Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the bravery and selfless service of the individuals who responded to the building collapse in Surfside, FL, on June 24, 2021.

I want to thank the Miami-Dade Police Department--MDPD--for responding when the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They are heroes.

The MDPD responded within minutes of the collapse and their rapid response saved lives. These brave men and women worked around the clock to support search and rescue efforts and provide protection and comfort to the entire Surfside community. They worked tirelessly, and they never gave up hope.

We are grateful for the MDPD's efforts to lead the investigation into the collapse and the challenging work of sifting through millions of pounds of

debris, searching for remains and personal items to bring closure to families. They worked closely with faith leaders to ensure search and rescue efforts were done with respect.

I also would like to personally thank MDPD Director Alfredo Ramirez III, Chief Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, Officer Deborah Valdes, as well as every law enforcement officer, victim advocate, and individual at the MDPD for heeding the tremendous call of duty to assist with missing persons reports and identification and notification processing for the victims and their families. This was an extremely difficult task, and they worked around the clock to bring order, comfort, and often closure to the families. Our hearts go out to all of those that lost loved ones.

I would also like to thank the MDPD chaplains who did everything they could to support the needs of those responding to the collapse and to all of the families that were impacted by this tragedy. The chaplains were a source of comfort and ensured that the emotional and religious needs of the families and first responders were met.

The MDPD also offered countless resources to the community, ensuring that short-term and long-term needs were met, including counseling and comfort, shelter, and assistance to all who needed it. They were instrumental in making sure that families were constantly updated and that all of their questions were answered in a timely and efficient manner, to the greatest extent possible. They provided as much transparency and kindness as they could during this unimaginable tragedy.

The MDPD teams worked to recover personal property and religious artifacts and followed careful collection protocols. They worked around the clock to ensure all recovered personal property and family heirlooms were treated with the utmost respect and with great consideration for faith traditions when recovering items of religious significance. So many came together, as one, in the relentless pursuit to save lives. We honor the precious lives lost and pay homage to loved ones and all those that have suffered immensely.

Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep Floridians safe, and this was no exception. We can never thank them enough for their bravery, self-sacrifice, and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy. Ann and I are praying for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the selfless service of the individuals who responded to horrific tragedy in Surfside, FL, on June 24, 2021, when the Champlain Towers South condo building suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night.

Our Jewish Community, particularly Orthodox Jews, have been especially affected by this tragedy. We are incredibly grateful for the service and compassionate care of Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar, Rabbi Schneur Lipskar, community leaders, The Shul members, volunteers, and all of those who worked selflessly to support our Jewish community and provided comfort during this time of need.

In the days following the Surfside tragedy, the world watched as our Jewish community united to assist and console friends, neighbors, and the countless families and individuals affected by the collapse. The outpouring of love and support was absolutely incredible, even amidst such tragedy. Hundreds gathered every day at The Shul of Bal Harbour to pray that survivors would be found.

The Surfside Jewish community has always held service and generosity to others in high regard and practiced giving daily. When the tragic collapse took place, the community quickly sprang into action. The Shul became a resource center for survivors, family members of victims, as well as first responders and rescue teams.

Hundreds were hosted by The Shul for Shabbat meals. Folding tables set up in The Shul were piled high with clothing, toys, food, electronics, and household goods for those who lost everything in the collapse. An emergency fund set up by The Shul raised funds to be disbursed directly to the victims and families. The Surfside Jewish community was a vital lifeline of support and comfort in the midst of unimaginable pain and tragedy.

There were numerous members of the synagogue that were victims of this terrible tragedy, and our hearts are heavy for them. We pray for those who were unexpectedly lost. They had great faith and served their synagogue faithfully. They will be missed greatly. Let us pray that their memory be a blessing. Ann and I continue to pray for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the bravery and selfless service of the individuals who responded to horrific tragedy in Surfside, FL, on June 24, 2021, when the Champlain Towers South condo building suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night.

Our Jewish Community, particularly Orthodox Jews, have been especially affected by this tragedy. We are incredibly grateful to United Hatzalah for rushing in to respond following the building collapse. They swiftly heeded the call of duty to help provide emergency medical services. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They are heroes, and we can never thank them enough for their bravery and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy.

International rescue crews and emergency support organizations from Israel responded to the site to aid in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts. United Hatzalah is an Israeli volunteer-based emergency medical services organization based in Jerusalem. Its mission is to provide immediate medical intervention during the critical window between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of traditional ambulance assistance. It is one of many Hatzalah organizations in various parts of the world.

United Hatzalah of Israel sent a team to Surfside to assist the community and provide psychological support and stabilization to all those affected by the tragedy. Ann and I continue to pray for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the bravery and selfless service of the first responders who responded to the horrific tragedy on June 24, 2021, when the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night.

Our Jewish Community, particularly Orthodox Jews, have been especially affected by this tragedy. We are incredibly grateful to ZAKA for immediately rushing in to respond following the building collapse. They swiftly heeded the call of duty to aid in rescue and recovery efforts. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They are heroes.

International rescue crews and emergency support organizations from Israel responded to the site to aid in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts. ZAKA Search and Rescue, a nonprofit based in Israel, specializes in search and rescue and recovering remains for proper burial under Jewish law. ZAKA sent rescue workers to Surfside to provide critical support and assist with identifications and burial preparation. They worked tirelessly and relentlessly to make sure that the needs of the community were met.

ZAKA offered resources, support, and comfort to the survivors and community in Surfside. In the face of tremendous loss, ZAKA heeded the call to action, and for that, we will be eternally grateful. We can never thank them enough for their bravery and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy. Ann and I continue to pray for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved

ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

Mr. President, ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. ALS causes progressive degeneration of these motor neurons leading to their death. There is no cure for ALS, and although the mean survival time with ALS is 3 to 5 years, some people live 5, 10, or more years. While ALS is considered a ``rare'' disease, the reality is that 500,000 people alive today will eventually die from the disease.

I have seen how devastating and heartbreaking an ALS diagnosis is for families. Over time, this disease robs people of the ability to walk, talk, move, and breathe. In most cases, members of a patient's family eventually need to become full-time caregivers to help navigate all the challenges that ALS creates.

I want to commend the Florida chapter of the ALS Association for their work to fight ALS on all fronts and support the 1,300 families in Florida who are battling this disease each day. They work closely with a network of 10 ALS multidisciplinary clinics in the State to ensure those families have access to critical support as they fight this disease. Additionally, they provide a variety of programs and services that are designed to help ease the burden of ALS.

I want to thank the ALS staff and their many volunteers for their service to the community. I want to specifically recognize three individuals who are battling ALS.

John Robinson is a recently retired, 32-year veteran of the U.S. Army. Most recently, he served as the chief warrant officer of the Army's field artillery branch. In the same way that he served in the military to protect our freedom here at home, he serves in the ALS community to help those coming along behind him with ALS. Just as John protected our freedom, he is a staunch protector of hope in the ALS community. John wants the next generation of those diagnosed with this dreadful disease to have better care, more effective treatments, and the possibility of improved prognosis and quality of life.

Troy Fields is a husband and father of four living with ALS in Tampa, FL. Prior to his diagnosis, Troy worked at a global financial technology company for 26 years. Troy believes acceptance never means that having ALS is okay. It simply means one is willing to deal with it. Whether he is talking about advocacy with the ALS community and encouraging others to take action or talking one on one with a chapter board member about outlining strategic goals, Troy's strategy for coping is to live in the moment, accept what he cannot control, and work to change what he can.

Diane Mummaw is from Deltona, FL, and is the mother of two children and a recently retired small business

owner. Despite battling ALS, she considers herself lucky because she is one of the precious few who has survived more than 5 years since her diagnosis. ALS affected her ability to function but it did not take away her ability to work for improvement. As an entrepreneur, she took on living with ALS with the very same grit, fortitude, and determination that she used to build and grow her business.

These three Floridians show so much strength and hope in the face of adversity, and I thank them for their many contributions to the ALS community and to our State.

Last year, Congress passed the ALS Disability Insurance Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for disabled workers with ALS. I was proud to support this important legislation and will keep working to support Floridians with ALS and help to fight this horrible disease on all fronts.

Mr. President, our Nation is nearly $30 trillion in debt. That is $233,000 in debt for every American family.

The American people are already feeling the pressure of rising inflation thanks to reckless government spending. And, make no mistake about it, inflation is a tax, a tax that hurts our

families on low and fixed incomes the most.

I am hearing it from families across Florida who are worried. I heard from a dad in Jacksonville with three kids who is helping to temporarily take care of two other kids because their father is out of work. As a result of having five kids in his home, he has started working a second job to pay for all of the groceries that are rapidly increasing in price. His second job is driving Uber, and that is less and less profitable by the day because of the rising price of gas.

Over the weekend, the suspension on the Federal debt ceiling expired. That leaves Congress with two choices: Continue this reckless, wasteful spending with no accountability to the American people, or start making the tough choices to put our Nation on a successful path.

I know we can make the right choices and start moving America in a better direction. That is exactly what I did when I was Governor of Florida. Our State was on a bad path. I had to make difficult choices, but I paid down one-third of State debt, all while cutting taxes 100 times. It can be done.

Washington's choice to keep raising or suspending the debt ceiling is like raising the limit on your credit card, month after month, with absolutely no plan to pay it off. It is irresponsible, and it is no way to operate. You would never run your business or family the way Washington runs. It is wasteful and dysfunctional.

I came to Washington to rein in this exact type of dysfunction. We have to get our debt and spending under control. We need to make Washington work for families in Florida and all across the Nation. That is why I am leading my colleagues in a proposed rule change that would require every piece of legislation passed by a Senate committee to include a report on how it will impact inflation.

It is very simple. When legislation, directly or indirectly, raises the cost of living or raises taxes on American families, families deserve to know.

Too many in Washington believe the lie that inflation is impossible, debt doesn't matter, and spending has no consequences. That is why this rule change is needed.

This rule change is to protect that father in Jacksonville who is struggling to get by. It is to protect those living on fixed incomes, low-income earners, and small businesses that can't absorb cost increases.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules be discharged from further consideration and that the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 327. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon table.

Mr. President, while I am disappointed that my colleague won't accept this measure, we do need to start doing something about inflation, and we can do that today with the infrastructure spending bill.

We can all get behind real infrastructure--like roads, bridges, airports, and seaports--but we have to acknowledge that $1.2 trillion is a massive amount of taxpayer dollars, and we have to know exactly how this will impact families.

I have been told by supporters of this infrastructure bill that it will not cause inflation. I will not support anything that increases inflation on American families. I have an amendment to the infrastructure package that will require the Congressional Budget Office to certify that the spending in this bill will not increase inflation on the American people.

If CBO does not certify that the spending authorized and appropriated in the bill would not increase inflation, my amendment would prohibit the funding from being obligated or spent, and the funds would instead be transferred to the Treasury Department for deficit reduction.

I hope that everybody will get behind this amendment.

Mr. President, I rise today in solidarity with the brave Cuban people fighting for freedom. For decades, the Cuban people suffered atrocities, oppression, and misery at the hands of the illegitimate communist Castro regime.

I have repeatedly told the story of Sirley Avila Leon, a Cuban woman who was attacked by communist Cuban security forces in 2015. They cut off her hand and stuck her arm in the mud to make sure it got infected. Her crime? She complained that the regime was going to shut down a school in her neighborhood.

I have spoken to brave leaders like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the courageous members of his Patriotic Union of Cuba, who are fighting every day to defend human rights, freedom, and the democratic movement in Cuba. Jose Daniel Ferrer is currently being detained by the communist regime, and his family doesn't know where he is. Activists like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the artists of the San Isidro Movement are the future of Cuba, not the ruthless communist regime.

This is the same communist regime that for decades has been the root of the instability we see across Latin America. The communist Cuban regime props up other dangerous dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua, threatening the region and the national security of the United States.

What we are seeing now in Cuba should send a clear message to the world: Communism is a failed ideology that does nothing but lead to suffering and oppression. Communism doesn't work. Socialism doesn't work.

The people of Cuba are crying out for freedom. They are denouncing the oppressive communist rule that has brought ruin to their nation for more than 60 years. This disgusting assault on the people of Cuba cannot go unchecked.

I very much appreciate my colleague's efforts to condemn the atrocities of the regime, but this resolution is missing one thing: These atrocities are undeniably linked to communism.

I stand today to offer a friendly amendment that simply condemns communism in this resolution, labeling the Cuban dictators Diaz-Canel and Raul Castro what they are: a ruthless, communist Cuban regime.

In America, we understand the value and importance of freedom in our everyday lives, and it is our duty to support and stand up for those who are oppressed by dictators and denied the right to live freely. It is our duty to speak the truth about communism.

I stand proudly with the heroic freedom fighters across Cuba who have taken to the streets, determined to regain their freedom and put an end to the communist Castro dictatorship.

To the people of Cuba: You are not alone. Together, we will defeat communism.

The freedom of Cuba is closer than ever, and we are not going to stop until we see a new day of freedom, democracy, and ``Patria y Vida'' in Cuba.

I urge my colleagues to support my important amendment today. Therefore, I ask that the Senator modify his request to include my amendment, which is at the desk; that the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, let me just read this. All I am saying is, the resolution would add ``condemns the murderous Communist party of Cuba for decades of oppression against the Cuban people, the destruction of the Cuban economy, and the destructive spread of communism in the Western Hemisphere.''

I wish my colleague from New Jersey would accept my simple but important, friendly amendment, but I will consent to allowing this resolution to move forward.

I will always stand proudly with the brave people in Cuba, fighting for their freedom, and against the brutal communist regime which continues to oppress them.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, after weeks like this, I find it hard to explain to Floridians back home how Congress is actually working on behalf of their families.

I think it is safe to say that every Member of the Senate believes we should be investing in infrastructure. For me, it is pretty simple. I believe we should invest in real infrastructure: roads, bridges, airports, and seaports.

As Governor of Florida, I did just that. Over my 8 years as Governor, Florida invested $85 billion in real infrastructure across our State, and we did it while cutting taxes and fees 100 times and paying off a third of our State debt. In other words, we paid for these big investments in infrastructure by growing our economy and supporting job creation. That is what is important to Floridians, and I am immensely proud of our accomplishments.

So I support doing the exact same thing at the Federal level. But what we are doing here just doesn't make any sense. Nowhere in the world does business happen like it does here in the U.S. Congress.

We started this week with ongoing negotiations about a big infrastructure deal. Of course, outside of the small group involved in these negotiations, no one here had any clue what was actually being debated. We had no text; we had no real information on how much was being spent; and we certainly had no idea how this was all supposed to be paid for.

Then, on Wednesday, we got the big news: A deal had been reached. Well, that might be great, but we still had no real details. We still don't have the text of the bill.

Now the majority leader expects us to start voting on amendments, and maybe even this whole package, this weekend. This is insanity. Nowhere in the world would this be the process. We are expected to make a decision on spending $1.2 trillion of American taxpayer dollars, and no one in the U.S. Senate has had the chance to even read the bill.

Typically, the Congressional Budget Office would score a bill like this before the Senate considers it. That score gives us important information about the true cost and financial impact of the legislation on the Federal Government and the American people. Of course, that is not the case with this bill. The CBO hasn't had the chance to review it at all.

Do you think any company would sign off on a massive expense without all the details? Would a family make a huge purchase without knowing exactly what it is for? Of course not. But that is how things work here in Congress, and that is not right.

This is exactly why I ran for the U.S. Senate, to make Washington work for Florida families and stop this madness of reckless spending and backroom deals that don't deliver and aren't paid for.

Speaking of pay-fors, well, they just don't exist in this bill. This is how backward and awful Washington is. People up here think they can just make big, empty promises and sell it to the American people. They think families will just buy whatever they are selling, no questions asked.

Nope. It is time for some accountability. My friend from Indiana, Senator Braun, recently did a great job of laying out the claims and facts of the so-called pay-fors in this bill, so I am going to borrow from him a bit to show what is really going on here. Here are just a few of the most ridiculous examples.

First, half of this bill is supposedly paid for with $550 billion from the highway trust fund. That fund is $100 billion in the red. The money isn't there. So that is not real.

The bill also proposes using billions of repurposed COVID relief funding. I am all for repurposing this money, but we borrowed it to begin with, so this is robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is not like it is free money.

They also want to use $49 billion in savings for delaying a Medicare Part D rebate rule and another $9 million paid for another year of mandatory sequester. Why would we cut Medicare to pay for roads?

The 4.6 million seniors in Florida deserve better. Any savings in the Medicare Program should stay in the Medicare Program. Let's all remember, the Medicare trust fund is actually heading toward bankruptcy.

And, of course, there are a handful of other fee increases thrown in there with lofty and unrealistic revenue estimates that they will claim will get us fully paying for this $1.2 trillion package.

What they won't say is that these fees will almost certainly increase the costs of everyday goods and make it more expensive to get a mortgage and afford a home.

There is no shame in Washington; just greed. Everyone wants so badly to say that they have given you something, but they always forget to mention the cost and that you actually

have to pay for it. The cost is important.

I have said it a million times, and I will say it again: Reckless government spending causes higher inflation. It is a proven fact. And we are seeing the consequences of reckless spending across America right now.

Eighty-seven percent--eighty-seven percent--of Americans are worried about inflation. Low- and fixed-income families are having to cut back on purchases because of rising costs. I am hearing it from families across Florida who are worried.

A father of three in Jacksonville is temporarily helping take care of two other kids because their father is out of work. He has started working a second job driving Uber just to pay for groceries that are rapidly increasing in price. Now his Uber job is becoming less and less profitable because of the rising price of gas. Gas is up over 50 percent in 1 year.

A mother of four in Wauchula said that she used to be able to go to the grocery store and spend a certain amount for an entire month's groceries. Now she can't. Two hundred dollars in meat is no longer enough to feed her family of five. She has been forced to choose between gas to get to work and groceries for her family and is picking up extra jobs just to make ends meet.

I can relate to this. I grew up in a poor family. My mom would take in ironing for extra money. She would give either my older brother or me the exact change to go to the grocery store, but she said: You have to check the price of everything because things are going up in price, and if we don't have enough money, you cannot buy it.

A restaurant owner in Tampa told me that the cost of meat has gone up from $9 a pound to $18. Gas prices and food prices, coupled with the struggle to find workers, have been very hard on his business.

Another family in Kissimmee told me how hard it is to keep food on the table because everything is so expensive. They are having trouble keeping their car because of the cost of maintenance and gas, but if he doesn't have a car, he wouldn't have a way to get to work to take care of his family.

The price of gas affects nearly everyone. Right now, average gas prices are up nearly a dollar since last year. For a family who fills up their gas tank once a week, if they drive a car, that means Joe Biden raised their expenses $600 a year. If they drive a truck, Joe Biden raised their expenses by $1,000 a year.

So next time you hear a big promise, remember these stories. These are real people bearing the real cost of the Democrats' reckless spending in Washington.

Biden and the Democrats say they care about people, but they have done absolutely nothing to help families struggle to keep up with inflation. Their plan is to spend more money, not less.

We have nearly $30 trillion in debt, and there are no plans to slow down. And that is exactly what we are seeing in this bill. We can't forget that this is just the start. Chuck Schumer said it on the floor yesterday. This is just part one and leads to Biden's and the Democrats' $5.5 trillion tax-and-spending spree on their liberal priorities. These two bills are together. They are welded together. There is no separating them.

Right now, the message that President Biden and Democrats here in Washington are sending to the American people is clear: They don't care about inflation. They don't care that their reckless spending is causing prices to skyrocket. If that is the cost of getting their liberal wish list, so be it. They aren't focused on inflation or spending, just on more government dependency and control.

Just look at what is happening this week with new COVID mask and vaccine mandates. I had COVID, and I got the vaccine. I think people should get vaccinated. But that is not what this is about. It is not about taking a measured approach and following the science and telling exactly how they came to the conclusion. It is about creating fear and chaos to grab power and control you.

I am here to say that enough is enough. It is time to wake up to reality. It is time for every fiscally responsible Member of the Senate to join me to say we don't accept the status quo. We won't watch in silence while the futures of our children and our grandchildren are mortgaged and this Nation is driven deeper in debt with reckless and wasteful spending. We won't stand by while inflation wreaks havoc on our families and businesses. We can get spending under control, but we have to start accepting responsibility, and the time to do that is now. This isn't political. It is good government, and it is common sense.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, in less than 72 hours, the suspension on the Federal Government's debt ceiling will expire. That leaves Congress with two options: continue with the reckless, wasteful spending it is accustomed to without any accountability to the American people; or finally face reality, make some tough choices, and chart a path forward that lowers the Federal debt and gets spending under control.

Washington is constantly spending more money and taking on new debt without any plan to ever reduce the debt.

Since 1960, Congress has raised or extended the debt limit more than 70 times. Washington's choice to keep

raising or suspending the debt ceiling is like raising the limit on your credit card month after month with no plan to pay it off.

It is reckless, and it is this kind of fiscal irresponsibility that is hurting American families and causing the rising inflation we are seeing.

As you can see here, 87 percent of Americans are worried about inflation--87 percent. Low- and fixed-income families are having to cut on purchases because of rising costs.

Look at these numbers: Gas up 52 percent in 12 months; milk, 11; bacon, 16 percent; eggs, 6 percent; used cars, 45 percent; utilities, 6 percent.

I am hearing from families all across Florida who are worried. Read you a couple stories.

A father of three in Jacksonville, who is temporarily helping to take care of two other kids because their father is out of work, has started working a second job driving Uber just to pay for groceries that are rapidly increasing in price. Now, his Uber job is becoming less and less profitable because the rising price of gas.

Mother of four in Wauchula said she used to be able to go to the grocery store and spend a certain amount of money for an entire month's groceries; now she can't. Two hundred dollars in meat is not--is no longer enough to feed her family of five. She is being forced to choose between gas to get to work and groceries for her family, and is picking up extra jobs just to get by.

I can relate to all this. I grew up in a family that struggled for money. My mom would take in ironing for extra money. She would send me or my older brother to the grocery store with exact change, but she told us: You have got to check the prices. The prices keep going up. And if it does, you have got to figure out how to get the food we need with less--with the money we have.

I have spoken to the owner of a construction company in West Palm Beach who says materials are going up. Twenty-four dollars for a sheet of plywood is now $80 a sheet. Drywall is going up a dollar a board. Prices of hardware, like screws, are going up 10 to 15 percent per month. Delivery prices are going up due to gas and the shortage of truck drivers. His employees are complaining about gas and are afraid what it might mean if the price continues to rise.

A restaurant owner in Tampa told me the cost of meat has gone up from $9 a pound to $18. Gas prices and food prices, coupled with the struggle to find workers, has been very hard on his business.

Another family in Kissimmee told me how hard it is to keep food on the table because everything is so expensive. They are having trouble keeping the car because of the cost of maintenance and gas, but if he doesn't have a car, he wouldn't have a way to get to work to take care of his family.

The price of gas affects nearly everyone, and right now average gas prices are up nearly $1 since last year.

For a family that fills up their tank once a week, if you drive a car, that means Joe Biden raised your expenses $600 a year; if you drive a truck, that means Joe Biden raised your expenses by more than $1,000 a year.

Biden and the Democrats say they care about people, but they have done absolutely nothing to help families struggling to keep up with inflation. Their plan is to spend more, more, more money, not less.

We have nearly $30 trillion in debt, and there are no plans to slow down. Now Biden and the Democrats want to spend another $5.5 trillion on their liberal priorities, with no consideration as to how this might impact families.

Right now, this message that President Biden and the Democrats in Washington are sending to the American people is clear: We don't care about inflation. We don't care about reckless spending that is causing prices to skyrocket.

If they say that is the cost of getting our liberal--their liberal wish list done, so be it.

I think it is a disgusting approach and I am not going to stand for it. I am here to say that enough is enough. It is time to wake up to reality. Eighty-seven percent of Americans are concerned about inflation. We have to take action to get government spending under control, which is why we have introduced the Federal Debt Emergency Control Act.

My bill prevents Washington from mindlessly spending by requiring that two-thirds of the Senate vote to increase the debt before approving any bill with deficit spending.

It would also terminate any unobligated funding from the American Rescue Plan and any previous spending bills--sending it back to the Treasury general fund for deficit reduction.

Finally, it would ensure that any bill reducing the debt by at least 5 percent over 10 years is fast-tracked through the legislative process.

I have also introduced an amendment to the Senate rules to require that all committee reports include inflationary impact statements so Americans can see the true impacts of government spending.

Americans deserve to know how their hard-earned dollars are being spent and how Washington's spending is affecting inflation. This will ensure they do.

I welcome all my fiscally responsible colleagues to join me to say we don't accept status quo. We won't watch in silence as people try to spend us into oblivion. We won't stand by while inflation wreaks havoc on our families and businesses.

We can get spending under control. While I was Governor of Florida, we paid down one-third of our State debt by living within our means, all while cutting taxes and fees about 100 times.

We can do it here, but we have to start acting responsibly today, and the time to do that is now. It is time to stand up for our grandkids, whose future is being mortgaged for out-of-control Washington spending. This isn't political. It is good government, and it is commonsense.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of David Mermelstein.

David was born in Kevjazd, Czechoslovakia, on December 21, 1928. In 1944, at just 16 years old, David was sent to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz until the American liberation of the camp in 1945. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. David lost everything, including documentation of his family's insurance policy. After 2 years in a displaced persons camp, David came to the United States in 1948. He met his wife, Irene, who is also a Holocaust survivor, in New York. Together, they decided to move to Miami, FL, where they made a lifelong home.

David devoted his life to serving the south Florida Jewish community, assuming leadership roles in many organizations. He was passionate about educating our children about the Holocaust. He founded the Holocaust Survivors of Miami-Dade County, becoming a national advocate for survivors and testifying before Congress on their behalf on the need for restitution to obtain the most equitable compensation possible for the survivors.

David lived through unspeakable horror and dedicated his life to educating and inspiring those around him. Our memory of all those who suffered must never weaken, and we must always fight against hate.

David was beloved by all who knew him. He was a fierce advocate and an inspiration to all who heard his story. David exemplified what it means to

love and to make a difference. He will be greatly missed and remembered forever for his remarkable and inspiring life.

Ann and I are praying for Irene, Helene, Joe Davis, Michael and Lisa Mermelstein, Debbi Mermelstein, Jenna and Mike Fox, Lindsay Davis, Brian Davis, and Eli Fox, and all of David's family and friends. We mourn this very heavy loss, but we are blessed to have known David Mermelstein and for the work he did to educate and improve the world. May his memory be a blessing to all.

Madam President, America is in a debt crisis because of reckless government spending. Now, thanks to the insane spending and failed policies of President Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington, we are seeing higher and higher inflation.

Under the Biden administration, inflation has grown every month. Just look at this week's CPI numbers. From June 2020 to June 2021, the Consumer Price Index rose 5.4 percent. Energy costs are up 24.5 percent, and gasoline prices are up 45 percent--nearly $1 more from where they were last year. Inflation is at the highest rate since the great recession. This week's Producer Price Index data shows a 7.3- percent increase in June and a historic 22.6-percent jump in the prices of processed goods, the highest since 1975. For 6 straight months, we have seen the data clearly shows that spending beyond our means has consequences. Inflation is growing at the fastest rate since 1981.

These aren't just numbers or statistics; these increases represent a growing pressure on Florida families and businesses. Every time prices rise, life gets harder.

Last month, I met with business owners in Miami and heard firsthand how their businesses were struggling with the rising price of goods. Every time I am home in Florida, I hear from families who are noticing prices are up, gas prices are up, and food prices are up. Every price increase has a direct impact on a family's budget.

When inflation goes up, it hurts everyone, especially our poor families, those on fixed incomes, and small businesses. I saw how hard it was for my parents to make ends meet when inflation hit in the seventies. When food and gas prices went up, we had less food on the table.

I remember going to the grocery store, when my mom took in ironing to

raise money every day for groceries, and she said: You have to look at the price of things because they are constantly going up.

That is happening again in Joe Biden's America. Families in Florida and across our Nation are suffering because of the Democrats' reckless spending spree led by Joe Biden.

Just take a look around. Average prices of everything--everything is up. Let's say families are filling up their tank once a week. If you drive a car, that means Joe Biden raised your expenses $600 a year. If you drive a truck, that means Joe Biden raised your expenses by more than $1,000 a year. And let's remember, half of Americans make less than $35,000 a year. Inflation is a new tax on our families.

Instead of addressing this crisis that has hurt Americans, Biden and the Democrats are living in an economic fantasyland where debt doesn't matter, spending has no consequences, and inflation is impossible. They are ignoring the fact that our Nation is barreling towards $30 trillion in debt. That is $233,000 in debt for every family in America.

Now Democrats in the Senate want to spend another $4 trillion of your money on a so-called infrastructure plan that has little to do with infrastructure. They don't care if Americans get a return on their hard-earned tax dollars.

But the truth is, we can't keep spending like this. There will be a day of reckoning coming if we don't act to get our fiscal house in order. That is why I have introduced legislation, the Federal Debt Emergency Control Act, to take real steps to rein in Washington's out- of-control spending. That includes preventing Biden and the Democrats from mindlessly spending by requiring that two-thirds of the Senate vote to increase the debt before approving any bill with deficit spending.

It would terminate any unobligated funding from the American Rescue Plan and any previous stimulus bills, sending it back to the Treasury General Fund for deficit reduction.

Finally, it would ensure that any bill reducing the debt by at least 5 percent over 10 years is fast-tracked through the legislative process.

We are in a debt crisis. This isn't monopoly money; it is Americans' money, and we have to be responsible with it. It is time to end the madness, and it is time to stand up for low- and fixed-income families and for small businesses that bear the brunt of President Biden's inflation crisis. With the debt ceiling suspension expiring on July 31, we must tackle these issues head-on and chart a new and fiscally responsible path forward that protects families and our Nation's financial security.

I look forward to every fiscally responsible Republican and Democrat working with me to reject Biden's insane spending spree, quickly pass my bill, and protect the future of this Nation

Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleague Senator Rubio for joining me to honor the lives lost in the horrific tragedy on June 24, when the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night, and honor the brave men and women that have risked their lives in search, rescue, and recovery efforts.

Senator Rubio and I were on the ground in Surfside following the collapse, talking to families, first responders, and members of the community. The pain these families are experiencing is unimaginable. Those unexpectedly lost in this horrific tragedy were mothers, fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers, friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They were children and grandchildren with their full lives ahead of them.

I can't imagine losing any member of my family like this, but the thought of losing one of my grandchildren is too painful to imagine. We mourn with these families, and our hearts break for them. We continue to pray for the Surfside community, the families and loved ones of those lost, and all of those working tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

In the face of tremendous tragedy, our first responders ran into the danger. They are heroes. They immediately answered the call to serve, and firefighters, law enforcement officers, rescue and recovery crews, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses, and others from across the State of Florida and the Nation came rushing to save them.

When you meet with the first responders--I mean, they are working tirelessly trying to find somebody that has survived, and your heart goes out to them as they went from rescue to recovery. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Surfside Police Department, and others from around the area were there every step of the way.

Some of these responders lost family in the collapse; yet they still answered the call. We heard the absolutely devastating story of a Miami-Dade firefighter who carried the body of his own 7-year-old daughter, Stella, away from the rubble. You just can't even begin to imagine the pain and loss experienced by this father.

International rescue crews and emergency support organizations from Israel and Mexico also responded to the site to aid in the search and rescue efforts. Numerous volunteer organizations responded, including the Red Cross, as well as community leaders and individuals offering resources, support, and comfort to the survivors and community in Surfside.

Our Jewish community, particularly Orthodox Jews, have been especially affected by this tragedy, and we thank CSE, Hatzalah, ZAKA, and all those who have worked selflessly to support our Jewish community. We can never thank these brave men and women enough for their bravery and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy.

I know right now we all have a lot of unanswered questions. We are all going to work tirelessly to understand exactly what happened. And while we can't bring back the lives lost, I will always work to honor those lost and will be relentless in the search for answers to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.

As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 300, submitted earlier today

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I appreciate the unanimous support of my Senate colleagues passing this resolution to honor the lives lost in the horrific tragedy in Surfside, and I thank the many first responders for their incredible bravery in the search and rescue and recovery efforts.

Our hearts are broken, but we stand together. Florida is ``Surfside Strong.''

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to talk about the new day of freedom dawning in Cuba and the brave Cubans marching for freedom across the island. For decades, the Cuban people have suffered atrocities, oppression, and misery at the hands of the communist Castro regime.

I have repeatedly told the story of Sirley Avila Leon, a Cuban woman who was attacked by Cuban security forces in 2015. They cut off her hand and stuck her arm in the mud to make sure it got infected. Her crime? She complained that the regime was going to shut down a school in her neighborhood.

I have spoken to brave leaders like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the courageous members of his Patriotic Union of Cuba who are fighting every day to defend human rights, freedom, and the democratic movement in Cuba. Activists like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the artists of the San Isidro Movement are the future of Cuba, not the ruthless communist regime.

Today, the people of Cuba are saying: Enough. Across Cuba, people are marching in the streets to protest against communist rule and demand the freedom, liberty, and basic human rights that have been stolen from them for decades by the brutally oppressive Cuban regime. Their demands are simple: libertad.

What we are seeing in Cuba should send a clear message to the world. Communism is a failed ideology that does nothing but lead to suffering and oppression. Communism doesn't work. Socialism doesn't work.

The people of Cuba are crying out for freedom. They are denouncing the oppressive communist rule that has brought ruin to their nation for more than 60 years. The message from the Cuban people to Diaz-Canel and Raul Castro has never been more clear: Your time is up. And the regime is terrified of the Cuban people. They are attacking peaceful protesters in an effort to silence them. Right now, Jose Daniel Ferrer, members of his family, and other leaders from his group are reportedly missing, likely kidnapped by the regime.

This disgusting assault on the people of Cuba cannot go unchecked. We cannot ignore this historic moment in the fight for freedom. We understand the value and importance of freedom in our everyday lives, and it is our duty to support and stand up for those who are oppressed by dictators and denied the right the live freely.

Today, I stand proudly with the heroic freedom fighters across Cuba who have taken to the streets, determined to regain their freedom and put an end to the Castro dictatorship.

Now, the Biden administration must lead the freedom-loving nations of the world in loud and unequivocal denouncement of the brutal communist Castro regime and in support of the liberty, democracy, and human rights the Cuban people call for and rightfully deserve.

We must be clear. For decades, Cuba has been the root of instability in Latin America and represented a terrible threat to the national security of the United States. The Castro regime harbors terrorist groups; has gotten rid of free and fair elections; threatens and arbitrarily arrests critics, journalists, and political activists; and props up other ruthless dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua.

Today, the American people must join freedom-loving Cubans in saying that the oppression ends now. We cannot lift sanctions or restore diplomatic relations with the Cuban dictatorship. We should not offer another lifeline to this brutal communist dictatorship.

I urge the Biden administration to impose further sanctions on the tyrannical Cuban regime. We cannot let up. There must be consequences for this heinous oppression and attacks on peaceful protesters.

To the people of Cuba: You are not alone. I stand with you in this fight. Florida stands with you in this fight. The United States of America stands with you in this fight.

The freedom of Cuba is closer than ever, and we are not going to stop until we see a new day of freedom, democracy, and ``Patria y Vida'' in Cuba.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate in Spanish.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, before I address this issue, I will take a moment of personal privilege to talk about the horrific tragedy that occurred in Surfside, FL, when an apartment building collapsed earlier this morning.

Miami-Dade fire and rescue, Miami-Dade police, and our other brave first responders rushed to the scene and have been working nonstop to rescue those trapped in the rubble. It looks horrible. I have talked to quite a few people down there, and we know of one confirmed death, and, hopefully, there won't be no more. But I know they are still trying to get people out of the rubble.

So I join all my Floridians in praying for strength for these first responders and all those impacted by this disaster.

First, I want to thank my colleague for giving me a few moments to speak on this difficult moment for my State.

My colleague raised this same issue yesterday. I am here fighting for accountability for the American people. So I will say the same in return.

I voted to support Ms. Easterly's confirmation in committee last week. If Senator Schumer filed for cloture, like he has done for dozens of other nominees this year, I would vote to support her confirmation here on the Senate floor. In fact, I don't understand why Senator Schumer didn't file for cloture on Tuesday night when my office first learned of my colleague's intention to raise this. We could be voting on her confirmation right now.

As my colleague has said, this isn't about Ms. Easterly, in my mind. This isn't about cyber security. Remember, we announced and confirmed the National Cyber Director last week. Just yesterday, the Senate confirmed the Administrator of the General Services Administration, which is a key Agency for modernizing and protecting the Federal Government's IT infrastructure. I am here today because families in my State of Florida and across our Nation deserve accountability, and President Biden has shown a total lack of accountability when it comes to addressing the border crisis. That is why I announced last month that I will be holding all of President Biden's nominees for the Department of Homeland Security from being approved through our expedited process until he and Vice President Harris visit the border and see for themselves the crisis their failed policies of open borders and the amnesty have created.

As we all know, yesterday, the White House announced that the Vice President will be visiting the border tomorrow, and absolutely, I think we all hope that is true. The administration made a lot of promises they haven't kept. They promised not to raise taxes. They promised to reopen schools quickly. They promised to be tough on Communist China. There is quite a list.

So trust me--I am glad the Vice President seems to be taking my advice and finally listening to the American people and visiting the border. I truly hope she gets down to the border to see the crisis that this administration's failed policies have created.

I hope she meets with the National Border Patrol Council to hear from them what our brave CBP agents are going through every day to keep us safe.

I hope she meets with border community sheriffs who are responsible for keeping our families safe.

I hope she meets with our ICE and CBP section chiefs.

I hope she takes an aerial tour like I did and sees the gaps in the wall. I took a tour with Governor Ducey. You have the wall, and then all of a sudden, there are these openings where the fences weren't put up or the gates weren't put up.

A lot of people up here said: Oh, we don't need the wall; we need, you know, technology.

Well, there are the lights and cameras. I saw places where it just-- it wasn't electrified. It just doesn't make sense.

I hope she meets with families who have been victims of trafficking and hears their horrific stories, what this has put people through.

I hope she visits some of the border communities and talks to the mayors and talks to people down there about how they are housing and caring for this historic number of people illegally crossing our borders. This is a tough crisis that has been created.

I hope she talks to families who have lost loved ones from massive, massive amounts of fentanyl that now our cartels are moving across the border.

I hope she talks to ranchers who are impacted by people illegally crossing the border onto their property.

I think all of us would hope that it is not just a political stunt. I hope she actually says: I want to see the crisis. I want to understand exactly what happened here.

When she does, I am going to lift all of my holds, as I told my colleague.

What is happening at the border is a crisis, and I don't think there is another word for it. You can look at this chart. Look at how many people have come across. This is the number of people who have been apprehended. We don't know how many people there are who haven't been apprehended.

More than 180,000 illegal aliens tried to cross our southern border last

month--the highest number in 21 years--threatening our national security and the safety of American families.

President Biden's immigration policies are putting unaccompanied minors at risk of human trafficking, violence, sexual abuse, and separation from their families. I mean, it is horrible. They are leading to an alarming increase in human trafficking and drug smuggling by cartels.

FBI Director Wray said there is ``no question'' that the cartel activity from Mexico is ``spilling over'' to the United States. We are seeing it in Florida. I talk to our sheriffs, and what they are telling me is that they are seeing a lot more deadly fentanyl coming into their counties, and it is showing up in their labs.

But instead of securing the border and finishing the wall construction projects--I don't get it. Why did President Biden terminate all the border wall projects? No one can--he has never had an explanation.

So this inaction of not going to the border by President Biden and Vice President Harris doesn't make any sense. Why can't they acknowledge that we expect and we deserve a secure border that is good for our Nation? Why can't they stand up against the radical left and say that open borders are dangerous for our families?

It should make every American furious. It is not something to laugh about. People are dying. Children are being exploited and abandoned in the desert.

This is a picture of two young 3- and 5-year-old Ecuadorian girls. You can see it. They were just dropped. Anybody who has been around little children, 3 and 5 years old--think about it. They were just dropped over the wall and just abandoned, just abandoned, hoping somebody was going to take care of them. Abandoned in the middle of the night. I mean, I have grandkids. I just can't imagine--I can't imagine anybody doing this.

The White House claims that Vice President Harris's last trip was to talk about the root causes of immigration. It doesn't make any sense. It seems like it was just a political stunt to me.

President Biden and Vice President Harris need to stop avoiding the crisis, stop laughing about the threat, get down to the border, and actually take real steps to really secure the border.

So if either of them goes to the border, I am lifting my holds, but as long as they refuse to help those risking their lives every day to keep us safe, as long as they refuse to visit the border and put an end to the humanitarian crisis they have created, I am going to keep my holds on.

Those two little girls, they deserve better. The millions of immigrants going through the legal immigration process, they deserve better. Our Border Patrol agents deserve better. Our local law enforcement agents deserve better. ICE deserves better. American families deserve better. Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, it has been a trying year for our Nation. Thankfully, the vaccine has brought so much hope and a semblance of normalcy back to the lives of many Americans.

As families and businesses in Florida and across the United States continue to work hard to recover from the devastation of COVID-19, travel is critical to get our economy fully reopened.

From the beginning of the pandemic, I encouraged everyone to wear a mask as we learned more about this virus, but now the science is clear that broad mask mandates aren't necessary. Unfortunately, the CDC has decided to buck the science when it comes to travel and is still requiring face masks on public transportation.

We have all heard the stories of how this mandate impacts families: a mother and her six children traumatized by being kicked off a flight after her 2-year-old daughter refused to wear a mask; a New Jersey couple forced to deplane because their 2-year-old wouldn't wear a mask; a Colorado mother and their family booted off a flight over fears their 3-year-old son, who has a disability, wouldn't wear a mask; an Orthodox Jewish family kicked off a flight because their 15-month-old baby was not wearing a mask.

You can't make this stuff up. It has made traveling with children nearly impossible. After a year of hardships and being apart from loved ones, these families were denied the ability to reconnect. It is awful and unnecessary. And I hear stories all the time about parents with young children deciding, I am not getting on an airplane because I know I will get kicked off or I might get kicked off.

And to make guidelines even more confusing, you are allowed to remove your mask to eat and drink. So why is it OK and totally safe to not have a mask while you eat a snack but dangerous to be unmasked any other time?

The CDC itself has been clear that mask mandates aren't needed. You don't have to wear a mask in a restaurant. You don't have to wear a mask in a hotel. You don't have to wear a mask at a school. You don't have to wear a mask in a stadium. So why is the CDC singling out airlines and public transportation? It doesn't make any sense.

This isn't a political argument. In fact, during our Commerce Committee markup of the surface transportation measure last week, both Democrats and Republicans expressed frustration at the continuation of the mask mandate. Republican and Democratic Governors and mayors across the country have followed the science and lifted mask mandates.

Just like the Federal Government should not be in the business of requiring Americans to turn over their vaccination records, the Federal Government should not be mandating citizens wear masks on public transportation.

That is why I introduced the Stop Mandating Additional Requirements for Travel, or SMART Act, which would revoke the Federal requirement for Americans to wear masks on public transportation. Americans should be free to make choices they feel are in the best interest of their own health and the health of their loved ones.

If someone wants to wear a mask, they are absolutely free to do so, but the government has no right to tell them what to do. If an airline or other private company decides it wants to implement a mask policy, so be it. This does not prohibit them from doing so.

I have been clear. Private companies should be able to make decisions that they feel are appropriate for their employees and their customers. And their customer gets to make a decision.

This bill is pure common sense, and I am glad to be joined today by my colleague from Utah, Senator Lee, and he will be speaking after I ask for the consent.

The science just doesn't support keeping the mask mandate in place. We have to listen to the science and work together to move America forward. I know Americans will do the right thing to stay safe, and I hope my colleagues join me in passing this important bill.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on HELP be discharged from further consideration of S. 2084 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Utah for his comments. I want to thank his continued commitment always to make sure that we, Congress, handles everything we can. We don't defer constantly to the executive branch in making decisions that we should be making.

This is a simple example of why we should be making this decision. This is following the science, and I am actually shocked that my colleague from the State of Washington does not want to follow the science.

I don't understand why my colleague from the State of Washington wants government to be dictating things. Why do we want to dictate to Americans how to lead their lives? Why does she think that the government--why has the government lifted mandates in States all across the country but not--and why is the CDC fine with every place but public transportation? It just doesn't make any sense.

Americans will do the right thing. It is not our job to dictate, to tell them how to lead their lives. If someone wants to wear a mask, so be it. They should do it, but the government has no right to tell them that they have to wear a mask. If an airline or another private company decides it wants to implement a mask policy, have at it. We shouldn't prohibit them from wanting to do that, but we should not be dictating this.

So I am disappointed that my colleague from the State of Washington didn't go along, but I think it is important for us to always make sure we are doing the right thing for the American public and, right now, the right thing is eliminate the mask mandate on public transportation.