Floor Statements

Mr. President, in May of 1944, before the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, Dwight Eisenhower signaled out one American service branch for their loyalty, courage, and fortitude. When Operation Overlord was complete and victory won, he predicted:

[T]here is no organization--

No organization

--that will share its credit more deservedly than the

Merchant Marine.

The Supreme Allied Commander was correct, but the credit he spoke of was never given to this service branch in proportion to the sacrifices made. After all, no branch suffered losses at a greater rate during the war--not the Marines, not the Army, or Coast Guard, not the Navy. Of the 243,000 merchant mariners who joined the fight, nearly 9,500 paid the ultimate price.

As we prepare to observe Memorial Day this coming weekend, we remember the fallen sailors of the forgotten service, and we honor a young Hoosier who gave his life aboard one of its ships. Without the sacrifices of the Merchant Marine, America's military would be unable to win its war or to defend its people.

In war, our civilian mariners and commercial vessels transport and supply our soldiers, sailors, and airmen. They are the critical link between the homeland in the front, the one that has made the difference between victory and defeat for 250 years.

During the Revolution, they delivered the gun powder the Continentals used to beat the British. In the War Of 1812, they armed their clippers and sloops with cannons. They ran the enemy's blockades, and they brought clothes and guns to our troops. Throughout the Civil War, they carried coal, horses, and food to the Union soldiers along the Atlantic Coast and on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Wherever our men and women in uniform have gone in the world to defend liberty, the Merchant Marine has followed in support. Whenever America's soldiers have raised our flag in victory, its mariners helped to make the triumph possible. And they have always done this in the face of grave danger and at great cost.

Commercial sailors were among the casualties in America's first naval battle at Machias off the coast of Maine. They were killed by the enemies' fire on the oceans and the Great Lakes. From the Republic's beginning, merchant mariners have died in every major conflict, including Vietnam and Korea, as well as Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

These civilians transport their cargo into war zones with minimal defense. Because of their vital mission, they are the target of and often sunk by warships and aircraft.

In no conflict was the peril greater than World War II. They left from America's coasts. They headed for the front carrying the Sherman tanks and Mustang fighter planes, steel and lumber, bandages and antibiotics, mail from home, rations, and even chocolate.

On board those ships were what was required to defeat the Axis and to make a soldier's life just a little bit less miserable while doing it. That is, if they made it to their destination; 733 of America's merchant ships were sunk during the war. The Samuel Q. Brown was one of them.

The tanker was on its way from New Orleans to Honolulu carrying 80,000 barrels of fuel when it was struck by a torpedo from a German submarine 100 miles south of Cuba. The ship erupted into fire. Its crew jumped overboard and swam to the lifeboats and the rafts that they had cut loose after the explosion. Two men were lost. The rest watched as the U-boat launched another torpedo and sank the Samuel Q. Brown.

After 13 hours afloat, a Navy patrol plane spotted the survivors who were eventually rescued. The five injured among them were transported to a hospital in Key West, FL. All survived but one, a messman named Harold Dossett. He died on June 1, 1942.

Harold was 27 years old. He was from Princeton, IN. He came from a line of heroes. Members of the Dossett family fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. No surprise then that he was active in the history club at Princeton High School before his graduation in 1932.

He was well-known and well-liked in Princeton, a fixture of the downtown square, where the local newspaper noted he was often seen at the front table in the local restaurant the Alco. At the end of the 1930s, Harold relocated to Texas where he found work in the oil industry and ended up as a messman on the Samuel Q. Brown, which was owned by the Tide Water Associated Oil Company.

He had served aboard two other ships before the Samuel Brown; both were sunk after his transfer. ``The third one was fatal,'' his mother later said.

It was during that ship's mission that he joined the list of Americans who have laid down their lives so that their countrymen could live in freedom.

After his body was brought back to Indiana from Florida, Harold's mother was presented with the Mariner's Medal. This is the Merchant Marine's highest honor, and its equivalent to the Purple Heart. Another honor arrived later to address the incredible losses of commercial vessels during the war, American industry mass produced Liberty ships to speed supplies to the front.

In 1945, one of these Liberty ships, the SS Harold Dossett was completed. Ultimately, it was the men aboard those Liberty ships who helped win the war.

As Dwight Eisenhower said, the merchant mariners ``brought us the tools to finish the job. Their contribution to final victory will be long remembered,'' he said--a contribution that cost many lives.

So let us not lose sight that Memorial Day is not just the beginning of summer. It is a solemn day, when we honor and do what little we can to give thanks to the men and women who have died so we can remain free. It is also a time to keep the families of the fallen in our hearts and those serving in danger now in our prayers.

And let us not forget to pay tribute to all--all--of the lost. And one place we can do that is outside of the Gibson County Courthouse in Princeton, IN. You see, a monument there is inscribed with the names of local men who never came home from the World Wars.

Hoosiers, go there. And among the marines, soldiers, and sailors, you will find a merchant mariner, Messman Harold Dossett. Never forget the debt we owe them all.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor a remarkable Hoosier, Mr. Thomas J. Foltz of Indianapolis, IN, who celebrates his 80th birthday today. Tom's life is a testament to the very best of what our State has produced: a deep faith, an inquisitive mind, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an unwavering commitment to family, community, and country. He has spent nearly every chapter of his life in Indiana, and our State is better for it. At his side for 46 years has been his beloved wife Becky, whom he married in December of 1979 and who has been his steadfast partner in every endeavor since.

Born in Indianapolis, Tom is a proud graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics. Before the ink was dry on his diploma, he had taken his talents to Cape Canaveral, supporting pre-launch electrical systems for the Saturn V program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, work that helped carry American astronauts to the Moon. He returned home to Indiana and spent the next several decades at the forefront of the computing revolution: developing algorithms at General Motors, engineering systems at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana and Indiana Bell Telephone, and presenting at international IBM conferences on mainframe performance. In 1979, he founded Total Systems, Inc., an Indianapolis-based technology firm he has now led for more than 45 years, serving clients across the Midwest in manufacturing, distribution, government, and the nonprofit sector.

But Tom did not stop there. For more than 15 years, he has poured his expertise back into the next generation of Hoosiers as an adjunct professor of mathematics, statistics, and computer science at multiple Indiana institutions: Butler University, Grace College, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Marian University, Purdue University, the University of Indianapolis, and Franklin University. In 2013, he received Franklin University's Teaching Excellence Award. His students describe his classroom as warm, rigorous, and unforgettable. He has taken mathematics, a subject many find daunting, and made it accessible, even joyful, for thousands of students preparing for careers across our State. Alongside his teaching, Tom has given decades of his time to civic life as a Marion County Republican precinct committeeman and ward chairman, as an elected delegate to numerous Indiana Republican conventions, and as a lay speaker in his community on matters of faith. I have had the privilege of meeting Tom on several occasions at political gatherings across the Hoosier State, and each encounter has confirmed for me what so many Hoosiers already know: He is a man of conviction, intellect, and good humor.

Together, Tom and Becky have built a beautiful family. Their children Jonathan and Jennifer and their grandchildren Ella, Asher, and Aiden are a living legacy of the values Tom has spent 80 years cultivating: integrity, hard work, service, and faith. On behalf of a grateful State, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Thomas J. Foltz a very happy 80th birthday and in thanking him for a lifetime of contributions to the people of Indiana and to our great Nation.

Mr. President, most Hoosiers wake up every morning and they see their children off to school or head to work without event, without an incident. They live in safety because a select few of their fellow citizens willingly forfeit their own safety.

May 10 to 16 is National Police Week, and it is a useful reminder for all of us of what we owe our law enforcement, particularly our Indiana law enforcement officers, and what more we can do for them.

You see, our police officers are the thin blue line between order and chaos. The men and women who wear the badge are our guardians of peace who willingly stand in the way of all sorts of threats to their communities and to our interests.

Whether our ears are being destroyed by public disorder, our cars break down, our homes are invaded, when trouble comes, our law enforcement officers are not far behind. Too often, we appreciate them only when we need them, and that is why we have set aside this week to remember them, to honor them.

Just as commonly, we overlook the grave danger they willingly face on our behalf. The hero's badge is a criminal's target. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, which carries the names of 24,000 police officers killed in the line of duty, reminds us of this sobering reality.

Every year, additional names are added to these rolls. Around 100 police officers die on the job annually, the majority as a result of violent and other serious crimes.

In 2024, 85,730--think of that number--85,730 police officers were assaulted in the line of duty. This is dangerous work. Many of these incidents were ambush attacks, when criminals target police officers unexpectedly.

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, such incidents accounted for nearly 30 percent of officer shootings last year. These terrible sacrifices are why since 1962 Americans have honored our law enforcement personnel during the second week of May.

National Police Week is an occasion to renew our unwavering support for law enforcement officers. It is an opportunity to recognize and give thanks for their unseen acts of heroism, to honor and remember those who have laid down their lives to protect others, and express our solemn appreciation to the loved ones of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Let's remember the families. Let's remember the families of these brave men and women and their sacrifices. And remembrance is important; so is gratitude. But these alone are not enough.

Our police officers defend us, and we, in turn, can deter and punish those who would do them harm. That is why in the Senate, I am supporting the Protect and Serve Act. This legislation was introduced by my colleague Senator Tillis, and this bill would create a new category of crime for those who attack Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers.

It would give Federal prosecutors more tools--more tools--to go after those who deliberately target law enforcement officers by making it a Federal crime to knowingly cause or attempt to cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer.

And under the bill, offenders would be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a stiff penalty for a serious crime. An offender under this bill could receive a life sentence if a death results from the offense or the offense includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted murder.

Yes, this legislation is tough, but we need to be tough. This legislation aligns with common sense. We need to better protect those who protect us, and Congress should move this bill this year.

So whether they serve at the local, State, or Federal level, our law enforcement officers are the best and the bravest in our community. Laws mean little without men and women sworn to uphold them.

So during National Police Week, let's reflect on how much we owe them and show our support for the men and women wearing the badge across Indiana and across America.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my longtime chief of staff John Connell during his last week of session in the U.S. Senate--or, as John fondly refers to it, the ``House of Lords.''

Since I was first sworn into the House of Representatives in 2011, John has served as my chief of staff. But he is much more than that--a trusted adviser, a talented strategist, an effective leader of our team, and a confidant. John is also a friend.

John graduated from Indiana University already a fierce partisan, I have to say; but, in his case, it was as a proud member of Hoosier Nation--more on that later.

He then moved to Washington to start his career on Capitol Hill. Despite his family roots in Naperville, IL, and his college years in Bloomington, IN, John quickly learned the ropes of serving in the legislative branch while working for three Kentucky delegation Members of the U.S. House--Representatives Geoff Davis, Ron Lewis, and Brett Guthrie--two of whom were West Point grads, I should add.

He also spent time on the campaign trail for multiple Members in Kentucky and Kansas, before we were first introduced in late 2010.

Along the way, John developed an amazing golf swing, he made tons of friends, and he started dating a lovely fellow congressional staffer by the name of Marjorie Dornette, who later became his wife.

I first met John through an introduction by Congressman Davis. I needed a chief of staff, and Geoff said that he trusted John.

And, candidly, I didn't have the foggiest idea what attributes to look for. So I decided to resist everything I had learned in a decade of naval service by trusting the Army guy.

And, boy, I don't regret it. From almost that very moment, I came to regard that as one of the best decisions of my life, professional and otherwise.

Suffice it to say, John has supported my time in Congress in every meaningful way. He has earned a stellar reputation of his own around this town and back home in the State of Indiana, and he has accrued a remarkable record of achievement, something I would like to unpack here today.

For starters, John has identified and hired amazing talent for our team. He has a knack for recruiting, thanks to his extensive network, his instincts, and an amazing eye for talent. He has

fostered a Team Young alumni network of current and rising leaders and regularly offers his help and counsel to countless individuals wishing to serve, advance their careers, and realize their dreams.

John is known for viewing our intern program as the ``farm team,'' and an incredible number of our interns have gone on to serve and to move up in my congressional office and well beyond, thanks to John's efforts.

In addition to being a team player on our team, however, he has served the broader team in many important ways. In fact, other congressional offices and several Presidential administrations have regularly turned to John for advice on navigating Congress and overcoming obstacles.

John has treated his role of overseeing my DC office and instate operations with great enthusiasm, accessibility, friendliness, professionalism, dependability, and responsiveness--all of which resulted in our team's ability to have maximum impact. Whether through legislative wins or building one of the Nation's best constituent service operations, John's fingerprints are on all of it.

Another important role John quickly became adept at was helping me identify talented professionals to be nominated for Federal service and shepherd them into important roles around the world, including an Under Secretary of State, an ambassador to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Chief Management Officer for the DOD. This also applied to our Federal judiciary. From district court to the U.S. Supreme Court, John was always on the hunt for rising legal stars who might be willing to serve.

In fact, without John, I know I would not have had nearly as much success in translating my policy priorities into action. He owns a big piece of our legislative victories, having been instrumental at every stage of the policymaking process--from conception, to passage, to implementation--ensuring the State of Indiana maximally benefits from each law we pass: bringing social impact bonds to the Federal level; shoring up our semiconductor supply chain and incentivizing tech innovation through the CHIPS and Science Act; creating Indiana's first national park, the Indiana Dunes National Park. Even into his last days in my office, he has been working on ensuring the Senate appropriately recognizes the IU Hoosiers for winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship after completing an undefeated season.

To this day, he describes his presence in Assembly Hall in Bloomington on December 10, 2011, as his beloved Hoosiers beat Kentucky in basketball, as the greatest day of his life--except for his wedding, he is always careful to add. That incredible victory occurred during John's first year on Team Young. It seems only fitting that as he departs, we are celebrating an even more improbable IU athletics triumph--a national championship in football.

John plays by the rules. He is honest, sincere, dependable, upbeat, and optimistic, but he is always measured, and he is always realistic. He is relational--relational--the opposite of transactional, which can be a rare quality in Washington.

Another rare quality: his singular lack of ego in a town known for some big ones. He is skilled at creating a work culture that is serious about public service and satisfying work but is also done by great people in a fun office along the way.

If you know John, you know he loves Indiana, and he loves the Senate, but not more than his wife Marjorie and his three boys: Jack, George, and Matthew. He has been a great chief of staff, but he is an even better husband and father. He has found a way to give this job his all, to accomplish more than I could ever expect in a way that I could never improve upon, and he did it without sacrificing any of the relationships he valued most. For me, that is his most important legacy.

I will personally miss seeing John at work every day. I am going to miss his daily presence in the office, but I am not anxious about this transition--not for John, not for me, not for Hoosiers. Like a consummate professional, John has institutionalized excellence in our office, making every preparation for us to keep racking up victories for the State of Indiana and continue adding value to the U.S. Senate.

I now look forward to watching John apply his many considerable talents and experiences outside of Congress. I know he will continue to impress, continue to hold himself and others to the highest standards, and continue to win in whatever arena he competes.

So, John, thank you for your service to this office, to Hoosiers, to our country. On behalf of your many friends, colleagues, and admirers on Capitol Hill, I wish you fair winds and following seas.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, since the beginning of this year, there has been a lot of conversation both here in Washington and around the country about the future of American involvement in Venezuela and how that relates to the War Powers Act. So, as we head into the recess and as my colleagues head back to their respective States and to other locales, I just wanted to take a minute and update my constituents on how this U.S. Senator is approaching the situation.

First, I want to reiterate that I support President Trump's decision to bring Nicolas Maduro to justice for his many crimes. I know I speak for countless Hoosiers in expressing my gratitude that after years of oppression, the Venezuelan people now have new hope. In fact, I have taken meetings in recent days with diplomats, national security luminaries, business people, expats, and others. Those meetings have reinforced the reality for me that right now we have an opportunity for brighter days ahead in Venezuela, and I know the administration is working with multiple stakeholders to effect that sort of positive change that we are all hoping for.

I, of course, also want to commend the bravery and the professionalism of the U.S. service personnel who carried out this successful law enforcement mission in Venezuela earlier this month-- highly impressive, highly sophisticated. I am awestruck by the mission and all that it accomplished, and I thank the men who were a part of that.

Now, while I applaud and stand with the President and his team on the law enforcement action taken in Venezuela to remove Nicolas Maduro, that law enforcement mission is now complete. I just want to clarify that for many of my constituents.

I have also expressed concerns about the possibility of American military involvement in Venezuela as we move forward. The President and members of his national security team have openly stated that the United States now runs Venezuela, and because we can't predict the future, no one can guarantee with certainty that an American military presence won't be required to stabilize the country.

So I, along with whom I believe to be the majority of Hoosiers, am not prepared to commit American troops to that mission. I strongly believe that any such commitment of U.S. forces in Venezuela must be subject to debate and authorization from Congress. That is what has animated so much of my activity in recent days and weeks.

That belief is not a new one to this situation or to this President. In fact, for over a decade and under multiple Presidents, I have pushed for Congress to fulfill its role as defined in the Constitution on matters involving the use of military force. Since U.S. involvement in Venezuela began last year, I have pushed for briefings and other forms of congressional engagement. Just last week, because of those concerns, I ultimately voted to advance a War Powers Resolution to make my concerns crystal clear to the administration and to my colleagues.

The reality, though, is this: Even if the Senate had adopted that resolution, had it not been derailed through a procedural vote, it likely would have died in the House of Representatives--very likely--or at a minimum have been vetoed by the President of the United States. That much was clear.

Given that stark, incontrovertible, unavoidable reality, I have had numerous conversations with senior national security officials over the past week and since the first vote took place, and in those conversations--some in person, some by phone--I received assurances that there were, No. 1, no longer any American troops in Venezuela. I also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces were needed in any major military operation in Venezuela, the administration would come to Congress in advance--in advance--to ask for a formal authorization on the use of military force.

Lastly, Secretary Rubio has agreed to my request to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to provide a public update on Venezuela immediately after the recess, facilitating the very type of public debate and, if necessary someday, authorization around these matters, hopefully working the muscle memory of this institution and its various committees on issues of war powers so that they might be more inclined to operate those prerogatives--to exercise those prerogatives in the future.

For those like me who want Congress to perform its longstanding role on these issues, the commitments I have secured are major commitments that will help keep Congress better informed, help ensure we make better decisions, and ensure in this situation that any future commitment of U.S. forces in Venezuela is subject to public debate and authorization here in this body.

Let me just end by saying that President Trump campaigned against forever wars. Millions of people strongly supported him in that position. I strongly support him in that position still today, and I believe that a drawn-out campaign in Venezuela involving the American military, even if unintended, would be the opposite of President Trump's goal of ending foreign entanglements. But I also make that statement with humility, understanding that world events are fluid, that the world is complicated, and that circumstances can change.

What all of us in this body should want is the opportunity to perform oversight and provide input on these critical foreign policy issues on behalf of those we represent. If we must make a decision--a very difficult decision--at some point in the future, our constituents should be able to hold us accountable for those decisions.

Regardless of who serves as President or which party controls the White House, Congress must get back to carefully fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities. I am pleased that we have a path forward toward that goal now, and I look forward to the next steps in the weeks ahead.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, on the campus of Indiana University, a tablet placed on the floor of the student union pays tribute to the men and women who served in the Civil War.

Over 80 years ago, in March 1942, three young Hoosiers stood over that marker. They raised their right hands, and they joined those ranks.

When the oath began, they were college students in the last days of childhood. When it was complete, they were U.S. marines, the first to fight for their country. They joined a long line of American heroes, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

On November 10, 1775, when America contemplated a difficult amphibious assault on the British supply hub in Nova Scotia, the Continental Congress called for the raising of a regiment to execute this difficult expedition.

It required a special breed of warrior, capable of fighting on land and sea. Just the type of men ``acquainted with maritime affairs,'' as the Continental Congress phrased it, were to be found at Tun Tavern, a brewhouse on Philadelphia's waterfront.

On the same day the colonial government passed its resolution, they commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise this force. Not long after, he walked through the tavern's door and appointed its owner, Robert Mullan, chief recruiter. Together, with the lure of high adventure, mugs full of cold beer, and the call to defend their homes, they enlisted two battalions of men. These men were the first members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

So beginning on that day in Philadelphia, to countless days like the one on the campus of Indiana University, millions of men and women have answered their Nation's call. For 250 years, from the shores of Nassau to the walls of Abbey Gate, they have defended our flag, our way of life, and freedom's friends far from its shores. They have been asked and have often done the impossible.

Because of their daring, their relentlessness, and their ingenuity, the U.S. Marine Corps will always be synonymous with danger--danger to any foe that would threaten the American people. A history of vanquished foes can testify to this: Barbary pirates, whose strongholds Leathernecks marched across the African desert to conquer; British Redcoats mowed down during the Battle of New Orleans when marines formed the center of the city's defense under General Jackson; Mexican cadets, who watches as marines stormed the Halls of Montezuma and raised the stars and stripes over Chapultepec Castle; German soldiers driven from Belleau Wood by the greatly outnumbered 4th Marine Brigade; Japanese troops who bombarded marines as they landed on the black sands of Iwo Jima and then listened from their bunkers as the Americans cheered while six members of the 5th Marine Division planted their flag at the summit of Mount Suribachi; the al-Qaida insurgents killed and captured in Fallujah when the marines fought from street to street, house to house. These and countless other battles were won at terrible cost--tens of thousands of marines killed or wounded in action, widows and widowers, sons and daughters left behind.

The history of the Marine Corps is one of incredible heroism and great sacrifice, but to reduce the Marine Corps to only those virtues is, I believe, to understate its importance in American history. Marines are not simply warriors but, as Ronald Reagan once said, the ideal of ``soldierly virtue.''

On the wall of my office hangs my Mameluke, the curved saber a marine carries at his side. Its history began on the shores of Tripoli when that band of marines took the Libyan port city of Derna. For this victory, they were awarded a Mameluke from an Ottoman prince. Two decades later, it officially became part of a marine officer's dress uniform. Today, its use is largely ceremonial, but if used wisely, it becomes a tool with multiple purposes, like the marine who carries it.

You see, marines are not just taught the virtues that make men and women soldiers--courage under fire, physical strength--but they are also taught the virtues that make them good citizens once their service has ended.

This photograph captures the moment in 1942 when those three young Indiana University students swore the oath--an oath to defend their country. The lives of the men in it, on the battlefield and off of it, demonstrated what it means to be a U.S. marine. They were honorable.

Three years after the picture was snapped, the man at its center wandered around Okinawa. He was searching for souvenirs to send home. He was there as part of the American assault on the island, which was a precursor to attacks on the Japanese mainland.

``The death and destruction leave bad taste in my mouth,'' he wrote, ``and strike me deeply as the horrible part of the war.'' This from Lieutenant Colonel Maurice ``Pat'' David as he wrote his family in Nashville, IN. But his cause was just, he wrote. The bodies of old women and young girls murdered by the Imperial Japanese Army proved it.

He encouraged his parents not to worry about his safety, but months later, he was severely wounded, returned to the States, and later awarded a Purple Heart.

Through his service in the Corps, Lieutenant Colonel David attended law

school in Washington, DC. He then served as a legal officer before retiring from the Marine Corps after 22 years of service. He then returned home to Southern Indiana, settling in Columbus with his wife and daughters.

Lieutenant Colonel David served his country with honor during his time in the Marine Corps, and he did the same for his community after the war concluded. He was elected a superior court judge, practiced law for nearly 20 years, and after retiring, he served as a senior judge. As a lawyer, he was dedicated to his clients. As a judge, he treated the attorneys before him thoughtfully, reasoning they were his clients as well.

When he died in 2016, it was after living a life defined by what he learned in the U.S. Marine Corps: integrity, devotion to justice, service of a cause greater than oneself.

These men were courageous too. In fact, the man to Lieutenant Colonel David's right in the photo was Leonard Alford of Garrett, IN. A year after he stood at the memorial plaque in Bloomington, Alford sat in a tent staring at the Pacific Ocean.

``I know you have been worried because you have not heard from me,'' he wrote to his parents from an island he was not at liberty to name.

He had earned a Silver Star leading the men of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion in the Battle of New Georgia as his men fought across the Solomon Islands. Afterwards, they were redesignated the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and Alford was made company captain. Members of the original 4th Marine Regiment were lost on Bataan and Corregidor.

``We hope to be able to keep their good name,'' he shared with his family. Because of Captain Alford's courage, they did.

Two years later, when Captain Alford was awarded a second Silver Star, which was turned to Gold, it was awarded posthumously.

In the closing weeks of the Okinawa campaign, he led a charge towards one of the island's remaining Japanese strongholds. Under heavy fire, ignoring his safety, he steadied the marines, ensured their advance, and he sacrificed his life for the success of the campaign and the freedom of his country.

Oh, they were committed too. In fact, the last man in the photo was Cpl John Irwin Murray of Hartford City, IN. In the years after the photo was taken, John Murray remained on campus, drilling with Pershing Rifles.

After graduation, he trained on Parris Island. Corporal Murray spent 16 months on Guadalcanal and Guam. He then deployed to China with the 6th Marine Division.

After the war, he settled in California, where he married and raised a family and worked as an accountant and a teacher.

Unlike the two other marines in this photo, there is very little public information about Corporal Murray's life--occasional updates in the Indiana University alumni magazine on his time in the Marine Corps, his letters home from the Pacific lamenting how few other Hoosiers he met there. But you see, he lived a meaningful civilian life, without fanfare.

Commitment to duty doesn't demand glory or a long military career; it is about showing up when needed and then quietly contributing to society afterwards. Our service continues in the everyday work of building communities and supporting families.

Corporal Murray represents something essential about the Marine Corps. Most of us who serve will return to become good citizens, neighbors, and workers, carrying a sense of duty into ordinary life. That is not less important than the other two paths; it is an expression of the same commitment.

Whether on land, sea, or air, in war or peace, in service or after service, for 250 years, the U.S. Marine Corps has not just trained warriors but made citizens. There are no fiercer defenders of our freedom, no greater examples of the virtues that make our Republic function.

So as we celebrate this great anniversary throughout the month of November, we thank and salute the men in that photo and every member of the U.S. Marine Corps--always faithful--for their service and for their sacrifices. It is impossible to imagine America without the Marines.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Towards the end of the 1920s, a Canadian newspaper took note of a collection in America's Midwest. One of its reporters marveled, ``In Indianapolis, Indiana, there is a unique institution called the Children's Museum. . . . ''

Today, a century later, that institution is no less unique. It is now the largest museum for children in the entire world and the fourth oldest. But to describe it as solely a museum for children is a misnomer. In the era of the museum's founding, opportunities for young people to learn and grow beyond the classroom were sometimes rare, and the museum provided them. This is what Mary Stewart Carey--the businesswoman who founded the institution--and the numerous Indianapolis civic and leaders who helped it grow, intended.

In the museum, children were not just guests, but directors and curators. They formed clubs to boost enrollment in the museum; first prize for most students enlisted was a goldfish aquarium. They sat on a junior board of directors. They examined and wrote reports on the exhibits and went on field trips across the country to find objects to help fill them. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis was a museum by children, a place where they were encouraged to think and dream, to both study and reach for the stars. It still is.

This year, the museum celebrates its centenary. It is not simply a commemoration of a building and its exhibits--though those, from the Dinosphere to the Fireworks of Glass, to the Treasures of the Earth to The Liberty Bell 7, are remarkable. Nor is it exclusively an opportunity to commend the museum and its leaders for their contributions to Indiana's economic and cultural life, which are considerable. It is also, importantly, a chance to reflect on all the memories created within and beyond its walls, the interest in natural history, archaeology, and science cultivated inside and the many young lives touched by this museum.

A century on, in Indianapolis, that unique institution once remarked upon by a visitor still stands and still astonishes. Long may it do both.

Madam President, I rise today to honor the distinguished service of Richard ``Rich'' Hanson, a Hoosier who has dedicated his life to aviation and public service.

After an extraordinary career in aviation and law enforcement, Rich is retiring as president of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA, after 9 years of distinguished leadership. Headquartered in Muncie, IN, AMA is the Nation's premier organization dedicated to model aviation, a community that inspires innovation, education, and a lifelong passion for flight.

Rich's love of aviation began early in the Civil Air Patrol from 8th through 12th grades. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, trained as a helicopter pilot, and served with distinction in Vietnam. He later continued his service in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In 1973, Rich joined the Arizona Department of Public Safety as a helicopter pilot, embarking on another chapter of service. He advanced through the ranks, ultimately commanding aviation operations and leading the department's Criminal Justice Support Bureau. Even during his days off, Rich continued to share his love of flying by piloting tours over the Grand Canyon.

Alongside his public service career, Rich devoted decades to advancing the hobby and science of model aviation through AMA. Rich's efforts have strengthened aviation safety, expanded STEM education opportunities, and inspired countless young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.

Rich's leadership has guided AMA through some of the most significant transitions in its history, particularly the emergence of drone technology and the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding unmanned aircraft systems. Through his steady advocacy, he helped others appreciate the strong safety record and educational value of model aviation, a legacy that will endure for generations.

On behalf of Hoosiers, I extend my thanks and congratulations to Rich Hanson on an impactful career of service and dedication to the field of aviation and his country.

Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3337 to amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, the Iraq war started 22 years ago; the Gulf war, 34 years ago. Today, Iraq is a partner, not an adversary, and it is time for the law to reflect that.

DOD has assured Congress that operations can continue without these expired AUMFs. Our amendment does not implicate the 2001 AUMF, which is critical to ongoing operations.

Both Chambers have passed the same repeal before on a bipartisan basis. The House included it in its NDAA this year. Let's do the same here in the Senate and close the book on these forever wars.

I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and career of a true hero, Sergeant Daniel D. Edenfield.

Sergeant Edenfield lived to serve his country, his city, and Hoosiers throughout Allen County. He began his service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1969 until 1971. Upon his return home to Fort Wayne, Sergeant Edenfield joined the Allen County Sheriff's Department on January 10, 1972.

During his 26 years serving Allen County, Sergeant Edenfield was known as a ``cops' cop,'' always ready and eager to respond to calls for backup with a relentless commitment to keeping his community safe. He was not only a model officer, but also a father of two children and committed husband. In these and so many other ways, Sergeant Edenfield was a testament to the value of servant leadership.

On May 15, 1998, Sergeant Edenfield was providing security for a special event at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. While on watch, he witnessed an assault, and, in true fashion, Sergeant Edenfield chased down the perpetrator on foot. He apprehended the offender and called for a patrol car to transport him to the county jail. Sadly, Sergeant Edenfield collapsed before the car arrived, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he passed away while undergoing emergency surgery for a heart attack.

Later this week, Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne will recognize October 3, 2025, as ``Sergeant Dan D. Edenfield Day'' in honor of Sergeant Edenfield's life and service. The county will also be dedicating a stretch of Parnell Avenue near the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum as the ``Sergeant Dan D. Edenfield Memorial Parkway,'' cementing a community recognition of his heroism.

It is my honor to recognize Sergeant Dan Edenfield for his service and the lasting impact he had on the greater Fort Wayne area. We pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice he demonstrated throughout his life.

Mr. President:

I would do anything for my country.

If an epitaph were ever written to the ``greatest generation,'' that would be it:

I would do anything for my country.

These words were spoken by one of the remaining heroes from that selfless age. He celebrates his 100th birthday this week, and on this momentous occasion, we owe him thanks for his service.

There he is. His story is powerful. His example is certainly worth following.

At the end of 1941, a teenage attendant was knocked down when an air compressor knocked him off his feet. He was working at Hoosier Pete filling station in Indianapolis. That blast broke windows, it tore off the roof of a room, and it cracked a wall, but it could not keep Clyde Milligan down.

Shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the minor explosion at that station was forgotten, but Clyde was on his feet at a military recruiting station. What was under his feet demonstrated his devotion to this country and his belief in it at a ripe age. You see, Clyde was 16 years old, and he was a sophomore at Ben Davis High School outside Indianapolis. The legal enlistment age at the time was 18, but Clyde could not tell a lie. Nothing was going to stop him from fighting for America, though, so before Clyde walked into that recruiting office, he wrote the No. 18 on the sole of his shoe, and when the recruiting officer asked him if he were over 18, Clyde, of course, said yes.

As a staff sergeant, Clyde guarded the beaches in Virginia and Maryland. That was a dangerous duty, as those beaches were vulnerable to U-boats. This assignment was made sufferable, he said, by the dances that were held at the camp, but those evenings and any other comforts were soon just faded memories by the time Clyde deployed to the South Pacific.

He was a soldier for the 111th Infantry Regiment. He crossed the Marshall Islands, leading a squadron during the allied invasion of Kwajalein. Clyde and his men helped secure American control of that island and destroyed a link in the Japanese defensive perimeter.

For his valor, Clyde was awarded numerous honors. The one he was the most proud of was the Combat Infantryman Badge. That was a few years into a young man's life, a long time ago, like so many of the boys who were asked to and did the impossible: storming the beaches of Normandy, liberating concentration camps, and island-hopping across the Pacific.

When the war ended, Clyde returned back home. This Hoosier boy married. He was wed for many years to his late wife Marie. He worked for and then owned a small business. He dedicated himself to his community and his church. He is still spending his energy to this day on behalf of New Hope Christian Church in Whitestown, IN.

Although the war had interrupted his education, in the 1990s, Clyde-- representing his fellow World War II veterans who had left school to join the fight--Clyde was awarded an honorary high school diploma.

Clyde, you can see, has lived the American dream.

Like so many soldiers, he seldom speaks about his service during the war; he seldom references the sacrifices. He has said in the past that he witnessed things while serving in the South Pacific that no teenager should ever see. What he shared about his service, I am told, was his sense of duty, his commitment to the men he led, and his respect for those he fought under.

Whether he will admit it or not--I suspect the answer is no--Clyde Milligan is one of our best. You might even call him a hero--a hero for the way he answered his country's call in a time of peril and for the way he has lived his life since the war ended--a life guided by faith, full of achievements and friendships, and, as the Bible says, years.

There have been many great generations of Americans dating back to our founding, and I trust there will be many more. The patriotism and humility of one inspires the next. So let's continue to cherish and honor our ``greatest generation'' and the greatest of our generation. Let's inspire this generation and the generations that follow by recognizing these standout citizens--some of them citizen warriors who helped us win World War II--so that when future Americans are called to greatness, they, too, in Clyde Milligan's words, will do anything for their country.

On this monumental birthday, we all--from the U.S. Senate back to his church in Whitestown--send him our best wishes and enduring thanks.

I yield the floor.

Madam President--

I thank the good Senator.

Madam President, I request 5 minutes to state my case.

Madam President, I would say that I love all of our States, and I am very proud that the State of Indiana plays such a critical role in ensuring economic resiliency and the manufacturing potential of this great Nation--something so important to all of our citizens irrespective of where you live.

I represent the most manufacturing-intensive State in the country. Energy demand is up, manufacturers are invested in expanding, small businesses are plugging in, and our Nation's energy needs are rising. Indiana is foremost a manufacturing State. About 45 percent of our instate electricity generation comes from coal. That is the reality. That means dependable, around-the-clock capacity isn't optional; it is how the Hoosier economy runs.

Yes, the expectation was that four Indiana coal-fired power units would be offline by 2024, but the facts on the ground have changed, and our responsibility here today is to keep power dependable and affordable with the megawatts we have--the megawatts we already have.

So what the EPA is doing now is a commonsense correction. That is all we are talking about--updating Indiana's summer emissions limit to match the plants that are actually in operation while keeping the underlying clean air guardrails in place. Keep those in place. Plants still have to meet current environmental standards. They still have to run controls. No one is getting a free pass here. This is merely a housekeeping correction that lines up the State limit with active generation so unrealistic, retroactive costs aren't forced on powerplants and ultimately the ratepayer.

This is common sense, pushing aside the bureaucracy and using the flexibility that we have in the law. It keeps the numbers honest, it keeps the planning stable for the hottest months of the year, and it avoids regulatory whiplash. Imagine if we are changing the rules nonstop in DC. It would create great uncertainty. So this accommodates the realities on the ground.

If this fix were overturned, Indiana would revert to older limits designed for a fleet that no longer exists, so, in practice, that means less operating room during heat waves and higher costs right when our citizens need power the most--all of our citizens.

Hoosiers are already feeling it. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Indiana's average home electricity prices are up roughly 11.5 percent year over year, and the Trump administration aims to do something about it.

Rather than working to keep generation steady and reliability predictable, my colleagues--at least some of them--on the other side of the aisle are advancing a repeal effort that would punish Indiana at the worst possible time.

Hoosiers should not pay more because government insists on regulating yesterday's grid instead of today's realities. Instead, we should focus on adding new capacity--new capacity--before prematurely retiring existing assets and cut redtape so that generation, pipelines, and transmission get built faster. That is what we should do. Let's not write off active megawatts and then act surprised when bills rise and lights flicker.

So if your priority is reliability and protecting American families from price spikes, the choice is clear: Keep what works today so we can build what we need for tomorrow.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this disapproval resolution.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate a fellow Hoosier, Mr. Todd Jackson, as he nears the end of his term as the 119th chairman of the Nation's largest insurance association, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, also known as the Big ``I''. Todd was elected to the Big ``I'' Executive Committee in 2018 and was installed as the association's chairman last September in Indianapolis.

A graduate of Indiana University, Todd is currently the owner and partner of McGowan Insurance Group in Indianapolis. Starting out at his family's agency in 1989, Todd has over three decades of experience in the insurance industry and has been a prominent volunteer leader with the Big ``I'' at the State and national level. He served on Big ``I'' Indiana's board of directors and executive committee before becoming State president in 2013. He also represented Indiana on the national Big ``I'' Board of Directors for 4 years, served on the trusted choice board and the finance committee, and was elected to the national executive committee in 2018.

During his term as Big ``I'' chairman, Todd has focused on enhancing operational efficiencies and streamlining resources to better serve independent agencies nationwide. He has traveled the country with that mission in mind, visiting with agents, brokers, State association staff, and other industry representatives in virtually every State. He has been a steady leader and strong advocate for independent agents and the communities and consumers they represent.

I would like to recognize Todd for his work with the Big ``I'' over the years and his commitment to his profession and his community. The State of Indiana is proud of Todd and wishes him and his wife Theresa well following his successful term as chairman of the Big ``I''.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the work of Rich Maloney, head coach of Ball State University's baseball team, whose leadership and contributions to the sport have made a lasting impression on his players, the university, and the broader baseball community. This season, Coach Maloney reached a rare milestone, becoming the 10th active Division I head coach to reach 1,000 career wins.

Coach Maloney's tenure at Ball State began in 1996, and after a successful decade at the University of Michigan, he returned to Muncie in 2013. Over nearly three decades as a head coach, he has led teams to numerous conference titles, tournament championships, and NCAA regional appearances. With the Cardinals, he is the most accomplished coach in program history, having guided the team to multiple MAC West Division, regular-season, and tournament titles. Since his return, he has added two Coach of the Year honors and, in 2023, led Ball State to its first tournament title in more than 15 years.

Before beginning his coaching career, Coach Maloney was a standout player at Western Michigan University, where he was a two-time All-MAC selection, team MVP, and team captain. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 1986 MLB Draft, he spent six seasons in professional baseball, reaching Double-A. After retiring as a player, he became an assistant under his college coach Fred Decker, an experience that helped shape the values and approach he would carry into his own head coaching career. That foundation, built on discipline, respect, and a love for the game, continues to guide his work at Ball State today.

Coach Maloney's 1,000th win is not just a measure of longevity, but proof of sustained excellence and the respect he has earned throughout college baseball. In an era of constant change in college athletics, he has been a steady presence, setting a lasting standard for what college coaching can and should represent.

On behalf of Hoosiers, I extend my congratulations to Coach Rich Maloney on reaching this significant achievement. I thank him for his years of service and leadership and for the lasting impact he has had on Ball State University and the world of college baseball.