Roger Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 6126, which was received from the House. I further ask 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. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. I ask unanimous consent for 30 more seconds for one brief point.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, it is always a great honor to come to this hallowed floor to fight for our youth, our Nation's greatest treasure. I would ask the White House to leave our kids alone. They are the ones that have picked this fight. It is the White House that won't leave our kids alone. I rise in support of S.J. Res. 42, which would strike down a policy memorandum regarding the Federal school lunch program that the USDA issued that has been weaponized against our youth. That is right. This administration is using school lunches to attack our youth, to implement their transgender policies. Let me begin by stating as a physician, as an OB/GYN, I devoted my entire life to the health and well-being of moms and children. From a mother's first visit to our office to the baby's birth and during the childhood, nutrition is a key to the healthy development and growth of every infant, toddler, and school-age child. During my time as a doctor and now on Capitol Hill, there is nothing I stress more to moms than the importance of nutrition. With that being said, I would like to make it abundantly clear as I address this Chamber, there is no greater champion for children's health and nutrition than me. That is why, as you can imagine, I am deeply troubled by the way my friends across the aisle have described the intent of this resolution today. I am actually shocked by just how wrong and, frankly, deceitful they are with their tactics and messaging on this CRA. Let me be clear, the only player in this policy fight that wants to and has actually suspended access to the school lunch program is the Biden administration. After 3 years, I thought I had seen it all when it came to what this current administration is willing to do in order to force its radical transgender agenda on the American people. Unfortunately, we have underestimated how committed they are to forcing this harmful ideology on all of us. Today, I am bringing this resolution to the floor to expose the lengths the Biden administration is willing to go to appease the far- left factions of their party. I learned a long time ago with this White House: Don't listen to what they say; watch what they do. Take note; observe their actions. Listen to this: A memorandum issued by the USDA last May shows they have extended fighting the cultural war in a way that leaves school lunches for children hanging in the balance. Right now, as I stand here in this Chamber, the Biden administration is threatening food assistance for low-income kids unless the schools they attend carry out their transgender agenda, putting children's access to lunch at risk. This resolution of disapproval we are considering today aims to overturn this horrific policy memorandum for the USDA which would deny low-income kids access to the Federal school lunch program if their school does not adhere to the Biden administration's mandate. This includes, but is not limited to, requiring biological boys to be given access to girls' bathrooms and locker rooms or allowing biological boys to compete in girls' sports. We have heard all these stories of young women denied opportunities to win a championship or gain a scholarship because a biological boy was allowed to compete in their events. Listen, this is flat-out wrong. As someone who was a middle school student when title IX was enacted and I saw firsthand the value of that law to allow young girls to participate in school sports--many of whom went on to receive athletic scholarships--to see this action by the White House is heartbreaking. The USDA memorandum would force Christian schools to abandon their religious beliefs. Listen, this is not hyperbole or political rhetoric. The Biden administration has already weaponized the school lunch program and suspended access to the school lunch program specifically in two schools, requiring both to file lawsuits over losing Federal food assistance. In California, the USDA has actually taken away school lunch funding from kids because a Christian school refused to violate their closely held religious beliefs and their hiring policies because this school wanted to draw the workforce from a pool of individuals who share their values and live out their religious convictions. Children, including LGBTQ families, had their Federal funding for their lunches taken away. This is fact. What is ironic here is there was an original case in Florida where USDA granted an exemption for religious schools and forced the Federal statute that includes a robust religious exception. But this year, a second lawsuit has been filed because the USDA wasn't abiding by the standard the statute set. If the USDA is not going to follow its own exemption and ignore Federal law, then we must act--and we must act today. More than 20 Republican attorneys general agree with me and are suing the USDA over the policy memorandum. If this USDA policy continues, schools risk losing Federal funds for free and reduced lunches. In total, more than 29 million students nationwide receive free or reduced lunch programs, something I am proud to support. We must protect these children's food security, their privacy, and their safety at all costs. The USDA has no authority to force this on our children or the schools they attend; to adhere to woke mandate such as requiring boys to be given access to girls' bathrooms and locker rooms or allowing boys to compete against girls in girls' sports. The USDA has no authority to tell Christian schools they have to violate their religious beliefs. I will wrap up it up with this. We must stop this policy dead in its tracks to protect access to school lunches for students across this country and send a clear message to this administration: Stop weaponizing the Federal Government. Let me state again: The only player in this policy fight aiming to take away access to the school lunch program is the Biden administration. This CRA would not allow for discrimination against kids in the lunch line. That is protected by Federal law. It is in the statute. With that, I encourage my colleagues to support its passage. I would like to yield the remainder of my time to the Senator from the great State of Texas, Senator Cruz.

Mr. MARSHALL. The only player in this policy fight that wants to take away lunches from schoolchildren is the Biden administration. Since they are unaware this is already happening, here are the two court cases where schools have had to sue in order to feed children at their schools. The first one is Grant Park Christian Academy v. Fried; the second, the Church of Compassion v. Johnson. The USDA was party to those. I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back. Vote on S.J. Res. 42

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, let my message to Israel be clear: America stands with you and your right to defend yourself from this unspeakable evil perpetrated by Hamas. From my earliest memories, my mom, my Sunday school teachers told me that we support Israel. And as you go through your faith journey, as you go through your education, you learn why your mom and your Sunday school teachers said: We support Israel. I looked no further than my own bedroom wall to see Moses's Ten Commandments there that my mom had put for my brother and myself to look at every day when we awoke in the morning. We learned later that Moses was indeed the greatest lawgiver; that this Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. It is what defines the United States of America in so many ways. And to our faith partners in Israel, we are grateful for that heritage and culture that they passed on to us. But what I have learned as a Member of Congress, I need to pass on to every person in America--how important Israel is as an ally. In so many ways, they are the eyes and ears for America in a very, very troubled land. No doubt, their efforts have prevented the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans by thwarting terrorist attacks from our enemies. We are so blessed to share military technology that is saving American lives as well. Indeed, Israel has been one of our greatest, most staunch allies. Today, we need to face the truth. We need to tell the truth. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it only knows one language: death and destruction. Hamas's sole purpose is to radicalize its people, serve as a breeding ground for terrorism, and entirely eradicate Israel and other freedom-loving people like Americans. The actions of Hamas over this last week serve as an illustration of their principles. Look, Hamas has no interest in dialogue, only in destruction. Hamas does not want peace, they want punishment. Hamas wants war, not coexistence. Hamas is a terrorist army with a track record of unspeakable brutality and a commitment to wiping out not just Israel but America as well. This terrorist organization knows only one language: death and destruction. But the head of the snake is Iran. That is part of the truth that needs to be told. Iran is the head of the snake and Hamas is just a puppet fulfilling the prophecy of its leader. Hamas fighters and other terrorist groups are inspired, encouraged, and empowered by Iran to continue committing more brutal, more savage, and more devastating terrorist attacks around the globe. Look, I think there is no doubt in my mind that Iran planned, they funded, they armed, and they authorized the brutal murders of babies, burning women alive in the streets, and killing 30 Americans. This blood--the blood of American citizens--is on the hands of Iran and Hamas. As we go forward over these next weeks, these next months, we need to realize that all the blood being shed belongs on the hands of Iran. I would ask the White House to strongly condemn Iran's actions and disavow their terrorist regime. We need to stop empowering Iran. We need to stop encouraging them to develop nuclear weapons and making it possible to do that. We need to turn off their spigots. Right now, Iran is selling $1 billion of oil every week to pay for wars like this. Under this administration, Iran's reserves have gone from $6 billion to $60 billion. We have to stop turning our heads to the sanctions. We need to double down on our sanctions. We need to stop the funding from Iran, this head of the snake. Lastly, we need to make sure that all the other puppets of Iran know that if they engage further in war with Israel, as my dad would say, there will be hell to pay. This seems complicated to many people, but I think that is why it is so important that the United States outline exactly what our priorities are as we undertake these next several weeks. No. 1, first and foremost, should be a focus on getting American citizens back home safely and to free American hostages. Every day that we wait, every day that goes by, American hostages are being terrorized. They are being tortured by Hamas. It goes without saying that we need to cut the head off the snake, which is Iran. As I really ponder what is ahead of us here in the near future, I think about what one of my boyhood heroes said, Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. This is what President Eisenhower said: I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, and its stupidity. I, too, hate war. This is not going to be pretty for the next several weeks and, I am afraid, months even. We need to be clear about what Israel is up against. Their opponents, they are worse than animals. They are using women and babies as human shields and harboring hundreds of hostages. I support Israel, and I understand and encourage their need to fight fire with fire when it comes to decimating this threat. The existence of Hamas is a clear and present danger to the United States, to Israel, and the entire free world. There is no safe Israel; there is no safe world; there is no safe America as long as Hamas lives in the Gaza Strip. Again, I just pledge my support to the people of Israel. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, today, I rise in support of the passage of S.J. Res. 9, providing for congressional disapproval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's rule regarding the lesser prairie-chicken under the Congressional Review Act over the objections of President Biden. This week, the White House continued their war on American agriculture with its latest veto on our bipartisan lesser prairie- chicken resolution, S.J. Res. 9. The White House has shown time and time again how truly out of touch they are with grassroots farmers and ranchers and their commitment to the environment. Recently, the White House made the bold claim that the prairie- chicken population serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies. To start with, I want to personally invite the U.S. Fish and Wildlife folks to the great plains of Kansas to see firsthand the many conservation efforts of our local landowners. The comment from the White House suggests that the prairies of Kansas are unhealthy, that our ranchers are the problem and not the solution. It seems obvious that once again the Agencies know little to nothing about the blood, sweat, and tears and the pride our landowners pour into their land to make sure it is cleaner, safer, and healthier for future generations. Furthermore, the White House suggests our efforts in Congress to delist the bird ``create uncertainty for landowners and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, locally-led conservation strategies.'' Mr. President, all of the industries impacted by this listing, who are supporters of our resolution, would strongly disagree with your statement. However, the White House is right on one thing--it is right on the count. For over 20 years, Federal, State, and private landowners have voluntarily collaborated with the Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve the lesser prairie-chicken and its habitat. These partnerships have already resulted in conservation agreements covering roughly 15 million acres of potential habitat for the species. In fact, these efforts have been so successful that the lesser prairie-chicken species is now considered stable in Kansas. On the other hand--make no mistake about it--this veto creates uncertainty. I have to ask the White House: What message does listing the bird now, after all the good conservation work, send to those of us who have successfully labored to improve the lands handed to us from previous generations? I will tell you the message it sends: that the hammer will still fall regardless of these successful efforts, and the government will step in and regulate our industry out of existence despite successful conservation efforts. The Federal Government thinks it knows best when it comes to conservation. I rise to say that this assumption is wrong. Despite billions of dollars spent in the name of the Endangered Species Act, the law continues to fail at its underlying mission of recovering and delisting species. Less than 2 percent of all listed species have been removed from ESA protection since 1973. It is clear the ESA is merely another tool weaponized by this administration to attack those of us in rural America. This is unsurprising coming from a White House that vetoed the bipartisan resolution striking down the waters of the U.S. rule. Through a combination of public and private efforts, the lesser prairie-chicken is now better protected than at any previous time. A listing as ``threatened'' or ``endangered'' will not provide any additional conservation benefits above what already exist. While the numbers of the lesser prairie-chicken tend to follow rainfall, numbers range-wide have been growing since the Obama administration attempted to list the bird in 2014. No one in this body wants to see this bird go extinct. No oil producer, rancher, farmer, wind energy producer--none of us wants the demise of the prairie-chicken. That is why voluntary partnerships have worked. A listing now will only push oil and gas developments to countries that have long track records of violating human rights or extract these important energy sources in a manner which is more harmful to the environment than American producers. Whether it is gas, diesel, wind, or solar energy, a listing now will only increase the cost of energy for Kansans. A listing now will federalize millions of acres of ranchland, increasing the regulatory burden for our farmers and ranchers, ultimately increasing the cost of food. I ask you, for what purpose? An attempt to protect a species by an Agency which has only successfully recovered 2 percent of species it has listed. I know and believe in the local communities that have and will continue to do what is best for the land, which is what will be best for the lesser prairie-chicken. This administration continues to ignore the impact that overregulation has on American industries. This administration's costs of rules and regulations already outpace the last two administrations combined. From January 21, 2021, through August 4 of this year, final rules from the current administration imposed roughly $400 billion in total costs, with more than 232 million hours of annual paperwork. In summary, our resolution is one of the many important steps the Senate GOP has taken to unburden the economy from the bureaucratic harassment being employed by the Biden administration. I again urge you to join me in applauding rather than punishing good, voluntary conservation efforts and support the joint resolution for congressional disapproval of the lesser prairie-chicken listing over the objections of the President. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Thank you so much for sharing this moment with us. You know, one of my mentors here on the Hill has a saying that some Senators come here to make a point and others come to make a difference. The first time Senator Sanders and I sat down together, he said: Roger, do you want to make a difference? We have worked so hard on this issue together, developing rapport, confidence in each other, in our staff--they have all done an incredible job--as we try to get through this riddle from healthcare challenges throughout this great Nation. I think as both of us travel back to our home States of Vermont and Kansas, what we found is that not everybody has meaningful, affordable access to primary care. So we went out and tried to find the best actors, what is the best outcome, who is making a dent? And I think we both discovered that our community health centers were doing a great job. They had taken many pilot programs, and they were improving them. I am not sure what Senator Sanders would talk about some of his, but what I saw was this meeting patients where they are a concept, integrating all the different elements of primary care--not just your blood pressure, not just your Accu-Chek, but also your mental health. Dental needs, as well, are just a few more things we are seeing being integrated into the community health centers--nutrition coaching, something that has seldom been done in clinics before. So I think we saw these community health centers as doing a great job. And we asked each other: How can we improve upon that? And Senator Sanders and I agreed on this lofty goal that we could get more Americans into these clinics, and that was a great solution for primary care. So for the past 3 months, we have had a very thoughtful approach to this problem. And even before then, our committees had multiple hearings with different folks as they tried to address the problem as well. And then we had multiple Zooms and meetings with folks back home: How do we solve this primary care problem and, again, this mental health epidemic slapping us in the face every time we go back? And, certainly, I think most of our committee would agree that the community health centers are a great solution, but they need to be bolstered and need to continue that mission across this great Nation. So I am proud of the work that we have done on the community health centers in this legislation--again, thoughtful legislation. And our goal is to make sure it doesn't cost American taxpayers any more. Again, Senator Sanders and I both said many times this country is spending plenty of money on healthcare, but maybe we need to refocus a little bit more of it to primary care. That is what we have done with this legislation, again, with a thoughtful approach. And our goal, again, is to make sure it is all paid for and it doesn't cost the American taxpayer any more. I think the other big issue that we found in common with folks back home is a nursing shortage and a primary care doctor shortage. If there is one thing that this bill would do, it would turn around the nursing crisis in a matter of just 3 years. My own wife is a community college graduate nurse. Ninety percent of the nurses in our hospitals in Kansas, especially the rural hospitals, are 2-year community college graduates. So what we have done with this legislation is bolster more money for nursing programs. And the other program, like Senator Sanders said, the other challenge, is colleges cannot afford the faculty, the nursing faculty. So we have some money to help bolster that program up as well. We have young men and women standing in line for incredible jobs in healthcare, but we don't have the faculty to bring them in. So we help with scholarships. We help with the faculty. That alone will change the dynamics across America if we have more nurses who are just the glue to this healthcare system. And then the next challenge of the attack here is just a shortage of primary care doctors in so many ways as well. So the legislation addresses that. It is great steps forward. I have been very proud, again, to work with Senator Sanders and his team, finding common ground. And I think we made incredible strides. Senator Sanders and I have talked many times about our community health centers. I might just ask him about the successes that you are seeing in your community health centers and what your vision going forward looks like.

Mr. MARSHALL. Senator Sanders and I discussed this vision of what primary care looks like in the future, making sure we are meeting patients where they are. Some of our community health centers back home are bringing in the food bank; they are bringing in the WIC Programs, social services, basic mammography. We lose track of the patients when we have to say: Come back in a month for your mammogram. Instead, it is a great thing to say: Let's get it done today. One of the biggest underserved areas of medicine is dental. I know that one of Senator Sanders' visions, specifically, in this legislation is to address the dental crisis. As an obstetrician myself, the only known cause of preterm labor is poor dental health, caries, cavities, whatever you want to call it. There are lots of links to having cavities and poor gum health to having heart attacks as well. It is a way underrecognized challenge for primary care. I can't tell you how many times I have been called at 10 at night or 2 in the morning on a Saturday with one of my OB patients who is obviously very pregnant, but she has a cavity, and now, it turned into an abscess. I can't get her into a dentist. I call all my buddies. It is Saturday, 10 p.m., and all my buddies, the dentists, are gone. Share your vision on dental and how this bill impacts that.

Mr. MARSHALL. I want to turn this discussion to what our vision is for these primary care community health centers. I think we all realize we have an obesity epidemic in this country, too, and a type 2 diabetic epidemic in this country that we need to address on the front end. I am so happy to see some of my community health centers coming in and doing nutrition classes. They are doing cooking classes. I think so many folks of our current generation maybe learned how to do some cooking, but fast foods were a little bit too easy. It is that out-of- the-box thinking you get with different programs. I call it coaching. We need to be coaching folks up and teaching them but also give them the opportunities. So whether we are on the Ag Committee and working on food programs, we try to bring all these pieces together in the program as well. I know Senator Sanders is also certainly committed to helping us address this. He has been a leader on this issue, trying to take care of folks with diabetes as well.

Mr. MARSHALL. I might close with a couple of thoughts. Again, we came in with the lofty expectations that we could make a difference in primary care for people across the Nation. I think our bill accomplishes just that. Again, I can't thank the staff enough for their support through this. Senator Sanders and I spent most of the August recess--and our staff spent every moment of every hour of every day on this August recess-- working on this legislation. I think it is a good product. I think there is always opportunity for improvement. We are welcome to those ideas. I appreciate the Senator using traditional Hyde protections at the appropriate places, so we maintained that, which is important to many folks, including to myself. I think we addressed primary care issues. I think we have a plan to increase the nursing workforce. Again, in 3 years' time, we can turn that problem around and long-term address some of the primary care issues. Addressing dental, as well, I think will be a huge improvement. At the end of the day, you cannot overestimate how much money this will save in programs like Medicare and Medicaid and the health insurance back home and help drive the cost of healthcare down for people. I am glad to see us try to emphasize maybe some better ways to spend the American taxpayer moneys. But most importantly to me, the physician, is just this is the right thing to do. This is absolutely the right thing to do. It is a chance to improve the health of Americans. I am just proud to stand here beside Senator Sanders and introduce this legislation. Thank you.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and celebrate the career and legacy of Mr. David Smith. In the realm of visionary leadership in the independent grocery industry, few names shine as brightly as David Smith's. David has had a long and successful career in the food industry, beginning as an independent store owner and then rising the ranks to work in various assignments at the wholesale level in leadership positions, and serving as an officer on the National Grocers Association board of directors executive committee. David's ascent to the helm of Associated Wholesale Grocers marked a pivotal moment in the company's strategic direction. Guided by an unwavering commitment to excellence, he steered AWG to new horizons of growth and prosperity. His strategic acumen and forward-thinking approach not only expanded the company's reach but also fostered an environment of collaboration and empowerment. A true luminary, David's leadership extended beyond the boardroom. His emphasis on cultivating strong partnerships transformed suppliers into allies, fostering a sense of unity within the industry. David's ability to foresee trends and adapt to evolving market dynamics was nothing short of remarkable. David's legacy extends far beyond business success. His philanthropic endeavors exemplify his compassionate heart and commitment to giving back to the community. His leadership in charitable initiatives served as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward positive change and societal betterment. As we reflect on his remarkable journey, we pay homage to a servant leader who redefined mentorship, innovation, and corporate responsibility. His legacy serves as a testament to the transformative power of visionary thinking and unwavering determination. In commemorating David Smith, we pay tribute to his shining example of what is possible when passion, purpose, and leadership converge. I now ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the legacy and career of Mr. David Smith, as well as congratulate him on his upcoming retirement.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I am proud to stand in the gap. I am proud to stand in this foxhole with my friends and my colleagues and with the Democratic whip from Illinois, Senator Durbin, and my friend Senator Welch from Vermont. The Democratic whip is right. The Senate has to choose. Who are we going to listen to? Are we going to listen to Wall Street, or are we going to listen to the folks back home? Across Kansas, everyone is feeling the impacts of inflation. Family budgets are being stretched to the absolute limit, with little room for error. So you can imagine the shock in Kansans' eyes when I tell them, this year, they will spend over $1,000 in hidden credit card swipe fees--which is really a tax. These swipe fees are really just another additional tax--in this case, a 2- to 4-percent tax paid to Wall Street--on top of every purchase you make. These fees are baked into nearly every purchase you make, whether it is your morning coffee--that Starbucks cup of coffee that you are paying $7, $8 for, you are going to send 2 percent more, 3 percent, 4 percent more to Wall Street. When you stop and fill up your gas tank-- again, $50, $100 of gas--you are going to spend 2 or 3 percent, sending that to Wall Street. On school supplies, shopping, groceries, every time you swipe your card--every time--the Visa and Mastercard duopoly and Wall Street megabanks line their pockets. Madam President, I rise today with a clear message to Wall Street: Enough is enough. And before you feel sorry for these multibillion-dollar industries, I want to remind everyone that on top of the nearly $100 billion in fees Americans pay to Wall Street, these banks charge an average of 25 percent interest to consumers. The average consumer in America carries a balance of over $1,000 every month--25 percent interest. Back home, we would call that highway robbery. At a time when Kansans are facing the highest inflation prices in 40 years, small businesses are fighting to keep their losses and their costs low while Wall Street plots their next payday, announcing, as the whip said, that they are doubling down and hiking up their fees on merchants and consumers yet again this fall. Now, I, for one, am not going to stand for the massive wealthy corporations price-gouging small businesses at every turn. In fact, as I speak, swipe fees here in America are a staggering seven times higher than those in the European Union. Americans are paying seven times more for this swipe fee than the folks in the European Union are. Now, that is not a trivial difference. That is a canyon-size gap. Why should our small businesses and, by extension, our consumers bear such a disproportionate burden to our friends in the EU? Are payments seven times more secure in America than in the rest of the world? Of course not. Is the Visa-Mastercard duopoly providing American consumers seven times the value and customer service they provide their EU customers? Of course not. It is simple: They are exploiting our weakness. Due to this lack of competition in the payment processing industry, Visa and Mastercard are grabbing every penny they can from small businesses and consumers until this gets fixed. When I was first sworn in, my friend and mentor, the late, great Senator Bob Dole, gave me the best advice I could ever get. He said: Listen to Kansans. When you have a concern, when you don't know what to do, go back home and listen to Kansans. And I am sure my colleagues are hearing the same voices that I am hearing back home. In August, I went to visit a little grocery store in Conway Springs. It was called Hired Man's Grocery & Grill. Hired Man's Grocery & Grill is run by a wonderful couple, Jenny and Clint; and their employees, for the most part, are high school students. They are the only grocery store in town. That is why they opened it. They were indeed in a desert--a food desert. They are the only ones in the community with fresh produce and butchered cuts of meat as well. Their products are crucial to the success of the town, and without their help, this community would have no grocery store. When I visited them, they shared with me their challenges: Inflation is raising prices for their business, and swipe fees are eating away at their profits. In fact, they are paying more in swipe fees than they do for utilities or employee healthcare--more in swipe fees than utilities or their employee healthcare. Now, back in Kansas, we have a saying: Pigs get fat; hogs get slaughtered. Visa and Mastercard have gotten hoggish on the backs of hard-working Americans. I understand my colleagues from the great State of Illinois and Vermont and I have bull's-eyes on our backs, and those who support this legislation are being attacked by misleading ads. But I guess that just simply means we are over the target. But when we have legislation that will benefit every single person in Vermont, Illinois, Kansas, and every American who uses a credit card, I am moving full speed ahead. Now, just a couple of weeks ago, Visa announced they plan to raise their swipe fees on merchants again. The problem is these megabanks have no guardrails. They can play fast and loose with your money because no one can stop them. Sadly, the credit card industry has been enriched by the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed us further into a cashless society. Inflation is impacting every corner of our country, putting the American dream further out of reach for millions, but not Visa. Listen to what the Visa CEO said. He even admitted that inflation has a ``positive'' impact for them. Inflation? Visa and Mastercard welcome the inflation. Why? Because these swipe fees are inflation multipliers, and Wall Street is the benefactor. I want to go back and talk about that little grocery store in rural Kansas. Jenny and Clint and other small businesses across the State have little to no wiggle room in their budgets, but the big banks press on, tightening the grip on similar mom-and-pop businesses across America. Wall Street doesn't care about my friends in Conway Springs, that they would lose their town's only grocery store, forcing everyone to drive 40 miles each way to get some milk, to get some food for their families. And while these financial titans may have their hands around the necks of merchants, I can promise you that leaders like Senator Durbin, Senator Welch, and myself are going to keep fighting for justice and doing the right thing. We will fight for our Main Street small businesses and choose hard-working Americans over Wall Street every single time. Look, the credit card market is broken, but we have a solution to fix it. The Credit Card Competition Act will level the playing field for merchants by injecting competition into the credit card payment industry--not a price cap but more competition--with the bank that issues the card picking the alternative interchange. And, oh, by the way, financial institutions with a value of less than $100 billion are excluded from this legislation. Our legislation forces Visa and Mastercard to come to the table and compete with other companies in the industry, and, in doing so, we will drive down the costs for merchants and consumers. Let me be clear. Competition is always a good thing for consumers. Our Credit Card Competition Act will lower the cost of doing business for Jenny and Clint in their store in Conway Springs, and, in turn, it is going to lower those bills for American consumers in the checkout lane. My message of hope to the merchants across the country is that help is on the way. We hope to be voting on our Credit Card Competition Act soon, and when that time comes, we hope other leaders in this Senate body will be willing to stand up to Wall Street and fight for hard- working families. I hope all our colleagues will listen, not only to the folks back home but also to the thousands of your small businesses who are pleading for relief. And, please, choose those voices over Wall Street. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I recall the first time I sat down with the late great Senator Bob Dole after I had been elected to Congress. And the purpose of that meeting was to get to know the Senator, but I had a big issue I was getting ready to vote on, and I wanted to get his advice. As I presented to him the legislation I was going to be voting on the next day, he stopped and looked at me, and he said: Roger, what you need to do is just go back to Kansas and listen to the people of Kansas. They will tell you the answer to that question. So this August was no different than any break I have had. Like many of my colleagues, we went back to our home States. I went from Wathena to Wichita, from small towns to big cities, from the inner city to rural America; and we listened. We sat down with unions, small businesses, big businesses, folks from financial services, and farmers and ranchers. We sat down with leaders from public schools and private schools. We had roundtables. We did multiple roundtables on childcare, homelessness. We sat down with multiple minority business owners, and we talked about the challenges they had, specifically about access to capital. We did roundtables on nutrition and healthcare. In Abilene, KS, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Small Business Administration, founded by our 34th President of the United States, Kansans' own Dwight David Eisenhower; we participated in a DHS human trafficking event and in history. I thought I had seen all the history from Kansas, but we found two more locations that were underground railroads where they particularly housed freedom seekers-- one in the Quindaro Ruins of Kansas City, KS, and the John Brown cabin in Osawatomie. But of all the things we did that I think is important was our fentanyl awareness campaign: One Pill Can Kill. I am often asked about going from being a physician to a Senator and what is the difference. And I would describe that as a physician, I could impact maybe 30, 40, 50 people in one day; but as a U.S. Senator, I have the opportunity to impact thousands of people and to save lives. In this case, that is exactly what the goal of this One Pill Can Kill campaign was. We thought that as kids return to school would be an ideal time to get out that message that, indeed, one pill--one fake pill laced with fentanyl--can kill. Our entire Kansas delegation participated, and I am grateful for their support. We had over 100 Kansas organizations actively participate as well, reaching out to their own networks. From law enforcement, the KBI was outstanding, the sheriffs; our community health centers; colleges; high schools; health departments--anyone we could get to, to get that message out that one pill can kill. Every day, our staff did an incredible job of arming every one of the organizations with information to help get that word out. It resulted in thousands of social media posts across the State, and I am grateful for the local media--the newspapers, the radios, the television stations--that resulted in hundreds of articles that, indeed, one pill can kill. And I think the story is easy to tell, and that is what we tried to do was just tell the story of fentanyl, how the cartel is alive and well across the State of Kansas; that they are lacing Xanax, Adderall, and Percocet with fentanyl, and even marijuana they are lacing with it; that this is now the No. 1 killer of young adults. I am sad to say that most every day, we lose a Kansan to fentanyl poisoning. In fact, we are using Narcan 10, 15, 20 times a day. I talked to a fireman in Kansas City who said every day they are making runs because of fentanyl. And again, we just wanted to share the story of where fentanyl is being sold, how its sold, its deceptiveness, and the efforts required to combat it. I will just close with this: It is easier to get a fentanyl tablet and cheaper to get a fentanyl tablet delivered to your home than it is to order a piece of pizza. For a dollar a pill, you can now get fentanyl delivered to your home. And all it takes is just one of those pills to kill. For the sake of our children, I pray that we can secure our borders, that we would stop the influx of fentanyl into Kansas and the rest of this country. And in doing so, we can save literally hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Our weeklong campaign pushed us closer to that goal. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 874, and I ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. MARSHALL. I ask unanimous consent that there be up to 4 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to the rollcall vote.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, every time our flag is unfurled, I would ask you all: What emotion is stirred in your hearts? Old Glory means many things to many people. Some stand and some kneel. Some salute her while others burn her. Regardless of your sentiments, what no one can deny is that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died for this one flag that gives you the freedoms we all enjoy. Few, if any, Americans have died for any other flag. As for me, every time this flag is unfurled, I think about my own family members who have served. My family has had someone from every generation serve under this one flag since the Civil War. Four of my grandfathers' grandfathers enlisted in the Union to preserve this Republic, three of whom died on a bloody battlefield. My mom's uncle served in World War I and was exposed to mustard gas in the Argonne Forest, and two of my dad's uncles stormed the beaches of Normandy. My own uncles and cousins have served. My father served. My brother served. I served. My son is serving. And we all serve under one flag. My family who served, that is what I think of when this flag is unfurled. Look, many Americans have died to give you the freedom to honor or disgrace the flag as you see fit for your own home. Wouldn't you think that, to honor America and those who serve, especially for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and the Gold Star families, our country should honor one American flag? I hope you will agree with me as patriots that it would be right and proper that on the buildings and grounds owned by we the people, only one flag, with reasonable exceptions--the flag so many Americans have fought and died for, the one flag that represents this idea of America--should be unfurled. This is exactly what our amendment does. A vote against this amendment is a slap on the face of those of us who have served, and it is disrespectful to the families whose loved ones have died in defending this one flag and the Republic for which it stands. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Reserving the right to object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I am certainly honored to be here and stand beside my colleague and friend, Coach Tommy Tuberville, as we work through a very, very challenging situation regarding our military nominations. I have tried to listen to the arguments from my colleagues across the aisle, and one thing I want to just point out, a very simple solution, is to bring these to the floor and give us a vote on them. I am happy to stay here tonight and vote. Happy to come in early tomorrow and vote as well. It is certainly something within the power of this body to do that. So that is one simple solution. Next, I want to point out that the Pentagon is the one that picked this fight. They are the one that changed the policy. And in my opinion, this is an unlawful policy that they are ignoring the Hyde amendment, that they are using Federal funds to aid and abet in abortions. As I dug a little deeper into this, I was shocked to find out that the Pentagon's policy allows more time off for an abortion than for a person who needs to go attend to a family funeral or to a marriage. And I might add, of course, the military, I assume, is not paying for the travel of that soldier going back home to get married or to attend a family funeral. There is lots of arguments why we think this is right, but I think the ultimate argument is why Coach Tuberville and I are here is that we believe in the sanctity of life, that we believe that life begins at conception. I think if my colleagues across the aisle would sit and listen for a second, if you truly believe that life begins at conception, I don't see how you could support abortions, let alone using Federal dollars to pay for these abortions. I remember my second year of medical school, and I was assuming I was going to be a family practice doctor. We had been married for about a year and a half, had our first baby. And the second that little girl made her first cries and I saw that bond between my daughter and my wife and every time I delivered a baby since then, I have always just been amazed at that bond between a baby and a mom, that agape love that a mom shows a baby. It was at that moment that my daughter was delivered that I decided that that was what I wanted to do for a living. As an obstetrician, a person who believes that life begins at conception, that is why this issue is so important to us. That is why this is such an important issue that we are willing to hold up these nominations. I think what we are asking is a simple solution: Let's take these flag officers and these generals, and let's vote on them. We can take these on. I think there are only 250 of them or so. I think we can take those on, and then let's do them. If not, we are asking the Pentagon to go back to the previous policy and stop their unlawful use of American taxpayer dollars violating the Hyde amendment for these abortions.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Bidenomics. Bidenomics. I think everyone knows that you don't give yourself a nickname. You don't get to do that. Your friends get to do that for you. Who could imagine back in grade school giving yourself a nickname? By the same token, you don't get to name an economy after yourself either. You have to earn it. Just like JLo. Before there was JLo, there was Jennifer Lopez. For Jennifer Lopez to become JLo, she had to go out and prove herself. She had to become a great singer. Before Taylor Swift was known as the Country Pop Princess, Taylor had to compose music, play instruments, and sing to the hearts and souls of millions of people across the world. Margaret Thatcher, before she was the Iron Lady, she had to go out and earn that nickname because of her iron fist, the way she ruled her country. Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator. Could you imagine Ronald Reagan stepping onto his first stage telling you: Hey, I am the Great Communicator. It took him years to earn that nickname. One of my favorites: Mr. October, Reggie Jackson. Reggie didn't get to name himself Mr. October. He had to go out and be a star player for the New York Yankees in October, not in May. Derek Jeter--another great nickname, the Captain. Did Derek Jeter give himself that name? No, his teammates did. Mr. President, you don't get to give yourself a nickname, and you don't get to name an economy after yourself. You have to earn it. The nickname this White House has earned for this economy is Bidenflation. He has earned it. It is deserved. When my grandkids and my great grandkids open up their history book and they get to the 46th President of the United States, the title will be ``Bidenflation'' and the subtitle, ``The Worst Economy in 40 Years.'' Certainly, it is the worst economy in my professional life time. So when I say it is the worst economy, I want to start by saying I have not had one person in recent memory in the past 2 years who has come up and say: Hey, this economy is great. I just love that I am paying so much more to make a living. Whether it is food or groceries or housing, no one has come up to me and say: Hey, I love this economy. It is actually just the opposite. I want to take a closer look. You may come up with some different conclusions, but you can't argue with these facts I am about to give you. The average Kansas family is paying $800 more per month just for basic needs--$800 more a month. When we gave them the tax cuts in the previous administration, the average Kansas family was able to put more than $2,000 back into their pocket. Now this administration is taking an extra $800 to pay for their basic necessities. I don't have to remind anybody that gas prices doubled under this President. Groceries are up 20 percent. Utility bills. I can't tell you how many people called me to tell me: My utility bills have actually doubled compared to previous winters. Housing, let's just take a minute and talk about housing. The average monthly payment for a person searching for a new home has doubled under this President. Let me say that again. The average monthly payment for a person searching for a new home has doubled under this President. The White House economy has made housing totally uncomfortable, especially for first-time home buyers. Let's think about what the American dream is. I think every American dreams of owning a home--in Kansas, a truck and a fishing boat. But under this President, none of those are happening. I recently had the Builders Association from Kansas in my office--the largest number from that group I ever had--all with long, long faces. I knew their concerns before they even gave them. I hear it every day, every week when I am back home. I hear it from friends. I hear it from family members, business owners, union workers, senior citizens. I really hear it from my senior citizens that the cost of living is just unbearable. Young families with kids starting off--maybe that first job out of high school or out of college--those are the ones that are being stung by Bidenflation. There is no one immune from it. Before they could go through their list of concerns, I asked them a serious question: Is there any policy remaining that this White House could implement that would hurt their business more? Was there one policy the White House hasn't turned over yet that could hurt their business more? And they sat there silent--crickets. They couldn't think of one more thing this White House could do to hurt their business. They don't have workers because the White House pays more to stay home than go to work. They need lumber, they need nails, they need bolts, they need plumbing supplies, heat and air. If they could get them, those are all through the roof. Interest rates. Nothing kills housing like higher interest rates. Of course, we know the higher interest rates are a direct reflection of Bidenflation. Just to state it very briefly, Bidenflation has made housing unaffordable. Think about this. This government spends millions--perhaps billions--of dollars on affordable housing, but inflation has destroyed any gain that we made recently. Mr. President, you are not Ronald Reagan. You should not put your name on something that is a miserable failure. Reaganomics gave us a great opportunity--perhaps the greatest economy of my lifetime. But your economy--why would you put your name on the worst economy in nearly half a century? No matter what you say, no matter how you spin it, you are not going to convince the folks back home that this economy is good. They are smarter than that. Americans know otherwise. Bidenflation--that is the title of the chapter in the history book. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise in support of Senator Kennedy's resolution of disapproval of the ATF's stabilizing brace rule. This rule is a dangerous attack on every American's Second Amendment rights. I want to start by telling you why this is important. Where I live in Kansas, typically we will have one sheriff or a deputy on call at a time, and he is covering an area of 60 by 40 miles, so often the nearest law enforcement officer is 45 minutes to an hour away. Like many States, we are seeing an uptick in the rise of crime, with fentanyl flooding across our border. Twenty tons of fentanyl has been seized. We can't imagine how much came across this open border. But along with the fentanyl and the open border, we are seeing crime on the rise. More and more families feel afraid that they are not secure. Even my own wife 2 weeks ago asked me to take her out to our family gun range and give her some lessons on how to handle a weapon as well. By the way, women's favorite weapon for self-protection is a short- barreled rifle. It is what they feel comfortable with. It is not loud. It is easy to control. Why are we trying to punish Americans who just want to defend themselves and practice their Second Amendment rights? In complete disregard for Americans' constitutional rights, President Joe Biden enacted an unlawful rule banning stabilizing braces--known commonly as pistol braces--allowing the ATF the full authority under the law to prosecute millions of Americans for firearms they purchased perfectly legally. Through Biden's rule, millions of responsible gun owners suddenly have become felons. As law-abiding Kansans get the book thrown at them under this Second Amendment power grab, the President's own son commits an actual gun violation felony, and he walks away with a sweetheart deal. I ask you, what type of message does that send to law-abiding American gun owners across the country? This is wrong. Americans realize this is a double standard. Sadly, this egregious policy uniquely impacts our Nation's disabled veterans who use a pistol brace to handle their firearms. For some of these individuals who risked their lives for our freedoms, a pistol brace is the only option for safe and effective firearm use. But under this ruling, the constitutional right to bear arms is null and void if you use a stabilizing brace to operate a firearm. That is why the President bypassed Congress and carried out his gun- grabbing agenda through the regulatory state, demanding his ATF use a misguiding interpretation of the National Firearms Act to enforce this heavyhanded policy. Let me be clear. The National Firearms Act does not--does not--give the ATF the authority to ban pistol braces. Congress has not, nor should it ever, give the ATF this power. This rule represents the largest gun grab in American history, potentially impacting as many as 40 million responsible gun owners. We refuse to accept the supersized AFT's unconstitutional power grab, and I am proud to stand here with Senator Kennedy and defend Kansans' and Louisianans' Second Amendment rights. I will continue to stand firm here with all of my colleagues and oppose this executive overreach by the ATF. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to thank Dr. Susan ``Sue'' Peterson Thomas for her many years of service to the State of Kansas and Kansas State University--K-State--as well as honor her for all that she accomplished during her career. The daughter of a dairy farmer and former mayor of Abilene, KS, Sue began her journey at K-State as a student, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in political science and history. She would go on to earn a master of public administration degree from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from K- State. Sue's service to the State of Kansas began in 1978, where she worked for Mike Hayden during his time as the speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and Governor of Kansas. She also served on the transition teams for Governor Hayden and Governor Sam Brownback. Sue would go on to work for her alma mater, beginning her distinguished career at K-State in 1989. During her 33 years of service to the university, Sue worked her way up to chief government relations officer, where she was directly responsible for all university liaison activities with the State and Federal legislature. She also served as a political science instructor since 1992, where she taught Kansas politics and government to over 1,000 students. During her time at K-State, Sue was responsible for multiple different projects that have had a tremendous impact on the university. She was instrumental in securing State funding to renovate Farrell Library and add 153,000 square feet of new space to the library on K- State's Manhattan campus; she coordinated the successful legislative effort to merge the Kansas College of Technology in Salina into K-State, forming the K-State Salina campus; she led the efforts to secure State and Federal funding for the construction and equipment of Pat Roberts Hall, the home of K-State's Biosecurity Research Institute. The fruits of her labor culminated at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility's ribbon-cutting ceremony this last May, which she worked tirelessly on, helping pass multiple pieces of legislation that were crucial to the State's efforts to land the facility adjacent to K-State's campus in Manhattan. Throughout her career, Sue has been recognized at the local, State, and national levels. She has been awarded the prestigious Marvin D. ``Swede'' Johnson Achievement Award, the Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award, and the Career Excellence Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities' Council on Governmental Affairs. Sue officially retired from K-State on April 7, 2023, after 33 years, 8 months, and 6 days of service to the university. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the distinguished career of Dr. Susan Peterson Thomas, as well as thank her for all of her work on behalf of the State of Kansas and Kansas State University.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, for the past 6 years, my staff, my family, and I have traveled to every corner of the State. We have crisscrossed it multiple times. We have been in every county in Kansas multiple times--town halls and roundtables and listening sessions. In fact, just last week--the last week we were on break--we probably made a dozen stops. At every one of those stops, at every one of those roundtables, I can guarantee you the subject of high-speed internet came up. Together, we built solutions to address the challenges our rural areas are facing. Together, we built hospitals, municipal water facilities, grocery stores, and critical infrastructure in our State's communities. But despite all of these achievements, many Kansans agree that one job is still not finished, and that is the crucial task of building out high-speed broadband connectivity to every part of the State. Nothing highlighted the inadequate infrastructure for high-speed broadband across Kansas more than the COVID-19 lockdowns. Our schools and businesses across the State were shut down. Hundreds of thousands of Kansans were sent home to do their jobs and schoolwork. A lackluster internet connection impacted children's education across the State and many families' ability to keep up with remote work. Rural broadband's impacts go far beyond the classroom for our Kansas communities. In today's quickly evolving cyber world, adequate internet connection is a necessity, not just a luxury. Doctors at my alma mater, KU Med Center in Wichita, are trying to offer clinical trials to rural Kansan participants through secure video checkups. Having a premier healthcare virtual consultation option in communities where there is a shortage of access to quality care can save the patient hours of driving and, in many cases, save their lives. In addition to healthcare benefits, having high-speed internet brings our farming techniques into the 21st century. In rural areas, the capability of using the best technology available in farming practices depends on a reliable internet connection. Precision agriculture internet apps allow farmers to monitor conditions--hour by hour, second by second--more effectively in the field, and they can track crop yields and feed the world, producing more food with less--more food with less water, more food with less fertilizers. By utilizing this latest farm equipment, our State's farmers and ranchers are able to leave the land cleaner, healthier, and safer than when we found it. Madam President, the call for a strong internet connection across Kansas has only grown. That is why I rise today to highlight the importance of broadband expansion. There is still so much work to be done to get rural America up to speed, and I realize this work will never be done, just like our roads and bridges that were amplified so much in the 1950s and 1960s. We still have to go back and repair those roads and bridges. There is always one more road and bridge that we need to go back and fix, and that will be the rule with high-speed internet. There is always something bigger and faster out there that we need to keep pace. I am proud to have played a role as a member of the Kansas House Agriculture Committee in 2018 when we drafted the farm bill, which directed both the USDA and FCC with dollars to fund new and innovative ways to connect rural residents. In 2018, we authorized the ReConnect Program at the USDA, which awarded funding for broadband connectivity services to under- and unserved areas. ReConnect provided $5.2 million to connect over 1,300 households, 16 businesses, and 23 farms in Kansas during its first round of funding. In 2023, we introduced a new effort in the 2023 farm bill, with my colleague and fellow member of the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont. The ReConnecting Rural America Act provides a minimum speed of 100/100 high-speed internet build-out speeds, prioritizing long-term broadband infrastructure in our most rural communities. Every Kansan I have spoken to has voiced the need for symmetrical speeds in their community and for increasing investments in fiber to be made by providers. By bolstering broadband infrastructure for our rural communities, we are able to stay up to speed with what is happening in the rest of the world. Through these Federal efforts, combined with the administration of funds at the State level, I believe that we are getting closer than ever to making a real impact in rural broadband connectivity. Still, we must stay dedicated to the task at hand and ensure that this infrastructure is built to last. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following GAO opinion letter be printed in the Congressional Record: Matter of: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service--Applicability of the Congressional Review Act to Food and Nutrition Service Policy Memorandum CRD 01- 2022, Application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Program Discrimination Complaint Processing--Policy Update File: B-334411 Date: June 5, 2023.