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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the U.S. military offensive in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaida in response to their ruthless attack on America. As a result of our Nation's resolve and the sacrifice and service of our brave men and women over the past two decades, Osama bin Laden is dead, and our homeland has been guarded against additional large-scale terror attacks. Up until President Joe Biden's sloppy and poorly planned exit from Afghanistan, al-Qaida and the Taliban were on the run, but today, due to the decisions of President Biden, the radical extremists who sponsored Osama bin Laden and partnered with al-Qaida, who are responsible for the deadliest terror attack in history, are back in power. How did we get here? It became apparent at last week's Armed Services hearing, after I questioned our top military leaders, that President Biden made a completely unconditional withdrawal. The President simply looked at the calendar and saw what he thought would be an easy political victory and decided we would be out of Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Another fact that became clear after the hearing last week is that President Biden casually dismissed the sound advice of his own military leaders. He discounted the tactical and strategic value of keeping a small force in place to defeat the terrorists. Then, to cover for those mistakes, President Biden misled the public about the advice that he was given and refused to take. So let's be clear about what happened as a result of the President's ignoring his own generals' recommendations. He abandoned American citizens behind enemy lines, left strong allies and partners to fend for themselves against the Taliban, tarnished America's reputation, and created the conditions that led to the devastating loss of 13 brave American servicemembers. He stubbornly led our country into the most disastrous diplomatic and military debacle in modern history. Those now in control of Afghanistan are a who's who of international terrorists. Nearly half of the members of the new Afghan Government are on the U.N. Security Council's terrorism blacklist--that is the U.N., folks, their terrorism blacklist--including the Acting Prime Minister and both of his Deputies. At least two principal members of the Haqqani network, which is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, are in the highest positions of the Taliban's new government. The Minister of the Interior is on the FBI's ``Most Wanted'' list. His uncle, the Minister of Refugees, is designated a terrorist by our government. Together, the U.S. Government values the reward for their arrests at $15 million. The Biden doctrine put America's most wanted back in charge of a terrorist training ground and increased the risk of attacks against our homeland. And we didn't leave the terrorists emptyhanded either. In our rush for the exits, we left tens of billions of dollars' worth of military weapons and gear behind, which is now in the hands of the enemy. We can expect to encounter this tactical equipment again on the battlefield--but our own equipment being used against us. Here are just a few numbers: 600,000 weapons, 22,000 humvees, and more than 200 aircraft. Folks, we left America's most wanted with America's best weapons. But it is not just weapons and military capabilities; President Joe Biden left behind our own citizens, stranded in a foreign country governed by known terrorists. As much as the administration wants to act like this is all in the past and we have closed the book on Afghanistan, it is just not reality. Right now, we have American citizens stranded in Afghanistan. Let that sink in for just a moment, folks. Americans and our Afghan partners, who worked with us over the past two decades--interpreters and translators--are all sitting ducks for the Taliban. When we ask for an accurate accounting of who and how many are still left, the Pentagon points the finger at the State Department, which then goes radio silent. The administration is downplaying the evils of the Taliban, and its refusal to state hard facts is stunning. The chorus of praise from the State Department and the White House in calling the Taliban ``businesslike'' and ``professional'' would be comical if it weren't so horrifying. If using Kabul's soccer stadiums to publicly execute dissidents, overseeing the legal rape of young girls through child marriage, and settling disputes by chopping off hands and feet is how the Taliban does business, then President Biden is right--they are truly pros. GEN Mark Milley admitted the exit was a ``strategic failure'' in his testimony last week. Folks, that is an understatement. President Biden and his top foreign policy adviser, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have serially failed to own up to this fiasco. Someone must take responsibility for this colossal failure. As we uncovered again last week, President Biden's decisions led us here, right back where we began. Both General McKenzie and General Milley testified last week that ``al-Qaida is still at war with us'' and that within the year, they ``could be reconstituted with aspirations to attack the U.S.'' During Joe Biden's campaign, he promised a return to normalcy. Little did we know that meant a return to vulnerability and an America that is less safe from terrorists who attacked our homeland 20 years ago. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, the time is now. We need a memorial to the fallen heroes of the Global War on Terror, and the memorial should be in its rightful place on the National Mall in Washington, DC. On Tuesday, I spoke with a group of nearly 30 Gold Star families who lost their loved ones during our Nation's longest war. Their stories of heartache and sacrifice inspire me to continue fighting for this important memorial. The overwhelming theme on that call was this: the time is now to get the Global War on Terrorism Memorial built on our National Mall. And it is with that in mind that I come to the floor again to ask the Senate to join me in honoring our veterans, our Gold Star families, and fallen heroes by supporting my bipartisan legislation, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act. I believe our Nation has a responsibility to properly honor and pay tribute to our veterans, including those who have served in the longest conflict in the history of the United States. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial belongs on our National Mall, in the same place as the memorials that honor the heroes of earlier conflicts, like Korea and Vietnam. This memorial, which has bipartisan support, will serve as a permanent reminder of the eternal gratitude of all of America. As a fellow veteran of the Global War on Terrorism and a friend and advocate for our Gold Star families, I firmly believe that placing this memorial anywhere but the National Mall is absolutely unacceptable. We have an opportunity for bipartisanship right here with this bill. So let's join together and show the country that the U.S. Senate will honor the sacrifice and properly memorialize the service of the brave men and women who fought and died to protect and defend the Nation since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. It is the least we can do for those who have given so much. I ask you today to support my mission, to build a memorial to empower those who answered the call to serve in the Global War on Terror, who, for so long, protected us and allowed us to enjoy the freedoms that we have to this very day. This memorial is ready to go, so let's get it built on our National Mall in Washington, DC, where it belongs. Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 535 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I just want to come forward and thank the Senator for the progress that is being made on the location for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial, and I will continue to pursue this. I think it is important to do that. I remain committed to the families of those who have fallen, as well as the many servicemembers who have served across the spectrum in the Global War on Terror. I understand that many decades ago an act was put in place by Congress which limited activity on the National Mall, but understanding, since that time, we have seen many memorials and many monuments that have been placed on the Reserve on the National Mall. And so I am asking that, as Congress, we move forward quickly on this act. We have been working on this for a number of years. We need to move quickly and provide a time of healing for our Nation after we are closing the Global War on Terror. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

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

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, Democrats in Washington are playing a high- stakes game with our Nation's finances. Congress just keeps passing bill after bill that adds trillions of dollars in spending to Washington's credit card. First, there was the $1.9 trillion ``Bidenomics'' stimulus bill that fanned the flames of inflation and paid people not to work. Then there was the $1.2 trillion so-called infrastructure bill that was supposed to be entirely paid for, but wasn't. And now the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint that paves the way for passing a wish list of progressive priorities, like the Green New Deal and other pricey partisan pet projects. You might think the reckless spending spree would have come to a stop after reaching the Nation's debt limit in July. Wrong. The Democrats are now plotting to suspend the debt limit in order to pass what would be the most expensive bill ever passed by Congress. This reckless borrowing and spending is driving up the prices of everyday goods as well as our national debt and, if Democrats have their way, the taxes of hard-working Americans, too. With the Federal fiscal year ending in mere days, another trillion-dollar spending bill will probably be rushed through at the last minute to avoid a government shutdown because Congress put off doing its work on time yet again. The Democrats have their hands full with multiple financial crises, all of their own making, and their solution to each of these is the same--to spend more money we don't have--which only confounds the underlying problems. More spending results in higher taxes, increased prices, and even more debt. The scenario reminds me of this popular meme of a guy playing UNO, in which the whole aim of the game is to rid your hand of all of your cards. I love this game. I played it as a little girl at my grandma's house. I played UNO with all of my cousins. OK. So, in the meme, he is seen holding a wildcard that presents him with a choice: Perform an action--in this version, to ``cut unnecessary spending''--or draw another 25 cards from the deck and, most certainly, lose the game. In the next frame, the man, who represents the Democrats here, is holding a handful of cards because he would rather do anything but what the card actually suggests. Unfortunately, the consequences of dealing with Washington's budget are much more dire than losing a game of UNO. Instead of drawing cards, the Democrats are selecting to borrow more to finance totally unnecessary and completely indefensible--and often bizarre-- expenditures rather than simply cutting waste out of the budget. Just like you can't win UNO without getting rid of the cards in your hand, we will never get control of our debt until we discard the waste in Washington's bloated budget. It may sound a bit oversimplified, but it isn't. To demonstrate the point, I brought my own deck of cards with me today. OK. So these are UNO cards, all right? Every one of these cards lists a current government expenditure and its cost to the taxpayers. Each represents a real choice Congress will make in the coming days. In each scenario, the Democrats are likely to choose taxing and borrowing to pay for the spending rather than to trim the unneeded expenditure. So let's pick a card, any card, and see if that is a good deal for the taxpayers. So let's see. UNO card No. 1: ``Cut the pork or draw 25.'' After a decades-long moratorium on congressional earmarks, the House of Representatives has revived the corrupt practice of earmarking tax dollars for politicians' pet projects. More than 3,300 earmarks, consisting of $9.3 billion, have been proposed by Members of Congress just this year, which includes purchasing Santa gifts in Indiana and building fish markets in the Virgin Islands. We could save billions by pulling pork off the menu, but the Democrats are going to go with the drawing of 25 more cards instead. OK, let's try another one. OK. ``End welfare for politicians or draw 25.'' Every year, millions of taxpayer dollars are diverted into a special account that exists solely to subsidize the campaigns of politicians running for President. The program has doled out more than $1.6 billion for parties and politicians to date, and there is currently $400 million sitting in the account. We could save the $400 million by pulling the plug on this welfare program for politicians, but, once again, the Democrats will choose to draw 25 more cards. OK. The next card: ``Put the brakes on boondoggles or draw 25.'' Washington continues to bail out transit boondoggles across the country that are billions of dollars over budget and decades behind schedule, like, of course, folks, the San Francisco Bay Area subway extension to Silicon Valley, California's high-speed rail project, and Honolulu's elevated rail line. The Democrats are proposing $10 billion more to support the high-speed rail projects alone. We could save tens of billions of dollars by canceling these gravy trains that are taking taxpayers for a ride, but you can probably guess what the Democrats' play will ultimately be: to draw 25. So, folks, let's lay the cards on the table. The Democrats' borrowing-based budgeting is a real house of cards because you simply can't borrow your way out of debt. The bills will eventually come due in the form of higher taxes and drastic cuts to government services, and it will be the taxpayers who get lost in the shuffle. Because the Democrats control both Chambers of Congress and the White House, it may seem that the deck is stacked against our taxpayers, but I have a card up my sleeve. Folks, let's put it in reverse and go in a different direction. Instead of just throwing in the cards and going along with the Democrats' demand to borrow another penny, let's first go through the budget, line by line, and determine what is a priority and what isn't. It is time to make Washington start living within a realistic budget, just like every other family in America is expected to do. That may be a wild idea to the big spenders in DC, but taxpayers know that is how to play your cards right. So, instead of picking up more debt, let's skip--let's skip--the spending that isn't needed until we are sure Washington isn't wasting a single dollar.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. Respectfully, I do not.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, we recently marked the 20th anniversary of September 11, a day that forever changed our Nation. This direct assault on our country sparked the Global War on Terrorism, a war that came at great personal cost to our men and women serving in the Armed Forces. As a combat veteran, as the mother of a future soldier, even simply as an American, the events in Afghanistan have been extremely disheartening to watch. I have heard from so many veterans and servicemembers who served during this war, many of whom are distraught and disappointed at the haphazard way the war in Afghanistan came to a close. I have also heard from too many Gold Star families who lost so much during this conflict--their spouses, their fathers, their mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. Recent events have left them questioning themselves and whether their family member's sacrifice was worth it. While we can't put the genie back in the bottle when it comes to what happened in Afghanistan last month, we can properly memorialize the service of the brave men and women who fought and died to protect and defend the United States since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. I stand before you today to ask that the Senate join with me in honoring our Global War on Terrorism veterans and the sacrifices they made by supporting and passing my bipartisan bill, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act. In August of 2017, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law our bill authorizing the creation of a memorial commemorating the sacrifices of all those wonderful Americans who fought in the Global War on Terrorism. This memorial will be 100 percent privately funded and will not use a single dime of taxpayer money. Most importantly, it will pay tribute to our fallen servicemembers across the country, including the 13 who perished in Afghanistan on August 26. Among the 13 was Iowa native, Cpl Daegan William-Tyeler Page, who bravely gave the greatest sacrifice of all. This memorial is going to be built. It has already become law. It is ready to go. So let's get it built on the National Mall in Washington, DC, where it belongs. It is the least we in Congress can do for the men and women who have given so much. We have the opportunity to unite around a common cause, while providing a central location for our many veterans and their families affected by the Global War on Terror to reunite and reflect on their loved ones' sacrifices. This isn't a partisan idea. Earlier this month, the six surviving Secretaries of Defense, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations--Robert Gates, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Ash Carter, Jim Mattis, and Mark Esper--they all wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in support of placing the Global War on Terror Memorial on our National Mall. While nothing will ever restore the lives that we have lost, this memorial would serve as a tribute to those brave men and women and their loved ones who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom. For more than 20 years, I had the privilege of serving my State and country in uniform. As a veteran of the Global War on Terror, I know firsthand the sacrifices the millions of brave men and women of our Armed Forces made in this fight against radical extremists. Like many others, I have risen my right hand and taken that oath voluntarily and without reservation. That is why the effort to build this memorial in its rightful place is a personal one, not just to me but to every servicemember, veteran, surviving family member, and civilian who has been impacted by this fight. This national memorial will provide all Americans a permanent place of reflection in the heart of our Nation's Capital. It will serve as a permanent commitment to the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and children who lost their whole world that this country is forever grateful and in their debt. It will serve as a place of healing for the thousands of veterans still carrying the wounds of war, both seen and unseen. The National Mall is currently home to the memorials honoring World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war. How could we put the memorial for our Nation's longest war anywhere else? Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 535 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I will continue on this path. We, again, passed this bill. It was signed into law in 2017, creating the foundation to establish the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. So that was the first step in a process that has now culminated after 4 years of discussion and work. And I am very hopeful that the committee will go through regular process. I would encourage the chair to move forward on a markup of the bill and a vote on the bill. If we can receive that markup and vote, then I will stop my live UCs. But until that point, I think it is imperative that we continue pushing for that regular order. I feel committed, obviously, to those whom I have served with, the others who have served in the Global War on Terror, their families, the affected communities, our Gold Star families, and others. This is our Nation's longest running war. It is a war that has affected more than just those servicemembers who set foot in the Middle East. My commitment to those families, those communities, and our country is that we will continue to proceed to make sure that this memorial is placed in prominence on our National Mall. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, words can't describe the emotions I felt watching the ruthless Taliban once again seize control of Afghanistan, the very same country from where terrorists plotted the attacks on America two decades earlier. The world watched hopelessly as tens of thousands of people, including American citizens and our Afghan allies, desperately attempted to escape the terror and bleak future certain to return under the rule of the Taliban. Through the chaos and the panic, the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, who once freed the Nation from the terrorist regime, stood as protectors at the Kabul airport for those who were desperately seeking a way out. Then, on August 26, a terrorist attack at the airport claimed the lives of 13 of these brave servicemembers who were assisting with the evacuation, marking one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces during the 20-year conflict. Marine Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page was one of those killed in action on that day. Daegan was a young man from Red Oak, IA, who truly represents the greatness of our State, our country, and the U.S. Marine Corps in which he proudly served. Daegan may have been just 23 years old, but he died a hero who lived a life of service to his community and to his Nation. Our hearts go out to those to whom he meant the most: his girlfriend, Jessica; his parents, Wendy and Craig Adelson and Greg and Jenni Page; his grandparents; and his four siblings, Corey, Garrett, Mason, and Emerson, to whom Daegan has always been a hero, even before he became a U.S. marine. The wounds of war obviously aren't just borne by the warrior. It is the family of the fallen who will carry the scars for a lifetime. The hole left in their lives by the loss of Daegan can never, ever be filled. So let's also keep Daegan's family in our prayers. Being from Red Oak, IA, I know Daegan's family. I have grown up with Daegan's family. It was my best friend in Red Oak that texted me after that explosion at the Kabul airport. She is the one who told me that Wendy Tye's son Daegan had been killed in this explosion. So I gave the family time to come together, and that next morning I called Wendy's mother, Peggy. I love Peggy very much. I love their entire family very much, and I told her I was so sorry about the loss of Daegan. And she told me: Joni, just please let everybody know what an amazing young man that Daegan was. And he was an extraordinary young man. Before we ended our conversation, she said: Joni, give that precious Libby of yours a hug for me, like I used to so many years ago when she was a little girl. And she said: You never know when you will get that last hug from someone you love. And, Peggy, I did. I gave my daughter Libby a hug. So while Daegan was a tough marine--he really was--again, an amazing young man. He was fun, loving, and he had a giant heart and a soft spot for animals. He had three dogs--Shyia, Gracie, and Finn. Growing up in Red Oak, and then in Omaha, Daegan's commitment to service began at a young age as a longtime member of the Boy Scouts. While he was just a child when the terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, after graduating from Millard South High School, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the U.S. Marine Corps. Daegan's family says that he loved the brotherhood of the Marines and was proud to serve as a member of the 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. Daegan was always a dedicated team member. It didn't matter what it was, but he was dedicated, according to his former hockey teammates who, together, won the Nebraska State championship tournament. Omaha's hockey community has fittingly paid tribute to Daegan by placing hockey sticks on their porches in his memory. A memorial service to celebrate Daegan's life is being held this Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Omaha. Like his family, teammates, and fellow servicemembers, we mourn the loss of Daegan, but also honor his heroism and his valor. He has been awarded the Purple Heart for making that ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His life in Red Oak, IA, and Omaha, NE, and his death, remind us that this world is a very dangerous place with many wishing to do the United States harm. Our protection here at home depends upon the sacrifice and the service of many heroes, those like Daegan. Let it not be forgotten that thousands of other lives were rescued from pending doom because of the bravery of Daegan and the 12 other servicemembers who lost their lives that day while standing guard to ensure the safe passage of others out of Afghanistan. While it is heartbreaking that he was taken from this world too soon, Daegan will forever have the gratitude of our Nation. So Wendy and Greg, and to your families, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your beautiful son, Daegan. The American people will never forget him, nor will they ever forget his life of service. Semper Fidelis, Daegan, and godspeed. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I call up my amendment, No. 3115, and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I grew up on a farm in Southwest Iowa, where we took extraordinary pride in the work we did and the livestock and crops we raised. Our hard-working livestock producers should not have to worry about being subject to onerous regulations and increased production costs due to Federal permits or regulations. My amendment would prohibit or limit any new Federal methane requirements on livestock that would increase the cost of beef or other critical products. This ``cow tax'' will just result in higher food costs for Americans at the grocery store at a time when inflation has already caused prices to skyrocket. This ``cow tax'' could put our local farms out of business. They could devastate our rural communities, which are continuing to feed and fuel the world. I won't stand by while the Democrats force Iowa farmers and ranchers and American consumers to pay for their over-the-top regulations. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and keep America's farming and ranching operations going and food prices affordable for our hard-working families.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I would ask unanimous consent that the request be further modified to include my amendment No. 2639, and my amendment is very simple. It requires a public price tag to be put on projects funded with taxpayer dollars by the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation. It allows taxpayers to see exactly how their dollars are being spent, whether it is on an airport, a bridge, or any other project. Congress has renewed the provision--referred to as the Stevens Amendment--annually for more than 30 years for some Federal Agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor. It was most recently approved by Congress and signed into law as part of both the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. The infrastructure bill we are now considering will finance many projects across the country. My amendment would provide some much needed transparency for taxpayers by showing what projects are being funded with their tax dollars and the actual costs associated with them. In practice, my amendment requires nothing more than a single sentence disclosing the dollar amount paid by taxpayers and what that amount represents of the overall percentage of the project's budget. The only reason to oppose this commonsense transparency is if there is something to hide. I urge the consideration of my amendment and ask that my colleagues vote yes. Again, I ask unanimous consent that the request be further modified to include my amendment, Ernst No. 2639.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, we have all experienced a bit of buyer's remorse this past year. The uncertainty caused by the pandemic had folks stockpiling too much or just doing a little online retail therapy for things they may never use. But when it comes to impulse buying, no one can compete with Democrats in Washington. If running up the taxpayers' tab was an Olympic sport, Democrats would easily take home the gold. Over the past 6 months, the Democrats have run up trillions of dollars in new spending. And as we are just days away from hitting the Nation's debt limit, these same Democrats are preparing to charge trillions more to the Nation's credit card, paid for by taxpayers, of course, to purchase more of their pricey, partisan pet projects and other items on their progressive wish list. Their reckless spending spree started in March with their strictly partisan $2.1 trillion, a so-called COVID bill. The Democrats assured us the $1,400 stimulus checks and $300-a-week enhanced unemployment benefits included in the bill would get America back on its feet. Well, folks, this July 28, we have 10 million unfilled jobs. Last week, jobless claims increased. And hard-working Americans are feeling the pinch and paying more for almost everything, from gas to groceries. The Democrats' poisonous progressive policies are failing us, and Iowans and the rest of Americans know it. Yet Democrats--they just keep on spending. Right now, the majority leader is plotting to fast-track an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink tax-and-spending bill that could cost more than $3\1/2\ trillion. So what is in this latest bill? More poisonous progressive policies. One of the most harmful provisions to families everywhere and especially farm families in Iowa is what I like to call the farm-to- table tax hike. The Democrats want to pay for part of their radical agenda by increasing the tax on family farms being passed from one generation to the next. But that tax won't only hit farmers and ranchers; it will increase the cost of producing and purchasing food for all of our families. Americans recognize President Biden's budget-busting bills are a key factor in the skyrocketing costs; yet the Democrats keep packing their bills with progressive pet policies and projects they know won't make your life better but that will appease their political base. And their answer when things don't get better is always: Wait, we didn't spend enough. Folks, it is laughable to argue that Washington hasn't spent enough when our national debt now exceeds $28 trillion. The shopaholics who control the purse strings in Congress are addicted to spending other people's money on things we don't need or that we can't afford. Let's review the receipt for Bidenomics: $2.1 trillion for Biden's so-called American Rescue Plan, which includes $200 billion for enhanced unemployment payments, $1.7 billion for Amtrak, $135 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, $50 million for environmental justice grants, plus $3.5 trillion for the proposed reckless tax-and- spending spree. We still don't even know what goodies are included in this grab bag, but it is likely to include parts of the socialist Green New Deal and doubling the size of the IRS by hiring an army of new auditors. Add on nearly $10 billion for swampy earmarks to pay for pork projects. The list goes on and on and on, like the world's longest CVS receipt; except you don't expect any savings here, folks. And when you add it all up, the grand total: $6.8 trillion. As these bills come due, President Biden's reckless spending spree will leave us with buyer's remorse for years to come. It is time to cut up Washington's credit card and make DC start living within its means, just like every hard-working family across Iowa and America do. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, President Biden's economic policies are causing nationwide sticker shock. The price of nearly everything is higher today than it has been since Biden was in the White House the first time. The cost of consumer goods has gone up every month since January, and the markup in prices over the past year is the biggest annual increase since 2008. The Democrats' response to these rising prices is to simply spend more, which is making the problem worse. Paying people not to work is contributing to worker shortages. Not having enough workers is resulting in service and supply shortages. Combine these two factors with trillions of dollars of government spending, and it all adds up to higher prices on everything for everyone. It is a common story wherever I visit on my 99-county tour. Because of Washington's upside-down economic policies, small businesses are struggling to hire workers, and our families are paying much more for far less. Put simply, under Bidenomics, the price is up. Everyday products, like diapers and paper towels, are either increasing in cost or decreasing in size, which is the same result: more money out of our wallets. Whether you are eating in or you are dining out, the one thing you are guaranteed to find on every supermarket shelf and restaurant menu is higher prices. A pound of sliced bacon has increased a whole dollar in just the past year, and the fast-food dollar menu is disappearing. We are paying more at the pump too. A year ago, a gallon of gas cost about $2.18. Today, the price is just under $3 in Iowa. Nationally, the cost has risen to about $3.15 per gallon and is expected to keep going up throughout the summer. Meanwhile, rising shipping costs are lifting the prices of everything from coffee to furniture. All in all, Bidenomics has resulted in the biggest surge in inflation in nearly 13 years. For Iowans who are living on a budget, these unpredictable price markups are making every purchase a real guessing game. They keep finding themselves asking if the price is right. To demonstrate just how much costs are spinning out of control, I have brought the wheel of inflation with me here today. Each of the numbers on the wheel represents a price increase for a common household product. It will tell us exactly how much more Bidenomics is costing hard-working Americans. So, folks, let's go ahead and give it a spin. No. 8. In the past year, the price of bacon is up about 8 percent. Give her a good spin. OK. No. 5, and it is a black 5. In the past year, the price of clothes is up about 5 percent. No. 11. In the past year, the price of auto insurance is up 11 percent; and if you go to the 17 there, you will find that hotel rates, the price has gone up 17 percent in the last year. There are no winning numbers on this wheel. Again, every number represents the increase of a common good American consumers are dealing with. There are no winning numbers on this wheel. No matter how you spin it, we simply cannot afford any more Bidenomics. I think the American people will agree, all of these prices need to come on down. But instead of addressing inflation, Democrats are trying to outbid one another over a massive new government spending program they are calling human infrastructure. Want to guess what the price tag being floated by the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee for this package might be? Three and a half trillion dollars--all capital letters, folks. The endless giveaway of cash and prizes may make it appear like Democrats in Washington are running a game show, but we all know that this is not a game. With our national debt approaching $30 trillion, the bills are eventually going to come due. And you know who will be stuck with the tab? Taxpayers. What runaway inflation doesn't take from working Americans' paychecks, the IRS will take to pay for the Democrats' never-ending spending. We are all going to be paying back the trillions of dollars borrowed to pay for Bidenomics, both in higher taxes and in higher consumer costs, and that price--folks, it isn't right. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to use a prop during my remarks.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I rise to pay tribute to COL David W. Trotter, who has selflessly served our great country as a U.S. Army intelligence officer. He is a fellow alumnus of the Iowa State University Cyclone Battalion and a dear friend of mine. Colonel Trotter will retire on November 30, 2021, after a successful 30-year military career as an accomplished leader, infantry, and intelligence officer. Dave's leadership abilities were evident early on. I met Dave early in my days at Iowa State, where he served as a personal mentor and driving factor to my own service to this great Nation. From those early days, he grew even more as a leader and soldier, ultimately completing a storied career at home and abroad, in peace and in war. It is fitting that we recognize his service to this great Nation. Colonel Trotter was commissioned in 1992 upon graduating from Iowa State University as a distinguished military graduate with a bachelor in business. Dave served as an infantry platoon leader in Korea and a company executive officer at Fort Carson, CO. He then was selected as a company commander for 18 months with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment in Fort Lewis, WA. After command, he served as an operations officer for the Des Moines, IA, Recruiting Battalion before being selected for the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment. Upon arrival at the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Benning, GA, Dave served as an assistant intelligence officer. He then was selected again for command, where he served as the military intelligence detachment commander. Throughout his time in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Dave deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. As a field-grade officer, Dave served as an operations officer in the XVIII Airborne Corps, G2 section at Fort Bragg, NC. He then served as an operations officer and executive officer within the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, where he also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then served again as an operations officer for the Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, VA, before being selected for command of the Army Geospatial Intelligence Battalion at Springfield, VA. After various staff positions, Dave served as the chief of staff, Afghanistan Ministry of Interior Advisory Group, where he deployed again to Afghanistan in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom Sentinel. After a brief year on staff at Fort Huachuca, AZ, Dave deployed again in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, where he served as the III Corps G2. After redeployment, he was chosen to serve as the Army North senior intelligence officer. He then would transfer once more to Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he served as the executive officer to the commanding general of Army North, Fifth Army. As his final assignment in uniform, COL David W. Trotter was selected to serve as the deputy commander for Joint Base San Antonio and the vice commander of the 502d Air Base Wing. A highly decorated officer, Dave earned several service awards, including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, for his service. He also earned the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. Dave has deployed in support of combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. He has served at every level and commanded with distinction at the company through brigade levels within the conventional force and within the Army's premier Special Operations Command. He and his family have sacrificed so much to ensure America can be what it is today. David, congratulations on your successful career and well-deserved retirement. I want to thank you and your family for the sacrifices you have made over the past 30 years. I join my colleagues in Congress and all Americans as we express our deepest appreciation for your service, acknowledge you and your family's many accomplishments and sacrifices, and wish the very best for you, your wife Tami, and your son Ty in the future.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I thank Senator Scott, and I appreciate the time to speak today on this topic. Certainly, I am rising to also support the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act. The United States should no longer provide any recognition or resources to Hamas, a terrorist organization supplied by Iran disguised as a Palestinian political party. Hamas is a longstanding terrorist organization whose attacks and efforts against peace threaten the lives of civilians and innocents. Using the population of Gaza as a human shield, Hamas fired more than 1,500 rockets into Israeli civilian areas in an unprovoked attack last month. The attack was not the action of a responsible political party but the violent outburst of an Iranian proxy bent on the destruction of Israel and peace. Hamas's roots and rationale have very little to do with a broader struggle for freedom of worship or narrow land use disagreements. It is far simpler than that. Iran supplies rockets, and Hamas launches rockets on innocent Israelis because they share a common goal: eradication of the Jewish people in Israel. It is that simple. Hamas couldn't be more clear in their goals. Their charter states: There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. There is no way out except by concentrating all powers and energies to face this Nazi, vicious Tatar invasion. No mention of peace or advancement for people--Israel's defensive actions against a terror group that compares their people to Nazis and is dedicated to their destruction are to be expected. Self-defense and protection of citizens is a core responsibility of every country. Hamas attacked innocent civilians, fully expecting them to be attacked in return. Their plan was to purposely create civilian casualties. We must be unequivocal in support for our ally. The President and Secretary of State must remain strong in American support to Israel and not lose sight of the true threat Hamas's backer, Iran, poses to Israel. The administration must abandon its attempts to return to the deeply flawed nuclear agreement with Iran. Their attempt to return to the failed nuclear deal only emboldens Iran's nuclear ambitions. Iran provides Hamas and other genocidal terrorist organizations with rocket systems, rocket parts, assembly training, and cash support every year. And Iran's goal mirrors that of Hamas: to wipe Israel off the map, bottom line. Just as no country--Israel or otherwise--would tolerate such terrorism and aggression against its citizens, no true ally would turn their backs on a friend in their moment of need. They certainly would not continue funding the organization responsible for the attack. So now, more than ever, the United States must stand with its ally, condemn the attacks against Israel by Hamas, and affirm our commitment to support Israel's peace and security. The Stop American Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act ensures no funding will be authorized to the territory of Gaza, the site of Hamas's headquarters, until the President certifies to Congress that these funds can be spent without benefiting terrorist organizations. The United States must be clear in our unwavering commitment to our ally and ensure no American taxpayer dollar goes to Hamas ever again. I would like to thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Florida for moving on this piece of legislation I am proud to support. Again, thank you for your leadership on this. I yield the floor back to the Senator from Florida.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, in each new Congress, the bill number S. 1 is a sign of the majority's priority legislation. It says a lot about the new Democrat majority that the bill they chose to design as S. 1 prioritizes themselves. This bill creates a Federal campaign fund to finance the expenses of candidates for Congress. Instead of addressing the important issues that are on the minds of my fellow Iowans--like the rising cost of gasoline, bread, milk, and all sorts of household goods--this bill literally takes money out of the paychecks of working Americans and puts it into the campaign coffers of Washington politicians. Rather than helping to get Americans back to work, the Democrats' top priority, again, is S. 1. Their top priority is to create a Federal jobs program for political consultants and pollsters, taxpayer- subsidized robocalls interrupting your family dinner, junk mail cluttering your mailbox, and attack ads blaring--yes--on your TV. And, folks, you cannot--cannot--unsubscribe, either, because there is no opting out. Think about the politician you dislike the most. Now imagine your tax dollars funding their ads and fliers and campaign parties and rallies. That is what this bill does. That is right. The bill subsidizes politicians' campaigns--your tax dollars helping to elect politicians who oppose your values. This idea is so unpopular that a New York poll found that the majority leader's own constituents oppose public funding of campaigns by a 3-to-1 margin. While the Democrats call the bill the For the People Act, a more apt title would be ``Fund the Politicians Act.'' It is about Washington politicians--the same ones who just brought back earmarks to pay for their pet pork projects with your tax dollars, prioritizing themselves. The bill not only subsidizes the campaigns of politicians, it nationalizes elections. Washington would tell the rest of the country how you can select your representatives. It does so by creating a Federal workaround of State voter ID laws by effectively eliminating the enforcement of State ID requirements at the polls. Think about what you are required to show an ID to do: drive a car, board a plane, buy a beer--and the list goes on. But Democrats think it is best if we don't require an ID to vote. The majority of Americans disagree with Washington Democrats, and 77 percent of voters support voter ID. A little known fact is that this includes support by 63 percent of Democrats and a vast majority of Black and Hispanic voters. It is all part of the Democrats' larger scheme and total power grab to tilt our political system in their favor. First, eliminate the filibuster. Then, rig elections by eliminating election integrity laws like voter ID verification. Then, add new States, like the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, that will elect Democrat Senators. And don't forget the plan to pack the Court. There are just 50 Democratic Senators, but 60 votes are required to end debate on legislation in the Senate. Therefore, the Democrats must eliminate the filibuster in order to pass S. 1, their priority legislation. That is right--changing the rules in order to fundamentally change our country. And I would remind folks that my friends across the aisle are seeking to abolish the very same tool--the filibuster--that they used 327 times last year alone when they were in the minority. If they chose to change the rules, they would destroy this Chamber's long, proud history as being the world's greatest deliberative body. The Senate's current assistant majority leader made it clear--very clear--in 2018, in no uncertain terms, that ending the filibuster would be the end of the Senate as it was originally devised and created going back to the Founding fathers Because the takeover of elections is just as radical and largely unconstitutional, the Democrats' Court-packing scheme is another key component of enshrining S. 1. Folks, we can all see this for what it is--a transparent play for permanent political power. This is not about democracy. It is about changing the rules and tipping the scales to favor Washington Democrats. As a former local elections commissioner, I believe elections are always best kept at the State and local level, and I will continue to push back on my colleagues' attempts to federalize our elections system. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, you might have missed it, but without much fanfare, the White House quietly released the President's budget on the Friday before a holiday weekend. Maybe we weren't supposed to notice the plan at all, but the contents make it impossible to ignore. President Biden is proposing higher taxes on working Americans and cuts to our national defense to pay for a massive expansion of the Federal Government, an enactment of the radical progressive demands, like parts of the Green New Deal. What can't be paid for is simply put on the Nation's ``credit card,'' adding trillions of dollars of red ink. President Biden's budget can be summed up like this: higher taxes, higher spending, and higher debt. And don't take my word for it. The New York Times wrote that Biden's $6 trillion budget would ``push federal spending to its highest sustained levels since World War II.'' Under the Biden budget, by 2028, Washington will collect more tax revenue as a portion of our economy than at nearly any point over the last 100 years. This tax-collecting scheme even includes a retroactive tax increase. That is right, folks, you may owe higher taxes on past earnings. Plus, the President would allow the tax cuts for lower income and middle-class Americans to expire in 2025, and the result will be higher taxes for most Americans. Higher tax bills will add additional burdens to Iowa families and small businesses already struggling with the rising prices and inflation being caused by Bidenomics. So what do you get in exchange for all of these new taxes? For the first time in nearly half a century, taxpayers would be forced to pay for abortions. The Biden budget contains $600 million for electric vehicles. That is a lot of money to subsidize a product very few Americans, other than upper income individuals on the coasts, seem interested in purchasing. President Biden would also spend your taxes to double the size of the IRS over the next decade, adding almost 87,000 new employees at a cost of nearly $80 billion. You heard it right, folks--87,000 new IRS agents. But while the Biden budget promises a bureaucratic buildup at the IRS, his proposal is far less generous to our Armed Forces. The Air Force would suffer a substantial cut in its number of aircraft. The small number of new ships added to the Navy will not keep pace with the growth of Communist China's shipbuilding. This is especially concerning since the CCP now boasts the world's largest Navy and is attempting to expand its naval presence in the Atlantic. You heard that right--not the Pacific but into the Atlantic. The Army budget would be slashed by more than $3 billion. The resulting troop reductions would leave us with the same sized Army we had on 9/11. While essentially freezing defense spending overall, $617 million of the military's budget would be diverted to fighting climate change. Folks, who does the President think he will be able to call on should we need to fight off foreign threats--his new Army of IRS agents? We face new threats around the globe, and lowering our defenses, as President Biden is proposing, will only embolden our adversaries. Americans may fear an IRS audit, but Red China won't. When America last spent as much as President Biden is proposing, we built, essentially from scratch, the world's greatest military force. And all Americans were called on to play their part in the most noble of causes. The entire free world will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the ``greatest generation.'' There is no denying that the sacrifices made by these Americans and the resources committed to their mission forever altered human history for the better. The same cannot be said about what is now being proposed, which leaves America weaker in the world, and the debt will be paid by future generations. The Biden budget is a bust for taxpayers and a boon for DC bureaucrats and tax collectors With that, I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise to support my colleague and friend from New York in the call for the consideration of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. This is an effort whose time is well past due. For too long, our servicemembers have faced the threat and traumas of sexual assault in their own ranks. We must act to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. Sixty-five other Members of this Chamber recognize the urgency of our servicemembers' plight. It is time for debate and consideration. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

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

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I rise again today in support of my colleague in calling for consideration of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. This is an effort whose time has come for serious debate and consideration on the Senate floor. For 8 years, the Senate Armed Services Committee, on which Senator Gillibrand and I sit, has worked on countless efforts to seek justice for victims of sexual assault, all within the chain of command. Many of these were good provisions pushed by myself and others to reduce the barriers in reporting sexual assaults. Provisions focused on both prevention and professionalization of military courts handling sexual assault cases and efforts to improve the culture and ensure all enlistees receive sexual assault prevention training before attendance at their initial training. This is just to name a few. What has brought me here today supporting this effort with Senator Gillibrand and Senator Grassley, with 64 cosponsors in the Senate, is that while these efforts were well-intentioned, our plague continues. That is not OK with me as a combat veteran, a former commander, and sexual assault survivor myself. If our military is going to face the threats of the decades ahead, we will need a force that is free from the threats in its own ranks. As I mentioned, this legislation has 64 bipartisan cosponsors and more than 50 percent of committee members' support. It is the right bill at the right time, and we must not delay any further. So I join with Senator Gillibrand in a call for consideration of this bill. I yield back to the Senator from New York.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Stephen Voline, a legislative defense fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the day.