Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in strong opposition to President Trump's plan to claw back funding that Congress approved on a bipartisan basis. Not only does this so-called rescissions package defund critical programs that Wisconsinites rely on, it fundamentally undermines the ability of Congress to write and pass bipartisan appropriations bills.

To my colleagues who push for more bipartisanship in our work here, passing rescissions packages like this will only make that bipartisanship more difficult. It will mean more partisanship, more deadlock, and, ultimately, a greater risk of government shutdowns. That is why we have not passed a partisan rescissions bill like this package before.

Like any bipartisan agreement, there are always things in annual appropriations bills that we don't like or that we would write differently, and there are things that my Republican colleagues don't like or they would write differently. But how can one party negotiate and make concessions as a part of bipartisan annual appropriations bills if the majority party can just walk back those agreements months later?

I would like to start by calling out the harm this package will do for Wisconsinites in the short term--in particular, cuts to public broadcasting.

One in four Wisconsinites lives in a rural community, and many rely on public broadcasting for local news, emergency alerts, and free educational programming, especially for children. Wisconsin Public Radio is the primary broadcast relay for Wisconsin's Emergency Alert System, including AMBER Alerts and lifesaving weather alerts like tornado and flash flood warnings. We need to look no further than the absolutely devastating news out of Texas to see that access to high- quality and timely information can mean the difference between life and death.

Access to local news from reporters and sources that community members trust is more important than ever. Stripping this funding would endanger local news that is already disappearing in so many Wisconsin communities. In 2024, almost one in five newspapers in Wisconsin shut down, according to a recent study. That same study found that Wisconsin's northernmost county, Bayfield County, had no local news source while 22 counties across Wisconsin had just 1 local news source.

That is where public media plays a critical role in keeping Wisconsinites connected with their communities. Stations like WXPR in Rhinelander will be under threat if this package advances, one of the few news sources producing local reporting in Wisconsin's Northwoods and Michigan's Upper Peninsula or Radio Milwaukee, which, because of public funding, can broadcast local school board meetings for parents and families to stay in touch with what is happening in their schools. Without Federal support for public media, this critical information could disappear for Wisconsin families.

The President's effort to take this funding from local communities and endanger the vital information that Wisconsinites need to stay safe is all because he is trying to desperately pay for his deficit bomb of a bill that just got rammed through Congress. That bill gives huge tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. President Trump and the Republicans are paying for some of it by gutting Medicaid and kicking families off nutrition assistance, and now they are taking away access to public media.

Beyond the clawbacks included in this package, the second point I want to make is about what these proposed cuts will mean for Congress and our ability to write bipartisan appropriations bills going forward.

It is clear to me that President Trump does not respect the separation of powers, but I remain hopeful that my Republican colleagues will stand with Democrats to protect the powers given to Congress by our Constitution. With this rescissions package, House Republicans bent their knee to the ``king'' and, once again, green- lighted Trump's wishes. I am asking my Republican Senate colleagues not to follow suit because the future of bipartisan compromise depends upon it. The package that the White House proposed and the House approved claws back billions in funding that Republicans and Democrats approved on a bipartisan basis. If Republicans approve this package on a party- line vote, it will fundamentally undermine Congress's ability to set funding levels. If Senate Republicans allow this bill to pass, we know that the administration will keep sending us new rescissions packages.

The President has already put a target on the bipartisan investments he wants to claw back. We have seen his funding freezes from cuts to cancer and Alzheimer's research to withholding funding for afterschool programs and slashing workforce training programs. This White House froze funding that was approved by this very body, written and passed by both Republicans and Democrats.

If my Republican colleagues approve this reversal, then what is next? What is to stop every future majority party from throwing away months of bipartisan work? What incentive will minority parties have to come to the table to get a bipartisan funding bill over the finish line if the party in power can turn around and go back on its word?

I ask my Republican colleagues to consider what advancing this package will mean for the next round of negotiations that we are about to enter for fiscal year 2026. I believe the future of bipartisan compromise hangs in the balance here. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this rescissions package.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize my friend Martha Cranley, who will retire at the end of the summer after a distinguished career in service to children, families, and communities throughout Wisconsin.

After her family moved north from Oklahoma to set roots in Madison during her childhood, Martha attended St. Norbert College in De Pere. In some ways, this is where she began her career ``serving'' Wisconsinites: working at a restaurant where players for the Green Bay Packers dined for breakfast during their training camp. Her children still remind her that she failed to obtain a Bart Starr autograph during this time.

Following graduation, Martha returned to Madison, where she worked as a policy aide in both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature. While there, she formed many lasting relationships both professional and personal, the most important one being with her husband of more than 35 years Larry Martin.

Martha has spent the more than three decades since her time in State government leading community and

advocacy organizations throughout our great State. Early in her career, she served as the founding executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers and was instrumental in the creation of a nationally recognized peer review model. Martha then led efforts to track, analyze, synthesize, and communicate data about the health and well-being of children and families in Wisconsin as director of the Kids Count project at Kids Forward. From there, Martha spent over a decade at United Way of Dane County, leading the agency's work to address family homelessness. To that end, she was instrumental in the founding of two investment funds designed to increase the creation of affordable housing in Dane County. Martha's leadership also strengthened the education, income, and health outcomes of families within the county.

Fittingly, Martha chose to sunset her career as an advocate for our State's seniors, serving as the Wisconsin State director for AARP. Martha's legacy as an advocate for families at every stage of life has been solidified through her work to encourage the civic engagement of the organization's diverse membership as a means to help Wisconsinites age with dignity and purpose.

Upon her retirement, Martha is looking forward to ``doing whatever she wants,'' including traveling, reading even more mystery novels, attending the theater, and spending time with her growing extended family.

Martha, thank you for your positive impact on lives all over our State. I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor my friend Larry John Martin, who will retire at the end of this summer after a distinguished career in service to communities throughout the State of Wisconsin.

As a proud son of Kenosha, Larry discovered his passion for politics and public service as a teenager at Tremper High School. In 1979, he came to Washington, DC, to work as a Senate page under then-Sergeant at Arms F. Nordy Hoffman and sponsored by my predecessor Senator William Proxmire. Larry still recalls with fondness his time serving alongside his ``colleagues,'' including Senators Ted Kennedy, George McGovern, and Joseph Biden.

After moving to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin, he stayed to raise a family upon meeting his wife of more than 35 years Martha Cranley. Larry worked in the administrations of Wisconsin Governors Tony Earl and James Doyle and served as executive director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Later, as executive director of the Wisconsin Library Association, he helped to strengthen our public library system in the State as providers of information and welcoming spaces for the community, particularly for the South Central Library System. Most recently, Larry served as executive director for the State Bar of Wisconsin, where he enjoyed the opportunity to work with lawyers of all specialties, but particularly those who worked in public service and the most legally underserved areas of our State.

Larry has a deeply rooted commitment to ensuring that our systems of government work best when we work across the aisle. To that end, he has made it a point to create working relationships and forming lifetime friendships with those across the political spectrum. Larry has always maintained a strong belief in the power of democracy and never missed a chance to cast his ballot in person the day of an election. On many brisk November and April mornings, you could often find him waving yard signs at a busy intersection, reminding people to get out and perform their civic duty as citizens of this country.

Above all, Larry enjoys being with Martha and his family, making it a point to be home for dinner and enthusiastically support whatever events and activities his children were involved in. His family tells me that he is at his happiest during the Christmas season, enjoying movies next to the tree with his growing family of in-laws and grandchildren, preferably with an ice-cold Coca-Cola within reach.

Larry, thank you for your commitment to service, to Wisconsin and for your friendship. I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor Mark Murphy, chief executive officer of the Green Bay Packers, as he prepares to retire on July 13. For 15 seasons, Mr. Murphy has led one of the most revered franchises in professional sports, ushering the team into an era of incredible success.

Founded in 1919, the Green Bay Packers are one of the oldest teams in the National Football League--NFL--and the league's last remaining ``small-town team.'' But make no mistake, a small town does not mean a small fanbase. Packers fans are as loyal and enthusiastic as they come. Every Packers game since 1960 has been sold out, and the waitlist for season tickets is nearly 150,000 names long. Over the team's long and storied history, the Packers have enjoyed many successful seasons. Decorated with 13 league championships, the team has nine pre-Super Bowl NFL titles and four Super Bowl victories. With more than 360,000 stockholders, the Packers are proudly the only community-owned team in all of American professional sports.

Because of the team's public ownership, being CEO of the Packers is a unique and demanding job, but Mr. Murphy's background could not suit him better for the position. Born in Fulton, NY, Mr. Murphy graduated from Clarence High School, where he was a successful athlete and accomplished student. Mark went on to attend Colgate University, continuing his athletic career playing football and baseball. He then went on to receive a master of business administration from American University and a juris doctor from Georgetown University.

After his success at Colgate, Mr. Murphy was drafted into the NFL. He played in Washington, DC, for eight seasons during which time the team twice reached the Super Bowl, winning Superbowl XVII in 1982. In 1983, Mr. Murphy led the league in interceptions and was named All-Pro. To this day, he is believed to be the only person to earn a Super Bowl ring as both a player as well as a team executive.

Following his time as a player, Mr. Murphy worked for the National Football League Players Association, eventually becoming vice president. While at the players association, Mr. Murphy served on the union's bargaining team during the 1987 player's strike. He moved on to collegiate athletics, spending a combined 16 years as director of athletics at Colgate University and Northwestern University. In 1989, Mr. Murphy served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. He spent 4 years as a public servant, primarily representing government Agencies in trials. In 2007, Mr. Murphy became the tenth CEO of the Green Bay Packers, embarking on what would be a remarkably successful tenure with the franchise.

During his time with the Packers, Mr. Murphy made innumerable contributions to the Packers organization, including renovations to Lambeau Field, which is the oldest continuously occupied stadium in the NFL. He has overseen major renovations to the facility that have maintained the stadium's historic charm while making it a venue suitable for year-round events.

Mr. Murphy was also instrumental in development of the Titletown District. Situated directly next to Lambeau Field, Titletown is a mixed-use development that includes a residential property, numerous dining options, a sports medicine facility, a full-sized athletic field, game courts, and a playground. Titletown is also home to TitletownTech, a venture capital firm that Murphy has actively engaged with that invests in startups to solve global challenges. Since opening in 2017, Titletown has become a destination for locals and visitors alike.

Perhaps Mr. Murphy's most impressive accomplishment was his ability to build and maintain a successful football team. During Mr. Murphy's tenure, the Packers qualified for the postseason 13 times, reached the NFC championship game five times, and won Superbowl XLV in 2011. Mr. Murphy's leadership has allowed this team to remain one of the most successful in the league.

To cap off his time as CEO of the Packers, Mr. Murphy helped bring the NFL draft to Green Bay in April of 2025. The 3-day event brought more than 600,000 fans to Green Bay, the second-highest attendance in NFL draft history.

Mr. Murphy's contributions reach far beyond Lambeau Field and across Wisconsin. He and his wife Laurie have supported Wisconsin organizations dedicated to education, internet access, healthcare equity, and racial justice. Mr. Murphy is an advisory board member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization that promotes a positive environment in youth athletics. He also served on the executive committee and board of USA Football and has contributed to efforts to make football safer for athletes of all ages. In 2021, Mr. Murphy received the Free Enterprise Award from the Rotary Club of Green Bay for his efforts to drive business growth and community impact through the Packers organization.

For 15 years, Mr. Murphy combined his passion for football with his strong business acumen to shape a bold era of

leadership. Mr. Murphy's legacy is defined by honest, thoughtful leadership--qualities for which he will be remembered in Wisconsin and across the National Football League. As he prepares to retire from the Packers Organization, I am proud to honor Mark Murphy's many contributions to the Green Bay Packers and the State of Wisconsin and wish him and his family all the best. ``Go Pack Go!''

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I am proud to join my midwestern colleagues today to draw attention to what will happen in our States if this bill were to come to pass. So I rise today on behalf of the 17 million Americans who are poised to have their healthcare terminated because of the Republicans' disastrous budget bill.

While I am laser-focused on the nearly 260,000 Wisconsinites whose healthcare will be placed in jeopardy by this measure, I realize that so many Americans who reside in States that are represented by Republicans don't have a voice in this fight right now on this Senate floor.

You know, I have traveled my State extensively, listening to people talk about how this bill would impact them and their families, and I have shared those stories, I have uplifted those stories, sometimes right here on the Senate floor and sometimes in other ways.

I know that my Republican colleagues are getting the same influx of phone calls and letters that I am getting from parents of children with disabilities, from the elderly and folks who are working hard but just can't keep up. These are constituents who are downright scared that they will have the rug pulled out from under them.

I know my Republican colleagues are hearing from their rural hospitals and their pediatricians who are clear about what this bill will mean for their ability to keep their doors open and to care for their patients.

According to reports, my colleague from Kentucky even admitted as much behind closed doors last week, saying that ``I know a lot of us are hearing from people back home about Medicaid.'' But rather than committing to join us in this fight, he said ``They'll get over it'' and urged his colleagues to forge ahead with this bill.

Well, if my Republican colleagues won't fight for these Americans, I think it is well past time that some of us do. That is why I am proud to be standing with my midwestern Democratic colleagues to do and say something about it.

I am here to stand up for the over half a million midwestern Americans in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and the Dakotas whose healthcare is on the chopping block if Republicans jam through this terrible budget bill.

In just those 6 States alone, over 340,000 Americans will lose their Affordable Care Act coverage, and over 225,000 Americans will be kicked off Medicaid if the Republicans get their bill and their way. In Iowa, over 100,000 Americans' care could be on the chopping block, including over 58,000 Americans whose families rely on Medicaid.

When we talk about hundreds of thousands of people losing healthcare coverage, it can sometimes get lost that this actually means people, not numbers. The numbers we are talking about are people. They have faces, they have stories, they have families, and they matter.

Take Patrick Kearns, a registered nurse in Iowa City at the VA Medical Center and father of two adult children with disabilities. He told the Des Moines Register:

My children are not scamming the system. The idea that

they're somehow gaming the system at the detriment to the

rest of society, especially when people like Elon Musk are

using words like `parasite' to describe my children--anger

doesn't quite encompass how I feel.

He continued:

I just find it shocking that you would go after truly the

most vulnerable people, as if they are somehow conducting

fraud. These folks are barely surviving.

In Kansas, where nearly 90,000 Americans' health coverage is at risk, including 18,000 Kansans on Medicaid, Kathy and Jacob shared the story of their adopted sister Mireya, who suffered a traumatic brain injury at just 4 weeks old--I am sorry--7 weeks old. Because of Medicaid, the family could afford at-home nursing services before their sister passed away in 2024.

Jacob told the Kansas Reflector:

This is not right or left. This is truly a human right.

Yes, we want to get rid of fraud. People using the support,

that's not fraud. That's called helping people live their

best life in the most respectful and dignified way possible.

In Missouri, 250,000 Americans' care is on the chopping block, including over 100,000 with Medicaid.

In the suburb of St. Louis, Sandra told the Kaiser Family Foundation Health News that she worries about her 20-year-old daughter Sarah and the 24-hour service she needs, including in-home nursing.

Sandra said:

I really and truly don't know what I would do if we lost

the Medicaid home care. I have no plan whatsoever. It is not

sustainable for anyone to do infinite, 24-hour care without

dire physical health, mental health, and financial

consequences, especially as we parents get into our elder

years.''

In Nebraska, 74,000 people could lose coverage, including 26,000 Americans on Medicaid. Dr. Ann Anderson Berry, who works at Children's Hospital in Omaha, NE, told Nebraska Public Media that these cuts would greatly harm those in Nebraska's rural communities.

According to Dr. Anderson Berry, ``this is not just a health care issue; it's a workforce issue, an education issue, an economic issue. Communities without access to safe childbirth cannot attract or retain young families. They struggle to grow, and they suffer generational consequences. Nebraska simply deserves better. Our rural families deserve better. Cutting Medicaid may save money on the spreadsheet, but it will cost lives in real communities and put the expensive burden of care back on our communities.''

In South Dakota, 31,000 Americans' insurance is at risk under this bill, including 12,000 Americans on Medicaid. Retired family physician Tom Dean, from Wessington Springs, shared his concerns about what the cuts to Medicaid will mean for nursing homes and the health of moms and babies.

He told the South Dakota Searchlight:

I'm really frightened about the impact it will have on

nursing homes. . . . Medicaid is a major payer for prenatal,

delivery, and postpartum care. . . . And that's a major

concern, especially in rural areas.

I know that my Republican colleagues are hearing these stories from their constituents, and we need to make sure that they can't ignore them. These stories and the people behind them make all the difference in this fight to protect Medicaid. I am proud to give them a voice in the Senate, as my Republican colleagues continue their crusade to rip away healthcare from 17 million Americans.

The American people don't like this bill, and that includes Americans who live in red, blue, and purple States. We are going to keep ringing the alarm bells on behalf of Americans in every corner, in every part of this Nation and protect the critical coverage working families need and deserve. Lives depend upon it.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today in disbelief. That may sound a little cheesy, but at the end of the day, I fundamentally believe in public service. I believe it can be a force for good, a force that gives people opportunity, a force that is people-powered, that can lift our neighbors up and instill hope, a force that meets the toughest challenges of our constituents. And that is why I am struck with disbelief.

Disbelief because if you believe these things like I do--which I would argue most of my colleagues here do--why would you be jamming this bill through?

At a time when Wisconsin families are asking us to take on the high cost of living and let them have a fair shot at success, Republicans are raising costs and making an already unfair tax system even worse.

My Republican colleagues are not using their time and energy to go after greedy corporations, not to lower the cost of housing, and not to expand access to affordable healthcare. But, rather, they are, instead, forging ahead with a bill that will kick millions of Americans off their health insurance, jack up prices for care for millions more, and literally take food off the tables of hungry families.

Look, I was on the same ballot as Donald Trump last year. I heard the same concerns from my constituents that he did. Families needed some breathing room.

My Republican colleagues often say that this President's victory gave him a ``mandate.'' Well, then, the President and I got the same mandate: to lower costs and give people the opportunity to live a steady and comfortable life. But in response, the difference could not be more stark. I am actually working to do something about it, and this bill--the landmark bill from this President and the Republican Party-- does just the opposite and will raise costs for families.

One of the biggest cost drivers I hear about is healthcare. Instead of standing up to big drug companies to lower prescription drug costs and instead of building on the Affordable Care Act to expand access to healthcare coverage, this bill actually terminates coverage for Americans. In fact, 17 million Americans will be kicked off either Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act because of this bill. That is like stripping healthcare coverage from the entire populations of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa combined.

These aren't just numbers; these are people. They are people who have stories, and they matter. I should know. After battling a childhood illness, I became one of those Americans labeled as having a preexisting health condition, and insurance companies were legally able to deny me coverage. But because of the Affordable Care Act, we changed that. We gave families like mine hope--hope that they can get healthcare at a price they can afford and sleep well at night knowing they have coverage.

Medicaid has given that same hope for generations to some of our most vulnerable neighbors. But with this bill, my Republican colleagues are instilling fear. When we talk about Medicaid, we are talking about the elderly, people with disabilities, and children. We are talking about a single mother of three who is struggling to make ends meet and so many more.

I have traveled the State of Wisconsin from Superior to Racine, La Crosse to Green Bay and everywhere in between, to hear from people who will be harmed by this bill. I have come to this very floor to share their stories, to try to help my Republican colleagues understand what this bill will mean. But it is not just the folks who need Medicaid to survive who are sounding the alarm. Take it from Dr. Abbigayle Willgruber, a family medical resident in rural Wisconsin. She said that this bill ``will deprive millions of Americans, particularly children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, of the care they need to survive.''

She, continued saying:

These provisions will limit my ability to complete my job

to the fullest, will lead to worse outcomes for patients.

Or take it from Rosangela Berbert, the executive director of an outpatient counseling center in the Fox Valley in Wisconsin, who said:

Without Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements or with

reduced rates, our nonprofit will struggle to survive.

She continued:

I would hate to consider cutting staff or programs, but

that could become our only option. We would lose the ability

to serve hundreds of clients--not because the need has

diminished, but because we could no longer afford to provide

care without reimbursement.

I have more and more of these stories from doctors, nurses, and administrators on the ground who are spelling out the absolutely dire consequences of this bill.

In Wisconsin, we are already in a crisis when it comes to getting good healthcare in our rural communities. The system is broken, and this bill is destined to make it even worse.

While healthcare is near and dear to my heart, there is more bad news in this bill. Republicans' big betrayal will also take food assistance--the literal means by which some people are able to put nutritious food on the table--away from them. This bill will take SNAP assistance--our Nation's best way to make sure that no one goes hungry--away for more than 3 million Americans.

That leads us to the why. Republicans are making all of these cuts so that they can rig our Tax Code, which I must say already is deeply unfair to working families. They would further tilt it in favor of the biggest corporations and the richest in our country.

The Republican bill gives people at the top one-tenth of 1 percent, the richest of the rich, a tax cut of more than $250,000 every year-- yes, a quarter of a million dollars a year.

All the while, this bill hits working families the hardest. When taking into account the disastrous Medicaid and

SNAP cuts, many working families would see their annual incomes fall by over $1,500.

It doesn't have to be this way. Yes, our system for taxes and healthcare is broken, but this bill is not the solution. This bill would make it harder for working families to have the opportunity to get ahead, harder for parents to get their kids healthcare, and harder for families to put food on the table.

We, Democrats and Republicans, should be working together to give some relief to workers, but instead Republicans will choose to go it alone and vote to give the biggest corporations and the wealthy another unfair leg up.

I will end with this: While I remain in disbelief and, frankly, disgust, I will always have hope. I have hope because it is not the people in this Chamber with the power; it is the people. It is the people who will sadly feel the repercussions of this bill. It is the people who are rising up and will hold anyone who passes this disastrous bill accountable. That is where the true power is.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following motions to commit be printed in the record:

Ms. Baldwin moves to commit the bill H.R. 1 to the

Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to

report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting

any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes

that--

(1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and

(2) strike provisions that will lower coverage rates,

reduce benefits, or decrease affordability for individuals

residing in rural communities receiving coverage through the

Medicaid program or the Children's Health Insurance Program;

increase the likelihood of the closure of rural hospitals,

clinics, or other healthcare facilities serving rural

communities, cause higher rates of uncompensated care; and

increase costs for individuals with other types of insurance.

Ms. Baldwin moves to commit the bill H.R. 1 to the

Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to

report the same

back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting any day on which

the Senate is not in session, with changes that--

(1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and

(2) strike provisions that will lower coverage rates,

reduce benefits, or decrease affordability for children who

are currently eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health

Insurance Program.

Ms. Baldwin moves to commit the bill H.R. 1 to the

Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to

report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting

any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes

that--

(1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and

(2) strike provisions that will lower coverage rates,

reduce benefits, or decrease affordability for pregnant women

who are currently eligible for Medicaid or the Children's

Health Insurance Program.

Ms. Baldwin moves to commit the bill H.R. 1 to the

Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to

report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting

any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes

that--

(1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and

(2) strike provisions that will lower coverage rates,

reduce benefits, or decrease affordability for individuals

with substance use disorder who are currently eligible for

Medicaid.

Ms. Baldwin moves to commit the bill H.R. 1 to the

Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to

report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting

any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes

that--

(1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and

(2) would follow through on the President's promise to

eliminate the carried interest loophole for wall street.

Mr. President, I rise today to mark 3 years since half of America was stripped of their reproductive freedom. That is 3 years of women having fewer constitutional rights and freedoms in this country than their mothers and grandmothers; 3 years of women being forced to travel hours out of State to access basic care; and 3 years of Americans unable to make their own choices about their own bodies, their own health, their own families, their own future.

In Wisconsin, women don't have to imagine what the consequences of Roe v. Wade being overturned would be like. We lived it. For 15 months, in my State, women were sent back to live under a law that was passed before the Civil War. Yes, you heard me correctly--a law that was passed in 1849, 70 years before women would get the right to vote and only 1 year after the State of Wisconsin became a State.

Women who wanted to control their bodies had to drive hours. They had to arrange childcare, take time off of work, and pay for lodging just to access healthcare. Other pregnant women in our State bled in hospital parking lots for hours until they were on the verge of death before they were legally allowed to receive care.

Others, like Meagan, one of my constituents, found out that she and her husband were expecting. They found that out in April of 2023. She told me:

That day rivaled our wedding day for the happiest we'd ever

been.

But that joy didn't last. At her 20-week ultrasound, Meagan discovered that her baby had severe abnormalities and likely would not survive. What is worse, every day that Meagan remained pregnant, her life was in danger too. But instead of grieving their loss in private and at home, Meagan and her husband were forced to travel to Minnesota to end her pregnancy.

She wrote to me last year:

The government claims that if my life is at risk, they

would make exceptions, but how sick does one need to be? Do I

need to be bleeding out before a doctor can intervene? Does

someone need to go septic before a procedure would be

performed?

The answers to those questions under Wisconsin's pre-Civil War abortion ban was, sadly, yes.

Thankfully, Wisconsin has restored access to abortion care in three counties. That still leaves women in 69 counties who face long drives and wait times to see a doctor for care.

I will be the first to say that we have some serious work to do to give women the full freedom to control their bodies. But instead of listening to the vast majority of Americans and working in good faith to restore Roe, my Republican colleagues are doing just the opposite.

The Republicans' ``Big Beautiful Betrayal'' is another step toward a backdoor national abortion ban. Their bill will defund Planned Parenthood, putting access to abortion care, once again, in jeopardy for Wisconsin women. And for many Americans, Planned Parenthood clinics are the only option they have for affordable healthcare, from basic reproductive care to lifesaving cancer screenings.

This ``Big Beautiful Betrayal Bill'' says that the mother of three, the young woman trying to make ends meet, the veteran in need of care, and anyone else on Medicaid can't use their coverage at Planned Parenthood for things like annual checkups, cancer screenings, birth control--not abortion, just basic healthcare that everyone needs and that my Republican colleagues, by the way, say they support.

But by doing this, it will defund one of the only abortion providers in many places and take Republicans one step closer to their ultimate goal of banning abortion nationwide.

It is no secret that this has been their plan. Since the day Roe was decided, it has become the mission of so many Republicans to turn back the clock and take away this constitutional right, this freedom.

And it all came to a head when our current President was last in office. Our current President's litmus test when nominating Supreme Court Justices was, of course, if they would rule to take away a woman's right to abortion. I don't think I need to tell you what happened next.

But overturning Roe was not enough for President Trump. In just the past 5 months, he has worked to undermine a woman's right to lifesaving abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, otherwise known as EMTALA. He has worked to freeze title X funding for family planning and reproductive health services like birth control. He has worked to remove medically sound, expert information on reproductive care from government websites. And he has worked to jeopardize protections for women who are harassed while accessing clinics.

While Republicans advance their plan that will further restrict a woman's right to choose, Democrats are fighting back. Today, alongside every one of my Democratic colleagues, I introduced the Women's Health Protection Act to do what most Americans want: restore reproductive freedom for women nationwide.

I want to give a shout-out to my colleague Senator Blumenthal, with whom I worked so closely on the Women's Health Protection Act, over so many years.

This bill would tell Republicans to butt out of women's healthcare, ensuring that States can't impose medically unnecessary restrictions, like mandatory waiting periods or invasive ultrasounds, that infringe upon a woman's right to choose.

Today, we are not just marking 3 years since Roe v. Wade was overturned. We are marking 3 years of my Republican colleagues actively blocking any progress to restore the right to choose. We are marking 3 years of women's lives being in danger because Republicans are in our exam rooms, and lawyers across this country are truly playing doctors.

After 3 years of swearing abortion is an issue for the States, this President is chipping away even further at this freedom, and my Republican colleagues

are advancing a plan to further undercut access to affordable reproductive care nationwide.

We are not giving up. We are with the two-thirds of Americans who oppose the Dobbs decision and the fundamental rights that it stole from millions of women in this country. We are going to fight every day until those rights are restored.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor Mark A. Mone, the ninth chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, UWM, on his retirement from the position. Over the past 11 years, Dr. Mone has transformed UWM into a top-tier research institute, through strong partnerships and investments, advancing equity through education, and addressing societal issues through research and strategic re-invention.

From early in his career, Dr. Mone showed a strong commitment to public service. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Mone earned his B.A. in organizational management from Central Washington University during his initial career as a chef, food and beverage director, and senior leader in hospitality operations. He went on to earn an M.B.A. from Idaho State University and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and organization theory from Washington State University, credentials that would guide his exemplary leadership in higher education.

Dr. Mone continued his commitment to public service at UWM, transforming thousands of students' futures through meaningful community partnerships. He co-created and served as founding chair of the Higher Education Regional Alliance--a partnership with 17 colleges and universities and 10 economic development and community partner organizations--to increase the number of college graduates and address the growing need for highly skilled talent in the State. He also cofounded and coled M-Cubed--a critical initiative of UWM, Milwaukee Public Schools, and Milwaukee Area Technical College that jointly serve more than 120,000 students--to close the achievement gap.

In addition, Dr. Mone achieved remarkable capital and operational successes throughout his time at UWM, which were enabled by his leadership of the Made in Milwaukee, Shaping the World comprehensive campaign, achieving over $251 million, and continuing with record fundraising years. These financial successes have led to the creation and enhancement of key facilities such as the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex, the Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin Center, and the soon-to-be-completed chemistry building. Renovations to the UWM Student Union and the College of Engineering and Applied Science have further modernized campus infrastructure and enriched student experiences.

Perhaps most notably, Dr. Mone has championed UWM's mission as an access institution, expanding opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented students while simultaneously enhancing academic excellence and research prominence. His dedication to student success and community engagement has left an incredible mark on thousands of lives across Wisconsin and positioned UWM as a leader in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.

As Dr. Mone embarks on the next chapter of his life, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude for his unwavering commitment to higher education, the city of Milwaukee, and the entire State of Wisconsin. He has made a significant impact on the UWM community, and his enthusiasm, dedication, and efforts will be greatly missed.

Mr. President, on June 9, 2025, the Senate voted on rollcall vote No. 297, the confirmation of the nomination of Brett Shumate, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General. Due to travel delays, I missed this vote. However, I oppose confirming this nominee, and I would have voted nay if I were present.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the 228,000 Wisconsinites whose healthcare is on the chopping block if Republicans get their way.

At a time when Wisconsin families are asking us to take on the skyrocketing costs of healthcare and prescription drugs, Congressional Republicans are doing just the opposite. My Republican colleagues are not using their time and energy to go after greedy corporations, not to take on the big drug companies, and not to expand access to affordable healthcare, but they are instead forging ahead with a bill that will kick millions of Americans off of their insurance and jack up the cost of healthcare for millions more.

I keep hearing my colleagues falsely claim that we are exaggerating how horrible this plan is for working families. They want to pretend these cuts are just going after waste, fraud, and abuse.

I am not here to engage in a ``he said, she said'' about this. The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan analyst, released a new report today and found that the Republican plan will result in 16 million Americans losing their healthcare. That means that those last- minute changes that were made in the middle of the night in the House resulted in 2 million more people being kicked off their healthcare. Of those 16 million, nearly 150,000 Wisconsinites will lose their Medicaid coverage.

Sadly, it doesn't stop there. This bill is yet another attempt to chip away at the Affordable Care Act. In my State, over 80,000 Wisconsinites will be priced out of their affordable care, and more will see their marketplace coverage costs skyrocket.

We are talking about children with disabilities, grandparents, working families, and so many more whose healthcare is literally right now in jeopardy.

I heard from Annette in Kenosha, WI. She has three children, including a sixth grader with severe special needs. She wrote to me about her daughter Maya's first year before they got access to Medicaid. She said:

We paid $16,000 out-of-pocket after insurance for her

hospital bills, surgery, and appointments. It destroyed our

savings and pushed us to the brink of losing everything.

Medicaid is not fraud, waste, or abuse. Medicaid supports

kids like Maya who are in desperate need, and the families

who love them.

She told me that she doesn't plan to stay on Medicaid forever, but that program ``has been a Godsend to us [right] now. It was a rigorous process to qualify. I hope other families like mine will have the support they need to keep their families healthy.''

I also heard from Evan in Madison, WI, who has undergone two brain surgeries and subsequent radiation over the last 10 years to treat brain tumors, in part paid for by Medicaid. He wrote to me:

I sacrificed a lot to hopefully become a part of the

working class. . . . [I]f Trump meddles any further with my

health care, I won't be able to afford my medication that

literally gives me the ability to go out and be a part of my

community.

Take Kevin in De Pere, WI, whose 19-year-old son has Down syndrome and relies on Medicaid for care. Kevin had a message for my colleagues who are considering advancing any cuts to Medicaid. He wrote:

I ask that you remember that Medicaid . . . is not about

dollars, it's about dignity, opportunity, and ensuring that

all individuals, regardless of ability, can thrive.

For Americans like Kevin and Annette and Evan, Medicaid is a lifeline. Without it, millions of families would forgo their care or face almost certain financial ruin. But congressional Republicans are putting all of that on the line, making Americans jump through more hoops and ever more redtape to access their lifesaving care. And why? To kick enough eligible people off Medicaid to pay for their tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit corporations and their special interest donors--the very same corporations that jack up the cost of healthcare on Americans in the first place.

As deep as these cuts are, they fall far short of the total cost of the handouts that the Republicans are proposing in the form of tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Their plan won't just kick 16 million Americans off their health insurance or 4 million Americans off of food assistance, the Republicans' plan will also balloon the deficit by $3 trillion over the next decade.

While Republicans spend the rest of their summer figuring out how to pass their agenda that puts their campaign donors and corporations ahead of working families, I will keep raising the alarm bells about the real Wisconsinites whose health and lives are in the balance if they get their way.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and enduring legacy of Mr. Gerald ``Jerry'' Danforth. Mr. Danforth was a truly remarkable leader whose impact reached far beyond the Oneida Nation and into Native communities across the United States.

Mr. Danforth was born on December 24, 1946, on the Oneida Reservation to Leslie and Eva (Schuyler) Danforth. He had strong roots in his heritage and spent his life in service to others.

For 30 years, Mr. Danforth served with distinction in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of force master chief. He served during both the Vietnam war and Operation Desert Storm. In 1994, he retired from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet with a record of service marked by courage, discipline, and leadership.

When he returned home, Mr. Danforth focused on building a better future for the Oneida Nation. Elected in 1999 and 2005, he served at Tribal Chairman of the Oneida Nation for two nonconsecutive terms. Mr. Danforth was a visionary advocate for Indian gaming and the vital importance of economic diversification. His leadership laid the groundwork for the Nation's self-sustaining and sovereign economy, which will benefit generations to come.

Mr. Danforth never wavered in his goal to improve the lives of the Oneida community. He worked to improve access to quality healthcare and education and to preserve the Oneida language and culture. He respected the General Tribal Council and made sure that the Oneida Nation's Government reflected the wishes of the people.

Mr. Danforth's leadership was firmly rooted in the principles of community well-being. He worked alongside the people of the Oneida Nation to address challenges, ignite change, and envision a better future. Mr. Danforth worked diligently to foster transparency, accountability, and consensus-based leadership. His commitment to good governance led to decisions that were consistently guided by the long- term welfare of the entire Oneida community.

Even after his terms as Chairman, Mr. Danforth continued his service to the Oneida people, serving as a judicial officer on the Oneida Appeals Commission, where he continued to advocate for fairness and accountability.

Beyond his extensive public service, Mr. Danforth was a family man who cherished time with his wife Pamela. They loved spending time in South Padre Island, fishing, having barbecues, and enjoying good food with friends. He also loved golfing, savoring red wine and chocolate, and baking pies. Through these little joys, he showed his warm personality, sense of humor, and love for life--qualities that many people admired about him.

Mr. Danforth is survived by his loving wife Pamela Johns Danforth; his children Paul Jameson (Virna), Steve Jameson (Cathy), Tanya Wood (Steve), Gerald Danforth, Jr. (Chitra), and Patrick Danforth; his stepson Keith Bimosae Johns Herman; his siblings James Danforth (Joanne) and Joanne Smith (the late Bruce Smith); and his treasured grandchildren: Alanna, Erin, Fiona, Ronan, Willem, Isobella, Eilish, Mariah Ciera, John Samantha, William, Gregory, Paul, Kaylah, and Analise.

Mr. Danforth will be remembered for his many contributions to the well-being of Native peoples and to the broader fabric of American life. His leadership, marked by unwavering integrity, thoughtful foresight, and genuine humility, will continue to be honored, admired, and emulated by generations to come.

May this statement serve as a fitting tribute to a life of remarkable distinction--a life dedicated to steadfast service to the Oneida Nation, to the United States, and to the fundamental cause of dignity and sovereignty for all Native peoples.

May his memory be a blessing, and may we carry forward his legacy with the same strength and spirit that defined his every step.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Steven W. Hoecker, who served as the director of the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, WI, for many years.

Steve was a passionate public servant who made a difference in the lives of those who were lucky enough to know him. Born in 1949 in Parma, OH, Steve was a natural adventurer, seeking every opportunity to share the wonder of the outdoors with his loved ones. He spent many days with his best friends and siblings, fishing and enjoying our Nation's natural resources.

His love for the outdoors continued to strengthen as time went on. Steve was no stranger to rehabilitating birds of prey and raising stranded baby animals. He studied wildlife biology at Virginia Tech, where he met his beloved wife and adventure partner Elizabeth.

Steve was also a dedicated father. He and Elizabeth helped raise 38 children, including their daughter Jenna and 37 foster children. He enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors, leaving a lasting impression on each child. In his free time, Steve volunteered in the classrooms of his wife and daughter and with events like Kid's Fishing Day and Fishing Has No Boundaries. He was a proud uncle and grandfather as well.

Steve was instrumental in the establishment of the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. Before officially becoming the center director in 1998, he spent 6 years planning for the site while he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. He then served as the center director for 12 years until he retired in 2010. He understood the intense beauty of the region of Wisconsin he called home and dedicated his life to educating others on its importance.

Steve found many more ways to give back to his community, including volunteering his time with the Alliance for Sustainability, Habitat for Humanity, and many community activities, including Bayfield's Apple Festival and Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. He was tireless in his service to others, a true testament to his passion for helping others.

Through his life's work, Steve Hoecker made an immeasurable impact on the State of Wisconsin. He cared deeply about the Great Lakes, the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center, his family, and his community. His passing is a great loss to all who knew him and worked alongside him, but his legacy and the life he lived will be felt for generations to come.