Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of Michael Johnson, a respected community leader, a dedicated advocate for young people, and a champion for opportunity throughout Wisconsin. Mr. Johnson's leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to service transformed countless lives and helped build a stronger future for children and families across Dane County. His passing is a tremendous loss to the Madison community, Dane County, the State of Wisconsin, and to all those fortunate enough to know him.

Mr. Johnson was raised in Chicago, where he developed an early understanding of the challenges facing many young people and families. Those experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for others. He believed deeply that every child deserves the chance to succeed, regardless of circumstance, and he dedicated his career to making that belief a reality.

Before coming to Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson worked with youth-serving organizations in Chicago, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. In 2010, he became president and chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. Over the next 16 years, he transformed the organization into one of the region's most impactful nonprofit institutions. Under his leadership, the Boys & Girls Clubs expanded its reach, strengthened partnerships throughout the community, and increased its capacity to serve young people and their families.

Mr. Johnson understood that helping young people succeed required more than afterschool programs alone. He championed initiatives focused on education, workforce development, mentorship, and career readiness. Through partnerships with schools, businesses, and community organizations, Mr. Johnson helped create opportunities for students to pursue higher education, develop professional skills, and prepare for successful futures. Thousands of young people benefited from programs and services made possible through his vision and determination.

Among Mr. Johnson's most significant accomplishments was his vision for the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center. Recognizing both the growing demand for skilled trades workers and the need to create pathways to economic mobility for young people, he led the effort to develop a first-of-its-kind workforce training center in Dane County. Through years of planning, partnership-building, and fundraising, Mr. Johnson transformed an ambitious idea into reality. Today, the center provides hands-on training, industry certifications, and career preparation in high-demand skilled trades, creating opportunities for young people to build family-sustaining careers while helping address workforce shortages throughout the region. Mr. Johnson viewed the center not simply as a building, but as an investment in the future of Wisconsin's youth and a model for how communities can expand opportunity through innovation and collaboration.

Mr. Johnson also understood the importance of ensuring that young people see themselves reflected in the history and institutions around them. He played a leading role in the effort to establish the Vel Phillips Memorial Statue on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Through his leadership and fundraising efforts, supporters from across Wisconsin came together to create a lasting tribute to Vel Phillips, a pioneering civil rights leader, jurist, and public servant whose groundbreaking achievements opened doors for generations of Wisconsinites. The unveiling of the statue marked a historic milestone for the State of Wisconsin and reflected Mr. Johnson's belief that honoring the accomplishments of trailblazing leaders can inspire future generations to pursue lives of service and leadership.

Mr. Johnson's impact extended far beyond the Boys & Girls Clubs. He became one of Madison's most trusted civic leaders and strongest advocates for building a more inclusive community. He brought together leaders from education, business, government, and nonprofit organizations to address challenges facing local families. Whether working to expand educational opportunities, strengthen neighborhoods, or create pathways to economic success, Mr. Johnson had a unique ability to unite people around a common purpose.

Those who knew Mr. Johnson often spoke of his gift for connecting with others. He believed in meeting people where they were and helping them realize their potential. He served as a mentor to countless young people and emerging leaders, offering encouragement, guidance, and support. His leadership was grounded in the belief that meaningful change comes from investing in people and empowering them to succeed.

While Mr. Johnson received many honors throughout his career, his greatest achievement was the lasting impact he made on the lives of others. The students who graduated, the families who found support, and the community leaders he inspired all stand as a testament to his life's work. His legacy can be seen throughout Dane County in the opportunities he helped create and the futures he helped shape.

Mr. Johnson was also a devoted husband, father, and family man. He carried the same compassion, integrity, and commitment into his personal life that he demonstrated in his professional career. His family, friends, colleagues, and community will remember him not only for what he accomplished, but for the kindness, optimism, and generosity he shared with others.

Mr. Johnson devoted his life to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities. His leadership helped countless young people imagine a brighter future and gave them the tools to pursue it. As we honor his life and mourn his passing, we celebrate a legacy of service that will continue to inspire generations to come. I am proud to join communities across Wisconsin in recognizing Michael Johnson's extraordinary contributions and the enduring legacy of his life's work.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment, No. 5485, and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, I rise today to offer an amendment that will actually help millions of families just trying to make ends meet.

We all know the childcare crisis doesn't see State or political lines. In rural, urban, and suburban communities, I hear from families making hard choices just to ensure their kids have a safe place to be when they are at work.

And it is not just families who are hurting. I hear from businesses whose employees are leaving because someone has to stay home with the kids. When childcare is not accessible, our entire economy suffers.

While my colleagues work to cut a $70 billion check for ICE and Border Patrol, my amendment would redirect just some of that funding to ensure millions of American families have childcare.

Instead of giving a blank check to rogue ICE agents who have killed two American citizens, this would lower costs for families and give more children a strong start.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, do I have any time remaining?

Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act and all budget resolution discipline that applies, I move to waive all points of order for the purposes of the pending measure, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Vote on Motion

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, Local 159 in Madison, WI, on their 125th anniversary. I am pleased to honor this organization and to commemorate this historic milestone.

Chartered in 1900, IBEW Local 159 began with only 25 members. These members all recognized that their union was crucial to improving the pay and working conditions for electrical workers in their community. At the time, many were experiencing 7-day work weeks with 12-hour workdays and pay as low as $8 a week. Additionally, the work was difficult and dangerous with a fatality rate of 50 percent, twice the national average death rate for all other industries.

Today, IBEW Local 159 includes active members and retirees who work across many different fields, including construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, utilities, manufacturing, railroads, government, and coffee shops. Union members bargain collectively with employers for fair wages, benefits, rights, and legal protections. IBEW Local 159 members are also deeply involved in greater Madison community. Some of the projects members have volunteered for include Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Habitat for Humanity, Vilas Park Zoo Annual Fundraising programs, Ronald McDonald House, Halloween Tunnel of Terror, and Fishing Has No Boundaries.

As IBEW Local 159 celebrates its 125th anniversary, they hope to continue the successes of four previous generations by protecting their craft and geographic jurisdiction, continuing to organize contractors, and developing their apprenticeship and training programs. This will allow them to build solidarity among their members and protect quality work into the future.

As we honor this significant milestone for IBEW Local 159, I am grateful for their continued support of skilled trade workers, and I look forward to their continued success and impact in the years to come.

Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to President Trump's war of choice in Iran that has cost taxpayers billions and taken the lives of 13 American servicemembers.

Since this war began over 11 weeks ago, it has been abundantly clear that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth don't know what they are doing. They have offered shifting rationales for why we are at war, moving the goalposts by the hour. There seems to be no plan or timeline for when this war will end. This administration has also been caught flat-footed at every turn, including not anticipating that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed and the skyrocketing gas prices that followed.

It is not just Americans at home who are paying the price for this conflict. American servicemembers are sounding the alarm, too, that the Trump administration wasn't prepared to keep them safe. First, we learned that servicemembers who were injured in Kuwait in a March 1 drone strike had to wait nearly a month to get care for their traumatic brain injuries. Now we are learning that troops in the same unit had their calls for support from the Army ignored. Soldiers stationed in Kuwait asked for additional medical personnel and medical supplies before the war began, but that request was denied. These same soldiers also recount that they did not get the proper training for responding to an attack.

They were told: Don't worry about protection.

MAJ Stephen Ramsbottom told CBS News that he believed MSG Nicole Amor, an Army reservist who was killed in the attack, could have survived her wounds had the military been properly prepared for retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases.

All of this points to a larger problem and a larger pattern of Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth being totally reckless, starting a war without the careful planning necessary to protect Americans. And while two in three Americans say this war was the wrong decision, President Trump keeps threatening to ramp up this conflict, putting our troops further into harm's way. He has even hinted that he is interested in starting another war in Cuba.

Americans didn't ask for this war of choice. Their elected representatives in Washington didn't even vote on it. And yet it is Americans who are paying the price every single day.

I am glad to see more of my Republican colleagues are listening to their constituents, and I was pleased to see another vote to stop this reckless and illegal war.

But it is not enough. It is time for Congress to finally be a check on this President.

Stand up for your constituents and our servicemembers, and join us in voting to stop this war.

I yield the floor.

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.