Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 2812 and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, my amendment would increase funding for the Rural Healthcare Provider Fund to $50 billion and expand the list of eligible providers to include not only rural hospitals but also community health centers, nursing homes, ambulance services, skilled nursing facilities, and others. Rural providers, especially our rural hospitals and nursing homes, are under great financial strain right now with many having recently closed and others being at risk of closing. When these facilities close their doors, the people they serve are often left behind without access to healthcare. This amendment would help keep them open and caring for those who live in these rural communities. The additional funding is fully offset through a modest increase in the top marginal tax rate equal to the pre-2017 rate for individuals with income of about $25 million and married couples with income of about $50 million. I urge support for this amendment to provide the additional funding for rural and Medicaid providers who desperately need it.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, I move to waive, and I ask for the yeas and nays. Vote on Motion

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5:45 p.m., the Senate execute the order of June 24 with respect to the Kies nomination, and following disposition of the Kies nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Ms. COLLINS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, the senior Senator from Illinois and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Durbin, to introduce the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025. This bill would update and reauthorize Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth for nearly half a century. Homelessness is affecting youth in truly staggering numbers. According to the National Network for Youth, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of these youth may be away from home for a few nights, while others have been living on the streets for years. No area of this country is immune from the scourge of homelessness, as it affects rural and urban communities alike. Tragically, runaway and homeless youth are at high risk of victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and even death. This population is at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many are unable to continue with school and are more likely to enter our juvenile criminal justice system. The reality is that available data likely underestimate the scale and consequences of this problem. I have met with teachers, social workers, and others from Maine who work directly with young people experiencing homelessness. We talked about the pressure that student homelessness places on teachers, school administrators and their already strapped resources, and, most important, the homeless students themselves. I have also visited New Beginnings in Lewiston, where I saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless Youth Act resources are providing essential safety nets for young people in need. The staff at New Beginnings helps young people with case management, provides referrals to State and local agencies, assists with housing needs and access to shelter, and connects individuals to local educational and employment programs. Several years ago, as the chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I held a hearing that featured testimony from Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME, who gave powerful testimony on her personal experience with homelessness. After becoming homeless, Brittany was connected with New Beginnings. In her testimony, she said, ``New Beginnings provided many resources I could use to succeed, including assistance with college applications and financial aid . . . New Beginnings has helped me to develop critical life skills and to become self-sufficient.'' ``Programs that support homeless youth are important to so many young people like me,'' she added. ``It gives young people the chance to have a safe place to stay while they get their footing and figure out what they want to do in their lives.'' Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs helped make Brittany's success story possible. Sadly, however, there are still many homeless youth who do not have the support they need. We must build on our past efforts because homeless youth should have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers. The three existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional Living Program--help community-based organizations reach young people when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early intervention can help them escape victimization and trafficking. The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would reauthorize and strengthen these programs that help homeless youth meet their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential services for those who cannot be safely reunited with their families. Our legislation would also create a new program--the Prevention Services Program--designed to help prevent youth from running away and becoming homeless in the first instance. Moreover, our bill supports wrap-around services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Mr. President, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will support those young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families. A caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, study, and develop is critical for all young people. The programs reauthorized and modernized through this legislation help extend those basic services to the most vulnerable youth in our communities. I thank Senator Durbin for his partnership on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, the senior Senator from Illinois and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Durbin, to introduce the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025. This bill would update and reauthorize Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth for nearly half a century. Homelessness is affecting youth in truly staggering numbers. According to the National Network for Youth, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of these youth may be away from home for a few nights, while others have been living on the streets for years. No area of this country is immune from the scourge of homelessness, as it affects rural and urban communities alike. Tragically, runaway and homeless youth are at high risk of victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and even death. This population is at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many are unable to continue with school and are more likely to enter our juvenile criminal justice system. The reality is that available data likely underestimate the scale and consequences of this problem. I have met with teachers, social workers, and others from Maine who work directly with young people experiencing homelessness. We talked about the pressure that student homelessness places on teachers, school administrators and their already strapped resources, and, most important, the homeless students themselves. I have also visited New Beginnings in Lewiston, where I saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless Youth Act resources are providing essential safety nets for young people in need. The staff at New Beginnings helps young people with case management, provides referrals to State and local agencies, assists with housing needs and access to shelter, and connects individuals to local educational and employment programs. Several years ago, as the chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I held a hearing that featured testimony from Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME, who gave powerful testimony on her personal experience with homelessness. After becoming homeless, Brittany was connected with New Beginnings. In her testimony, she said, ``New Beginnings provided many resources I could use to succeed, including assistance with college applications and financial aid . . . New Beginnings has helped me to develop critical life skills and to become self-sufficient.'' ``Programs that support homeless youth are important to so many young people like me,'' she added. ``It gives young people the chance to have a safe place to stay while they get their footing and figure out what they want to do in their lives.'' Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs helped make Brittany's success story possible. Sadly, however, there are still many homeless youth who do not have the support they need. We must build on our past efforts because homeless youth should have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers. The three existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional Living Program--help community-based organizations reach young people when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early intervention can help them escape victimization and trafficking. The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would reauthorize and strengthen these programs that help homeless youth meet their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential services for those who cannot be safely reunited with their families. Our legislation would also create a new program--the Prevention Services Program--designed to help prevent youth from running away and becoming homeless in the first instance. Moreover, our bill supports wrap-around services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Mr. President, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will support those young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families. A caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, study, and develop is critical for all young people. The programs reauthorized and modernized through this legislation help extend those basic services to the most vulnerable youth in our communities. I thank Senator Durbin for his partnership on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. I wish to recognize George Castro on his retirement after more than 40 years working for Congress, including nearly 22 years serving as a staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. George began his work on Capitol Hill in 1985, working for the Architect of the Capitol. He transitioned to the Appropriations Committee in 2003, under the leadership of then-Chairman Ted Stevens and Vice Chairman Robert Byrd. Since then, George has faithfully served the committee under nine different chairs, including the Republican leadership of Senators Ted Stevens, Thad Cochran, Richard Shelby, and now me. Combining clerical precision, intuitive executive support, and a keen ability to form lasting professional bonds, George has helped to ensure that the wheels of the Appropriations Committee move forward in service to the American people. He has been a valued member of the Senate community and will be missed by his colleagues and friends as he retires to spend time with his wife Loee, his daughter Vanessa, and his grandchildren. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank George for his years of service. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement from the Senate.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act with my colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Shaheen. I want to thank Senator Shaheen for her partnership on so many issues affecting individuals with diabetes. Our bipartisan bill would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe therapeutic shoes under Medicare. This will enable Medicare beneficiaries who have diabetes to more easily access this important preventive care, should they need it. As cochairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senator Shaheen and I are focused on advancing policies that will improve the lives of the more than 37 million Americans who live with diabetes. Therapeutic shoes help prevent some of the costly and painful complications related to diabetes, such as foot ulcers, which almost 1.6 million individuals with diabetes have. If they do not receive timely care, these individuals are at risk of serious health complications, such as lower limb amputations. Only 10 percent of qualifying Medicare patients receive the diabetic shoes they need because of difficulties accessing qualifying providers. By reducing barriers to this preventive care, the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act will enable more individuals with diabetes to receive the medical care they need to avoid some serious complications. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Maine and across the country provide the full range of care to patients with diabetes. Many patients see an NP or a PA as their preferred primary care provider for treating diabetes. When the treating NP or PA determines that the patient may need therapeutic shoes, however, the NP or PA must send the patient first to a physician to make the same determination, and then the physician must send them to a podiatrist to actually fit the shoes. To make matters more complicated, under current law, the certifying physician must take over all treatment of the patients diabetic condition. This process not only forces a patient to change providers but also delays patient access to effective treatment for diabetes. In rural States such as Maine, patients often have to drive long distances to see a podiatrist or even a physician. One nurse practitioner from Bangor shared with me that the closest podiatrist she is able to send patients to is an hour-long drive away and has a many- months long waitlist. Patients with diabetes simply cannot afford to wait months and months for treatment. The removal of this outdated and unnecessary barrier means NPs and PAs would be authorized to certify the need for therapeutic shoes for patients with diabetes and ensure they get the care they need in a timely fashion. Finally, passage of this legislation will reduce Medicare spending by removing the unnecessary and duplicative certifying visit requirements. Data demonstrate that NPs and PAs manage the care for patients with diabetes in a cost-effective manner that results in healthcare savings. The estimated total annual cost of an individual patient with diabetes is $17,000. If the patient does not receive treatment in time, though, and develops a serious complication, the estimated annual individual cost rises to $52,000. Our bill will create savings for Medicare by reducing the long-term costs of care. Passage of the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act will make it possible for NPs and PAs to continue providing high-quality care for their Medicare patients with diabetes. It will also reduce Medicare spending by eliminating duplicative services, improve the timeliness of care for patients with diabetes who need therapeutic shoes, and allow the patient to continue receiving care from the provider of their choice. I urge all of my colleagues to join Senator Shaheen and me in supporting the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act with my colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Shaheen. I want to thank Senator Shaheen for her partnership on so many issues affecting individuals with diabetes. Our bipartisan bill would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe therapeutic shoes under Medicare. This will enable Medicare beneficiaries who have diabetes to more easily access this important preventive care, should they need it. As cochairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senator Shaheen and I are focused on advancing policies that will improve the lives of the more than 37 million Americans who live with diabetes. Therapeutic shoes help prevent some of the costly and painful complications related to diabetes, such as foot ulcers, which almost 1.6 million individuals with diabetes have. If they do not receive timely care, these individuals are at risk of serious health complications, such as lower limb amputations. Only 10 percent of qualifying Medicare patients receive the diabetic shoes they need because of difficulties accessing qualifying providers. By reducing barriers to this preventive care, the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act will enable more individuals with diabetes to receive the medical care they need to avoid some serious complications. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Maine and across the country provide the full range of care to patients with diabetes. Many patients see an NP or a PA as their preferred primary care provider for treating diabetes. When the treating NP or PA determines that the patient may need therapeutic shoes, however, the NP or PA must send the patient first to a physician to make the same determination, and then the physician must send them to a podiatrist to actually fit the shoes. To make matters more complicated, under current law, the certifying physician must take over all treatment of the patients diabetic condition. This process not only forces a patient to change providers but also delays patient access to effective treatment for diabetes. In rural States such as Maine, patients often have to drive long distances to see a podiatrist or even a physician. One nurse practitioner from Bangor shared with me that the closest podiatrist she is able to send patients to is an hour-long drive away and has a many- months long waitlist. Patients with diabetes simply cannot afford to wait months and months for treatment. The removal of this outdated and unnecessary barrier means NPs and PAs would be authorized to certify the need for therapeutic shoes for patients with diabetes and ensure they get the care they need in a timely fashion. Finally, passage of this legislation will reduce Medicare spending by removing the unnecessary and duplicative certifying visit requirements. Data demonstrate that NPs and PAs manage the care for patients with diabetes in a cost-effective manner that results in healthcare savings. The estimated total annual cost of an individual patient with diabetes is $17,000. If the patient does not receive treatment in time, though, and develops a serious complication, the estimated annual individual cost rises to $52,000. Our bill will create savings for Medicare by reducing the long-term costs of care. Passage of the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act will make it possible for NPs and PAs to continue providing high-quality care for their Medicare patients with diabetes. It will also reduce Medicare spending by eliminating duplicative services, improve the timeliness of care for patients with diabetes who need therapeutic shoes, and allow the patient to continue receiving care from the provider of their choice. I urge all of my colleagues to join Senator Shaheen and me in supporting the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join today with my friend and colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine to introduce the Religious Workforce Protection Act. Our bill would allow foreign-born religious workers in the United States to continue to perform essential work in their communities all across the Nation, including the State of Maine. I would also like to thank our friend and colleague Senator Jim Risch, who joins us in introducing this important bill. Like my colleague from Virginia, I, too, learned about this problem from my local parish in Maine. In the summertime, I tend to attend Catholic mass in either Lincoln or Howland, ME. Both parishes are served by the same priest. The priest, until last year, came from India--Father Tony. We all loved him. Unfortunately, when he went back home, there was a change in his visa status, and he was unable to return. Our legislation would grant the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to extend the temporary R-1 status for a religious worker past 5 years until he or she receives a decision on the permanent EB-4 visa application. In doing so, the bill would provide a solution to the significant problems that religious organizations and workers are experiencing with our current system. Our bill would help religious workers of all faith traditions continue their work providing services, such as acting as a chaplain at a hospital, conducting worship services, and serving as religious educators. The issue religious employees have faced with our visa system have evolved over time, but the result is the same: Religious organizations are harmed, communities are hurt, and religious workers are unable to pursue their missions. In 2021, the severe backlog in the processing of religious workers' visa petitions was worsened by the COVID pandemic. It forced many religious employees who were already in the United States to leave the communities that they were serving so well and for which they were so essential or cease working altogether, such as a Catholic priest being unable to perform mass for fear of violating immigration law. There were also additional workers outside of the United States awaiting entry, unable to serve in our religious communities. Although the backlog did decrease as Embassies and consulates reopened post-COVID, other issues have arisen. Due to a change in the statutory interpretation made by the State Department in 2023, many religious workers who are in the United States on temporary R-1 visas are unable to receive decisions on permanent EB- 4 visa applications within the maximum 5-year duration of an R-1 visa. In other words, their R-1 visa expires before they get a decision on their EB-4 permanent visa. The result is that they have to leave our country and the communities, parishes, mosques, synagogues, and churches they are serving for at least 1 year before they can return. In Maine, local communities have experienced this problem firsthand and would be greatly helped by our legislation. Of the 50 Catholic parishes in Maine, 35--more than half--benefit from the ministry of international priests. Recently, three rural Maine communities--St. Agatha, Bucksport, and Greenville--were left without any priests at all for months. These priests were unable to work because their R-1 visas expired before their EB-4 applications could be fully processed. If this issue is not addressed, religious organizations in Maine and across the Nation will continue to lose pastors, priests, rabbis, and other religious workers who lead and support their congregations and communities. As I explained, this bill solves this problem by granting the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority simply to extend the temporary R-1 status past the 5 years until the religious worker receives a decision on the permanent EB-4 visa application. This just makes sense. Senator Kaine and I have pressed the Departments of State and Homeland Security to do everything they can to administratively address this problem. When I first learned of the issue in 2021, Senator Kaine and I wrote to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to express our concern about the long backlogs in processing religious worker visa petitions. In 2023 and 2024, we again wrote to the two Secretaries about the change in interpretation that had the effect of worsening the problem by further lengthening the time it takes for applicants from most countries to receive their employment-based visas. Although some progress has been made as a result of our efforts, a true and lasting fix requires an act of Congress. I want to be clear that our bill is carefully tailored. It is extremely narrow. It does not change any requirement or bars to obtaining an employment-based visa. It does not allow entry for any person who is not already permitted under the law to enter the United States. Religious workers would continue to face the same vetting and other requirements that are applicable to other noncitizens who are seeking to work in our country. Let me also emphasize that there is no doubt that our country has faced an illegal immigration crisis, but that is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about people who have lawfully entered the United States under a religious worker visa, and we simply provide a tailored, carefully crafted solution for those who are lawfully present in our country and serving our churches, our parishes, our synagogues--our religious organizations. They are of many different faiths, and they have developed important ties to their communities. As we have highlighted in a letter that we sent to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, these employees provide basic necessities to those in need. They care for and minister to the sick and dying in hospitals. They work with adolescents and young adults to help them. They counsel those who have suffered severe trauma and hardship. They serve as educators and mentors, and they are critical as faith leaders. Surely, this is one area where we should be able to come together as Republicans and Democrats and do something worthwhile, something that will have a real-world impact in communities across this country. The broad support for this effort is shown by the many organizations of different faiths that have endorsed our legislation. I urge my colleagues to support our efforts so that we can allow much needed religious workers to continue their ministry and their service in communities all across America.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the resolution introduced by my colleague from Virginia, Senator Kaine, to overturn the emergency declaration for the northern border that is being used to impose tariffs on goods imported from Canada. The Maine economy is integrated with Canada, our most important trading partner. From home heating oil, gasoline, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum products, to Maine's paper mills, forest products businesses, agricultural producers, and lobstermen, the tariffs on Canada would be detrimental to many Maine families and our local economies. Of course I share the President's goal of stemming the tide of dangerous fentanyl that flows into the United States. I commend him for taking far stronger actions to halt this dangerous and deadly flow than did the previous administration. I do not, however, agree with his invoking the powers of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on Canadian goods and products. The fact is, the vast majority of fentanyl in America comes from the southern border. In fiscal year 2024, less than 1 percent of fentanyl seizures occurred at our northern border. And our Canadian neighbors are working collaboratively and cooperatively with our government to stop that trafficking. One of the best examples of the intertwined relationship between Maine's economy and Canada can be seen at the Twin Rivers Paper mill in Madawaska, ME, way in the north on the Canadian border. Twin Rivers produces lightweight specialty paper for packaging materials, for our Nation's newspapers and our retailers' catalogs, for food and environmentally safe papers used in restaurants, and for a wide variety of other paper goods that are used all over the country. The raw pulp for this paper mill in Maine is piped across the St. John River from Edmundston, New Brunswick, to Madawaska, ME. There literally is a pipeline through which the pulp travels between these two sister mills. A tariff placed on this pulp would jeopardize the financial well-being of this vital paper mill, which employs more than 500 people in rural northern Maine. There is not another big employer in that area that could possibly compensate for the loss of those 510 direct jobs, and that doesn't include the indirect jobs--the truckdrivers, the loggers, the restaurant owners who would be harmed by the closure or reduction in the operation of this vitally important mill. The tariff would not only devastate Twin Rivers but also harm hundreds of Maine families. Another example of our integration with Canada is in energy. Ninety- five percent of the heating oil that is used by most Mainers to heat their homes comes from refineries in Canada. Irving Oil, a Canadian-based company, has 150 gas stations in Maine and supplies two-thirds of the State's gas, diesel, and heating oil. This includes 100 percent of the jet fuel that is used by the Air National Guard base in Bangor. Maine consumers, Maine businesses, and the U.S. Department of Defense--our own Department of Defense--would bear the cost of that Canadian energy tariff. Canadian tariffs would also harm many Maine farmers, lobstermen, and fishermen. According to the Maine Potato Board, 90 percent of the potash, which is the fertilizer used for growing potatoes, is imported from Canada. Fertilizer accounts for 11 percent of total input cost to grow our great Maine potatoes. Tariffs on imports like fertilizer will only hurt Maine potato growers. I grew up in Aroostook County. I know these potato growers. I picked potatoes as a schoolchild when I was growing up. Just recently, a farmer from Mars Hill, ME, told me that just the threat of tariffs is causing a price increase on seed and equipment. This farmer supplies potatoes to a Canadian company with facilities on both sides of the border. The different facilities have specialized equipment to process potatoes for different uses--hash browns in one plant, curly fries in another. A tariff on potatoes as they cross back and forth between Maine and Canada would cause terrible harm to this and other growers. Other products are processed back and forth across the border as well. For example, many Maine blueberries are processed in Prince Edward Island. Maine also sends between $200 million and $400 million worth of lobster to Canada each year for processing. There are 240 lobster processing plants in Canada but only 15 in the United States. I share the President's goal of getting more of that manufacturing done in the State of Maine, done in the United States, but the fact is that if we impose these tariffs on Canadian processing, it is going to be our Maine lobstermen who will bear the cost; it is going to be consumers who bear the cost. I would like to make mention of another industry that would be affected as well, and that is the aquaculture industry. In Washington County in far eastern Maine, Cooke Aquaculture is one of the largest employers, with more than 200 direct jobs throughout the State. While they have a processing plant in Machias, ME, the first step of their salmon processing occurs in Canada before reentering the United States for finishing. At a time when the Maine aquaculture industry is growing, these tariffs on Canada would jeopardize current jobs and also block future ones. Close relationships between and among families on both sides of the border are very common in the State of Maine. It is typical of communities, ranging from Calais in the east, Fort Kent in the north, and Jackman in the west. You see it all across the northern, eastern, and western parts of our State because our communities are so integrated. It is not surprising to me that I had a conversation with members of the tourism industry in Maine just this morning who told me that they are seeing cancelations by Canadian tourists who had come for years to vacation in Maine. Old Orchard Beach, for example, is known for the number of Canadian tourists. We don't want to discourage these Canadian tourists, who are so vital to Maine's economy, from vacationing in Maine because they are so angry at what has happened. Maine families benefit from more than $900 billion in goods and services that are exchanged between our two countries every year. It is crucial that we remain a dependent and vibrant global trading partner, particularly with Canada. Now, I want to distinguish that I think there is a strong case to be made for tariffs on Mexico, on our adversary China, but I don't see the case for Canada. There are areas where Canada does need to do better, and the dairy industry is one, and I hope we will see that resolved. Let me conclude my remarks by reaffirming my support for ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security has every tool at its disposal to stem the flow of fentanyl into our Nation, but, unlike Mexico and China, Canada is not complicit in this crisis. And we should continue working with our Canadian allies to secure the northern border, not unfairly penalize them. Our consumers, our manufacturers, our lobstermen, our blueberry growers, our potato farmers will pay the price. Mr. President, the price hikes that will happen for Maine families every time they go to the grocery store, they fill their gas tank, they fill their heating oil tank, if these tariffs go into effect, will be so harmful. And as price hikes always do, they will hurt those the most who can afford them the least. Therefore, I will support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do so likewise.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. I want to thank the Senator from Alaska, who is an extraordinarily talented leader on the Appropriations Committee, for her comments. Mr. President, I rise to urge passage of this funding measure to prevent an unnecessary, harmful, and costly government shutdown at midnight tonight. Government shutdowns are inherently a failure to govern effectively and have negative consequences all across government. They inevitably require certain government employees, such as Border Patrol agents, members of our military and Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to report to work with no certainty at all on when they will receive their next paycheck. That is just unfair. Shutdowns also put critical investments in our national defense on hold. Training exercises would be limited, which could hurt our Nation's readiness. New programs would be paused, delaying new capabilities from getting to our warfighters. That is why we have always, in the past, avoided CRs for the Department of Defense. At our borders, the men and women performing vital law enforcement activities would have to do so without pay and without the assistance of support staff, putting more pressure on frontline operators. Other harmful potential impacts include curtailed operations to the Veterans Benefits Administration, resulting in the closure of education and GI bill call centers and the suspension of career counseling and transition assistance for our veterans; the closure of our wonderful national parks to visitors; increased travel delays as the onboarding of additional TSA agents would stall, and some FAA employees would face furloughs; and costly delays for projects at the Army Corps of Engineers and critical water infrastructure projects. That is just a very partial list of the harm that would be done from a government shutdown. This unfortunate situation that we are in with a continuing resolution should, however, have been avoided. The Senate should have finished these bills last year. I called for that repeatedly, as did many other Members. Senator Murray and I worked as a team, provided leadership, consulted with the members of our Senate Appropriations Committee. Each of us worked so hard to report 11 of the 12 bills with overwhelming bipartisan support, including 6 which came out of our committee unanimously. Unfortunately, these bipartisan bills languished on the calendar for months, never being brought to the floor for consideration. This decision by the then-Senate majority leader denied Senators the opportunity to debate and amend our reported bills and denied the House and the Senate the chance to go to conference and work out the differences among the bills. Similarly, attempts since January by House Chairman Tom Cole and I to reach agreement with our Democratic counterparts regrettably were not successful, despite my making five good-faith offers. Now that opportunity is gone. A yearlong CR is, by no means, my first choice, but our focus now, given where we are, must be on preventing a government shutdown. For the most part, this is a straightforward CR that simply continues fiscal year 2024 funding levels. Now, it does include--and this is important--a number of needed anomalies that are aimed at addressing pressing needs. For example, the CR realigns funding in the appropriations accounts for the Department of Defense to meet current global threats and covers the cost of pay raises for junior enlisted personnel. It provides increased funding for housing assistance and for what is known as the WIC Program--for Women, Infants, and Children--to maintain support for these vulnerable families. Within the Department of Homeland Security, the continuing resolution includes targeted increases to support ICE operations, to avoid furloughs of TSA airport screeners, and to fund much needed pay raises for members of our Coast Guard. It also includes increased funding for the FAA so that more air traffic controllers can be hired to make our Nation's airspace safer. We can delay no longer. It is essential that the continuing resolution be adopted today in order to prevent a harmful government shutdown. I urge its adoption. Let each and every one of us here commit to working together on the fiscal year 2026 budget so that we can enact appropriations bills prior to the start of the new fiscal year.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I am pleased to introduce this bill with Senators Van Hollen, Murray, Alsobrooks, Warner, and Kaine. It has been endorsed by President Trump and also by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole. This bill would simply fix a mistake in the House CR that prevents the District of Columbia from spending its own tax dollars as part of its budget, which Congress routinely approves. Congress approves the authorization of the expenditure of DC local funds, which are paid for by DC tax revenues. The first CR that we enacted last year included language to approve the DC's fiscal year 2025 budget, and that language was continued in the second CR. However, the House did not extend this anomaly in the yearlong CR. As a result, unless this bill is passed, DC would have to operate under its fiscal year 2024 budget for the remainder of 2025, potentially requiring $1.1 billion in local spending cuts. Reducing DC's local funding expenditures will not result in a dollar of Federal savings. Since October 1 of 2024, the District has been operating under and spending at its approved level for the fiscal year 2025 budget. According to the CBO, this bill does not have any budgetary cost to the Federal Government. There are no Federal dollars involved. The issue here is just allowing the DC Government to proceed to spend its own tax revenues. Accordingly, I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure to correct a true inequity.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, before I begin my formal remarks, let me thank my neighbor from New Hampshire for organizing this bipartisan display of support for Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, without justification, without provocation, Russia launched a full-scale, brutal invasion of its democratic neighbor Ukraine with missiles, air assaults, and army divisions. As John Adams said, ``Facts are stubborn things,'' and the facts of what happened on that terrible day are undeniable. It was Russia that started the war. Many thought that Ukraine had no chance against the perceived might of the Russian armed forces. However, the Ukrainians fought so bravely against that initial onslaught and, since then, the West has come together with speed and clarity of purpose to support Ukraine. Senator McConnell stated it best last week by saying: Russia's horrible invasion of Ukraine has had a unifying effect on the world's democracies. As a result of the invasion, two nations, Sweden and Finland, joined NATO; Eastern Europe is completing a pivot away from Russia's energy sources; and NATO allies are surging to the 2 percent GDP goal for defense spending. As for the brave Ukrainians, they pushed back the initial Russian invaders and are now doing their best to hold the line in eastern Ukraine, despite Russian soldiers, ammunition, and UAVs far outnumbering their Ukrainian counterparts. Ukraine decimated the Russian Black Sea Fleet and has forced Russia to augment its forces with North Korean soldiers and Iranian weapon systems. But despite the successes in the past 3 years, the war drags on with devastating consequences: 390,000 Ukrainians have been wounded, with more than 46,000 deaths so far. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families have been displaced, and estimates are that approximately 29,000 civilian Ukrainians have lost their lives. In many cases, they were targeted by the Russians. It is not American troops who are dying on the Ukrainian frontlines. It is the Ukrainians who are courageously defending their country, their democracy, their way of life. And their defenses directly connect to our efforts in NATO and the defense of Eastern Europe. If Vladimir Putin is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, as several of my colleagues have pointed out, he will not stop there. He will continue to pursue his dream, his goal, of recreating the former Soviet Union. He has made that crystal clear. In my judgment, he would most likely seize Moldova next; again, invade Georgia, as he did in 2008; threaten the Baltic States; and menace Poland and Finland. The best way to ensure that the United States is not drawn into a larger regional war in Europe, which would directly threaten American troops, is by helping Ukraine defend itself against this unprovoked invasion. The national security supplemental appropriations package that was signed into law last year included $15.4 billion to help Ukraine purchase American-made weapons. It is strengthening our military readiness, rebuilding our industrial base, and assisting our partners and allies at a volatile and dangerous time in world history. For the past 3 years, we have heard repeatedly the myth that somehow the European countries were not doing their part in helping to equip Ukraine, but let's take a look at the facts. As a percentage of GDP, the United States ranks 17th--17th--in support for Ukraine. The top three countries include Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia. These NATO nations are all in on supporting Ukraine's defenses because they understand that the stakes are so high. Furthermore, NATO allies have committed $185 billion to buy weapons and defense systems produced right here in the United States, which helps us sustain good jobs and strengthens the industrial base. Both the Biden administration's slow-walking of the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and the Trump administration's pausing military aid and intelligence sharing sent the wrong signal to an aggressive Russia. The decision this afternoon to restart U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing are welcome steps to strengthening Ukraine's position in negotiations. With the tentative cease-fire signed by Ukraine and now up for Russia's concurrence, resumed aid and intelligence sharing with our ally Ukraine allows that country to be in a much stronger position moving forward. History is filled with examples of well-intentioned leaders who sought to avoid war but who actually made war more likely by refusing to recognize the evil with which they were confronted. Neville Chamberlain declared ``peace in our time,'' trying to appease Germany before World War II. We should not make the same mistake today by appeasing Russia. We cannot avert our eyes. We cannot leave an ally to fend for itself, and we must show resolve to deter possible future aggression by China, Iran, and North Korea. Our adversaries are watching closely our response in Ukraine.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the spirit of volunteerism is one of Maine's greatest strengths. For the past 30 years, that spirit has been nurtured and enhanced by Volunteer Maine Executive Director Maryalice Crofton, and I join people throughout our State in honoring Maryalice for her outstanding leadership and in wishing her all the best in her retirement. Volunteer Maine is our State's National Service Commission that supports AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. During Maryalice's tenure, which began just 1 year after those programs were launched, more than 4,200 individuals have served as Maine volunteers, contributing more than 3.9 million hours to support housing, education, environmental conservation, healthcare, childcare, and emergency preparedness efforts across our State. While increasing their job skills and knowledge, student volunteers have earned nearly $27 million in awards to further their educations. In addition to advancing the well-being of Mainers and expanding civic engagement, Maryalice has been an innovative leader at the national level helping to shape workforce development and public- private initiatives. She has been instrumental in efforts to ensure that national service programs are guided by community priorities and local concerns. At an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps last year, Maryalice described the importance of people stepping forward to address unmet needs in their communities with these words: ``If you're thinking that someone else will take care of it, that's probably not true. You've got to get out there.'' With Maryalice Crofton leading the way, Maine's AmeriCorps volunteers have gotten out there and made a real difference. Her exceptional spirit of service to others will inspire volunteers for years to come.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Every day, an estimated 53 million family caregivers attend to loved ones across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Respite care gives these full-time caregivers a much-needed opportunity to take a temporary break from their important responsibilities. Caregivers help their loved ones remain at home, and the decision to assume these responsibilities full time often delays the need for nursing home care. While many of these individuals care for an older adult, almost one-third of caregivers attend to family members under the age of 50. The value of their efforts is tremendous, amounting to more than $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. This compassionate task, however, can take a tremendous toll. Caregivers experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to acquire acute and chronic health conditions themselves. Respite care helps reduce mental stress and physical health problems that they may experience, thus helping to keep caregivers healthy and families intact. Yet almost 85 percent of America's caregivers have never received any respite services. As a Senator representing the State with the oldest median age in the Nation, the well-being of our older citizens and their caregivers is among my top priorities. Since the Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, 38 States and the District of Columbia have received grants to increase the availability and quality of respite services. Our legislation would extend this programming for another 5 years, through fiscal year 2030. In Maine, there are approximately 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. The Maine Department of Health highlighted the importance of respite care in a report released earlier this year that evaluates the Maine State Respite Care Program. Participants shared how assistance made available through this program has enabled them to take much-needed breaks, reduce their anxiety, and even reenergize their enthusiasm for caregiving. One Mainer shared that access to respite care has meant that she has been able to truly visit with her parents when she spends time with them instead of using all of that time just to do their chores, their yard work, and other tasks. She says that it has been wonderful to have someone help her parents with their chores and shopping for their needs, and it has meant that she, herself, is far less tired. Stories such as these emphasize the importance of respite care, of a break for these caregivers who are giving so much to their family members. Although most caregivers are adults, there are also more than 5 million young people in our country who provide care for grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities. Studies have found that approximately one in five young adults who dropped out of school did so to care for a family member. These children often choose to give up activities that other teens should enjoy, such as extracurricular activities--sports, outside activities--and they may experience depression or anxiety. Our legislation would clarify that young people who are caregivers, including those who are under age 18, are also able to access respite care services. There is a large gap between caregivers who need respite services, who need a break from the 24-hour care of their loved ones, and those who actually receive this kind of assistance. Our bill would help close that gap by reauthorizing funding for this program that has helped States establish or strengthen respite services. This funding can be used to assist caregivers in finding available respite services, to train and recruit volunteers to provide temporary caregiving, and to provide financial support through vouchers so that caregivers can better afford respite services. Our bill is widely supported by leading caregiver and respite organizations, including the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. Our bipartisan legislation will provide the necessary resources to ensure that more caregivers have access to the respite services they need. I urge all of our colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation. It will make a real difference for the caregivers, the family caregivers, in our States.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Every day, an estimated 53 million family caregivers attend to loved ones across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Respite care gives these full-time caregivers a much-needed opportunity to take a temporary break from their important responsibilities. Caregivers help their loved ones remain at home, and the decision to assume these responsibilities full time often delays the need for nursing home care. While many of these individuals care for an older adult, almost one-third of caregivers attend to family members under the age of 50. The value of their efforts is tremendous, amounting to more than $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. This compassionate task, however, can take a tremendous toll. Caregivers experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to acquire acute and chronic health conditions themselves. Respite care helps reduce mental stress and physical health problems that they may experience, thus helping to keep caregivers healthy and families intact. Yet almost 85 percent of America's caregivers have never received any respite services. As a Senator representing the State with the oldest median age in the Nation, the well-being of our older citizens and their caregivers is among my top priorities. Since the Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, 38 States and the District of Columbia have received grants to increase the availability and quality of respite services. Our legislation would extend this programming for another 5 years, through fiscal year 2030. In Maine, there are approximately 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. The Maine Department of Health highlighted the importance of respite care in a report released earlier this year that evaluates the Maine State Respite Care Program. Participants shared how assistance made available through this program has enabled them to take much-needed breaks, reduce their anxiety, and even reenergize their enthusiasm for caregiving. One Mainer shared that access to respite care has meant that she has been able to truly visit with her parents when she spends time with them instead of using all of that time just to do their chores, their yard work, and other tasks. She says that it has been wonderful to have someone help her parents with their chores and shopping for their needs, and it has meant that she, herself, is far less tired. Stories such as these emphasize the importance of respite care, of a break for these caregivers who are giving so much to their family members. Although most caregivers are adults, there are also more than 5 million young people in our country who provide care for grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities. Studies have found that approximately one in five young adults who dropped out of school did so to care for a family member. These children often choose to give up activities that other teens should enjoy, such as extracurricular activities--sports, outside activities--and they may experience depression or anxiety. Our legislation would clarify that young people who are caregivers, including those who are under age 18, are also able to access respite care services. There is a large gap between caregivers who need respite services, who need a break from the 24-hour care of their loved ones, and those who actually receive this kind of assistance. Our bill would help close that gap by reauthorizing funding for this program that has helped States establish or strengthen respite services. This funding can be used to assist caregivers in finding available respite services, to train and recruit volunteers to provide temporary caregiving, and to provide financial support through vouchers so that caregivers can better afford respite services. Our bill is widely supported by leading caregiver and respite organizations, including the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. Our bipartisan legislation will provide the necessary resources to ensure that more caregivers have access to the respite services they need. I urge all of our colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation. It will make a real difference for the caregivers, the family caregivers, in our States.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, I ask unanimous consent that the rules of procedure of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress be printed in the Record.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the memberships on the twelve subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress be printed in the Record. I thank Senator Murray, the vice chair of the committee, for her leadership and cooperation with me in making these important assignments.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise to urge the passage of the American Relief Act. This bill will avert a costly government shutdown. Although it is after 12 midnight, we are going to avert it. It will deliver much needed assistance to individuals, small businesses, and communities working to rebuild and repair in the wake of natural disasters. It provides much needed aid to our farmers across the country, who have been hit by a tidal wave of harmful economic conditions. I want to thank the many Senators who have contributed to this legislation. In particular, I want to recognize Chair Murray for her leadership of the Appropriations Committee during this Congress. I hope that in the next Congress, we can bring appropriations bills to the Senate floor in a timely fashion to avoid this kind of end-of- the-year pile-up. I do urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I, too, want to recognize and thank my outstanding staff for their hard work. Social Security Fairness Act Finally, Madam President, I do want to say that it is a great accomplishment that tonight the Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act, which will be sent to the President for his signature. This is long overdue. I want to share with my colleagues one really important fact, and that is that 83 percent of those who are affected by the government pension offset, which we repealed tonight, are lower income women. So this is a great accomplishment to eliminate these two inequitable, unfair provisions of the Social Security Act. It is going to make a big difference. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the truly extraordinary contributions to the U.S. Senate, to her home State of Arizona, and to our country of my friend and colleague Senator Kyrsten Sinema. The qualities that took Kyrsten from a difficult childhood to college, law school, the Arizona Legislature, and the U.S. Congress are evident to all of us who have had the privilege to work alongside such a remarkable leader. Her strength, courage, and fierce independence are inspiring. Her belief in the power of hard work and the importance of lending a hand to those in need guides her approach to public service. Most of all, I will never forget her persistence in forging compromises that benefit the American people. It truly is remarkable. Kyrsten always puts country over party. I had the privilege of working with Kyrsten on consequential legislation. She was the negotiator of the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act to ensure the orderly transition of Presidential power. She was the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure act, the most significant investment in our infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System in the fifties. Kyrsten's work to craft the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is yet another example. She coauthored the provisions to better prevent domestic abusers from having access to firearms. She was vital to the success of the Respect for Marriage Act, which defends same-sex marriages while at the same time strengthening and respecting religious liberties. Kyrsten also believes in protecting our institutions, and she spoke eloquently today of the importance of the filibuster and made such a compelling case. Standing up to intense pressure, her strong defense of the filibuster preserved the rights of the minority. I have been here when Republicans have been in the majority and when they have been in the minority. She reminded us that working together across party lines inevitably produces better legislation that is more carefully thought out and drafted. In a powerful speech that Senator Sinema gave to a college on a college campus, 2 years ago, she said this: Imagine what more we could accomplish for our country if, rather than staying in comfortable partisan corners, more leaders reached out in a genuine desire to craft durable, bipartisan solutions to our country's most difficult challenges. That is exactly what Kyrsten Sinema has done. She is that kind of leader. I thank her for her service, for making such a difference in the U.S. Senate, for her country, for the Senate, and for her home State. And I wish her all the best in her next endeavor. Thank you, Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, let me just briefly say that I have great admiration for the Senator from North Carolina. This is a rare instance in which we see the issue differently. But I appreciate his leadership and hard work. I rise today in strong support of the long overdue Social Security Fairness Act. This bipartisan bill would repeal two Social Security provisions that unfairly penalize many public servants in Maine and across the country. I also want to acknowledge and thank Senator Brown for his leadership. We have championed this bill together for several years. In fact, we have been debating this inequity in the Social Security System for decades--for decades. In 2003, I held the very first Senate hearing on this policy. In 2005, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and I introduced the first Social Security Fairness Act. In 2007, Senator Barbara Mikulski and I introduced another version of the bill. Just last month, the House of Representatives passed the bill overwhelmingly by a vote of 327 to 75. It is now time for the Senate to finally pass this legislation so that it can become law. Social Security is the foundation of retirement income for most Americans. Yet many teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants often see their earned Social Security benefits unfairly reduced by two provisions: the so-called windfall elimination provision and the government pension offset. The windfall elimination provision, or WEP, affects public servants who receive a pension from a job not covered by Social Security but who also worked long enough in another job to qualify for Social Security benefits. In other words, they have earned those benefits. They have worked the 40 quarters, the 10 years, under a job that pays into Social Security. Due to the WEP, however, their Social Security benefits are calculated using a different formula, which reduces their monthly benefits. For workers who become eligible for benefits in 2024, the WEP reduction can be up to $700 per month. The government pension offset, or just GPO, affects public servants who receive a pension from a job not covered by Social Security but who are also eligible to receive a Social Security spousal or widow's benefit. The GPO, however, reduces the Social Security spousal or widow's benefits by an amount equal to two-thirds of the noncovered pension. More than 70 percent of those affected by the GPO lose their entire benefit. This issue is extraordinarily important to people in my State of Maine because the State's pension system does not include a Social Security component. Among those most affected are Maine schoolteachers. They love their jobs and the children they teach, but they have to worry about their future and their retirement security. Many are women, often retired from teaching, whose spouses worked full time in the private sector, but when they become widowed, their retirement security is often jeopardized because they don't receive the standard amount from their late spouse's Social Security. The fact is that 83 percent of retirees penalized by the GPO provision are women. According to the Social Security Administration, in November 2024, more than 2 million people--including more than 20,000 in Maine--had their Social Security benefits reduced by the WEP. Similarly, more than 650,000 people were affected by the GPO in November of 2024, including more than 6,000 in Maine. Let me give you one example. There are so many. Catherine Sjogren from Bangor, ME, told me about having to reenter the workforce at age 72 after retiring from teaching for many decades. Her husband, a Navy veteran, paid into Social Security for 40 years. When he passed away, the GPO reduced Catherine's widow benefits by two-thirds. She did not have the financial security any longer to remain retired, and the GPO penalty left her with few choices but to return to work. Our dedicated public servants, such as our teachers who help prepare our children for future success and our police officers and firefighters who help keep our communities safe, should receive the full Social Security benefit that they have earned. Let me stress that last point: They have earned these benefits. This is an unfair, inequitable penalty. I urge my colleagues to support the Social Security Fairness Act and end this inequity once and for all. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, on May 22, 2023, Tom Carper told a crowd of admirers in Delaware that he would not seek a fifth term in the Senate, bringing to a close nearly 50 years in public service. Two days later, he delivered a keynote address at a reunion of 200 Vietnam war former POWs, which was held at the Nixon Library in California. Those two events speak volumes about the character and commitment of my valued colleague and good friend Tom Carper. From State treasurer to Governor to Congressman and Senator, Tom has been elected to statewide public office a record 14 times. In every way, he has justified the trust the people of the First State have placed in him. That remarkable accomplishment came after Tom served three tours of duty as a naval flight officer in Vietnam. He is the last veteran of that conflict in the Senate and a powerful and effective voice for those with whom he served. In 1991, then-Congressman Carper led a bipartisan delegation of Vietnam veterans back to Southeast Asia. Thanks to Tom's leadership, that trip helped lay the groundwork for ongoing efforts to account for Americans listed as missing in action. He exemplifies the ethic of the U.S. military that no one is left behind or ever forgotten. In the Senate, Tom's priorities have included improving our healthcare system, protecting our environment, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening our national security. And I feel so fortunate to have had the pleasure to work with Tom on many issues. As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee following the 9/11 attacks, Tom and I were strong allies in supporting America's first responders. He has been a champion for the SAFER and AFG Programs that help provide our firefighters with the equipment, training, and support they need. In fact, Tom and I serve as cochairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. Tom and I have also had a long partnership in strengthening the U.S. Postal Service. Twenty years ago, we introduced legislation that became law to reform the Postal Service--the first overhaul in nearly three decades to ensure universal service, affordable rates, and community access. Another issue that brought us together is protecting the environment and public health from mercury contamination, a particular threat to children and pregnant women. The Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act we have championed would allow the United States to take a leadership role in generating a long-term mercury monitoring program that would benefit not only our Nation but also the world. And I think it would be a great tribute to Senator Carper if we passed that bill and got it signed into law before the end of this Congress. From Southeast Asia to Wilmington to Washington, Senator Tom Carper has served with great distinction. Our Nation is grateful. And I wish him and Martha all the best in the years to come.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, after Senator Ben Cardin announced his retirement in the spring of 2023, he and his wonderful wife Myrna recorded an extraordinary video reflecting on a life in public service nearly as long as their 60 years of marriage. Touching on the highlights of a career that ranged from enacting the Magnitsky sanctions, about which we have heard so much today, to protecting Maryland's precious Chesapeake Bay, Ben said the unifying force behind his work has always been tzedakah, the Jewish tradition of helping wherever and whenever help is needed. Observing Ben for the past 18 years, I have seen a statesman of keen intellect and profound decency. He is always guided by the ideals of America, his service to Maryland, and by his faith. He consistently has demonstrated the character that earned him the trust of the people of Maryland from the house of delegates to the third congressional district to the U.S. Senate. Ben's hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, described him this way: He is a man of substance who understands complicated issues and the art of compromise. Having partnered with Ben on initiatives to move our Nation forward, I heartily agree with that description. For example, following the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election, Ben was an essential leader in a bipartisan working group that crafted the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Act to better ensure smooth transfers of power between Presidential administrations. I remember, for example, in one meeting, Ben bringing up a legal question that was absolutely essential that we resolve. It was indicative of the kind of careful legislating in which he engages. As members of the Small Business Task Force, we coauthored the Paycheck Protection Program that helped so many businesses and employees survive the COVID pandemic. From expanding Medicare access to improving home healthcare services to addressing opioid use disorder, Ben has been a strong and effective leader in healthcare. One of Ben's most enduring legacies will be the example, his leadership, as a champion of human rights around the world and his fearless persistent dedication to fighting anti-Semitism. And one of my most enduring memories of Ben will be standing by his side in Tel-Aviv last October following the horrific Hamas attack on Israel. In the aftermath of that incomprehensible evil, Ben offered words of consolation and peace as he made crystal clear that the United States will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel. It is significant that just before our bipartisan delegation traveled to Israel, Ben was presented with the Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Well deserved. It has been such an honor to serve with Senator Ben Cardin, a leader of integrity, intelligence, and civility. I am so grateful for his efforts to strengthen our institutions, to elevate our national discourse, and to bring people together to find common ground and solve problems. I wish Ben and Myrna much happiness in the years to come. You will be missed, Ben.