Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the Westport Library as it celebrates the release of its first vinyl record.

Public libraries serve vital roles in our communities, providing no- fee access to collections of books, films, and other media, as well as to computers and the internet. They are hubs of community interaction, and now, in Westport, CT, a creative outlet for local musicians.

Founded in 1886, the Westport Library has been enriching the community for almost a century and a half. In addition to its full collection of books for readers of all ages, the library is

home to a MakerSpace, a Library of Things, a seed library, a cafe and store, and a collection of professional artwork. These resources make the Westport Library one of the best libraries in all of America--a ``noisy library,'' as its supporters say, and a true jewel of the community.

Over the past year, Westport Library has added a new innovation to their impressive collection: Verso Studios, a state-of-the-art recording studio based in the library itself. On June 3, 2023, I was proud to join the library in celebrating the release of its first record: ``Verso Records: Volume One'' on vinyl. This record is the product of collaboration among local artists and is the first of its kind issued by a public library.

This endeavor is an example of Westport at its best, the vision and vibrancy of the community and its commitment to artistic achievement, powering culture throughout the State of Connecticut.

I applaud the innovative and important work done by the Westport Library and hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating all of the staff and supporters of the library on this impressive achievement.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Capt. David Osborn, for his service to our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Captain Osborn entered the Marine Corps as a young man during World War II. After training as a pilot, he was deployed to the Pacific Theater where he was engaged in active combat. During his tenure in the Marine Corps, Captain Osborn flew vitally important but deeply dangerous missions, including several for which, he indicated, he volunteered. In all, Captain Osborn's service contributed to the American military successes in the Pacific Theater. After the war, Captain Osborn continued his service as a flight instructor in Corpus Christi, TX. Captain Osborn was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in March of 1958.

This year, Captain Osborn will celebrate his 100th birthday. He lives in Weston, CT, with his wife of 41 years, and cherishes time spent with his children and grandchildren. His honorable service is a model for all of us and will leave an enduring legacy.

We all owe our veterans a great debt of gratitude for fighting for our freedom and safety, and I hope my colleagues will join me in thanking Captain David Osborn for his remarkable history of service to our Nation.

Mr. President, I rise today to address the Senator from Alabama's decision to hold hundreds of nominations--literally hundreds of nominations--that have been submitted to this body, and I want to join my colleagues who have taken the initiative and stand alongside with them and our men and women in uniform who protect our right to speak in these Halls every day and our other fundamental liberties in this country.

We ask our men and women in uniform to do more now than ever before, particularly as we are engaged in countering Vladimir Putin's murderous assault in Ukraine. I have visited them in Germany, where they are training Ukrainians. I have spoken to them at the border in Poland, where they are providing essential military weapons to the Ukrainians. I have seen them at work all around the globe, as have my colleagues.

Even though we are at peace formally right now, it is only because they are a deterrent to our adversaries and enemies around the globe. The threats are rapidly evolving and rising, and the U.S. military is the only force that can stem the tide of autocracy, which is the reason why I am so, so outraged that the Senator from Alabama is choosing to cripple our military by placing on hold a series of critical nominations.

Earlier this year, Secretary Austin issued a memo, a policy memo, guaranteeing that servicemembers would have easier access to reproductive healthcare. They can now take nonchargeable leave and receive per diem while traveling to receive care, finally establishing a parity with every other medical procedure, every other healthcare procedure available to DOD personnel.

The Secretary's decision rectified a DOD policy that marginalized the women who serve in our Nation and provide that essential guarantee of peace and freedom. It damaged readiness. It truly does put people first that we have corrected that egregious error.

Instead of celebrating that servicemembers now have access to healthcare and policy programs that they have consistently sought, Senator Tuberville called the policy--and I am quoting--``a waste of time and resources.'' He believes that protecting the well-being and privacy of those who serve--and again, I am using his words--is ``immoral'' and ``illegal.'' I disagree. I couldn't disagree more. Servicemembers shouldn't have to wonder whether they are going to receive healthcare.

Providing access to reproductive care certainly isn't a distraction; it increases readiness and preparedness and the strength of our force. He is doing the very thing he accuses the new policy of doing, which is to damage readiness and jeopardize our Nation's security. He is doing it by holding up the President's nominees.

Let me just talk about those individuals whose nominations he has blocked.

Rear Admiral George Wikoff is the President's nominee to be the next commander of the Navy's 5th Fleet. He is an accomplished Navy aviator, a former TOPGUN instructor, and has

extensive experience in the theater he has been nominated to command. His service is essential to the 15,000 personnel responsible for defending American interests in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Seas. It isn't a luxury or convenience; it is essential that he be there.

Rear Admiral Fred Kacher was nominated to lead the Navy's 7th Fleet, which is tasked with deterring Chinese aggression across the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 30,000 sailors and marines are assigned to the 7th Fleet and constitute our first line of defense in the Pacific.

While Iran and China search for every opportunity to threaten American interests in the Middle East and Pacific, Senator Tuberville's response is to deprive the 5th and 7th Fleets of their incoming commanders.

He is holding our next military representative to NATO, Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, a remarkable officer with more than 30 years' experience. She is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

During the largest land war in Europe since World War II, the Senator from Alabama is blocking Admiral Chatfield's promotion. Again, not a luxury, not a convenience, not superfluous; it is essential to our national defense.

And he is blocking MG David Hodne's nomination to the role of deputy commander for the Army's Futures Command. That Futures Command position oversees the design of force capabilities into the future and ensures our soldiers maintain lethal advantages on the battlefield.

His hold is preventing the Army's next Vice Chief and Chief of Staff from assuming command.

Later this year, Gen. Charles Brown's nomination to become the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be blocked if the Senator from Alabama does not lift his hold.

Let's be clear about what is at stake here. Blocking these nominations, simply because of his putting personal beliefs above national security, is a threat to our national defense.

He is doing Putin and Xi's jobs for them. He claims that this action is about the President trying to legislate from the White House. He claims that the Department of Defense had an abortion policy for decades.

Respectfully--and I mean very respectfully--to a colleague in this body, I would remind him for decades that women in the military had to hide their abortion from their commanders and that referrals for care operated on a whisper network.

If it were up to the Senator from Alabama, he would override the medical recommendations of military doctors and commanders across the force.

I hope that he will stand with the military and their families and forgo future action blocking this essential set of nominations.

The Senator from Alabama is entitled to his opinion. The military that he is so keen to stop from advancing its nominees defends the Constitution that gives him that right to his opinions and his right to speak from his heart and his conscience. But families who sacrifice so much already are waiting for this body to act. They are waiting so they can enroll their children into new schools, find new churches, start new jobs. Harming the military and their families serves only the interests of our adversary.

I urge my colleague from Alabama to lift his hold and let the military continue to defend our freedom from those who seek to destroy it.

And, in the meantime, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 46 through 52, Calendar Nos. 82 through 107, Calendar Nos. 110 through 113, Calendar Nos. 130 through 139; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I am going to yield to my colleague from Hawaii in just one moment.

I would like to clarify--because I am a member of the Armed Services Committee, as Senator Tuberville is. We work together on a lot of issues. I will support his right, as part of the NDAA process, to raise this issue as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

As my colleague from Illinois has rightly suggested, and I think we can all agree, that is a clear forum to raise any issue. We disagree-- deeply disagree--on this one.

And there are many votes on the NDAA through the markup session that we will conduct over not just several hours but several days. And every year, we report out from the Armed Services Committee--in the 12 years I have been on it--consistently, a bipartisan measure. There may be a couple of no votes, but it is deeply bipartisan. We can work together on our national defense.

Blocking these nominations is contrary to that spirit, in my view, because it, basically, prevents us from moving forward with vital leadership in the U.S. military if there is bipartisan support to advance. So I am hoping that, again, my colleague from Alabama, whom we work with on many issues, will simply take that forum as a way to move forward.

I yield to the Senator from Hawaii.

Madam President, I ask, as a preliminary matter, unanimous consent that Martin Gurch and Michael Harris, fellows in my office, be given floor privileges for the remainder of 2023.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the Connecticut Audubon Society as it celebrates 125 years of dedication to the protection and preservation of Connecticut's birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.

The Connecticut Audubon Society was founded in 1898 in Fairfield, CT, by a group including the noted author and conservationist Mabel Osgood Wright. In its first year, the group rapidly expanded into a statewide organization, with members in towns and cities across Connecticut, including Bristol, Ivoryton, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, New Haven, Hartford, Roxbury, Farmington, and Greenwich. On June 4, 1898, the organization ratified its first by-laws and outlined its purpose: ``to discourage the destruction of birds and their eggs, and to promote the study of nature.'' Connecticut Audubon Society remains true to this purpose today, while also having expanded the scope of their work to conservation efforts more broadly.

For more than a century, the Connecticut Audubon Society has provided refuges for birds and other wildlife and important opportunities for people to enjoy nature at its sanctuaries and preserves. Today, the organization manages 22 sanctuaries totaling more than 3,400 acres, including the oldest private songbird sanctuary in the United States, Birdcraft, established in 1914. The organization now has regional centers in Fairfield, Milford, Old Lyme, Pomfret, Hampton, and Sherman, an educational program in Hartford, and an EcoTravel office in Essex--a truly statewide presence, bringing their important work to all corners of Connecticut.

One hundred and twenty-five years after its founding, the Connecticut Audubon Society continues its vital mission through conservation, education, and advocacy. The organization boasts 5,600 member-families in every town in the State, and its outdoor conservation, science, and education programs reach more than 100,000 students and adults each year.

Dedicated to preserving our natural heritage and advocating for a more sustainable future, the Connecticut Audubon Society is a positive model for environmental education and wildlife conservation. I applaud its many accomplishments and hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Connecticut Audubon Society on 125 years of unceasing commitment to ecological and environmental excellence.

Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Stew Leonard, Sr., a visionary entrepreneur and Connecticut icon, who passed away on April 26, 2023, at the age of 93. He will be remembered for creating Stew Leonard's, a beloved chain of grocery stores.

A lifelong Connecticut resident, Stew graduated from Norwalk High School and the University of Connecticut's School of Agriculture and went on to work for his family's dairy business. At the time, the family farm--Clover Farms Dairy in Norwalk, CT--was known for its state-of-the-art operation with a pasteurizing and bottling plant and delivery trucks outfitted with plastic cows that ``mooed'' for the neighborhood children.

By the late 1960s, Stew had the insight to recognize that the milk delivery business was waning. When a new highway was being built with Clover Farms Dairy in its path, Stew made the bold decision to transform the family business. He decided to build a dairy store, with a farmer's market atmosphere and opportunities for children to watch milk being bottled while their parents shopped.

In December 1969, Stew opened a 17,000-square-foot store, carrying only eight items. Through his ingenuity, inventiveness, and determination, Stew Leonard's grew from its humble beginnings into a lasting, beloved Connecticut institution. The flagship store in Norwalk, CT, was named the World's Largest Dairy Store, according to Ripley's Believe It or Not, and also earned a Guinness World Record for having the highest sales per square foot of selling space. Now a chain of seven stores across three States, Stew Leonard's has retained its family-friendly atmosphere, focus on freshness and quality, and reputation for superior customer service.

Ultimately, Stew Leonard's is a family business, run today by Stew's son Stew Leonard, Jr., with support from his siblings and five of Stew's grandchildren. Collectively, the Leonard family maintains Stew's commitment to excellence and service, gaining generations of loyal customers and friends.

The company has a long track record of charitable endeavors, from hosting community food and clothing drives, to Stew's ``Wishing Wells.'' Placed at the entrance to every store, the wells collect change that is donated to a local charity at the end of every month, matched by a donation from the store. For more than 50 years, Stew Leonard's stores have become deeply engaged in their communities, a testament to Stew's generous spirit.

I was privileged to know the Leonard family and to attend many events with them over the years. I have also been a long-time customer, enjoying visits to the Norwalk store with my four children decades ago when they would marvel at the mooing cow and other attractions. Stew's entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and dedication to the people of Connecticut were inspiring, and he will be deeply missed. My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Stew's family during this difficult time, particularly to his wife Marianne, his four children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Stew Leonard's life and legacy, both large and lasting.

Mr. President, I am so honored by that introduction and to be here on the floor with a great colleague--a champion in the House as well as now in the Senate--Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

I thank the senior Senator from Maryland--we are both senior Senators from our respective States--for yielding first to me. More importantly, I want to thank him for his leadership on human rights and civil rights here in the United States. He has been such a powerful advocate. But also, around the world, through the Helsinki Commission, I have had the great privilege of working with him and serving with him on that Commission, where he has put front and center the crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine as well as in other parts of the world where the rule of law, unfortunately, is lacking. So I am very, very proud to be with him on the floor today.

Like my colleague Senator Durbin, who has been rightly lauded by Senator Cardin for his work on rights, I rise to ask this body and all who are hearing this message to commit to making the Equal Rights Amendment the law of our land--part of the Constitution.

Outside of the right to vote, the Constitution has no mention of gender equality. It was enshrined--the right to vote--just over a century ago with the 19th Amendment, but the U.S. Constitution does not include an explicit provision on equal rights for women, and that is a sad omission that cannot be allowed to stand. We must fix it.

The ERA, as you know, was introduced to Congress in 1923 by suffragist leader Alice Paul, who believed that after securing the right to vote, women needed legal protection against discrimination. That fact is no less true today than it was then. In 1972, the ERA was passed by Congress. In 2020, Virginia became the 38th and final State required by the Constitution to ratify it. In January 2022, we passed the 2-year waiting period. President Biden has supported making it the law of the land. We should heed President Biden and this body in doing so--in recognizing the importance of a resolution ratifying the ERA.

Now, the hard, blunt truth here is that significant progress in sex equality has been made thanks to a generation of advocates--actually, several generations--but women and girls still face horrendous, life- changing barriers and challenges derived from structural sex discrimination every day. I became more aware of it as a dad to a young woman, listening to her, seeing the world through her eyes, as well as my wife, Cynthia--both of them strong advocates and, thankfully, my three sons as well, who are ardent champions of gender equality.

In the workplace, the gender gap has hardly budged. You are, I am sure, aware that women now earn about 84 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is a statistic from the Department of Labor. The disparity is even larger for women of color. For every dollar a man earns, Native American women and Latinas earn 57 cents and Black women earn 67 cents. That is in the greatest country in the history of the world. We should be ashamed and embarrassed--ashamed and embarrassed.

The ERA is a critical step toward ensuring equality and protecting women's fundamental rights, including the right to abortion and contraception.

The Supreme Court overturned five decades of precedent and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs saying Roe was wrong--a decision that will go down in infamy as one of the most destructive to the Court's credibility, as I mentioned today, and a tribute to the disingenuousness of three nominees before this body--the three most recent nominees--who said they would respect precedent and then voted to completely overturn Dobbs within a couple of years.

About one in three girls and women in the United States of reproductive age are living in States where abortion is either unavailable or severely restricted, and the adverse consequences of poor women's health are already clearly visible.

Amanda Zurawski today testified before the Judiciary Committee about how she nearly died, nearly perished from sepsis because of Texas's cruel, barbarous prohibitions against women's healthcare through abortion.

Without the freedom to control their own lives, bodies, and futures, the true meaning of equality will remain elusive and out of reach. As Justice Ginsburg put it, full and equal citizenship ``is intimately connected to a person's ability to control their reproductive lives.''

The ERA would also provide additional tools against violence committed all too often against women. Gender-based bias is a form of sex discrimination as well as a violation of human rights. Thirty-five percent of all women who are killed by men are a result of violence from intimate partners with guns. One in three women has experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. One in five women in the United States has been raped.

You can dispute the specific numbers, but the overwhelming truth of sex discrimination in violence, in denial of healthcare, in job inequality, in pay discrimination is there for all to see. We all know it exists. We must act against it.

That is why I am proud to stand here with my colleagues and argue that ratification is an idea long overdue. It is not an idea whose time has come; it came long ago. We have an obligation to act as a matter of conscience and conviction. If we care about women in the United States of America in the 21st century, we need to bring the law into the 21st century and do what should have been done long ago to protect women's health and security, as well as fundamental equality.

Let me just close with a favorite quote of mine from Susan Anthony. She stated:

The true republic--men, their rights and nothing more;

women, their rights and nothing less.

Sex equality deserves a permanent home in the Constitution. The time to make it happen is now.

I yield the floor to my colleague from Maryland, Senator Van Hollen.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Chief Mutawi Mutahash (Many Hearts) Marilynn ``Lynn'' Malerba, who was recently named the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut's 2023 Citizen of the Year.

Chief Malerba has an impressive list of accomplishments. In 2010, she became Chief of the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut, the first female Chief in the Tribe's modern history. Before her current role, Chief Malerba held many leadership positions, including chairwoman of the Tribal council and executive director of health and human services for the Mohegan Tribe. Before her work in Tribal government, Chief Malerba also had a long career as registered nurse, earning a doctor of nursing practice at Yale University and eventually serving as the director of cardiology and pulmonary services at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, CT.

Currently, Chief Malerba serves as the 45th Treasurer of the United States, the first Native American to hold this office. As Treasurer, Chief Malerba has direct oversight over the U.S. Mint and Fort Knox and is a key liaison with the Federal Reserve. She also oversees the Office of Consumer Policy at the Department of Treasury and serves as a senior adviser to the Secretary of Treasury on community development and engagement.

From her long career as a healthcare professional, to her leadership of the Mohegan Tribe, and now her national role as U.S. Treasurer, Chief Malerba has made Connecticut immensely proud. I applaud her selection as the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut's 2023 Citizen of the Year, and I hope my colleagues will join me in celebrating Chief Malerba's remarkable achievements.

Madam President, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Pasquale ``Pat'' Battinelli, Jr., a lifelong Connecticut resident, distinguished veteran, and friend to many. Sadly, Mr. Battinelli passed away on April 6, 2023, at the age of 90. He will be remembered for his steadfast dedication to his country and community.

Pat was born in Darien before moving to Stamford as a young boy. There, he met the love of his life, Gloria Fabrizio, at the age of 13. After graduating from Stamford High School, Pat enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Stationed in the Philippines during the Korean war, Pat served honorably for 4 years. In 1954, after completing his service, he returned to Stamford where he married Gloria. The couple were married for 68 years and raised four children.

In addition to his military service, Pat had a distinguished record of giving back to Stamford and our State. As chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department and commander of the Lock City Detachment of the Marine Corps League, as well as an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Pat has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to community service. I personally saw Pat at work in all these positions, but also very importantly as leader of Stamford's Patriotic and Special Events Commission for over 30 years. In this role, he was in charge of every parade Stamford held during his tenure, a testament to Pat's civic mindedness and patriotism.

Pat was an inspiration to veterans and a shining example of good citizenship. I was privileged to know Pat and count him as a friend. He was selfless, loyal, and unstinting in his commitment to helping others--a true patriot. My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Pat's family during this difficult time, particularly to his wife Gloria, his four children, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Pat's life and legacy.

Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Ralph ``Teddy'' Brown, Sr., a dedicated police officer, community leader, and friend to many. Sadly, Mr. Brown passed away on March 14, 2023, at the age of 82. He will be remembered for his commitment to his country and community of West Haven, CT, and his love for his family.

Born in Ansonia, CT, Teddy served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Washington State. It was there he met Carroll, who would become his wife of

65 years. After Teddy's military service ended, the Browns moved to West Haven, CT, where they have been deeply enmeshed in the community for over six decades.

In 1977, at the age of 37, Teddy made history as one of the first three Black police officers in the city of West Haven. He ably served the department for 28 years, retiring as a detective sergeant. On the force, Teddy was known as a positive role model for all, particularly for West Haven's youngest residents.

After his retirement, Teddy continued his outstanding legacy of community service. He served as commissioner on West Haven's Parks and Recreation Board and president of the West Haven Library Board. He continued to elevate future generations by coaching youth basketball.

Teddy was also one of the strongest supporters of the West Haven Black Coalition, founded by his wife Carroll in 1986. This long- standing community organization has disbursed more than $200,000 in scholarships to students, in recognition of their academic achievements, leadership skills, and community service. For the past 37 years, Teddy was a strong advocate for the coalition, contributing financially to the scholarships and supporting Carroll's great work. The West Haven Black Coalition is a remarkable testament to the Browns' dedication to their community.

Through his decades of service as a law enforcement officer and a civic leader, Teddy left a lasting impact on everyone around him. But he will be remembered first and foremost as a man who loved his family. He led by example as a mentor and a role model to countless young people.

My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Teddy's family during this difficult time, particularly to his wife Carroll, his three sons, and his grandchildren. May their many wonderful memories of Teddy be a blessing. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Teddy's life and legacy, both large and lasting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to consider the Risch amendment, No. 43, and that the Senate vote in relation to the amendment at 1:45 p.m. without further intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Elan Ganeles, a beloved son, brother, and friend to so many. Tragically, Elan was killed in Israel on February 27, at the age of 26.

Raised in West Hartford, Elan was one of Connecticut's own, a remarkable young man with unlimited potential. He was visiting Israel last month to attend a friend's wedding, when he was senselessly murdered by a gunman outside of Jericho, a beautiful life cut tragically short by violence and hate.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Elan moved with his family as an infant to West Hartford, CT, where he spent most of his young life. The Ganeles family are members of the Young Israel of West Hartford, and Elan attended the Hebrew High School of New England, where he graduated in 2014.

After graduating high school, Elan spent several years in Israel as a kibbutz volunteer and a member of the Israeli Defense Forces--IDF-- working as a computer programmer. Following 3 years of IDF service, Elan returned to the United States to attend Columbia University where he was an admired member of the campus community. He graduated in 2022 with a double major in sustainable development and neuroscience and behavior.

At Columbia, Elan was very active in the Jewish community on campus. He participated in the First Year Leadership Fellowship and was involved in the TAMID Consulting Group, the Wednesday Night Learning Program, and Yavneh, the Orthodox student community on campus. Elan was also a dean's list student and a valued friend to all who knew him. His former roommate described him as the ``best friend you could ask for.''

Indeed, Elan's zeal for friendship--his gift for relating and loving--may be his enduring legacy. He touched so many lives in such meaningful ways. He will be remembered by countless friends, deeply impressive for their diversity as well as number. Elan would do anything for others. His huge capacity for kindness and generosity created lasting gratitude.

Elan is recalled as a deeply intelligent and intellectually curious person, relishing time with family. Elan's mother, Dr. Carolyn Ganeles, remembers her son's never-ending inquisitiveness. His father, Dr. Andrew Ganeles, speaks of Elan's strong sense of independence and the exciting lifetime ahead.

Recently, I met with Elan's grieving family and friends sitting Shiva at the Ganeles' home in West Hartford. I heard firsthand about this amazing young man, and I am heartbroken for his family and their tragic loss--indeed, for all who might have known him. May Elan's memory be a blessing.

My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Elan's family during this difficult time, particularly to his parents Andrew and Carolyn, and his brothers Simon and Gabriel. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Elan's life and legacy, both large and lasting.

Madam President, I am proud but I am also saddened and angry to be here introducing a measure that should never be necessary in the United States of America.

The Women's Health Protection Act will, yes, offer protection to women who need and deserve it, but it is only because of a hideously misguided decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that we are here today.

When I first introduced this measure 10 years ago, the thought of overruling Roe v. Wade was unimaginable. It was a figment of fear dismissed by realistic scholars and advocates. It was unthinkable. And here we are.

The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down a death sentence to women across America. It has overturned 50 years of precedent, which I know well because I was a law clerk to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who wrote that opinion in the year afterward.

We thought then--and so did most people in America--we have dealt with this issue, we have disposed of it, and it is done in terms of juris prudence. But this measure is now necessary to protect the rights of all people to seek the healthcare they need and deserve.

I will tell you why I believe this measure should be passed. I trust women. I trust women to make decisions about their own future. I trust women more than I do elected officials or judges or government bureaucrats to decide what is right for them individually.

This measure is necessary to stop all of the bans, prohibitions, and medically unnecessary restrictions that

have no purpose except to cut off care and stigmatize women seeking healthcare services and the dedicated healthcare providers who serve them.

Now, I have a message to the men of America. This fight is yours, too. This isn't a women's issue. This is an American issue. It is a family issue. And if you think you are spared the conscience and conviction that should require you to stand up and speak out, you are wrong. This issue is yours, too.

We have seen horror stories just in the month since Dobbs. You heard one from my colleague Senator Baldwin. I have a similar one--Amanda Zurawski in Texas, who sadly learned that her baby would not survive, but doctors would not treat her as she might have done in other States. They told her to go home. She almost died of sepsis. They brought her back to the hospital and rushed her to intensive care.

Her husband Josh learned that, as a result, they might never have children. He said:

Amanda almost died. That's not pro-life. Amanda will have

challenges having more kids. That is not pro-life. He called

it ``barbaric.'' That is the Texas law--barbaric, inhuman.

Protecting access to abortion through the Women's Health Protection Act would not only help people like Amanda--women--it would help families. It would help countless people who simply choose access to abortion care because it is right for them and for their families, for other children who are already part of those families. A woman simply should not be forced to carry a pregnancy to term because some government bureaucrat decides she should.

There is a kind of dirty little secret here, and that is that Black, Latina, indigenous, and other people of color have always faced inexcusable inequities in healthcare access and outcomes due to longstanding systemic discrimination and racism and oppression. The result of it is the practical effect of these abortion restrictions and needless requirements fall disproportionately on them and communities of color.

This point is so important because it goes to the heart of the Women's Health Protection Act. At its core, this bill is about justice. It is about reproductive justice. It was a term that was conceptualized in 1994 by a group of Black women who rightfully saw a national need to highlight and focus on women, families, and communities. Abortion bans and restrictions continue to force women in communities of color who don't wish to carry and deny them the care they need and deserve in moments when their healthcare is at risk.

This bill is critical for communities that are disproportionately harmed by the bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that the Women's Health Protection Act would prohibit. It supports those who face the greatest barriers to care.

I want to, finally, thank in this fight some of the healthcare providers, advocates, lawyers, and staff who have been on the frontline in these past 10 years--people like Jackie Blank, Sara Outterson, and Liz Wagner of the Center for Reproductive Rights; Monica Edwards at URGE; Dr. Jamila Perritt at Physicians for Reproductive Choice; Amy Williams Navarro at NARAL; Karen Stone and Nina Serrianne at Planned Parenthood; Leila Abolfazli at the National Women's Law Center; and so many across the country, including, in Connecticut, Amanda Skinner and Gretchen Raffa at Planned Parenthood, and Liz Gustafson at NARAL Pro- Choice Connecticut.

Make no mistake, this fight will continue. The Women's Health Protection Act will pass. It may not be in the next couple of weeks or couple of months--maybe not even in this session--but it will pass because the conscience of America demands it. That is why referenda have won across the country on this issue. That is why voters went to the polls and showed with their feet where they stand. And that is why we need to fight rulings from the courts, with hard-right Republican judges who have declared a war on women.

As soon as next week, a judge in Texas may rule that mifepristone, the most common form of abortion care in this country, is illegal despite 20 years of safe, effective use with approval of the FDA of that drug. A nationwide ban will affect women in Connecticut if he does it.

We have seen also that Walgreens will not sell or make available mifepristone in 21 States whose State attorneys general have threatened to sue Walgreens if it makes that drug available. They have succumbed to bullying. They said to those attorneys general: OK, women lose; you win.

I urge consumers to vote with their feet and do their business elsewhere and show where they stand.

I am proud to be here with my colleagues to continue this fight for the Women's Health Protection Act.

Madam President, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Quentin ``Q'' Williams, a dedicated public servant, advocate, and friend to many. Tragically, State Representative Williams passed away on January 5, 2023, at the age of 39. He will be remembered for his commitment to Connecticut and passion for helping others.

A lifelong resident of Middletown, CT, Q was killed in an automobile accident just one day after being sworn in for a third term as State representative, a beautiful life cut tragically short, a bright light extinguished.

Raised by a single mother in Middletown, Q accomplished so much in his short career. After graduating from Middletown Public Schools, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bryant University, and a master of public administration from Villanova University--excellent preparation for a professional career dedicated to serving others.

Q began his career in community banking in Hartford before pursuing nonprofit management. In 2012, he was named executive director of the Middletown Downtown Business District and launched the community's first ``Middletown Restaurant Week,'' enhancing the community and economic vitality of the city's Main Street. Q served as director of advocacy and policy for Excellence Community Schools, a charter school network, and cofounded EquityCT, an education nonprofit. He was also active in many charitable and service organizations with a generous spirit that served him well in public service.

In 2019, Q was elected as the first Black State legislator from Middletown. As State representative, Q took great pride in championing social and racial equality, human rights, and accessible housing. He supported youth programs to help the next generation prepare for successful futures. There is no telling where Q's energy and passion could have taken him and how much good he would have continued to do for his community and the state of Connecticut.

At two recent church ceremonies, in Middletown and Bloomfield, friends and colleagues of Q's spoke of his love and loyalty, his jovial spirit, and deeply genuine generosity. At the time of his death, Representative Williams was looking forward to serving as the new house chair of the labor and public employees committee. Over the last several weeks, at ceremonies honoring him, I have spoken to his wonderful family. I have been among scores of people paying their respects to Q--a stirring testament to his positive impact.

My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Q's family during this difficult time, particularly to his wife Carrissa and mother Queen. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Q's life and legacy, both large and lasting.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard--the ``Flying Yankees''--as they celebrate 100 years of dedicated service to the State and our Nation.

The Flying Yankees are the 11th oldest Air National Guard unit in the United States, including a squadron that has served more than 90 years in military aviation. Operating from the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, CT, the 103rd Airlift Wing provides tactical airpower and mission support for the State and Nation. The unit carries out this critical mission through highly qualified and proficient C-130 aircrew.

The 103rd Airlift Wing has a history that dates back to the earliest years of military aviation, and the Flying Yankees have fought bravely in numerous conflicts throughout the last century. From their efforts in France during World War I, to their heroic service in the China- India-Burma theater of operations during World War II, the Flying Yankees have a long history of valiantly serving our Nation both at home and abroad. The unit's service continued through the Cold War and more recent conflicts. The Flying Yankees innovate to meet the changing needs of the State and the Nation, carrying on their great tradition of dedicated service to this day.

For a century, the brave members of the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard have embodied their motto--``faithful and alert''--answering the call to service for both Connecticut and the Nation. I applaud their determination and dedication to the vital mission of defending our country and hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Flying Yankees on this momentous occasion of their 100th anniversary.