Mark Kelly

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the work of the Head Start providers and programs across the United States as the National Head Start Association gathers in Phoenix, AZ, for its 50th annual conference. Since 1965, more than 37 million Americans have relied on Head Start to provide high-quality early childhood education programming to families in need. Head Start programs operate in all 50 States through a variety of models, serving families from before birth to age 5 in Early Head Start and Head Start. But it is not just children who reap the benefits of a Head Start program. Parents and families are an integral part of Head Start, whether by volunteering in a classroom, participating in educational programming, or even embarking on a career in early childhood education through Head Start, which is happening in Arizona. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to meet with an Arizona Head Start parent in my office, along with staff and administrators from our State. Being a new grandfather made it even more meaningful to me to hear the appreciation in the voice of the parent as she described the economic and educational opportunities Head Start was creating for her family. It also made it harder to hear that challenges in finding and retaining teachers and staff mean that classrooms are closing and hundreds of thousands of children are stuck on waiting lists. That is why I am committed to growing Senate support for Head Start. I am proud that the most recent appropriations bill included nearly $12 billion for Head Start, representing a $960 million increase from the prior year. With this funding, Head Start staff can get paid closer to what they deserve, and more families can gain access to the early childhood education that we know makes a long-term difference. But there is certainly more to do, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help more children and families succeed. To the Head Start providers, staff, and families throughout this country: We are with you. Thank you for the work you do every day.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Captain Gwen Niemi for her service in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp--WAC--during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. Ms. Niemi was among the first 200 women to become officers in the WAC. Captain Niemi was born on February 2, 1920, in Lancaster, PA. Ms. Niemi obtained her degree in physical education from West Chester State College. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gwen attended the first WAC training course in Des Moines, IA, graduating from WAC training as a second lieutenant in 1942. Her first assignment was training recruits at the WAC Training School in Daytona Beach, FL, and was responsible for instructing almost 500 trainees. Gwen next commanded a WAC Company of 180 personnel at Tyndall Field located outside of Panama City, FL. While on assignment at Tyndall Field, Ms. Niemi was temporarily assigned to duty at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center. She was promoted to the rank of captain and transferred to Eastern Flying Training Command at Maxwell Field, AL, where she served as a career field manager and evaluator for the WAC Program. Upon her discharge from the WAC with the rank of captain, Ms. Niemi moved to Tucson, AZ, where she became a teacher in the physical education department at the University of Arizona. Ms. Niemi took 5 years off from teaching, having two children, and then returned to teaching physical education and English and reading at Tucson School District No. 1, now known as TUSD. Please join me in celebrating Captain Gwen Niemi for being a patriot and a true trailblazer, for her brave service during World War II, and for going on to be an educator at the University of Arizona and at Tucson School District No. 1.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1311, a bill to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, which was introduced earlier today.

Mr. KELLY. I further ask that the bill be considered read three times and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, this legislation would reauthorize a Federal foundation, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act, which was established to honor the legacy of two great Arizonans: Morris and Stewart Udall. The Udall Foundation honors the legacy of the Udalls by awarding scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study related to the environment and for American Indians and Alaska Natives to study healthcare and Tribal public policy. The foundation also supports the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and the Native Nations Institute to conduct research on environmental policy, American Indian and Alaska Native healthcare issues, Tribal policy, and training. My predecessor, Senator John McCain, was a longtime supporter of the foundation and its work, and the foundation has honored Senate McCain's legacy through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution. This legislation does not increase authorization levels for the foundation. It simply extends current levels through the end of fiscal year 2028 to allow the foundation to continue its important work. I yield the floor.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask that the scheduled vote occur immediately.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to; that the preambles be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc.

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions introduced earlier today: S. Res. 83, S. Res. 84, and S. Res. 85.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that tomorrow, Wednesday, March 1, at 11:30 a.m., the Senate vote on confirmation of the Guzman nomination followed by the motion to invoke cloture on the Lawless nomination; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 2:15 p.m., the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Grey nomination; further, that following the cloture vote on the Grey nomination, the Senate proceed to legislative session and proceed to the immediate consideration of H.J. Res. 30; that at 4 p.m., the Senate vote on passage of the joint resolution and upon disposition of the joint resolution, the Senate resume executive session and, notwithstanding rule XXII, vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Simmons nomination.

Mr. KELLY. For the information of the Senate, there will be two rollcall votes at 11:30 a.m., one rollcall vote at 2:15 p.m., and two rollcall votes at 4 p.m.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 227 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. KELLY. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Guzman nomination postcloture as provided under the previous order; further, that if any nominations are considered during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Madam President, I have seven 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. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I understand that there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. KELLY. I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2023; further, that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand in recess under the previous order.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Madam President, I join my colleagues to discuss the importance of tackling the issues on the border and with our immigration system. I think what folks have heard so far is that Republicans and Democrats can find a lot of common ground, even on this topic, and I am here today because securing our border and fixing our broken immigration system is a priority for me and for the State of Arizona. The State of Arizona bears the brunt of Washington's failure on this issue, and this is a national security issue. For decades now, politicians have tried and failed to fix our border and fix our immigration system. We see crisis after crisis under administrations of both parties, and we see attempts by Congress to pass reforms fizzle out over and over and over again, because on this issue, more than any other, folks often retreat to partisan corners rather than finding common ground that we know exists. It is what led the Federal Government to fail border States like Arizona for decades when it comes to border security, and it has led to a broken immigration system that doesn't work for families. It doesn't work for Dreamers. It doesn't work for businesses, small and large, and it doesn't work for our country. In Arizona, these aren't abstract issues. These aren't theoretical questions to debate over. These are real problems, and Arizonans deserve real solutions. Our State is left to deal with crisis after crisis at the border, including the one we are facing right now, where record numbers of border crossings are straining law enforcement, and it is straining humanitarian organizations. This is unsustainable, and a change to title 42 authority now is only going to make these challenges worse. So that is why we are here today, because it is past time for Congress to work together to reform the broken immigration system and plan better to prevent this continued humanitarian crisis. Over the past couple of weeks, including today, I have been speaking with Arizona officials on the border about the situation on the ground. That includes Border Patrol, who are seeing their staff stretched even further. That includes cities and counties that are having their emergency services strained. And that includes humanitarian and nonprofit organizations that are trying to increase their capacity because they are being stretched so thin. And they are expecting to be stretched even further just to help people. So I have been pushing the Department of Homeland Security as they work to mobilize as much staffing and resources and coordination as they can ahead of a change in the title 42 authority. There is a lot left to do, and I will keep working with them toward a secure, humane, and orderly process at the border. But ultimately--ultimately--Congress needs to step up too. We have to do our jobs, because it is not just Arizona that sees the impacts of Washington's collective repeated failures to tackle this issue. There are hundreds of thousands of Dreamers across the country who are just as American as my own two kids or my grandkid, and they still do not have a pathway to citizenship. They watch every court case, every legislative effort to understand how it will impact their lives. That is so they can determine if they can continue living, studying, and working in the only country that they have ever known. Planning their lives, their careers, their goals based on the outcome of a court hearing or what we do in this room or fail to do--that is just wrong. They deserve a pathway to citizenship. I know it is a priority for many whom I have spoken to here over the last 2 years. It is time we do this. Furthermore, our immigration system just doesn't work for our economy. Across the country, there are businesses that can't get the workforce they need or that face huge backlogs in the immigration system, and a lot of families face similar backlogs too. These are folks who are following the rules laid out by our laws, but still run into a wall of bureaucracy. It is leading to labor shortages that squeeze supply chains and raise prices. So let's fix it. And let's take action to better secure the border. That includes putting up physical barriers where they make sense, just like I have been able to do in places like the Morelos Dam in Yuma, where I pushed to finish the construction, but also hiring more Border Patrol personnel, increasing their pay, and deploying more of the right technology. Here is the thing. When you are willing to sit down and really work together, you find that there is a lot of common ground on this issue. So that is my message to my colleagues today: Come to the table, and let's get this done. Let's stop just kicking the can down the road. Let's do the tough work that we were sent here to do and get something done to secure the border and fix our broken immigration system. I yield the floor.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 4978 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. KELLY. I ask unanimous consent that the Barrasso substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.