Floor Statements

Madam President, I sure am honored to be here on the Senate floor fighting to defend our democratic process with my friend and colleague from the great State of Utah.

Free, safe, secure, and fair elections are integral to the survival of our Republic. Without election integrity, the voice of American citizens--the foundation of our Republic--is at risk of being silenced.

Unfortunately, millions of Americans have lost confidence in the security of our elections. They question whether their vote truly matters or if their vote is being diluted by noncitizens. We must ensure that the outcome of our elections is determined by our own citizens, uninfluenced by illegal ballots. The heart of our democracy depends upon this.

Ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote in our elections isn't just necessary, it is common sense. I am proud to support the SAVE Act, which will protect our elections by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and an ID at the time of voting.

This shouldn't be a divisive issue. Nearly 80 percent of Americans-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents--all agree on this simple requirement--80 percent.

Now, again, this is common sense. You need an ID to drive. You need an ID to board a plane. You need an ID to get a fishing license. But voting is a sacred right with an even higher value than those other examples. Voting should demand the same standard. Protecting this right isn't controversial. It is common sense.

Right now, due to the crisis of our open southern border, at least 11 million illegal immigrants are in the United States today. That number alone could replace the population of 36 States, almost 4 times the population of Kansas. Imagine what that could do to our electoral process if left unchecked.

You know, friends back home--I just did a telephone townhall. They asked me the same question: Why do my colleagues across the aisle refuse to support a policy that 80 percent of Americans agree upon; that would make our elections freer, safer, more secure?

Well, let me tell you why. It is because they spent years courting illegal immigrants, ushering them into our country, ushering in over 12 million, hoping to tip the scales in key States. But we cannot let them highjack our elections.

Now, look, noncitizen voting is real. This isn't hypothetical. In Texas, Virginia, and Oregon, noncitizens have been found on the voting rosters. Additionally, California, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington, DC, already allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.

This is an immediate threat to the future of our democracy, and it demands action. This is a nonpartisan American issue. It is about protecting our country. Just as we reject foreign interference in our elections, we must reject noncitizen voting with equal seriousness.

And this is why Congress must act, and they can act today. This has already been passed in the House. We could pass this today. The President could sign it tomorrow, and away we go.

With the SAVE Act, we can restore faith in our elections. We are only 40 days away from the most consequential election in our lifetime. Time is running out. Our Republic depends on it. So let's act.

I would like to yield the floor back to my colleague from Utah.

Madam President, today, I rise to pay tribute to an observance that honors the thousands of Americans who devote their daily toils to the excellence of our Nation's agriculture industry. That observance is embodied in a new celebration: Antique Tractor Preservation Day, observed in Kansas on August 22.

As a Senator from Kansas, my devotion to our State's leading role in American agriculture has been a cornerstone of my tenure. As a fifth- generation farm kid, I understand firsthand that the success of agriculture would not be possible without the tractors that facilitate its development. It is therefore imperative to mark Antique Tractor Preservation Day in the Congressional Record. In doing so, we pay homage to antique tractors, which symbolize American agriculture.

A focus on antique tractors is of particular importance. Uplifting antique tractors allows the public to appreciate the impressive spirit of innovation that has driven continued improvement in the efficiency of today's tractors, resulting in a direct improvement of the modern farming sector. A specified day to celebrate antique tractors and display them in various venues empowers families who own these tractors to preserve their farming heritage by sharing stories with a wide audience. Educational opportunities regarding our Nation's farming history are crucial to the continuance of this essential industry. Antique Tractor Preservation Day offers such an opportunity. Just as friendships have been forged on tractors for over a century, so, too, does the observance of Antique Tractor Preservation Day provide an occasion to solidify the bonds of fellowship between farming enthusiasts and those

who have not yet learned about the significance of antique tractors.

A special mention must be made to Mr. Michael Hinton, a native Kansan who has committed his efforts to educating the American public about antique tractors and the legacy they represent. Mr. Hinton pioneered the concept of Antique Tractor Preservation Day and maintains a tremendously helpful website at talkingtractors.com, which serves as a resource for those who seek to learn more about tractors and agriculture. For his distinguished passion and efforts, I am grateful.

I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Antique Tractor Preservation Day and, in so doing, the storied legacy of American agriculture, which is paramount to our Nation's merit.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first of all, let's discuss the title of this bill: Reproductive Health Care Training Act of 2023. Why are my friends across the aisle afraid to use the word ``abortion''?

This bill has nothing to do with reproductive healthcare. This is an abortion training act of 2023. Let's just call it like it is. This is the abortion training act of 2023.

What my colleague from Wisconsin didn't say or tell you is that this bill is unconstitutional. This bill uses taxpayer dollars to fund a direct pipeline of more abortions across the Nation through the Department of Health and Human Services.

This bill establishes a program to award grants or contracts to eligible entities for the purposes of expanding and supporting abortion training and for preparing and encouraging--encouraging--preparing and encouraging students to become abortionists. It encourages efforts to train abortionists with a focus on--get this--a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, tribal, and medically underserved communities. Does this imply there is a priority to train and send abortionists to these groups?

This bill authorizes $25 million to be appropriated for this abortion training pipeline--again, against the Hyde Amendment. This is unconstitutional.

This bill has not received any type of markup in the Health Committee. The Federal Government should not be spending taxpayer dollars to encourage medical students and clinicians to take life when their principal duty, their sacred oath, is to protect life and to do no harm from conception to natural death. Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. Mitch Holthus of Smith Center, KS.

Mitch is the play-by-play announcer and the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs. After three decades as a decorated announcer, Holthus is the longest tenured voice in franchise history. During every Chiefs game, ``Touchdown, KAN-SAS-CITY!'' can be heard thundering throughout the Chiefs kingdom. Today, because of his impact on football commentary and as a son of Kansas, Mitch Holthus is honored with the 2024 Kansan of the Year Award.

Mitch grew up on a farm in Smith Center, KS, and the valuable lessons he learned there gave him the work ethic needed to become who he is today. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelors in journalism and business administration. A devoted family man of Christian faith, Mitch is married to Tami Johnson of McPherson, KS, and together, they have two wonderful children.

The foundations of his incredible career began as a broadcaster calling games for the Pratt High School Greenbacks. In 1983, Mitch continued his career as the voice of the K-State Wildcats and worked for 13 years on the K-State Radio Network. Since 1994, he has been the Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs. His work includes multiple Super Bowls, hosting the Hy-Vee Chiefs Insider Television show, the Chiefs Field Pass Pregame show, the Chiefs Rewind show, and the ``Minute with Mitch'' radio and television series. Mitch delivers a comprehensive and precise analysis of the sport that we all love. It is no surprise that he has earned a litany of awards and accolades. He is a member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Kansas State University Athletics Hall of Fame, the Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, and has received the Kansas City Sports Journalist of the Year, the Hod Humiston Award of Excellence by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and five Emmys.

Mitch's passion, loyalty, and hard work for the game is an inspirational template for future announcers and broadcasters. As the voice for the greatest football team in the world, Mitch is a strong ambassador for Kansas and embodies our values. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his amazing career, and I wish him nothing but the best in the following years and as he continues his work. We are proud to call him a Kansan, and the people of Kansas thank him for his dedication to the Chiefs and the State.

``You can doubt the Chiefs, you can dislike the Chiefs, you can disrespect the Chiefs. But you're going to have to deal with the Chiefs,'' Mitch Holthus at the 2022 AFC Championship victory over the Bengals.

Mr. President, I thank the leadership of the Senators from Texas and Alabama on this issue that is important to literally millions of Americans, as the Senators talked about.

First of all, let the record show that, today, the Democrats objected to the Republican-led IVF Protection Act. The Democrats objected to protecting IVF.

This is personal to so many people up here, and it is personal to many Republican Senators. I would suppose a half a dozen of us so far have a family member--maybe a child or a grandchild--because of IVF or staff, thanks to IVF. Maybe it is as personal to me as to anybody up here. For some 30 years of my life, I had the opportunity and the privilege of delivering a baby most every day. Certainly, I have just nothing but fond, fond memories in each one of those opportunities to give a baby to a new mom and dad and just see the smiles on their faces and see their lives change forever.

But not everybody was that fortunate, and not everybody is that fortunate, as 10 to 15 percent of Americans have an infertility problem. There are 10 to 15 percent of married couples who struggle to have children, and that is why I worked so hard to have an infertility clinic--a place where people could travel from hundreds of miles to get help with their infertility treatments. Certainly, there were many basic things we could do. We helped thousands of women and have helped them have a baby, but if we weren't successful, the next step was in vitro fertilization. Personally, I am proud that I participated in hundreds of IVF cycles--successful cycles--and delivered many, many, many babies from in vitro fertilization.

The country needs to know that Republicans believe in IVF, that we support it. I have never heard one Republican Senator up here say anything else. I have not heard anyone try to take this down. So I am proud to stand up here today and support Senator Britt's and Senator Cruz's bill to protect in vitro fertilization.

We are going to have an opportunity tomorrow on a show bill--we will have a show vote on a show bill. Senator Duckworth's bill on IVF has poison pills that not many Republicans can tolerate.

The first poison pill is it denies freedom of religion, as Senator Cruz talked about--freedom of religion. The bill we will be voting on tomorrow, as far as I am concerned, is unconstitutional. As a physician--as a Christian physician, as a God-fearing Christian--there are certain things that I will not participate in, but I happen to believe that in vitro fertilization is a gift from God, that God has given us this technology to do good with. And I want to make sure that we apply that. There will be certain hospitals and physicians who don't want to participate in IVF, but the Democrats' bill tomorrow forces that physician and that hospital to participate against their consciences. I think that is a violation of religious freedom.

The second poison pill in that legislation is that the bill's definitions are too broad. They create an unlimited, unfettered right to all reproductive technologies. You would have to assume that that includes cloning and gene editing. Are we ready to go out there and force hospitals and doctors

to participate in cloning and gene editing? I just don't think America is ready for that.

And here is the third issue, the third poison pill that is being ignored: This legislation by Senator Duckworth requires infertility clinics to go right to IVF; that they skip--they can skip all the other easier steps, if you will. I won't bore the rest of the Senate with some of those easier things we could do, but there are many things that you could do for infertility before jumping to IVF. I just don't think that that is good legislation to overregulate that patient-physician relationship.

It is a great honor to come here today. Today, 200 babies were born from in vitro fertilization--200. Let's celebrate those babies. We are the party of pro-family and pro-life. We support protecting in vitro fertilization. I ask this Chamber to come together and celebrate the blessings of in vitro fertilization as opposed to mounting political disinformation campaigns that are disingenuous to the beliefs of so many in our conference.

As I said before, the Republican Party stands as the pro-family party, and nothing embodies this more than welcoming a new baby into loving arms. Standing with these families means offering them encouragement and support in their journeys toward safe and secure in vitro fertilization treatment. Our commitment to protecting life ensures that every family has the chance to experience that joy of parenthood through in vitro fertilization.

Our priority is always to make it easier for families to have babies, not harder. We must understand that there are over 8 million families now for whom IVF has answered their prayers. That is why I am, again, so honored to stand here beside Senators Cruz and Britt to champion this pro-family legislation and guarantee access to in vitro fertilization to all Americans.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a very serious problem: viral gain-of-function research. I am calling on this body to place a pause on all viral gain-of-function research, just like President Obama did in 2014.

Maybe I will start with an analogy. Could you imagine the United States participating in nuclear research and sending our scientists, sending our money to foreign adversaries to help them with their nuclear weapons research right now--say, a country like Iran or a country like North Korea? Of course, no one in this body would suggest that is a smart thing to do. But people can't see what viral gain-of- function is, so they are not afraid of it, but they should be.

Think about this: Nuclear bombs have killed 2-, 3-, maybe 400,000 people at the max--2-, 3-, maybe 400,000 people--but viral gain-of- function research, through COVID, has killed over 1 million Americans, and worldwide, it is at least 10 times that, maybe 20 times that. And we still have 15 million long COVID sufferers, but we continue to fund and we continue to participate in viral gain-of-function research. I would stop and ask this body, what do we have to show for it? Thirty years of viral gain-of-function research and what are the benefits? What have we benefited from this?

Just like in January of 2020 when I was the first Member of Congress to sound the alarm on the COVID virus and the consequences and the pandemic that was coming, I am here once again to sound this alarm.

Think about this: Why is this a concern to anybody? First of all, I want to talk about the risk of lab leaks. No matter what virus security level this research is done in, there is going to be risk of a lab leak. There is human error, there is mechanical error, people not following protocols. We have seen it over and over again, and that is actually what led to the pause in 2014 by President Obama.

Laboratories, regardless of their biosafety levels, are not infallible. Human error, equipment failure, unforeseen accidents can lead to the escape of enhanced pathogens into the general population. The consequences of such an event have proven to be catastrophic. We witnessed this firsthand through the COVID-19 pandemic, just how fast a virus could spread throughout the world. A virus that is engineered to be more contagious or more deadly can cause an even more severe global death crisis, even worse than what we saw with COVID-19.

Something people seldom talk about is the threat of bioresearch, of biosecurity when it comes to our food supply. Just like the Chinese developed a COVID virus to attack human lungs, they could develop new viruses that could attack our beef cattle, our pigs, our dairy. They could find new viruses to attack the wheat in Kansas. All these things are very feasible by viral gain-of-function research.

I am very concerned about the risk of weaponization of these viruses, that all of these have a military potential, what we would call bioterrorism. Everything has a dual purpose. In America, we don't think about that. We always think about science being research for the good, but what we have found over and over is that rogue nations can use this type of research for the very, very worse.

I just want to dive a little bit deeper into this subject and this threat of bioterrorism. Knowledge and techniques developed through gain-of-function research can be potentially misused by malicious actors. If detailed methodologies for enhancing pathogens are published or otherwise become accessible, they could be easy exploited to create biological weapons. These could be created by people with minimal means. They are called terrorists. They wouldn't have to go through the hassle, the time and expense of developing a nuclear weapon; they could more easily develop biological weapons that are even more deadly. The potential for such misuse makes the dissemination of research findings in this bill particularly perilous, and it lowers the barrier for entry for those who might wish to cause us harm.

Ethically, gain-of-function research raises significant questions. Is it morally acceptable to create pathogens with pandemic potential, knowing the immense suffering they could cause if accidentally or, heaven forbid, deliberately released?

The scientific pursuit of knowledge must be balanced with responsibility and awareness of their broader consequences. The principles that I swore an oath to as a physician--do no harm; above all, do no harm--should guide every one of our actions when we are funding science. Yet, gain-of-function research walks a tightrope between potential benefits and catastrophic risks.

Public trust in science and research institutes is another critical aspect. Higher profile accidents or ethical breaches have eroded public confidence, making it even more difficult to garner support for necessary scientific endeavors. Transparency, accountability, and stringent regulatory frameworks are essential to maintaining this trust.

That is why we are here today calling for this body to pass our Viral Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium Act. Our bill will prohibit the funding of this research, allowing time for an honest conversation about the pros and cons of gain-of-function research, setting up guardrails that ensure a system of checks and balances.

Getting transparency for the American people for what happened during the pandemic shouldn't be controversial. I hope my colleagues will join me in agreeing that if we can't measure it, we can't manage it-- especially when we are discussing the creation of lethal viruses at the taxpayers' expense.

The Federal Government should not provide another dime in funding for viral gain-of-function research in the deceptive name of global health and national security.

For these reasons, I am proud to be back here on the Senate floor to sound the alarm again and call for the immediate passage of our bill, the Viral Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium Act.

I want to conclude by thanking Senators Braun and Lee for their support of this resolution, and we look forward to continuing the discussion on this issue with their colleagues.

As if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 718, which is at the desk; further, 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, certainly I understand the Senator from Massachusetts' comments and his concerns. I would still continue to argue that the benefits have not outweighed the risk. We have not seen any benefits from this type of research.

The whole concept, just going back to what the definition of ``viral gain-of-function research'' is--we wouldn't do it if it is causing potential for harm, but we can still continue to research flu vaccines. We can continue to research avian influenza. There are all sorts of things we could do. But let's not make avian influenza worse. Let's not put a protein spike on it that is going to make it stick to human lung cells like they did with SARS-CoV-1.

The justification of gain-of-function research hinges on its purported benefits, as you described, such as improved preparedness for pandemics; however, it is important to scrutinize whether these benefits are indeed reliable and they outweigh the risks.

Critics argue that the knowledge gained from such research can often be obtained through safer means, such as computational models or studying natural outbreaks. Moreover, these resources invested in high- risk research can be redirected toward strengthening public health infrastructure, improving our surveillance system, and developing broad-spectrum antivirals and vaccines.

Let's quit throwing good money after bad money. Let's take good care of the American taxpayer dollars and actually do things that are going to protect them from future pandemics.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the legacy of Colonel Wiley M. Pope, who fought to free his family from slavery and secured the first emancipation in the history of Kansas.

In 1860, Colonel Pope fled from Mississippi to Kansas with his wife and 13 children. Because his wife was Black and his children were biracial, Mississippi law dictated that they could be seized from him and sold as slaves to

recover debts he owed. He approached Judge Chadwick of Lawrence, KS, to plead for protection from any law enforcement or bounty hunters that might have tried to capture his wife and children. Moved by Colonel Pope's struggle, Judge Chadwick granted the very first emancipation in Kansas 3 years before President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery nationwide.

As free citizens, the Pope family became one of the five original families to settle in the town of Quindaro, KS. Before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the entire community banded together to ensure the Pope family was safe from harm and to help other escaped slaves who entered Kansas through an Underground Railroad route from Missouri. Although the town is no longer inhabited, the ruins of Quindaro still stand today as a monument to the abolition of slavery.

Though he died well over 100 years ago, Colonel Pope's descendants continue to carry on his legacy. His fifth granddaughter Lisa King serves as president of the Charles E. Pope Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to empower people and businesses to thrive by rediscovering the love and bonds that encouraged their ancestors to seek freedom and build their community.

I now ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Colonel Wiley M. Pope, a man who overcame countless obstacles in search of freedom for his family.

Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from Texas for leading the charge up here to secure our border.

Since day one, Joe Biden has allowed the cartels to have operational control of our Nation's border, exploiting every weakness and pushing deadly fentanyl into our communities, killing over 300 Americans every day.

I rise today to join my colleague in calling for unanimous consent for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which the House passed over a year ago and has sat languishing here on this side of the Capitol, waiting for a hearing, waiting for a vote.

Time after time, the President and his administration have shown us that our national security is an afterthought. We are facing unprecedented times.

Under this President's watch, over 11 million illegal aliens are here now on U.S. soil, and instead of taking any real measures to address the crisis, he is doubling down.

With just 6 months until the election now, the left wants you to believe they have suddenly stumbled upon a solution to the border crisis they created. In the news this week, we will see the Democrats' bait-and-switch tactics. And I want to remind the American people to watch what the majority leader and this administration do, not what they say. They have no serious solution. They know it. That is why it is painfully obvious that the stunts being pulled here this week are politically motivated.

Americans across the heartland are feeling unsafe due to Joe Biden's worsening border crisis. Even a State like Kansas is now a border State. Fentanyl is flooding into our communities across the State, claiming a life most every day and now is the leading cause of death among young adults in America.

Joe Biden's border crisis has resulted in over 300 known terrorists being apprehended in the past year for attempting to cross the southern border. Additionally, over 35,000 Chinese nationals and thousands of individuals from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria have crossed through our southern border.

We are in a sad state of affairs when our foreign adversaries are paying closer attention to our vulnerabilities at our borders than the President of the United States. Even our own FBI is sounding the alarm, now warning that because of this invasion, we are on high alert for a terrorist attack in the coming months.

I stand today with a clear message for this Chamber: It is time to do what is right for the American people, not politically motivated messaging stunts that aren't serious or sincere to the people who have been victims of the Biden administration's lawlessness.

We have a solution to secure our borders, a proposal that could go to the President's desk today. Let's pass the Secure the Border Act, H.R. 2. This legislation tightens asylum standards. It builds a wall. It increases Border Patrol agents. And it ends catch-and-release. It passed over in the House over a year ago, but the majority leader refuses us to take a vote in the Senate.

If Senate Democrats were truly serious about securing our borders, enforcing the rule of law, and protecting our Nation's sovereignty, they would stop wasting time and take up H.R. 2 today.

Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our Nation's safety. This national security crisis is unprecedented, and we have thoughtful, real solutions to address it immediately. Americans deserve to feel safe in their own homes. This half-baked, so-called border bill is an insult to Laken Riley and her family and every other American citizen who has been victimized by crimes committed by someone who should not be in this country.

Even the lead Democrat architect of the so-called border bill has said flat out this legislation does not close the border. You can quote him. It does not close the border. That is all the American people need to hear to see how fast and loose the Democrat Party is willing to play with our national security.

This is a campaign stunt for the candidates you have in battleground States who are on political life support, and no grandstanding in Washington this week will change that fact.

I would like to yield back to the Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, I rise today to ask this body to immediately consider the Demanding Citizenship in D.C. Elections Act. Right now, we have over 11 million illegal immigrants here on U.S. soil. That is enough to replace the entire population of 36 States, including the population of Kansas, almost 4 times over.

When I am back home, I often get asked: Why does Joe Biden allow 5- to 10,000 people to cross our border illegally every day? Why would the Democrats rush millions of people--many unvetted--into our country over the past 3\1/2\ years? Why is our national security an afterthought? How can the President hear Laken Riley's story and the story of so many others who have died or been assaulted by the impacts of this border crisis and not do anything? How does he sleep at night?

When I think about his reaction to these questions, it becomes very clear

what is happening. The President is worried about the next election, not the next generation and not our national security.

Look, this White House has created the worst border crisis in our Nation's history and has incentivized the unlawful crossings at our southern border in hopes that these migrants will be future Democrat voters, with the expectation that the census, which is based upon population, will bring in more Democrat seats in Congress, with hopes of cooking the books for elections to come.

This is election interference by design, with the ultimate goal being the unravelling of our free and fair elections by engineering the largest scale invasion of our country and turning those people out at the ballot box. The Democrats are courting these 11 million people, including terrorists, dangerous drug cartels, and Chinese nationalists, as future voters. They are giving them free healthcare, pricey hotel stays, flights, cell phones, and more, and reminding them to pay it back. Where? At the ballot box.

If you don't believe me, look no further than what is happening right here in our Nation's Capital, in Washington, DC. Illegal aliens are now voting in local elections. Let me say that again. You can't make this up. Illegal aliens are now voting in local elections in our Nation's Capital.

Folks, this is just the beginning for the DNC and serves as the roadmap that they are building to tip the balance and dismantle the integrity of our electoral process across the entire country, and that is why I am asking this body to consider the Demanding Citizenship in D.C. Elections Act immediately.

Washington, DC, as we all know, falls under the jurisdiction of Congress. The intent of our Founding Fathers was to prevent any single State from gaining undue power by hosting the Federal Government. With the oversight powers bestowed on us here in Congress, it is our obligation and duty to stop this election interference.

The American people want free and fair elections. They want to trust that their vote won't be superseded by the millions of illegal aliens that have been transported across the United States. So I rise today to give my colleagues across the aisle the opportunity to show the American people that the Democratic Party believes in election integrity and our democratic electoral process. If they do, then they should have no problem supporting our legislation that explicitly states that illegal aliens cannot vote in DC elections.

Now, some of my colleagues across the aisle continue to deny that illegal aliens are voting in our elections. For the sake of this argument, let's take them at our word. If they say illegals are not voting in our elections, then what is the harm in passing legislation to ensure that it never happens? Let's assure the American people that we have the same goal of citizen-only representation in our electoral process. Now, unfortunately, the left won't do this because they know it is factually incorrect, and they need those votes.

This is election interference by design, with the ultimate goal being the unravelling of our free and fair elections by engineering the largest scale invasion of our country and turning them out at the ballot box.

Unfortunately, when my colleagues across the aisle block this legislation today, they are showing their cards--that, for Democrats, the border crisis is not a crisis at all; it is their campaign trail to victory. This is the Democrats' playbook. If this call for unanimous consent fails, the American people will know the Democrats' true motivation for this border crisis.

We the people must fight back. Too much is at stake. Our democracy as we know it is under attack by this administration. This legislation is a good start on ensuring the integrity of our elections.

Mr. President, I would like to ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 4225 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague's comments on this issue. I will point out a couple of important facts.

The Constitution clearly gives the U.S. Congress the power to govern Washington, DC. Washington, DC is not a State. It is a Federal district. Our Founding Fathers wanted it that way. They didn't want one State to have more control over the Federal Government than another.

And we think about the issues going on in Washington, DC, right now. This Federal district has turned into a war zone. It is no longer safe for our staff to walk to and from their jobs. Almost every week, we are seeing somebody physically assaulted, carjackings, stabbings. It is to the point where I am afraid for folks from back home to come visit us, and our folks from back home deserve the right to safely petition their government.

Look, the city council, the Mayor of Washington, DC, have blown it. They have not taken their responsibilities seriously, and that is why we need to usurp that power back. We need to do what the Constitution says. And we certainly don't want illegal aliens promoting this cashless bail, defund-the-police program. We need more security in Washington, DC, not less.

Madam President, this week is National Law Enforcement Week. So we pause here in our Nation's Capital to honor and remember the men and women who so proudly serve and so bravely serve our communities.

I am grateful for the nearly 8,000 law enforcement officers across the State of Kansas who are fighting to keep our communities safe as we speak here today. I rise to honor these brave men and women in uniform and recognize the sacrifices they and their families make every day to keep us all safe.

I have hosted numerous crime and fentanyl roundtables across the State of Kansas, and everywhere I go, the officers tell me they are overwhelmed--they are overwhelmed with drug trafficking, with human trafficking, and with fentanyl trafficking--and that the crisis is growing; it is exploding. What they tell me is, even if we doubled or if we tripled the number of officers out there, they could not arrest themselves out of the situation.

They all, to a person, point and ask me: When is the Federal Government going to shut down our border?

To those officers out there who are fighting the fight--fighting human trafficking, fighting the fentanyl poisoning--I say thank you, and I get it. I know you are overwhelmed.

These officers back home are our first line of defense. They are our families', our children's, and our friends' first line of defense in these crises. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we demonstrate our unwavering support for them. We need to assure them that help is on the way. We need leaders here and an administration that prioritizes law and order.

Growing up, we were taught to follow the rules. We all respected the law, and we feared the consequences of breaking them. We, as a country, respected our law enforcement officers. And perhaps no one more than myself can appreciate law enforcement--the son of a career police officer, the son of a chief of police. What I will always remember about what my dad taught me about law and order is that he would apply the law equally. He didn't care what your last name was. He didn't care what side of the railroad tracks you came from. He was going to apply the law equally.

I am honored to celebrate all those who have protected and served our communities.

I want to close today by remembering two Kansas officers who lost their lives this past year: Goodland, KS, Police Chief Frank Hayes, Jr., and Fairway, KS, Police Officer Jonah Oswald. I am grateful for their service and the ultimate sacrifice they made in keeping their communities safe.

I want to remember their families and let them know that we are thinking of you today, that we have not forgotten you or your loved one, and that we are going to continue to mourn with you. Again, we are grateful for the sacrifices you made and your loved one to keep us all safe.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to ask this body for unanimous consent to call up and make pending our amendment to add the Credit Card Competition Act to the substitute amendment for the FAA reauthorization bill.

Kansans elected me to fight for them in Washington, to give them a voice at the highest levels of government. I humbly took this job and that responsibility seriously. For that reason, I stand here today to say that I will not fall in line and cower to the standard operating procedures up here that puts U.S. Senators in the backseat and blocks us from bringing our priorities--the priorities of the people--to the floor.

Kansans want their voices to be heard and not sidelined by DC lobbyists and special interest groups who are blocking and tackling our priorities behind the scenes. Every Senator in this Chamber should have the right to hear and vote on their amendments. Many of my colleagues and I welcome this debate. It is healthy. Let's have the debates. Let's take the hard votes. What is the harm? I ask everybody: What is the harm of these discussions of these debates and then letting the cards fall as they may with each vote? Each Senator deserves the opportunity to bring their amendments to the floor and make their case.

Back home, I crisscross Kansas, meeting with small businesses and owners across the State. And at every meeting, they look me in the eyes and they say they need some type of relief. The price of business is simply too high and unfair. Outrageous swipe fees from Wall Street and the Visa-Mastercard duopoly are pulling the rug out from under them, making it unaffordable to do business. Americans pay seven times more than our friends in the European Union do for the same swipe fee, four times more than our friends in Canada.

So we took these concerns to Washington, and we got to work. But I never could have imagined the uphill battle we would face up here to do the right thing, for doing what is best for hard-working Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck.

As a physician, once we diagnose a problem, we think the treatment should be quick. Our patients demand that quick turnaround. Once we figure out what is wrong: ``Here is the solution. Let's do it.'' I don't want our patients to wait any more longer than they have to.

But in Washington, I have learned and realized that, too often, we see the problem, but we sit on the solutions if they are not popular with the people who cut the biggest checks up here. For too long, the Visa-Mastercard duopolies use money and influence in Washington to turn politicians' eyes away from predatory swipe fees. Right now the Visa- Mastercard duopoly and four mega banks are robbing our American small businesses at the highest rate in the world with credit card swipe fees totaling over 90 billion--that is 90 with a ``b,'' billion--dollars each year.

These swipe fees are inflation multipliers on businesses and the consumers. Often, credit card swipe fees are one of business's highest costs, often topping utilities, rent, or even the employees' healthcare costs.

Mom-and-pop shops across Kansas, hotels across Kansas, franchise owners across Kansas, consumers are all asking for relief to be able to sell their goods at a lower price and hire more employees, which I know this Chamber all agrees with is a good thing. If only they could get Wall Street out of the way of Main Street's success.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses, the voice of small businesses, said 92 percent of their members are asking for this--92 percent. So 92 percent of small businesses are telling Congress how we can help them, yet this body refuses to vote on it. It is not going to cost taxpayers a dime. And 92 percent of businesses want this.

It has been 2 long years since Senator Durbin and I introduced this bill--2 years of fighting, asking, begging for a vote. For 2 years, we have gotten nothing but excuses and empty promises and assurances. We begged for committee hearings, with no results. Crickets. Why are they so afraid to have a committee hearing up here even on this? It is because they are afraid of the truth. We jumped through every hoop asked of us by leadership to try to advance this legislation for a vote. Enough posturing.

Kansan legend and Statesman Bob Dole once said.

Leaders stand ready to make the hard decisions and to live

with the consequences. They don't pass it off to somebody

else.

I know this won't be popular for beltway insiders and Wall Street lobbyists, but it is good for small businesses. It is good for hard- working Americans.

I made my decision. I am sticking with Main Street every single time. I am sticking with hard-working Americans who take their lunch pail to work.

Madam President, I will close today with a reminder to this Chamber: I will not stop fighting until we get this vote.

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up amendment No. 1936.

Madam President, I move to table the Motion to Commit, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act that is before us shines as a beacon of safety, progress, and efficiency in the realm of aviation. It is not just any piece of legislation; it is a commitment to safeguarding lives, fostering innovation, and bolstering economic growth.

At its core, this bill ensures that our skies remain safe for all who traverse them. It sets stringent standards for aircraft safety, air traffic control, and airport operations, ensuring that every flight is conducted with the highest level of care and expertise.

Today, I rise to especially acknowledge the hard work that our air traffic controllers do day in and day out to keep our skies clear and safe for all.

Back home in Olathe, KS, we have an Air Route Traffic Control Center that is responsible for some 130,000 square miles of airspace.

Covering that much airspace is no small feat, and it takes a team of highly skilled and trained controllers to get the job done. In fact, I made a visit to that control center in Olathe, and what I found was perhaps the most constant bombardment of mentally challenging tasks of any job I have ever seen, more than anything I have seen in 8 hours or 12 hours in an operating room in 1 day, more than a day in an emergency room, more than any task I have seen, the mental challenge, the constant bombardment of different sequences, trying to make sure--not trying but ensuring that every flight lands safely. There is no room for error. There are no second chances. And it amazes me how, time after time, day after day, these stalwarts do their job with perfection.

And I have to admit, in years past, I have been disappointed that, despite billions being spent, allocated to the FAA each year, this Agency has continued to neglect hiring for air traffic controllers, not only in Kansas but across the Nation.

Again, based on my visit to our towers in Kansas, it is clear that our air traffic controllers need relief, and we need to hire more people to prevent burnout among those critical workers for the sake of preserving passenger safety.

Thankfully, we have a golden opportunity this week to make things right with this FAA reauthorization. The compromise package includes provisions to hire at maximum levels over the life of this bill and to adopt a new staffing model to better project hiring needs in the future.

I want to especially salute Senator Braun's Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act, as it is a commonsense, simple fix that over 30 Senators have supported. Including this bill in this reauthorization package was the right thing to do, and it is a bipartisan win that we can all celebrate together. I applaud the committee for including this important language and taking care of the folks who work around the clock to keep our deliveries on time and our passengers safe.

And, finally, I want to just take a moment to remember and applaud all of the Members of Congress, but, I think, even more importantly, their dedicated staff, who have worked on this FAA reauthorization legislation, along with all the dedicated aviation industry who strive to keep us safe and on time.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, today should be a day of celebration. National college decision day marks a pivotal moment in the lives of millions of students across the country, a day that many of us still remember ourselves. It is meant to be a day of excitement and anticipation of young men's and women's bright futures ahead.

But, instead, I rise today frustrated and disappointed. As we stand here today, 17 million hopeful students are victims of the Biden administration's bureaucratic nightmare. Students' futures are in limbo, and their decisions for higher education are stalled as they continue their monthslong wait for answers on the Federal financial assistance that will be available to them.

Millions of families nationwide rely on the FAFSA process to unlock the doors to higher education. Still, the Department of Education has left 82 percent of them unable to even submit their FAFSA applications for consideration--82 percent of them can't complete the form.

In Kansas, over 11,000 students have been affected by this botched FAFSA rollout, and this number represents the nearly 30-percent decline in completed FAFSA applications. I wholeheartedly believe this drop stems from the application process being so dysfunctional and filled with glitches, that many Kansas students and families have simply given up.

This is certainly unacceptable. These repeated months of delays by the Department of Education in rolling out the new FAFSA application have left millions of students and schools in limbo with no clear path forward for the upcoming school year.

Think about the uncertainty these delays breed. The dysfunction within this Education Department has sent shock waves across the country. For 3 years, we have watched the Biden administration spend all the Department of Education's energy on finding a way to fulfill the President's unconstitutional campaign promise to forgive millions in student loan debts, meanwhile leaving new students out of luck.

Now, due to their tunnel vision, colleges lack the vital data needed to formulate financial aid offers, scholarships, and grants, leaving students and their families in the dark about how they will afford tuition, books, and other college essentials.

And who suffers the most? Well, it is first-generation and low-income college students--middle income students as well. Very few students are able to afford college on their own. They need this FAFSA application. Whether you are waiting for a State scholarship or for a military scholarship, we rely on this assistance to help fulfill and pursue our own American dreams.

I stand here today as a very lucky person, a first-generation college student myself who went to a community college, and I certainly understand the struggles of those who are waiting to get into college, wondering if they can afford and where they can afford to go to.

The help that students and colleges are waiting for from the Department of Education isn't just on loans; it is also on scholarships and grants. Take, for example, the Promise Scholarship in Kansas. This award is a lifeline for many students bridging the gap between financial aid and the cost of education in critical fields; however, this highly sought-after scholarship relies on--guess what. It relies on a fully processed FAFSA to accurately award students that funding.

For months, my colleagues and I have called on this administration to allocate the resources they are using to concoct their student loan forgiveness

scheme to help our FAFSA applicants and address the FAFSA delays to help deliver certainty to our students and families.

We have written letters; we have hosted hearings; we have sponsored legislation. Still, here we are, as college campuses are now being terrorized by far-left, pro-Hamas protestors threatening the safety and security of Jewish students, and we are no closer to an answer on FAFSA today than we were when we started.

This is why we need changes this November, not only in the White House but in the Department of Education. They need to reassess their priorities and their propaganda and their politics. Our students deserve better, and it is time to reset and focus on the real priorities at the Department of Education. The futures of our young men and women are at stake. Time is of the essence. The clock is ticking on millions of students' futures with graduating day fastly approaching.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 1834 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, during the last administration, we saw career, unelected bureaucrats, many of whom were FBI agents, actively work against our Commander in Chief.

Now, in this bill, we are giving unilateral control over section 702 to those same career staff who have a record of abusing their power. As written, section 2(b) of the bill would prohibit political appointees from being within the process of approving section 702 queries. This means there is no accountability for these agents by the FBI Director or Attorney General.

Regardless of who is President, they and their politically appointed FBI Director and Attorney General should have full control of the Agencies and Departments they are leading.

We must make FBI and DOJ leadership accountable for eventual section 702 abuses. We should require the Attorney General and FBI Director to sign off on 702 investigations.

As this is such a momentous vote, it would be great that it also passed. So, with that, I urge your ``yes'' vote.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I have a motion, and it takes precedence.

Before this body disrespects the Constitution any further, before we endanger our Republic any more, before we harm the reputation of this body any more, I move to adjourn until 7 a.m. on November 6, 2024, so the American people can at least have a vote on this impeachment trial.

Vote on Motion

I ask for the yeas and nays.

If the gentleman will yield.

It certainly seems to me that, today, 51 of our friends across the aisle voted to not have a trial. Make note of this: that every person that voted to end that trial was a vote for an open border. It was a vote to tell Laken Riley's family that the life of their daughter didn't matter. It was a vote to tell the 250,000 families that lost a loved one to fentanyl: It doesn't matter.

But what struck me, as the clock struck midnight here and we lost that vote, is I feel like the Senate was gutted, that we lost part of our powers.

You know, in high school we were taught--in high school government, we talked about checks and balances. And one of the checks and balances that the legislative branch had on the executive branch was this impeachment process.

And I want to ask my colleague from Texas: Why do I feel like it has just been gutted right now--like the entire Senate--that this body has been gutted of a power that we are never going to get back, that impeachment going forward may mean nothing. Am I wrong?