Angela Alsobrooks

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, is presenting a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of the American people. He oversees 13 Agencies that are critical to U.S. health policy and the health of our Nation. One such Agency, the National Institutes of Health, is the world's leading Agency for public health research, and I am proud to represent many of the scientists who work there as the Senator from Maryland. This is the place that the Nation looks to for discoveries in public health. This is where the world looks to to fight global health crises. This is the beacon of American exceptionalism. Over the last 40 years, NIH has helped reduce deaths from heart disease by 75 percent, deaths from stroke are down 75 percent, and NIH funding has led the fight to save countless lives with groundbreaking discoveries. NIH is the greatest credit to sustaining medical research in history. But now, we are dealing with an administration that is a direct threat to our health. Since Donald Trump has taken office, NIH has fired 1,300 employees and has canceled more than $2 billion in Federal research grants. He wants to cut the NIH budget by 40 percent, and these cuts would be carried out by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., one of the most unqualified individuals that we have seen to hold that position. Secretary Kennedy took an oath to faithfully discharge the duties of the office in which he was about to enter, and to this point, he has utterly failed and is making Americans sicker. Look at what he has done in just 4 months. We are currently watching the largest single measles outbreak in our Nation in 25 years--25 years. There are 1,000 cases, and one-third of them are children younger than 5 years old. Three people have died, including two young children. For years, Secretary Kennedy, without an ounce of medical training, has spread lies and conspiracy theories about safe and effective vaccines--vaccines that literally prevent measles. A qualified HHS Secretary would highlight the effectiveness of vaccines and urge people to continue getting vaccinated. A capable Secretary would have some sense of compassion for suffering children. The Secretary we have, instead, chose to downplay the deaths and encourage untested treatments. This is dangerous. Americans will get sicker, and, in fact, they already have. Our Nation has made incredible gains in IVF and infertility treatment, raising the birth rate through IVF dramatically over the last 30 years, but just last month, Secretary Kennedy fired the entire team at CDC who works on IVF and infertility research. Secretary Kennedy fired most of the employees at the CDC's Division of Reproductive Health, which helps to promote healthy pregnancies. Secretary Kennedy fired staff at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which oversees important programs that support children and pregnant women. Countless women across the country have become mothers thanks to the incredible advancements in IVF, and a good number of this President's women supporters supported him because he vowed to make the treatment more accessible. How dare this man take that away from them. Our Nation has made great progress in the fight to eliminate HIV and AIDS, building on an understanding of how to treat the virus and getting closer to finding a cure--until now. Secretary Kennedy has now cut funding for dozens of HIV-related research grants. Did you know that there is a National Firefighter Registry that was set up to study the link between the hazards of the job and firefighters developing cancers? Well, that registry has now been taken down at Secretary Kennedy's bidding. This is part of a heartless trend. They are destroying what decades of research has built. The billions in funding cuts and thousands of staff cuts threaten the race to find cures for Alzheimer's, ALS, cancer, and other devastating illnesses. The impact will be felt far beyond our borders, and it will be generational. For decades, we have taken the lead on the global stage in research and development. We have taken the lead in fighting global health challenges. Many of the world's brightest researchers come here to join the fight. The top research agencies around the world partner with us. Public health is a responsibility that we must lead. R.F.K. is singlehandedly destroying that reputation, setting us back potentially decades. The eyes of the world are on us. Most look to us to lead; some look for us to stumble. But they are watching to see what we do. Having Secretary Kennedy as the face of our Nation's health and research operation sends a terrible message to the rest of the world and a terrifying one to the American people. He is in over his head, he cannot do the job, and he needs to step down for the health of our Nation. To my colleagues, we took an oath as well. We have a duty--a duty--to do what is right, and we know that R.F.K., Jr., is not right for America. I want to thank my colleague and partner here in Maryland, Senator Van Hollen, as well as Senators Wyden and Warren, for joining me in this effort.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, Cora Masters Barry has been a champion for youth, families, and sports, benefitting Marylanders and our neighbors in the District of Columbia alike. Mrs. Barry is the former first lady of Washington, DC, and is the founder and CEO of the Recreation Wish List Committee, an organization of area businesses, government and community leaders who work to renovate and improve recreation centers. She began her impactful career in the world of sports as one of the first women to serve as a boxing commissioner and was a tireless advocate for safety in boxing. She worked alongside Members of Congress to help write legislation to regulate the sport and was a member of the executive committee for the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation. Mrs. Barry has also made her mark on the tennis world, serving on the Community Development Committee and the National Junior Tennis League Committee of the United State Tennis Association. She helped Serena Williams establish a school for girls in Africa and served as vice president of the Oracene Williams Learning Foundation to maximize opportunities for youth with special needs. She also helped spearhead the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Mrs. Barry, a former tenured professor of political science at the University of the District of Columbia, specialized in Black politics, the Presidency, and the Constitution. She has been an advocate for voter education, registration and mobilization. I ask that you join me and the residents of Maryland in offering my well wishes to Cora Masters Barry on the occasion of her 80th birthday. And I am so grateful for the impact this luminary has had, not only on the District, but Marylanders as well.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I would like to use my time tonight to talk, as well, about the first 100 days under this administration's leadership. You have heard my colleague already speak, and I concur with his remarks. Simply put, it has been chaotic; it has been disorganized; it has been an unmitigated disaster. Quite frankly--and I know that I am not alone in this--we are absolutely sick of it. This President and this administration rode in with promises of reducing costs for American families--families like the family I grew up in, with a father who worked through the night and into the morning as a newspaper delivery person and with a mother who worked as a receptionist. This President promised. He said, on day one, that he was going to reduce the cost to American families and improve their quality of life. Only, 100 days later, Americans have only seen reductions in the stock market, in their 401(k)s, and a lowered respect for the Constitution. What we have seen continue to rise, instead, are grocery prices. We are seeing the cost of living grow out of control as families experience freezes in critical funding that supports their households. We are seeing housing costs continue to skyrocket as well. Again, we were promised the exact opposite, which is that this President knew and understood what it was for the average American family to struggle to afford the cost of housing. He promised that he had the solution and that he was going to cause those costs to go down. Yet everyone from our children to our veterans has suffered under this administration and under this leadership. Not one promise that this administration made to everyday, hard-working, working-class families, made at the outset of this administration, has been met. In fact, they have not even come close. And do you know what? What is worse is they don't seem to care. But do you know who does care? The American people care. If you are a working-class American who had hopes that this administration would lower costs as they promised, I will bet you are feeling betrayed by now by the impact of the Trump tariffs. If you spent your working life paying into Social Security, like so many of our seniors, in the hopes of having a reliable safety net in your later years, you are feeling helpless in listening to this administration's plans to raid Social Security. If you get your healthcare through Medicaid and Medicare, you are feeling alarmed at this administration's intent to gut these essential programs. If initiatives like SNAP and Head Start help keep your family's head above water during tough times, you are feeling frustrated that this administration is so out of touch that they would even consider eliminating this critical funding. These emotions run deep nationally, and I have seen them felt locally. Somerset County, for example, is one of the poorest counties in my State, the State of Maryland. If that is not enough, its geography has contributed to awful flooding problems for decades. The city of Crisfield was depending on a Federal grant to finally help fix the problem. It was a funding plan that people had worked on for years and for such a long time, but this administration's rash decisions have now eliminated that plan. These are the kinds of decisions that can leave you feeling hopeless, and when you see that your emotions and your struggles are being ignored by this President so that he can hand tax cuts to the billionaires around him who choose to grab for more money instead of holding on to some sense of morality, you feel angry. Resources may be in short supply for American families right now, but there is more than enough hurt and anger to go around. This administration is hurting Americans--the ones who voted for this President and Americans who didn't. They are hurting Americans who didn't vote and Americans who were too young to vote. They are hurting the business community, and they are hurting farmers. They are hurting cities, and they are hurting our rural areas. They are hurting law enforcement officers and factory workers. They are hurting teachers and students. They are hurting factory workers and union members. They are hurting doctors and medical professionals and researchers. Across the political spectrum and across all demographics, the only thing we have to show for the first 100 days is losing, the kind of losing that will be felt in this Nation for years to come. One hundred days in, look at how they have treated the very best of us--this Nation's civil servants, the Federal workers who serve with absolutely no political motivation. I have met them. I know them. Close to 160,000 of them live in the State of Maryland, and many of them have served for years under both Democratic administrations and Republican administrations, and they have one dedication, and that is to their fellow Americans. Our Federal workers keep our food safe. They explore the bounds of science to find cures to our most challenging diseases. They make sure that our veterans receive the benefits that they so richly deserve and that our seniors have access to resources that they set aside for the future. Our civil servants do so much to boost our quality of life, and do you know what? This administration doesn't care. For the first 100 days, they have been subjected to spiteful, petty attacks. They have been caught in the crossfire of a political witch hunt. They have had their lives disrupted by these abrupt and improper firings. My State has felt a significant impact from these firings. It is home to so many Federal workers--as I have mentioned, 160,000 of them-- people who I am incredibly proud to represent. I have heard the calls from panicked workers who don't know what the future holds. I have met with distraught workers who fear that they won't be able to provide for their families. All of this is the result of an administration claiming to prioritize efficiency. The majority of Americans is OK with finding efficiency. What they are not OK with is the cruelty that we are seeing. How you treat people matters, and this administration is more interested in celebrating cruelty than being cost-effective. There is no better example of this administration's chaos and cruelty than HHS Secretary Kennedy. His Department and its Agencies are indispensable in the fight of keeping Americans safe and healthy. From keeping our food safe today to finding cures for disease, the mission of these Agencies and their workers is critical to our well-being. Yet Secretary Kennedy doesn't care. He has pledged to make America healthy again, but in reality, he has fired safety inspectors, eliminated food safety labels and labs, and revealed plans to take the Federal Government out of the role of keeping our food safe. Our Nation has enjoyed progress due in no small part to our commitment to sustained research. The groundbreaking discoveries that our Nation's researchers have made have done so much for our society. At Health and Human Services, that has meant eliminating diseases that used to ravage our communities and currently means working on solving health challenges that continue to puzzle us today. The NIH is headquartered in my State, and I know firsthand the good work that they do. We know all too well the significant role that the NIH and other health and research Agencies play in developing and deploying vaccine treatments. Only recently emerging from a devastating public health crisis, we know firsthand how important their work is. Secretary Kennedy either doesn't know or doesn't care what his Department's mission is. He is doing the administration's bidding to eliminate funding that goes toward finding cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, and rare diseases; and in the midst of outbreaks of measles--a disease that researchers had virtually eliminated--he has pressed forward with firing thousands of vital workers in our health Agencies. This is not efficient, and it is not a profile in competent leadership. What it is, instead, is absolutely dangerous, and it is putting sensitive information and decisions between life and death in the hands of grossly unqualified people. Secretary Kennedy's pledge to make America healthy again is another promise that this administration is either unwilling or incapable of keeping. His idea to create a national registry for people with autism is an example of what happens when incompetent and incapable leadership is in place. This administration is full of examples like this. The callous, heartless disregard for others comes right from the top, and it is mirrored in the people who have been nominated to run the government. So we can't join them in celebrating this milestone, because there is nothing that they can hold up as an accomplishment that they have achieved on behalf of everyday Americans. One hundred days in, we have seen what this administration is. They are disinterested in the lives of working-class and middle-class Americans, uncaring about the futures of our veterans and our seniors, unmoved by the plight of the underprivileged, obsessed with attacking our civil servants and settling scores, unable to make good on the promises that they laid out when they took control, and they don't seem to care. But Marylanders care; the American people care, and we are tired of seeing this administration tank our economy. We are tired of seeing out-of-touch leaders dismiss the sacrifices that families across the Nation make every single day, and we are already sick and tired of seeing billionaires win while the rest of us lose. We are sick of it, and we are fighting back. I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 1466 and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. For months, the President has engaged in a callous witch hunt against Federal workers, many of whom are Marylanders. Now this administration has begun attacking the very unions that represent the civil servants. The President's latest Executive order guts the ability of Federal workers across the government to collectively bargain. And it is just the latest attempt by this administration to skirt the law, strip protections for workers, and drastically cut the Federal workforce that keeps Americans safe and healthy. I predicted that this would happen when the Secretary of Labor and her Deputy came before the HELP Committee. I was asking pointedly whether they would honor legally binding Federal collective bargaining agreements, and both said they had to check with some people and could not say. This administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of collective bargaining agreements. And at their core, like so many others in this administration, they simply do not respect the law. That is why we cannot let this stand. My amendment would prevent the President from improperly using the national security exemption as a means to carve away workforce protections for Federal workers. I am grateful to the many colleagues who have cosponsored this amendment, and we will not stop fighting for our Federal workers and their workforce protections.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I stand before you all today to seek unanimous consent for S. 959, the Tariff Transparency Act, my bill that will demand a nonpartisan study on this administration's tariffs and how they will impact everyday Americans. This administration came in the door saying they would lower costs and ease burdens on American families. These tariffs would do the exact opposite. The President readily admits that these tariffs will disrupt the economy, but he claims two things: that there will only be a minor disruption and says that they will cause a little bit of pain. Maybe it will only be minor to those who are billionaires, but to everyday Americans, to the people who go to work every day to provide for their families--the families like the family I grew up in, a blue- collar family, a father who is a car salesman and a mother who is a receptionist--well, they can't afford any disruptions, and they cannot afford any further pain. They deserve instead to know the truth about the Trump tariffs on the front end. They deserve to know exactly how the Trump tariffs will affect their day-to-day lives. They deserve to understand how these moves will change the price of groceries. They deserve to be told if the Trump tariffs will make energy costs more expensive or if their dream of owning a home or a car will be made more impossible. What they don't deserve is to be subjected to this indiscriminate and chaotic approach to this economy that is already not working for everyone. If these tariffs do depress the economy and a recession comes, which many, many economists are now predicting, it will not be the billionaires who are affected the most. It will be American small businesses that are burdened. It will be American consumers that are harmed. At the end of the day, it will be the American people who are footing the bill for the Trump tariffs. When we talk about American people, let's be clear. This is the middle class. These are working-class, hard-working people who will be impacted. Do you know what? This administration knows the truth. They know that these tariffs will raise prices and spike inflation and harm American businesses, but they want to hide it from the American people until it is too late. This is absolutely unacceptable. It is, in fact, wrong. The American people need someone to stand up for them, so I am here today to stand up for them, to speak for middle-class families across Maryland and across America, working people across the country, to defend the Americans who are fighting to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table and can't afford the chaos that is ensuing in their lives. I shouldn't be standing for them by myself. They are who we all should be fighting for. They are the ones who sent us here to represent them. They sent us here to make their lives easier. They should be on our minds before any actions that we take in this Chamber. So I ask unanimous consent that the Senate pass the Tariff Transparency Act. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 959 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Madam President, in response to that, I say respectfully that I think we have been presented a false choice. In this moment, I think it is really important for us to be able to not only respond to the fentanyl crisis that we have certainly seen in our country--we have seen it in Maryland, and we have seen it all across the country--but I think the urgency of the moment requires to some extent that we are able to walk and chew gum. We have to fight fentanyl, but we also have to respond to the devastation and respond to the uncertainty and the pain that is created by the tariffs that do directly attack the middle class. All we are asking in this moment, if these tariffs are so harmless to the American people, well, let's prove it. Allow the bipartisan group, the International Trade Commission, to do the study and to give the American people the benefit of information about how these tariffs will impact their everyday lives, how it will affect the bottom line. Will it, in fact, cause the cost of groceries to rise? Will it, in fact, cause energy costs to increase? Will it, in fact, cause housing to increase? I think the American people deserve answers, and in this moment where chaos is ensuing all around them, where they are losing their jobs, where they are losing--many of them--the funding streams that help seniors and children to eat, the very least we could do would be to provide information to hard-working families, like the one I grew up in, answers about how these tariffs will, in fact, affect them. Again, I don't believe that we have to consider the false choice about whether or not we protect our borders against fentanyl and also whether or not we protect the American people. The President has said this is liberation day. I want to know whom we are liberating. Are we liberating the billionaires who benefit from these tariffs that allow the tax cuts or are we really fighting for middle-class people? I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. First, I would like to commend my colleague. I want to thank you first of all for your spiritual obedience. I want to thank you so much as well for your commitment and your dedication. I want to thank you as well for your courageous leadership. I want to thank you also, Senator Booker, for your recognition of the times that we are living in. These are times that we will recount and our children will recount, and I think all of those of good conscience who watch during this time and say nothing will also be held to account. As the Senator has eloquently remarked, these are not normal times. We are watching an administration that is drunk with vengeance, hatred, and surrounded by incompetent people who are taking callous actions, who are inhumane, and, because of their incompetence, are making costly mistakes that will harm the American people and denigrate the hard- working people of this country by proposing tax cuts. These tax cuts are not designed to help the average American person; they are designed to help billionaires. They are doing so by firing thousands of middle-class workers and more. What we are seeing before our eyes is not only unconscionable; we know as well that it is deeply immoral, that it is inhumane, it is wicked. We are seeing--with glee--the actions of people who are so happy to tear down, but I am watching and waiting to see what it is they intend to build in this country. In your remarks over these hours, you have made that plain for the American people to see. You have uplifted the stories of everyday people. And what we recognize as we hear about the firings and we hear about the devastation and chaos is that we are not talking about numbers, we are talking about humans, about people. These are our friends. These are our family members. These are our neighbors. These are our church friends. These are our colleagues this administration has harmed. So my question today centers around the topic of housing. We have a housing crisis in this country. That is no secret. In fact, we recognize that, through the actions of this administration, what is harmful will be exacerbated. Maryland is nearly 100,000 housing units short, and as you know, it is both about affordability and a supply problem. We need to make home ownership, which is part of the American dream and how the average American builds wealth in this country, accessible to more Americans. I think about my parents, Mr. Senator, who married at 21 and 22 years old. At the time that they married, although my father was a car salesman and selling newspapers and my mother was a receptionist, 5 years into their marriage, they could afford to buy a home. This is no longer the expectation of the average American family. My own 19-year-old daughter doesn't have the realistic hope that she can follow even her grandparents. This problem affects red States, and it affects blue States, which is the theme that you have hit on in all of these hours of speaking. When this President acts against the interests of the middle class, we recognize that he is not just harming Democrats, as he intends, but unfortunately his actions harm everyday Americans. It affects those who voted for him, it affects those who didn't vote for him, and it affects those who did not vote at all. He is harming Republicans too. He is harming Americans. This administration is slashing funding and personnel at the very Agencies that are tasked with addressing this crisis. He is illegally firing HUD employees. This administration has stalled millions of dollars in previously allocated funding intended to help those who need affordable housing. Again, his actions are so indiscriminate, so immoral, so callous, so heartless that he is impacting the very people who supported him as well as those who didn't. This administration has effectively ended enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, one of the most important American civil rights laws. This administration is considering privatizing the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which guarantees over half of the U.S. mortgage market. To make matters worse, this administration is proposing sweeping tariffs on our allies, driving up the cost of home construction. Let's be clear. Absolutely none of this will help to build homes. None of this will make home ownership more accessible to Marylanders or Americans. In fact, we understand that it is not the intention of this administration to do so; it is for the billionaires, to be able to afford their tax cuts. (Mr. CURTIS assumed the Chair.) So I have heard from people all across my State--blue areas, red areas, purple areas, every area--who are concerned about this. So I have a question for you, and I want to thank you as I ask the question, for sacrificing your own body today to bring attention to this. What are you seeing in the State of New Jersey about how this administration's unconscionable actions are making housing less affordable and home ownership less accessible?

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Yes. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. I, first of all, want to thank you so much again, Senator Booker, on your spiritual obedience. And I think it is necessary for me to say as well today to you, on behalf of so many of us who are watching right now, how extraordinarily proud we are of you. I would dare say that you are in so many ways our ancestors' dream and how powerful it is for all of us who are watching to recognize that, in this very Chamber where you are standing today, 67 years after this podium was used, for the 24 hours--you have used the podium that was used to block the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Today, you have taken over the podium, sacrificed your own comforts. You have suffered over 22 hours to stand here today to talk instead about the greatness of America and to speak about it in such a way that reveals the love you feel for our country, and we thank you for that. This country needs right now bravery. It needs leaders who are unafraid to stand up and speak truth to power, to not hold back from calling out these callous and inhumane acts that are perpetrated by this President against the American people. When I talk about the American people, we know who we are talking about: against our veterans, against our seniors, against our children, from every corner of our country. I want to talk specifically today about our children. Mahatma Gandhi noted that the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. This President is failing America's children, and he is doing so by harming our education system. We remember as well very fondly when Nelson Mandela said: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. I think many of us recognize that is exactly why we are seeing all of the attacks we have seen on this system, because we recognize that education allows us to change the world. Last Friday, Secretary McMahon shut yet another critical lifeline off to our States and our schools, canceling extensions that the Department had previously granted to States to draw down their COVID relief money. States like Maryland originally got extensions to finish spending the remainder of these critical dollars on long-term projects like teacher recruitment, tutoring, and other services for students. We know in particular Anne Arundel Public Schools bought Chromebooks for students with their funds. But Maryland still has a remaining escrow balance of nearly $150 million--$150 million. That is on top of the millions that have already been clawed back, frozen, or withheld from the State by this administration. These are funds that districts like ours from all across the country were using for school construction projects and mental health support for students. This administration is refusing to acknowledge the lasting effects of the pandemic on our Nation's students, cruelly stripping educational opportunities from our students and leaving our States and our districts on the hook. So let me be clear that these are dollars that Congress authorized, dollars that have already been allocated, dollars that have already been earmarked by Maryland and our local districts for projects that will help all of our students. Our schools planned and committed these funds in good faith--in good faith. Our States have acted in good faith, and this administration is acting in bad faith, pulling the rug out from underneath them, blowing a hole in their education budgets. Our Governor had this to say: The clawback of these previously committed funds would place an undue burden on our school systems and undermine our collective efforts to strengthen education across the state. This is only the latest attack on public education by this administration, the latest attack on our schools and our students, the latest attack on our teachers. We saw this administration attack HBCUs by freezing funds for the 1890 Scholars Program, which provides tuition for students at our land grant institutions. We saw this administration and Secretary McMahon slash teacher training grants, which help prepare our educators to serve our communities. We saw this administration proposing to move the student loan program to the Small Business Administration, threatening students' access to aid and the promise of higher education. We saw this Secretary and this administration lay off half of the staff at the Department of Education several weeks ago, firing over 1,300 staffers. I want to talk for a minute about who the Department fired. By the way, these are people who were not incompetent. These are people who are not DEI. These are professionals, well educated. The administration fired civil servants at the Department's Office for Civil Rights and shuttered Office for Civil Rights regional offices, including the regional office that handles discrimination cases. I want to make really clear--and I want the American people to hear this--what decimating the Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights means. OCR attorneys intervene when schools ignore complaints from students who are repeatedly called racial slurs or who are subjected to hateful speech or imagery, like swastikas, on campus. It provides the technical assistance that schools need to train staff on anti-harassment practices, combat harmful behaviors, and build welcoming environments. And it holds K through 12 schools and colleges that fail to keep students safe accountable. It ensures that families have recourse if their child with a disability is not being served appropriately by their district; that if a child is not getting the speech therapy or other services outlined in their individualized education program, that they will have an advocate to help them. At the time that this administration took over, there were over 270 open Office for Civil Rights cases, impacting 1.3 million students in my State alone. Without enough OCR staff to do the job, investigators' caseloads will grow to an untenable level. So we spoke to some of the lawyers that work in the division that serves Maryland schools, and all of these patriotic civil servants--all they want to do is do their jobs. They want to combat discrimination in our schools. They want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe environment. And these civil servants don't know that that mission is possible, as they and so many of their colleagues are ruthlessly fired by this administration. These cuts are catastrophic. I dare say that they, like so many other decisions by this administration, are wicked. So, Senator Booker, here is my question: What are you hearing from families in the State of New Jersey as this administration dismantles the Department of Education and slashes opportunities for students and families?

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, the State of Maryland has lost a giant. Okeysha ``Keysha'' Yashica Brooks-Coley, a Baltimore native, made significant contributions to our State and our Nation. Attending high school in Severn, she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and political science from Towson University and a master's in political management from George Washington University. She began her impactful career here on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant for Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur working on healthcare, aging, and education policy. She later served in a dual role as a professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Retirement Security and Aging and on the majority staff for Senator Barbara Mikulski. Her policy responsibilities spanned a wide range of issues, focusing on women's health, public health, biomedical research, health disparities, and Health and Human Services appropriations. After leaving the Hill, Keysha served as vice president of Federal advocacy and strategic alliances at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. In that role, she led the organization's engagement with Congress and even championed implementing the landmark Affordable Care Act. She was committed to ensuring everyone had access to care and coverage. Keysha's career journey culminated in a leadership position at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, where she served as vice president of advocacy. Keysha's professional accolades are numerous, but what she was most proud of was her family, including her husband Derrick of more than 20 years and their four children Julia, Marshall, Henry, and Claira. She was a woman of deep faith, who was committed to service, social justice, and civic issues. I ask that you join me and the residents of Maryland in offering my sincerest condolences to Keysha's husband, children, parents, and extended family and friends. We are grateful for her lifelong commitment to service, and we are so honored she devoted her work to caring for each of us.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, at 1:28 a.m. on March 26, 2024--a year ago tonight--a tragedy struck Maryland. A container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. While many were asleep, the Key Bridge collapsed into the icy waters. Although struck with fear and shock, Team Maryland didn't hesitate. We jumped into action right away and got to work. We have this phrase--``Team Maryland''--that we have been saying for years, but it is true. We work as a team, one of the strongest teams in the country--a coordinated effort between our Federal delegation, our Governor, and our county executives and mayors on the local level. It is true in good times, it is true when we face adversity, and it was never truer than we saw 1 year ago today. Governor Moore and Mayor Scott raced to the bridge. Our Federal delegation immediately started asking questions, pushing for funding to rebuild. County executives across the State, like me at the time, sent our resources and our first responders to help with rescue efforts. We are so grateful we had a President and administration willing to help. Team Maryland is just that--a team. We have always been, and we always will be. That is how you get through moments of crisis-- together. And we have stayed as a team every day since the collapse of the bridge, working together in coordination to ensure we can rebuild. Our teamwork in the face of a crisis is proof of how your government should work for you: jumping into action when tragedy strikes, asking questions, demanding answers, and rebuilding--doing what needs to be done on behalf of the people. Team Maryland responded quickly and capably, but we lost a lot that morning, none more priceless than the six lives that perished: Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, Jose Mynor Lopez, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, and Carlos Daniel Hernandez. They are irreplaceable. Their names are forever remembered--six hard-working men devoted to their community, beloved by their families, and forever Marylanders in our hearts. Maynor was a father of a 5-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son. He moved from Honduras to America in search of a better life for his family, a life that included working through the nights to repair our infrastructure--all in the name of building a better life for his wife and two children. Maynor had dreams of one day owning a small business. He would say: You had to triple your efforts to get ahead. He said: It didn't matter what time or where the job was; you had to be where the work was. Maynor's outlook reminds me of my own father, who worked as a newspaper deliveryman and a car salesman. I once went to work with my dad on a very early morning, delivering newspapers. He said to me: You know, I hop up and down on this dirty truck every morning so you don't have to. Just like my own father, Maynor worked day in and day out, hard and long hours, to build a better life for his family. Miguel was a Marylander for more than 19 years. He made such an impact on his State and community. A husband to Maria and a father of three, Miguel was known for his kind and hard-working spirit. Miguel and Maria had a food truck in Glen Burnie. Just days before Miguel's tragic death, he brought Maria, his wife, to a storefront they soon planned to rent to continue to build their business. His coworkers remember him fondly as always wanting to share his food with them. Jose moved to the United States from Guatemala over two decades ago. His life surrounded his family--his wife Isabel and his children. Alejandro was a man of faith, just like me and so many others in this Chamber. He was active in his church and devoted to his loving family. A father of four, Alejandro was a big personality. Some even described him as a ``fireball.'' Dorlian moved from Guatemala to the United States to pursue his dreams and to help his mother. He was only 26 years old. Carlos came from Mexico, seeking a better life, and was willing to work hard for it. He was only 24 years old--taken from us far too soon. Six individual lives, connected to their coworkers through service, connected to their families through love, connected to our community through their work to make our infrastructure stronger--1 year later, we remember their loss. They are greatly missed. One year later, their families and communities are still grieving. May we continue to pray for their strength and peace. We also remember the two men, including Julio Adrian Cervantes Suarez, who miraculously survived the devastating collapse. As Julio was falling into the Patapsco River, he prayed to God, giving thanks, asking for protection over his wife and family and asking for forgiveness. Determined to survive, he was able to hang onto a piece of the bridge to stay afloat. He immediately started calling for his coworkers, including his brother-in-law and his 18-year-old nephew, who, unfortunately, lost their lives. Thanks to a light on his work helmet, which he was still wearing in the water, search boats were able to rescue him. Today, he continues to keep the memories of his coworkers and friends alive. These men were essential workers, working the dangerous jobs that build and strengthen our State's infrastructure. It is in their loving memory that we dedicate our own efforts to rebuilding the Key Bridge. When the bridge collapsed on that early morning, people across the globe immediately predicted our economy would crash. One of the world's biggest ports was instantly shut off to traffic, and we would be challenged to recover. But Team Maryland proved them wrong. We were quickly and efficiently able to perform a controlled demolition in May. By June, we reopened the Fort McHenry Federal Channel and the Port of Baltimore, and last month, we revealed the design for the new Key Bridge--the State's first cable-style bridge--which will stand 40 feet taller than the original bridge and is set to open as soon as fall 2028. Some may doubt our ability to rebuild. Team Maryland will prove them wrong again. Now, we still have a lot of work to do to get to fall 2028, but we are in this together on every level. Here in the Senate, I will use my position as ranking member of the Environment and Public Works' Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee to ensure that the funding is implemented as intended. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen, and our entire Maryland delegation, the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act was included in last year's continuing resolution and ensured Congress is now committed to covering the full cost of replacing the bridge. The Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act promises that Federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation taken on by the Department of Justice, the Maryland attorney general, and others. It also includes critical funding for the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Fund to provide this project and others around the country with the resources they need. This is the Federal Government working effectively for our State in a time of disaster, as it should. Team Maryland won't stop fighting for our State. I am proud of what we have accomplished and am proud of what we will continue to do. We will rebuild, and we won't rest until it is done. We won't rest because we are doing it all for Maryland--for the six Marylanders who lost their lives that day, the brave Marylanders who dove into the frigid water during the rescue operation, the strong Marylanders whose businesses and livelihoods were impacted by the collapse, the Marylanders who depend on our port for resources, the Marylanders who count on our infrastructure to stand tall. When it is completed, we will serve as an example to the Nation and the world of what teamwork and togetherness can achieve. I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Madam President, I, too, want to thank Senators Collins, Van Hollen, Warner, and Kaine. I am glad we can work together in this bipartisan way to ensure fairness for the residents of Washington, DC. I rise today to speak for the over 700,000 DC residents who do not have representation in this body. They are our friends and our neighbors. Beyond those who work in DC, Maryland partners with DC on resources like emergency services, police, water, and more. This bipartisan, stand-alone bill ensures that DC tax dollars stay in DC. Again, these funds that have been cut are tax dollars that have literally already been paid by DC residents. All this bill does is to continue to ensure that DC receives what it is owed. So I urge all of my colleagues today to join me in voting yes. Thank you.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, on rollcall vote No. 114, I was recorded as a ``yes.'' It was my intention to vote no. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to change my vote since it will not affect the outcome.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Thank you.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I would like to use my time to highlight the attacks currently being thrown at our Federal workers and the unconscionable firings that are taking place. We have heard baseless and callous criticisms of our Federal workers from this administration for weeks now. They are wrong, and much of what they are built on is a lie. And they are dehumanizing. This is, in fact, a witch hunt. Our civil servants are among the best of what our Nation has to offer. They serve with no political motivation. Many have served for years under Democratic administrations and Republican administrations. They have one dedication: to their fellow Americans. It is a patriotic calling that they have all answered. They are not faceless villains. They are real people with real stories. People like a woman I spoke with who has served at the Department of Health and Human Services for over 35 years, she has been put on leave as a part of the President's Executive orders. For her and people like her, to be caught up in these partisan attacks is infuriating. The administration claims to be doing this in the name of efficiency. There is nothing efficient about gaining unauthorized access to private data and then blindly firing 5,200 employees across multiple Agencies. There is nothing competent about cutting the workforce without any thought about how it would impact operations. This is not efficient. This is senseless, and this is heartless. NIH is based in my State of Maryland, and many of the workers there are among the 150,000 civil servants who call Maryland home. Each one of them has made a commitment to public service. Each one of them is a civil servant that I am proud to represent. These abrupt and improper firings have shaken up the lives of thousands of dedicated workers who do not deserve this treatment. And what makes this even worse is that attacking our Federal workers doesn't just hurt them; it hurts all Americans, the people who rely on government programs to keep them healthy and safe. These aren't hypothetical concerns. These firings will have real- world consequences. Eliminating staff at NIH will delay the development and approval of lifesaving treatments. Cancer patients will have to wait longer for promising new treatments as clinical trials still stall due to staffing shortages. This will slowly eliminate research and medical intervention and weaken our standing in global biomedical science. Cuts to an already understaffed CMS workforce will hurt patient care. We will see disruptions in medically necessary care and delays in payments to hospitals and other healthcare providers. Firing staff at HHS will cripple our ability to quickly identify and respond to public health threats. And right now, we are experiencing the worst flu season in over 15 years, resulting in school closures in at least 10 States. We are monitoring an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. We are keeping track of the growing threat of avian influenza. Without a strong workforce, we will not be able to react effectively. It is impossible to forget the significant role that NIH plays in developing and deploying vaccines and treatments. We are just beyond the clutches of the last major public health crisis. And without a strong workforce, we will not be prepared to face the next pandemic. In the clearest terms possible, these cuts aren't about efficiency. To the American people, it quite literally could be the difference between life and death. They are as direct a contradiction as you can have of the priorities this administration claimed to set when they took control--to ease burdens on families. Instead, these firings could add enormous strain to a nation that is already in need of relief. They are irresponsible, they are inefficient, and they are undeserved. What our civil servants deserve is a recognition of the work they do every day to make us stronger. What the American people deserve is for us to keep our obligation to ensure their health and their safety. I will continue to defend them and apply pressure to this administration until it happens. I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to question Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the President's nominee to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. I asked Mr. Kennedy, Jr., a simple question: What different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received? I asked this question because just 3 years ago, Kennedy said: We should not be giving Black people the same vaccine schedule that's given to Whites, because their immune system is better than ours. When I asked him this question, Mr. Kennedy referenced a study by Poland, a study he assured me--and not just me but also my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the American people watching--that this study asserted that, indeed, certain races required a different vaccine schedule. That was a lie. In fact, the study's own author stated the data doesn't support a change in vaccine schedule based on race. Mr. Kennedy's response was damning, and his response was dangerous. So I followed up following the hearing with a letter and with questions. I wrote to Mr. Kennedy: During your testimony, you cited ``a series of Poland studies'' that underlie your claims that Black people and White people should have different vaccine schedules. You ended by saying-- In that hearing-- ``You don't believe the science? The peer-reviewed studies?'' Well, Mr. Kennedy, I do believe in science and [I] did some digging into the studies you referenced. NPR interviewed the authors of the studies you cited--medical experts with years of experience--and they universally disagreed with your assertions. In fact, Dr. Richard Kennedy of the Mayo Clinic, who was involved in a study you mentioned, made clear that ``the data doesn't support a change in vaccine schedule based on race.'' Dr. Kennedy also stated that your suggestion would be ``twisting the data far beyond what [the studies] actually demonstrate.'' Dr. Gregory Poland, who you mentioned by name during the hearing as doing research supportive of your claim, told NPR that his team ``found `no evidence of increased vaccine side effects' and that any claim of `increased vulnerability' among African Americans who receive the rubella vaccine is `simply not supported by either this study or the science.' '' NPR quoted Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University as saying [that] your conclusion was `taking it to a very unsafe place' because Black children already have lower vaccination rates than their peers. That is why I said your claims on this issue were dangerous. [I have to ask you, Mr. Kennedy]: Do you still believe that Black and White individuals should have different vaccination schedules? Now, you would think that the man who wants to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the man who wants to be tasked with the mission of HHS, which is improving the health, safety, and well-being of America, would provide a thoughtful and nuanced response. It was anything but because, let's be clear, Mr. Kennedy is not a doctor; he is not a scientist. In fact, his only tangential connection to the world of health and science is decades-long activism in questioning the efficacy and safety of vaccines. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised at his curt and dismissive response. Mr. Kennedy wrote: If confirmed, I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking the vaccines but instead seek transparency in these products. Yet another lie. Mr. Kennedy's life story is one riddled with quackery and laden with conspiracy theories. I quote him; when he said: There's no vaccine that is safe and effective. I quote: None of the childhood [vaccines] have ever been studied. He also said: They get the shot; that night, they have a fever of 103; they go to sleep; and 3 months later, their brain is gone. This is a Holocaust, what [this country is doing]. I quote: Autism comes from vaccines. The polio vaccine given to his generation caused cancer that ``killed many, many, many, many more people than polio ever did. The COVID vaccine was the ``deadliest ever made.'' He also said: COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese. He also said: There's no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective. These are all statements made by a man who is asking to be held responsible for a singular mission. The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. It is a task of epic responsibility; a serious job that, when done well, can save hundreds of thousands of lives; a job that, when done poorly, will most certainly cost American lives. Let us not speak of Mr. Kennedy in a vacuum. We have now held the floor multiple times over the past week over a string of nominees that are dangerous to the American people not because--and I cannot stress this enough--we disagree with their politics or their worldviews. We can have robust policy debate. We can have robust scientific debate. In fact, robust debate has the potential to move us forward as a country. Respectful debate is the hallmark of this body. It is a crucial component of free speech. I went to law school, and I spent years in the courtroom trying cases and making my arguments before a jury of my peers. Grounding my arguments was a basic set of evidentiary facts. But what we are dealing with here isn't a debate; it is a popularity contest and a test of loyalty. Mr. Kennedy is not in this position today as the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services because of his vast experience in medicine. Mr. Kennedy is not in this position today because of his deep scientific knowledge. Mr. Kennedy is not in this position today because he has respect for the scientific method. Mr. Kennedy is not in this position today because he respects medicine. Mr. Kennedy, like many of his fellow nominees, is in this position today because of his deep loyalty to the President of the United States. What makes our job increasingly difficult as Members of the U.S. Senate is that we have the duty to advise and consent. It isn't just a privilege of this Chamber; it is a responsibility to speak for the people of our States as well as the American people as we evaluate the qualifications, the experience, and the temperament of a President's Cabinet nominees. What is happening on the part of my Republican colleagues is not advice and consent. The sole qualification being assessed is loyalty-- not loyalty to country, not loyalty to the American people, not loyalty to the duties and responsibilities we have been entrusted with by the voters in each of our States. The sole qualification up for assessment is loyalty to the President, and Mr. Kennedy has that in spades. But loyalty to this President comes at a cost--not a cost to the billionaires, not a cost to the people in this body but at a cost to the American people--Democratic Americans, Republican Americans, Independent Americans, Americans who voted for this President, Americans who did not, and Americans who did not vote at all. The President has been consistent that he believes the American people delivered him a mandate to carry out his agenda. With respect to the health, safety, and well-being of America--the purview of Health and Human Services--the President believes that cutting funds for medical research into things like cures for cancer is apparently a part of that mandate. Just this weekend, the President announced massive cuts to NIH--an Agency which I am proud to say has its home in Maryland. The mission of the National Institutes of Health is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. It falls under the very Agency Mr. Kennedy is seeking to run. Here are what some scientists--people I implore Mr. Kennedy to listen to despite his apparent distaste for the profession--had to say about these massive cuts: Dr. Richard Huganir, professor and chairman of the Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in my State of Maryland, said: We were all just dumbstruck. I'm calling it the apocalypse of American science. This will basically change science as we know it in the [United States]. . . . The bottom line is that we are going to have a lot less resources, which obviously means we are going to have to lay people off and research will be slowed down. Dr. Otis Brawley, professor of oncology and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Policy, said: We're going to see health research kneecapped. Dr. Brawley has actually overseen grants at the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the NIH, as well as received them for his cancer research. He went on to say: People who are getting treated in clinical trials now for cancer will find many of those trials will close down. Dr. David J. Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, said: These are real consequences--longer waits for cures and for diagnosis, slower scientific progress, losing out to competitors around the world, and fewer jobs. Those who are facing any health challenges will suffer from less biomedical research. Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, a Duke University--my alma mater; go Blue Devils!--professor of medicine who won the Nobel Peace Prize in chemistry in 2012, said: I think the American people need to understand how devastating it would be if this goes through. A lot of research would just have to stop; I can't imagine that the shortfall could be met from other sources. NIH funding supports over 600 current and ongoing clinical trials at Johns Hopkins in Maryland. The NIH supports hundreds more critical research projects and clinical trials at the University of Maryland-- clinical trials in cancer, pediatrics and children's health, heart and vascular studies, and the aging brain; research on traumatic brain injury to members of the military, suicide prevention, addiction, and patient safety. Clinical trials support over 23,000 jobs and $5.7 billion in economic activity in Maryland. These massive cuts will lead to over $200 million in losses to Hopkins and over $50 million in losses to the University of Maryland. I may not be a Republican voter, but I can assure you, Republicans across our country aren't seeking to stymie progress on a cure for cancer. By putting the NIH in his crosshairs, the President is targeting some of the most vulnerable Americans: the young child suffering from sickle cell disease; the working mom who is also struggling to care for a parent with Alzheimer's; the family member suffering from an opioid addiction; the father dying of lung cancer--all diseases being actively researched by the NIH. Disease and suffering do not respect the boundary of partisan politics; they impact each and every American family. It falls in part to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to do everything in his power to get us closer to cures. Instead, I fear we have a nominee before us who is more interested in getting us closer to conspiracies. With loyalty to the man in the White House as opposed to the health and well-being of the American public, Mr. Kennedy is likely to follow his boss in supporting attacks on Medicaid. This administration and my Republican colleagues are seeking to upend Federal Medicaid financing and are considering per capita caps and repealing Medicaid expansion funding. Let me make this simple. The Republican framework to cut Medicaid puts nearly 435,000 Marylanders at risk of losing coverage. It will lead to major gaps in healthcare coverage and undermine family economic security. It will put quality care out of reach for more families. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, these are Democratic families; these are Republicans families. That shouldn't matter to the President or to the nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services. All that should matter is that these are proud American families. The administration's attacks on Medicaid would kick millions of people off their health coverage and force States to make deep cuts to benefits, eligibility, and reimbursement rates. My State can't afford these cuts. Maryland's families can't afford these cuts, as 96 percent of eligible children in Maryland are supported by Medicaid and/or CHIP. Cuts would disproportionately hurt children with the lowest incomes and the highest healthcare needs. At a time when Americans are struggling under the weight of inflation--scraping to pay for food, gas, and housing--we cannot strip away or cut their health coverage. That is a cruel move that will certainly bankrupt many individuals and families. Many Americans are one catastrophe away from financial ruin, and if you take away their coverage and access to affordable care, it will be realized. Don't just take it from me; Marylanders have been calling and writing in, demanding that Congress do everything it can to fight against attacks to Medicaid. Jacqueline from Baltimore shared this with us: One day, I was at work and passed out in the bathroom. Had to be cut out of the restroom by the firemen. After being in a coma for 12 days, it was determined that I am a diabetic. Having Medicaid saved my life. If I did not have Medicaid or any insurance, I would have been sent home, and who knows what would have happened? Another constituent from Ellicott City shared this: My 22-year-old son has autism and a significant cognitive disability. He is a happy, affectionate person who loves being around people and being physically active. Due to behavioral challenges at home, he lives in a group home. This environment is one in which he can be safe and thrive. He also attends a program licensed by the state's Developmental Disability Administration Mondays through Fridays, 9-3. This program provides meaningful day services. Both his group home and day program services are funded through DDA's Medicaid Waiver. Given the cost of my son's services and the services of many other individuals with developmental disabilities, a limit on federal Medicaid dollars would no doubt force Maryland to reduce services. If my son was not able to continue living in his group home, he would become homeless. Another impact of Medicaid cuts could be his healthcare, as he is fully reliant upon Medicaid for his health insurance. He will never be able to work enough hours to draw health insurance benefits, due to his disability. Such an anecdote should stir all of us to action. It should stir the Members of this body to take more seriously our duty to advise and consent, to push back against a nominee who sees his role as a loyal foot soldier to one American who sits in the White House and not the millions of Americans whose health and healthcare are on the line. Last week, I looked Mr. Kennedy in the eye, and said I would not be supporting his nomination. I said that his views are so dangerous to our State and to our country; that his voice would be a voice that parents would listen to. I honored my constitutional duty of advice and consent. On behalf of every single Marylander who has lost a loved one to disease, every single Marylander who works at NIH or is actively researching cures, every single Marylander who has been led astray by a snake-oil salesman peddling quackery instead of science, I will be voting no on Mr. Kennedy for them. To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I urge you to think long and hard about the phrase that you believe encapsulates your mandate--``America First.'' If we are not putting the people of this country first, then we are most certainly not putting this country first. ``America First'' cannot exist if the people in this country are too sick to be strong. And when you have someone like Mr. Kennedy responsible for the health of our citizenry, I fear that is where we are headed--dead last, literally and figuratively. I may not be able to stop this nominee from being confirmed, but I want every Marylander to know that I will never stop fighting for your health and for the health of your loved ones. I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, Democrats have been here all night-- and guess what? We are not letting up, because, right now, in Maryland and across this country, the administration is conducting a witch hunt for Federal workers. See, when the President said ``I am your retribution,'' he meant that he will scapegoat, bully, and attempt to silence the Federal workforce. It is a retribution that they do not deserve. I really want to paint a picture of who these Federal workers are and who they are not. They are not partisan hacks, hell-bent on pursuing some kind of political agenda. They are not part of some deep state conspiracy that, apparently, keeps this President awake at night. In fact, to the contrary, these people are hard-working Americans who believe in this government regardless of who the President is. As a matter of fact, they are my friends; many of them are my neighbors; and they are my constituents. They are Marylanders. See, I represent over 150,000 Federal workers. In Maryland, we are proud to have the highest number of Federal workers per capita in the country. They are public servants in the truest sense of the word, who are not guided by party and not moved by vicious news cycles, but they are driven, instead, by mission--a mission to serve this country to the very best of their ability under any President of any party. And in just 17 days, this President has put all of their livelihoods on the line. How shameless. How reckless. How callous. How depraved. There have been so many actions that this administration has taken to villainize and hurt our civil servants, and I want to be explicit about exactly what they are up to. They have fired inspectors general--the people who conduct independent audits and investigations within government Agencies to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. It is to replace independent watchdogs--this is the plan--with loyalists. Now you want to talk about making government efficient? Might I suggest not firing the very people who are committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse of our taxpayer dollars. Next, we have the whole Federal buyout scheme--yes, a scheme--and today marks the last day of the so-called ``Fork in the Road'' buyout, but the administration continues to suggest that should enough people not take the buyout, they will begin mass layoffs. Hard-working Americans who have done their jobs dutifully--some for decades; I have spoken with them--fired for no reason whatsoever. This week, USAID missions overseas have also been ordered to shut down. I have heard from Marylanders abroad who are doing critical work to prevent wars, who don't know if they will even have a job anymore. We have learned that FBI agents and employees were asked by Justice Department leadership to fill out a 12-question survey detailing their roles in investigations stemming from the January 6 attack on this Capitol. This led to the FBI turning over details of 5,000 employees who worked on January 6 cases to the Trump Justice Department. We know the administration has issued a freeze on Federal hiring. Dozens of employees at the Education Department have been put on leave, and more are expected. Rumors continue to circulate that this administration wants to shut down the Department itself. At multiple government Agencies, Agency heads were asked to identify employees on probationary periods or who have served less than 2 years, likely because these employees are easier to fire. The administration issued a memo pausing, potentially, trillions of dollars in Federal aid, sowing chaos throughout the government. Thankfully, this directive has been partially halted, thanks to legal challenges. They have issued a stop-work order in the U.S. State Department for all existing foreign aid. And 160 National Security Council staff members have been sent home while the administration reviews staffing. They ordered a review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, as the administration considers whether to close the country's lead disaster response. How reckless. How callous. We have gotten reports of more than 40 Head Start providers still unable to draw funds after last week's funding freeze. This is, of course, despite a court order, because this administration not only sows chaos but also has set the example of what lawlessness looks like. These are illegal actions, and these providers who help make sure that our vulnerable kids get what they need to thrive have all been put into a position of being insecure and uncertain. They provide for our children food, education, and so much more, and these are the very people who have been targeted by this administration. Our veterans haven't been spared either. The administration froze Federal aid for critical programs serving veterans and their families and then fired the VA's top watchdog official in charge of protecting veterans from waste and wrongdoing. They are firing the very people charged with making the Veterans Health Administration more efficient to better serve the great men and women who serve this Nation. How callous. How reckless. Each and every one of these moves inflicts pain, and they all have a ripple effect--pain on the civil servants who do the work these programs and Agencies fund and pain on the people who rely on the work of these programs and Agencies. It is a raw deal for Americans, period. What is clear is this witch hunt has only just begun because, today, this very body is going to be voting on a nominee who wants nothing more than to see the Federal workforce burned at the stake. He said it himself. About civil servants, he said: We want to put them in trauma. That is unbelievable. It is absolutely unbelievable. I will repeat. He said: We want to put them in trauma. What man or a person speaks in that way? But those are the words of Russell Vought, the man whom this President has chosen to lead the Office of Management and Budget. So when Russell says he wants to put them in trauma, I am going to take him at his word, because this isn't one of those situations where we need to see what Vought is going to do. History has already shown us. In the President's first administration, Russell Vought was the lead author of his budget requests for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Each plan contained a blueprint for robbing the American public of the services that their tax dollars are supposed to fund. He called for $500 billion to be cut from Medicare, and I will note, very significantly, that over 1 million Marylanders are enrolled in Medicare. Two of them are my parents--77 years old--who worked their whole lives. These are the kinds of people this President and his administration have determined that they will target. He called for $900 billion cut from Medicaid. I will note nearly 2 million Marylanders rely on Medicaid. He called for up to $71 billion cut from Social Security. And I will note 1 in 7 Marylanders receives Social Security benefits. By the way, it is so important to note: These benefits are not ones that have been given to these Marylanders; these are benefits they have earned over a lifetime. He called for $170 billion in cuts to college affordability initiatives. This flies in the face of everything that Americans say that they desire. It has never been said that Americans want us to cut benefits to our elders. It has never been said that they want to cut benefits to those who are disabled, who rely on Medicaid and others. And it sure has not been the case for so many of our young people who came out and voted in this last election cycle, hoping to get a government that would make their lives better, and, instead, they are making it worse. I will note that 25 percent of Maryland's undergraduates receive student loans, and over 100,000 Maryland college students received Federal grants in the fiscal year 2023-2024 academic year. How shameful it is to target these students who will be the next leaders of our country. And this isn't just the classic case of the past becoming prologue. In the interim, between administrations, Russell Vought has continued on this anti-worker crusade because, yes, Federal workers are workers, no matter what Russell Vought or anyone in this administration says. They are hard workers, dedicated workers--Maryland-strong workers. The crusade continued when Russell Vought raised his hand to help write Project 2025. In particular, I want to hone in on the goal to deploy Schedule F. Here is what the American Postal Workers Union had to say about it: Project 2025 seeks to undermine this expectation of efficiency and expertise in public services by dismantling the Federal Government and reinstating Trump's 2020 ``Schedule F'' Executive order. This would allow the ruling administration to reclassify many civil servants as policymaking or policy-evaluating workers, thereby removing their civil service protections and making them at-will employees. President Trump could then install whomever he pleases based on favoritism and loyalty to his administration. Deploying Schedule F to replace dedicated civil servants with inexperienced cronies removes the very people who are experts at their jobs and have the knowledge to help our government serve our communities in the best possible way. Installing employees based on ``who you know'' favoritism effectively removes the nonpartisan and professional nature of civil service--civil servants should simply be the most qualified for the job. That's why tests like the ones postal workers must take for employment exist [at all]. An unbiased exam means that workers earn their jobs based on their skills, not who we know or what color our skin is. Furthermore, in the long run, this practice could effectively dismantle public trust and efficiency in government services, letting billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk make the case for a privatized, capitalistic government that profits off of its citizens instead of a government that exists to uplift workers in our communities. Russell Vought isn't concerned with making the government more efficient. All of us recognize this. No one is confused about this. I highly doubt that he cares anything whatsoever at all about whether government works or not. What he cares about is making sure that every single Federal employee supports President Trump. This isn't a blue State or a red State issue. This is a United States issue. If this man is allowed to enact the President's revenge, there will be a collective and uniting pain that courses across our country. People, whether they voted for this President or not, will feel the devastating impact of not only a less efficient government, but a government unable to deliver on the services that it promises to provide. That is what this administration refuses to understand. When you target Federal workers, you are also targeting the people who they serve. Do you know who Federal workers serve? The American people. When Russell Vought says ``We want to put them in trauma,'' let's talk about who he is talking about. A woman I spoke with who has worked at the Department of Health and Human Services for over 35 years has been put on leave as a part of this President's Executive orders. What has she done? Nothing to deserve this. Yet her family is a family that has been targeted, a person who has served 35 years. Another woman I spoke with has worked for 37 years at the Department of Agriculture. Believe it or not, she was placed in her current position under the President's first administration. And guess what. As a result of this crazy and callous and corrupt witch hunt, now she is being let go as well. Remember, of course, that these two women are women who have worked now for several administrations, both Democratic and Republican Presidents, and they have done so honorably. There are the Marylanders at the FDA who make sure that the water we drink is safe and that the food we eat is safe. Let's talk about scientists and doctors who are actively researching cures for cancer at the National Institutes of Health. They are targeting civil servants at the Pentagon working every day to protect our national security. When I think about the Pentagon, I can't help but think about my own grandmother. Her name was Sarah Daisy. Sarah Daisy was a person who was a housekeeper, but it was her greatest dream to work in the Federal Government. Many will remember that there was a time, however, when you went to work in the government, you would take a civil servant's exam and take a typing test. Well, my grandmother Sarah couldn't afford a typewriter, so she went into the family's kitchen and put a white piece of paper up on the refrigerator, and she drew a keyboard on that white piece of paper. My father told me that in the one-bedroom apartment that they all shared--my grandmother, her three children, and another family member-- she stood in front of her refrigerator every single night and taught herself the keystrokes so that she could take the typing test to get herself a job in the Federal Government. Well, she went on and took that typing test. She passed it. She got herself a job in the Federal Government, and she was so proud of the work that she did as a civil servant. She showed up every single day, took buses to get to her job at the Pentagon. She would often tell me she was so proud. She couldn't wait to tell me: I passed General So-and-So. I passed General So-and-So in the hallway. She was very proud to have served her country. But Sarah Daisy isn't the only one of her sort--civil servants who show up every day just to serve the American people. Those are the kinds of civil servants who are being targeted by this administration. We think as well about FBI agents. Look, I am a former prosecutor. I spent 13 years working in courtrooms. I worked alongside many of our best and brightest in the law enforcement community, including the FBI. Never once did I ever wonder if they had voted for me. What mattered is that they were honed in on the same mission that I was: building safer communities for the people we collectively serve and people like my grandma, whom I spoke about. Again, these are all people who serve every day doing the very best they can. She never came home and told me whether the people she served at the Pentagon were Republicans or Democrats because, guess what, it didn't matter. It didn't matter. This is who we are talking about here. There have been so many calls to my office. You know, the question we should be asking ourselves about people like my grandmother and about the other agents whom I worked with as a prosecutor who have given their whole lives to civil service--what we should be asking is, how can we repay them? Is it by villainizing them, taking away their jobs? It is ludicrous. It is outrageous. There have been so many calls to my office. Some people have even shown up to my office in person looking for support. I stepped out the other day, and there were three women who had driven here from their homes. They were exasperated, couldn't even bear the thought of calling or emailing. They needed to come in person to let me know about their displeasure about the actions they are seeing from this government. We received a call from a Federal employee as well who has worked in an Agency for 17 years and is now furloughed. On the verge of tears, she was afraid not just for her own livelihood but for the fate of those losing their title II food aid. She was thinking of malnourished children who will stop receiving food because of this administration's callous actions. We received a call from a Federal employee concerned about Elon Musk and his access to confidential information. He said he feels helpless, and after 22 years of service to our Nation, he is afraid that he will lose his job. He said: ``It feels like a bad movie.'' A former Federal employee of 10 years called my office, scared about how this is impacting her neighbors and her community, how it will hurt all her friends who work in the Federal Government. There was one call from a woman in her sixties. She was debating whether or not to take this buyout. She is close to retiring. In the end, she told us that she wanted to continue this work. When I learned of this particular call, I immediately thought of my grandmother yet again and the pride that she had in her work at the Pentagon, the joy that she carried with her, knowing that her job had purpose, that her service was meaningful. The North Star she always looked to was helping her fellow Americans. It came as no surprise to me that this Marylander wanted to continue her work. I don't think it would come as a surprise to any Marylander who has answered the call to serve their government in this way. We take great pride in this work. We believe in the power of the Federal Government to do good things for the people of this country. If you ask any civil servant ``Could the government use improvement?'' well, you would hear a resounding ``Yes.'' I think every Democrat and every Republican believes that we can make the government more efficient. But firing a bunch of hard-working Marylanders because you think they may not agree with your policy, gutting Agencies that work on behalf of the American people--well, this isn't going to make the government more efficient. In fact, dismissing experienced workers who care deeply about the mission is only going to weaken government functions. It is going to hinder the government's ability to do its job--everything from Medicare to Medicaid, to veterans' benefits, to law enforcement, to cancer research, to--I mean, the list goes on and on and on. In this brazen and callous mass firing, President Trump is going to end up with a government incapable of doing what the people expected of it. It is shameful, and it is un-American. Let me say this painfully clear to anyone considering supporting this nominee: The trauma that Mr. Vought describes won't just be exacted on the Federal workers that he despises; it will extend to the people in this country who utilize the programs of the Federal Government--the exhausted mother of that child who calls the 9-8-8 lifeline for support on the darkest of days; the single dad who has to call out of work because his daughter's Head Start classroom closed its doors; the family business that didn't get their disaster relief check to rebuild after the floodwaters receded; the grandmother stretching her fixed income to feed a nourishing meal to her grandkids, turned away at the checkout line when her SNAP EBT card was declined; the woman seeking refuge from an abusive partner--the kind of women that I represented for many years as a domestic violence prosecutor--just to be turned away from the local family violence shelter; the first-generation college student who loses their Pell grant and Federal work-study and can't afford to stay in school; the veteran whose appointment at the Veterans' Administration gets canceled, delaying his screening and treatment from his battlefield exposure. When Russell Vought talks about inflicting trauma, none of us should forget these people. In these times of chaos, we must remain vigilant. We must not only acknowledge the deep pain being felt by so many American workers now but transform that pain into action. The tools at our disposal may be limited, but our resolve must remain limitless. And my promise to the people of Maryland is that it shall. I would like to just end my comments because I see my colleague has joined us on the floor and say that there is a Prayer Breakfast happening this morning. It is my understanding that the President is there to attend and many others. It is my greatest desire that their prayers today will be for the American people and for our country. There is a Scripture that is so clear in the Bible, and it reminds us--and the President professes that he is a person of faith. It reminds us of one fact, irrefutable fact: The Bible tells us that they will know us by our love. In fact, it says, ``They will know you are my disciples if you show love,'' that we should love one another. I believe that ought to be the guiding principle that guides us in all that we do--the only thing that will last is what we have done--and that we will exude the light of God, and in so doing, we will have love one for each other. I yield the floor.

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. I vote no--

Ms. ALSOBROOKS

Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, while this may not be my maiden floor speech, I think it of vital importance that Marylanders hear from their elected leaders in this moment of chaos. One of my greatest inspirations growing up was my grandmother, Sarah Daisy Alsobrooks. She was my father's mother. She raised my father and his siblings in a one-bedroom apartment in Northeast Washington, DC. My grandmother wanted for her family what all Americans want for their families--an affordable home to live in, a job that allowed her to support her family, and a safe community to raise her kids in. My grandmother dreamed of civil service. She dreamed of working in the Federal Government, and she was determined to do so. Many in this Chamber will recall that you had to pass the civil service exam in order to be hired. And to pass, you had to take a typing test. At the time, my grandmother was a housekeeper. She worked day and night to provide for my father and his siblings. Every dollar she made went to her family. So she couldn't afford a typewriter to practice typing on. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream. She took a white piece of paper and hand drew a keyboard on it. She taped that white piece of paper up on the refrigerator, and every night, after my dad and his siblings went to bed, she stood in front of that refrigerator and practiced on that white piece of paper. She taught herself to type every keystroke. It was with fierce determination--the same determination that I have seen in so many mothers and fathers who just wanted their kids to have more opportunities than they did--that she learned to type. She took the test, and she passed. She got the job she dreamed of, working in the Federal Government. And she was so proud of herself. She worked for the Pentagon. I can still remember she would come home and tell me: I saw General This Person and General That Person in the hallway that day. She knew that the work she did mattered. For her, working in the Federal Government wasn't just a job. Working on behalf of the people of the United States was her American dream. It is that kind of pride that makes our Federal workforce so special--the thousands of men and women who show up every single day to work on behalf of the people of this great Nation. They are public servants in the truest sense of the word. At the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, they are researching cures for cancer, trying to make sure that when a family gets that devastating news of a loved one who has been diagnosed with cancer, they have options. At the Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, MD, they are working tirelessly to make sure our food is safe to eat. At the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn, MD, they are working to make sure that our seniors have access to their hard-earned benefits. These civil servants are patriots just like my grandmother. They love their country. They work for Democratic Presidents and for Republican Presidents. Their focus isn't on the politics of the day. It is on the mission of the Federal Government to serve the people of the United States of America. So you can imagine my deep frustration with this current administration that has decided to target these hard-working Americans in what I can only describe as a witch hunt. When I think of the people being pushed out, I think about people like my grandmother--hard- working folks who wanted to make a difference in this country. The calls that I am getting are equally heartbreaking as they are infuriating. I spoke with a woman just this morning who worked at the Department of Health and Human Services for over 35 years. She has been put on leave as a part of one of the President's Executive orders. I spoke to another woman who spent over 37 years at the Department of Agriculture, and believe it or not, she was placed in a position under this current President's first administration, but now she has been let go. These are people who have worked under President George H. W. Bush, a Republican; President Bill Clinton, a Democrat; President George W. Bush, a Republican; President Barack Obama, a Democrat; President Donald Trump, a Republican; and President Joe Biden, a Democrat-- because, for these women and countless other Marylanders, it is not about which party is in power or which President won the election; it is about the work. It is about doing their part to make sure that our government functions. I represent the highest number of Federal workers per capita in the country. No State has more Federal workers per capita than the great State of Maryland. These are our friends, our neighbors, our mothers, our fathers, and, yes, our grandmothers. The fact that this administration has decided to disparage and demean these civil servants is infuriating. The bullying, the scare tactics, and the smoke and mirrors are unacceptable. These hard-working Marylanders deserve better. I want every Federal worker in Maryland who sees this to know that, when they see me in these halls, they must also see you. And what we know now is that this administration isn't stopping at our civil servants, which brings to us the last 48 hours. Let's recap. The administration issued a cruel and callous directive. No longer was the target just Federal workers. Suddenly, it was the entirety of the American people, because what this directive did was freeze Federal funds--a move intended to sow chaos and confusion, to instill fear. You don't have to take my word for it. Talk to the countless Marylanders who called my office--veterans who were scared that their benefits wouldn't go through, seniors who didn't know if they would still have Medicare, families who rely on SNAP benefits who didn't know if they would be able to feed their kids. These were the calls my office was getting yesterday--all because the President decided to freeze Federal funds. I don't know how to make this more plain. This has impacted so many people--people who voted for this President, people who did not vote for this President, and people who didn't vote at all. We are talking about law enforcement officers who rely on Federal funds to protect victims of domestic violence--women and children. I was a full-time domestic violence prosecutor--the first in my county. So, when I hear that the President of the United States is making it harder for these victims, you can imagine my deep frustration. Know this: We are not going to accept this. So I would like to take a few moments to paint a picture of exactly the kinds of Americans this administration is targeting: seniors and people with disabilities. Maryland is home to 1 million seniors and nearly 670,000 people living with disabilities. At the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Community Living covers all the programs and services that help older adults and people with disabilities. Their work is essential, and it connects seniors with employment opportunities and provides support for caregivers like my father. It supports States in providing nutrition services for seniors, just to name a few. Services for seniors--on the chopping block. The Nutrition Services Incentive Program, in the Division of Administration for Community Living, is responsible for delivering nutritious meals to older adults. They work to make sure that older adults who can't leave their homes have an opportunity to access food. Helping hungry seniors--on the chopping block. The Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States expand the availability of diagnostic and support services for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Anyone who has watched a loved one suffer with Alzheimer's knows exactly how painful this is. So we should be doing everything in our power to find a cure for this disease and support those suffering from it--a disease that is the seventh leading cause of death among older residents in Maryland. Supporting those with Alzheimer's--on the chopping block. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides grants to caregivers. I am a member of the sandwich generation. I am raising my 19-year-old daughter, who is just amazing--her name is Alex--while caring for two wonderful, aging parents. The work of caregivers across our country is so selfless, valuable, and necessary to ensure those who raised us get the care and support they deserve and have earned. I know I wouldn't be here today without my incredible parents. More than 700,000 caregivers receive services through this program. Supporting our caregivers--on the chopping block. The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services supports emergency shelters and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children. I have sat with these women and their children in the courtroom, prosecuting the cases against their abusers, and I know how hard it is for them to get out of an abusive relationship and seek help at an emergency shelter. These shelters literally save lives, providing emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence. You guessed it. It is on the chopping block. Now, I could go on and on, but I think what has been made clear is that these political stunts are going to have a devastating and long- lasting impact on Marylanders--and, yes, it bears repeating--on Marylanders who voted for this President, Marylanders who didn't vote for this President, and Marylanders who did not vote at all. My job in the Senate is to advocate for my people, and my people are Marylanders. They are the Federal workers who have spent their lives working on behalf of the American people, no matter who the President is. They are the parents who rely on SNAP benefits to make sure their children don't go hungry. They are the teachers who prepare our kids to be leaders. They are the watermen who harvest blue crab from the Chesapeake Bay. They are the caregivers who make life easier for our loved ones. They are the scientists who are researching a cure for cancer. They are the veterans who serve our country honorably. They are the police officers who keep our communities safe. They are the Democrats. They are the Republicans. They are the Independents. And each and every one of them deserves better than this administration. I am willing to work with anyone--Democrat, Republican, Independent, whoever--to deliver for Marylanders. My door is always open. What I have come to learn from my time in public service is that the people of this great country all want the same things: a roof over their heads, a good-paying job so they can provide for their families, great schools, good healthcare, safe communities, a lower cost of goods. These are the things each and every one of us should be fighting for. This is what the administration should be focused on. So, when they return to that mission, I will be here. But if this President continues to threaten Marylanders, I will be here, too, fighting back. As I end, you know, many of my constituents know that I am a woman of faith and that, in the midst of chaos, I turn to the Word. So I would like to close by sharing Scriptures of encouragement, words that speak to us in tumultuous times and remind us to love one another. II Timothy 1:7 says: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Romans 12:12 says: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Joshua 1:9 says: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. James 1:2-4 says: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Psalm 34:17 says: The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. I Corinthians 14:33 says: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. John 16:33 says: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. II Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Proverbs 25:28: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 11:14: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. II Thessalonians 3:16: Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. I yield the floor.