Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the Associated Builders and Contractors--ABC--Florida East Coast Chapter and the many vital contributions to commercial, industrial, and infrastructural construction that contractors make, improving the quality of life for the people of Florida.

The ABC Florida East Coast Chapter was founded in 1968 and recognized as the leader of the merit shop construction industry and one of the oldest organizations representing the construction industry in Florida for 55 years. The ABC Florida East Coast Chapter is the single largest provider of apprenticeship education in the State of Florida, educating nearly 700 apprentices annually.

The mission of ABC Florida East Coast Chapter is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards construction contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. It represents the profession responsible for the construction of commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, office buildings, sports venues, factories, energy production plants, water systems, waste disposal and treatment facilities, roads, bridges, and other public and private facilities that are the foundation on which the economy of Florida stands and grows.

I recognize that the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter, through its education trust, is building tomorrow by recruiting, educating, and training approximately 8,500 skilled workers in the past decade who drive the construction industry forward with the merit shop principles of free enterprise and open competition. The ABC Florida East Coast Chapter's tireless collaboration with builders, contractors, and educators has contributed significantly to the resilience and growth of the construction industry. By providing quality education and fostering a diverse and skilled workforce, the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter is playing a crucial role in building a stronger America.

I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter and the ABC Institute for its unwavering commitment to apprentice education. As we look toward a future of economic growth and opportunity, their efforts serve as a shining example of the positive change that can be achieved through dedication and collaboration.

Mr. President, the terror and devastation unleashed on Israelis by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists have rightly horrified the world. Innocent families were murdered in their homes. Children were beheaded. Girls were raped. Whole families were burned alive. An elderly, wheelchair-bound woman, later identified as a Holocaust survivor, was brutally dragged through the streets of

Gaza. Children who witnessed the murders of their parents have been kidnapped and are being held hostage by Hamas. Hundreds were mowed down at a music festival. Thousands are dead. At least 33 Americans are dead, and reportedly 10 are held hostage. The atrocities are too numerous to fully recount, but the images we have seen will never leave our memories.

In 2019, my wife Ann and I had the opportunity to visit Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzes that was the site of a complete massacre. As the early reports were coming out, I was really worried about the kibbutz because of its proximity to Gaza. It is about half a mile away. When I heard the news that it was the site of some of the most horrific and barbaric activities, my heart just sank. We had spent an afternoon there, and it was the most peaceful place. I keep thinking about the moms and kids who were playing outside, enjoying the warm summer weather. It is gut- wrenching to think of the fate of the families we met that day.

I spoke with Chen, the lady who led our tour of the kibbutz, who was traveling outside of Israel that day and survived. I was able to speak to her right after it happened, and she has not been able to go back home. She said it was unclear if she will ever be allowed to go back home. Can you ever imagine?

So many of us in this Chamber are so deeply connected to Israel, and I bet almost everyone here as a story like mine. We know people in the IDF who have been called to serve. We have friends all over Israel who have spent days in bomb shelters as rockets have been launched by terrorists intent on wiping Israel and Jews off the face of the Earth.

I have met with survivors and hostage families. I have placed a poster outside my office that features the faces of the hostages being held by Hamas. I am not going to take it down until they get home.

Not since the Holocaust has the world witnessed such a brutal attack on the Jewish people. We have to really let that sink in. It is 2023, and it sure feels like history is repeating itself. We also have a President who can barely even talk about the Americans who are held hostage right now in Gaza.

The first step to freeing these hostages and helping Israel destroy these terrorists is passing aid for Israel. We must send the world a clear message: Attacking the United States and our allies and partners is a bad idea, and it will only end with us winning.

In the days and weeks ahead, Israel is going to once and for all destroy Hamas and its ability to exist as a terror state on Israel's borders. The United States has to support Israel right now and ensure they have the weapons they need to completely destroy Hamas.

That is why I am proud to join Senators Marshall, Vance, and our colleagues on the bill. The House took decisive action by passing this bill last week. They moved quickly, and the measure is fully paid for. The Senate can follow suit right now. I am proud to colead the companion bill in the Senate.

I yield back to my colleague from Kansas.

Madam President, I rise today to honor the soldiers of Bravo Company (Wolfpack), 3rd Battalion (Warrior), 124th Infantry Regiment Florida Army National Guard. This year marks the 20th anniversary since Bravo Company was deployed to the Middle East. The 137 soldiers were the first Florida Guardsmen deployed to war since World War II.

These brave soldiers conducted thousands of patrols, hundreds of checkpoints, performed raids, and participated in countless supporting operations. Most importantly, all soldiers returned home. These soldiers earned their Combat Infantryman Badge and their Presidential Unit Citation.

I want to welcome them to Pensacola, FL, 20 years after being downrange protecting our great Nation. As a Navy veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices made by our military members and their families. Thank you for your service; your courage and dedication to our country will never be forgotten.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 4 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to the next rollcall vote.

Mr. President, as we work to get the agriculture community back on their feet, I won't stop fighting to make sure the Federal Government keeps showing up.

Following natural disasters in prior years, USDA has administered block grants to many of our States. The Block Grant Assistance Act would explicitly give USDA the authority to provide block grants as an option to States and territories to assist agricultural producers with losses due to natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2022.

Importantly, it provides streamlined relief to growers by freeing up USDA resources at State FSA offices; allowing States to allocate funds directly to growers impacted most by covered disasters; and allowing farmers to perform necessary and time-sensitive tasks on their farms without the danger of forgoing disaster aid.

This bill does not mandate States to request disaster funding through State block grants; it only opens up this option.

I have talked to many of you about this bill in the last few days, and I understand that some of my Democrat colleagues have concerns about this legislation. I want to address those concerns directly and why we are even talking about this right now.

First, this bill doesn't take anything away from anyone's State. It creates an option for block grants that help our growers and ranchers who have been impacted by disasters. Again, this bill will not negatively impact any State. I want to make sure that is clear.

I have also heard some of my colleagues say that this isn't needed because just this week, after refusing to take action for 14 months, Biden's Ag Department finally opened up the ERP portal for growers and ranchers to apply for assistance just as this was to come to a vote. Our farmers have still not received a dime.

Here is the deal: I don't trust this process--I know my constituents sure don't--and I don't think the assistance being offered is anything close to what is needed for our farmers to actually recover.

This bill helps farmers all across the country, but let me speak for Florida. We have been waiting for more than a year--14 months to be exact--and nothing was done by the Biden administration until they knew that the Senate would be voting on my bill, and it is still just an application process. I don't think anyone can blame us for feeling uneasy about this process.

If we pass this bill today, we can give certainty to growers and ranchers in all of our States that they have a reliable partner in the Federal Government to make sure they can recover from natural disasters. That seems like something we can support.

Folks across the country who put food on our tables and create jobs in our States are hurting. I have been clear to the ag community in Florida: I won't stop fighting to make sure the Federal Government keeps showing up.

This is a good bill that helps hard-working people. It has already unanimously passed in the House, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it in the Senate today.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, this week marks a monumental occasion in enhancing our national security when Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Nelson Shipyard in Panama City, FL, officially christens and launches the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Argus (WMSM-915). The first in its class, the Argus is paving the way of replacing an aging fleet of cutters and improving the capabilities needed to respond to an array of national security threats across a dynamic maritime domain.

Businesses like Eastern Shipbuilding Group and their many skilled workers and suppliers, are the backbone of our economy as they continue to create opportunities for the people of Florida

and expand the national security capabilities of our country. The official christening and launch will be celebrated on October 27, 2023. We, members of the U.S. Senate, recognize the ongoing service of Eastern Shipbuilding Group to provide our military with capable, war- ready ships and thank the U.S. Coast Guard for ensuring the safety and well-being of Americans across the Nation.

Madam President, I stand again in support of our great ally Israel.

The terror and devastation unleashed on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists has rightly horrified the world. What I am about to describe is difficult to say and uncomfortable to hear, but it has to be said on the Senate floor. We cannot make this stuff up. The world must know the atrocities that have occurred in Israel.

On the morning of Saturday, October 7, 2023, as families rose to start a new day, make breakfast, or slowly wake up in their beds, terror approached. Innocent families were murdered in their homes. Babies were killed. Innocent, little babies were murdered, and some were ruthlessly beheaded. Children were burned alive. Teenage girls were raped and then burned alive. An elderly, wheelchair-bound woman, who was later identified as a Holocaust survivor, was brutally dragged through the streets of Gaza. Children who witnessed the murders of their parents were kidnapped and are now being held hostage by Hamas. More than 250 young people were savagely murdered while attending a music festival in southern Israel--many shot in the back as they tried to run away.

At least 31 Americans--31 Americans--have been killed. More than 1,400 innocent people were killed in Israel, and we have no idea how many are being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The atrocities are too numerous to fully recount, but the images seen will never leave our memories.

I was sent a photo of Kfar Aza. I visited this kibbutz during a trip to Israel

with AIPAC in 2019. At the time, it was full of happy families and children, but it is now silenced by brutality and death.

This week, I talked to the individual who gave me the tour of the village, or the kibbutz. It was a beautiful place, with nice people-- happy. I was told she is only alive because she was not there. She told me the family who lived next door to her on the right was murdered, that the family on her left was murdered, and that the family down the street was murdered. I was told that the Hamas terrorists set fires to force people out of their homes and safe rooms, and they savagely murdered innocent Israelis--many shot at close range. She told me that she was talking to her sister, who was in a safe room, and the Hamas terrorists were trying to break in. Fortunately, they weren't able to.

Children were shot in front of their parents, and some have been kidnapped to Gaza. Iran-backed Hamas terrorists slaughtered the innocent babies in their beds. I met so many happy people there just a few short years ago. Now I fear a lot of them are going to be dead.

We saw FOX News correspondent Trey Yingst report:

Bodies litter the town of Be'eri. You can see here it's

complete and total destruction. All of the houses are

destroyed. It looks like many were blown up with RPGs or

other explosives. People were shot and killed in their beds,

executed at point blank range. This is the most horrific

thing I have ever seen.

Thomas Hand is the father of Emily, an 8-year-old girl who was killed by Hamas in Be'eri. Thomas had to wait 2 days before he found out that Emily was killed.

I am the father of two daughters and am the grandfather of seven grandchildren. Watching this father speak about the murder of his daughter is heart-wrenching.

He said to CNN:

They just said we found Emily, and she's dead. And I went

``Yes!'' And I smiled.

This is what he said.

He said:

I smiled because that is the best news of the possibilities

that I knew. . . . She was either dead or in Gaza.

He said:

And, if you know anything about what they do to people in

Gaza, that is worse than death.

Do you know why they murdered Emily and more than 1,400 other Israelis and 31 Americans that these Iran-backed Hamas killers slaughtered? Simply because they were Jewish. They killed them because they hate Jews and want to kill every Jew.

It is unimaginable what these families have suffered. We cannot look away. Let's remember these were Israeli and American families. The atrocities are too numerous to fully recount, but these stories and the images we have all seen will never leave our memories.

Not since the Holocaust has the world witnessed such a brutal attack on the Jewish people. Sadly, the Jewish people have endured thousands of years of hate and persecution, but this will not be the end of Israel or the Jewish people.

Israel is surrounded by terrorist groups that want it wiped off the face of the Earth. I have seen this firsthand during my five visits to Israel, which has given me a clear perspective on Israel's proximity to its enemies Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and Iran.

I want to be clear: Hamas and Hezbollah are not religious groups. They are not on a noble political quest for liberty or civil justice. They are terrorist thugs, and they are killers. They are killers who seek to eradicate the Jewish people from this Earth, and they are funded and supported by the evil Iranian regime.

In August 2021, the Senate voted 99 to 0 for my amendment to a budget bill to ensure that U.S. tax dollars do not benefit terrorist organizations such as Hamas. The vote was 99 to 0. Everyone in this body agrees American taxpayers should never fund Hamas terrorists. Unfortunately, the final text of the bill did not include my language, necessitating further action today.

Here is why we need the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act. In 2021, Biden's State Department said:

We're going to be working in partnership with the United

Nations and the Palestinian Authority to kind of channel aid

there in a manner that does its best to go to the people of

Gaza.

The official went on to say:

As we've seen in life--as we all know in life--there are no

guarantees, but we're going to do everything that we can to

ensure that this assistance reaches the people who need it

the most.

We all know that Hamas controls Gaza. Every dollar that goes to Gaza comes under the control of Hamas, who decides what it is going to do with it.

So what I heard from the Biden State Department in 2021 is that the administration can't guarantee that American taxpayer dollars aren't going to fund terrorists in Hamas. The Biden administration thinks the risk of resources going to Hamas terrorists is OK because, in life, ``there are no guarantees.''

I reject that, and I will not leave anything to chance when it comes to preventing U.S. taxpayer money from being sent to the brutal terrorists who have slaughtered so many Israelis and Americans.

And we know for a fact that Hamas uses humanitarian aid to support its terrorist attacks. Look at this one. This is a humanitarian package. It is a humanitarian UNICEF bag that was found among the trucks used to carry Iran-backed Hamas terrorists into Israeli towns where they brutally murdered innocent families and burned homes to the ground. I guess there was no guarantee.

I have talked to a lot of rabbis in Florida. We have a lot of synagogues there. They told me that they have seen lots of pictures on Israeli TV of humanitarian rice bags and that, when people opened them, there were bullets in them.

The administration must do better and fully control where American taxpayer money is going. We can. We can make sure American taxpayers aren't funding terrorists. That is why I am again asking that we pass the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act. I am proud to have the support of Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer, and Ted Budd on this bill.

What this bill says--it is common sense--is that no funds will be authorized for the territory of Gaza until the President certifies to Congress that these funds can be spent without benefitting terrorist organizations.

The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act also ensures that U.S. funds are not authorized for expenditure in the territory of Gaza through any United Nations entity or office unless the President can certify that it is not encouraging or teaching anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ideas and propaganda. It is pretty basic.

Finally, this bill mandates that the President certify that there are no hostages--and we know there are hostages in Gaza--being held in Gaza by any terrorist organization.

Just this morning, President Biden announced $100 million of U.S. aid for Gaza and the West Bank. While Iran-backed Hamas terrorists continue attacks against Israel and hold American hostages in Gaza, I cannot think of a more critical time to pass this bill.

Let me just finish with something that somebody reminded me of today.

I know a family in Florida who lost their sister-in-law and her husband, and I think there were two 6-years-olds and a 3-year-old. So here is the way it works. They lost their loved ones, but their government is going to tax them to give money to the Palestinian Authority that gives money to the terrorists who died while killing their family. You can't make this stuff up.

So, I mean, this is a simple bill.

Let me now turn it over to my colleague from Indiana, Senator Braun.

Madam President, I thank my colleagues Senator Braun and Senator Budd for joining me here on the Senate floor to pass this important legislation.

You know, the individual who gave me the tour of the kibbutz--she was telling me that they were just half a mile from Gaza, and before Hamas took over the Gaza area, she used to be able to walk all the way to the beach, and it was safe.

I think most people in America--no one is against Gazans, but to take any chance that our money goes to Hamas before or after this doesn't make any sense.

I think every single Member of this body can agree that the United States shouldn't allow a single dollar of taxpayer money to get into the hands of terrorists--funding that is being used to kill innocent Israelis and Americans and hold our citizens and others hostage.

I look forward to my colleagues joining me today.

I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 489 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the Scott of Florida substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

So I hoped my colleague would change his position if he just read what I said. The bill doesn't say that money can't go to Gaza; it says that no funds will be authorized for the territory of Gaza until the President certifies to Congress that these funds can be spent without benefiting terrorist organizations. I don't know how anybody can disagree with that. It says that no funds are authorized for expenditure in the territory of Gaza through any United Nations entity or office unless the President can certify that it is not encouraging or teaching anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ideas and propaganda.

So this doesn't say money can't go to Gaza and help Gazans. This bill says the President has to ensure that this isn't happening and rice bags are not being filled with bullets and we are not having the PLO give money to terrorists who killed American citizens or their families. That is all this says, is that the money cannot go for the benefit of Hamas. So if you disagree with what this says, then you are saying money can go to Hamas. I don't know how else you can disagree with it. This is so basic.

Madam President, let us just remember, what we are talking about is, this is not against sending money to Gaza. It is saying we have--if we are going to send money, it cannot go for the benefit of individuals who murdered babies, raped teenage girls, and shot people in their sleep. I mean, I don't know how anybody can ever support giving money to Gaza when you know it is going to go to Hamas if you are not careful. And that is exactly what this administration said.

Mr. President, the Florida legislative act establishing Florida House on Capitol Hill was approved by Governor Ruben Askew on March 30, 1972. Rhea Chiles, wife of Senator and Governor Lawton Chiles, worked tirelessly with like-minded citizens from across the State, to purchase, renovate, and open a place for Floridians to gather while in our Nation's Capital. The Florida House on Capitol Hill is Florida's embassy in Washington, DC, that connects, celebrates, and champions Florida to the world and has been a home away from home for hundreds of thousands of Floridians over the past 50 years.

The Florida House welcomes congressional leaders, students, teachers, visitors on vacation, and Floridians living and working in our Nation's Capital. Men and women conducting business in Washington, DC, gather at Florida House to grow Florida's economy and influence around the world. The intern program for college students has afforded hundreds of young men and women the opportunity to learn more about the Federal Government and help prepare them for meaningful careers.

Due to the endless dedication of the Florida House Staff, trustees, and generous contributors, the Florida House has been able to remain an intricate part of Washington, DC, hosting over 10,000 visitors per year. The Florida House operates with the generosity of Floridians, without State tax dollars, and belongs to the people of Florida and remains a place where all Floridians will find comfort, kindness, and a cold glass of Florida orange juice in their ``home away from home.''

The 50th anniversary of Florida House on Capitol Hill will be celebrated on October 26, 2023. We, Members of the U.S. Senate, recognize the ongoing service of Florida House on Capitol Hill to the citizens of Florida for 50 years.

Mr. President, I was Governor of Florida from January 2011 through January 2019, and we had a variety of disasters. We had four major hurricanes; we had wildfires; we had flooding--a variety of things.

What you find out in that role as Governor is you find out the importance of the Federal Government. FEMA is very important to disaster relief.

Disaster relief is partially borne by whomever is impacted, a family or a business. Partially, it is impacted by the city or county, partially by the State, and partially by the Federal Government.

My experience with FEMA is they are hard-working individuals that work hard to try to be a good partner with our States.

Last September, about 12 months ago, we had a horrible hurricane in our State, Hurricane Ian. We lost over 150 people. We had unbelievable damage. FEMA has been a partner in that hurricane relief.

Just recently--about 3 weeks ago, 4 weeks ago--we had another hurricane, Idalia, and again FEMA came down and is a partner in that hurricane relief.

I met with President Biden 3 weeks ago when he came down to tour the damage, and I talked to him about the importance of getting FEMA fully funded.

There is a Federal Disaster Relief Fund that is part of FEMA that pays for things like debris pickup, helps individuals who have lost their homes, helps our small businesses--a variety of things like that.

Right now, this thing is getting low on funds. I checked on September 11. It is down to $2.5 billion. And they project, by the end of this month, it will be down to $550 million. What they also told me is that there is a community in every State in this country that is getting impacted by the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.

So I have been trying, for months, to get a vote on a bill which is pretty commonsense. No. 1, it will put funds into FEMA so they can provide help for all these communities in every State. No. 2, the next thing it does is helps our farmers.

Our farmers in Florida have been waiting for almost 12 months for relief from the Department of Agriculture. Historically, what the Department of Agriculture did, especially when I was Governor, was they would provide a block grant to the State, to our farmers, so the money could get out to our farmers quicker.

For whatever reason, Secretary Vilsack, the Secretary of Ag, has decided now that he has to have separate legislation from Congress that gives him specific authority that he can do a block grant.

It has never happened before. But for whatever reason, he believes it has to happen now. That is in this bill.

The Army of Corps of Engineers is a key partner in beach renourishment in any State that has been impacted. I know our Presiding Officer had wildfires, and I am sure their beaches have had some impact. So it would also help our Army Corps of Engineers, help with beach renourishment, and also help our military installations after a disaster.

So mine is a commonsense bill. It impacts some community in every State in the country. So what I am asking for is a stand-alone vote on my bill. It is called the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act. I hope every Senator here will unanimously agree that we should do this.

Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged

from further consideration of S. 2721 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; I further ask that the Scott-Rubio substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passing the bill, as amended, with a 60-vote affirmative threshold required for passage of the bill; finally, if passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague's concern about some of these other issues. I think we ought to have a discussion about those and see if we can get something done. But right now, the Disaster Relief Fund is going to be down to the $550 million by the end of this month. There is a community in every State--and this fund only covers where it fits within the parameters where FEMA says that the Federal Government is responsible for a portion of it. But this would help a community in every State in the country. So I hope, at some point, we can get this passed. There is a community in every State in this country that is getting impacted by this.

Mr. President, today I rise today to recognize Robert L. Ward for his many years of service to the State of Florida and its business community. After 26 years serving as a trusted adviser to the Governor's office and legislature, Mr. Ward was chosen in 2016 to be the seventh president and chief executive officer of the Florida Council of 100, Inc. Since 1961, the Council of 100 has worked closely with the governors of the great State of Florida, and on the occasion of Mr. Ward's retirement, I commend his dedication to ensuring the economic prosperity of all Floridians.

During my time as governor, Mr. Ward supported my efforts to drive job creation in the State. He facilitated the creation of a long-term strategic plan for PreK-12 education in Florida emphasizing high standards, rigorous assessments, strong accountability, and the instructional benefits of career and technical education and work-based learning, two key components of our State's educational success. Additionally, Mr. Ward led a project recommending ways to increase research and development by Florida's universities and an initiative outlining a comprehensive economic competitiveness strategy for our State.

Subsequently, Mr. Ward continued to shape workforce policy by serving as the chairman of Florida's Talent Development Council, which ensures that our State's educational programs are meeting the needs of business and industry, and authoring editorials celebrating Florida's thriving business climate and talent pipeline, while Mr. Ward was also a staunch advocate for government fiscal responsibility.

I applaud Mr. Ward for his tenure with the Florida Council of 100 and his long-time dedication to helping Floridians in all the capacities in which he has served. I am pleased to recognize Robert L. Ward in the U.S. Congress.

Mr. President, today, May 14, 2023, I want to recognize our great friend and ally, Israel, on the 75th anniversary of its independence. Israel's everlasting commitment to freedom and democracy serves as a beacon of light to freedom-loving people around the world. I am proud to support the expansion and solidifying of the Abraham Accords, to encourage normalized relations with Israel, economic prosperity, and safety for all citizens in the region. The United States and Israel share a unique bilateral relationship, and I look forward to many more years of a flourishing friendship between our two countries.

Madam President, I want to take a moment to address some of what we have heard here on the Senate floor today.

There have been a lot of accusations made about what this CRA does, and I will clear that up in a minute, but first I would like to set the record straight on what this measure does not do.

My colleagues often talk about their work to protect human rights. I would ask this simple question: What could possibly be a greater threat to human rights than the United States of America's turning a blind eye to child slave labor? What message does it send to the world?

We have heard today that this measure will force American companies to pay for these tariffs. Not true. What this measure does do is rightfully punish foreign companies that are actively working to get around U.S. trade law and help import product made with slave and child labor into the United States. The only entities that will pay tariffs are Chinese-affiliated manufacturers.

If you are doing the right thing, this measure doesn't change a darned thing about how you do business, but if you are working with people who believe slavery has a role in supply chains, you are darned right I have a problem with that and will do whatever I can to stop it.

I have also heard today that the rule that this CRA would eliminate was negotiated by the solar panel industry. We have heard that the solar panel industry agrees we need this exemption and therefore it is good. Of course, the solar panel industry that supports the rule is the Chinese solar panel industry. American manufacturers do not.

Thanks to the Biden administration's waiver that we are working to repeal here today, Chinese companies have been given everything they need to dominate the solar market, just like how Russia has dominated cheap gas supply to Europe.

I have also heard some of my colleagues say that this CRA is unnecessary because we have already passed a law that says products made with slave labor cannot be sold in the United States. We did pass a good bill that prevents products made with slave labor from being sold here, and I thank God we did that. But since when has U.S. law meant anything to communist China?

We know companies controlled by the CCP lie, cheat, and steal. We know that companies in communist China are moving solar panels made with slave and child labor to other countries to circumvent our laws, and they aren't being caught.

President Biden's own Commerce Department has proven that to be true. When half the world's solar panels are coming from a region with well- documented child and slave labor, are we really expected to believe that the companies making these panels aren't using slave labor? No, we know that is not reality.

Finally, I have heard the claim that this CRA would somehow be terrible for American jobs. This one actually surprised me. Here is how that logic goes: Letting communist China dominate a market by using slave and child

labor is better than supporting American manufacturing and American jobs here at home. Let me know if you can figure that one out, see how that makes sense.

Some of my colleagues on the left claim that 30,000 jobs will be lost. That is not even close to being true. Guess who gave them that information? The Chinese-dominated solar lobby group. That is the same group that is perfectly happy to keep things the way they are so they can make a buck on the back of slave and child labor.

When I went to look at this report today, I couldn't find it. It is not on their website. This is what you get when you try to look at their so-called analysis: ``Sorry, we couldn't find that page.''

Honestly, I think our colleague from Pennsylvania got it exactly right when he told a news outlet this week:

Too often, China gets away with undermining our markets,

undermining our companies, and every time they cheat, we lose

jobs in Pennsylvania.

Senator Casey is right. It is not just true in Pennsylvania; it is true in every State across our great country.

Senator Wyden is right too. Discussing the same issue, he said:

Red, white and blue manufacturing, particularly now, when

people see we're serious about it, that's the key time in

this two year window when the Chinese can hit us.

To be honest, I am shocked by excuses from some of my colleagues. I note that it is only some because this CRA is actually a bipartisan bill.

The excuses for inaction by some on the left don't make sense to me. What we are talking about tonight is whether anything is worth turning a blind eye to slavery and child labor.

The Chinese-dominated industry has agreed that this waiver is a good thing. What a shocker. What some of my colleagues on the left are saying is that the endorsement of Chinese manufacturers is enough to turn a blind eye to slave and child labor. I clearly disagree.

With this rule repealed by this CRA, tariffs first put in place by President Obama's Commerce Department to hold Chinese manufacturers that violate our trade laws accountable will be reinstated, forcing companies to work with only those partners that aren't actively involved in slave and child labor. To that, I say what a good thing for the Senate to put it behind us and to support it.

President Xi is a dictator and human rights violator. He is yet another communist leader trying to be the dominant world player. The Chinese Communist Party has stripped the people of Hong Kong of their freedoms. They have cracked down on dissidents, militarized the South China Sea, threatened Taiwan and surveilled its citizens, and committed a genocide against the Uighurs simply because of their religion.

We know the Chinese Communist Party will do anything to destroy America. The national security threat of communist China cannot be taken lightly, and the human rights abuses against the Uighurs, including slave labor, child labor, and genocide cannot be ignored. The United States cannot tolerate communist China's horrific human rights abuses and genocide of Uighurs.

In addition to this, communist China will stop at nothing to exploit American markets and take advantage of U.S. investors and companies doing business within its country. Communist China poses a clear and present threat to the United States and the world.

In 2022, the Department of Commerce caught communist China circumventing U.S. trade laws. To avoid American tariffs, Xi's regime started sending Chinese-made solar products made with slave labor to Southeast Asian countries, claiming they are made in the corresponding nation.

Here is what they are doing. It was made here. They shipped them down here and said they were made here and shipped them here so they didn't have to pay their tariffs.

These Chinese-made products--again, made with slave and child labor, and you can see, there are not a lot of pictures that come out of this area, but these are some of the Uighurs, and they are clearly being put to work to do whatever the Communist Party wants them to do.

These Chinese-made products--again, made with child and slave labor-- were then imported into the United States.

Despite his own Department of Commerce investigation, President Biden issued an emergency declaration exempting these Chinese-made solar products--again, made with slave and child labor--from our trade law for a full 2 years.

President Biden's solar emergency declaration is a giveaway to President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party. It is a massive gift to a regime that is using slave and child labor, a favor to an evil regime that wants to destroy our great country. There is no other way to describe it.

The declaration allows communist China to circumvent U.S. trade laws with impunity and continue to dominate the solar industry at the expense of American manufacturers and American jobs. It is an approval of slave and child labor. It is anti-American jobs.

Communist China's solar manufacturing is based on forced labor, government subsidies, and trade abuses. Communist China isn't doing the United States any favor through their dominance of the solar industry. We are building dependence on them.

Even today, communist China is using forced labor to produce solar panels. Purchasing these solar panels is helping fuel these human rights abuses. Because of this, the Uyghur Human Rights Project has announced its support of this CRA, so this is why we are taking this vote today.

This CRA would reinstate the Department of Commerce's own findings that certain companies in Southeast Asian companies are acting in violation of U.S. law by importing Chinese-made solar products--again, made with slave labor. Therefore, tariffs should apply to these specific bad actors.

The tariffs would only apply to these companies. It would not apply to any other industry or to any companies that are lawfully importing solar products not made with slave labor into the United States.

This measure is pro-American jobs and anti-Chinese forced and child labor. It is that simple.

Passing this CRA will send a message to President Xi and communist China: When you break American trade laws and use slave labor, you pay the price.

Under the leadership of my friend and fellow Floridian, Congressman Bill Posey, this CRA has already passed the House with bipartisan support. Now it is time for the Senate to finish the job in Congress and send this to President Biden's desk. This isn't partisan. It is about human rights.

I will not stand by, and I hope the U.S. Senate will not stand by, and accept excuses to turn a blind eye to communist China's human rights atrocities.

The United States is a beacon of freedom to people all over the world. Voting tonight against holding accountable those who enslave others, including children, will be a stain on our Nation that the freedom-loving people of the world will not soon forget.

I look forward to all of my colleagues supporting this CRA.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, CAPT John Callahan is a native of Tampa, FL, and presently assigned to Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Pensacola, FL.

He began his career by enlisting in October 1982 and completing Navy Boot Camp, Great Lakes, IL; Fleet Marine Force Training, Camp Pendleton, CA; and, Preventive Medicine Technician School, Oakland, CA.

His enlisted assignments include Naval Hospital Pensacola, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, and Disease Vector Ecology Control Center Jacksonville, FL. His enlisted deployments include U.S.S. Lexington; U.S.S. Ashland; Rota, Spain; Okinawa, Japan; Pohang, South Korea; and, Subic Bay, Philippines.

In 1995, he was promoted to chief petty officer, a significant highlight of his enlisted career. After selection to the Medical Service Corps In-Service Procurement Program, he completed the Tri- Service Physician Assistant Program, graduating magna cum laude George Washington University bachelor of science, resulting in commission as an ensign in 1998. In 2004, he was awarded the master of physician assistant studies, family medicine, from the University of Nebraska, graduating summa cum laude.

His officer assignments include Naval Hospital Puerto Rico; Naval Branch Medical Clinic Meridian, MS; Naval Branch Medical Clinic Indian Head, MD; Naval Branch Medical Clinic Naval Air Station, Pensacola; Naval Branch Medical Clinic Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola; Naval Hospital Pensacola; and Naval Hospital Rota Spain. In addition, while leading Medium Medical Team No. 5, he recently provided extended COVID relief and support for Billings Clinic in Montana and Bellin Clinic in Green Bay, WI. His commissioned deployments include Al Anbar Province, Iraq; Djibouti, Africa; Combined Forces Special Operations Command--Forward, Qatar; and Combined Task Force 53, Bahrain.

He is the only hand-selected physician assistant to serve upon special joint congressional details--State of the Union 2006, State of the Union 2008, Presidential Inauguration 2009, State of the Union 2010, Presidential Inauguration 2013, and State of the Union 2023. Interim dates of special joint congressional details were precluded due to operational service obligations.

In 2019, he was selected for captain, a significant achievement of his naval career. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6 awards), Navy and

Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards), and various other personal and unit awards.

His military career has been successful due to the confidence and support of Melonie, his wife and best friend of 30 years. He also has two supportive sons, who are both Eagle Scouts--Caleb and Zachary. Captain Callahan was awarded his Eagle Scout in 1982, 7 months prior to his initial enlistment.

As a Navy veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform and their families. Today, we honor CAPT John Callahan who willingly risked his life to protect our freedoms and fight for our God-given rights. For that, we owe him endless gratitude.

Thank you for your service, and may God bless you.

I call up my amendment No. 81 and ask that it be reported by number.

Madam President, we must do more to support firefighters, which--I support this bill. However, as we all know, we are in a very tough financial situation. Families are struggling. We are over $31 trillion in debt.

I have a very simple amendment. It would transfer all remaining unobligated State and local COVID funds to offset a portion of the cost of the Fire Grants and Safety Act.

I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam President, I appreciate what my colleague has said. Let's remember that President Biden declared the COVID emergency over. These are unobligated dollars. We do have $31.5 trillion in debt. I think the right thing to do is pass this

bill with this amendment to support our firefighters.

I urge my colleagues to all vote for this amendment.

Vote on Amendment No. 81

Mr. President, today I recognize Florida Blue Key and the celebration of their centennial anniversary. One hundred years ago in 1923, Florida Blue Key was founded at the University of Florida to foster leadership and service. Since that time, Florida Blue Key members have served their State and our country at every level of government, including here in the U.S. Senate. I had the honor of being inducted into Florida Blue Key in 2014 and was preceded in this body by fellow Members, including Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham, Connie Mack, Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio, and George Smathers. Today, Florida Blue Key serves as the oldest leadership honorary in the Sunshine State and continues to graduate its membership into law, medicine, business, and government. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Florida Blue Key and wish them continued success in the years to come.

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

In September 2021, President Biden's misguided and dangerous decisions in his botched withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan led to America's most stunning, unforced, and humiliating defeat in decades.

Due to President Biden's carelessness and failed leadership, 13 U.S. servicemembers were lost; billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment were left for the Taliban, and here is a picture of some of it; and hundreds of American citizens were stranded behind enemy lines.

The world is now a more dangerous place. Our enemies, like Russia, Communist China, and Iran, are emboldened, and the American people are rightfully furious.

We must have accountability, and the best way to do that is establishing a bipartisan, bicameral Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan--similar to the Iran-Contra committees--to conduct a full investigation and compile a thorough report on President Biden's tragically failed withdrawal from Afghanistan.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I ask unanimous consent that the vote begin now.