Floor Statements

Mr. President, so as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 182, S. 133.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn, that the Collins substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill, prior to our proceeding with it, as amended.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 183, S. 134.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I am very pleased to yield at this time to the Senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. President, August 7 marks the 95th birthday of Maine's Alan Baker, a truly remarkable journalist, community leader, and public servant. It will be a pleasure to join Alan's friends and family in celebrating a remarkable life of adventures, accomplishments, and lasting contributions.

Alan's commitment to service began when he was growing up in Orrington, ME, during World War II. Spending more than 250 4-hour shifts in a tower above the town office to spot enemy aircraft targeting the vital Dow Army Airfield in nearby Bangor taught him the importance of individuals stepping forward in times of need.

After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1951, Alan launched a long and successful international career in publishing. He brought his work ethic, vision, and experience back to Maine in 1986 and joined the staff of the legendary Ellsworth American, one of the oldest newspapers in Maine. He purchased that newspaper 2 years later and later founded the Mount Desert Islander. Under his leadership, those two publications demonstrated the value of community newspapers by keeping readers informed and helping them to become involved citizens.

Alan was recognized with many industry awards over the course of his career, including the National Newspaper Association's James O. Amos Award for outstanding achievements in community journalism. In addition to being named Maine Journalist of the Year, he is a member of the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame.

Throughout his life, Alan led by example to encourage civic engagement. Following in his mother's footsteps, who served seven terms in the Maine State House, Alan ran for and won a seat as a citizen lawmaker in order to do his part and to better understand the legislative process. Despite his busy professional life, he has served his hometown on many community boards, from historic preservation to cemetery upkeep, and was named Orrington's Citizen of Year in 2017.

The remote island communities of Downeast Maine are beautiful yet challenging places to live. One of Alan's most significant contributions has been his strong and generous support for the work of the Maine Seacoast Mission. Founded in 1905, the nondenominational, nonprofit organization began delivering a minister to isolated communities where there were no churches and books where there were no libraries via a sloop called Hope. Today, the Mission's motor vessel Sunbeam V carries on that work and also serves as a mobile health clinic, bringing medical services to four islands. In 2017, the Mission presented Alan with its Sunbeam Award for his steadfast commitment to the island and coastal communities of rural Maine.

Alan Baker is an extraordinary journalist, a treasured friend, and a true asset to the State of Maine. May his birthday and the days to come be filled with joy.

Madam President, in 1774, just 2 years before America declared its independence, a small village on the Maine coast incorporated and took the name of Lord George Edgcumbe, a British naval hero and political leader who was known as a devoted friend of the Colonies. Today, it is a pleasure to join the people of Edgecomb, ME, in celebrating the 250th anniversary of a community that is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families.

Edgecomb has a rich history. For thousands of years, the land where the Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers meet the sea was the hunting and fishing grounds of the Abenaki. Originally called Freetown due to the pro bono success of a Boston lawyer in defeating baseless deed challenges by land speculators, the early settlers farmed the fertile soil and put those rivers to work powering mills for grain and lumber. That early prosperity was invested in schools and churches to make a true community.

As the town grew, so did the range of industries to include brick- making, canning, tanneries, and shipyards. In addition to valuable granite, mica, and quartz, the land was found to contain rich deposits of the highest quality feldspar, used in the manufacture of fine china. Today, Edgecomb and the neighboring communities are home to ceramic artists whose work is prized by collectors around the world.

Edgecomb is home to many outstanding examples of New England architecture with several listings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the revered Edgecomb Community Church. One of the most fascinating buildings is the so-called Marie Antoinette House. In 1793, according to legend, a local sea captain named Stephen Clough planned to rescue the doomed queen and take her the stately house on the Sheepscot River that he had outfitted with the finest French decor. Tragically, she was arrested before Captain Clough could put his daring plan into action.

Perhaps the building with the greatest historical significance is Fort Edgecomb, an octagonal blockhouse built in 1808 and 1809 to protect shipyards during a time of ongoing tension with Great Britain. Crucial to the defense of New England during the War of 1812 and the Civil War, the fort is now a popular state park.

Edgecomb's historic connection to America's freedom continues today. Last year, the town, along with neighboring communities, launched a new tradition by decorating streets and roadways with more than 250 banners paying tribute to the region's veterans.

Maine is known as Vacationland, and Edgecomb perfectly fits that picture. With beautiful rivers for kayaking and canoeing, several nature preserves for hiking and wildlife-watching, along with great food and shopping, there is always something to do. The energy and planning going into the town's yearlong 250th anniversary celebration demonstrates the pride the townspeople have in their town.

Edgecomb's 250th anniversary is a time to celebrate the people who pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Edgecomb, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Madam President, the incorporation of the town of Yarmouth, ME, on August 8, 1849, was but one significant moment for one of the oldest communities in New England. On this 175th anniversary, it is a pleasure to commemorate a long and fascinating history that exemplifies the determination, resiliency, and ingenuity that defines our State.

For thousands of years, the area was the homeland of the Abenaki people, who thrived where the fast-flowing river they called Westcustogo meets the sea. In 1636, just 16 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, William Royall, a cooper in the employ of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Company, was provided a small land grant in the area. The farm he established gave birth to a new settlement on the frontier.

Drawn by the abundant natural resources, the small village grew and became part of North Yarmouth, the eighth town incorporated by Massachusetts in the Province of Maine. The river, now called the Royal River in honor of the first settler, powered sawmills and grain mills, and the

shorefront became a leading center of Colonial and early American shipbuilding. It is estimated that more than 300 vessels were launched by Yarmouth's shipyards during the Age of Sail.

With its population exceeding 2,000 people, maritime-oriented Yarmouth separated from farming-oriented North Yarmouth on August 8, 1849, and became a separate town. Industrial activities expanded into tanneries, brickyards, ironworks, and paper-making.

Today, Yarmouth is a vibrant community with arts and music centers, a lovely library, outstanding schools, and beautifully preserved historic buildings. The active Yarmouth Historical Society has one of the finest and most comprehensive collection in Maine and the annual Wellcome Prize essay and film competition encourages high school students to learn about their community's past. One of the town's most prominent and treasured artifacts on display at the Yarmouth History Center is the Flaming Arrow Weathervane that topped the ``Old Ledge'' Meeting House built in 1730.

Yarmouth's 175th anniversary is a time to celebrate the people who pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Yarmouth, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Mr. President, on Saturday, July 20, the people of Vanceboro, ME, will gather for a daylong celebration of their town's 150th birthday. It is with pleasure that I recognize this landmark anniversary of a small town with a fascinating history.

Located at the headwaters of the St. Croix River that forms the international border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, the story of the region begins with the Passamaquoddy Nation, who have made the river and the Chiputenticook Lakes Chain their home for thousands of years. The reverence the People of the Dawn have for the natural beauty of the area continue to define the town today.

Drawn by the abundant forests and fast-moving waters of the St. Croix, the first European settlers harvested timber and established sawmills, followed by a leather tannery and a spool and clothespin factory. The community they built represents the best of smalltown Maine, where friends and neighbors know and care for one another, and everyone pitches in to help in times of need.

The namesake of the town, William Vance, is a remarkable figure in Maine history. Known as Old Vance, he fought for freedom in the American Revolution. During the War of 1812, he installed his own personal cannon on his riverfront property, which he called Mount Defiance, to deter any British incursion. When Maine was preparing for statehood in 1819, he served on the commission that wrote the Maine Constitution, and when our star was added to the American Flag a year later, Old Vance served in our first State legislature.

Vanceboro's location on the St. Croix River and the international border has led to some events of historical significance. Selected as the border crossing for the European and North American Railway in the 1860s, President Ulysses S. Grant and Lord Lisgar, Governor General of Canada, opened the rail line through Vanceboro with a ceremony at the border on October 19, 1871. The town's Civil War veterans manned the cannons that welcomed their general on what is still remembered as ``Vanceboro's Greatest Day.''

The rail line remained an important shipping route, and on February 2, 1915, the international railway bridge was bombed by a German Army reservist in an unsuccessful attempt to sabotage routes for troops and war materials that he suspected might be coming across then-neutral U.S. territory to fight the Germans. On April 21, 1917, just 2 weeks after our Nation entered the war, a British delegation led by Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, met with American military and diplomatic leaders at the Vanceboro train station to discuss the path forward to victory.

In addition to the town's 150th birthday, July 20 will also mark the re-opening of the Vanceboro Historical Society. The Society is a remarkable community initiative to tell the story of the region through artifact collections, guest speakers, and educational programs. Vanceboro's 150th year is a time to honor the great people of the community who have made the town such a welcoming place to call home. It is a pleasure to offer my congratulations and best wishes on this special day.

Mr. President, in a 2012 interview with a national agriculture magazine, Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, was asked what he would like to be the legacy of his long and productive career. His answer was this: ``that I was able to make a difference in the Maine potato industry and was able to lead the industry in a positive direction.''

Today, as Don retires after 27 years with the board, I am delighted to join his many friends and colleagues in offering my fellow Aroostook County native our thanks for a job well done and our congratulations for a legacy well secured.

Don truly learned the potato industry from the ground up, beginning as a grower with a 250-acre farm. With a degree in agricultural resource economics from the University of Maine, he worked in rural economic development at the local and regional level for 13 years. Armed with that knowledge and experience, Don joined the Maine Potato Board in 1997 as assistant executive director and was promoted to the top position just 5 years later.

Strengthening a vital industry made up of hundreds of growers that employs more than 6,000 hard-working men and women while generating annual sales topping a half-billion dollars is no easy task, but Don has met every challenge. He has been a driving force for many agricultural projects, including the construction of a potato research facility, infrastructure development for two processing plants, funding to support the State of Maine seed production facility, and expansion into new markets. Working with growers and University of Maine and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, Don championed the development of the Caribou Russet, a new disease- and drought-resistant variety designed to thrive in a warming climate.

In the decades that I have worked with Don, I have known no stronger supporter of Maine potato growers. When Washington bureaucrats tried to restrict the use of potatoes in the school breakfast and lunch programs, Don provided the data to prove how nutritious the potato is. When the agricultural research lab at the University of Maine in Orono was threatened with closure, Don helped lead the effort to keep it open. And this year, when Washington tried to reclassify the potato as a grain rather than a vegetable, Don worked with me to block that absurd change.

Don Flannery's leadership has earned the respect and admiration of growers and processors throughout Maine and across the country. His commitment to economic growth has made a positive and lasting difference for the industry and for rural communities. I thank him for his many accomplishments and wish him all the best in the years to come.

Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which is included in the bill we are considering today. I have co-led this bill with Senator Peters and fellow Congressional Fire Caucus cochairs, Senators Murkowski, Tester, and Carper.

The Fire Grants and Safety Act would reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration and critical FEMA fire prevention programs through September 30, 2028. The current authorization for appropriations for all three of these entities expired on September 30, 2023, and the AFG and SAFER programs are set to sunset on September 30 of this year, absent action from Congress. This bill before us will extend authorizations for all three entities until September 30, 2028, and impose a new sunset clause of September 30, 2030, for AFG and SAFER.

This legislation, which passed the Senate on April 20, 2023, by an overwhelming vote of 95-2, has been pending in the House. I am pleased we will soon vote on the motion to concur with the House bill as amended and finally reauthorize these critical programs.

Firefighters across Maine and the country courageously and selflessly put their lives on the line to serve their towns and cities. Recognizing this, in 2000 and 2003, I helped create FEMA's firefighter grant programs as part of a bipartisan effort to ensure firefighters have the adequate staffing, equipment, and training to do their important jobs as effectively and safely as possible.

The Fire Grants and Safety Act would reauthorize three important firefighting and emergency services programs: the U.S. Fire Administration, which provides training and data to State and local departments, as well as education and awareness for the public; the Assistance for Firefighters Grant program, known as AFG, which helps equip and train firefighters and emergency personnel who work to keep us safe; and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, known as SAFER, which helps local fire departments recruit, hire, and retain additional firefighters.

Fire chiefs across Maine tell me about the importance of these programs in helping their local fire departments keep their communities safe. Since October 2020, fire departments across Maine received just under $12 million from the AFG and SAFER grant programs. These critical investments in local, rural fire departments supported replacements of decades old fire engines, obsolete self-contained breathing apparatuses, hiring of additional firefighters, and allowed fire departments to provide free health screenings to firefighters.

In 2023, an AFG grant enabled the town of Allagash in rural Aroostook County, ME, to replace its nearly 50-year old GMC firetruck with a newer model with double the water pumping capacity. To put this into perspective, the town was operating a firetruck built the same year the Vietnam war ended, to respond to fires in its 134-square-mile response area--or as the Allagash fire chief put it, an area roughly equal to the size of Atlanta.

In Portland, ME, an AFG grant enabled Portland Fire Department's marine division to cover the cost of lung cancer screenings for its firefighters. If it hadn't been for these screenings, doctors may not have detected a precancerous spot on Lieutenant Dave Crowley's lung until it was too late.

These examples underscore how important these grant programs are for fire departments across the Nation to safely provide lifesaving services and keep our communities safe. Failure to reauthorize these programs would have devastating impacts to the safety of

Americans across the country. I urge my colleagues to support this bill's swift passage.

Madam President, on July 19, 1774, a small band of rugged and courageous pioneers established a settlement in the Maine wilderness between the Medomak and Saint George rivers. They cleared the land, built cabins, endured hunger and cold, and, with backbreaking work, created a community. Today, it is a pleasure to join the people of Union, ME, in celebrating the 250th anniversary of a community that is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. Although part of a land grant made by the Plymouth Council in 1629, the territory remained unsettled for more than a century due to conflicting claims of jurisdiction by the English and French. When the hostilities ended, Dr. John Taylor of Massachusetts bought the land and led the settlement party. Originally called Taylor Town, it was renamed Sterlingtown in honor of a Revolutionary War hero and finally incorporated as Union to commemorate our new Nation.

Among the many illustrious natives of Union is John Langdon Sibley, scholar, author, and librarian of Harvard University. His history of his beloved hometown from its origin to 1850 is remarkable for its thoroughness, insight, and wit.

``By competent judges,'' he wrote, ``the soil of Union is considered as good as that of . . . the best farming towns in the State.'' The scenery provided by lush vegetation, hills, valleys, rivers, and streams ``affords a rich enjoyment to people of taste and admirers of nature.'' Although Mr. Sibley allows that the assertion from a neighboring town that ``people never die in Union'' is an exaggeration, he posits that the uncommonly pure water, brisk air circulation over the varied terrain, the vigorous agricultural work, and generally good habits are why inhabitants ``wear the hue of health'' and why visitors often remark ``that there was more female beauty in Union than in any other town in the county or State.''

The work ethic of the townspeople and water power from the fast- moving rivers soon made Union a center of industry, with foundries, sawmills, grain mills, and factories manufacturing products ranging from carriages and farm equipment to footwear and musical instruments. Thousands of artifacts from those early days are preserved at the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage, with a special section devoted to Dr. Augustin Thompson, the Union-born Civil War hero, physician, and inventor of Moxie, the patent nerve medicine that is now the official soft drink of the State of Maine.

Union cherishes its history. Next to the museum stands the Hodge School, the thoroughly restored one-room schoolhouse that served the town from 1864 to 1954. Established more than 150 years ago, the Union Fair celebrates the town's agricultural traditions. Laid out in 1790, the picturesque Union Common is the oldest public town common in Maine, with memorials to patriots and a bandstand listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The people of Union are rightfully proud of their town and have worked together to plan an exciting and fun-filled 3-day sestercentennial celebration beginning July 19. Among events will be the opening of a time capsule from the bicentennial celebration in 1974.

In addition to John Langdon Sibley's book, the story of Union was told in the popular 1940 historical novel ``Come Spring'' by Ben Ames Williams. Republished in 2000 by the Union Historical Society, the novel imagines the struggles and triumphs of the real-life Robbins family during the first years of the settlement's--and our Nation's-- existence.

In the preface to his novel, the author writes that Union ``is a small Maine town founded by ordinary people in the ordinary way, by carving a community out of the forest and putting the land to work. The people in this book were not individually as important as George Washington, the town was not as important as New York, but people like them made this country, and towns like this were and are the soil in which our country's roots are grounded.''

Union's 250th anniversary is not merely about the passing of time. It is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the people who, for longer than America has been a nation, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Union, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Madam President, I rise today to commemorate this special occasion--the renaming of JDRF to Breakthrough T1D--and the leadership that this organization continues to provide in its advocacy for children and adults living with type 1 diabetes.

I am proud to have worked with Breakthrough T1D since my very first year in the Senate in 1997. They are a foundation with a singular focus: to improve the lives of every person affected by type 1 diabetes--T1D--by supporting research for treatments, cures, and ultimately a way to prevent the disease. They are the premier global organization focused on T1D research at every life stage--from stopping or slowing the progression of T1D in the newly diagnosed, reversing it in those who have lived with it for years, avoiding or reversing complications of T1D, and preventing the disease in at risk populations and in future generations.

Today's rebranding from JDRF--the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation--to Breakthrough T1D represents where we are in the world of T1D. It never has been just an affliction for the young. Anyone, at any age, can be diagnosed with T1D. Using the term ``juvenile'' no longer accurately reflects the organization and its mission. And ``breakthrough'' may speak for itself. The organization is not only at the forefront of supporting research breakthroughs for T1D, but also is breaking through the barriers to improve T1D patients' lives. Both these significant attributes are now rightly reflected in the organization's name.

Breakthrough T1D will continue to focus on the ultimate goal we all share: that no one suffers from T1D. And we must not stop until that goal is reached.

But that goal will only be achieved through more research. That is why I am proud to continue my work with Senator Shaheen supporting the reauthorization and funding of the Special Diabetes Program--SDP. The SDP has funded the creation of unique, innovative, and collaborative research consortia and clinical trials networks focused on the prevention, treatment, and cure of T1D for more than 25 years. SDP has enabled the National Institutes of Health to expand T1D research beyond what is possible with annual appropriations and to conduct clinical trials that likely would not be done by the private sector. SDP has been a key component of many significant breakthroughs in T1D research, and I want to highlight two.

First, the artificial pancreas. The SDP has supported key research that helped develop several glucose management technologies, including the artificial pancreas. The artificial pancreas is a life-changing advance for many with T1D because it automates insulin delivery in response to a person's blood glucose level, replacing fingerstick tests and individual insulin shots. Funding from the SDP over the past decade has revolutionized the field and increased the number of commercially available, FDA-approved artificial pancreas devices from zero to seven. Today, there are even devices available to children as young as 2.

Second, we finally have the first FDA-approved treatment to slow the progression of T1D. The critical research underpinning this treatment came from a clinical trial funded by the SDP. This treatment has now brought forward a new era of T1D clinical management by delaying onset of the disease by at least 3 years--and potentially more. That is 3 years without having to take insulin, do fingerstick tests, or deal with potential complications from the disease. While the SDP has led to countless other breakthroughs in treatment for people living with T1D, these two examples highlight the importance of the program, the success of the program, and why it needs to expand and continue until no one suffers from type 1 diabetes.

As we continue to strive toward a world where no one is afflicted by T1D, we also need to face today's reality where many Americans who need lifesaving insulin cannot afford it. The rising cost of insulin presents a barrier to care for a number of Americans living with T1D. Out-of-pocket costs increase with list prices, and for people without insurance, the costs are too often untenable. That is why I am proud to work with this organization on a bill to limit out-of-pocket costs for insulin for those with T1D, address structural issues in the insulin market, and create policies to foster more competition. I will continue to work with Breakthrough T1D to ensure insulin affordability for all.

Please join me in commemorating today's exciting rebranding from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D. This organization has been a catalyst in the field of T1D research and a champion on issues of importance to this community. I am certain that Breakthrough T1D will continue breaking through the barriers toward a world where no one is afflicted with type 1 diabetes.

Madam President, before the Maine Legislature adjourned for the year on May 10, Republican, Democrat, and Independent lawmakers joined together to pass a resolution honoring retiring Representative Sawin Millett, Jr., for his ``dedication, expertise, and judgment'' in service to our State, followed by a long and robust standing ovation. I know people throughout Maine are grateful for the many accomplishments of this great leader and my good friend.

Sawin's nine nonconsecutive terms representing Maine House District 81 began in 1968 and only scratches the surface of his remarkable resume. In his hometown of Waterford and throughout Oxford County, he has contributed as a teacher, coach, principal, assistant school superintendent, farmer, and town manager.

At the State level, Sawin has worked with eight Maine Governors in the legislature and as the first executive director of the Maine School Management Association. He has served in five administrations under Republican, Democrat, and Independent Governors as commissioner of education, associate commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, legislative director, and commissioner of administrative and financial services.

I had the pleasure of serving with Sawin in the cabinet of Governor John McKernan in the 1980s and early 1990s and watched him weigh issues and decide policy questions with the wisdom and deliberation for which he is so widely respected. He is also the hardest working leader I know. For 2 years in the early 2000s, I was fortunate to have him on my team as a State office director.

In both the legislative and executive branches, Sawin is known for his absolute mastery of budgetary issues. His command of the complexities of State government finances has steered Maine through many challenging times, and his integrity and openness have earned him admirers across the political spectrum.

At 86 years of age, Sawin is retiring from the legislature, but not from public service. In addition to spending more time with his family on his beloved farm, he is running for Oxford County Commissioner in the November elections. Continuing his dedication to public service, this is the one level of government in which he has not yet served.

Regardless of the role he has taken on, Sawin has always been a problem-solver, a leader who strives to bring opposing sides together in a spirit of compromise and respect to reach common ground. He is a Maine treasure, a true gentleman, and I wish my friend all the best in the next phase of his inspiring life.

Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Investing in Digital Skills Act, a bill that would help strengthen computer skills in the American workforce. This bill, which I am introducing today with my colleague Senator Tim Kaine, would make important updates to the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, known as WIOA, to help workers meet the digital skills demands of today's jobs.

A key goal of WIOA is to help Americans overcome barriers to obtaining high-quality jobs and careers. The law requires State and local service providers to offer adult education and skills development programs that accelerate achievement of diplomas and credentials among American workers. This Investing in Digital Skills Act would allow information literacy and digital skills to be included among the skills development programs within these adult education programs.

Our legislation would help prepare individuals for the evolving demands of the digital economy, enhancing their employability and skill sets in a technologically advanced job market. Recent research conducted in partnership between National Skills Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that 92 percent of jobs require digital skills, yet more than 30 percent of workers lack even foundational digital abilities. The research also found huge financial incentives for this upskilling: Jobs that require at least one digital skill earn 23 percent more than a job requiring none.

This issue is important to Mainers. Lisa Robertson, the director of York Adult Education, wrote to me, saying, ``Your bill would address a significant gap in current workforce development initiatives by recognizing the importance of digital skills training for adult learners. In today's rapidly evolving job market, proficiency in digital literacy is no longer just a valuable asset; it is essential for individuals to succeed. . . .'' I appreciate Lisa's insights about today's workforce needs. By modernizing WIOA with new tools to teach digital skills, the Investing in Digital Skills Act would help Americans maintain their competitive edge in workforce.

I urge my colleagues to support our legislation.

Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Investing in Digital Skills Act, a bill that would help strengthen computer skills in the American workforce. This bill, which I am introducing today with my colleague Senator Tim Kaine, would make important updates to the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, known as WIOA, to help workers meet the digital skills demands of today's jobs.

A key goal of WIOA is to help Americans overcome barriers to obtaining high-quality jobs and careers. The law requires State and local service providers to offer adult education and skills development programs that accelerate achievement of diplomas and credentials among American workers. This Investing in Digital Skills Act would allow information literacy and digital skills to be included among the skills development programs within these adult education programs.

Our legislation would help prepare individuals for the evolving demands of the digital economy, enhancing their employability and skill sets in a technologically advanced job market. Recent research conducted in partnership between National Skills Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that 92 percent of jobs require digital skills, yet more than 30 percent of workers lack even foundational digital abilities. The research also found huge financial incentives for this upskilling: Jobs that require at least one digital skill earn 23 percent more than a job requiring none.

This issue is important to Mainers. Lisa Robertson, the director of York Adult Education, wrote to me, saying, ``Your bill would address a significant gap in current workforce development initiatives by recognizing the importance of digital skills training for adult learners. In today's rapidly evolving job market, proficiency in digital literacy is no longer just a valuable asset; it is essential for individuals to succeed. . . .'' I appreciate Lisa's insights about today's workforce needs. By modernizing WIOA with new tools to teach digital skills, the Investing in Digital Skills Act would help Americans maintain their competitive edge in workforce.

I urge my colleagues to support our legislation.

Madam President, I rise to introduce a bill with my colleague, Senator King, that will help the hard-working loggers across this country affected by severe storms and natural disasters. In Maine alone, logging has a roughly $582 million annual economic impact and is the backbone of the forest products economy.

In Maine and in many places across the country, the logging industry has felt the effects of severe weather events and warmer than normal winters. This past winter, Maine experienced many storms, including two December and January that were designated Federal disasters. These storms were detrimental to many industries but especially logging, as the winter months are usually the best months for loggers to harvest timber when the frozen ground makes access easier. The rainstorms saturated the ground, and the mud made it much more difficult to operate and transport heavy logging equipment without disturbing the soil underneath.

These storms also closed bridges and roads on vital trucking routes, hindering the movement of equipment and employees to logging sites. For example, the December 18 storm washed out a bridge on a vital trucking route that forced an 80-mile detour for wood being distributed to both northern and southern markets. According to the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, this December wind and rainstorm in Maine resulted in more than $2.5 million in losses.

Despite these documented losses, there is currently no Federal program to assist loggers who have been affected by federally declared disasters. That is why I am introducing the Logger Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would authorize income replacement for logging contractors equal to 10 percent of eligible gross lost revenue from the previous calendar year. Funds received under this program can only be used for operating expenses. Our legislation is modeled off of the successful Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program, which I created during the COVID pandemic to provide much needed aid to our timber harvesters.

I am grateful for the Professional Logging Council of the Northeast and the American Logging Council's support of our legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join in this effort to support one of our country's core economic drivers.

Madam President, I rise to introduce a bill with my colleague, Senator King, that will help the hard-working loggers across this country affected by severe storms and natural disasters. In Maine alone, logging has a roughly $582 million annual economic impact and is the backbone of the forest products economy.

In Maine and in many places across the country, the logging industry has felt the effects of severe weather events and warmer than normal winters. This past winter, Maine experienced many storms, including two December and January that were designated Federal disasters. These storms were detrimental to many industries but especially logging, as the winter months are usually the best months for loggers to harvest timber when the frozen ground makes access easier. The rainstorms saturated the ground, and the mud made it much more difficult to operate and transport heavy logging equipment without disturbing the soil underneath.

These storms also closed bridges and roads on vital trucking routes, hindering the movement of equipment and employees to logging sites. For example, the December 18 storm washed out a bridge on a vital trucking route that forced an 80-mile detour for wood being distributed to both northern and southern markets. According to the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, this December wind and rainstorm in Maine resulted in more than $2.5 million in losses.

Despite these documented losses, there is currently no Federal program to assist loggers who have been affected by federally declared disasters. That is why I am introducing the Logger Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would authorize income replacement for logging contractors equal to 10 percent of eligible gross lost revenue from the previous calendar year. Funds received under this program can only be used for operating expenses. Our legislation is modeled off of the successful Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program, which I created during the COVID pandemic to provide much needed aid to our timber harvesters.

I am grateful for the Professional Logging Council of the Northeast and the American Logging Council's support of our legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join in this effort to support one of our country's core economic drivers.