Floor Statements

Reserving the right to object, I agree that members of the judicial branch need better protection. In fact, I have been appalled that leftwing pro-abortion groups released the addresses of our Supreme Court Justices and that there have been people at their houses trying to intimidate them. It is appalling and shouldn't happen. Whoever it was that released the addresses of the Supreme Court Justices should be punished.

So I think there is bipartisan support in this. I was disappointed though that the White House has not condemned the release of the Supreme Court Justices. I think that ranting and raving and noise all night is disturbing the peace and isn't actually First Amendment protected speech.

But if recent years have taught us anything, it is that Members of the legislative branch also need protection. That was clear in 2011 when Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was tragically shot while doing the most important part of her job, meeting with constituents.

Words cannot express how happy and inspired I was to see Congresswoman Giffords was in the Chamber as her husband, Senator Kelly, was recently sworn in, but words also cannot express the pain felt by the families of the people who were killed and wounded that day.

That should have been a wakeup call to better protect Members of Congress and, in doing so, better protect the people around them. But just a few years ago, a shooter nearly killed Congressman Steve Scalise during practice for the annual charity baseball game. I know. I was there. One staffer was shot less than 10 feet from me.

The Capitol Hill police were there and saved our lives. Had they not been there, things might have been much worse. But the Capitol Police aren't everywhere, and our families live in many cities outside of Washington. Extending the provisions of this bill to Members of Congress would do nothing to change the content. In fact, I believe our legislative changes add four words ``and Members of Congress.''

So I think these protections actually are good protections. I agree with the spirit of the bill; I agree with the letter of the bill, but really it should be judicial folks protected as well as Congress.

My substitute amendment, which I will offer for unanimous consent, would make a simple change. My amendment would simply extend the protections that would be offered to the judicial branch to the legislative branch.

So I ask the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn and that the Senator modify his request to include my substitute amendment which is at the desk; that the substitute amendment be considered read a third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

I object.

Reserving the right to object, my oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. And no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America.

We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy. In March, inflation hit a 40-year high. Gasoline alone is up 48 percent, and energy prices are up 32 percent over the last year. Food prices have increased by nearly 9 percent. Used vehicle prices are up 35 percent for the year, and new vehicle prices have increased 12 percent or more.

Yes, inflation doesn't just come out of nowhere; it comes from deficit spending.

The United States spent nearly $5 trillion on COVID-19 bailouts, leading to one of the highest and most sustained levels of inflation in U.S. history.

Americans are feeling the pain, and Congress seems intent only on adding to that pain by shoveling more money out the door as fast as they can.

This bill under consideration would spend $40 billion. This is the second spending bill for Ukraine in 2 months, and this bill is three times larger than the first.

Our military aid to Ukraine is nothing new, though. Since 2014, the United States has provided more than $6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. In addition to the $14 billion Congress authorized just a month ago, if this bill passes, the United States will have authorized roughly $60 billion in total spending for Ukraine.

For those who say this is not enough, for those of you in this Chamber who say that our military spending is never enough, let's put $60 billion into perspective.

According to Elias Yousef, a security assistance expert at the Stimson Center, Kyiv would become the largest yearly recipient of U.S. military aid of the past two decades.

Except for the top five countries, $60 billion is more than every other country in the world spends on their entire military expenditures.

If this gift to Ukraine passes, our total aid to Ukraine will almost equal the entire military budget of Russia. And it is not as if we have that money lying around. We will have to borrow that money from China to send it to Ukraine.

The cost of this package we are voting on today is more than the United States spent during the first year of the U.S. conflict in Afghanistan. Congress authorized force, and the President sent troops into the conflict. The same cannot be said of Ukraine.

This proposal towers over domestic priorities as well. The massive package of $60 billion to Ukraine dwarfs the $6 million spent on cancer research annually, and $60 billion is more than the amount the government collects in gas taxes each year to build roads and bridges. The $60 billion to Ukraine can fund substantial portions or entire large Cabinet Departments. The $60 billion nearly equals the entire State Department budget. The $60 billion exceeds the budget for the Department of Homeland Security and for the Department of Energy. And Congress just wants to keep on spending and spending.

Our allies and partners have sent aid to Ukraine. Some of them even broke longstanding traditions by sending military assistance. Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and others are stepping up to defend Ukraine like never before.

In other words, it is not all about us. It isn't that we always have to be the Uncle Sam, the policeman who saves the world, particularly when it is on borrowed money. Yet the United States accounted for nearly half of what has been spent so far.

With a $30 trillion debt, America can't afford to be the world's policeman. The United States is trying to recover from the $1.6 trillion we spent on wars in the Middle East, not to mention the $5 trillion borrowed for COVID.

We should not forget that the Soviet Union collapsed, in large part, not because it was defeated militarily but because it ran out of money. In an attempt to save Ukraine, will we doom the United States to such a future?

In the past 2 years, the United States has borrowed more money than at any time in our history. We are already experiencing the greatest rate of inflation in over four decades. The assault on monetary discipline is untenable, and it cannot go on forever. Unless we put an end to the fiscal insanity, a day of reckoning awaits us.

Congress should evaluate the cost of continuing down this path. The biggest threat to the United States today is debt and inflation and the destruction of the dollar. We cannot save Ukraine by killing our economic strength.

So I ask to modify the bill to allow for a special inspector general. This would be the inspector general who has been overseeing the waste in Afghanistan and has done a great job.

Therefore, I ask the Senator to modify his request so that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 368, H.R. 7691; furthermore, that the Paul amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time; and that the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with a 60- affirmative vote threshold for passage.

I object.

Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week, I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Florek Family Chiropractic of Ft. Thomas, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Take a look at any small business owner's story, and you will find a common theme: determination in the face of risk. Thus proceeds the story of Florek Family Chiropractic. Justin Florek, owner and manager of the chiropractic office, went out on a limb in 2019 and opened his own chiropractic office after spending several years working in a larger chiropractor's office in Falmouth. However, the story would be incomplete without the mention of Justin's wife Samantha, who took out a small business loan and joined him in facing down the odds to embark on this new venture. Together, Justin, Samantha, and the rest of the team at Florek Family Chiropractic weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic only 1 year after opening their doors, and today, they continue to proudly service the residents of Ft. Thomas and wider Campbell County.

Justin Florek has long been passionate about the body's health and wellness. In fact, Justin first became interested in the chiropractic field as far back as ninth grade. A school assignment required each student to shadow three different occupations and write a paper on their findings. A teenage Justin shadowed a police officer, a baker, and a chiropractor. While shadowing the chiropractor, Justin saw how chiropractic adjustments were able to help those struggling with unaddressed injuries. Just having recently suffered a football injury himself, Justin appreciated how much a chiropractor's touch and advice would have benefited someone in his own position. Thus what started as a school assignment led to a life-long career choice.

After graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic in 2014, Justin set out to join a larger practice to offer his services to the community of Falmouth. To this day, Justin is profoundly grateful to the Falmouth community for the 5 years he spent in office honing in on his skills and trade before deciding to take the big leap and open his own shop. From Falmouth, Justin ventured north towards the Ohio border to settle in Ft. Thomas. In a convenient turn of events, Justin and his wife Samantha identified an affordable piece of property for sale that was perfectly located between Bellevue, Newport, Cold Spring, and Highland Heights. This lucky opportunity led to their venture in small business ownership, which proudly stands today as a testament to their hard work and determination.

As previously mentioned, Justin takes a genuine interest in the health and well-being of those around him. He remains dedicated to improving the health of others and serves as one of the few chiropractors in Campbell County that accepts Medicaid payments. Justin takes pride in ensuring that all residents are cared for, regardless of their tax bracket. Moreover, he looks out for his community beyond just providing his chiropractic services. He often donates to northern Kentucky school groups and other local fundraisers; after all, he does owe the inspiration for his livelihood to that long-ago school assignment. Justin is a man who not only cares for the community in a medical sense, but also is a man who bolsters the environment with his good cheer and giving nature.

I want to congratulate this upstanding entrepreneur for the dedication and grit he displayed throughout the pandemic and for navigating the uncharted terrain involved in owning your own business. I wish Justin and Samantha the best of luck and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week, I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products of Morgantown, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

As any small business owner knows, the path of entrepreneurship is rarely straight and narrow. As is the case with this small business owner, Tabby Daugherty, who opened P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products, also known as P31 Storefront Insiders, in 2018. P31's story began a couple years prior to her official opening date. In 2016, Tabby was a part-time employee at Life-Skills, working with adults with disabilities while she raised her several children. As a mother of a large family, she strived to keep the meaning of Proverbs 31 at the core of her work and home life. What served as a motto of sorts became the inspiration for her business and its name, hence the

Madam President, I call up my motion to instruct conferees, which is at the desk.

Last year, the Senate unanimously adopted my amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to finance gain-of-function research conducted in China. My motion to instruct asks that this language be incorporated into the final bill.

Gain-of-function research enhances the severity or transmissibility of existing viruses that may infect humans. The dangers are so acute that from 2014 to 2017, the NIH suspended funding for all gain-of- function research projects.

While we may never know whether the pandemic arose from a lab in Wuhan or occurred naturally, the emergence of COVID serves as a reminder that dangerous research conducted in a secret and totalitarian country is simply too risky to fund. Congress must ensure that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund gain-of-function research in China.

I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we learned last week that the Department of Homeland Security has established a ``Ministry of Truth.'' They are calling it the Disinformation Governance Board--how Orwellian.

Now, the details are scarce of this effort, but one would assume that the DHS Intelligence and Analysis would be part of that effort.

The nominee being considered today was one of the architects of George W. Bush administrations's bulk metadata collection at the NSA-- what a great recommendation for him. Sarcasm included--which gathered the private electronic communications of millions of Americans without warrant.

Is this someone we would want to be involved in the Biden administrations's new ``Ministry of Truth''?

I will not provide my consent to expanding the surveillance state and the suppression of First and Fourth Amendment rights of Americans.

I oppose this nominee and object.

Mr. President, today, I want to honor Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who led the Lubavitch movement and contributed greatly to education, morality, and charity worldwide. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, much like his father, was a rabbi and scholar who served his community immensely. April 12, 2022, marks the celebration of what would have been the Rebbe's 100th birthday.

In 1941, Rabbi Schneerson, also known as the rebbe, fled war-torn Europe, and arrived in the United States. As a refugee who experienced the despotic rule of Stalinist Russia and the horrors of Nazi Germany, he understood the importance of faith in times of hardship. Upon arriving in New York, Rabbi Schneerson led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. This movement grew greatly under Rabbi Schneerson's leadership and helped to guide the Jewish community after the atrocities of the Holocaust.

By the time of Rabbi Schneerson's death in 1994, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement consisted of over 2,000 institutions with centers in cities and university campuses worldwide. These outreach organizations function to teach people about Judaism and foster the Jewish identity.

Rabbi Schneerson also published renowned works on the Torah and Judaism. His work continues to lead many in spirituality, learning, and the process of restrengthening the Jewish faith internationally. He understood that all were created equal and exemplified this in his inclusion of every man, woman, and child in his teachings.

Rabbi Schneerson's extraordinary life and work has long been recognized by the Congress and, in 1994, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions.

Today, we celebrate the life of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The rebbe was an individual who exemplified channeling personal struggles into positive change internationally. His legacy lives on through the impacts he made, and the many Chabad centers worldwide, including those in Kentucky. For Kentuckians, Americans, and all in the international community, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's efforts will continue to make an impact well beyond the century since his birth.

Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, A Place To Belong Home Care of Radcliff, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

It is not every week that I have the privilege of honoring a veteran- owned small business, but when I do, it is with profound gratitude and respect not only for this Kentucky entrepreneur, but for our men and women in uniform. A Place to Belong Home Care was founded by SFC Lolita R. Martin who, before opening her business, spent 24 years in uniform, 3 and half of which spent on the battlefield in support of Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Even while serving her country overseas, Ms. Martin knew that entrepreneurship was her next calling. With that in mind, Ms. Martin remained steadfast in her desire to continue serving others in her career, which led her to the idea of senior care. Thus, after retiring from a lengthy career in our Nation's uniform, Lolita Martin founded A Place to Belong Home Care in 2019.

The mission behind A Place To Belong Home Care is to improve the quality of life for aging adults and to support their families in caring for loved ones. The business provides a wide variety of services, not limited to elderly care. Whether the client is an adult or child with special needs, recovering from surgery or illness, or managing a disease or lifelong condition, A Place To Belong Home Care is there to help. And with services offered in Hardin, Bullitt, Meade, and Grayson County, as well as in other parts of Kentucky, Ms. Martin ensures that her business reaches the broad scope of needs for anyone requiring daily care.

Upon her retirement from the U.S. Armed Forces, Ms. Martin was primed for her current career. During her third deployment to Iraq, Ms. Martin began pursuing her Bachelor of science in healthcare management. A requirement for the degree was a capstone project on senior care, thus the seed for A Place To Belong Home Care was planted. The idea grew and developed throughout her time protecting our Nation; hence there is no doubt as to why her business has seen such success and growth in Kentucky. In 2019, Ms. Martin was proud to receive the Best in Class Home Health Certification from the 21st Century Health Care Consultants group. After caring for others throughout her life, Ms. Martin clearly is the right fit for the job.

This entrepreneur also understands the importance of maintaining an active presence in her local community. Ms. Martin preserves her dedication to national service by being an active member of the National Association of Black Veterans, the Kentucky Colonel, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars group. Though this patriot has moved on from her Active-Duty career, she stays true to her roots as she ventures into an equally honorable career of providing care for those who are not able to take full care of themselves. Congratulations to Lolita Martin and the entire team at A Place To Belong Home Care. I thank you for your brave service to this country and for your enduring desire to serve others. I wish the whole team the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. President, the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners--NAWBO--provides dynamic opportunities for women to network with other business owners, mentor one another, develop partnerships, and incubate and foster that next big idea. It is comprised of women of all ages and levels of experience from all sectors of the marketplace.

This year, as NAWBO Kentucky celebrates three decades of success stories that are as diverse as our Commonwealth, its members have established a Legacy Award to recognize women business owners who have excelled for 30 or more years. The first to be honored in such a way is Alice Houston, of Louisville. Alice is known as an entrepreneur, the president and CEO of the largest minority-owned transportation company in North America; as a tireless and dedicated board member, of such organizations as the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the National Urban League; as a philanthropist, leading with her own generosity to raise funds for worthy causes and institutions; and as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She embodies the true character of the Legacy Award.

Every young woman who wants to be a trailblazer, who envisions a life of giving back while moving forward, or who is struggling to chart a bold new direction for her business is thankful that there are real- life phenomena like Alice Houston, whose business acumen, love of family and community, and generosity of spirit light a pathway to great possibilities.

I am proud to salute the Kentucky Association of Women Business Owners on its 30th anniversary and to honor Alice Houston as the inaugural recipient of its Legacy Award.

Mr. President, stories of the past and the memorabilia and photos that often accompany them serve many important purposes in our culture. They can entertain us and provoke laughter and joy. They can reinforce the values that were important to our parents and grandparents. And they can teach difficult or even painful lessons from our history. The West Kentucky Veteran and Patriot Museum, now celebrating its 10th year, is a place where such stories can be discovered.

Founded by Sandy Hart, whose husband, Ray, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then went on to serve others as a pastor and foreign missionary, the museum houses an eclectic collection of personal objects, records, photographs, and narrative stories curated by Sandy and displayed in a red brick building in tiny Wickliffe, KY, which is located on the Mississippi River in far west Kentucky. While most of the donated materials are from servicemembers and their families in the Purchase Region of the Commonwealth, the visitors--the men and women you are likely to encounter when you stop by--are from all 50 States and beyond. Sandy loves to sit and talk to them and hear their stories, memories that are often stirred up as they wander through the displays in the museum.

The vision for the West Kentucky Veteran and Patriot Museum was born when Sandy and others in the community helped organize a convoy of over a dozen buses and 800 people to visit the World War II Memorial here in our Nation's Capital. This outpouring of interest compelled Sandy to create a place that honored our veterans year-round--and not just those who served in the Second World War.

I have visited with Sandy at the museum and watched her at work. She is tireless in her devotion to our veterans and in capturing and memorializing their stories so that we can learn from, laugh with, and be thankful for our men and women in uniform throughout our history.

Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Total Equine Services of Falmouth, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

The breeding, training, and of course racing of horses is an integral component in the history and culture of our beautiful State. Many refer to Lexington, KY, as the Horse Capital of the World, with their 1,200- acre Kentucky Horse Park in addition to the hundreds of horse farms operating in the area. Moreover, as of 2019, the Kentucky equine industry had an economic impact of $3.4 billion and supplied 80,000 direct and indirect jobs. Needless to say it is a leading industry in our state. For that reason I am delighted to honor a business so involved in that iconic industry, Total Equine Services, founded by Steve Thomas and his wife Patti Thomas.

When it comes to raising Quarter Horses, Steve Thomas is a seasoned veteran. He and his wife founded Total Equine Services 15 years ago, but he has over 20 years' experience caring for this breed under his belt. Together, they opened the business which initially offered only an arena where one could come and ride horses. They quickly expanded to provide a variety of services ranging from boarding, breeding, and training horses. In addition to that same arena, the Thomas' constructed a Foaling Barn and 16 enclosed stalls where owners can board their horses. The Thomas' also offer nutrition and feed balancing services as well as a full tack shop where one can satisfy all their riding equipment needs. When it comes to the care and maintenance of horses, Total Equine Services offers a full package.

With parents like Steve and Patti, it is no wonder that their son Jason Thomas grew up with a love for horses. He and his wife Nikki Thomas have joined the team at Total Equine Services. Nikki was a natural addition to the team since, just like her in-laws, she has an extensive background in raising Quarter Horses. Moreover, Nikki is seasoned in training horses in the art of barrel racing and pole bending. Pole bending is a timed event where a rider must direct their horse in a speedy serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. Meanwhile, barrel racing is an event where the horse and rider must attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time possible. Needless to say, training of this sort requires meticulous repetition and a keen eye for detail, which Nikki gladly brings to the arena. And with all the exercise and activity that their stock see, the Thomas' make sure to keep their horses properly shod, with Jason being a certified farrier, a blacksmith that creates horseshoes, who keeps their fleet equipped with the proper horseshoes they need.

The Thomas' have developed a reputation for covering every need a horse owner or rider might have, but they are also highly regarded for their breeding services. Their current stud horse, Redneck Jettin Down, has not only won several local shows, he has placed at national competitions held through the American Quarter Horse Association. In 2014, Redneck Jettin Down placed fourth at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, placed 6th at the AQHA World show in Jr Pole Bending, and placed fifth at the North American Live Stock Show. It goes without saying that Redneck Jettin Down is an asset to Total Equine Services.

Whether they grew up in the heart of our big cities or in our smallest of towns, every Kentucky citizen has heard about the glamour of Keeneland and Churchill Downs. The equine industry plays an active part of the Kentucky identity, and it is businesses like Total Equine Services that retain the respect and renown of that industry by taking special care of their breeds. Moreover, the Thomas' and families like them play a vital role in our State's economy, as they support commerce within our more rural communities.

Congratulations to Steve, Patti, Jason, and Nikki Thomas and the rest of the team at Total Equine Services. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. President, while it is not possible to specifically recognize every Vietnam veteran who honorably served our Nation, each time we celebrate one, we also focus our attention on thousands of others, many of whom lost their lives decades ago.

Today, I want to honor David Michael Thomas, who followed in the footsteps of his own father, Glenn Elmore Thomas, a personal bodyguard for Dwight D. Eisenhower, and joined the U.S. Army in 1970. Specialist Thomas was stationed outside the Tan Son Nhut Air Field with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Military Intelligence Group for 2 years. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Upon his return from Vietnam, he graduated from Western Kentucky University in my hometown of Bowling Green and, most notably, met his future wife, Julia Kirk at the Baptist Student Union. Together, they embarked on his 40 years of pastoral ministry in seven different States, finally retiring back in our community. He and Julia are blessed with four children and a host of grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

His legacy of serving others, first in the Armed Services and then in pastoral ministry, continues in a unique way with which I have a personal connection. His daughter, Amy Bee, is a constituent service representative in my office in Bowling Green. She is one of the many talented staff members

who help Kentuckians navigate the highly complex problems that they are experiencing with Federal agencies, like the Internal Revenue Service, or the Veterans Administration. Men and women who have exhausted every avenue of their own resources count on professionals like Amy--and her talented colleagues--to resolve their issues in a timely way. It is a unique and highly demanding form of service and reflects the values modeled by Amy's father and grandfather.

Later this month, David Thomas--and a plane full of fellow veterans-- will come to Washington with an Honor Flight Bluegrass excursion. Each one of these veterans has his or her own story to tell, and by sharing a glimpse into the life of David Thomas, we salute them all.

Madam President, we have all heard the phrase ``law enforcement family.'' This law enforcement family is a diverse family with representatives from all walks of life. This family is not bound by traditions of race, religion, color, or sex. This family is all inclusive. Today, I want to provide an example of this family and how they came together to save the life of a fellow law enforcement officer.

On January 28, 2022, Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Sanguini was shot multiple times while conducting a traffic stop in Harrison County. According to the preliminary investigation, he was struck six times, of which three shots were stopped by his ballistic vest. One shot struck his portable radio, and another struck his issued taser, with one shot striking his body.

Although many officers from multiple agencies responded to assist the injured trooper, I want to recognize Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Officer Samantha Faoro for her quick response and actions of assistance. Officer Samantha Faoro is a native of Colorado, who moved to Kentucky to pursue her career with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. She graduated from the police academy in February 2021 and was assigned to work in Harrison County. Officer Faoro comes from a family of first responders, continuing the life of service to protect the great Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Officer Faoro was working in the area of Cynthiana, KY, when she heard Trooper Sanguini state he had been shot. Without hesitation, Officer Faoro responded directly to the scene to provide assistance to a fellow officer in need. Upon arrival to the scene, she observed the wounded trooper and quickly transported him to the hospital. Trooper Sanguini quickly received medical treatment for his gunshot wounds because of the quick action of Officer Faoro.

It is my privilege to stand here today and recognize another great officer such as Officer Samantha Faoro. She exemplifies the law enforcement motto, ``To Protect, and To Serve.''

Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Kelsey's On Main of Jackson, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Like a good Southerner, Kelsey Sebastian is passionate about hospitality. After leaving her native Jackson, she pursued a degree in hospitality management and tourism from University of Kentucky. However, instead of taking her university expertise to the opportunities of the big city, Kelsey returned home to put her knowledge and skills to work. Thus in 2014, with the help of her family, Kelsey Sebastian opened Kelsey's On Main.

The idea for Kelsey's On Main was born out of several needs for the little town of Jackson. With only a small number of sit-in dining establishments in Jackson, local residents needed more restaurant options. Moreover, there was a need for revitalization in the heart of downtown Jackson, a heady mission that Kelsey and her family bravely took on. The Hogg building, now home to Kelsey's On Main, was 98 years old when she and her family began the renovation process in 2012. A former pharmacy and pool hall, this historic building located in the center of downtown needed a healthy dose of tender love and care. Renovating the establishment was by no means an easy task but the town of Jackson and its residents will tell you that it was worth it. In 2014, the centennial anniversary of the Hogg building, Kelsey's On Main opened their doors.

Kelsey's desire to restore beauty to the dilapidated old Hogg building corresponded with her mission to provide great food and top quality service to her hometown. In keeping the original tin roof and leaving one of the old walls exposed in its brick, customers can see that this building is mature in age but well taken care of. To that end, Kelsey and her family keep old photos of downtown Jackson as well as photos of her friends and family throughout the historic building. Of course, her family is not just present in the photographs that hang on the wall; her parents often come by to pick up a shift or two to support their daughter. And as a tenant in her aunt's building, Kelsey's On Main is a true family affair.

Returning to Jackson to open her own business is not the only way Kelsey supports her community. She is an active member of the Jackson Women's Group and as a Jackson City Council member, Kelsey always volunteers her restaurant to host the monthly Jackson Chamber of Commerce lunch. Kelsey is also involved in the Breathitt County Honey Festival, a tradition that has been around for over four decades, by supporting the festival's musical committee. As someone so involved in the goings-on of her town, Kelsey does her best to bring life to the Jackson community, as illustrated by she and her family's decision to revitalize a historic downtown building. Moreover, as a recent participant in Kentucky's BRIGHT program, a professional and entrepreneurial development program, it is clear that Kelsey is headstrong in her desire to keep improving and impacting the community around her.

All across the country are little towns like Jackson whose downtowns have been left empty by a shift in industry, and it is businesses like Kelsey's On Main that bring life back into those empty storefronts and keep historic communities thriving.

Congratulations to Kelsey and her family and the entire team at Kelsey's On Main. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. President, everyone sworn law enforcement officer knows full well that he or she is never truly off-duty. On February 27, 2022, Louisville Metro Department of Corrections officer, Maranda Grayson, was relaxing at home when she heard gunshots. She immediately retrieved her duty weapon, called for emergency services, and ran toward the gunfire outside, where she discovered a badly injured neighbor and saw a bleeding child being carried inside. Unable to locate the source of the gunfire, Officer Grayson focused her initial actions on the wounded child. A trained first responder, she applied a dressing to his hand and then returned outside, where she performed CPR on the adult victim until additional emergency services arrived.

These were moments of true heroism, which probably seemed like hours to Officer Grayson and the victims. For these actions, she has been recognized with her department's Award of Valor for ``bravery above and beyond the call of duty when facing grave and imminent danger to her own life.''

Louisville Metro Department of Corrections director Dwayne Clark said that ``she represents the neighbor we all want.'' I couldn't agree more, and I am proud to honor Officer Grayson for her professionalism and tremendous bravery.