Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise today in support of securing our border and taking action to fix our broken immigration system.

Let's back up for a minute. Fixing our broken immigration system and securing our border has evaded Congress for decades. We have poured many hours and much ink into trying to solve the very real issues that we have, and we have come close. I was proud to advance the bipartisan Gang of 8 immigration reform that would have tightened border security, provided pathways to citizenship for those already here, and expanded work visas. I, along with many in this Chamber, also voted for a bipartisan bill that would have given a path to citizenship for the 1.8 million Dreamers who came to our country as children.

We nearly passed the Common Sense Plan, a bill that would have invested $25 billion in border security and also provided a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers. All of these efforts--every single one of them--died at the hands of congressional Republicans.

Recently, Democrats and Republicans came to the table, yet again, to find a path forward on border security and fixes to our immigration system. Together, my colleagues from both parties worked hard to find a bipartisan compromise, and they did. The result was a strong measure, even endorsed by the largest Border Patrol union, that curbs the flow of fentanyl from coming across our border, expedites our asylum process, and boosts border security. Then, many Republicans walked away again, apparently deciding that it was better politics not to secure our border.

And what hits closest to home for me and every family who has watched a loved one pass away from fentanyl poisoning or an overdose is that we have a real chance to disrupt the flow of these dangerous drugs into our communities.

In the 2-year period from 2021 to 2022, over 2,800 Wisconsinites died of an opioid-related overdose. In just 2 years, thousands of Wisconsin families lost a loved one and gained an empty seat at the dinner table.

I have heard from countless parents devastated by losing their child. One mother, Michelle, got a call one November morning in 2021 notifying her that her son Cade, a freshman at UW-Milwaukee, had passed away. The night

before, Cade had gone out with friends in his dorm. He took one pill that he thought was Percocet. It turned out to be 100 percent fentanyl.

Michelle told me earlier this year that Cade ``had his entire life ahead of him. He was home from college the weekend before he died talking about changing his major to psychology and how he wanted to travel the world. He deserved to learn from his mistake, not die from it. He didn't overdose from taking one pill. He was poisoned.''

That is the stark reality of fentanyl: One pill can kill. In 2020, over 85 percent of opioid deaths in Wisconsin were connected to a synthetic or manufactured opioid like fentanyl. We can and we must do more to stop illicit drugs from coming into our communities. We have that chance in front of us right now.

We are bringing this bill back up because this is what the American people are demanding. While Wisconsin is not on the southern border, we are impacted by the flow of fentanyl coming across that border, and Wisconsinites want action. This bipartisan border compromise is that action.

This legislation will invest in 100 new cutting-edge inspection machines that help detect fentanyl at our ports of entry. This bill would also strengthen border security with more than 2,400 new Customs and Border Protection officers at our southwest border and give the President new authority to shut down the border when the system is overwhelmed.

Not only would this compromise combat the fentanyl crisis, but this also gives us the opportunity to take on an immigration system that has been broken for decades. If passed, this bill would invest in asylum officers and immigration judges to expedite the process. We would also send more resources to help communities across this country struggling to provide critical services to newcomers and expedite work permits for people who are in this country and qualify so that newcomers can provide for their families and help us meet workforce demands for Wisconsin businesses and farms.

With communities across Wisconsin and the country receiving migrants, this bill would deliver the necessary resources so that our local boots on the ground can effectively welcome those legally entering this country and not stress their often-stretched budgets.

Many Republicans walked away from this deal that they negotiated more than 100 days ago because some would rather make this a campaign issue. Well, I, for one, would prefer to make a difference. Our constituents expect--frankly, they demand--that we come here and work in good faith and find compromise where possible.

Our colleagues found a compromise on immigration reform and securing our border. Is it perfect? No. Would it have been a huge step in the right direction? Yes. I, nor anyone else, got everything that they wanted. This bill is a compromise, and there is more work to do. Even if we pass this bill, we must remain committed to fixing our immigration system, including creating a clear path to citizenship for immigrants already here, especially our Dreamers.

But in this instance, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We cannot allow politics to win out over progress. We cannot allow the same old Washington games to stop us from saving lives. Right now, we have a chance to take a step in the right direction, a chance to do the right thing for moms like Michelle and every parent who has lost a child to fentanyl. Let's do something together right now to secure our border, stop the flow of fentanyl, fix our broken immigration system, and make a real difference for Americans.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor Guadalupe Martinez, executive director of United Migrant Opportunity Services--UMOS--on his retirement. Over the last 55 years, Guadalupe Martinez has been a tireless advocate who has grown a multistate organization with programs to provide education, improve employment and housing for migrant workers and underserved populations.

Mr. Martinez was born in 1945 in Corpus Christi, TX, to migrant parents and was one of 10 children. Throughout his life, his family migrated around the Midwest, working as fruit and vegetable harvesters, before settling in Oklahoma. As a young boy, his job was to haul baskets to the workers. Martinez also served as the translator for his family, taking care of essential household duties. Eventually, his family bought a farm in Stevens Point, WI.

In 1969, Martinez saw a help wanted ad for UMOS. He applied, and on May 5, 1969, Martinez started as a community outreach worker in Door County, WI. He later enrolled in classes at UW-Milwaukee, became a teacher, and eventually rose to the position of director of education for UMOS. Then, in 1974, he became the CEO and president of UMOS.

Martinez helped broaden the scope of UMOS by providing direct program services that focused on workforce development, social services, and child development. Through his leadership, UMOS has grown into the largest Hispanic-managed nonprofit in the State of Wisconsin and into one of the largest in the Nation. Martinez also founded the Latina Resource Center, which offers advocacy and supportive services to increase the safety and empower victims of domestic violence.

As a young man, Martinez organized and marched side-by-side with Cesar Chavez during the Grape Boycott of the 1970s, and in 1993, Martinez served as a pallbearer for Cesar Chavez for his ``final march.''

Mr. Martinez has served as chairman of the National Farmworker Alliance, MAFO, and, most recently served as chair of the Wisconsin Council on Migrant Labor. He has also served on the board of Farmworker Justice, Wisconsin Farmworkers Coalition, and National Council of La Raza.

Mr. Martinez is truly a Wisconsin trailblazer, consistently fighting for equality throughout his 55-year career. He has been a tireless advocate since the 1960s, and I am pleased to join others in recognizing Guadalupe Martinez's success and contributions to the people of our State and our Nation. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. President, I am going to start where my vice chair left off by thanking and appreciating our incredible staff for the hard work and the long hours that they contributed to this product.

Then I want to join my vice chair in appreciating the heroic work of Patty Murray, our committee chair, and Susan Collins, our committee vice chair, for their leadership in ushering all 12 appropriations bills to the finish line.

I also want to thank Senator Capito for her approach and cooperation on the Labor-HHS-Education bill this year.

We started the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process nearly a year ago, including marking up 12 appropriations bills in an overwhelmingly bipartisan process last summer. The Labor-HHS-Education bill was reported out of committee 26 to 2, and I am very proud of that. The goal then was to produce bills free of extreme and partisan policies that could pass the House, pass the Senate, and be signed by the President, and that is what we are here to finish today.

The Labor-HHS-Education bill that is included in this package addresses some of our country's most pressing issues. It invests in our workers, our families, and our economy--from substance use and mental health programs to childcare, to biomedical research, to education programs and workforce training. This bill delivers for the American people. This year, we received 9,185 programmatic appropriations requests from Senators for important programs throughout this bill.

To Senators who might claim they didn't have a say in what is included in this bill, our doors have been open since the process began last year. We have tried to reflect the priorities of every Senator who has engaged in the appropriations process. Balancing the many competing priorities throughout the Labor-HHS-Education bill is difficult in any year, but this year was especially challenging because it includes less overall funding than it did last year. Consequently, this isn't the bill I would have written alone, but it honors the terms of the debt limit deal that was agreed upon last spring.

The Labor-HHS-Education bill included in this package is very much of a compromise, but despite the challenges we faced over many months in writing this bill, I am really proud of our finished product. It rejects proposals included in the House Labor-HHS-Education bill to completely eliminate critical programs. We saved programs such as those that are working to end HIV, ensured initiatives that increase access to contraceptives stay alive and well, and we kept programs in place that deliver support for moms and babies.

It rejected devastating cuts found in the House bill that would have gutted funding for educators and schools, gutted funding for biomedical research, gutted funding for Head Start, and gutted funding for Federal financial aid for college students and public health programs. So we rejected those devastating cuts. It also rejects dozens of extreme policy riders that would have restricted reproductive healthcare and women's freedom to control their own bodies as well as attacks on the LGBTQ community and workers' rights.

In doing so, this Labor-HHS-Education bill protects the vast majority of investments made in the last 2 years and, in some cases, builds upon them.

This bill addresses some of the most pressing needs that I hear about when I am traveling in my home State of Wisconsin. In Wisconsin right now, families are paying 20 percent of their income on childcare, on average, and that is for those who can afford and access it. Over half of Wisconsin is in what we call a childcare desert, meaning that, for every open childcare slot available in their communities, there are three or more children who need it.

I hear from families and businesses and educators about our dire need to invest in childcare, and I am proud to have done just that in this bill. This bill includes an increase of $1 billion for childcare and Head Start, building on our major gains in the past 2 years. And I want to recognize our full committee chair, Patty Murray, for making this such a high priority.

Look, I know that more needs to be done to fix our childcare system so that it works for families, providers, and our economy, but this is progress. This will help kids get the strong start that they deserve, get parents back into the workforce, and help our businesses get the talent that they need.

I am also proud that we are investing in our future generations' health. To cure the diseases that plague our families and communities, we successfully boosted lifesaving and life-changing biomedical research by $300 million. We are doubling down on Alzheimer's disease research because we need to find new treatments, preventions, and, ultimately, a cure. As cancer continues to devastate families of all stripes, I am proud to report that we have increased cancer research funding by $120 million. As we work to address the mental health crisis in our communities, we also increased funding for mental health research.

One issue near and dear to my heart is the issue of opioid use disorder. My mother struggled with addiction to prescription painkillers throughout her life. Sadly, my mother's story is all too common, and the opioid epidemic knows no bounds--geographic or ideological. But in recent years, this crisis has taken to new heights with the increased prevalence of synthetic drugs like fentanyl. While our country grapples with deadly poisonings and

overdoses from fentanyl, this bill protects investments in substance use programs. As an increasing number of individuals, especially youth, are seeking crisis care, it includes an $18 million increase for the 9- 8-8 suicide prevention hotline that I was so proud to help create.

With more than 100,000 individuals on the organ transplant waiting list, this bill invests in modernizing the Organ Network and Transplantation Network to better serve those families and give those families more hope.

Accessing healthcare in our rural communities is often a challenge. I know we are acutely experiencing this in the western part of Wisconsin right now, and our bill includes targeted increases to rural health to help turn the tides.

Last but certainly not least, our legislation invests in our future. It protects funding for foundational K through 12 and postsecondary education programs that support students and educators. It increases funding for career and technical education while maintaining investments in workforce development programs to help prepare workers for good-paying jobs in in-demand careers. This will help people find careers that provide a stable, middle-class life and help grow our economy.

I wish we could have done more. I am disappointed that this bill isn't able to increase funding for family planning or include larger increases to any number of programs that truly meet the needs of families and communities, but given the hand that we were dealt, I am proud of the investments that we were able to make and protect in this bill.

Nearly 6 months into the fiscal year and nearly a year after we started this appropriations process by soliciting input from every Member of the Senate, it is past time for us to get serious. This bill does that, and I look forward to supporting its passage today.

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

Mr. President, over the last several days and weeks, I have heard a lot of discussion from some of my colleagues here in the Senate and in the House of Representatives about what they consider to be inappropriate congressionally directed spending projects. The majority of those projects appear to be objectionable simply because the organization involved provides services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

First, let me say that all of the CDS projects identified in the Labor-HHS-Education bill were in the Senate bill that was reported out of the Appropriations Committee last summer by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 26 to 2.

Second, and more importantly, I am deeply concerned about why these projects are being singled out. They are being singled out and discriminated against because they serve a particular group of Americans, a group of Americans whom every single one of us in this Chamber represents. We all have gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender constituents, and just like any other group of constituents, they are deserving of getting healthcare, mental health care, affordable housing, and a little help to lead a successful life.

However, the bullying campaign against organizations that help people who are just living their true, authentic lives is just wrong. For example, one project singled out provides services for LGBTQ seniors as part of a housing project. The project is to help low-income seniors age in place. The Labor-HHS-Education bill includes multiple CDS projects that help our seniors get the care and housing they need as they age, but this is the only one that has been on a list as being somehow objectionable.

Another is a federally qualified community health center--basically, one of our community health centers that provides services for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. That organization has noticed an increased need among members of the LGBTQ community and noted in their CDS request that that is a population that they serve and who needs service. For this, the CDS project was again, by some of my colleagues, identified as somehow controversial.

In fact, several of the projects that have been identified as problematic are to provide mental health services to people in the LGBTQ community, including LGBTQ youth. LGBTQ kids are just like any other kids. They have stressors in life. They face depression, anxiety, and other challenges, and they need help navigating it. Some of this criticism has been blatant misinformation, including one in my own home State. An organization in Wisconsin has, for a long period of time, helped kids who experience homelessness get help to get back on their feet with employment help, mental health and counseling, with finding housing, and more. I was proud to secure funding for a very specific and narrow program of theirs that provides mental health support and counseling for kids experiencing homelessness. This would be for all kids. In fact, the organization does such great work that it has received Federal funding for years, including under the Trump administration, but since the organization has a program--which will get exactly zero dollars of this Federal funding--to help LGBTQ kids, it was ruthlessly attacked and smeared.

These attacks do not live in a vacuum, and they have real-world consequences. When this body says to LGBTQ community members that they are not worthy of our help, what kind of message do you think that sends?

Also, considering that we agree that the country is facing a mental health crisis, why would we be barring resources from helping a certain group of people, particularly a group that is acutely feeling the mental health crisis?

A recent survey of LGBTQ youth revealed that nearly half--nearly half--of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in this past year. Nearly one in four LGBTQ youth attempted suicide, and nearly three in four reported persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, but almost 60 percent of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to access it. These statistics are all young people--someone's child, sibling, neighbor, student, or classmate--and maybe one or more will occupy these seats, working collaboratively with colleagues to serve their States and their country.

I hope we can pause to consider that when we single out a group of Americans, it has a real impact. Our work and our words here matter, and I hope we can rise above the bullying and can, as we have for months, work across the aisle to deliver for all of our constituents.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I rise today to honor the life of former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.

Herb was a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a dedicated public servant, and my role model. He was a model boss, public servant, and Senator--always putting people first. But, if you knew Herb, you knew how humble he was. In fact, after he was first sworn in, one of his colleagues whom he respected in this body said to him: You are going to be a model Senator. I have heard him tell this story a number of times. He decided to look up the definition of ``model,'' and he quipped back by saying: ``Model, my friends, is a small replica of the real thing,'' making light of his rather modest stature and deflecting credit for his leadership. That scenario embodies a lot of who Herb was. He was modest, funny, and at his core, an unrelenting advocate for the people of the State of Wisconsin.

Senator Kohl served in this body for 24 years, but he served the people of Wisconsin and our country throughout his entire life. In the Senate, he didn't care how long a fight would take, how long the odds were, or who he was up against; if it would help the people of Wisconsin, it was worthy of him to engage in that fight. His mantra throughout his service was ``Nobody's Senator But Yours,'' and his record in Washington reflected that commitment to a tee.

In Congress, he worked quietly, diligently, and with focus. Herb fought to get Wisconsin's dairy farmers fair prices for their products, and he worked to invest in and save Wisconsin's family farms. He championed vital food assistance programs that children and working families rely on and worked to expand access to affordable childcare, elder care, and healthcare for millions of Americans. Herb knew that taking care of our great outdoors and our environment was key not only to our Wisconsin way of life but also to our economy. Working with both environmentalists and

business interests, Herb secured resources to clean up drinking water sources and combat invasive species and pollution in our Great Lakes. He championed initiatives to help workers get the skills they needed to be competitive in today's economy and keep Wisconsin's manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin.

Senator Kohl was never afraid to stand up to special interests on behalf of his constituents. He diligently led the oversight of mergers and acquisitions to protect competition and consumers in everything from agriculture to rail, to telecommunications, to healthcare, working with Democrats and Republicans to lower the everyday cost of essentials like prescription drugs and gasoline.

At the end of the day, it was always about the people of Wisconsin. That is why it should come as no surprise that his office was rightly regarded as the best constituent services shop in Congress. As he said in his farewell to the Senate in 2012, every Wisconsinite had an ally and an advocate in his Senate office. Whether it be getting veterans their healthcare benefits, helping a senior navigate Medicare, or getting a family their passports in time for a vacation, the Kohl office was always there. It is not the stuff that makes headlines, but it makes a difference for people, so Herb was invested in it.

While Senator Kohl actively avoided taking credit for his work, his colleagues knew that behind his measured and unassuming demeanor was an industrious work ethic, a ready sense of humor, and a fierce commitment to doing what was right for Wisconsin. As my predecessor in the Senate, I could not have asked for a better role model. Coming into this Chamber can be daunting, especially when trying to fill the shoes of someone with such a distinguished record and reputation, but luckily for me, Senator Kohl's steadfast support and mentorship began well before he escorted me into this very Chamber.

Throughout the years, Senator Kohl had been a constant source of wisdom and encouragement. He was generous with his resources, his knowledge, his time, and his heart. Any Wisconsinite who had the pleasure of meeting Herb knew this overwhelming spirit of generosity permeated everything that he did.

A product of Milwaukee public schools himself, Herb truly believed that investing in the next generation of engaged citizens was the bedrock of our democracy. Since 1990, his foundation has invested millions of dollars in scholarships and fellowships to help Wisconsin's students pursue higher education and allow teachers to better meet the needs of their classrooms. I know Wisconsin's teachers and students will remember Herb as a friend to education.

Whether you ran into him at a basketball game, at Ma Fischer's in Milwaukee, or visited his Washington, DC, office, Herb always had the time to say hello and take a picture. No matter his fame or fortune, Herb was truly a man of the people.

Of course, it is hard to talk about Herb Kohl without mentioning his beloved Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, it was hard to talk to Senator Kohl without talking about the Milwaukee Bucks. As the long-time owner of the team, Senator Kohl fought on more than one occasion to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee, recognizing the immense value of the franchise to the State of Wisconsin and to the city he loved. In large part, because of his determination and generosity, Herb was able to watch Milwaukee bring home a national championship in 2021 for the first time in 50 years.

While Herb is no longer with us, I know his legacy will live on for years to come in every young fan who attends a Bucks game and every student who jumps around at the Kohl Center while cheering on Badgers basketball in Madison. His impact will be felt by the thousands of students who will continue to benefit from his philanthropic efforts and the Wisconsin families who have food on the table and access to affordable healthcare, thanks to his tireless advocacy. I hope his legacy of service lives on in me and in all those called to serve the communities they love.

Though Herb Kohl may have had a reputation as a ``common man,'' his legacy is anything but ordinary. From humble roots as the son of immigrants in Milwaukee, Herb's immense success in business, in public life, and philanthropy personified the American dream made reality through a Wisconsin work ethic and unwavering commitment to doing right by his neighbors.

There is truly no one like Senator Herb Kohl, and Wisconsin is so lucky to have had him fighting in our corner. Herb's record of achievement and commitment to Wisconsin is undeniable. While he may not like to be called it, it is the truth: Herb was a model Senator, and my role model.

Thank you, Herb, for your service to Wisconsin. You will be dearly, dearly missed.

Madam President, I rise today to speak on the resolution submitted by Senator Rubio of Florida. I wanted to also start with sort of an explanation of where we find ourselves.

You hear the expression ``Made in America'' and ``Buy America'' policies. What are those? That is the simple proposition that when we are spending Federal tax dollars, your tax dollars, we want to see those ultimately benefit U.S. workers and U.S. small businesses and medium-size businesses. That is what ``Make it in America'' or ``Buy America'' policies accomplish.

But I want to start also with what this Congressional Review Act resolution would do. This resolution would prohibit the Federal Highway Administration's February 2023 rule, which, as you heard from Senator Stabenow, removes electric vehicle chargers from the Agency's blanket ``Buy America'' waiver from taking effect.

The Federal Highway Administration's rule implements what we would call a phase-in policy or an onramp policy that increases ``Buy America'' requirements for electric vehicle chargers. By July 2024, all EV chargers purchased with Federal Highway Administration dollars, your taxpayer dollars, must be in full compliance with the ``Build America,'' ``Buy America'' rules.

If you eliminate this rule, as the Rubio resolution would do, it would remove all ``Buy America'' restrictions for EV charger purchases, allowing Federal taxpayer dollars, your dollars, to buy chargers from China, which is rapidly scaling up their charger manufacturing in order to offer the lowest cost product.

Because of this FHA rule, manufacturers are locating their facilities in the United States. For example, Ingeteam, the European market leader, has built a facility in Milwaukee, WI, where hundreds of union workers will make half a million EV chargers. This is because this rule requires EV chargers to be assembled in the United States when they are funded with Federal taxpayer dollars.

Under the Rubio resolution, those requirements go away. They vanish. The requirements go away because chargers will once again become subject to the Federal Highway Administration's blanket waiver for manufactured products, which has been in place since 1983.

I am no fan of this blanket waiver. Since I got to the Senate, I have been pushing to get rid of it. Frustration with this waiver is one of the reasons I worked with my colleagues--Senators Brown, Portman, Stabenow, Braun, and Peters--to get ``Buy America'' requirements into the infrastructure law. Because of our work, that law requires the Federal Highway Administration to request public notice and comment on its blanket waiver--something it did in May of this year.

If you are a Senator who opposes the Federal Highway Administration's blanket waiver, like me, you might, say, submit a comment during the open comment period--something I did--or ask the Secretary of Transportation to commit to rescinding the blanket waiver in a committee hearing--something I did--or maybe even vote for the legislation that requires the Agency to review the waiver--something I did, along with 19 of my Republican colleagues. But the sponsor of this resolution, Senator Rubio, did not do any of the things I just mentioned. It makes me think and the resolution itself suggests that he is more interested in scoring political points rather than doing the hard work of increasing the number of products and the number of programs that are subject to ``Buy America'' requirements.

That is why United Steelworkers, who represent thousands of workers in Wisconsin and in Florida and who actually make things--that is why they oppose this resolution, and that is why I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Am I fully satisfied with the job this administration has done to implement ``Buy America''? The answer is no, I am not. But this resolution makes things worse, not better. If we want to improve the administration's implementation of ``Buy America,'' we need to give Agencies the resources they need to do outreach to industry.

I have supported ``Buy America'' for as long as I have been in the U.S. Congress. It used to be a lonely battle, and it has been at times. So I am very pleased that I have many new allies on the Republican side of the aisle who claim to support ``Buy America.''

Welcome to the team. I look forward to working with you and to getting this administration the resources it needs to successfully implement ``Buy America'' instead of supporting this resolution that would make things worse.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong opposition to S.J. Res. 42, which I view as a cruel effort to green-light discrimination against LGBTQ+ children.

My colleagues--some of them--across the aisle have made false claims about a policy that the Biden administration has released, a policy that makes clear the obvious: that every child should be able to get lunch at school no matter their race, religion, ability, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. That is it--a simple, narrow directive from the USDA that says schools that receive Federal funding for nutrition assistance must not discriminate within the confines of these nutrition programs on the basis of gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation.

This is not about bathrooms. This is not about locker rooms. This is not about sports. This is also not about pushing some alleged agenda. This is about feeding children, period.

Since this policy was issued over a year ago, in May of 2022, the USDA has initiated no enforcement-related actions, not a single case-- zip, nada, zero. This is a ``solution'' in search of a problem. The actual problem is some of my Republican colleagues' continued efforts to pick on LGBTQ+ children for their own political gain. By overturning this policy, my Republican colleagues are essentially arguing that discrimination based on gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation is

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I rise today to stand alongside the over 80 percent of Americans who support Medicare being able to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, because despite being the wealthiest Nation in the world, too many Americans are struggling to afford the medications that they need to survive. More than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries are struggling to afford their medications.

I have heard devastating stories from Wisconsin seniors who have been put in impossible situations and forced to ration or forego their medications, all while the drug companies turn record profits.

No American, and especially our seniors who are on fixed incomes, should have to choose between putting food on the table or accessing the prescription drugs that they need to stay healthy. That is why I was so proud to support the Inflation Reduction Act to finally provide some relief for Wisconsin families and hold the big drug companies accountable for prioritizing profits over people.

And now, we are seeing the results. We capped the cost of insulin out-of-pocket at $35 a month for seniors, we lowered healthcare premiums for millions of Americans, and we penalized drug companies for raising their costs faster than inflation.

Last month, we reached a new milestone that has been a long time coming. Medicare announced the first 10 drugs that they will negotiate with drug companies. These are lifesaving medications that millions of Americans take to stay healthy, treating everything from diabetes to heart disease, to blood cancers. By lowering the costs of these drugs, fewer seniors will have to choose between buying groceries and taking their medication, and fewer families will lie awake at night worrying about how they are going to afford the cost of their loved one's medication.

Most importantly, Medicare finally stepping up and taking on the big drug companies means that fewer Americans will be priced out of the care that they need to live healthy lives. We have more work to do, but the Inflation Reduction Act was a historic step in the right direction.

Every American deserves access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare, and I am committed to finishing what we started last year with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the career and achievements of John McKenzie, owner of the McKenzie Apartment Company. Throughout his career, John has fused together his work in home construction with his passion for community service to establish the next generation of leaders in the housing industry.

Born and raised in Madison, WI, John got his start in business working with his father in real estate. After graduating from UW- Madison as a business major in 1971, he began his career in real estate development around the country, working from Cincinnati to San Francisco. In 1989, he returned to Madison where he had a significant impact on the region's real estate development and revitalization. During this period, he cofounded his family business, the McKenzie Apartment Company.

John is somebody who takes deep pride in his work, creating both homes and opportunities to improve the lives of others. With this mission, John began working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County. He recognized that, by working with the Boys and Girls Club, he could have a remarkable and lasting impact on the community by introducing skilled trades to the young people in the program. Having been a Madison Area Builders Association--MABA--member for 30 years, John connected the Boys and Girls Club with the MABA, and a lasting partnership has resulted.

In collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County and the Madison Area Builders Association, John raised the significant funds needed to build and sustain a facility that provides space for youth ranging from elementary school to high school to participate in introductory trade activities. This year, the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center opened to train and connect a new generation of young people of diverse backgrounds to the skilled trades. A first-of-its- kind project for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and a National Association of Home Builders--NAHB--affiliated local home builders association, the center will serve as a national template, preparing young people in Dane County for quality, family-sustaining jobs at a time when the skilled trades are facing a labor shortage. Due to John's innovative idea, a national movement was sparked to partner local Boys and Girls Clubs with the construction industry around the Nation. John's impact will be felt nationwide through 10 local partnerships that began in 2023 and another 20 beginning in 2024.

With John's persistence, leadership and dedication to his community, he has impacted so many lives in our State. I am so pleased to join others in recognizing his success and accomplishments. I wish him and his family all the best and applaud his continued efforts in the skilled trades.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the International Crane Foundation's 50th anniversary. I am delighted to recognize this global conservation organization with Wisconsin origins.

While the efforts of the International Crane Foundation now reach across the world, its story began in 1971 at Cornell University. This was where two ornithology students, Ron Sauey and George Archibald, bonded over their shared appreciation for cranes. They imagined an organization that could combine their work on captive breeding, research, restoration, and education to protect the 15 different crane species on Earth. In 1973, Sauey and Archibald's vision became a reality when the International Crane Foundation was founded out of the Sauey family farm in Baraboo, WI.

Over the last 50 years, the foundation has used dynamic methods and community-oriented approaches to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways they depend on. The foundation fosters the international cooperation of crane protection by providing knowledge, leadership, and inspiration to people in the communities where cranes live, engaging them to resolve threats to these birds and the landscapes they call home.

Today the International Crane Foundation has grown to a staff of more than 125 people, with a network of hundreds of specialists in over 50 countries on the five continents where cranes live. The organization moved from the humble Sauey farm where it was born, to a nearly 300- acre headquarters in Baraboo, complete with live crane exhibits, guided tours, a research library, and 4 miles of nature trails. While the reach of the foundation has greatly extended over the past 50 years, their mission remains the same: to protect and restore wild crane populations and the landscapes they depend on.

On the 50th anniversary of this remarkable organization, I am proud to recognize the International Crane Foundation and look forward to its continued success and conservation efforts.

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

The author has not truly revealed what the amendment does.

On all of our Federal buildings, we often see many different flags-- the U.S. flag that we all join in pledging in this body but also, in certain States, the State flag. We see the MIA flag. I will tell you, in Madison, WI, at the State capitol, during the month of June, it adorns the Pride flag.

This really is thinly veiled. Let's be clear that this is about not being able to fly the Pride flag.

I was so proud last year to work across the aisle with both Democrats and Republicans to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. It was a milestone for equal rights for all Americans. But like so many other Americans in leading this march toward equality, I am reminded of how much work we have yet to do.

LGBTQ+ Americans are our neighbors, our loved ones, our constituents, and our colleagues. They serve in our Armed Forces and in the Federal Government, making sacrifices every day for their country. They work in our Federal buildings, our post offices, and in our own offices. They serve in our military and put their lives at risk for our country. These Federal buildings connect Americans to their government--a government of, by, and for the people. But, for too long, LGBTQ+ Americans have felt unwelcomed and sometimes unsafe in these spaces-- these spaces that are meant to serve them too.

I think the American people are getting tired of politicians who make their support for our military servicemembers and their families contingent upon pushing a discriminatory agenda whether that be about women's rights or LGBTQ+ rights.

I urge opposition.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor posthumously half- brothers Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson from New Richmond, WI, who both made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation during World War II.

A week before the D-Day invasion on the Normandy coast and on his 51st mission, Captain Harmon's plane was shot down over occupied France by German artillery. Initially listed as missing-in-action, Captain Harmon was officially declared dead on May 29, 1945, by the U.S. War Department.

Motivated by a sense of duty to his country, as well as the loss of his older half-brother, Private Peirson enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was mortally wounded during the April 16, 1945, Easter Day assault on the island of Okinawa, Japan, and died of his wounds the following day.

A joint memorial service was held in New Richmond, WI, on April 26, 1949, for the repatriated remains of the two fallen brothers. They are buried side by side at the Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Both were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

In recognition of their service and sacrifice, I was proud to sponsor and witness successful passage of S. 2932 during the 117th Congress, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 430 South Knowles Avenue in New Richmond, WI, as the ``Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building.'' This legislation was passed in the Senate by unanimous consent on May 25, 2022, and was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., on December 29, 2022.

The official dedication and celebration of the Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building will take place on August 25, 2023. Family, friends, fellow veterans, elected leaders, and community members will come together to remember these brothers and their service to our country. Local support of this dedication includes the New Richmond City Council, along with Mayors Fred Horne and Jim Zajkowski; the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce; the Butler-Harmon American Legion Post 80; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10818 New Richmond/St. Croix County. Special recognition is due to Ms. Sally Berkholder who has been a tireless advocate for this dedication and ensuring that the family and community is able to properly celebrate and honor the service of the Harmon/Peirson brothers.

Captain Harmon and Private Peirson heroically gave their lives serving our country during World War II. They bravely fought for our American values and freedom, and we are indebted by their sacrifice. I am proud that their memory will live on by the official dedication of the New Richmond Post Office as the ``Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building.''

Mr. President, I rise today to honor Walter Knight, who passed away on June 20, 2023, at the age of 89. Mr. Knight will be remembered for his numerous acts of leadership in the community of Beloit, WI--notably, serving as the first African-American on the Beloit Police and Fire Commission and the first African-American to be elected to the Beloit City Council.

Mr. Knight spent the first 17 years of his life in Arkansas where he attended segregated public schools and graduated from Union Grove High School in 1951. Upon graduation, he moved to Beloit, WI, where he went on to work for Fairbanks Morse in the foundry. The grueling conditions of the foundry motivated him to enroll in Blackhawk Technical College. This allowed him to move into a position in the machine shop at Fairbanks Morse where he remained for 25 years. Later in his career at Fairbanks Morse, he was elected the president of the Local Union 1533 United Steelworkers of America from 1972-1976.

To further advance his educational career, Mr. Knight studied union policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the time he attended Madison, less than 1 percent of students were African-American. After securing higher-level education, Mr. Knight's activist voice and profound leadership in the Beloit community led him to be elected the first African-American on the Beloit City Council, where he served from 1972-1985. Mr. Knight's involvement and dedication to the Beloit community did not stop there. As an African-American, he spent his early years in Beloit fighting segregation by exposing and assisting in the closure of local discriminatory and prejudice businesses.

In addition to his fight for racial justice, Mr. Knight spent over 30 years with the Rock County Opportunities Industrialization Center. As executive director, he dedicated his time to helping minority and other local residents build occupational and social skills to enhance their career prospects. Mr. Knight always wanted to be remembered as someone who did all he could to help others. His life of selfless acts for his community accurately displays this. From working in the foundry at Fairbanks Morse to becoming president of the Beloit City Council, Mr. Knight was truly a trailblazer and has left an indelible mark on the Beloit community.

By creating opportunities and a voice for the minority community in Beloit, Mr. Knight's leadership granted him induction into the Beloit Historical Society Hall of Fame in 2014. Additionally, as a part of the 2019 Juneteenth celebration, the Portland Avenue Bridge in Beloit was renamed ``Walter R. Knight Bridge'' in his honor. Mr. Knight will be whole-heartedly missed and always remembered for the years of compassion and love he bestowed upon his community.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Mexican Fiesta in Milwaukee. I am proud to honor this tradition that showcases the rich cultural history of the Hispanic community in Wisconsin.

What began as a small street festival in Milwaukee has grown to be one of the largest celebrations of Mexican culture in the country. In 1973, proud members of the Mexican-American community closed down one street in downtown Milwaukee to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Today, the Mexican Fiesta attracts thousands of visitors from across the State to enjoy Hispanic cuisine, dance to Mexican artists, and learn more about the rich history of this community. With more than 450 exhibitors and vendors, it has also become an opportunity for Wisconsin small businesses, nonprofits, and local artisans to showcase their products and reach new customers.

This 50-year tradition is not only a celebration of Hispanic heritage; it is also a chance to support students across the State as they pursue an education. Money raised through the Mexican Fiesta goes towards the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, which expands access to higher education for the Hispanic community. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded $1.8 million in scholarships. Thanks to their efforts, young Hispanic men and women across the State have been empowered to explore their interests and jumpstart their futures.

The original organizers of the Mexican Fiesta were searching for a way to share their traditions and culture with the rest of their community. It has been inspiring to watch that vision become a reality over the last 50 years. Armed with the knowledge that education opens doors, the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation has used the reach and popularity of this celebration to empower young Wisconsinites to pursue their dreams. I am proud to recognize this important tradition on their 50th anniversary, and I look forward to celebrating the countless contributions that Mexican Americans have made to our State for years to come.