Floor Statements

Mr. President, in Alabama, we take a lot of pride in honoring and supporting the heroes who have served in our Nation's military. But it takes people who are dedicated to this mission 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

No one embodies this cause better than Captain Paul ``Puck'' Esposito of Auburn, AL. The son of a World War II and Korean war veteran, Puck followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Navy in 1986. Puck spent 30 years in Active Duty as a Navy aviator. From flying grey helicopters, serving on an exchange tour with the Canadian Air Force, to spending 8 years at sea--you name it, Puck did it. He was sent on nine long deployments and served in every theatre the Navy has a presence in.

A native of Long Island, Puck found himself settling down over 1,000 miles from home in Auburn, AL. Upon taking charge of Auburn University's Navy ROTC unit, Puck and his wife Dana quickly fell in love with the Plains. After retiring from Active Duty in 2016, he was offered the position to direct the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center. It was in this role at Auburn that Puck, a career Navyman--and a native Northeasterner--embraced all that the South has to offer.

His role at the vets resource center has been an essential part of filling the gaps for Auburn student-veterans and military-affiliated students. Though the center is largely focused on providing academic resources for its participants, Puck has taken a deeper approach. In addition to educational support, Puck and his team have worked to combat critical issues such as veteran suicide, food insecurity, and homelessness.

Under the last decade of Puck's leadership, Auburn's vets resource center has expanded from supporting 600 students to 2,100 currently. They put on events like Project Iron Ruck and help Auburn recognize and honor veterans at many of the university's athletic events.

We are proud to now call Puck one of our own, and we are grateful for all he does to support our veterans. It is my honor to recognize Puck Esposito as the May Veteran of the Month.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about how my Democratic colleagues, some RINOs, and the globalist media are working together to try to take down Donald Trump and derail his ``America First'' agenda. The latest target, President Trump's Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

I have said many times that I am convinced that many Democrats would rather see America and its leaders fail than to see this country succeed. It is sad, but it is true.

You know, when President Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense, he intentionally picked someone who understands what it means to fight for this country, not from behind a desk but from the frontlines. Pete didn't inherit the stars on his uniform; he earned his stripes while serving in the Middle East. He is one of the few in Washington who has been in the fight and experienced the traumas of war. He knows firsthand what the warfighter goes through each and every day, which is why military recruiting has skyrocketed under his leadership.

I don't know about you, but as the dad of two sons, I am glad that the man leading our Department of Defense knows the dangers of war firsthand.

You know, for decades, this country has gotten involved in foreign wars that we have had no business being involved in. Thousands of Americans have lost their lives, trillions of dollars have been squandered fighting wars where no clear objectives past the victory have ever been provided to the American citizen. We just fight them. You would think that we would learn from at least one or two of these painful lessons, but, no, that hasn't stopped the globalist warmonger machine in Washington, DC. They love war because it funds paychecks.

You know, for this reason, Democrats, the swamp, and some RINOs banded together to oppose Pete Hegseth immediately after he was nominated by President Trump--didn't take them long. I am convinced that their opposition to Hegseth was only because he was not part of the military-industrial complex.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I came to the Senate floor to urge my colleagues to support Pete Hegseth's nomination because of his outsider--not Washington, DC, but outsider--status. Thankfully, he was confirmed. But, unfortunately, the smears--some of which have come from

my colleagues--have only gotten worse since Hegseth was confirmed.

Globalists and the media, some Republicans, are working overtime to try to get Pete Hegseth. The media is breathlessly rushing to put a microphone in front of every single disgruntled former Pentagon employee who has been fired by this Secretary. You know, it doesn't matter what you are fired for; all that matters to the media and the RINOs is that they have something to say bad about the Secretary of Defense. It is clear as day that these efforts to embarrass Hegseth are nothing more than desperate attempts to salvage reputations and distract from the successes he is already having in the Pentagon.

The truth is, Hegseth inherited a complete, absolute mess at the DOD. The Pentagon has failed audits 7 years in a row. You know, if a business did that, they would go under. But in our government, that is just par for the course.

And thanks to the Biden administration's horrible withdrawal from Afghanistan, countries who hate us like China, Iran, and Venezuela have been emboldened. Instead of working to deter World War III, however, Joe Biden's Pentagon was more focused on social justice.

In 2024, the Biden Defense Department requested more than $114 million for DEI initiatives, 114 million. Meanwhile, recruitment was at a historic low and falling. Military readiness was slipping, and the world saw a weakened United States.

Pete Hegseth made it clear that he is here to reverse course and that changes that he has made are already visible to the positive. Secretary Hegseth has already eliminated more than 200 diversity and inclusion positions and cut more than 580 million in wasteful grants and contracts--580 million.

Secretary Hegseth has made it clear that he is focused on warfighting, readiness--mission-focused, not political correctness or appeasing the woke mob. He has restored merit-based promotions, refocused leadership training on battlefield effectiveness, terminated taxpayer-funded abortions for military personnel, and reinstalled discipline as a cornerstone of the United States of America military.

This isn't just talk either. The Department is actively removing woke DEI materials from service academies and replacing them with warfighting-centric curriculums.

He also cut through bloated procurement delays and brought transparency to the defense budget. What a novel concept is actually knowing what your budget is.

You know, just 4 months in, DOD has achieved 100 percent operational control of the border. This was after the Biden administration said for 4 years, hey, there was nothing they could do to secure the border. Well, what a joke.

Under Secretary Hegseth's leadership, the Department has moved to reduce acquisition timelines, fast track critical update systems, and is making sure the United States is ready to compete and win wars in the 21st century. And construction on the historic Golden Dome, by the way, is well underway.

But it is not just about equipment; Pete has doubled down on his support for the warfighter by improving access to mental health services and other resources that boost morale and readiness. It was much needed.

He reinstated the servicemembers who were wrongfully removed over their personal decision to not take the COVID-19 vaccine--many of them. He has reinstated quite a few. The fact that President Biden and Secretary Austin dismissed these servicemembers was absolutely dead wrong, and I am glad that President Trump's administration has taken quick action to right this wrong.

You know, when I met with Pete during his confirmation process, I told him plainly: Don't go to Washington to make friends, but go there and fight for the warfighter. So far, he has kept his promise.

I can't speak for everyone, but I know the folks I have talked to back in my State of Alabama are very appreciative. We need a Secretary of Defense who is focused on one thing and one thing only, defending America, and that is what Pete Hegseth is doing. And he will tell you this: There is no second place in war. We have to be ready at all times.

You know, under the Biden administration, 13 American troops lost their lives because of poor planning in Afghanistan. We all know that. We have seen it. We saw it pretty much live.

Under President Trump and Hegseth, we have executed successful strikes against terrorist Houthis that have resulted in critical shipping lanes being reopened. We have to get our shipping lanes open because it is costing this country millions and millions of dollars, and world leaders across the country are begging for this to happen.

Pete Hegseth didn't sign up to be liked by the DC cocktail circuit. You know, he committed to making the military great again, and that is exactly what he is doing.

The swamp doesn't like people it can't control, but America loves its leaders who tell the truth and fight for what matters. Pete Hegseth is one of those leaders. So let's be clear: Pete is not the problem. A lot of the media think Pete Hegseth is a problem. He is not the problem; he is the solution to the problem we have had.

And while the swamp keeps losing its ever-loving mind because we have leaders who are actually putting America first again, Secretary Hegseth will keep marching forward, focused on the only thing that matters: making our military the strongest, fiercest, and most respected fighting force in the world.

I yield the floor.

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

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

Reserving the right to object, on November 5, President Trump was given a mandate: Get this country straightened out. This included waste, fraud, and abuse in our Federal Government, over all Agencies.

The VA is a perfect example. Under President Biden, the VA increased its staff 80,000 employees in 4 years.

Let me repeat that: Under President Biden, the VA increased its staff 80,000 people.

You would think that this would mean that we would increase the efficiency of our VA 80,000 percent. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Despite the Biden administration ballooning the size of the Department, the VA has nothing to show for it. In fact, wait times and backlogs have gone up. It hasn't worked. So these cuts are not warranted. They are completely necessary.

By reducing the numbers of employees, these savings can be redirected to actually providing veterans healthcare and benefits, while still protecting the VA's mission-critical jobs, like doctors, nurses, and claims processors, to do the job it was meant to do. And phasing out nonmission-critical jobs like DEI officers and interior designers, for just a few, is necessary to get this job done.

Now, I don't want to oversimplify this. I know these problems at the VA exist. They always have existed. Since 2015, the VA care has been on the Government Accountability Office's list of high risk. That means it has been audited: Are they doing their job? Not very good reviews.

We have to do better for our veterans.

I come from a military family and have spent many hours in the VA. Some are good; some are not so good. Let's stand up for our veterans.

The VA challenges across the board, from overseeing simple things like safety and access of care, are essential. And it is not--not--by having more people. It is by having better people.

The VA is not supposed to be a massive bureaucracy. That is not what it was meant to be. It was created to serve our veterans.

This resolution being put forward would directly prevent President Trump from carrying out his mandate that the American people gave him. The American people have spoken, and the days of business as usual are over. The VA is going to get better.

For these reasons, Madam President, I object.

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

Reserving the right to object. The media, for some reason, is in full meltdown mode after President Trump declared today ``Liberation Day.'' Only my Democratic colleagues and the media, the globalist media, would find a reason to be mad about that.

I am sadly convinced that my colleagues and the woke media would rather President Trump fail than achieve a goal to help the United States of America and the taxpayers.

President Trump's views on tariffs, they aren't complicated. He believes, as I do, that America has been ripped off by unfair trade deals for decades and simply wants a level playing field. We have to change directions. What we are doing is not working.

U.S. catfish and shrimp producers have faced some of the worst blows, for example. Vietnam is dumping billions--I repeat, billions--of pounds of catfish, and India is dumping billions of pounds of shrimp every year into U.S. markets, flooding the markets and reducing the price for our quality domestic products. It is devastating.

We need to put a reciprocal tariff on these countries to protect our American producers.

I get calls every day. Whether it is cabinets, whether it is produce, whether it is fish, it makes no difference. Our people are going broke.

I recognize that tariff actions may cause reciprocal tariffs from other countries. We need to take that in stride.

In this country, we had a party for 249 years. The United States has put that party on. The party needs to continue, but all the other countries that have been built off the American taxpayers, such as the Middle East, such as Europe, such as China, they need to start bringing gifts to the party because the American taxpayer can't afford it any longer.

We are $37 trillion in debt, and the only way to pay that down is to force other people to help us. The American taxpayer can't afford it. As a result, American jobs have been sent overseas because of all the domestic problems that we are having for labor, for things that stand out for our manufacturers.

We have to get manufacturing back in this country. The days are over. President Trump is 100 percent committed, folks--100 percent. He is going to do whatever it takes to usher in a golden age for the American economy.

By the way, just the threat of President Trump's tariffs has already led India, Vietnam, and Israel to proactively drop significantly and lower tariffs against the United States before it has really even started.

It doesn't matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat; we should all be united in wanting economic policies that put American farmers, producers, businesses, and manufacturers first.

So, Mr. President, for that reason, I object.

Madam President, we learn a lot about a person by seeing where they choose to spend their time. For Medical Corpsman Travis Parker, he has chosen to give the last 50 years giving back to Alabama's veterans.

After being drafted into the Army, Travis chose to become a medic. He was passionate about combining his medical training with helping soldiers harmed overseas. After completing his training at Fort Sam Houston, Travis was assigned to finish his tour at Fort Rucker. It was there that Travis saw the scars of war firsthand, as he treated soldiers returning home from the Vietnam war.

This experience left a lasting impact on Travis that led him to devote his time serving other veterans and raising awareness to the challenges they face. He decided to make Enterprise his permanent home and has contributed to the Wiregrass in so many ways that it is hard to name them all.

Travis began the ``Flags for Forgotten Soldiers'' to honor veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. Thanks to his efforts, more than 660 flags have been placed around the area to commemorate the number of veterans that are lost to suicide each month. Travis has also helped make it easier for veterans to go about their daily routines by partnering with the American Legion to build wheelchair ramps in homes and public spaces. And in 2023, Travis helped bring the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Dothan on the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam war. Travis has helped lead numerous organizations, including AM-VETS Post 7, American Legion Post 82, and his local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter. Travis also founded the Wiregrass Honor Flight Hub and played a key role in launching the Association of Service Agencies (ASA), fostering collaboration among civic, church, and government organizations. Additionally, Travis is helping launch Alabama's first- ever Guitars for Vets chapter. He spearheads numerous other local events to honor our Nation's heroes, including Wreaths Across America, Memorial Day, and 9/11 Patriot Day.

Travis has received numerous awards for his inspiring community service

and veterans' work. Whether it is combating veterans' suicide or teaching veterans how to play the guitar, Travis has played a critical role in reminding Alabama's veterans they are not alone. He reminds us of what an important impact anyone can make on those around you just by showing up and lending a helping hand.

Alabama is blessed to have veterans like Travis who didn't let their service end when they left the military. It is my honor to recognize Travis Parker as the April Veteran of the Month.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about how my delusional Democratic colleagues have tried to poison our country's young people with what I call a woke mind virus.

Before I got into politics, I spent 40 years working with young people, from the high school level to the college level--higher education, we call it. I coached, recruited, and mentored young people all over the country--thousands of them. I saw firsthand how hard work and a quality education can change a person's life, no matter where they come from, what they look like, or how much money they have.

I used to tell my players that, if they work hard, there is no limit to what they can achieve. It is called the American dream.

Our Founders came here because they envisioned a country where the sky is the limit and people aren't bound by the circumstances that they were born in. But, unfortunately, the Biden administration and the Democrats have spent the last 4 years communicating a much darker message to our young people.

This country was founded on merit, but instead of focusing on hiring the best and brightest, Biden, Harris, Obama, and the ``woke mind virus'' Democrats have spent the last 4 years dividing our country based on diversity, equity, and inclusion--or, better known to all of us, what is called DEI. This poisonous ideology says that people should be hired based on their skin color or sexual preference, not because of how they might do in a job.

And to make matters worse, the Biden administration used 1 trillion American taxpayer dollars to pay for DEI programs in the Federal Government--1 trillion. You heard that right. American taxpayers are footing the bill, and they were paying for things that were racist, divisive, and woke--a woke propaganda.

So I don't know about you; I want a refund. I want my money back. We all pay taxes. Why in the world would we do that?

Let's call DEI what it really is: a fundamentally racist, prejudice, and anti-American ideology that is designed to divide and oppress people. That is exactly what it is. It is baffling to me how Democrats don't see this. Or do they?

They claim to be a very tolerant, inclusive party rooted in equality, but as we have all learned, Democrats are only tolerant as long as you agree with them. I thought we left the stain of discrimination and race-based hiring practices behind in our country a long, long time ago, but apparently not. It is clear that Democrats would rather divide Americans based on their race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation than live in a world where people are hired based on intellect, experience, work ethic, and merit--what a thought.

So let's set the record straight. This country owes you nothing except for the opportunity to succeed. That is what is great about this country. And if you don't succeed, you can get back up and go again. We are the only country that allows that. For generations, Americans understood this--all Americans: an opportunity to pursue your dreams, to use your God-given talents to contribute to making this country the greatest place to live in the world.

I have always said this: If you were born in the United States of America, you hit the lottery, 100 percent. And I guarantee you, the other 7 billion people in this world would give anything to take the place of any of us, from the poorest to the richest.

To my new granddaughter of just 2 weeks, Rosie Grace, if there is any one thing I can teach her as a grandfather, it is the value of hard work and determination. There is nothing that takes the place of that-- nothing. With a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence, opportunities will open up for her, or anybody, to live a happy, successful life. And that is all a grandfather like me now can ask for--hard work and determination.

So what kind of message is it if we are teaching our young people that they are victims of their circumstances and the American dream is only for people who have a certain skin color? That is the opposite of the American dream.

But Democrats don't care one bit about that--not one bit. I have listened to it for 4 years. Obama started a horrible trend that Democrats carry on to this day. He used racism to divide the Americans and politically enrich themselves. Look at the money they have made. The woke mind virus has taken hold of them. They have lost their ever- loving mind. They would rather promise racism and promote it--sexism, divisiveness--than support solutions that empower, unify, or uplift our country and our people.

Democrats are obsessed with hating this country and tearing it apart. They want a different United States of America. If it is anything that is pro-American or pro-traditional values--it doesn't matter--Democrats will attack it, demonize it, and demonize us for supporting it.

These people have zero respect for human life. They have shown their true colors in the past few years, ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, which sent abortion back to the States, where it could be voted on by the people, instead of politicians. They have raised Cain. Since then, Democrat politicians have said the quiet part out loud, admitting that they think there should be no limits to abortion. How can you believe that?

That means that they are OK with aborting a baby at 9 months of pregnancy.

Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said that he supports post-birth--after-birth--abortions. Are you kidding me?

And other Democrats, like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz--remember him, flash in the pan?--signed a law to allow abortions after birth--signed a law in Minnesota for abortions after birth.

What do they do with that? They cut these babies up and sell the body parts. It is never talked about too much, is it? Can you believe that this is who the Democrats picked as their Vice Presidential candidate? I can believe it. That means that, in Minnesota, a doctor can kill a baby after he or she is born, right there on the delivery table. It is evil, and it is absolutely sick.

But it isn't just babies Democrats have no respect for. They also have gone out of their way to attack women and girls. Just last week, every single Democrat in this body voted against my bill to protect women and girls in sports.

Oh, we have got to give these transitional boys an opportunity to participate.

Really? How about giving, in fairness to young girls and women, the opportunity to compete at a level that they are in; give them an opportunity not to play for second or third but to play for first. How about that?

The woke mind virus has struck again. Democrats who claim to be pro- women would rather protect a few transgender people than protect the millions of women and girls who make up half of this country.

Oh, we have to be nice. We have to be nice to everybody.

No. We need a mental health program in this country. That is what we need.

Democrats who claim to be pro-women would rather protect a few transgender people than protect the entire country of women and girls. It is backward, it is disgusting, and it is downright wrong.

You would have to be dumber than a box of rocks to celebrate this, but that is what they did. They celebrated the handful of transgenders participating against women.

Oh, we knocked it down because it was supported by Donald Trump, who wrote out an Executive order protecting women and girls.

Thank you, President Trump.

By the way, 79 percent of Americans and 67 percent of Democrats support that men do not compete against women--a huge majority. Every single one of my Democratic colleagues went against their constituents and voted against this commonsense bill to protect women and keep men out of women's sports.

Democrats basically are hypocrites--big-time. They claim to be pro- woman but allow men to dress up as women and take rights away from actual women.

When we saw this firsthand, during the Biden administration, when they had actual drag shows at the White House, it made me sick at my stomach.

But the hypocrisy doesn't end there. Democrats celebrate when Hamas protectors violently attack Jewish students, but they demonize and imprison pro-life activists who peacefully protest outside an abortion clinic.

Whose side are you on?

Democrat colleagues say they are pro-choice but lose their minds if a parent dares to ask a question about vaccines for infants. I mean, they go off the deep end when we talk about vaccines.

They claim they are the party of decency--really? Tolerance--are you kidding me? But turn a blind eye to multiple Democratic mayors being arrested for being pedophiles. Yes, that is what I said--pedophiles.

The former Democrat mayor of University Park, MD, was arrested and charged in 2024 with 28 counts of possessing and soliciting child pornography: in jail, 24, mayor, right down the street.

The year before, 2023, a different Democrat mayor from College Park, MD, pleaded guilty to 140 counts of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images: mayor, leader, Democrat, believes in the way of life for the Democratic Party, a pedophile.

So two Democratic mayors in Maryland have been arrested in the past 2 years for pedophilia. You can't make it up. The woke mind virus strikes again. I have yet to hear a single floor speech from my Maryland Democrat colleagues about this catastrophe, a leader caught doing this. They don't care. It doesn't bother them.

They seem to find plenty of time to criticize President Trump every time he breathes, but they don't worry about pedophilia. How about we all speak out about it?

I have yet to see them take the time to condemn multiple elected officials from their State who have been arrested and contributed to all this child pornography. It is sad, but we shouldn't be surprised.

Democrats only pretend to care about the oppressed or the most vulnerable among us when it benefits their agenda. After all, it was Democrats in the States like California and Washington who introduced bills to change the term--the name of it--``sex offenders'' to ``minor- attracted persons.'' You are not a sex offender anymore if you beat up a little child, molest a child. You are not a sex offender. You are a minor-attracted person. We don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, OK? What a joke. It makes me sick to my stomach.

If it wasn't for the reelection of President Trump on November 5, I really don't know whether we would have made it. Our country was headed straight to the gutter--straight to the gutter. I mean, just listen to all of this. It makes no sense.

Now we have common sense. We are trying to get common sense back in our country. We have to push for it. Thanks to President Trump and the ideas he has brought back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, this administration is working around the clock to get this woke crap out of our government, our military, out of classrooms--out--get back to teaching our kids.

President Trump is committed to abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, a Federal Agency that has failed our students for the past 40 years that I have been in education and especially under Joe Biden and Barack Obama. President Trump believes and is correct that our young people are the country's most important, precious commodity that we have. They are the future.

He understands that under President Biden, the Department of Education allowed radical leftwing teachers to push radical, hateful ideologies onto our kids. We don't need opinion teaching. We need to teach reading, writing, math, science, and history. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with giving them a chance because they have ruined the lives of thousands of young people because they have been indoctrinated.

You had drag shows that were being performed recently in elementary schools. I mean, in my day, you would have been arrested for that. Woke anti-American curriculum taught kids to hate each other--actually in the classroom teaching them: Hey, you hate them because of who they are or where they are from, what skin color they are--absolutely a crime.

Schools help children secretly transition genders behind the parent's back. Oh, you want to transition. You are 8 years old. Don't tell your parents. We will get it all set up for you--mind-boggling. The woke mind virus has struck again.

All of this, by the way, on the taxpayers' dime. You are paying for it. Meanwhile, we are 26 in the world in math, and we are 6 in reading. That is simply not good enough for the most powerful country in the world.

When I coached and recruited, I was shocked if anybody was over a ninth grade reading level. That is everybody. I don't care what color, where they are from; urban, rural. If you can't read, you can't learn. If you can't learn, you are going to end up working for somebody or just scraping to try to make a living.

But instead of teaching our kids to read and write, the Department of Education under Joe Biden became ground zero for woke indoctrination.

All they were concerned about was bowing to the teachers unions--you heard that--teachers unions teaching our kids to hate this country, its government, our Constitution, and each other. What are we doing? I am thankful President Trump is sending education back to the States where it belongs. I have advocated this for the last 20 years.

Just this week, the Department of Education announced it was firing more than 1,000 people right down the street. Thank goodness. They hadn't been doing anything. They had been working from home, and what they do, we can do it back in the States a lot better, and we can use that money to educate kids--what an idea.

Good. The Federal Department of Education needs to be completely shut down. It is not done yet, but we just got started. I have been saying it for a long time: We can't have a one-sized-fits-all, top-down approach to education.

You know, I am from Alabama. We teach kids a little bit different because we are in a different environment; rural areas, 60 percent farmers, agriculture, all those things. We don't teach the same things that you would teach in Chicago or New York. Send it back to the States. Let them control it. Let them teach our kids to have a chance in the future. Each child is totally different.

You know, the Federal Government can't do that. I haven't figured out in my 4 years yet what we can do, but at least we are figuring out: Hey, it is not working here. Close it down; quit spending money; and send it back to the States, which is why President Trump's plan to empower the States makes all the sense in the world.

But, of course, Democrats don't believe in common sense. They are only concerned about we have to control this because they know that if they don't control education--education is the No. 1 thing we have in this country going for us--if you take that away, everything else goes.

If they can't control education, they won't be able to infect the minds of all these young kids across the country. They want them to think that the Constitution is bad, that government is really bad, that your parents are bad, that you ought to listen to us.

You know, a spoonful of common sense goes a long way. So let me sum this up for you: Merit-based hiring is the only way to make a business successful--merit-based. When I coached, I had to win games or I was gone. I didn't care who they were when they played for me. I didn't care whether rich, poor, rural, urban, Black, White, it didn't make me a dime of difference. I put the best ones on the field. They were going to earn it.

That is how this country should be run. That is the difference between my Republican side and my colleagues on the left. They want everything given. It ain't going to work, folks. We are not going to have the country we had the opportunity to grow up in if we continue down that path.

Merit-based; men are men, women are women. Men cannot get pregnant,

by the way, but I learned that very, very young in life. Evidently my Democrat colleagues didn't learn that.

Protecting women and girls in sports is the right thing to do. Allowing elementary schoolers with undeveloped brains to get irreversible sex change procedures make absolutely no sense. It is evil and sadistic.

Teaching kids to hate each other based on what they look like, that is racist. That is exactly the direction that the Biden administration was going.

Children shouldn't be forced to watch drag shows. It you are an adult, you can do what you want in this country, but forcing this woke agenda on kids is downright wrong.

Making taxpayers pay for abortions in the military--wrong, against the law, but they did it anyway. I fought it for a year. I lost out in the end, but you know what, it was worth the fight.

Pedophilia is straight from the pit of hell. And, no, these aren't minor-attracted persons. These creeps, they are criminals, and they are sick in the head.

I thank God every day for President Trump and the return of common sense in this country.

I hope some of my Democrat colleagues will wake up to how the past 4 years of this woke ideology has poisoned our country, especially our young people. Folks, we have got a long way to go--long way to go.

Our future is in the hands of our kids. Let's give that future back to our kids. Let's educate them, put them on the right track, teach them the Constitution, teach them that we have a higher being in God-- put that back in our schools. What a thought that would be.

Let's stay away--stay away--from our young kids, and let them have a chance to develop.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, well, it is that time again. I think I have given this speech three or four times in the last few years.

This weekend, all of America and my constituents back in Alabama will spring forward to daylight saving time. I am working very hard to make this, hopefully, possibly, the last time that we move our clocks. I recently joined my colleague Senator Rick Scott to reintroduce for the third time the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent at the Federal level.

Out of all the legislative efforts I have been part of in my 4 years here in Congress, the thing I hear about the most from my people in Alabama is their desire to lock the clock.

Daylight saving time should be a thing of the past because it literally is a thing of the past. First introduced as a temporary measure during World War I, daylight saving time was originally called wartime, and it was a way to help conserve fuel during a very different time in this country.

Following the end of World War I, in 1918, the Standard Time Act was enacted to continue daylight saving time nationally, but individual States continued to spring forward and fall back. Then, during World War II, there was a renewed Federal push for full-time daylight saving time, which then was repealed in 1945.

Finally, in 1966, Congress passed legislation to establish national standards for daylight saving time.

All of this is to say that changes to our clock might have made sense when it first began many, many years ago. For one, the American work culture and lifestyle are vastly different than they were 100 years ago.

Plus, a disruptive time change can have serious consequences on human health. Studies have suggested that the disruption of sleep patterns due to the time changes increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and physical injuries. Northwestern Medicine found that the fall back and the spring forward are connected to a 6-percent spike in fatal car accidents and a 24-percent higher risk of heart attacks as most people change their sleeping habits.

Additionally, the long-term health effects linked to daylight saving time include weight gain, cluster headaches, and depression. The time switch in the fall increases seasonal affective disorder every single year. A study published in 2017 found that the transition from daylight saving time to standard time increased a number of hospital visits for depression by 11 percent.

By making daylight saving time permanent, Americans would enjoy more sunshine in the evenings. This is so important for many Americans who may not get a chance to get outside during the day. It would allow hard-working Americans to go on a run after work or enable dads to play with their kids outdoors or neighbors to grill and do things together outside--what a thought.

Many studies have proven that extra sunlight in the evening can lead to improvements in mental health, physical fitness, economic growth, and well-being.

As a founding member of the Senate MAHA Caucus, I am very passionate about helping to make Americans healthy again. An important part of this is making sure people get enough sleep and more sunlight.

Did you know that vitamin D from the sun is linked to preventing many diseases, including cancer? It is true. And many Americans don't get nearly enough of vitamin D, especially those who work at desk jobs and are inside for most of the day. And that has increased since the invention of what we call the computer.

Locking the clock is an important first step to helping Americans live healthier lives. It is a simple way we could positively impact the day-to-day life of all Americans.

Our farmers are also greatly affected by daylight saving time, as additional sunshine during working hours means more time to work in the fields, which could translate into a more profitable bottom line for anybody who raises crops. As you know, I am all about helping our great farmers.

More daylight in the evening could also decrease expensive energy consumption on farms by reducing the need for artificial lighting and heating. Back in the 1970s, we had an energy crisis. We kept daylight saving time because it saved millions and millions of gallons of fuel.

Experts believe that the time changed twice a year costs the U.S. economy more than $434 million in lost productivity annually.

It is clear the evidence points to one conclusion: Make daylight saving time permanent. Nineteen States, including my State of Alabama, have already voted and passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent. They just need Congress--which means us--to vote for it. If we vote for it, it changes, and we would never have to move the clock again.

President Trump has also expressed support for locking the clock. Congress should listen to the people and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent.

The change would improve our health, strengthen our economy, and benefit our farmers. This is a no-brainer. It is time for America to move forward and stop falling back.

I am looking forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get it completely across the finish line to lock the clock once and for all.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, today, we have a very important day for women and girls across this country. The third time is the charm. This is the third time that I have had a vote on this bill. The other two times it has failed because we have had almost zero Democrats help to support women and girls in sports.

Over the past 4 years, women's sports at all levels have been under attack. Since the beginning of time, people have agreed that sex is assigned at birth and determined by God. But under the Biden administration, you had people claiming that men can get pregnant-- pure, absolute insanity.

But it didn't stop there. They weren't content just to erase gender norms that have been accepted for thousands of years. No, they wanted to allow transgender men to participate in women's and girls' sports. This has been happening at schools all across our country. We have women's teams in some States that are all boys. Let me say that again. We have women's teams in some States participating on the high school level that are all transgender boys--no opportunities for girls or women to participate on the team.

Young women have been forced to compete against men and even share locker rooms and shower time. And on top of that, your taxpayer dollars are paying for it.

Thankfully, President Trump just signed an Executive order that said no more--no more Federal money to any State that allows this to happen. But you have to understand, this only lasts as long as President Trump is in office. So we need this vote, which is going to happen in around an hour, to pass so we can make this into law.

This Executive order that he signed can be reversed. So we are going to continue to fight some States that are even not going by the Executive order--like Maine, some in Michigan, some in New Jersey. Some are saying, ``We are not going to go by that law,'' even though the President of the United States says that men and women can't participate on the same team. That will end up going to court. So we will see how that happens and what the answer will be.

But a big part of the problem is that we have created an unfair playing field where different States have had different laws impacting women and girls everywhere. This is not only confusing, but it is very, very dangerous. Congress needs to act on this to protect women in sports and to ensure title IX protections are preserved.

My bill that we are voting on today, in about an hour, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would make sure women's rights to equal competition, equal scholarships, and safe locker rooms are all protected.

This legislation has already passed the House, just about a month ago, with two Democrats actually supporting it. I appreciate the support of all of my Republican colleagues on this. You have all joined me in championing this very important cause for the past 3 years.

I especially want to thank Leader Thune for bringing this bill to the floor here in the U.S. Senate. This will be the third time. It is hard to get a bill on this floor, but it is so important, and he understands that.

I also want to thank my friend and former colleague Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is the only Democrat in the last few years to support

this, when he was in the Senate. Unfortunately, my other Democratic colleagues have been radio silent on this very issue, despite the fact that a recent poll shows 67 percent of Democrats do not want men in women's sports--67 percent.

So I would like to make the case to each and every one of my colleagues today on this important issue.

As most of you know, I spent 40 years as a coach. What you may not know is that my first job wasn't in college, but it was coaching high school girls' basketball. I don't want to date myself, but that is about the time title IX started, and it was implemented--most of it-- during my tenure as a girls' coach.

I saw firsthand how the immediate difference was made through title IX. Before title IX, in a lot of schools, college women athletes really didn't exist. You had very few sports. You might have had basketball. You might have had track. But you didn't have volleyball. You didn't have softball. You didn't have anything else.

When title IX came about, we started more women's sports. After title IX was enacted, things started to change. For the first time, young women I coached had equal access to facilities, resources, scholarships, and all kinds of competition. I saw these hard-working young women go to start successful careers and become leaders in their communities, and a lot of it was because of their opportunity to play sports at every level.

I still keep in touch with many of these young girls. They are not young anymore, but I am proud of them for the success they had. Looking back on it now, I wonder if they would have had the same opportunities had we not had title IX. Would they have had the same success if they had to compete against male athletes?

One of the most frequent talking points from the other side on this issue is: It is not a big deal. It isn't impacting that many women.

That is not true. At least 900 medals that belonged to women have gone to men just over the last few years of men competing against women. In Pennsylvania alone, 66 female athletes have lost placements to male participants since 2020. Now, how sad is that? For each woman, the medals that went to men--there are potentially hundreds of other women who lost out on that same opportunity, not to mention the hundreds of girls who perhaps did not make a team at all because they did not have a spot. You only can have so many on a team. How many young women missed out on a scholarship because that man or biological boy took that scholarship? It is not fair.

So no, this is a minor issue impacting a few Americans; that is what my Democrat colleagues are saying--only a few.

You know, I took the liberty of looking up how many women and girls participate in women's sports in some of my Democrat colleagues' own States. More than 77,000 girls participate in high school athletics in the State of Georgia. In Michigan, 114,000; in Virginia, 164,000; New Hampshire, 17,000; Pennsylvania, almost 150,000; New Mexico, almost 20,000; Minnesota, 98,000; Arizona, 120,633. Don't tell me it is not going to affect these States when today my Democrat colleagues come on this floor--that represent these States--and vote against this bill. It will affect it, and it will affect it for years.

So, as you can see, men competing in women's sports has had a negative impact on a lot of different girls across this country, but, you know, it is not just trophies. It is about playing time. It is about learning and being on a team, learning how to win, learning how to lose.

Again, going back to what I said earlier, there are entire high school teams that are women's teams that are nothing but transitioned biological boys. Because of that, you have the young girls sitting in the classroom or going home or in a PE class that don't have that same opportunity. It is the principle of the thing.

Title IV has always been about protecting women.

Last week, my wife Suzanne and I were proud to welcome our first granddaughter Rosie Grace. She is about 5 or 6 days old. We want her to have the same opportunities that all the other girls have had over the years. She deserves that right--fair competition, scholarships, trophies.

I have already bought her her first set of golf clubs at age 5 days old. But if Democrats have their way today, she may one day be forced to compete against a man.

Let me tell you something. If she has to dress in a locker room with a boy, you are looking at a grandfather that will raise hell. If they shower in the same showers, we are going to have problems.

So what we are creating here are more and more problems across the country that we don't need. I heard a story the other day about a sixth grade girl in Minnesota who was changing in a locker room after swim practice when a biological man who identified as a female walked in and came within 4 or 5 feet of the young girl to grab something. Let me tell you, her dad came unglued. You would have, too. Anybody would have.

So this is not about politics; this is about right or wrong. Seventy- nine percent of Americans agree on this issue: Allowing men to compete against women is just plain wrong. Seventy-nine percent of the entire country.

Like I said earlier, 67 percent of my Democrat colleagues--their constituents say: No way, Jose. This is not going to happen.

So to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you may want to check with your constituents before you make this vote today in about an hour because if polling is even close to correct, 8 out of 10 of your voters do not want men participating against women.

If that doesn't strike a chord with you, let me ask you this: Do you have a daughter? Do you have granddaughters? Do you have nieces? How would you feel if they trained for years, waking up early every morning, staying after school late practicing, putting in those long hours where nobody else is watching, missing spring break, family vacations, birthday parties, and holidays, making a tremendous physical and financial sacrifice, all so they can one day have an opportunity to either win a trophy or win a scholarship, but then only to have the opportunity ripped away by a bigger, faster, stronger male athlete because they want to participate against women?

Well, you know what, that happened to somebody, and most of you probably know who it is--Riley Gaines. Riley worked her entire life to earn a scholarship to the University of Kentucky in swimming. She was winning races left and right until a man named Will Thomas changed his name to Lia Thomas and signed up for the Kentucky women's swim team.

Riley and Will Thomas ended up tying in one race for fifth place in the 2022 NCAA Women's championship tournament. Riley wasn't even allowed to have a trophy. The NCAA came and said: We only have one trophy. We are going to give it to Lia because we think that is important.

Imagine if Riley was your daughter and all that time and effort was put into her career, her life, to win a trophy, but she had a biological boy decide he wanted to be a woman? Beyond that trophy, how would you feel knowing your daughter is sharing a locker room with that same man--which she refused to do and dressed in a janitors locker room.

You know, I have heard from countless girls across the country who have described to me how men have joined their teams and proceeded to undress in front of them, much to their horror. One particular young woman Paula Scanlan, who swam at the University of Pennsylvania, shared how being forced to be in a locker room with a male was particularly traumatizing for her as she had already survived a sexual assault months earlier.

It is just plain awful what we are doing to these young women. Plain awful. No common sense.

Thanks to President Trump's Executive order, the NCAA recently announced men will no longer be allowed to compete against women on the college level.

While this is a step in the right direction, the NCAA's rules still allow to this day--NCAA changed their rules, but they still allow biological boys or men to enjoy all the other benefits of being on a women's team--practicing, dressing in the locker rooms, showering--but they just can't compete in a

game. That makes no sense. The NCAA needs to stand up for young women across this country and say: No way. It just makes no sense when we have made that rule.

To fully protect women, Congress needs to pass legislation on this, as I said earlier. We have to pass it. It is the only way it is going to stop because the people out there that have lost their minds are going to continue to force this to happen.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would prevent a school from receiving Federal funding if it lets boys compete against women. That is the only way we can stop it. It also defines gender as male and female--what an idea, right?

I have seen some of my colleagues on the left voice concerns about this type of language being hate speech: This is hateful to do this. I don't see it that way. What is hateful is allowing women's scholarships and opportunities to be stripped away from their hard work and given to biological boys. I thought we left discrimination against women behind in this country decades ago, but I guess not because here we are in 2025 hanging women and girls out to dry.

Think about it. Are we going to sacrifice the rights of 50 percent of this country for the rights of a small few?

I was deeply disturbed this summer to see the videos of men boxing against women in the Olympics. You know, when I was growing up, I was taught that, hey, you should never hit a girl, but I guess that is OK nowadays. One study found that males can punch 162 percent harder than females. Perhaps that is why you rarely hear about a woman competing in men's sports. It is not politically correct to say, but it is true.

Someday, somebody is going to get seriously injured if we don't do something about this. It is unsafe, it is unfair, and it is downright wrong.

I have heard from countless parents, students, teachers, and coaches all over the country about this issue. It is a huge topic. I bet my Democrat colleagues in blue States have heard the same questions even if they won't admit it.

The American people are on the same page on this, and their verdict is in: They want men out of women's sports and women's locker rooms.

Let's do the right thing. This doesn't have to be a Republican or Democrat issue. This is about standing up for girls and women, which I know my Democrat colleagues also care about. This is long overdue. I hope we can put politics aside, and in about an hour, in 45 minutes, do the right thing and protect women and girls in sports.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, challenges are a part of life that show us what we are really made of. Corporal Wayne Everett of Fultondale reminds us that while we can't control what challenges life throws our way, we can control how we respond.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965, leaving his small town of East Lake for the jungles of Vietnam. After discharging from the military, Wayne took his young family back home to the Birmingham area to work with his father as a painter for the next decade.

His years in Active Duty taught him lessons he carried with him in raising his family and in his career. Wayne took on the role of caregiver when his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and they were raising young children. Even in the face of tragedy, Wayne's loyalty never wavered.

And despite his wife's passing, Wayne continued to devote himself to his church and his family. Some years after, he remarried to an old friend where they joined their lives as a blended family. While Wayne is a man of few words, his character and actions speak volumes.

He is admired by all who know him, including his stepdaughter Reata, who nominated him for this recognition. Reata said, ``There has never been a stronger man alive.''

Wayne's impact is also evident in his sons who are carrying on his legacy of military service. Wayne remains active at Gardendale Baptist Church, where he continues to faithfully serve his family and church family. His compassion and loyalty are an inspiration to us all.

It is my honor to nominate Wayne Everett as the March Veteran of the Month.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk to you about President Trump's tariffs. The media is in full meltdown. They are in a full meltdown mode after President Trump imposed duties and retaliatory tariffs this week on countries that have basically been ripping the United States of America off, and they have been doing it for decades.

Apparently, globalists and Democrats are just fine with other countries imposing tariffs on the United States, but when it comes to President Trump trying to equalize it up, establish a level playing field for domestic producers, well, that is a bridge too far.

No one has been paying attention to President Trump. If they have been paying attention to President Trump, they should not remotely be surprised. He campaigned on this platform three times and has been crystal clear on his intentions. Now he is following through on his campaign promises. But in the corporate media--it seems to still be confused about all these tariffs. So let me spell it out.

President Trump's view on tariffs is as both a negotiating tool to get other countries to do a few things that we asked them to do and a way to boost American manufacturing and put American workers and businesses first, not last. President Trump has his work cut out for him after a disastrous 4 years for our small businesses and our corporations under the Biden administration.

The Biden administration made it clear to our friends and foes alike that globalists--the globalist agenda would take precedence over the safety and well-being of the American people. It is mind-boggling. Thankfully, those days are over.

The American people gave President Donald J. Trump a clear mandate to restore our country's superpower status and put all Americans first, all businesses first, everybody that does something in this country, and that starts, No. 1, with securing our borders.

Like I said many times, if you don't have a border, you don't have a country. And we have really struggled in the last four years. That is changing. That is why the master negotiator in chief, President Donald Trump, threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada in just the last couple of weeks.

Over the last 4 years, the Mexican Government basically turned a blind eye while caravans of illegal aliens overran our borders, coming from Mexico, coming from Central America, all over the world, just overrunning our country. Thousands of women and children were trafficked, raped along the way. Drug cartels made an absolute fortune--absolute fortune--not just with drugs, by the way, but from payments of these illegals coming all the way through either Central America or South America to the United States--with a big basically tariff of their own, charging these people to come to the United States.

Lawlessness had become the status quo under President Biden. Nobody cared. The Democrats in this room--they didn't care. They didn't care what was going on. Let's just let them all come in. Let's let the drugs come in. We lose 300 people pretty much every few days to illegal drugs in this country with overdoses, but let's not worry about that. Let's just worry about controlling our country the way they wanted to. Well, it has been a disaster.

Mexico showed zero signs of willingness to negotiate when President Trump took office. When he did take office, on January 20, they woke up real quick. President Trump correctly understands that Mexico's economy is heavily dependent on the United States of America and the citizens of this country. In fact, more than 80 percent of Mexico's exports come to the United States--80 percent come here--and American citizens buy those products that are made in Mexico. Mexico's economy would almost instantly--instantly--feel the effects of a 25-percent tariff, leaving Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, no choice--no choice--but to come to the negotiating table under the master negotiator, Donald Trump. So that is why he uses his tariffs--to get his point across-- because people across the world take us for granted.

As a result, within hours--hours--of President Trump's announcement of the tariffs, Mexico caved. They saw real quick. Obviously, they are not stupid. They agreed to help the United States secure the border and crack down on the cartels and the illegal drugs coming in almost immediately. We could have done the same thing with the past administration, but it just shows you they couldn't have cared less what happened at our border.

Our neighbor to the north also caved to President Trump after a 25- percent tariff was threatened on Canada. Not only are illicit drugs, like fentanyl, coming into our country from Mexico, but there was also about a 2,000-percent increase in drugs that came across the border in 2023 and 2024 from Canada--a 2,000-percent increase. In the last fiscal year alone, enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border to kill 9.8 million Americans.

To me, that would be a very serious problem, but do you think the Democrats cared? No. There was no action at all by the Biden administration on Canada and no action on Mexico. But thanks to President Trump's leadership, our North American neighbors to the north and south are making changes now daily that will protect American citizens from deadly drugs, criminals, and human traffickers.

The No. 1 job of the President of the United States is to protect the people in this country first, and that is what President Trump is doing.

In addition to using tariffs as a negotiating tool, President Trump also views tariffs as a way to right the wrongs of past ineffective trade deals. That is why, this week, he is imposing a 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including those of Canada and Mexico.

Contrary to what the media is telling you, this isn't unprecedented. It is not

unusual. In fact, President Trump has helped shine a light on the fact that U.S. exporters face higher tariffs more than two-thirds of the time. We pay more tariffs than anybody. For example, among our major trading partners, China applies higher tariffs on 85 percent of U.S. products, and 90 percent on U.S. products from India.

Just think about that. We are paying tariffs on things coming into this country, but when we send things out, we get the heck tariffed out of us from other countries. It is not fair trade.

These export imbalances don't just impact bottom lines; they also discourage domestic production. We have got to produce more in this country, and we have got to build more things in this country. That is what President Trump is trying to do. If we don't cut back on spending and start producing more in this country, this will not be the United States of America much longer because we will be bankrupt, and we will be reporting to somebody like China, which is buying our Treasury bills right and left--or they were.

One report conducted by the Department of Commerce in the first Trump administration found that excess production and capacity, particularly in China, have been major factors in the decline of domestic aluminum production. Basically, we are getting overwhelmed by aluminum from China that is not near as good as what we make in this country.

President Trump built one of the strongest economies in modern history in his first term--in modern history--but the Democrats failed to know that. They wanted to change it, and did they ever. They almost destroyed our economy. Jobs and wages were up when President Trump was in, and inflation was down. Americans had more money in their pockets. Thanks to President Trump's strategic tariffs, along with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, companies were reshoring businesses back in the United States, right and left. They were coming back because they could make a profit.

That is what it is all about when you have a corporation--you have got to make a profit. President Trump was able to, because of tariffs, make more money for manufacturing in this country than going out of this country. You had companies like Ford canceling plans to build in Mexico--back in President Trump's first term--and, instead, opening one in Michigan. This turned out to be extremely important when COVID hit, and we were forced to rely on goods that were manufactured right here in the United States. We also found out pretty quick, just in drugs alone, that we make very few drugs in the United States. Where are they made? They are made in India and China. They have got to come back here. We have to be self-sustaining. Whether it is our healthcare technologies, agricultural products, or steel and aluminum, there is no reason for us to depend on other countries.

We are the No. 1 country in this world--we have been and will be in the future--in manufacturing and production. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and the best and brightest producers, farmers, and businesses. We take second to none. And from a national security perspective, it is dangerous to be reliant on other countries, which may not have the best interests of the United States' in mind. You can't blame them. They are looking out for themselves first. Well, we need to do the same thing.

That is not to mention the fact that the United States produces the cleanest steel in the world. You would think the Democrats and the climate cult would at least be happy about that. Think about that.

You know, President Trump just put tariffs on steel and aluminum. A lot of the steel and aluminum come in, and because of how they make it, it is some of the dirtiest steel in the world. We make the cleanest. Why in the world would we want to import something that is going to be detrimental to our country alone with this environment?

The tariffs being imposed this week are an important step in President Trump's plan to restore fairness to trade, to boost domestic manufacturing, and to put consumers and producers first. It is about time.

Three weeks into his Presidency, President Trump is keeping his promises. President Trump's strategic tariffs will strengthen and revitalize our Nation's economy, stop the flow of illicit drugs and illegal immigration, and make sure our trade deals are fair to both taxpayers and American manufacturers--America first. President Trump is utilizing every tool at his disposal, as we speak, including tariffs, to usher in the golden age of the American economy. We have to make that change. If we don't, we will not survive as the No. 1 country in the world. We will not regain that status, and we will be losing our national security.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I would like to say I look forward to Texas and South Carolina running for No. 2 to be the best barbecue in the country, with Alabama being a clear No. 1.

I will yield.

Will the Senator yield?

Your neighbor to the southwest has been recognized as the No. 1 barbecue in the United States by many, many authorities, so I think we probably could leave it at that.

I will.

Will the Senator yield?

That sounds like a challenge.

Mr. President, November 5, 2024, that is the day that the American people sent shock waves to the swamp in DC when they overwhelmingly reelected Donald John Trump as President of these United States of America. And 77 million Americans didn't just deliver a mandate for President Trump, they also wanted his ``America First'' agenda.

I come to the floor today to remind my Senate Republican colleagues that a critical part of the ``America First'' agenda includes prioritizing the safety of our women and girls in sports and protecting their privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms.

I am here to call for a vote on my legislation, S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, that would save title IX and save women's sports.

Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. That is today. To celebrate, President Trump will sign an Executive order this afternoon in the White House ending Democrats' intentional destruction of title IX and saving women's sports. I am very thankful for his leadership on this.

President Trump's Executive order will make sure women's sports are protected for at least the next 4 years. But, unfortunately, Executive orders can be reversed.

Congress needs to act on this to make sure the next Democrat administration, whenever it is, can't take the same steps to destroy title IX that the Biden administration took.

For the past 4 years, the Biden administration waged an all-out assault on gender. Since the beginning of time, people have agreed that sex is assigned at birth and determined by God. But under the Biden administration, you had people claiming that men can get pregnant. Here on this floor, I heard that. Pure insanity.

But it didn't stop there. They weren't content to just erase gender norms that have been accepted for thousands and thousands of years. No, they wanted to allow transgender men to participate against women and girls in sports.

This has been happening in schools all across the country. Young women have been forced to compete against men and even share locker rooms and showers. On top of that, your taxpayer dollars are paying for this nonsense.

Over the past several years under the Joe Biden administration, 900 women's medals have gone to men--900. That is absolutely wrong.

This one is personal for me. My first coaching job was in women's basketball years ago. Title IX was just starting to be implemented when I took that first job. I saw firsthand the immediate difference it made.

Before title IX, at a lot of schools, college women's athletics didn't really exist. Back then, there were more than 10 times as many male athletes in college as female athletes. After title IX, that quickly changed. For the first time, the young women I coached had equal access to facilities, resources, and competition.

I saw these hard-working young women go on to earn college scholarships, start careers, and become leaders of our country. I still keep in touch with many of these young women today, and I am deeply proud of them.

Looking back on it now, I wonder if they would have had the same opportunities without title IX. Would they have had the same success if they had to compete against males 40 years ago?

This really shouldn't be controversial. It is just common sense.

A recent poll from the New York Times, of all publications, showed 79 percent of all Americans believe men should not compete in women's sports--79 percent.

President Trump campaigned largely on this issue. If you remember his campaign, he spent nearly $20 million on TV ads about the importance of keeping men out of women's sports.

So on November 5, 2024, the American people didn't just elect President Trump; they also decisively rejected this ridiculous notion that men can get pregnant and boys should compete against women's sports--ridiculous. And they definitely didn't want their tax dollars funding schools that allow boys to share locker rooms with girls.

My bill would prevent a school from receiving any Federal funding if they let boys compete in women's sports. It also defines gender as male and female for this purpose.

I was glad to see President Trump sign an Executive order defining gender during his first few days in office. The President also made it clear under that Executive order that he wants Congress to take action on this as well because he understands it can go away with the signing of an ink pen.

That is why today, I am also reintroducing a bill to prohibit men from competing in women's Olympic sports because men competing against women at any level is dangerous.

We are all deeply disturbed--all of us were deeply disturbed this past summer to see videos of boys and men boxing against women.

You know, when I was growing up, we were taught to never hit a girl. But I guess that is over now because of the Democrats.

One study found out that males can punch up to 162 percent harder than females. Somebody is going to get killed or seriously injured if we don't stop this absolute nonsense. It is unsafe, it is unfair, and it is just plain wrong.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will make sure men aren't allowed to compete against women in any sport but especially not in a violent sport like boxing. This bill will restore fairness for the American women who train their whole lives to represent our country on the world stage. Their entire lives, they train.

I know we are all looking forward to the United States hosting the Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles. I hope our bill has been passed and signed into law long before that so we can all enjoy some healthy, safe women-against-women or men-against-men competition during those Olympics.

But this issue goes way beyond politics. I have heard from parents, students, teachers, and coaches all over the country about this. These are people who have personally seen the benefits of title IX and are very concerned about Democrats' attempts to take these opportunities away from women and girls.

There are countless stories of girls who have benefited from title IX in my State of Alabama. This includes athletes like Rachel Argent of Thorsby High School in Chilton County, AL. Rachel's athletic ability and good grades drew the attention of college coaches across Alabama. Rachel's athletic ability and her good grades drew

the attention of people from everywhere.

Because of her talent and work ethic, she received a basketball scholarship to Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, AL. After competing for 2 years and getting her degree, she got a softball scholarship at Samford University. That scholarship put her on the right direction to be able to buy her own uniform or her own equipment like she did in high school. It was all done because of title IX, and it was all paid for, which, years ago, would not have happened.

She didn't have to worry about landing a full-time job while she went to school and participated in sports to pay her bills.

After college, Rachel returned to Thorsby High School as a teacher and a coach. She wanted to give back to the school what she had gotten from title IX. She taught health and physical education for grades K- 12. She coached girls softball, basketball, track, and volleyball. She made an impact on hundreds of girls across the State of Alabama. It was all made possible, again, by title IX.

Rachel's daughter Addie played softball, tennis, golf, and basketball at Chilton County High School. She got a gold scholarship to the University of Mobile, where she graduated with a degree in nursing. Her athletic scholarship was a key part of her getting a degree and becoming a nurse.

There are countless other young women like Addie and Rachel across Alabama and every other State across the country. More than 50,000 young women in Alabama alone competed in high school sports this past year--50,000. Every single one of them deserves the full benefit of fair competition.

I am grateful that every Member of the Senate Republican leadership is a cosponsor of my Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. They have been very supportive. Leader Thune is a proud cosponsor of my bill, and I am glad to have his support. Leader Thune is committed to scheduling a vote on this bill and putting every Democrat on the record on whether or not they support men competing in women's sports.

We brought this bill to the floor for a vote during the last Congress--really, we brought it twice--and every single Democrat always voted against it. What does that tell you?

Leader Thune has not rescheduled it for a vote this Congress. Right now, we obviously have a lot of things to do with President Trump's Cabinet. Then we can get started on the reconciliation process and get the American economy jump-started again. We have a lot to accomplish in the first 100 days of the Trump administration, and I hope this bill is part of that 100 days.

President Trump will sign an Executive order again today banning men from competing in women's sports. Let's lock that commitment in. Let's lock it in for young girls and women all across this country.

Let's bring this bill to the floor for a vote very soon so the Senate can send it to the President's desk and make this permanent.

To my Senate colleagues who are on the fence about this, I would ask: Do you have daughters? Do you have granddaughters? Do you have nieces? Would you want them competing against men in sports? Would you feel comfortable with them sharing a locker room with a biological male?

I am excited to welcome my first granddaughter in a couple of weeks, Rosie Grace. I would raise hell if she was forced to compete, dress, or use the same showers as men. American taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for any schools that are allowing this to happen.

The days of woke, swamp politicians running our government are over. Common sense has been restored to the White House, and Congress needs to get back to work and let President Trump work on this bill. This isn't about politics; this is about right and wrong. The American people have delivered a verdict. They want men out of women's sports and women's locker rooms. President Trump is 100 percent with us on this.

The time to act is now. It is time to restore title IX protections and save women's sports.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, America's military is the greatest in the world because of men and women who take pride in their role to keep us safe. No one demonstrates this better than Second Class Officer Stephen Woodfin of Harvest, AL.

After being drafted into the Navy in 1968, Stephen found himself far from his smalltown Alabama farm at basic training in Nashville and San Diego. He describes this journey from the farm to the Navy as ``a country boy in hog heaven.''

After basic training, he was shipped out to the South Pacific to serve his country for the next 4 years in the Vietnam war. Like many Vietnam veterans, Stephen saw firsthand the horrors of war. Yet Stephen is still proud to say he served in the military and says his time in combat led him to meet some of the finest people he ever met.

Shortly before returning home in 1972, Stephen met his wife, whom he describes as the best thing that ever happened to him. After their return back to the States, Stephen took on several different roles, including husband, father, postal serviceman, teacher, and many more.

For more than two decades, he worked at the local post office. Whether delivering or shipping mail, people in the local area could always count on him to help them with a smile and see the job through no matter how long it took. One Christmas Eve, he even worked late hours delivering hundreds of packages because of a delivery back-up, to make sure all the kids in his area could open their new toys on Christmas morning. This is just one example of the many, of Stephen continuously putting other's well-being before his own.

He received several awards for his outstanding service, including Clerk of the Month and Carrier of the Month. There is no denying that Stephen's pride in helping others has been evident in everything he has done.

In 1997, Stephen, his wife, and their two sons moved back home to Harvest to the same farm he grew up on. There, he was able to pass on those same values like grit and hard work to his sons, including James, who nominated him for this recognition.

Stephen's story reminds us that we don't have to have a fancy title to make an impact, but you can make a difference with the roles you have. Whether in No. 1, the military; No. 2, the farm; No. 3, his family; or No. 4, his community, Stephen has given 110 percent to everything he does.

It is my honor to recognize him as the February Veteran of the Month.