Floor Statements

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

Donald Trump came into office promising that he would lower costs and end foreign wars, but with this war, he has broken both promises at once. Wisconsin families are already seeing higher costs at the pump and on airfare. Wisconsin farmers are staring down higher fertilizer and fuel costs as spring planting gets underway. Meanwhile, the uncertainty and chaos caused by this President is keeping interest rates high and shaking the global stock market.

Donald Trump is raising costs on Americans at the same moment he is spending billions of dollars on a war that Wisconsin families did not choose. In just 6 days, Trump's war in Iran has cost American taxpayers almost $12 billion. We are now nearly a month into this war, and it is estimated that we have spent around $30 billion of taxpayer money.

What Donald Trump spent in 3 weeks is what it would have cost to extend the Affordable Care Act's tax credits for a full year. Republicans said that extending these healthcare tax credits for working families was too expensive, but they have not said a word about Trump spending $30 billion for another war. That money could have stopped 22 million Americans from seeing their healthcare costs increase by double, triple, or worse. It could have stopped 1 million people from canceling their coverage because the costs were simply too high to manage without those tax breaks. That $30 billion could have paid for more than 30 million children's school lunches. That $30 billion could have put a safe roof over the heads of more than 3.1 million Americans. That $30 billion could have covered a year of childcare for nearly 2 million children.

Using that money for an illegal war that no one wants is a choice, and now President Trump is reportedly planning to ask Congress for $200 billion more for his war with Iran.

Here is my question: For what?

That is not a rhetorical question. I genuinely don't know, and the American people don't know either what the goals of this war are and why American families are being asked to shell out billions of dollars for it. The Trump administration has, so far, been unable or unwilling to give the American people a straight answer.

Just as Donald Trump tells the American people that we are close to ending this war, strikes continue, and all signs point to this conflict continuing to grow. We are hearing reports that the Pentagon is making detailed preparations for deploying United States ground forces in Iran as 5,000 marines and new warships are being deployed to the Middle East. Just today, it was reported that, roughly, 3,000 soldiers who are trained to parachute into enemy territory are being deployed to the region.

I have been demanding hearings for weeks so that Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio can answer our questions under oath and in public before the American people. They need to answer why they are using taxpayer dollars on this illegal war instead of bringing down the costs of healthcare, housing, gas, groceries, and childcare for the families I represent.

Donald Trump ran and won on lowering costs for Americans, but his agenda has done just the opposite. He has started expensive wars; has pursued tariffs that have jacked up costs on consumers; and has slashed programs that have helped Americans afford their healthcare and put food on the table.

Enough is enough. It is time for the Trump administration to make their case to the American people. I personally don't think that they have one, but at the bare minimum, they need to tell Congress and the public why we are in this war, putting more servicemembers' lives at risk and not focusing on the kitchen table issues.

I yield the floor.

I object.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I object.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the majority of Americans who oppose President Trump's war in Iran. I also rise on behalf of the families who just want him to fulfill his promises to lower costs and end foreign wars. Sadly, that is not what we are getting.

So much of what we have seen over the last 3 weeks reminds me of our war

in Iraq. We have the Trump administration claiming that Iran was weeks away from a nuclear weapon, even though last year he said we had obliterated their nuclear program. We have Donald Trump saying that he wants to liberate the Iranian people from a regime, all while Iran has installed an equally as extreme leader. We have civilians, including children, being killed by American bombs. And we have servicemembers dying overseas for a cause that Americans do not understand.

Americans are watching the start of another open-ended military conflict in the Middle East, just the kind President Trump said he would end, not start.

There is one major difference, however, between this war and the Iraq war. This time around, the Trump administration hasn't even bothered to make their case to the American people. Back then, we had an open and public debate about the cost of war, the cost to the American taxpayer, the cost to our military and their families. We voted on it, and Congress held public hearings preceding that vote.

Look, I voted against it, and my fears were sadly proven right. But at least the American people back then had a say in it.

President Trump clearly has no interest in following the law or our Constitution or letting the American people have a say in this war. So far, my Republican colleagues have shown no interest in forcing him to do so.

So we are using the tools at our disposal to try to bring some sunlight and force a debate on this illegal war of choice, because the more people learn about this war, the less they like it, and the quicker we can end it. It is past time for this administration to come before Congress and the American people to explain why we are at war and how they plan to get us out of it.

If my Republican colleagues refuse to join us, I am prepared to keep forcing votes on this war. Congress, the people's branch, is a check and balance on any President, and right now, this President needs a serious check.

Donald Trump is breaking laws, and he is breaking his promises to the American people. The President is showing us what his priorities are: starting wars and not focusing on the everyday needs of hard-working families.

This war is not what the American people signed up for, and it is our job to stop it and get our country back on track. Today, we will show our constituents who is and who isn't on the side of the American people, and I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of keeping Wisconsin families safe. Keeping the people we work for safe is one of the most basic and solemn duties we have. We are here to keep folks safe from natural disasters, dangerous drugs, and dangerous people. That is what I am here to do today, because we need to fund critical Agencies like TSA and FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard to stop potential terror attacks and be sure that we are prepared for the next storm that hits an American community. I am also here to protect Wisconsinites from ICE terrorizing their communities like we saw in our neighboring State in the city of Minneapolis. We can and must do both. The people I work for are demanding it.

We need to fund these Agencies and put up commonsense guardrails on ICE and Border Patrol. It is not an either/or situation, as my Republican colleagues would have folks believe. We can ensure that TSA agents are paid and stop masked Federal agents from causing chaos in our residential neighborhoods. We can prevent cyber security attacks from our adversaries and ensure ICE and Border Patrol don't gun down more U.S. citizens in our streets. We can make sure communities reeling from disaster get the Federal support they need and hold Federal agents to the same basic standards that our local police officers operate under on a day-to-day basis. Protecting Americans means doing both.

If Republicans are serious about funding the Department of Homeland Security, the path forward is simple: Let's pass this bill today. Let's keep these crucial Agencies open while we come together to negotiate commonsense reforms so ICE stops killing Americans in our streets.

I have been clear that I will not support another blank check to ICE without reasonable guardrails that stop the chaos, violence, and death that we have seen in cities like Minneapolis.

My Republican colleagues are trying to use Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran to get us to back down on these demands. Democrats know how dangerous President Trump's war of choice in Iran is, and that is why I am against it. There is no denying that Americans are less safe today than they were before President Trump took us to war, and I am glad my Republican colleagues are willing to admit it. But if they think Americans will just forget watching the gut-wrenching videos of ICE officers taking the lives of innocent American citizens, they have another thing coming. The American people aren't buying it. They expect our government to stop terror threats and respond to natural disasters, not to intimidate and kill innocent people.

I am not giving up on my commitment to protecting Americans from Donald Trump's out-of-control Agencies that have killed U.S. citizens, terrorized communities, and caused chaos in our streets. I, for one, am willing to compromise. I am ready to fund the Department of Homeland Security without ICE. This straightforward plan funds key Agencies while giving my Republican colleagues more time to come to the table on commonsense reforms that Americans overwhelmingly support.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Bob Harlan, the longtime president and chief executive officer of the Green Bay Packers, whose leadership left an indelible mark on one of America's most historic sports franchises and on Packers fans across Wisconsin and the Nation.

Mr. Harlan passed away on March 5 at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that extends beyond the gridiron. During his illustrious tenure with the Packers, which spanned nearly four decades--including nearly two decades as president and CEO--Mr. Harlan was instrumental in guiding the organization through one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of professional sports and cementing the long-term stability of one of the NFL's most unique community-owned football organizations in the country.

When Mr. Harlan joined the Packers organization in 1989, the organization was facing significant competitive and financial challenges. Mr. Harlan's decision to bring Ron Wolf into the organization as the general manager marked the beginning of the Packers' turnaround, which saw the organization bring in the likes of Brett Favre and other Hall of Famers to Green Bay, culminating in the organization's first championship in nearly three decades in Super Bowl

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the exceptional career and life of Julius Campbell. Mr. Campbell is a pillar of the Milwaukee community, and he has left an indelible mark on the lives of many. From serving in the Navy during World War II to his early career as a third-grade teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools to the founding his own church, Mr. Campbell has put his faith in action through a lifetime service to his community and Nation.

Mr. Campbell is a man of deep faith, following a call to preach from a very young age. When founding his first church in 1958, he aimed to focus his work on inspiring and guiding younger generations. Mr. Campbell prides himself on serving God by helping families in need across his community.

Mr. Campbell became a Milwaukee crossing guard at 69 years of age, and he has spent the last 30 years providing parents with a sense of comfort, joy, and trust as their children pass through Mr. Campbell's crosswalk on their way to school. At Yeshiva Elementary School on Milwaukee's Northwest Side, Mr. Campbell is a constant in the students' daily routines, and they are often seen running to his crosswalk just to wish him good morning. Mr. Campbell recently celebrated his 100th birthday, yet has no plans to retire. Instead, he hopes to continue serving his community by helping Milwaukee's students safely cross the street.

I am pleased to recognize the contributions Mr. Campbell has made to the people of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and our Nation.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of my colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine's resolution prohibiting the United States from continuing this illegal war in Iran.

I want to start with the basic premise that I think we can all agree on: We are here to represent the people of our States and their desires. Wisconsinites have been unequivocal that they do not want another foreign war. I agree with them, and for a while, it seemed Donald Trump did too. The President promised not to get into more foreign wars, but the President broke that promise and has gone all in on war with Iran. The consequences are dire. Six American servicemembers are now dead. My heart absolutely breaks for their parents, their siblings, their children, their spouses, and their communities. Thousands of Americans in uniform who are stationed in the region are at risk because of the President's reckless and illegal war.

And what does the President have to say? He says that it is likely more Americans are going to die. He said that is just the way it is. He said that. The President's callous response shows his disregard for the men and women he is supposed to lead.

Our Constitution is crystal clear: If our country is going to war, Congress needs to vote on it.

In 2002, Congress debated the war in Iraq, and I opposed it. I believed the Bush administration dangerously underestimated the potential consequences and did not have a clear path forward after the initial military operation. I was right. As a result, thousands of brave service men and women died, taxpayers paid billions of dollars, and we got ourselves into a yearslong war in the Middle East.

I have the same concerns today. I fully agree that Iran's regime is a dangerous and murderous one and can't be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, but how we deal with them and keep America safe matters. Diplomacy--the hard work of peacefully negotiating--is the answer, not war. That is exactly why I supported the 2015 deal that kept Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, but President Trump ripped that deal up and allowed Iran's nuclear program to flourish.

Wisconsinites see exactly what this President is doing, and they do not support it. They want President Trump to live up to his promises and to address their kitchen-table issues and concerns, not pull our country into another foreign war.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the distinguished career and life of LaMarr Franklin. Mr. Franklin was born in 1945 in Milwaukee and passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 80. Mr. Franklin was a pillar of the Milwaukee community and left an enduring legacy that will continue to shape the city and the lives of its residents for years to come. He was known for dedicating his life to uplifting the city's youth and African-American community.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Mr. Franklin attended Messmer High School before being drafted at 21 into the Army during the Vietnam war, where he earned the rank of sergeant. Following his military service, he returned home and attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, earning a bachelor of science in sociology before beginning a successful career in corporate sales. After many fruitful years, he retired as vice president of sales at Computec Integrated Solutions, Inc.

Mr. Franklin talents were not only in sales but in his remarkable ability to lift up those around him. Throughout his career, he was highly regarded for his contributions and service to his community, earning commendations at the Federal, State, and local levels.

In 1973, Mr. Franklin founded the Milwaukee Chapter of the Black Achievers Program at the YMCA, which expanded college and career exploration opportunities for the city's youth. He also played a pivotal role in launching the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, which focused on expanding affordable housing and commercial facilities throughout the historic King Drive corridor for nearly 30 years. Additionally, he served numerous State and community boards, including more than 40 years of service on the board of the Northcott Neighborhood House, as well as the LaVarnway Boys and Girls Club Scholarship Board.

As board president of the Northcott Neighborhood House, Mr. Franklin spearheaded some of Milwaukee's most significant cultural milestones, including one of the Nation's largest Juneteenth celebrations and the beloved Garfield Days. Through his leadership on the Boys and Girls Club Booster Club and Scholarship Board, he opened doors for thousands of young people, many of whom have since ascended to prominent leadership roles spanning government and industry.

Beyond these many exceptional accomplishments, even in retirement, Mr. Franklin's commitment to mentorship never faded. He continued to tutor students in Milwaukee schools and, alongside lifelong friends, cofounded The Breakfast Club M.K.E. This 500-member organization provides a vital social space for African-American men and community leaders to foster youth engagement. To this day, the group continues his mission, meeting every second Friday at the Family Table Restaurant on Brown Deer Road.

In honoring Mr. Franklin's truly indelible mark on the great city of Milwaukee, his name officially became part of the city with the dedication of the LaMarr Franklin Lofts in October 2025. The building now remains as a true testament to the towering legacy which he left behind. Throughout his work, he built--both literally and metaphorically--the scaffolding to support our coming generations' successes.

Mr. Franklin's life was nothing short of remarkable. As a visionary leader, changemaker, and tireless advocate, the impacts of his dedication to Milwaukee's youth and African-American community will continue to be felt for generations to come. While we mourn his passing, I am honored to join our community in celebrating a life defined by service. We recognize his extraordinary contributions not only to Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin but to the Nation as a whole.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of Walter Jerome ``Jerry'' Frautschi. Jerry was a lifelong Madisonian, a successful businessman, and a remarkable philanthropist.

Born in Madison in 1931, Jerry served honorably in the U.S. Navy as a code breaker during the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1954. Later, he attended the University of Wisconsin--Madison, graduating in 1956. Alongside his brother John, he ran the family business Webcrafters and continued the family tradition of service and philanthropy within their community. Jerry was devoted to his family--his three sons, four grandchildren, and wife Pleasant Rowland--were the center of his world. He enjoyed tennis and golf with childhood friends and spending days sailing, fishing, swimming, and skating on Lake Mendota and at his family cottage on Pine Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Jerry's commitment to the arts was unmatched, and he and Pleasant were often found at musical and theatrical performances. He made one of the largest single donations to the arts in U.S. history, giving a $205 million gift to establish and build the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison. He made a $20 million gift to the Madison Youth Arts Center Starlight Theater, a $2 million gift to the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra's Center for Music, and contributed to the arts in so many other ways throughout the years.

His generosity extended far beyond the arts, giving $37.1 million for the Wisconsin History Center currently being developed on Wisconsin's Capitol Square, where generations of Wisconsinites will learn about their history. Jerry gave widely to schools, hospitals, student centers, community colleges, civic organizations, and environmental groups.

Jerry's own words are inscribed in the Overture Center's rotunda and they

read: ``Overture Center, my gift to Madison, continues the tradition of civic pride and responsibility that my family has honored since 1867. It is given in appreciation of the good life Madison has given us.''

I join Jerry's family and friends in celebration and remembrance of his remarkable life and impact. His philanthropy had a truly transformative impact on his hometown of Madison, and throughout Wisconsin, and will continue to live on as an enduring legacy.

Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to amendment No. 4272. This amendment would completely eliminate funding for an office that helps some of the most vulnerable in our country. This office helps shelter and care for children who are seeking safety. It makes sure that these children aren't being trafficked. It makes sure these children aren't stuck in cages in Border Patrol facilities for extended periods of time. This office also supports refugees who are victims of torture and human trafficking and who have been admitted to the United States by this administration, by the Trump administration.

Lastly, I will note that this program and its funding are supported by President Trump and were passed out of our Appropriations Committee with near unanimous support.

This amendment is ill-advised, and I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Mr. President, I rise on behalf of the thousands of Wisconsinites I have heard from in the last few days. My constituents are not only saddened by what they see happening in Minneapolis, they are angry. This weekend, we watched masked agents kill a second U.S. citizen in Minneapolis in just 3 weeks. Alex Pretti, just like Renee Good, should still be with us.

We also watched the Trump administration's reaction to this tragedy. Instead of turning down the temperature, the Trump administration threw gasoline on the fire and lied to the American people.

In the hours after Alex Pretti was shot 10 times by Federal agents, the Trump administration, without knowing the facts, said that Alex was a ``domestic terrorist'' and an ``assassin,'' and somebody who ``tried to murder'' ICE agents. Those are despicable lies.

Fortunately, Alex's community and loved ones are setting the record straight, and so am I. That is why I am here on the Senate floor this evening. We have to remember Alex Pretti for who he was, not for who the Trump administration wanted him to be to fit into their narrative.

Alex Pretti grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Preble High School in Green Bay. In recent days, his classmates have reached out to me and his friends and his teachers to share with me and the world who Alex really was.

Jose from Green Bay met Alex in the ninth grade. They became fast friends, participating in theater and show choir together. Jose shared about Alex that, ``even as a fellow student, I saw him as a role model.''

JD, who also knew Alex in high school, wrote to me:

Everyone I knew looked up to him as a role model--

effortlessly cool and unfailingly kind. Everything I know

about his life since those days and even his final act aligns

completely with the person I knew--a genuinely good person

who sincerely wanted to serve his community.

Another classmate, Michael, described Alex as ``generous with his time, welcoming by nature, and the kind of person who made you feel included without trying. He deserved to grow older, to keep showing up for people the way he did for me.''

And Alex did show up for people. He went on to become a nurse, serving veterans at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. His coworkers, friends, and patients described him as a good man--someone who cared about others in his community. We all saw Alex's last act was an act of service, putting himself between a group of masked agents and a woman who had been shoved into a snowbank.

He was not a threat. He was not an assassin. He was not a domestic terrorist. This administration is asking Americans not to believe their own eyes.

As his parents wrote:

The sickening lies being told about our son by the

administration are reprehensible and disgusting.

They implored all of us:

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.

Well, I, for one, plan to do just that. I will not allow the Trump administration to lie and smear Alex. But I also plan on doing everything I can to ensure that Alex and his family get justice. We must get some accountability for what happened. No other American should lose their lives because the Trump administration thinks that ICE can operate with ``absolute immunity.''

Congress has a choice this week. My Republican colleagues can sign over another blank check to Kristi Noem and ICE and endorse this chaos and lawlessness, or Congress can do our job and stop these lawless, masked, armed agents from terrorizing another community.

People want action. Alex deserves action. I intend to take that action, and I call on my Republican colleagues to join me.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum, for his 12 years of leadership of Milwaukee's professional basketball organization during a pivotal time of growth and success.

Since 1968, the Milwaukee Bucks, a team loved by former Senator and my mentor Herb Kohl have represented the State of Wisconsin in the National Basketball Association, NBA. While Milwaukee's market for a professional basketball team may be considered small, its strong fan base has been anything but. At the team's conception in 1968, more than 40,000 fans participated in a contest to help name the team's mascot. The team would be known as the ``Bucks,'' a nod to one of Wisconsin's State animals, the white-tailed deer. This Bucks mascot would become the proud identity of a loyal fan base.

In the team's more than 50-year history, they have won 19 division titles, three conference titles, and two national championships. An organization with this level of success requires a leader with integrity, expertise, and a love for the game of basketball. Peter Feigin has brought those skills and so many more to the Milwaukee Bucks throughout his time with the organization.

Mr. Feigin earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College, where he would also later earn an honorary doctorate. In his early career, Mr. Feigin worked in sales and marketing for Six Flags Theme Parks, and in 1998, Mr. Feigin joined the New York Knicks organization where he served in a variety of positions before eventually taking on the role of vice president of marketing.

From there, Mr. Feigin moved into a variety of corporate business and entertainment positions. He served as the chief marketing and revenue officer of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, a global entertainment company. As president and chief operating officer of Marquis Jet Partners, Inc., Mr. Feigin navigated the company through their merger with NetJets. In 2014, with more than two decades of proven leadership across the sports, business, and entertainment sectors, Mr. Feigin joined the Milwaukee Bucks as president.

Mr. Feigin has been integral to the success and development of the Milwaukee Bucks organization and the Milwaukee community over the past 12 years. He has elevated the organization by reimagining the possibilities of the team's business development and achieving substantial success across organizational departments.

At the start of Mr. Feigin's tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team faced an impasse, either needing to build a larger arena or fear the team leaving Milwaukee. The Bucks home at that time, the BMO Harris Bradley Center, was one of the oldest NBA arenas in the league and no longer met the

NBA's standards. Mr. Feigin was integral in the planning and development of both a new arena and the expansion of the surrounding urban district. In 2018, the Fiserv Forum, a 17,341-seat arena, opened and welcomed home Bucks basketball.

Alongside the Fiserv Forum, the Deer District is a 30-acre urban community that features restaurants, bars, lodging, and attractions. Through Mr. Feigin's determination and leadership, the Deer District has flourished as a vibrant part of Milwaukee's economy, community, and identity. He has remained committed to ensuring that the progress made in the Deer District continues to better the city of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin.

Mr. Feigin has built a culture of success across the Milwaukee Bucks organization, both on the court and across the business. The Milwaukee Bucks were named one of Milwaukee's best places to work 5 years in a row. And success in the front office was reflected on the court. During Mr. Feigin's tenure, the Bucks won six division titles, an NBA Cup tournament, a conference title, and the 2021 NBA national championship.

With the launch of the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation in 2016, Mr. Feigin created an additional bridge to the city and surrounding communities. He has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, City Year Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. Mr. Feigin served as chairman of the American Heart and Stroke Association's 2017 annual campaign. He was a member of the board of CEO's Against Cancer's Wisconsin chapter. Mr. Feigin's passion for service and people is evident and his work has and will continue to have a positive impact on Wisconsinites for years to come.

There is no doubt that Mr. Feigin ushered in a new era of success for the Milwaukee Bucks. As Mr. Feigin transitions from the organization, I am proud to honor his contributions to the Milwaukee Bucks, Fiserv Forum, the city of Milwaukee, and the State of Wisconsin.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be able to complete my remarks before the scheduled recess.

Mr. President, I rise today because this President is poised to strip away healthcare from American families again. If Congress doesn't act to pass this measure, Americans will be forced to jump through more hoops just to get health insurance, and 1.8 million Americans will lose their coverage.

This is just more of the same from Republicans and the President. Donald Trump and Republicans have spent over a decade trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act entirely, with no plan to replace it. When they haven't been able to repeal it wholesale, Republicans have looked for ways to attack and weaken the Affordable Care Act from the inside out.

And this is just what the administration did with this rule. They are chipping away at the Affordable Care Act and taking away healthcare from Wisconsin families.

While President Trump works out his concept of a plan, Republicans still have no real proposal on healthcare. Even if they could repeal the Affordable Care Act, they have nothing to protect the 24 million Americans who got coverage on healthcare.gov from being simply kicked off their insurance.

``Concepts of a plan'' simply are not good enough for the people that I represent. They deserve better. In fact, they need some breathing room and lower costs.

Instead of meeting families where they are and lowering costs, Republicans are taking us in the wrong direction. At the start of this year, 22 million Americans saw their premiums go up in 2026 because Republicans refused to extend tax breaks to help families afford their healthcare.

Behind every 1 of those 22 million Americans is a story--a family forced to make impossible choices about finances, their health, and their future. I am talking about folks like Nancy and John from Park Falls, WI, whose premiums were set to increase by over $2,000 each month in 2026.

Nancy wrote to me:

This is absolutely unaffordable!! Literally we cannot pay

this. We would have to sell our home and our vehicles in

order to just come up with the money to do that.

Another constituent from Barron County, WI, wrote to me sharing that without the tax breaks, he would have to spend over 40 percent--get that: 40 percent--of his income on health insurance alone just to ensure his wife could continue to get her treatment for her breast cancer.

I also heard from Eric and his wife in Menomonie, WI. They both retired from teaching after 30 years and are still not yet eligible for Medicare. He

wrote to me that they were seriously considering going without any health insurance since paying close to $3,000 a month on a fixed income might just break the bank.

Republicans ran out the clock on helping families like these, and the final window to get coverage for this year ends in just 2 days on January 15. How many Americans like Eric or Nancy are being forced to give up their health insurance this year? How many more will consider selling their houses or their cars just to make sure that they can afford sometimes lifesaving care?

Now, on top of this, the Trump administration is pushing a rule to kick even more families off of their healthcare. The rule we are talking about today would shorten the open enrollment periods and introduce much more redtape, locking eligible families out of getting their health insurance.

We should be making it easier, not harder, for Americans to see a doctor. We should be making healthcare more affordable, not more expensive.

Over the past year, I have talked to countless constituents who are sick and tired of Republicans' constant attacks on their healthcare.

Instead of spending time coming up with new ways to kick Americans off Affordable Care Act plans, I urge my Republican colleagues to help us reverse this disastrous rule and actually start working with us to fix our broken healthcare system.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of my colleague from Virginia's resolution prohibiting the United States from engaging in any further military operations in Venezuela. And I want to begin by asking a simple question: Have we learned nothing?

Nicolas Maduro is, without a doubt, a horrendous and illegitimate dictator. He lost the 2024 Venezuelan Presidential election, but through fraud and force he stayed in power. He is a known drug trafficker and has been indicted twice by the Department of Justice on multiple charges of collaborating with drug cartels and smuggling drugs into the United States. And he is a brutal dictator responsible for murder, torture, and systematic repression of the Venezuelan people.

But the question before us today is not whether Nicolas Maduro is a brutal dictator or not. The question is, Have we learned nothing?

I am so reminded of a similar debate in Congress before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2002, as a Member of the House of Representatives, I spoke out against President Bush's intent to invade Iraq. I believed the Bush administration dangerously underestimated the potential consequences of a war with Iraq and did not have a clear path forward after the initial military operation.

And, lo and behold, I was right. And, as a result, thousands of brave servicemembers died, taxpayers were forced to pay hundreds of billions of dollars, and we got ourselves into a yearslong war that destabilized the entire Middle East.

So, again, I am here to ask the question: Have we learned nothing?

I have those same concerns with President Trump and Venezuela today as I had with President Bush and Iraq.

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela last week was remarkable. There is no doubt our military is the most capable in the world. However, President Trump's concept of a plan for Venezuela and whether the Senate will allow him to drag our country further into conflict is much less clear.

Yes, our military operation to capture Maduro last week was a success, but I would remind my colleagues that the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 was also considered a success. Yet, in both Iraq and Venezuela, the President did not have a clear plan about what would happen next. And that uncertainty today is dangerous and risks leading the United States into an all-out war in Venezuela.

President Trump has openly claimed that the United States would run Venezuela and mused about deploying U.S. military troops to the country--in other words, taking the United States to war.

President Trump and his administration have offered confusing and contradictory claims regarding their intentions. The President has offered multiple reasons for last week's operation: stopping drug trafficking, securing Venezuelan oil, and protecting the Western Hemisphere from our adversaries. Yet Venezuela is not the center of drug trafficking into the United States, and, just last month, Trump pardoned the former President of Honduras, who had been sentenced to 45 years in prison for running his country as a narcostate.

Our economy does not depend on access to Venezuelan oil, but President Trump is after Venezuela's oil to enrich his Big Oil buddies. And, if anything, our adversaries will only feel empowered by President Trump's reckless violations of international law.

Let me be clear: There is no U.S. national interest in Venezuela worth the lives of my constituents in Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites want President Trump to live up to the promise of lowering costs back home, to live up to his promises that he made during his campaign. They do not want him to pull our country into another war that the American people did not choose.

The President does not have the unilateral authority to invade foreign countries, oust their governments, and seize their resources. Under the Constitution of the United States, the power to go to war lies with the people's branch. It is time for Republicans and Democrats in Congress to reassert our constitutional role in authorizing military force when needed and hold President Trump accountable before the United States is engaged in another war that the American people did not choose.

So, again, I ask my colleagues across the aisle: Have we learned nothing? Have we forgotten how dangerous it is for our country and our constituents when Presidents recklessly take us into conflict without a plan to get us out? Have we forgotten the lessons we learned from each of the thousands of Americans killed in Iraq?

I yield the floor.