Joni Ernst

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Next, Madam President, we will move on to CAPT Thomas A. Donovan--CAPT Thomas A. Donovan, for appointment to Rear Admiral (lower half). Captain Donovan is currently serving as the Executive Officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I know Captain Donovan, and I know of his service. I will not go into details tonight on this floor. I will explain it to Members who are on this floor, off the floor, if they would like to talk about Captain Donovan. I truly believe that we must stand up for the security and protection of our Nation, and I am proud to recognize this deserving officer, who earned this promotion, and highlight his selfless call to serve. I firmly believe that Captain Donovan's qualifications, record, and character make him exceptionally eligible for this appointment and promotion. Now, again, I know Captain Donovan. I know him quite well. There may be mumblings over some of these younger officers. We have spent just a brief time talking about them on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Those who are out watching on C-SPAN, or maybe in clips tomorrow, will understand why some of these presentations are very brief. For those in this Chamber that don't understand why these presentations are very brief, they shouldn't be here objecting to these nominations. I will let that sink in. OK, CAPT Thomas A. Donovan. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: CAPT Thomas A. Donovan to be Rear Admiral (lower half) in the Navy, under Executive Calendar No. 97; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we are going to move next to COL Joseph W. Wortham II. I call to the floor Executive Calendar No. 94, COL Joseph W. Wortham II to the grade of Brigadier General. Again, we are seeing a pattern. We have Colonel Wortham. He is a decorated warfighter and, again, as a Captain, as an O3, his brave and decisive actions saved the life of a severely wounded American and defeated a large enemy force in Iraq in 2005. My colleague Colonel Sullivan, Senator Sullivan from Alaska--we have been talking about what it is to serve and the way these heroes have reacted in combat. Because of Colonel Wortham's actions in combat, he saved the life of a fellow countryman, saved the life of an individual willing to lay down his life for his country. Colonel Wortham was willing to do the same. He saved the life of a severely wounded American, and he defeated a large enemy force in Iraq in 2005. Again, he was part of an incredible team. He didn't turn his back on his teammate; he saved his life. It is crucial to ensure that this deserving officer, who earned this promotion, is afforded the opportunity to be recognized. Colonel Wortham, again, is part of a glorious team and was first commissioned into the Army in 1996 through Auburn University's Reserve Officer Training Corps. During his 25 years of service, he participated in operations in Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon, as well as combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. His understanding of Kurdish culture and training in the Turkish language proved essential for his repeated deployments to the Kurdish regions of Iraq and Syria. I firmly believe that Colonel Wortham's qualifications, record, and character make him exceptionally eligible for this promotion, and by the fact that he went through Auburn University's ROTC Program. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: War hero who saved the life of a fellow soldier, COL Joseph W. Wortham II, to be Brigadier General in the United States Army under Executive Calendar No. 94; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, now, I have the honor and privilege of talking about MG John W. Brennan, Jr., on his appointment to the grade of Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army and his nomination to be the Deputy Commander of U.S. Africa Command. Major General Brennan is currently serving as Special Assistant to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. This is no paper pusher, Madam President--and I have heard that phrase. Army Special Operations play a crucial role in competition and deterring great power war. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure this deserving officer, who earned this promotion, is confirmed to this key national security position. The good Major General is a decorated warfighter with extensive combat service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the Inherent Resolve Campaign, having recently served as Commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve just last year. He distinguished himself with honor, having been awarded a Bronze Star with ``V'' for valor. I firmly believe that Major General Brennan's qualifications, record, and character make him exceptionally eligible for this promotion, and I look forward to confirming him to be the Deputy Commander of U.S. Africa Command, a very important position. Again, ``V'' for valor. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 130, John W. Brennan, Jr., to be Lieutenant General and Deputy Commander, U.S. Africa Command; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we will proceed to COL Peter G. Hart. I call to the floor Executive Calendar No. 94, COL Peter G. Hart, to the grade of Brigadier General. Colonel Hart is currently fulfilling a crucial role as an Army Strategist for the U.S. Central Command. As a 23-year combat veteran and retired Lieutenant Colonel of our great U.S. Army, I am proud to stand up for this valiant officer who has answered the selfless call to service and earned this promotion in the U.S. Army. Again, I want to talk about making these individuals political pawns in the grand scheme. So the VFW had recently done a survey. And they did surveys in every State and overseas territory of their members. These are veterans. Polls indicate there is a growing wedge between the veteran community and the colleagues on this side of the aisle and ``political decisions that harm the troops will affect the decisions of BFW members in upcoming elections.'' People don't like men and women who are used as political pawns, especially those who are sworn to be apolitical. Those are the men and women who serve in uniform. There is a growing division. It will continue to grow wider. So, therefore, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Colonel Peter G. Hart to be Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, under Executive Calendar No. 94; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, if I can just address this very briefly before we move to my colleague from Indiana, I have a discharge petition that was signed at our conference lunch the other day for Lt. Gen. General M. Guillot. That discharge petition was signed by Senator Tuberville, meaning that Senator Tuberville believed that we should be voting on General Guillot. I was asking for a voice vote for General Guillot this evening. I am not sure how we remedy this situation, but I can tell you we will keep working on these nominations, and we will get answers someday, and they will be confirmed someday if we have the intestinal fortitude to do what is right by our military men and women, who have absolutely nothing to do with the policy that was put in place by Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. And I am very sorry to hear that. Again, we have got another very short presentation here. I will have to explain it to my colleagues that maybe haven't served why they are brief. Madam President, I call to the floor Executive Calendar No. 97, CAPT Joshua Lasky, for appointment to Rear Admiral (lower half). As a 23-year combat veteran myself and a retired Lieutenant Colonel of our great U.S. Army, I am proud to stand up for this valiant officer who has answered the selfless call to service and earned this promotion in the U.S. Navy. I firmly believe that Captain Lasky's qualifications, record, and character make him exceptionally eligible for this promotion. And, again, I will have to visit with folks off the floor to explain more about Captain Lasky. He is fully deserving of this promotion, and I am very sorry to acknowledge that he also will probably be objected to-- one more hero that will be objected to this evening. So not only have we seen Senator Schumer dragging his feet on these nominations, but tonight we have had the exceptional opportunity--I think we have had maybe 40 of these nominations brought forward, but we are still dragging our feet on these. We are voting on them one by one, one by one, one by one--just as our colleague asked, one by one. These are men and women of honor. They are sworn to uphold the Constitution, the very Constitution that my colleague is saying he is protecting. They are sworn to uphold, and they would do it with their blood. Some of these men have done it with their blood. I am waiting. So, Madam President, we can confirm this nomination by voice vote right here, tonight, individually--individually brought up, just as my colleague has asked. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: CAPT Joshua Lasky to be Rear Admiral (lower half) in the Navy under Executive Calendar No. 97; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we see another one bite the dust. It is a good thing I still have that discharge petition, and we will see Vice Admiral Cooper on the floor once again, and I hope that my colleague will choose to support him. So I served in the Iowa Army National Guard, and I am really proud of that service. So I deployed overseas with the Iowa Army National Guard as a young Company Commander. I was the first female to command my unit. It was the same unit that my father had served in when he was a young Sergeant in the Iowa Army National Guard. He was a mechanic. He is the salt of the Earth. And I was so proud to grow up and serve alongside some really incredible Iowa Army National Guardsmen. They worked so hard. They worked so hard on that deployment, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now, I was gone from 2003 to 2004. My daughter, she was 3 years old when I deployed, and she was nearly 5 years old when I returned home. So my daughter--again, she is a Second Lieutenant serving Active-Duty U.S. Army. And she told me--it has probably been a year ago--she had read an interesting statistic about children who have mothers that served in uniform. And she told me that that statistic was that 80 percent of the children who have mothers that wore the uniform will go into the service. She said: Mom, I didn't have a choice. So she did; she went into the U.S. Army. And I encouraged that, and I am so proud of her for her service. Again, she is a young officer. I know she is disappointed by what she sees today--in particular, this evening. And what I want the folks to know--and in a roundabout way I am coming to this. But all of these holds are affecting our men and women in the military. They are affecting the families of these men and women. Like I said, 80 percent of the children whose mothers wore the uniform are more likely to go in than those who didn't have a mother who served. But right now, today, 37 percent of Active-Duty families are likely to recommend military service--37 percent. They see what is going on today. And I have heard my colleague say we shouldn't be injecting politics into the military and that President Biden did that and Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, did that. But what are we doing to these military men and women? Politics are being injected right here, today. We have men and women who deserve to be promoted, to serve where their country knows they are needed. And our military families today are saying: You know what, I don't want my kid serving in the military because they will be used as political pawns. That is dishonorable, and it is abhorrent. So I served. Col. Dan Sullivan served. We understand the significance of service and being willing to lay down your life for a fellow countryman. This next gentleman that I am bringing forward, we have something in common because this gentleman is a native of Spencer, IA. He enlisted into the Iowa Army National Guard. OK? He enlisted in 1981. He also was salt of the Earth, just like my father, who enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard. This gentleman is LTG James J. Mingus. He has been appointed to the grade of General and nominated to be the next Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Again, he enlisted into the Iowa Army National Guard in 1981. He graduated from Winona State University in Minnesota, our neighbor to the north, and he commissioned into the Army infantry. During more than 38 years of service, Lieutenant General Mingus has commanded at every echelon from company to brigade in addition to working in key staff positions in both Army, Special Operations Forces, and joint units. He is a decorated warfighter with extensive combat service. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom 12 times from 2001 to 2012. Lieutenant General Mingus has distinguished himself with honor, having been awarded for meritorious achievement in a combat zone. He is a hard-working public servant who knows the needs of our soldiers and their families. I have full confidence that he will continue to modernize the Army and maintain our highly trained and lethal force to fight and win our Nation's wars. The problem is, he can't do it if he is not serving in that position. I firmly believe that his qualifications, record, and character--and, of course, his great home State of Iowa--make him the right nominee to serve in this important role. Therefore, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: War hero Executive Calendar No. 288, James J. Mingus, to be General and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, another great, decorated officer--and we are going to keep going because these men and women deserve to be confirmed. Madam President, I am going to talk now about CAPT Frank Schlereth on his appointment to the grade of Rear Admiral, lower half, in the U.S. Navy. CAPT Frank Schlereth is currently serving as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attache within the U.S. Embassy, Israel. It is crucial at this time in history to ensure this deserving officer, who earned this promotion, is recognized for serving in a key position to national security and regional stability. The Captain is a two-time Naval Attache, having served in Athens, Greece; and Tel-Aviv, Israel. He has extensive experience within the Defense Intelligence Agency Directorate of Operations, having served as the Chief of Operations for the DIA, Defense Attache Service, and the East Asia Division Chief. He is a decorated warfighter with extensive combat service, having deployed to Afghanistan in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a team leader in support of a sensitive collection mission. Captain Schlereth distinguished himself with honor, having been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ``V'' for valorous achievement in a combat zone during his deployment. I also believe that the Captain's qualifications, record, and character make him exceptionally eligible for this appointment and promotion. Therefore, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 103, Frank G. Schlereth, III, to be Rear Admiral (lower half); that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I know this is a frustrating exercise, but we are going to flesh out some of these nominees tonight, truly incredible individuals who have served our Nation through thick and thin. These are folks who deserve to be promoted. So I rise today to talk about Lt. Gen. Gregory M. Guillot on his promotion to the grade of General and his nomination to be the next Commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD. General Guillot is from Tucson, AZ, and he is a proud graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. I am sorry he could not get into West Point. He has successfully commanded a flying squadron operations group, two flying wings, a numbered Air Force, and has admirably served on numbered Air Force, major command, and combatant command staffs. He is an expert in his field, as demonstrated by having been an Air Force Weapons School instructor and graduate of the National War College. General Guillot is a decorated warfighter and a senior air battle manager by training who is currently the Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command. He has been instrumental integrating air, missile, and drone defense systems across the Middle East--experience that is applicable to the challenges facing NORTHCOM's air and missile defenses. I believe that General Guillot's qualifications, his record, and his outstanding character make him the right nominee to serve in this important role. So we can confirm this nomination by voice vote right here, now, and therefore I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 236, Lt. Gen. Gregory M. Guillot to be General; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we have another opportunity to vote on another outstanding officer. This one is COL Scott D. Wilkinson, and he has been promoted to the grade of Brigadier General. As an Army veteran myself, I know and I understand the importance of recognizing this deserving officer who earned his promotion in the U.S. Army. He is a decorated warfighter. He distinguished himself with honor for meritorious achievement in a combat zone during his deployment. As a Captain--a young O3 is what we call them in the Army--Colonel Wilkinson provided precision close air support over a 6-hour period using night vision goggles, with zero illumination, in a complex urban environment, enabling the assault and exfiltration of a combined joint task force under heavy enemy fire. I am proud to be here on this floor as well standing shoulder to shoulder with my Marine Corps friend, Col. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. You can read through this little, brief description of COL Scott D. Wilkinson. For those of us who have served and have been part of a team and have been deployed, we understand the significance of having close air support. I served as a Transportation Company Commander when I deployed, and I will tell you that having close air support--knowing they were a phone call away--always made my drivers and me feel a lot better about things. I know Colonel Sullivan, as an infantryman, also understands what it is to have that close air support and how important those men and women overhead are during battle. So, COL Scott D. Wilkinson, I am really glad to give you close air support tonight. Those of us who have worked on a team understand how significant it is to have one another's back and make sure these men and women are protected. With this close air support, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: COL Scott D. Wilkinson to be Brigadier General in the U.S. Army under Executive Calendar No. 94; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we have got another incredible officer that we are bringing to the floor this evening for a voice vote, and I do hope my colleague from Alabama will explain to everyone out there who is watching why he has asked for individual votes, and, when given the opportunity, he is objecting to individual votes. I feel like we are in a holding pattern. But maybe he will care to explain that to us in a moment. But, right now, I do want to focus on this really incredible officer. I have had the opportunity to work with this officer, and I will talk about the most recent time that I interacted with him. I am bringing to the floor right now VADM Brad Cooper on his nomination to be the next Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command. I just saw Admiral Cooper in Bahrain. The day I saw him in Bahrain was October 7--October 7, the day that Hamas overran defenses that separated the Gaza Strip and Israel; the day that Hamas went into Israel and murdered babies, raped women, cut babies out of their mother's stomachs, killed innocent elderly men and women, abducted Americans and took them into the Gaza Strip. That is the last day that I saw Brad Cooper--October 7, the terrorist strikes against Israel. Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command--what region is that? That is the region where Israel is located. They need fine men and women at U.S. Central Command. This is an area where we have seen great terrorist threats. Our dear friends, the Israelis, are struggling under the weight of Iran-backed terrorist proxies. At U.S. Central Command, we need leadership. I am bringing forward VADM Brad Cooper. I will remind the body, just as I did with General Guillot, that I passed around the Republican conference the other day a discharge petition, which means we would have a vote on VADM Brad Cooper. One of the signatures on that petition is of my colleague from Alabama. He agreed to vote on this nominee, and we are giving him the opportunity to vote on this nominee, who will be the Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command, where we have what could be World War III brewing. Our friends the Israelis need every last good man and woman that the United States has serving in these important positions. A little bit about VADM Brad Cooper: He is the son of a career Army officer. He attended high school in Montgomery, AL. Vice Admiral Cooper joined the Navy and received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a career surface warfare officer. He served on guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and successfully commanded both the USS Russell and the USS Gettysburg. If anyone knows Admiral Cooper, he is a very humble man. He is very proud of the extraordinary men and women with whom he served on sea duty during his 9 deployments and 13 real-world operations all around our globe. He has served in a variety of positions throughout his career, and he has been nominated to serve in the U.S. Central Command as their Deputy Commander. He has been instrumental in maintaining the stability and security of the Middle East regions' maritime environment through NAVCENT. His skills and experience gained in this position at NAVCENT make him absolutely the right choice to be the Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command, and I am excited to see him confirmed. So, Madam President, we can confirm that nomination by voice vote tonight--tonight. We will vote on this man: 9 deployments, 13 real- world operations. He is a warrior. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 196, Charles B. Cooper, II, to be Vice Admiral; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, this one hits home. It is another nominee from the Navy. Hey, I am Army, but I love my Navy brothers and sisters. I love them all. This one is a Navy sister. This is Executive Calendar No. 347, Heidi K. Berg to be Rear Admiral. RDML Heidi K. Berg has--and as I was reading through these nominees, this struck me because she has an over 30-year career. Now, I know--because I was commissioned over 30 years ago--I know what a difficult climb it has been for women who were entering into the U.S. armed services at that time. Those women who entered in the seventies, eighties, nineties--they were trailblazers. They increasingly were put into positions of authority. This Rear Admiral, Heidi Berg, has commanded in some very significant positions. She has commanded the Navy Information Operations Command in Bahrain, the Navy Element of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Joint Military Intelligence Training Center. Rear Admiral Berg's operational tours include Navy Security Group Activity in Rota, Spain, where Berg flew over 1,000 hours as a Communications Intercept Evaluator on board EP-3E aircraft in support of Operations Provide Promise/Sharp Guard, aboard the USS LaSalle, Italy, and as Director of the International Security Assistance Force Red Team at ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. Most recently, Rear Admiral Berg served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. And, again, we have had a number of women who have been brought up this evening in this debate, many of them having decades-plus experience. And I can tell you that women who were commissioned and have served over these last number of decades, they are to be commended. They have broken down barriers and allowed other women to see her and be her. So for You, Admiral Heidi K. Berg, I commend you. And I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 347, Heidi K. Berg, to be Rear Admiral; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, our next nominee as well is hoping to be confirmed this evening, again, by an individual vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Just as my colleague has asked, has demanded, my colleagues and I this evening are attempting to satisfy that demand for single votes on the floor of the U.S. Senate. We are providing that avenue of opportunity this evening and are hoping that we will see the confirmations of some of America's finest fighting men and women, who have absolutely nothing to do with the policy that has been proposed by Secretary Lloyd Austin. In front of us, we have MG Charles D. Costanza. He is a member of the U.S. Army. He is being nominated as Lieutenant General and Commanding General of V Corps. Over Major General Costanza's 32-year career--again, another plus 30 years of experience and decorations during war--he has served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division, the Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Army Forces Command, and the Director of Training for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff. Major General Costanza's deployments include to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Major General Costanza has most recently served as Special Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command. Once again, as an individual vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination of this fine individual: Executive Calendar No. 290, Charles D. Costanza to be Lieutenant General and Commanding General, V Corps; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST. OK. We will move on to the next conferee, and we will bring to the table now No. 291, James H. Adams III to be Lieutenant General, and this is a fellow marine.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, we will continue again with the U.S. Space Force theme. We have another gentleman: Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting of U.S. Space Force to be General and Commander of U.S. Space Command--again, a very, very important position to have. As we are working in the gray zone areas, we need to know that our space assets are protected, and we have the right man for the job. So this is Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting. He has a 34-year career as a Space Operations Officer. He has commanded the 13th Space Warning Squadron, the 614th Air and Space Operations Center and Joint Space Operations Center, the 21st Space Wing, and the Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force. Lieutenant General Whiting most recently served as the Commander of Space Operations Command--again, a gentleman who has absolutely nothing to do with DOD abortion policy, a man who has honorably served his country in uniform for 34 years. We are probably going to see and witness the back-benching of Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting this evening, but, as my colleague from Alaska says, maybe not. Maybe we will see a man of honor step forward and voice vote on the confirmation of this officer by allowing us to move forward individually, as requested, on votes on the floor of the U.S. Senate. So, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 328, Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting for appointment in the U.S. Space Force to be General and Commander, U.S. Space Command; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I call up my amendment, No. 1177, and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 6 minutes on my amendment.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on my amendment.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, thousands of calls to the VA from veterans seeking mental health care went unanswered over the past year, and that was just at the Atlanta VA. One veteran in the midst of a mental health crisis called 10 times over a 3-month period and could not get the care she needed, much less anyone to answer her calls, so she ended up in an emergency room. Other veterans who made VA appointments say their therapists didn't even show up. Meanwhile, a manager at the Atlanta VA responsible for overseeing the scheduling of veterans' appointments actually called in to a meeting from a bubble bath and posted this selfie on social media with the caption: My office for the next hour. Another VA staffer lamented: It's almost as if this employee is making a mockery of all the veterans. I can sit here in my tub and relax, and you just have to wait. And that is exactly what is happening. While this bill provides nearly $320 billion for the VA, what good is it to give the Agency all of this money if the VA isn't even answering the phone or showing up for appointments with our veterans? This isn't just a problem at the VA either. Desperate travelers are waiting hours on the phone or in line, hoping to speak with someone at the State Department about passport delays that are causing vacation cancelations, and seniors calling the Social Security Administration are increasingly having their calls go unanswered altogether as the Agency shifts toward remote work. Frustrated Americans are sick and tired of being put on hold while many Federal employees are phoning it in, ``working'' from home. In his 2022 State of the Union Address, President Biden pledged that ``the vast majority of Federal workers will once again work in person.'' A year and a half later, government employee unions are still fighting off efforts to bring their bureaucrats back. Only one out of every three bureaucrats is fully back in the office, according to a recent Office of Personnel Management survey. Some said they never report to a physical office. Seventy-five percent or more of the office space at the headquarters of most Federal Agencies is not even being used. Taxpayers are picking up the cost of maintaining these mostly empty buildings. If Federal employees can't be found at their desks, exactly where are they? The work locations of over 281,000 employees were redacted by the Biden administration to a Freedom of Information request filed by the nonprofit group Open The Books. Well, folks, time is up for Biden's game of bureaucrat hide-and-seek. I am offering an amendment making the Biden administration account for the location of every bureaucrat who works for the VA and every other Department funded by this bill. My amendment also requires taxpayers to be told the financial and environmental costs of maintaining empty offices and the impact remote work is having on veterans' care and the response times of other government services. To all of my Senate colleagues, don't claim that you are taking care of veterans just because there is a spending increase for the VA in this bill. We need to work together to ensure that the VA is actually showing up and caring for our veterans. My amendment will provide some much needed accountability to monitor if that is happening. Our veterans answered the call of duty. Now it is time for Federal employees to do the same.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Crayons 2 Pencils of Norwalk, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week during National Women's Small Business Month and National Veterans Small Business Week. Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Matt and Jill Larsen in Norwalk, IA, Crayons 2 Pencils is an early learning center and recreation center providing childcare services to the Norwalk community. Following her career in corporate America, Jill's start in early childhood learning and development was in 2008, when she taught 13 kids in her home. In 2015, Jill partnered with her friend Cindy Gavin to use the same childcare curriculum in each of their homes. In 2016, Jill and Cindy were able to move their childcare operation into one location when they opened the Crayons 2 Pencils Early Childhood Center. Over the years, they have grown to 63 employees, with additional positions available over the summer months. Crayons 2 Pencils currently provides care to 281 children. In 2020, Matt joined Crayons 2 Pencils full-time as a jack-of-all- trades driving the school bus, organizing construction projects, and handling the technology and security systems. In 2022, Crayons 2 Pencils opened the Crayons 2 Pencils Recreation Center, which serves preschool through third grade and is equipped with a gym, sand volleyball court, stage, and additional classrooms. In 2023, Crayons 2 Pencils celebrated their seventh business anniversary. Service to our country is integral to the Larsen family. Matt has served in the Iowa Air National Guard for 18 years and was deployed to Iraq. Following in Matt's footsteps, their son Jayden also serves in the Iowa Air National Guard, in addition to being a member of Iowa State University's Spirit Squad with his sister Joslyn. Crayons 2 Pencils is also actively involved in the Norwalk community. They are active members of the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce, being one of the sponsors of the second annual Celebrate Norwalk Party in City Park in 2023 and hosting the Norwalk Career Fair in 2021. They have also served as a valuable resource to other childcare centers in the area by mentoring and teaching courses on childcare to directors and employees. Crayons 2 Pencil's commitment to providing outstanding childcare services in Norwalk, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate Matt and Jill Larsen and the entire team at Crayons 2 Pencils for their continued dedication. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Secret Serenity Salon and Spa of Harlan, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week during National Women's Small Business Month. Founded by Tami Kloewer in 2007, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa is a full-service salon serving customers in western Iowa communities. Secret Serenity Salon and Spa offers hair, nail, and skin care services, as well as a spa and retail store in their shop. Secret Serenity Salon and Spa started with Tami as the only employee but has grown to now employ 21 full- and part-time employees. In addition to their in-store services, their retail store offers a variety of beauty care products for all types of skin and hair needs. In 2023, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa celebrated its 16th business anniversary. In addition to providing beauty services, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa is also actively involved in the Harlan community. In February 2022, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa participated in a Women's Health Night event hosted by Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. The event provided local women with routine health screenings while Secret Serenity Salon and Spa offered free chair massages to participants. The team has also supported philanthropies to help the local schools, retirement centers, and hospital. Secret Serenity Salon and Spa is a member of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has hosted the chamber's annual Holiday Open House. Owner Tami Kloewer is also involved in the Iowa community. In 2020, Tami Kloewer was nominated to serve on the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences by Gov. Kim Reynolds and served on the board until 2023. Secret Serenity Salon and Spa's commitment to providing beauty care in Harlan, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate Tami Kloewer and the entire team at Secret Serenity Salon and Spa for their continued dedication to providing beauty care to Iowans. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I just returned from a mission to the Middle East, where I had the unique opportunity to lead a bipartisan delegation to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Israel. We had planned this visit long before the heinous attacks by Iran-backed Hamas, with the goal of strengthening the Abraham Accords and our relationships in the region. In the UAE, I led a discussion with their Crown Prince and President about increasing cooperation between our two countries to further security, peace, and prosperity. I left feeling more determined than ever to intensify our efforts to advance growth across the Middle East and beyond. In Saudi Arabia, I met with Muhammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom. During this visit, we discussed the prospect of an Israeli-Saudi peace deal to further the dream of a thriving and integrated Middle East. The delegation left that very meeting optimistic that the Crown Prince was dedicated and committed to this dream--a dream, for many of us, like myself, who served in the region after 9/11, a dream that was rocked the next morning when we heard the news that Israel was at war once again. At this moment, there was no question what my bipartisan delegation needed to do. It was our job to ensure our ally Israel understood clearly that America is and will always stand shoulder to shoulder with her. Our delegation was briefed at the highest levels as we completed our visit in Saudi at the Prince Sultan Air Base, where we witnessed integrated air and missile defense systems in action, something my bipartisan DEFEND Act helped to ensure. We continued into Bahrain the next morning to meet with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Once again, a meeting that was intended to be another step on the path to regional security took a very different turn. The Crown Prince provided his insight into the current situation in Israel and his assessment of the causes and potential scale of the conflict. He also spoke of a peaceful future and highlighted the longstanding relations between Bahrain and America, noting the history of bilateral ties and his commitment to achieving mutual aspirations. Our final stops in Bahrain included the U.S. Naval Support Activity and Task Force 59, which integrates unmanned systems and artificial intelligence to help ensure maritime security and to deter Iran's illegal activities in the Gulf. The situation in Israel continued to degrade, and I made the decision that we were ultimately going to accomplish what we set out to achieve. Despite all attempts to stop us, I led our bipartisan delegation to Jordan in preparation for a cross-border drive into Israel. Upon our previously unscheduled arrival, we met with His Majesty King Abdallah II of Jordan, where he painted a dire picture of regional escalation and the need for stability in the West Bank. He was open and honest about his concern that Iran would capitalize on the chaos by using their other proxies to further escalate the conflict. He discussed the tensions within Jordan and the need for the United States to once again lead and establish peace through strength. The King's clear-eyed insight into the savage nature of Iran-backed Hamas was chilling, and his concern for escalation was felt by every member of our delegation. It was clear that what we were about to walk into was chaotic and uncertain and not for the faint of heart. But, in unity, our bipartisan delegation pressed on, and on October 10, we set foot in Israel. We first met with Eli Cohen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and received an update on the war. Here, we heard, for the first time, the true nature of the atrocities that the Hamas savages were conducting-- rape, beheadings, dragging bloody bodies into the streets--and among those dead were American citizens. The Israeli Foreign Minister made it very clear that the threat Hamas poses to civilization is no less than what the United States faced with ISIS in Iraq, where I served, and in Syria, and I couldn't agree more. These terrorists are monsters, and they deserve nothing short of destruction. We then spoke with the family of Chaim Peri, an 80-year-old peace activist and father of five who was kidnapped from his home during the invasion. We heard firsthand accounts of the inhumanity of the attack: the destruction of their home, the violence his family endured, and, ultimately, that one of his sons was murdered in defending the family. Shaken but not deterred, the delegation carried on to Tel Aviv, where we met with Opposition Leader Lapid, the Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and, ultimately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We heard increasingly graphic accounts of torture and mutilation of civilians. We ultimately witnessed a nation that was and is truly in an existential fight for survival against a psychopathic terrorist organization whose stated goal is destruction of the State of Israel and killing as many Jewish people as possible. Let me tell you, there was no daylight between the political factions in Israel on what needs to be done. The complete and total destruction of Hamas is the greatest near-term priority for Israel. Reestablishing deterrence against all others who seek the destruction of Israel is critical. I am here to say that, in these goals, the United States must not waver in our commitment to our greatest ally in the Middle East. Now is not the time for weak-kneed leadership and ongoing appeasement of the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism that risks the lives of Americans and our allies at home and abroad and allows Hamas to wreak havoc in Israel. Now is the time for strong American leadership, one that understands the threat a war waged by Iran-backed proxies is to our own national security here in the homeland. With Americans still being held hostage by Hamas and the death toll of our fellow citizens continuing to rise, this moment demands clarity from our elected officials. Not only today but in the coming days and months, as Israel fights to secure their most basic human right--the right to life--the United States must stand resolute in our support. May God bless the families who have lost a loved one, and may God bless Israel as she defends herself from Hamas's brutal attacks. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize M's Machine and Manufacturing Company of Monona, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week during National Women's Small Business Month. M's Machine and Manufacturing Company was founded by Phil Murphy and Chet Allen in Monona, IA, in 1981 as a way to provide original equipment manufacturers--OEMs--CNC machine services. In 1989, Virginia Drahn purchased M's Machine and Manufacturing from the original founders and continued their legacy while being a female-owned and operated business. In 2008, Virginia sold the company to family members Casey, Candace, and Cory Drahn, with Casey currently serving as the president and Candace as vice president. Four generations of the Drahn family have worked at the company, which is still a woman-owned provider of CNC machine services. They offer CNC machine parts to the agriculture, automotive, industrial, and medical industries throughout the Midwest and have customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. M's Machine and Manufacturing Company has grown to 32 full-time employees and celebrated its 42nd business anniversary in 2023. M's Machine and Manufacturing Company and the Drahn family are Clayton County and Monona community staples. In 2017, they were featured on KCRG's ``Made in Eastern Iowa'' segment, highlighting their business's growth and success as a women-owned manufacturer. The team at M's Machine and Manufacturing Company not only works hard, but they also give back. They have participated in National Manufacturing Day, an event held on the first Friday of October and have hosted local students to learn about manufacturing and encourage them to pursue jobs in the industry. M's Machine commitment to providing OEMs with high-quality CNC machine services in Monona, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate the Drahn family and the entire team at M's Machine and Manufacturing Company for their continued dedication. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week it is my privilege to recognize Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing of Pilot Grove, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week during National Women's Small Business Month. Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing was founded by Ben Steffensmeier in 1982 as a one-person welding shop. He founded the business 2 years after graduating from Fort Madison High School in Fort Madison, IA, and learning how to weld from Joe Mertens and Paul Conrad. In 1985, the one-person shop expanded after Ben hired his brother Glenn Steffensmeier and in 1986 moved the business to their current city of operation, Pine Grove. Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing started as a local shop that helped local farmers and has grown to service several big-name clients. In 2000, his wife Jenny started working at the company in a part-time capacity. Jenny eventually took over the day-to-day control of the company in 2011 following Ben's battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. In 2015, Ben Steffensmeier passed away leaving behind a legacy of hard work, resilience, and excellence in the welding profession. Today, Jenny Steffensmeier continues to lead the company and has grown to include 12 employees, including 4 of her 5 children working at the company in varying capacities. While in this position, Jenny Steffensmeier has been recognized for her contributions to the welding and manufacturing industry as a female president. She is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a program that promotes, highlights, and educates small businesses and their importance in the U.S. economy. She has been featured on the Iowa Business Report radio program, Southeastern Community College ``Friends'' profile, and the ``Talks at GS'' episode where she joined Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for a conversation on small businesses. Jenny also serves on the boards of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. In April, 2022, I had the opportunity to tour Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing with Jenny and her daughter Rachel as part of my River to River Tour. Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing's hard work has paid off; in 2023, they celebrated their 41st business anniversary. Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing's commitment to providing high-quality commercial welding and manufacturing services in Pilot Grove, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate the Jenny Steffensmeier, the Steffensmeier family, and the entire team at Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing for their continued dedication. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.