Chuck Grassley

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to express concerns that I have heard from many stakeholders regarding the Make America Healthy Again Commission. For short, this is called the MAHA Commission. Their report will be coming out tomorrow. The concerns that I have heard from food and agriculture stakeholders center around the difficulty that they have had getting meetings with the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Secretary Kennedy is the Chair of the MAHA Commission. Many people fear that the contents of this report will not be based on sound science, that it will be based on opinions and fears instead of scientific consensus. When I met with Secretary Kennedy before his confirmation--and that is a traditional thing to do--we discussed things like pesticides, genetically modified crops and other important components that come together to ensure the United States has the largest and safest food supply on the globe, and how all those things center on making the life of the farmer producing food as easy as possible. Now, Secretary Kennedy agreed that these tools farmers use are necessary for that food supply. The MAHA report should be based upon sound science. I believe that Department of Agriculture Secretary Rollins and EPA Administrator Zeldin have had robust input on this report and that they would advocate for the 2 percent of Americans that feed the other 98 percent and the tools that are used to produce the food supply that feeds America. We want to remember that we have the reputation of producing food so that the expendable income of--the average family in the United States spends roughly 10 or 11 percent of their discretionary money on food-- the cheapest of any consumers in the world. So I want everybody to know that I am watching this report closely that is coming out tomorrow, and I hope it reflects what Secretary Kennedy told me when I met with him in my office and he stands by his word. I hope there is nothing in the MAHA report that jeopardizes our food supply or the livelihood of farmers or jeopardizes the food supply--to emphasize--for the 98 percent of Americans that buy and depend on the food that the 2 percent of Americans that are farmers produce. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, after the bloodiest war in U.S. history, an enlisted soldier in the Union Army was assigned to recover war dead from Southern battlefields. Brevet Lt.-Col. Edmund B. Whitman mapped out an intricate system of ``cemeterial districts'' that formed the framework for our system of National Cemeteries. They provide a final resting place for fallen heroes and sacred space for mourners and citizenry to honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion to preserve freedom and liberty for generations to come. ``That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.''--Brevet Lt.-Col. Edmund B. Whitman, 1868 After the Civil War, it became popular to place flowers near gravesites to honor the fallen. So-called ``decoration days'' in springtime came to be called Memorial Day. A Union General issued General Orders No. 11 urging the Nation not to forget the human toll of war. ``Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.''--General John A. Logan, May 5, 1868 A century later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, designating Memorial Day a Federal holiday on the last Monday in May. In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon signed the National Cemeteries Act to update and modernize the administration of gravesites, particularly for aging World War II and Korean war veterans, as well as future servicemembers. It transferred 82 National Cemeteries from the Department of the Army to the Veterans Administration, expanding its network to 103 National Cemeteries. Today, the National Cemetery Administration oversees 156 National Cemeteries, 35 soldiers' lots, and has 122 grant-funded State veterans cemeteries, including the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at Van Meter. One of the oldest in the country is located in southeast Iowa. Keokuk National Cemetery was established during the Civil War for veterans who died in local military hospitals. Cast-iron tablets inscribed with a verse from an elegiac poem ``Bivouac of the Dead'' written by Theodore O'Hara are found throughout our National Cemeteries, including in Keokuk. The original tablets were fabricated at Rock Island Arsenal in the late 19th century to replace painted signs first placed on battlefields turned into burial grounds. The most frequently quoted passage follows: On Fame's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread, And Glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead. On Memorial Day, the annual wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery is a somber moment to honor the sons and daughters lost on the battlefields of history. Since 1948, the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, places U.S. flags at more than 260,000 headstones and more than 7,000 columbarium niches containing the remains of the deceased. Iowa-born President Herbert Hoover led the first national Memorial Day ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on May 30, 1929, calling on Americans to honor the ``unselfish souls who gave life in service to their ideals'' and that their sacrifice must evoke ``the most solemn mood of consecration'' to ``manifest our gratitude'' in memoriam of their valor for perpetuity. Since the Civil War, when Iowa sent the most soldiers per capita to the Union Army, Iowans have continued a legacy of strong military service, including the ultimate sacrifice. One of the first three American soldiers killed in World War I was an Iowa farm boy from Glidden. Pvt. Merle David Hay was killed while serving sentry duty in the trenches in France. On May 25, 1930, thousands of people gathered at West Lawn Cemetery to dedicate an 8-foot granite monument in his honor. Travelers can see the monument while driving through Glidden on the historic Lincoln Highway. Put the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo on your family calendar. You will learn about Iowans who answered the call to serve in the Armed Forces, including all five Sullivan brothers who were tragically killed aboard the USS Juneau on November 13, 1942. Fifty years ago, one of the last servicemembers killed in Vietnam was a 19-year-old from Marshalltown. Lance Cpl. Darwin Lee Judge died 1 day before the fall of Saigon in 1975. As Saigon fell, Judge rescued a 3- year-old girl, putting her on his back ``piggyback style'' and ran her out to the plane. His bravery saved her life and cost him his own in a mortar attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Every Memorial Day, communities across Iowa reverently celebrate hometown heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. From grave decorations to patriotic observances, neighbors, loved ones, and family members gather to pay tribute to these fallen heroes from one generation to the next, honoring their memories, bravery, and service. The sacrifice of these fallen servicemembers is a profound reminder to every American articulated by President Ronald Reagan, ``Ours is the land of the free because it is the home of the brave.'' As Americans, it is our solemn duty to honor fallen servicemembers who have given their lives to defend our cherished blessings of freedom. In his acceptance speech for the Vice Presidential nomination in 1920, Calvin Coolidge imparted wisdom from history that rings truer than ever in the 21st century, ``The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.'' I encourage Iowa families to remember the defenders from our home State and hometowns who are deeply missed around supper tables and family celebrations. Be intentional on Memorial Day to attend community celebrations. Plan a road trip to visit nearby Freedom Rocks honoring veterans in each of Iowa's 99 counties. Find out the history of road names, parks, and post offices named for local heroes who died in service to our country. They put their precious lives on the line to preserve our way of life for generations yet to come. For that, Americans owe them an eternal debt of gratitude.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, rural hospitals in America are under the gun. Some of them are closing. We have about 90 rural hospitals in the State of Iowa. For a change, I have some good news for rural hospitals. For years, I have been pressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services--CMS, for short--to open applications for the 10 unfilled spots in a program that we call Rural Community Hospital Demonstration. This program allows Medicare to test innovative payment models to support rural hospitals. It boosts the financial viability for rural hospitals that are too large to be critical access hospitals and yet too small to benefit from Medicare's hospital inpatient prospective payment system. Currently, the program is helping four rural hospitals in Iowa--in Fort Dodge, Grinnell, Newton, and Spirit Lake. For years, I have heard excuses from the executive branch for why they wouldn't fill the open spots with interested rural hospitals. So earlier this year, I asked CMS Administrator Dr. Oz to fill the open spots in this rural hospital program. Finally, on May 14, Dr. Oz announced that 10 new hospitals will be added to the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program. Also, hospitals that applied but were not selected will be put on a wait list if other spots open up. Until this time, CMS has been underutilizing this program and ignoring interested rural hospitals. I appreciate the Trump administration taking action to help rural America this way through helping a few more rural hospitals. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I want to pay tribute to an outstanding Iowan who has devoted the last three decades teaching the next generation at Waterloo Christian School in Waterloo, IA. Bruce Nelson is retiring from his role there as the director of music. Waterloo Christian opened its doors in 1973, educating generations of students--kindergarten through 12 grade--with a curriculum designed to inspire students to reach their full potential in academics, fine arts, athletics, and spiritual development. As the director of music, Mr. Nelson inspired his students to explore their God-given talents through music. By all accounts, he filled the halls of Waterloo Christian with music, harmony, and laughter that will echo for many years to come. His work was literally music to the ears of faculty, staff, students, families, and residents of the Cedar Valley community who attended performances he orchestrated for the last 33 years. After countless hours conducting, leading, instructing, and building an outstanding fine arts program at Waterloo Christian, Mr. Nelson is hanging up his baton. I had the opportunity to attend the annual Patriotic Program earlier this month. I was impressed by the performance and enjoyed the song selection. It put a smile on my face to see the joyful faces of the students who were performing one last time under the guidance of their musical maestro at Waterloo Christian. The accolades of alumni speak volumes. Mr. Nelson inspired many of them to pursue careers in music. His legacy includes making ``music cool,'' showing his students how to worship Christ, celebrate patriotism, and entertain others with their musical talents. It is obvious Mr. Nelson captured the intangible skillset of an outstanding teacher, especially a music teacher. He taught his students that practice makes perfect. He challenged, inspired, and paved the way for them to gain confidence and become talented vocalists and musicians. Mr. Nelson made a lasting mark on Waterloo Christian and his iconic red blazer and sense of humor will be missed. Over the years, I would often joke that I would hire him to introduce me at events because each time he did, I would get a standing ovation. Mr. Nelson has earned many standing ovations of his own over his 33 years leading quartet harmonies, ensembles, choral pieces, and the treasured Christmas and patriotic programs. Bruce, as you take your final bow, Barbara and I congratulate you on your retirement and thank you for your many years of ministry to the next generation. You have served as a good shepherd to your flock of students, guiding them to worship the Lord through musical excellence.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this month of May is a month that is devoted to what we call Mental Health Awareness Month. Every day, we know Americans cope with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and hopelessness without a support system to help alleviate the burden. To anyone who is struggling, you are not alone. The national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 9-8-8 to offer free and confidential support. Through telehealth, people can connect with mental health professionals from the comfort of their home, breaking down barriers like distance and stigma. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in 2020, I played a key role in making access to mental telehealth a permanent benefit in Medicare. State Medicaid Programs and commercial insurance have likewise done the same. Today, two-thirds of telehealth is for mental health conditions. Last month, I introduced a bill with this title: ``Fighting Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder Act.'' It takes an essential step toward ensuring first responders have easy access to the mental health care they need and they deserve. I also recently sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure information about inpatient psychiatric facilities is clear and accessible to better support patients with serious mental illness in having access to high-quality, safe care. While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has web-based tools to find and compare healthcare providers, that Agency lacks the tools and key information for comparing the quality and safety of inpatient psychiatric facilities so that those patients can make informed decisions. I will continue to make sure that no one faces their struggles alone and that high-quality care is always within reach. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, we are approaching the end of this year's National Police Week, so I come to the floor to talk about what Congress can do to support the brave men and women who protect us. In a few moments, I will go to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where I am chair, to take up eight bills that I have worked out with Ranking Member Durbin and members of the committee--in other words, bipartisan bills. Each of these bills support law enforcement and gives law enforcement critical tools to protect us Americans. For example, one of these bills protects first responders from accidental exposure to fentanyl. Another bill reauthorizes the task force and helps keep our children safe online. A third bill bolsters the PSOB Program to protect first responders' loved ones, should they bravely sacrifice themselves in the line of duty. That is just a sampling of the list of bipartisan bills that we will be considering today. I take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for taking this National Police Week seriously, very seriously. I have always backed the blue, and that is why I have set these eight bills on the committee's agenda. Once these bills are reported out of committee, I am committed to moving them through the Senate expeditiously, and I assume, through their bipartisan sponsorship, that we will have bipartisan support on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I call on my colleagues, then, to join me in supporting our law enforcement community by passing my Police Week bills as quickly as possible. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last week for the first time ever, Wrigley Field welcomed a high school team, and it was a high school team from my home State of Iowa. The Oskaloosa High School Indians baseball team--in partnership with Musco Lighting, also from Oskaloosa--were invited to play in an exhibition game at the home field of the Chicago Cubs. After the Cubs played the San Francisco Giants, Musco Lighting company lit up the stadium, and the Indians took to the historic diamond. I imagine it was a dream come true for many, especially those who are Cubs fans. To share in that once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Oskaloosa High School Chamber Choir performed the Star Spangled Banner prior to the Indians' scrimmage game season. What a way to start the season. We can say: Go Indians.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, yesterday, I stood here opening the Senate and kicking off the 64th annual National Police Week. That is a week dedicated to brave men and women who protect us and keep us safe. Tonight, as part of this week's celebration, marks the 37th annual candlelight. Each year, hundreds of officers killed in the line of duty are recognized and memorialized at this vigil. The name of each man and woman who gave their life will be read aloud. I encourage everyone to join me in recognizing their sacrifices. Honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice helps ensure that their contributions and legacies are preserved for generations to come. I encourage folks to visit the national law enforcement memorial. The memorial contains what is called ``pathways of remembrance,'' where the names of these courageous officers are engraved on the walls. While walking the pathways, visitors will notice the sculpture of a lion with an inscription below that reads: It is not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived. These words are so very true, especially today, as the new officers' names are engraved on those walls. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I am here in the Senate honoring our Nation's law enforcement officers during our 64th annual National Police Week. National Police Week presents an opportunity to show appreciation toward the men and women in blue for their sacrifice and selfless service and honor, at the same time, the fallen officers. Every day, men and women selflessly and courageously dedicate their lives to keeping America safe and sound. They uphold our public safety and devote themselves to the pursuit of justice. Their devotion merits our admiration, and we are deeply indebted to them. We especially honor the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This year, we are honoring 234 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. The list of fallen includes two of my fellow Iowans, Trooper Jeffrey Brown and Senior Police Officer Phoukham Tran. I want to make it crystal clear: I back the blue not just during Police Week, but year round. I like to say to them when I see them: Thank you for your service, and I am not for defunding the police. To our law enforcement officers nationwide: Thank you for your sacrifice, your service, and your dedication. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to report to my colleagues what I am doing today: delivering some history to the Library of Congress. I will tell you about that project in the Library of Congress. This is something that I have done around Veterans Day each year for the last 8 years. In the past and including today, it has added up to the histories of about 95 veterans who have told their stories to me and my staff. Veterans are an important part of our communities. The sacrifices of the brave men and women who have served our country should never be forgotten. My office recently interviewed 12 of these 95 veterans--this time from the Cedar Rapids, IA, area--for what the Library of Congress calls the Veterans History Project. Stories of our veterans help us to better understand the sacrifices that have granted us security and prosperity and have allowed us to live in freedom and with the liberties of this great Nation, the United States of America. Today, these stories of the latest 12 veterans will be delivered to the Library of Congress, preserving these firsthand accounts for future generations to appreciate the role of the people who defend our freedoms. For the project that we had in Cedar Rapids, I want to give a special thank-you to Teri Van Dorston, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids, for hosting the event that we held last November there and to Randy Langel from Kirkwood Community College for coordinating the students to perform and record these interviews. I look forward to hosting another Veterans History Project event in November of this year in the Western Iowa city of Council Bluffs. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, over the last 2 weeks, during the Senate recess, I continued my annual 99 county meetings across Iowa. My travels brought me to the Western Iowa community of Jefferson, in Greene County, for a Q&A. I often say Iowans don't brag enough, and Jefferson has got something to brag about, so I want to take this opportunity to brag about the people of Jefferson, IA. Jefferson is about an hour northwest of Des Moines, our capital city. This community is home to the 168-foot Bell Tower, located in an iconic town square. These hard-working Iowans went to bat for their community and came out on top. In other words, it is like baseball--they hit a home run. Jefferson recently was presented with the 2025 Great American Main Street Award at a national conference in Pennsylvania. Winners are recognized for excellence in commercial district revitalization and historic preservation efforts. Jefferson exemplifies how ``small communities can overcome economic challenges through ingenuity and collective effort.'' As a product of smalltown Iowa, I am aware of obstacles facing rural communities. So I applaud everyone involved in the program named ``Jefferson Matters'' for your teamwork, your resilience, and your can- do attitude. Jefferson is a shining example to communities across Iowa and all America. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, over the Easter break, I continued my annual 99 county meetings. And, as always, Iowans set the agenda. At my open town meetings, I had big turnouts. People shared strong views about tariffs, deportations, and the Department of Government Efficiency. At nearly every one of those Q&A's, Iowans also raised concerns about the Federal deficit and the $36 trillion debt hanging over our heads. I am sharing this feedback with my colleagues here because that is what representative government is all about. It seems like, no matter which issues put a burr under their saddle, my constituents are hungry for the same thing. So, simply, they would like to have some certainty of policy coming out of Congress and some predictability. Such predictability is very essential for our country to move forward economically. Some people see Washington in chaos. These feelings of uncertainty keep Americans up at night. Workers are worried about their retirement savings when they watch the stock market seesaw. Farmers are wondering if they will have a market to export their grain. Small businesses are worried that rising import costs will drive them into the red or force them to jack up prices on their customers. And everybody is concerned that come January 1, 2026, they could be subject to the largest tax hike in U.S. history. And that is without even a vote of Congress. I have long been an open book regarding my concerns about tariffs. I consider myself what, around this town, we call free and fair traders, negotiating tariffs down. That said, the President has another approach. President Trump has raised valid concerns about some of our existing trading relationships, especially with China. That is why I am willing to take a wait-and-see approach as Trump's trading partners come to the negotiating table. I hope his policies will ultimately result in free and fairer trade. If they do, he will be much more successful than my approach over the last 50 years. If he is successful, I will be the first one to say: Praise the Lord. But in the meantime, it is clear the on-again, off-again tariffs are driving uncertainty, and that uncertainty is the same that is reverberating across our economy. There is no better example than when the market for U.S. treasuries went haywire at the beginning of April as a result of some of this tariff talk. Foreign investors got skittish and actually dumped U.S. treasuries. That caused interest rates to spike on the 10- and 30-year bonds. That should have set off the alarm bells here in Congress. American taxpayers are on the hook for a $36 trillion national debt. Americans are already paying $1 trillion a year in interest payments-- about three times what they were before interest rates and inflation hit us after the last 4 years. This trillion dollars is more than we spend annually on national defense, and, in the end, we don't have anything to show for all that interest. Don't forget, those costs rise when interest rates rise. If we pay more servicing on our debt, there is less money for everything else that the Federal Government does to help the American people. Given the size of our national debt, even slightly higher than expected interest rates mean trillions more spent servicing our debt over the next decade. Worse yet, if our bondholders were to lose confidence in our ability to budget or govern responsibly, soaring debt payments could trigger a return of sky-high inflation or even end America in a fiscal crisis. In 2023, the credit rating agency Fitch downgraded the U.S. credit rating, noting the size of our national debt and ``the erosion of governance.'' Those words, ``the erosion of governance'' are from the Fitch report. More than ever, Congress must step up--step up its game--to provide stability in the form of good governance and fiscal restraint. This means we must work to deliver on essential congressional functions without the last-minute brinksmanship that has become a norm when either we don't appropriate for next year and government should shut down or, like I am going to talk about, with the national debt and the debt ceiling coming, if we don't handle that issue, we can possibly shut down the government. Along the lines of what I am talking about, I would like to delineate three must-do items on our agenda that need to be completed before October 1 of this year. First, we must pass a tax and spending package to avert massive tax hikes on the American people. That must include resources for the administration to secure our borders and beef up our depleted military. Second, we must guarantee that we will always pay our debts. This means we must raise the debt ceiling well in advance of the Treasury running out of money to pay the bills. Currently, we are expected to hit the debt ceiling mid-summer to early fall. So common sense tells me we should avoid the chaos in the bond market, which could cause our debt payments to skyrocket. We must lift the debt ceiling with plenty of room to spare. Why wait to the midnight hour of government shutting down? That is too often the practice around here in the U.S. Senate. Finally, we must fund the government to avoid the threat of that government shutdown. Our rinse-and-repeat shutdown stare-downs have become an unnecessary recurring source of heartburn for our constituents and deliver unnecessary uncertainty for the economy. We can surely do better. Completing our must-do list on time and drama free begins with passing the tax and spending package in a timely and fiscally responsible fashion. I know what it takes to grease the wheels and enact historic tax cuts using the budget reconciliation process. It is a four-letter acronym, KISS, K-I-S-S. In other words, keep it simple, Senators. The 2017 Trump reform was a historic achievement. We cut taxes across the board. We did so by simplifying the Tax Code and trimming back the special deductions and credits. As a result, most taxpayers paid less tax simply by claiming the increased standard deduction that was in that 2017 law. They were able, then, to avoid the headache of spending hours sifting through receipts and IRS forms. We now have the chance to make these tax cuts and reforms permanent. This alone would take the weight of a $4 trillion tax hike off the chest of the economy. That would provide much needed certainty to families and businesses. So we must keep our eye on the ball. Let's avoid the laundry list of costly new items that we can't afford and that, at the same time, complicate the Tax Code and, at the same time, risk causing progress on the reconciliation package to come to a screeching halt. We are coming off of an unprecedented peacetime spending binge, and it is time to pay the piper. The fact is, the Federal Government is broke. We are currently running $2 trillion annual deficits, and in just 3 years, our national debt is set to eclipse the World War II-era record relative to the size of the U.S. economy. Let's get in the habit of paying for all new policies so we don't continuously keep digging ourselves into an ever-larger fiscal hole. Let's stick to common sense. When you find yourself stuck in a hole, stop digging. Start climbing. This would require Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen, and President Trump to set priorities and be willing to make tradeoffs. Let's move forward with consensus spending reductions. Let's pull back expensive Biden-era regulations that supercharged mandatory spending programs. And, at the same time, who is going to argue with eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse? Relative to new tax-and-spending policies, the overall package must result in significant deficit reduction, but we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We didn't get into our fiscal situation, the present situation, overnight, and we are not going to solve it in this single bill either. Polling repeatedly shows Americans hold Congress in low regard. I have said this before, but it bears repeating. At my county meetings, someone will yell at the back of the room ``Grassley''--referring to me--``why can't you do something about the deficit?'' We can begin to restore the public's confidence in Congress by doing our jobs, getting our work done on time, and--egads--stop digging a deeper fiscal hole. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, beginning in 1988, the month of May has been observed as National Foster Care Month. The first Tuesday in May, which is today, has been recognized by many organizations as National Foster Care Day. The designations of this month and day have been used as a time to raise awareness of the needs of, roughly, 370,000 American children who are in our foster care system. It is also a good time to commend the many organizations that serve children in the foster care system. These children ought to have safe, loving, and permanent homes. I applaud the organizations and the individuals who tend to the needs of these children day in and day out. For decades, I, too, have worked to support the needs of young people who experience the foster care system. I found that, to get a meaningful understanding of what the needs are, young people who experience foster care ought to have the chance to inform us. So, in 2009, for the purpose I just expressed, I launched the bipartisan Senate Caucus on Foster Youth. My work with the caucus has helped inform me of the many challenges that children in the foster care system face. To give just one example, older youth who age out of the foster care system without a permanent place to call home or to call family to share life experiences with often aren't being set up for success. These older youth desire and need a permanent connection with an adult or family. They also need to be supported in ways that are beneficial to their long-term independence. Congress ought to continue to explore solutions that improve long- term outcomes for every child in foster care. I am committed to supporting the needs of children who experience foster care to help them achieve their full potential. On this Foster Care Day, I hope others are encouraged to do their part to see that no child goes without the love, safety, and stability that they deserve. I got involved in the foster care issues because I hired a staff person by the name of Sarah Gesiriech, now about 30 years ago. I didn't hire her for anything dealing with foster care, but she came to me one day and said: I have been adopted into this family in Urbandale, IA, and I have observed the foster care system through my life, and I know there needs to be a lot of changes to make sure that the foster care system serves more of the needs. So, as I usually do if a staff person comes to me with a special interest in something, I encouraged her to pursue that. Now, that is how I got involved in the foster care system. Sarah Gesiriech worked on some reforms that we passed for the period of time she worked for me. She has then gone on to work for nonprofit organizations since then. We have been able to show some real progress because, 30 years ago, we had 700,000 kids in foster care. I gave the figure of 370,000 who are still in foster care today, but those 370,000 need our help as much as the 700,000 did several decades ago. I thank Sarah for getting me involved in this issue as to the reforms that we have done, and she has the pleasure today of working on some of these issues in the White House, under the auspices and directorship of the First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Trump. I wish her well, and I wish the First Lady well. In how I can help, I would be glad to help. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, recently, medical student Match Day took place all across America. On Match Day, thousands of medical students learn where they will train for the next few years. In Iowa, our State continues to lead in producing top medical talent. At Des Moines University, 32 students were matched to residency programs in Iowa--the State with the highest number of matches for the Des Moines University Class of 2025. At the University of Iowa, about 25 percent of the students matched in our home State. In 2020, as then- chairman of the Finance Committee, I helped pass a law that added 1,000 new, permanent Medicare-funded medical residency programs. So far, Iowa has gained 12 new permanent medical residency slots out of the 600 distributed nationally. Iowa will have a chance to compete for the remaining 400 slots. I am committed to ensuring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services distributes these slots as the law prescribes. That law says that at least 10 percent of these medical residency programs should go to rural areas in our country. Now, I am concerned that CMS isn't meeting this 10 percent requirement, so I have made my concerns known to the Agency, and I want that Agency to know that I will be watching closely to ensure that rural America gets a fair shot--nothing more than the law requires. When medical students have a chance to train in rural America, we know that they are more likely to stay in rural America. Finally, I want to applaud the University of Dubuque for announcing the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine. This will help educate more doctors in the State of Iowa. With all of these efforts, Iowa is set to continue leading in the training of medical professionals needed in our communities. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to thank all of my colleagues for unanimously passing my bipartisan resolution to designate a National Home Visiting Week because supporting parents and children is a topic of importance to all of my colleagues and to this Senator. The first few years of a child's life are crucial to their overall growth and development. In fact, every child deserves a chance to live up to his or her potential. Providing new and expecting parents with the skills needed to meet the demands of their children assists in strengthening families and encourages healthy development. Evidence-based home visiting programs, like the Federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program help improve developmental outcomes for children and reduce postpartum depression, child abuse, and neglect. Families ought to have a strong foundation to thrive. Home visitors that provide these evidence-based services help families lay this important foundation. It is important that we support parents as they raise the next generation. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, April is National Donate Life Month. This is a month to raise awareness about the lifesaving importance of organ donation. There happen to be over 103,000 Americans on the national organ transplant waiting list. We should have confidence that our organ transplant system is efficient and that the system is also fair. Sadly, my oversight, dating back as far as 2005, has uncovered decades of corruption and mismanagement in that system. It has left vulnerable patients to die. They are on the waiting list while unused organs from generous American donors go to waste. Speaking of waiting lists, I have been concerned about reports of those on the wait-list being skipped over. This furthers the distrust in the organ donation system. Through my bipartisan oversight and the 2023 Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network law that we passed, the Federal Government is making long overdue changes. The law improved the management and the oversight of our organ transplant system and encouraged participation from competent and transparent contractors. To build on those reforms, in March, the President signed a continuing resolution that provided authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from organ transplant member institutions. This action by our President ensures the 2023 law can be implemented properly. I encourage all Americans to consider being organ donors and to understand the impact it can have on saving lives. So when you get your driver's license, you can tell them you want to be an organ donor. It says ``donor'' right there on my driver's license. And, of course, besides encouraging people to be organ donors, I am keeping a close eye on how the Federal Government is implementing this new law that we passed in a bipartisan measure to give people the chance at a lifesaving transplant. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today marks the 100th day of President Trump's return to the White House. Trump 2.0 has hit Washington like a hurricane. By that, I mean President Trump is working hard to keep his promises, unleash America's golden age, and launch a revolution of common sense. Let's take a look at some of these achievements. First and foremost, President Trump secured the border. He did that by words he used at the joint session of Congress. All it took was a new President. Today also marks Fentanyl Awareness Day. Fake pills laced with fentanyl are killing young people in the prime of their lives. President Trump is fighting tooth and nail to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl from China that is trafficked by dangerous drug cartels into our communities. Here in the Senate, I led the passage of a bill that is entitled the HALT Fentanyl Act, but there is more work to do. Big Tech must be held accountable to protect young people from being targeted by drug traffickers on social media. President Trump also promised to cut wasteful spending, unleash America's energy, bring back manufacturing jobs, and get our trading partners to the negotiating table. And on that latter point, he is being very successful. The President is swinging for the fences, and he is running the bases. Whichever political side of the fence you are on, one thing is for sure: President Trump ran on a platform, and he is serving on that platform. Promises made; promises kept. That is a refreshing change in this town. Seventy-seven million Americans voted for this President to get America roaring back to peace and prosperity. In these first 100 days, that is exactly what President Trump is doing, and we are just getting started. Mr. President, I have time for other remarks that I would like to make at this point.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on Maundy Thursday, the Lord called home one of Iowa's best and brightest civic leaders and a beloved husband and father. A native son of northwest Iowa, Jay Byers passed away at age 54. Maundy is derived from the Latin term mandatum, which means commandment. On the night before His betrayal and arrest, Jesus gave his disciples a ``new commandment'' to love one another as he had loved them, John 13:34. By all accounts, Jay's life was deeply rooted in servant leadership. He lived his life in service to his family and to others, sharing his outsized leadership gifts to make his community, his alma mater, and his State a better place. I was honored to know Jay for several decades--first, as a congressional staffer to Congressman Leonard Boswell and later as he joined and eventually took the helm of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. In this leadership capacity, our paths would cross many times over the course of a decade to collaborate on issues important to the 11 counties and affiliated chambers for whom he spearheaded priorities, including the partnership's annual visit to Washington, DC. Through these meetings, I was impressed by Jay's professionalism, energy, and ability to motivate others around him to find common ground for the common good. You might say he was a force of nature who lifted up others through sheer grit and determination. I could always spot him in a crowd wearing his signature bow tie. When he served as president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the organization experienced unprecedented growth, expanding to more than 6,500 members. That growth enabled Jay to flex political muscle and put in the work to achieve game-changing investment in the metropolitan area, including recreational amenities, job growth, and big-ticket infrastructure wins, including the new Des Moines International Airport terminal. A couple of years ago, Jay took on a new challenge to become president of his alma mater Simpson College in Indianola. Once again, Jay brought the Midas touch and made an immediate impact with faculty, staff, students, and alumni. During his first year on the job, Simpson saw its largest first-year student enrollment in more than a decade and increased first-year student retention. I have no doubt that Jay's energy was contagious on campus. He leaned into the Wesleyan values of faith, learning, and service in his professional and personal life. His character, work ethic, and loyalty were shaped from an early age. From his days as a musician and an athlete in high school to playing intramural games as a law student at the University of Iowa, to what probably seemed like herding cats in the capital city of Des Moines, Jay embodied the Lord's commandment: to see the goodness in others and to love one another. His distinguished accomplishments and professional accolades were hard-earned and well-deserved. As the dean of the Iowa congressional delegation, I am proud to say Jay made Iowa a better place. Barbara and I extend our sympathies to the Byers family and loved ones, including his wife Katie and daughters Sophie and Charlotte. May the ones he loved the most, and who are hurting the most with their loss, find peace in knowing this servant of the Lord is resting in Eternal peace.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, April is World Autism Month. This month is a time to recognize the millions of Americans living with autism. Over the years, we have made progress in increasing awareness and enhancing resources for individuals living with autism. I have worked to pass the Kevin and Avonte's Law, which helps families locate missing loved ones living with autism, Alzheimer's, dementia, and other conditions that may cause them to wander. The law is named in honor of two young boys with autism, Kevin Curtis Wills from my State of Iowa and Avonte Oquendo from New York, who tragically lost their lives after wandering from safety. This law provides resources to train first responders and law enforcement, helping each to respond more effectively to these situations. It also provides State and local grants to support communication tools that assist families to quickly locating missing loved ones. The purpose of this month is to increase the understanding of people living with autism. I am proud that Kevin and Avonte's Law is helping to do just that by enhancing the protection and safety of individuals living with autism. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this month of April is National Donate Life Month. This month is the time to raise awareness about the lifesaving importance of organ donation. There are over 103,000 Americans on the national organ transplant waiting list. We should have confidence that our organ transplant system is efficient and fair. Sadly, my oversight dating way back to 2005 has uncovered decades of corruption and mismanagement in this donation system. It has left vulnerable patients to die on waiting lists while unused organs from generous American donors go to waste. Speaking of waiting lists, I have been concerned about the reports of those on the waitlist being skipped over. This furthers the distrust in the organ donation system. Through my bipartisan oversight and also the 2023 U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network law, the Federal Government is making long-overdue changes so that we take care and clean this mess up. The law improved the management and the oversight of our organ transplant system and encouraged participation from competent and transparent contractors. To build onto those reforms, in March, the President signed a continuing resolution that provided authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from organ transplant member institutions. This ensures the 2023 law can be implemented properly. I encourage all Americans to consider being an organ donor and understand the impact that it can have on saving lives. Of course, in addition to oversight of the new legislation, I am keeping my very close eye on how the Federal Government is implementing these new laws to give more people the chance of lifesaving transplants. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the floor to support National Crime Victims' Rights Week. For many years, I have pressed the Department of Justice to do its part to shore up what is called the Crime Victims Fund. That fund supports victims and survivors of crime across the Nation. On Monday, I, along with Senators Ernst, Crapo, and Risch, sent a letter to the Department of Justice. That letter urges the Department of Justice to ensure that criminal fines and penalties are collected and deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. I made this request because last Congress, my oversight revealed Biden administration failures. Specifically, since the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act Fix in 2021, the Biden Justice Department failed to collect and deposit more than $1 billion in criminal fines and penalties, which belongs to this fund. Instead, the Biden administration allowed the fines to be paid to foreign governments and elsewhere. Since my oversight shined the light on the Biden Justice Department's failures and misguided approach, the Department of Justice inspector general opened its own independent audit. And at my request, the Government Accountability Office also agreed to review the Department of Justice's administration of this Crime Victims Fund. History has shown that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Since my Crime Victims Fund oversight began, the balance increased from $1 billion in 2023--the lowest in over a decade--to its current balance of $4-3/10 billion. Now, those figures that I just gave you came from the Department of Justice statistics. The Department of Justice must ensure that the Crime Victims Fund has adequate resources, and if the Department of Justice doesn't, organizations across the Nation helping survivors and helping victims of crime are at serious risk of potentially closing their doors and not being able to continue this help. The Department of Justice shouldn't allow the mistakes of the Biden administration to happen again. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, we are in the middle of what is known as March Madness. I am not talking about budget reconciliation or tax season; I am here to congratulate and say thank you to our outstanding student athletes who have competed their hearts out on the court and on the mat these last few weeks. First, I want to pay tribute to our Iowa teams who made it into the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. That includes Iowa State University women's and men's teams, the University of Iowa women's team, and the men's team at Drake University in Des Moines. Division I wrestlers from the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and my alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa, competed earlier this month in Philadelphia. I want to congratulate two teams from my home State who won their respective collegiate championships this month. In the NCAA Division III wrestling national championship, the Knights from Wartburg College returned from Rhode Island as cochampions and with their 16th national title--the most in Division III history. The women's basketball team at Dordt University in Sioux Center returned to the NAIA national championship held last week in Sioux City, IA. The Dordt Defenders defended their title and are back-to-back champions. Sports brings communities together from one generation to the next. As loyal UNI Panther fans and proud boosters for Dike-New Hartford athletics, Barbara and I would say that sports are like glue that sticks, a refreshing antidote in these polarizing times.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have another point to make, which I think I have made once or twice before. Remember last December, we got to December and didn't pass 12 appropriations bills. We didn't pass a farm bill. We didn't debate the DOD authorization bill. We didn't solve the high prescription drug prices, and about 65 Senators backed bills doing that. So I want to remind my colleagues that there are 14 Fridays between now and the end of this fiscal year on September 30, and we ought to think about, do we want another December 2025 without doing 12 appropriations bills, without doing a farm bill, without doing the DOD authorization bill, without a debate in the Senate, and not doing anything about high prescription drug prices? Now is the time to start thinking about whether a 2- or 3-day working week in the U.S. Senate is enough time to do all this important stuff. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on my annual tour of Iowa's 99 counties, I visited recently the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Valley in Waterloo, IA. This was during our last congressional State work period. I held a Q and A with the young Iowans who participate in that afterschool program. We talked about the importance of those programs, advice on how to be a good citizen, and celebrating African-American History Month. I was impressed by the students and appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from them. So I encourage Iowans to volunteer with this organization or any civic organization in need of such volunteers. Giving your time to others helps keep our communities strong. If there is anything you can do to benefit the next generation, you should do it. Besides this example of the Boys & Girls Clubs, I make a practice of going to about 10 or 12 high schools a year, and there are always a couple lessons that I am asked about: how to be a good citizen and ``What advice you would give to us?'' So I try to explain to these young people that the reason I go around to meet young people at high schools is because they never come to my open town meetings. You never get anybody under 18 years of age to do that. So I like to tell them that I consider representative government a two-way street: Those of us elected are one half of it, and our constituents are the other half of it. If you are going to have representative government, you have to know what is on the constituents' minds, and the best way to do that is to have dialogue face to face with your constituents. Obviously, it is not the only way you get opinions, but it is the best way to get that opinion. Then they say: Do you have any advice for us? I say: In America, you have a chance to either govern or be governed. You have a chance to rule or be ruled. And I hope, as young people, you choose the course of helping govern. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, Senator Shaheen of New Hampshire and I are introducing a resolution. That resolution recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Far too many Americans have suffered as a result of this terrible crime. Sexual violence doesn't discriminate. Statistics show that two in five women and one in four men will experience sexual assault sometime throughout their life, and yet those numbers can't capture the pain, the fear, and the lifelong impact that survivors endure. We must ensure that these brave survivors know that they are not alone. That means expanding resources for survivors, holding criminals accountable, and fostering a culture where no one suffers in silence or shame. So Senator Shaheen and I urge our colleagues to recommit to this cause, not just for this 1 month out of 12 but every day of the year. To survivors of sexual assault, we see you, we stand with you, and we will not stop fighting for you. I yield the floor.