Chuck Grassley

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in March of last year, I spoke here to demand Hamas release all remaining Israeli hostages. In October last year, I spoke about President Trump's Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal. At that time, all of the living hostages had been returned to their families in Israel. However, the bodies of those who had been murdered under the brutal terror of Hamas were still being held hostage. This was not merely a delay in returning the remains; it was a very deliberate, very psychological warfare tactic, weaponizing human suffering for the political gain of Hamas. This cruelty also prevented families from carrying out proper religious burial rights--a fundamental act of dignity and respect for the dead in Jewish tradition. Now nearly 3\1/2\ months after reaching the cease-fire deal by President Trump, I am here to share that on January 26 this year, the final body of hostages has returned home to Israel. Families who have lived in unbearable uncertainty can now begin the sacred work of mourning, remembrance, and healing. This moment is a reminder of both the resilience of the Israeli people and the enduring bond between the United States and Israel. America stood firm in demanding the release of every hostage, the living and the fallen, and we must continue to stand firm against those who use terror, brutality, and human suffering as bargaining chips. I commend President Trump and all those who worked tirelessly to secure this outcome and remain hopeful that a lasting peace can be reached. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to congratulate an Iowan, Cara Miller, on her retirement. For the last decade, Cara has led Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area in the State of Iowa as its president. For those who don't know, Silos & Smokestacks is a 37-county, congressionally designated heritage area that shares a rich history of American agriculture. Mr. President, I am going to put a short list of some of the historical things that are in Silos & Smokestacks in the Record. I just would like to name a couple of these because there are dozens of them, and I am only going to submit a list of about 10. One is the childhood home and birthplace farm of Dr. Norman Borlaug, famous for the Green Revolution because of the research that he did to take disease out of wheat and rice that increased production very much. Another one is the home of Carrie Lane Chapman, one of the original suffragists. Her home was in Iowa, and that is one of these sites as well. Another one would be the REA Power Plant Museum because the first rural electric cooperative plant west of the Mississippi was in Iowa. Other examples, people can read in the Record. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this list be printed in the Record.

Mr. GRASSLEY. As a lifelong family farmer, I think it is important that we celebrate this history that--there is a lot of history, but Silos & Smokestacks exemplifies in Iowa all connected with American rural and American agriculture. The fuel you put in your car and the meals on your table are everyday commodities that are made possible by the hard work of family farmers. I always like to remind people that 2 percent of the people in this country produce the food for the other 98 percent and that one-third of that production is exported just to show you how a small group of people lead to the social cohesion of the United States because we don't have food riots and because food is the backbone of our national security. From the beginning of our Nation, when farms were where most Americans lived and worked, and through the Green Revolution of Dr. Norman Borlaug and the development of modern agriculture practices, Silos & Smokestacks preserves and displays Iowa's rich agricultural heritage. For the last decade, Cara has been dedicated to advancing the missions of Silos & Smokestacks. Once again, I want to thank Cara for her hard work and wish her very well in retirement. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, January is National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month. For that reason, the senior Senator from Nevada and I are introducing a resolution to raise awareness and honor the victims. Every day, victims are trafficked across the world. Each person has a role to play and ought to be vigilant in preventing the vulnerable from becoming victims of trafficking. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I will continue to support legislation like the Working Families Tax Cut law to give law enforcement all the resources it needs to protect people from the scourge of human trafficking. I will also continue to push legislation like the Senate-passed Preventing Child Trafficking Act, which would ensure our Federal Agencies take needed steps to protect in a better way potential victims. So, today, please join me in raising awareness. And to those who may be victims, please know that there are resources available to you. If you are in Iowa, please visit stophtiowa.org, or, anytime and anywhere, you can text ``HELP''--H-E-L-P, obviously--to 233733. I thank the Senator from Nevada for joining me in this effort. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on January 23, people from all over our country came to Washington, DC, to celebrate the 53rd annual March for Life. These peaceful movements are exercising their free speech, their free association, and their right to petition government for redress of grievances--all First Amendment constitutional rights. They exercise this through using the Constitution to express their views. This year's theme of the March for Life was ``Life is a Gift,'' so they were inviting folks to embrace the joy of innocent human life in the womb. They marched in solidarity with mothers who deserve better than abortion; who deserve life, love, support, and encouragement. They marched, hoping for a day when all people see babies as the blessings these babies are, for a day when the word ``abortion'' is unthinkable. So I say to this group of marchers: Thank you. You came to Washington on January 23 for the 53rd year in a row to call attention to the value of life. Thank you for your faithful example of what it means to be pro-life. In Congress, we must do all we can to support mothers and their babies, and I hope I am doing that by being a proud sponsor of the bipartisan bill that I call the Healthy Moms and Babies legislation, which would better support pregnant moms to receive high-quality healthcare no matter the ZIP Code they live in. I am also a cosponsor of the Pregnant Students' Rights bill--a pro-mother, pro-family legislation ensuring pregnant mothers receive support while pursuing their dreams. I look forward to continuing this work. Tribute to James Rice Mr. President, I come to the floor to say bon voyage to a very talented and trusted employee of mine who has worked hard for the people of the State of Iowa. When I say bon voyage, as I will say later, he probably has the prospects of being a college professor, a think tank researcher, or maybe even a diplomat. So, today, I come to the floor to pay tribute to a trusted, loyal member of my staff whom I am honored to say has been a member of Team Grassley for 25 years, and I am glad to have him here on the floor with me right at this minute. James Rice will leave his post as my legislative director at the end of this month. He has devoted the past quarter century in service to the people of Iowa here in the U.S. Senate. Now, he didn't start out to be the important staffer he is right now because he started as an intern in 1997. That summer, he even served in some positions that don't get a lot of attention because they are behind the scenes. He served as boots on the ground during my sixth Foreign Ambassadors Tour. For over two decades, I organized every other summer an Ambassadors trade tour across Iowa. I invited members of the foreign diplomatic corps here in Washington, DC, along with their spouses serving here in the Nation's Capital, to join me for a weeklong road trip to showcase my home State's people, our products, and our places. From securing overnight stays in the homes of Iowans to keeping the trade delegation on schedule visiting farms, factories, and always ending at the Iowa State Fair, this devoted team player, James, was among the many helping hands working behind the scenes to make the week run smoothly. That just might be why James first got bitten by the foreign policy bug that has fostered his interest and expertise in foreign affairs and international unity and diplomacy and why he has been a valuable adviser to me on foreign affairs. James is a native of Davenport, IA, majoring in political science, history, and government. After graduating from Drake University in Des Moines, he joined my staff here in Washington, DC, 3 years after being an intern in the year 2000. James has referred to the Grassley team as the embassy for Iowa. With tireless conviction, he managed his work with proficiency. James exemplifies the Biblical ``Parable of the Talents.'' He has been a good and faithful servant to the people of Iowa. I will miss his very scrupulous attention to detail and ability to finesse bicameral, bipartisan victories for Iowa. I could always count on his counsel and valued his wisdom. James has an uncommon mastery of parliamentary procedure here in the U.S. Senate, an encyclopedic knowledge of Iowa, and, of course, he shares my love for history. As legislative director, James cultivated exceptional depth of knowledge in his policy portfolio, including education, foreign policy, and the rules of the U.S. Senate. When I hire people to join my staff, I tell them I expect them to do their job the Grassley way, and that means adopting my approach to representative government, which is to treat people with respect, do your homework, and go the extra mile for the people of Iowa. James worked tirelessly to provide outstanding constituent service. One of my priorities as the senior Senator for Iowa is to respond to every phone call, letter, and email I get from Iowans. James was instrumental in his leadership to revolutionize my constituent correspondence operation. Some may say that he was a tyrant over what we call in the office ``old mail.'' To that, I would say he was doing just as I asked: ensuring Iowans receive a thoughtful and timely response to their questions and concerns. During my 45 years of holding county meetings in each one of the 99 counties--during those meetings, I want to make sure things are going right in my office. I say ``Write me a nasty letter'' if they haven't heard back from me regarding their email or their postal mail or if they left their name and address in a telephone call. They get a written response. So, thanks in large part to this man's meticulous efforts, that doesn't happen very often, that I am told somebody did not get a response to their letter. As legislative director, he mentored scores of legislative correspondents over the years, many of whom climbed the staff ladder to become legislative assistants or pursue careers off of Capitol Hill. He also cultivated longstanding relations with Iowans, particularly educators from across the State as well as Ambassadors from across the world. A rock-ribbed conservative, James practices what he preaches. He is a warrior for freedom and liberty. Each year, he has hosted a tea in our office in October to celebrate Margaret Thatcher's birthday because he so admired her as a leader and Prime Minister of Great Britain. In another quirk, James also spearheaded an annual observance of St. John's Day--a summer solstice celebration in Estonia. That is when the Estonian people celebrate Victory Day to mark the defeat of the German troops in their war for independence in 1919. This goes to show that James doesn't do anything halfheartedly. Although a dyed-in-the-wool Iowan, he is a dual citizen of Estonia. In fact, he loved the Baltic nation so much, he built a house there. As I mentioned, James is leaving my staff and his Senate service at the end of this month. He will dive into academia and passion for foreign policy to obtain a doctor of philosophy in statecraft and strategy at the Institute of World Politics, where he also earned a master's degree. I told him I liked his speeches so much that I hope he will continue to keep me in mind when he feels a speech coming on to bring much needed historical context to these modern-day problems that we face around here. So, James, Barbara and I wish you all the best, a great future, and we thank you for your decades of service to the people of Iowa. When you announced your departure to your fellow staff members, you said you will always be a part of the Grassley family, and I couldn't agree more. I like that you will do just that--be a member of the family. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have 11 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 302, H.R. 7148.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, yesterday marked the start of the 2026 tax filing season. This year, taxpayers can expect to see some of the largest tax refunds in history. That, of course, is thanks to our enactment of the legislation called the Working Families Tax Cut Act. That act prevented the largest tax increase in the Nation's history. These tax cuts paved the way for economic growth and will deliver substantial savings to hard-working families. Congress made several provisions from the 2017 tax law permanent. This includes keeping lower individual marginal tax rates, upholding the 20-percent deduction for qualified business income, and restoring full expensing for research and development and capital expenditures. It also maintains the expanded standard deduction and the doubling of the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. The tax bill also includes new tax relief measures. This includes an additional $200 boost for the child tax credit, along with indexing that tax credit for inflation. Seniors benefit from an additional $6,000 deduction per qualified individual. Moreover, hard-working middle-class Americans can deduct their overtime pay and tips for the very first time, leaving more money in their pockets. So I come to the floor to state these facts but, more importantly, to encourage Iowans to file their tax returns sooner rather than later to see the impact on their family's economic status that the Working Families Tax Cut has for them. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a native Iowan who left this good Earth on November 26, 2025. With his loving wife at his bedside, Rev. Chester Leonard Cavil was welcomed home at age 77. Now, Mr. Cavil and I crossed paths decades ago because of my sister Bunny Wiegmann. My oldest sister worked her entire career at F.W. Woolworth's in Cedar Falls, IA. She was the bookkeeper for the business. Back then, women didn't run the store, at least not officially. But I know that Bunny ran the show. As part of her responsibilities, she trained all the employees and was assigned to train the incoming store manager. That happened to be Mr. Cavil. They worked together at Woolworth's for 12 years. Bunny continued her job there as bookkeeper for a total of 45 years. During his time as store manager, Bunny and Mr. Cavil became good friends. To be sure, their friendship lasted long after he left Woolworth's. Bunny always called him Mr. Cavil, a sign of respect in the workplace. Most of their friendship was long distance. Bunny and her husband Ed traveled to Chicago to celebrate Mr. Cavil's wedding to his beloved wife Ruby in 1986. Thinking back, I would have to say their friendship was the reason Mr. Cavil became one of my earliest--and most visible--supporters. At the time, I was serving in the State legislature. In early 1974, I decided to run for the House of Representatives when H.R. Gross announced his retirement. When I decided to run for Iowa's Third Congressional District, which included the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area, Mr. Cavil wanted to help. Of course, back then, there wasn't such thing as advertising on social media. You did it the old-fashioned way. Mr. Cavil offered to put a larger-than-life sign that said ``Grassley for Congress'' anchored on top of his car. Turned out, that 24/7 kind of advertising was worth its weight in gold--and it was free. Looking back, I would say he went out on a political limb to help me get elected. Every day, Mr. Cavil parked his car with the big blue and white sign anchored on top in the front of the shopping center. Remember, this is before online shopping. So, that sign caught the attention of countless customers in 1974, from the primaries all the way to election day that November. But perhaps most noteworthy was where Mr. Cavil drove his car home every night and parked: his urban neighborhood in Waterloo. I am sure many of his neighbors didn't have the slightest idea who Chuck Grassley even was. For those who knew my political party, I am surprised the sign didn't get ripped off the roof. Either way, the giant ``Grassley for Congress'' sign on top of his car certainly raised my name recognition. And to have his backing made a difference--nothing beats retail politics. I will never forget his steadfast support and loyalty to Bunny. After my election to Congress, Mr. Cavil and his wife kept in touch over the years. After I was elected to the Senate, they visited my office in Washington, DC, a couple of times. The Cavils raised a family and built their life together in Georgia, where they launched a couple of businesses and Mr. Cavil followed his vocational calling. He volunteered for decades as a chaplain and was ordained a Baptist minister. Reverend Cavil immersed himself in his ministry, teaching Sunday school, Bible studies and performing weddings and funerals for the faithful. Barbara and I extend our condolences to his loving wife Ruby, as well as his children, grandchildren, and entire extended family. I have no doubt Mr. Cavil and Bunny have enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days at Woolworth's.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Medicaid is intended to provide healthcare for the most vulnerable, including the disabled, the elderly, and low-income women and children. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general published an audit that found millions of dollars were paid out from State Medicaid Programs to managed care organizations for deceased enrollees. State Medicaid Programs hire insurance companies in the form of a managed care organization to manage the claims and care of patients. States pay the insurance company a per-member, per-month fee. However, it is the responsibility of each of the 50 States to have an accurate enrollment list, which you can probably figure out. Otherwise, it will give the insurance company money for a patient who is no longer eligible for Medicaid or, in some cases, no longer alive. The Health and Human Services' inspector general found that, since 2016, Medicaid agencies improperly paid $289 million for deceased enrollees. In the inspector general's audit, the audit sampled 100 payments. Of those payments, 49 percent were improperly paid or the dollars were only clawed back after the inspector general raised concerns to the respective State. The report found that Medicaid agencies continued to pay for deceased enrollees because they didn't have access to death data, failed to check or use the data, or didn't check the data often enough. The Working Families Tax Cuts law, signed by President Trump on July 4, puts an end to this fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid Program. It establishes solutions to stop sending payments out for deceased enrollees and providers. I look forward to ensuring that HHS implements this part of the law quickly and effectively so that we don't read more inspector general reports about this issue. Working Families Tax Cuts Act Mr. President, I will just mention the Working Families Tax Cuts law that the President signed on July 4. I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about that law. So I want to say something in addition to Medicaid's wasting of money. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act prevented a $4.7 trillion tax increase that would have automatically happened on December 31, when we would have gone back to the old tax laws prior to the 2017 tax bill. For Iowans, I have seen two different figures. One study showed that that would have meant a $2,300 increase for families in Iowa if we had not stopped that tax increase. Another study showed that it saved Iowans $3,100. Either way, $2,000 or $3,000 is money that Iowans could not afford to pay in additional taxes. But this bill does not include just taxes. It is a very comprehensive piece of legislation that increases support for family farmers. It has energy policy that has brought down gas prices tremendously since President Trump signed the bill. It has improvement in education programs. It has health issues in it. And it has law enforcement issues in it. I am not sure I have named all of the parts of the bill, but I hope people who are filling out their tax forms in 2026, and who don't have to pay additional taxes, will understand that that tax bill has done a lot for many segments of the economy that the President ought to be complimented for. Those of us in the Senate who voted for it could, likewise, let them know that we were worried about the tax increase. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY

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

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, many times, under both Republicans and Democrats, I have come to the Senate floor to raise concerns and warnings about how immigrant children called unaccompanied children are handled by Republican and Democrat Departments of Health and Human Services. When immigration people don't have the capabilities or probably the legal right to determine where unaccompanied children should be handled, they are turned over to a division in the Department of Health and Human Services to do it. In the recent 4 or 5 years, we have had lots of cases where the lives of these children aren't protected because the Department of Health and Human Services isn't properly vetting the adults these children are placed with. So once again, I am here to give you some updates on my concern about that and an update today on investigations that I have followed up on. As we start a new congressional session, I am here to discuss, as I have just said, an oversight topic of significant importance. For over a decade, I have investigated the government's mismanagement of migrant children and related matters. My work covers both Republican and Democrat administrations. During the Biden administration, the vetting process to safeguard these children barely existed, putting them in harm's way. Today, I am making public records obtained from the Trump Department of Health and Human Services which illustrate the dire consequences of weak Biden administration vetting policies. These records show terrible cases of fraud and exploitation involving vulnerable children, and the public needs to know that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg. I will give you three examples. One sponsor allegedly applied to take in two migrant children as their father--and as I will show you today, I have two other examples of a person pretending to be a father who was not a father. Later, this first father I am telling you about allegedly assaulted these brothers on a regular basis. He reportedly didn't allow the brothers to contact their mother, and he didn't enroll them in school. Instead, the brothers lived in a trailer without heating or cooling. The brothers worked 7 days a week until 10 p.m. and lived on one meal a day. The brothers' sponsor also reportedly withheld the wages that the brothers earned so that smuggling fees to get into this country could be paid. The brothers' sponsor reportedly had a violent criminal history, which could have been revealed through fingerprinting background checks, and these background checks are now required by the Trump administration. They were assumed to be followed by the Biden administration and obviously were not. The Trump Health and Human Services told my office that they sent this evidence to law enforcement for, hopefully, prosecution. My second case describes the mistreatment of two other migrant children placed into the care of another sponsor who applied to take them in as their father. One of the children was reportedly forced to sell drugs. The records show this sponsor was later known to have used multiple aliases as far back as 2015. In addition, records show this sponsor has past convictions for fraud, which should have been caught by fingerprinting checks. This sponsor reportedly later kidnapped his wife for 24 hours and threatened to kill her. Thankfully, the Health and Human Services Department told my office the children have been removed, and HHS has transmitted this evidence to law enforcement. The final case I am going to bring to you today concerns a 4-year-old boy who was released to someone who claimed, as you could expect, to be his father. According to Health and Human Services' records, nearly 6 months later, the boy's sponsor called to say that he had taken another job and that his mother would take care of the 4-year-old. Approximately 1 month later, the sponsor's mother allegedly confessed that her son was not actually the boy's real father. Instead, it was later revealed that the sponsor allegedly colluded with the boy's biological mother to obtain a fraudulent birth certificate to get the boy into the United States. Health and Human Services told my office they have sent evidence of this fraud to law enforcement. As these records indicate, the Trump administration has created new DNA testing policies to verify sponsor parents. Now any sponsor of a migrant child claiming to be a biological parent should undergo DNA testing to confirm they are actually related. Sadly, these stories were all but inevitable because the Biden HHS prioritized speed--getting these people out of the immigration system, getting them out of the authority and the responsibility of HHS. That speed was all prioritized over the safety of the children. Thankfully, the Trump administration put new policies in place. I greatly appreciate the cooperation with my oversight from Health and Human Services. Specifically, I appreciate the cooperation of Secretary Kennedy, Assistant Secretary Adams, and Director Salazar of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. As the record states, this administration has made efforts to expand DNA testing to help ensure sponsors are, in fact, who they claim to be. In addition, fingerprinting checks should reveal if new sponsors have a criminal or a violent past. It is pretty simple: Get the background work done to protect these kids. Together, these new policies represent important steps needed to correct the mistakes of the Biden administration. More can always be done to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable children. For these reasons, my oversight will continue. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am here to honor a young Iowan. I do it during this month of January because January is National Blood Donor Month. It seems hard to believe, but every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Yet less than 10 percent of those who can donate blood actually donate blood. Regular blood donations can help a family member, a neighbor, and perhaps in most cases, a stranger. An Iowan who can inspire us all to donate blood is Brenna Teerlinck. Last fall, Brenna, a St. Ambrose University student in Davenport, IA, was inducted into the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame. She is the youngest person ever to receive this honor. At age 16, Brenna was inspired to donate blood for her cousin, who was battling a rare immune disorder. She is now a freshman in college. Even though she is in college, Brenna continues to donate blood regularly. Her bravery and dedication ought to inspire us all to donate blood. Congratulations, Brenna. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, one of the issues that Congress must deal with--and do it very shortly--is the cost of health insurance. President Obama famously said that ObamaCare would let Americans keep their health insurance if they liked it and that it would also lower their premiums. We know, more than a decade later, that those promises were never true. We need to lower healthcare costs. It starts with expanding access and competition to high-quality, affordable health insurance through health savings accounts, association health plans, and other consumer- driven health plans. It also requires action to reduce prescription drug prices through pharmacy benefit manager reform. That reform should not be a tough thing to do because we have three separate approaches in the U.S. Senate, with a total of about 60 to 65 Members, in a bipartisan way, supporting the passage of PBM reform. The evidence for fixing ObamaCare can be found in America's pocketbook today. I recently received a letter from an Iowan, documenting the increases this person has seen in his monthly health insurance premiums, just since ObamaCare became law. Before ObamaCare was signed into law, this Iowan saw zero-percent increases in his health insurance premiums and even saw premium reductions. In the 8 years prior to ObamaCare, this Iowan had a cumulative premium increase of 4 percent. In the 8 years since ObamaCare, this Iowan saw a cumulative premium increase of 87 percent. Health insurance has gotten more costly under ObamaCare--case in point with this Iowan's story. His monthly health insurance premium, which was once around $800 before ObamaCare, is now over $2,000 a month. Extending temporary COVID bonuses for wealthy households, where the money is shoved to insurance companies, is not the answer. We need to enact commonsense solutions to bring down healthcare costs. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I believe whistleblowing in the Federal Government should be protected and encouraged. People in the executive branch of government that work in there every day want the Federal Government to enforce the laws the way they are written and spend money according to that law. And when they see something that is not right in government, they have a responsibility to blow the whistle and tell somebody and, hopefully, they work with the immediate superiors, but a lot of times they don't get any respect for the shortcomings of government that they expose. Eventually, they come to Congress and at that point are covered by whistleblower protection legislation, and if we want to continue the good work that whistleblowers do to expose wrongdoing in government, particularly fraud, waste, and abuse, we should make sure that the whistleblower laws are faithfully followed. One aspect of whistleblower protection is to make sure that everybody in government knows about whistleblowers and the protection that they can receive. One aspect of that is what we call anti-gag rules that need to be followed. So I am here to speak about my efforts to ensure that the Federal Government complies with all whistleblower laws. Unfortunately, the government has made efforts to gag whistleblowers before they can make legally protected disclosures, including to Congress. The illegal conduct has happened no matter which political party controls the executive branch of government. That is why I spearheaded successful efforts to get what is called anti-gag provisions enacted. I worked for decades to make it the law. And I have worked to ensure that both Republican and Democratic administrations comply with that law. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure the laws it passes are followed. In eighth grade civics or high school government classes, our students study about the checks and balances of government. Congress not only has a responsibility to pass the laws, they have a responsibility to make sure that the executive branch executes those laws as well. We have not found that followed in practice for these anti-gag provisions. The anti-gag provision requires all Federal Agency nondisclosure policies, forms, or agreements to notify employees of their right to blow the whistle to Congress, to an inspector general, or to the Office of Special Counsel. Appropriations laws also prohibit Federal funds from being used to enforce noncompliant agreements. Nevertheless, Federal Agencies, amazingly, still violate the anti-gag provisions. That failure not only has a chilling effect that discourages whistleblowers, it also happens to be illegal. I have conducted longstanding oversight to ensure that Federal Agencies comply with this law, and I have held them accountable when they failed to do so. For example, 2013, I asked 15 executive branch departments about the inclusion of the anti-gag provision in their nondisclosure agreements. At the time, only the Department of Treasury, out of those 15 executive branch Departments, was in full compliance. I forwarded my findings to the Office of Special Counsel, and in 2018, they issued updated guidance to all executive branch Departments about including anti-gag provisions in their nondisclosure policies and agreements. In March of 2024, I wrote to 74 inspectors general requesting they check on their parent Agencies' compliance with the anti-gag provisions. To date, here are my findings from what I wrote to those 74 inspectors general: 45 inspectors general reported they completed their review. Of those 45, 6 inspectors general reported their parent Agency was in full compliance. Of that 45, 22 inspectors general said their parent Agency made updates to comply with the law, and 6 said that those corrective actions are ongoing. So positive changes have been made. Whistleblowers are better off because these Agencies are doing what they can to comply with the nondisclosure gag rules. But there are outstanding responses, and therefore more work must be done. This Senator intends to ride herd on the government about making sure that whistleblowers are protected and get rid of gag policies. One example from my investigation, 10 inspectors general reported their parent Agency agreed to make changes but had yet to implement them. Another seven of the inspectors general who conducted a review responded that their parent Agency was noncompliant, but they didn't say if their Agency agreed to update their policies. Another seven inspectors generals responded that they were taking the requests under consideration or planning to conduct a future review. It is a no-brainer that they ought to take that review, and I am asking them: What is the hesitation? So I have a responsibility to follow up with them. Another eight inspectors general responded that the anti-gag law didn't apply to their Agency. So I am looking into their position that they took in response to my letter and ensure that their point that they aren't covered by the anti-gag law is correct. Fourteen inspectors general gave the stiff arm to those of us in Congress, ignoring what we asked for them to do, and, as a result, they failed to provide a substantive response, which included inspectors general for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Export-Import Bank. That failure to respond is a disgrace. Inspectors general ought to be the tip of the spear when it comes to transparency in government. Transparency and accountability are not a partisan issue. Federal Agencies can't conceal their wrongdoing behind illegal nondisclosure policies and related actions. Whistleblowers are critical to exposing waste, fraud, and abuse within government. Government officials at the top don't know everything that is going on below them. That is why whistleblowers ought to be listened to. They benefit the government carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, and it surely benefits the taxpayers. I encourage my Republican and Democrat colleagues to join in my efforts to ensure all administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, comply with whistleblower laws. Rest assured, my oversight will continue and so will my fight for whistleblowers. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, tomorrow, January 9, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. For 365 days a year, but especially tomorrow, we offer our gratitude to our country's men and women. When you meet one of them, you should say: Thank you for your work. Thank you for keeping the peace. With President Trump's support, law enforcement nationwide is making America safer. This year, violent crime is down 12 percent and murders across our major cities are down 20 percent. Record amounts of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and heroin have been seized and, thankfully, are off our streets due to the hard work of law enforcement's very courageous work. I am proud to back the blue. I am also grateful for their work to maintain the peace. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee this year, I have continued my work to support law enforcement in Iowa but also nationwide. In that role, I worked with Senate Republicans and the White House as part of the Working Families Tax Cut law signed by the President on July 4, securing historic support for the Byrne JAG and COPS Programs for local police as well as efforts to combat drug trafficking. Additionally, four bipartisan bills the Judiciary Committee passed during Police Week in May became law with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. These new laws will expand access to Federal support for law enforcement and their families and help State and local law enforcement combat online child exploitation. The National Defense Authorization Act also expanded counterdrone authorities for State and local law enforcement agencies using language that was based on legislation that I worked on in a bipartisan way with the senior Senator from Michigan. We should all look forward, but I want you to know that I look forward to working further with my colleagues this year to support police in a bipartisan way. We are very fortunate that this type of legislation is mostly bipartisan in the Congress. To all those who have selflessly answered the call to keep our communities safe, I say thank you. May God bless you and may God protect you as you go about your work of protecting the American people. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. At the start of this new year, one of the dates is coming up that we always honor, but this is a special honor of that day because, on July 4 of this year, the United States of America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Nation's founding. Throughout our history, Americans from all walks of life have shaped our story, including, and most importantly, the 56 colonists who signed the Declaration of Independence. These men--if it were happening today, there would be women in that group. These men reflected profiles in courage, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor on a piece of parchment paper. As benefactors of their bold commitment to freedom, we must never take for granted the remarkable risk and providential promise that they embraced. Since July 4, 1776, Americans can trace a shared heritage--a heritage of freedom--to that founding document proclaiming our unalienable rights and self-evident truths: equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence launched the American experiment that continues from one generation to the next. This experiment is unique in the 6,000-year history of humans. Earlier this week, the Washington Monument, here on our National Mall, was illuminated to mark keystones in American history: discovery, independence, westward expansion, the Industrial Revolution, innovation, and the future. Last August, the yearlong Great American State Fair was launched at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, IA. On this Fourth of July, fair exhibits from all 50 States will be featured on the National Mall, right here in Washington, DC. I encourage Americans of all walks of life to participate in local celebrations across our beautiful country. I am grateful to celebrate 250 years of freedom and honor all those who served in uniform to keep us free for generations yet to come. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, before I speak, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. On December 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that my State of Iowa will receive over $209 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Fund. This Federal funding will boost Iowa hospitals, Iowa clinics, Iowa nursing homes, Iowa legal centers, and other rural providers. I was proud to help craft the Working Families Tax Cut law that the President signed on July 4 last year. That law provides for the largest Federal investment in rural healthcare in history. Under Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds' leadership, Iowa is positioned very well to use this historic investment to build a high-quality, sustainable system of care for Iowans across the State. My State of Iowa, under Governor Reynolds' leadership, plans to use this Federal investment toward telehealth, workforce, preventing and treating cancer, improving coordination of care, streamlining data sharing, and expanding emergency medical care. These investments will improve health, well-being, and quality of life not only in Iowa but in all of rural America. I am pleased that Iowa is maximizing this Federal investment in rural communities, not investing in bureaucracy. And to show how this investment is going to pay off without wasting money on administrative costs, Iowa's administrative costs for this Federal funding are projected to be less than 1 percent. Too often, you see Federal grants with administrative cost rates of 8 percent, 15 percent, and I have even seen, on more than one occasion, things as high as 60 percent. So I am glad Iowa is wisely using this Federal investment. And I look forward to seeing the result in rural Iowa. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Happy New Year. Congress has a full plate of issues to work on this year. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and continuing my work for the people of Iowa this year, as I always do. One issue that is on my mind is lowering healthcare costs, expanding access to high-quality care, and supporting research and innovation. The U.S. healthcare needs more reform and accountability, but we don't need to turn it into a socialized, government-run healthcare system. I would like to point out another example, as I have before, of how socialized medicine fails patients. Recently, a Canadian woman named Jolene Van Alstine made headlines because of Canada's socialized single-payer healthcare system. Jolene can't access a healthcare specialist to get the lifesaving surgery that she needs. Jolene has a rare disease, and she needs surgery. Yet there is not a surgeon available in her province to perform that surgery. You would think she would look elsewhere in Canada to get the surgery, but she can't do that. Jolene must get permission from a local specialist first due to government rules running the socialized healthcare system in Canada. Yet getting an appointment with a specialist isn't possible because no one is accepting new patients. Now she is considering ``medical assistance in dying'' because Canada's healthcare system doesn't have a surgeon or a specialist that she needs to get that lifesaving care. American conservative radio commentator Glenn Beck has offered to cover the patient's travel expenses to America if an American surgeon is able to perform the surgery. I sure hope someone will step up to help Jolene in this way. So Canada does, however, have an alternative healthcare system. It is called the United States of America, if the patient can afford to come here and pay for the services. I have highlighted before how Canadians' cancer patients are coming to America for treatment. Socialized medicine leads to longer wait times and scarce resources. Let this be another reminder of socialized medicine's failures. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor to give an update on one of my oversight projects. This is about an Office within the Department of Health and Human Services that many people may not know much about. It is called the Office of National Security or, in Washington-speak, ONS for short. This Office informs HHS leadership about the threat landscape and also manages intelligence and counterintelligence. In addition, ONS also aims to protect HHS from disclosure of confidential information and other efforts that undermine U.S.-led research. I have done oversight of ONS since my chairmanship on the Finance Committee during the 116th Congress. During the COVID pandemic, I successfully fought to ensure that ONS had a seat at the table with the intelligence community so it could lend its expertise however it was needed. To fulfill its duties to the taxpayers, ONS needs to collaborate closely with national security partners, and the United States needs to be ready to fight health threats head-on--especially that includes domestic and foreign threats. That threat landscape isn't going to go away anytime soon, and it certainly isn't getting any better as pathogens evolve, which means the right hand of government must talk with the left hand of government. So as part of my continuing oversight, on December 3 of this year, I wrote to HHS Secretary Kennedy and Director of National Intelligence Gabbard. I asked Secretary Kennedy and DNI Director Gabbard for updates on their level of coordination, and I asked them about their efforts to ensure that ONS is engaged with the broader intelligence community to ensure robust information sharing. In the new year, I look forward to their responses to my investigation. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, had I been present for the rollcall vote No. 648, on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, my vote would have been in the affirmative. My absence is due to my attendance at the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of the two Iowa National Guard servicemembers who were killed in Syria this past week. I appreciate the opportunity to record my position. Had I been present for the rollcall vote No. 651, on the motion to invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, my vote would have been in the affirmative. My absence is due to my attendance at the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of the two Iowa National Guard servicemembers who were killed in Syria this past week. I appreciate the opportunity to record my position.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I understand that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church are on Capitol Hill this week falsely claiming persecution by the Ukrainian Government. This is because of a law requiring churches in Ukraine to stop taking directions from the patriarch in Moscow, who was a KGB agent and reports directly to Vladimir Putin. Two years ago, I met with Ukrainian faith leaders in my office--about 30 of them--from many backgrounds, including Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, and Muslim. They told me everyone in Ukraine can freely practice their religion, but in occupied Ukraine, Russians have turned churches into a secular, Russian Ministry of Culture. They have also tortured pastors, and the faithful are forced to worship in secret. That is what I heard from religious leaders of Ukraine 2 years ago. In September, I highlighted a report by the Free Russian Foundation titled ``The Russian Orthodox Church and the War.'' That report showed how this body supports the invasion of Ukraine through propaganda, rituals for invaders, diplomatic manipulation, and espionage. The Atlantic Council hosted an event about the Free Russia report featuring a discussion with Orthodox priests titled ``How the Russian Orthodox Church supports the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.'' You can view it online. It is no wonder that only between 4 to 8 percent of Orthodox Ukrainians still identify with the Moscow church. The overwhelming majority of Orthodox Ukrainians identify with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the First Among Equals in the Orthodox tradition. The Ecumenical Patriarch is also head of the largest Orthodox Church in the United States, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. So we should listen to what he said in response to the Russian Patriarch blessing the war and claiming that Russian soldiers who die invading Ukraine will have their sins washed away. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said this: It is damaging to the prestige of the whole of Orthodoxy, because Orthodoxy doesn't support war, violence, terrorism. Do not believe anyone who claims the Russian Orthodox Church is somehow a victim of religious persecution in this war in Ukraine that was started when Russia invaded in February 2022. The Russian Orthodox Church is a leading perpetrator of the persecution of fellow Orthodox believers, as well as Catholics, Evangelicals, and others. You can learn about real religious persecution in the occupied parts of Ukraine at russiatortureschristians.org, and you can watch the documentary ``A Faith Under Siege'' on YouTube. I yield the floor. Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. GRASSLEY

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

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this summer marks an important milestone in the great American experiment. On July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding--a nation founded on the universal principle that all people have inherent God-given rights. To protect those rights, our forefathers established a democratic republic. Throughout the year, communities from sea to shining sea will hold events celebrating our rights and freedoms. This is also a fitting time to reflect on our Nation's history. The story of America is filled with acts of courage and righteous struggles. America has not always lived up to its high ideals; however, the principles laid out in its founding document have proved enduring. The Declaration of Independence states: All men are created equal . . . endowed with certain unalienable Rights . . . life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This has been successfully wielded to secure freedom for those overlooked at our Nation's founding. One of those overlooked things that we are not very proud of--not proud of at all--is slavery. In a speech delivered in 1852, the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass quoted these words to land a damning blow against slavery. His Fourth of July speech made it patently clear that the practice of slavery was an affront to the universal principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was also influential to the women's suffrage movement. It was used as a model for the movement's Declaration of Sentiments, which was signed at the first women's rights convention, organized by women in 1848. The history of the suffrage movement has a special place in my heart, so I am going to show you a front-page story of the Des Moines Register of August 30, 1920. You can see the same picture in the Waterloo Courier. This woman is Mrs. Louis Grassley--Ruth Grassley, my mother. August 30 is 1 or 2 days after the Secretary of State of the U.S. Government informed the secretary of state of Iowa that women could vote. And there was an election in Black Hawk and Grundy Counties that my mother participated in 1 day after the Secretary of State said that women could vote. I think this goes back a couple of weeks before that because Tennessee, by a 1-vote margin, was the 36th State out of the 48 States at that particular time--the last State--to ratify the 19th Amendment. Then, I presume, it took a couple of weeks to get it out to the States that they could vote. So I presume that on August 29 or maybe even as late as August 30, through a telephone call to this meeting that women could vote, my mother was voting. My mother was Ruth Corwin Grassley. She was, as I just told you, one of the very first women--for sure in Iowa but maybe in the entire United States--to cast a vote after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. As I just showed you in the Des Moines Register and also the exact same picture in the Waterloo Courier--it verifies what I just told you. The Waterloo Times Tribune reported this quote: Black Hawk and Grundy County women gained fame Friday by being the first in the state and probably the first in the nation to take advantage of the privilege of equal suffrage. Growing up, I was unaware that my mother took part in this history. In fact, this picture came to my attention probably 20 years after my mother's death. She never bragged about anything, so it is not surprising that we did not hear about this part of her life in history. She took great pride in being a dedicated schoolteacher. She instilled in her students and in her own children lifelong lessons of civic responsibility. I imagine she saw herself as simply exercising her freedom to vote to make sure her voice was counted. To honor my mother and all suffragettes, I proudly cosponsored the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. It was enacted at the end of 2019. The bill authorized the U.S. Mint to issue special- edition silver-dollar coins commemorating the adoption of the 19th Amendment in 1920. This program resulted in the sale of over 56,000 coins, with a portion of the proceeds being directed toward the Smithsonian Institute's American Women's History Initiative. The U.S. Mint is now set to commemorate like coins for the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. This includes five quarter designs emblematic of this historic anniversary and commemorative dollar coins. My understanding is the original five quarter designs will depict historic American events, such as women's suffrage and abolition. I am obviously here because I am very much interested in the fact that it doesn't look like they are going to have a women's suffrage coin. The current Treasury Department abandoned the designs that were first suggested, and the women's suffrage coin was one of those. In my view, this is a very big mistake. The forthcoming anniversary is a perfect time to honor historical events that have made America what it is today. The historic victory won by suffragettes after more than 140 years of fighting for the right to vote is as worthy as any. While the Treasury has since finalized five different quarter designs, it has yet to announce the final designs for other commemorative coins. To correct the mistake that was recently made, Treasury officials should consider honoring the suffrage movement and other worthy events as part of the 250th anniversary commemorative dollar coin program. You can see that I am kind of shocked that the executive branch of government would change what was studied for a while and suggested. It didn't meet the ideology of this administration. I don't think that what they want to substitute is not worthy of consideration, but I think we have to remember that in the preamble of the Constitution, it didn't say that we were going to create a perfect Union; it was that we were going to work toward a more perfect Union. And when we forget the work of women for 140 years who tried to get the right to vote and one of them--the suffragettes--is from the county next to the county I spent 92 years in, living in Iowa, we take great pride in what it took to get the 19th Amendment adopted. So I hope I can get some reconsideration on the part of the administration about honoring the suffragettes with a coin at this particular time. I yield the floor.