Floor Statements

Mr. President, following a decade of service as Trigg County Judge-Executive, Hollis Alexander is retiring. He has spent 35 years in service to his constituents in a variety of roles and is now looking forward to spending more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Hollis for his work on behalf of Kentucky and honoring him for his service to the Commonwealth.

Hollis got his start in public service through his work with the Cadiz Police Department, which he led as chief for nearly two decades before entering elected office. Through his career in law enforcement, he became a well-known face to Trigg County locals. His work also caught the eye of statewide leaders, and when Trigg County's previous judge-executive stepped down to take a seat in the State senate, Kentucky's Governor appointed Hollis as his replacement.

Though originally a Democrat, Hollis joined scores of other Kentucky elected officials to switch his party registration and better reflect the conservative values of most of his constituents. Since his original appointment in 2013, Hollis won reelection twice--first as a Democrat, then as a Republican--and earned the trust and confidence of his neighbors.

Hollis lists Trigg County's fiscal strength as one of his proudest accomplishments in office. Through his successful stewardship of county revenues and expenses, he was able to upgrade local government facilities and equipment. Hollis has left Trigg County's government better than it was when he found it, making a mark on his community that his neighbors will feel for years to come.

Judge Alexander says he is looking forward to spending more time with his family--and especially his four grandchildren--after he takes a step back from his current role at this year's end. I know he certainly deserves it after three-and-a-half decades of fine service to Trigg County. On behalf of my Senate colleagues, I wish Hollis the best of luck in the next step of his life and express my deep gratitude for his service to Kentucky.

Mr. President, after 20 years of service as Hardin County judge-executive, my good friend Harry Berry is retiring. Over the past two decades, he has built a Kentucky-wide reputation for steadfast leadership and selfless service. Today, I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in thanking Judge Berry for his work and wishing him well in his retirement.

Harry took a circuitous route to public service in Hardin County. A Missouri native, he spent much of his early career in the Washington, DC, area, working with the CIA, Army, and other defense agencies to coordinate engineering projects around the world. When Harry decided to retire from that role, he and his wife Jill chose Hardin County as their new home; the county was close to Jill's parents in Hopkins County and offered robust services to the former military personnel who settled in the area after service at Fort Knox.

Harry is a self-described introvert who prefers to approach the world with the quiet, analytical approach he developed as a military engineer rather than the bombast common in politics. Still, he has a keen eye for organization and development, honed through 20 years in the Army and, upon moving to Hardin County, spotted several local issues he thought he could try his hand at improving. His first run for public office was unsuccessful, but after living in Hardin County for only a few years, he won the county judge-executive race in 2002. He was the first Republican to ever occupy the office.

Twenty years later, Harry says his retail politicking has improved. But his real accomplishments in office have been largely behind the scenes: sound financial management, improved hiring and public services, upgraded government facilities, and extensive economic development spurred by his steady, capable leadership. Under Harry's purview, Hardin County has grown at a quick clip, leveraging its close connections to the Fort Knox military installation to foster new business and growth.

Beyond his public service, Harry has grown roots in Hardin County that will continue to deepen in his retirement. He has leaned into his community's extensive slate of organizations dedicated to caring for veterans, including the Disabled Veterans Association, the VFW, and the Military Officers Association. He promotes philanthropy and volunteerism through the Lions, Masons, and Shriners. As Harry takes a step back from elected office, I am sure these organizations will welcome his interest and energy.

Few leaders can move to a new community and, within only a few years, win an election to be that community's chief elected official. Fewer still can do so without any experience in public office. But Harry did so seamlessly and, 20 years later, has become an indispensable part of Hardin County government. I know I speak for many Kentuckians when I say I am sorry to see him leave this role but thankful for the two decades of service he dedicated to our Commonwealth. On behalf of my Senate colleagues, I congratulate Judge Harry Berry on his well-earned retirement.

Mr. President, Fleming County Judge-Executive Larry Foxworthy is stepping down after 20 years of work on behalf of his constituents. His keen management of Fleming County's finances and efforts to shore up government services have left a deep mark on his community. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Judge Foxworthy for his sound leadership and congratulating him on his retirement.

Larry and his wife Joyce are both lifelong residents of northeastern Kentucky's Fleming County, part of a region of the Commonwealth noted for its rolling farmland and historic small towns. Larry has dedicated himself to both preserving that area's heritage and charting a course toward a more vibrant future. As the county has grown in population and economic development over the past two decades,

his leadership has been proven a success.

Judge Foxworthy takes a hands-on approach to leadership. Beyond the fiscal court, he offers input on several boards that impact Fleming County's economy and public services: the Fleming-Mason Airport Board of Directors, the Fleming County Hospital Board of Directors, and the Fleming County Industrial Authority Board of Directors, to name a few. He has taken his expertise region- and Commonwealth-wide, helping the Kentucky Association of Counties advocate for favorable policies on the State and Federal level, and directing economic initiatives in northeastern Kentucky through service as the Buffalo Trace Area Development District Chairman.

Future generations will feel Larry's impact on Fleming County through several tangible improvements he brought to his community. He spearheaded the expansion of the Fleming County Nature Preserve, inviting more tourists to his part of the Commonwealth. He helped protect the Fleming County Hospital from insolvency, guaranteeing continued medical care for his constituents. He has left Fleming County's finances better than he found them, allowing local government to continue to provide the services its citizens rely on.

Larry and Joyce chose to raise their three children in Fleming County and have been blessed to become grandparents in recent years. I know that, in retirement, Larry will cherish the opportunity to spend more time with his growing family and foster the next generation of leaders in Kentucky. I thank Larry for his service and, on behalf of my Senate colleagues, honor him as he charts the next chapter in his life and career.

Mr. President, Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly has served his community with distinction since 2011, earning three terms in office and leading Owensboro toward a bright, prosperous future. Last year, Al announced he would not seek a fourth term in office, following in his predecessors' footsteps by deciding to serve a maximum of 12 years as judge-executive. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Al for his service to Daviess County and thanking him for his effective leadership.

Al felt called to public service early in life and hasn't let up on his commitment since. Following his graduation from Owensboro's Brescia College, he joined the U.S. Army to help protect and defend our Nation. Not long after, he married his wife of more than 50 years, Judy Wolfe, and then returned to his hometown for a career in the private sector.

Al has remained involved in Owensboro's thriving small business community since then and currently serves as president of the family- owned Acme Plumbing and Heating company. However, two decades ago, he realized he could make his mark on Daviess County beyond that role and ran for the Owensboro City Commission. After winning election in 2003 and again in 2007, Al earned the title of Owensboro mayor pro tem in 2007. This served as the perfect primer for his county-wide service as judge-executive, which began in 2011.

Over the past decade, Al has marked a number of important milestones in Owensboro's history. In just the last year, Owensboro earned the title of ``Bluegrass Capital of the World,'' cementing a yearslong effort to foster the musical arts in Daviess County and bring tourists to the cradle of Bluegrass music in the surrounding region. Al leveraged Owensboro's access to the Ohio River to expand Daviess County's riverport infrastructure and waterfront attractions, inviting economic development for the whole county. But more than anything, Al says his chief achievement has been his unique ability to sit down with his constituents and listen to their concerns, one-on-one. That kind of personal relationship with his neighbors and voters has always been the lynchpin of Al's career.

Al says he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and family during his retirement and is also likely to expand his lifetime involvement with his church, Our Lady of Lourdes. After his decades of service to Daviess County, he has certainly earned the right to take a step back from the public eye and enjoy his retirement. On behalf of the Commonwealth and the U.S. Senate, I would like to express my immense gratitude to Al for his work on behalf of Daviess County and wish him well in the next step in his career.

Mr. President, after three terms as Lyon County judge- executive, my good friend Wade White is stepping down from his position and has been nominated to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors. His proven leadership in local government has caught the eye of Federal leaders, but I know his focus remains on Kentucky and helping his community access the inexpensive, reliable power TVA promises to provide to a wide swath of our Commonwealth. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Wade for his public service and wishing him the best in the next step in his career.

Wade's heart has always been in serving his neighbors and home State. Even before his community elected him to serve as their top county official, he made a mark on Kentucky as a youth minister and insurance adjuster--in both roles, helping people as they went through tough times. Twelve years ago, he threw his hat in the ring and successfully pursued election as county judge-executive. He has lent his top-tier leadership and expertise to Lyon County ever since.

During his tenure, Wade's focus has been set squarely on some of the long-term challenges facing Lyon County. As one of the two Kentucky counties encompassing Land Between the Lakes, Lyon County and its leaders play an important role in advocating for prudent Federal land management policies. Wade and I have worked together closely to ensure Land Between the Lakes continues to offer economic and recreational opportunities for generations of Kentuckians to come.

Wade has also prioritized two pressing issues facing waterways in his region of Kentucky: improving Barkley Dam and addressing the ongoing Asian carp infestation. His work on these issues served as strong preparation for his nomination to the TVA Board, which plays a key role in managing Kentucky's waterways. The board also lacks representation from our State, despite serving 215,000 Kentucky households; Wade's unique perspective promises to bring balance to the organization and its priorities.

Though Wade is taking a step back from elected office, his career in public service is far from over. He will continue to steward Kentucky's development, just as he did during--and even before--his tenure as Lyon County judge-executive. On behalf of my Senate colleagues, I thank Wade for his hard work on behalf of Kentucky and look forward to his future service to our Nation.

Madam President, the whole country continues our vigil for the people of Florida, who are hunkered down through Hurricane Ian.

The storm's landfall yesterday brought surging seas and sustained winds over 150 miles an hour, and 2.5 million Florida families and businesses are reportedly without power. Evacuation orders have been in place for more than 2 million residents of the gulf coast.

The extent of the damage has barely even begun to come into focus. Fortunately, the coordinated State and local response, led by Governor DeSantis and supported by Federal Agencies, is ongoing.

Yesterday, our two colleagues from Florida led the State's entire congressional delegation in asking President Biden to issue a major disaster declaration and unlock further aid. I understand the President agreed this morning.

The Senate will stand ready to provide further assistance if needed. The government funding legislation before us will make sure the Disaster Relief Fund is refilled.

Most immediately, Floridians remain at the forefront of the nation's prayers.

The Economy

Madam President, now, on a completely different matter, families across America have felt the brunt of this all-Democratic government's failed energy policies. When gas prices were skyrocketing, the Biden administration insisted up and down they had no control over them. When the prices started to level off, the same politicians asked for a round of applause--funny how that works.

Here is what working families in Kentucky know: that a gallon of gas costs a full dollar more than when President Biden took office. American families and small businesses know their electricity bills skyrocketed this spring and this summer, and they know that heating costs on Democrats' watch this fall and winter may well be catastrophic.

Just like our overall 13.2 percent inflation since January 2021 is directly--directly--traceable to Democrats' reckless spending, a lot of our energy prices are traceable to Democrats' shortsighted policies. Democrats have spent 20 years saying we shouldn't explore for American energy, that our abundant fossil fuel resources should actually stay in the ground.

Just in the last 2 years, Democrats overwhelmingly voted two separate items to let the Biden EPA ban fracking. One analysis showed that the kind of fracking ban Democrats want will quadruple household energy bills.

Democrats supported President Biden's de facto bans on both offshore and onshore oil and gas leasing. They backed President Biden's decision to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline. I guess it is better to import Middle Eastern crude than safely transport oil from Canada.

They voted for reckless tax hikes, including a natural gas tax that will directly drive up families' heating costs.

And this week marks the 6-month anniversary of when President Biden began his reckless draining of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a desperate attempt to buy up his poll numbers. President Biden has already released more than 200 million barrels from the Reserve into the international market, more than all the other Presidents in our history combined. A few days ago, he promised to release an additional 10 million barrels in November.

Our country established the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a lifeline for national security crises. Until now, Presidents had only ever tapped it for armed conflicts or natural disasters. Now Democrats are emptying out our emergency reserves in a desperate attempt to save their political skins. Reckless and cynical does not even begin to cover it.

Now the Reserve sits at its lowest point since 1984. If our country were cut off from oil imports tomorrow, we would have less than 2 months' supply.

And, remember, 2 years ago, in the early COVID crisis, when markets were temporarily crashing and oil was selling for bargain-basement prices like we have never seen, Republicans tried to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the top when the prices were low. It would have been a win for economic stability, a win for national security, and a huge win for taxpayers. Oil actually was on a clearance sale, and we could have filled the Reserve right up to the top.

Oh, but Senate Democrats blocked it and bragged about blocking it. Leader Schumer boasted in writing that he had blocked a ``bailout for Big Oil''--a bailout for Big Oil, typical tired, old liberal rhetoric. But what our Democrat colleagues blocked was an unbelievably good deal for the American people. Now they are draining the Reserve they wouldn't let us refill, and when they do need to refill it, you had better believe taxpayers won't be paying March 2020 prices. I can tell you that.

Shortsighted, ineffective, and bad economics--that is Democrats' energy policy in microcosm. Working Americans pay the price every single day.

Crime

Now, Madam President, on another matter, runaway inflation isn't the only crisis keeping American families up at night. The last 2 years have seen law and order deteriorate all across our country. Public safety has eroded, violent crimes like murders and carjackings are breaking records, and our southern border has turned into a turnstile.

We have seen the violence and chaos firsthand in Kentucky, especially in my hometown of Louisville, but we aren't alone. This is a nationwide phenomenon on Democrats' watch.

Philadelphia just saw their 1,000th carjacking this year. It is not even October yet. Carjackings in Philly have quadrupled just since 2019.

In Phoenix, AZ, the first half of this year saw homicides jump up more than 25 percent compared to 2021. One woman whose brother and cousin were both shot and killed a few weeks ago said:

It's like the community has [actually] become accustomed to

it.

In 2021, Denver recorded more murders than they had seen in a single year since 1981, and the pace was 23 percent higher still in the first half of 2022.

Nationwide, robberies and thefts in big cities shot up 20 percent in the first half of this year.

So it turns out that, when an entire political party builds its brand around undermining the police, going easy on repeat offenders, and putting criminals' interests ahead of innocent families', bad things happen.

Bad things also happen when the same political party decides to stand down on border security: over 2 million illegal immigrants apprehended by the CBP this fiscal year alone, not even counting all of the people who evaded capture; an avalanche--an avalanche--of illegal drugs coming into our land.

These are massive concerns among the American people--concerns that our Senate Democratic majority has intentionally spent all year doing nothing whatsoever to address.

Mr. President, the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame recently announced its 42nd class of inductees, adding eight new members to a list of distinguished journalists, including Pulitzer Prize winners and broadcasters who have become household names. John B. Gaines, the former publisher of the Bowling Green Daily News, was one of this year's posthumous additions. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring John's induction into the Hall of Fame and remembering the deep mark he left on Kentucky print journalism.

John and I met through his role on the Bowling Green Daily News editorial board, where he helped craft opinion pieces that shaped the political outlook of generations of Kentuckians. During my earliest runs for statewide office, I knew how important it was for me to meet with John and his team of writers. Luckily, John and I tended to agree on most issues and became fast friends.

John was a member of the Gaines family, one of Bowling Green's most prominent and, until this year, the owners of the Daily News for five generations. He understood the deep importance of his family to Bowling Green's civic life, leveraging his role at the Daily News to bring public attention to critical local issues and fostering homegrown journalistic talent as President of the Kentucky Press Association. He was also a fierce advocate for government transparency and helped open the halls of Kentucky government more widely to reporters and, by extension, to everyday Kentuckians.

To honor John Gaines' induction into the Journalism Hall of Fame, his son Pipes Gaines delivered remarks at a reception in Lexington, KY. Pipes remembered his father's ``love of facts'' and his pursuit of them ``without fear or favor.'' I remember John's love for facts, as well, and his earnest belief that unvarnished, unbiased coverage of political issues would always illuminate Kentucky's government better than slanted reporting.

I thank John and the entire Gaines family for their stewardship of one of the Commonwealth's finest newspapers and for their service to their Bowling Green readers. Even more than a decade after John's passing, his legacy continues to reverberate around the Commonwealth.

The Bowling Green Daily News paid tribute to John Gaines' induction into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in a recent article. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, the Commonwealth's premier representative for our State's public and commercial radio and television stations, recently announced their 2022 Hall of Fame inductees. My good friend Dave ``Buzz'' Baker, WKYT's sports anchor, is one of those honored this year and joined the ranks of some of Kentucky's finest broadcast journalists. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dave for his service to our State and congratulating him on achieving this high honor.

Dave came to Kentucky in 1978 to attend school at Georgetown College and, after joining WKYT after graduating, has since called the Bluegrass State home. He must have realized quickly that, for a career in sports journalism, few places offer such enthusiastic fans or such riveting rivalries. As a Lexington sports reporter, he reserved special focus for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, tracking UK athletics through their highs and lows over four decades of first-rate journalism.

During his time at WKYT, Dave has had the opportunity to report from five Final Four Championships and three National Championships, following UK all across the country to keep fans updated. In March 2008, he found himself on the sidelines of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament when a tornado hit the Georgia Dome, certainly one of his more harrowing experiences on the job. His broadcasting extends beyond basketball, from UK football, to professional wrestling, including interviews with Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan. He has had quite the memorable career.

Today, as WKYT's sports anchor, he broadcasts to Lexington's sports- hungry audiences twice every weekday. He also hosts UK Sports Networks' ``Countdown to Tip-Off Show'' on the school's radio network and his own ``Sports Buzz'' podcast. In short, he is one of the most recognizable faces and voices of UK sports. His four-decade legacy at WKYT is so legendary that he earned a proclamation earlier this year from Lexington's mayor on his

40th anniversary with the station, naming that day Dave ``Buzz'' Baker Day in the city.

I also applaud Dave's work outside the television station. Using the trust and affection he has earned from his viewers, he has worked with Kentucky State government leaders to help promote safe, responsible behavior at the Commonwealth's high schools and colleges.

I thank Dave for his strong reporting on Kentucky athletics and join all of his viewers and listeners in congratulating him on his most recent honor from the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.

Mr. President, my good friend C.B. Embry has worn many hats during his long career in public life: as an elected official for more than 50 years in positions including mayor, county judge- executive, State representative, and State senator; as the proprietor of several businesses in and around Ohio County; as a journalist, published author, and teacher; as a volunteer, political organizer, church leader, and family man. C.B. recently submitted his resignation from the Kentucky State Senate, marking the end of his long career in government. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring C.B. and thanking him for his lifelong service to Kentucky.

C.B. found a passion for public service at a young age, entering journalism and teaching right after graduating from Western Kentucky University. His love for his home State and his hometown propelled him into elected office quickly, and, in 1970, he became the youngest ever mayor of Beaver Dam in Ohio County. His strong leadership and steadfast conservative credentials soon attracted national attention, and, in 1975, he was named the Outstanding Young Republican in the Nation by future President George H. W. Bush.

He and I entered into Republican politics at similar times, back when much of Kentucky was still blue. As young conservatives, we quickly bonded over our shared love of the Commonwealth and our similar work to help flip the State into the Republican column. Over the decades, our collaboration has only grown, and, because of the work of organizers like C.B., Kentuckians across our State have embraced conservative values.

Not long after C.B. entered the public eye, Ohio County residents recognized his expansive leadership potential, electing him county judge-executive in 1982. In 2002, he was elected to serve as State representative and, in 2014, became State senator. In all, he has been elected to public office a dozen times, proof of the trust and admiration he earned from his neighbors and constituents. He has also worked with various Kentucky Governors, Federal agencies, and statewide organizations to champion policies that improve Kentuckians' lives.

In his past 8 years in the State senate, C.B. earned recognition as a senior legislator and statesman. His work was expansive in scope, covering issues ranging from agriculture and energy policy to police safety and military affairs. Perhaps his proudest achievement was leading the passage of a so-called ``Right to Try'' bill that allows medical patients facing debilitating illnesses to try experimental treatments when all other options have been exhausted. State governments all around the country have mimicked his work and passed similar pieces of legislation.

More than anything, C.B. has always prioritized his family, celebrating his 60th anniversary with his wife Wanda this past August. As the father of three, grandfather of four, and great-grandfather of two, he has passed on his legacy of public service and integrity to a blossoming family. In business, church service, and government leadership, his priority has always been to give other Kentuckians the opportunity to build the same success he found in every aspect of his life and career.

When C.B. retired from the State senate, he was the oldest serving member of the body and received recognition from all his colleagues as one of Kentucky's premier senior statesmen. Congratulations and gratitude poured in from all over the Commonwealth, thanking C.B. for his decades of service to our State. I am proud to add my voice to that chorus of Kentuckians and give my deepest appreciation for his lifelong work on behalf of all citizens of the Commonwealth.

Mr. President, for more than 30 years, Chuck Mraz served communities in Eastern Kentucky as the ``Voice of the Eagles'' for Morehead State University athletics at Morehead State Public Radio. During his long career, from which he retired 4 years ago, he earned accolades from around the Commonwealth and region. This year, he received another distinction and was one of several broadcast journalists inducted into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Chuck for his service and congratulating him on achieving this high honor.

Chuck knew he wanted to be a sportscaster from the beginning of his career, noting in an interview that sports had always been a part of his life since he could pick up a bat and a ball. When he joined Morehead State Public Radio in 1986, he relished the opportunity to give commentary during Morehead State games. Even as his role at the radio station expanded, he stayed on as the voice of Eagles athletics and continues to serve as the play-by-play voice of Morehead State football and men's basketball in his retirement.

I had the opportunity to join Chuck's program a number of times over the years, enjoying our conversations that ranged from the important policy issues facing Kentuckians to our shared passion for Kentucky sports. His dedication to his career required many early mornings and late nights, but he never wavered from his love for Morehead State sports, staying dedicated to his beloved Eagles throughout his career.

Chuck's most recent recognition from the Kentucky Broadcasters Association is just one more award in a long list of honors he has received from local, State, and regional press associations. That includes more than 40 Kentucky Associated Press awards, the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Conference Award for Media and Technology, and the Ohio Valley Conference Media Award. Upon his retirement, Chuck also earned tributes and accolades from around Kentucky and the country.

I thank Chuck for his long career with Morehead State and congratulate him on his well-deserved induction into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. To all Kentuckians and Morehead State fans, he will always be the ``Voice of the Eagles.''

Morehead State paid tribute to Chuck Mraz in a recent article. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, first, this morning, the Senate and the entire country are watching the news and praying for the people of the great State of Florida, where a seemingly massive, massive hurricane is poised to make landfall soon. I understand the current forecast suggests that Hurricane Ian may be both extremely powerful and unusually slow-moving, a terrible combination for the citizens and communities in its path.

Our colleague the senior Senator from Florida reported this morning that State officials and the relevant Federal Agencies have been working well together and that, thus far, every request Florida has made of the Federal Government has been approved. The bipartisan government funding bill the Senate is on track to pass this week will ensure that the Federal Disaster Relief Fund is fully resourced at this critical moment.

We are all keeping the people of Florida at the forefront of our thoughts and will stand ready to help our colleagues from Florida, the Governor, and local officials however we can.

Continuing Resolution

Now, Mr. President, on a completely different matter, the path to keeping the government open and funded has been clear for weeks now. The solution was always going to be a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution, negotiated by Senators Shelby and Leahy, without any unrelated, partisan language jammed in. Our Democratic colleagues tried to complicate things by jamming in a phony, partisan figleaf on the subject of permitting reform.

Republicans strongly support real, substantive permitting reform. We are actually leading that charge. Senator Capito has an outstanding bill that would make significant changes to make it easier to build things in our country, create jobs in our country, and unleash domestic energy in our country.

The problem was that the Schumer-Manchin language was not actual permitting reform by any stretch. It was a phony figleaf. It was designed to create the illusion of progress while sapping the political will to tackle the issue in any meaningful way. The Democrats carefully tailored the bill to avoid making any--any--impactful changes to permitting laws. In fact, we had panicked State-level elected officials from around the country writing the Senate to explain how the Democrats' bill would actually make the existing problems even worse. Fortunately, the Senate saw through the political game, and the phony figleaf didn't have the votes.

So I am glad that our colleagues capitulated and abandoned their phony figleaf. I look forward to a bipartisan funding bill coming to the floor this week, and I hope our Democratic colleagues will push the liberal special interests aside and let actual, robust permitting reform become law someday soon.

Biden Administration

Mr. President, on another matter, 2 years ago, the American people elected a President who claimed he would govern as a uniting moderate. In underscoring that mandate, voters gave him unusually small coattails--the slimmest possible majority--in Congress.

The all-Democratic government inherited an economy that was, by every account, already primed and ready for economic recovery. Vaccines were already flooding the country. A major bipartisan stimulus had just passed, literally, days earlier. And remember, before the temporary COVID shot, years of Republican policies had our economic fundamentals humming along with low inflation, low unemployment, and robust growth, an outstanding trifecta for working families. To put it as plainly as possible, the Democrats had one job: Just don't mess things up.

But, alas, fast-forward to today.

Overall inflation is a staggering 13.2 percent since President Biden and his party came into power; consumer prices--through the roof; supply chain chaos left and right; the worst single year for both grocery inflation and electricity inflation since the fallout back in the Jimmy Carter era. The stock market has plummeted below where it was when President Biden took office, cutting the value of Americans' retirement savings just as the cost of living has soared. America's real wages--our citizens' buying power after inflation--is lower today than it was the moment President Biden put his hand on the Bible.

The Democrats asked for total control. They got total control, and they created a total disaster. The net effect of this far-left policy experiment has been the equivalent of all-out economic warfare against the American middle class. But alas, Democrats hardly seem to even much less care.

The same day the latest sky-high monthly inflation report came out, our colleagues literally headed down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House for a folk music concert--folk music concert--celebrating additional hundreds of billions they had just dumped--dumped--into ``green'' energy subsidies.

Do you know who isn't partying? Working families in Wisconsin who are paying a ``Democratic Inflation Tax'' averaging $673 every single month just to tread water. In Georgia, that is $681 every month and in Colorado, $953 every month.

None of this had to happen. It didn't have to happen. Democrats were literally warned in advance that their plans for far-left reckless spending would send inflation through the roof and crush normal Americans.

So what did our colleagues do? One gigantic party-line spending bill in 2021, another huge, reckless taxing and spending spree just this past summer, and student loan socialism that has cashiers and carpenters eating the graduate school debt of doctors and lawyers. It adds up to nearly $3 trillion of party-line waste--$3 trillion of party-line waste. And it adds up to 13.2 percent inflation and counting.

So Democrats wanted one-party control of Washington; they got it. They promptly used that power to create a literal nightmare for American families.

Tribute to John Calipari

Mr. President, now one final matter, in my home State of Kentucky, college basketball ranks up there with horseracing as one of our signature pastimes. Our greatest players have become local heroes. Our greatest seasons have become local legends. So it is no surprise, then, that our basketball coaches are larger-than-life figures.

Plenty of notable ones have passed through the halls of our universities. But the University of Kentucky's John Calipari--Coach Cal to most of us--is already one for the history books.

Of course, there is his record with the program: 365 wins, 4 Final Four appearances, and a National Championship.

There is also his record of public service. During the past 13 years with UK, Coach Cal has leveraged his position in the public eye to transform the face of charitable giving in Kentucky. In recognition of his work, the organization Multiplying Good presented Coach Cal with their Jefferson Award for public service this year. Previous recipients of this prestigious award include Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Colin Powell. Coach Cal is the first men's college basketball coach to receive the honor.

Sometimes Coach Cal's efforts are local. Every Thanksgiving, he helps folks around Lexington enjoy the family meal they deserve. Every Christmas, he gathers presents for children in need. But sometimes, Coach Cal's efforts touch every corner of the Commonwealth. As Kentucky reeled from

multiple crises in the past few years, his assistance has proved invaluable.

During the pandemic, he helped Fayette County students access the resources they needed to continue their schooling from home.

When tornadoes hit Western Kentucky last winter, he rallied Kentuckians to raise money through a telethon. And when heavy rainfall and floods damaged communities in Eastern Kentucky this summer, he did the same, pulling our State together to help victims rebuild. In total--in total--Coach Cal's telethons have raised more than $12 million for charitable ventures in Kentucky and across the world.

So thank you. Thank you, Coach Cal, for your service to our State. And congratulations on receiving this distinguished award.

Mr. President, last night, our Democratic colleagues released a draft short-term government funding deal. Big parts of the draft are unobjectionable because they were negotiated across party lines. Both sides of the aisle want to prevent a government shutdown that no one wants. Both sides want to keep resources flowing to disaster-stricken communities. Both sides want to continue time- sensitive support for Ukraine.

But, unfortunately, our Democratic colleagues decided to put in extraneous partisan language--in fact, a poison pill. This extraneous poison pill is not related to keeping the government open. It was not negotiated across the aisle. In fact, both the Democratic chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Leahy, and the Republican vice chairman, Senator Shelby, have stated publicly that this poison pill should not be in the underlying bill. The poison pill is a phony attempt to address the important topic of permitting reform.

It is much too difficult to build things in America and unleash American energy. Liberal regulations and redtape are a huge--huge--part of the problem. That is why Republicans are

the leaders on this issue. That is why my colleague Senator Capito has introduced a strong, robust package that would actually move the ball forward.

What our Democratic colleagues have produced is a phony figleaf that would actually set back the cause of real permitting reform. This is an issue where it should be very easy to improve upon the status quo, but, amazingly, our Democratic colleagues have managed to write language that would actually--listen to this--make things even worse.

Senator Manchin's bill goes out of its way to avoid actually amending the National Environmental Policy Act or any other environmental law. It layers new bureaucracy on top of existing bureaucracy. Its new requirements and deadlines are paper tigers with no enforcement.

The few parts of this legislation that would actually change the status quo would take things from bad to worse. For example, yesterday, a long list of State attorneys general wrote the Senate a panicked letter explaining that Senator Manchin's language would ``eviscerate states' ability to chart their own land-use and energy policies.''

``Eviscerate states' ability to chart their own land-use and energy policies.''

Among other problems, they explain how this legislation creates a backdoor to sneak through an electricity grid takeover much like the Obama administration's unconstitutional so-called ``Clean Power Plan.''

These State-level officials are also sounding the alarm about higher costs for their citizens. They write the Manchin proposal could impose ``potentially back-breaking costs on residents who may see no true energy benefit whatsoever.''

Democrats' policies already have electricity costs skyrocketing at the fastest rate in more than 40 years. The last thing that struggling families need are more Democratic policies that raise utility bills even higher still.

This phony figleaf is ``permitting reform'' in name only. It was written to drain the political will for actual reform without creating any meaningful change that liberal special interests might actually dislike.

If tepid Democratic support for this phony figleaf is all that our colleague from West Virginia got in return for approving yet another taxing-and-spending spree during an inflation crisis, it is hard to imagine a worse bargain for a Senator or for the country.

So, if the Senate votes today on proceeding to a bill that has this partisan poison pill jammed into it, I will be voting no, and I would urge all my colleagues to vote no as well.

This all-Democratic government has a smooth and obvious path on government funding. The path is obvious. Drop the extraneous, partisan language and let the bipartisan CR move forward.

Electoral Count Act

Now, Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, this afternoon, those of us on the Rules Committee will mark up a bipartisan package of updates through the Electoral Count Act of 1887. I strongly support the modest changes that our colleagues in the working group have fleshed out after literally months of detailed discussions. I will proudly support the legislation, provided that nothing more than technical changes are made to its current form.

I particularly want to thank Senator Collins and Senators Capito, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Sasse, Tillis, and Young for their intense work with Democratic colleagues to get this right.

Congress's process for counting the Presidential electors' votes was written 135 years ago. The chaos that came to a head on January 6 of last year certainly underscored the need for an update, so did Januaries 2001, 2005, and 2017; in each of which, Democrats tried to challenge the lawful election of a Republican President. Obviously, in every case, our system of government won out. The Electoral Count Act ultimately produced the right conclusion: certainty, finality, and the transfer of power to the winning candidate. But it is clear the country needs a more predictable path to that outcome.

This bipartisan bill does not rashly replace current law with something untested. It keeps what has worked well and modestly updates what has not.

The bill's sponsors debated every provision and found bipartisan consensus. Bad ideas were left on the cutting room floor. The resulting product--this bill, as introduced--is the only chance to get an outcome and to actually make law.

Here is what the legislation does.

It raises the threshold for objecting to the electoral count-- preserving options if something incredibly unlikely were to happen but ensuring claims with hardly any support can't paralyze the process. It makes the already plain fact of the 12th Amendment even clearer: that the Vice President has never had, and will never have, discretionary powers over the counting.

It protects States' primacy in appointing their electors but ensures they publicize rules actually before the election. It rejects unwise challenges like creating new causes of action that would leave every election up to the courts and create uncertainty. It makes modest technical updates to other pertinent laws such as the Presidential Transitions Act.

And Senator Collins' bill does all of those modest but important things without capitulating to our Democratic colleagues' obsession with a sweeping Federal takeover of all of our election law.

So I look forward to supporting the legislation as introduced in committee.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, after 29 years as Warren County judge- executive, Mike Buchanon is retiring at the end of his current term this January, leaving behind an impressive legacy of public service. He has overseen explosive growth in his county over the past three decades, developed Bowling Green into a center for art and recreation, and left an enduring mark on the residents, businesses, and new initiatives he championed. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge Buchanon on his well-deserved retirement and thanking him for his contributions to Kentucky.

I have been proud to call Judge Buchanon both a close colleague and a personal friend during his three-decade tenure on the job, working with him to promote job growth, workforce training, and development in South Central Kentucky. As a former judge-executive, I know both the difficulties and rewards of his position intimately. Judge Buchanon shares the passion I felt for my constituents during my time as Jefferson County judge-executive. After all, they are not just your voters; they are also your neighbors, family, and friends. Every achievement on the job brings real, tangible change to the community you call your home.

Judge Buchanon built his reputation for diligent leadership in the face of intense crises. From almost the moment he started the job, a major snowstorm battered Warren County, forcing Judge Buchanon to declare an emergency and call in the National Guard. Toward the end of his career, he faced similar disasters, first with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and then with last winter's devastating tornado outbreak. In each of these emergencies, he worked long days and nights to ensure the security and safety of his constituents, deftly handling communication with my office and other Federal authorities to ensure Warren County received the assistance it required.

When not dealing with crisis situations, Judge Buchanon dedicated his time to helping Warren County grow. That growth came from a multitude of directions: the addition of tens of thousands of new residents during his tenure, the arrival of major new businesses, and the cultivation of one of Kentucky's finest art scenes and public recreation systems, to name just a few. He fostered this development by maintaining a consistent pro-job, pro-business mentality, persistently pitching Warren County to private sector investors as a premier location for expansion opportunities.

His tenure has left a physical mark on the surface of Bowling Green. From the Kentucky Transpark industrial park, which is now home to 2 dozen companies employing some 3,000 people, to Bowling Green's downtown revitalization, anchored by the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, to the county's large and growing public park system, his touch is apparent all across Warren County. Judge Buchanon is a builder, understanding long ago that, for Bowling Green to achieve the success it has found today, its leaders needed to invest in projects that would be attractive to the residents of the future.

Judge Buchanon has achieved success in part because of his dogged efforts, but also in part because his long tenure enabled him to plan and actualize projects over an extended timeframe. That would not have been possible were it not for the support he has seen among voters, time and time again, since his first election three decades ago. He has cultivated a close relationship with his constituents, earning their trust and votes seven consecutive times, a rare feat for elected officials. No doubt, they are sad to see their foremost champion depart after so many years of success, even as he plans to stay closely involved in Warren County government.

But Judge Buchanon has undeniably earned his retirement. His wife Ellen, two sons, Michael and Roy, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren have stood by his side during his long public service career, offering support and understanding when he had to work long nights on behalf of his community. Now, he looks forward to having ``time to go to my grandkids' ball games and travel some with my family.'' He certainly deserves the respite.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Judge Buchanon for his decades of service to his constituents and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. Warren County's future is bright because of his dedicated work. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Judge Buchanon on his retirement and wishing him the best as he moves on to the next chapter of his life.

Mr. President, in his 8 years as Carter County judge- executive, Mike Malone has battled Mother Nature, invited new development to his community, and tried to bring neighbors on all sides of the political aisle together around their shared values. It hasn't always been easy, but with dogged determination, Judge Malone has left Carter County a safer, more beautiful, more united

place than he found it. Judge Malone is retiring at the end of his current term this January, and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this first-rate public servant for his contributions to Kentucky.

Judge Malone didn't start off his career in government. Rather, he spent four decades in the private sector, building his businesses in Carter County. He developed a keen understanding of the role of public officials and the ways they could either help--or harm--business growth. Realizing he could put that knowledge to work on behalf of his family, neighbors, and friends, he threw his hat into the ring and filed to run for judge-executive. As he says, ``The rest is history.''

Promoting businesses and jobs was always at the top of Judge Malone's to-do list from his first days in office. But he was also forced to deal with some of the more unexpected duties of his role. Those started early on when, during Judge Malone's first year in office, ice storms and flooding crippled Carter County's infrastructure. Just 2 years ago, a winter storm hit the county again. Judge Malone worked around the clock to reconnect his constituents to accessible roadways and the power grid. He led an effort that removed thousands of cubic yards of debris and helped repair millions of dollars in damage to public utilities.

Following this most recent storm, I visited Judge Malone in Carter County to discuss his community's recovery and help direct Federal aid to the region. As a former judge-executive, I know the importance of Judge Malone's work, from the financial assistance he helped residents access, to the moral support he offered storm victims. I was impressed by his leadership and his ability to unite community members from all sides of the political spectrum around the common cause of helping their neighbors. As he says, ``it's not Democrat or Republican. It's `what's the problem and how do we fix it?' ''

Judge Malone has stood by his constituents' side in good times and bad, twice earning their trust and votes in his election to be judge- executive. At the end of this term, though, he is taking a step back from the political arena, opting to spend more time with his family and enjoy his hobbies after decades of hard work. I thank Judge Malone for his service to Carter County and the Commonwealth and wish him the best in the next stage of his life.

Mr. President, the Daily Independent paid tribute to Judge Malone's career in a recent article. I ask unanimous consent the article be printed in the Record.

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

Madam President, first this morning, I was deeply saddened to learn we lost a dedicated and long-serving member of the Senate family this week.

Officer William Thomas of the United States Capitol Police passed away after a battle with cancer. He was only 38 years young.

Officer Thomas joined the force nearly 14 years ago. He quickly became a familiar face to many of the Senators and staff serving on this side of the Capitol. By all accounts, his dedication, his professionalism, and his service in the Senate Division and most recently in the Communications Division were a credit to the entire Department and to our institution.

The loss of Officer Thomas leaves a hole in the close-knit community of brave men and women who keep us safe here at the Capitol.

The entire Senate joins Officer Thomas's brother Vincent, as well as his brothers and sisters here in uniform, in mourning this tragic loss.

Inflation

Madam President, now on an entirely different matter, the painful story of Washington Democrats' runaway inflation is playing out in hard-working communities all across our country. We learned last week that food inflation is now at its highest level since 1979.

For folks in the Phoenix metro area, where inflation already outpaces the national average, that has meant a 3-percent inflation tax on food in just the last 2 months. According to one Arizona shopper:

It's all almost $300. I used to get the same groceries like

around $150 before.

Across the border in Nevada, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported recently how local coffee shops are caught between eating higher costs for supplies and chasing their customers away with higher prices. The owner of one shop says that as everything from coffee beans to cups gets more expensive, they have had to raise prices by about 10 percent:

We've done our best not to pass this on to our customers,

because we do understand that we are all in the same boat

together.

The Colorado Sun spoke with one new resident of Westminster who said he had moved to town to ``lower the impact of an 18-percent rent increase.'' He has cut back on cable, driving, and buying meat at the grocery store.

In Washington State, the Seattle Times is reporting that 4 in 10 area renters are now spending more than 30 percent of their paychecks on rent. When one resident learned her rent would be increasing by nearly 10 percent, she said:

I just wanted to cry. I'm barely making it. I'm just a

senior citizen.

In Georgia, the Augusta Press reports that local small businesses are still facing a rocky road. According to the owner of one power-washing business in Evans: ``Materials are getting more expensive,'' and potential clients are ``more hesitant to get any work done right now.''

And further north, with winter cold fast approaching, one resident of Manchester, NH, told the local news that heating oil subsidies were appreciated, but ``I feel like it's a Band-Aid after they've stabbed you.''

So these are the real-world consequences--real-world consequences--of Washington Democrats' inflation. Every corner of every State is writing its own painful story. But the ones I just mentioned have something unfortunate in common. Every resident of Arizona, Washington, Nevada, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Georgia is represented by two Senators each who cast the deciding vote to set this inflation in motion. If just one single Senator--just one--from Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, New Hampshire, or Washington had refused to give their vote to President Biden's reckless spending, the working families and small business owners of these States would not be dealing with this much inflation, period. But every one of those States' Senators cast tie-breaking votes to bring on the worst inflation in four decades, and now every American is paying the price.

DISCLOSE Act

Madam President, now on one final matter, Democrats' reckless policies have stuck the American people with an inflation crisis, a border crisis, a violent crime crisis, and an energy crisis.

Today, this Democrat Senate majority is spending time on legislation that tackles none of these things. They aren't addressing any of the problems that keep moms and dads up at night. They aren't tackling any of the issues that are leaving small business owners unable to pay their bills or unsafe in inner-city locations, or both. They aren't spending 10 seconds of the Senate's time exploring the disconnect between Vice President Harris who says ``we have a secure border'' and the illegal immigrant who told a reporter last week:

Everybody believes the border is open . . . we see it on

the news that everybody comes in illegally, so we do the

same.

So, the Democrats don't want to spend time on the people's business today. They would rather spend time on their business--something we have seen time and time again over the last 2 years.

Today's liberal pet priority is a piece of legislation designed to give unelected Federal bureaucrats vastly more power over private citizens' First Amendment rights and political activism and to strip privacy away from Americans who speak out about politics in their private lives.

More power for Washington, DC, censors; less privacy for private citizens; and throw some ice on the First Amendment. That is what our colleagues across the aisle have made their top priority for the day.

So I have to state, it is a novel response to flagging poll numbers and public outcry. Instead of trying to clean up the border mess, the crime mess, or the inflation mess, my Democratic colleagues decided it would be easier just to erode the American people's right to complain about it in the first place.

The legislation I am speaking about itself is an insult to the First Amendment, and the notion that it gets Senate floor time today above everything else is truly an insult to the working people of this country.

So I would urge my colleagues on both sides to stand with the Constitution, stand with our citizens who deserve better, and vote no.