Joni Ernst

Ms. ERNST

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I returned to the United States Sunday night after leading a bipartisan Senate delegation visit to Poland and Germany. Ten Senators--Republicans and Democrats--traveled together to demonstrate America's unwavering support for the freedom-loving people of Ukraine and affirm the strength of the world's most powerful alliance. I will never forget an engagement with Ukrainian civil society leaders. This group of passionate, strong women demonstrated Ukraine's spirit and their will to fight. They delivered a very clear message to the United States. They said that Ukraine can win, but they need more lethal aid delivered now. Our bipartisan delegation departed with the conviction that the United States, Ukraine, and the free world have the will and the means to stop Vladimir Putin's tyranny. I am here on the Senate floor today to state my belief that Ukraine will beat back Vladimir Putin's bloody invasion. They will throw the Russian army out of their country, and they will declare victory over this lawless criminal incursion. Folks, Ukraine can win this war. When the shooting is over, the Russian military will be broken, and the Russian economy will collapse--consequences brought about by Putin's chosen isolation and rejection of the free world. He and his cronies, their futures are not bright either. Putin's propaganda media machine will break down. He will be marked by the international community as a war criminal and, I predict, will be held accountable by his own people. His best days are behind him. Freedom will win. Most of us thought these outcomes were improbable just a few weeks ago. The President's policymakers circulated intelligence assessments in the first days of the invasion which concluded unequivocally that Ukraine didn't stand a chance. They predicted Putin would topple Kyiv within 3 to 5 days. Tomorrow marks 1 month since the start of the war. The Russian military is disorganized and demoralized. Four separate divisions are all competing for logistics resupply. Putin knows he is losing, and he is panicking. He jailed his deputy chief of intelligence, and his military is burning the bodies of their Russian casualties. Russia's manpower and ammunition are tapping out while, on the other side, Ukraine's forces are hanging tough. The weapons the United States and our allies and partners provided are being deployed with lethal proficiency. The frontlines have been frozen for over a week, and Russian casualties are greater than 1,000 a day. Ukrainians are intercepting unclassified calls and eliminating Russian field commanders. Most crucially, the Ukrainian people are ready to fight to the last man. The Russian army is a force of teenaged conscripts, subjects of an authoritarian war criminal whose delusions of grandeur about the old Soviet Union drove this invasion. The Ukrainian army is made up of free citizens who chose freedom over Russian tyranny. Putin's invasion doesn't change Ukraine's choice, and they will not go quietly. Given all of this, has the United States shifted its strategy? Do we believe we can help make a Ukrainian victory a near certainty? We all know why we must come to Ukraine's aid. This body's memory is not that short. The United States is an agreement-bound partner with Ukraine. We entered into an agreement. We are their partners. In 1994, Ukraine dismantled and surrendered its nuclear armament entirely in exchange for our security guarantee--the protection of the world's greatest superpower. Our agreement resulted in a prosperous Ukraine and made the world a much, much safer place. Before Vladimir Putin attempted to snuff it out for good 3 weeks ago, the American people and the world benefited from the breadbasket of Europe's vital agricultural sector and energy production. Ukraine has been an invaluable economic and security partner for nearly 30 years. Putin is not only testing that agreement today in the streets of Kyiv, Mariupol, and Kharkiv, he wants to break freedom's momentum all around the globe. Folks, we can't allow that to happen. We must not. If it has not been made clear enough already, an unshakeable commitment to allies and partners keeps Americans prosperous and our families safe. Authoritarians--whether it is the Taliban, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, the terrorists who rule Iran--they cannot dictate terms to our security and our economy. We still are the world's superpower 28 years after we made a security agreement with Ukraine. America cannot be pushed around. We also know how we can come to Ukraine's aid. Congress just passed $14 billion of support for Ukraine, which included nearly $2 billion of lethal weaponry. That aid--those weapons and that logistical support-- must flow right now. I fought for a provision in the aid package that allows the President to draw down on pre-positioned military equipment, and I will be ensuring he follows through and gets these weapons into Ukrainian hands. There is no excuse for American inaction. The Commander in Chief now has the authority to transfer pre- positioned weapons and logistical support, including as many as 40 Soviet-style helicopters purchased for Afghan security forces, to the Ukrainians. America's commitment to Ukraine and our NATO allies demands we expedite the delivery of weapons and capabilities to Ukraine. Any delay due to the fears of escalation is reflective of a doctrine of appeasement that will only further embolden our adversaries. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said recently that success for the U.S. mission in Ukraine is, at the end of the conflict, a free and independent, sovereign Ukraine. Folks, I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, but if that is our mission, America has to provide more support to enable Ukraine to win this war. We cannot hold back. The U.S. mission in Ukraine must go beyond ensuring the country merely has the means to defeat itself-- defend itself against Russian aggression, defeat the Russians. Now is not the time to be risk-averse. This administration did little to deter Putin's march on Kyiv, an invasion set in motion as early as April 2021. President Biden lifted sanctions on Nord Stream 2, framed the United States-Russia relationship as stable and predictable as late as June of last year, and canceled European Command military exercises calling them ``too provocative.'' Public opinion, Congress, and even European nations have hammered, begged, dragged, and pushed the Biden administration to action. From economic sanctions to the Russian oil ban, the administration has led from behind and from a position of weakness. Take the Polish MiG debacle; three Sundays ago, Secretary Blinken gave Poland a green light to transfer MiG fighter jets to Ukraine. The following Tuesday, the White House did a flip and rejected the transfer of planes out of fear Putin would see the move as escalatory. Forty-one Republicans joined my letter voicing displeasure to the President for his failure to act. Letting an adversary define your military's rules of engagement, letting the aggressor dictate the boundaries of our response is not just a folly, it is suicidal. The administration crossed their fingers and hoped Putin would play nice. Well, folks, we know Putin. He didn't play nice, and deterrence failed. But the failure of this administration's doctrine of appeasement doesn't mean Ukraine will lose the war. I commend actions taken to shore up the NATO alliance following the invasion, but our Commander in Chief must now lead and give Ukraine the means to win. If he is to continue being the most powerful man in the free world, he must act as such. Delaying the loss of Ukraine to Vladimir Putin is not a strategy. Success is not a Russian-occupied Ukraine. Success is not a protracted insurgency. Success is a free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine. Defending freedom in Ukraine is defending freedom everywhere. Authoritarianism cannot prevail in this conflict. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues Senator Durbin, Senator Feinstein, and Senator Murkowski for joining me on the floor this morning to talk about a very important topic and one that we can finally celebrate, which is the passage and the signing of the Violence Against Women Act. Nine years--it has been 9 years since the Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized, but, finally, the Senate reauthorized and modernized this very important bill. Last week, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 passed the House and the Senate, and yesterday, at long last, it was signed into law. I have been a proud champion of this bill over the last 3 years. And while no bill is perfect, I am extremely grateful for the bipartisan work to get it over the finish line. This bill is personal. Many of you know my story. I am the one out of three women who has experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Similarly, one in four men have had the same experience. This means nearly 20 people per minute, more than 10 million women and men in the United States every single year have suffered this horrific personal abuse. I am not a victim. I am a survivor. It took me a long time to say those words out loud. And my hope is that with this bill some women will never have to, and those who do will have the necessary support and resources in a moment of crisis to cope with and ultimately overcome their trauma. The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act is a bright light in our current troubling reality. The bill includes so many critical resources, especially in our rural communities, that have been drastically overlooked. Specifically, the bill doubles the support for both the rural domestic violence assistance program and the Rape Prevention and Education Program, both of which are of great importance to my home State of Iowa. And my sincere hope is that the resources contained in this new law will finally help truly move the needle on domestic violence around the country and that some of our Nation's most vulnerable will have access to the support that they so desperately need. To my colleagues, thank you, especially to Senators Feinstein, Durbin, and Murkowski for your diligent work on domestic violence- related issues over the years. I also want to thank Republican Senators Cornyn, Collins, Capito, Portman, Cramer, Tillis, Moran, Burr, and Blunt for supporting this vital bill at introduction. The negotiations were, at times--my colleagues will recognize this-- very tough, and there were several doubts along the way as to whether the bill would actually ever happen. But with a little bit of tenacity and good-faith negotiating, we got there. To those who work every day around this great country to help domestic violence survivors, including our law enforcement officers who are answering those domestic violence calls, thank you. While working at a victim's shelter answering the hotline in college, I heard the heartbreaking stories of abuse. I understand this is your daily reality. Please know your work is not going unnoticed and is making a difference in the lives of those around you. To all of the advocates, I greatly appreciate and respect your passion for the causes you support. Your persistence made this bill possible, and it made this bill better. While the end result isn't perfect, it modernizes the resources necessary to meet the evolving needs of our survivors. This bill is proof that bipartisanship is not dead and Congress can tackle these tough issues. Finally, for my fellow Americans who can say they are survivors, for those who have not come to terms with their abuse and for those who feel trapped in their situation and for those who have lost their battle, please know that you are not and will never be forgotten. The Violence Against Women Act is for you. Today, I join my fellow survivors, my colleagues, and our strong and wonderful advocates across this country in celebrating VAWA's reauthorization and its modernization. Thank you to my dear colleagues for their wonderful work in helping us get this over the finish line. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, there are very few things that possess the power to change the course of history almost instantaneously. Information is one. Consider, right now, citizens in Ukraine are holding one of the most ruthless, autocratic, and powerful men in the world, Vladimir Putin, accountable for his barbaric assault on their country with their firsthand accounts being live-streamed from behind the battle lines. Putin is attempting to censor coverage of the bloody conflict by threatening to jail journalists and Russian citizens who dare use the word ``war'' to describe his unprovoked attack. Even the United Nations instructed its staff not to refer to Russia's military assault on Ukraine as a ``war'' or ``invasion.'' Yet, every day, Ukrainians are bypassing this blockade of information and exposing the Russian tyrant's atrocities in real time by sharing images of civilians standing up to the heavily armed Russian invaders, the innocent victims and destruction caused by the bombing, and captured Russian soldiers in tears testifying that they were lied to and misled into attacking a peaceful country. As a result, the people of Ukraine have rallied the world, including many Russians, behind their courageous struggle to preserve freedom and democracy against the largest military assault in Europe since World War II. This is the power of information. Authoritarians like Putin cannot hide their dirty deeds in the dark as long as light can be shined to expose the truth. It should serve as a reminder to every single American how important it is that we uphold and defend the fundamental principles of our Nation that make us so great--in particular, our First Amendment. We should never take these American freedoms for granted. That is why it is important we celebrate the freedom of information every year during Sunshine Week. With widespread distrust in government and the media and Big Tech controlling what facts and opinions can even be shared, it has become increasingly important that each one of us has the power to access facts, unfiltered. To arm us with information, over the past half century, a number of important laws have been passed by Congress to increase openness in government and give our citizens a right to know. These include the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, which allows access to government documents, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which provides a detailed accounting of how, where, why, and by whom taxpayer dollars are being spent. To demonstrate the importance of these laws, let me give you a relatively simple example with potentially profound implications. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I teamed up with my friends at the White Coat Waste Project to use a combination of these transparency laws to follow a trail of U.S. taxpayer dollars to China's state-run Wuhan Institute of Virology, where they were being used to pay for dangerous research on coronaviruses. The world is now demanding to know if these studies could have been the source of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down our planet for the past 2 years and claimed the lives of millions around the globe. Regretfully, we still don't know the whole truth because communist China refuses to cooperate and is, instead, destroying evidence and coercing investigators to dismiss any suggestion that the virus might have escaped from the lab. Even many within the free press of our own country, the scientific community, and Big Tech fell for the Communist misinformation campaign, smearing anyone who even suggested the lab could have been the source of the outbreak as spreading ``conspiracy theories.'' We refused to be intimidated by this Communist Party's propaganda and continued our search for the truth. We followed the science and the money and discovered the world was being told a story that was very much different from what was transpiring behind those closed doors. Thanks, in part, to a transparency law requiring the disclosure of details on projects paid for by U.S. taxpayers, we knew NIH was funding a group called EcoHealth to conduct experiments on coronaviruses that were obtained from bats in China and that they were doing so in collaboration with the now-infamous Wuhan Institute. The White Coat Waste Project then used FOIA to obtain internal NIH emails, which revealed the Agency was funding controversial gain-of- function research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute in 2016. They also revealed Dr. Fauci was told as early as January 2020 that COVID-19 looked engineered. Was this project, paid for with your tax dollars, somehow related to the release of the COVID-19 pandemic, which just happened to begin in the vicinity of the lab in Wuhan? EcoHealth might know the truth or even provide some clues, but the group's president refuses to answer questions. In fact, he organized a disinformation campaign to discredit scientists who dared to ask that question. EcoHealth also evaded a number of Federal transparency laws requiring the disclosure of how our tax dollars are being spent. As a result, we still aren't even entirely sure how much of our money was sunk into subsidizing the unsafe, state-run lab in communist China. Folks, we really deserve the answers, and if EcoHealth won't cooperate voluntarily, then that information will be obtained with subpoenas when Republicans are back in control of Congress. You can mark my words. This troubling situation demonstrates both the power and the shortcomings of transparency laws. Armed with information, citizens can uphold the government and make it accountable and expose malfeasance but only if the laws are followed, and, right now, many of these laws are all bark and no bite. So what can a civic-minded Iowan do to get answers from inside the DC beltway bureaucracy? Well, you know what they say: If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. That is why I have introduced the Watchdog Act, which will establish within the White House a new Director of Openness--yes, you have got it, D-O-G--Director of Openness in Government, who will be the taxpayers' best friend. This top dog will hound our government bureaucrats to fetch the facts for our taxpayers. Agencies that would not provide information in a complete and timely manner would be dogged until they do. In contrast to Russia, where the government controls and censors information, my bill creates a transparency czar to open government and spread information. Folks, we can't have gatekeepers of truth in a free society. That is why, under my bill, those who censor information, rather than those who share it, will be held accountable. The best way to restore trust in our public institutions and to discredit misinformation campaigns is by shining a light on what is really going on in Washington, and with the Sun now setting an hour later every day, we are all reminded what a big difference a little bit of sunshine can make.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, there are very few things that possess the power to change the course of history almost instantaneously. Information is one. Consider, right now, citizens in Ukraine are holding one of the most ruthless, autocratic, and powerful men in the world, Vladimir Putin, accountable for his barbaric assault on their country with their firsthand accounts being live-streamed from behind the battle lines. Putin is attempting to censor coverage of the bloody conflict by threatening to jail journalists and Russian citizens who dare use the word ``war'' to describe his unprovoked attack. Even the United Nations instructed its staff not to refer to Russia's military assault on Ukraine as a ``war'' or ``invasion.'' Yet, every day, Ukrainians are bypassing this blockade of information and exposing the Russian tyrant's atrocities in real time by sharing images of civilians standing up to the heavily armed Russian invaders, the innocent victims and destruction caused by the bombing, and captured Russian soldiers in tears testifying that they were lied to and misled into attacking a peaceful country. As a result, the people of Ukraine have rallied the world, including many Russians, behind their courageous struggle to preserve freedom and democracy against the largest military assault in Europe since World War II. This is the power of information. Authoritarians like Putin cannot hide their dirty deeds in the dark as long as light can be shined to expose the truth. It should serve as a reminder to every single American how important it is that we uphold and defend the fundamental principles of our Nation that make us so great--in particular, our First Amendment. We should never take these American freedoms for granted. That is why it is important we celebrate the freedom of information every year during Sunshine Week. With widespread distrust in government and the media and Big Tech controlling what facts and opinions can even be shared, it has become increasingly important that each one of us has the power to access facts, unfiltered. To arm us with information, over the past half century, a number of important laws have been passed by Congress to increase openness in government and give our citizens a right to know. These include the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, which allows access to government documents, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which provides a detailed accounting of how, where, why, and by whom taxpayer dollars are being spent. To demonstrate the importance of these laws, let me give you a relatively simple example with potentially profound implications. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I teamed up with my friends at the White Coat Waste Project to use a combination of these transparency laws to follow a trail of U.S. taxpayer dollars to China's state-run Wuhan Institute of Virology, where they were being used to pay for dangerous research on coronaviruses. The world is now demanding to know if these studies could have been the source of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down our planet for the past 2 years and claimed the lives of millions around the globe. Regretfully, we still don't know the whole truth because communist China refuses to cooperate and is, instead, destroying evidence and coercing investigators to dismiss any suggestion that the virus might have escaped from the lab. Even many within the free press of our own country, the scientific community, and Big Tech fell for the Communist misinformation campaign, smearing anyone who even suggested the lab could have been the source of the outbreak as spreading ``conspiracy theories.'' We refused to be intimidated by this Communist Party's propaganda and continued our search for the truth. We followed the science and the money and discovered the world was being told a story that was very much different from what was transpiring behind those closed doors. Thanks, in part, to a transparency law requiring the disclosure of details on projects paid for by U.S. taxpayers, we knew NIH was funding a group called EcoHealth to conduct experiments on coronaviruses that were obtained from bats in China and that they were doing so in collaboration with the now-infamous Wuhan Institute. The White Coat Waste Project then used FOIA to obtain internal NIH emails, which revealed the Agency was funding controversial gain-of- function research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute in 2016. They also revealed Dr. Fauci was told as early as January 2020 that COVID-19 looked engineered. Was this project, paid for with your tax dollars, somehow related to the release of the COVID-19 pandemic, which just happened to begin in the vicinity of the lab in Wuhan? EcoHealth might know the truth or even provide some clues, but the group's president refuses to answer questions. In fact, he organized a disinformation campaign to discredit scientists who dared to ask that question. EcoHealth also evaded a number of Federal transparency laws requiring the disclosure of how our tax dollars are being spent. As a result, we still aren't even entirely sure how much of our money was sunk into subsidizing the unsafe, state-run lab in communist China. Folks, we really deserve the answers, and if EcoHealth won't cooperate voluntarily, then that information will be obtained with subpoenas when Republicans are back in control of Congress. You can mark my words. This troubling situation demonstrates both the power and the shortcomings of transparency laws. Armed with information, citizens can uphold the government and make it accountable and expose malfeasance but only if the laws are followed, and, right now, many of these laws are all bark and no bite. So what can a civic-minded Iowan do to get answers from inside the DC beltway bureaucracy? Well, you know what they say: If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. That is why I have introduced the Watchdog Act, which will establish within the White House a new Director of Openness--yes, you have got it, D-O-G--Director of Openness in Government, who will be the taxpayers' best friend. This top dog will hound our government bureaucrats to fetch the facts for our taxpayers. Agencies that would not provide information in a complete and timely manner would be dogged until they do. In contrast to Russia, where the government controls and censors information, my bill creates a transparency czar to open government and spread information. Folks, we can't have gatekeepers of truth in a free society. That is why, under my bill, those who censor information, rather than those who share it, will be held accountable. The best way to restore trust in our public institutions and to discredit misinformation campaigns is by shining a light on what is really going on in Washington, and with the Sun now setting an hour later every day, we are all reminded what a big difference a little bit of sunshine can make.

Ms. ERNST

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

Ms. ERNST. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I call on this body to support the people of Ukraine fighting for their lives right now, today. Our mandate to act is clear. Here is a little bit of history for this body. In 1994, in the months following the end of the Cold War, Ukraine was very fragile, working through the challenges of establishing and sustaining democratic government, while sitting atop the world's third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, arms abandoned in the final days of the Soviet Union. The United States intervened. In exchange for protection by the greatest superpower in the history of the world, Ukraine dismantled and surrendered their nuclear armament entirely. That agreement made the world a safer place, but Vladimir Putin called the United States to the carpet on our agreement last week. He gambled that America would again abandon our partners, as we did in Afghanistan. Putin gambled that U.S. treaties and agreements are no more valuable than the paper they are written on. He didn't bet against the Ukrainians, where he has every military advantage in a head-to-head conflict. His criminal invasion-- now a bloody war of aggression against Ukraine--was a bet against American supremacy. We cannot allow Putin to get away with it. The American people don't want us to either. Over 80 percent of Americans want us to do more to bring down Vladimir Putin, stand with Ukraine, and end this conflict. They are not just feeling the impacts of the invasion at the gas pump, the grocery store, and in their retirement accounts; they feel it in their hearts. We are the greatest Nation on the face of the planet. We stand for freedom. But our greatness and our standing are only as strong as our world. The American people know it, and they are looking for us to act. Unfortunately, the U.S. response to this point is at best incomplete. It is tepid. It is halfhearted and impassive to the Russian bear that is looking to clamp down on the free world. This President and his administration are allowing the Germans, the Canadians, the Latvians, the Dutch, and the Swiss to lead in arming Ukraine. This body, my colleagues, I implore you, we can do more, and we can do it better. We have seen the classified reports. We all understand, all 100 of us, that the Ukrainians are in dire need of our aid right now--not tomorrow, not next week, now. We also know the volume of not just combat capability but logistics supplies, secure communications equipment, and medical kits that we have purchased and staged all around the world to secure our partners. My amendment does not spend another dime of taxpayer money; it calls on the Secretary of Defense to mobilize existing equipment, including provisions meant for Afghanistan, to arm Ukraine. This equipment will never be used by U.S. forces, but it is simply sitting in warehouses across the world. It belongs at the Polish border and in the hands of Ukrainians, who are fighting for their lives as I am speaking here on the floor today. We know we have capabilities that we bought for the Afghans that could be loaded and flown to Poland to help our counterparts. That is open source. That information is out there. We have other capabilities as well that you all know belong in the hands of our Ukrainian friends. This administration's doctrine of appeasement has provided more arms for the Taliban than for the sovereign nation of Ukraine, and it is not even close. The administration's abandonment of Afghanistan drew deserved condemnation from Democrats and Republicans in this body, but today and every day we don't act to arm our partners in Ukraine, we will be held to account. If we don't act now, this body's lack of immediate attention and action on this matter will be recorded in history. We took an oath to ``support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.'' That obligates us to secure the homefront but also to stand with our allies and partners. Our oath demands Congress--just as it demands our men and women in uniform--protect the American people. That vow compels us to honor our commitments abroad, stand with freedom, and do what the American people sent us here to do. The fight for Ukraine doesn't end today. I will continue to advocate for already procured equipment and capabilities that are programmed, budgeted, contracted, purchased, and sitting in containers unused to go to those who need it the most. Let's execute our oath today. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, tonight, the President will deliver the annual State of the Union Address. And I have to admit, as a result of President Biden's policies over the past year, nearly everything is up--consumer prices, up; violent crime, up; the national debt, illegal border crossings, fatal drug overdoses, our trade deficit--they are all up. But what isn't up is the public's view of the President and his policies. In poll after poll, the majority of Americans disapprove of the job that President Biden is doing. On nearly every key issue facing the country, Americans, by and large, just do not think Mr. Biden is up to the job. And more than two-thirds of Americans lack confidence that President Biden can bring the country closer together, something he promised the American people that he would do. Folks, this is really no surprise since it is, after all, the President's unpopular partisan policies that are driving Americans further apart. President Biden might try to mask himself as a moderate, but no one is being fooled. Behind the mask, the real Biden agenda is more mandates from Washington, higher prices for all Americans, and less security at home and abroad. As a direct result of mandates imposed by this administration, for example, thousands of healthcare workers have lost their jobs at a time when we need them more than ever. And because of the massive amount of money being printed in Washington, inflation is soaring at its highest point in 40 years. The cost of food, gas, housing, and just about everything else is significantly more expensive today than it was before President Biden was sworn into office. The President chose leftwing climate fantasies over national security. His doctrine of appeasement has resulted in America becoming more energy dependent on foreign adversaries like Russia for the energy that is necessary to heat our homes and keep our country on the move. And with the Russian military on the march in Europe and terrorists in control of Afghanistan once again, the national and economic security of our Nation has been set back decades. It is really quite stunning and gravely concerning what an incredible mess President Biden has created in such a short period of time. Yet the White House is attempting to convince the American people that everything is fine. The President called his hastily ordered exit from Afghanistan an ``extraordinary success,'' despite leaving thousands of Americans and allies behind. And the Biden administration has repeatedly denied that rising prices and empty shelves are even a problem, while fanning the flames of inflation and out-of-control spending. Folks, if simply printing money could solve the problem for us, we would be living in a utopia right now since Washington spent nearly $7 trillion last year alone. Instead, every American is feeling the pinch of Bidenomics--because spending is not the solution, folks; it is the problem. And you would think that in light of Putin's aggression and the threats from other adversaries, our Commander in Chief would be focused on strengthening and modernizing our defenses. Instead, funding for the Department of Defense is being held hostage by the President and Democrats in Congress until the widely popular 50-year-old ban on taxpayer funding for abortions is repealed. Folks, is this really the time to play abortion politics with our Nation's national security? Having spent the last half-century in Washington, President Biden is totally out of touch with the everyday needs of Iowa families. And the world around us has become much more dangerous under his watch. Just remember as you listen to his address, every time the President proposes increasing Washington spending, that translates into higher prices and taxes for you. Every new government expansion the President proposes means more Washington mandates and control over you. And no matter who he blames for the security crises we are in now, it is the President's poor decisions and lack of leadership that continue to make our Nation less safe at home and abroad. To get our Nation moving in the right direction, we need a forward- looking, freedom-first agenda. To ensure our families have and can afford the food and essentials they need, the supply chain must be fixed. To protect and prepare our children for the future, we need schools to be a place of learning, not ``woke'' indoctrination. To protect our Nation from foreign threats, we need to ensure U.S. energy independence and the strength of our military remains unmatched. And to form a more perfect union, Washington needs to stop micromanaging how we live our lives and start abiding by the most important mandates in America, the ones that are listed in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, which protect us from government intrusion. These goals don't represent a partisan platform but rather an inclusive agenda for all Americans that puts each one of us back in charge of the direction of our own lives. It is a vision based on freedom, on liberty, on opportunity. Folks, I know this vision works because that is exactly what is happening in my home State of Iowa under the leadership of our Governor and my friend, Kim Reynolds. She has led with Iowa common sense and compassion since day one. Right now, Governor Reynolds is expanding opportunities for everyone by cutting taxes to help families and small businesses. She is standing up for our freedom, putting our kids first, and ensuring parents have their voices heard. Under her leadership, Iowa was the first State to reopen our schools during the pandemic. Governor Reynolds is pushing back on the massive Washington overreach from President Biden and standing up for our way of life. And she is fighting to keep the left's ``woke'' agenda out of Iowa. Folks, Governor Kim Reynolds is the perfect choice for the Republican response to tonight's State of the Union Address and her record of success in Iowa is the ideal contrast to the life in Joe Biden's America. Things are not fine, folks. You and I know that, and we feel that every day. But Governor Reynolds--her leadership and her vision for a better future--leaves me very optimistic about what lies ahead for America. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators Graham, Gillibrand, Schumer, and I be able to complete our remarks prior to the vote on H.R. 4445.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I also ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with my colleague Senator Graham.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, protecting survivors of sexual assault and harassment has been one of my top priorities here in the Senate. In fact, yesterday, I introduced the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, which now has the support of 10 of my Republican colleagues. Today, we are here to talk about another issue that is impacting too many in our Nation's workforce. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2022 provides survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment with a choice between litigation and arbitration so their voices will not be silenced. Earlier this Congress, I was glad to see progress in the Senate Judiciary Committee as they moved forward on this bill. The committee took action that I supported. They removed the provision on collective bargaining agreements. Just this week, I was even more encouraged when the House made further changes to the bill that improved the definition of sexual harassment. While these changes are important and significant, it is still not a perfect solution. That is why, when I sat down earlier this week with the majority leader and the lead Republican sponsor of this bill, my friend from South Carolina, we agreed to come to the floor and ensure the congressional intent of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2022 was crystal clear. During our meeting, my colleagues agreed with me that this bill should not be the catalyst for destroying predispute arbitration agreements in all employment matters. Specifically, we agreed that harassment or assault claims should not be joined to an employment claim without a key nexus. Harassment and assault allegations are very serious and should stand on their own. The language of this bill should be narrowly interpreted. It should not be used as a mechanism to move employment claims that are unrelated to these important issues out of the current system. These clarifications are needed. I care very much and support survivors of sexual harassment or assault having access to the appropriate process to ensure swift justice, but it is also very important to me that those claims stand separate from any other kind of claim. I am grateful that Senators Schumer and Graham stand with me today in knowing that those claims are meaningfully different. There is one other important piece here that I would like to mention and that, I hope, my colleagues can agree with me on. If an employment agreement contains a predispute arbitration clause and a sexual assault or harassment claim is brought forward in conjunction with another employment claim and the assault or harassment claim is later dismissed, a court should remand the other claim back to the arbitration system under this bill. I think we can all agree that we want to ensure survivors of sexual assault have their voices heard. We just have to do this in a thorough and thoughtful way. My hope is that the legislative intent of this bill reflects the conversation with my colleagues discussed here today; namely, that the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2022 should not effectively destroy arbitration in employment litigation. This bill is narrow and scoped to address sexual assault and sexual harassment cases. These clarifications we are making here reflect the specific challenges that victims of these particular allegations face. And if any subsequent litigation manipulates the text to game the system, Senators Schumer and Graham have pledged to work with me on a bipartisan bill to further codify the intent and language of this bill. I would yield to Senator Graham for further discussion.

Ms. ERNST. I am good. I will yield the floor but want to thank my colleagues.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, when the Biden administration ordered the evacuation of families of U.S. diplomats from Ukraine last month due to the increased threats of Russian military action and crime, a Ukrainian official clapped back: ``Quite frankly these Americans are safer in Kyiv than they are in [Los Angeles] . . . or any other crime-ridden city in the U.S.'' Yes, that is what a Ukrainian official said. The comment really struck a nerve because it may not be so far from the truth. In fact, an L.A. Police Department detective says the out-of-control crime in the city is ``so violent, we're telling people `don't visit,' because we don't think we can keep you safe right now.'' The city was surrendered to criminals by the L.A. district attorney on his first day on the job in 2020 when he banned bail and prohibited prosecuting even the most serious crimes, like murder and rape, to the fullest extent of the law. The consequences of giving ``get out of jail free'' cards to criminals shouldn't surprise anyone. Flash mobs of thieves breaking into local businesses are giving new meaning to ``door busters'' as they ransack city stores like bargain shoppers on Black Friday. Looters are robbing trains like it is the Wild West, making off with millions of dollars' worth of merchandise, including pistols and shotguns. A Union Pacific Railroad official says that even when apprehended, criminals boast that they will face no serious charges, and within hours, they are let back out on the streets. But most troubling, over the past 2 years, Los Angeles has experienced a shocking 94-percent increase in homicides. The L.A. sheriff says it is probably one of the biggest jumps ever, and he lays the blame on the woke policies of both the district attorney and the county board. These senseless acts of violence aren't confined to liberal Los Angeles, and neither is the revolving-prison-door approach that is allowing career criminals to roam our streets. The U.S. murder rate hit its highest point in a quarter of a century last year. More and more felons are being released across the country as a result of permissive policies being pushed by progressive politicians and lenient district attorneys who view punishment as the real crime. Democrats in New York, for example, recently pushed through a State law requiring the release of suspects arrested for stalking, arson, robbery, and other misdemeanors without bail. They require the release without bail. And despite the dramatic increases in crime in New York City, a Democrat district attorney released a list of crimes--I am serious about this, folks--released a list of crimes on his first day in office that would no longer be prosecuted, including resisting arrest. The DA claims longer sentences don't deter crime or result in greater community safety. But a former New York City police commissioner points out the obvious--that when you say you are not going to prosecute certain crimes, you are sending a strong message to criminals. And it is the wrong message to criminals. He notes that since the penalty was taken away, stealing a car has become a game. As a result, vehicle theft is driving up the city's crime rate, and the New York Post reported just last week that the Big Apple is becoming a live action version of the game Grand Theft Auto. But the wave of crime that has been unleashed is far more deadly than just stolen property. New York City's murder rate spiked an astounding 47 percent last year, and the killing spree is continuing into 2022. The latest victims include a teenager who was working at Burger King and two young police officers. Refusing to keep dangerous, repeat criminals with a history of violence behind bars allows anyone, at any time, to become the victim of an entirely preventable crime. For example, the low bail set by a Wisconsin District Attorney's Office last November resulted in the release of a violent criminal with a very long list of charges going back 15 years, including running over a woman with a Ford Escape. Within days of being released, he drove that same SUV into a crowded Christmas parade, injuring more than 60 people and killing 6, including a 5-year-old child and several members of the Dancing Grannies, who were entertaining the crowds at that Christmas parade. In a split second, the joy of the season was turned into a gruesome crime scene because a violent, repeat offender was set free. The Democrat district attorney has since admitted the release was ``a mistake.'' Folks, we cannot afford any more of these mistakes by public officials who are putting their personal political agenda ahead of protecting our public. If letting criminals out of jail without bail isn't bad enough, progressive politicians are even--get this--providing perks for perpetrators. The Biden administration, for instance, is allowing illegal immigrants to use arrest warrants as alternate forms of ID at airports to clear security checkpoints and board airplanes--arrest warrants. Seriously, folks. Some liberal cities, like New York and San Francisco, have cash for criminals, programs that actually pay prior offenders in the hopes that they won't shoot anyone. Great plan. That is right--the same gang calling to defund the police wants to fund felons. A California cash for criminals program may have allowed some individuals to get away with murder. As long as the participants pledge to improve, they are still paid. Even when caught with a gun or, worse, suspected of murder, they get paid. Folks, it is one thing to give first-time, nonviolent offenders a second chance, but rewarding career criminals by letting them loose and paying them an allowance is itself criminal. Democrats' approach to criminal justice can be summed up as ``take no prisoners'' literally. Instead of admitting their approach has backfired, liberals keep looking for excuses, and they play the blame game. To address the rise in carjackings in Chicago, for example, progressive politicians proposed banning the video game Grand Theft Auto. Perhaps the real problem is making crime all fun and games, with no real-world penalties and only rewards, just like the video game. A retired police officer who was carjacked in his own driveway south of the city says the carjackers know that even if they are caught, ``they are going to get right back out.'' That is because the area's State attorney promised to reduce the prison population, and by golly, she is keeping that promise by dismissing tens of thousands of criminal cases. As a result, about 100 people charged with murder in Cook County have been let out on the city streets. The Chicago police superintendent is even warning that the Cook County court is ``making us all less safe by releasing violent offenders.'' The horrifying numbers speak for themselves. Chicago had more murders last year than any other city in the United States with nearly 800 homicides. That is more people than in the small community I grew up near--800 homicides. Shootings in the city are up a shocking 63 percent since 2019. One of the fatal victims was a 7-year-old girl who was gunned down at a McDonald's by a gang member who was allowed out of prison despite being charged with other crimes. The suspects in another recent shootout, which left one dead and two others wounded, were released without charges. Public officials charged with enforcing the law who signal that it is OK to commit crime by reducing or eliminating penalties are engaging in criminal negligence. It is time to put an end to prosecutors being partners in crime. I took the first step towards making our streets safer by introducing legislation to increase the penalties for some violent offenders and child predators, including life imprisonment for repeat offenders. Folks, progressive prosecutors need to stop playing politics and start doing their job, which is enforcing the law. Criminal penalties are not just suggestions; they are put in place to protect the public. Parents shouldn't have to worry about the safety of their children, and no one should feel unsafe, especially in their own neighborhood. Let's get serious about crime so that the only people in America who are afraid to walk the streets are the criminals. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Therese Giles, a devoted public servant who tirelessly served our Nation with distinction in the Department of the Navy for almost four decades. Therese recently retired on December 31, 2021, after a successful 37- year government civil service career as an honored and distinguished senior flight controls computer scientist. Therese's remarkable career and her immeasurable contributions to our national security can be categorized by so many unbelievable ``firsts'' and by a lifetime of selfless service. As a child, Therese was always intrigued with the next technological offering--from watching NASA put the first man on the Moon, to the advances in next generation communications, to the invention of the integrated core processer. Inspired by these ``firsts,'' she pushed to be one of the firsts in her class, team, and field, carrying a life's dream of making a difference in the technical field where women were very scarce and disappointingly undervalued. At a time when women weren't encouraged to pursue technical careers and weren't thought of as computer scientists, Therese pushed forward and persevered to achieve undergraduate and advanced degrees in mathematics and computer science. Wanting to be part of something bigger than herself, Therese found her calling with the Navy's aviation research and development command. As a junior software computer scientist in the mid-1980s, she was instrumental in developing the innovative, first-ever, advanced digital flight controls architecture that revolutionized the way all Navy and Marine Corps jet aircraft operated. Therese was also instrumental in resolving the catastrophic failures of the V-22 Osprey in the early 1990s and generating the software solutions that eventually returned the V-22 to flight and to the successful combat operations of today. With similar accomplishments across the F-14, A-6, F-18, E-2, and the F-35 spectrum of aircraft, Therese directly contributed and helped develop the flight control and safety control systems of the majority of every naval aircraft from 1985 to current day. Throughout these many successes and ``firsts,'' Therese has remained committed to supporting and inspiring the next generation of young women in STEM fields. Serving as an avid mentor, teacher, and leader of the people around her, Therese has been a North Star role model for generations of up-and-coming young women to follow their dreams and become technical leaders in public service. In addition to her thirst for discovery and problem solving, a primary reason for Therese's tenacious focus is that she had personal ``skin in the game'' when it came to our Nation's security. Four of Therese's siblings proudly served in our Nation's military: Therese's brothers VADM Mat Winter, USN; CDR Tom Winter, USN; Capt. Steve Winter, USMC; and sister CDR Elizabeth Winter Scruggs, USNR, all put their lives in harm's way during their military careers to ensure our Nation's security. Therese's husband, Tim, is himself a retired member of the government civil service and an Army veteran. This is a family where duty and service run deep. Therese, as you and your family celebrate your well-deserved retirement, I congratulate you and thank you for almost four decades of unbelievable and lasting impact. I thank you for the many years of sacrifice you and your family have made in service to our Nation. I join my colleagues in the Senate and all Americans in expressing our sincere appreciation and wish the very best for you, your husband, your son Eric, and daughter Meghan on your next exciting chapter.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, first, I would like to wish a very happy and healthy new year to you and to all of our staff and pages who make the Senate run so efficiently every single day and frequently late into the night. The world's most deliberative body has unpredictable hours, which all too often means missing important events with family because we are here going back and forth on the pressing issues of the day. This is why we have a Senate, after all--to give voice to the various viewpoints of Americans from each State and then try to resolve those differences. It isn't always easy since, unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate's unique rules require us to work together across party lines. I know what it is like to work with my Democratic friends. In fact, I was named as one of the most bipartisan Senators of either party in the past 25 years. That is what it takes to get things done here because the rules force us to reach consensus. The Senate was created specifically to prevent a mob rule mentality. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, described the Senate as the ``anchor'' of the Federal Government that would act as a ``necessary fence against fickleness and passion.'' George Washington famously said that the Senate was established to cool legislation passed by the House in the same way that a saucer cools hot tea. Folks, we certainly have seen a lot of hot mess coming over from the House. It is very concerning that the saucer intended to cool heated passions is itself beginning to boil over as a result of hot air from within. Senate Democrats are threatening to blow up the Senate to fundamentally change the U.S. Senate and to radically transform our country. It cannot be understated how detrimental this action would be to America. It would unravel two centuries of American representative democracy. It would silence millions of Americans and destroy what comity remains within this body. I have to ask my colleagues, which side of history do you want to be on? Do you want to go down in history books as the ones who turned the Senate, the world's most deliberative body, into the House of Representatives? The law of our land would dramatically sway back and forth, and the resulting political uncertainty would all but erase what little trust the people have in our governing institutions and lead to even greater political divisions. I don't think this is a future any of us want and certainly not the one that was promised by President Biden when he pledged--when he pledged--to the American people not to divide but to unify our country. When the threat of blowing up the Senate arose during Mr. Biden's time in this institution, he spoke passionately against it. I don't often quote Joe Biden, but I would urge you all to listen to his full speech on the matter. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to have his speech printed in the Congressional Record following my remarks. Then-Senator Biden warned: History will judge us harshly, in my view, if we eliminate over 200 years of precedent and procedure in this body and, I might add, doing it by breaking a second rule of the Senate, and that is changing the rules of the Senate by a mere majority vote. Senator Biden concluded: This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab by the majority party. Flash-forward 17 years later. Joe Biden is still in Washington, and he and his Democratic counterparts are the ones who are exercising that arrogance of power. Now as the President, Biden just yesterday declared: We have no option but to change the Senate rules, including getting rid of the filibuster. So how and why are we at a point where nuking the Senate could even be a possibility? Plain and simple: The Democratic leader, who has participated in hundreds of filibusters over the past 5 years-- hundreds, folks; hundreds--wants to have his way regardless of the longstanding rules of this institution, the viewpoints of other Senators, or even, folks--get this--the wishes of the citizens of his own State. Just last week, the Democratic leader said the filibuster was being used to ``embarrass the will of majority,'' and therefore ``the Senate will debate and consider changes to the Senate rules on or before January 17.'' Folks, it is not the Senate rules embarrassing the majority but, rather, their two-sided flip-flopping on the importance of the filibuster to this institution and to our democracy. Not so long ago, the Democratic leader said that eliminating the filibuster would turn ``the cooling saucer of democracy into the rubber stamp of dictatorship.'' It will be ``a doomsday for democracy.'' Today, he is the one with the finger on the nuclear button, all because he can't get his way. This is the kind of power grab you would expect from tyrants in socialist nations, who seem to be where the Democrats are taking many of their cues from these days. Tyranny is no way to run a democracy, and destroying the U.S. Senate for a power grab is certainly not the example we should be setting for the rest of the world. But the hypocrisy doesn't end there, folks. Democrats are manufacturing hysteria that Republican-controlled States are placing what they consider ``unfair restrictions'' on voting as an excuse to blow up the Senate and thereby clear a pathway for the rest of their radical liberal agenda. The irony here is that New York, home of the Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, and Delaware, home of President Biden, have some of the most restrictive absentee voting laws in the entire country. Just this past November, the Democratic leader's constituents--his constituents--overwhelmingly voted down a ballot initiative to allow absentee voting without providing an excuse and another proposal to permit unregistered voters from registering and then voting on election day. They were voted down--his constituents. So in New York, the only way to qualify for an absentee ballot is to be out of the country or sick or have a physical disability. No other reasons are permitted. Now the senior Senator from New York is threatening to destroy the Senate to override the wishes of the residents of his very own State who voted against the policies he is trying to impose on every other State. Did you catch that, folks? He is overriding the will of the people in his own State. Does that sound like democracy to you? It is not Senate Republicans blocking the Democrat leader's agenda; it is his own constituents. Folks, the reality is, this election takeover bill is just the beginning, used as an excuse by the majority leader to then break the Senate and strengthen his own grip on power. This party boss mentality may work in New York, but, folks, the Senate is not Tammany Hall. While Senate Democrats would have you believe Republicans are somehow limiting the rights of Americans to vote, they, in fact, are the ones plotting to silence millions of Americans. The same partisans on the other side of the aisle who ``boasted'' of--air quotes right here, folks, you see them--they ``boasted'' just about a year ago of resisting. Just a year ago, they were encouraging resisting; filibustering and blocking just about every proposal or nominee put forth by the prior President. Now they call this tool a threat to democracy. Remember, less than 2 years ago, following the very tragic death of George Floyd, the Senator from New York voted to block consideration of a police reform bill put forward by my friend Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. That is just one of the many other examples of commonsense bills the Democrats blocked for purely partisan reasons. The real threat to democracy isn't the filibuster but those politicians who abuse the power with which they have been entrusted. The Democratic leader has already put a choke hold on democracy right here in the Senate, abusing his position to singlehandedly block other Senators from offering amendments to bills he chooses to bring to the floor. If the majority wants to demonstrate a commitment to democracy, why not start right here in the Senate? Instead of threatening to have less deliberation, why not commit to more? Let's bring up bills that have already had broad bipartisan support, and let's allow more votes on amendments. But rather than starting this new year with a resolution to take this approach and make the Senate a true example of democracy in action, where every voice is heard and respected, the Democratic leader penned each of us a bombastic letter written with the left's usual dramatic flair and theatrics, comparing the filibuster to a dead hand and promising to permanently alter the Senate unless we bend to his wishes. The senior Senator from New York should leave the theater for Broadway, where it belongs. And before casting a vote that could fundamentally change the Senate forever, I would urge my Democratic colleagues to take some advice about the intended behavior of the Senate from our Nation's greatest statesman, George Washington, and cool it.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, and, hey, folks, did you hear about the attempt to steal an election? Maybe you heard this about a year ago or so, big attempt to steal an election, just last year. We had Washington insiders colluding to overturn the will of the people in a fair and free election. Yes, you heard it right, an attempt to steal an election, but it is probably not the election that you are thinking about. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi attempted to steal a seat in the House. Iowa's Second District Congresswoman won her election in 2020 and was certified by Iowa's secretary of state, 24 county auditors of both parties, and the bipartisan State Board of canvassers. And she is here with me today, Representative Mariannette Miller- Meeks. I thank the Representative for being here today. In a blatant political power grab, the Speaker of the House spent over $600,000 of taxpayer money in an attempt to unseat the duly- elected Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. Even some reasonable Members of the Democratic Party sounded the alarm bell on this brazen attempt to reverse the election results. Representative Dean Phillips said at the time: ``Losing a House election by six''--yes, by six--``votes is painful for Democrats, but overturning it in the House would be even more painful for America.'' Voters in Iowa and across America should choose their representatives without interference from politicians in Washington. Guaranteeing both the right to vote as well as the integrity of our election system ensures fair and free elections which are the foundation of our Republic. The attempt to overturn the Iowa election results was the opening salvo in the left's ongoing rush to take over elections. Democrats' proposals are seeking to limit voter ID, legalize ballot harvesting, provide taxpayer money to campaigns, and weaponize the Federal Election Commission. Using fake hysteria, they are trying to blow up the Senate and fundamentally change our country. However, their very effort is unpopular, unnecessary, and unacceptable. I served as a local county auditor and commissioner of elections. My home State has seen various commonsense election reforms throughout the years. In fact, in 2017, the Iowa Legislature modernized our laws, which also included requiring voter ID. At the time of its passage, Democrats warned the law was dangerous and an unnecessary hurdle and a significant barrier for anyone who was not a White male. They could not have been further from the truth. Three times since the new Iowa voter law was implemented, the State has seen record high turnout for elections, record high turnout--huge voter participation. This includes record high absentee voting during the 2020 Presidential election. The 2021 elections also boasted record off-year turnout. My friends on the other side of the aisle will have you believe that voters are being suppressed in red States all over this country. The irony here is that New York, home of the Democratic leader, and Delaware, home of President Biden, have some of the most restrictive voting laws in the entire country. And Iowa, because it has modernized our elections in the course of the number of past years, has been demonized by Democrats when, oddly enough, Iowa's election laws are much more progressive than Delaware and New York. Just this past November, New Yorkers overwhelmingly voted down a ballot initiative to allow no-excuse absentee voting. New York voters also rejected a proposition that would have allowed individuals to register to vote and cast a ballot on election day. By the way, Iowa has same-day voter registration, thank you. Now, the senior Senator from New York is threatening to destroy the Senate to override the wishes of the residents of his very own State who voted against the policies he is trying to impose on every other State. Does that sound like democracy to you? It is not. While the media will have you believe that Senate Republicans are blocking the Democratic leader's agenda, it is really the voters of his own State. Liberal States have some of the most restrictive election laws in the country--and don't take my word for it. An expose recently published in The Atlantic found some States that the Democrats control in the northeast make casting a ballot more difficult than anywhere else and that the voting bill being pushed in Congress would hit some blue States just as hard, if not harder--now, that is The Atlantic--than the red States they claim are limiting the right to vote. And I will remind you Iowa is much more progressive than these States. Plain and simple, Washington Democrats are gaslighting the American people. There is not a voting crisis in this country. It is manufactured. Their push to blow up the Senate and take over elections isn't about voter access, it is about power, the same power that liberal elites in Washington abused in their rush to steal Iowa's Second Congressional District--now held by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks-- and silence Iowans' voices. What was attempted in Iowa should never be allowed to happen anywhere ever again. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, this is Holly Durben from Shenandoah, IA. Holly was someone who loved animals and loved nature. She was a people person. The thing that she loved most in the world was her family. But tragically, Holly took her last breath on the morning of July 18, 2009. Brian Davis murdered her in a small farmhouse just south of Shenandoah. Holly is one of the hundreds of women murdered annually by a current or former intimate partner--nearly three women a day. Americans are being devastated by a wave of violent crime. Night after night, folks turn on their local news and hear of yet another tragic story of murder, of rape, and violent crimes of all natures that are ravaging their community. In October, the United States recorded its highest spike in homicides in modern history. Last year the murder rate in this country rose by 30 percent. These murders are not being committed by law-abiding citizens. They are being committed by extremely dangerous and violent criminals, like Brian Davis. The reality is victims like Holly Durben and violent criminals like Brian Davis have been locked in homes together for nearly 2 years during this pandemic. Violent convicted criminals like Brian Davis, who murdered Holly, his fiancee, should not have access to firearms. Law-abiding Americans need the ability to protect themselves from violent criminals like Brian Davis. Iowans are common sense. We are pragmatic. We take our Second Amendment rights incredibly serious. We value the safety of our communities, and we think it is right to punish violent criminals when they break the law and are convicted. This isn't some crazy idea. Under current Federal law which has been on the books for decades and in State codes all across the country, there are violent crimes that result in consequences like the inability to possess a firearm. For example, someone convicted of a felony forfeits many of their rights. Felons can't be on a jury. They can't work for the Federal Government or serve in the military. Felons, like murderers and drug kingpins, lose these rights when they commit and are convicted of their crimes. A fugitive from justice is not permitted to have a firearm; the same for those who are in this country illegally. Under current law--current law--individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic-violence crime are also on this list. As of today, if two individuals are married, the convicted abuser is held accountable, and that makes sense. But if they are not married, the convicted violent abuser is not held accountable. I believe we need to get tough on crime, and I believe law-abiding gun owners in this country agree with me. Brian Davis, a violent, convicted criminal is not law abiding. I want to be crystal clear about a few things. One, what we are talking about here depends on a conviction--a conviction of domestic violence. That is a guilty verdict after a just trial, an adjudicated-fairly trial. Due process is completely intact, fully present, and I will not be compromised on that, I can promise you. Two, domestic violence does not mean emotional distress. Domestic violence does not mean a verbal argument. Domestic violence means a violent crime. Three, not a single innocent or law-abiding gun owner will or should be impacted. Today there are women trapped in relationships with violent criminals, our daughters and mothers, our friends, and our neighbors. Convicted violent criminals have proven themselves to be unfit to fully participate in our society. We can't choose to just protect women with a ring on their finger from violent abusers. We must hold violent criminals accountable. Let's protect our daughters and punish the criminals. Speaking from personal experience, domestic violence is a crime worth being tough on. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, do you hear what I hear? Before the prancing and pawing of each little hoof of Santa's eight tiny reindeer will be heard on the roof, there is a joyful sound that denotes the coming of the yuletide season in just a few instantly recognizable notes. Of course, I am talking about Mariah Carey's ``All I Want for Christmas Is You.'' While it has become a holiday classic, the song is taking on a whole new meaning this season. If, like Mariah, you don't want a lot for Christmas and don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree, this may be your year. That is because Bidenomics is causing everything to be back- ordered, delayed, unavailable, or just plain unaffordable. Even Christmas trees are in short supply. So don't be surprised if your only option to deck the halls this year looks like Charlie Brown's sad little twig of a fir tree branch. Whether shopping at a store or online, we are all experiencing it. With the cost of gifts up 20 percent and consumer prices surging to the highest level in over 30 years, you are paying a ho ho whole lot more for a ho ho whole lot less; that is if you can even find what you are looking for. Perhaps the most telling sign of the times, the Dollar Tree--which had to discontinue selling some of its popular products due to cost constraints--is raising prices to $1.25. President Biden's contribution to this year's season of giving could best be summed up by an elf on an empty shelf. After all, the Biden administration has ignored, dismissed, and even contributed to the conditions causing these economic hardships. Speaking at the White House just last week, the President actually claimed his efforts have resulted in ``shelves across the country being well-stocked.'' That may be true at his White House gift shop, but not in the stores in Iowa and across the country. The supply chain problem is such a mess, not even Rudolph with his nose so bright can guide all of the barges stuck at sea into port by Christmas night. The Democrats' out-of-control spending spree and misguided economic policies, like paying people not to work for most of the year, have decreased both the availability of goods, as well as the value of the money in your wallet. For folks in Iowa and the rest of the Nation who are working longer hours due to labor shortages or just to keep up with the skyrocketing prices, this has created a real-life ``Nightmare Before Christmas.'' As a result, a record number of Americans say they won't be buying gifts this year. But rather than addressing these concerns, ``Bare Shelves Biden'' is pushing his so-called Build Back Better Act, which itself is a Christmas tree bill adorned with something for every leftwing special interest group and topped off with a massive $300 billion tax break for coastal elites. For those millionaires on their wish list who literally have everything, DC Democrats are wrapping up a generous tax cut worth nearly $17,000. To no one's surprise, those benefitting the most from this tax giveaway live in or around the San Francisco Congressional District represented by Speaker Nancy Pelosi; and the State of New York, home of the Senate majority leader. It is a lot like a plot twist to Charles Dickens' classic, ``A Christmas Carol.'' But instead of learning to embrace the giving spirit of Christmas, Scrooge receives a tax handout paid for out of the pockets of essential workers struggling to provide for their own families. What a bunch of humbug. Santa Claus, I don't know if you are listening, but if you are, when you're making your list and checking it twice, remember that President Biden promised taxpayers that his Build Back Better plan costs zero dollars, doesn't waste any money on tax breaks for the wealthy, and adds--you guessed it--zero dollars to the national debt. To no one's surprise, that promise ended up being a fa-la-la-la-lot of malarkey. The truth is the Biden bill costs $1.7 trillion, adds $376 billion to our debt and gives a huge tax cut to millionaires. While the President certainly deserves a stocking full of coal for breaking his promises to taxpayers, even coal is in short supply at the moment, and the price has soared to the highest level in more than 12 years. Other energy prices, whether to warm your home or fill up the gas tank of your car, are also up sharply. The President has done his part to limit fuel supplies by signing Executive orders to further restrict access to oil and gas. After enduring nearly 2 years of making sacrifices, folks should not have to now choose between heating their house, buying food for their families, or putting gifts under the tree. So rather than passing another one of President Biden's budget busting bills, the best gift that Washington can give taxpayers is to keep this from being a blue Christmas and simply stop making matters worse. Folks who have worked hard all year desperately deserve a break from the economic pressures being caused by Bidenomics so they can enjoy some time with their families. And unlike last Christmas, we can once again rediscover the true meaning of this holiday season by spending time with those we love the most, just like Mariah sings about, ``Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you.'' Madam President, I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I am glad to be on the floor today, joined by my colleague Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Lindsey Graham. We all saw and remember the horrific images from this past summer when Afghanistan fell into the hands of a brutal Taliban regime. It was a difficult time for many of us, especially our veterans, our Gold Star families, and the families of the 13 servicemembers we lost during that disastrous exit, including the family of Marine Cpl Daegan William- Tyeler Page of Red Oak, IA, my hometown. These heroes must never be forgotten. While the tragic exit from Afghanistan may have moved off of the front pages, and while it may not be top of mind for many Americans here at home, the devastating situation in Afghanistan is all too real for the hundreds of American citizens and allies who were left behind. The reality is, right now, U.S. citizens, green card holders, and SIV-eligible Afghans are still stranded behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. I am furious over the mishandling of this administration's exit from Afghanistan. It was a disaster from start to finish. Now, America has a duty and an obligation to get these people home or brought to safety, plain and simple. To those who are stranded in Afghanistan today, my message to you is clear: I have not forgotten you. America has not forgotten you. As my colleagues pointed out already, we are trying to find ways to remind Congress, the administration, and the public of those Americans who are still stranded in the country and the importance of taking action to get them home. As a way to remind those around that our fellow Americans are still stranded and that we need to get them home, I am encouraging Iowans and all Americans to join me, to join Senators Graham and Blumenthal in wearing a green ribbon this holiday season. We must ensure that America does not forget those who this administration has left behind. I am proud to join my colleagues today, Democrats and Republicans, to ensure we keep the pressure on and to get these people, including our fellow Americans, home at last. We cannot and we will not let them be forgotten. I yield the floor to Senator Blumenthal.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Thank you, Mr. President. I also want to thank my senior Senator from our great State of Iowa for his wonderful contributions to our agriculture sector. This is an extremely important topic that we are bringing to the floor today, the threat of agriculture ransomware. From grocery stores in Iowa to New York and every State in between, it is no secret that the price of groceries has drastically increased over the course of the past year. Combining that with the ongoing supply chain disaster, it is even more apparent that the last thing we need is a cyber security attack that would shut down any of our agriculture production. Like many Iowans, I am increasingly concerned about the growing ransomware attacks on our Nation's ag economy. In a 2019 report, researchers from the University of Minnesota outlined the seriousness of the risk of cyber attacks to the American food and agriculture system. The report indicated that American agriculture is extremely vulnerable due to outdated security, poor coordination among businesses, and lack of emphasis on cyber security within the industry. In June, the world's largest meat processing company, JBS, was attacked by a Russian-based operation. Nine U.S.-based meat packing plants temporarily shut down as a result of that attack, including the JBS pork processing plants in Marshalltown and Ottumwa, IA. Similarly, NEW Cooperative, an Iowa grain cooperative that controls 40 percent of the grain distribution in our country, was recently targeted with a cyber attack by another Russian cyber crime. They attacked controlled crop irrigation, livestock feed schedules, and inventory distribution, and then they demanded $5.9 million in ransom. Another attack hit Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, based in Arcadia, IA. This was coordinated by another Russian attacker, who threatened to release sensitive data, including financial, sales, and accounting information. This is a very serious warning sign for our ag industry. It is a problem primed to increase as farmers incorporate more technology into their daily lives. Precision agriculture, for example, has promising potential to fulfill increasing global food supply and demand while also improving our soil and water quality, but it demands heavy reliance on interconnected devices and the internet, creating vulnerability. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to remotely control and disrupt data flow, potentially causing devastating consequences, especially as farmers move their crops and their livestock to market. These attacks risk the livelihood of farmers and affect the supply chain that puts food on the shelves and on our families' tables all across our country. That is why I believe 21st-century farming needs 21st-century solutions. The security, safety, and resiliency of our food supply chain is integral to the overall security of our Nation. The ag sector is designated as critical infrastructure, but historically, it has not received robust cyber security support from the government. Just recently, I joined Senator Grassley in urging Secretary Mayorkas to address these ransomware attacks on agriculture and to leverage the Department's resources to prepare for any future attacks. The Biden administration outlined a new national security memorandum that would include cyber security as it relates to agriculture, but the plan is voluntary and would severely limit its effectiveness. It is why I joined Senators Grassley, Stabenow, and Tester in an effort to get both the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, permanent representation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The legislation also adds new criteria to ensure that proposed transactions are reviewed specifically for their potential impact on American food and agricultural systems. The increasing trend of foreign investment in our food and ag system should be met with careful scrutiny in order to safeguard the security and safety of our food supply and, by extension, our Nation because, after all, food security is national security. Again, I thank my senior Senator Chuck Grassley for leading these efforts to protect our agriculture industry, the livelihoods of Iowans, and everyone else who puts food on their table. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--our Nation was founded upon this set of inalienable rights that are provided to each one of us not by government, but by our Divine Creator who made us all equal. It is the role of the government to secure these blessings. Regardless of our differences and disagreements, these principles outlined in our founding documents have always united us and made America exceptional. They are the framework of the American dream, the promise that through self-determination, hard work, and opportunity, we can all achieve a better life for ourselves and for our families. Yet, whether you are pursuing a career, attending school, starting a business, or shopping for a dream home, DC politicians and government bureaucrats are increasingly dictating when you may exercise your rights and how you can live your life, and then spying on you to make sure that you are following the rules. This ``Washington knows best'' approach is negatively impacting nearly every aspect of your life, and you may not realize it. To demonstrate the point, let's walk through a few common scenarios and the real-life consequences you could face as a result of the Biden administration's policies. For each, ask yourself: In this situation, is the government acting to secure or subvert your rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? You work hard and probably put some of your earnings away in a savings account to pay your monthly bills or to be prepared for an unexpected emergency. And, folks, that is just a smart thing to do. Well, if you deposit or withdraw more than $10,000 over the course of a year, the Biden administration wants the IRS to be able to spy on you. To put this number into perspective, if you were renting an apartment in Iowa, the average annual cost to do so is just over $10,000 per year. That is the threshold, folks. Why does Washington even need to know this information about you? The Treasury Department says this is necessary to make sure ``the top one percent . . . can't evade'' paying taxes. You heard that right. The Biden administration thinks you are rich if, over the course of an entire year, you either save or spend $10,000. They might even have the IRS audit you for tax evasion. Treating American citizens like criminal suspects for the innocent act of using a bank account is, quite frankly, un-American. The Biden administration has been up front about its motive here. Washington Democrats are looking to collect as many tax dollars as possible to finance their never-ending reckless spending spree. And as a direct result of these budget busting bills, government inflation is driving up prices and limiting availability of everyday essentials. Let's take a look at life in Joe Biden's America. The cost of food, the cost of rent, the cost of nearly everything just keeps going up and up. Meanwhile, the size of many products is shrinking, which means you have to work harder, pay more, and get a heck of a lot less. It is even costing more just to get to the grocery store. Gas is now more than $3 a gallon, the highest price in 6 years. And this really shouldn't come as a surprise. Remember, on his first day on the job, President Biden signed an Executive order to end the Keystone XL Pipeline, killing thousands of jobs and limiting our access to oil and gas supplies. And while costs keep going up, just finding what you need or want has become yet another ordeal. As a result of Biden bucks, which paid people not to work for most of the year, many products are in short supply or unavailable altogether. Shipping companies are even facing equipment shortages and, of course, they remain understaffed. And, folks, this crisis isn't ending anytime soon. The upcoming holiday season is already being referred to as ``Biden's Blue Christmas.'' The White House is even warning there will be items people can't get for Christmas. So let's just hope for the sake of the kids who have been good all year that Biden's broken supply chain problems don't extend all the way to the North Pole. And speaking of kids, let's take a look at what might happen to parents who take a vocal role in their children's education. It is a good thing for parents to be active in their children's education, and it comes as no surprise that they can often get very passionate about the subject. So imagine going to a school board meeting and exercising your right to express your concerns about a new policy or proposed curriculum at your child's school, but instead of having your issue addressed, you find yourself labeled as a domestic terrorist. Yeah, folks, you heard that right--a domestic terrorist under investigation by our Nation's chief law enforcement agency. It sounds insane, right? But it is a crazy reality today. President Biden's Attorney General is mobilizing the FBI against parents who make their voices heard at school board meetings. Let me be very clear about this. Violence or even threats of violence against school board members, teachers, or any public official should never ever be tolerated; but neither should threats of intimidation by the government to coerce parents to surrender control over their children's education. This is happening at the same time the FBI announced the largest spike in homicides ever recorded. I am not talking about this year, folks. I am not talking about last year, 4, 5, 6 years past. We are talking about the largest spike in homicides ever recorded. With murder and violent crimes increasing, the President's liberal allies in Congress are threatening to defund the police. That approach certainly is not going to secure life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. Folks, all of these disturbing trends we just talked about are stark reminders that the principles our Nation was founded upon are not guaranteed. Every generation of Americans owes it to the next generation to preserve and strengthen the blessings of liberty we were fortunate enough to inherit. I'd expect government coercion, State snooping, empty shelves, and out-of-control inflation in nations with socialist regimes, like China, Cuba, and Venezuela. But regardless of who our President may be, we must never ever accept any of these as part of life in America. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

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