Floor Statements

I ask the Chair to execute the order of October 7 with respect to S.J. Res. 81.

Mr. President, I rise today to talk about my Sunshine Protection Act--a bipartisan, bicameral bill that returns power to each State and its citizens and that will end the twice-yearly time change and make daylight saving time the national, year-round standard.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the Sunshine Protection Act, which is at the desk; further, 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.

First, I want to recognize the Senator from Rhode Island to speak about the bill.

I would like to recognize my cosponsor from Alabama, Senator Tuberville.

I want to thank Senators Whitehouse and Tuberville for their support.

Our Sunshine Protection Act is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will allow States to end the twice-yearly time change and make daylight saving time the national, year-round standard.

In 2018, when I was Governor of Florida, I signed legislation that would allow the State of Florida to stop the practice of changing the clocks. I have been working to get this passed since I have been in the Senate so the people of Florida, not the Federal Government, can make this choice for the families of Florida.

Nearly two dozen other States have joined Florida in choosing to lock the clock, pending the Federal approval that will come by passing the Sunshine Protection Act, while still allowing other States to opt out if they wish.

This bill is about States' rights. It allows the people of each State to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families. In Florida, that is permanent daylight saving time. I hear from Floridians on this constantly. I am sure many of you have heard from your constituents as well. The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It is confusing, unnecessary, and completely outdated.

It is an understatement to say that our Nation has changed since the United States began changing the clocks over a century ago.

For example, American households have electricity now. We also have self-driving cars, computers, and cell phones. Now, changing the clocks twice a year proves more of an annoyance to families than a benefit to them. The American people love having an extra hour of sunlight, especially in my State of Florida. That means more time to enjoy the outdoors and activities with families.

Studies also show the potential for reduced cardiac issues, stroke, seasonal depression, reduced robberies, and benefits to the agricultural and general economies with an extra hour of sunlight.

With President Trump committed to finally ``lock the clock,'' we can finally get this done for the American people. This bill is completely about individual States having the right to make their own decisions. I ask my colleagues to support the passage of the Sunshine Protection Act to make a commonsense change that will simply benefit the lives of Americans and allow people of each State to choose what is best for themselves and their families.

I yield to my colleague from Arkansas.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes for each side.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3535 and ask that it be reported by number.

I ask that each side have 2 minutes to discuss it.

Mr. President, I rise today to offer my amendment, Scott No. 3535, to bring accountability and transparency to every American, including our brave service men and women.

For too long, our Nation's central bank, under the leadership of Jay Powell, has failed to do its basic duty of providing stability for American families.

Jay Powell's Federal Reserve has not only mismanaged the Federal's monetary policy but is overseeing regulatory and bank failures, reports of corruption, unethical practices among its own members, and a flagrant disregard for the best interest of American families.

This is all being completely overlooked by their inspector general because he is handpicked by the Fed Chairman, reports to the Fed Chairman. He gets paid by the Fed Chairman. He sets his salary. It is a clear conflict of interest.

We need accountability at the Fed to rebuild the public's trust, and that means bringing in an independent, Senate-confirmed inspector general at the Federal Reserve.

I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort to establish an independent inspector general at the Federal Reserve so we can bring true accountability to the Fed and ensure the central bank is working in America's best interest.

I yield to my colleague Senator Warren.

Mr. President, had Kaine amendment No. 3337 to Calendar No. 115, S. 2296, FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA, been a recorded rollcall vote, I would have voted no.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 403, which was submitted earlier today.

I know of no further debate.

I ask unanimous consent that 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, like most Americans, my wife Ann and I are completely heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and fellow patriot Charlie Kirk in a despicable, targeted assassination.

This is a devastating loss for his wife Erika and their two precious kids and the millions, including myself, who felt the impact of Charlie's work and were inspired by his devotion to God and his beliefs.

Charlie was a good man, a devout husband, father, and friend. His life was shaped by his faith and idea that in America, debate and discussion are crucial to the betterment of our country. He believed in God, the American dream, the value of family, and the principles of our great Nation.

I talked to Charlie pretty much every week. I did his shows often. I did his show 2 days before the assassination. We talked about that he was going to be going to another college to visit. I have gone to colleges to visit, and it is uplifting. But Charlie would go, and he would take anybody's question and have a conversation with them. He just was the most wonderful person to talk to, and so many people in this country looked up to him.

Charlie dedicated his life to the idea that the power of our ideas cannot only win the day but start a movement. And that is exactly what he did. As the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Turning Point USA, he and his team worked to build thousands of chapters across the Nation dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government.

Charlie inspired millions of young Americans to be involved in the future of their country and make their voices heard. He traveled to college campuses around the Nation to share ideas and talk about them.

Charlie was never afraid to have a conversation. He didn't care if you agreed or disagreed with his ideas. He welcomed the opportunity to respectfully and peacefully debate ideas in the court of public opinion.

Unfortunately, Charlie was taken from us in a disgusting act of political violence on September 10, 2025, but his legacy lives on. Charlie will long be remembered for his love of God, his family and this great Nation and the impact he had on each and every one of us.

We have the opportunity to carry on his memory by believing in the power of ideas, discussion, and the value of our Nation. As we mourn this massive loss, let us gather together in our communities and pray for his family and our Nation. And let us honor Charlie by believing in the power of our ideas to win the day and leave this Nation a better place.

I am proud to have the support of more than 20 of my colleagues to honor Charlie by dedicating his birthday--October 14, 2025--as ``National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.''

I want to thank my Senate colleagues for uniting together to honor a great American patriot, a leader and friend.

Charlie will be remembered for the profound impact he had on our lives and our Nation. On October 14, we will gather together as a nation and pay tribute to his great life.

Now I will yield the floor to my colleague from Tennessee.

Mr. President, I rise, on behalf of all Floridians, to recognize the meaningful visit of Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church to our Nation's Capital. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been on the forefront of religious freedom for his entire ministry, and now as the longest serving Archbishop of Constantinople in the two millennia history of Christianity, he has worked to bring people together for the purpose of advancing greater cooperation and mutual understanding. He has been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal and, soon, the Templeton Prize. Florida is home to many Orthodox churches, Orthodox Christians, and communities who share deep gratitude for the leadership of His All-Holiness Bartholomew and his mission to serve others. I join with Floridians and the U.S. Senate in welcoming His All-Holiness Bartholomew to the United States and our Nation's Capital.

Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge Florida Christian University on its most recent anniversary. For 40 years, Florida Christian University has served the citizens of Florida and the world by providing students with a world- class education and acting as a pillar of strength and perseverance for Florida students.

I know firsthand that a great education can be life-changing--it serves as the foundation many students need to reach their goals and live their American dream--and it is incredible to see people from all over the globe pursue their dreams in our State.

Florida Christian University plays a vital role in this laudable pursuit by empowering students of faith to pursue higher education and a career with excellence and integrity while remaining rooted in their religious principles. FCU focuses on the whole of the student, fostering a community that ensures the growth and support of its students' academic goals as well as their spiritual well-being.

I commend the hard work and dedication of FCU president Bruno Portigliatti and all those at FCU who have committed their time and energy to providing students with a world-class education over the last 40 years. Thank you for guiding your community and our State in prayer and education. May this milestone anniversary be followed by many more as FCU continues its great success.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I rise today to talk about an issue of great national importance that affects every family in America.

We know the Federal Reserve has been wildly unaccountable for years under Jay Powell's leadership. Beyond his failed monetary policies leading to destroyed markets and misallocated capital, Powell has also overseen regulatory failures and numerous reports of unethical practices among its own members, all of which were overlooked and enabled by the Fed Board's handpicked inspector general.

This malpractice and lack of transparency and accountability have seriously undermined confidence in our financial system. We can work to address this and start repairing the broken trust of the American people today by passing my bill, which is simple: Establish an independent, Senate-confirmed inspector general at the Federal Reserve. Every other government Agency has one. Surely the government's largest Agency should have one. It is just common sense to establish a Senate- confirmed inspector general at the Fed.

This inspector general would finally be independent of the Fed Board, who are the very people they are tasked with investigating in order to bring accountability to the Fed on behalf of the American people.

This must happen now. In recent years, we have seen hundreds of allegations of voting members of the Federal Reserve engaging in shady and unethical investment trades while in possession of insider information about the Fed. We have seen the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and others.

We have seen a complete mismanagement of the Fed's policies while a culture of corruption has arrived at the Fed, and we are seeing billions of taxpayer dollars being spent to renovate the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, DC, all while the Fed is operating at a loss.

You might wonder, as I do, why no one gets fired or is held accountable and why no changes have been made. It is because Jay Powell is Chair, and the Federal Reserve's inspector general is appointed by and reports to--guess who--Jay Powell and the Fed Board, period.

It is a clear conflict of interest constructed with a perverse pay structure that enables issues to go unchecked and covered up for too long at the expense of the American people. The American people want to know their central bank is doing the right thing. The Fed makes decisions that impact their lives each and every day. For families like mine, growing up without much, the Fed's choices can decide if they can afford their mortgage or put food on the table. Families across our Nation deserve a Federal Reserve that they trust is working in their best interest.

I would like to thank Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren, Senator Lummis, and Senator Moreno for working with me on this important bill. I would now like to yield to my colleague Senator Moreno to say a few words about the legislation.

I yield to the Senator from Wyoming Senator Lummis.

Well, first off, it is clear we need changes at the Federal Reserve to bring accountability the American people deserve. I have several bills to address the failures of the Fed and bring accountability on behalf of the American people, and today I ask my colleagues to support my commonsense bipartisan bill with my colleagues Senator Warren, Senator Moreno, Senator Lummis to establish a truly independent inspector general at the Federal Reserve, and I know my colleague from Michigan believes in the same thing.

We have to have accountability. This bill is a great first step to fix the failures and restore trust in the Federal Reserve and it sure works on behalf of the American people. I encourage all my colleagues to support it.

I ask unanimous consent as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1627, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

First off, I want to thank my colleague for his interest in making sure we have an independent inspector general. I don't think there is a disagreement on that. It is how do we get them on point and the process of getting them confirmed.

So I actually look forward to working with my colleague. Hopefully, we get this done quickly. I mean, there is so many issues--as we all agree--at the Federal Reserve, and we have got to get somebody independent in there. And so we have to come up with the right process where it is not perceived to be political.

So I know my colleagues from Ohio and from Wyoming would like to say something.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 3113 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, first and most importantly, I want to thank my colleagues for their work on these appropriations bills and the support of our agriculture community in this bill.

Our Nation is $37 trillion in debt and running $2 trillion deficits after years of Democrats grossly expanding Federal spending. We have to start somewhere to get our out-of-control spending in check, and the President's budget is a great place to start.

President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would bring fiscal sanity to our Nation and turn the economy around. He wants to balance the budget, and so do I. The President put forward a budget proposal that works toward that goal. We should be passing appropriations bills that respect his requests and the will of the American people.

My amendment would put us closer to the President's budget request for the ag budget as he delivers on his promise to the American people.

I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment and restore fiscal sanity.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the next rollcall vote occur.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the passage of an essential piece of legislation: the Older Americans Act. As the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and Senator from Florida, I am committed to honoring and supporting the more than 59 million older Americans who enrich our communities. Florida is blessed with a dynamic senior population. In my State and across the Nation, seniors thrive when given opportunities to be active members of their communities and receive adequate support.

This historic bill provided the supportive, community-based framework that has helped generations of seniors age with dignity and give back to their communities and families, all while living rich, vibrant lives. The Older Americans Act continues to impact more than 10 million older Americans a year by promoting social connection and contributing to programs aimed at supplying nutritional services, continued education, and transportation for our aging neighbors. It has improved the life expectancy, health outcomes, and quality of life for millions of seniors, and that is why I am proud to be leading the fight to reauthorize this important legislation alongside my good friend and colleague Mr. Bill Cassidy, Senator from Louisiana and chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

I will continue to fight for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act to ensure it is available to provide this same life- affirming support for generations to come.

Mr. President, I rise to celebrate Helen Parke of Dover, FL, and recognize her 100th birthday. Helen was born on July 7, 1925, in St. Louis, MO, and it was there that she met and married Roy Parke, Jr., in 1943.

After World War II, she worked alongside her husband on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. In 1957, they moved to Dover, FL, to join her father- in-law, who had purchased 10 acres of land for a strawberry farm.

What began as 10 acres of strawberry crop has grown to over 300 acres of strawberries, blackberries, vegetables, and cattle. From a small farm, it has grown to include the legendary Parkesdale Farm Market, which garners lines of visitors, including myself, that come from all over to taste their world-famous strawberry shortcake. It has also expanded to include a plant nursery and a packing/cooling facility that was added under the Parkesdale Farms banner.

Any who have had the opportunity to visit Parkesdale Farms can attest to the hard work and legacy of Helen and her family. Helen has been key to the farm's success and operations; she has hoed plants, packed berries, picked squash, and is a well-known fixture at the market, the nursery, and, of course, the annual Strawberry Festival.

She is rightly very proud of what started as a 10-acre farm and has grown and diversified so much, but she is also a proud mother to 5 children, grandmother to 10, and great-grandmother to 22.

Helen has had a very busy and ``fruitful'' 100 years of life. She has had a lasting impact on the State of Florida, and I wish her happiness for many more birthdays to come.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the servicemembers from the 98th Expedition Signal Battalion, the 297th Regional Support group, the 1st Armored Division, the 200th Military Police, the 303rd Military Policy Company, the 3-321 Field Artillery Regiment, and the 41st Field Artillery Brigade who are currently serving alongside our NATO allies in Estonia. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with them during a recent visit, including several servicemembers from my home State of Florida. These brave American soldiers are currently serving alongside our NATO allies to protect against the threat of Putin's Russia. They are standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies who are putting their resources and citizens on the frontline. For them, the threat of an empowered Russia is not a theoretical one, but a tangible danger they deal with every day on the frontlines of the war. We are happy to support Estonia as they defend themselves and our NATO allies against this threat. I am honored today to recognize and honor the sacrifice of these Americans and the sacrifice of their families as they answer the call to protect their country and its allies.