Floor Statements

Mr. President, before I begin my formal remarks, let me thank my neighbor from New Hampshire for organizing this bipartisan display of support for Ukraine.

On February 24, 2022, without justification, without provocation, Russia launched a full-scale, brutal invasion of its democratic neighbor Ukraine with missiles, air assaults, and army divisions.

As John Adams said, ``Facts are stubborn things,'' and the facts of what happened on that terrible day are undeniable. It was Russia that started the war.

Many thought that Ukraine had no chance against the perceived might of the Russian armed forces. However, the Ukrainians fought so bravely against that initial onslaught and, since then, the West has come together with speed and clarity of purpose to support Ukraine.

Senator McConnell stated it best last week by saying:

Russia's horrible invasion of Ukraine has had a unifying

effect on the world's democracies.

As a result of the invasion, two nations, Sweden and Finland, joined NATO; Eastern Europe is completing a pivot away from Russia's energy sources; and NATO allies are surging to the 2 percent GDP goal for defense spending.

As for the brave Ukrainians, they pushed back the initial Russian invaders and are now doing their best to hold the line in eastern Ukraine, despite Russian soldiers, ammunition, and UAVs far outnumbering their Ukrainian counterparts. Ukraine decimated the Russian Black Sea Fleet and has forced Russia to augment its forces with North Korean soldiers and Iranian weapon systems.

But despite the successes in the past 3 years, the war drags on with devastating consequences: 390,000 Ukrainians have been wounded, with more than 46,000 deaths so far. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families have been displaced, and estimates are that approximately 29,000 civilian Ukrainians have lost their lives. In many cases, they were targeted by the Russians.

It is not American troops who are dying on the Ukrainian frontlines. It is the Ukrainians who are courageously defending their country, their democracy, their way of life. And their defenses directly connect to our efforts in NATO and the defense of Eastern Europe.

If Vladimir Putin is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, as several of my colleagues have pointed out, he will not stop there. He will continue to pursue his dream, his goal, of recreating the former Soviet Union. He has made that crystal clear. In my judgment, he would most likely seize Moldova next; again, invade Georgia, as he did in 2008; threaten the Baltic States; and menace Poland and Finland.

The best way to ensure that the United States is not drawn into a larger regional war in Europe, which would directly threaten American troops, is by helping Ukraine defend itself against this unprovoked invasion.

The national security supplemental appropriations package that was signed into law last year included $15.4 billion to help Ukraine purchase American-made weapons. It is strengthening our military readiness, rebuilding our industrial base, and assisting our partners and allies at a volatile and dangerous time in world history.

For the past 3 years, we have heard repeatedly the myth that somehow the European countries were not doing their part in helping to equip Ukraine, but let's take a look at the facts. As a percentage of GDP, the United States ranks 17th--17th--in support for Ukraine. The top three countries include Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia. These NATO nations are all in on supporting Ukraine's defenses because they understand that the stakes are so high. Furthermore, NATO allies have committed $185 billion to buy weapons and defense systems produced right here in the United States, which helps us sustain good jobs and strengthens the industrial base.

Both the Biden administration's slow-walking of the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and the Trump administration's pausing military aid and intelligence sharing sent the wrong signal to an aggressive Russia. The decision this afternoon to restart U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing are welcome steps to strengthening Ukraine's position in negotiations. With the tentative cease-fire signed by Ukraine and now up for Russia's concurrence, resumed aid and intelligence sharing with our ally Ukraine allows that country to be in a much stronger position moving forward.

History is filled with examples of well-intentioned leaders who sought to avoid war but who actually made war more likely by refusing to recognize the evil with which they were confronted. Neville Chamberlain declared ``peace in our time,'' trying to appease Germany before World War II. We should not make the same mistake today by appeasing Russia.

We cannot avert our eyes. We cannot leave an ally to fend for itself, and we must show resolve to deter possible future aggression by China, Iran, and North Korea.

Our adversaries are watching closely our response in Ukraine.

Mr. President, the spirit of volunteerism is one of Maine's greatest strengths. For the past 30 years, that spirit has been nurtured and enhanced by Volunteer Maine Executive Director Maryalice Crofton, and I join people throughout our State in honoring Maryalice for her outstanding leadership and in wishing her all the best in her retirement.

Volunteer Maine is our State's National Service Commission that supports AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. During Maryalice's tenure, which began just 1 year after those programs were launched, more than 4,200 individuals have served as Maine volunteers, contributing more than 3.9 million hours to support housing, education, environmental conservation, healthcare, childcare, and emergency preparedness efforts across our State. While increasing their job skills and knowledge, student volunteers have earned nearly $27 million in awards to further their educations.

In addition to advancing the well-being of Mainers and expanding civic engagement, Maryalice has been an innovative leader at the national level helping to shape workforce development and public- private initiatives. She has been instrumental in efforts to ensure that national service programs are guided by community priorities and local concerns.

At an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps last year, Maryalice described the importance of people stepping forward to address unmet needs in their communities with these words: ``If you're thinking that someone else will take care of it, that's probably not true. You've got to get out there.''

With Maryalice Crofton leading the way, Maine's AmeriCorps volunteers have gotten out there and made a real difference. Her exceptional spirit of service to others will inspire volunteers for years to come.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program.

Every day, an estimated 53 million family caregivers attend to loved ones across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Respite care gives these full-time caregivers a much-needed opportunity to take a temporary break from their important responsibilities.

Caregivers help their loved ones remain at home, and the decision to assume these responsibilities full time often delays the need for nursing home care. While many of these individuals care for an older adult, almost one-third of caregivers attend to family members under the age of 50. The value of their efforts is tremendous, amounting to more than $600 billion in uncompensated care each year.

This compassionate task, however, can take a tremendous toll. Caregivers experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to acquire acute and chronic health conditions themselves.

Respite care helps reduce mental stress and physical health problems that they may experience, thus helping to keep caregivers healthy and families intact. Yet almost 85 percent of America's caregivers have never received any respite services.

As a Senator representing the State with the oldest median age in the Nation, the well-being of our older citizens and their caregivers is among my top priorities.

Since the Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, 38 States and the District of Columbia have received grants to increase the availability and quality of respite services. Our legislation would extend this programming for another 5 years, through fiscal year 2030.

In Maine, there are approximately 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. The Maine Department of Health highlighted the importance of respite care in a report released earlier this year that evaluates the Maine State Respite Care Program. Participants shared how assistance made available through this program has enabled them to take much-needed breaks, reduce their anxiety, and even reenergize their enthusiasm for caregiving.

One Mainer shared that access to respite care has meant that she has been able to truly visit with her parents when she spends time with them instead of using all of that time just to do their chores, their yard work, and other tasks. She says that it has been wonderful to have someone help her parents with their chores and shopping for their needs, and it has meant that she, herself, is far less tired.

Stories such as these emphasize the importance of respite care, of a break for these caregivers who are giving so much to their family members.

Although most caregivers are adults, there are also more than 5 million young people in our country who provide care for grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities. Studies have found that approximately one in five young adults who dropped out of school did so to care for a family member. These children often choose to give up activities that other teens should enjoy, such as extracurricular activities--sports, outside activities--and they may experience depression or anxiety. Our legislation would clarify that young people who are caregivers, including those who are under age 18, are also able to access respite care services.

There is a large gap between caregivers who need respite services, who need a break from the 24-hour care of their loved ones, and those who actually receive this kind of assistance. Our bill would help close that gap by reauthorizing funding for this program that has helped States establish or strengthen respite services. This funding can be used to assist caregivers in finding available respite services, to train and recruit volunteers to provide temporary caregiving, and to provide financial support through vouchers so that caregivers can better afford respite services.

Our bill is widely supported by leading caregiver and respite organizations, including the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement.

Our bipartisan legislation will provide the necessary resources to ensure that more caregivers have access to the respite services they need. I urge all of our colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation. It will make a real difference for the caregivers, the family caregivers, in our States.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program.

Every day, an estimated 53 million family caregivers attend to loved ones across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Respite care gives these full-time caregivers a much-needed opportunity to take a temporary break from their important responsibilities.

Caregivers help their loved ones remain at home, and the decision to assume these responsibilities full time often delays the need for nursing home care. While many of these individuals care for an older adult, almost one-third of caregivers attend to family members under the age of 50. The value of their efforts is tremendous, amounting to more than $600 billion in uncompensated care each year.

This compassionate task, however, can take a tremendous toll. Caregivers experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to acquire acute and chronic health conditions themselves.

Respite care helps reduce mental stress and physical health problems that they may experience, thus helping to keep caregivers healthy and families intact. Yet almost 85 percent of America's caregivers have never received any respite services.

As a Senator representing the State with the oldest median age in the Nation, the well-being of our older citizens and their caregivers is among my top priorities.

Since the Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, 38 States and the District of Columbia have received grants to increase the availability and quality of respite services. Our legislation would extend this programming for another 5 years, through fiscal year 2030.

In Maine, there are approximately 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. The Maine Department of Health highlighted the importance of respite care in a report released earlier this year that evaluates the Maine State Respite Care Program. Participants shared how assistance made available through this program has enabled them to take much-needed breaks, reduce their anxiety, and even reenergize their enthusiasm for caregiving.

One Mainer shared that access to respite care has meant that she has been able to truly visit with her parents when she spends time with them instead of using all of that time just to do their chores, their yard work, and other tasks. She says that it has been wonderful to have someone help her parents with their chores and shopping for their needs, and it has meant that she, herself, is far less tired.

Stories such as these emphasize the importance of respite care, of a break for these caregivers who are giving so much to their family members.

Although most caregivers are adults, there are also more than 5 million young people in our country who provide care for grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities. Studies have found that approximately one in five young adults who dropped out of school did so to care for a family member. These children often choose to give up activities that other teens should enjoy, such as extracurricular activities--sports, outside activities--and they may experience depression or anxiety. Our legislation would clarify that young people who are caregivers, including those who are under age 18, are also able to access respite care services.

There is a large gap between caregivers who need respite services, who need a break from the 24-hour care of their loved ones, and those who actually receive this kind of assistance. Our bill would help close that gap by reauthorizing funding for this program that has helped States establish or strengthen respite services. This funding can be used to assist caregivers in finding available respite services, to train and recruit volunteers to provide temporary caregiving, and to provide financial support through vouchers so that caregivers can better afford respite services.

Our bill is widely supported by leading caregiver and respite organizations, including the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement.

Our bipartisan legislation will provide the necessary resources to ensure that more caregivers have access to the respite services they need. I urge all of our colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation. It will make a real difference for the caregivers, the family caregivers, in our States.

Mr. President, consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, I ask unanimous consent that the rules of procedure of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the memberships on the twelve subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress be printed in the Record. I thank Senator Murray, the vice chair of the committee, for her leadership and cooperation with me in making these important assignments.

Madam President, I rise to urge the passage of the American Relief Act. This bill will avert a costly government shutdown. Although it is after 12 midnight, we are going to avert it. It will deliver much needed assistance to individuals, small businesses, and communities working to rebuild and repair in the wake of natural disasters. It provides much needed aid to our farmers across the country, who have been hit by a tidal wave of harmful economic conditions.

I want to thank the many Senators who have contributed to this legislation. In particular, I want to recognize Chair Murray for her leadership of the Appropriations Committee during this Congress.

I hope that in the next Congress, we can bring appropriations bills to the Senate floor in a timely fashion to avoid this kind of end-of- the-year pile-up.

I do urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I, too, want to recognize and thank my outstanding staff for their hard work.

Social Security Fairness Act

Finally, Madam President, I do want to say that it is a great accomplishment that tonight the Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act, which will be sent to the President for his signature. This is long overdue.

I want to share with my colleagues one really important fact, and that is that 83 percent of those who are affected by the government pension offset, which we repealed tonight, are lower income women. So this is a great accomplishment to eliminate these two inequitable, unfair provisions of the Social Security Act. It is going to make a big difference.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the truly extraordinary contributions to the U.S. Senate, to her home State of Arizona, and to our country of my friend and colleague Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

The qualities that took Kyrsten from a difficult childhood to college, law school, the Arizona Legislature, and the U.S. Congress are evident to all of us who have had the privilege to work alongside such a remarkable leader. Her strength, courage, and fierce independence are inspiring. Her belief in the power of hard work and the importance of lending a hand to those in need guides her approach to public service.

Most of all, I will never forget her persistence in forging compromises that benefit the American people. It truly is remarkable. Kyrsten always puts country over party.

I had the privilege of working with Kyrsten on consequential legislation. She was the negotiator of the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act to ensure the orderly transition of Presidential power. She was the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure act, the most significant investment in our infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System in the fifties.

Kyrsten's work to craft the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is yet another example. She coauthored the provisions to better prevent domestic abusers from having access to firearms.

She was vital to the success of the Respect for Marriage Act, which defends same-sex marriages while at the same time strengthening and respecting religious liberties.

Kyrsten also believes in protecting our institutions, and she spoke eloquently today of the importance of the filibuster and made such a compelling case. Standing up to intense pressure, her strong defense of the filibuster preserved the rights of the minority.

I have been here when Republicans have been in the majority and when they have been in the minority. She reminded us that working together across party lines inevitably produces better legislation that is more carefully thought out and drafted.

In a powerful speech that Senator Sinema gave to a college on a college campus, 2 years ago, she said this:

Imagine what more we could accomplish for our country if,

rather than staying in comfortable partisan corners, more

leaders reached out in a genuine desire to craft durable,

bipartisan solutions to our country's most difficult

challenges.

That is exactly what Kyrsten Sinema has done. She is that kind of leader. I thank her for her service, for making such a difference in the U.S. Senate, for her country, for the Senate, and for her home State. And I wish her all the best in her next endeavor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam President, let me just briefly say that I have great admiration for the Senator from North Carolina. This is a rare instance in which we see the issue differently. But I appreciate his leadership and hard work.

I rise today in strong support of the long overdue Social Security Fairness Act. This bipartisan bill would repeal two Social Security provisions that unfairly penalize many public servants in Maine and across the country.

I also want to acknowledge and thank Senator Brown for his leadership. We have championed this bill together for several years. In fact, we have been debating this inequity in the Social Security System for decades--for decades.

In 2003, I held the very first Senate hearing on this policy. In 2005, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and I introduced the first Social Security Fairness Act. In 2007, Senator Barbara Mikulski and I introduced another version of the bill. Just last month, the House of Representatives passed the bill overwhelmingly by a vote of 327 to 75.

It is now time for the Senate to finally pass this legislation so that it can become law.

Social Security is the foundation of retirement income for most Americans. Yet many teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants often see their earned Social Security benefits unfairly reduced by two provisions: the so-called windfall elimination provision and the government pension offset.

The windfall elimination provision, or WEP, affects public servants who receive a pension from a job not covered by Social Security but who also worked long enough in another job to qualify for Social Security benefits. In other words, they have earned those benefits. They have worked the 40 quarters, the 10 years, under a job that pays into Social Security. Due to the WEP, however, their Social Security benefits are calculated using a different formula, which reduces their monthly benefits. For workers who become eligible for benefits in 2024, the WEP reduction can be up to $700 per month.

The government pension offset, or just GPO, affects public servants who receive a pension from a job not covered by Social Security but who are also eligible to receive a Social Security spousal or widow's benefit. The GPO, however, reduces the Social Security spousal or widow's benefits by an amount equal to two-thirds of the noncovered pension. More than 70 percent of those affected by the GPO lose their entire benefit.

This issue is extraordinarily important to people in my State of Maine because the State's pension system does not include a Social Security component. Among those most affected are Maine schoolteachers. They love their jobs and the children they teach, but they have to worry about their future and their retirement security.

Many are women, often retired from teaching, whose spouses worked full time in the private sector, but when they become widowed, their retirement security is often jeopardized because they don't receive the standard amount from their late spouse's Social Security. The fact is that 83 percent of retirees penalized by the GPO provision are women.

According to the Social Security Administration, in November 2024, more than 2 million people--including more than 20,000 in Maine--had their Social Security benefits reduced by the WEP. Similarly, more than 650,000 people were affected by the GPO in November of 2024, including more than 6,000 in Maine.

Let me give you one example. There are so many. Catherine Sjogren from Bangor, ME, told me about having to reenter the workforce at age 72 after retiring from teaching for many decades. Her husband, a Navy veteran, paid into Social Security for 40 years. When he passed away, the GPO reduced Catherine's widow benefits by two-thirds. She did not have the financial security any longer to remain retired, and the GPO penalty left her with few choices but to return to work.

Our dedicated public servants, such as our teachers who help prepare our children for future success and our police officers and firefighters who help keep our communities safe, should receive the full Social Security benefit that they have earned. Let me stress that last point: They have earned these benefits.

This is an unfair, inequitable penalty. I urge my colleagues to support the Social Security Fairness Act and end this inequity once and for all.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, on May 22, 2023, Tom Carper told a crowd of admirers in Delaware that he would not seek a fifth term in the Senate, bringing to a close nearly 50 years in public service. Two days later, he delivered a keynote address at a reunion of 200 Vietnam war former POWs, which was held at the Nixon Library in California.

Those two events speak volumes about the character and commitment of my valued colleague and good friend Tom Carper. From State treasurer to Governor to Congressman and Senator, Tom has been elected to statewide public office a record 14 times. In every way, he has justified the trust the people of the First State have placed in him.

That remarkable accomplishment came after Tom served three tours of duty as a naval flight officer in Vietnam. He is the last veteran of that conflict in the Senate and a powerful and effective voice for those with whom he served.

In 1991, then-Congressman Carper led a bipartisan delegation of Vietnam veterans back to Southeast Asia. Thanks to Tom's leadership, that trip helped lay the groundwork for ongoing efforts to account for Americans listed as missing in action. He exemplifies the ethic of the U.S. military that no one is left behind or ever forgotten.

In the Senate, Tom's priorities have included improving our healthcare system, protecting our environment, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening our national security. And I feel so fortunate to have had the pleasure to work with Tom on many issues. As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee following the 9/11 attacks, Tom and I were strong allies in supporting America's first responders. He has been a champion for the SAFER and AFG Programs that help provide our firefighters with the equipment, training, and support they need. In fact, Tom and I serve as cochairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

Tom and I have also had a long partnership in strengthening the U.S. Postal Service. Twenty years ago, we introduced legislation that became law to reform the Postal Service--the first overhaul in nearly three decades to ensure universal service, affordable rates, and community access.

Another issue that brought us together is protecting the environment and public health from mercury contamination, a particular threat to children and pregnant women. The Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act we have championed would allow the United States to take a leadership role in generating a long-term mercury monitoring program that would benefit not only our Nation but also the world.

And I think it would be a great tribute to Senator Carper if we passed that bill and got it signed into law before the end of this Congress.

From Southeast Asia to Wilmington to Washington, Senator Tom Carper has served with great distinction. Our Nation is grateful. And I wish him and Martha all the best in the years to come.

Mr. President, after Senator Ben Cardin announced his retirement in the spring of 2023, he and his wonderful wife Myrna recorded an extraordinary video reflecting on a life in public service nearly as long as their 60 years of marriage.

Touching on the highlights of a career that ranged from enacting the Magnitsky sanctions, about which we have heard so much today, to protecting Maryland's precious Chesapeake Bay, Ben said the unifying force behind his work has always been tzedakah, the Jewish tradition of helping wherever and whenever help is needed.

Observing Ben for the past 18 years, I have seen a statesman of keen intellect and profound decency. He is always guided by the ideals of America, his service to Maryland, and by his faith. He consistently has demonstrated the character that earned him the trust of the people of Maryland from the house of delegates to the third congressional district to the U.S. Senate.

Ben's hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, described him this way:

He is a man of substance who understands complicated issues

and the art of compromise.

Having partnered with Ben on initiatives to move our Nation forward, I heartily agree with that description. For example, following the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election, Ben was an essential leader in a bipartisan working group that crafted the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Act to better ensure smooth transfers of power between Presidential administrations.

I remember, for example, in one meeting, Ben bringing up a legal question that was absolutely essential that we resolve. It was indicative of the kind of careful legislating in which he engages.

As members of the Small Business Task Force, we coauthored the Paycheck Protection Program that helped so many businesses and employees survive the COVID pandemic.

From expanding Medicare access to improving home healthcare services to addressing opioid use disorder, Ben has been a strong and effective leader in healthcare. One of Ben's most enduring legacies will be the example, his leadership, as a champion of human rights around the world and his fearless persistent dedication to fighting anti-Semitism.

And one of my most enduring memories of Ben will be standing by his side in Tel-Aviv last October following the horrific Hamas attack on Israel.

In the aftermath of that incomprehensible evil, Ben offered words of consolation and peace as he made crystal clear that the United States will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel.

It is significant that just before our bipartisan delegation traveled to Israel, Ben was presented with the Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Well deserved.

It has been such an honor to serve with Senator Ben Cardin, a leader of integrity, intelligence, and civility. I am so grateful for his efforts to strengthen our institutions, to elevate our national discourse, and to bring people together to find common ground and solve problems.

I wish Ben and Myrna much happiness in the years to come. You will be missed, Ben.

Mr. President, Jon Tester once said he didn't know how his Senate colleagues saw him, but he hoped it was, first and foremost, as a farmer. Beyond his ability to drive a tractor or lug a container of beef raised on his Montana ranch to Washington, we have seen in Jon the best qualities of that noble occupation: hard work, resilience, and common sense.

With his wife Sharla, Jon still farms the land near Big Sandy, MT, that has been in his family for more than a century. He was brought up to believe that public education, strong families, and civic engagement form the foundation of our democracy, and he has demonstrated that conviction as a teacher, school board member, and leader of the Montana State Senate.

In the U.S. Senate, Jon has been an advocate of rural America and its farmers and ranchers, small business owners, sportsmen and women, and Tribal Nations. He has championed responsible energy development, improving schools, and expanding high-quality healthcare to underserved communities.

It has been a pleasure to work with Jon on many issues. Maine and Montana share the distinction of having two of the highest percentages of veterans in the Nation, and we have joined together to honor America's patriots by both strengthening the benefits veterans have earned through their service and ensuring that our Armed Forces today have the resources they need to defend our Nation.

As cochairs of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in this Congress, Jon and I crafted two bipartisan bills to fund our national defense priorities. In addition to countless engagements with senior military officials, Chairman Tester held more than 20 hearings and classified briefings--more than any other Subcommittee--performing oversight of the Department of Defense. Many of our meetings were classified, held without cameras or the press. Jon's focus was always on what our troops needed to keep our country safe. From investments to modernize our Nation's nuclear triad to accelerating space-based capabilities, I can attest that our work together has made our Nation's military stronger in the face of increasing threats from China and Russia.

We also served as cochairs of the Congressional TRIO Caucus and introduced the Educational Opportunity and Success Act to reauthorize and strengthen Federal programs to support underserved students. Every spring, we lead the Public Schools Week resolution to recognize the importance of education and the contributions of our teachers.

Jon was among the group of 10 Senators who negotiated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. From transportation to broadband, the most significant investment in infrastructure since the interstate highway system in the 1950s is bringing lasting benefits to our Nation.

Jon has contributed to our country and served his state. I commend my colleague Senator Jon Tester for his outstanding service and wish him bountiful crops for many years to come.

Mr. President, it is with a combination of pride and sadness that I rise to pay tribute to a truly extraordinary Senator and a good friend, Senator Mitt Romney.

I rise to praise his intelligence, his imagination, and most of all his integrity. That is what has marked and characterized his service throughout his life but particularly here in the Senate. It is a day of sadness because I can't imagine the Senate without Mitt Romney.

As a Senator and as a Governor, as a Presidential candidate, as the founder of a successful business, as the savior of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and as a pillar of his faith, Mitt Romney has brought intelligence, knowledge, experience, and, once again, integrity to every task he has undertaken. He meets every challenge with determination and a talent for bringing opposing sides together to forge solutions. He is always focused on getting to yes, on using common sense, and on achieving a result.

I have had the pleasure of teaming up with Mitt on so many important issues, many of which he has mentioned. He was among the group of 10 Senators who negotiated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. From transportation to broadband, the most significant investment in infrastructure since the interstate highway system in the 1950s is bringing lasting benefits to our Nation.

Mitt was also key in crafting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act-- landmark, commonsense gun safety legislation that helps to protect America's children, keep our schools safer, and reduce the threat of violence across our country, while preserving the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Mitt's unshakable belief that the American people must have faith in our elections and that they are free and fair was evident in his countless contributions to the Electoral Count Reform Act, which ensures an orderly transition of Presidential power.

Perhaps most impressive, his support for the Respect for Marriage Act demonstrated his fundamental fairness by helping to ensure that millions of loving couples in same-sex marriages will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages, while strongly protecting religious liberty. And I give Mitt so much credit for forging the religious liberty protections that, combined with the protections for same-sex marriages, enabled the enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act. He was the one who drafted the religious liberty provisions that were so key.

There are other areas where Mitt has been a key player and ahead of his time. From identifying the threat posed by Russia more than a decade ago to pushing Congress and the administration to develop a strategy to better counter the challenge presented by China, Mitt has worked extensively on American foreign policy and national security. He has been a champion for Ukraine and a strong supporter of supplying aid to that brave country in its time of peril.

Most of all, Mitt has reminded us over and over again of our $36 trillion national debt and the need to put our trust funds on solid ground. In fact, I think that a great post-Senate responsibility that Mitt could take on is a commission to look at all of those trust funds. He has proposed legislation to do just that. I can't think of a better person to head that commission.

Mitt announced his decision to step down from the Senate with these words:

While I'm not running for reelection, I'm not retiring from

the fight.

As he and his wonderful wife Ann move on to this next phase of their lives, I am sure that this outstanding leader will continue to fight for the core values that have made America great.

Mr. President, Senator Joe Manchin often recalls these words of wisdom from his grandmother:

People don't care how much you know until they know how

much you care.

Knowledge and caring define Joe's public service, both here in the Senate and as Governor of his beloved West Virginia.

He has always been knowledgeable on the issues and offers practical solutions to real problems. He cares so deeply and so personally about the people he serves and, just as important, about the values that define America.

With our Nation increasingly polarized by extremists on both the far left and the far right, Joe is something that we need more of: an extreme moderate. As fiercely independent as the people of the Mountain State, he has demonstrated time and again the strength to stand against the destructive trend of hyperpartisanship, for Joe understands that politics is the art of compromise. He knows that working with those on opposite sides of an issue, figuring out what matters most to each side, and negotiating in good faith produces the best legislation that will withstand the test of time.

Joe has been such a positive force throughout his Senate service. In 2013, he was among the first Senators to join in forging an agreement to end a destructive government shutdown that was causing so much harm to our economy and to the faith of the American people who deserved to have their government operating. It was a courageous act for a freshman Senator, but he did it because it was the right thing to do.

In his firm stand--which we heard about again today--against eliminating the filibuster, we see another example of his courage and respect for this hallowed institution. He understands that this longstanding tradition of the Senate protects the rights of the minority and produces better legislation because it forces us to work together.

Joe has also been such a dear friend, and it has been a privilege to work closely with him on so many vital issues. After the turmoil following the 2020 election, we joined together to lead the bipartisan negotiations that produced the Electoral Count Reform Act.

Joe was also, as we have heard from his colleague from West Virginia, 1 of the 10 Senators who negotiated the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the most significant investment in American infrastructure since the establishment of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s. He was vital in securing that long overdue victory for the American people.

Being an extreme moderate is not a job for the faint of heart. It means taking a lot of incoming fire from both sides of the political spectrum. But Senator Joe Manchin never flinches, and he always puts progress and problem-solving ahead of partisanship.

It has been such an honor to work closely with Joe on countless issues and to call him my dear friend. And, yes, I have had some wonderful times on that boat, the details of which will remain forever sealed.

I wish him and his wonderful wife Gayle all of the best in the years to come.

And I just have to say, Joe, I will miss you so much.

(Applause.)

Madam President, first, let me thank the Senator from New Hampshire, Senator Shaheen, for her extraordinary leadership on diabetes. She has worked night and day on this issue the entire time she has served in the Senate. Together we formed a bipartisan partnership that recognizes that diabetes affects men and women and children of all races, political affiliations, parts of the country. It is ageless. It simply does not care.

During American Diabetes Month, it is critical that we continue to raise awareness about the burden of diabetes on the 38 million Americans living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This is an astonishing 12 percent of the U.S. population, and it includes more than 116,000 adults in my State of Maine.

For those with type 1 diabetes in particular, there is no day off from this disease. I know so many children who were diagnosed as children with type 1, and this is a disease they will have for the rest of their lives, absent a cure. They include a 10-year-old boy whom I met my very first year in the Senate, in 1997. I will never forget his looking up at me and saying: Senator Collins, I wish I could just have one day off each year from my diabetes--my birthday or Christmas--just one day.

It was then that I knew I had to dedicate my efforts toward better treatments, earlier diagnosis, and one day a cure of this devastating disease. Since then, my life has been enriched by getting to know so many people who have type 1 diabetes.

I think of Aidan Sweeney, whom I first met at a Children's Congress, where children from all over the United States came to Washington to talk about what it was like to have type 1 diabetes. Aidan was just a toddler when he came with his mother Caroline Sweeney to testify before Congress. She testified for him. Today, he is a thriving college student in Boston.

I think of people like Ruby Whitmore, one of my neighbors in Maine, who has had diabetes since a very young age.

I think of my niece Nicole Wiesendanger, who has kept a log, a journal of her journey with type 1 diabetes.

I think of Bek Hoskins, whom I met just this past year, who, because of the price of insulin, felt that she could not take the full amount that she was advised to take by her doctor and ended up in the emergency room of a hospital, very ill.

I am appalled to learn of the experience of Senator Shaheen's granddaughter, who has lived with type 1 since she was just 8 years old and was recently denied care that she requires. I agree with Senator Shaheen that we must hold insurance carriers accountable when they apply unreasonable utilization management techniques that benefit the companies at the expense of everyday Americans and that contradict the best treatment for the person with type 1. Doctors and patients in Maine are frustrated with the unfair burden these practices add to the burdens these individuals are already coping with. We must and we can do better.

Diabetes is also one of our country's most costly diseases in both human and economic terms. It is the leading cause of kidney disease, blindness in working-age adults, lower limb amputations, heart disease, and stroke. Approximately one in four healthcare dollars and one in three Medicare dollars are spent treating people with diabetes. Diabetes cost our Nation $413 billion in 2022, and medical expenditures for individuals coping with diabetes are roughly 2.6 times higher than expenditures for those without the disease.

As the founder and the cochair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I have been proud to lead this bipartisan resolution designating the month of November as ``American Diabetes Month.'' My hope is that it will increase public awareness and support for Federal policies and investments that will help us to better treat, prevent, and ultimately cure this disease. I join Senator Shaheen in thanking our many Senate colleagues for supporting this resolution and passing it by unanimous consent on Tuesday.

While American Diabetes Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the burden of diabetes, it should also be a time to celebrate the progress that we have made in improving the lives of millions of Americans living with this disease.

One example of progress is the sustained Federal investments in programs that help prevent and treat the disease and its complications, including the Special Diabetes Program, which, as Senator Shaheen pointed out, is set to expire at the end of this year. We cannot allow that to occur. Earlier this month, I was proud to lead a bipartisan letter to our Senate leadership, signed by 55 Senators, emphasizing the importance of the Special Diabetes Program.

From new technologies like the artificial pancreas systems to new therapies to delay the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes, this program is improving the lives of people with diabetes today and accelerating the progress to cures.

I remember when I first became involved in this issue, the number of daily finger pricks that were necessary, the alarms that had to be set during the nights so that parents could check on their children with type 1, the burdensome large pump systems that were used. We have come so far with the closed-loop artificial pancreas, the continuous glucose monitors that can send a phone message and an alarm to a parent if a child's blood sugar has become too high or too low. We have come a long way. But it has taken investment, and that is what we must continue.

Through continued Federal investment in biomedical research and prevention programs and by passing bipartisan legislation to address the high costs of insulin, like our INSULIN Act, as well as broader pharmacy benefit manager reform, Congress has the opportunity to continue to build on this progress for the benefit of those living with diabetes.

Madam President, I look forward to continuing to partner with Senator Shaheen and the members of the Senate Diabetes Caucus that we cochair to advance policies, to remove barriers to care, to lower the costs of insulin, and to support the critical research and prevention programs that are so important to the quality of life to those millions of Americans living with diabetes.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.