Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Working Waterfront Preservation Act, legislation to help preserve access by our Nation's fishermen and maritime workers to the waterfronts in coastal communities. I would like to thank my friend Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, who joins me in introducing this legislation.

According to the most recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, commerical and recreational fisheries are responsible for more than 1.7 million jobs in the

United States, $253 billion in sales, and $117 billion in value-added impacts. In Maine, our fisheries are one of our State's most important resources and are vital to our economy. A report of Maine's seafood sector as a whole, which included downstream contributors, found that in 2019, the sector contributed more than $3.2 billion to Maine's economy. Although the fishing industry is a significant economic contributor both nationwide and in Maine, it is losing access to the working waterfronts that are vital to the industry's survival.

A working waterfront is defined as land that is used for or that supports commercial fishing, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or the for-hire recreational fishing industries. That may be a technical definition, but these areas represent much more to coastal communities. A recent study conducted by the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association sums it up perfectly: ``Working waterfronts are more than just a place of business for commercial fishermen; they are a hub of information, a collection of salty characters, a safe haven, a meeting room, a space for support, and they are well-deserving of both a place in Maine's history and its future.'' The importance of these areas cannot be overstated.

In Maine our fishermen and women are losing access to waterfront property up and down the coast. In some coastal Maine communities, once thriving working waterfronts no longer exist. Recent interviews conducted by the Island Institute in Maine uncover that ``for all practical purposes, working waterfront access [in these towns] is essentially gone.'' The reasons for this are complex. In some cases, burdensome fishing regulations have led to a decrease in landings, hindering the profitability of shoreside infrastructure. In other cases, soaring land values and rising taxes have made the current use of commercial land unprofitable. Property is being sold and quickly converted into private spaces, which means that they are no longer available to support our fisheries.

While this trend has been happening for decades--in 2006, Maine's working waterfront only took up 20 miles of Maine's nearly 3,500 miles of coastline--the recent demand for coastal properties has intensified this problem in Maine. We can help preserve these areas for the next generation of fishermen, boatbuilders, and maritime workers with dedicated investments. Currently, the primary mechanism for preserving Maine's waterfronts is through a State-run program called the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program. Since 2008, that program has helped preserve 34 waterfront properties. The legislation I am introducing today would help scale up that model program so that more communities can be assisted.

There is currently no targeted, Federal assistance program to help the commercial fishing industry and other maritime sectors gain or preserve access to working waterfront areas. The Working Waterfront Preservation Act would create a $20 million program to help municipal and State governments, nonprofit organizations, and participants in maritime industries improve working waterfront property in our coastal States. Grants would be administered by the Economic Development Administration, and successful applicants would need to be endorsed by State fisheries agencies, which have the local expertise to understand the needs of each coastal State. In order to be eligible for a grant, recipients would be required to permanently protect an area as working waterfront, to ensure that it can be used for commercial purposes for decades to come, and to invest in the cost themselves.

This legislation is crucial for the continued prosperity of coastal communities across the country. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Reed and me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. President, I call up Senator Blackburn's amendment No. 1349, and I ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, let me first thank Senator King for inviting me to join him in this colloquy this evening. Tonight, we honor and remember our fellow Mainers who lost their lives in a senseless tragedy, a senseless act of violence, as well as those who were wounded in this heinous attack. We also remember the family members and the loved ones who grieve for them.

We want to recognize the people of this proud community of Lewiston who have rallied together to support each other during these dark and difficult days: first responders; law enforcement; healthcare providers, especially at Central Maine Medical Center; businesses and community members who provided food for law enforcement; State and local officials; Federal agents. So many people deserve our thanks.

Those efforts and more will be acknowledged by the city of Lewiston tomorrow as it hosts an Act of Kindness and Gratitude Day. The city intends for this to be an annual occasion for the community to come together and celebrate the spirit of kindness and unity which characterizes our wonderful State.

As the phrase ``Lewiston strong'' echoes across our State and our country, the grit, resolve, and compassion of the people of Lewiston have rallied and inspired the Nation.

No words can diminish the pain, shock, and understandable anger felt by the families who lost loved ones. Nevertheless, it is my hope that they will find solace and strength in knowing that they are in the hearts of so many. As my colleague from Maine has just said, Maine, in many ways, is a small town, a place of caring communities where people know their neighbors.

One of my staffers in my Lewiston office knew 9 of the 18 people who lost their lives that horrible day.

Members of the close-knit deaf community had gathered at a local restaurant to play cornhole that night. Four members of that community lost their lives in the attack. One of the family members taught me the American sign language symbol for ``I love you.'' It reminds me of this proverb:

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a

memory that no one can steal.

In their memory, let us support one another through this difficult grieving period and hope for brighter days.

Senator King and I will now read the names of those who lost their lives: Tricia Asselin. Tricia, age 53, was a part-time employee at Just-In-Time Recreation and was fatally shot while calling 9-1-1. She was a mother who worked three jobs, an accomplished athlete, and a terrific volunteer.

Peyton Brewer-Ross. Peyton, 40, was a new father and a pipefitter at Bath Iron Works. He enjoyed playing cornhole and often brought beanbags to family gatherings, according to his brother. He was described as the life of the party.

William Frank Brackett. William was 48. He was part of the gathering of deaf people who were playing cornhole. He was known for his ability to help place those who were deaf in the workplace. He had just celebrated his third wedding anniversary with his wife in August and leaves behind a 2\1/2\-year-old daughter.

Thomas Ryan Conrad. Thomas, 34, was manager of Just-In-Time Recreation and was an Army veteran who served tours in Iraq. He had just returned to the State of Maine to be closer to his daughter. And he was one of the brave individuals who attempted to stop the shooter.

Michael Deslauriers. Michael was fatally shot while trying to rush the gunman at Just-In-Time Recreation. His close friend Jason Walker was also killed in the bowling alley. The two men made sure that their wives and children were under cover before charging at the killer.

Maxx Hathaway. Maxx was 35 and a stay-at-home father. He and his wife were expecting their third child in a little more than a month. He was described as a ``goofy, down to earth person'' who always had an ``uplifting attitude no matter what was going on.'' He was working on completing his degree in business administration at the University of Southern Maine.

Bryan MacFarlane. Bryan, 41, had recently moved back to Maine to be closer to his mother. He was playing in the cornhole tournament for the deaf community at the restaurant and bar. He loved the outdoors and was one of the first deaf people in Vermont to earn his commercial driver's license. He was often accompanied on the road by his beloved dog, M&M.

Keith Macneir. Keith Macneir was 64 and lived in Florida. He was visiting Maine to celebrate his 64th birthday with his son. He most recently worked as chief of maintenance at the Virgin Islands National Park.

Ronald Morin. Ronald, 55, was a dedicated husband and father, too, and was described by his family and friends as having an ``infectious personality.'' He was a sales merchandiser for Coca-Cola and was an avid cornhole player.

Now Senator King will resume the reading of the rest of those who lost their lives.

Mr. President, before I address the amendment offered by Senator Braun, let me thank the Senator from Washington State for her very kind comments expressing condolences to the people of Maine.

Our hearts are so heavy today. This heinous attack, which has robbed the lives of at least 18 Mainers and injured so many more, is the worst mass shooting that we could ever imagine in our State. This is a dark day for our State.

I am grateful for the expressions of support and offers of help and condolences that I have received from my colleagues and friends across the Nation as well as from the administration.

I have had conversations both last night throughout the night and early

this morning with President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and special advisor to the President Tom Perez, who has been particularly helpful in mobilizing resources for the State of Maine so that this killer can be captured.

S.J. Res. 44

It is hard to transition from the terrible attack in Maine to talk about the Braun amendment, but that is what I must do.

First, let me make a very important point. What we are talking about is whether the legislative branch of government should make decisions about government spending or whether that decisionmaking should be given entirely to the executive branch when it comes to specific projects.

We are not talking about adding more money; we are talking about who makes the decision. And, indeed, in our Senate appropriations bills, less than one-half of 1 percent of the funding is allocated to congressionally directed spending projects.

This process has provided opportunities for Members of Congress from both parties who understand the needs of their constituents far better than every Federal Agency to advocate for specific investments in their local communities.

As Chair Murray has said, we have included safeguards to promote transparency and accountability. First, we prohibit for-profit entities from eligibility. Second, we require public disclosure to ensure that spending decisions are made in the light of day. For the appropriation measures before us today, each Member's CDS request has been posted online since April. There is no secrecy here. They also include a certification that neither the Member of Congress nor members of their immediate family have any financial interest in the CDS items that they have requested.

Further, the disclosure tables for each bill list each Member who submitted a request for a particular project that was funded. These tables have been available online since this past summer when the bills were considered and approved in committee.

The directed investments of these three bills that we are considering will make a difference to our constituents. They include funding to support agricultural research, local transportation and community development projects, as well as military construction projects that are on the service's unfunded priorities list.

So I urge my colleagues to protect our constitutional power of the purse and support the Senate's ability to make substantive, tangible investments in our communities. I urge a ``no'' vote on Senator Braun's amendment.

Mr. President, let me start by saying that I am so pleased that we are finally--finally--voting on amendments to the three-bill package that Senator Murray and I, as well as the terrific members of our Appropriations Committee, have worked very hard to bring before the Senate.

This has been the result of many weeks--far too many weeks--of negotiations and would not have happened without the leadership of Chair Murray.

I also want to thank Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, our Republican whip, John Thune, and the chairs and ranking members of the three subcommittees--Senators Heinrich and Hoeven, Senators Murray and Boozman, Senators Schatz and Senator Hyde-Smith--for their hard work. These are bills that really make a difference to the American people.

As our colleagues know, we are considering the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill; the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill; and also the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill.

So we finally are making progress, and I look forward to the robust-- no one could say that this is not a robust amendment process.

Again, my thanks to Chair Murray. It has been a great pleasure to work with her.

Madam President, I rise to join my colleague, the senior Senator from Illinois and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Durbin, in introducing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023. This bill would update and reauthorize Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth for nearly half a century.

Homelessness is affecting youth in truly staggering numbers. According to the National Network for Youth, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of these youth may be away from home for a few nights, while others have been living on the streets for years. No area of this country is immune from the scourge of homelessness, as it affects rural and urban communities alike.

Tragically, runaway and homeless youth are at high risk of victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and even death. This population is at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many are unable to continue with school and are more likely to enter our juvenile criminal justice system. The reality is that available data likely underestimate the scale and consequences of this problem.

I have met with teachers, social workers, and others from Maine who work directly with young people experiencing homelessness, and I have talked with homeless teens to learn from their experiences. We talked about the pressure that student homelessness places on teachers, school administrators and their already strapped resources, and--most important--the homeless students themselves. I have also visited New Beginnings in Lewiston, ME, where I saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless Youth Act resources are providing essential safety nets for young people in need. The staff at New Beginnings provides a safe place, helps young people with case management, facilitates referrals to State and local agencies, assists with housing needs and access to shelter, and connects individuals to local educational and employment programs.

Several years ago, as the chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I held a hearing that featured testimony from Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME who gave powerful testimony on her personal experience with homelessness. After becoming homeless, Brittany was connected with New Beginnings. In her testimony, she said, ``New Beginnings provided many resources I could use to succeed, including assistance with college applications and financial aid . . . New Beginnings has helped me to develop critical life skills and to become self-sufficient . . . . Programs that support homeless youth are important to so many young people like me,'' she added. ``It gives young people the chance to have a safe place to stay while they get their footing and figure out what they want to do in their lives.''

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs helped make Brittany's success story possible. Sadly, however, there are still many homeless youth who do not have the support they need. We must build on our past efforts because homeless youth should have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers.

The three existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional Living Program--help community-based organizations reach young people when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early intervention can help them escape victimization and trafficking.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would reauthorize and strengthen these programs that help homeless youth meet

their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential services for those who cannot be safely reunited with their families. Our legislation would also create a new program--the Prevention Services Program--designed to help prevent youth from becoming homeless in the first instance. Moreover, our bill supports wraparound services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will support those young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families. A caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, study, and develop is critical for all young people. The programs reauthorized and modernized through this legislation help extend those basic services to the most vulnerable youth in our communities.

I thank Senator Durbin for his leadership on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam President, I rise to join my colleague, the senior Senator from Illinois and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Durbin, in introducing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023. This bill would update and reauthorize Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth for nearly half a century.

Homelessness is affecting youth in truly staggering numbers. According to the National Network for Youth, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of these youth may be away from home for a few nights, while others have been living on the streets for years. No area of this country is immune from the scourge of homelessness, as it affects rural and urban communities alike.

Tragically, runaway and homeless youth are at high risk of victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and even death. This population is at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many are unable to continue with school and are more likely to enter our juvenile criminal justice system. The reality is that available data likely underestimate the scale and consequences of this problem.

I have met with teachers, social workers, and others from Maine who work directly with young people experiencing homelessness, and I have talked with homeless teens to learn from their experiences. We talked about the pressure that student homelessness places on teachers, school administrators and their already strapped resources, and--most important--the homeless students themselves. I have also visited New Beginnings in Lewiston, ME, where I saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless Youth Act resources are providing essential safety nets for young people in need. The staff at New Beginnings provides a safe place, helps young people with case management, facilitates referrals to State and local agencies, assists with housing needs and access to shelter, and connects individuals to local educational and employment programs.

Several years ago, as the chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I held a hearing that featured testimony from Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME who gave powerful testimony on her personal experience with homelessness. After becoming homeless, Brittany was connected with New Beginnings. In her testimony, she said, ``New Beginnings provided many resources I could use to succeed, including assistance with college applications and financial aid . . . New Beginnings has helped me to develop critical life skills and to become self-sufficient . . . . Programs that support homeless youth are important to so many young people like me,'' she added. ``It gives young people the chance to have a safe place to stay while they get their footing and figure out what they want to do in their lives.''

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs helped make Brittany's success story possible. Sadly, however, there are still many homeless youth who do not have the support they need. We must build on our past efforts because homeless youth should have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers.

The three existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional Living Program--help community-based organizations reach young people when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early intervention can help them escape victimization and trafficking.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would reauthorize and strengthen these programs that help homeless youth meet

their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential services for those who cannot be safely reunited with their families. Our legislation would also create a new program--the Prevention Services Program--designed to help prevent youth from becoming homeless in the first instance. Moreover, our bill supports wraparound services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will support those young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families. A caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, study, and develop is critical for all young people. The programs reauthorized and modernized through this legislation help extend those basic services to the most vulnerable youth in our communities.

I thank Senator Durbin for his leadership on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President, I rise with great sadness today to honor my friend and our colleague Senator Dianne Feinstein. She was a pioneer and a strong and dignified leader.

Dianne, who was the longest serving woman in Senate history, had a career marked by many firsts: the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, the first woman Senator to represent California, the first woman to serve as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Dianne was such a strong presence in the Senate. She was a determined and tenacious advocate. Many of us worked closely with her on the Intelligence Committee, where she was such an excellent chairman. She was always fair, respectful, informed, and strong. We worked together on the Appropriations Committee as well, where she chaired the Energy and Water Subcommittee. Many of us were her allies on the Violence Against Women Act and the Respect for Marriage Act.

The Senate and the country have lost a model Senator--elegant, graceful, kind, compassionate, strong, informed, intelligent.

I have also lost a dear friend. I put up this watercolor painting that Dianne did and gave me so many years ago. It has hung in my office ever since, and it will have a place of honor there always. Every time I would pass by, I would look at it and think about how talented Dianne was in so many different areas. I treasure this painting.

When I became engaged 11 years ago, it was Dianne who sponsored a reception for me and my now-husband Tom Daffron in her home in Washington. My story is very similar to that of the Republican leader.

I was also reminded when I heard Senator Murray talk about Dianne's generosity. At one point one year, she bought seersucker suits for every woman who was serving in the Senate so that we could all participate in Seersucker Thursday. That was Dianne. She paid attention to the smallest details and to the largest issues that affected not only our country but the world.

Most of all, Dianne was such a role model for girls and women. She was a role model for us who came to the Senate, after she began her storied tenure here. I will miss Dianne terribly. My heart goes out to her family, and may she rest in peace.

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

Mr. President, I rise tonight to urge my colleagues to support cloture on the motion to proceed to the FAA authorization bill.

Now, let me explain what this is about. The vote to get on the shell legislation is simply a vote to move the process forward to prevent a disastrous government shutdown. It does not indicate support or opposition to any particular component of a continuing resolution. It does not bind Members to vote one way or the other on a continuing resolution.

What this really is, is a vote on whether or not Members want government to shut down at the end of this week. It does indicate, in the strongest possible terms, that the Senate is committed to working to prevent a government shutdown. We still have time to consider legislation to keep the government open and funded, but in order to do so, the process must move forward.

I would ask all Senators who wish to avoid a shutdown of government and all that that entails to vote yes on cloture. Again, let me stress that voting yes on cloture tonight is a vote against a government shutdown and for letting the process move forward. It is just the first step. It does not bind Members to support the continuing resolution and to support every provision in the continuing resolution.

Now, what happens if we don't move forward tonight? We are increasing the chances that government will shut down. I have been through two government shutdowns, and I can tell you, they are never good policy. They do not accomplish the goals that people who advocate government shutdowns think will be accomplished, and they impose real hardship.

Don't we want our military to be paid on time? Don't we need paychecks going to those brave Border Patrol agents who are overwhelmed in trying to defend our southern border? Don't we want the Coast Guard, an entity very important to the Presiding Officer as well as to my State of Maine, to be able to continue to rescue our fishermen and patrol our seas, intercepting drug smugglers? Don't we want the DEA to be able to continue to work to keep fentanyl out of our communities?

The stakes are very high. I hope that all of my colleagues will vote to proceed to this shell bill tonight so that, then, we can debate the continuing resolution to fund government until the middle of November. That will allow us to continue our work on the appropriations bills. That is so important.

The Appropriations Committee, for the first time in 5 years, reported all 12 of the appropriations bills independently and with overwhelming bipartisan support. Three of them are in a package that is before us, that were on the floor all last week and have been just put aside temporarily so that we can work on the continuing resolution.

And my hope is, during that 45-day period when the continuing resolution is keeping government functioning at the levels that are needed, that we can continue our progress on the appropriations bills, bringing them across the floor. We have already cleared some 20 amendments to the three-bill package that the appropriators brought to the floor. Those 20 amendments will receive rollcall votes.

So we are making progress. Let's not stop that progress by shutting down government and causing tremendous hardship to our military, to our law enforcement officers, to those who are serving Americans through so many different Agencies. Let's not have that happen.

Please, I implore my colleagues, let's proceed by voting yes on the motion to invoke cloture tonight.

Mr. President, I am both surprised and disappointed that the Senator from Wisconsin is objecting to this unanimous consent agreement. The Senator from Wisconsin has repeatedly said--and I agree with him--that we should not end up with an omnibus bill--a 4,000-page bill--at the end of the year, with little consideration and having been largely drafted by a small group of people.

So why is the Senator from Wisconsin objecting to proceeding to three appropriations bills that were reported unanimously--unanimously, each one of them--by the Senate Appropriations Committee after a great deal of work? Furthermore, the Senator is objecting to Republican amendments being offered to this package--amendments by Senator Paul, Senator Vance, Senator Ernst, Senator Blackburn, Senator Lee--and that is just the first tranche of amendments.

Negotiations are ongoing, and there will be additional amendments; but if we cannot proceed to consider this bill and the other two appropriations bills unanimously reported by the Senate committee, then those amendments offered by some of our Members cannot be considered.

Is the Senator from Wisconsin opposed to the amendments that are offered by Senators Paul, Vance, Ernst, Blackburn, and Lee? Because, by objecting, he is preventing them from being considered by the full Senate.

We have worked very hard to clear amendments for consideration by this body, but if we can't even get passed the procedural amendments that allow us to bring the Transportation and Housing appropriations bill and the Agriculture appropriations bill to add to the MILCON-VA bill, then the Senate is broken once again.

Senator Murray and I, along with all the members of the Appropriations Committee, have worked so hard to achieve bipartisan consensus. We held nearly 50 hearings and briefings, asking tough questions, reviewing the President's budget request, evaluating the numbers in the budget. And we worked hard to develop, draft, and approve all 12 of the appropriations bills for the first time in 5 years.

How can a Member stand up and object and, at the same time, say: Oh, I don't want an omnibus bill. Well, that is what we are heading for.

We lost last week. I wish that the Democratic leader had brought this to the floor last week. We are now losing this week, and needlessly so.

There has been a great openness by my Democratic colleagues to consider Republican amendments. We just asked unanimous consent for the first five to be considered. Yet that is objected to.

Members cannot have it both ways. They cannot block floor consideration of appropriations bills that were unanimously reported by the committee and yet maintain that they don't want an omnibus bill. It is one or the other, or a government shutdown--even worse.

So I would ask my colleague from Wisconsin to think through this and think about the fact that he is blocking Republican amendments from getting a vote on the Senate floor. He is setting us up for either an omnibus bill or a government shutdown, and none of those outcomes serve the American people well.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be 2 minutes equally divided prior to the next rollcall vote.

Mr. President, this motion is the first procedural vote to consider an appropriations package containing the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Transportation and Housing appropriations bills.

In order for us to consider amendments to these bills, we have to get on the bills; and that is what this vote is all about. These bills were reported unanimously, all three of them, by the Senate Appropriations Committee, and I urge my colleagues to vote yes on proceeding to the bills and then we can have a robust amendment process.

Mr. President, I am very pleased to join Chair Murray as we begin debate on the first of what I hope will be a series of fiscal year 2024 appropriations packages considered on the Senate floor in the coming weeks. And I want to commend Chair Murray for her leadership, for her bipartisanship, for her relentlessness in getting us to where we are today. It did take a lot of work, and it has been a pleasure to be her partner.

When Chair Murray and I took the helm of the Appropriations Committee at the beginning of this year, we set forth the goal of returning regular order to the appropriations process. Now, Chair Murray and I have served in the Senate long enough that we remember what regular order means. It means going through the committee process, reporting bills out after hearings and a markup, and bringing them to the Senate floor. But many of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle have never experienced regular order. That is how long it has been since we have done the process the right way.

The system just works better when we adhere to regular order, with committee members having the opportunity to shape legislation, and the Senate as a whole having the chance to work its will.

Regular order is not easy. In fact, it is a lot of work. Our committee members spent much of the winter and spring in hearing rooms, holding nearly 50 subcommittee hearings and briefings on the President's fiscal year 2024 budget requests. We scrutinized the funding levels, evaluated the programs, and asked the tough questions.

In June and July, our members were hard at work at developing, drafting, and advancing the fiscal year 2024 funding bills. For the first time ever, our committee markups were televised so that our deliberations and our votes on amendments and on passage of each bill were fully transparent. The result, as Senator Murray has said, for the first time in 5 years, the Senate Appropriations Committee has reported each and every one of the 12 appropriations bills. All of them passed with strong bipartisan support. Seven of them were approved unanimously.

Today, we take the next important step in restoring deliberation to the appropriations process as we bring the first package of funding bills to the Senate floor. I know that both Chair Murray and I are committed to doing our part to ensure a constructive floor debate with a robust amendment process. This will require the cooperation of all Members, and I hope we will be able to work together toward that goal. It is critical that we succeed in this effort so that we do not once again find ourselves in December faced with the unpalatable choice among a 4,000-plus-page omnibus bill, a yearlong continuing resolution, or, worst of all, a government shutdown.

The Republican leader spoke this morning about the importance of the package of bills before us. He noted that this legislation ``is designed to address a trio of important commitments--to America's farmers, to our veterans, and to investing in transportation infrastructure.'' He went on to note that ``seven percent of American adults are veterans of our Armed Forces.'' I am pleased to say that in Maine, that percentage is even higher. We rank among the top in the country in the number of veterans on a per capita basis who have answered the call to serve. The leader also noted that ``ten percent of American jobs are supported

by agriculture. And our entire economy hinges on safe and efficient railroads, airports, roads, and bridges.'' The leader's remarks succinctly sum up the importance of these bills.

Our package includes the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, led by Senators Murray and Boozman. It was approved by the committee on June 22, so Members have had a great deal of time to scrutinize and read the language of that bill. This wasn't something assembled hastily, behind closed doors, at the last minute. To the contrary, it was subject to in-depth hearings, negotiations, and transparent markups.

We are also going to include, I hope, the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration bill written by Senators Heinrich and Hoeven, which was also approved on June 22. It is a very important bill to the State of Maine, where potatoes are our No. 1 crop.

I grew up in Northern Maine, where potatoes are grown, and I helped to pick potatoes when I was age 10. The schools would recess so that the schoolchildren could help the farmers get in the crop before the heavy freeze made that impossible.

Of course, Maine is also known for its wonderful wild blueberries and many other crops.

We are also going to look at and include the Transportation and Housing bill drafted by Senators Schatz and Hyde-Smith, which was approved on July 20.

Each of these bills--each one of them--was reported unanimously. That hardly ever happens around here. It is a tribute to the chairmen and chairwomen of those subcommittees and the ranking members and how hard they worked to put together a bill that reflected not only the views of their subcommittees and the full committees and input from Chair Murray and me but from so many other Senators who wrote to us with their priorities.

The first bill, the MILCON-VA appropriations bill, invests in critical Department of Defense infrastructure. It provides funding to support the European and Pacific Deterrence Initiatives, unfunded construction priorities of the Active Guard and Reserve Forces, and improved housing for our servicemembers and their families, which is so important at a time when we are experiencing recruitment problems.

I am particularly pleased that this bill fully funds the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, including the President's request for $545 million for Drydock No. 1 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in Kittery, ME--an essential national security asset for our submarine fleet.

This bill also keeps our commitment to our veterans by funding VA medical care and veterans' benefits, including disability compensation programs, education benefits and vocational rehabilitation, and employment training.

Like Senator Murray, I, too, am the daughter of a World War II veteran, and thus, our commitment to our veterans is very personal to me. My father was a combat veteran in World War II who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded twice and earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. It was he who taught me to honor our veterans.

I will never forget as a child his taking me to the Memorial Day parade every year in our hometown of Caribou, ME. He would hoist me high on his shoulders so that I could see the veterans march by and salute our flag.

I will never forget those lessons, and they are the reason I care so deeply about the service of our veterans.

I want to commend Chair Murray and Ranking Member Boozman for their great work on this bill, and I know they will describe its provisions in more detail. In fact, Senator Murray, Chair Murray, already has.

The second bill in the package is the Agriculture appropriations bill, which funds programs that support our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Both the Presiding Officer and I, I think, represent two of the most rural States in America. It also protects our Nation's food and drug supply and ensures that low-income families have access to critical Federal nutrition programs.

I am particularly pleased that despite this tight budget environment, this bill provides increased funding for agriculture research to support food security and sustainability and for FDA initiatives focused on drug and device shortages, food safety, and critical research focused on neuroscience and ALS. I commend Chairman Heinrich and Ranking Member Hoeven for putting together such a strong bill.

Finally, the third bill in the package provides essential funding for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and related Agencies.

Both Chair Murray and I have a soft spot in our hearts for this bill because each of us spent many years as either the chair or the ranking member of the THUD Subcommittee.

It supports the RAISE grant transportation program and the Bridge Formula Program that help address our Nation's deteriorating infrastructure.

It invests in the FAA, supporting the addition of 1,800 air traffic controllers. We have a huge shortage in Bangor, ME. I heard from the air traffic controllers about how terribly understaffed they are. And the bill would modernize outdated systems, such as the Notice to Air Missions System that went offline earlier this year, shutting down the Nation's airspace for several hours.

I am especially pleased that this bill contains support for shoreside infrastructure improvements at our Nation's State maritime academies-- including Maine Maritime Academy--that are necessary for docking the newly constructed national security multimission vessels that are also the training ships for the maritime academies.

At a time when virtually every State faces an affordable housing shortage, this bill also maintains existing rental assistance for more than 4.6 million households and continues to make meaningful investments aimed at tackling the persistent and growing problem of homelessness, especially among our Nation's veterans and youth. I thank Chair Schatz and Ranking Member Hyde-Smith for their tremendous efforts on this bill.

I also want to mention that both Senators from Hawaii--and Senator Schatz again today--have talked to all of us about the tragic loss of life, the devastation that the recent wildfires have caused in their beloved home State. I note that the Presiding Officer, representing the State of Vermont, also has had a need for disaster assistance, as have the State of Maine and so many other States. We need to support the people of States that have been hit by these devastating disasters in their time of need.

Let me conclude my opening remarks by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all of our committee members--particularly our subcommittee chairs and ranking members--for their extraordinary work in getting us to this point. Again, I especially want to commend Chair Murray for her leadership and commitment.

I look forward to a productive floor debate as we move forward, and I ask my colleagues for their support. The choice before the Senate is clear: Do we want to pass, with amendments, carefully considered funding bills or do we want to default to either an omnibus bill many thousands of pages long and with very little transparency or, worse, a yearlong resolution that funds programs that are no longer needed, prevents new programs from starting up, wastes taxpayer dollars, and is subject to indiscriminate cuts due to the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act? The choice is very clear. The Senate should proceed to debate, consider amendments, and pass the appropriations bills.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, on September 10, the people of Scarborough, ME, will gather to thank Nancy Crowell for her 45 years of outstanding contributions as Director of the Scarborough Public Library. It is a pleasure to join them in celebrating Ms. Crowell's exceptional service.

She began the job in 1977 when the library was a small wooden building on Black Point Road with a budget of $35,000. Today, she leaves behind a modern library with a budget of more than $1 million that reflects the value the townspeople have placed on her efforts.

Ms. Crowell bought the library's first electric typewriter and, as she noted when announcing her retirement, ``I started at a time when books were checked out with rubber stamps and the new technologies were VHS and Betamax tapes and our new equipment was a used 16mm projector to show films.''

In paying tribute to Ms. Crowell, Bill Donovan, president of the library's board of trustees, said that, ``Under her leadership and direction, the library has grown to become an integral part of the town fabric, becoming a center for children, adults, and retirees to not just browse and read, but also to gather and take advantage of the library's many resources--much more than the humble beginnings Nancy found when she joined 45 years ago.''

The Scarborough Public Library is a beacon in the community, where everyone receives a warm welcome and the power of knowledge is accessible to all. It is not just a repository for books, but also a place that inspires imagination, provides entertainment, spurs innovation, and fosters lifelong learning and community engagement.

The Roman philosopher Cicero said, ``To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul.'' In the same vein, to build a community library is to reveal that community's spirit. Nancy Crowell has done just that with expertise and dedication, and I wish her all the best in the years to come.

Mr. President, on September 16, Rotarians in Sanford and Springvale, ME, will gather to celebrate their 100th year of membership in a global network of neighbors, friends, and leaders working together for positive change in their communities and around the world. It is a pleasure to congratulate the Sanford/Springvale Rotary Club on a century of service.

It is remarkable that what began as a small group of civic leaders in Chicago in 1905 has grown to a service organization of 1.4 million dedicated

members in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. In any language, Rotarians live up to their motto of ``Service Above Self.''

There are more than 46,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide. Chartered in 1923, the Sanford-Springvale Club was part of the first great wave of expansion that took the Rotary movement from major American cities to smaller communities, to Canada and Europe, and then on to Asia and Africa.

Rotary International is a powerful force for good around the world. The global effort to eradicate polio is considered to be the most successful public health campaign in human history, one that would not have been possible without Rotary's commitment. When Rotary launched its PolioPlus program back in 1985, it was described as a ``gift from the 20th century to the 21st.'' It has been just that.

In addition to its strong and ongoing support for PolioPlus, the Sanford-Springvale Club is part of a Rotary International effort to make affordable and safe water more widely available in developing countries. On one mission to a small village in India, club members combined the two initiatives by helping with a childhood immunization effort and carrying out a safe drinking water project.

The Sanford-Springvale Club is a powerful force for good at home. From its ``January Thaw'' fundraiser to a summertime golf tournament, the club generously supports a wide range of charitable endeavors, including scholarships, literacy programs, food pantries, and nutrition programs for schoolchildren. Members collect winter clothes for those in need, participate in beach cleanups, and join together to complete community projects, like building a healing garden at the Cancer Care Center in Sanford.

When Paul Harris led the way in founding Rotary International 118 years ago, he said this: ``Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.'' The results are inspiring, and the world is grateful. The Rotary Club of Sanford and Springvale, ME, is part of that effort, and I congratulate its members for their accomplishments and contributions.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Unum, a great company with deep Maine roots, the country's largest provider of private disability insurance and a leader in advancing the health and financial security of America's workers.

When the company was incorporated in Maine in 1848 as Union Mutual, the very first policy issued covered founder and president Elisha B. Pratt for $5,000. Today, Unum helps protect 45 million people and their families across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The company pays $8 billion in benefits each year and helps many people in their journey back to work after a long illness or injury. More than 180,000 businesses, including many of America's largest companies, partner with Unum to provide for their employee's well-being.

Unum has a long history in Maine and is today one our State's major employers with a proud tradition of providing access to insurance coverage for workers and their families. The company was a pioneer in the nascent insurance market in the United States and, over the years, has provided businesses and individuals with new ways to help protect their financial futures.

A century ago, Unum was the first to offer life insurance through group coverage, enabling employees to purchase policies at reduced premiums. Nearly 85 years ago, the company introduced the first disability insurance to provide workers with the ability to protect their paychecks in the event of illness or injury.

An article titled ``The Popular Home Company'' in the ``Maine Board of Trade Journal'' from 1905 offered two examples of business practices that illustrate the principles that guide the company: It writes policies in simple, understandable language devoid of technicalities, and it pioneered extending insurance coverage to beneficiaries who had fallen behind in premium payments due to the difficulties that often precede a death in the family. As a result, the article stated, it would be impossible to fully describe ``the hardships it has alleviated in thousands of families throughout the land.''

With around 11,000 employees across the U.S. and in Europe, Unum provides a dynamic and welcoming workplace where people can experience rewarding careers and are encouraged to bring their best ideas to work. I am proud to note the company's recognition by many third parties as a best employer for excellence in health and wellbeing, disability employment, diversity, opportunity for women and new graduates, and technology. For the last 3 years, the company has received the prestigious designation as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere.

Unum has a tradition of giving back to the community. The company has been recognized for 5 consecutive years on the Civic 50 list of America's most community-minded companies by the Points of Light Foundation founded by President George H. W. Bush. Unum provided $12 million of charitable giving last year, while its employees donated more than 45,000 hours of volunteer work, for causes as diverse as developing education leaders in Maine, helping enable rehabilitative services for patients in Tennessee, and supporting humanitarian efforts in Poland.

Throughout its 175-year history, Unum has had a tremendous impact in the State of Maine and beyond. I congratulate the company and its employees on reaching this impressive milestone and wish them a long and successful future.

Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Clean Cooking Support Act. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by my friend and colleague Senator Durbin. Our bill aims to address a serious global public health and environmental issue where leadership by the United States can make a real difference.

Today, more than 2 billion people, or 30 percent of the global population, rely on ``dirty cooking,'' such as open fires or inefficient, polluting, and unsafe cookstoves that use agricultural waste, coal, dung, or other solid fuels, to cook their meals. The majority of people using these types of cookstoves and fuels are in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Exposure to smoke from these traditional cooking methods and open fires, referred to as household air pollution, can cause chronic and acute diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Alarmingly, the household air pollution caused by traditional cookstoves and open fires leads to 3.2 million premature deaths annually, including 450,000 children younger than 5

years of age, most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, as they spend hours cooking, inhaling toxic smoke, and collecting fuels.

These cookstoves also create serious environmental problems. Household air pollution does not remain in the home; it contributes to global ambient air pollution. Specifically, more than half of manmade black carbon emissions come from household fuel combustion. Black carbon is a powerful short-lived climate pollutant with warming impact on the climate that is 460 to 1,500 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

These cookstoves should be replaced with modern alternatives to reverse these alarming health and environmental trends. Since 2010, the Clean Cooking Alliance, an innovative public-private partnership hosted by the United Nations Foundation, has supported the adoption of clean cooking worldwide. Recognizing the serious health and environmental issues posed by traditional cookstoves, the alliance aims to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat pollution by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions.

Our legislation reinforces our country's policy on promoting clean cookstoves and seeks to take a whole-of-government approach to address household air pollution. Specifically, the Clean Cooking Support Act would create an interagency working group, with representatives from at least six different Federal Agencies, committed to increasing access to clean cooking fuels and technologies worldwide. Our legislation explicitly spells out the role of each Federal Agency in the advancement of clean cooking as well. The Department of Energy, for instance, is tasked with research and development to spur the production of low-cost, low-emission, and high-efficiency cookstoves, while the Department of State is directed to engage in diplomatic activities across the globe to support the clean cooking and fuels sector. Finally, our would authorize funding for the U.S. Government to continue such activities through 2028 to ensure that these important efforts to prevent unnecessary illness and reduce pollution around the globe continue.

Our legislation would directly benefit some of the world's poorest people, including the women and girls who are disproportionately affected, and reduce harmful pollution that affects us all. I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Durbin in supporting the Clean Cooking Support Act.