Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 67, S. 97.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 237 and S. Res. 238.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, that the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of MeckDec Day. On May 20, 1775, exactly 250 years ago, the citizens of Mecklenburg County took a bold and unprecedented step by adopting the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. This historic document, believed to be the first declaration of its kind, signaled the beginning of America's quest for independence from the oppressive rule of the British Crown. In the wake of the Battle of Concord, a committee of concerned citizens gathered and declared that Mecklenburg County's ties to Great Britain were hereby dissolved. Their courage laid the groundwork for the fight for liberty that would shape our Nation's future.

North Carolina honors this pivotal moment in our history by featuring the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration--May 20, 1775--prominently on our State flag, alongside another key milestone: April 12, 1776, the date of the Halifax Resolves. The Halifax Resolves, adopted by the North Carolina Provincial Congress, marked the first official action by an American Colony calling for independence from the British Crown. This bold resolution laid the groundwork for the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress less than 3 months later, solidifying North Carolina's leadership in the fight for American liberty.

On May 22, 2025, the Charlotte Museum of History in Mecklenburg County, NC, will officially celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration.

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, issued in Charlotte, NC, on May 20, 1775, reads as follows:

Resolved--That whosoever directly or indirectly abets or in

any way, form or manner, countenances the invasion of our

rights, as attempted by the Parliament of Great Britain, is

an enemy to his country, to America, and the rights of man.

Resolved--That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg County do

hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us

with the mother county and absolve ourselves from all

allegiance to the British crown, abjuring all political

connection with a nation that has wantonly trampled on our

rights and liberties and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of

Americans at Lexington.

Resolved--That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and

independent people, that we are and of right ought to be, a

sovereign and self-governing people under the power of God

and the general Congress; to the maintenance of which

independence, we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual co-

operation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred

honor.

Resolved--That we do hereby ordain and adopt as rules of

conduct all and each of our former laws, and the crown of

Great Britain cannot be considered hereafter as holding any

rights, privileges, or immunities amongst us.

Resolved--That all officers, both civil and military in

this county, be entitled to exercise the same powers and

authorities as heretofore; that every member of this

delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer, and exercise

the powers of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and

determine controversies according to law, preserve peace,

union and harmony in the county, and use every exertion to

spread the love of liberty and of country, until a more

general and better organized system of government be

established.

Resolved--That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted

by express to the President of the Continental Congress

assembled in Philadelphia, to be laid before that body.

Signers were: Abraham Alexander, Chairman, John McKnitt

Alexander, Secretary, Ephraim Brevard, Hezekiah J. Balch,

John Phifer, James Harris, William Kennon, John Foard,

Richard Barry, Henry Downs, Ezra Alexander, William Graham,

John Queary, Hezekiah Alexander, Adam Alexander, Charles

Alexander, Zaccheus Wilson, Waightstill Avery, Benjamin

Patton, Matthew McClure, Neill Morrison, Robert Erwin, John

Flenniken, David Reese, John Davidson, Richard Harris, Thomas

Polk, and Duncan Ochiltree.

I invite you to join me in commemorating the 250th anniversary of a defining moment in our Nation's path to independence.

Mr. President, I have seven requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on armed services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to receive testimony in open and closed session.

committee on finance

The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10 a.m., to consider a nomination.

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

committee on homeland security and governmental affairs

The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting and hearing.

committee on the judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

select committee on intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed briefing.

subcommittee on strategic forces

The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 4:45 p.m., to receive testimony in open session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 66, S. 1582, the GENIUS Act, postcloture, and that all time on the motion to proceed expire at 11:30 a.m.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 231, S. Res. 232, and S. Res. 233.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I have seven requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Committee on Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a receive testimony in open session.

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

Committee on Finance

The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10 a.m., to consider nominations.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct an executive business meeting.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct an executive session on a nomination.

Committee on the Judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, May 19; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motions filed on May 15 ripen at 5:30 p.m. and the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 125, Charles Kushner; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Monday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Duckworth.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of a dear friend and public servant, Egbert Lawrence Davis III, who went home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 17, surrounded by his loving family.

Everyone who knew Lawrence knew that he loved God; he loved North Carolina; and he loved his country so much that he chose to dedicate his life's work to serving the great State that he called home.

Lawrence served two terms in the North Carolina General Assembly as a State representative and two terms as a State senator. Throughout his career in public service, he served as the chair of the North Carolina Family Business Forum, the president of the Rotary Club of Raleigh, and a board member of the North Carolina Bar Association--just to name a few.

But when asked what he would consider to be the highlight of his career, he said his marriage to his beloved wife Sandra Holderness. Their enduring love

for one another still remains a powerful example for all, including myself, who were fortunate enough to witness their marriage.

And most of all, Lawrence was known as a man of faith who led his life walking hand in hand with Jesus Christ. He was known by his church community as a beloved deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, choir member, and Stephen Minister.

He lived a life of quiet strength and unwavering faith, continually leaning on the Lord for guidance. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through his four devoted children, six cherished grandchildren, and beloved great-granddaughter.

I would like to close by reciting a verse that was included in Lawrence's obituary that I believe reflects the man he was to all who knew him, and it was from Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the

Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to

walk humbly with your God.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 170, which is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, the fentanyl epidemic has touched nearly every American. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a coworker--we all know someone whose life has been affected by the tragic reality of this crisis. It is widespread, it is devastating, and it can't be ignored. For too long, this crisis has been fueled by the chaos at our southern border, and now it is happening at our northern border.

Today, I rise to honor the American lives lost to our country's horrific fentanyl epidemic, and I call on our Canadian allies to shut down these operations before more devastation occurs.

For many Americans, it started with a prescription. For others, it was a single accidental exposure. But for too many, it ended the same way: with a loss of life and the eternal grief that comes from losing a loved one.

And the harsh reality is fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans age 18 to 45--not cancer, not car accidents, fentanyl. Last year alone, as my colleagues have shared with you, more than 70,000 Americans died from a fentanyl overdose, and, unsurprisingly, the Biden administration failed to act. Instead, President Biden willingly chose to let the situation get worse.

For years, our southern border has been a major entry point for illegal drugs to pour into our country. But under President Trump's leadership, illegal crossings at the southern border have now dropped 94 percent. That is real progress.

Now, however, we are seeing a dangerous shift. Drug cartels have found a new route and a new loophole to continue trafficking drugs into our communities, and it is through the northern border with Canada.

Just last year, Customs and Border Patrol seized enough fentanyl at the northern border to kill 9.5 million Americans. That is nothing short of alarming.

In fact, a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's largest and most well-known operations, they openly claim, they openly brag--and I quote you this:

Canada's border is much larger than Mexico's. There are

more entry points through Canada than through Mexico--a lot

more entry points. So that won't stop us.

And when asked about the impact of fentanyl killing countless Americans, here is what he said:

Unfortunately, here, for money, we do anything. It's a

business.

``It's a business.''

Friends, killing America is not a business. We should not be endorsing known criminal activity with inaction. This is nothing short of a serious threat to our national security.

When I talk to sheriffs in all 100 counties in North Carolina, I repeatedly hear the same message: Every single county in North Carolina is a border county.

The U.S.-Canada border is the world's longest international border at more than 5,500 miles long, but it remains extraordinarily vulnerable as criminal cartel networks continue to take advantage of the gaps of our porous northern border.

I think it is important to know that 87 percent of all Terror Watchlist suspects that were encountered at land border ports last year came across our northern border.

We have invested heavily in our southern border and rightfully so. We have done that, and we should continue to do so at our southern border. But the northern border has been overlooked and underresourced for way too long.

Our law enforcement officers are doing everything they can. But without enough resources, they are being set up to fail, and that is not fair to them. We are just watching history repeat itself, and if we don't act to provide our law enforcement officials with the proper tools and technology that they need to defend our northern border, we are going to allow this to get even worse.

What is even more disturbing is that Mexican cartels are now setting up fentanyl labs in Canada and expanding their role in the global drug trade.

Now, as our ally, we need Canada to step up before more lives are lost, because the truth is that behind every statistic--behind every statistic--is a grieving family, and the American people deserve more than just empty words. They deserve real action.

The fentanyl crisis will only continue to strangle our country until we deal with the threat at our northern border like the emergency that it truly is.

I yield the floor.

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