Maggie Hassan

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I am honored to recognize Shaun Sullivan of Hampton as September's Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to public service and nearly two decades of work supporting vulnerable children in Rwanda. Shaun's commitment to serving others began in New Hampshire. After attending Lakes Region Community College to learn about fire science and emergency services, he served as an on-call firefighter in Merrimack. He then spent a decade fighting wildfires across the country, including 6 years on a specialized ``hotshot crew'' in California and as an Alaska smokejumper that tackled the biggest and most severe wildfires. And during his off seasons from firefighting, Shaun went to Rwanda, often staying for months at a time. Shaun first traveled to Rwanda in 2008, eager to experience another culture and find a meaningful way to help others. When he returned in 2010, he began teaching English to adults and looking for an opportunity to volunteer with children. Through local connections, Shaun was introduced to Ubaka U Rwanda, a home for homeless children. Many of the children had experienced profound hardship, and the home offered them the stability and care they needed to build a brighter future. Shaun quickly became part of the family, spending his days tutoring the children, playing soccer, cooking and sharing meals, and helping children with their studies. He has now traveled to Rwanda 17 times, forming relationships that have lasted for years and watching children he once knew grow into adults with careers and families of their own. Over the years, Shaun has worked tirelessly to raise money and build a community of support for Ubaka U Rwanda. His early fundraising efforts in California included organizing running challenges with fellow firefighters to raise money and awareness for the home. Since returning to New Hampshire, Shaun has continued raising money with the support of members in his community. His dedication has inspired others to become personally involved, with fellow New Hampshire fire fighters, friends, and family members traveling with him to Rwanda and some returning year after year. Shaun now holds his running fundraiser in Rwanda, completing most of a marathon himself before running the final miles alongside the children he has worked for years to support. Today, Shaun continues to serve as a firefighter in Portsmouth while returning to Rwanda each year. Nearly two decades after his first trip, Shaun remains committed to raising awareness and support for Ubaka U Rwanda so that the home can continue providing vulnerable children with a safe place to grow and thrive. Shaun's compassion and commitment to serving others both at home and abroad are why I am proud to name him September's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Renee Blacken of Bethlehem as August's Granite Stater of the Month for her extraordinary resilience, adventurous spirit, and commitment to expanding access to trauma recovery resources in northern New Hampshire. Earlier this year, Renee became the first American and first solo female to complete the Atlantic Dash, rowing more than 3,200 miles alone across the Atlantic Ocean in a 6-meter wooden boat without a chase boat or resupply. After 65 days at sea, she arrived in Antigua, becoming the oldest American woman to complete a solo Atlantic row. Renee undertook this extraordinary challenge not only to test her own limits, but also to support a cause deeply personal to her. After overcoming physical and mental health challenges with the help of trauma recovery resources, she founded the New Hampshire nonprofit Outdoor Adventuring for Good to expand access to trauma recovery programs throughout northern New Hampshire. Today, the organization is helping fund programs that support first responders, veterans, survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, and others on their healing journeys. Throughout her voyage, Renee remained connected to Granite Staters by sharing updates with supporters and exchanging videos with students in classrooms across New Hampshire. She taught young people to embrace challenges, that extraordinary achievements are possible through courage, preparation, and perseverance, to believe in themselves, and to understand the importance of asking for help when facing difficult times. Renee's historic achievement, courage, and dedication to ensuring others have access to the support they need are why I am proud to name her August's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I rise today to speak about a broken promise, a promise that the President made to the country when he took office. Time and again, the President promised that ``starting on day one'' of his administration, he would ``end inflation''--his words. A year and a half into his term, it is clear that the President not only has broken his word but that he disdains the very notion that he should even try to make good on his pledge. Now, for the vast majority of Americans of all ages and walks of life, of all political stripes, costs aren't a partisan thing, and it is simply clear: It costs more to be an American with Donald Trump as President. Part of why I am speaking today is because, as a new Joint Economic Committee minority report details, American life has become more expensive under this administration. As of June, in my home State of New Hampshire, the average Granite State family has had to pay an additional $4,400 for goods and services since President Trump took office. This toll is exacted from virtually every part of everyday life. In Donald Trump's America, when a person wakes up and starts their day, they now drink coffee that costs around $10 a pound, a 25-percent increase since the President launched senseless trade wars, launched without the support of the American people. After they finish their coffee and drive to work or to drop their children off at school, they do so in a car that now costs more to fill up every time they stop at the pump. Each Granite State family has spent $596 more on gas, in fact, since President Trump launched his reckless, illegal war against Iran--a war he launched without a plan to win. Now, let's say our typical American has a doctor's appointment that day. Assuming that they are able to afford health insurance, they will receive care covered by a plan which premiums rose as much as 50 percent under President Trump. Why? Because the President let Affordable Care Act insurance premiums surge. And at the end of the day, the average Granite Stater returns to a house or an apartment that is also more expensive, as families in our State have so far spent $1,108 more on rent or mortgage payments since President Trump started his term--all because the President refuses to address our country's housing crisis. And after my constituent gets home and goes to pick up her mail, she opens another electric bill. Electricity has gotten so expensive that people in New Hampshire have had to pay $194 more so far this year than last year because the President caused a worldwide energy crisis and canceled clean energy projects. Next on the list, my constituent goes into the kitchen to make dinner, where--you guessed it--the ingredients cost more than they did before Trump took office. Granite Staters paid $310 more for groceries last year than they did the year before. So what has been the cost of the Trump Presidency, a Presidency where food, healthcare, gas, rent, and more have all become more expensive? The costs can be summed up by the figures in this report, but it can also be put more simply. For many in our country, the cost has been nothing less than seeing their chance at the American dream fade before their very eyes. A year and a half into his Presidency, my Republican colleagues are making excuse after excuse for the President's failure to address the American people's basic needs. They need to stop--stop trying to advance the fiction that the President cares about lowering costs or perhaps is trying to lower costs but is getting some bad counsel from his advisers. If the President actually wanted to help the American people, he would listen to them. He would hear that this economy isn't working for them and, for some, well, it is breaking them. If he cared, this man who was supposed to understand the economy, as well as the hopes and dreams of the American people, would acknowledge that he needs to take action to lower costs. And even if he doesn't care, if this President believed that, in America, Presidents are accountable to the American people, he would be working to make life more affordable. But this President neither cares nor thinks he is accountable to anyone other than himself and perhaps his billionaire backers. Just consider, he has attacked and dismissed anyone who says that there is a problem at all. He has called inflation a ``hoax'' and dismissed the cost-of-living crisis as--his words--``made up.'' He says this despite the fact that virtually every American of every political perspective-- at least those who live outside the splendor of Mar-a-Lago--knows that American life has become more expensive under President Trump. So when the American people say that their costs have gone up and the President dismisses inflation as a ``hoax,'' is he saying that American families are lying? Is he suggesting that they should not believe their own eyes, their own understanding of math, when they look at the numbers at the cash register or at the gas pump? Because it is one thing not to solve a problem for American families; it is quite another to essentially say that the American people are lying. What have American families done, what have the people who gave the President the privilege of serving in the highest office in our country done to have their biggest challenge, their greatest anxiety and fear dismissed by the President as a ``hoax''? Should we be surprised that a President who incited a mob to storm the Capitol and tried to overturn the voices and votes of the American people dismisses yet again what they have to say? Maybe the President would be more inclined to help the American people if they were a little less decent and a lot better connected. After all, this is President Trump's Washington, and we know well who this President is. He will save one of his corrupt campaign donors asking for a pardon, but he won't lift a finger to save American families a dime on their groceries. And so I return to the President's promise. When he sought our country's highest office yet again, Donald Trump told the American people to put aside his corruption, his self-dealing, his poor character, his willingness to fan the flames of division and extremism, to forget the way he disrespects our veterans. He wanted us to even forget the attack on this Chamber, to forget the scars of the Capitol Police officers, forget all of this and more because he said he would bring down costs. And now he is dismissive and contemptuous of anyone who asks him to make good on his pledge. He even undermines my Republican colleagues when they do try, in good faith, to lower costs. He actually threatened to block a bipartisan bill to bring down the cost of housing, a law that we were eventually able to pass. Now, Donald Trump has made himself very, very clear. His Presidency will be defined not by lowering costs for families but by raising monuments to himself. It doesn't have to be this way. The American people, right now, want an American dream that they can afford, a dream that doesn't belong just to a privileged few, a dream that is bigger than self-dealing, kickbacks, and self-enrichment schemes in the gilded rooms of Mar-a- Lago. The dreams of the American people aren't focused on golden luxury trappings. Their dreams are less gilded than all of that, but they are also far more noble. Americans want their children to live better lives than they did; with quality, affordable healthcare that can help them rest easier at night; a decent education for their children; a place to build not a gilded ballroom but a home--a home in a country where we don't live fearing one another, divided over politics, but instead united as freedom-loving Americans who know that we are lucky to live in the greatest country on Earth, who love this country too much to ever hate our fellow Americans and who won't let the miracle of self-government die--not in the service of one man's ego, not for anything. The American people want an America that is as good as this Nation's promise. They deserve a President whose word is as good as our people. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I appreciate the efforts of the Senator from Texas to get legislation that we have passed here passed through the House of Representatives. But I think it is really critically important to understand that while he is in these negotiations, people's identities are being stolen, people who need their Social Security benefits are going without as they try to navigate a complex and outdated Social Security system. It is high time that we pass this bill. I am disappointed that we weren't able to send this bill to the President today. I understand the concerns of the Senator from Texas, but I really do think this is urgent for our people. I hope that my colleague from Texas and I can work together in a bipartisan way to get this over the finish line soon.

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Cassidy and Senator Wyden for the colloquy we just heard because we do need to tackle a number of challenges in the Social Security system. The most important job of government is, of course, to keep people safe. And increasingly, some of the most constant threats that Americans face are scams and identity theft. There has been a sharp rise in identity theft and online scams, including the theft of Social Security numbers. Identity theft is more than an annoyance; it can cost people their savings, jeopardize their credit, and more. This is a danger that we need to take seriously, just as we stopped highwaymen from menacing people on our streets, we similarly must stop the outlaws of the digital age from preying on our people. Unfortunately, even as criminals steal Social Security numbers, their victims, ordinary Americans, feel as if they have no one to turn to for help. It is not as simple as finding a police officer on the corner to retrieve a stolen wallet or purse. Criminals have modernized their methods. So the U.S. Government must modernize its response too. That is why I have introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley. Our bill would streamline the process for victims of identity theft to get help when their Social Security number is stolen, giving Americans a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration so that they can get the help that they need. When someone's Social Security number is stolen, when they are at risk of losing their hard-earned Social Security benefits, they deserve better than to have to navigate a never-ending maze of hold times and transfers as they try to find someone within the government who can help. This bill is only one step in the work we have to do to fight scammers, but it does mark a commonsense step that Americans from across the political spectrum can certainly get behind. This legislation will help keep more Americans safe, combat fraud and abuse, and makes our government work better for the American people. Families are already struggling enough right now with high costs. They deserve to be able to keep the money and benefits that they have earned without being threatened by online criminals. And when they are threatened, they should have access to a straightforward and prompt process to get help. Now, the House has already passed this bill on a strong bipartisan basis. So I hope that we can send this legislation to the President today. Mr. President, therefore, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5345 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made laid and upon the table.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July's Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to helping others through his service as a volunteer trauma nurse in Ukraine. Matthew has dedicated his career to the care of others. His path into nursing began with years of service in healthcare, working as a lifeguard, EMT, 911 dispatcher, pharmacy technician, and ultimately graduating from nursing school at Nashua Community College. After he witnessed the suffering caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Matthew asked himself what he could do to help. He recognized a critical need for additional training in lifesaving trauma care, particularly the proper use of tourniquets to prevent otherwise survivable injuries from becoming life-threatening. In 2024, Matthew traveled to Ukraine for his first volunteer deployment. Working in a bomb-damaged stabilization point near the frontlines, he treated both military personnel and civilians suffering from burns, broken bones, shrapnel wounds, and other traumatic injuries. Matthew has repeatedly returned because he knows that the need for care remains great. Even when he is back in the United States, he continues to support the people he met in Ukraine by helping secure the resources that they need to continue their lifesaving work. In addition to training and treating patients, he has personally helped provide supplies and equipment, including funding vehicles and medical equipment for those serving on the frontlines. Matthew says that New Hampshire's ``Live Free or Die'' spirit has shaped the way that he views the resilience of the Ukrainian people. He sees that same determination in those who continue to defend their communities despite immense hardship, refusing to surrender their freedom in the face of tyranny. His work reminds Granite Staters that courage often takes the form of quietly showing up each day to serve others, even in the most dangerous circumstances. Matthew has returned to Ukraine, where he trains Ukrainian servicemembers in lifesaving medical skills and continues to provide care on the frontlines. Matthew's compassion, courage, and selflessness are why I am proud to name him July's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Emelia Ajavon of Grantham as June's Granite Stater of the Month for creating the Chess Club 4 Kids in New Hampshire's Upper Valley. After developing a love of mathematics and strategy at just 9 years old, Emelia attended a local chess club and discovered that there were few opportunities for kids her age to learn and play chess with their peers. Emelia, in true Granite State spirit, rolled up her sleeves and established the Chess Club 4 Kids at the Howe Library in Hanover. Working with library staff, local schools, and community members, Emelia helped transform a simple idea into a thriving program. What began with just four participants has grown into a vibrant community that now welcomes an average 20 to 30 students each meeting and has served more than 100 families throughout the Upper Valley. Through Chess Club 4 Kids, students from multiple communities across New Hampshire come together to learn, compete, and build friendships. By creating separate learning opportunities for beginners and more experienced players, Emelia's club ensures that every participant feels welcomed, challenged, and supported. For many students, Emelia's club has become a place not only to strengthen critical thinking and strategic skills, but also to find a sense of belonging among peers who share similar interests. As Emelia prepares to enter high school, she is already working to pass leadership of her club to younger students so it can continue to thrive for years to come. Her commitment to ensuring the Chess Club 4 Kids endures reflects the same vision and dedication that inspired its creation. Emelia's initiative and generosity embody the very best of the New Hampshire, which is why I am proud to name her June's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, earlier today I called up my amendment No. 5535 to expand the HOME Investment Partnerships Program that would send money to all 50 States and help build 7 million new homes nationwide. Because I only had 1 minute to speak, I wanted to provide for the Record how the amendment would help build at least the following housing units in each State: 70,000 homes in Alabama; 10,000 homes in Alaska; 130,000 homes in Arizona; 55,000 homes in Arkansas; 980,000 homes in California; 135,000 homes in Colorado; 85,000 homes in Connecticut; 15,000 homes in Delaware; 400,000 homes in Florida; 200,000 homes in Georgia; 25,000 homes in Hawaii; 30,000 homes in Idaho; 280,000 homes in Illinois; 135,000 homes in Indiana; 60,000 homes Iowa; 45,000 homes in Kansas; 85,000 homes in Kentucky; 100,000 homes in Louisiana; 20,000 homes in Maine; 130,000 homes in Maryland; 160,000 homes in Massachusetts; 195,000 homes in Michigan; 95,000 homes in Minnesota; 35,000 homes in Mississippi; 125,000 homes in Missouri; 15,000 homes in Montana; 35,000 homes in Nebraska; 75,000 homes in Nevada; 25,000 homes in New Hampshire; 190,000 homes in New Jersey; 40,000 homes in New Mexico; 600,000 homes in New York; 200,000 homes in North Carolina; 15,000 homes in North Dakota; 260,000 homes in Ohio; 80,000 homes in Oklahoma; 110,000 homes in Oregon; 260,000 homes in Pennsylvania; 25,000 homes in Rhode Island; 90,000 homes in South Carolina; 10,000 homes in South Dakota; 135,000 homes in Tennessee; 700,000 homes in Texas; 40,000 homes in Utah; 10,000 homes in Vermont; 160,000 homes in Virginia; 180,000 homes in Washington; 25,000 homes in West Virginia; 115,000 homes in Wisconsin; and 10,000 homes in Wyoming.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, this amendment does not take any funding away from any other Department or Agency. Pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act and all budget resolution disciplines that apply, I move to waive all points of order for the purposes of the pending measure. I ask for the yeas and nays. Vote on Motion

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, as families struggle with high costs, we should be focused on making life more affordable for American families, starting with housing. My amendment is straightforward. It does not take funding from other programs; it simply expands the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, sending more money to all 50 States to help build 7 million new, high- quality homes nationwide. That means 25,000 new homes in my home State of New Hampshire, 60,000 new homes in Iowa, and 135,000 in Colorado. Building these homes will help address our housing shortage and help make housing more affordable for all Americans. Now is the time to listen to the American people and lower costs for families. I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 5535 and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Kathy Nichols of Hudson as May's Granite Stater of the Month for her extraordinary volunteer service to people with vision impairments. After retiring in 2021, Kathy wanted to use her time to give back to her community. She connected with Future In Sight, a nonprofit organization that helps visually impaired Granite Staters live independently by providing transportation, assistive technology, training, and other support services. Kathy quickly signed up to volunteer, in part, to honor her late father who was blind in one eye. Kathy has become a steadfast volunteer for the organization. She has provided nearly 300 rides for 20 clients, volunteered more than 800 hours of her time, and driven almost 9,000 miles to help members of her community maintain their independence and dignity. Through her service, Kathy has not only helped Granite Staters access appointments and daily necessities, but also reminded them that they are not alone. Kathy has also built new friendships through her volunteering. After she was paired with Jan Schlecht through Future In Sight, the two developed a close friendship built over countless conversations during rides to appointments, errands, and everyday activities. Through shared conversions and experiences, Kathy and Jan formed a bond which reflects the meaningful relationships that can grow through service and community. Kathy's volunteerism has shown the profound difference one person can make through kindness, empathy, and commitment to others. She exemplifies the compassion, generosity, and community spirit that make New Hampshire such a special place to call home, which is why I am proud to name her May's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the first grade students at Campton Elementary as April's Granite Staters of the Month. The Campton students are learning American Sign Language to help communicate with and include one of their classmates Ben, who is deaf. Ben is the only deaf student at Campton Elementary and participates in class with the help of a teacher's aide and Cheryl Ulicny, who is a certified teacher of the deaf. As Ben's classmates have gotten to know him, some of his friends wanted to learn how to sign as a way to better include Ben and grow closer to him. Quickly, the entire class decided to take on the challenge and started to learn American Sign Language, through a mix of lessons from Cheryl and everyday conversations with Ben. The practice has spread beyond first grade too, and staff throughout the building meet up at what they call ASL Club, to learn and practice their signing skills. Today, almost every student and staff member at Campton Elementary knows at least a sign or two. The first grade students at Campton Elementary embody the Granite State spirit of valuing the contributions of all our citizens and working to fully include everyone in our communities. Their work to learn American Sign Language is why I am glad to name them April's Granite Staters of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Kara Cole of Plymouth as March's Granite Stater of the Month. Kara created a program to teach elementary school students the lifelong skill of sewing. Kara has always been passionate about sewing, and she believes that the skill isn't just a fun hobby but that it is also an important way to encourage sustainability, foster creativity, and provide a career pathway for students. After Kara realized 4 years ago that many of the students she worked with as a library media specialist for the Franklin School District didn't know how to sew, she decided to roll up her sleeves and change that. Kara went above and beyond her responsibilities and, alongside Cassie Easter, a library assistant in the district, Kara created a program to teach elementary students at the Paul Smith School in Franklin how to sew. Since establishing the program, Kara has helped hundreds of students learn how to sew. This year, with the help of local donations, Kara helped students sew pillowcases and was even able to ensure that every single student had a pillow to put in their pillowcase. Kara has plans to grow the program in the years to come and hopes to include neighboring schools and organizations as part of her mission. Kara's desire to go above and beyond to teach others a lifelong skill in her community is a great example of the Granite State spirit of supporting our neighbors. Her passion for helping young people is why I am proud to name her March's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues to oppose the attempt by the President and his allies in Congress to effectively disenfranchise millions of Americans through their so-called SAVE America Act. But more than that, I rise to join my fellow Granite Staters and the majority of freedom-loving Americans to ask a question more fundamental. I have strong issues with this legislation, which I will discuss, but more than any provision, what I object to today is what this move to make it harder for more citizens of all ages to vote reveals about the President, the President's undemocratic impulse--an impulse that dominates and motivates this President in a way that distinguishes him from all of his predecessors. In short, I rise today because I believe that it is worth asking: Why is it that the leader of the free world, the President of the world's greatest democracy, is so invested in spending his truly precious time making it harder for Americans to vote? In the ``Live Free or Die'' State, we know that elections serve as the best means to hold elected leaders to account. In other words, elections are the very basis of self-government of, by, and for the people. That is the basic compact in a democracy. If a leader fails to deliver on his promises, fails to govern well, or fails in conduct or character, then citizens use their votes to hold him to account and vote him out. That is what makes a democracy different. We have the means to self- correct and to improve, unlike any other form of government. Democracy is the best form of government, not because we have always been perfect but because we always have the capacity to be more perfect. With each generation, we have worked to more fully realize our Declaration of Independence's promise. The right to vote has steadily expanded until it was finally bestowed upon all Americans. We have had setbacks along the way. Progress has often been slower than we would like. But the majority of Americans have understood, as President Kennedy said, that democracy is not ``a final achievement'' but ``an untiring effort.'' And it has always been an effort that required nothing less than what our Founders pledged: the lives, fortunes, and sacred honors of each generation of Americans. But it appears that this President thinks that America's great democratic experiment has gone too far, that far too many Americans are making their voices heard for his liking. Over the course of our history, we have had Presidents disagree on just about every issue. But in our modern history, ever since we passed critical civil rights and voting rights legislation, Presidents in both parties have agreed that our country's operation as a democracy is nonnegotiable, and that we are all better off when more and more Americans vote. Now, though, we have the first President in these modern times who is trying to make it harder for eligible voters to vote. President Trump's anti-voting crusade raises a fundamental question: Why is the President of the world's greatest democracy so invested in making it harder for Americans to vote? Well, the answer is simple. The President wants fewer Americans to vote because he is the first President in American history who does not believe that he is accountable to them, the American people--``we the people''--because only a President who believes that he is not accountable to the people would try to restrict the people's ability to hold him to account. Leaders who believe that they answer to ``we the people'' do not try to overrule the people's voice and the people's vote by seeking to overturn a free and fair election. Leaders who believe that they answer to the people do not try to silence free speech. They don't use the heavy hand of government to drive critics off the airwaves because they made jokes that the President doesn't like. Leaders who believe that they answer to the people don't use the Justice Department and the FBI to exact revenge on their political foes. They don't seek to extend the long arm of the law into an iron fist of injustice. Leaders who believe that they answer to the people don't defy court orders. They don't disregard the Constitution; nor do they ignore laws passed by the people's representatives and snatch from their hands the powers of the purse, taking away the people's money. They don't send our heroes in uniform into harm's way without the people's consent nor do they launch trade wars against our own allies on the basis of nothing but their own ego and whim. They don't revel in power and self-aggrandizement nor do their references to dictators drip with admiration. And let us be very clear. Leaders who believe that they answer to ``we the people,'' leaders who believe that they are accountable to the people and who understand that it is freedom and democracy that make America great--they don't incite a mob to storm the Capitol--to storm this very Chamber to stop the peaceful transfer of power; to stop the count and silence the votes of the American people, and they certainly don't spend their first day on the job pardoning the mob of convicted criminals who stormed the Capitol and assaulted brave police officers. Take these actions each as one or take them all together. Everyone in this body knows that not only has no other President behaved this way but that no one can describe these acts as resembling anything close to patriotism, not in a country that loves freedom as much as ours does. The President of the United States of America is supposed to embody our love of freedom, of American democracy, but, today, it is an open question as to whether this President actually believes in democracy and the consent of the governed. This shouldn't be a question that any American even has to consider, but we are compelled to consider it today. So, look. We can pretend that this is politics as usual, but all of my colleagues know that no President in our modern history--if ever, up until now--has possessed such a stark anti-democratic impulse or has been so disdainful of the people's voices or of our laws and liberties when they run counter to his own will. For those who disagree, I direct you to the walls and windows around this great building that are scarred by bullet holes from just 5 years ago that remind us otherwise. It is worth noting that the only reason the SAVE America Act--this legislation to purge voters that the President doesn't like from the rolls--that the only reason it is even on the floor is that the President won't give up on the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, and he is continuing this same singularly dishonorable brand of lies as we head into this year's midterm. What the majority in this body is doing, therefore, is nothing short of a large, elaborate, expensive bit of legislative play-acting--all because there appear to be no people in the President's orbit to find the courage to summon the words: I am sorry, Mr. President, but you are wrong. That unwillingness to speak truth to power is how lies become truths and how bills that are nothing less than solutions in search of a problem get written. Now, the President can delude himself. That doesn't mean that the rest of us have to do so as well. There are legitimate debates to be had about election reforms, including voter ID laws, but not when the laws are seemingly designed by legislators to discourage or bar people from voting, not when the law is passed upon the orders of a President, as he himself has said, as the means to win a midterm election. My colleagues have spoken at length about the details of this bill, so I won't spend too long relitigating them here. In short, this bill would require all voters to register using either their birth certificates or their passports. Now, only half of Americans even have a passport. It has been estimated that 3.8 million American citizens do not currently have either of these documents in their possession. To put that number in perspective, a bit more than 826,000 Granite Staters voted in the last Presidential election. So this bill says that a great swath of American citizens--close to five times the number of total votes cast in New Hampshire in the last election--shouldn't be allowed to vote next time. What is more, this bill would virtually end absentee voting as we know it, which is how one in three American citizens votes. That is tens of millions of Americans. Who are these Americans whose liberties the President would effectively dispense with? Well, they are both Democrats and Republicans. Many are older Americans. Some have long since lost their birth certificates and don't do the kind of traveling that requires passports. Some have chronic conditions with disabilities that require them to vote by mail. Some are people who work 12-hour shifts or who have long commutes to their jobs. Others are veterans who are as patriotic as any American alive but who spend most of their time at home these days, living in the country, far from the nearest polling place, and they have been voting by mail longer than some in this body have even been alive. In the end, all of them are Americans, and their right to vote is sacred. It was won through sacrifice and wars abroad and given renewed meaning at places like Seneca Falls and Selma here at home. Should the so-called SAVE America Act pass and be signed into law, fewer Americans--people who have worked hard and paid their taxes their whole lives--will be able to vote than before. It will be harder for a substantial number of Americans to vote. If this bill is enacted, there will be more Americans who, in practice, will have less of a voice in our democracy. They will be less free. The number of Americans who will lose their ability to vote may well be in the millions. Perhaps some will eventually find a way to jump through all the new legal hoops and cut through all the redtape and get their ballots in. Even if it becomes a relatively few number who remain unable to navigate these new barriers, we are still talking about law-abiding, tax-paying Americans who will lose their ability to vote--even as citizens of the world's greatest democracy. If this bill passes, it will also represent an enormous deviation in our history. Our country's progress has been marked by a history in which more and more Americans--Americans in each ensuing generation-- have gained the right to vote; but if this legislation passes, President Trump will be the first President to turn that progress back--to work to restrict the right to vote--and to take it away, in practice, from a great swath of Americans. Among those impacted, in particular, will be women. This bill makes it harder for women to register to vote should they have changed their names when they married--names that will be different from what appears on their birth certificates. Now, perhaps this is a simple hurdle that the administration would move with great speed to help women resolve, but I cannot see myself extending the benefit of the doubt on the rights and freedoms of American women to an administration that has worked hard to take away a woman's most fundamental freedom--the freedom to make her own healthcare decisions. This bill would also require all States to hand over their voter rolls, including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, to the President. To do this under any administration would be a move that raises concern, but particularly with this administration, it would be an act of supreme recklessness. Why should any American trust their Social Security number to an administration whose internet privacy standards involve leaking war plans over an insecure Signal chat? To have one's personal information handled by the chaotic band of untrained, unchecked, and unprofessional political appointees who ran enterprises like DOGE would be as wise as to staff the local fire department with a brigade of arsonists. So this bill is, on substance, exceedingly harmful and unjust. It should be rejected. However, I return to my original question: With all of the challenges in the world, why this bill? Why now? Why is the President so determined to make it harder for Americans to vote? I understand in a way why the President does not wish to be held accountable by the American people. It is that he has failed to deliver to the American people because, of course, in a democracy, at some point, a leader has to deliver. Autocrats don't. Do you think, in Putin's Russia, that in the depths of the Kremlin somewhere, they are drawing up plans for measures similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act or the PACT Act? Of course not. A dictator doesn't need to make people's lives better. There is no one to hold them to account. There is no one to push them to deliver. But a democracy? A democracy is different. In a democracy, talk can win an election, but without results, a leader can lose a nation; and 1 year in, this President has lost the majority of Americans. The President came into office with big promises--boasts, really-- about how he would singlehandedly bring down high costs. Now, of course, I disagree with the President strongly on many issues, and I didn't vote for him, but I was willing to and continue to be willing on a bipartisan basis to find ways to work with my colleagues in the Senate to help bring relief to American families, but President Trump has chosen a very different course. The President is trying to silence the votes and voices of the American people because he doesn't want to be held to account, because he thinks he is above the people, and he does not want to hear what they have to say. He does not want to hear that this is not a nation entering a golden age; that instead, to paraphrase Thomas Paine some 250 years after he first coined the phrase: Our Nation is entering a time that tries citizens' souls. We are entering a new American crisis. It is a crisis of costs. The American people have been clamoring for relief--relief from high grocery bills and energy costs, relief from high rent and steep mortgages, relief from a healthcare system that forces families to choose between being sick and dying or being healthy and in debt. Our country was already in an affordability crisis, but the President, rather than solving problems, has made it worse. He chose-- he chose--to take away healthcare from millions of Americans. He chose to make premiums surge for tens of millions more. He did all of this while giving billionaires a tax break. Some people call this tax break unpaid for, but in some ways, it is worse. The tax breaks for billionaires will be paid for. They will be paid for by our children, who will be burdened with trillions in debt, and they will be paid for by every person who gets sick who might have been healthy had the President not taken away their healthcare--a toll summarized less on budget sheets and more on the faces of loved ones in hospital waiting rooms. Americans want to go to the grocery store without grimacing at the cash register, but the President has launched senseless trade wars against our allies and imposed illegal and costly tariffs that have made everything more expensive. Virtually every entrepreneur I talk to in New Hampshire has felt the burden of tariffs one way or another. Some businesses have closed their doors altogether. These trade wars should be a reminder to my Republican colleagues that a politics that exists simply to flatter the President's ego does not come without a cost, and it is a cost borne by the people to whom he has sworn an oath to serve. Now the costs of this Presidency have become even higher as gas prices surge. It is as if the President is searching for new ways to make life less affordable. The truth is simple: It costs more to be an American under President Trump. The American people asked for lower costs. The President, instead, gave them a steeper bill. It is no surprise that a man who has only made the crisis of high costs even worse under his watch does not wish to answer to the people. He can lie about stolen elections. It is harder to lie about the numbers Americans see printed on the very receipts that they hold in their hands. Under this President, we are also awash in the crisis of corruption. While Americans lose more of their paychecks to high costs and tariffs, the President rakes in billions in exchange for political favors because, in Donald Trump's America, it is easier for someone rich to buy a pardon than it is for millions of Americans to afford to buy their prescriptions. Perhaps the cause of most alarm is that we face a crisis as a country because the President has realized that he is at his strongest when America is most divided. There are great and challenging things that we need to do as a country--a new 21st century economy to build, costs to bring down, diseases to cure, veterans to care for--but we can do none of these things because we have to fight to keep our heads above water in floods of the President's own making and because the President tries to get us to spend our days fighting each other. I am not surprised that the President doesn't want to be held accountable by the people. I am not surprised that the President wants fewer Americans to vote because, on his watch, our country has become less affordable, our people less healthy, our world more chaotic, our government more corrupt, and our people more angry. Of course he doesn't want to hear what the American people have to say. So, yes, it is deeply telling that in this moment of American crisis--both self-inflicted by this administration and otherwise-- President Trump has decided that above all else, the most important priority is not to bring down people's costs or make their lives better; it is to try to restrict their right to vote. What, ultimately, does the President's obsessive focus on trying to pass this bill above all others truly reveal? Sometimes it is as simple as it appears: The President wants to pass into law a bill that will allow fewer Americans to vote because he actually wants fewer Americans to vote. It was President Reagan who said that ``the right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished.'' We shall find out soon if his words remain true. The American people--they have always known how precious the right to vote is. The American people--they will wait in long lines even on a cold November morning to vote. But they will do more than just that. They will join the suffragists and rally and petition and do whatever it takes until the ballot belongs to America's daughters and not just her sons. Americans will fill out their ballots while stationed at a foreign post--in trenches in France or the jungles of the Pacific--and ship them back home as soon as they can just so they make sure their vote gets counted, casting their ballots halfway across the world as they fight to ensure that others can have the freedom to vote at all. Americans won't just stand in line at a polling station to vote; they will march to vote, even if it means going down to Selma, just as Granite Staters from Saint Anselm College did when they joined Dr. King's marchers, even if it means trying to cross a bridge three times, even if it means enduring Bloody Sunday. Voting is not just an American right; it is an American habit; it is an American prayer. We do all this because most Americans understand what the President does not--that voting is the most American thing anyone can do. I oppose the SAVE America Act because of its provisions, yes, but what I object to the most about this bill to restrict the right to vote is what it says about the current state of the American Presidency and our democracy. That an American President would try to pass this bill is an outrage. Rather than work to pass this bill, the President would instead be wise to remember the words of his great predecessor Abraham Lincoln, who said: In leaving the people's business in their own hands, we cannot be wrong. This law has been called the SAVE America Act. It is a striking name to me because when I think of when America has needed to be saved, I think of our determination to be saved from British tyranny in our fight for independence; our need to be saved from the Depression or economic hardship; from disunion or division. But apparently this President thinks that America needs to be saved from her own voters, that America needs to be saved from ``we the People.'' I also think it is worth noting what the SAVE America Act will not save. It will not save American families from paying more for their groceries or at the pump. It will not save the small business that has had to close its doors because the President decided to launch senseless trade wars against our friends. It will not save a young couple money on their downpayment when they are trying to buy their first home--not as long as we have a President who would rather build monuments to honor his name than help our country build more homes that people can afford to live in. It will not save a single American from pricey healthcare premiums, nor will it save the future lives lost to diseases that could have been treated had the President not fired America's best doctors and researchers. It will not save our children from burdensome debt tomorrow to pay for tax giveaways to billionaires today. It will not save America from the dangers of dictators like Vladimir Putin, whom the President still vainly tries to appease. But more than that, this law won't save America from the flames of division that the President so often fans, from the meanness and coarseness that he revels in. It will not save America from the march of extremism or the grip of conspiracy. It will not save us from more discouraging broadcasts of the nightly news, of watching our supposed leaders with disbelief, of wondering just how much higher prices will soar. It won't save a young girl who wanted to get involved in public service, wanted to help her country, from becoming disillusioned when she sees what happens in Washington these days, from wondering if our country's politics can offer anything of promise or if only cynicism reigns. It will not save an old veteran from shaking his head and asking what yet might happen to his country he loves, in whose service he risked so much. This law, in short, won't save our fellow Americans--certainly not from high costs. It will not save America. This law seeks to save nothing but the President's political fortunes. Because, in the end, one does not save America by ensuring that fewer Americans vote. One cannot save America by making America less free. Does this body wish to save America? to learn to become a country once more? to do great things together once more? The answer remains what it has always been: Don't restrict the right to vote. Don't turn to answers from the would-be strongman. Instead, leave the saving to the ``we the people'' and put it in their hands. When we do that, truly, as Lincoln said, we cannot be wrong, and we cannot go wrong. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Avah Fiske of Loudon as February's Granite Stater of the Month. Since her brother Ryan died by suicide, Avah has advocated for mental health awareness and made New Hampshire a better and safer place. Avah's older brother Ryan died by suicide in 2020 at age 12, when Avah was just 6 years old. Avah's entire family was stunned by the tragedy, especially because they had never heard Ryan talk about his struggles. But Avah has turned this pain into purpose--or, as her mom puts it, she has risen like a phoenix from the ashes--and she has dedicated herself to helping people talk about their feelings in order to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families. Avah wrote and recorded four public service announcements for her local radio station, encouraging people to reach out to youth mental health resources and the 988 National Suicide Crisis Lifeline. She also walked in the annual Out of Darkness Walk hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and she regularly presents information on youth mental health and the 988 lifeline at health fairs and community events. Avah's work is not done, and she is committed to continuing to educate Granite State families about mental health resources. Avah even plans to one day start her own organization to build awareness around mental health. In the meantime, she plans to record more PSAs and keep spreading the word. Avah's determination to carry on her brother's memory and use her loss to help other families is a beautiful example of the Granite State spirit of community. Her compassion, even at such a young age, is why I am honored to name her February's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognized Bob Murphy of Salem as January's Granite Stater of the Month for his efforts to support Parkinson's disease research. Last June, Bob was asked to participate in a bracelet-making fundraiser to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Bob discovered he had a hidden talent for making beading designs and enjoyed the creative outlet that the crafting provided. When he realized other residents and staff at the facility where he lived were interested in buying his bracelets, Bob started selling them in the lobby and donating the proceeds to the Parkinson's Foundation. So far, Bob has donated $1,500. Bob picked the Parkinson's Foundation because he has lived with Parkinson's disease for 20 years. Bob likes to do activities that keep his mind active, such as doing puzzles, playing cards, reading, and now, making bracelets. Although he sometimes drops beads or moves more slowly than he would like to, the beading keeps him focused, and he will sometimes work on bracelets for the entire day--comparing his crafting operation to a factory. The hobby has also helped him make new connections with other residents who come by to watch him work and even request bracelet designs. Bob's creative fundraising is an inspiring example of the Granite State spirit of ingenuity and persistence. His work to contribute to Parkinson's research is why I am honored to name him January's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Arizona for his remarks just now, for his patriotism and his leadership. Today, we mark the anniversary of the January 6 attack on our Capitol, on our law enforcement officers, and on our democracy itself. You have heard my colleagues recount the horrors of that day. Let me be clear: I, too, was in this Chamber as the events unfolded, and what happened on January 6, 2021, was in fact horrible, brutal, frightening, violent, and in some terrible cases lethal. To all members of law enforcement who responded that day and to their families--but especially to the Capitol Police--thank you. We are grateful to you. We cannot repay what we owe you, but you are in our hearts today. 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence Mr. President, I come to the floor today because I find myself not only thinking about January 6 but thinking about another anniversary that we marked this week--250 years since the start of 1776, the year of American independence. It was 250 years ago yesterday that New Hampshire adopted its State constitution after declaring its independence at a meeting in Exeter, a town where my husband and I raised our two children. This year, there will be no shortage of celebrations of the anniversary of our independence, but it will be up to us--today's citizens of the United States--to decide as a country if these celebrations will represent an empty pageant or a renewal of principle. Because in this moment, a moment when our country is led by a government high on lawlessness and extremism, ambivalent toward freedom, inclined toward authoritarianism, the principles that our Nation was founded on in 1776 feel far more distant than even 250 years. While the attack on the Capitol may have happened 5 years ago, President Trump's current, constant lawlessness makes every day feel like January 6. So today, it is worth asking: What does January 6 mean for the spirit of 1776? What does it mean for a nation built on self- evident truths that we have a President who continues to tell the lie-- the fantasy--that the 2020 election was stolen? What does it mean to be a country where just powers are derived from the consent of the governed when we have a President who has sought to overturn the voices and votes of the people in a bid to stay in power? Now, our Founders maintained that we are endowed with certain inalienable rights, but we have a President who routinely attacks the right to due process and freedom of speech, who has sought to use the heavy hand of government to banish critics from the airwaves. We declared independence, in the words of Jefferson, because we didn't wish to be ruled by a King who ``cut off our trade'' and imposed ``taxes on us without our consent.'' But today we have a President unilaterally declaring costly trade wars on our allies and imposing hefty taxes on his citizens, a President who withholds the people's tax money already appropriated by Congress based on his latest whim. The power of the purse is now the power of the President because the majority in this body refuses to stand up to him. Our Founders didn't draft a Constitution in order to build a more perfect Union only to one day have a President who rejects his responsibility and sworn oath to uphold it, and our Founders didn't create two other branches of government--a legislature and a judiciary--merely for a wayward Executive to ignore them. Our Founders wanted the legislative and judicial branches to be checks on the Presidency, but this President seems to think that the clear rules set out in the Constitution are merely a suggestion box. Surely, as patriots risked their lives, treasure, and sacred honor to establish a breathtaking experiment in self-government, they didn't intend to allow a President to use the long and hallowed arm of justice to target political foes, to ignore laws passed by the people's representatives, or to pardon violent criminals who tried to overthrow our democracy in his name. There is nothing remotely patriotic, remotely decent about pardoning violent criminals who stormed our Capitol and assaulted police officers. Can anyone in the administration look the families of the officers in their eyes and explain why such a pardon could possibly be justified? Of course not. But then again, this administration doesn't think it should have to. And make no mistake: The pardons may have voided the criminal convictions, but the wounds to the officers remain, as does the attack on our democracy. When we talk about democracy, it is easy for it to feel merely like an abstract principle. But my dad, a World War II veteran, stressed to me, even as a kid, that freedom and democracy made a real difference in people's lives. Democracy is, in short, the best way to solve problems without violence, with the votes of citizens instead of the voices of a violent mob. Look no further back than over the course of this last year, and you will see why democracy matters. Despite promising to bring down costs, the President has instead made life less affordable. He has taken away people's healthcare, launched costly trade wars on our allies abroad while making everything more expensive at home, and has spent his days flattering himself, putting his name on buildings and constructing monuments in his own honor. Are we really surprised that a man who tried to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election does not care about solving the problems that his constituents--the American people--face? If the President didn't think he was accountable to the people's will when he lost the election in 2020, why should we expect him to care about the priorities they want him to address after an election? Democracy, of course, is about holding leaders accountable when they fail to make people's lives better, and this President disdains democracy because he simply can't deliver. We are blessed to live in a great country, and we can't forget how unlikely our independence was. In 1776, we subsisted on gasps of hope, our plan little better than a prayer for recurring miracles--not just in Philadelphia but, later, on the icy currents of the Delaware, in the snows of Valley Forge, by the sea in Yorktown. Mr. President, 1776 was a time when, in the words of Thomas Paine, ``nothing but hope and virtue could survive.'' Surely we didn't survive the hardships of our birth to, only 250 years later, allow the way of the despot and the way of the mob to become the way of the future. Surely we did not build a new nation conceived in liberty only for its Capitol to one day be stormed by a mob at the behest of a President because he refused to acknowledge the basic right of every American to vote him out of office, to be free to disagree with him and reject him. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, John Adams wrote in a letter that, hundreds of years from now, people will celebrate the day with what he called ``pomp and parade,'' but he also added that it will ``cost us to maintain this declaration.'' So we have a choice to make as a country. On this 250th anniversary of the year of our independence, we have to decide whether we wish to be governed by the spirit of January 6 or the spirit of 1776. What is this spirit of 1776? It is the belief in government of, by, and for the people, not of, by, and for any one leader. Here, no leader is above the law, nor are they above the people whom they serve. Look around this city. Our great monuments here were built by grateful citizens to honor others. They weren't built by greedy leaders to honor themselves. The spirit of 1776 knows that lawlessness and extremism don't melt away on their own and must be rejected, even when it means standing up to a President or to one's own party. Political courage can be hard; regaining a freedom lost even harder. And above all else, here in the United States of America, we know that we are not subjects to be ruled; we are citizens to be heard. This is America. This is where freedom rings. And perhaps these sound like lofty principles. Well, I am from the ``Live Free Or Die'' State. In New Hampshire, we know that principles like freedom matter. We know that they matter because people gave their lives for these principles, and they died for these principles in the hope that the rest of us might live by them. So that is why on this January 6, I am choosing to embrace this spirit of 1776, and I hope that freedom-loving Americans of all political stripes do too. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School as November's Granite Staters of the Month for their efforts to honor local veterans, including by inviting them to a special assembly and by raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project. At the beginning of this school year, the students at Dublin Consolidated School--which serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade--invited local veterans to a special Veterans Day assembly. While the students and teachers were not sure how many veterans would participate, on Veterans Day, the students honored almost 20 veterans with songs and readings, and after the assembly, the students thanked the veterans for their service. This special assembly was the first Veterans Day event that the school has hosted, but they have resolved that it won't be the last. The teachers at Dublin Consolidated School helped organize the event as a way for students to learn about military service and the contributions of veterans to our country's history. They also helped students learn about the Wounded Warrior Project and the support that it provides for wounded, ill, and injured veterans, servicemembers and families and brainstormed ways to raise money for the organization. Through a coin drive held in the weeks leading up to the assembly, the students raised more than $900, an amount matched by USAA bank, to help those who kept our country safe, secure, and free. The special Veterans Day celebration hosted by the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School is an example of the Granite State spirit of showing gratitude and respect for our veterans. Their work to honor local veterans is why I am proud to name them November's Granite Staters of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December's Granite Stater of the Month for his work to bolster public safety in his community. Growing up in Portsmouth, Kevin looked up to the police officers in his neighborhood, admiring the way they worked to foster a strong community. Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a part of that mission, and when he was old enough, he joined the police force. Soon after joining the force, Officer Semprini saw that there was a need to improve child safety in New Hampshire and worked with the Portsmouth police chief to create a new school safety program. His work took him to local schools where he helped elementary school students learn about safety. Because students had some trouble pronouncing his last name, they quickly landed on a nickname for him, a new name that reflected the warmth and comfort he conveyed: Officer Friendly. It is a nickname that has stayed with him for the rest of his career. In the years that followed and as the police department continued to evolve, a new chief of police from California introduced Officer Semprini to the DARE program. Officer Semprini worked with the State to pilot the program, which eventually expanded statewide. Officer Semprini also pioneered the school resource officer program at Portsmouth High School and organized local toy drives for the holidays. As he retires, Officer Semprini carries with him the thanks of the people of Portsmouth and all Granite Staters for his 46 years of service and his steadfast protection of the children of New Hampshire. Officer Semprini's commitment to improving children's safety is a true example of the Granite State spirit of going the extra mile to protect your community. His lifelong work to support Portsmouth students makes me proud to name him December's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I thank Senator Mullin for yielding. I support the motion to send this bipartisan package that you are speaking about to the President. Obviously, the provisions that Senator Mullin, my friend from Oklahoma, is discussing are incredibly important. There are other provisions in this bill, too, that have bipartisan support. This bill would cut costs for prescription drugs through a bipartisan provision that I worked on with Senator Paul to speed up getting generic drugs to market. Now, I understand Senator Sanders' perspective about wanting to attach to this package increased funding for our country's community health centers. They are incredibly important, lifesaving resources to millions of Americans. So as we are talking about saving lives here, we have to recognize the role that community health centers play in that. They provide vital services in our communities, and I fully support passing this funding increase for them through the House and the Senate as soon as possible. But as I understand it, the House will not act to do so at this time. So as disappointed as I am that the House isn't ready to support increased funding for community health centers, I also believe that it is important to take action on this package now to help address pediatric cancer and lower prescription drug costs, so I am disappointed that this bill will not move forward today. Having said that, I hope we can come together and find a way to continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to get this package over the finish line next month. Thank you for yielding. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator, my colleague from Wisconsin, for her remarks. You know, sometimes the wheels of our democracy don't turn as quickly as we would like. Sometimes progress is painfully slow. But it is a singularly bad day for this body, a bad day for this country, when, far from simply failing to move forward, this body chooses to take a great lurch backward, to decide to make the lives of the American people worse. By letting the Affordable Care Act tax cuts expire, by letting healthcare slip away from families all across our country, today, the majority in this body appears to be prepared to do precisely that. Now, just a comment or two about my colleague and friend Senator Cassidy's presentation about the Republican plan just now. Senator Cassidy and I are good friends, and we have worked on a lot of bipartisan healthcare legislation to date. But let's be clear. The Republican plan that he is talking about doesn't help people afford their premiums in the first place. That is what this is about. The other issue that my colleague raised about the Hyde amendment-- the Hyde amendment applies to the Affordable Care Act already. What the Republican plan does is now say that people who pay private premium dollars into the ACA cannot use their private dollars to fund what are called elective abortions. So I just want to be clear about those two points. Now I want to talk about the progress we have made and the progress we still need to make when it comes to the Affordable Care Act. It is easy to take it for granted now, as we have grown accustomed to its benefits, but the Affordable Care Act was an important milestone in expanding opportunity for more Americans. The ACA helped millions of Americans who were previously unable to afford insurance to get lifesaving care for themselves and their families without breaking the bank or facing bankruptcy. It allowed Americans who have preexisting conditions to actually buy insurance. It ended lifetime caps on how much treatment people could get. Is the Affordable Care Act perfect? No. It was the product of a legislative compromise. But has the Affordable Care Act made Americans healthier, strengthened our economy, and saved lives? Yes. I want to remind people what our healthcare system was like before the ACA was passed. People with preexisting conditions could not get health insurance unless they worked for an employer who offered a group plan, and even then, they had to work enough hours to qualify for that plan. Even people who had insurance were subjected to something called lifetime caps. Often, the cap was about $1 million, meaning that if you had a terrible accident or expensive disease, the insurer simply stopped covering your care when the limit was reached regardless of how long you had been paying your premiums and regardless of whether you still needed lifesaving care. Preventive care could be expensive and was often excluded from health insurance coverage. The ACA changed that. People with preexisting conditions can now buy insurance. People between jobs can buy insurance. Self-employed people can buy insurance. Lifesaving and cost-saving preventive care is covered at no charge. There are no lifetime limits on care. Now, the smart thing for us to do right now would be for us to build on this progress. There is no shortage of ways in which we need to improve our healthcare system. We need to lower healthcare costs, and there are good, bipartisan proposals in this body to do that. We need to end the inefficient and harmful fragmentation of care. I am ready to work together on a bipartisan basis to do just that. But rather than tackle those problems, the Trump administration has actively worked to make healthcare even less affordable. This summer, the Republicans gutted Medicaid in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Now, with tax credits for the Affordable Care Act due to expire, the President and Washington Republicans will instead allow health insurance premiums to skyrocket for millions of Americans. The American people asked for lower costs; the President is handing them a steeper bill. In recent weeks, too many of the conversations in this Chamber about the path forward have gotten stuck in the abstract. We have seen proposals that resemble ideological wish lists rather than the type of compromise that would recognize the reality that Americans are facing on the ground. But I can assure you that, for my constituents, rising healthcare costs are not abstract. It is not abstract for a Granite Stater who will have to pay $1,000 more a month for health insurance. It is not abstract for the family who depended on these cuts in order to make ends meet and who doesn't know if they will have to pull from their savings or find a cheaper place to rent just to afford these new premiums. And it is not abstract for the untold number of Americans who will miss out on routine care and preventive screenings for cancer and other diseases because they couldn't afford their new premiums. I find myself struck by some of the words that we use in this Chamber to talk about healthcare: risk pool, cost sharing, silver tier, gold tier. Behind all these words and jargon, we are talking about people. We are talking about being sick and being healthy, about living with dignity or struggling in despair. We are talking about living and dying. This is an issue that demands the most serious of leadership, but plainly that is just not what the American people are getting from Donald Trump's Washington today. Today's vote leaves me with a simple question, a question that the majority in this body ought to answer: By your vote today to make insurance premiums more expensive, who in America wins? The majority in this body may carry the day with their votes, but who exactly will this victory be for? What family will be made better off by health insurance becoming more expensive? Which child is going to become healthier? Make no mistake, today's healthcare vote is more than a vote on a single bill. In the greater sense, in the fight to make American life more affordable, in an effort to save the American people from a looming healthcare calamity, the majority of this body, the majority in the House, and, above all, the President himself, are, in short, choosing to abstain. They are throwing up their hands, essentially saying: Nothing we can do here. Given the choice between keeping healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans or letting these tax cuts expire, the President is content to do nothing. In the face of this healthcare crisis, in the face of Americans of all political stripes clambering for a solution, the Republican majority is deciding that the world's greatest deliberative body ought to shrug its shoulders and abdicate its responsibility. So, yes, I will close with this: It is a bad day for this country and for the U.S. Senate. And it is a day that the American people will remember. I yield the floor.