Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to an accomplished and compassionate Kentucky business leader Dr. Laurence ``Larry'' Benz, the founder of Confluent Health. I have had the opportunity to work alongside Larry, and we have developed a strong friendship. Through military service, professional sports, and now a thriving business career, he has accumulated a wide range of experiences to help grow Kentucky's economy. He will soon be inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for his transformational leadership abilities and impact on Kentuckians' lives.

Prior to his start in the entrepreneurial space, Dr. Benz served in the U.S. Army as a captain in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. For his devoted service in the military, he received the Meritorious Service Medal. I am thankful for his bravery and unwavering commitment to our country. While still serving, Dr. Benz founded the Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team, a private practice outpatient physical therapy company. Through this work, he effectively pursued his passion for providing Kentuckians with excellent physical therapy access and care. The company went on to become the largest private practice in Kentucky and southern Indiana, eventually expanding into North Carolina and Florida.

After selling that business, Dr. Benz went on to cofound with his wife Dr. Patricia Benz, a well-respected physical therapist Confluent Health. The company helps support businesses that offer rehabilitation services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, chronic pain management, and sports medicine. Confluent Health assists in all the ``behind-the-scenes'' work that goes into keeping these rehabilitation spaces open. Additionally, they help practitioners get access to specialty board certifications and post-professional programs so that they can focus on providing care instead of worrying about the business side of their practices. In 2022, I was glad to join Dr. Benz for the opening of Confluent Health's new headquarters in Louisville, marking a historic investment in our city while delivering first-rate care to Kentuckians.Dr. Benz then took everything he learned in his time as CEO of Confluent Health and stepped into a new role helping grow the Dental Care Alliance. They serve approximately 400 dental private practices across 24 States.

Dr. Benz's excellence in business is paired with a drive to help others and give back to communities. Outside of his professional work, he has shown a commitment to education in Kentucky. In 2011, Dr. Benz was appointed to serve on the board of trustees my alma mater, the University of Louisville, and went on to be elected board chairman last year. Currently, he serves as a member of the UofL Athletic Association and the president's council. He is a proven leader whose expertise is invaluable in both the healthcare and academic spaces. He has been invited to present at over 250 physical therapy programs, national conferences, and MBA programs throughout the country. His vision for future generations of physical therapy providers is founded in the values of empathy and compassion. There is no doubt that Larry has made his mark on the industry and continues to leave a lasting impact each and every day.

Larry's career is one focused on kindness and support. He has emphasized patients' well-being and mental health, along with their physical health. On the provider's side, he has lifted small private practices well beyond what they would have been able to do on their own, in a variety of fields of medicine. He has reached nearly every region of Kentucky over the course of his career, and I admire his and Patty's continued commitment to the Louisville area. I also admire their commitment to their family, with children Aaron, Lauren, Jonathan, and their grandchildren Levi, Johnny, Elliot, and Valora.

Again, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Dr. Larry Benz on his induction into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and recognizing his profound impact on Kentucky.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to my good, longtime friend, U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky Charles R. Simpson III, in special celebration of the upcoming ceremony at the Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse for the unveiling of his official portrait.

Chuck and I have been friends for a while. In fact, our friendship goes all the way back to our internship with Henry Clay.

Jokes aside, I am proud to have known Chuck for so long. We both attended the University of Louisville, but we didn't get to know each other until I came back to Kentucky to begin my law career. We practiced law together for a brief period. I was terrible and hated it. I wouldn't go to myself for a simple will. Chuck was great and loved it. And thankfully for me, Chuck also loved politics, so I got his help in running for Jefferson County judge-executive. We worked hard together on that first campaign. And amazingly, we won by 11,000 votes--a sizeable victory for a Republican in a blue city--and I was lucky to keep Chuck on my team as legal counsel.

Chuck was also there when I first ran for Senate. I headed back to DC, and Chuck stayed in Louisville to build on his law career, but we remained in touch. Only a couple years into my first term, I had the opportunity to recommend a candidate for appointment to the Federal bench. Knowing Chuck's character and legal chops, I didn't have to look any further. President Reagan made the wise choice of nominating Chuck in 1986 to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He served as chief judge for several years, beginning in 1994. Under his supervision as chief judge, the court underwent impressive transformations to improve its handling of administrative matters.

I don't mean to brag in observing that Chuck's appointment turned out to be a great move. He has been an excellent judge who is respected throughout the legal community. He understands complex legal issues very quickly and always hears out both sides in court before making decisions. Judge Simpson's fairness and hard work earned him renown throughout Kentucky. He won the Louisville Bar's Judge of the Year in 2000 and the Kentucky Bar's Outstanding Judge of the Year in 2005.

Chuck's work is inspired not only by his hometown of Louisville, but also by his academic and professional journeys abroad. He brings with him a special set of skills, knowing how to connect with others internationally. He created a special sister court relationship between his court and one in Croatia, and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William Rehnquist even appointed him to an international judicial council.

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the time Judge Simpson made international news on a visit to Russia when he accidentally locked himself in

the courtroom cage usually reserved for the defendant. Apparently, it was quite difficult to find the key--in Russia, go figure. Everyone handled the situation with great humor, and luckily, his travels to other countries such as Cyprus, Slovenia, and many other places, did not include a similar experience--as far as I know.

Devoted to the court and always finding enthusiasm for his work, Judge Simpson kept a sizeable caseload even after achieving senior status in 2013. He has a great sense of humor and his firm dedication to the law and commitment to improving the lives of others drives him every day.

Judge Simpson's involvement in the community extends well outside of work too. He is a loyal member of local, State, and Federal bar associations, and his peers have entrusted him with leadership roles over the years because they know he represents them well and gets the job done. He holds status as an outstanding alumnus of UofL law school and received the Lawrence Grauman Award--the law school's most prestigious award--in 2006, honoring a lifetime record of leadership and service to the legal profession and community. Chuck's success is hard to encapsulate in just a few short pages. You never find him touting his own accolades since he is quick to credit others for his accomplishments, both on the bench and in his personal life.

What he values and celebrates most is his family. Chuck is a devoted husband to his wife Clare, a proud father of their three children Charlie, Pam, and Lauren, and a loving grandfather to all his grandchildren. I have the pleasure of tailgating with Chuck and Clare several times a year to root on the Louisville Cardinals through thick and thin. It was also a joy to have their daughter Pam serve in my Washington office for several years. She was an integral member of the team.

I know the entire Simpson family is beaming with pride today in celebration of this incredible man who devoted his career to serving the public and making a difference.

I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating U.S. District Court Judge Charles Simpson on the special occasion, and recognizing his profound impact on Kentucky, the judiciary, and our country.

Mr. President, I know that many of our colleagues and the American people have seen the tragic news out of my hometown just yesterday. And I am grateful for their thoughts and their prayers this morning directed toward the people of Louisville.

Folks around our county, Jefferson County, need those prayers right now and in the days and weeks to come. The death toll from last evening's UPS crash has continued to rise throughout the day. For the families of these victims and for the injured survivors being treated at area hospitals, life will never be the same. There is a lot of grief welling up right now in Kentucky.

This would be true even in the case of a single life lost. But as local first responders, State officials, and Federal investigators continue their work today, I would like to help our colleagues understand what makes this tragedy such a gut punch in a place like Louisville.

During the day, Louisville International hums with thousands of passengers from all across the country. But around the clock, Louisville is also a hub for global shipping and logistics, business supplies, consumer goods, and Christmas gifts.

If it is going somewhere in short order, it is a very good chance it is passing through UPS Worldport in my hometown of Louisville.

None of this is possible without teams of devoted professionals. Louisville is home to logistics experts, warehouse workers, aircraft crews, and maintainers. They take pride in their work, and their community takes pride in them.

That is why this crash cuts so deep. It is about all of us. Today, Jefferson County schools and many local businesses are completely closed. Neighbors are mourning neighbors. So today will be a tough day in the Commonwealth.

But the people of Louisville are grateful for the swift, lifesaving efforts of our first responders, from local police, fire, and EMS. They trust in the prayers of their fellow Americans.

I want them to know that their representatives here in Washington are making sure that every Federal resource they need is on the ground and headed their way soon. I spoke with Mayor Greenberg this morning. My team and I will continue to stay in close contact with local, State, and Federal officials, including at the FAA and the NTSB, in the coming days.

But first and foremost, I am keeping my fellow Kentuckians in my prayers and asking our colleagues to do the same.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a driven and civic-minded Kentucky business leader William P. Butler. Bill will soon be inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for transforming Corporex, a company he founded in 1965, into an multi- billion-dollar business. I ask my colleagues to please join me in applauding Bill on his induction and recognizing his company's immense positive impact on northern Kentucky.

Bill took a risk in 1965, starting his career as a young man in real estate. In the beginning, it was hard to do business in the Louisville community due to his youth and inexperience. Bill had to innovate, so he hired staff who knew the landscape well, and in 5 years, his construction company had built 35 buildings across Louisville. He brought proof of these accomplishments back to Covington, which accelerated the growth of his company.

In the 1980s, Bill began dreaming about the potential of Covington and northern Kentucky and decided to invest in new opportunities. He first focused on making the south shore of the Ohio River just as vibrant as its northern counterpart. This project eventually became the RiverCenter, a business complex home to numerous hotels, businesses, and other drivers of economic development. Bill also worked hard turning an area near the CVG International Airport into Circleport, one of Kentucky's foremost business parks spanning over 650 acres. Bill is a one-of-a-kind developer and has certainly made his mark.

While Bill is an accomplished businessman, he is also heavily involved in improving the lives of others in the community. In 2005, he founded the Life Learning Center, which works to deliver education and care to at-risk individuals, helping them find gainful employment and get back on track. In 2024, 100 percent of graduates of the Life Learning Center were either employed or enrolled in secondary education. Graduates also gain access to

ongoing support when they finish the program which bolsters support groups, a dining hall, and a computer lab. Many students even go on to volunteer at the center after they graduate. Bill is not only giving back to his community but also helping the cycle of growth continue by facilitating others in their giving back.

Bill graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in engineering and was granted an honorary doctor of education degree from Northern Kentucky University. He has also shown a commitment to education in Kentucky. His philanthropic work through the Butler Foundation gives scholars tuition assistance at universities in northern Kentucky. This academic year alone, 76 Butler Scholars have been awarded over $400,000 in tuition assistance. These scholarships are part of his larger goal of boosting northern Kentucky's economy and getting bright young minds to stay here in the Commonwealth. He knows how important it is for well-educated young people to join the workforce in the area. Additionally, he served on the President's Advisory Council at NKU from 2003 to 2012.

Bill is a proven leader in all he does: business, community, family, and otherwise. His impact on northern Kentuckians cannot be understated, and I admire his commitment to his hometown. I know his wife Sue, of 55 years, is looking down with utmost pride as Bill joins the ranks of so many distinguished Kentuckians. Again, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating my very good friend Bill Butler on his induction into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and recognizing his profound impact on Kentucky.

Mr. President, government shutdowns have real consequences. I have said that countless times during my time here. Incredibly, it seems to have taken Democrats a month to remember that the proverbial stove is, in fact, already hot. And yet, they aren't ready to turn it off, just turn it down a notch; just low enough that they can take the political heat.

My friend from Delaware is right: Our military deserves a lot better than a government shutdown that jeopardizes their paychecks and the services military families count on. During Democrats' shutdown, the President has had to scrape together unobligated balances within the Defense budget in order to uphold the Nation's promise to servicemembers through another pay period.

I certainly hope he won't have to divert resources from urgent modernization again to make payroll in another 2 weeks, but that ball, of course, is in the Democrats' court. I hope they realize the surest way--the surest way--to help servicemembers and civilian DOD employees is to simply turn government funding back on and pass full-year appropriations.

I know my counterpart on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, of all people, understands this. He knows what would really help our Armed Forces because he and I worked closely together on a full-year bill for Defense that would pay servicemembers and invest more in the capabilities they need to keep America safe.

I am grateful for Senator Coons' collaboration on the bipartisan bill that earned overwhelming support in committee and would add $22 billion above the President's defense request. This, by the way, is the bill that almost every Democrat voted against considering 2 weeks ago.

I know the ranking member cares about the promises we made to the all-volunteer force and the challenges we expect them to make. I know he is concerned about the erosion of Congress's authority to set and fund national security priorities. So am I. And if we cannot appropriate, we will render ourselves completely irrelevant.

The way to provide real certainty and to deliver serious full-year appropriations is to just open the government back up and pass our bill. It is really that simple.

Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor Sheriff Berl Perdue, the president of the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police--FOP-- who will be stepping down from leading this incredible organization after more than 13 years. Sheriff Perdue is a brave public servant who has devoted his whole career to serving and protecting Kentuckians through his roles as a police officer and sheriff of Clark County. I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating my friend Berl on a job well done.

After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in police administration, Berl went on to attend the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council--KLEC--Basic Police Academy. His determination to lead and make a difference in the community was evident early on. Berl graduated as president of Class No. 141 and started his career with the Winchester Police Department in May of 1982. He joined the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police that very same month, demonstrating his high regard for the organization from the very beginning.

Not only has Berl served his fellow Kentuckians, but he has also served his fellow officers. Starting in 1991 and continuing for the next two decades, Berl served as president of the Winchester/Clark County FOP Lodge No. 34, making a name for himself by strengthening his relationships in the law enforcement community. During this time, he was also elected to serve as vice president of the Kentucky FOP, an office he faithfully carried out for 13 years. Berl retired from the Winchester Police Department in 2006 after 24 years on the force, and rising to the rank of detective sergeant.

Berl continued his service to our great Commonwealth after being elected to the office of Clark County Sheriff, taking office in January of 2007. After only 1 year in office, the Kentucky Sheriffs' Association named him 2008 Sheriff of the Year. In June of 2012, Berl's peers elevated him to the role of State president of Kentucky FOP. I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with Berl over the years, relying on him for wise counsel and frank advice for anything related to law enforcement.

In addition to leading Kentucky FOP, he also served as the 2021-2022 president of the Kentucky Sheriffs' Association, becoming the first person to simultaneously hold both positions. Berl's work ethic and commitment to getting things done allowed him to excel in both roles. His selfless spirit can also be seen in his service on the KLEC and his appointment to serve on the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board.

As Sheriff Perdue's time in this role comes to an end, I want to acknowledge and honor his work representing over 9,800 sworn law enforcement professionals across Kentucky. Berl has shown immense dedication to others, always putting the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police first. His commitment to our great State and Nation is unwavering, and I wish him the best in this next chapter of his life. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him once more and in celebrating Sheriff Berl Perdue's career of public service.

Mr. President, my position on government shutdowns is pretty well-known. There is absolutely nothing to gain in taking basic government functions hostage for eleventh-hour partisan demands.

I hope our Democratic colleagues will relearn that lesson in short order because the American people have plenty to lose from freezing important functions of the Federal Government. Here in the Senate, the Democrat shutdown is taking time we ought to be spending on important outstanding business, beginning with our obligation to provide for the common defense. In particular, our work to deliver full-year Defense appropriations is not finished.

So I would like to talk briefly about what must come next after interim government funding is extended and what is at stake for our national security. The U.S. military is not immune from the disruptive short-term consequences of a government shutdown. But the long-term consequences of going without robust full-year Defense appropriations are far, far graver.

I offered this warning in the spring when, for the first time, Washington told America's men and women in uniform to conduct today's operations and prepare for tomorrow's threats using yesterday's dollars. We put the national defense on a full-year continuing resolution and forced the military services to function for another year--another year--on the anemic defense budget signed into law by President Biden.

A full-year CR is the enemy of readiness, modernization, and efficiency. The armed services want to make their budgets simpler, more efficient, and more flexible by consolidating budget lines. But they can't do that under a full-year CR.

Punting new appropriations directly contradicts--directly contradicts--the Pentagon's stated goal of building a resilient, surge- ready munitions enterprise. The prohibitions on new program starts under a CR effectively put high-priority service modernization efforts literally on ice.

The administration says it wants ``flexible and efficient'' investments. Well, there is nothing flexible, efficient, resilient, or lethal about running the national defense enterprise on a full-year CR, nor will a CR send the consistent signal industry and investors need to pour private capital into the long-overdue expansion of our defense industrial base. If you want to increase our Nation's capacity to produce munitions more quickly and in larger volumes, full-year CRs just might be the worst way to go about it.

I don't mean to sound overly alarmed. God willing, the House-passed, short-term funding extension will give Congress enough time to deliver full-year appropriations and release our military from the constraints of the Biden fiscal year 2024 budget. But I want our colleagues to understand what is at stake this fall.

The President has set some ambitious, important, and overdue priorities for America's national security, and none of them--none of them--come cheap: the Golden Dome for America, an American shipbuilding renaissance, sixth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, the long- overdue modernization of our nuclear force. Reconciliation isn't enough to support these major efforts, and neither is a perpetual freeze at the Biden fiscal year 2024 level.

Reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, reestablishing deterrence--these are priorities we hear about all the time from the President's advisers. I certainly have no problem with rowing in that direction. I am all for high standards of physical fitness, but pushups alone--pushups alone--aren't going to stop Chinese hypersonic missiles. The next major conflict will likely be a test of lethality at very long distances.

That is why I have spent years urging successive administrations to rebuild--rebuild--our global power projection and long-range fires. It is why I criticized the Biden administration for talking about China as the ``pacing threat'' but turning in defense budget requests that didn't even keep pace with inflation.

The administration cannot afford to make this same mistake. So, this week, I was encouraged to hear Secretary Hegseth proclaim a ``Trump buildup'' in the mold of the Reagan buildup that helped end the Cold War. For the record, my fellow defense appropriators and I have been ready to deliver such a buildup since day one, and our bipartisan bill speaks for itself in putting money where our mouth is.

Ah, but here is the rub: We can only make it happen if the administration moves from words to action, and an important step in that process is the national defense strategy.

Historically, the national defense strategy is what administrations use to define threats, identify objectives, and propose coherent plans for aligning resources to actually meet them. But this time around, the stakes are a lot higher. A shortsighted NDS that doesn't align with the President's vision of American greatness and peace through strength could wind up as the pretext to extend Biden-era constraints on our military indefinitely.

Unfortunately, early reports suggest that this risk may be real and that the NDS may turn out eerily similar to the rhetoric of Obama-era officials' who viewed their remit as managing America's decline amid a transition to a multipolar world.

If the NDS ignores the importance of maintaining American primacy, fails to account for the global nature of competition with China, or discounts the value of supporting and integrating allies and partners, it would risk further sabotaging the President's efforts to restore peace through strength.

So I will be interested to read how the Department is applying the lessons and dividends of security cooperation with allies and partners to looming challenges, how it plans to address critical munitions shortages even as its fiscal year 2026 request and reconciliation investment fails to maximize existing production capacity, and how it accounts for the increased likelihood of simultaneous conflict in multiple theaters.

If the administration means what it says about restoring deterrence, it would recognize how plans to reduce security cooperation with frontline NATO allies invite more brazen Russian incursions into the alliance's territory and airspace; it would recognize how China is watching closely for signs of weakening American commitments to European allies, to Ukraine, or to AUKUS partners.

Of course, responsible senior officials who understood the dividends of security cooperation would not have tried an end run around the President to freeze assistance to Ukraine. They certainly would have appreciated that cutting off intelligence sharing to the world's foremost experts in drone warfare might make it harder for the U.S. military to achieve drone dominance.

On that count, I was encouraged earlier this week that the President himself green-lit an expansion of the intelligence cooperation that members of his administration had actually wanted to end.

As our colleagues will recall, the President observed last month that Ukraine can win--the President said Ukraine can win--and unlike some of his advisers, the American people are indicating in clear majorities that they think we ought to help.

By one recent poll, more than 6 in 10 Americans support--support-- sending more arms and military supplies to help Ukraine win. That includes--listen to this: A clear majority of Republicans support helping Ukraine. And the recent voting history of the House of Representatives indicates that poll isn't a fluke. Last month, House Republicans voted overwhelmingly--House Republicans voted overwhelmingly--to reject an amendment to the NDAA that would have barred further

assistance to Ukraine. Listen to this: 72 percent of House Republicans--72 percent of House Republicans--including House leadership, said that continuing to arm Ukraine's defense was a good idea.

So the public is behind it. Republicans in Congress are behind it. We know it is the right thing to do.

Ultimately, the President knows that money talks. He understands that valuable things are expensive. What is true in property development is also true in military procurement. There is no way around it. Take the Golden Dome for example. Building anything close to a continental missile defense shield will, by reasonable estimates, cost several times more than was allocated this year in one-off reconciliation spending, every year, for decades to come.

If the Pentagon isn't even planning to max out its budget request for procuring critical munitions in the short term, why on Earth should our adversaries take any talk of long-term missile defense seriously? Likewise, why should they take American airpower seriously if we are only willing to develop sixth-generation stealth fighters for the Air Force but not for the Navy?

What good are multibillion-dollar aircraft carriers if we are not prepared to equip them with aircraft that can survive modern warfare?

At home and abroad, I am concerned that too many of the President's advisers are unwilling to acknowledge the gap between his stated priorities and what they are prepared to invest to achieve them. If you ask me, the name on the front door at the Pentagon matters a great deal less than whether the services inside are equipped and prepared to deter and win wars, and we are facing real, glaring gaps in critical capabilities.

The ink was barely dry on the One Big Beautiful Bill when senior Pentagon officials began to report to my colleagues and I on the Appropriations Committee that they still faced significant funding shortfalls. Given the high pace of operations in the Middle East and in the Western Hemisphere, it is safe to assume these costs are only going to continue to rise.

So there is a lot going on around this building, but, soon, I hope our colleagues will have an opportunity to go on record in favor of investing in peace through strength. We will have a chance to put our money where our mouth is on reestablishing deterrence and rebuilding the force required to back it up. Our investments in the common defense are a signal of our national resolve.

When the American people spoke last November, I don't think they meant for their leaders to mail in a third year of anemic--anemic-- Biden-era top lines. I don't think the President assembled his policy and budget advisers with a mind to punt in the face of looming threats. When he hired civilian Pentagon leaders to restore deterrence, I think he meant more than just threatening adversaries with a catchy line on camera; I think he meant building the force that threatens them with its very existence.

So if the administration wants a Trump buildup, then let's build one, and once the Democrats' shutdown is over, let's start with serious, increased, full-year investments in our national defense.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Congressional Record the adopted U.S. Senate Professional Liability Insurance Regulations.

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the original intent of the 2018 farm bill's Federal hemp legislation and the need to restore it.

Earlier this year, a report from the University of Kentucky found that cannabis-related poisonings among Kentuckians under 18 rose by 43 percent between 2023 and 2024. As you can see here, emergency room visits are rising steadily as well: ``Cannabis-Related Emergency Department Visits Climb in Kentucky, Especially Among [Young People].''

Calls to poison control centers in Kentucky regarding cannabis have doubled in the last 5 years, and more than 40 percent--listen to this-- have been about children under 12.

Children all over the Commonwealth, from Laurel County to Jefferson County, are facing serious health and safety concerns due to THC poisoning from hemp-derived products, and so are children all across the country. It is not just a Kentucky problem.

How did we get here? Let's go back to the beginning.

Back in 2014, I lead the effort to secure pilot programs for industrial hemp, and I led the effort to legalize the crop in 2018. This industry has seen tremendous growth, especially in Kentucky. Hemp is used in food, clothing, paper, plastic, and many of our consumer products. Its versatility gave farmers hope for a new and profitable cash crop.

Unfortunately, some companies looking to make a quick buck have been exploiting a loophole in the 2018 farm bill by taking legal amounts of THC from hemp and turning it into intoxicating substances. They take these synthetic chemicals and use them as ingredients in appealing snack and candylike products and distribute them in familiar packaging.

Here, it gives you an example of how these hemp-related, THC-related factors are packaged in candy that looks very much like candy being consumed by kids all over the country. This is, by definition, a real problem.

Children love candy. They can recognize well-known brands of candy before they can even read. As you can see from the chart that we were just talking about, the packaging on these snacks is nearly identical to Oreos, Doritos, or Skittles. Little do kids know that these products are laced with intoxicating synthetic chemicals. Young children are consuming these snacks thinking they are candy, not poison.

On top of that, these products are easily accessible and can be purchased at convenience stores. Some of them are even more intoxicating than actually smoking marijuana. Let me repeat that. Products more potent than marijuana can be bought off the shelf of a gas station.

Look, for years, I have called on the FDA to regulate these products. They have not taken the initiative to do so, which has certainly been an ongoing disappointment.

That is why we are here today. The language I recently attempted to secure in the Agriculture appropriations bill would have kept these products out of the hands of children while preserving the hemp industry for farmers.

For the sake of those misguided by my opponents on this issue, let me clarify a few things: You will hear from some that this language would have meant the total destruction of the hemp industry. Well, obviously, that is wrong. Under my language, industrial hemp, and CBD would have remained legal, period. Period.

Some predicted there would be widespread economic downturn to farmers should this language become law. Wrong again.

Hemp makes up less than one-hundredth of 1 percent of all farmed acres in the United States. I want the number to grow and to grow a lot. That is why I secured the legalization of hemp production back in the first place.

As long as I have been a Senator from Kentucky, I have supported our farmers. I am proud to have served on the Agriculture Committee my entire career in the Senate because of its importance to Kentucky. From the tobacco buyout program to tax relief for the sale of farmland, I have made sure our farmers have the tools they need to be successful in volatile markets. My language would not have changed that.

This language would have remained in the appropriations package had one Senator not derailed the process. You know, it is one thing to call yourself an advocate for hemp farmers, but if you didn't support the 2014 pilot program and you didn't support the 2018 farm bill that legalized hemp production and you would have blocked a major step forward on this appropriations package if it had included my language to close the bad-actor loophole, then what does being an advocate actually mean?

This package funds a significant portion of the Federal revenue, from Agencies that provide critical resources to our farmers to law enforcement, military, and our veterans, just to name a few.

We need the appropriations process to function. Congress needs to do its job and fund the government. And I, for

one, do not intend to be an obstacle. So in order to move the package forward, I allowed my language to be stripped from the bill. But my effort to rule out bad actors, protect our children, support farmers, and reaffirm our original legislative intent will continue.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I would like to pay tribute to my friend Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Candance is retiring this year after a decade leading the chamber, and I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing Candance for her devotion to serving the public and making her community a better place.

Candance graduated from Brescia College in Owensboro in 1993 with a bachelors in history and went to work in her first job for the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce as community program manager. The experience she gained in this role ignited her love for the chamber's work and continues to drive her to this day.

While completing her master's in public administration from Western Kentucky University, Candance began her next career step that involved a 5-and-a-half-year period helping run the Daviess County Fiscal Court as chief of staff to county judge executive W.M ``Buzz'' Norris. There, she assisted in the management of a $35 million budget and 200 full- time employees. This was only the beginning of her robust service in local and county government that built a foundation for her tremendous success as a leader.

Candance's affinity for the chamber brought her back in 2000 as vice president of workforce development and education. She worked with local businesses addressing workforce issues and helping workers transition into new jobs. Candance quickly rose to the rank of executive vice president overseeing a broad swath of operations which focused on economic development in Owensboro.

In November of 2004, Candance was elected city commissioner, where she began the first of three consecutive terms advocating on behalf of Owensboro and facilitating one of the most important developments in city history in the riverfront revitalization project. I was proud to help secure $50 million in Federal funds to renovate Owensboro's riverfront, turning this space into a magnet for economic development. Candance played an integral role in this project, encouraging community and business leaders to think big. What started as just an idea was made into reality through the persistence and tenacity of public servants like Candance.

In 2015, she returned to the Owensboro Chamber as president and led the organization through some of its most pivotal moments with a laser focus on bettering the lives of small business owners. Advocacy efforts under Candance led to the widening of highway 54, lighting of the William H. Natcher Bridge, and countywide broadband. In addition to these infrastructure accomplishments, Candance has worked tirelessly on talent building and retention through the chamber's young professionals group and by founding the Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute. She believes in young talent and has seen firsthand how valuable it can be to a city.

In addition to her career accomplishments, Candance has served on numerous boards such as Kentuckians for Better Transportation, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Board, and the Brescia University Board of Trustees. She has also received status as a distinguished alumnus from her alma mater for making a difference.

While Candance's career accomplishments are beyond impressive, there is much more to her life. Inspired by her grandfather and motivated by current and past local entrepreneurs, Candance leads with selflessness, always striving to give back. She frequently attributes her successes to the team and ensures those around her feel valued for their work. Candance gives it her all and inspires others to get involved too. I know that she will succeed in the next chapter of her life and is looking forward to spending more time with her husband Nick and adult children Nicholas and Caroline. Once again, I ask my colleagues to please join me in applauding Candance's career of service to the public and to the business community in Owensboro.

Mr. President, as sports lovers, we all have our local columnists who are the go-to source for the ins and outs of our favorite sports teams. In my hometown of Louisville, KY, Rick Bozich, is one of my favorite go-to guys. For 50 years, the Hall of Fame journalist reported on local and national sports in Kentucky and Indiana, 47 of those years covering sports in Louisville. But on July 1, 2025, Rick will be retiring following a long and accomplished career in sports media. And for us sports fans, it is like losing our favorite player. He will be missed.

Rick began his career in Gary, IN, delivering the newspaper to households in his neighborhood. He attended Indiana University, earning a journalism degree in 1975. Following graduation, he worked for a few years at local papers in Indiana, before moving to the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times. He must have realized quickly that, for a career in sports journalism, few places offer such enthusiastic fans or such deep-seated rivalries as Louisville, KY.

After 34 years at the Courier-Journal, Rick decided to make the jump to television, joining WDRB-TV in 2012. At the TV station, he, alongside his friend and former Courier-Journal colleague Eric Crawford, helped expand the on-air sports department. Every time there was a major sports story, Rick was there, writing about the University of Louisville Cardinals, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, and of course, the greatest 2 minutes in sports: the Kentucky Derby. He has also covered many of the hottest sporting events across the country, including NCAA Final Fours, Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, and the Summer Olympics.

During his long career, he earned honors and awards from national and State press associations. This includes Hall of Fame recognitions by the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was also awarded the Red Smith Award for Kentucky Derby coverage and won an Emmy Award for his sports commentating at WDRB-TV. His work has appeared on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times, just to name a few.

I ask my colleagues to join me and all his viewers and readers in honoring Rick and congratulating him on his retirement. While he plans to keep a

close eye on all things sports, I am sure he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Rhonda and his children and grandkids.

Mr. President, as a University of Louisville sports fan, Saturday, June 28, 2025, is going to be a memorable day for me. My friend and Louisville legend Tom Jurich is receiving a long-overdue honor from the University he helped build into a national sports powerhouse.

From 1997 to 2017, Tom served as athletic director for UofL, my alma mater. During those 20 years, I witnessed firsthand his work to build an athletic department that is one of the best in the country. And on Saturday, he will make his first visit back to campus for a celebration on the street lined by sports facilities that he made possible, Floyd Street.

The University of Louisville, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, and many of Tom's family and friends will commemorate him by renaming a portion of Floyd Street as Tom Jurich Way. I wish I could be there in person to celebrate my friend, but I know that he and his family and all those that love him will cherish the memories that he helped create at the University of Louisville.

As Tom told a local Louisville reporter in 2023, ``I just wanted Louisville to become a destination . . . not a place you passed through--but one people aimed for.'' Well, Tom got his wish, and now, that destination takes us to Tom Jurich Way.

Mr. President, the WDRB-TV sports journalist Eric Crawford paid tribute to Tom Jurich in a recent article. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, when Iran's proxies launched a full- scale war on Israel, October 7, 2023, President Biden pledged an unwavering commitment to Israel's security. That was the right message in the moment.

But as I warned publicly at the time, Israel needed more than just rhetorical solidarity. Like Ukraine, Israel needed precious time, space to maneuver, and materiel support to defeat a shared enemy. And yet, as in Ukraine, America's commitment has indeed wavered. Our support has not been ironclad.

Instead, under the previous administration, American support was delayed, restricted, and paired with attempts to micromanage Israel's operations and even interfere with Israeli politics. And at every turn, the progressive left and isolationist right hyperventilated about the specter of so-called forever war.

Fortunately, Israel held its ground. Israelis certainly weren't enthused about a ground war in Gaza. Their leaders knew that war would be difficult. But they knew it was unavoidable so long as Hamas terrorists still refused to release its hostages. They also knew lasting security meant changing Iran's calculus, not just responding to attacks from proxies.

So Israel decided to turn Iran's terrorist assets into liabilities. Despite the pearl-clutching here in Washington, our allies simultaneously decapitated Hezbollah and crippled Hamas. Their bold operations created a new opportunity for Lebanon to claw back its sovereignty from a terrorist state within a state.

Meanwhile, the collapse of the brutal Assad regime in Syria brought down a Russian vassal and Iran's favorite corridor of weapons and terrorist finance.

These are the circumstances President Trump inherited. What to do with them has been the subject of quite some debate. Some of his advisers and supporters came with Obama-Biden-era talking points, ready to urge him to continue his predecessor's policy of constraining Israel. Some had argued publicly that America had no vital or existential interests in the Middle East or claimed the region was a distraction from other priorities. They warned of forever war.

Some seemed to push for nuclear negotiations with parameters eerily similar to the nuclear deal the President withdrew from his first term. They even proposed Iran could keep enriching uranium, until the President, rightly, correctly, quashed that idea.

These mixed messages emboldened Iran and its proxies. After all, why give up if administration officials saw the Middle East as little more than a distraction or if they seem as fearful of restoring deterrence as the previous guys?

So Hamas kept holding hostages. The Houthis kept targeting Israel and Red Sea commerce. And the Islamic Republic kept marching toward a nuclear weapon. And in response, Israel took the next logical step to restore deterrence.

Once again, innovative and decisive strikes destroyed Iran's air defenses and imposed immediate--immediate--costs on Tehran. Leaders across Israel's politics stood united behind the daring operations.

Ah, but here in America, the same restrainers, anti-Israel progressives, and self-proclaimed realists warned again of regional conflagration if the President intervened alongside or even supported Israel's strikes.

The President's own--his own--Director of National Intelligence traveled to Hiroshima to record a bizarre video, not as a warning against Tehran's nuclear ambitions but presumably against American or Israeli operations to blunt them.

Now, fortunately, the President rejected the pleas of appeasers and isolationists. The strikes he ordered dealt a massive blow to Iran's nuclear program, bolstered American credibility, and strengthened U.S. and Israel leverage to end Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and its support for terrorism for good.

Thanks to Israel's historic efforts for more than a year and a half, Iran's ability to threaten regional stability is massively degraded. Not since before the Islamic Revolution has there been such an opportunity for America, Israel, and our Arab partners to reset regional dynamics on such favorable terms.

Achieving it has required no large-scale deployment of U.S. ground forces. It required only supporting our friends. Israel is a close ally and a strategic asset, not a liability. And the strategic return on our investment in assisting Israel is incalculable. Standing with our Israeli friends offers a powerful lesson about American leadership, the value of alliances and partnerships, and the real nature of peace through strength.

And this lesson extends far, far beyond the Middle East.

If America refuses to apply it elsewhere--like Ukraine--we do so at grave risk to our own interests. But that is

exactly what some in Washington seem to be doing.

Congress recently learned that a senior DOD official conducted a review of DOD security assistance efforts and--listen to this-- concluded that the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, among other programs, was wasteful. This is a Republican administration panning a program created by the Republican Congress in 2015 to counter President Obama's toothless response to Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine.

I would like to see the analysis behind the administration's decision to zero out USAI in its fiscal 2026 request. I would like to hear them try to explain away the massive return on investment of America's security assistance to Ukraine and the previous lessons we have learned from our Ukrainian partners.

The Secretary of the Army has, rightly, called Ukraine--listen to this--``the Silicon Valley of warfare.'' Do his colleagues at the Pentagon think this assessment is wrong or do they just not think access to cutting-edge, modern combat is valuable?

Well, here is the truth: USAI and other security efforts have helped us, measurably, address shortcomings in strategy, capabilities, and production capacity that would have gone ignored until it was too late.

It is an inconvenient reality for isolationists and restrainers, but for a tiny percent--a tiny percent--of our defense budget, we helped a smaller military resist invasion by a vastly larger one and degrade a major U.S. adversary.

As with Israel, Ukraine is fighting an adversary of the United States. Our support does not entangle us in a far-off foreign conflict. For Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, America is the main enemy, the Great Satan. If these adversaries beat our friends, the threat to America becomes a thousand times greater. We should be grateful for friends so willing to defend our collective interests against common folks.

Partnership with Ukraine is teaching us what modern warfare could mean for U.S. forces when they do face direct conflict. It has tested our assumptions about munitions inventories, expenditure rates, electronic warfare, and the duration of conflict.

Without Ukraine's experience with U.S. weapons, we would have been surprised to find some advanced systems quickly rendered inoperable on future battlefields. The money we invest in USAI on weapons for Ukraine expands our own production capacity in the process and will improve the quality of our own munitions.

Supplemental appropriations on Ukraine and Israel, in turn, backfill our own stocks with brand new capabilities--not just 155-mm rounds but air defenses and long-range fires, with specific investment in solid rocket motors.

These investments help us prepare for conflict in the Indo-Pacific, and production would be slower in the absence of our partnership with Ukraine. Not doing more to address our growing defense needs isn't a failure of foresight. It is a failure of political will.

Everyone wants to see an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, but the price of peace matters. If we want enduring stability in Europe, we can't fall for an illusory peace. We should know enough history not to dismiss this as merely ``a quarrel in a faraway country, between two people of whom we no nothing.''

It is a major war of conquest in Europe--the most significant since the days of Nazi Germany--and allies and adversaries half a world away are watching it closely for clues about America's resolve.

Certainly, Europe's deepening commitments to collective defense will make real peace more enforceable. The President's insistence has driven much of this progress. Putin's brutality has reinforced it.

Since 2022, our European NATO allies have made historic--historic-- investments in defense, often buying from us. Many are preparing to make even larger commitments at this week's NATO summit. All of that is good news. But we can't expect allies to continue signing up for 3.5 and 5 percent commitments if America insists on falling further behind.

Likewise, we can't expect Putin to end his aggression if he thinks America's abandonment of Ukraine is just a matter of time. And we can't expect anyone to take America's threats and commitments seriously if we are content to let our own strength atrophy.

A base budget request that cuts defense spending in real terms doesn't show Moscow we are serious, let alone Beijing. Leading from behind would be bad enough, but this is just plain falling behind.

The strongest deterrence is denying an adversary's objectives through military means. Israel is restoring this deterrence in the Middle East. Ukraine is achieving it by holding its own against Russia, but it needs help.

Recently, I have asked administration officials simple questions, like: Who is the aggressor in the conflict?

The answer is pretty obvious. But a second, equally simple question seems to actually trip them up: Who do we want to win? Who do we want to win?

The President made the right call to stand with Israel. I hope he will also decide to stand with Ukraine, prevent Russian victory, and start reversing a dangerous downward trend in our defense budgets.

I hope he will recognize Russia's attempt to ``tap him along'' for what it is. Putin is getting mixed messages from us. He thinks he has time. He believes the West is weak and divided.

But the President, at very little cost, can shatter that illusion. It is time to impose sanctions, raise the price of Russia's aggression, redouble security assistance to Ukraine, and drive the Kremlin to seek peace. It is time for deterrence through denial.

There is no surer path to a just and enduring peace, no better way to demonstrate that peace through strength actually means something, no clearer sign to allies and adversaries watching closely, from the Western Hemisphere to the Indo-Pacific, that America still has the will to lead.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, on March 11, 2025, Kentucky lost a distinguished athlete, businessman, and mentor to many. Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, known to most as ``Junior,'' wrote history on the basketball court, throughout Kentucky and beyond. His dedication for championing others' successes and imprinting a substantial difference on our community will not be forgotten. I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring the life of Junior Bridgeman.

Junior was a renowned athlete who helped lead the University of Louisville men's basketball team to their third Final Four during his senior year in 1975. He then was selected eighth in the

NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, then quickly traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he spent 10 out of his 12 seasons playing professional basketball. He played 711 games and scored 9,892 points, where he holds the record for third most games played and the ninth most points in franchise history. In addition to his historic playing career, he was a mentor to many rookies, teaching them how to manage and navigate their newfound salaries as professional athletes.

During his time in Milwaukee, he began investing in fast food companies. As he left the league, his business ventures dramatically grew and so did his philanthropic efforts. He focused his service on youth education and community development. He was a key driver in opening Louisville's West End School, a tuition-free boarding school that instills academic rigor, character development, and responsible action in students. At the heart of Junior's legacy rests a profound desire to empower others to great success.

Junior made meaningful contributions to Louisville throughout his career, including during his time serving on the board of trustees for the University of Louisville and Simmons College of Kentucky. He served on many local boards such as PGA of America, Churchill Downs, Inc., Fifth Third Bank, Jackson Hewitt, Governors Scholar Program, Crusade for Children Foundation, Louisville Arena Authority, and others. His passion for Louisville spread throughout the Nation as he would host one of the most notable charity fundraising galas the night before the Kentucky Derby. These events brought together many celebrities and public figures, widening the audience of the event. In each of these endeavors, Junior was committed to opening doors and fostering growth for those that would otherwise not have the opportunity.

Although Junior was known for his athletic career and vast business ventures, his dedication to his faith is what set him apart. He was an active member of the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, and his service to the Lord can be seen in each of his good works. Through his commitment to serving those in need, his eagerness to give graciously, and his immense sense of humility, we remember him as a trailblazer of benefaction and progress in the Commonwealth. I would like to express my personal condolences to Junior's wife Doris, his three children, and all those who knew and loved him. The impact and legacy Junior Bridgeman leaves behind is a testament to the instrumental role we can all play in each other's lives and our communities.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a driven and highly accomplished Kentuckian Alecia Webb-Edgington. Alecia was recently named 2025 Person of the Year by the Covington Education Foundation in honor of her work impacting the northern Kentucky community as president of the Life Learning Center. I ask my colleagues to please join me in applauding Alecia on her award and recognizing her outstanding career of public service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Alecia spent the bulk of her career on the frontlines of our communities with the Kentucky State Police, where she served for 15 years. The Governor's security detail and undercover narcotics were just two of Alecia's many assignments as a trooper. It was during this period when she met her husband and greatest supporter Ted. She finished her time with KSP working in the role of chief information officer. After her retirement, Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Alecia to be executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, making her the first woman to hold the office.

When her political appointment came to an end, Alecia knew her call to serve was far from over. From 2009 to 2013, Alecia represented the 63rd District in the Kentucky House of Representatives, climbing the ranks and eventually becoming vice-chair of the Education Committee. As the daughter of a career educator, Alecia values and prioritizes the advancement of education. Her passion is abundantly evident in her work. Alecia's success in Frankfort pushed her to run for Congress, and although her campaign fell short, she knew there was more she could do to serve the public.

An opportunity was presented to Alecia that would take her to Washington, DC, to serve at the State Department as a senior police adviser in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. With excitement for the job and an enthusiastic push from Ted, Alecia made the jump, commuting back and forth to DC in this new adventure. Within the old Yugoslavia and North Africa portfolio, she specialized in issues of trafficking and rule of law in post-conflict countries. She worked with folks who had suffered through tremendous conflict, striving to turn their lives around. While the position was a complete mystery to Alecia when she started, the work was fascinating and very rewarding. She eventually decided to put her newly developed skills from the State Department to use helping Kentuckians at the Life Learning Center.

Since 2016, Alecia has been the president of the Life Learning Center in Covington, KY, leading a team focused on helping the at-risk population receive the education and skills necessary to succeed in the workforce and in life. Her work has made a significant impact on the northern Kentucky community and has won her many well-deserved awards, including the Covington Education Foundation's 2025 Person of the Year. Along with her two Kentucky State Police commendations, Alecia has received several other significant distinctions like the Kenton County Pioneer Award and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Community Award.

Alecia's also serves on the board of Notre Dame Academy and the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment

Board. Community is the heart of her focus in all her endeavors. She is a proven leader with exceptional experience whose talent inspires her peers and colleagues to follow her with a high level of confidence. Her impact on the lives of others is inspirational, and I am grateful for her devotion to our Commonwealth and our Nation. Again, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Alecia on her award and recognize her outstanding career of service.