Chuck Grassley

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, nonpartisan civic education and civic participation are critical for our constitutional and representative form of government. Increasingly, however, civic knowledge is on the decline. A recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 70 percent fail a basic civic literacy test. Another survey found that nearly 17 percent of Americans could not name any branch of government. This should be concerning for all of us. I would like to commend efforts in my home State of Iowa to promote civic education and participation in our colleges and universities. These include Cyclone Civics at Iowa State University, Hawk the Vote at the University of Iowa, and the Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa. These programs are crucial in ensuring that the next generation of leaders understands our constitutional system of government and are ready to lead our Republic forward.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, since 2021, I sounded the alarm about the former Biden administration's failure to vet Afghan evacuees. Instead of coming clean, the previous administration dismissed and failed to answer my oversight request. For years, the Biden administration hid from the American people known vulnerabilities in the vetting process that goes under the names of Operation Allies Welcome and Operation Allies Refuge. The Department of Homeland Security inspector general eventually exposed those vetting failures, and, just last month, so too did the Department of Justice inspector general. Both inspectors general substantiated vetting failures that I have raised for years. Recently, I was informed by the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard of new information. My office has been told that of the more than 100,000 Afghan evacuees, as of August 2022, 1.6 percent had links to terrorism or other derogatory information. It happens that that is over 1,600 people who, at that time, posed a potential threat to our homeland and our people. At that time, all 1,600 were located in the United States. Now, naturally, since then, some may have left, some may have been deported, and it is unclear who remains. Based on past briefings provided by the FBI, it is clear they began to investigate these evacuees years ago. I strongly urge the current FBI and intelligence community leadership to aggressively investigate those evacuees who require it and bring these matters to a close. I am also calling on the Trump administration to ensure that its findings are declassified to the fullest extent possible. Why? Because the public has a right to be made aware--in fact, fully aware--of the Biden administration's failure to vet Afghan evacuees. Transparency brings accountability, and in this case, that transparency is important because it is a matter of public safety. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

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

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I would like to address a whistleblower complaint that I received the morning before Emil Bove's nomination hearing. That is the complaint that was given to the New York Times for them to report on it the very same morning. One group has publicly accused this chairman of the Judiciary Committee of undermining that whistleblower. That group also said: I used to be a champion of whistleblowers. Then the whistleblower and his lawyers took part in a political hit piece on my handling of this situation, and so now my Democratic colleagues have all of a sudden found whistleblowers to be of benefit to them. Let me be absolutely clear. I appreciate the whistleblower's disclosure being sent to my office. My door is open to anyone, but that doesn't mean that I am going to jump at every allegation in a way that some may want this Senator to do. So let me respond with a very short history lesson. Last Congress, during the Biden administration, I worked to protect many whistleblowers, as I have throughout my Senate career. I recall with pride the work that I did during the Reagan administration with Department of Defense whistleblowers. In some cases, my whistleblower work never sees the light of day because the situation demands nonpublic attention. In other cases, publicity is required. In my efforts to protect the IRS whistleblowers who came forward during the previous administration, my Democratic colleagues didn't join me. In my efforts to protect the Department of Homeland Security whistleblowers, my Democratic colleagues refused to join me. And those whistleblowers even disclosed problematic conduct during the Trump administration, conduct which that administration actually tried to fix. In my efforts to protect Health and Human Services' whistleblowers, my Democratic colleagues didn't join me in that effort either. Last year, I hosted two oversight roundtables, one on the Biden administration's failure to protect unaccompanied children from trafficking, another on the Biden administration's failure to collect DNA at the border, resulting in Americans being subjected to senseless crimes from illegals. At that roundtable, the witnesses said that Rachel Morin's murder by an illegal could have been prevented had his DNA been taken by the border people, as required under law. At both of these roundtables, my whistleblowers testified. On both roundtables, not a single Democrat attended, even though I invited them to come. During Trump's first term, I made a public statement that it appeared the Ukraine complaint followed whistleblower laws. I said that even though I had serious concerns about the complaint's substantive legitimacy--concerns which have been proven right over time. Now, at that particular time, Democratic groups praised me. During Trump's first term, I investigated Russian collusion, then- Ranking Member Feinstein joined me in that effort. We and our staffs interviewed Donald Trump, Jr., and other Republicans. As we found out, there was nothing there. And what ended up happening is the exposure of the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee paying for the fake Steele dossier. Yet, with overwhelming evidence of Biden family corruption, my Democratic colleagues didn't do any investigation of that matter. And when I say ``overwhelming,'' I made bank records public proving the case, and it was still crickets from the other side. During the Kavanaugh nomination, many alleged whistleblowers came forward. I directed my oversight and investigative staffs to dig in: 45 witnesses were interviewed, 25 written statements, and an over 400-page report. Some of those witnesses were sent to us by my Democrat colleagues. The conclusion of that, no evidence to support the allegations that were brought forward against Kavanaugh. Indeed, what ended up happening were several criminal referrals for felonious lies from these same witnesses. This committee made four criminal referrals for materially false statements and obstruction, two of these four referrals also included criminal conspiracy. One witness was referred to my staff by a fellow Senator who also referred that witness to a reporter. That witness's information was used to question Kavanaugh under oath. That witness later publicly admitted that they lied. When individuals provide fabricated allegations, it diverts committee resources when other time-sensitive investigations are ongoing. Resources were diverted away from whistleblowers to handle the Kavanaugh matter. Such conduct impedes the Senate's work. During Kavanaugh, my investigative staff spent hours, days, and many weeks investigating one claim after another. So getting back to the matter I opened with, Emil Bove, my first question to him at a public hearing was directly about the whistleblower complaint that my staff received the very single day before the hearing. So the nominee, Mr. Bove, denied the allegations under oath. The Deputy Attorney General has denied the allegations publicly. Two high- level principals have made outright denials publicly. The whistleblower also signed papers acknowledging the Justice Department had complied with court orders. So right now that is the state of the play. Every day my office receives many whistleblower cases. My investigative staff study them and run down the facts. There are many government employees who need help. And just this year, I have had a lot of success with whistleblowers that were discriminated against, investigated against, maybe fired, maybe put on administrative leave. But in most cases, it was all an attempt to hurt them professionally, besides being out of a job. So in regard to the IRS whistleblowers, they were finally helped--one of whom is a Democrat. My Department of Homeland Security whistleblowers got their guns, badges, and retirement back. On another example, I spent significant time helping FBI whistleblowers, and it appears their cases are trending in the right direction. And guess what. One of those whistleblowers is also a Democrat. I would always welcome more bipartisan oversight. It is just that the Democrats apparently don't want to join my efforts. So when I read unfounded public broadsides about my operation in that political piece I have already referred to, let what I said today be a reminder of my dedication to helping the whistleblower community. And let me also remind everyone that sometimes what I do to protect whistleblowers is nonpublic, as it should be. And I don't care about that. All I care about are the results of helping whistleblowers and bringing attention to the wrong that the whistleblowers say are wrong within our government. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, contrary to misinformation campaigns seeking to stop commonsense Medicaid reforms from getting to the President's desk, the One Big Beautiful Bill does not take away Medicaid from those who need it. In fact, the bill will strengthen the Medicaid program, so that it can continue to serve the vulnerable populations it was designed to serve. Before I discuss the program integrity measures in this bill, I want to give some context on Medicaid spending. Under this bill, Medicaid will spend over $7.4 trillion over 10 years. We are only slowing the growth of Medicaid spending as Medicaid spending will still go up at about 2 to 3 percent annually, compared to 4.5 to 5 percent annually, if we don't pass this bill. A sizable majority of Americans support efforts to stop wasteful spending that drains resources for people who truly need this safety net and puts an unfair burden on taxpayers. Between 2015 and 2024, the total amount of improper Federal Medicaid payments was over $560 billion. Some independent estimates put it closer to $1.1 trillion. We must do something about it. I am also the author of major updates to the False Claims Act, a major tool to save taxpayers money. Since my reforms were enacted, the Federal Government has recovered more than $78 billion lost to fraud--much of it in government healthcare programs--and saved billions more by deterring would-be fraudsters. We are doing more in this bill, because taxpayers and those who rely on Medicaid deserve better. That is why we are putting an end to the billions of dollars of waste, fraud, and abuse in healthcare programs. Let me list off a few provisions that establish some program integrity: Reducing duplicate enrollment under the Medicaid program. Ensuring deceased individuals and health care providers don't remain enrolled. Payment reduction for erroneous excess provider payments under Medicaid. We're also going to require states to check if an individual is eligible to be on Medicaid twice a year, instead of once a year. These provisions alone save over $94 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO. We establish robust verification for individuals receiving premium tax credits through the Federal marketplace. We also ensure that if someone gets more subsidization than they are allowed based on their income, the excessive subsidy amount is returned. Last year, I pointed out to the Treasury Inspector General that excessive payments were not being recouped. Through my oversight, I discovered over 40 percent of excessive Federal marketplace subsidy payments totaled over $10 billion dating back to 2016. These excess payments were not recouped because of current safe harbor rules. This excessive waste will end in this bill and save over $60 billion, according to CBO. We also delay costly regulations that establish one-size-fits-all rules, including for nursing homes and State Medicaid programs. I am a strong proponent of nursing home oversight and ensuring our most vulnerable senior citizens and those with disabilities have access to high-quality care. We should be addressing the workforce challenges nursing homes face by partnering with nursing homes, not mandating from Washington, DC. Delaying the nursing home staffing mandate rule and so-called ``streamlining eligibility rule'' saves over $187 billion according to CBO. We also ensure Medicaid, Medicare, and Federal marketplace resources are going to Americans, instead of illegal aliens. Taxpayers expect us to prioritize vulnerable Americans and seniors in these programs. We prohibit Federal financial support under Medicaid for individuals who don't have verified citizenship, nationality, or satisfactory immigration status. These provisions save over $163 billion according to CBO. When my colleagues on the other side of the aisle fearmonger and misinform what is in the bill, they must be willing to defend billions in healthcare waste, fraud, and abuse spending that total over $500 billion, as standalone provisions. As I have illustrated, we establish some commonsense program integrity measures and stop wasteful spending. We delay costly regulations that hurt patients and providers, especially those living in rural America. We stop Medicaid and Medicare resources from going to illegal aliens. Most importantly, we preserve the Medicaid program for those who most need it.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the Senate to bring up the issue of how the Congress--on a piece of legislation that I am part of--and how President Trump can help the economy through helping small business. President Biden issued an Executive order in February of 2022. That Executive order required what is called the project labor agreements, or PLAs, on Federal projects over $35 million. Just to be clear, I meant that Executive order requires project labor agreements. I opposed this Executive order at that time, and I joined a letter with my colleagues, telling President Biden what a bad idea that was. I believe the Trump administration should deregulate this Biden Executive order. Project labor agreements are a sort of backdoor way to give unionized contractors a leg up on Federal contracts in competition with nonunion contractors. Plus, there is too much redtape for a business to comply. Public project labor agreements effectively make it impossible for a contractor to compete for Federal contracts if its workforce isn't unionized. So it is kind of like a union shop outlawed by the Taft- Hartley Act in right-to-work States. About 27 States have right-to-work laws. Well, most of the workforce in Iowa isn't unionized. This Executive order seems to assume that every workforce should be unionized, and Iowa happens to be a right-to-work State. It happens that I support the right of workers to organize. I joined a union from 1962 to 1971. I was a member of the International Association of Machinists. I am proud of my membership in that union and the years I spent on the assembly line at Waterloo Register in Cedar Falls, IA. It happens that my job was putting screw holes in furnace registers. However, I also support the right of workers not to join a union. Iowa has many companies, small and large, including many family-run enterprises, where they care deeply about their employees. So it is natural that these companies' employees don't feel a need to unionize. The Federal Government should not tip the scales against these great but small companies and their workers. Federal contracts should be awarded through a fair and competitive bidding process that allows all qualified contractors to compete on a level playing field based on merit, based on experience, quality, and the safety of their workforce. Project labor agreement mandates prevent many small businesses from competing for Federal projects and may even lead to increased costs for taxpayers. I told you I was going to talk about legislation that would do the same thing I asked President Biden to do. I am the cosponsor of a bill called the Fair and Open Competition Act prohibiting Federal Agencies from mandating project labor agreements or using PLA preferences on Federal construction contracts. I am also joining Senator Britt and a number of my colleagues in urging President Trump to revoke the ill-conceived Biden Executive order mandating project labor agreements on Federal projects. The Biden Executive order should be at the top of the list of a ``deregulation'' administration, which this Trump administration is and it proudly speaks so. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor this very day to correct the public record. That public record has become so distorted by fanatical allegations of Republican tyranny that it no longer records actual history. My Democratic colleagues have obscured the transcript with tales of a constitutional crisis, corrupt law enforcement, and Democratic knighthood defending the very rule of law that they abandoned for open borders not 1 year ago. Dare they pause in their breathless accusations, the historical record might reflect the consequences of Democratic leadership. It was Democrats who threw open our southern border with foolish policies that paroled over 6,000 criminals and terrorists into the United States and lost track of over 2 million known ``got-aways.'' Those same Democrats are now criticizing efforts to remove those threats. They have hurled one-sided accusations of ``masked agents acting with unnecessary force.'' This inflammatory rhetoric is a breeding ground for physical threats. As we have seen on TV, law enforcement have been pelted with rocks, assaulted with homemade explosives, and defamed and doxed by the far left. At a hearing I just held, agents told the Senate Judiciary Committee of an officer whose photograph was taken during an operation and posted on Instagram with a message that the community needed to remind him where he came from and where he was. The officer felt so threatened, he changed his appearance to protect his family. In another example, an FBI agent was threatened to back down from an investigation with photos of his children. These men and women held the line against every national security threat while Democrat Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray of the FBI refused to appear for their annual congressional report on threats to the homeland because they didn't want to face the tough questions they would get on why they weren't enforcing the law. Congress didn't make this Nation's laws subject to the whims of purported righteous indignation. Passionate protests don't justify laying hands on law enforcement, and bleeding hearts don't erase immigration laws critical to our national security. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I want to bring attention to all of the selfless veterans that have served our country, especially those from my home State of Iowa. Each and every veteran has put a piece of themselves towards the mission of protecting our Nation that we are blessed to live in, so it is tremendously important to commemorate and thank these veterans. I want to give you one example of how that is done: the Honor Flights that take place at the World War II Memorial. The veterans that travel from across the country to here in Washington, DC, represent big cities, small towns, and rural areas. But what they all embody is deep courage, sacrifice, and humility. Honor Flights are just one small reflection of the gratitude that we have for these brave souls. I hope that for visitors to our Nation's Capital who have the privilege to witness an Honor Flight, it may inspire deeper gratitude to all the veterans. This is what I found when, occasionally, I get an opportunity to go to the World War II Memorial to meet the veterans that have flown in from Iowa. And many times, I had the occasion to see--when he was still alive-- former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, even in his weak condition being in a wheelchair, there to meet those same veterans from all over the country, not just from Iowa. It is a priority for me to share their legacy with every new generation of Americans to foster a deeper appreciation for our Republic. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, having a job gives individuals purpose and dignity. We should promote policies lifting people out of poverty. In the 1990s, we passed welfare reform with a Republican Congress and a Democrat President. The results? Welfare rolls went down, poverty rates decreased, and employment and earnings increased. Establishing work requirements in Medicaid for able-bodied adults with reasonable exemptions, then from the previous precedent of welfare reform--that all makes common sense yet today. States like Iowa are already leading the way in establishing work requirements for able-bodied adults in Medicaid. Iowa's Governor Reynolds has said: If you are an able-bodied adult who can work, you should work. We are doing the same thing at the national level. Work requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill only apply to able-bodied adults between the ages of 19 and 64. Individuals will have to complete a minimum of 80 hours of work a month, or about 20 hours a week, of qualifying community engagement activities like working, job training, going to school, volunteering, or a combination of all these. We have reasonable exemptions for veterans with a disability rated as total, individuals who are medically frail or otherwise have special medical needs, individuals who are blind, have a substance use disorder, a disabling mental disorder, a physical or intellect disability that significantly impairs their ability to perform one or more activities of daily living, or serious or complex medical conditions. We also have exemptions for parents, guardians, and caretaker relatives of children aged 14 or under or disabled individuals and foster care youth through the age of 26. We give ``good cause'' exemptions for short-term hardships like hospitalizations or for an individual receiving psychiatric care. Individuals impacted by a natural disaster, living in a high- unemployment area, or having to travel outside their community for an extended period of time to receive medical service would also be exempted. States will obviously be required to establish streamlined processes and use reliable data, like payroll data, to avoid individuals submitting their own documentation. There will also be significant outreach and education to those who will be required to work. Labor force participation data for prime-age men--25 to 54--indicates that between 1950 to 1970, less than 1 in 30 was out of the labor force. Now--maybe it shouldn't be surprising--since then, participation declined steadily, so that 1 in 30 figure is now 1 in 10. This represents nearly 7 million prime-age men absent from the workforce. On top of this, recent research found that nonworking Medicaid recipients spend 6 hours a day on socializing, relaxing, TV, and video games. They spend 125 hours during a 30-day month watching TV and video games alone. That is more than 50 percent higher than the 80 hours they would be required to work in a month. Commonsense Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults take the same approach as welfare reform did in the 1990s--move people from welfare to work and self-sufficiency. The contrary--being on government programs--is a life of poverty. If you want to get out of poverty, you have to be in the world of work, and that is what we are trying to accomplish through this legislation, just like we do work requirements for every other government program. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, recently, we witnessed China peddling false claims as it continues to try and convince the United States that China is a good partner. China has recently claimed that ``the Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised.'' What China asserted is nonsense. Nobody ought to believe that the promises made are honored. So I want to give you one example: intercountry adoptions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China ``temporarily'' restricted travel into the country, which stalled hundreds of families from completing their adoptions. Today, the families I mentioned continue to be separated from their adoptive child in China or are learning that the child they have been matched with for many years has been rematched with a different family in China. The latter is the case for the Robinson family of Iowa. Does that sound like China always honors and delivers what it promises? I think not. In September of last year, I wrote to the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, outlining my concerns about China's termination of its intercountry adoption program and urged China to not go back on its promises, but, instead, allow for matched adoptions to finally be completed. That has not happened. It is a positive development that Chinese families have a stronger will and capacity to adopt orphans within their own country. Children having a safe and loving home is always a good thing. But my point of contention is that China left American families in the dark and didn't engage in good faith. American families were not given the same opportunity as families from other countries to be united with their children. Real commitments were made, and they were dismissed. This brought disruption to families and needlessly left children orphaned. Again, I suggest China doesn't honor its commitments, and I pray that the hearts of Chinese leaders experience a transformation. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the floor to speak about a favorite topic that my friends know I am proud of, protecting whistleblowers and the roles that they play in government. I have long held that government oversight can't be done without the patriotic work of whistleblowers. Even Department and Agency heads need whistleblowers to know what is really going on in their respective Departments and Agencies. I tell people that come to my office before their Senate confirmation that whether you are in a very small number of employees Agency or, you know, hundreds of thousands of employees in our Agency, you are at the top; you can't know what is going on at the bottom. And you need to listen to whistleblowers, and they usually come forward with very important information. When they don't get that respect from the Department heads, they usually end up coming to the Congress, and many of them come to the office of this Senator. Just this year, to show you the importance of whistleblowers, I made records public, exposing the political origin of Arctic Frost. Arctic Frost is the case that ultimately became one of Jack Smith's cases against President Trump. Anti-Trump FBI agents and Department of Justice prosecutors started Arctic Frost. Based on even more records that I have made public, those very same anti-Trump FBI agents were involved in the investigation and prosecution of Peter Navarro, now serving with President Trump in the White House, like he did in the first Trump administration. Those agents that took on Peter Navarro were Assistant Special Agent in Charge Thibault and Special Agent Walter Giardina. Whistleblowers have also disclosed to me that J.P. Cooney wanted to potentially open yet another case on Trump. J.P. Cooney was Jack Smith's deputy. Allegedly, Cooney wanted to use compulsory process to obtain more information. He improperly based that desire to do so, in large part, on partisan news outlets. And guess who was included in the communication about the new case against Trump? That same person's name shows up, Special Agent Walter Giardina. I will have more to speak on that matter later. Whistleblowers have told me that Special Agent Giardina openly stated his desire to investigate Trump, even if it meant false predication. I have been able to make all these records publicly available because of brave, patriotic whistleblowers. They are patriots to the highest order. And a lot of this information that I received from whistleblowers wouldn't have been made available or even known that it existed without the help of these whistleblowers. And because of those whistleblowers, it is now an absolute fact that these cases against President Trump and his associates were politically motivated. My investigative work won't rest. There will be much more coming from this Senator.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the Senate to recognize June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month. I am introducing a resolution with Democratic Senator Blumenthal for this very purpose. This is a time to shed light on a crisis that too often remains in the shadows. Last year, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting, whether physical, emotional, financial, or neglect. For every elder abuse case that is reported, as many as 24 go unreported, it is estimated. These aren't just numbers. They are our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors, and our veterans. Elder abuse isn't limited by geography or income. It occurs in nursing homes and private residences, the very places meant to offer these elderly people care and protection. With a fast-growing senior population in our country, the urgency to act has never been greater. This month, we recommit to building a society that views aging not as a burden but as a source of wisdom, experience, and continued contribution. We recommit to raising awareness of elder abuse and implementing protections for those in our society who protected us first. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring older Americans this month. In the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, I am working to support Protect Our Seniors. So tomorrow, I am holding a hearing to examine how scammers are targeting older Americans. This continues my effort to ensure that seniors are protected from financial predators and can live with the security and the dignity that these seniors deserve. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution creating what we know today as the United States Army. Since its establishment 250 years ago, tens of millions of American patriots have put their lives on the line to protect national security, defend our allies, and fight tyranny and terror from distant shores. Today, the Army is comprised of roughly 450,000 Active-Duty servicemen, 325,000 National Guardsmen, and 176,000 members of the Reserve, making the U.S. Army the largest branch of the military. I want to thank our brave men and women in uniform for their sacrifices to our country. Their dedication and their selflessness have made our Nation safer, and the first priority of the Federal Government ought to be our own national security. Now, we have to think back to President George Washington's first annual address to Congress, where he said: To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace in the world. That includes a nonnegotiable tenet of America's national security, which is ``peace through strength.'' I have said before and I want to reiterate, we must be prepared at all times to stamp out aggression because weakness is provocative. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a strong and capable military is the best way to do that. In a few short weeks, we will celebrate Independence Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize and appreciate the freedoms that the Army has defended for 250 years, and I will continue to defend that in the future. And I want to thank President Trump for bringing attention to the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army with the festivities that are going on this weekend in Washington, DC. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, 38 years ago on June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate and called for the General Secretary of the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin Wall. That wall was originally built to prevent people from fleeing communist East Germany into democratic West Berlin. The legendary line that President Reagan spoke: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Now, those lines were nearly left out of the speech after the advisers from the State Department and the National Security Council claimed that the statement was, in their words, ``too provocative.'' But President Reagan stood his ground. He wanted to speak directly to the hearts of the divided world and take a moral stance against tyranny. President Reagan's words resonated with millions of East Germans. These East Germans dreamed of freedom. Two years later, the wall came down. It turned out that Reagan's words were prophetic--not provocative. Russia only understands strength. We still know that today. I have reminded my colleagues of this fact in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Weakness is what provokes a KGB man like Putin. President Biden was too timid in his approach, trying to manage escalation. Had the West instead given the Ukrainians what they needed earlier, they might have pushed Russia out of their country by now. President Trump ought to not make the same mistake that President Biden made. I think Putin thinks that he can play President Trump. Putin's lackey, former ``puppet'' President Medvedev, admitted recently what Russia wants is not peace but in his words ``swift victory'' and, again, in his words a ``complete destruction'' of the Ukrainian Government. Putin will only respond to strength, and this Congress ought to give President Trump the tools to stand up to Putin with strong sanctions that plug the loopholes in the current Biden sanctions. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last week, Secretary Noem ended a program that is called the Quiet Skies Program. It is a program that was well-intended when it was set up, but the Biden administration weaponized it to target its opposition, including the now-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Quiet Skies was supposed to track American airline travelers who had prior contact with known or suspected terrorists. You can have no argument with that intent to make sure that air travel is safe, but instead it has been revealed that the Biden administration's Transportation Security Administration allegedly tracked U.S. citizens based upon nine nonsecurity-related considerations. As just one example, whistleblowers told my office, some who were merely present at a rally on January 6, 2021, with President Trump were added to the Quiet Skies' list of targeting. In another allegation, a woman was accused of invading the Capitol on January 6 and later added to the Quiet Skies. The woman was disabled and couldn't physically engage in those actions. Now, fortunately, Secretary Noem shut down Quiet Skies to end this weaponization, and that should be music to everybody's ears. In August 2024, I wrote to Biden's Transportation Security Administration questioning their abuse of this authority under this Quiet Skies Program. I did not get sufficient answers from the previous administration. I will continue my oversight to learn the full truth about the Quiet Skies Program, and I appreciate Secretary Noem and Director Gabbard's leadership as my office works with them on the oversight request.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the Senate to congratulate the University of Iowa's Department of Ophthalmology. It is the 100th anniversary of this famed department. For a century, this department has improved the lives of Iowans and made a significant national impact. This department and its members have consistently ranked among the top 10 of the U.S. News & World Report and Ophthalmology Times. Beyond its ranking, the department has been a world leader in treating serious inherited eye diseases and other vision problems. In the 1990s, the department established the first center for macular degeneration in the United States, providing patient care and conducting research into more effective treatments. The department has a rich history of innovative research and clinical trials to advance eye care. Today, its research includes making groundbreaking discoveries into genes responsible for common and rare retinal diseases. Researchers are also integrating artificial intelligence to diagnose and treat eye diseases. Thanks to this dedication, the department has trained generations of doctors and specialists who now serve in hospitals and clinics across the country, expanding its impact far beyond Iowa City, IA. I commend everyone who has contributed to this remarkable legacy--the present faculty, staff, students, and patients. And, of course, we need to always remember the pioneers in this area who have now passed on. May the next century be just as impactful as the first century for the University of Iowa's Department of Ophthalmology. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the month of June is considered National Dairy Month, and this has been going on for decades and decades. And to kick things off, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed a bill that is entitled the ``Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.'' That was voted out of committee yesterday, and it was voted out unanimously. This bill is a very important piece of legislation, of which I am proud to be a cosponsor. Not only will it help the dairy industry, but it is going to restore great-tasting and nutritious dairy products to our Nation's school lunch program. Specifically, it is going to allow chocolate milk, whole milk, and 2-percent milk, instead of the requirements of the existing law that these kids in school can only drink skim milk. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is also the first piece of legislation that the Senate Ag Committee has marked up in nearly 3 years. Its passage represents the bipartisan work that the Senate Agriculture Committee has a good reputation on delivering. I look forward to the final passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act here on the Senate floor. Hopefully, it is very, very soon. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today concerned that the Senate's advice and consent role is being undermined. It is being undermined by obstruction from Senate Democrats that threaten to keep the Justice Department from functioning as the American people expect and the American people deserve. The Office of Legislative Affairs serves as the crucial bridge between the Justice Department and this Congress. This relationship is essential not only for the legislative process, but for maintaining constitutional oversight and accountability. The Office of Legislative Affairs ensures that we, as lawmakers, have the timely information needed to craft legislation, conduct oversight, and fulfill our constitutional duties. When we seek answers, whether it is on criminal justice or immigration or national security, it is the Office of Legislative Affairs that takes our questions and returns the responses. This function can't run on autopilot. Yet, today, the Office of Legislative Affairs is hobbled. It lacks a Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General to lead that office. Why? Because Senate Democrats have decided to impede the confirmation of all justice nominees without exception. That is not the constitutional role of advice and consent. That is obstruction. Every Senator has the right to raise concerns about nominees. That is our constitutional role. That is our duty. And holds of specific nominees for specific reasons at times is very appropriate. It is an appropriate tool for any Senator to use. I have even used that tool, and I have also done it on nominees. But the process demands fairness; it demands common sense. We should weigh each nominee individually, not slam the brakes on an entire Agency, especially one for keeping Americans safe. So I am here at the floor because the nomination of Patrick Davis has been pending on the Senate Calendar now for 2 months. This is regrettable because he is an exceptionally qualified nominee. And this Senator should know because he worked for this Senator. Mr. Davis brings a strong record of public service and a deep understanding of the legislative process gained from his time working for me on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am confident he will lead the Office of Legislative Affairs with diligence, with fairness, and with integrity. He should be confirmed today, and I am here to ask my colleagues to do just that. Obstructing his nomination serves absolutely no one. Many Senators-- myself included--have outstanding requests to the Justice Department that we expect answers to. I understand that some Senators may complain that they haven't received a response to their own outstanding request. I have made such complaints myself over the years under both Republican and Democrat administrations. But I don't believe that obstructing this particular qualified nominee who can help get the responses we need will address their concerns. I also understand that some Senators are unhappy with the current administration and are using Justice Department nominees to make their displeasure known. To these colleagues, I will simply say that the obstruction of qualified nominees to lead the Office of Legislative Affairs makes it harder for the Department of Justice to engage with Congress and harder for Congress to do its job. This, ultimately, ends up hurting the American people. I am asking this body to uphold a fair confirmation process so that the Justice Department can effectively engage with Congress. Blocking the confirmation of Patrick Davis does not serve the Senate; it does not serve the interest of justice; and it does not serve the American people. Mr. President, I am here to ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 92, Patrick Davis, to be Assistant Attorney General; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am sorry to hear the objection. I would like to correct the one thing that Senator Schumer said, that Patrick Davis didn't have a hearing before the committee. We did hold a hearing on Patrick Davis. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the first Sunday in June is National Cancer Survivors Day. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States. We have made great strides in recent decades to prevent and to battle cancer. The disease is the second leading cause of death in our country. I know how a cancer diagnosis impacts a family, as a result of my wife Barbara's own diagnosis and victory over breast cancer 38 years ago. For sure, early detection and access to treatment saved Barbara's life. Now, Iowa is a rural State. A majority of our States are rural States, and every State in the United States has rural areas in it. Of course, it is difficult to deliver quality healthcare in rural America, but it is being delivered. To accomplish that, I have championed policies to keep the delivery of healthcare services accessible in rural America. Access to quality healthcare should not be determined by your ZIP Code. Keeping rural and community clinics open and telehealth services available is a lifeline for cancer patients. This day, National Cancer Survivors Day, is dedicated to celebrating cancer survivors and acknowledging the struggle and strength it took to overcome the disease. We stand with you. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, yet again, I am here to draw attention and to condemn another outrageous attack that was aimed at the Jewish community here in the United States--specifically, Boulder, CO. Yesterday, a deranged individual took a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack individuals marching for the release of Israeli hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas. This deranged individual allegedly yelled the words ``free Palestine.'' He yelled this during the attack. Reporting suggests that the individual may have overstayed his visa that the Biden administration gave him and was then in the country illegally. This is the third high-profile attack on the Jewish community in the last 2 months. This sort of hate is completely unacceptable in our society, and, of course, we all know it needs to stop. I commend FBI Director Patel for quickly responding and launching a full investigation into this targeted attack. I trust that the FBI and law enforcement will do their job and swiftly find justice for these victims. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today is the 39th-year celebration of the U.S. Senate being covered by C-SPAN2. I have come to the floor countless times since my first term in the U.S. Senate, beginning in 1981. It is a privilege to represent Iowans and my home State here in the greatest deliberative body in the world. For more than four decades and counting, I have joined my colleagues here in this Chamber to debate public policy, shed light on wrongdoing, and celebrate historic milestones. I have cast votes on behalf of Iowans, given my assent or dissent to nominations and legislation on matters both foreign and domestic on issues from A to Z. For a period of time spanning more than 27 years, I held the longest voting streak in Senate history. My 8,927 consecutive rollcall votes ended in November of 2020, when I was quarantined for exposure to COVID-19. My good friend from Maine Senator Susan Collins now holds the baton, as she continues her unbroken voting streak since she was sworn into office in 1997. During the 116th Congress and now the 119th Congress, I am honored to serve as Senate President pro tempore. From this leadership position, I open the Senate daily, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and often take the opportunity to deliver brief remarks during what we call morning business. Since 1986, every minute of the people's business conducted here in the Senate Chamber has been made available live to the public, from memorable moments--including televising 16 Supreme Court nomination debates and 3 Presidential impeachment trials--to subjects that are often very mundane. Thanks to C-SPAN2, this public service allows our constituents to see the swearing-in of newly elected Members, watch all-night sessions during vote-aramas, and tune in to history being made. Speaking of the historic moments, it was 39 years ago today, June 2, when C-SPAN2 started its gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate. That was 7 years after C-SPAN started broadcasting live coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979. At that time, I was a Member of the House and appreciated C-SPAN's mission to foster civic engagement and let the sun shine in on the people's business. So, today, I wish C-SPAN2 a happy birthday and thank those who are dedicated to its mission to bring the people's business to the people of our country. C-SPAN does not receive one penny of taxpayer dollars. It is funded primarily from satellite and cable providers. Senator Klobuchar of Minnesota and I have introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize C-SPAN2 and the public service it provides the American people through its live, nonpartisan coverage. Our resolution calls for television providers, including streaming services, to make C-SPAN public affairs programming available to all Americans in realtime on all platforms. For tens of millions of Americans who have cut the cord and get their content from streaming services, they should not be cut off from the civic content made available by C-SPAN. C- SPAN gives our constituents a front-row seat to the legislative branch, providing unfiltered access to debates and deliberations that impact their lives and their livelihoods. C-SPAN2 has recorded more than 43,830 hours of Senate sessions that span the spectrum of political views, policy debates, and personal testimony, including more than 169,000 speeches. It has documented more than 23,439 rollcall votes, providing a live testimonial of Senate decision making. Its coverage helps hold elected officials accountable to our constituents, who are able to see every rollcall vote as it actually happens. And it just so happens, on C-SPAN2's inaugural day, on June 2, 1986, I took my turn as Presiding Officer during the Senate session. I also delivered remarks to introduce a bill on human rights and free speech, issues that involved protesters outside of the then-Soviet Embassy, here in Washington, DC. Thanks to C-SPAN, Americans can watch history unfold before their very eyes. As an advocate for civic engagement and transparency, I applaud C-SPAN's commitment to chronicling democracy in action here in the Congress. In fact, for more than 20 years, I have pushed to allow cameras into the Federal courthouses, including the Supreme Court, to foster a better understanding of the Federal judiciary and its role in our system of checks and balances and in resolving legal disputes. Keeping C-SPAN's cameras rolling here in Congress keeps lawmakers accountable to our constituents by providing a valuable conduit for civic engagement and civic education. As James Madison wrote in 1822, after he had been President 10 years before--no, I better say 6 years before--some 35 years after he helped write the Constitution, he had this to say: A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a Farce or Tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowle[d]ge will for ever govern ignorance: and a people who mean to be their own Governours, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. C-SPAN helps arm Americans with knowledge in realtime and in a refreshing, nonpartisan lens. In this era of civil discord and polarization, C-SPAN serves the public interest, not a partisan agenda. I encourage my colleagues to support our bipartisan resolution that Senator Klobuchar and I have introduced. And I will finish with another James Madison remark. As he noted, an engaged and educated citizenry is necessary to advance the public good and secure the longevity of our Republic.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this month brims with milestones for students across America. In Iowa, more than 34,000 students are among the class of 2025. I congratulate our graduates and encourage you to keep working hard. The sky is the limit. You get to define your future because you live in the land of the free. That is because we have extraordinary patriots who have answered the call to serve and defend our cherished freedoms. One of these extraordinary patriots is a member of the class of 2025. His name is Orville Von Ehwegen. Orville's journey to East Sac County High School's commencement ceremony this past weekend took an unusual detour and extended timeline. He missed out on the pomp and circumstance as a teenager because he answered history's call to serve. You see, Orville is 107 years old. He was born in 1917 and dropped out of school at age 14 to help on the family farm during the Great Depression. Later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the South Pacific during World War II. When he returned, he opened an appliance store and was a successful small business owner alongside his wife. On Sunday, this remarkable World War II veteran received an honorary diploma from East Sac County High School, 93 years after his last day as a student. Orville's inspiring life story is an example of sacrifice and service, which his fellow graduates can emulate. I congratulate Orville and thank you for your service. I would be honored to have you share your story as part of my annual Veterans History Project so that future generations don't ever take freedom and liberty for granted and understand what it takes to preserve them. Orville's advice to the class of 2025 is a lesson for us all: Be kind and work hard.