Catherine Cortez Masto

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise to join my Democratic colleagues today in opposition to the SAVE America Act, which is really just President Trump's and Republican leadership's shameful and disingenuous attempt to interfere with our elections and make it harder for American citizens to vote. Republican leadership has given two reasons why they want to pass this bill. I have been listening to the floor debates. I have been talking to some of my colleagues, and I want to address some of the arguments on the other side that I have heard because they are just not true. The first is that illegal immigrants are voting in our elections, and that is why we need the SAVE America Act. The second is that it is just common sense that this is just a voter ID bill, and that is all we need. Now, I am going to break down these two things. I want to make it very clear from the outset, this bill is not just a voter ID bill. This is not a voter ID bill. This is voter suppression at its worst. I want people to keep that in mind. Let me jump to the first argument. I want to make something very clear: The United States of America has the most safe and secure elections in the world. It has been proven over and over again, including in my State in Nevada. I know. I served as Nevada's attorney general for two terms. That is 8 years. And I helped prosecute voter fraud. In fact, I was part of an election fraud task force in my State, with the secretary of state and our Federal law enforcement, the FBI, every election season. In those 8 years, I can count on two hands how many cases of voter fraud we found, and they were all prosecuted. Now, Democrats don't oppose this bill because it would stop noncitizens from voting. In fact, we completely agree that noncitizens should not be voting. That is why it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote and why every State has a process to ensure people who register to vote are citizens. The bill that we are talking about today is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist. As you have heard my colleagues say, the conservative Heritage Foundation has a database of noncitizens voting that shows there have only been 77 cases between the years 1999 and 2023--77 cases in 25 years of noncitizens voting. And why do we know that? Because they were caught and prosecuted. And for each one of those individuals, they were held accountable by the authorities. In Nevada--in Nevada--a local news investigation found that out of the more than 7 million votes cast in our elections in Nevada since 2008, the number of votes cast by noncitizens was exactly 2--not 2,000, not 200, 2. So if you want more proof that this is a massively overblown problem, last year President Trump's own Justice Department opened an investigation over alleged voter fraud in Nevada during the 2020 Presidential election. President Trump lost the State of Nevada in that election by more than 33,000 votes that year. But what did President Trump's Department of Justice find? Well, the investigation closed this January without a single charge of voter fraud. Now, I personally find it curious that there was no investigation in my State into fraud during the 2024 Presidential election, where President Trump won--only the election that he lost-- but so be it. I am here to tell you we have the most safe and secure elections in the world, and noncitizens are not voting wholesale in them and out there running rampant. We know the data. And not only do we know the data, but we have it because they have been successfully investigated and prosecuted when, in the extremely rare cases, they are caught. So that is the first argument that my colleagues are saying: There are so many noncitizens voting, and we need to solve it. That is not true. Here is the second argument. Republican leadership is saying that we need to pass the SAVE America Act because it is just a voter ID bill. It is just a voter ID bill, and everybody shows ID no matter what they do. You have to show ID to drive. This is the same thing. Well, let me just tell you, this could not be further from the truth. The reason this bill is so outrageous is because it goes far beyond showing just a driver's license or voter ID when you vote. It is about voter suppression. Here is how the SAVE America Act hurts our elections. One, it mandates that the Department of Homeland Security, a Federal Department, collect voters' personal information and store it in a Federal database that has a history of deleting eligible voters from the voter rolls for no reason. Two, this legislation makes U.S. citizens jump through unnecessary, burdensome, and sometimes impossible hoops when registering to vote. And three, it effectively ends widely popular methods of registering to vote to discourage Americans from making their voices heard in our elections, which is a constitutional right. So let me break those down for you. First, the SAVE America Act would force States to turn over all their voter data to the Department of Homeland Security SAVE Program. This is a notoriously unreliable program designed to identify problem voters and then kick them off the voter rolls. This program is not accurate. It is not effective, and it has already disenfranchised hundreds of perfectly eligible voters. What does that mean? It means that Americans who have already been determined by their States to be citizens and who have potentially been voting in their States for years or even decades without an issue-- without an issue--could be removed by the Department of Homeland Security, flagged by the Department of Homeland Security for removal from their State's list of eligible voters. And when they show up to vote, on the day, where they have voted for so many years, at the same location where they have always gone, they will be turned away for no reason. We are already seeing this happen. There are States that have entered into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to give them access to their voters' private information. Nevada is not one. And we have evidence of American citizen voters being misidentified as noncitizens in those States. If this bill goes into effect, who knows how many Americans are going to be kicked off the list of eligible voters of their State, only to show up on election day and be told they need to reregister and produce numerous documents proving they are citizens. Let me take it one step further. The SAVE America Act mandates that States need to remove eligible voters off their list if they have not presented the documents mandated under the bill, under this legislation, to prove they are U.S. citizens. Now, keep this in mind. I am going to walk you through this. You have been voting in your State for the last 30 years, 25 years, same location, your library, wherever you go, you are voting. All of a sudden you are being told by your State: Sorry, you were flagged by the Department of Homeland Security. You can't vote on the day of an election. And now you say to yourself: OK. I don't understand this, but how do I reregister? What do I have to do? You now have to either have a passport or a birth certificate--a passport or a birth certificate--and you have to go in person now to reregister to vote. Literally--literally--anybody because of the Department of Homeland Security having this data can be kicked off the voter rolls. It is a problem, and that is the first step for inhibiting and putting a barrier in front of people for their right to vote. I am here to tell you this is the challenge of this bill and why Donald Trump and the Republicans are here. They are putting barriers in front of people to make it harder for them to vote. Why? Why? It shouldn't be that way. This bill requires Americans registering or reregistering to vote to provide documents to prove you are a citizen, documents that thousands of Americans just don't have access to. If you are a victim of DHS's erroneous voter roll purge and need to reregister to vote or if you simply want to register to vote for the first time, this bill would require a document that confirms that you were born in the United States or that you are a naturalized citizen. Does a driver's license alone do that? No. Neither does the REAL ID from my State and most States. That is not enough. Even presenting your birth certificate wouldn't be enough to prove citizenship. Americans would be required to present their birth certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID card, like a driver's license. Now, a passport would be enough to prove citizenship, but half of Americans don't have a passport--half--and that is true in Nevada too. Roughly, 56 percent of Nevadans--56 percent of Nevadans--have a passport. That means nearly half of the people in my State would have to have their birth certificate or other documentary proof of citizenship on hand. And if they wanted to get a passport, it would cost $165. That is not an amount most Nevadans can shell out, especially with prices so high these days. I hope, if you are one of the 146 million Americans who doesn't have an up-to-date passport, that you have your birth certificate and another government-issued photo ID readily available. But if you are among the 21 million Americans who don't, maybe because they don't drive or they simply don't have a birth certificate, then Republicans who support this bill want to tell you that you can't register to vote. Now, let's dive into this part of the bill a little bit more. The documentary proof of citizenship required under this bill is just simply nonsensical. For example, let's say you are a Native American; you show up to an election office ready to register to vote. They have their Tribal ID in tow. That wouldn't be enough for them. That Tribal ID would have to be an enhanced version issued by the Department of Homeland Security, which most Tribal members don't have or, if their Tribal ID was issued by their Tribe, it would have to display that they were born in the United States, which many don't. Let me give you another example. Say you are a servicemember in our military and you take your military identification card to register to vote, but under this bill, unless you have also presented your U.S. military record of service showing you were born in the United States or your birth certificate, you don't have the proper documentation. These restrictive portions of the bill would create barriers for all kinds of eligible Americans looking to follow the rules and just to register to vote so they can exercise their constitutional right. Keep in mind, this is not just for new voters registering for the first time. If you have to update your registration and your name doesn't match the documents that you present, this bill would make you take additional steps to prove your citizenship. For example, if you are 1 of the 69 million married women who has changed your last name, but you don't have an up-to-date passport and you are updating your registration to vote because you moved, you might have to go through this onerous process just to prove who you are. If your name doesn't match in all of the documentation you provided, you would have to provide more documents or sign an affidavit just to vote. If you can't get all that done, sorry, you don't get to vote. That is what President Trump and Republican leadership want. Americans' right to vote is guaranteed by the Constitution. We should not be making it harder for Americans to participate in our elections. It is bad enough that this bill has an unnecessary documentary proof of citizenship requirement, what is even worse is that if you want to register to vote, you have to present that proof of citizenship in person. That means nobody would be able to register to vote online or by mail. Think about the implications of this. Voter registration drives that encourage Americans to participate in our elections would grind to a halt. That would impact Black and Latino voters the most as well as those who didn't graduate from high school. Those groups are most likely to rely on third-party voter registration. Many citizens in Nevada register to vote at our DMV. If you think the lines are long at the DMV now, just think of the chaos and confusion that this legislation would require. And if you live in a rural area, like many Nevadans, and your nearest county clerk's office is hours away, you have to figure out how to get there in order to register to vote. Nevada only has two urban counties, Clark, where Las Vegas is, and Washoe County, where Reno is. There are 15 counties in Nevada that are entirely rural, and they have about 240,000 active registered voters in them. If you are a rural Nevadan and you have to register to vote or update your registration, Republicans who support this bill want you to spend a day off of work trying to do it. It is just cruel. Let me give you an example. In Nye County, NV, someone who lives on or near Duckwater Reservation would have to travel roughly 270 miles round trip to show an election official at the Nye County clerk's office their proof of citizenship. Now, that is one of the longest roundtrip journeys across the country to register to vote, and this is in one State. It is no wonder that in 2022, only 5.9 percent of Americans registered to vote in person. Why? Because it is inconvenient. It is unnecessary when we have already proven, effective safeguards in place to ensure you are who you are, when you say you are, when you get there to register to vote. But this bill would force all Americans to take that burden on if they want to exercise their constitutional right to vote, and it is just absurd. Not to mention, if it were to pass, this legislation, the bill, would go into effect immediately--immediately--without giving States any additional resources to implement these complex provisions. Most bills that significantly alter our systems give plenty of time to ensure smooth transition into the new system but not this bill. President Trump and the Republican leadership want to make sure it is done in time for the upcoming midterms because they are afraid of what American voters, using their voices to speak out against them, would say and how they would vote. We all know why Republican leadership wants to pass this bill. They want to pass it badly because they think that they will lose this election in this midterm because their current policies are extremely unpopular with Americans. Raising costs in this country instead of lowering them, kicking millions of Americans off their healthcare, and starting an unauthorized war with no exit strategy, that is an awful record for Donald Trump's Republican Party. And through our elections, Americans have a chance to make their opposition to his policies heard at the ballot box. Trump's Republican Party is trying to prevent them from voting, trying to choke off American votes in a desperate bid to stay in power. This bill goes beyond bad faith; it is just vile. Instead of trying to make Americans' lives better and passing legislation people actually want, instead of supporting our democracy, our Constitution, President Trump's Republican Party and followers now want to pass this bill and make it extremely difficult for millions of Americans to exercise their right to vote. Why? Because President Trump is afraid of being held accountable by the American people. The SAVE America Act would require States to turn over voter information to the Department of Homeland Security. It would kick millions of eligible voters off the rolls. It would make it infinitely harder for Americans to register to vote, and it would cause chaos in our States. It wouldn't solve a single problem, especially not the ones President Trump and the Republican leaders pretend exist, just the opposite. It would create huge problems for our elections in every State across the country, resulting in voter suppression. Nevadans and all Americans deserve better than this cowardly bill from Republicans trying to run from the issues they created for themselves. That is why my Democratic colleagues and I will not let it pass.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, every day, Americans across this country are watching as Federal immigration enforcement commits egregious abuses of power. They are watching as this administration encourages the brutalization of our communities. Now, while the focus has been on certain cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles--rightfully so because of what we are seeing on our screens every day--The reality is that President Trump's out-of-control immigration enforcement is happening everywhere-- everywhere. I have heard stories in my home State of Nevada where immigration enforcement, the enforcers, the individuals, are following people home after they go to church and where our local police officers are being threatened by them to turn over their undocumented family members who are not violent criminals. It is outrageous. And the truth is what we are seeing on TV and social media is only the tip of the iceberg. Now, I want to highlight a group of people we haven't been hearing enough about recently who are being immediately affected by this administration, and that is the Dreamers. Dreamers are men and women who came to this country as children. They have only ever known the United States as their home. The Dreamers that I know in Nevada, they go to college. They become a part of our workforce. They pay billions of dollars in taxes, and they are woven in the fabric of every community in Nevada. And many of them are protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or the DACA Program, as many know in this country. DACA protects immigrants who came to the United States as children from deportation, and it authorizes them to work legally. Let me just say that again. DACA is a program that was set up here in the United States, and it protects these children from deportation, and it authorizes them to work legally in this country, pay taxes, be a part of the economy. DACA isn't obtained at random. These individuals--these Dreamers-- these are applicants that undergo intense scrutiny, and every two years, when recipients apply to renew their status, they go through a new background check. In my State, we have over 10,000 Dreamers who are DACA recipients. Now, across the country there are over 500,000 DACA recipients. Let me tell you who they are. They are nurses. They are small business owners. They are neighbors. They are friends. They are teachers. They love this country, and they feel as American as U.S. citizens do. And let me just also say this. In the middle of COVID, who do you think was on the frontline of the healthcare industry to protect Americans and ensure that they were safe? It was Dreamers. But despite the fact that DACA recipients are supposed to be protected from deportation, this administration has chipped away at these protections. They have encouraged DACA recipients to self- deport--think about this--to self-deport to a country they have never been to and they have never lived in. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who was just fired for incompetence, admitted last month that they deported more than 80 DACA recipients. We don't have the answers to why this happened because we can't get a response from Homeland Security. But let me tell you what it does to Dreamers in my State and across the country. Dreamers have always had to live with uncertain futures, but now that uncertainty is worse than ever. And, unfortunately, DACA is currently under attack in the courts because Republican attorneys general across the country want to tear down the program. And for Dreamers who are too young to apply for DACA, well, unfortunately, they are on their own. And I will tell you what: Because of that, immigration enforcement is exploiting them. The administration's immigration enforcement is out of control. You just have to turn on the TV, and you see it. It is overexcessive. Dreamers are fearing for their safety and for their lives that they have worked so hard to create here in this country. We are seeing countless examples of this across the country, and I want to share some of these stories. Several of them are anonymous because, as we know--and we have seen far too often--this administration will engage in retribution against immigrant families who dare to speak out publicly. But I think it is important to understand that the implications here in Washington and the decisions that we are making are having a real impact in our communities amongst our neighbors. So I am going to share a couple of the stories with you. In Denver, CO, a college sophomore studying business and her younger sister, who was about to graduate from high school, were held in an immigration detention center for 4 months. Now, their stepfather is a veteran of the U.S. military, and neither sister has any criminal history, but they were detained all the same. They were detained why and how? Because they went to their scheduled check-in appointment that they were required to do. They were following the law, and ICE detained them and held them for 4 months. Caroline is a 20-year old nursing student who has lived in Utah since the age of seven. She was arrested without explanation and spent 15 traumatic days in a Colorado ICE detention center, despite having a clean record, a valid work permit, and a driver's license. An aspiring engineer in college in the Chicago area was deported after passing through airport security on his way to visit his family for Thanksgiving. He came to the United States from El Salvador at age 10 to escape life-threatening violence, and now he has been torn away from his family and his future. There is Ximena, who has lived in Georgia since she was 4 years old and is currently studying business in college. During a routine traffic stop, she was handed over to ICE and detained for more than 2 weeks before the charges against her were dismissed. Now, some will say: Oh, well, the charges were dismissed. Think about this: You are going through your life, you are going to college, you are studying business, you get stopped at a routine traffic stop, and then you get arrested and put in jail for 2 weeks. A 19-year-old studying business administration in Alabama has been in immigration detention since January. She helps her family run their small business. She volunteers with her church. She is an essential part of her community. But all that is now at risk as she awaits possible deportation. And then there is Any, who has a full scholarship to study business at Babson College. But while at the airport to surprise her family-- again, for Thanksgiving--Federal authorities detained and then deported her to Honduras, directly defying a Federal judge's emergency stay that was issued the night before. Even after this administration admitted this was a mistake on their part, Any still remains in Honduras, trying to get back to her family. Then we have a music major at school, in New York, and his family. They were detained as they were leaving church services. He was moved across the country during his 2-month detainment, and despite facing and fighting deportation, he is determined to finish his degree and become a music teacher. Marcelo, a high school student originally from Brazil, was detained by ICE while driving to volleyball practice. Over the course of 6 days, he reported being held with about 40 men, sleeping on concrete floors with thin blankets, and experiencing poor conditions, including limited showering. Then we have a student in New York studying education who needed just one more class to graduate. She was swept up during an immigration enforcement action on a public street and was detained for 1 month--1 month--even though she had a pending application for special immigrant juvenile status. Now her education is on hold as she works to recover from her ordeal. And then there is Emerson, who fled gang violence in Honduras with his mother, 12 years ago. Honor student, star soccer player--that was until he was detained at a routine ICE check--a routine ICE check--and deported to Honduras alone without explanation. There is a theme. Besides the overabusive, excessive, illegal actions of this administration, if you notice, these DACA recipients are not violent criminals--just the opposite--because they have a certain status, because they are following the law. They are going to their check-ins. They are trying to follow the law. They have been already vetted by this country. They don't want to do anything wrong. More so than anyone I know, DACA recipients don't commit crimes. They don't even want to commit a street violation because they want the opportunity to stay here, be U.S. citizens, and live and work like everyone else. I just gave you 10 stories, but I am telling you, there are so many more like this across the country. These young men and women are not the worst of the worst that President Trump promised to go after. They are just the opposite. They are inspirational people who rose up despite the adversity they faced, and they love this country. And in return for their loyalty, for their hard work, for their commitment to this country, this administration is punishing them. Trump and his henchmen are choosing to go after these Dreamers. This is a choice by this administration. What the administration is doing to DACA recipients--to Dreamers--to their families, and even to U.S. citizens goes against everything our Nation was founded on. And I will tell you what: Now is our moment, more than ever, to say ``no more,'' to stand up. I don't care what party you are from. I don't care what State you are from. I don't care about your background or who you are. If you are an American and you care about who we are as a country and our ideals and how we treat our neighbors and friends, it is time to take action. And I will tell you the first thing that we can do here in this body in a bipartisan way: We can pass the bipartisan Dream Act to give these young people a path to citizenship that would put them out of harm's way and give them the full rights and responsibilities that they deserve in this country. And I will tell you what: This is the very reason why I and many of my colleagues on the Democratic side will not give another dollar to ICE and CBP until we have some commonsense guardrails in place so that this indiscriminate enforcement against our communities stops. And I will be the first to tell you: Firing Kristi Noem doesn't cut it. That is not enough. Americans want and demand transparency. They want accountability, and they are entitled to it. They want a government that works for the people. So now, more than ever, when people ask, ``What are you doing?''--not just me, not just as a Democrat but as an American, as a citizen of this country, as the daughter of immigrants, the granddaughter of immigrants--I will tell you this: I will continue to fight not only for Americans in this country but for Dreamers and their families and those people that you have just heard about. The stories are real. I shared them with you today because I am hopeful that instead of just sitting in this room, talking about numbers and policy and partisan bickering, we understand the real implications of the decisions that we make here on the people back home--people back home who believe in the American dream, like my family. I say this time and time again: My grandfather was from Chihuahua, Mexico. When he came to this country, he served in the military and became a U.S. citizen. Do you think there was a reason why he did it? Hell, yes. He would never imagine, but he would hope that one day his granddaughter would be standing on the floor of the U.S. Senate, fighting for the same people, for the same rights as every person who comes to this country. That is what this is about, and I will never stop fighting for it. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

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

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 327.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, the bill that we just passed today through unanimous consent is a bipartisan bill to make sure that American families are not on the hook for taxes being paid to Vladimir Putin's war machine. Last week, we received disturbing reports that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to target United States forces. They are passing along critical information, like the locations of our military assets, including warships and aircraft. That is just unacceptable--not just to me. Ask most Americans, and they will say the same thing: Putin is actively aiding our enemy. Our tax dollars shouldn't be supporting his efforts to harm American troops. That is why we passed the bill today. Let me talk a little bit more about it. Currently, U.S. law allows businesses that are paying taxes in foreign countries to claim a tax credit or a deduction in the United States so they don't get taxed twice. Normally, this makes sense. It promotes international investment and cooperation, and it simplifies our Tax Code. Importantly, this tax credit doesn't apply to hostile nations like North Korea and Iran that use these funds to support terrorism and harm our military. The bill I passed today, S. 327, the HONOR Act, would add Russia to that list alongside our other adversaries. It is just common sense that we should disincentivize funding our adversaries in Russia when they are helping Iran target United States servicemembers, several of whom have tragically lost their lives to this conflict already. Russia had been our enemy long before now, and Putin's illegal war in Ukraine made that even more apparent. That is why Senator John Cornyn and I introduced this bill over a year ago. Passing this bill is urgent now more than ever because we know Russia is acting against us by aiding Iran. Now, I want to make it clear: I don't agree with President Trump's war in Iran. This administration slashed Medicaid for millions of American families, then turned around and launched a multibillion- dollar war without congressional approval. It puts America last. But no matter what you think about this war, we cannot continue to allow Vladimir Putin's regime to financially benefit while they are attacking and killing our servicemembers. It is that simple. We passed the HONOR Act and have now adjusted it with the unanimous bipartisan support of the Senators in this Chamber. I look forward to this bill's passing out of the House as well. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my good friend and colleague from Alaska Senator Murkowski, to ask for the passage of both H.R. 2815 and H.R. 972. As the Presiding Officer has heard, they have already passed the House. There have been sets of hearings there, work to be done. Let me talk a little bit about H.R. 972. This is the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Water Pipeline Act. This is the same bill that this Chamber already passed by unanimous consent last Congress. And, right now, almost 40 percent of Las Vegas residents and businesses depend on the South Valley Lateral pipeline. That is one single pipeline for nearly 3 million people. And that pipeline is 25 years old. Ten years from now, it will reach 95 percent capacity, and it won't be able to safely and reliably serve Las Vegans long term. This bill that we are, hopefully, passing today will allow the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a new pipeline that will improve the reliability and capacity of our existing water system and protect the water supply for nearly half of our Las Vegas residents and businesses. And if you are from the West, water is the issue. My colleague from California knows this. This is why I appreciate the conversation we have had today. Let me just say this. As a member of leadership in the Democratic caucus as well as a member of Energy and Natural Resources and the ranking member on the Public Lands Subcommittee, I couldn't agree more with not only the comments Senator Murkowski has made about our challenges in the work we need to do to pass several pieces of legislation, in both Houses, to the benefit of our constituents and my commitment to do just that. I also understand and respect my colleague from California. We work so closely on so many issues, from water issues to land issues. I understand his frustration. I understand his concern that there is a lack of movement with some of these important bills that we all need to work on together. So I make a commitment to him to use whatever authority and power I have to get this unstuck, to make sure that we are working together to address his concerns, which are completely valid, and to move forward as quickly as we possibly can, whether that is requiring meetings amongst the--bicameral--with the House Members of jurisdiction, making sure that, as a Senate caucus, this is a priority, working with our Republican colleagues as well. I really appreciate the Senator bringing this to everyone's attention in the way that he has, and I think it is important for us to continue to move forward together now to follow through and unstick a lot of the challenges that we are seeing with these lands bills and bills that we need to get passed in both Chambers. So I thank the Senator, and I will yield to Senator Murkowski.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I join my colleagues today to condemn the acts of violence we have all been talking about that occurred on this date 5 years ago when violent insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. Five years ago today, a mob viciously attacked Capitol Police officers to try to stop the Senate from certifying--right here in this room--the free and fair election that voted Donald Trump out of office. Now, many of my Senate colleagues will never forget that day because, as I have said, we were here. I remember it very, very clearly as I was preparing to come up here to stand with the States who legally certified that election and argue against the oppositions that were coming from some of my colleagues. I remember, as I was coming up here in the Capitol Building, running into a Capitol Police officer who was in one of the restrooms with the door open, washing his eyes out because he had been pepper sprayed. Now, I remember thinking, This Capitol Police officer here in the U.S. Capitol has been pepper sprayed, and he is here now trying to protect himself but most importantly protect all of us. What is happening that is so close to the Capitol right now that this police officer has been attacked? But I will tell you what this police officer did, like many others that day--many others. He washed his eyes out. He looked at us, saw the Senators who were there, and he said: Don't worry. We have got your back. We will protect you. He ran out of that bathroom, up the stairs, and out the door to protect us. He didn't think twice about it. He had already been harmed by these violent insurrectionists, but he didn't think twice. He kept being the forefront, being out there, running to protect all of us that were doing our jobs here on the Senate floor. I think that is what is so disturbing to many of us that lived through that day--and you don't have to have lived through this day. You know, I am talking to everyone in this room that was here, whether it is our Parliamentarian, our staff, everybody here, the interns, our reporters, everybody experienced that day. People manning the doors. Everybody felt it. But you know who else felt it that day, you know, that feel just as emotional about what they saw? It was every American that was watching it unfold on TV because this is their Capitol. This is their building. This is the building of the people. And they were watching these violent insurrectionists try to tear it down and looking for Members of Congress--looking for Members of Congress to do who knows what, to prevent us from carrying out the duties of our office, but most importantly, carrying out the peaceful transfer of power that this country is known for and has been known for, for over 200 years. Let me say this. That officer, along with another 150 of his fellow men and women in uniform, they were injured during the insurrection. Five police officers died because of it. Some members of President Trump's mob stole riot shields and used them to beat officers. One person assaulted law enforcement with a metal whip. Another choked an officer to the ground. They brought weapons and zip ties to the Capitol. They used WD-40 and bear spray on our officers, and they assaulted Capitol Police with American flags. We know this firsthand from, not just the police officers, but from the videos of that day. And I know it firsthand because I saw it in the Halls of the Capitol, the paraphernalia that was littered throughout because of the damage that was caused by those insurrectionists. I will tell you what, you don't have to take our word. Take the word of rioters because the rioters took videos of themselves doing these horrific things and then posted them online. The claims that these were peaceful protesters are disproved by their own evidence. They were proud to attack the men and woman who keep us safe in an attempt to steal an election. Why? Because President Trump couldn't handle the fact that he lost, because he would rather see our democracy crumble than acknowledge that the American people voted him out. So earlier that day, he encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and intimidate the Senators and Members of Congress and his own Vice President, who were in this Chamber to certify those results. The mob smashed through the lines of Capitol Police officers. We saw that on video. They broke into the building. We saw it on video, and we saw it on TV, live. And they left a trail of destruction behind them--all in the name of Donald Trump. Condemning their lawlessness and their actions against police officers is something we should all be able to agree on, but the truth is that President Trump does not care about that law enforcement. In fact, he is trying to sweep it all under the rug. A year after the insurrection, Congress passed a law to install a plaque honoring the police officers who bravely tried to hold off that violent mob that day; but now Republican leadership in Congress is refusing to unveil the memorial. Recognizing heroic actions of law enforcement on January 6 is the least President Trump can do, but that would require him to acknowledge that his followers did something wrong. It shouldn't be hard to say that if you commit crimes against law enforcement and incite an insurrection, you should be brought to justice and held accountable. But instead of standing with our police officers and denouncing these appalling actions, President Trump is rewarding them. He has decided that you don't need to face the consequences of your crime as long as you commit them on his behalf. One of the very first things President Trump did the day he was sworn in was to pardon more than 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists. Now, this is the President who claims he would restore law and order during his Presidency. His actions go against our democracy, our rule of law, and everything we stand for as a nation. In the United States of America, no one is above the law--not the President and certainly not the convicted criminals he is treating like his own personal army. Letting these bad actors off the hook has encouraged their behavior. In fact, some of them gave interviews saying President Trump's pardons have vindicated their actions. Now, remember, these are some individuals who were convicted in our criminal justice system by a jury of their peers. These pardons were an endorsement of political violence and an endorsement of attacking our law enforcement. And now, shockingly, within a year of President Trump putting these dangerous criminals back on the streets, several of them have been rearrested for committing crimes. At least a dozen of these men and women, including the one who assaulted Capitol Police officers with a metal whip, have been picked up on various charges ranging from soliciting a minor to plotting to murder the FBI agents who investigated him, to killing somebody while driving drunk to burglary--and I could go on. These are the people President Trump called patriots. These are the people President Trump put back on our streets making our communities less safe and putting innocent people in harm's way. President Trump owns this. Every crime these violent insurrectionists commit while they roam free is on his head. This isn't a policy debate. It is about right and wrong. It is about who we are as a country. It is about our rule of law and order. Pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists is an insult to our law enforcement, to our rule of law, to our democracy, and, yes, to the American people, who believe in it, who fight for it. We cannot stand for it, and my Democratic colleagues and I will continue--continue--not only to speak out against it, because you can't whitewash this, but also to recognize those Capitol Police officers, those law enforcement officers, those men and women who ran headfirst into harm's way to protect us and this Capitol--the people's Capitol. They will be recognized every single day, and yes, we should have a plaque and a memorial and do so much more, and I am proud of my colleagues for drawing attention to this and continuing to support and thank those men and women who risked their lives to protect our rights and our democracy in this country. With that, I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a significant milestone for The Children's Cabinet, a nonprofit organization that has protected the safety and well-being of countless children in Nevada for the last 40 years. Founded in Reno, The Children's Cabinet has since grown to provide community-based support across all corners of the State to ensure children and families have the resources they need to succeed and thrive. I have appreciated our strong partnership over the years to improve the lives of Nevada families. Intending to create a high-level ``cabinet'' of community leaders across Washoe County, Nevada businessman Michael Dermody brought together a diverse group of public officials and business professionals to create The Children's Cabinet in 1985. Together, that group worked to lay the foundation for an organization now serving over 15,000 families each year across southern and northern Nevada. A key factor in The Children's Cabinet's success is their unique structure built on numerous public-private partnerships across the State. Today's partners range from State and local government entities to academic institutions, charities, and private nonprofit organizations. These collaborative efforts aid The Children's Cabinet in identifying the most pressing issues facing Nevada's children and families and swiftly developing programs to address a wide range of challenges over the years. The Children's Cabinet serves as an incredible resource to our community as their programming features everything from parenting classes, childcare subsidy assistance and referrals, an on-site food pantry, an alternative high school, free family counseling, legal case management, workforce development, and crisis intervention. Their programs touch the full spectrum of economic, social, and educational needs and are available to children and families at no cost. The Children's Cabinet also offers Safe Place, a 24/7 service for youth experiencing violence, abuse, exploitation, mental health crises, and other unsafe situations. Safe Place staff connect vulnerable youth to resources they need, including counseling, temporary shelter, and case management services. The Children's Cabinet also provides tools for adults so they can identify and help youth struggling with depression, addiction, and crises. These supports are critical when families too often face obstacles in accessing mental health care. In addition to providing direct support to children and families, the organization's many programs also assist child care providers and employers across the State in ensuring they can offer the services and flexibilities that allow parents and caregivers to be there for their children--and those programs have continued to grow. Earlier this year, The Children's Cabinet launched the Pathways to Program Success initiative to equip Nevada's childcare providers with guidance to build sustainable childcare programs with a strong workforce of early childhood educators that serve children from all backgrounds. This is just one of many examples over the years of The Children's Cabinet's comprehensive approach to filling in gaps for Nevada families. What started as a group of local community leaders who identified a gap in support has evolved into a statewide organization powered by the many staff, volunteers, and partners who have continued to go the extra mile to provide essential services to families in need. I am proud of the work The Children's Cabinet has done over the last 40 years to ensure every Nevadan has the resources they need to build a strong foundation for their family's future. I look forward to their continued work for decades to come.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States. As the spiritual head of the world's second-largest Christian Church, he is a significant figure for Orthodox Christians worldwide, including many within Nevada's nearly 10,000-strong Greek-American community. His visit is especially meaningful to that community and to all who look to him for guidance. As he has done during previous visits, His All-Holiness met with the President in the Oval Office and with congressional leaders here at the Capitol, meetings that reflect the long-standing respect between our Nation and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Congress has also acknowledged his leadership in the past, awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the 270th Ecumenical Patriarch and the 269th direct successor of the Apostle Andrew. From Istanbul, he has spent decades building relationships across faiths, promoting what he calls ``a dialogue of loving truth,'' and reminding the world that ``War in the name of religion is war against religion.'' I also want to note that during this visit, he received the Templeton Prize in New York, a meaningful recognition of his work to encourage dialogue, understanding, and care for our shared humanity. He now joins distinguished figures such as the Dalai Lama and Jane Goodall. I am pleased to recognize His All-Holiness's visit and the impact of his leadership, both globally and for the Greek-American community in Nevada and across the country.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today we celebrate a beloved national tradition of lighting the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, known as ``the People's Tree.'' This year marks a historic first for Nevada: The tree comes from our own Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the largest National Forest in the lower 48 States. Affectionately named ``Silver Belle,'' this 53- foot red fir was harvested from the Carson Ranger District in northern Nevada. Over the last several months, Nevadans from across the State came together to make the thousands of ornaments that adorn the tree, bringing this year's theme, ``Starry Skies to Neon Lights: the Spirit of the Silver State,'' to the Capitol. This year's tree lighter is Grady Armstrong, a fourth grader from Virginia City, NV, whose winning essay captured all that the Silver State has to offer, from our national forests and public lands to our ghost towns and dark skies. Grady's love for Nevada is clear, and I am proud to have him here to light the tree. Silver Belle began its journey to Washington, DC, in Carson City, on November 1, at the Nevada Day Parade as the Great State celebrated its 161st year of statehood. Over the course of nearly 3,000 miles, Silver Belle traveled from Nevada, making stops in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland bringing thousands of Americans together and sharing the Spirit of the Silver State with communities along the way. I want to thank the dedicated team at the U.S. Forest Service, the trucking crew from Knight-Swift Transportation for safely bringing Silver Belle to Washington, DC, Southwest Airlines for helping deliver thousands of handmade ornaments crafted by Nevadans, and every partner who made this possible. Nevada's public lands and forests sustain our communities, strengthen our economy, and inspire great pride in our State's natural beauty. As we celebrate this holiday season, this beautiful tree--Nevada's gift to the Nation--reminds us of the importance of stewardship, community, and the unity that defines the best of America.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, President Trump promised Americans during his campaign that, if elected, he would lower costs on day one, and Americans trusted him to do so. Yet all President Trump has done from day one of his Presidency until now has been to raise costs for our families and our businesses. One of the most outrageous examples of this is with his erratic blanket tariffs that he has imposed on our allies and trade partners, as you have heard from my colleague from Delaware talking about. But let me be clear. These tariffs for the American public are nothing but taxes. Tariffs are taxes. That is what the American people are seeing every single day, and many of them are seeing it first thing in the morning when they have their cup of coffee. This is an unacceptable burden to be putting on the American people, and the tools this administration is using to do so are clearly unconstitutional. They are actually being heard in the Supreme Court today. The good news is, Congress has the authority to do something about it. There is bipartisan, bicameral agreement that not only can we act, but we must. That is why I am here today to pass the bill that I wrote with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. It is called the No Coffee Tax Act. It is a very simple bill. It would roll back President Trump's tax on our coffee. Let me explain why this is important. The United States is the largest importer of coffee in the world. Why? Because even though we all love our morning coffee, the United States does not have the natural climate or growing conditions needed to produce the amounts of coffee Americans consume every day. Ninety-nine percent of the coffee in this country comes from another country. Until President Trump took office, Americans had never paid broad tariffs on coffee imports, but now this President has decided to recklessly impose these blanket tariffs on our top sources for coffee-- Brazil at 50 percent, and other main coffee producers, like Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, and Ethiopia, are being tariffed at outrageous rates. I don't need to tell you what that has meant for Americans because we have all felt it every single day. I am hearing it from my coffee roasters and wholesalers in Nevada who have been forced to raise their prices to keep up with these tariffs. That is filtering down to local coffee shops--our small businesses--that are in turn having to raise their prices on consumers. The price of a cup of coffee has skyrocketed nearly 40 percent since last year--40 percent. This is happening all over the country. And it is not just businesses where coffee is their main product; restaurants that serve breakfast are being impacted as well. This is what these irresponsible tariffs have done to America, because, as I have said, tariffs are taxes. Now, I know that responsible, targeted tariffs on our adversaries can be good for American workers and our national security. There is a smart way to do this, however. Taxing our coffee and raising prices for Americans isn't it. The bipartisan, bicameral bill Senator Paul and I introduced would bring coffee tariffs back to the level they were at before President Trump took office--zero percent. The Senate has already passed legislation supported by both Democrats and Republicans to repeal President Trump's tariffs on Canada and Brazil as well as his global tariffs on the rest of our trading partners. The No Coffee Tax Act is equally important to the American public. Prices are already too high in this country. Getting rid of this unnecessary coffee tax will make Americans' lives and their mornings just a little bit easier. For that reason, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of my bill, the No Coffee Tax Act, which is at the desk; that the bill be considered read three times and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I have a lot of respect for my colleague from Idaho, and I appreciate his comments. I respectfully disagree. I do think that we have to consider, as the negotiations are taking place, as my colleague talked about the administration is engaging in-- how long will that take? I know the USMCA took at least 2 to 3 years. That was just two countries--Mexico and Canada--that we were trying to negotiate with. While this administration goes through this indiscriminate negotiation without any involvement from Congress, what am I to tell my businesses back home? Those businesses, those coffee shops that closed, those individual breakfast restaurants that are there that are passing off the costs to the consumer--how long do they have to wait until they get an answer from this administration? That is why this commodity, this particular product--there had never been a tariff on it before because 99 percent of the coffee that we consume comes from out of the country. So it really is having a devastating impact on our small businesses. And they really shouldn't use this leverage in a negotiation tactic for this reason. I appreciate the comments, however, from my colleague from Idaho. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the eighth anniversary of the worst mass shooting in modern American history. Today, as I give this speech, far too many Americans across the country are reeling from the pain of shootings in their own communities. This country is seeing a horrifying increase in mass violence that doesn't just destroy the lives of the victims; it tears apart families; it leaves loved ones with an unfillable hole in their hearts; and it brings communities to the breaking point. I have seen it firsthand. Eight years ago today, a man gunned down 58 people at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, NV. More than 800 people were wounded in that chaos, and 2 people later succumbed to their injuries. That day and those that followed were some of the toughest for all of us. For me, personally, my niece was attending that festival, and I remember the overwhelming relief that I felt to learn that she was safe and OK. I also remember spending time at the reunification center with the families of the missing festival attendees, praying with those families, crying with those families, watching them as they were hoping and praying that their loved ones would return to them. Some were lucky but many were not. Our city--our entire State of Nevada--felt lost, but I will tell you, out of this horror came something miraculous. In the aftermath of 1 October, Nevadans came together to support each other. People came out in droves to give blood. There were lines around the block. They donated money, food, clothing, and they lent a helping hand to those who had lost so much. I will tell you that businesses, community organizations, and law enforcement did what they could to ease the burdens of the families who had been impacted, and I worked across the aisle with my colleague the Republican Senator, at the time, Dean Heller, to get financial relief for the victims. Our city united in the face of this tragedy, and we came out of it Vegas Strong. I am forever touched by those incredible efforts to shine a light in the darkness. But even all that good cannot erase the scars left behind by this massacre. Its victims were innocent people who went to a music festival to enjoy themselves. It didn't matter what they did for work or what they believed or whom they loved. They were actually gunned down indiscriminately. In the 8 years since that tragedy that shook my State to its core, we have, sadly, seen more violence erupting across the country. We have seen it in places of worship, in schools, and in grocery stores. As Americans, as Members of Congress, we have to continue speaking out against it. Violence is never the answer. We cannot survive in a country where this is the norm. We have to do better in our rhetoric and our actions. For me, that means coming together to work on commonsense solutions, like finally banning bump stocks, passing comprehensive background checks to make sure that criminals can't exploit loopholes to buy deadly weapons, and delivering more support for, yes, mental health in this country. It also means always remembering the victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre. Grieving the lives that they never got to live and the families they never got to come home to or to create serves as a stark reminder of the horrors violence like this can cause. We owe it to them and to their loved ones to keep working together to end it. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Las Vegas has rebuilt. We have risen from the ashes stronger than ever. We will never forget the trauma inflicted on us that day. That pain must fuel us to work together toward a better future for our children, for our families, and for our country. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today, I want to take some time to recognize a Nevadan and recognize specifically the legacy that Rosemary A. Vassiliadis has contributed to this country but to Nevada specifically. On September 12, 2025, after 40 years delivering for Southern Nevada, including more than 28 years as an airport leader at Clark County's Department of Aviation, Director Vassiliadis will retire from her career in public service. Rosemary started her career as budget chief for the city of Las Vegas in 1984 and has been working for her community ever since. I know; I have watched firsthand. I got to work side by side with her. She spent the last 12 years as the top executive of Harry Reid International Airport, leading one of the Nation's more dynamic airport systems. Rosemary was appointed as the first woman director of Clark County's Department of Aviation in 2013 after nearly 16 years as deputy director. I can't say enough about what she has contributed to Nevada, and I want to talk a little bit about it because, thanks in large part to her stewardship, Southern Nevada's aviation system has grown to a $35 billion economic engine, employing more than 18,000 workers and serving as the gateway to the world's premiere tourism and convention destination. The system is anchored by LAS and includes four additional general aviation airports. Rosemary's vision as head of LAS emphasized the importance of the airport as the first and last experience visitors had of Las Vegas, and she prioritized efforts to enhance that customer experience for all travelers. She worked to expand LAS to include the D gates and terminal 3, and her emphasis on strategic coordination helped move millions of travelers to the region during some of the country's largest sporting events, including the Super Bowl and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Under her leadership, the airport reached unprecedented milestones, including handling a record 58.4 million passengers in 2024. In the last 12 years, the Harry Reid International Airport has welcomed visitors from new international destinations and solidified its spot as one of North America's top 10 commercial airports. Rosemary has spent her career supporting the safety and security of all passengers and workers. During her tenure at the Clark County Department of Aviation, Rosemary led the airport system through extraordinary times, including navigating the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and providing continued service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her direction, LAS has also become a leader in the fight against human trafficking. I know this firsthand. As AG, I got to partner with her. As attorney general of Nevada, I got to partner with her and watch her focus on how we address this horrific human trafficking that is happening in this country. Rosemary was one of the first in her field to work with law enforcement and human trafficking experts to create the industry's most comprehensive initiative to train and educate airport employees, provide safe exit strategies for victims of human trafficking, and install multilingual signage in all the restrooms to help address this horrific, modern-day slavery that we are seeing. Additionally, LAS remains an industry leader in security programs. Most people don't even know this. Rosemary established a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration and created a unique testing ground for new and emerging screening technologies in a live checkpoint environment. Now, I have to stress this: This is the first and only innovation checkpoint, and Harry Reid Airport is designated as the Nation's only innovation airport. It is because of Rosemary and her team. Rosemary has established the foundation for the Clark County airport system to continue to adapt as it serves the growing Southern Nevada population and the visitors the community welcomes each year. As a lifelong Nevadan, I am so honored to have worked with Rosemary over so many years and greatly appreciate her tireless efforts to grow LAS and the Clark County airport system. Her leadership was revolutionary, and she will be missed. But I want to stress even more. It is not just the work that she did as a civil servant, because I think that is a noble service, and that is what she believed in--always giving back to her community--but Rosemary is also an incredible, incredible mother, friend, neighbor, lifelong Nevadan who truly believed in her State and her community, and raised a great family. Now I hope she has the opportunity, after all of the years she has given to so many people in Nevada and so many tourists--I am going to say to the staff I am looking at right now, if you have come to Las Vegas, you have come through Rosemary's airport, and this is what it is about: making sure that people feel loved, support. She has not only done it for so many tourists, international and domestic, but she has done it for Nevadans and her family. I am so proud of her and got a chance to watch firsthand her commitment to her State, her country, and her family. Rosemary, I wish you all the best. Wherever you go next, whatever the next chapter, know that you will always have my support and my friendship and I look forward to seeing what you do next.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, as my colleagues have mentioned, today marks 60 years since Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law. Democrats and Republicans alike should be celebrating the lives that have been saved as a result of these critical programs. Members of both parties should be sharing stories about Americans who have benefited from the healthcare they have received thanks to Medicare and Medicaid. Unfortunately, today, my Democratic colleagues and I are not celebrating. We are angry. We are angry that President Trump lied when he said he would cherish Medicaid and that his allies in Congress wouldn't touch this essential program. We are angry that President Trump and congressional Republicans slashed nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid so they could hand billionaires a tax cut and add $4 trillion to our national deficit. We are angry that their new law is about to kick 17 million Americans off of their health insurance. In my home State of Nevada, that means up to 120,000 Nevadans will lose their healthcare; 100,000 of those Nevadans will lose their access to Medicaid; and another 20,000 Nevadans will lose their affordable health coverage if Republicans continue to refuse to work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. There are a million reasons this new law of gutting Medicaid is terrible for Nevadans and for our country as a whole, but, today, I just want to focus on one--Hannah. Hannah is a young girl who lives in Nevada, and her parents shared her story with me. Now I want to share it with you. Hannah was diagnosed with a congenital kidney disease while still in utero. The first few years of her life were full of hospital rooms, doctors, and machines trying to keep her alive. At just 2\1/2\ years old, Hannah underwent major surgery that finally gave her the opportunity to live like a normal kid, and she did for a few years. Then, at age 9, Hannah fell into a coma. Imagine. Imagine being her parents, watching--completely helpless--as your daughter fights something that you can't protect her from. Hannah did eventually wake up but with a new diagnosis--diabetes--a condition that nearly 270,000 Nevadans manage every day, not just the disease itself but the crushing weight of the costs associated with it. Over the next 2 years, Hannah's parents spent more than $5,000 out of pocket because their insurance refused to cover all of their costs to their daughter. Hannah and her family sacrificed so much just to be able to afford medication that would allow Hannah to lead a normal life. But just when they thought they would never be able to financially recover, they were able to enroll in Medicaid and receive the support they needed to care for Hannah at home. Now Hannah is able to live the life she wants to lead without the fear of medical debt pulling her family back underwater. I want to read to you what Hannah's parents wrote me: But without Medicaid, [Hannah's] insulin would cost more than our mortgage. Let that sink in. The price of the medication keeping my child alive is higher than the roof over her head--even after insurance. How does that make sense? America should be about neighbors caring for neighbors. But instead, we are pushing people with disabilities to the back of the line, treating their lives as less valuable, their futures as an afterthought. I beg you--I beg you--to save Medicaid not just for my Hannah but for every child like her. My Democratic colleagues and I worked hard to save Medicaid, and we tried to reach across the aisle to protect the 17 million Americans just like Hannah who could lose their insurance because of this bill Republicans and Donald Trump signed into law. Unfortunately, President Trump insisted that congressional Republicans pass his tax cuts for billionaires, and they did what they were told. So now Hannah and her family and millions more like them may be forced back into medical debt. To the proponents of this new law who insist that kids like Hannah aren't the ones they are targeting to kick off coverage, I would say that either they are being dishonest or they simply don't understand how Medicaid actually works. These cuts shrink the entire pot of money States rely on to fund Medicaid. Nevada and every State in this country will be forced to stretch fewer dollars to cover everyone. That almost always means tightening eligibility or cutting services so kids like Hannah end up losing coverage even if they weren't the type of people Republicans singled out for cuts. It is just shameful, and it is un- American. We are better than this as a country. Now, my Democratic colleagues and I will do everything in our power to restore the healthcare funding Republicans have gutted. You heard them on the floor today. You are going to hear from more of my colleagues. I will say this: We will not let our colleagues forget what they did. We will not let them forget the millions of Americans, whether they are in our States or their States, who are losing access to healthcare but who just want to get ahead and be able to afford their healthcare and have access to healthcare for themselves and their families. That is worth fighting for. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today seeking unanimous consent to pass a package of bipartisan bills that will support current and former law enforcement officers who have sacrificed so much-- sometimes everything--to protect our families. Yesterday morning, three people died in a shooting in my home State in Reno, NV, and just hours later, four people died, including a law enforcement officer, in a shooting in New York City. The only reason more people didn't die is because law enforcement responded quickly. Law enforcement officers run toward danger for the rest of us. These are the people we are supporting with the package of bills today. This package includes three pieces of legislation that I am proud to cosponsor and one I introduced myself. I am a cosponsor of S. 419, the Reauthorizing Support and Treatment of Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 introduced by Senator Hawley. This bipartisan bill would help fund family support, suicide prevention, and other mental health services to law enforcement officers. I am also a cosponsor of S. 1316, the Strong Communities Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Peters. This is bipartisan legislation that would make law enforcement recruits eligible for funding to make their education and training programs more affordable in return for their commitment to service to our communities. And, finally, I am cosponsoring S. 539, the bipartisan PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Cornyn. This bill authorizes funding for the Department of Justice to assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting child exploitation. These bills, along with four others, including my colleague Senator Klobuchar--these bills honor our law enforcement officers and have support from both Republicans and Democrats. The legislation I want to focus on today is S. 911, the bipartisan Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025, which I was proud to introduce with Senator Mitch McConnell. The men and women who serve as law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep our community safe. Whether they are actively serving or have retired in good standing, we owe them a debt of gratitude. That is why the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program exists. It provides death and education benefits to the surviving family members of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders. It also provides disability benefits to officers who have suffered irreparable injuries in the line of duty. It is a critical program that supports the families of those who sacrificed everything to protect our communities. Unfortunately, the existing PSOB Program does not cover the rare instance in which a retired law enforcement officer dies as a result of their service. In 2012, Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a retired law enforcement officer in Kentucky, was going about his day. When he went outside his house to check his mail, he was tragically shot and killed by a man he had arrested a decade earlier. Even though his murder was a direct retaliation for his service in uniform, Chief Proffitt's family was denied the benefits they deserved simply because he had already retired. To me, that is unacceptable, and I know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree. That is why Senator McConnell and I worked together to write the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act to ensure that families of retired law enforcement officers who were killed as a result of their service are not denied benefits, so no more families have to go through what Chief Proffitt's family has gone through. This is just commonsense, bipartisan legislation that passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee--unanimously. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and the rest of the bipartisan bills in this package to protect the men and women who protect us every day, and their families. I would like at this time to provide an opportunity for my colleague from Iowa--to yield some time to him, the Judiciary chairman, right now, to provide some remarks.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague from Iowa and the Judiciary Committee and all of the good work he has done on these important pieces of legislation, as they really work towards ensuring that all of our communities across the country stay safe and that we are supporting our law enforcement. So as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 77, S. 180; Calendar No. 79, S. 419; Calendar No. 80, S. 539; Calendar No. 81, S. 911; Calendar No. 82, S. 1316; Calendar No. 83, S. 1563; Calendar No. 84, S. 1595; further, that the committee- reported substitute amendment to S. 1563 be agreed to and the committee-reported amendment to S. 1316 be agreed to; that the committee-reported substitute amendment to S. 539 be withdrawn and the Cornyn substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; finally, that the bills, as amended, if amended, be considered read a third time and passed en bloc and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Reserving the right to object, I agree. Withholding funding for law enforcement anywhere in the country--across the country--is just not acceptable and it should not be done and it should not be based on party affiliation, playing favoritism--I absolutely agree. But I also agree, two wrongs don't make a right. And where we are today, these bills passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee weeks ago, and my colleague from New Jersey, I have respect for him. He is on the committee. He voted to pass these bills. He had an opportunity at that time to present this amendment. This is the first time we are ever hearing about it. We have been trying to pass this package of bills that passed out of committee unanimously in the last 8 weeks. And now that we came to the floor to try to push and get this done, we are hearing for the first time about this amendment. Let me just say, this amendment really is not even applicable to the Proffitt bill that is part of this. It has nothing to do with grant funding. This bill has everything to do with trying to make sure that grant funding goes to all the States. I am not here to talk about grant funding. There is no funding associated with it, yet he wants to put it on my piece of legislation. This is why it is ridiculous. This is an attempt to kill all of these bills. I don't know why. I don't know why, because at the end of the day, all of these bills are about bipartisan support. If my colleague absolutely has concerns about getting funding to his law enforcement, I would be willing to work with him. I would be willing to work--and I know my colleagues would try to figure out how we ensure that this administration doesn't play favorites and fight for that funding and holding them accountable to get that funding to all of our law enforcement communities across this country. I agree; President Trump's impoundment of funding is a serious concern. But tacking on poison pill language to these bills won't guarantee that any additional funding makes it to New Jersey, Nevada, or any other State. Instead, what it will do, it will keep critical bills from passing in the first place. Let me just say that again. These are critical bills. One bill, the Protecting First Responders for Secondary Exposure Act, requires purchasing devices that prevent secondary exposure to fentanyl and other lethal substances. Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act 2025 provides family support and mental health services to law enforcement personnel. PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization 2025 assists Federal, State, and local law enforcement Agencies in investigating and prosecuting child exploitation. And we are sitting here today saying: That is not going to pass--even though it came out of committee unanimously; even though there was a time to address the concerns that my colleague has. And now he wants to kill all of these bills, some of them that his amendments are not even applicable to. You have to question what is going on here. Is this the right venue to fight for what he is seeking? I absolutely respect him and understand his concern and would be willing to fight with him to get that funding--essential funding--to his State that this administration has, apparently, blocked. But this is not the way to go about it, to kill all of these bills with this poison pill amendment. For that reason, Mr. President, I object.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, let me try to refocus this on the bills that are before us today. I am not sure if the answer here is to stop bipartisan legislation that gives tools to law enforcement across the community to keep our communities safe--that stopping those is the answer moving forward here. I don't know of anyone across this community who has a concern when they make that 9-1-1 call who doesn't want law enforcement to respond. I don't care whether you are a Republican, a Democrat. I don't care if you are nonpartisan. I don't care where you live. You want law enforcement to respond if there is something happening in your community. That is what these bills are focused on, is how do we ensure that our law enforcement has the tools that it needs to ensure that it can keep our communities safe. That is all it is, and there are several of them, bipartisan, and they passed in a unanimous way for that very reason--to keep our communities safe. Now, we can talk about the funding for those in appropriations. That is a separate subject, and I am willing to work with my colleague and fight the administration from stopping that funding, but if we don't pass these pieces of legislation, we are not even giving the tools to law enforcement to keep our communities safe. That is what this is about, and that is why there was unanimous consent for it. I do want to also thank one other person I didn't get a chance to, who is Senator Durbin. He has worked tirelessly on the Judiciary Committee on these pieces of legislation, has worked with law enforcement, has worked with all of us in the understanding that it is about safe communities at the end of the day and about ensuring we keep and give law enforcement the tools it needs to keep our communities safe. I also appreciate my colleague who is willing to work with me on two pieces of the bills that are before us, albeit we worked this out just before we walked on the floor today, but I appreciate his willingness to allow me to really kind of pull out two pieces of legislation and talk to him about it and then his willingness--what I am hearing--to support it.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. So, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 81, S. 911, and Calendar No. 84, S. 1595.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the bills be considered read a third time and passed en bloc and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I have a motion to recommit at the desk.