Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, the deadly collision that occurred here in our Nation's Capital between American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, KS, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29, 2025, forever changed how we look at and think about air travel. There were numerous circumstances that led to this horrific incident, and the NTSB's--the National Transportation Safety Board--critical investigation into this collision is continuing even today. While the NTSB's final recommendations have not yet been released, the Chair of the NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, took an unusual step in publicly stating that the current version of NDAA--the National Defense Authorization Act--does not adequately address the safety concerns surrounding the mixed airspace around DCA. She even went on to say that the legislation--NDAA--``reverses safety changes made after the mid-air collision; after the NTSB issued urgent safety recommendations; and after Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy rightfully implemented NTSB's urgent safety recommendations.'' Based on the data and recommendations we have received so far from NTSB, we know that, one, there should have been limitations to rotary travel in high-traffic areas of commercial air travel; two, all aircraft in this space should be using position broadcast technology, with nearly no exceptions; and three, the users of this congested airspace should be communicating problems to each other, like the 15,000 near misses that occurred around DCA in a 3-year period between commercial planes and rotary aircraft--15,000 near misses in a 3-year period of time. The current NDAA text includes a provision which misses the mark on two of these must-have provisions; therefore, I will insist and be working with my colleagues to amend the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act or to otherwise pass legislation, perhaps in the appropriations process--I am a member of that committee--to make sure that NDAA language is at least, as a minimum, abiding by the safety standards that were set in place after the crash of January 29. Our aviation system is fragile. I chair the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space. We have seen this in testimony time and time again. There is fragility in the safety of our air system. Over the last year, Congress has passed significant legislation to invest in the future safety of our airspace and introduced legislation to make our airspace safer, including the ROTOR Act. Now is not the time to step back from these efforts. I am grateful for the hard work of NTSB Chair Homendy and her team, and I look forward to receiving their final recommendations when that time arises. I also want to say thank you to the families of the victims of Flight 5342, who have continued to be vocal advocates for the safety of our airspace in honor of the loved ones they lost. It is important that we not take a step back but take a step forward, and I will work in every way that I can with my colleagues to see that we accomplish that before the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I have introduced legislation, as is introduced on an annual basis. We have done so again this year to make certain that the rate of disability compensation and other financial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans and military survivors keeps pace with the rate of inflation. The annual Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025 will increase certain VA benefits by 2.8 percent, including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. That is to better reflect the changes in the everyday cost of living and align with the annual benefit increase by the Social Security Administration. This adjustment allows veterans and their families to have the peace of mind of knowing that their VA benefits will keep up with our Nation's economy and that the VA can continue delivering support for those who have served while alleviating the stress of financial uncertainty due to circumstances that are out of their control. In addition to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs has also reported out Senator Rosen's-- the Senator from Nevada--Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act, which would make certain that each VA medical center has an appropriate space for veteran moms to pump or to breastfeed. Women veterans are the fastest growing patient demographic, and we must make certain that VA facilities can meet their needs. Mr. President, I, therefore, ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 202, S. 2392.

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 200, S. 778.

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment 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.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, exactly 1 month ago today, I stood on the Senate floor and spoke about the impact that the government shutdown was having on an already troubled aviation system and that the traveling public was facing tremendous challenges with that shutdown, and I cautioned against prolonging it. Now, 30 days later, we are still here. I was concerned that if the government shutdown continued, it could force the closure of parts of the airspace and lead to further reductions in the air traffic controller workforce. Unfortunately, both these concerns have materialized in what has become the longest government shutdown in our Nation's history. With 2,300 cancellations, and counting today--Sunday--it will go down as one of the worst days in air travel. I have never seen anything good come from a government shutdown. Lapses in Federal funding have made it harder for families to access SNAP benefits, Head Start Programs have been put on pause, and thousands of Federal employees are unable to receive a paycheck. This dysfunction is damaging enough to our constituents and economy here at home, but it also sends a dangerous--a dangerous--message to the watching world. It demonstrates to our allies that we are an unreliable partner, and it signals to our adversaries that we can't work together to meet even the most fundamental responsibilities of Congress. As this shutdown continues, I want to particularly focus on the impact this lapsed funding is having on the aviation industry. TSA agents and air traffic controllers have had to continue working while missing two paychecks. It is a stressful job and one that has grown increasingly more difficult throughout the year. Combine that with the uncertainty of how to pay rent, put food on the table, and gas in your car, it is no surprise--no surprise--that we are seeing more and more controllers not showing up to work. We were already facing a shortage of controllers, and now we are seeing more having to pick up second jobs to pay the bills or seeing some quit entirely. Our inaction and our inability to gain consensus are deterring young people interested in futures such as air traffic controllers or other aviation professionals from pursuing those careers. The vulnerabilities in our aviation system have led Secretary Sean Duffy to begin reducing flights by 10 percent at 40 major airports. Airlines, businesses, and general aviation alike are cutting into their operations to make certain that airspace is as safe as possible. It is critical to know that these impacts are not lopsided on those high- traffic areas. Small- and medium-hub airports, such as we have in Kansas that connect to those 40, are experiencing this pain just as much. While this is a painful step, it is necessary for the safety of the traveling public, and I support Secretary Duffy's decision. American Airlines indicated to me they canceled more than 240 flights yesterday and delayed more than 1,000 flights, impacting more than 150,000 passengers. Airlines for America said that staffing shortages disrupted the flights of more than 4 million passengers from October 1 to November 7 on their partner airlines, and that was before the mandatory reductions were put in place by the Department of Transportation. We can expect more cuts if we do not reopen the government. We saw how fragile our air system is, and it is the reason I highlight aviation and the consequences of the shutdown tonight. We saw how fragile our air system is earlier this year when a series of failures led to a midair collision on January 29, which claimed the lives of 67, including those of Kansans. That accident forced Congress and our Nation to reckon with an issue that has plagued us for decades: Why have we not effectively modernized our airspace system? Since that crash, steps have been taken to train more controllers and improve the aviation system, including a $12.5 billion investment in modernizing our airspace. But those efforts are becoming much more difficult to accomplish during a shutdown. Unfortunately, the position the aviation industry finds itself in today cannot be easily solved, but we cannot even begin to solve it unless we reopen the government. Every day we remain shut down, the fragility of the system intensifies. Thanksgiving is only 18 days away. Americans are purchasing, would have purchased, or already purchased tickets to be with their families. If we remain in a shutdown much longer, it will become increasingly difficult for airlines to deliver on their promises to their customers. The circumstances we are in cannot continue. We must reopen the government. I urge my colleagues to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. I am committed to working with my colleagues--my colleagues--to address the concerns they have and any issues brought forth by the shutdown. We must return to regular order, advance a clean CR and these three appropriations bills, and then consider further appropriations and these issues that so many of us care so deeply about. Our constituents and our Nation depend upon us to do so. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, this year, 2025, marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam war. As we reflect, as we should reflect, on this conflict's history and the impact it had on our Nation, we should pause to recognize the service and sacrifice of the brave Americans who went halfway around the world in defense of democracy and remember those who never made the trip home. From 1955 to 1975, more than 10 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces fought to support the cause of freedom in South Vietnam. Throughout the conflict, 58,281 of those servicemembers lost their lives, more than 300,000 were wounded, and an additional 1,545 servicemembers are still missing and unaccounted for. Here in our Nation's Capital, as we know, there is a memorial dedicated to those who served in Vietnam: a wall with the name of every American soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service. I was there last week with an Honor Flight of Kansans who came to pay their respects and to remember their own service. The names of 626 Kansans are on that wall, each a son, a brother, a spouse, a friend-- individuals who did not make it home. In Kansas, many communities have set up memorials to recognize their hometown heroes and hundreds of Kansans who died serving in the Vietnam war. From the Rooks County memorial at the local courthouse in my home county to the Vietnam Wall at the Pittsburg State campus in the eastern part of our State, Kansans have made it their mission to never forget those who served. I want to especially recognize two Kansans--Marine Corps Sgt Timmy Miller and Army PFC Charles Acheson--two young men who grew up near my hometown in Rooks County, KS, and whose names are forever etched on that wall. At the young ages of 21 and 20, Timmy and Charles answered the call to serve and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation's freedom. Their names and every name that appears on the wall represent a life that was lost, a family that was forever changed, and a story that should never, never be forgotten. As we now approach Veterans Day, we are reminded of our Nation's commitment to honor those who have served in the Nation's Armed Forces and make certain that their legacy is never forgotten. In the 1970s, when I was a high school student--1972--if you graduated a year earlier than I or graduated, certainly, 2 years earlier than I did, you served in Vietnam. By the circumstance of my birthday, I did not. But what I did see was Vietnam veterans not treated with dignity and respect--the dignity and respect that they deserved--when they returned home from their service. Their service earned our Nation's lasting gratitude, and we should strive to honor our Nation's heroes and the sacrifices they made. I, as a 16-year-old kid, made a decision, a commitment to myself, that I was going to try to compensate for the poor behavior that was extended to those who did nothing less and a lot more than just serve their country. I made a commitment that I was always going to say ``thank you'' and that ``I respect you.'' I never envisioned being a Member of Congress, and, now, as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I recognize that our responsibilities are more than to say ``thank you'' or ``I respect you.'' It is to make certain that every veteran is respected and gratitude is expressed, but, more than that, to make certain that the services that they provided for our Nation and the freedoms they fought for are recognized in what we do in keeping our promises--our promises that were made to them for their service. I have met many Vietnam war servicemembers and veterans, and their stories remind me that service does not end when they hang up their uniform. We have an obligation to make certain that their well-being is at the forefront of our efforts and that the promises made are promises kept. In Kansas and across the country, our Vietnam veterans are still serving--leading local businesses, volunteering at the VA and other veterans service organizations, and assisting the next generation of veterans as they transition into life after service. These veterans continue to give back to their communities and the country they served. Again, with Veterans Day around the corner, we are also reminded of the importance of keeping those promises to our heroes, whether that means access to quality healthcare, support for mental health challenges, or recognition of the lasting damage exposure to Agent Orange has had on those who served, even after they returned home. I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Vietnam Veterans of America, a veterans service organization that works to support and promote issues faced by veterans of Vietnam. Their advocacy has been critical in supporting veterans' issues and passing legislation that improves the lives of our veterans. In 2022, Congress passed the PACT Act, legislation that was years in the making, to help improve care for our Nation's veterans who were negatively impacted by toxic exposure during their service. Since that bill became law, the Department of Veterans Affairs has completed more than 6.4 million toxic exposure health screenings, processed more than 2.7 million PACT Act-related claims, and enrolled more than 700,000 veterans in healthcare. We have made a great deal of progress, but there is still much more work to be done to care for and honor our Vietnam veterans. I was able to learn firsthand from the Vietnam veterans that I saw at the wall last week about their service, their time in Vietnam, their time in the theater, their time at home, their return, and their opportunity now to come pay respects to those who lost their lives during their service. We were able to see firsthand the memorial built to honor them and those who served alongside them. I have told this story before. Before the World War II Memorial was completed, I wandered up there and found the Kansas pillar and called my dad at home, a World War II veteran. I left a voicemail. I was lucky. My dad didn't pick up the phone, but I left him a voicemail in Plainville, KS, our hometown, where I said: Dad, I am at the World War II Memorial. This memorial was built in your honor. And, Dad, I want you to know that I respect you, I thank you for your service, and, Dad, I love you. Walking back to my office on Capitol Hill, my cell phone rang. It was my dad, who said: Gerald, you left me a voicemail, but I couldn't understand it. Would you repeat it. I no longer can repeat it to my own father, but today I say what I said to my dad then, I say to those who served our Nation in Vietnam, who served our country in that tumultuous period of time. I say it to them: Thank you. We respect your service. And we love you. These men are heroes. These women are heroes. And we will never forget them or their service. To all those who served in Vietnam, we respect you. We thank you for your service. We love you, and welcome home.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previously scheduled recess begin immediately.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, first of all, I would like to compliment the majority leader, the Senator from South Dakota, for his continued efforts to have the Senate return to the days in which we were the greatest deliberative legislative body, assuming that was ever true. It is hard to find evidence that it is true today. And, certainly, a basic function of the Congress is to do appropriations bills. I have heard a number of my colleagues, particularly Democratic colleagues, complain about the appropriations efforts by the White House, by the administration. They remind us that the Constitution puts in the prerogative, it is the Congress that appropriates. Here we are trying to appropriate, to do our constitutional duties, and the vast majority of Democrats stand in the way on one of the most important appropriations bills that we could consider, the Defense appropriations bills. Our adversaries, our allies, again, wait and watch for signals that the United States of America is the country it needs to be to defend freedom and liberty around the world. As of today, we are incapable of funding our Department of Defense. I highlighted yesterday in remarks that those who had come to the floor and worried and complained about the military men and women during the shutdown who are not receiving compensation for their service to our Nation, the most straightforward way to make certain that those who serve are compensated is to pass the Defense appropriations bills authorizing and appropriating the money to make those payments. Yet, today, there are those who stood in the path to prevent that from happening.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 455 and S. Res. 456.

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, October 20; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, 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 cloture motions filed during today's session of the Senate ripen at 5:30 p.m.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, the month we are in, the month of October, is Domestic Violence Awareness Month--the time that we should recognize the devastating impact domestic violence continues to have on individuals, families, and communities across our States and the Nation. The issue of domestic violence often remains hidden behind closed doors. It is a reality that affects millions of Americans every year, both in communities large and small, urban and rural, and unfortunately across my own home State of Kansas. While national headlines may briefly focus attention on this issue when a tragedy occurs or a public figure is involved, our commitment to ending abuse must remain constant after the news cycle. The statistics regarding domestic violence are staggering. Domestic violence that occurs between partners--girlfriends and boyfriends, husbands and wives--affects more than 12 million--12 million--people every year. On a typical day, every 9 seconds, a woman is assaulted in the United States. In Kansas, law enforcement reports nearly 22,000 incidents of domestic violence annually. These aren't statistics from faraway places; they reflect our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. We have a responsibility to bring hope to those who feel afraid to speak out. I want to recognize the Kansans who dedicate their lives to that mission, those who work and volunteer in shelters, crisis centers, advocacy organizations, and law enforcement across the country. Their compassion and courage make a difference every single day. In Iola, KS, Hope Unlimited provides a lifeline for victims seeking safety and support. Working hand in hand with local law enforcement and first responders, Hope Unlimited's advocates and trained volunteers deliver services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Their coordinated response models ensure survivors are met with care the moment they reach out. We know that when victims are turned away or forced to travel long distances for help, 90 percent return to their abuser--a reminder why access to local support is critical. Across Kansas, similar organizations, like Safehome in Johnson County, StepStone in Wichita, and the Crisis Center, Inc., in Manhattan, are helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and safety. What happens in Washington, DC, matters, but we change the world one person--in fact, one soul--at a time. In communities across Kansas and across America, that is exactly what is happening. The Federal Government plays a meaningful role in supporting these efforts. Through programs like the legal assistance for victims grant, Kansans have access to legal representation that helps survivors navigate the justice system and reclaim their sense of safety and stability. The work is far from over. Domestic violence is more than a law enforcement or a policy issue; each of us can and must play a role in ending it. This month and every month, let us recommit ourselves to breaking the cycle of abuse. Let's do our part to speak out against violence in all its forms and to stand with those who have been silenced for too long. Let's raise awareness of this silent and devastating issue and bring hope to those who need it most. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, we are now 9 days into the government shutdown, and the disruption of the shutdown is being felt by many Americans. Particularly, what I want to talk about is the many Americans who are traveling or working in the aviation industry. Government shutdowns are detrimental to some of our most basic functions of government, and our already-fragile air traffic control system is facing strain from this occurrence. We are reminded how fragile our air system is by the facts of what occurred on January 29, when a flight from Kansas to Washington, DC, did not land safely at Washington Reagan, and it claimed the lives of 67 people. Over the time that I have been in Congress, we have had a number of shutdowns and, in many instances, even Kansans told me: Shut her down. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me. I have never found the value in a government shutdown. That accident that I just mentioned forced Congress and our Nation to reckon with an issue that has plagued us for decades: Why have we not effectively modernized our airspace system? Since that crash, steps have been taken to train more controllers and enhance the aviation system, including a $12.5 billion investment in modernizing our airspace. But those efforts become much more difficult while Congress fails to keep the government operating and the shutdown is in place. The Wall Street Journal, just this week, aptly summed up the current crisis stating: We ``have a system under pressure that now just has another 100 pounds of weight on it.'' The failure to pass a continuing resolution is slowly crushing our aviation system. Our system is too fragile and the stakes are too high for us to continue operating the national aviation system in the manner we are doing so. We will reach a breaking point, and this could result in the closing of our airspace or portions of it. The consequences of the shutdown on our aviation system aren't isolated to major cities and large airports as the viability of the Air Service Program is also now put at risk. This program incentivizes airlines to provide commercial flights to rural communities that normally wouldn't be able to attract business from major airlines on their own. In Kansas, there are five such airports that use this program to provide flights to their communities. These flights allow my constituents to fly to larger cities for business, to see the family, for doctors' appointments, and so many other things. Several of these airports have seen and continue to see record levels of passenger growth. All of these factors are chipping away at the sustainability and safety of our Nation's aviation system. In a previous Congress, I introduced the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which allows the FAA to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to make certain that critical operations continue when there is an appropriations lapse. In March of this year, I reintroduced this bill as we faced this threat of a shutdown. This legislation is still important, but the fact is that the only real solution here is to pass the continuing resolution. We set out earlier this year, in a bipartisan manner, to transform our aviation system to make it safer for everyone, but that work is now significantly hindered without having an open and functioning government. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee, of which I am a member--the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee--has done its job. I joined my colleagues in advancing the fiscal year 2026 funding bill for the Department of Transportation but including all the aviation matters at the FAA and otherwise. We did that in July. It included more than $22 billion for the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, with $5 billion for the FAA's facilities and equipment account--critical funding for modernizing outdated equipment in our national airspace. This legislation also included funding to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers to close the gap in our workforce. For every day we remain in a shutdown, the air traffic controller shortage gets worse, and the strain on the aviation system intensifies. Our system has a breaking point, and I hope that this dysfunction that we are undergoing stops before we see dramatic and damaging consequences. My point is that the continuing resolution is standing in the way of the appropriations process. We have a majority leader who is willing to bring appropriations bills to the floor. They deserve the Senate's consideration of those appropriations bills. The challenge we face is getting them done by the end of the fiscal year; therefore, we have put in place a continuing resolution until a date in later November. This is a straightforward continuing resolution to give us the time to complete the appropriations process, including the money for the Transportation Department and the safety components that are included therein. My second point is that a continuing resolution is necessary to avoid a shutdown. That point is that the shutdown is damaging to us in many ways to our Nation. It is broadly damaging to us because it allows those who are critics and those who are adversaries to realize that we are not as capable of functioning as we should be so that even our allies wonder what is going on in the United States. The point I want to make is that there are consequences to the position we have allowed ourselves to get in, and it affects the safety of Americans every day. In having experienced the loss of life from the flight on January 29 from Wichita, KS, to Washington, DC, we should be doing everything we can to make certain that our air traffic system and the necessary components are in place to make sure that traveling American citizens and the citizens of the world who use our airline system have a safe and secure flight when they board a plane in the United States. The silliness of where we are today is impeding our ability to make that true. I don't know when a shutdown makes sense, but the consequences of this one, in lieu of a short-term, clean CR for a few more weeks to complete our appropriations work, is a shutdown that makes absolutely no sense or is of any benefit to America. I urge my Democratic colleagues to act now to pass this short-term continuing resolution so we can alleviate the pressures on our aviation system, return to doing our jobs in appropriating government funding, and provide much needed certainty and stability for our Nation. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3814 to substitute amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 3814 to the NDAA. This amendment would improve collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to expand access to care for veterans and support greater utilization of military medical treatment facilities. Current law allows DOD to downgrade the scope of a military treatment facility if the facility volume doesn't justify the capacity of patients and if surrounding communities can absorb this capacity. My amendment, which incorporates feedback from DOD and VA, would require improved outreach, education, training, and partnership between the VA and DOD. It would make certain that excess capacity at military medical treatment facilities is used to increase access to care for veterans living in that community, while also providing more training opportunities for DOD personnel.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, it has been a sad day--a set of sad days-- in my hometown of Kansas. I rise today to mourn the loss and honor the sacrifice of Hays Police Officer Sergeant Scott Heimann, who was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call. He passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 28. My hometown of Hays, with a population of about 21,000, is a tight- knit community, where people look out for their neighbors; they care for those in need; and they protect the vulnerable. Sergeant Heimann embodied the best of smalltown Kansas values in living a life of integrity and devotion and courage despite the dangers he faced each and every day. He, too, from a young age, called Hays his home. He grew up there, and he graduated from Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, which is our hometown Catholic school. He attended the University of Kansas before returning home to the place he was raised. Sergeant Heimann first began his service with the Hays Police Department in 2016, and after 9 years with the department, his watch ended way too soon. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. He was a son, a father, a husband. He was devoted to his wife, Beth, and was a loving dad to his children Patrick and Victoria. My prayers--our prayers--are with his family and his parents Bill and Teresa Heimann. It is such a difficult time. Every day, law enforcement officers risk their safety, putting their lives on the line to protect and serve both their neighbors and strangers. Kansas is a home to so many brave men and women who have answered the call to serve, and too many have given their lives to fulfill this mission. In small towns across Kansas, law enforcement officers, as they are in Hays, are well-known in their communities, and they are well-loved by their communities. We see them in the grocery stores, at the football games on Friday nights, and in church on Sundays. They are members of our communities, and they are familiar faces. This courageous young man died with honor while protecting his community and the people he had sworn to serve. In Hays and across Kansas, the sacrifice he made will not be forgotten, and we resolve to forever honor his service to the community he loved. I ask the U.S. Senate to join me and my family and my hometown in expressing our sympathy and gratitude--our respect--for this officer, for a life served in service to others, and to a community that mourns his loss. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, we for a second time failed to pass a continuing resolution to allow the Federal Government to continue to operate. It is because we are coming to the end of the fiscal year. Not all the appropriations bills have been approved, though most all of them have been approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. In fact, three have been passed by the Senate. This makes no sense to me. This is not a shutdown that makes any sense at all. The American people, Kansans, deserve something different from the U.S. Senate. Every city council or commission, every school board, every local government office in my State passes a budget and then lives within that budget every year. Every local unit of government can figure this out, and the U.S. Senate is failing one more time. A shutdown means uncertainty. A shutdown means dysfunction. The issue to me is this continuing resolution that would fund the Federal Government until November 21--a short period of time--is designed to avoid that dysfunction, to avoid that uncertainty. All that is required is that we pass the continuing resolution, 60 votes in the U.S. Senate, to keep the government functioning so--and this is the reason it makes no sense to me--so that we can pass the remaining appropriations bills, all but one of which have been passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and most in a bipartisan manner. For whatever purpose and for whatever reason, that seems beyond our capability. I understand there are those who wish to bring other issues to this bill. Could we do one thing at a time, and when that one thing is as important as this continuing resolution, to do it now? to do it yesterday? to do it tomorrow? We can't pass a continuing resolution because there are those who want to bring other issues into the bill. Could those other issues not be considered at a later time? It seems to me that appropriating, passing appropriations bills, keeping the Federal Government functioning, is one of the primary necessities and responsibilities of the Congress of the United States. This is simple and straightforward. Give us a few more weeks to process the remaining appropriations bills, and the government continues to function while we do so. A continuing resolution, particularly long term, is a crazy thing because it says we are going to fund the Federal Government at the same level, in the same way that we did last year. And if it is multiple years of continuing resolutions, the same way we funded the government the year before that. Does anyone believe that the priorities of this country are identical to last year? Does anybody believe that they are identical to 2 years ago? Aren't there things that deserve a higher priority? Aren't there things that deserve no money? Aren't there things that deserve less money or maybe even the same? A long-term continuing resolution is a crazy idea, but the short-term resolution that we are dealing with now is a necessary solution. It is necessary because we can pass the appropriations bills and avoid a long-term CR. And we just need the time to do it. So pass a short-term continuing resolution, do it, take up the appropriations bills as this majority leader has promised to do--and this majority leader has demonstrated he is willing to do it--is a straightforward solution. Give us a little more time--a few more weeks--immediately begin the consideration of the appropriations bills that have been reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and at the end of that period of time, we won't need a continuing resolution. We will have done our task. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the closure of a staple restaurant and icon of Hoisington, Ks. After more than 70 years of service to the local community, the Dairy Queen in Hoisington is closing its doors. The Hoisington location opened in 1953, and the business served the area for the following decades until officially closing on August 28, 2025. For more than 40 of those years, Becky and Leon Steiner owned and operated the business, providing the Hoisington community with decades of good memories and tasty food. Anyone from a small, close-knit community knows firsthand the importance of a restaurant like Dairy Queen to the town. These restaurants are a place for folks to grab a bite to eat after church, a safe hangout spot for students to gather after school is out, and a place for people of all ages to gather for a cold treat when it is hot. For many, the local ice cream spot is an important part of the community. Throughout the years, the location of the Dairy Queen had remained the same, despite updates and repairs to the building, including a rebuild after the April 2001 tornado that caused significant damage to the Hoisington community. The location faced further hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic when, in March 2020, all Dairy Queen franchise stores were required to close their dining rooms as a result of the virus. And yet, despite these challenges, the Hoisington community consistently rallied around the business and supported its owners by remaining loyal customers of the restaurant. In 2023, Hoisington's Dairy Queen recognized the commitment of the community and celebrated 70 years of business at the location by offering a week of special deals with discounted treats such as ice cream cones, fries, hamburgers, and sundaes. While running a business for decades is no easy task, the Steiners credit the tremendous support of the Hoisington community as the key to their success over the years. While Becky and Leon Steiner have closed the doors to their restaurant, they announced that their daughter Amber and her husband John Crawford will open a new business, bringing a ``hometown fast food'' restaurant to the community to help fill the void left. I congratulate the Steiners on many decades of successful business in the local community, and I offer my best wishes to the Crawfords as they launch a new restaurant to continue the family legacy of service to the people of Hoisington.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

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