Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the exceptional career and life of Dr. William Finlayson, who passed away on May 11, 2026, at the age of 101. Dr. Finlayson was a pillar of the Milwaukee community and has left an indelible mark on so many families in Wisconsin's largest city.

Dr. Finlayson was born in 1924 in Manatee, FL. From a young age, he studied and excelled at school, and at age 16, he started his collegiate career at Florida A&M. At age 19, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a first lieutenant from 1943 through 1946. During his time in the U.S. Army, he taught illiterate Black soldiers how to read. He then served in the Army Reserves from 1946 to 1953.

While serving in the reserves, Dr. Finlayson moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. It was during this time that he became classmates and fraternity brothers with the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Finlayson graduated from Morehouse in 1948 with his B.S. and then attended Meharry Medical College in 1953. Dr. Finlayson completed his residency at the University of Minnesota in 1958 before moving to Milwaukee in that same year with his wife Edith.

Upon arriving in Milwaukee, segregation made it difficult for Black physicians to get hired by the city's leading hospitals. Ever determined, Dr. Finlayson founded his own private practice, along with Dr. Walter White, Dr. Randall Pollard, Dr. George Hillard, and Dr. Gerald Poindexter. He was eventually admitted as the first Black doctor at St. Joseph's Hospital. He built a successful practice, with people often sitting on the steps outside of his office just to see him.

However, his passion for helping the Black community did not stop there. Dr. Finlayson participated in fair housing marches led by the late Alderwoman Vel Phillips and Father James Groppi. During the civil rights era, it was Dr. Finlayson who was instrumental in bringing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the city of Milwaukee to speak.

Dr. Finlayson was a champion for financial literacy, cofounding the first Black-owned bank in the city, North Milwaukee State Bank, with the goal of offering full-service banking to underserved communities. He also founded the W.E.B. Du Bois Club, educating high school students with the financial skills they needed to succeed while preserving Black history.

Dr. Finlayson, affectionately known as ``the baby doctor,'' practiced obstetrics and gynecology for nearly 40 years, delivering what is estimated to be nearly 10,000 children in the city of Milwaukee. He became one of the city's first Black physicians with admitting privileges at major hospitals such as St. Joseph's Hospital and Advocate Aurora Sinai Medical Center. His compassion and commitment to equitable healthcare touched countless families throughout Milwaukee and beyond.

Outside of medicine, his civic contributions included serving as president of the Cream City Medical Society, the Milwaukee Gynecological Society, and his local YMCA. He was a house delegate to the Wisconsin Medical Society, teaching at both the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He served as vice president of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and was a member of the Urban League, as well as a lifetime member of the NAACP.

Dr. Finlayson was truly a Milwaukee trailblazer who consistently fought for equality in the State of Wisconsin. In 2022, the Milwaukee roadway formerly known as North 5th Street was renamed Dr. William Finlayson Street in his honor. Dr. Finlayson's life's work will continue to have a tremendous impact on so many families across the Milwaukee community. His legacy and advice will live on due to the long-standing barriers that he set out to shatter. He often advised younger generations with the saying, ``I think the key is learning. Learn as much as you can, do as much as you can.'' He certainly embodied those values throughout his life and his work. I extend my deepest condolences to his sons Tony and Reggie; his daughter Sheila; his entire family; his colleagues, and the thousands of lives he touched. I am pleased to join others in honoring Dr. Finlayson's success and contributions to the people of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and our Nation.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. John Raymond, one of Wisconsin's most distinguished physicians, educators, researchers, and institutional leaders. Serving as president of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) since 2010, Dr. Raymond will be stepping down as President and transitioning to a faculty role in June of 2026.

The career of Dr. Raymond is marked by his exceptional commitment to public service and the well-being of not only Milwaukee, but the entire State of Wisconsin. For 16 years he has worked extensively with my office to ensure we create the best possible health legislation for our constituents, while deftly navigating numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

A native of Akron, OH, Dr. Raymond graduated from Ohio State University in 1978 and earned his medical degree there in 1982. He began his career as a faculty member at the world-renowned Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Raymond later became the associate chief of staff of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC, before moving into academic administration as vice president for academic affairs and provost of the Medical University of South Carolina. Eventually, Dr. Raymond came to Wisconsin, assuming his tenure as president of MCW in 2010.

Dr. Raymond arrived at MCW with a mandate and a vision he articulated clearly in his installation address: ``Strength Through Collaboration.'' That phrase, far more than mere rhetoric, proved to be the guiding principle of 16 transformational years. Under his stewardship, MCW, Wisconsin's only private medical school, grew from a $798.4 million institution into a $1.61 billion enterprise, more than doubling its top-line revenue and reflecting the profound expansion of MCW's reach, capacity, and national stature.

Today, in partnership with Froedtert Health, Children's Wisconsin, and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, MCW contributes $5.82 billion annually in direct operational impact to

our Nation's economy. During his tenure, philanthropic support to MCW increased by 400 percent, research expenditures doubled, and patient visits tripled. These are metrics that speak not merely to institutional scale, but to the depth of public trust Dr. Raymond has cultivated.

Among the most consequential contributions of Dr. Raymond's presidency has been his recognition that a great medical institution must serve all corners of the State it calls home. Wisconsin has long faced a serious and growing physician shortage, particularly in its rural communities. Dr. Raymond addressed this challenge head-on. Under his leadership, MCW established regional medical school campuses in Green Bay and central Wisconsin, extending access to world-class medical education beyond Milwaukee and into communities that had long been underserved. Additionally, in August 2017, MCW launched its School of Pharmacy, broadening the institution's scope and training the pharmacists who will serve Wisconsin patients for generations to come.

Dr. Raymond's contributions to the Milwaukee community include the ThriveOn King collaboration, a partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Royal Capital Group. MCW built the ThriveOn King building to address social determinants of health and bring economic and social benefits to one of Milwaukee's most historic neighborhoods.

The full weight of Dr. Raymond's character and leadership was perhaps most vividly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Wisconsin, along with every other State, faced an unprecedented public health crisis. Dr. Raymond emerged as one of the State's most trusted and authoritative voices, providing regular briefings to area business executives and the public alike, communicating with clarity, calm, and scientific integrity at a time when both were desperately needed. His service during the pandemic earned him the Milwaukee Business Journal's recognition as Executive of the Year in 2020 and Health Care Leader of the Year in 2021. These awards reflect not only professional achievement but the public's genuine gratitude for steady, principled leadership in a time of crisis.

Taken together, Dr. Raymond's accomplishments reflect a commitment to Wisconsin that has never been confined to the lecture hall or the laboratory. Rather, he has been a tireless champion of community engagement and health equity.

As Dr. Raymond now transitions from the presidency of the Medical College of Wisconsin to a faculty position, we are reminded that the truest measure of an institution-builder is not the scale of what they construct, but the permanence of what they leave behind. Dr. Raymond leaves behind a stronger, more expansive, more equitable, and more deeply woven institution than the one he inherited.

For all his contributions to the health of Wisconsin's communities, to the vitality of its medical workforce, and to the strength of its institutions, I wish to express my deepest gratitude and most sincere admiration for Dr. John R. Raymond. As a direct result of his service, the great State of Wisconsin has been made immeasurably better.

Mr. President, I rise today to once again call on my Republican colleagues to listen to their constituents and bring an end to this war of choice.

Let's be clear. Americans do not like this war because they are the ones paying for it. American taxpayers have already been forced to shell out at least $29 billion for a conflict with no end in sight. Hundreds of American servicemembers have been injured, and 13 Americans have lost their lives. And Americans are paying the price for this war at the gas pump every single day as the cost of just about everything seems to be going up.

Today, we learned that inflation tripled in March, showing consumer prices rose by nearly 4 percent. Make no mistake--that jump was almost singlehandedly caused by Donald Trump's war in Iran, which has sent gas prices skyrocketing 50 percent since he chose to start this conflict.

It is not just gas prices and travel costs going up for Wisconsin families; the price of just about everything will increase as transporting goods to markets continues to rise. These cost increases are simply not manageable for many of my constituents and will force them to make impossible decisions.

I am hearing from Wisconsin farmers who are paying through the nose for the fertilizer and diesel they need to plant their crops this spring. As of today, the average price for diesel in Wisconsin is $5.84 per gallon. That is $2.61 higher than 1 year ago. One Wisconsin farmer told the local news that he is paying $2,000 more for diesel fuel this planting season than in previous years. Fertilizer is also getting more expensive because of Donald Trump's war. Fertilizer inputs shot up nearly $700 per ton in late April--nearly $250 more than the day before the war started. According to a recent survey, about 70 percent of farmers nationwide say they were unable to afford all the fertilizer they need for this planting season. For Wisconsin farmers who work on very tight margins, these price increases could be make-or-break for their businesses.

Donald Trump vowed to bring prices down on day one. Instead, he has illegally started a war all on his own that is jacking up the cost of just about everything.

On behalf of our constituents, who are paying the price for this war of choice, I implore my Republican colleagues to do their job and end this conflict. Every day this war drags on is another day that the American people will be forced to pay for it.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the American people who are against Donald Trump's illegal war with Iran. This war has taken the lives of 13 servicemembers--hundreds more are injured, many severely. This war has cost American taxpayers upward of $25 billion and is jacking up the cost of energy, fuel, and fertilizer for Wisconsin families and farmers.

I have been clear since this conflict began 2 months ago: President Trump did not have the authority to start this war with Iran. We were not under attack from Iran. We were not under imminent threat of an attack from Iran. Therefore, President Trump was required to ask Congress, the people's branch, for authorization.

The Trump administration should have made the case to us and to the American people for why an all-out war with Iran was worth it. But the Trump administration did not follow the law. Donald Trump dragged the United States into a war of choice without a clear explanation.

It happened without open hearings or public debates or a timeline. He started a war with Iran without a clear reason or plan to get us out. That is why we are still at war 2 months later.

The Trump administration keeps saying that this will not be another endless war, but this administration still hasn't committed to a timeline for getting us out.

I have watched my Republican colleagues bend over backward to explain why they have abdicated their duty to be a check on President Trump, but even if this war of choice was allowed under law, Congress still has to play a role.

I wholeheartedly disagree with my Republican colleagues who said Trump could wage this war for 60 days without getting Congress' approval. But regardless, that clock that they just set up has run out. We are coming up on 60 days since the President notified Congress of military action in Iran. And as Republicans keep telling me, that deadline matters. On the 60-day mark, President Trump must cease military action or receive congressional authorization. My Republican colleagues know this. They have said as much, calling this deadline a ``big deal'' and a ``trigger'' that requires Congress to act.

So here is Republicans' chance to act. You said the President had 60 days to wage a war and that he needed Congress to sign off? Well, it has been 60 days. It is time to do your constitutional duty to rein in this President and stop this illegal war that is jacking up Americans' costs while accomplishing next to nothing.

Iran still has nuclear materials. They still have ballistic missiles and drones to attack us, a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, and the same oppressive regime in place. It is time to show the American people where you stand on this war. Join us in forcing the Trump administration to come to Congress, to explain to the American people why we are at war, and make their case for why this war should continue.

If they can't, then we shouldn't be at war, period.

I yield the floor.

(Mrs. MOODY assumed the chair.)

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. Daniel ``Dan'' Bice, a powerful force in Wisconsin journalism and politics who worked as a political reporter and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for 33 years. For Dan, no one was too powerful or off-limits from his reporting, and Wisconsinites are better for the coverage and his pursuit of the truth. Our community mourns his loss, and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come.

Dan was a native of West Virginia and studied ancient Greek and English at Bryan College before receiving a master's degree in social science from the University of Chicago. After spending time as a journalist in Florida and West Virginia, Dan took a job at the Milwaukee Sentinel, where he would go on to spend 33 years conducting award-winning journalism and political reporting.

A few years after the Milwaukee Sentinel and the Milwaukee Journal merged to become The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dan teamed up with Cary Pivak, another reporter at the paper, to head a new watchdog column where the pair earned the nickname ``The Spice Boys.'' Their work for the column earned it the prestigious National Headliner award for its ``first-rate reporting with an attitude.''

Dan's writing was known for its mix of humor and humility, but also for his efforts to uncover stories on both sides of the political aisle. His column ``No Quarter'' has been published since 2007 and is known for its investigative watchdog reporting on scandals, political figures, and campaigns.

Dan built a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in Wisconsin politics. His work will undoubtedly leave an empty space in Wisconsin's political environment and in our hearts. I have no doubt that his undying dedication to the truth will continue to inspire new generations of journalists for years to come. I share my deepest condolences with his family, friends, and colleagues at the Journal Sentinel.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor civil rights activist and icon Joanne Bland. Ms. Bland was only 11 years old when Bloody Sunday occurred in her hometown of Selma, AL, and one of the youngest people to join the historic 1965 Voting Rights March from Selma to Alabama's capital of Montgomery.

I was honored to meet Ms. Bland in 2005, when I joined her and hundreds of others during an early Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage, led by the late Representative John Lewis of Georgia, to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. We later interacted frequently during her visits to Wisconsin.

Those of us in Wisconsin were privileged to enjoy a special relationship with Ms. Bland. Beginning 25 years ago, after participating in a presentation called ``Milwaukee: the Selma of the North,'' she traveled to campuses and communities throughout Wisconsin dozens of times to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the contemporary meanings of the movement for voting rights. She established ongoing relationships with the University of Wisconsin- Madison and Beloit College, sharing her work and story with countless students. In turn, many of these students spent time in Selma to help her build the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute. Ms. Bland was the institution's first director.

Ms. Bland's dedication to activism in her civil and human rights work touched the lives of her community in Selma and far beyond. She grew up in segregated Selma, where she witnessed and participated in some of our Nation's most monumental civil rights battles. Committed to nonviolent civil disobedience--a hallmark of the civil rights movement led, in part, by her teacher and mentor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-- she was arrested for the first time at just 8 years old. By the time she reached 11 years old, she had been arrested a further 13 times in pursuit of civil rights.

Throughout her life, Ms. Bland remained a fearless advocate for racial justice and a pillar of Selma's community. She served in the Army and graduated with a bachelor of arts from the College of Staten Island. She was an educator and historian of the Selma March and cofounded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in 1993, where she stressed the idea that the history of civil rights is not just Black history, but American history. A central tenet of this work was her belief that history had all too often rendered invisible the untold stories of countless women and children who had been at the core of the March and that these stories now needed to be told. The museum she helped build was grounded in the grassroots, and to this day, the museum has been able to operate for more than three decades without a major Federal funding grant.

More recently, she launched Foot Soldiers Park which, to her, was ``more than a memorial.'' She saw it as a space where young people could come together to learn about history, art, music, and leadership to invest in their own dreams. In 2010, she created her own touring agency, Journeys of the Soul, to teach the public about the history of the civil rights movement with a focus on Selma, AL. In 2015, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary march jubilee, she organized a panel in which now elderly footsoldiers who had been teens in 1965 came into dialogue with the teens of today. It was her way of reminding these young people of the important role they must now play at a time when voting rights are being threatened again as never before. Ms. Bland's passion for educating her community will impact Selma and the Nation for years to come.

Ms. Bland's life work of activism and education towards a better America will be remembered in all our hearts. As a lifelong civil rights leader, her impact on Selma and beyond will continue through the institutions she has built and will be felt beyond her passing. Ms. Bland has taught us the value of giving back to our community and investing in future generations. I am honored to join our community in celebrating her life defined by her love and dedication to this country. We recognize and honor her extraordinary contributions not only to Alabama, but to the greater civil rights movement and fight for racial equality.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to end President Trump's war in Iran. This vote could not come at a more crucial time.

Today was supposed to be end of the cease-fire that is hanging on by a thread. While the President said that it will be extended, we have no idea until when. We have no idea if the President will, as he has many times, change his position and go through with his threat to commit war crimes and bomb civilian infrastructure.

So now is the time to act. We simply do not have any time to waste and see if an entire civilization will die because the President gets impatient.

This entire war has been unnecessary, illegal, and unwise. We need to put a check on this President before it gets even worse.

Unfortunately, the President has shown us that he did not have a plan after day one. The President said that the war would be over in a matter of days. We are coming up on the 2-month mark with no real end in sight. And over the course of 50-plus days, we have seen nothing short of a disaster. This war has caused irreparable damage to families, to the American people, to our standing in the world, and to our economy.

We have lost 13 American servicemembers, with hundreds of others injured, many seriously. Thousands of civilians have been killed including many dozens of schoolgirls by an errant U.S. bomb.

President Trump's war has delivered higher costs for Americans at the pump with families paying more than $1 more per gallon since the war started. And I would be remiss if I didn't say that even the Trump administration is now admitting that those costs are going to be here to stay, given the mess they created in the Strait of Hormuz.

It has jacked up the cost of fertilizer and fuel for Wisconsin farmers. Soon enough, this will also mean higher costs at the checkout counter at the grocery store for families as my farmers simply can't eat those costs.

The cost of the war--which the administration won't even tell us outside of classified settings--is in the tens of billions of dollars, and the American taxpayers are footing the bill.

Iran's resolve is hardened and, arguably, so is its regime. And they are still in control of its enriched uranium.

This war has taken us backward and created more problems for the people that I work for. The American people have been crystal clear that they do not want this war. They want what they were promised from this President: lower costs and no foreign wars. They were sold a bad bill of goods and now are left cleaning it up.

It is time for Congress to do its job and end this war now. I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.

I yield the floor.

I rise today again to make a final plea to my colleagues. This President has campaigned for years and espoused the principle of no new foreign wars. Look, this is something I wholeheartedly agree with him on. This sentiment, of course, is, in part, a reaction to the United States' forever wars in the Middle East, and that is the irony of this.

So much of what we have seen over the last 50 days has parallels with the war in Iraq. In both wars, we went to war under false pretenses of a threat to our security. In both wars, we had zero plans for the days to come and failed to outline our specific goals. In both wars, we had zero strategy to get out. And in both wars, we had servicemembers dying overseas for a cause that Americans did not support.

But there is one key difference: In 2001, President Bush made his case to Congress and got signoff. We had public hearings and an open debate about the cost of a war--the cost to the American taxpayers, the cost to military families. Congress then voted on it. Look, I voted against the Iraq war, and all my fears were sadly proven right, but at least the American people had a say in it.

This time around, President Trump--who has over and over again called this a war--hasn't bothered to make his case to the American people. They have bypassed the people's branch and skirted our very Constitution. Let's be clear: This Chamber is not powerless. We do have the power to rein in this President when he breaks a promise and breaks the law. We have the power to end this war of choice that is costing American troops their lives and American families their savings. Those

who vote no are choosing not to use that power.

We cannot wait for more servicemembers to die before we act, the bill for taxpayers to grow more expensive, or the price of gas and fertilizer to keep shooting up. We cannot wait for this President to commit war crimes or kill more civilians. The time is now. It is time for Congress to assert our authority and to end this war. I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.

I yield the floor.

Pursuant to section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act, I move to discharge the Committee on Foreign Relations from further consideration of S.J. Res. 114 to direct removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

I know of no further debate.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. William ``Bill'' George Lunney, a beloved and passionate leader in the Dane County, WI, parks and conservation community. Bill served for 30 years as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, where he made a tremendous and lasting impact on our outdoor spaces. Our community mourns his loss, and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come.

Bill was born in 1941 in Goshen, NY. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor of arts in political science and his law degree. After graduation, Bill moved to Madison, WI, where he began a 57-year career dedicated to environmental stewardship and public service.

Bill's career began with a variety of roles in the Wisconsin State court system. He was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in 1969, and his passion for public service was evident early on in his career. While serving on the Dane County Board, Bill emerged as a leading local conservation champion. He spoke at our Nation's first Earth Day celebration in 1970 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Recognizing that conservation requires both public and private sector leadership, he cofounded the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. The organization played a vital role in protecting natural areas from development and ensuring responsible stewardship of existing lands. Bill's leadership was instrumental in safeguarding Madison's wetlands and advancing conservation efforts across the region.

While serving as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, Bill, alongside his wife Judie Pfeifer, cofounded the Foundation for Dane County Parks and went on to serve as its president. Together, they built a permanent endowment to support and sustain Dane County Parks for generations to come.

By the end of his tenure, Dane County parkland had grown from 3,500 acres to more than 18,000 acres, a remarkable expansion driven in large part by Bill's leadership and his ability to inspire others to value conservation. In recognition of his life's work, Bill will be inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame this April, an honor that both excited and humbled him.

Above all, those who knew Bill best say he always put his family first. He was a loving husband, son, father, and grandfather. Bill's legacy is reflected not only in the land he helped preserve, but in the people he inspired. Known for his encouragement and curiosity, he left an indelible mark on the conservation community through his steady leadership and vision.

Bill often repeated the mantra, ``A park is not just a piece of land, it is a vibrant part of the community.'' The Madison area is better because Bill himself was such a vibrant part of that community. I am deeply grateful for Bill's lasting impact on preserving our natural environment. His work will continue to benefit the Madison community and will live on in those he inspired throughout his service to Dane County.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Messmer High School in Milwaukee, WI, on their 100th anniversary. I am pleased to honor this organization and to commemorate this historic milestone.

Founded by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer in 1926 in the city of Milwaukee, Messmer High School was built on a vision of uniting Milwaukee's Catholic parishes and providing a high-quality education rooted in faith for the city's immigrant families. For the past 100 years, Messmer has been a cornerstone of education and opportunity in Milwaukee.

In the 1920s, Milwaukee was a diverse industrial city defined by established immigrant communities. There were large German, Polish, Italian, Mexican, and Eastern European immigrant populations throughout the city, many of which were working-class and low-income. Throughout its early years, led by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Capuchin Friars, Messmer quickly became a thriving center of academic excellence, spiritual formation, and community spirit.

Over the past century, Messmer has earned a reputation for its welcoming, family-like culture and a commitment to preparing students for both college and the trades. After the Great Depression and World War II, the school evolved with the changing landscape of Milwaukee to embrace new generations of students from diverse backgrounds. Messmer has become one of Milwaukee's most integrated Catholic high schools through its model of inclusion and faith in action.

In the 1980s, the archdiocese announced plans to close the school. However, a group of determined parents and alumni refused to let Messmer's mission die. This grassroots effort is deemed the ``Messmer Miracle'' and helped reopen the school while instilling a lasting sense of pride in the institution. Countless people and families have been shaped by Messmer over the past 100 years through the education it provides and the strong sense of community it fosters.

As we honor this significant milestone for Messmer High School, I am grateful for their continued education of Milwaukee's youth, and I look forward to its continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following my remarks, the following Senators be permitted to speak prior to the scheduled vote: Senator Schiff for up to 10 minutes, Senator Risch for up to 5 minutes, Senator Duckworth for up to 3 minutes, and Senator Schumer for up to 2 minutes.

Mr. President, I rise today to stand with the American people, who are demanding that we bring an end to President Trump's war in Iran.

It has been over a month since President Trump made the decision to take us to war, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on what this illegal war has achieved and what it has cost.

President Trump's war has delivered higher costs for Americans at the pump, and it has jacked up the cost of fertilizer and fuel for Wisconsin farmers. As Americans struggle to afford basic necessities, the Trump administration has spent tens of billions of dollars on a war that Americans did not ask for. We have lost 13 servicemembers, with hundreds of others injured. Thousands of civilians have been killed, including dozens of schoolgirls by an errant U.S. missile. President Trump has eased sanctions on Russia and shown Iran how to profit from blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The same oppressive regime remains in place, Iran still controls its enriched uranium, and the United States is no closer to a guarantee that Iran will not pursue a nuclear weapon.

In short, President Trump's war of choice has accomplished next to nothing at a tremendous cost to the American people, and still Donald Trump has been unable or unwilling to offer a coherent reason for why we are at war.

The American people are looking to Congress to do something. The people's branch is supposed to be a check on this President. We need to stand up on behalf of our constituents, who do not like this war and who want it to end. Americans know the cost of this war. They are the ones who are paying for it.

My Republican colleagues have a choice: Do your job, stand up to this President, and send a clear message to Americans by ending this war today, or live with the consequences as more civilians are killed, more servicemembers are put in harm's way, and more American families struggle to make ends meet. The choice is yours.

I yield the floor.

Thank you for your leadership, Senator Smith.

And I also want to note the powerful words that Senator Klobuchar just shared. She took me down memory lane as we remember the conservationists and the folks that came from our States.

And just earlier today, I was noting with my staff that next week we will be commemorating the 56th anniversary of Earth Day, the first Earth Day, and it was Gaylord Nelson, a Senator in this body who brought forth the whole concept of respecting the Earth and celebrating with a day focused on celebration of the Earth.

Wisconsin was also home for large portions of their lives, Aldo Leopold and John Muir. And hearing those accounts makes me feel especially humbled and honored to rise to speak to this resolution, this joint resolution that is before the Senate right now that we really must defeat.

I want to share with my colleagues what is at stake if the Senate removes

protections from the Boundary Waters. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Area is one of the most pristine freshwater systems in the entire country.

And if these protections are rolled back and mining moves forward, there is no restoring, there is no restoration of this watershed. It will be risking permanent damage for the profits of a multibillion- dollar foreign mining company, and I will return to that in a moment.

We must recognize who will be most affected by revoking the protections that have been in place for decades and for good reason.

Tribal nations in this region have lived with and depended upon the Boundary Waters for generations. These lands are sacred to the Ojibwe people. Tribes have treaty rights to hunt, to fish, and to gather. Voting for this resolution would betray our centuries-old treaties between the United States and the Chippewa of Lake Superior.

We cannot say that we respect Tribal sovereignty while undermining the very resources that those rights depend upon.

There is a reason that the Boundary Waters is also America's most popular and water-rich wilderness area. Its 1.1 million acres contain more than a thousand pristine lakes and 1,200 miles of river and stream.

Voting for this resolution risks the destruction of the region's prized natural resources, where the wild rice beds and the fisheries are thriving, and the water is clean and safe to drink.

People come from all over this country to recreate on the Boundary Waters, fish in the lakes, hunt in the forests. Before my colleagues vote to greenlight a mining operation, I urge them to come and see the beauty and the magic of the Boundary Waters. I have done so. It was an amazing experience. And I have heard from so many Wisconsinites who have shared their stories, their memories. And they cannot fathom the idea that Congress would take the step that we are on the precipice of taking.

As well, I have heard from our 11 federally recognized Tribal nations and their strong opposition. Our waters, our rivers, our lakes are all a part of the way of life in the Midwest. They provide fresh drinking water; they are endless sources of recreation; and they bring tourism to our States.

You know, this area, in particular, generates over $900 million in annual tourism revenue and sustains roughly 17,000 jobs. Rural towns across the region depend on the protection of the wilderness area and its natural resources. Family-owned small businesses that provide guiding and fishing and outdoor recreation will not survive if the water is polluted and the wilderness is degraded.

The Boundary Waters must not be put at risk of perpetual pollution, which is what this resolution would do. I also just want to make it clear to my colleagues who actually stands to benefit if this resolution passes the Senate.

While we have heard that rolling back protections for the Boundary Waters would bring economic opportunities for the region, that is false. The profits from the mining contract that this resolution aims to fast track are ultimately going overseas to benefit a Chilean multinational organization and China's industrial supply chain.

That is right. After enabling the destruction of one of our most pristine natural resources, those very resources are expected to be sold to China. With this resolution, the majority will be cashing out on a mining deal that has no long-term benefit to our economy or workforce.

The short-term gain of a mining contract cannot compete with the benefits of protecting the region that already generates, as I said earlier, over $900 million annually in tourism revenue and sustains nearly 17,000 jobs.

This resolution does not invest in the future of communities across the Boundary Waters, nor does it respect the treaties with our Tribal nations. Its passage would come at public expense while the profits from the project flow to foreign corporations.

I invite my colleagues who have never yet made it to the Boundary Waters to come and experience it for yourself.

I encourage you to meet with the Tribes and small businesses in the region and see for yourself what we stand to lose. I implore my colleagues not to jeopardize the future of one of the most pristine freshwater ecosystems in America and override Tribal rights.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this resolution.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor John Kissinger, president and CEO of GRAEF, on his retirement. For more than 25 years, Mr. Kissinger has been a tireless advocate for his community, supporting cultural and entertainment institutions through workforce development initiatives. This tireless work has directly resulted in the construction, renovation, and revitalization of numerous well-known buildings and cultural hubs across Wisconsin.

Mr. Kissinger earned his bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1979 and his master of science in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. In 1984, he joined GRAEF as a structural engineer in the firm's Milwaukee office. Since joining GRAEF, he steadily advanced within in the company, serving in roles including vice president, regional manager, and chief operating officer. In January 2012, he was named president and CEO.

Among his notable projects at GRAEF, Mr. Kissinger served as the

engineering project manager for the instantly iconic Milwaukee Art Museum Quadracci Pavillion, featuring a soaring structure designed by Santiago Calatrava. He also contributed to projects including the renovation and expansion of Green Bay's historic Lambeau Field, home to our beloved Packers, and the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee, as well as the Milwaukee Public Museum's IMAX Theater. These projects and many others have given him a unique understanding of the intersection between the design and contours of a city, the needs of its residents, and the delicate balance between the two.

Beyond this work, Mr. Kissinger is an active presence in the Milwaukee community. He currently serves as chairman of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and in 2010, he was appointed by then- Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett to lead the agency. He also has a longstanding interest in supporting programs for youth employment, serving as the cochair of the city of Milwaukee's Earn and Learn Youth Employment Program, in addition to volunteering with the organization. Mr. Kissinger was recently appointed to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's Cultural and Entertainment Capital Needs Task Force to help identify funding options to preserve key local facilities in Milwaukee, including the BMO Harris Bradley Center, the previous home of our Milwaukee Bucks.

Mr. Kissinger's 25 years at GRAEF, as well as his many community service initiatives, have created a lasting impact on not only the Milwaukee community, but also on the greater Wisconsin community. I am pleased to join others in recognizing John Kissinger's success and contributions to the people of our State and our Nation. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the Center for Patient Partnerships on its 25th anniversary. I am pleased to honor this organization and to commemorate this historic milestone.

Founded in 2000 by Meg Gaines, a law professor and cancer survivor, the Center for Patient Partnerships was built on the belief that we must work together to transform healthcare for all. For 25 years, the Center for Patient Partnerships has advanced a vision of patients working in partnership with medical and legal professionals in the fight for patient advocacy.

The Center for Patient Partnerships serves those with life- threatening and chronic illnesses by providing a full range of advocacy services. It helps patients navigate complex healthcare systems through personalized support in order to better understand their treatment options and access necessary medical and legal resources.

For 25 years now, the Center for Patient Partnerships has supported thousands of patients, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and guidance necessary to make informed decisions about their care.

In addition to individual services, the Center for Patient Partnerships is helping shape the future of healthcare through education. Offering training programs that bring together law, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy students, these programs give students the skills needed to become compassionate advocates and professionals in healthcare. This model has established the organization as a national leader in patient-centered education and advocacy.

The Center for Patient Partnerships also contributes to research and policy efforts aimed at improving healthcare delivery and patient- centered care. Its work focuses on consumer engagement and systemic reform to influence how healthcare systems respond to the patient needs.

As we recognize the Center for Patient Partnerships, we also honor the leadership of Meg Gaines, whose work has transformed countless lives and inspired a new generation of advocates. I am grateful for the center's continued service to patients and their commitment to strengthening our healthcare system. I look forward to their continued success in the years to come.