Floor Statements

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

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

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 680.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 706.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 733, S. Res. 734, S. Res. 735, S. Res. 736, S. Res. 737.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, May 18; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nominations to be considered en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 690, postcloture; further, that at 5:30 p.m., all postcloture time be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations en bloc; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Monday's session of the Senate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senators Schatz, Hirono, and Cortez Masto.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor a great American and an exceptional member of the U.S. Air Force, Col. Chesley Dycus.

As the chief of the Air Force Senate Legislative Liaison Division from July 2024 to July 2025, Chesley performed his duties well and without reservation supporting the 118th and 119th U.S. Congresses. Hailing from Waverly, TN, and a graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he also played baseball, Chesley has served in the Air Force for over 25 years. He is a command pilot with over 3,800 hours of flight time in a variety of aircraft. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional and unrivaled officership in a myriad of positions from wing command to Acting Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States, all critical to U.S. defense and national security world-wide.

Chesley distinguished himself through his professional character and dedication by serving this Nation in uniform as chief of the Air Force Legislative Liaison Division to the Senate. In this role, he advised Department of the Air Force senior leaders and helped develop strategic engagement opportunities to advance U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force priorities. His leadership facilitated seamless collaboration on behalf of the Department of the Air Force across 63 congressional offices. He supported numerous engagements and delegations for 150 Senators, Congressmen, and staffers to showcase Department equities in the United States and abroad. Most notably, Chesley's advice shaped support for the Department of the Air Force's efforts to optimize for near-peer conflict and drove hearing engagements with 27 Senate Armed Service Committee members in support of Department leaders. These briefings effectively communicated the Department's modernization and resource requirements to address pacing challenges abroad. His efforts helped ensure the Department of the Air Force's support of the National Defense Strategy in the return to Great Power Competition.

With steadfast dedication, Chesley connected Members of Congress with key decision-makers, including the Secretary of the Air Force, leading to significant progress on critical Department of the Air Force initiatives. He secured critical funding for Air Force and Space Force birthday celebrations and the Secretary of the Air Force's Capitol Hill Holiday Reception, successfully executing all three events. These initiatives fostered strategic engagements between 32 Members of Congress and 24 Department of the Air Force senior leaders, strengthening congressional support for crucial national security priorities.

Finally, Chesley, as a master of relationship building, cultivated a service-oriented culture within the Department of the Air Force's Senate liaison team. His leadership ensured the delivery of strategic, prompt, and precise communications to Senators. Under his direction, the team facilitated 88 Department of the Air Force engagements on Capitol Hill and 12 congressional and staff delegation trips of great national security significance, including the Reagan National Defense Forum, bolstering the Department of the Air Force's 2025 National Defense Authorization Act priorities and 2026 budget request. These engagements helped U.S. Senators and their staffs understand defense equities and their impact on national security. Due to his direct involvement and stewardship, Members of Congress were able to make informed decisions and ensured the Department of the Air Force was properly resourced and funded.

After serving in this crucial role and becoming a fixture on Capitol Hill, Col. Chesley Dycus will continue to work in the Department of the Air Force Legislative Liaison as its deputy director. Chesley and his wife Jenna have instilled a legacy of service for their children Chesley and Lila. They have sacrificed much as a family in service to our Nation. I am thankful for Chesley's service and his work with my office and the Senate over the past year on issues of vital importance to the defense of the United States. I salute this American patriot whose selfless service has kept our country safe and strong.

Mr. President, I want to honor a very special North Dakota resident who is turning 109 years old on February 11. Ray Curtis is considered to be the oldest veteran living in North Dakota and our State's oldest resident. There are only 10 other known living veterans in the Nation who are older.

Ray embodies the very best of the ``Greatest Generation.'' He was born in 1917 in the hospital in Portal, near his northwestern North Dakota hometown of Columbus. Ten years later, his family moved to Minot, and he graduated from Minot High School in 1935. Before enlisting in the U.S. Army, Ray farmed with his father and brother. His 5 years of Active Duty involved work as a clerk-typist, communications officer, and commander of an automatic weapons unit in the United States. After the

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Ray was eventually stationed in Germany for 10 months as an infantry unit commander.

Following Pearl Harbor, Ray married his sweetheart Ellen in Reno, NV. After his discharge from the Army, they farmed his family's land and raised five children. Since 1983, they lived in Minot, and following the death of Ellen in 2014, he moved to an assisted living center, where he continues to live a full and active life.

We consider the centenarians living in North Dakota among our most treasured residents. Their pioneer spirit, dignity, and hard work have brought them through many challenges and personal achievements. And while we owe a debt of gratitude to every veteran who has served our country, having Ray as one of the Nation's oldest living World War II veterans increases our admiration and appreciation for him and his remarkable life.

On behalf of all North Dakotans, I thank Ray Curtis for his service to our country and wish him a happy 109th birthday. We hope he enjoys continued good health and vitality.

Mr. President, these weeks between Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year are a time of reflecting, giving thanks, and expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Today, I would like to recognize and honor a remarkable woman from Bismarck, ND, who has been a profound blessing to my community and beyond.

I have known Sister Kathleen Atkinson, a member of the Order of Saint Benedict at Annuniciation Monastery in Bismarck, for many years. In 2004 we cochaired the establishment of a Center for Christian Ministry at the University of Mary, which fostered leadership and service between students and the community.

In 2010, Sister Kathleen began leading Bible studies at the North Dakota State Penitentiary. She called the inmates her ``men in the Pen,'' meeting them one-on-one behind the prison doors. Despite any fears she had, she believed in the importance of bringing God's love to the incarcerated and persevered with her ministry.

One day an inmate shared with her how terrified he was about his upcoming prison release. He had no ride, no job, no money, and no place to stay. Despite her own apprehension about taking responsibility for a prisoner she barely knew, Sister Kathleen agreed to pick him up on the day of his release. That was the beginning of her commitment to a prison re-entry program known as Ministry on the Margins, which she founded in 2013. Originally sponsored by the Annunciation Sisters, it later became an independent organization. She has served as its executive director ever since. The ministry has expanded to include a food pantry, street outreach, a nighttime low-barrier coffee house, and other programs serving the most vulnerable among us. What began with one volunteer has now expanded to 15 employees and countless volunteers serving some 1,600 people weekly.

I have watched with admiration her servant leadership in action over these many years. She has grown this ministry by recruiting volunteers regardless of religious denomination or comfort level serving others. Despite her short stature, she is powerful and fearless in her dedication. When she speaks, even the toughest audience listens. She asks for prayers, encourages selfless service, tirelessly fundraises, and testifies on legislation, policies, and solutions. Her success with Ministry on the Margins has inspired others to establish similar programs for

the vulnerable in Bismarck, across North Dakota, and throughout the Nation.

Sister Kathleen announced her retirement effective December 31, and I join the many who know this national leader in thanking her for being the hands and feet of Christ. Her ministry embodies Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount, where He says, ``For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me,' '' Matthew 25:35-40.

Mayor Mike Schmidt has designated December 10 as Sister Kathleen Atkinson Day in Bismarck, where the community will be able to come together and personally express their appreciation. The impact of Sister Kathleen's ministry will resonate for decades to come. She is a State treasure and one of Bismarck's most beautiful souls. North Dakota is a better place because of her vision and dedication. On behalf of all North Dakotans, I thank Sister Kathleen Atkinson for her years of ministry. I wish her many years of health and happiness in the future.

Madam President, protecting the American people and their property is fundamental to the government. In fact, it is a core principle and the responsibility of the Federal Government. I see no need or any good reason to remove the tools that the President has to do exactly that--to protect people and property.

The use of our military to support local law enforcement, not to become law enforcement, is legal. President Trump has proven it to be effective. I think that just because you don't like the current President, it is not a reason to make dramatic changes to the laws that restrict him from doing the very thing he promised he would do when he ran for the office.

I oppose the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Vote on Amendment No. 3210

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following Senators be permitted to complete their remarks prior to the scheduled rollcall vote: Senator Grassley, Senator Cramer, and Senator Hoeven.

Mr. President, in a little while, we are going to vote to proceed to S.J. Res. 62, which I introduced with Senator Hoeven to repeal the Biden administration's Bureau of Land Management resource management plan for North Dakota.

Of course, H.J. Res. 105, which mirrors our bill, introduced by Congresswoman Fedorchak, has already passed the House of Representatives, and final passage is scheduled for later this evening.

The Bureau of Land Management--or BLM, as we call it--is the landlord of 745 million acres of land and subsurface deposits nationwide. BLM's management of these public resources is governed by what is known as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, otherwise known as FLPMA, which requires--I stress ``requires''--the Bureau to develop resource management plans or RMPs to guide management decisions.

And, when created, Congress was clear: These RMPs must abide by the multiple-use mandate.

Now, ``multiple use'' is a term that is thrown around a lot in the public lands discussions. It was championed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who drew from his experience in his two ranches in North Dakota, the Maltese Cross and the Elkhorn Ranch, and throughout the West.

And, by the way, North Dakota is where his Presidential Library is being built, and it will be open next July 4--unpaid announcement.

``Multiple use'' means that land is sustainably used by the State and local population, rather than preserved like a national park or a wildlife refuge. Multiple use lands are used by miners, cattle grazers, oil and gas developers, and recreationalists alike. They are not meant to be locked up.

Multiple use is a mandate, as I said earlier. It is not a suggestion. And that is what brings us here today.

In the final days of the Biden administration, they approved the North Dakota resource management plan, which governs the management of 58,500 surface acres and 4.1 million acres of mineral estate across our State for the next 15 to 20 years.

Despite vocal objections from the State, the people who actually use the

land, the final plan prohibits coal leasing on over 4 million acres by inexcusably prohibiting all future development outside of a 4-mile radius from current development--over 90 percent of North Dakota's affordable, reliable coal, out of touch. It is gone.

It also blocks 213,000 acres, or 44 percent, of federally owned oil and gas acreage from future development. This restriction alone deprives the State--and we are a small State--of $34 million annually and--get this--the State's Common Schools Trust Fund a minimum of $50 million.

And if that wasn't enough, non-Federal minerals are also held hostage to the Federal Government's management plan. As I mentioned earlier, these RMPs govern subsurface acreage. Whether it is coal, oil, or gas, federally owned subsurface minerals are intermingled with State and private mineral owners. In plain speak, the Biden resource management plan is a de facto taking from the State and private mineral owners.

Throughout the rulemaking process, this point was made very clear, but BLM ignored it. And it is unacceptable and needs to be undone. And I will add that it needs to be undone by Congress so it is clear to the bureaucracy that this sort of resource management plan is out of bounds.

By passing this resolution, we reassert congressional intent and remind the bureaucracy: Our boundaries are not optional.

Mr. President, this rule will need to be replaced once we repeal it. Thank goodness Congress had the foresight in the Congressional Review Act to say no replacement rule could be substantially similar to the one it is replacing. But by no means does it preclude the proper replacement of a rule.

I have the utmost confidence in Secretary Burgum and Deputy Secretary MacGregor to get this done right, but this cannot sit on the back burner.

Nearly 6 years ago, during the first Trump administration, I wrote a letter on behalf of a single constituent advocating for this RMP to be updated so he could develop some of his privately held minerals. They started the work, but unfortunately the Biden administration finished the work.

While Congress is acting to repeal their disastrous plan today, the administration must swiftly replace this RMP, ensuring North Dakota gets the best long-term plan possible to responsibly utilize our natural resources.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, before I pay tribute to Pastor Bjorge, I just want to say thank you to my colleagues who supported that resolution that you just announced that passed. It is very meaningful to North Dakota, and I express my appreciation for the support.

Remembering James Richard Bjorge

Mr. President, ``James Richard Bjorge, child of God, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 29, 2025. He was 94.''

That is the opening paragraph of an obituary for Pastor Bjorge, whose funeral is tomorrow. I will obviously miss it, being here in Washington, but I did want to, first of all, seek unanimous consent to submit his obituary to be printed in the Record tonight.

Mr. President, Pastor James Bjorge was--well, he was a pastor. He was a Lutheran pastor, a big Norwegian American from Minnesota. He loved sports, loved the Lord, loved the church, loved his family, loved his community. And he was my pastor. He was a pastor for our family when we attended First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND.

But Pastor Bjorge was especially gifted. He was also an evangelist. He was, I remember, the chairman of the Red River Valley Billy Graham Crusade in Fargo in 1987. And that is not common for Lutheran pastors. It was more so back then than it is today, to be part of something so evangelical.

But some of Jim's gifts included, of course, being a great orator. Every pastor preaches, but not every pastor preaches well. James Bjorge preached exceptionally well, and I still remember several of his sermons.

One of the gifts that Jim had that I admired so much is he could recite poetry by heart. He had a photographic memory, it seemed to me. He could recite about anything he read, but especially poetry. And I remember some of the poems that he would use as illustrations in his sermons that still stick with me, some of them that were even anonymous in terms of who wrote them.

I remember one where he started out: I had walked life's way with an easy tread, followed to where pleasures and comforts led, when by chance in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face.

He went on to recite this poem perfectly, and I thought: Wow, I would like to be able to do that. I learned one poem--that one.

But I remember him quoting Robert Browning Hamilton when he said:

I walked a mile with Pleasure; She chatted all the way; But

left me none the wiser For all she had to say. I walked a

mile with Sorrow; And ne'er a word said she; But, oh! The

things I learned from her, When Sorrow walked with me.

And I was thinking about that poem and him delivering that poem and me remembering that poem from probably 30 years ago in his sermon because of how profound it was and how profound it is to think about on this sad day.

But while he was all those things--he was a great motivator, great with illustration, great with stories--he was first and foremost a really, really learned teacher of Scripture. He loved the Scriptures. He knew the Scriptures, and he taught the Scriptures with incredible, incredible skill. And he brought the Scriptures to life. He was a profound teacher. He was a solid doctor.

And I remember, of all the many lessons I learned from him--and I am just going to wrap up with this one story. And I remember it so well because I remember reciting it back to him in a letter one time. In one sermon, he said: We should all live with one eye on Heaven.

And there are lots of scriptural references that sort of touch on that, but his point--his point, I believe--was if you live with one eye on Heaven, particularly knowing that you are focused on your eternal destiny, that that would somehow impact how you lived your life on Earth.

And for somebody who taught the Pauline epistle so beautifully, emphasized every single Sunday God's salvation by His grace through faith alone, not by anything we do, it was a good reminder that if you live with one eye on your eternal destiny that you have not earned but rather have been given as a free gift from God, it would affect how you approach your journey here on Earth.

So I think of Pastor Bjorge today. I think of his family, and I wish I could be at the celebration of his life. Tomorrow, no doubt, there will be lots of great stories told and a few tears shed.

But I know this--and in my life, the pastors of my youth, right up to my current pastor, have always left a profound mark on my life, and I know this for sure: While I could never and never have been able to achieve his level of living with one eye on Heaven, because I knew him, I am a better person than I would be if I hadn't known Jim Bjorge.

And when I think about the testimony not only of his words--I mean, he was gifted with words but the fact that he lived with one eye on Heaven gives me great comfort knowing that he is now there--that he is now there--and that his 94 years walking on this Earth, his walk reflected his view of Heaven and the certainty of his destination.

So with that, I just say thank you Pastor Bjorge for making me better.

Thank you for your ministry. Thank you for your testimony and witness. I just wish his family well and just know that I am going to miss him. I am going to miss him but grateful that I knew him.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume morning business.