Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I would like to start by thanking Leader Thune for pushing to confirm all of President Trump's Cabinet nominees so far. President Trump is on the verge of having his full team. We have confirmed Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, Scott Bessent, and many others who are doing an outstanding job implementing President Trump's America-first agenda. But there are more critical nominees that President Trump still needs confirmed. This includes Robert Kennedy, Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, along with a few others.

I have gotten a chance to meet with each of these nominees and have been very impressed. They are all outstanding choices and should be confirmed to President Trump's Cabinet as soon as possible.

First, I would like to express my complete and total support for Robert F. Kennedy's nomination to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Last November, we saw millions of Americans--especially young Americans--flock to the MAGA movement after Bobby Kennedy endorsed President Trump. Both my sons, 28 and 30, Tucker and Troy, were huge fans of RFK, and I know there are just millions of young people who RFK has brought to the table and into the fold, opening their eyes towards something they had never really been involved in, and that is the health of their generation and all generations across the country. As we know, Bobby started the Make America Healthy Again movement, known MAHA, which eventually joined forces with President Trump. MAHA is not just a political slogan; it is a movement that has swept our Nation.

For the first time, important issues like the effectiveness of vaccines, the dangers of prescription medicines, and the chemicals in our food and household products are part of our national political disclosure, as they should be. And it is all because of the work of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

You know, before entering the arena, Bobby spent four decades in environmental law and in healthcare policy, specializing in issues like water pollution, vaccines, and food safety--four decades. He is an accomplished attorney who attended Harvard, the London School of Economics, and the University of Virginia. And he has authored multiple best-selling books that I would suggest anybody that is concerned about the health of our country should read.

Throughout his career, he has committed to discovering the truth about what is causing the chronic disease epidemic in America today, and his Presidential campaign exposed the fact that we have a serious-- a very serious--public health crisis facing our country today and in the future. For example, in his hearing yesterday, Bobby Kennedy laid out that over 70 percent of adults and one-third of our children are overweight or obese. The rate of diabetes is 10 times more prominent today than it was in 1960. Cancer among our young people is rising by 1 or 2 percent every year. Autoimmune diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and addiction cases are hugely on the rise. Depression and anxiety rates are absolutely through the roof.

Meanwhile, more Americans are relying on pharmaceutical drugs than ever before. I saw that in my former life of being a coach of players. Years ago, very few of them were on any kind of drug, such as Adderall or Ritalin, for attention deficit. But in the last few years, there was a huge uptick in prescription drugs for many, many young people across the country. These findings are alarming, and they should and they had better shock all of us.

Thank God, Bobby has dedicated his life to getting to the bottom of what is causing these trends. As he did in his hearing yesterday, Bobby is an expert on the health issues facing our country and has the facts, the data, and the evidence to prove it, and he will bring his commitment to evidence-based science transparency to our national health Agencies.

And it is simple. Americans want access to all the facts so they can decide what is best for themselves and for their families. Bobby has committed to giving Americans the information that they need to be informed and make informed decisions.

Recently, I have seen the mainstream media and some politicians attempt to smear Bobby Kennedy as anti-vax, anti-industry, or an enemy of food producers. All of this couldn't be further from the truth. It is just a political attack.

We have even heard from prominent Republicans, like former Vice President Mike Pence, who is running ads on TV criticizing Bobby Kennedy for not being sufficiently pro-life. Bobby addressed this himself yesterday. He believes every abortion is a tragedy, and he will work with President Trump to implement his pro-life policies.

These attacks are nothing more than dishonest attempts by the DC establishment to tank his nomination. We have seen that in the last couple of weeks on all nominees.

Sure, Bobby Kennedy may not be the typical pick for the job, but the American people don't want a typical pick.

The one we picked 4 years ago for President Biden was a lawyer living in California and very seldom came to Washington, DC. He worked from home. We got nothing done in Health and Human Services.

They gave us a mandate in November--77 million people--to deliver President Trump's agenda, and that includes making America healthy again.

As far as I am concerned, Bobby is not part of being the healthcare establishment class. That is a really good thing. We don't need that. Look at where it has gotten us.

The pharmaceutical industry and the industrial food complex won't be running the show anymore when Bobby Kennedy is confirmed. Instead, he will restore our health Agencies to the gold standard of specific research and explore historic healthcare alternatives as part of our efforts to end chronic disease epidemics across this country.

Ultimately, this will lower costs for Americans and ease the burden on our entire healthcare system, which is being overrun by all of the conditions that we have popping up today. With the many public health crises we are facing as a country, we have no time to waste.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting Bobby for HHS Secretary and help President Trump make America healthy again.

For our next nominee, I would like to turn to Kash Patel. He is on the Hill today going through his confirmation hearing.

Kash is President Trump's pick to be the FBI Director, who testified in front of the Senate all morning long. Kash is an excellent choice, and he has my full support.

It is clear to the American people that the culture at the top of our top

police Agency in this country, the FBI, is rotten. It is rotten to the core. We have some good people, but the people in charge have made devastating decisions against a lot of people across this country. It is far past time to clean house at the FBI.

Over the last 4 years, we have seen the Bureau become politicized and weaponized. The Biden administration turned the FBI into the ``Fake Bureau of Investigations.'' The scales of justice were never fair and balanced under the last administration.

Christopher Wray, the Director, went after parents and school boards, pro-lifers. He went after Catholics. He went after grandmas who peacefully protested right outside this building on January 6. He went to their homes and arrested them--not to mention the unprecedented raid on President Trump's home in Mar-a-Lago, FL.

What we have seen unfold at our Nation's premiere law enforcement Agency over the last 4 years is a complete and absolute disgrace to the American people and our Constitution. Not only has the public's trust in the FBI been completely eroded, but it has been a disservice to all the great men and women in the FBI who commit every day to defending the Constitution and protecting us as American citizens.

It is going to take a lot of hard work to right this ship. Trust has to be put back into the FBI. Kash Patel is the right man to do the job.

He is qualified and has an impressive resume. He served in several national security and intelligence roles as a Federal prosecutor and as a public defender.

Not only is Kash qualified, but he also has the courage and the resolve needed to restore our faith in the FBI.

Despite the media's lies, Kash won't have his enemies list when he takes the job--unlike the Biden administration. If crimes are committed, he will open investigations, follow facts wherever they lead--no bias, no partiality. Kash will bring back truth and transparency, uphold the rule of law and the Constitution, and protect Americans against its enemies, foreign and domestic. He will ensure that the government works for the American people, and not the other way around.

Let's confirm Kash quickly and give President Trump an important component of his national security team. I look forward to supporting Kash Patel and hope my Republican colleagues will do the same.

Finally, we need to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to be our next Director of National Intelligence. Like Kash, Tulsi will play a critical role on President Trump's national security team.

She just had her hearing in front of the Senate Intel Committee this morning. Her hearing only further confirmed to me that Tulsi is the perfect candidate for the DNI role.

She is a decorated lieutenant colonel, with over 20 years of service in the military. Tulsi served in combat in the Iraq War and is currently active in service.

She has a top security clearance, having passed five background checks to receive it. Tulsi served in Congress for 8 years, where she sat on the Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations Committees. And as a Member of Congress, she consistently participated in high-level intelligence briefings.

As she has displayed throughout her entire career in the military and as an elected official, Tulsi will bring a fearless spirit to the DNI role.

I have to tell you, my meeting with Tulsi was one of the most impressive meetings I have had since I have been in this office, going on 5 years. Her depth of knowledge and expertise is unmatched. I have no doubt that she will keep our country secure while protecting the Constitution and the constitutional rights of all Americans.

She will help us return to ``peace through strength'' and put an end to America's costly foreign wars.

The attacks on her, questioning her loyalty to the United States, are absolutely disgusting. It is insulting. Tulsi has devoted her entire life to serving this country, the military, and in public service.

To the Senators criticizing Tulsi for not fitting the typical mold of a DNI director, might that be a good thing? Have the last several years shown us that the status quo is working? I don't think so, and I don't think the American people think so either, and they are the ones that count.

Tulsi brings a fresh perspective to the job and the America that we all want and deserve. We do not need another James Clapper.

Like the FBI, we have seen our intelligence community weaponized to target opponents of the regime. The IC conspired to take down President Trump in 2016 and 2020 and, maybe, most recently, in the election a couple months ago. For that reason, I think Tulsi is exactly the change agent we need leading our intelligence community.

Like Bobby Kennedy, Tulsi switched her party affiliation because she saw the status quo as a threat to the American people and our constitutional rights. As Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi will check her politics at the door, just like she has done the last 20 years serving in our military. She will come to DNI without any bias. She will fix our broken intelligence community--and, folks, it is broken.

I look forward to confirming Tulsi to DNI. I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for Tulsi. She will play a major role in President Trump's team and restoring faith in our intelligence community.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I want to reiterate what my colleague from Tennessee just talked about, the importance of the vote that we just took just a few minutes ago--our nominee for new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Now, the procedure is--as we just voted--to close the vote, and now we wait 30 hours from just a few minutes ago and have the final vote on his nomination, which it looks like that he has the votes of the majority to be appointed or sent to the White House to be confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense.

I am on the Armed Services Committee, and I have watched 4 years of the destruction of the best military in our world--the United States of America.

It is a shame what has happened. The DEI, the woke agenda that is being pushed on the troops in our country, to me, is embarrassing. I am a military brat. My dad died on active duty in the military. Awarded five Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart at age 17, driving a tank across Europe after landing the first day of Normandy.

We have to change course in our military. And we can talk about inflation and pumping gas and the crime and all the things that we are having a lot of problems with, but if you don't have a strong military to protect our borders and protect the citizens in our country from adversaries all over the world, we have problems. And it has to start there.

Pete Hegseth is the choice, the right choice. I like his age; I like his demeanor; I like the things he brings to our military. He is exciting, and he will energize this military into the next decade. And I am excited about that.

So, hopefully, in about 30 hours, we will vote tomorrow night around 9:00, and we will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as our new Secretary of Defense.

Mr. President, the last 4 years have been nothing short of a national nightmare. The runup to the nightmare began in 2020.

After fending off a ridiculous impeachment attempt in the early months of 2020, President Trump was riding high, and the economy was booming.

Under President Trump, we saw record levels of low unemployment for all Americans, especially among Black and Hispanic Americans. Inflation, which is ultimately a tax on the paychecks of hard-working Americans, was also at record lows.

We had the most secure border in history. Dangerous terrorists, cartel members, and human traffickers weren't flooding into our country. Americans' jobs were more secure because they didn't have to compete with millions of foreigners who have entered the country the last 4 years trying to steal their jobs. The cost of buying a home was also cheaper as a result.

Under President Trump, we were energy independent. This made the cost of living more affordable for all Americans. We were able to power American homes, cars, and factories with reliable and abundant energy.

Those are just a few of the domestic successes that Americans were benefiting from under President Trump.

On the global stage, we finally had stability after decades of foreign wars. Under President Trump, there were no new wars. We were respected around the world and feared by our adversaries. Russia didn't dare invade Ukraine when President Trump was in office. NATO countries were told to pay up: Pay your bills. China wasn't imposing its will in the South China Sea or across the world. China was contained, and its influence was diminishing.

Under President Trump, the Abraham Accords were signed, bringing peace to the Middle East. As we have seen the last few years, achieving peace in the Middle East was no easy feat. But President Trump achieved it, and he did it quickly. The United States and the world were in harmony.

The left couldn't stand these many successes that President Trump's administration was achieving at home and abroad, so they pulled out all stops to take him down. That is when the deep state bureaucrats and globalist organizations worked together to intensify the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time, the George Floyd riots erupted and destroyed cities across our country. Liberal DAs and politicians didn't do anything to stop it. It was absolute anarchy--total chaos orchestrated by leftwing politicians, the media, and antifa thugs.

Meanwhile, the media tried to manufacture a scandal because President Trump held up a Bible in front of a historic church, while the rioters burning the city of DC were ignored.

It was all a ploy to take down President Trump and tarnish his legacy.

Before the plot to take out the President was in full swing, we saw America achieving heights we had never ever seen before.

For a moment, the left thought they had bested Trump with the COVID sham and the Floyd riots and ultimately by rigging the election. But after controlling Biden by hiding him in the basement and then installing him as President, the Democrats were like a dog who finally caught the car. Once the Democrats took the White House, they quickly realized they didn't know how to run the country. It is not quite like running a struggle session in a Berkeley classroom or leading an HR call for a woke corporation.

The Democrats had 4 years to show the country they could govern more effectively than President Trump, but what have they done? What is one thing they have done to make our country better? I can't think of one policy, one law or directive that actually benefited the American people.

From day one, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris invited foreigners to illegally enter our country. They weren't shy. Joe Biden told foreigners to ``surge the border'' and ``You should [all] come.'' While the administration opened the border, they shut down the Keystone Pipeline, making Americans pay more for groceries and gas.

The Biden administration engaged in a culture war domestically, embracing far-left ideas about sexuality, gender, and race. We have been told repeatedly over the past 4 years that men can get pregnant. And the Democrats didn't just push woke ideology on adults; they forced it on children in their classrooms and on social media.

They have supported biological men competing in women's sports. They are perfectly OK with men sharing locker rooms and showering with girls. The Biden administration published a rule that would destroy title IX which was created to protect women and girls, all in the name of gender equity.

You know, not only did Democrats wage war on American culture, they weaponized our justice system, going after President Trump, conservatives, and anyone who dared to oppose their agenda. Just look at how they went after the January 6 protesters, pro-lifers with the FACE Act, parents at the school boards, and the dozens of illegal actions they took against President Trump.

The Biden administration, with the help of congressional Democrats, passed a bunch of bills with names that sound good, but actually they harm many Americans.

Take the Inflation Reduction Act, for example, one of their prize bills that they have passed in the last few years. It was a legal way to launder money to blue States to bail them out, while red States were hung out to dry.

It pumped money we don't have into the economy, causing the runaway inflation we are dealing with today. The administration was also weak on the world stage appeasing every interest but the interests of the American people. This administration was committed to cozying up to Iran by reinstating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as if the world wasn't already a dangerous place. Why would President Biden's administration agree to help Iran improve their nuclear facilities? It makes no sense.

This administration bent over backward for NATO, handing over billions of hard-earned American taxpayer dollars with no plan on ending the war in Ukraine. It executed a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that left 13 servicemembers dead, with many others severely wounded. This administration was basically asleep at the wheel.

Who was running the country? Well, it wasn't Joe Biden. It was clear from the 2020 campaign that he didn't have the mental capacity to be President. To make matters worse, he spent 570 days, 40 percent of his Presidency, on vacation. Instead, the White House was run by a committee of leftwing staffers and special interests who ultimately ran the country into the ground, and the media and the Democrats were complicit. It is truly shameful what they have done to this country in the last 4 years.

But now we are finally turning the page. We are entering a new golden age in America with President Trump's return to the White House, and this is our last chance at righting the ship the left has steered so far off course.

President Trump will return our country to the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We will return to the Judeo- Christian beliefs and principles of the West that made our Nation so great. And how should the Senate help return our country to these principles?

We need to confirm every single one of President Trump's nominees as quickly as possible. We don't have time to drag our feet on any of these nominees. The Democrats never once attempted to block President Biden's Cabinet nominees. Zero Senate Democrats voted against any one of his picks--zero.

President Trump needs to be able to exercise the full power and authority of his office as soon as he is sworn in, and that requires confirming his Cabinet picks.

It will also require the issuing of Executive orders to undo anything that President Biden has done in taking congressional action to put these policies in place.

Expect a flurry of Executive orders, a new offensive idea to rebuild our broken country. Expect Executive orders on the border, on unleashing American energy, and getting DEI out of our government and out of the lives of American people.

We also need to get behind President Trump on passing one reconciliation bill that will secure our border, reignite our energy independence, and cut taxes so the American economy can boom again.

On the global stage, the Senate needs to get behind President Trump pressuring NATO, all the NATO countries, to pay their fair share. No more military handouts for European countries and no more lighting taxpayer dollars on fire on behalf of Ukraine. It is time to get this war over with.

The Senate needs to support President Trump and exert maximum pressure on Iran and other terrorist organizations wreaking havoc on the Middle East and the West.

We also need to join President Trump's commitment on shrinking the Federal Government through strong congressional action. We will do this by working closely with the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE.

We need to shrink the government, cutting the ridiculous regulations that are crushing American small businesses.

And, finally, we need to focus on accountability. We need to hold people accountable for the damage that has been done to our country. We need to support the pardon of January 6 protesters who were wrongly prosecuted and horribly treated by our justice system.

We need to step up and fight for pro-life, pro-life protesters who were persecuted by the administration under the FACE Act. We need to open investigations into DOJ Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, and that starts by confirming Kash Patel and Pam Bondi to the posts where President Trump needs them and needs them in a hurry.

We need to be aggressive in these pursuits. Senate Republicans need to demonstrate courage and will and resolve like President Trump showed on the campaign trail. Are we willing to take a bullet for this country like President Trump did?

Are we willing to take on the fake news media who will try to undermine his everyday agenda? The job ahead of us won't be easy. The economy is in bad shape, job numbers are down, inflation is sky high. Our enemies are on the move abroad and in the interior of our country, but the American people chose President Trump and the Republicans for such a time like this.

They gave us a mandate to deliver them from the past 4 years of hell that this administration has caused. But now, it is a new day in America. The nightmare is almost over. And in a few more days, the Sun will rise in America. Greatness awaits us if we answer the call of the American people.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, our time is one of the most valuable things that we can give. For MAJ Heath Drake of Leeds, he invests

countless hours in his local community. Heath was inspired to join the Army National Guard from his dad--an Air Force veteran--and his brother, who is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.

Heath decided to open two small businesses that employ Alabamians in his community. He developed an interest in vegetation management while doing summer jobs as a teenager, but credits the skills learned in the military for helping him build a successful company.

Despite his busy schedule, Heath never turns down an opportunity to give back to his community. His impact is perhaps best evidenced in his role as a coach. For the last 20 years, Heath has been a volunteer coach in the Leeds Youth Baseball League. He most recently began volunteering with the baseball team at Lawson State Community College. Heath has helped hundreds of young people learn life lessons through participating in sports. Despite the huge time commitment that comes with being a coach, Heath finds all the long hours worthwhile. His devotion has clearly made an impact on the many young men he has coached throughout the year, including Dax who nominated him for this recognition.

Dax says that to him, Heath is not only a coach but ``a mentor and someone he can look up to.'' Heath's story is a reminder that our time is best spent helping those around us. He is a true role model for his players, employees, family, and friends. It is my honor to recognize Heath Drake as the January Veteran of the Month.

Madam President, I would like to thank Senator Hagerty for coordinating this event and Senator Kaine and Senator Britt for standing up and supporting Vulcan Materials.

You know, supporting American businesses abroad should be a unifying position across political parties, and I thank our Democratic colleagues who have joined me in this effort for the past several months.

Unfortunately, we have seen just how little this administration cares about protecting American investments overseas. We could have corrected this problem. Specifically, I am talking about the unlawful actions taken by the Government of Mexico against Vulcan Materials Company, which is headquartered in Birmingham, AL.

Vulcan is the Nation's largest producer of construction inputs, including crushed stone, sand, and gravel. Vulcan is also a major producer of materials like asphalt and ready-mix concrete. The materials produced by Vulcan are used in nearly all forms of construction. This includes infrastructure repairs to a bridge or a road or when a new office building is built or a church that needs to be built. While headquartered in Alabama, Vulcan has 720 facilities and more than 12,000 employees in the United States of America. Its reach is international.

Vulcan has operated a quarry in Mexico since the eighties. This quarry supplies materials to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.

Vulcan has quarried limestone legally in Mexico, on land that it owns and has paid for, for over 30 years. It has full ownership of the property in Mexico and owns the limestone reserves on the property--all paid for by Vulcan. Vulcan also operates a deepwater port in Mexico paid for by Vulcan. Vulcan operates that port because Vulcan built the port.

Over the course of 30 years, Vulcan Materials has paid billions in taxes to the Mexican Government. It has employed thousands of people over the years, providing them with healthcare and pensions, which is why I was shocked when, 2 years ago, the Mexican Government swooped in and announced it would pursue legal action against Vulcan overnight. After all that Vulcan has done for the country of Mexico, the Mexican Government swooped in to stop all their operations in just a few days. The Mexican Government's baseless claim was that the company is operating illegally in Mexico--after 30 years. That statement is categorically false.

Unfortunately, the Government of Mexico followed through with its threat and legal action. Mexican Government officials presented local Vulcan employees with orders to immediately cease operations on Vulcan's own land in Mexico.

I believe this shutdown ordered by the Mexican Government represents a baseless attack on U.S. companies and demonstrates a disregard for rule of law. It is why I joined Senator Hagerty in introducing the Defending American Property Abroad Act to impose retaliatory prohibitions that deter and punish any Western Hemisphere nation that unlawfully seizes American assets.

Clearly, Mexico's new President, Claudia Sheinbaum, didn't get the message that this is unacceptable. Under her leadership, the Mexican Government continues to pursue legal action against Vulcan.

Vulcan has been and continues to be subject to public harassment, intimidation tactics, and all kinds of harassment from the Mexican Government. The Mexican Navy sent troops to the entrance of the Vulcan facility for several days. The Mexican Navy flew Black Hawk helicopters and drones over Vulcan's property. The Mexican Navy sent patrol boats to Vulcan's harbor. The Mexican Government withheld the issuance of a routine customs permit for several months.

These actions by the Mexican Government are contrary to the most basic principles of international law and the free-trade agreements that bind our two countries together. Most notably, it goes against the USMCA--United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement--that was signed into law by President Trump.

However, the Mexican Government's attack on Vulcan is bigger than just one company. First of all, it undermines the rule of law in Mexico. It ignores international law and free-trade agreements. It weakens our bilateral relationship. It will discourage future U.S. investment in Mexico.

Over the last several years, we have all heard about the actions the Mexican Government has attempted to take against U.S. energy companies in Mexico. This action against Vulcan is just an example of how far Mexico is willing to go.

This will have a direct impact on the supply chain for major infrastructure projects in the United States and the entire world.

We cannot allow this to stand, and I know President Trump is not going to allow this to stand. He will not tolerate countries abusing the good work of American companies. As chief architect of the USMCA, President Trump won't allow any country in the Western Hemisphere to bully American businesses. It is a fight any country should think twice about starting.

In the meantime, I urge the Biden administration to take appropriate action at the Office of the United States Trade Representative and through diplomatic channels to ensure that Vulcan--a great, great, great American company--can maintain critical operations in Mexico.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today's farmers across the country are facing significant financial losses for most commodities planted during the 2024 crop-year. It is a dire situation. Basically, they are in trouble.

I have been saying this for a while now: For the sake of American food security, national security, and rural prosperity, Congress must pass economic assistance for our farmers before the end of this year.

That is why I am asking Congress to pass a stand-alone economic assistance package for our farmers, no strings attached.

This isn't for the lobbyists, special interests, or liberal pet projects; it would go directly to the people who feed, clothe, and fuel the United States of America and the world.

It is for the American farmers who are desperate. They are in desperate need of help to survive. This economic assistance certainly won't help farmers make a profit. They have no chance. It won't even help them break even.

Right now, many farmers won't be able to secure financing and renew

their operating loans to keep their farms running for another year. Again, they are in trouble. This funding would only help farmers cover part of the 2023 and 2024 losses for American producers.

For crops grown in my State of Alabama specifically, the expected losses this year are over $200 per acre. Cotton producers are in worse shape, with losses of approximately $373 per acre. Peanut farmers' losses are next, at almost $198 per acre. Other crops, such as corn, soybean, and rice are also facing devastating financial losses.

These losses are occurring after farmers have produced bumper crops, which have yielded some of the best crops producers have seen in many, many years.

This indicates that a major economic disaster is looming for our producers and our country. If this dire situation continues, the American agricultural industry will face permanent--permanent--damage. American farming as we know it could cease--I repeat, cease--to exist.

Regardless of the region, State, crop, or weather pattern, there is one thing every farmer is subject to; that is, the law of economics. And right now, it is economic disaster for our farmers across this country and all States.

The math is simple. With production costs and interest rates at an alltime high, farmers' expenses are exceeding their profits. Under President Biden's leadership, cost for feed is up 22 percent; fertilizer, up 34 percent; fuel, up 30 percent. On top of that, labor is up 40 percent, and interest is up 54 percent on crop loans--54 percent. You can't make these numbers up.

Input costs are skyrocketing while commodity prices have plummeted-- absolutely plummeted--and are expected to continue falling.

According to the 2022 USDA agriculture census, our Nation has lost over 25,000 producers in just the last few years.

According to the USDA net farm income, this year is projected to decline 4.1 percent from 2023. This follows a shocking--listen to this--a shocking 22.6-percent decline from 2022 levels. These figures represent over $40 billion in lost revenue for America's hard-working producers.

No business--not one business--in this country can survive like this. Our farmers and our farms are no different. This is the largest 2-year decline in farm income in the history of this country--the history of the country.

In Alabama alone, we have lost nearly 2,000 producers and over 3,200 farms in just the last few years. This will cause farms to get bigger, not smaller.

The economies of scale will continue to push out small- and medium- sized growers, resulting in further consolidation of the agriculture industry. The little guys, in other words, they can't compete. We cannot allow these terrible trends to continue.

American farmers are rapidly approaching a steep financial cliff. Many will go off the ledge, never to recover unless Congress throws them a lifeline and pulls them back to safety.

This supplemental funding needs to happen in addition to a long extension of the farm bill. It has to be extended.

I continue to stand with Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Boozman in emphasizing the need to pass a strong farm bill with an adequate farm safety net in the upcoming Congress.

However, the truth is that even if we did pass a new farm bill--which would be improved, hopefully--containing increased reference prices for title I commodities, assistance would not reach farmers until October 2026. It will be a little too late for the farmers this year, for thousands of them.

Most farmers who wish to plant crops in 2025 need renewed access to credit before the end of this month. With many balancing checkbooks in the red--some for the second, third, and fourth year in a row--farmers will have a difficult time securing financing without improved certainty within the agriculture sector.

So while a 1-year farm bill extension is important, it does not provide the needed certainty for bankers and creditors to extend farm loans for this coming planting season. By failing to extend the adequate financial lifeline to farmers, now our farmers will--and I repeat--will not survive until the fall of 2026. It will be over.

It is a sad reality. At the end of the day, it is not their fault. They work 365 days a year, 7 days a week, and put their hard-earned money as well as borrowed money into their farms.

The supplemental assistance I am advocating for today will only serve as a bandaid to slow the bleeding until they get a farm loan and plant next season's crop.

I am hearing from producers all over Alabama and across the country about the dire state of the farm economy. Producers can't pay employees or their bills for seed, chemicals, and fertilizers. They can't pay it. I have never seen it this bad, never.

Lawsuits have already started--suing farmers for something that they don't have. Farmers have bumper crops of cotton, peanuts, corn, and beans. Yet they are still on the brink of bankruptcy. Something is wrong.

This isn't about commodity versus commodity or region versus region; it is about the survival of the American farmer and the communities that rely on them. It is about saving the hard-working men and women who play a critical role in feeding and clothing and fueling not only the United States but, folks, the entire world.

Congress cannot defy the laws of economics, but it can pass a stand- alone economic assistance package for our farmers to help them survive another year. This is perfectly within our power. There will be no funny business for this economic assistance, just a straight up-and- down vote to see who stands with our farmers, the food for this country, and the world.

Democrats always try to hold emergency funding for farmers hostage, like we have this year, and they want projects to go along with the funding, basically holding us hostage, holding these farmers who have worked hard and put their own sweat and blood into this crop that they have had.

Farmers from every corner of the country need us now, more than ever. There is not going to be another chance for a high percentage of this farming group that are farming this year--it is not going to happen-- which is why I am calling on the House and the Senate to put politics aside. I am begging: Put politics aside.

I wish I could have farmers standing up here today. They would be telling you the same thing. They don't like handouts. They like to work for the money that they make; they always have. That is why they are special. But they need a no-strings-attached economic plan.

I know President Trump will do everything he can in his power to assist American farmers when he is sworn into office. Our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, will deliver for our farmers as soon as she is sworn in. But until then, I ask the Senate to stand up and stand with an economic assistance package to throw our farmers a lifeline. They deserve it. They need it. And it is not just for them; it is for the entire country.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, a little while ago, my colleagues were successful in passing the Stop International Child Abuse Act by unanimous consent.

I want to thank Paris Hilton for her great work on this legislation. You know, I applaud her for using her position of influence as a force for good. She has worked hard to make sure no child has to go through what she went through in her earlier life.

America's kids and young adults will decide the future of this country. I dedicated my life to mentoring young people because they are the most precious commodity that we have. If we get everything else right but neglect our young people, our country has no future.

You know, I have seen some of these residential treatment facilities with my own eyes, and I know they need reform. Right now, there is not enough oversight in some of these schools. Some States are trying to regulate them, but we need to do more on a national level. We don't know where the Federal money is going or who is making money off looking after our kids. We don't understand the regulations and whether they benefit our children or not. This bill authorizes a study of these facilities and looks at them nationwide. It can cost about what it takes to go to Harvard for a kid to be in one of these institutions. It is very expensive, but a lot of them look like something out of a Charles Dickens movie.

There is an old saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant. We need some more sunlight on these facilities so we can put a stop to the waste and the

fraud and the abuse in this system. I am proud to support this bill, and I stand with our kids.

Social Security

Madam President, now I would like to remind you of a vote that President Joe Biden took in 1983, as a Senator, to tax your Social Security. That is right. Joe Biden is responsible for your Social Security money today being taxed. It is a scam.

One of the big reasons the American people elected President Trump to be the next President of the United States is because they are tired of being scammed by the Federal Government. They are tired of seeing their hard-earned money evaporate into thin air because of inflation, which is caused by Joe Biden and Democrats spending money that we don't have.

They are tired of having their tax dollars sent to fund foreign wars where America's interests are really not at stake. They are tired of the Federal Government using taxpayer dollars to put illegal immigrants up in fancy hotels instead of building a wall to secure our Nation's sovereignty. But what the American people have been tired of for years--decades even--is how they have been getting scammed out of their retirement money, the money that they pay into this government.

Here is the sad truth: The American people don't have any confidence that they will see all the money they paid into Social Security over the years.

Since being signed into law in the 1930s by President Roosevelt, Americans' money has been going in the front door of the Federal Government and then out the back door. It is a big Ponzi scheme, and everyone is forced to participate in it. You have no choice. It doesn't matter if you are 16 or 76, a little over 6 percent of your paycheck is taken out to pay for this retirement.

Americans have been paying into Social Security for years, only to see a fraction of what they were promised to be returned to them. And that is not all. After decades of having Social Security taken out of their paychecks, millions of Americans have to pay taxes on what they do get at the end of the day. That is right. The money that is owed to them--the taxpayers' own money that has been held for years by the Federal Government--is taxed again as if it is new income.

Withdrawing money from your paycheck every week or month for Social Security is already a tax to begin with. The money taken out of your pocket and your paychecks isn't put into an account that gains interest like a mutual fund. It doesn't even gain interest like a savings account. It actually has a lower rate of interest than the rate of inflation. And that is not the worst of it.

The pot your Social Security money sits in isn't left alone by the Federal Government. No, your money that you pay into Social Security is being used like a debit card by the Federal Government. So the money you are paying into, it is effectively a tax. Then what little money you do get back is taxed again.

We have got people who are getting ready to retire in this country who are going to try to live off $2,000 a month after paying Social Security all their life.

In this day and age, $2,000 is impossible to live off of, totally impossible. We better start figuring this problem out because one of these days, millions of people are going to come to DC and say: Where is my money? And I don't blame them. I don't blame them one bit.

We are $36 trillion in debt, and there is no sign of that slowing down. Let me repeat that: $36 trillion in debt.

We seem to be spending all we can on everything but retired American workers. We have sent over $200 billion to Ukraine. Just yesterday, the Biden administration announced they are giving $20 billion more to Ukraine in the form of a loan. Well, that is interesting. We are never getting that money back. It is another scam.

Over $400 billion in COVID relief money was wasted, misspent, or stolen. And I just saw on TV before I just came down here on a news report that President Biden just gave Iran 10 billion more dollars.

The Biden administration set aside billions of dollars to build EV stations across this country, plug-ins. Up here, we toss money around like it is nothing, and then we turn around and tax Americans' Social Security checks. It is unfair for the millions of Americans who paid into Social Security to have to suffer for their government's incompetence.

My two sons ask me all the time if they are ever going to see the money they have paid into Social Security. At this rate, they have got a better chance of seeing world war III than ever seeing that 6 percent that was taken out of their paychecks since they started working. How bleak is that?

That is why when President Trump says he wants to fight for Social Security to protect it and preserve the retirement age, it resonates with people. People listen because it sounds like somebody is going to help somebody.

The American people aren't dumb. They know there has been funny business going on at the Social Security Administration for many, many years and that they may never see a dime of the money that they are owed.

Americans aren't dumb. Every election year, you hear our Democratic colleagues saying Republicans want to cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age. Yet it was Joe Biden who voted to tax your Social Security check. As usual, our Democratic colleagues just keep throwing money at other programs, projects, and wars, neglecting one of the biggest problems facing our country.

With President Trump coming to town, we are finally going to make sure the government is serving the people, not bleeding them dry. President Trump is going to make sure the government is accountable to all American taxpayers. At the very least, he is going to give it to you straight, not just tell you what you want to hear.

The Department of Government Efficiency--or what we are calling now DOGE--will play a big role in solving this problem. Elon and Vivek will make sure the American people know exactly what is going on in Washington. There will be no secrets.

The bottom line is this: We need to get bureaucrats' and politicians' hands out of the mess that they made with their Social Security money. We need to make sure Americans get what they were promised.

President Trump's pick to be the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration is a great choice to get Social Security cleaned up. If he doesn't, we will change him. Frank has an excellent track record as an executive in business and finance. He is not a politician. As President Trump said, Commissioner Frank will deliver on the Agency's commitment to the American people for generations to come.

It is about time Washington, DC, starts working for the people we are supposed to represent--what a thought--not to special interests, not for career politicians and entrenched bureaucrats or the liberal pet projects or foreign wars that don't deserve our interest.

Instead of spending money we don't have on things we don't need, let's put it back in the pockets of the Americans who have worked and paid for this. Not only is it in America's best interest to do this, it is the right thing to do.

I yield the floor.

(Ms. ROSEN assumed the Chair.)

Mr. President, we often think of the holiday season as a time for giving. For LTC Claudia Wigglesworth of Daleville, she exhibits this spirit of generosity all year long. The daughter of an Army sergeant, Claudia had originally planned to become a music teacher. But after participating in ROTC in college, she decided she wanted to continue her dad's military legacy.

Claudia used her leadership skills in several different roles within the military, including as a company commander in the Gulf War, at the Pentagon, at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and as inspector general for Fort Jackson in South Carolina. She says that one of her most rewarding roles was serving as a recruiting battalion commander following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Her parting legacy was helping ensure that America was equipped with the manpower to defend itself following that day.

Claudia retired from the military in 2005 after 23 years of service. She and her husband Charlie--also an Army veteran--decided to move back home to Daleville. Claudia began giving of her time and talents to make her community a better place by organizing a food drive and environmental projects that still take place every year. She decided to run for city council, before running and being elected as the mayor of Daleville. Claudia's leadership during her tenure as mayor proved instrumental in expanding Daleville's Flight School Training Support Services, solidifying Daleville as the home of the largest helicopter simulation training center in the world.

She also volunteers countless hours with numerous regional organizations that help those in need in the Wiregrass and across the State. Claudia is the district chair for the Lions Club International Foundation and is a trustee for VFW Post 6020.

Alabama is grateful for Claudia's generosity that is making our State a better place to call home every day. It is my honor to recognize her as the December Veteran of the Month.

Madam President, I rise today to highlight some of the major victories that were included in the Senate's version of the NDAA--the military budget--that passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee almost 6 months ago.

The Senate's version of this year's NDAA includes some excellent provisions, including a 4.5-percent pay raise for America's military servicemembers. This is a pay raise for the boots on the ground, not the top brass at the Pentagon. We secured powerful, new security initiatives in the Indo-Pacific. We secured provisions that advance our counter unmanned aircraft systems technologies.

Among the Senate's NDAA victories, I also count my amendments, which will help focus the Pentagon on its stated mission of deterring war and ensuring our Nation's security. One of these amendments includes slashing all funding for the woke diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the DOD. Another amendment prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for any costs associated with funding gender transition surgeries.

We need a military that is 100-percent focused on protecting our country and enhancing our national security, not implementing a woke agenda. Our military is not a social experiment. It should be a lethal fighting force, feared by our enemies and made up of our best and brightest in this country, which is why I applaud the work of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member Wicker's leadership for putting together this excellent piece of legislation. The Senate's version of the NDAA received bipartisan support in committee, getting 22 of the 25 votes. You seldom see Republicans and Democrats come together like this.

So I ask: Why has Senator Schumer not brought this to the floor for the past 6 months? Why has the Senator from New York put a stop to good-faith efforts on setting our military up for success in the future? If Senator Schumer really cared about our military, he would have brought the NDAA up for a vote almost 6 months ago, but instead, we have been prioritizing liberal judges for the final weeks he has left as majority leader. Senate Democrats are more interested in burning taxpayer dollars on an unwinnable war in Ukraine than passing our military's budget.

Sadly, we have seen this time and time again: leadership that would rather cater to the woke administration than ensure our military is a lethal fighting force. But putting a woke agenda over our national security is nothing new to this administration. No institutions, not even our great military, are safe from being taken over by the Biden regime's radical woke policies.

Immediately after taking the White House, President Biden began to weaponize the DOD, using it as another tool in the administration's arsenal to further its progressive agenda. One of the Biden administration's first moves was to mandate the divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion training at the DOD--picking up right where Barack Obama left off 4 years earlier.

On day 1, the Biden administration announced that the military would begin conducting training to ``have knowledge of systemic and institutional racism and bias against underserved communities.'' This hateful ideology has no place in the United States, let alone the U.S. military.

This is supposed to be the No. 1 fighting force in the world. It is dangerous and insulting to waste our troops' valuable time on political indoctrination such as this. We need a lethal killing machine to deter aggression from our adversaries. I want our military focused on protecting Americans and our national security in an increasingly dangerous world, not on all of these woke DEI initiatives. There is no place for it, and Americans want to fund the military to achieve this objective. That is what our taxpayers pay money for, which is why on November 5, nearly 77 million Americans joined me in taking a stand to say: Enough of this nonsense.

Mr. President, the historic comeback victory for President Donald J. Trump earlier this month was one for the ages. His overwhelming victory sent a clear message to the ``uniparty'' here in Washington, DC, mainstream media, globalists, and elites that Americans are fed up with the agenda that was crammed down their throats the last 4 years.

A majority of voters decided that the ``America First'' agenda championed by Donald Trump and JD Vance is the playbook for American greatness.

As a part of that playbook, President Trump has already put together a strong--very strong--list of qualified Cabinet members.

At Defense, he has tapped Pete Hegseth, a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is Ivy League educated, businessman background--that is what we need in the Pentagon right now to restore order and our finances.

At HHS, he has assigned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has singlehandedly brought attention to the many public health crises facing Americans.

He is Harvard-educated, has authored multiple books, and has a four- decade career in public health and environmental law.

And as Attorney General, he has nominated Matt Gaetz, a qualified attorney who has served in Congress for nearly a decade. Matt Gaetz has been a warrior for the Constitution on the Judiciary Committee and has exposed the weaponization of the justice system of the DOJ.

Ask yourself: Why are my Democratic colleagues, the media, and the establishment losing their minds over these highly qualified nominees? It is because of the dislike of President Trump, the ``America First'' agenda, and nearly 80 million Americans who voted to send him back to the White House. It is obvious. Panic has set in at the DOJ, the intelligence community, and the entire DC swamp. They are finding out-- as Barack Obama said--the elections have consequences. Americans have spoken. Not only did President Trump win the electoral college in a landslide, he also is the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote.

In addition to sending President Trump back to the White House, Americans delivered a mandate to every single Senate Republican: They want President Trump's ``America First'' agenda, and they want it now.

As a result, Senate Republicans should embrace this mandate and support every single one of President Trump's Cabinet picks.

You would think this would be a no-brainer. Not one Democrat broke from their party in supporting Joe Biden's nominees in 2021--not one. However, over the last few days, I have heard some of my Senate Republican colleagues express concerns about who President Trump is picking for his team.

I would expect this from my colleagues on the left, not on the right. What is surprising to me is that I am hearing grumblings from Republicans. My advice to them is to get on board or get out of the way. The American people have enthusiastically trusted President Trump and J.D. Vance with saving our great Republic.

I am calling on my Senate Republican colleagues to listen to both the American people and the constituents in their States and support President Trump's vision for his Cabinet.

Last time around, the Republican Senate took months to confirm President Trump's appointments, if not years. As a result, President Trump had to govern with one hand tied behind his back because some of his Cabinet members were never confirmed.

That is completely unacceptable this time around. We need to help President Trump. We need to help him usher in a new golden age in America. Be a team player. It is time to move the ball down the field.

You know, I spent many years as a head coach at several different football programs. Whenever an organization brings on a new coach, that coach brings in his whole new staff. It is the head coach's obligation to hire the personnel he needs to achieve his objectives for that certain program.

The old staff, by and large, usually gets fired. It is not always fun, but that is reality. I had to do it several times. In the same way President Trump was just chosen to be America's head coach, he needs to be able to hire the assistant coaches he wants. In this case, it is his Cabinet and other important high-level personnel picks.

President Trump has faced two assassination attempts, partisan lawfare from a corrupt administration, his first campaign being spied on by the Obama administration, and baseless lies from the corporate media who tried their best--tried their best--to keep him out of the White House.

The last thing he needs is obstruction from Senate Republicans. He is a large part of why we just won the Senate and a lot of these people got reelected.

And 76 million Americans decisively chose President Trump and his ``America First'' agenda--76 million. This is a record for any Republican President in our Nation's history. Let that sink in.

This is not because of any of us. This is because of President Trump, who is the most effective communicator and leader in modern history. It is because he is a successful businessman, not a career politician.

But now, elected Republicans are expressing frustration with his Cabinet picks. Who do Republican Senators think they represent? They are representing the voters in their States.

I remember when 20--that is right--20 Senate Republicans voted to confirm Merrick Garland for the top law enforcement spot 4 years ago for the Biden administration. That is their prerogative.

As Attorney General, Merrick Garland turned the DOJ into a weapon--a weapon--against President Donald Trump, Republicans, and law-abiding U.S. citizens.

The perversion of law that Merrick Garland embraced at the DOJ would make third-world banana republics blush.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who had no previous experience in the transportation sector, received 36--and I repeat--36 Republican votes. His qualifications for the job? His ``personal love of transportation.'' OK. Apparently, liking trains as a kid makes him qualified to be in the Cabinet.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in large part responsible for the blatant lies pushed in a letter written by 51 former intelligence officials right before the 2020 election, received 28 Republican votes in the Senate.

Secretary of Education Cardona received 14 Republican votes. Secretary Cardona supported mandatory COVID vaccines for schoolchildren of all ages. He doesn't believe parents should have any say in their children's education; it is up to the teachers. He has also directed his department to destroy--and I will repeat--destroy title IX and allow men to compete in women's sports. In my opinion, that is a total disgrace. And he had 14 Republicans who voted for him here on this floor to confirm him.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, a Green New Deal and Medicare for All career politician, received several Republican Senators' votes.

I could go on and on and on. But I am not going to do that. Many Senate Republicans had no issue voting to confirm the Democrat nominations. And that is their prerogative--even though many were unqualified, radical, and, in some cases, completely out of their minds. I am not going to get into that. Yet many Republicans have been quick to voice concerns about the competency and qualifications of some of President Trump's picks. It makes no sense.

I have heard concerns about nominees' personal lives being a focus point. Need I remind my colleagues of Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, who is the Assistant Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Multiple Republicans voted for her. And that is their prerogative.

Or Tracy Stone-Manning, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management,

who was literally a member of an ecoterrorist organization that spiked trees with metal rods to harm lumberjacks when they cut into the tree with a chain saw. She was confirmed.

Or Sam Brinton, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Nuclear Energy, who repeatedly stole women's luggage at airports while traveling on the taxpayers' dime. I didn't hear a peep from Democrats or the mainstream media about these disastrous picks.

So let me ask my colleagues this: If Democrats won the Senate, the House, and the White House, do you think a single Democrat would be going against Kamala Harris nominations? Absolutely not. Senate Democrats would green-light every single one of Kamala Harris's Cabinet picks without giving it a second thought.

That is their prerogative. Democrats, they get in line. That is what they do. They did it for Biden, and they would have done it for the Harris administration. And believe me, none of her Cabinet nominees or other high-level staff would be any more credentialed, qualified, or morally upright than President Biden's picks.

To my Republican colleagues, remember that the media hates Donald Trump--I think we all admit that--and they will do anything to sink his nominees and stop his agenda. The media will do everything it can to keep America from getting back on track. The media doesn't care when extreme leftists get important roles in a Democrat administration. They don't care. The media doesn't care when establishment figures from either political party gets jobs. The media only whips into a frenzy when an ``America First'' candidate gets the nod. The media only pretends to care about qualifications, credentials, and character when their power is being threatened.

So I encourage my Senate colleagues to listen to the media about as much as the American people did this election: not one bit. The mainstream media has been completely discredited after this election. Treat them as such.

We need to trust that President Trump is picking the right people for the job. That is his job. We should defer to him on who he thinks is the best for each position. Of course, we should review his nominations, as the Senate always does. That is our job. But don't forget that the American people gave us a mandate--gave us a mandate. Don't lose sight of the moment and critical situation that our country is presently in.

The American people don't want us infighting about nominees. We have a lot more to do than that. They want us focused, instead, on passing President Trump's agenda.

If his nominees can't do the job down the road, along with President Trump, we will be addressing that. I promise you that. But until then, we need to support whomever President Trump wants on his team. Senate Republicans should be thanking President Trump for helping us take back the majority here on this floor in the Senate.

We have a country to save. No more playing games. I, for one, am playing for keeps. I encourage my colleagues to think the same way. Every single one of President Trump's Cabinet nominees should be confirmed. No question. We must save the United States from a total collapse at the hands of the globalist-socialist Democrats who have run our country into the ground for the last 4 years. I have personally witnessed it right here on this floor.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, yesterday, we celebrated Veterans Day. On this day, we honor the brave men and women who have valiantly served and sacrificed to protect us and secure our liberties, both in times of war and in times of peace.

We are especially thankful to those veterans who were permanently injured as a result of their service. They sacrificed their safety to protect America. We are deeply grateful to these veterans.

It is difficult for words alone to express how appreciative we are of America's veterans and their families.

To the Gold Star families, your service to our country does not go unnoticed. America will never forget the sacrifices your families have made in service to this great Nation. I want to acknowledge your dedication to honoring the memory of your fallen family members, who paid the ultimate price.

We are forever indebted to those who have worn the uniform in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force. I hope all Americans can commit to serving our veterans with the same amount of devotion they had when fighting for our great Nation.

This national holiday began 105 years ago when President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as ``Armistice Day.'' This marked the 1- year anniversary of the conclusion of World War I. In 1947, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks, of Birmingham, AL--my State--led a movement asking the Army Chief of Staff, then a general named Dwight D. Eisenhower, to expand Armistice Day to include all veterans, not just the ones from World War I. Seven years later, after becoming President, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed national Veterans Day into law, reflecting the wishes of that great Alabamian named Raymond Weeks. Alabama is proud of Mr. Weeks for that great donation.

Alabama is also proud to be home to 400,000 veterans. We are thankful for these brave Alabamians and the more than 19 million U.S. veterans living across the world.

We thank you for your dedication, the sacrifices you made, and the courage you displayed to ensure that America remains, as Abraham Lincoln said, the last, best hope on Earth.

Today, I will recognize three Alabama veterans who honorably served in our Nation's military. With each of them, you will hear how their service to America did not end when their time in the military came to an end. They have continued to contribute to their communities long after taking off their uniforms. They continue to uplift and inspire others around them, including myself. I would like to honor their commitment by thanking them today.

Sgt. Ricardo Jaramillo is one of these great veterans, from Harvest, AL. Ricardo joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1976 at the age of 18. He deployed around the world, where he helped maintain American drones and surface-to-air missiles. He later became an instructor at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, preparing the next generation to protect our national security.

Ricardo retired from the military in 1999 after 23 years of service, but his commitment to what America stands for doesn't end there. Ricardo wanted to continue serving his fellow man. After committing his life to Christ, Ricardo became a missionary so that he could spread hope to those in need all around the world.

Now Ricardo takes multiple trips a year to the mountain villages in Guatemala with his two granddaughters, Gloria and Judiana. He credits the training he received as a marine for

preparing him to withstand the tough conditions that he experiences on his mission trips.

Ricardo's lifelong dedication to serving others is an example to all of us.

Thank you, Ricardo.

I would also like to recognize SCPO Wayne Weeks of Geneva, AL. Wayne was motivated to join the U.S. Navy by his four uncles, who served in World War II. One of Wayne's uncles lost his life just 4 days after turning 21 years old during an Allied invasion of Italy.

Wayne recalls attending his uncle's funeral as a small child and felt inspired to serve in the military as soon as he could. In 1953, at the age of 18, he courageously answered this calling and joined the Navy. Wayne traveled the oceans across the world, keeping our aircraft prepared for combat. He would serve until the end of the Vietnam war in 1975. Despite the domestic turmoil and protests around that time, Wayne looks back positively on his time in the military.

Wayne's determination to see a difficult war through from the beginning to the end demonstrates his integrity to finish the job he started. Wayne embodies the American grit that is foundational to our military servicemembers who have kept our country safe and the torch of liberty burning bright.

Alabama is proud of Wayne and his wonderful wife Helen.

Thank you for your service, Wayne.

Finally, the strength of our military is dependent on the next generation of warriors who believe in our country and are willing to defend it. No one demonstrates this next generation of courage better than PO2 Alex Vogt of Hoover, AL.

Alex says he felt he had a duty as an American who had benefited from the many opportunities our country offers to give back by joining the military, so he enlisted as a nuclear mechanic in the U.S. Navy in 2016, deploying around the world to maintain our submarines. His final mission was decommissioning the USS Olympia submarine before he was discharged in 2021.

When asked what Veterans Day means to him, Alex was quick to note the importance of using this day to show our gratitude for all veterans and their families. Alex and his wife Anna are now passing along this patriotic spirit to their twin boys, Charlie and Thomas.

We want to thank you for your service, Alex. You are truly an inspiration to us all.

These are just three Alabama veterans who sacrificed so much by serving our country. There are so many others who are also willing to give their lives for the great country that we have.

I am reminded of my father, Charles Tuberville III, a World War II veteran. My father was one of the brave, young soldiers who landed and fought on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. My dad remains an inspiration for me to this day. I will never forget his service to our country.

As President Reagan said, ``Veterans have given their best for all of us, and we must continue to do our best by them.'' By observing Veterans Day this year, I hope we are encouraged to continue giving veterans our best.

When you see a man or woman in uniform, please--please--take the time and thank them for their service. Because of their service and sacrifice, America remains a great beacon of freedom for generations to come.

May God bless our veterans and their families.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, it is no secret that the COVID pandemic brought about a lot of unexpected challenges and, for some, even loss. But if you meet Cpl Patrick Jump of Robertsdale, you will hear about something positive that came from this dark time.

Patrick enlisted in the Marines while in his senior year of high school. The son of a Vietnam veteran, Patrick knew what he was getting into when he signed up for the military. He remembers watching the Twin Towers fall while sitting in government class on September 11, 2001. But Patrick's desire to serve was unmoved. He served with ``Devil Dogs'' of First Battalion Sixth Marines, deploying to both Afghanistan and Iraq.

After discharging from the military in 2006, Patrick missed the sense of community that came from being in the military. He reconnected and continued to rebuild these relationships as the years went by.

When the COVID pandemic hit, he realized how great the need was to help veterans struggling with mental health. What began as a weekly virtual check-in with fellow soldiers, grew to a fulltime mission to help fellow veterans and their families. Patrick purchased a RV, traveling across 43 States before deciding to settle down in Baldwin County. Although not originally from Alabama, when Patrick discovered the region's patriotic spirit, he decided it was the perfect place to call home.

He founded the Warrior Legacy Ranch to provide support to veterans struggling with their mental health. He has been a leader in fighting to prevent veteran suicides and expanding the sense of community for veterans--specifically those who served post-9/11. Patrick's efforts have not only helped veterans in Alabama, but all across the Nation.

Alabama is grateful to have him on the frontlines of serving those who have honorably served us. It is my honor to recognize him as the November Veteran of the month.

Mr. President, I applaud my fellow Senator from Alabama on this very important legislation that we need to work not just for the State of Alabama but all over the country.

Thank you very much.