Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Journal of proceedings be approved to date.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam President, I now ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date; the morning hour be deemed expired; the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; and that the Senate be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, at 5:30 p.m., the Senate execute the order of January 26 in relation to the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 300, S. 3627.

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Reserving the right to object, let me first say that I appreciate the advocacy from the Senators from Colorado for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, an NSF-funded research and development center in Boulder.

The bill before us includes robust funding for the National Science Foundation. That has been a top priority of mine and of many other members of the Appropriations Committee.

Consistent with longstanding practice, the bill does not have a carve-out for NCAR, nor any of the other NSF research facilities around the globe, and it does not direct grant-making to certain activities. This longstanding precedent is designed to preserve NSF's autonomy in funding decisions and empowers the big foundation to prioritize scientific needs.

Let me emphasize that nothing--nothing--in this bill precludes continued support for operation of the center.

This is a carefully negotiated package that passed the House of Representatives with an overwhelming vote last week. Any amendment that would send the package back to the House would make its fate uncertain. We would risk a continuing resolution or, even worse, another disastrous government shutdown at the essential Agencies funded in this package.

Therefore, I must object.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I appreciate the advocacy from the Senators from Colorado for the National Center for Atmospheric Research in their State and, in the case of Senator Hickenlooper, his advocacy in support of scientific research in general.

It is important for Members to know that the bill before us includes robust funding for the National Science Foundation. This has not only been a top priority of mine but of many members of the Appropriations Committee.

Consistent with longstanding practice, the bill does not have a carve-out for NCAR nor for any of the National Science Foundation's research facilities around the globe, and it does not direct grant- making to certain activities. This longstanding precedent is designed to preserve the National Science Foundation's autonomy in funding decision and empowers the Agency to prioritize scientific needs.

Nothing in this bill precludes continued support for NCAR. This is a carefully negotiated package that passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in a bipartisan way last week. Any amendment would send the package back to the House, where its fate would be uncertain. We would risk a continuing resolution or, even worse, another disastrous shutdown at the essential Agencies funded in this package. Therefore, Mr. President, I must object, and I do object.

Mr. President, I will withhold my remarks until after the vote.

Amendment Withdrawn

Mr. President, I withdraw amendment No. 4208.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate at this time on the bill.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, in 1826, a small town on the western shore of Sebago Lake was incorporated and took the name that has roots in the Abenaki phrase sobagoo, or ``it is the sea.'' Today, it is an honor to join the people of Sebago, ME, in celebrating the 200th anniversary of a community that is a great place to live, work, and raise families.

Initially, Sebago was known as Flintstown, as a result of the Massachusetts General Court granting settlement in the area to the survivors of Captain John Flint's brigade of American Revolution soldiers. Shortly thereafter, the town was named Baldwin and saw an influx of lumberjacks and woodsmen drawn by the abundant forests. Despite difficult growing conditions, residents were successful in farming, and in establishing factories to produce lumber, boots, shoes, and barrel staves.

As the town grew, so did trade and tourism. The Cumberland and Oxford Canal opened in 1832, tying together the Sebago Lake and Portland economies. Later, in the 1870s, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad expanded the town's hospitality industry and encouraged steamboats to bring visitors to Sebago. What were once seasonal homes and inns evolved into year-round abodes that contribute to Sebago's image as a well-known resort area in southwestern Maine.

Sebago is home to many examples of charming New England architecture on the National Register of Places. One of the most fascinating is the Dyke Mountain Annex. It was built between 1906 and 1908 and originally was part of the Dyke Mountain Hotel. While the rest of the resort would later be destroyed by fire, the annex functioned as a summer hostel and continues to be used as such by the present owners.

Another example of Sebago's small-town beauty is Fitch's General Store and House. Built in 1870, it combined Italianate and Greek Revival architecture. In 1920, it opened as a general store, offering goods from groceries to hardware to gardening supplies. Although the building has been restored as a private residence, its legacy remains a pivotal part of the town's history.

The rich history of Sebago resides not only in beautiful architecture, but also in honoring the tireless service of their veterans. Words chiseled in stone at the Sebago Veterans Memorial read, ``Sebago Honors Her Men and Women Who Served in the Wars of Their Country.'' From the valiant service of Captain Flint and his troops in securing American's independence to the patriots of today, Sebago honors her people's history.

The celebration of Sebago's 200th anniversary is not merely about the passage of time. It is about human accomplishment in the face of adversity. We celebrate the people of Sebago who stand together, work together, and have created community together for 200 years. Thank you to those who came before. Sebago, ME, could not continue to thrive without your sacrifice. Thank you to those there today. Your effort and dedication ensure Sebago has a bright future.

Mr. President, just now, the Senate passed three more of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills by a strong bipartisan vote. These bills support State and local law enforcement, invest in vital scientific research, promote economic development, help protect our national security, and assist our coastal communities.

This fiscally responsible package includes the Commerce-Justice- Science bill, the Energy and Water Development appropriations, and the Interior and Environment funding bill. This package is the result of a great deal of input from Members on both sides of the aisle, and it represents months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations.

Last week, this three-bill package passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 397 to 28, and the Senate just followed suit with a very strong bipartisan vote.

I want to thank and commend our subcommittee chairs and ranking members as well as their staffs, who labored over the holidays to finalize this package.

Specifically, I want to thank Senators Murkowski and Merkley of the Interior Subcommittee, Senators Moran and Van Hollen of the CJS Subcommittee, and Senators Kennedy and Murray of the Energy and Water Subcommittee. Senator Murray is also vice chair of the full committee, and I want to thank her for her partnership in getting these bills done. I want to thank the staff of the full committee. They have worked night and day--literally every night and every day--and I am so grateful for their dedication and hard work.

This legislation would actually reduce discretionary spending while better focusing funding on the key priorities that matter and affect the American people. Perhaps most importantly, it shows that we as a Congress can come together in a bipartisan way to carry out our article I responsibilities and deliver true results for the people we are honored to represent.

Enacting this legislation brings the total number of full-year fiscal year 2026 appropriations that will be signed into law to six. The first three bills--the Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch--were enacted in November. Now we have to continue to complete the job and make progress on the remainder of the appropriations bills.

Yesterday, after extensive negotiations between the Senate and the House, the House passed the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs bill as well as the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bills--again, by a strong bipartisan vote of 341 to 79.

I look forward to the Senate's considering these bills as well as the remaining four appropriations bills before the end of the month.

Our goal is to get all of these bills signed into law--no continuing resolutions that lock in previous priorities that don't reflect today's realities, no more disastrous government shutdowns that are totally unnecessary and so harmful.

Again, I want to thank my colleagues for supporting the final passage of this important package so that we can send it to the President for his signature.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 299, H.R. 6938.

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent to be able to complete my remarks before the vote is called.

Mr. President, I anticipate that this evening, the Senate will take advantage of the opportunity to begin consideration of a carefully negotiated, fiscally responsible, bipartisan and bicameral package of fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills that are vital to the safety, security, and economic well-being of all Americans.

This fiscally responsible package includes funding for the following three bills: the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies legislation; the Energy and Water Development bill; and the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations. Among other things, it provides full-year appropriations for the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior. It also funds the National Science Foundation--a priority of mine--and the EPA.

Let me explain to our colleagues, who I think are well aware of this fact, that this package did not come together overnight. It is the result of months of work, of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, and last week passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 397 to 28.

I want to thank the House Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro of the Appropriations Committee, as well as the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Patty Murray, from whom we just heard, for their hard work, including over the holidays, to get these bills done.

We also could not have done it without the extraordinary staff that we are blessed to have, some of whom stayed up literally all night working on these bills.

We also worked closely with the administration, which has issued a statement in support of passage of this package.

The appropriations mini package that is before us would actually reduce discretionary spending while better focusing funding on key priorities of the American people. Let me highlight just a few of those priorities.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science bill invests in America's economic development and trade relationships. It supports our State and local law enforcement, including through the Byrne Formula Program that supports a range of law enforcement activities, from prosecution to crime prevention.

It funds space exploration and research in critical scientific and technological fields. The bill invests in the National Science Foundation, which supports research in all 50 States and helps to spur new discoveries that will advance health, prosperity, and welfare. The National Science Foundation is basic to much of the foundational research that leads to exciting technological and scientific breakthroughs.

I am a strong supporter of the NSF. I am pleased that we restored funding that was proposed to be cut, and I am also delighted that we dealt with an issue that has been a very high priority for me, and that is how we handle indirect research costs. I think we have come up with a good solution to hold steady how indirect costs are dealt with now at universities and colleges; independent, nonprofit laboratories; medical institutions and hospitals; and other entities that contribute so much to our way of life.

The bill--the Commerce bill--also supports our oceans and fisheries and weather programs that are enormously important to our working waterfronts. As you can image, this is of particular concern to me, representing the State of Maine, where we are so proud of our fishing and lobster sectors, which are synonymous with the State of Maine.

Recently, in Portland, there was a bad fire on the working waterfront, and it was extraordinary to see how everyone came together to work to put out the fire and also to help those who were affected, including our fishermen and lobstermen who had boats tied up to the wharf, the wharf owner, the restaurants on the wharf, and the businesses like Sea Bags, which are located

on the wharf. Everyone came together in a sense of community that really defines my State.

I want to express my thanks to Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen for their hard work on the CGS bill.

Next, the Interior bill provides resources for the management and conservation of public lands, while fostering economic development through critical energy programs. It supports Tribal programs across the country; helps ensure that Americans have clean air, water, and soil; and provides Federal firefighters with the tools that they need to prepare for and suppress wildfires. It also includes funding to fight the devastating impact of the spruce budworm, which is being experienced right now in the State of Maine and other States.

I want to commend the subcommittee chair Lisa Murkowski and the ranking member Jeff Merkley for their efforts in crafting this legislation.

Finally, the Energy and Water Development bill will improve water infrastructure and promote American energy independence. It will also strengthen our nuclear deterrence posture, ensure our nuclear stockpile readiness and safety, and prepare for existing and future nuclear threats.

Subcommittee Chair John Kennedy and Ranking Member Patty Murray worked tirelessly on this bill, and they have my appreciation.

Members ought to have a voice in the funding decisions that affect all of our States and constituents back home. The bills in this package were drafted with input from nearly every Senator. Together, Senators submitted literally thousands of requests to the committee for consideration. In some cases, these were programmatic requests, supporting programs they know well from their own State's experience. In other cases, they were a community development project request, or CDS. The legislation before us incorporates many of these requests and takes into account viewpoints from across the Chamber on both sides of the aisle. It truly is a Member-driven product.

Enacting this package would bring the total number of full-year fiscal year 2026 appropriations signed into law to six, as the first three bills--the Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch bills--were enacted in November.

We are continuing our hard work. Yesterday, the final versions of the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs and the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bills were released and publicly posted. The House of Representatives is slated to take up those two additional appropriations bills this week.

It is our intention to complete work on all 12 of the annual appropriation bills this month. That is an ambitious goal, but it is one that we can achieve with cooperation and collaboration that have brought us to this second round of three bills today.

I want to thank all of the members of the Appropriations Committee and, again, our extraordinary staff for their hard work, and I want to express my appreciation to Majority Leader Thune. He promised that he would bring appropriations bills to the Senate floor. That did not happen in the past. And I am delighted, but not surprised, that he has kept that promise. He has supported our committee's process and worked to bring these bills to the Senate floor.

Again, I urge my colleagues to support cloture on the motion to proceed to the package that is before us. And, again, my thanks to all the Members in both the House and the Senate who worked so hard to bring us to this point.

Cloture Motion

Mr. President, I rise today in support of the War Powers Resolution before the Senate regarding recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela. This is a serious and consequential matter that goes to the heart of Congress' constitutional responsibility to authorize sustained military engagements, define the limits of executive authority, and protect the long-term interests of both the United States and the Venezuelan people.

Nicolas Maduro is a narcoterrorist and international drug trafficker whose actions led to the addiction and deaths of many Americans. He was an illegitimate dictator who held power through stolen elections and horrific violence against the people of Venezuela. The Biden administration imposed a $25 million bounty for his arrest and extradition to the United States. He was indicted twice in Federal court and should stand trial in the United States.

With Maduro rightfully captured, the circumstances have now changed. While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, which was extraordinary in its precision and complexity, I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization.

The resolution I have supported today does not include any language related to the removal operation. Rather, it reaffirms Congress' ability to authorize or limit any future sustained military activity in Venezuela, while preserving the President's inherent article II authority to defend the United States from an armed attack or imminent threat. I believe invoking the War Powers Act at this moment is necessary, given the President's comments about the possibility of ``boots on the ground'' and a sustained engagement ``running'' Venezuela, with which I do not agree.

What happens now matters greatly, both in terms of accountability for Maduro and the future of the Venezuelan people. The long-term success of this operation will depend on Venezuelans having the opportunity to run Venezuela, with the support of international and private sector partners.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. I thank my colleagues Senator King and Senator Shaheen for joining me in introducing this important legislation for farmers across America and particularly in Maine and New Hampshire.

The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would provide vital assistance to farmers affected by PFAS contamination. PFAS are man-made chemicals--sometimes referred to as ``forever chemicals''--that can bioaccumulate in humans over time. They may traditionally be found in certain nonstick pans, some furniture, and firefighting foam and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased fertility, and hormone disruption. PFAS contamination is a growing problem, and additional resources are needed to support affected communities.

In Maine, PFAS contamination affecting many different sectors, including agriculture, has been discovered over the past several years. The presence of PFAS in wastewater sludge once spread as fertilizer has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, thus leading to significant financial hardship for these family farmers. One such farmer is Fred Stone, a dairy farmer in Arundel, ME. In 2016, Fred discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant at that time. More recently, a dairy farm in Fairfield, ME, found PFAS levels in its milk that were 153 times higher than the State's standard.

Dairy is not the only agricultural sector affected by these harmful chemicals. Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna Davis, from Unity, ME, learned that PFAS contaminated the soil and water in their organic vegetable farm, the result of sludge spread on their land in the 1990s. Tests showed that Adam and Johanna had levels of PFAS in their blood that were even higher than chemical plant workers who had manufactured PFAS for decades.

Currently, USDA Provides limited support through the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program, DIPP, to dairy farmers who have been directed to remove their milk from the commercial market. This program, however, falls far short in meeting the growing needs of all affected farmers in the State of Maine. Moreover, this program helps only dairy farmers, excluding the farmers of other agricultural products who have had their livelihoods disrupted by PFAS contamination. USDA should do more to assist all farmers harmed by these chemicals. That is what our legislation aims to do.

Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the State level, including financial assistance to affected farmers; capacity building for PFAS testing for soil or water sources; blood monitoring for individuals to make informed decisions about their health; equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination; alternative production systems or remediation strategies; educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and research on soil and water remediation systems and the viability of those systems for farms.

In addition to making new resources available, our bill would create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination remediation should be added as an eligible activity. This would help bring more resources to farmers through existing programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to States to help them coordinate their responses effectively.

USDA needs to step up and provide support to farmers, who through no fault of their own are at risk of losing their livelihoods because of PFAS contamination. The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would direct the Department to help where it is needed most. I know Secretary of Agriculture Rollins cares about this problem due to our discussions on PFAS.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill. As the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee begin work on the 2026 farm bill, I hope that we can work together to pass the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act into law.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. I thank my colleagues Senator King and Senator Shaheen for joining me in introducing this important legislation for farmers across America and particularly in Maine and New Hampshire.

The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would provide vital assistance to farmers affected by PFAS contamination. PFAS are man-made chemicals--sometimes referred to as ``forever chemicals''--that can bioaccumulate in humans over time. They may traditionally be found in certain nonstick pans, some furniture, and firefighting foam and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased fertility, and hormone disruption. PFAS contamination is a growing problem, and additional resources are needed to support affected communities.

In Maine, PFAS contamination affecting many different sectors, including agriculture, has been discovered over the past several years. The presence of PFAS in wastewater sludge once spread as fertilizer has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, thus leading to significant financial hardship for these family farmers. One such farmer is Fred Stone, a dairy farmer in Arundel, ME. In 2016, Fred discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant at that time. More recently, a dairy farm in Fairfield, ME, found PFAS levels in its milk that were 153 times higher than the State's standard.

Dairy is not the only agricultural sector affected by these harmful chemicals. Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna Davis, from Unity, ME, learned that PFAS contaminated the soil and water in their organic vegetable farm, the result of sludge spread on their land in the 1990s. Tests showed that Adam and Johanna had levels of PFAS in their blood that were even higher than chemical plant workers who had manufactured PFAS for decades.

Currently, USDA Provides limited support through the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program, DIPP, to dairy farmers who have been directed to remove their milk from the commercial market. This program, however, falls far short in meeting the growing needs of all affected farmers in the State of Maine. Moreover, this program helps only dairy farmers, excluding the farmers of other agricultural products who have had their livelihoods disrupted by PFAS contamination. USDA should do more to assist all farmers harmed by these chemicals. That is what our legislation aims to do.

Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the State level, including financial assistance to affected farmers; capacity building for PFAS testing for soil or water sources; blood monitoring for individuals to make informed decisions about their health; equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination; alternative production systems or remediation strategies; educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and research on soil and water remediation systems and the viability of those systems for farms.

In addition to making new resources available, our bill would create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination remediation should be added as an eligible activity. This would help bring more resources to farmers through existing programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to States to help them coordinate their responses effectively.

USDA needs to step up and provide support to farmers, who through no fault of their own are at risk of losing their livelihoods because of PFAS contamination. The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would direct the Department to help where it is needed most. I know Secretary of Agriculture Rollins cares about this problem due to our discussions on PFAS.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill. As the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee begin work on the 2026 farm bill, I hope that we can work together to pass the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act into law.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Freeman nomination.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. I am pleased that my colleague from Connecticut Senator Blumenthal is my lead cosponsor on this bill.

Our bipartisan bill would allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to certify disabilities and oversee treatment for Federal workers with injuries or illnesses that occur on the job, when doing so is consistent with the scope of their practice under State law.

Civil servants bring dedication, competence, and experience to their work, and this proposal affords them greater choice over their own healthcare in the event that they suffer a work-related injury or illness. Federal employees can already select a PA or NP as their primary healthcare provider within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

However, and inexplicably, the Federal Employees' Compensation Act permits only a physician to make the diagnosis, certify the injury and extent of the disability, and to oversee the patient's treatments and care when a Federal employee is injured on the job.

This bill would allow the more than 2 million Federal employees in our country, including more than 12,000 Federal employees in the State of Maine, the ability to receive their healthcare from the practitioner of their choice after a work-related injury. When they can make their own choice, they have access to more timely care and continuity of care. They are also having the decisions about their healthcare and the extent of their disability or illness made by their primary care physician who knows them best, who understands their healthcare history.

Mainers, especially in our very rural communities, are often cared for by nurse practitioners or physician assistants. They act as their primary care providers. Let me give you an example. Jackie Carter and Corinne Malenfant are two nurse practitioners with a primary care practice in Orland, ME. They have described the challenges they face when they treat Federal employees.

Despite being the chosen healthcare provider of their federally employed patients, Jackie and Corinne are not authorized to certify their patients' injuries and illnesses and oversee the care for their work-related injuries under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. As a result, their patients can experience lengthy delays in starting treatment due to the requirement that only a physician can certify the injury and oversee the Federal employee's care while in the Workers' Compensation Program.

In some very rural communities, Mr. President--and I suspect this may be true in parts of your State as well--there simply aren't any physicians who are practicing, or they are unable to accommodate additional patients.

So think about the situation that is created here. A Federal employee, who has a primary care provider who is, say, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant, is injured on the job, but instead of immediately being able to go to this primary care provider, they have to wait until they can get in to see a physician--a physician who may be miles away and unable to see them quickly, a physician who does not know their history. They can't proceed with getting the Federal employee's benefits and healthcare treatments they need to get well and return to work. That just makes no sense in rural America today.

It is important to emphasize that this bill defers to State law. It would not expand the scope of any practice. Instead, it would simply remove a barrier that prevents dedicated healthcare professionals from practicing as their State permits them to do.

NPs and PAs already provide a significant amount of healthcare to injured Federal employees, but within the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, while they are not currently authorized to certify injuries and oversee patient treatment, they are authorized to treat injured Federal employees and be reimbursed for their services but only in cases where a physician has first certified the injury and continues to oversee the treatment. That is redundant, it causes delays, and it does not make sense.

Federal programs have long recognized the importance of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Yet the Federal Employees' Compensation Act is an outlier in the restrictive nature of the program when it comes to NPs and PAs and their patients. Modernizing the Federal Employees' Compensation Act through the reforms contained in this legislation would be consistent with the practices of numerous other Federal Agencies and programs, including Medicare, the Veterans' Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Indian Health Service, and the Social Security Administration. They don't create this additional barrier.

In rural communities, NPs and PAs may well be the only provider within a reasonable distance. Delaying the certification of injuries or illnesses for Federal workers means delays in their care. The longer those delays take, the longer before they can get the treatment they need to return to their jobs.

I also want to note that this bill would not increase Federal spending. The Congressional Budget Office has found that this bill would have an insignificant net effect on direct spending, reasoning that while it may increase access to care for injured Federal employees, it would be offset by

enabling them to return to work more quickly and to continue to serve the American people.

Passage of the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act is a winner across the board. It simply makes common sense. It provides our dedicated Federal employees with additional healthcare options when they need it most. It allows NPs and PAs to share the knowledge they already have about their patients and treat their illnesses and injuries that are work-related in a timely fashion.

I urge all of my colleagues to join Senator Blumenthal and me in supporting our bill.