Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise today because for the second year in a row, the President is trying to illegally steal money from the people I work for.

Eight months ago, Congress overwhelmingly passed bipartisan appropriations bills, and the President signed them into law. Democrats negotiated those bills in good faith.

With this pocket rescission, the Trump administration is saying those laws and the agreements we made when negotiating them don't matter, and he is saying the investments we made into the American people don't matter. That is going to make negotiating future appropriations bills significantly harder. How can one side make concessions if they know that the other side will tear them up along with the deal months later?

But I want to spend some time talking about the specific funding in this rescissions package that the President considers wasteful. Now, mind you, Donald Trump is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on prime-time commercials promoting Donald Trump. He is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a gold-encrusted ballroom and an arch--a monument to himself--over the objections of veterans and their families due to its proximity to Arlington National Cemetery. He is spending tens of billions of dollars on a war in Iran which is raising gas prices and home heating costs for American families.

But none of that is what Trump or Office of Management and Budget Director Vought consider wasteful. No, no, no. They consider that a priority. What Trump and Russell Vought consider wasteful is $28 million for research to reduce healthcare costs and improve Americans' health. What they consider wasteful is $70 million in education funding that supports national security priorities and helps ensure we remain competitive globally.

First, let me talk about the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality--what we often refer to as AHRQ. The Agency is ``critically important, it helps us understand what we're doing well and where we have opportunities to improve.'' Now, that is not me saying that about AHRQ; that is what HHS's Deputy Secretary nominee told me at a hearing just 2 weeks ago. Ten days later, the Trump administration said it was going to illegally impound funding for this ``critically important'' work.

AHRQ has funded advancements in telehealth to help doctors better treat patients in rural areas and help lung cancer survivors monitor for recurrence. AHRQ has supported work to reduce the rate of hospital- acquired infections and to make sure that kids waiting for a heart transplant can get one. It has funded work to improve healthcare for older Americans coming home from the hospital. This little but mighty Agency has saved literally billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives, but President Trump has decided that this research is wasteful and that his personal vanity projects are more important.

Let me turn to the Department of Education. There, the President is illegally cutting funding that supports important national security interests. It funds training in less commonly taught languages that the U.S. Government determines are a national priority. It helps educate students that go on to serve in national security and U.S. intelligence roles.

These are just a few examples of what President Trump considers wasteful. It is not tens of billions of dollars lit on fire for an illegal war in Iran or taxpayer-funded commercials to promote himself; no, it is funding for Americans' healthcare and education he deems wasteful.

This pocket rescission is illegal. It is also throwing away opportunities to improve Americans' health and make our country safer. These are small but important investments that we should be making.

There is plenty we don't agree on, but I wish all my colleagues would stand up for the laws we pass and the agreements we make as part of them and stop this President and any President, Democrat or Republican, from so blatantly breaking those laws.

That is what Senate Democrats have been fighting for, and that is why we didn't vote to confirm Director Russell Vought, who said this was exactly what he would do if confirmed. It is why we have tried to enact laws to prevent this nonsense idea of a pocket rescission so we don't get to this point.

Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side have refused to do that again and again. But I am not going to stop fighting to uphold the law and for these programs that benefit the people of my State and the United States of America.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 456, S.J. Res. 197.

Madam President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in stopping President Trump from terminating healthcare for up to 2 million Americans on the Affordable Care Act.

Let's back up for a second. President Trump has made it clear that he does not like the Affordable Care Act. He has vowed and tried to repeal it for over a decade with absolutely no plan to replace it. That would leave 23 million Americans without insurance.

We are talking about hourly employees and contractors in the gig economy. We are talking about small business owners on our Main Streets. And we are talking about the one in four farmers who are already being pummeled from every side by higher costs brought on by President Trump.

Americans banded together and, so far, we have stopped President Trump and congressional Republicans from completely repealing the Affordable Care Act. But that hasn't stopped the President from doing everything he can to chip away at, and hollow out, marketplace coverage.

Republicans and President Trump refuse to keep tax credits that help working families afford their coverage. This alone is causing premiums to double for 22 million Americans and has pushed more than 2\1/2\ million Americans off their care because they simply could not afford it.

They have slashed the funding by 90 percent for navigators, the very experts who help people find affordable health insurance.

Just last week the Trump administration kicked hundreds of thousands

of Americans off their insurance with no details as to why.

That brings us to this rule that undermines Americans' healthcare, jacks up cost, terminates coverage for millions more Americans. President Trump's policy will promote catastrophic health plans with extremely high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, luring Americans into selecting plans that cover next to nothing when they get sick or injured. We call these junk plans.

The effort will also loosen physician network requirements, leaving Americans with fewer providers who will take their insurance. And it will allow insurers to offer nonnetwork plans to make it easier for insurers to raise out-of-pocket costs, sell new kinds of junk insurance coverage, increase deductibles, cover fewer services, and kick more providers out of network.

The result will be more Americans buying worse care that does not cover necessary services, from routine checkups to life-threatening emergencies. It will leave working families holding the bag for medical expenses.

The Trump administration itself says that this will kick 2 million Americans off their Affordable Care Act coverage while jacking up costs on millions more. Benefits could be reduced for tens of millions of Americans, meaning folks could lose access to coverage for addiction treatment, hearing aids, or other critical services. Plus, the rule would pile on redtape, increasing the paperwork burden of nearly 5 million Americans.

Americans understand what a lifeline this program is for a cancer patient, Americans with disabilities, working families, and entrepreneurs. On behalf of the 23 million Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for their health insurance, we cannot allow this administration to continue the attack, raise their costs, and undermine their ability to access quality care.

Right now, Americans are unequivocal: they cannot bear the high costs of life. The war in Iran is causing gas and grocery prices to skyrocket, our farmers are struggling from needless trade wars, and now the President is raising the costs of healthcare for millions of Americans.

I urge my colleagues to stand with the vast majority of Americans who support the Affordable Care Act and stop this misguided rule that would jeopardize care for millions of Americans.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 6828 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, look, as currently drafted--because the Protect College Sports Act includes health, safety, and wellness standards--the NCAA and athletic conferences could argue that State health and safety protection for athletes conflict with and prevent compliance with this bill.

As a result, student athletes bringing such cases, including things like brain injuries or sexual assault, could face unnecessary prejudicial delay fighting the NCAA or institutions' preemption argument or even have their cases preempted and kicked out of court.

This bipartisan amendment addresses that, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, today, I rise, once again, in strong opposition to Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran.

For more than 6 months now, American families have paid the price for this President's war of choice. This conflict has cost the lives of 18 of our servicemembers. It has cost American taxpayers $43 billion, and it has cost families, small businesses, and manufacturers, as the price of just about everything has skyrocketed.

I have been traveling across Wisconsin to hear from my constituents as to just what this war has cost them.

In Milwaukee, I have heard from veterans about the cost of war on our soldiers, their families, and their communities.

In Madison, I have heard from parents who are seeing a 20-percent increase in the cost of back-to-school essentials, like lunch boxes and notebooks and paper.

In La Crosse, I heard from a hardware store owner about the impact of the rising costs on goods in his store and what that means for his customers.

In Green Bay, one manufacturer told me that his supplier of raw aluminum in the Middle East--a product that he can only get overseas-- was literally bombed. That is on top of the hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased costs from tariffs and the war generally.

Our Wisconsin farmers are just getting hammered. They had higher fertilizer costs at the planting season, higher fuel costs just to run their equipment, and because of Trump's trade wars, they have fewer places to sell their produce. During this year's planting season alone, Wisconsin farmers spent nearly $44 million more on diesel fuel than they did last year. As of today, the price of diesel in Wisconsin is a whopping $6.59 a gallon for our farmers and our truckers.

The devastating impact of this war cannot be overstated. These families are trying to put food on the table. Small business owners are trying to stay afloat. Farmers are just trying to break even.

Wisconsinites never wanted this war. Yet they continue to pay for it every day. They are paying more at the pump, more at the grocery store, and more to keep their businesses and farms running.

The American people deserve better than an endless war that is costing American lives and making it harder for them to get by at home.

I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in bringing an end to this war of choice and vote yes on this resolution.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the life of Al Labelle, a dedicated servicemember who held an unwavering lifelong commitment to the advancement of veterans' services. Wisconsin mourns his loss, and his service and legacy will be remembered for years to come.

Mr. Labelle served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Okinawa (LPH-3) from 1965 to 1967. The USS Okinawa deployed to the Vietnam war zone in 1967, and during that deployment, Mr. Labelle participated in nine amphibious landing operations. Mr. Labelle was honorably discharged from Active service but continued his service in the Naval Reserves until 1972.

After returning home, Mr. Labelle's commitment to serving others did not waver. While his career was diverse, his work remained rooted in his desire to connect with and serve others. From caring for patients as a respiratory therapist, to working as an assistant manager of warehouse operations and even owning a bowling alley, Mr. Labelle's professional life reflected his tireless work ethic. Throughout these endeavors, he remained a steadfast advocate for his fellow veterans.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Labelle was a dedicated leader of the Disabled American Veterans DAV, at the local, State, and national levels. He joined the DAV in 2005, becoming a life member of Chapter 57 in Marshfield. He held numerous leadership positions, including benefits protection team leader and chairman of the national interim legislation committee. His advocacy often brought him to our Nation's Capital, where he fought to ensure that our country's veterans received the support and services they earned.

His lifetime of advocacy for veterans was nationally recognized when he received the DAV Outstanding Performance in Advocacy Award for 7 consecutive years. Mr. Labelle's determination to fight for veterans was easy to see, and his impact will be felt by veterans and their families for years to come. I was fortunate to see Mr. Labelle's dedication firsthand through my work with him, and I know Wisconsin's veterans were fortunate to have a champion like him in their corner.

Veterans in Wisconsin and across the country have benefited from Mr. Labelle's devoted advocacy, and I am grateful for his lifetime of service. His legacy will live on through the veterans and families he helped and the countless people he inspired throughout his life.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor John Yingling on his retirement after his distinguished service as chair of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board. During his tenure, Mr. Yingling helped lead one of the most transformative periods in Wisconsin State Fair history, helping create lasting memories for millions of fairgoers.

In 2011, then-Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appointed Mr. Yingling to serve on the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board. During his time as chair, the State fair expanded year-round operations, hosted the largest Clydesdale horse show in North America, and welcomed INDYCAR racing back to the historic Milwaukee Mile. These accomplishments, along with many others, have strengthened the State fair and helped spur investment in the greater Milwaukee community.

When Mr. Yingling became chair, the State fair faced significant financial challenges. He was instrumental in helping move the fair from the red into the black, and under his leadership, those gains were reinvested in the fair and the community.

Mr. Yingling also helped foster innovation and creativity that have become hallmarks of the Wisconsin State Fair. Through the annual Sporkies and Drinkies competitions, State Fair vendors compete to create unique foods and drinks that attract visitors from across Wisconsin and beyond.

As we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Fair, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Yingling's distinguished service and his many contributions to the people of Wisconsin. His leadership has helped ensure that the State fair remains a treasured Wisconsin tradition for generations to come.

I congratulate Mr. Yingling on his retirement and wish him all the best.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the 75th anniversary of the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI. I am pleased to celebrate this hospital and to commemorate this historic milestone.

Since 1951, the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital has served Wisconsin veterans with care and compassion. When the hospital was first opened, it was the first of the VA's designated tuberculosis hospitals. After years of providing tuberculosis care, in 1960, the facility was redesignated to provide general medical and surgical care.

In 1976, the U.S. Congress renamed the hospital after Dr. William Shainline Middleton, an accomplished veteran, physician, and academic. Dr. Middleton served as an Army captain during World War I and served with distinction in the Office of the Chief Surgeon during World War

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the work of David Stacy, former government affairs director at the Human Rights Campaign, HRC. For more than 30 years, Mr. Stacy has been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community in Wisconsin and across the United States. His vital work has helped to ensure that LGBTQ people across the country and the world are treated as full and equal citizens and human beings.

Mr. Stacy earned his bachelor of arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990 and served two terms as president of the United Council of University of Wisconsin Students, the statewide student association for the UW system. He later received his master of arts in history, U.S. foreign relations, and civil rights history from New York University in 1991.

In 1994, Mr. Stacy was instrumental in helping me to found Fair Wisconsin. Fair Wisconsin is a statewide advocacy organization with the mission of protecting and advancing the civil rights of LGBTQ individuals through legislative advocacy and electoral involvement. He worked on the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign and various other State and local races throughout Wisconsin, as well as on nearly all of my own campaigns for public office during this time.

He began his work in the legislative branch as an intern and then a legislative staffer for representatives in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 1999, he joined my staff in Washington, DC, as a legislative assistant after I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For the 6 years he spent on my staff, he worked on a variety of issues including telecommunications, defense, LGBTQ issues, foreign policy, education, veterans, intellectual property, and homeland security. I valued David's thoughtful counsel and his dedication to his work and passion for the issues he covered.

In November of 2005, Mr. Stacy joined HRC as their senior public policy advocate during a time in which our Nation was hotly debating a proposed amendment to our Constitution that would have defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Through more than 20 years of hard, dedicated work, Mr. Stacy has steadily built support and coalitions to advance the cause of equality. Discriminatory bans such as ``Don't Ask Don't Tell'' have been repealed, ensuring that gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans who want to serve their country can do so openly and proudly. Later, when Federal marriage equality was established by the courts, he worked alongside me and my staff to pass and codify into law the Respect for Marriage Act, ensuring a critical backstop against an activist court.

He built a model for how sustained work and partnership can bring about meaningful change to the lives of our fellow citizens. He was and is a vital partner in the continued fight for a more, not less, equal country. I am proud to call him a friend and a trusted partner in the fight for equality. I wish him all the best in this next chapter.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to, once again, try to end President Trump's war of choice in Iran.

We are nearly 5 months into this war, with no end in sight. President Trump and Pete Hegseth have spent at least $37.5 billion on a war that Americans overwhelmingly oppose. Americans are footing the bill with their tax dollars and at the pump, as higher prices continue.

We have lost 18 American servicemembers, with hundreds more wounded. My heart is with the military families who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Now, after months of chaos, Secretary Hegseth wants Congress to sign off on nearly $70 billion for this illegal war--nearly $70 billion more of our money to fund a war that Americans did not choose. That is $70 billion that we could be using to bring down the cost of housing and help folks get their foot in the door to buy their very first home. That is $70 billion that we could be using to help families afford childcare and allow parents to get back to work. And that is $70 billion that we could be using to lower Americans' health insurance premiums, fund our rural hospitals, or put some of the damage from Republicans' cuts to Medicaid to rest--in other words, restore that money.

Instead, this President wants nearly $70 billion for a war that is spiraling further out of control. That is his priority, not Americans' housing costs or insurance premiums, but rather a war across the globe that nobody asked for.

Even worse, we are 5 months into this war, and this administration refuses to give us straight answers about when this conflict will end.

It does not have to be this way. It is clear the only way to stop this war and find a political solution through diplomacy and tough negotiations is for Congress to force President Trump's hand. He started this war, and he is clearly incapable of ending it on his own.

So on behalf of all of our constituents who are paying the price, I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in bringing an end to this war before another American life is lost.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Sherman E. Stock, who passed away on May 26, 2026, at the age of 98. As a dedicated public servant and lifelong advocate for our environment, Mr. Stock demonstrated his commitment through his involvement in important environmental projects such as Earth Day and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the establishment of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.

Mr. Stock was born in Milwaukee and attended Rufus King High School, where he met his high school sweetheart and wife of 70 years, Sally. The two settled in Hales Corners, WI.

Mr. Stock continued his education at Marquette University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his military service, Mr. Stock rose to the rank of captain and was stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, and northern New York. He then returned to Marquette, where he earned his juris doctor in 1958 and connected with then-State Senator Gaylord Nelson, whom he would eventually serve as legal counsel in the U.S. Senate.

During his 18 years in the Senate, Mr. Stock worked closely with Senator Nelson, sharing ideas about environmental projects, working zealously to protect our planet, and building a close friendship. Mr. Stock went on to work for Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl, serving as his Veterans Affairs adviser, cribbage opponent, and fishing partner. Following Governor Earl's departure from office, Mr. Stock worked for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers in Madison until he retired.

Throughout his decades of public service, Mr. Stock made a lasting impact not only on the people and natural lands of Wisconsin, but on communities across the Nation and around the world. While his most notable project may be Earth Day, he will be remembered by friends and family for his artistic expression, his love of travel, and his dedication to his community.

Mr. Stock is an inspiring example of putting your beliefs into action and leaving the world better than you found it. His passing is a great loss to all who knew him and worked alongside him, but the legacy will live on for generations to come. As we honor his remarkable life, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all those whose lives were enriched by knowing him.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Gaynor Cranberry Company, located in Wood County, WI. I am pleased to honor this family farm and commemorate this historic milestone.

The roots of the Gaynor Cranberry Company trace back to when brothers John Alexander Gaynor and James Gaynor immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Their journeys eventually led them to Wood County, where they established a cranberry farm in 1876 that became a foundational force in the industry.

With John Alexander's legal expertise and James' agricultural acumen, the brothers helped transform Wisconsin's cranberry industry from a wild harvest into the highly structured, scientifically advanced, billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. The practices they established and championed on their town of Cranmoor marsh built the legal, business, and operational foundations that have enabled Wisconsin to become the Nation's leading cranberry-producing State, producing more than half of the world's cranberry supply.

The Gaynor farm also hosted the first Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station from 1903 to 1917. It was my distinct honor as a U.S. Senator to play a role, 100 years later, in helping establish the second Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station to support the long-term success of our State's cranberry industry.

Margaret Gaynor became the sole heir following the deaths of John Alexander and James. In 1927, she named Charles Dempze as her successor, establishing a multigenerational family legacy. His son Gordon, who was born in the old experimental station house, assumed control of the company in 1968. He was later succeeded by his sons James and Gary.

Today, the Gaynor Cranberry Company is owned and operated by Gary Dempze and his wife Susan, alongside their children Jenna Dempze and Heidi Slinkman, who represent the fourth generation of this family farm.

Just as it did 150 years ago, the Gaynor Cranberry Company continues to move the industry forward. Its 200-acre cranberry crop is 100- percent verified sustainable. The farm remains committed to land stewardship, innovation, and community impact. It plays an active role in agricultural education for residents, researchers, and policymakers, while also inspiring the next generation to learn about cranberries and explore potential career pathways.

The Gaynor Cranberry Company's roots are deeply embedded throughout the Wisconsin cranberry industry. I congratulate all those who have played a role in this remarkable 150th anniversary, and I wish the Gaynor Cranberry Company continued success for generations to come.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, 4 years ago today, women in America lost the right to control their own bodies when an activist Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. For 18 months, women in Wisconsin were forced to live under a law passed in 1849 and widely viewed as a criminal abortion ban.

Overturning Roe was just the beginning of the Republicans' war on women's reproductive rights. This bill is yet another example of their agenda to make it harder for women to access care by stripping away funding for family planning clinics.

Title X clinics serve millions of Americans and offer cancer screenings, birth control, and wellness exams. Republicans have already tried to rip this healthcare away. Their ``Big Ugly Bill'' last year defunded Planned Parenthood, leading to the closure of 60 clinics so far. And we expect that as a result of the ``Big Ugly Bill,'' in total, over 200 clinics will ultimately close. That is 200 fewer places that women can get essential healthcare, exacerbating an already dire healthcare crisis that families are facing.

This administration has also withheld funding from title X clinics for months, threatening access to care for more than 800,000 people. They then delayed funding for the program again, causing even more confusion.

The administration's goals are clear: They want to sow chaos and end access to reproductive health care. There is no reason that we, the people's branch, should be adding to that and further making life harder for the people we work for. We should be focused on expanding access to healthcare and lowering the cost of it, not closing more clinics, jacking up costs, and eroding women's rights even further.

I will not stop fighting until every woman in this country has the freedom to make her own choices about her own body.

Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, today is the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

I just shared some reflections about what happened in my home State of Wisconsin when we reverted to a law that was passed in 1849--1 year after Wisconsin's statehood--that was widely viewed as a criminal abortion ban. No abortion care was provided within my State until a court ultimately ruled many months later that that 1849 statute did not apply, but in the meantime, I heard stories from Wisconsin women whose lives were upended by the Dobbs ruling.

When I think about one of the first stories I heard in those first months after the Dobbs decision came down, I remember a woman sharing with me that she was pregnant, expecting--was delighted about that-- when her water broke at 17 weeks. She went to her doctor at the hospital where she was planning to deliver her baby, and they said: Your baby has no chance of survival, and we can't do anything to assist you in this moment because Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

The doctors consulted lawyers. We had lawyers actually practicing medicine, if you will, in the State of Wisconsin at that time, and she was sent home. They said to let nature take its course. Well, in her case, that meant facing sepsis and a fever that got worse and worse and worse.

How close do you have to be to death before you can get the healthcare that you need when Roe v. Wade is no longer the law of the land?

What it drove people in Wisconsin to have to do is consider getting care out of State.

So, today, I rise in support of the women across this country who just want to be able to control their own bodies. Right now, 27 million women are living under abortion bans since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and it is no secret that my Republican colleagues want to see a national abortion ban enacted piece by piece. Because of these bans, women are literally bleeding out in parking lots outside of clinics and hospitals. Women are developing life-threatening infections like the one I just described from my constituent in Wisconsin.

Women are being told that they have pregnancies that are not viable but that they have no option for healthcare. Women are being denied the care that they need even in States like Wisconsin where, because of our courts striking down the 1849 statute that was in existence when the Dobbs decision came out, abortion is now legal, though many restrictions remain on the books.

Women face access issues. They face barriers to accessing the healthcare they need. In Wisconsin, abortion services are only available in 3 out of our 72 counties. That leaves 69 counties without care, meaning the people who live there must travel for the care they need. They have to arrange childcare and take time off work and sometimes drive for hours. They have to face unnecessary barriers just to get the healthcare that they need.

That is why I introduced the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act. This legislation would help ease the financial burdens that too many women face when they are trying to access safe and legal reproductive healthcare, oftentimes far away from their homes and their support systems. This bill would get women the practical support they need to access care, including support for travel, childcare, lodging, meals, and more.

I won't stop fighting until a woman's right to choose is fully restored. In the meantime, the least we can do is help women access the care they need that the Supreme Court and some of my Republican colleagues continue to put further out of reach for women. I urge my colleagues to address the healthcare crisis we are facing in this country by reducing the barriers that women face to get the healthcare they need.

Therefore, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4922, introduced earlier today; further, that the bill be considered read three times and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, today, I rise in opposition to Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran.

I come to ask a simple question: What has this war gotten us?

Here is what we do know: It has tragically cost the lives of 13 servicemembers. It has caused hundreds of others to be injured. It has cost taxpayers tens upon tens of billions of dollars. It has cost the average American more than $250 more at the pump on average. It has cost farmers nearly 50 percent more on fertilizer.

This war has been a disaster, and the American people agree. When the war began, it was the most unpopular war in U.S. history and has only gotten more unpopular as it has gone on. The President clearly gets that, so he has released a 2\1/2\-page bullet-point memorandum of understanding that he claims will be the panacea to end the war.

Look, ending the war is absolutely a good thing, but with this alleged deal, there are a few major catches.

For starters, this flimsy memorandum of understanding agreement has not and will not actually end the war.

This is a plan to make a plan later. And what the Trump administration is learning in real time is that a final deal--like the Obama-era deal--on Iran takes hard work.

Secondly, this short-term deal has been broken already.

Lastly, if it were to be followed to a tee, it would be an embarrassing fold to the Iranians and a loser for the American people.

We would green-light $300 billion to go to this hard-line Iranian regime. We would lift sanctions on this regime and let it freely sell oil, allowing them to make billions more.

We would show that Iran can control the Strait of Hormuz and our global

economy whenever it wants. And what do we get? Not much--no freedom for the Iranian people who were protesting a brutal regime mere months ago; no end to Iran's nuclear capabilities.

So I, again, ask: What has this war of choice gotten us? This war has been bad for the American people, and now this off-ramp is bad for the American people.

Congress had the opportunity to end this war months ago, and we should have done just that to avoid this exact scenario.

My Republican colleagues refused, but that does not mean it is too late. It is clear as day that we cannot trust this President to be left to his own devices. We need to use the power we have to end this war and head down the path of real diplomacy. Let's take it.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this concurrent resolution.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, today I rise in support of ending Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran.

Over the weekend, President Trump told the American people this conflict is over. He said that Iran had agreed to a deal.

So why take this vote today? Well, I have heard that one before from this President. From trade to peace negotiations, President Trump often claims victory without any work to show for it.

The truth is, President Trump has not reached a deal with Iran. There is no agreement to end their nuclear program, no assurances that the war won't continue, and no evidence that Americans are better off today than they were before this all started. In fact, we are told--all just by press reports--that he has merely reached an agreement to keep talking about a deal over the next 60 days. But we have zero details and are told to just take the President's word for it.

President Trump started this war over 100 days ago without signoff from Congress, the people's branch. He cost 13 servicemembers their lives, spent more than $30 billion in taxpayer money, and jacked up energy costs for American families by $450, on average. President Trump has asked working families to foot the bill for a war that they did not choose and do not like, and now he is claiming victory without a permanent solution in hand. At an immense cost to the American people, we are in a worse position than when President Trump started this war. That is why Donald Trump's wink-and-nod promise is simply not enough. My constituents want a guarantee that this expensive and unnecessary war is over once and for all.

Diplomacy has always been the path forward. Passing this resolution would finally force President Trump to follow the law, listen to the American people, and end the war that no one likes.

I urge my colleagues to listen to your constituents and end this war.

I yield the floor.