Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, we are blessed to live in a nation that has withstood the test of time for 250 years. This country has had its fair share of problems, but we have been able to overcome and get by together, at the end of the day, because we believe in America and what it stands for.

America was founded on a core set of values that have persisted through the years and have given hope to so many who were seeking a better life. American values are rooted in liberty, equality, opportunity, self-governance, and the rule of law.

Liberty means freedom--freedom from tyranny, whether it is political, religious, or economic. Since our founding, individual freedoms have been the foundation of American society. You are free to choose what you believe, how you worship, what work you pursue, and how you build a life for yourself.

Equality means that, in this country, we don't have a caste system. We don't tell people they are stuck where they are born. We believe all men are created equal, and everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background--an opportunity that makes this country very special.

You know, I used to tell my players all the time: This country owes you nothing but an opportunity to achieve what you want to achieve.

Now, you might get knocked to the ground and not make it to that point as soon as you would like, but the country that you love so much--that we all love so much--gives that chance to get back up and go again.

You know, we are the only country that does that, out of 200 in the world we live in.

What you decide to do with that opportunity, after you achieve it, is up to you. That is the American dream. That is what this country is about--the belief that, if you are willing to work hard, you can build a better life. The American dream is unique to this country alone.

For centuries now, people have fled dictatorships, failed governments, and oppression because they knew that dream was real.

Then there is the rule of law--the cornerstone for why our country is so great. No one is above the law--not citizen, not newcomer, not even the government itself. In America, if you live here, you are expected to follow the law, period.

Those are the values that have made this country great. Those are the values that drew generations of immigrants to our shores over 250 years. Sadly--sadly--today, we are not seeing immigrants with the same mentality moving to this country.

For most of our history, people have come here to become Americans. They came here to assimilate. They worked hard, they learned, they followed the law, and they contributed. That is what this country is all about.

Today, we are seeing large numbers--and I mean large numbers--of people coming to this country with no intention of assimilating into our culture or our way of life. People from third-world hellholes are being let into this country who have no desire to adapt to our way of life. They not only refuse to work, but they also choose to take advantage of America's welfare system, forcing hard-working Americans to bankroll their lives.

The question must be asked, why are we letting these people who don't share our values and refuse to assimilate--why are we letting them into our country?

The word ``assimilate'' is often treated with suspicion because it is often related to racism. But assimilation has absolutely nothing to do with race; it is about values. ``Assimilation'' doesn't mean you abandon your heritage or your faith or forget where you are from; it is about embracing a new, shared belief system.

People that came here in the past understood this. Examples would be Italian Americans, Greek Americans, German Americans who brought elements of their heritage with them, but

they understood that they had new responsibilities. When they embraced this country, they embraced our values: respect the law, be committed to a constitutional government, and participate in the civic duties that enable a society to remain free.

So why are we letting people into this country that don't want to assimilate? Why are we doing that? Immigration is a privilege; it is not an entitlement. This country doesn't owe anyone entry. We don't owe anybody. And somewhere along the way, we lost the ability to discern who we choose to welcome into our great country. We lost it somewhere. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to solve this problem. It really doesn't.

Those who come to this country that want to assimilate, embrace this Nation's core set of values, and contribute to our society should be welcomed with open arms because we are all descendants of immigrants who loved this country. We should accept the best and the brightest, those who are hard workers, intelligent, with skill sets who can provide a quality service to their communities, and people who understand and share the core American values that we all have.

But the problem is that for whatever reason, Western civilization has been guilt-tripped into accepting anyone who wants to come here. That is wrong. That is not what this country was built on.

The Biden and Obama administrations brought in millions of immigrants who have done nothing to make the United States a better place to live--zero. Instead, they have been like leeches, taking advantage of the welfare system and are treating hard-working American taxpayers as their personal ATM machine.

In the last two decades, we have seen a dramatic--I mean, a dramatic--transformation in our society. It has changed and not in a good way. Every time you turn on the news today, you hear about immigrants robbing stores, killing Americans, sexually assaulting and raping women, protesting, and carrying their home country flags instead of the American flag. What is up with this? And where are these immigrants coming from who are committing most of these crimes? Well, you guessed it--from third world countries.

These aren't the kind of people we should be letting into the greatest country on the face of the Earth. It is a privilege, not a right, to live in the United States of America--a privilege--but unfortunately, our immigration system is absolutely broken.

How many more rapes, assaults, murders, stories of these people scamming American taxpayers out of their money do we need to hear before we say enough is enough?

Our immigration system is broken, but no one wants to fix it--nobody in this building or on the other end of this building. Yet, when attempts are made to fix it, Washington resists.

Take temporary protected status for instance. The U.S. House of Representatives a few weeks ago recently voted to extend temporary protected status for roughly 250,000 Haitians. When the Trump administration announced that they were going to terminate the temporary protected status of Haitians, the DC swamp had an absolute meltdown.

You can't do that. These will be voters for us.

As usual, the swamp came out in full force to ensure that these people remained on American soil, putting American taxpayers in harm's way.

According to a House Judiciary Committee report, 91 percent of Haitians with temporary protected status--91 percent--entered the United States illegally and over 50 percent of them are in households that are on at least one welfare program--53 percent. Mind-boggling.

Temporary protected status was never--was never--supposed to be a permanent amnesty program. It was supposed to help people temporarily, give them time to get back on their feet. That is not what is happening. Programs meant to be temporary are becoming permanent right in front of our eyes, and we are not doing anything about it. Policies meant to be limited are being expanded. The American taxpayers are left out in the cold, and the American people are paying every single dime for this huge amnesty bill--billions.

Let me be clear about something: America, this country, is a Christian nation. We are called to love our neighbor and to minister to the poor. That is our job. But we have enough Americans in this country who are in poverty for us to look after and barely enough money to take care of them. We can't take care of all the poor people in the world, folks. That can't happen. For us to remain a society that is free, with values, we have to take care of our own first, and then we take care of other people.

Another problem we are having is immigrants who come here and bring their radical beliefs with them. I have talked to this on the floor many times in the last few months. These people openly chant ``Death to America.'' Yet we allow them to live here among us. You can't make it up.

Middle Easterners who are predominantly Muslim come here, take advantage of our welfare system, which most do, and they refuse to assimilate. Their entire goal is to turn this country into a Muslim country and to be governed by the Islamic cult and Sharia law.

Now, there are good Muslims who come to this country, who embrace the values that we have, contribute to society, don't follow Sharia law, and they are 100 percent welcome to be here. This is not about one group; this is about a group of people that want to change our country and want to kill every American in this country.

The Center for Immigration Studies published a report stating that more than half of the noncitizen households from the Middle East use at least one major welfare program. Think about that. We are having to fund most of these people that are coming here.

Islamists aren't coming here looking for a better life. That is a true fallacy. They are coming here to impose their radical beliefs on us and to mooch off the American taxpayers. ``Game, set, match.'' That is exactly why they are here. They are coming to impose everything they possibly can on the United States of America, get by with it, and tear us down at the same time. They have no interest in adapting to American national identity. They want to change the national identity to mirror their death cult Islamic beliefs. You heard that. They are here to kill us all. They believe that.

Just look at what is happening in Europe. In Europe, they stopped enforcing their own laws. Europe stopped forcing immigrants to adapt to their way of life, and now they are dealing with the consequences.

We are about 10 years behind Europe. Europe is gone. They are being run by a different cult. They have lost all their values. They have lost everything that was built in Europe and in a lot of these other European countries because they closed their eyes, and they thought they were doing the right thing. And politicians got them in trouble.

We should be learning from that, not repeating it.

Americans, open your eyes. Look what is happening. We are losing. We are losing our country as we know it to people that want to destroy us.

But this issue doesn't just affect today; it affects us today and future generations.

Mass migration is destroying our educational system. Listen to me--it is destroying it. Go to any high school, and I can show you examples. More and more American kids are entering the classroom hearing multiple languages being spoken around them every day and having a difficult time making friends because they are now the minority in the schools. We are having enough problems with our education system, and our kids can't understand the language the other people are speaking. That goes with our higher education, which has teachers and professors coming from other countries that can't speak English that are teaching our kids in higher education, and our kids are paying a fortune to go to these 4-year schools.

Enough is enough. This is an English language country, and that is how we speak. That is how we communicate.

Approximately 5 million students in U.S. public schools are classified as English learners. Five million can't speak English in our public schools across our country. It is destroying us. That is 10 to 11 percent of our K-through-12 population and growing every day, and we have our eyes closed.

Our kids already have enough problems. Many of our kids were set back

during COVID. It was disastrous. What the Federal Government did to our kids by closing our schools was a disaster, and it was our fault, the people in this building right here, but we are running and hiding now when the truth is coming out.

So now our kids are being left behind in the classroom because school resources are being reallocated for kids that come from other countries. We need to be spending money on our kids to give them better lives. We are leaving our kids behind, and our country will not survive without teaching and developing the next generation.

The purpose of our immigration system should be to benefit hard- working American taxpayers. Do you think mass immigration is benefiting this country? Absolutely not. There is not one benefit to it. It is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

You know, mass immigration is a leech that is slowly bleeding this country dry, and politicians and the people across our country better open their eyes. There has been a lot of talk over the past few years about deportation, and I am 100 percent for what President Trump is doing. They have to go home. We can't afford it. The American taxpayers--they need help. We can't help people if we can't help ourselves.

We also need to have a national conversation about who we want in this country in the first place. The American taxpayer deserves that right to say who is here and who is not. Politicians are taking credit for letting all these people in. They need to be taking credit for destroying this country.

We need to be asking ourselves, what is our national identity? Many of our immigration laws were made decades ago.

They were made in a different time. That is why tomorrow I will be introducing the Assimilation Act. My bill is simple.

It says America has a right to set immigration policy in the national interest. It says our systems should favor people who will work hard, contribute, support themselves, and strengthen the United States of America. It says we should move away from chain migration policies and away from visa lottery systems that treat every entry into the United States like a raffle drawing.

What an embarrassment.

It says legal immigration should place higher value on skill, merit, economic contributions, and the ability to succeed without becoming dependent on the American taxpayers. It says temporary work programs should serve the American economy, not undercut the American work. It says we should take visa overstays seriously, address parole abuse, and restore credibility to the rule of law.

And it says that citizens in the United States should, once again, reflect commitment, character, and real civic integration.

Now, none of this means America shuts the door. America has always been a nation that can strengthen immigration--history proves that. But it works only when our borders are enforced, the rule of law is followed, and when those who desire to come here build a better life and are expected to assimilate into American culture, not destroy our culture.

Without those conditions, the logic of immigration begins to change. Obama and Biden were hell-bent on changing the immigration landscape of this country. They were letting them in right and left.

A nation can't survive, folks--a nation can't survive--and won't survive when mass migration occurs and there isn't any expectation of assimilation. It is never talked about.

Come on in. Do whatever you want. Preach whatever you want. Teach whatever you want. Destroy whatever you want. We are not going to watch you.

We better open our eyes. There is no obligation for immigrants to commit to participate in the way Americans live. If we don't do that, we will lose our country. We have to start pushing assimilation.

So in that case, I believe we are seeing this right now in the United States. Immigration is no longer a good thing for our society. It is not doing us one bit of good. It is destroying the American dream. It is destroying our generation and the generations to come.

There is a reason why we stopped all immigration in the 1920s. Did you know that? We stopped it all for the same reasons. We had to get back on our feet. Folks, we are $39 trillion in debt and rising. We can't afford these people that can't help themselves.

Mass migration without assimilation will erase our country's identity. We are turning into Europe and in serious danger of losing the core of who we are.

I want to be clear about this. The United States has zero obligation to roll out the red carpet for third-world countries around the world-- zero. We are here to help America first. We have enough of our own problems without taking up everybody else's.

America is a nation built on shared values. People from all walks of life could come here and live peacefully because they understood what being an American meant. Do they know that today? That is what has always made it exceptional because people know what America is about, our core principles. But in a country as diverse as ours, it can only function properly when we accept the duties of citizenship and our Constitution.

Folks, the United States is at a crossroads. We are at a crossroads. We will decide to try sharing a common civic identity, or we will go the way of Europe and let mass migration without assimilation erode the civic duties and responsibilities Americans boldly carried out over the last 2\1/2\ centuries--250 years.

For too long the national conversation around immigration and citizenship has been framed almost entirely in terms of give them rights, protection, benefits, while saying less about loyalty, duty, and shared obligation to make this country better.

A free country cannot survive solely on entitlement. This country was built on hard work. It requires citizens who understand that American life is not just something to receive. It is something to uphold.

If the United States is to remain what it has long claimed to be, it must be clear about the answer to a simple question: What does it mean to be an American?

And we must be willing to insist that the answer still matters because when a nation loses the courage to define itself, it invites others to redefine--redefine it--beyond recognition. We cannot allow people to redefine our country.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previously scheduled roll call vote begin immediately.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the following interns in my office to be granted floor privileges until August 7, 2026: Olivia Amason, Lewis Carter IV, Braden Baker, Anna Dickey, Betsy Howard, Jamison Duncan, Carl Evans, Mary Jane Bussian, Georgia Hairston, Ella Grace Tippins, Henry Lapeyrouse, Sadie Leland, Carter McCullough, Phillip McPhail, Jane Reindhart, and Emma Jane Stricklin.

Mr. President, oftentimes, the simplest act of service can make a meaningful difference in

the lives of those around us. For SSG Kenya Thomas of Daphne, AL, this is certainly true. She has spent her whole adult life finding ways to care for fellow veterans and Active servicemembers.

At just 17 years old, Kenya enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, where she would go on to serve for more than a decade. After her high school graduation in 1986 in Cullman, AL, Kenya set out to serve our country with honor. She specialized in telecommunications, where she helped keep military messages secure.

After an injury forced her to medically retire from the military, Kenya found other ways that she could support people in all phases of life. She went back to school to become an ultrasound technician, where she has cared for patients in their best--and worst--moments. As a breast cancer survivor herself, Kenya extends compassion to the most vulnerable around her, whether it be patients, deployed servicemembers, or children in need.

If she sees a need, she immediately jumps in to see what she can do to help. While her stepson was deployed in Afghanistan, she was inspired to meet a need for her stepson and his unit that often gets overlooked: making pillows for them. Over the course of just one summer, she made 150 pillows that she sent to marines in Afghanistan. She later connected with one of the marines who served with her stepson and was severely injured while in the Middle East. After learning he was at Bethesda Naval Hospital, she made and delivered 75 pillows for him and other injured soldiers.

Kenya also is actively involved in Toys for Tots and has served as the North Baldwin County coordinator for the past 12 years. Her leadership has helped provide toys to hundreds of children in Baldwin County. Kenya has received numerous honors and awards both for her military and civilian service, including being selected as the Fairhope Veteran of the Year in 2015. She and her husband Lew, also a marine veteran, share a family of four children.

It is an honor to recognize Kenya as the May Veteran of the Month.

Mr. President, I am back again talking about something that is very, very important to everybody in the United States of America. There should be alarms going off about what is happening. I know we have a lot of bad things happening all over the world. We are in conflicts. We are in situations where we are trying to control our own destiny when we are not getting a lot of help from a lot of people that we should be counting on.

But let's talk about the United States of America for a second. Let's talk about our farmers. Our farmers are in trouble. We better wake up and smell the roses because what is happening in this country should be a crime. We have lost, just in the last few years, 150,000 farms and over 25,000 farmers--150,000. And we take pride in what we do in this country. We do everything as first class as we possibly

can and we are running people out of business right and left and it is getting worse.

Nobody is listening. Nobody is out there pounding on all of our doors saying, ``We need help,'' other than the ones right now that are in desperate and dire need.

Again, we have a lot of problems. But you think we have problems. We start and continue to lose these farmers that we have in this country, and we continue to eat the trash that is sent in from these foreign countries, we are going to have many, many more problems.

It is a big deal because there is not one State in this country that doesn't deal in farming in some capacity--not one State. We are all involved in it. We all have skin in the game.

Agriculture is the backbone of who we are and what we are. And if we are going to continue to be the place that everybody wants to move to, to be a part of, and not a Third World country like a lot of these places that we are allowing to ship food in from, we better wake up.

You know, for some reason, the past administration either didn't understand the importance of agriculture or our farmers or, to put it bluntly, they really didn't even give a damn about it, to be honest with you. Instead, they were focused on outsourcing our food, our lumber, our fish. Anything to do with farming or agriculture, we, for some reason, were turning over everything to people outside our country. And the people that are the cream of the crop, that are true Americans in this country, are our people in agriculture.

You would think that we would have learned a thing or two back during COVID. I can remember standing up here back in the early part of COVID, back in--what was it--2020 and talking about how in the world have we allowed this country to outsource everything that we do medically? Because when we looked up and COVID was rampant, we were looking around for masks, we were looking around for drugs, looking around for things that save people lives. And guess what. We don't make any of that stuff anymore. We outsourced it all. Now we are doing the same thing to farmers.

You know, it is very dangerous to be reliant on countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Brazil, all these people that are either socialists or communist countries. We can't continue to do this. We can't do it.

We built this country on hard work and effort and not by handouts and not by cheap things that we buy to keep this country going, such as what is coming from China or some of these Third World countries.

One thing that we need to be doing to help our farmers is we need to be tariffing the heck out of these countries that are sending in food that is taking over our grocery stores and our restaurants that they say is great food, it is reliable, it is best in the world, when it is nothing but trash. That is all it is, is total trash. For some reason, because we think that the price is a little bit better, we are getting involved in that--in terms of our grocery stores and our restaurants-- and we are serving things that we shouldn't be serving and it is causing a lot more problems.

You know, we have got the best food safety programs and standards in this country by far. We have got to know where it was raised. We have to know what has been sprayed on the food or where the fish was caught. All the things that go along with food safety go along with farming.

You know, over the past decades--past few decades, the beef-packing industry has shrunk to the point that there are only a few plants processing the majority of our Nation's cattle today, and that is beyond stupid--really, it is. Think of what we have done. We have outsourced most of our food processing, especially when it comes to beef, to these gigantic processing companies that, by the way, are owned--two of them--by foreign entities.

President Trump did an Executive order to try to get to the bottom of what these foreign-owned meatpacking companies were doing because their prices were going so high. They were price-fixing. And what do you think is going to happen when you run into a situation where you allow people to control the market?

Think about it. These foreign entities are controlling America's meat supply at the expense of American farmers and their families--people that work hard, like all of us in this country--not to mention that the consolidation of these few processors has threatened Americans' food supply.

You know, in 1980, these foreign processors controlled about 36 percent of the beef market. Think about that. In 1980, they controlled 36 percent of the beef market. Now, today, these processing plants--two of which are foreign-owned--control 85 percent of the U.S. beef- processing market, and we are asking for huge problems.

I am not a mathematician, but I know that those numbers mean that our American-owned small meat processors have been pushed out of business, and that is what they have done. That is how they do it. They try to control everything, so they put in these four meatpacking processing plants across this country, they control it all, and the little guys are gone.

And this country was built on small businesses, small farms-- everything that produced good product for U.S. citizens. That is how we were raised. That is how we were brought up.

We need to open up competition and find ways to support American meat-processing plants. We have got to do it. We have to do it. I mean, that is the job of our Agriculture Department. They have started working on that, started trying to open up more to see what we can do. But we cannot continue to allow four meatpacking processing plants to control everything that we do when it comes to beef.

You know, when I was growing up, it was common to see ``Made in America'' labels on everything at the store. ``Made in America.'' We were all proud of it. Now, it is rare. Most of the labels we see are ``Made in China'' or ``Made in India.'' I want to challenge everybody: When you go in the store and you think that this product is made in America, all you have to do is look at the box or the can or whatever. You will be very, very surprised where that product is made. Very surprised. And most of the time, it is not going to be made in the good old U.S.A., and it is hurting our American farmers. It is hurting us bad.

They can put a name on it, they can put a label on it, but that doesn't mean a hill of beans. Unless it says ``Made in America,'' we are selling our country out, we are selling our farmers out--people that have built this country.

In addition to growing our own food and producing our own medicine, we need to be using our own cotton. I want you to think about this: Our cotton farmers are broke. They have had three bad years, and it is getting worse and worse every year.

Now, this is planting season. They are putting all the cotton in the ground. They are putting fertilizer. They have got all these people out there working these tractors and machines worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that they use to plant this cotton. And if you look at it at the end of the day, the cost of putting this cotton in the ground is far and above the amount of money that they will receive when they sell this cotton.

Used to, that didn't happen. Used to, we were not challenged as much. But what have we done? We have allowed foreign countries to do everything they possibly can to outgrow and do things at a rate faster than us, and then we are allowing all this cotton to come in from other countries. Brazil is one.

And, again, if we continue to allow Brazil--without tariffing these people and let them know: Hey, if you are going to send your cotton in here, we are going to have a tough time, and we are going to lose our farmers so we are going to start tariffing your cotton and put a pricetag on it when it comes to this country.

We do not owe Brazil one thing. Our farmers don't owe them anything. We owe our farmers in this country. You know, in my State of Alabama, we are one of the top cotton producers in the country, and we bring in more than $400 million of revenue every year to the State of Alabama. You know, our stores are filled with shirts, jeans, towels, bedding, but the problem is that you look on that tag, most of them are made overseas--everything with cotton. I mean, we don't really use cotton in this country anymore unless it comes from overseas.

American cotton farmers produce the highest quality of cotton in the world. I mean, but they are undercut by all this foreign junk that we are bringing in. So there is a lot of work that goes into cotton production, and one thing about our cotton farmers, they work 365 days a year. They make the best product they possibly can, but, unfortunately, we are held to a standard that a lot of people and a lot of things that go on--whether it is textile mills or people that are involved in the cotton business use the foreign cotton, and we don't use near as much in our country.

So my point here is that Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi and I, we are introducing a bill called the Buying American Cotton Act. Now, here is the reason we are doing this: We have to save our cotton farmers. If we don't do it in the next few years, it will be over. They will all be gone. And every American in this country, when you buy something with cotton in it, that cotton is going to come from a foreign entity.

We have to do something to help them, and there is a way to do it without costing a lot of money. There is a way to do it in this building. All we have to do is pass the Buying American Cotton Act to incentivize folks to buy American cotton and bolster our American cotton producers instead of arguing about bailouts when our cotton farmers go under and they need help. Of course, we always, as the Federal Government, try to help them out, but you can't help them out enough where they can really survive in a long period of time.

So what we want to do is get away from the subsidy part and give them an opportunity through the Buying American Cotton Act to give tax credits when people buy American cotton. That is all we want to do. When people buy American cotton, they get a tax credit for it.

If you buy Brazilian cotton, you don't get a tax credit. We have to do something to help our farmers--especially these cotton farmers. When farm income improves, everything else improves. The safety-net programs go down, not to mention the additional economic activity that a strong rural economy will contribute to when you get this tax base done with farmers making a profit. Again, they haven't made any profit going on 4 or 5 years.

Instead of spending money--that is the reason we did this bill. Instead of spending money, we wanted to make sure that these farmers don't need a subsidy at the end of the year. If we give tax credits to entities that buy American cotton, we will not have to pay subsidies anymore. This is an end-all solution to helping the cotton farmers across this country.

Cotton is not just for T-shirts and stuff either. Cotton is for medical supplies, you know, military, critical materials that we use across this country. Cotton plays a key part in national security.

A nation that cannot supply its own basic materials is a nation that has surrendered its independence. And so that is why I am up here today. We are getting ready to celebrate our 250th anniversary, and our farmers have been a huge part of that. For 250 years, we grew our own food; we cut our own timber; we caught our own fish. We did everything we possibly could. But what have we done? Corporations have run out the private sector in this country--the small businesses in this country. They moved it to corporations out of this country, and they have put us in harm's way. They have really put us in harm's way.

So the Buying American Cotton Act puts our farmers in a situation where we do not have to, as a government entity, bail them out every year when they are losing money because they won't lose money, because if we buy their cotton in this country--we are the biggest buyers of cotton all over the world, the United States of America, so let's help our cotton farmers.

And one other thing I want to say about this: I have talked about this several times on the floor. It is getting pretty serious, and it is something that, again, we look at it and say: Oh, it is not going to continue to happen.

Just recently, we estimated that China has bought and owned, as of today, 300,000 acres of American farmland. I want you to think about that--300,000 acres that the Chinese own. Who is our biggest adversary? China. And we are allowing them to buy American farmland in this country, and a lot of it is by our military bases. Now, I wonder why that happens? And I don't think we are stupid, but we are crazy if we continue to let this happen.

It is an urgent and national crisis, and we have got to make sure that we keep an eye on this. And we understand there are some States that are going and telling China now that they cannot buy farmland because they run it through different entities. And that is one thing that we need to make sure that at the end of the day, that we keep an eye on this.

But I want to come up here today and let people know, our farmers are in the fourth quarter, OK? And if we don't have a good year this year, we are going to have a serious--serious--problem with our farmers going out of business. And when farmers go out of business, they are big contributors to our country when it comes to tax base, buying things, producing things, and making our country much stronger.

So I plead with people: Please start understanding what is going on here because if we don't put our foot down and we wait too long and our farmers are gone and they have sold their land, we have got a big problem ahead of us.

And, again, I think it is a huge national security threat when you are having to buy everything out of the country. Again, go back to one thing: Did we learn anything from COVID? Evidently, we didn't. And next time we look up and you are going to have to buy everything coming from another country--especially when it comes from ag--we have got huge problems.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, on March 12, 2026, Alabama lost a hero: Air Force Maj. Alex Klinner, 33. Alex was killed during a refueling mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. He was a part of the historic 99th Air Refueling Squadron based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, AL. His death is a tragic reminder that freedom isn't free, and we all have our brave servicemen and -women to thank for the freedom that makes our country so special.

Alex was an Auburn native and a 2016 graduate of Auburn University. He entered the Air Force through Air Force Reserve Officer Training from Auburn University in 2017. He deployed four times from 2019-2026, flying 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours in theater.

Alex leaves behind a legacy of fierce loyalty both to our country and to his family. Those around him knew him as a ``servant leader'' and a ``helper,'' who went to great lengths to care for his loved ones. As impressive as his pilot skills were, he shined brightest when surrounded by his family: his wife Libby and their three young children. His deep faith kept him rooted and focused on what really matters in this life. He truly embodied the Christian call to ``walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.''

Alabama has rallied behind the Klinner family in the wake of this unimaginable loss. Suzanne and I will continue praying for them during this difficult time.

I was honored to attend the dignified transfer for Alex and the other servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Alex's legacy will endure. He made Alabama proud, and we will always remember his service and sacrifice.

Mr. President, the days following 9/11 were a scary time for our country and world. Yet even in those dangerous times, many brave young men and women ran toward danger, instead of away from it. That is true for U.S. Marine Corps CPL Andy McDuffie of Dothan. Andy was a junior in high school when the Twin Towers fell. He felt it was his duty to join the Marines to defend our country and deployed to the Middle East shortly after his high school graduation in 2003.

Andy loved being part of his high school football team and joining the military gave him the opportunity to be part of a team with a deeper meaning. He served as the squad leader of four units that acted as security for Navy EOD units, better known as the ``bomb squad.'' They performed many successful missions and saved many lives by securing the areas so that bombs could be defused. In 2006, Andy was on a routine mission when an IED blast was set off, killing multiple of his team members, who had become like brothers to him. Andy also sustained serious wounds to his right arm, ending his plans of having a career in the military.

After medically retiring from the Marine Corps, Andy went back to school and graduated from Troy University. As Andy healed from his injury, he also battled with survivor's guilt. He rededicated his life to Christ and set out to help other veterans in the Wiregrass. Through his involvement with Jeep Sullivan's Wounded

Warrior Outdoor Adventures, he was able to overcome his survivors' guilt and pour into veterans who share similar stories as his own. Andy leads hunting trips across the country through this program, which serve as a time to talk through the tragedies of war and what they have endured on the battlefield.

Seeing the positive effect of these trips sparked a flame in McDuffie's heart to keep finding opportunities to uplift his neighbors in the Wiregrass. Andy has become a leader in everything he is involved in. From serving on the security team as his local church, being a board member at Habitat for Humanity, chairing the local Mardi Gras parade, coordinating a back-to-school event that helps students get haircuts and shoes before the year begins, or speaking to fraternity members at Troy during their annual philanthropy event, Andy keeps the legacy of his fallen marines alive with the support of his wife Brittany. And he continues to share his love for our country with his three children: Hill, Brooks, and Mary Hollis.

Andy is a shining example of turning tragedy into something purpose. It is my honor to recognize him as the April Veteran of the Month.

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

Mr. President, it seems like ``Groundhog Day'' in here to me. I have been here 6 years, and this is the fourth time that I have had this bill on the floor, and I am still trying. I am going to continue to try until I am gone. I can't believe this is even an issue, but nothing, basically, has surprised me since I have been here, the things we have either voted for or voted against here in this body.

I have come to the floor, as I said, four different times to try to get the Senate to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. It is not very complicated. For some reason, we are making it complicated. Every time we have voted on this, I have not gotten one single Democrat to vote for it.

I think you can look back at the election this past year in 2024. One of the main issues that put a majority in here, a majority in the House, and control over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is because for some reason, my Democrat colleagues do not want to protect girls and women in sports. It is ludicrous.

For the life of me, I cannot understand how biological males can be given the right to take away the rights of young girls--elementary school, junior high, high school, junior college, 4-year universities, and even in pro sports. I cannot understand it.

We have women's sports, and we have men's sports, and that is the way it should be. That is the way it has been up until just a few years ago.

President Trump has changed that since he took office. He Executive- ordered that no men participate in women's sports. Here is the deal: We all know that Executive orders only last a certain amount of time. If the Democrats take control of the White House, that will change overnight. Biological men will be allowed to participate in women's sports

But surely to goodness, everybody in here has daughters or nieces or granddaughters that love sports--one of the best things this country has going for it. You are taught teamwork, dedication, work ethic, time control, organization. You get all those things out of sports.

I did it for 35 years. I have seen people change their lives because of what sports did to their lives. Sometimes they are not very focused through a school--whether it is high school, junior college, or a 4- year university--but if they participate in that and they go through the grueling practice and meetings and lifting and all the things they have to do, they learn. They learn how to control their lives. They learn how to take care of themselves. But for some reason, we don't want women and girls to have that opportunity. In this body, the Democratic Party wants biological men to be able to participate.

So what would you say to the volleyball player at San Jose University who thought that on a road trip, you double up--whether it is men's sport or women's--you double up in a hotel room before you play the next day. She did not realize that she was sharing a room and possibly even a bed with a male. She didn't know he was transgender. She did not know it. She quit school and did not get her degree because she was petrified at what she had to go through because of this body right here. It is ridiculous--absolutely ridiculous.

Female athletes suffer long injuries because of competing against bigger men. Can we not figure that out? Can we not figure that out?

How about the trophies and awards that are stolen from young girls and ladies that work all their life to win a game or a sport or win some kind of award in the sport they are in, and they put all their dedicated life into that, and they lose to somebody that is much more physical--bigger, stronger, and faster--because of us in here? Not anybody else; because of us. Because we won't vote to say: No, they can't do it. It really makes no sense whatsoever.

But do you know what? The people of this country voted. They voted their tails out a majority in the House, in the Senate, and the White House, and one reason was because of no common sense--none. And they should, and it is going to get them again next year.

If I was a leader over there, I would go: Hey, listen, we are getting our tails kicked on this. Let's go vote for this and get it over with because we are going to lose a lot of votes.

Eighty percent of the country believes that men should not play in women's sports, but, no--they are going stand up for the 20 percent-- the 20 percent crazies that have no clue of what they are doing when they are voting for men to play in women's sports.

So I appreciate President Trump's Executive order to put life back into women's sports. And we are not talking about all 18-, 19-, 20- year-olds; I am talking about 4 or 5 years old--all of women's sports.

So this is an 82-20 issue--common sense. I mean, there is not a lot of common sense up here because my colleagues on the left a couple years ago tried to push on the United States that men can have babies. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? What country do we live in when we have leaders of this country trying to push an idea that men can have babies?

We have lost it, and we better get control of it. I think that my colleagues on the left have really lost touch with reality. Because why? You would ask yourself why. You go home and think, why would anybody vote for that?

And I will tell you why. There is a group of people they are trying to protect that would vote for their power. They are not voting for young women. They are not voting for older women. They are voting for power so they can push this nonsense on you all over this country. And enough is enough of it. Enough is enough.

So I hope today when we vote on this bill for the fourth time that men cannot play in women's sports, that when they walk up to vote and say: No, I am against that, look at the damn camera up there and let the people see you vote against women in this country to have the same rights as men when it comes to athletics.

Please do that so we can put your picture on television. Don't vote for this guy next November because there is no possible way that you can elect somebody that believes this nonsense.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I have come to the floor several times over the past few months to sound the alarm about the serious threats that radical Islam poses to the United States of America. You know, unfortunately, we are seeing that play out in real time now with what is happening over in Iran.

You know, as I have discussed many times, radical Islam is not a religion. It is a death cult, and it is a political ideology that encourages Muslims to kill all infidels. In simple terms, that means Americans and Christians. So it shouldn't be a surprise that Iran launched a 47-year war against the United States almost immediately after being taken over by radical Islam in February of 1979.

Just 9 months after the Iranian Revolution, which put the radical Islamists in charge, a group of Iranians stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 66 American hostages. Sometimes, we forget.

A few years later, in 1983, Iran helped orchestrate the deadly Beirut bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks, which killed 241 American servicemembers--241. How soon we forget.

In October 2000, Iran's proxies bombed the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen.

In 2012, Iran conducted a series of cyber attacks on critical American infrastructure, seeking to take us down digitally.

In 2016, they seized two American ships and held 10 U.S. Navy sailors hostage for 16 hours.

Since 2023, Iran and its proxies have attacked--have attacked--U.S. forces 180 times across the world, not to mention they have done all of this while chanting ``Death to America.'' How nice.

Clearly, these radical Islamic terrorists have one goal in mind: to wipe out the United States America, to wipe us off the face of the Earth. To accomplish this goal, they have been working feverishly to develop a nuclear weapon to gain more strength and more power.

Thanks to Barack Obama entering the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, sending them pallets of cash, they were almost successful. This so- called deal basically allowed Iran to build a nuclear stockpile, to which the United States for years turned a blind eye.

The deal remained in place until 2018, when President Trump withdrew and imposed maximum-pressure sanctions on Iran. You know, the pressure worked, as Iran's economy was plunged into a deep recession during President Trump's 4 years in office. But luckily for them, Joe Biden got into the White House in 2021, and what did he do? He immediately reentered Obama's broken nuclear deal with Iran, empowering Iran to once again build a nuclear arsenal.

They were well on their way to achieving that goal of nuclear power, but Iran's luck ran out when President Trump got back into office last year. He pulled the United States out of that nuclear deal, and a few months later, President Trump gave an order for Operation Midnight Hammer, which was one of the most impressive missions in U.S. military history. This flawlessly executed operation destroyed the nuclear capabilities Iran had been building under Joe Biden.

Unfortunately, Iran's nuclear ambitions didn't end there. Iran's former leader, the deranged Ayatollah, was doing everything he could to get their nuclear program back together.

These terrorists cannot be trusted. They want to see every single freedom-loving American dead--pretty plain and simple--and they would like the use of a nuclear weapon to do that. That is the reason they were working for that.

So, as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, we didn't start this war, but we

are damn sure going to finish it. And thank goodness somebody has stepped up to the plate.

Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, on Saturday morning, U.S. military forces began Operation Epic Fury, a targeted mission to wipe out Iranian leadership and obliterate the country's offensive ballistic missile and nuclear weapons capabilities.

Unlike the forever wars in the past 50 years, Operation Epic Fury's goals, by President of the United States Donald Trump, are clearly laid out: Destroy the Iranian regime's missiles and their launchers, annihilate their navy, prevent their terrorist proxies from destabilizing the world, and ensure Iran can never--never--obtain a nuclear weapon.

You know, we tried diplomacy, but as the old saying goes, you can't negotiate with terrorists. They wanted nothing to do with it, but President Trump and his group tried. That is what these people are-- terrorists--motivated by their radical Islamic beliefs.

If you don't believe me, let's look directly into the Quran. In 2:98 of the Quran, it says: Allah is the enemy of all non-Muslims.

Pretty simple.

In 8:12 of the Quran, it says: Allah will instill fear in the heart of those who disbelieve, therefore strike them upon the necks.

If you wondered where radical Muslims got the idea of beheading people, which we saw many times over the years, now you know.

Or take Quran 8:39, which says: Fight non-Muslims until the faith of Allah is fully established.

Those are not my words. This is all clearly written in the book of Quran.

Now do you see why I say that radical Islam is not a religion but is a death cult? They have a plan.

There has been a lot of talk over the past few days about what ``America First'' means, and that is OK. In this country, you have the right to debate and even to disagree with your government. That is what this country is all about. But despite the fact that President Trump has been the leader of the free world for the majority of the last decade, the mainstream media and leftists still don't seem to understand it.

So let's spell it out for you: MAGA isn't about isolationism. It is the big stick that punishes the people who chant ``Death to America.''

``America First'' is about having a military so strong and so effective that your enemies go into hiding.

In case you haven't noticed, you haven't heard a peep out of Russia or China since President Trump took out the Iranian terrorists this past Saturday. In fact, China's oil imports have been crippled since President Trump took out the Venezuelan dictator and now the radical Islamic Iranian regime. President Trump now has put our enemies on notice. Mess around and find out.

To the left screaming ``endless wars,'' no, it isn't. We have been fighting this war since 1979. Now, it is time to end it. Americans have been regularly killed by these radical terrorists since 1979. This operation isn't about nation-building. It is about protecting U.S. citizens by making sure these terrorists don't get their hands on a nuclear weapon.

I am proud of our military, which has valiantly executed the mission so far. This has been the most lethal and successful air campaign in history. This is a highly complex mission. President Trump says he expects to potentially go a few more weeks, hopefully minimizing any more American casualties along the way.

I join every American in mourning the losses of the six American servicemembers who have been killed so far. These men and women are patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for our safety. We join their families and friends in mourning their losses, and we pray for the safe return of all of our brave warriors overseas.

But for those of us who are in the homeland, we must stay vigilant because the truth is that the threat of radical Islam isn't confined to the Middle East any longer. Under Joe Biden, thousands of radical Islamic terrorists illegally entered our country. We have no idea how many terrorists are here. We have no idea where they are at. It is scary, but it is true.

Just this past weekend, a 53-year-old naturalized American citizen-- born in Africa--entered a bar in Austin, TX, and senselessly murdered 3--3--innocent Americans and injured 14 others. To no one's surprise, the terrorist was wearing a sweatshirt that read ``Property of Allah,'' along with a T-shirt underneath with an Iranian flag printed on it. Law enforcement also found a Quran in the terrorist's vehicle.

If we don't do something about the terrorists who are here, this may just be the first in a string of attacks carried out by Muslim terrorist cells in the next few months.

You don't have to look far to see the rising influence that Islam is having in the United States. More than 5 million Muslims live here today, and they are influencing our culture and even our laws. We are blessed that the freedom of worship is a constitutionally guaranteed right in this country, and it should be. If you want to come here legally, peacefully practice your religion, and blend into our society by adopting the treasured American values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, you are welcome to do so. That is what this country is all about. But if you believe that Sharia law supersedes American law, our Constitution, and that it is righteous to kill Americans, you should be deported--pronto.

Sharia law is anti-American and has no place in a free society. Yet, we are seeing U.S. towns and cities starting to enforce elements of Sharia law itself. Towns in Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey now allow daily Islamic calls to prayer to be blasted on speakers in public places. Now, that is not even allowed in Muslim countries--they can't do that--but we allow that to happen in our country.

The iconic Times Square in New York has been taken over daily by Islamic calls to prayer--and don't even get me started on this Islamic mayor in New York City. He took his oath of office with one hand on-- what?--the Quran. I wonder if he agrees with the Quran statements I listed earlier. I wonder if he believes that. He was recently seen praying with Muslim police officers, which is fine. Before we realize it, Mamdani will be enacting Sharia law in America's premier city and not the U.S. Constitution. It is coming. Additionally, Mamdani recently visited a New York City mosque which has ties to the Iranian regime. To make matters worse, the mayor's friend, who runs a mosque, openly prays for the killing of infidels. And who is that? That is you.

But it isn't just New York. A city in Michigan recently legalized the barbaric live slaughter of animals for Muslim holidays. This is not a Third World country, folks. We do not sacrifice animals in the streets of the United States of America, but I guess our Western values go out the window when it comes to appeasing the Islamic death cult.

Over the weekend, not far from our Nation's Capital, a mosque held a memorial service for the late Ayatollah, who was taken out just the past week by President Trump. They had a memorial service for him. The mosque's social media post described the Iranian dictator as a martyr and ``our leader.'' These are people right down the street. Yes, this is the very same terrorist who was responsible for murdering tens of thousands of his own people just last month. He was working every single day to form a worldwide caliphate where Sharia law would be the constitution and global terrorism--or jihad--would be its foreign policy, and you have to have Islamists on American soil calling him a hero. It is absolutely sickening.

For some reason, our colleagues the Democrats in this body are siding with these people. I don't understand that. I mean, they have nothing to do with America. We even have some elected officials in this body who worship Sharia law, and they need to be stopped. If these people love these Third World countries they are from so much, especially those people in the House, please feel free to move.

A mosque in Dearborn, MI, also held a vigil for the evil Iranian dictator, calling him the ``great leader of our time.'' But they didn't stop there. These idiots also claimed that America was built by devil worshipers, referred to the Statue of Liberty as ``Lucifer'', and said they want their children to grow up in a culture of jihad--killing all Christian Americans.

These people seem to be completely ignorant about the Founders of our country. So here is a little about the history of America: We weren't built by devil worshipers. In fact, America was founded by Christians who believed in one true God. That is why our motto is ``In God We Trust.'' It is on our currency. Our God is full of forgiveness and mercy. Jesus, his son, taught us to turn the other cheek and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Allah, on the other hand, shows no mercy. In fact, he encourages murder, violence, and the torturing of women. This is why I say that radical Islam is fundamentally incompatible with American Christian values. In America, women are allowed to dress, go to school, work, and marry whomever they like. Iran used to be like this, too, before they were taken over by radical Islamists in 1979.

This is them post-1979.

Sadly, under the sick leadership of these terrorists, women are treated like dogs. Did you hear that? Women are treated like dogs. They are forced to cover every part of their bodies--of their skin--except for their eyes. They aren't allowed to leave home unless they are with a male escort. They aren't allowed to get an education or work a job, and they are forced sometimes to marry as young as 6 years old. Pedophilia and inbreeding are rampant, and women are lucky if they are allowed to drive.

Hell, we have a U.S. Congresswoman from one of these Third World Muslim countries who is married to her brother.

Where are all my Democrat colleagues who claim to be feminists? They should be outraged by Islam's treatment of women.

We cannot allow this sort of poisonous ideology to fester. Under Joe Biden, 10 to 20 million people came here illegally. Many of these people came from radical Islamic countries and brought their sick ideology with them.

If you live in the United States and practice Sharia law, you should be deported immediately. We have no choice, folks, if we want to keep this country. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out, is what I say. If you chant ``Death to America,'' we do not want you here.

We are stupid if we just sit on our hands while terrorist cells work to pull off their next attack and say that this is a one-time deal. It is not.

Thanks to our Democrat colleagues who just like the way this country is going and love power, the Department of Homeland Security now is shut down. That is really smart. This is not the time to be playing politics. This is an urgent national security crisis. Every single one of my Senate colleagues put their hand on the Bible in this room and swore an oath when they joined this body. We swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Well, I have news for you. The enemies are inside the gates. They are here. It is past time that we reopened the Department of Homeland Security and deported every single terrorist who is living in this country--and there are thousands.

If we don't take a stand now, our way of life, our Christian values, our freedoms, and our national identity are gone. It is going to be over. There is only room for one law in this country, and that is the Constitution of the United States of America. For too long, people have tiptoed around this issue--afraid to hurt someone's feelings or to make people uncomfortable. But the time for being politically correct is over.

So the question is: Will we continue to turn a blind eye to the radical Islamic cult, or will we stand up before more Americans are killed?

Now is the time to act. If we don't, we will lose our country as we all know it. We are already starting to see it happen. This isn't a Republican or a Democrat issue. This is an American issue. I wish more of my Republican and Democrat colleagues would join me in denouncing radical Islam before it is too late, but it seems like we are living in an age in which people are too scared to stand up for what is right. Weak leaders have allowed the Islamic cult to destroy Europe.

Folks, we are going to be next.

Thank God for President Trump, who actually has the courage to take out these radical terrorists. Let's get in, complete the mission, and get out. God bless our President, God bless our troops, and God bless the United States of America.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, Alabama is proud to be home to so many great veterans who have represented us well on the world stage. That is certainly true for LTC Harold Stanford of Barfield, AL. The Clay County native joined the Alabama Army National Guard while he was still in high school before going to Jacksonville State University and joining the ROTC unit there.

Harold's Alabama training took him across the country, but one stop in Rockville, MD, would chart the course for his nearly three-decade military career. While here, Harold helped protect our Nation's Capital and surrounding area during the Vietnam war. This was also where Harold took his first helicopter flight, and he decided that aviation was how he would use his gifts to serve our country. He became an Army pilot and served two tours in Vietnam in the 60s. His company became known as the Rattlers.

Harold received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal--the highest honor for aerial flight--for his bravery during a mission where he successfully landed his Chinook after losing an engine due to enemy fire. Harold safely landed the chopper along with 8,000 pounds of ammo and the whole crew intact. But Harold's service extended far past being a skilled pilot. He devoted much of his time off duty to serving a leper colony, demonstrating the very best of American generosity and goodwill. Over the years, he has received numerous other decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation medal, seven Air Medals, several unit citations, and many more.

We could all learn a thing or two from Harold. After retiring from the military, Harold continued to fly corporate planes for another 18 years. Eventually, after 22 moves, the Stanfords returned home to the Barfield community in 2002 and settled into the house next door from where his wife Martha grew up. Harold credits Martha for standing by his side in every step of their lives. They recently celebrated 67 years of marriage together and are the proud parents of two adult sons: David and Michael. For 16 years, Harold continued saving lives as a fireman with the Barfield Volunteer Fire Department. Harold has stayed involved in his retirement. He is a member of the VFW Post 9581, American Legion, and the Vietnam Helicopter Association.

As his wife Martha says, ``[Harold] had a very strong feeling of service to [his] country.'' Alabama is grateful for veterans like Harold who continue to put country and community above themselves. It is my honor to recognize Harold Stanford as the March Veteran of the Month.

Mr. President, I would like to honor three Alabama artists whose artwork is currently displayed in my office here in Washington, DC: Perry Austin of Sylacauga, AL; Linda Ellen Price of Springville, AL; Craig Reynolds of Gadsden, AL. Their works reflect the rich artistic talent of Alabama and serve as a visual representation of the State's natural beauty, heritage, and culture.

These pieces, graciously loaned by the artists, are prominently displayed in my front office, where they are viewed by thousands of constituents and visitors who enter my office each year. The artwork has been widely admired and frequently complimented, contributing to a welcoming and representative space that highlights some of Alabama's most talented artists.

Perry Austin, a native of Sylacauga, AL, is well known for his landscape paintings. A successful professional career. He is a member of the American Impressionist Society and Oil Painters of America and was among the original founders of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast in 2001. His painting ``Tensaw'' displayed in the Russell Senate Office Building, depicts the Tensaw River as it flows through southern Alabama. Executed in oil on linen, the work captures the region's geography through a thoughtful balance of warm and cool tones.

Linda Ellen Price, of Springville, AL, is known for her expressive style and

quick brushwork. Her artwork, ``Alabama Camellia'' represents Alabama's State flower and reflects its cultural significance across the State. The Camellia is an icon of Alabama's heritage and is prominently featured in public gardens, festivals, and residential landscapes. Ms. Price's work captures this symbolism with clarity and elegance.

Craig Reynolds, of Gadsden, AL, is recognized for his plein air and studio oil paintings of landscapes, rural scenes and nature. He began painting professionally in 1984 and has worked as a full-time artist since 2005. His piece ``Alabama Snow'' is the largest artwork on display in my office. The painting portrays cotton fields commonly found in northern Alabama beneath a clear blue sky, offering a distinctive view of the State's agricultural landscape.

Collectively, these artists have made a meaningful contribution--not only to my office, but to the State of Alabama--by allowing their work to be displayed on Capitol Hill. Their generosity and artistic excellence help ensure that Alabama is represented not only through public service and policy, but through creativity and culture. Without a doubt, Mr. Austin, Ms. Price, and Mr. Reynolds are truly some of Alabama's finest. I am honored to have their pieces in my office.

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

Mr. President, let me take you back to November 2024. President Trump and his family were together in Florida, awaiting the election results after one of the most brutal campaigns in American history.

You know, 4 years earlier, President Trump had been forced to leave the White House after rampant voter fraud had resulted in Joe Biden being elected President.

In 2022, President Trump announced he would run again in 2024--much to the Democrats' dismay. The mainstream media went into full meltdown, claiming it was impossible for President Trump to return to the White House.

During Trump's campaign, he was shot live on television, arrested on made-up charges, and even had his home raided by the FBI, but he was still standing and was determined as ever to get back to the White House to finish what he had started.

Thankfully, 77 million people--Americans--agreed, helping President Trump win both the electoral college and the popular vote. Americans also gave Republicans control of the House and Senate to help President Trump accomplish his agenda.

This historic victory on November 5, 2024, wasn't just about President Trump, however; it was also a rejection of the Democrats' ridiculous open border policies that had allowed tens of millions of illegals to come into our country unvetted; it was a rejection of the sky-high inflation that made life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans; it was a rejection of woke policies, like men in women's sports and allowing doctors to perform life-ruining surgeries on children; and it was a rejection of the weaponization of the Federal Government to go after political opponents.

November 5, 2024, was one of the most consequential elections of my lifetime. It paved the way for Republicans in the House and the Senate to deliver historic tax cuts just last summer with popular policies like no tax on tips, Social Security, and overtime. We look forward to seeing all of those policies take effect this year, but we still have much, much work to do.

You know, there has been a lot of talk in the media about what Republicans need to focus on into the midterms later this year--a lot of talk. If you ask me, the No. 1 issue must be to secure our elections. If we don't deliver on this, we will lose our country to the woke globalists who hate our Constitution and want to destroy the greatest Nation on Earth.

It is far past time for my Republican colleagues in the Senate to stop worrying about getting reelected and pass one of the most critical pieces of legislation that we will see in our lifetimes--the SAVE America Act.

The SAVE America Act is most important. It requires voters to show a government ID to vote in Federal elections--what a thought. This is common sense.

By the way, 83 percent of all Americans support it according to a 2025 poll,

just a few weeks ago. There is bipartisan support for it: 99 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Democrats across this country agree that a photo ID should be used in all of our elections. Interestingly, the support also transcends demographics among American citizens as 82 percent of Latino voters, 76 percent of Black voters, and 85 percent of White voters favor photo ID.

This really isn't complicated.

The SAVE America Act also requires proof of citizenship for an individual to register in one's State.

If you are here illegally, you should not be voting in our elections--period.

Lastly, the bill requires States to remove non-U.S. citizens from existing voter rolls. It makes sense.

These policies are not controversial. Yet the Democrat Party is throwing a tantrum. You should be asking yourself: Why is that? Why are they against voter ID, no mail-in ballots, no ballot harvesting and 1- day voting? Why is that? Is it because their illegal voting base will no longer be able to keep them in power once the legislation becomes law? Sure, it is.

Democrats claim that the SAVE America Act is voter suppression and that it is racist, but the American people are not falling for it. Don't believe the mainstream media's portrayal of this. The American people have already spoken. The SAVE America Act is supported by a huge majority of Americans, and they want it.

There are many things in our day-to-day lives that require us to show a government photo ID. Many things. Almost everything--purchasing alcohol, lottery tickets and tobacco products, boarding flights, renting a car, checking into hotels. If you want to open up a bank account or apply for credit, you must show a photo ID. Marriage license, the signing of legal documents, and many other benefit programs often require proof of identification as well, not to mention my Democrat colleagues in the Senate are supporting that ICE agents prove their identities while deporting criminals.

Let Federal law enforcement agents do their jobs, folks. Let them do their jobs.

The hypocrisy from the radical left knows no bounds. Ask yourself: Why is it easier to vote than it is to board a plane? It makes no sense.

Why are Republican politicians in Washington ignoring the mandate of 77 million American patriots? There are 77 million who voted to get this done.

Washington, DC, we have problems. It is where elected officials are completely out of touch, and they don't listen to the people they represent; they vote for themselves. And that has gotten us in trouble. They are more concerned about getting reelected than in actually doing what they promised to do on the campaign trail. It is easy to talk, but you need to follow up on what you ran on.

For years, Democrats have shouted from the rooftops that it is impossible for illegals to vote in our elections, but the proof is in the pudding.

In August 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that they found more than 1 million ineligible voters on the Texas voter rolls--1 million.

In October of 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States approved the State of Virginia to remove 1,600 ineligible voters from the voter rolls. Virginia had to be forced to do it.

Earlier this year, Oregon was forced to begin removing 800,000 inactive voters from the State registration rolls. Why did they have to be told to do that? It doesn't make any sense. This is not a coincidence. It is an intentional political strategy being orchestrated by the Democratic National Party.

Democrats, they have lost their traditional blue-collar and minority voter base. How do we know that? The majority have just voted for President Trump just a year ago. Because of that, the Democrats have now found themselves a new girlfriend. Who are they? Illegal immigrants. That is why the Democrat-controlled States refuse to work with the Department of Justice and have denied the Agency access to the voting rolls--denied the Federal Government: No, you can't see our voting rolls. What have you got to hide?

They would rather fall on their swords for criminal illegal aliens-- murderers, rapists, and terrorists--to get their votes than prioritize the safety of American citizens. Thanks to the Director of National Intelligence, Director Tulsi Gabbard, Americans are finally seeing evidence of the past fraudulent elections come to light.

Millions of Americans have thought for years that there was serious election interference in Fulton County, GA, during the 2020 Presidential election. Thanks to President Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and DNI Tulsi Gabbard, the 2020 Presidential election ballots have been seized and will soon reveal the real truth to the American people.

The SAVE America Act must be our main priority this year, and that is saying a whole lot because we have got a lot of problems up here, but it has got to be our No. 1 priority. For instance, Washington, DC, has a serious spending problem. Yet we are more than $38 trillion in debt with nothing to show for it.

Or look at the fact that we are one of the sickest countries on Earth. Thank God for R.F.K., Jr., and Make America Healthy Again. We are working to address this problem, not to mention all the problems created by the Biden administration and their office for 4 years. But we can't even start addressing these problems until we pass the SAVE America Act. We have to do it.

Luckily, we still have time to get it to the finish line. One way we can do this is to get rid of the outdated 60-vote filibuster. The way it is used today has nothing to do with what it was originally intended for. Instead of the zombie filibuster, today it has become a tool of obstruction used to overturn the will of the American people. We don't work for the Senate. We work for the American people. The filibuster was set up to allow debate, and that should be happening right here, real debate on this floor. My Democratic colleagues need to come to the floor and explain to the American people why they want illegals to vote in elections. I would like to hear it. What is their reasoning?

President Trump ran on the commonsense policies of the SAVE America Act, and he won, also, the popular vote, by the way. It is time my Republican colleagues started acting like we were in the majority. We have the power. As Republicans, we currently have 53 seats in the Senate. Clearly, the American people are behind us and support the ``America First'' agenda. That is exactly why 77 million people voted in 2024, and we owe it to each and every one of them to get the job done instead of sitting up here looking at each other.

Passing legislation like the SAVE America Act is essential for the future of our country. We are not going to have another chance. We have no choice. We have got to get it done. If we do not pass this bill, we may never have a secure election in this country again. Never. That is a long time.

Democrats will work overtime to import as many illegals to this country as they can. They just showed they would do it for 4 years. We can't allow that to happen again.

We are seeing the Democrats' strategy play out in realtime in other countries as we speak. I have been saying this for years: All you have got to do is go to Europe. They are us 10 years from now. If we don't pass the SAVE America Act, it is gone. Their leaders are getting fired right and left. They have lost their moral values; they have lost their culture; and they have lost their country.

All of it started with mass migration, which they have allowed to completely destroy what they have had for centuries. The socialist- controlled Spanish Government recently imported 500,000 migrants and are in the process of granting residency. You have got to be kidding me.

Or look at Romania where the conservative pro ``Romania First'' candidate was cheated out of a victory in 2024 because of made-up claims that Russia interfered in their elections. Sounds familiar.

If we don't pass the SAVE America Act this year, what is happening in Europe won't just be overseas anymore. It is going to be right here in our backyard because many of the enemy are already inside the gates.

Politicians often warn about the crime or national security threats that illegals pose to this country, but this isn't just about American safety. It is also a serious financial problem.

Do you know that every year now we are having to pay for the illegals that

are in this country? It costs you and me and every taxpayer in this country $150 billion. What could we do with that money in our States, in our communities, in our neighborhoods? Folks, we have to take our country back. Our borders--we have to take it all back before it is too late.

We must get rid of the Dominion voting machines; stop mail-in voting; absentee ballots only in certain situations; stop ballot harvesting; and return to same-day-only voting.

In my State of Alabama, I get two questions: Are you going to close the border and are you going to have fair elections? I want my vote to count.

And that is the reason I am here today. If we don't secure our Federal elections, we will become a banana republic. It is right around the corner. The American people want it. The only question is, Do my colleagues in the Senate want to keep their tradition of the Senate or do they want to work for the American people? That is the reason we are here.

Are we just interested in protecting our own power? I hope not because it won't be here long if we don't. Let's do the right thing for the American taxpayers and pass the SAVE America Act. Our Nation and the future of our kids and grandkids depend on it. Think about it.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns in my office be granted floor privileges up until May 1, 2026: Brianne Pueschell, Robbie Reuse, and Susanna Jackson.