example we should be setting for the rest of the world.

But the hypocrisy doesn't end there, folks. Democrats are manufacturing hysteria that Republican-controlled States are placing what they consider ``unfair restrictions'' on voting as an excuse to blow up the Senate and thereby clear a pathway for the rest of their radical liberal agenda. The irony here is that New York, home of the Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, and Delaware, home of President Biden, have some of the most restrictive absentee voting laws in the entire country.

Just this past November, the Democratic leader's constituents--his constituents--overwhelmingly voted down a ballot initiative to allow absentee voting without providing an excuse and another proposal to permit unregistered voters from registering and then voting on election day. They were voted down--his constituents. So in New York, the only way to qualify for an absentee ballot is to be out of the country or sick or have a physical disability. No other reasons are permitted.

Now the senior Senator from New York is threatening to destroy the Senate to override the wishes of the residents of his very own State who voted against the policies he is trying to impose on every other State. Did you catch that, folks? He is overriding the will of the people in his own State. Does that sound like democracy to you? It is not Senate Republicans blocking the Democrat leader's agenda; it is his own constituents.

Folks, the reality is, this election takeover bill is just the beginning, used as an excuse by the majority leader to then break the Senate and strengthen his own grip on power.

This party boss mentality may work in New York, but, folks, the Senate is not Tammany Hall. While Senate Democrats would have you believe Republicans are somehow limiting the rights of Americans to vote, they, in fact, are the ones plotting to silence millions of Americans.

The same partisans on the other side of the aisle who ``boasted'' of--air quotes right here, folks, you see them--they ``boasted'' just about a year ago of resisting. Just a year ago, they were encouraging resisting; filibustering and blocking just about every proposal or nominee put forth by the prior President.

Now they call this tool a threat to democracy. Remember, less than 2 years ago, following the very tragic death of George Floyd, the Senator from New York voted to block consideration of a police reform bill put forward by my friend Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.

That is just one of the many other examples of commonsense bills the Democrats blocked for purely partisan reasons.

The real threat to democracy isn't the filibuster but those politicians who abuse the power with which they have been entrusted. The Democratic leader has already put a choke hold on democracy right here in the Senate, abusing his position to singlehandedly block other Senators from offering amendments to bills he chooses to bring to the floor.

If the majority wants to demonstrate a commitment to democracy, why not start right here in the Senate? Instead of threatening to have less deliberation, why not commit to more? Let's bring up bills that have already had broad bipartisan support, and let's allow more votes on amendments.

But rather than starting this new year with a resolution to take this approach and make the Senate a true example of democracy in action, where every voice is heard and respected, the Democratic leader penned each of us a bombastic letter written with the left's usual dramatic flair and theatrics, comparing the filibuster to a dead hand and promising to permanently alter the Senate unless we bend to his wishes.

The senior Senator from New York should leave the theater for Broadway, where it belongs. And before casting a vote that could fundamentally change the Senate forever, I would urge my Democratic colleagues to take some advice about the intended behavior of the Senate from our Nation's greatest statesman, George Washington, and cool it.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, and, hey, folks, did you hear about the attempt to steal an election? Maybe you heard this about a year ago or so, big attempt to steal an election, just last year. We had Washington insiders colluding to overturn the will of the people in a fair and free election.

Yes, you heard it right, an attempt to steal an election, but it is probably not the election that you are thinking about. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi attempted to steal a seat in the House. Iowa's Second District Congresswoman won her election in 2020 and was certified by Iowa's secretary of state, 24 county auditors of both parties, and the bipartisan State Board of canvassers.

And she is here with me today, Representative Mariannette Miller- Meeks. I thank the Representative for being here today.

In a blatant political power grab, the Speaker of the House spent over $600,000 of taxpayer money in an attempt to unseat the duly- elected Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. Even some reasonable Members of the Democratic Party sounded the alarm bell on this brazen attempt to reverse the election results. Representative Dean Phillips said at the time: ``Losing a House election by six''--yes, by six--``votes is painful for Democrats, but overturning it in the House would be even more painful for America.''

Voters in Iowa and across America should choose their representatives without interference from politicians in Washington. Guaranteeing both the right to vote as well as the integrity of our election system ensures fair and free elections which are the foundation of our Republic.

The attempt to overturn the Iowa election results was the opening salvo in the left's ongoing rush to take over elections. Democrats' proposals are seeking to limit voter ID, legalize ballot harvesting, provide taxpayer money to campaigns, and weaponize the Federal Election Commission. Using fake hysteria, they are trying to blow up the Senate and fundamentally change our country. However, their very effort is unpopular, unnecessary, and unacceptable.

I served as a local county auditor and commissioner of elections. My home State has seen various commonsense election reforms throughout the years. In fact, in 2017, the Iowa Legislature modernized our laws, which also included requiring voter ID.

At the time of its passage, Democrats warned the law was dangerous and an unnecessary hurdle and a significant barrier for anyone who was not a White male. They could not have been further from the truth. Three times since the new Iowa voter law was implemented, the State has seen record high turnout for elections, record high turnout--huge voter participation.

This includes record high absentee voting during the 2020 Presidential election. The 2021 elections also boasted record off-year turnout. My friends on the other side of the aisle will have you believe that voters are being suppressed in red States all over this country.

The irony here is that New York, home of the Democratic leader, and Delaware, home of President Biden, have some of the most restrictive voting laws in the entire country. And Iowa, because it has modernized our elections in the course of the number of past years, has been demonized by Democrats when, oddly enough, Iowa's election laws are much more progressive than Delaware and New York.

Just this past November, New Yorkers overwhelmingly voted down a ballot initiative to allow no-excuse absentee voting. New York voters also rejected a proposition that would have allowed individuals to register to vote and cast a ballot on election day.

By the way, Iowa has same-day voter registration, thank you.

Now, the senior Senator from New York is threatening to destroy the Senate to override the wishes of the residents of his very own State who voted against the policies he is trying to impose on every other State. Does that sound like democracy to you? It is not.

While the media will have you believe that Senate Republicans are blocking the Democratic leader's agenda, it is really the voters of his own State. Liberal States have some of the most restrictive election laws in the country--and don't take my word for it.

An expose recently published in The Atlantic found some States that the Democrats control in the northeast make casting a ballot more difficult than anywhere else and that the voting bill being pushed in Congress would hit some blue States just as hard, if not harder--now, that is The Atlantic--than the red States they claim are limiting the right to vote. And I will remind you Iowa is much more progressive than these States.

Plain and simple, Washington Democrats are gaslighting the American people. There is not a voting crisis in this country. It is manufactured. Their push to blow up the Senate and take over elections isn't about voter access, it is about power, the same power that liberal elites in Washington abused in their rush to steal Iowa's Second Congressional District--now held by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks-- and silence Iowans' voices.

What was attempted in Iowa should never be allowed to happen anywhere ever again.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this is Holly Durben from Shenandoah, IA. Holly was someone who loved animals and loved nature. She was a people person. The thing that she loved most in the world was her family.

But tragically, Holly took her last breath on the morning of July 18, 2009. Brian Davis murdered her in a small farmhouse just south of Shenandoah. Holly is one of the hundreds of women murdered annually by a current or former intimate partner--nearly three women a day.

Americans are being devastated by a wave of violent crime. Night after night, folks turn on their local news and hear of yet another tragic story of murder, of rape, and violent crimes of all natures that are ravaging their community.

In October, the United States recorded its highest spike in homicides in modern history. Last year the murder rate in this country rose by 30 percent. These murders are not being committed by law-abiding citizens. They are being committed by extremely dangerous and violent criminals, like Brian Davis.

The reality is victims like Holly Durben and violent criminals like Brian Davis have been locked in homes together for nearly 2 years during this pandemic. Violent convicted criminals like Brian Davis, who murdered Holly, his fiancee, should not have access to firearms.

Law-abiding Americans need the ability to protect themselves from violent criminals like Brian Davis. Iowans are common sense. We are pragmatic. We take our Second Amendment rights incredibly serious. We value the safety of our communities, and we think it is right to punish violent criminals when they break the law and are convicted.

This isn't some crazy idea. Under current Federal law which has been on the books for decades and in State codes all across the country, there are violent crimes that result in consequences like the inability to possess a firearm. For example, someone convicted of a felony forfeits many of their rights. Felons can't be on a jury. They can't work for the Federal Government or serve in the military.

Felons, like murderers and drug kingpins, lose these rights when they commit and are convicted of their crimes. A fugitive from justice is not permitted to have a firearm; the same for those who are in this country illegally.

Under current law--current law--individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic-violence crime are also on this list. As of today, if two individuals are married, the convicted abuser is held accountable, and that makes sense. But if they are not married, the convicted violent abuser is not held accountable.

I believe we need to get tough on crime, and I believe law-abiding gun owners in this country agree with me. Brian Davis, a violent, convicted criminal is not law abiding.

I want to be crystal clear about a few things. One, what we are talking about

here depends on a conviction--a conviction of domestic violence. That is a guilty verdict after a just trial, an adjudicated-fairly trial. Due process is completely intact, fully present, and I will not be compromised on that, I can promise you.

Two, domestic violence does not mean emotional distress. Domestic violence does not mean a verbal argument. Domestic violence means a violent crime.

Three, not a single innocent or law-abiding gun owner will or should be impacted. Today there are women trapped in relationships with violent criminals, our daughters and mothers, our friends, and our neighbors.

Convicted violent criminals have proven themselves to be unfit to fully participate in our society. We can't choose to just protect women with a ring on their finger from violent abusers. We must hold violent criminals accountable. Let's protect our daughters and punish the criminals.

Speaking from personal experience, domestic violence is a crime worth being tough on.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I am glad to be on the floor today, joined by my colleague Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Lindsey Graham.

We all saw and remember the horrific images from this past summer when Afghanistan fell into the hands of a brutal Taliban regime. It was a difficult time for many of us, especially our veterans, our Gold Star families, and the families of the 13 servicemembers we lost during that disastrous exit, including the family of Marine Cpl Daegan William- Tyeler Page of Red Oak, IA, my hometown.

These heroes must never be forgotten. While the tragic exit from Afghanistan may have moved off of the front pages, and while it may not be top of mind for many Americans here at home, the devastating situation in Afghanistan is all too real for the hundreds of American citizens and allies who were left behind.

The reality is, right now, U.S. citizens, green card holders, and SIV-eligible Afghans are still stranded behind enemy lines in Afghanistan.

I am furious over the mishandling of this administration's exit from Afghanistan. It was a disaster from start to finish. Now, America has a duty and an obligation to get these people home or brought to safety, plain and simple.

To those who are stranded in Afghanistan today, my message to you is clear: I have not forgotten you. America has not forgotten you.

As my colleagues pointed out already, we are trying to find ways to remind Congress, the administration, and the public of those Americans who are still stranded in the country and the importance of taking action to get them home.

As a way to remind those around that our fellow Americans are still stranded and that we need to get them home, I am encouraging Iowans and all Americans to join me, to join Senators Graham and Blumenthal in wearing a green ribbon this holiday season.

We must ensure that America does not forget those who this administration has left behind.

I am proud to join my colleagues today, Democrats and Republicans, to ensure we keep the pressure on and to get these people, including our fellow Americans, home at last. We cannot and we will not let them be forgotten.

I yield the floor to Senator Blumenthal.

Mr. President, do you hear what I hear?

Before the prancing and pawing of each little hoof of Santa's eight tiny reindeer will be heard on the roof, there is a joyful sound that denotes the coming of the yuletide season in just a few instantly recognizable notes.

Of course, I am talking about Mariah Carey's ``All I Want for Christmas Is You.'' While it has become a holiday classic, the song is taking on a whole new meaning this season.

If, like Mariah, you don't want a lot for Christmas and don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree, this may be your year. That is because Bidenomics is causing everything to be back- ordered, delayed, unavailable, or just plain unaffordable. Even Christmas trees are in short supply. So don't be surprised if your only option to deck the halls this year looks like Charlie Brown's sad little twig of a fir tree branch.

Whether shopping at a store or online, we are all experiencing it. With the cost of gifts up 20 percent and consumer prices surging to the highest level in over 30 years, you are paying a ho ho whole lot more for a ho ho whole lot less; that is if you can even find what you are looking for.

Perhaps the most telling sign of the times, the Dollar Tree--which had to discontinue selling some of its popular products due to cost constraints--is raising prices to $1.25.

President Biden's contribution to this year's season of giving could best be summed up by an elf on an empty shelf. After all, the Biden administration has ignored, dismissed, and even contributed to the conditions causing these economic hardships.

Speaking at the White House just last week, the President actually claimed his efforts have resulted in ``shelves across the country being well-stocked.'' That may be true at his White House gift shop, but not in the stores in Iowa and across the country. The supply chain problem is such a mess, not even Rudolph with his nose so bright can guide all of the barges stuck at sea into port by Christmas night.

The Democrats' out-of-control spending spree and misguided economic policies, like paying people not to work for most of the year, have decreased both the availability of goods, as well as the value of the money in your wallet.

For folks in Iowa and the rest of the Nation who are working longer hours due to labor shortages or just to keep up with the skyrocketing prices, this has created a real-life ``Nightmare Before Christmas.''

As a result, a record number of Americans say they won't be buying gifts this year. But rather than addressing these concerns, ``Bare Shelves Biden'' is pushing his so-called Build Back Better Act, which itself is a Christmas tree bill adorned with something for every leftwing special interest group and topped off with a massive $300 billion tax break for coastal elites.

For those millionaires on their wish list who literally have everything, DC Democrats are wrapping up a generous tax cut worth nearly $17,000. To no one's surprise, those benefitting the most from this tax giveaway live in or around the San Francisco Congressional District represented by Speaker Nancy Pelosi; and the State of New York, home of the Senate majority leader. It is a lot like a plot twist to Charles Dickens' classic, ``A Christmas Carol.''

But instead of learning to embrace the giving spirit of Christmas, Scrooge receives a tax handout paid for out of the pockets of essential workers struggling to provide for their own families. What a bunch of humbug.

Santa Claus, I don't know if you are listening, but if you are, when you're making your list and checking it twice, remember that President Biden promised taxpayers that his Build Back Better plan costs zero dollars, doesn't waste any money on tax breaks for the wealthy, and adds--you guessed it--zero dollars to the national debt.

To no one's surprise, that promise ended up being a fa-la-la-la-lot of malarkey. The truth is the Biden bill costs $1.7 trillion, adds $376 billion to our debt and gives a huge tax cut to millionaires.

While the President certainly deserves a stocking full of coal for breaking his promises to taxpayers, even coal is in short supply at the moment, and the price has soared to the highest level in more than 12 years.

Other energy prices, whether to warm your home or fill up the gas tank of your car, are also up sharply. The President has done his part to limit fuel supplies by signing Executive orders to further restrict access to oil and gas.

After enduring nearly 2 years of making sacrifices, folks should not have to now choose between heating their house, buying food for their families, or putting gifts under the tree.

So rather than passing another one of President Biden's budget busting bills, the best gift that Washington can give taxpayers is to keep this from being a blue Christmas and simply stop making matters worse.

Folks who have worked hard all year desperately deserve a break from the economic pressures being caused by Bidenomics so they can enjoy some time with their families. And unlike last Christmas, we can once again rediscover the true meaning of this holiday season by spending time with those we love the most, just like Mariah sings about, ``Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you.''

Madam President, I yield the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also want to thank my senior Senator from our great State of Iowa for his wonderful contributions to our agriculture sector. This is an extremely important topic that we are bringing to the floor today, the threat of agriculture ransomware.

From grocery stores in Iowa to New York and every State in between, it is no secret that the price of groceries has drastically increased over the course of the past year. Combining that with the ongoing supply chain disaster, it is even more apparent that the last thing we need is a cyber security attack that would shut down any of our agriculture production.

Like many Iowans, I am increasingly concerned about the growing ransomware attacks on our Nation's ag economy. In a 2019 report, researchers from the University of Minnesota outlined the seriousness of the risk of cyber attacks to the American food and agriculture system. The report indicated that American agriculture is extremely vulnerable due to outdated security, poor coordination among businesses, and lack of emphasis on cyber security within the industry.

In June, the world's largest meat processing company, JBS, was attacked by a Russian-based operation. Nine U.S.-based meat packing plants temporarily shut down as a result of that attack, including the JBS pork processing plants in Marshalltown and Ottumwa, IA.

Similarly, NEW Cooperative, an Iowa grain cooperative that controls 40 percent of the grain distribution in our country, was recently targeted with a cyber attack by another Russian cyber crime. They attacked controlled crop irrigation, livestock feed schedules, and inventory distribution, and then they demanded $5.9 million in ransom.

Another attack hit Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, based in Arcadia, IA. This was coordinated by another Russian attacker, who threatened to release sensitive data, including financial, sales, and accounting information.

This is a very serious warning sign for our ag industry. It is a problem primed to increase as farmers incorporate more technology into their daily lives. Precision agriculture, for example, has promising potential to fulfill increasing global food supply and demand while also improving our soil and water quality, but it demands heavy reliance on interconnected devices and the internet, creating vulnerability. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to remotely control and disrupt data flow, potentially causing devastating consequences, especially as farmers move their crops and their livestock to market.

These attacks risk the livelihood of farmers and affect the supply chain that puts food on the shelves and on our families' tables all across our country. That is why I believe 21st-century farming needs 21st-century solutions. The security, safety, and resiliency of our food supply chain is integral to the overall security of our Nation.

The ag sector is designated as critical infrastructure, but historically, it has not received robust cyber security support from the government.

Just recently, I joined Senator Grassley in urging Secretary Mayorkas to address these ransomware attacks on agriculture and to leverage the Department's resources to prepare for any future attacks. The Biden administration outlined a new national security memorandum that would include cyber security as it relates to agriculture, but the plan is voluntary and would severely limit its effectiveness. It is why I joined Senators Grassley, Stabenow, and Tester in an effort to get both the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, permanent representation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

The legislation also adds new criteria to ensure that proposed transactions are reviewed specifically for their potential impact on American food and agricultural systems. The increasing trend of foreign investment in our food and ag system should be met with careful scrutiny in order to safeguard the security and safety of our food supply and, by extension, our Nation because, after all, food security is national security.

Again, I thank my senior Senator Chuck Grassley for leading these efforts to protect our agriculture industry, the livelihoods of Iowans, and everyone else who puts food on their table.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--our Nation was founded upon this set of inalienable rights that are provided to each one of us not by government, but by our Divine Creator who made us all equal. It is the role of the government to secure these blessings.

Regardless of our differences and disagreements, these principles outlined in our founding documents have always united us and made America exceptional. They are the framework of the American dream, the promise that through self-determination, hard work, and opportunity, we can all achieve a better life for ourselves and for our families.

Yet, whether you are pursuing a career, attending school, starting a business, or shopping for a dream home, DC politicians and government bureaucrats are increasingly dictating when you may exercise your rights and how you can live your life, and then spying on you to make sure that you are following the rules. This ``Washington knows best'' approach is negatively impacting nearly every aspect of your life, and you may not realize it.

To demonstrate the point, let's walk through a few common scenarios and the real-life consequences you could face as a result of the Biden administration's policies. For each, ask yourself: In this situation, is the government acting to secure or subvert your rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

You work hard and probably put some of your earnings away in a savings account to pay your monthly bills

or to be prepared for an unexpected emergency. And, folks, that is just a smart thing to do.

Well, if you deposit or withdraw more than $10,000 over the course of a year, the Biden administration wants the IRS to be able to spy on you. To put this number into perspective, if you were renting an apartment in Iowa, the average annual cost to do so is just over $10,000 per year. That is the threshold, folks.

Why does Washington even need to know this information about you?

The Treasury Department says this is necessary to make sure ``the top one percent . . . can't evade'' paying taxes.

You heard that right. The Biden administration thinks you are rich if, over the course of an entire year, you either save or spend $10,000. They might even have the IRS audit you for tax evasion.

Treating American citizens like criminal suspects for the innocent act of using a bank account is, quite frankly, un-American.

The Biden administration has been up front about its motive here. Washington Democrats are looking to collect as many tax dollars as possible to finance their never-ending reckless spending spree. And as a direct result of these budget busting bills, government inflation is driving up prices and limiting availability of everyday essentials.

Let's take a look at life in Joe Biden's America. The cost of food, the cost of rent, the cost of nearly everything just keeps going up and up. Meanwhile, the size of many products is shrinking, which means you have to work harder, pay more, and get a heck of a lot less. It is even costing more just to get to the grocery store. Gas is now more than $3 a gallon, the highest price in 6 years. And this really shouldn't come as a surprise.

Remember, on his first day on the job, President Biden signed an Executive order to end the Keystone XL Pipeline, killing thousands of jobs and limiting our access to oil and gas supplies. And while costs keep going up, just finding what you need or want has become yet another ordeal.

As a result of Biden bucks, which paid people not to work for most of the year, many products are in short supply or unavailable altogether. Shipping companies are even facing equipment shortages and, of course, they remain understaffed.

And, folks, this crisis isn't ending anytime soon. The upcoming holiday season is already being referred to as ``Biden's Blue Christmas.'' The White House is even warning there will be items people can't get for Christmas. So let's just hope for the sake of the kids who have been good all year that Biden's broken supply chain problems don't extend all the way to the North Pole.

And speaking of kids, let's take a look at what might happen to parents who take a vocal role in their children's education. It is a good thing for parents to be active in their children's education, and it comes as no surprise that they can often get very passionate about the subject.

So imagine going to a school board meeting and exercising your right to express your concerns about a new policy or proposed curriculum at your child's school, but instead of having your issue addressed, you find yourself labeled as a domestic terrorist.

Yeah, folks, you heard that right--a domestic terrorist under investigation by our Nation's chief law enforcement agency.

It sounds insane, right?

But it is a crazy reality today. President Biden's Attorney General is mobilizing the FBI against parents who make their voices heard at school board meetings.

Let me be very clear about this. Violence or even threats of violence against school board members, teachers, or any public official should never ever be tolerated; but neither should threats of intimidation by the government to coerce parents to surrender control over their children's education.

This is happening at the same time the FBI announced the largest spike in homicides ever recorded. I am not talking about this year, folks. I am not talking about last year, 4, 5, 6 years past. We are talking about the largest spike in homicides ever recorded.

With murder and violent crimes increasing, the President's liberal allies in Congress are threatening to defund the police. That approach certainly is not going to secure life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness.

Folks, all of these disturbing trends we just talked about are stark reminders that the principles our Nation was founded upon are not guaranteed. Every generation of Americans owes it to the next generation to preserve and strengthen the blessings of liberty we were fortunate enough to inherit.

I'd expect government coercion, State snooping, empty shelves, and out-of-control inflation in nations with socialist regimes, like China, Cuba, and Venezuela. But regardless of who our President may be, we must never ever accept any of these as part of life in America.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the U.S. military offensive in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaida in response to their ruthless attack on America. As a result of our Nation's resolve and the sacrifice and service of our brave men and women over the past two decades, Osama bin Laden is dead, and our homeland has been guarded against additional large-scale terror attacks.

Up until President Joe Biden's sloppy and poorly planned exit from Afghanistan, al-Qaida and the Taliban were on the run, but today, due to the decisions of President Biden, the radical extremists who sponsored Osama bin Laden and partnered with al-Qaida, who are responsible for the deadliest terror attack in history, are back in power.

How did we get here?

It became apparent at last week's Armed Services hearing, after I questioned our top military leaders, that President Biden made a completely unconditional withdrawal. The President simply looked at the calendar and saw what he thought would be an easy political victory and decided we would be out of Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Another fact that became clear after the hearing last week is that President Biden casually dismissed the sound advice of his own military leaders. He discounted the tactical and strategic value of keeping a small force in place to defeat the terrorists. Then, to cover for those mistakes, President Biden misled the public about the advice that he was given and refused to take.

So let's be clear about what happened as a result of the President's ignoring his own generals' recommendations. He abandoned American citizens behind enemy lines, left strong allies and partners to fend for themselves against the Taliban, tarnished America's reputation, and created the conditions that led to the devastating loss of 13 brave American servicemembers. He stubbornly led our country into the most disastrous diplomatic and military debacle in modern history.

Those now in control of Afghanistan are a who's who of international terrorists. Nearly half of the members of the new Afghan Government are on the U.N. Security Council's terrorism blacklist--that is the U.N., folks, their terrorism blacklist--including the Acting Prime Minister and both of his Deputies. At least two principal members of the Haqqani network, which is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, are in the highest positions of the Taliban's new government. The Minister of the Interior is on the FBI's ``Most Wanted'' list. His uncle, the Minister of Refugees, is designated a terrorist by our government. Together, the U.S. Government values the reward for their arrests at $15 million.

The Biden doctrine put America's most wanted back in charge of a terrorist training ground and increased the risk of attacks against our homeland. And we didn't leave the terrorists emptyhanded either. In our rush for the exits, we left tens of billions of dollars' worth of military weapons and gear behind, which is now in the hands of the enemy. We can expect to encounter this tactical equipment again on the battlefield--but our own equipment being used against us. Here are just a few numbers: 600,000 weapons, 22,000 humvees, and more than 200 aircraft. Folks, we left America's most wanted with America's best weapons.

But it is not just weapons and military capabilities; President Joe Biden left behind our own citizens, stranded in a foreign country governed by known terrorists. As much as the administration wants to act like this is all in the past and we have closed the book on Afghanistan, it is just not reality. Right now, we have American citizens stranded in Afghanistan. Let that sink in for just a moment, folks. Americans and our Afghan partners, who worked with us over the past two decades--interpreters and translators--are all sitting ducks for the Taliban. When we ask for an accurate accounting of who and how many are still left, the Pentagon points the finger at the State Department, which then goes radio silent.

The administration is downplaying the evils of the Taliban, and its refusal to state hard facts is stunning.

The chorus of praise from the State Department and the White House in calling the Taliban ``businesslike'' and ``professional'' would be comical if it weren't so horrifying. If using Kabul's soccer stadiums to publicly execute dissidents, overseeing the legal rape of young girls through child marriage, and settling disputes by chopping off hands and feet is how the Taliban does business, then President Biden is right--they are truly pros.

GEN Mark Milley admitted the exit was a ``strategic failure'' in his testimony last week. Folks, that is an understatement. President Biden and his top foreign policy adviser, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have serially failed to own up to this fiasco. Someone must take responsibility for this colossal failure.

As we uncovered again last week, President Biden's decisions led us here, right back where we began. Both General McKenzie and General Milley testified last week that ``al-Qaida is still at war with us'' and that within the year, they ``could be reconstituted with aspirations to attack the U.S.'' During Joe Biden's campaign, he promised a return to normalcy. Little did we know that meant a return to vulnerability and an America that is less safe from terrorists who attacked our homeland 20 years ago.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, the time is now. We need a memorial to the fallen heroes of the Global War on Terror, and the memorial should be in its rightful place on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

On Tuesday, I spoke with a group of nearly 30 Gold Star families who lost their loved ones during our Nation's longest war. Their stories of heartache and sacrifice inspire me to continue fighting for this important memorial.

The overwhelming theme on that call was this: the time is now to get the Global War on Terrorism Memorial built on our National Mall.

And it is with that in mind that I come to the floor again to ask the Senate to join me in honoring our veterans, our Gold Star families, and fallen heroes by supporting my bipartisan legislation, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act.

I believe our Nation has a responsibility to properly honor and pay tribute to our veterans, including those who have served in the longest conflict in the history of the United States. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial belongs on our National Mall, in the same place as the memorials that honor the heroes of earlier conflicts, like Korea and Vietnam.

This memorial, which has bipartisan support, will serve as a permanent reminder of the eternal gratitude of all of America.

As a fellow veteran of the Global War on Terrorism and a friend and advocate for our Gold Star families, I firmly believe that placing this memorial anywhere but the National Mall is absolutely unacceptable.

We have an opportunity for bipartisanship right here with this bill. So let's join together and show the country that the U.S. Senate will honor the sacrifice and properly memorialize the service of the brave men and women who fought and died to protect and defend the Nation since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. It is the least we can do for those who have given so much.

I ask you today to support my mission, to build a memorial to empower those who answered the call to serve in the Global War on Terror, who, for so long, protected us and allowed us to enjoy the freedoms that we have to this very day.

This memorial is ready to go, so let's get it built on our National Mall in Washington, DC, where it belongs.

Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 535 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. 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.

Madam President, I just want to come forward and thank the Senator for the progress that is being made on the location for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial, and I will continue to pursue this. I think it is important to do that. I remain committed to the families of those who have fallen, as well as the many servicemembers who have served across the spectrum in the Global War on Terror.

I understand that many decades ago an act was put in place by Congress which limited activity on the National Mall, but understanding, since that time, we have seen many memorials and many monuments that have been placed on the Reserve on the National Mall.

And so I am asking that, as Congress, we move forward quickly on this act. We have been working on this for a number of years. We need to move quickly and provide a time of healing for our Nation after we are closing the Global War on Terror.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, Democrats in Washington are playing a high- stakes game with our Nation's finances. Congress just keeps passing bill after bill that adds trillions of dollars in spending to Washington's credit card.

First, there was the $1.9 trillion ``Bidenomics'' stimulus bill that fanned the flames of inflation and paid people not to work. Then there was the $1.2 trillion so-called infrastructure bill that was supposed to be entirely paid for, but wasn't. And now the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint that paves the way for passing a wish list of progressive priorities, like the Green New Deal and other pricey partisan pet projects.

You might think the reckless spending spree would have come to a stop after reaching the Nation's debt limit in July. Wrong.

The Democrats are now plotting to suspend the debt limit in order to pass what would be the most expensive bill ever passed by Congress.

This reckless borrowing and spending is driving up the prices of everyday goods as well as our national debt and, if Democrats have their way, the taxes of hard-working Americans, too. With the Federal fiscal year ending in mere days, another trillion-dollar spending bill will probably be rushed through at the last minute to avoid a government shutdown because Congress put off doing its work on time yet again.

The Democrats have their hands full with multiple financial crises, all of their own making, and their solution to each of these is the same--to spend more money we don't have--which only confounds the underlying problems. More spending results in higher taxes, increased prices, and even more debt.

The scenario reminds me of this popular meme of a guy playing UNO, in which the whole aim of the game is to rid your hand of all of your cards. I love this game. I played it as a little girl at my grandma's house. I played UNO with all of my cousins.

OK. So, in the meme, he is seen holding a wildcard that presents him with a choice: Perform an action--in this version, to ``cut unnecessary spending''--or draw another 25 cards from the deck and, most certainly, lose the game.

In the next frame, the man, who represents the Democrats here, is holding a handful of cards because he would rather do anything but what the card actually suggests.

Unfortunately, the consequences of dealing with Washington's budget are much more dire than losing a game of UNO. Instead of drawing cards, the Democrats are selecting to borrow more to finance totally unnecessary and completely indefensible--and often bizarre-- expenditures rather than simply cutting waste out of the budget.

Just like you can't win UNO without getting rid of the cards in your hand, we will never get control of our debt until we discard the waste in Washington's bloated budget. It may sound a bit oversimplified, but it isn't. To demonstrate the point, I brought my own deck of cards with me today.

OK. So these are UNO cards, all right? Every one of these cards lists a current government expenditure and its cost to the taxpayers. Each represents a real choice Congress will make in the coming days. In each scenario, the Democrats are likely to choose taxing and borrowing to pay for the spending rather than to trim the unneeded expenditure. So let's pick a card, any card, and see if that is a good deal for the taxpayers.

So let's see. UNO card No. 1: ``Cut the pork or draw 25.''

After a decades-long moratorium on congressional earmarks, the House of Representatives has revived the corrupt practice of earmarking tax dollars for politicians' pet projects. More than 3,300 earmarks, consisting of $9.3 billion, have been proposed by Members of Congress just this year, which includes purchasing Santa gifts in Indiana and building fish markets in the Virgin Islands. We could save billions by pulling pork off the menu, but the Democrats are going to go with the drawing of 25 more cards instead.

OK, let's try another one. OK.

``End welfare for politicians or draw 25.''

Every year, millions of taxpayer dollars are diverted into a special account that exists solely to subsidize the campaigns of politicians running for President. The program has doled out more than $1.6 billion for parties and politicians to date, and there is currently $400 million sitting in the account. We could save the $400 million by pulling the plug on this welfare program for politicians, but, once again, the Democrats will choose to draw 25 more cards.

OK. The next card: ``Put the brakes on boondoggles or draw 25.''

Washington continues to bail out transit boondoggles across the country that are billions of dollars over budget and decades behind schedule, like, of course, folks, the San Francisco Bay Area subway extension to Silicon Valley, California's high-speed rail project, and Honolulu's elevated rail line. The Democrats are proposing $10 billion more to support the high-speed rail projects alone. We could save tens of billions of dollars by canceling these gravy trains that are taking taxpayers for a ride, but you can probably guess what the Democrats' play will ultimately be: to draw 25.

So, folks, let's lay the cards on the table. The Democrats' borrowing-based budgeting is a real house of cards because you simply can't borrow your way out of debt. The bills will eventually come due in the form of higher taxes and drastic cuts to government services, and it will be the taxpayers who get lost in the shuffle. Because the Democrats control both Chambers of Congress and the White House, it may seem that the deck is stacked against our taxpayers, but I have a card up my sleeve.

Folks, let's put it in reverse and go in a different direction. Instead of just throwing in the cards and going along with the Democrats' demand to borrow another penny, let's first go through the budget, line by line, and determine what is a priority and what isn't.

It is time to make Washington start living within a realistic budget, just like every other family in America is expected to do. That may be a wild idea to the big spenders in DC, but taxpayers know that is how to play your cards right. So, instead of picking up more debt, let's skip--let's skip--the spending that isn't needed until we are sure Washington isn't wasting a single dollar.

Mr. President, we recently marked the 20th anniversary of September 11, a day that forever changed our Nation. This direct assault on our country sparked the Global War on Terrorism, a war that came at great personal cost to our men and women serving in the Armed Forces.

As a combat veteran, as the mother of a future soldier, even simply as an American, the events in Afghanistan have been extremely disheartening to watch. I have heard from so many veterans and servicemembers who served during this war, many of whom are distraught and disappointed at the haphazard way the war in Afghanistan came to a close. I have also heard from too many Gold Star families who lost so much during this conflict--their spouses, their fathers, their mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters.

Recent events have left them questioning themselves and whether their family member's sacrifice was worth it.

While we can't put the genie back in the bottle when it comes to what happened in Afghanistan last month, we can properly memorialize the service of the brave men and women who fought and died to protect and defend the United States since the beginning of the Global War on Terror.

I stand before you today to ask that the Senate join with me in honoring our Global War on Terrorism veterans and the sacrifices they made by supporting and passing my bipartisan bill, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act.

In August of 2017, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law our bill authorizing the creation of a memorial commemorating the sacrifices of all those wonderful Americans who fought in the Global War on Terrorism.

This memorial will be 100 percent privately funded and will not use a single dime of taxpayer money. Most importantly, it will pay tribute to our fallen servicemembers across the country, including the 13 who perished in Afghanistan on August 26. Among the 13 was Iowa native, Cpl Daegan William-Tyeler Page, who bravely gave the greatest sacrifice of all.

This memorial is going to be built. It has already become law. It is ready to go. So let's get it built on the National Mall in Washington, DC, where it belongs. It is the least we in Congress can do for the men and women who have given so much.

We have the opportunity to unite around a common cause, while providing a central location for our many veterans and their families affected by the Global War on Terror to reunite and reflect on their loved ones' sacrifices.

This isn't a partisan idea. Earlier this month, the six surviving Secretaries of Defense, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations--Robert Gates, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Ash Carter, Jim Mattis, and Mark Esper--they all wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in support of placing the Global War on Terror Memorial on our National Mall.

While nothing will ever restore the lives that we have lost, this memorial would serve as a tribute to those brave men and women and their loved ones who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom.

For more than 20 years, I had the privilege of serving my State and country in uniform. As a veteran of the Global War on Terror, I know firsthand the sacrifices the millions of brave men and women of our Armed Forces made in this fight against radical extremists.

Like many others, I have risen my right hand and taken that oath voluntarily and without reservation. That is why the effort to build this memorial in its rightful place is a personal one, not just to me but to every servicemember, veteran, surviving family member, and civilian who has been impacted by this fight.

This national memorial will provide all Americans a permanent place of reflection in the heart of our Nation's Capital. It will serve as a permanent commitment to the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and children who lost their whole world that this country is forever grateful and in their debt. It will serve as a place of healing for the thousands of veterans still carrying the wounds of war, both seen and unseen.

The National Mall is currently home to the memorials honoring World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war. How could we put the memorial for our Nation's longest war anywhere else?

Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 535 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. 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.

Respectfully, I do not.

Mr. President, I will continue on this path. We, again, passed this bill. It was signed into law in 2017, creating the foundation to establish the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. So that was the first step in a process that has now culminated after 4 years of discussion and work. And I am very hopeful that the committee will go through regular process.

I would encourage the chair to move forward on a markup of the bill and a vote on the bill. If we can receive that markup and vote, then I will stop my

live UCs. But until that point, I think it is imperative that we continue pushing for that regular order.

I feel committed, obviously, to those whom I have served with, the others who have served in the Global War on Terror, their families, the affected communities, our Gold Star families, and others.

This is our Nation's longest running war. It is a war that has affected more than just those servicemembers who set foot in the Middle East. My commitment to those families, those communities, and our country is that we will continue to proceed to make sure that this memorial is placed in prominence on our National Mall.

I yield the floor.

Thank you.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, words can't describe the emotions I felt watching the ruthless Taliban once again seize control of Afghanistan, the very same country from where terrorists plotted the attacks on America two decades earlier.

The world watched hopelessly as tens of thousands of people, including American citizens and our Afghan allies,

desperately attempted to escape the terror and bleak future certain to return under the rule of the Taliban.

Through the chaos and the panic, the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, who once freed the Nation from the terrorist regime, stood as protectors at the Kabul airport for those who were desperately seeking a way out.

Then, on August 26, a terrorist attack at the airport claimed the lives of 13 of these brave servicemembers who were assisting with the evacuation, marking one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces during the 20-year conflict.

Marine Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page was one of those killed in action on that day. Daegan was a young man from Red Oak, IA, who truly represents the greatness of our State, our country, and the U.S. Marine Corps in which he proudly served. Daegan may have been just 23 years old, but he died a hero who lived a life of service to his community and to his Nation.

Our hearts go out to those to whom he meant the most: his girlfriend, Jessica; his parents, Wendy and Craig Adelson and Greg and Jenni Page; his grandparents; and his four siblings, Corey, Garrett, Mason, and Emerson, to whom Daegan has always been a hero, even before he became a U.S. marine.

The wounds of war obviously aren't just borne by the warrior. It is the family of the fallen who will carry the scars for a lifetime. The hole left in their lives by the loss of Daegan can never, ever be filled. So let's also keep Daegan's family in our prayers.

Being from Red Oak, IA, I know Daegan's family. I have grown up with Daegan's family. It was my best friend in Red Oak that texted me after that explosion at the Kabul airport. She is the one who told me that Wendy Tye's son Daegan had been killed in this explosion.

So I gave the family time to come together, and that next morning I called Wendy's mother, Peggy. I love Peggy very much. I love their entire family very much, and I told her I was so sorry about the loss of Daegan. And she told me: Joni, just please let everybody know what an amazing young man that Daegan was.

And he was an extraordinary young man. Before we ended our conversation, she said: Joni, give that precious Libby of yours a hug for me, like I used to so many years ago when she was a little girl.

And she said: You never know when you will get that last hug from someone you love.

And, Peggy, I did. I gave my daughter Libby a hug.

So while Daegan was a tough marine--he really was--again, an amazing young man. He was fun, loving, and he had a giant heart and a soft spot for animals. He had three dogs--Shyia, Gracie, and Finn.

Growing up in Red Oak, and then in Omaha, Daegan's commitment to service began at a young age as a longtime member of the Boy Scouts.

While he was just a child when the terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, after graduating from Millard South High School, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the U.S. Marine Corps.

Daegan's family says that he loved the brotherhood of the Marines and was proud to serve as a member of the 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA.

Daegan was always a dedicated team member. It didn't matter what it was, but he was dedicated, according to his former hockey teammates who, together, won the Nebraska State championship tournament. Omaha's hockey community has fittingly paid tribute to Daegan by placing hockey sticks on their porches in his memory.

A memorial service to celebrate Daegan's life is being held this Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Omaha.

Like his family, teammates, and fellow servicemembers, we mourn the loss of Daegan, but also honor his heroism and his valor. He has been awarded the Purple Heart for making that ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

His life in Red Oak, IA, and Omaha, NE, and his death, remind us that this world is a very dangerous place with many wishing to do the United States harm. Our protection here at home depends upon the sacrifice and the service of many heroes, those like Daegan.

Let it not be forgotten that thousands of other lives were rescued from pending doom because of the bravery of Daegan and the 12 other servicemembers who lost their lives that day while standing guard to ensure the safe passage of others out of Afghanistan.

While it is heartbreaking that he was taken from this world too soon, Daegan will forever have the gratitude of our Nation.

So Wendy and Greg, and to your families, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your beautiful son, Daegan. The American people will never forget him, nor will they ever forget his life of service.

Semper Fidelis, Daegan, and godspeed.

I yield the floor.