Roger Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 110 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise in support of Marshall amendment No. 110 to put an end to the culture of lawlessness at our southern border embraced by our President. I cannot in good conscience support this debt limit deal and saddle my grandchildren with this $4 trillion in additional debt. This bill misses the mark, and, perhaps, what is more frustrating is that it does not give a single cent to securing our border--zero dollars to addressing the greatest, most immediate national security threat to our Nation. This past weekend alone, the Border Patrol made over 13,000 apprehensions. There were over 4,000 ``got-aways''; and they seized 118 pounds of meth, 14 pounds of fentanyl, and apprehended 6 sex offenders and 5 gang members. We have a crisis unfolding at our southern border, and it is happening right now in plain sight. It is impacting every community across the country. I will not sit here, form committees, and pray about it. We need action today.

Mr. MARSHALL. I am proud to introduce my amendment today and hope you will vote yes and support it.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, ``The border is not open.'' ``The border is not open.'' That is what DHS Secretary Mayorkas told the American people repeatedly. I guess that is pretty easy to say when you are sitting in your office in Washington, DC, but I rise to tell the truth to the American people. Just recently, I led a group of Senators to the epicenter of this crisis in Brownsville, TX, on the eve title 42 was being lifted. Why Brownsville, you might ask, because that is where the cartel had moved the mass migration to. I reckon that was the easiest way to get all the people from Venezuela that they had recruited to come to America; that was the easiest, the most economical route to get them to the border was from Venezuela to Brownsville, TX. I have to tell you, it is worse than I expected. The scene was bleak; the morale was at an all-time low. And there was no sign of this crisis ending anytime soon. At least that is what was going on, on our side of the border. On the other side of the border, these migrants were celebrating. They were having a party. The worst part of their journey was over. We toured Camp Monument. Now, Camp Monument was a park just weeks before, but the Border Patrol had come in there and set up an emergency command post. Now, again, the DHS Secretary is telling us the border isn't open, but this is what the Border Patrol told us: Just the day before, 11,000 illegal migrants had been recorded at this location alone and more than 3,000 ``got-aways'' the same day--3,000 ``got-aways.'' If you put those two together, that is the size of my hometown, Great Bend, America. Now, we saw this week with the arrest of the Afghani on the Terrorist Watchlist in California, these ``got-aways'' undoubtedly include terrorists, convicted criminals, and the cartels' drug smugglers. In fact, something, again, new on this trip--this was my fourth trip to the border--something new, they were averaging 90 Chinese military- aged nationalists crossing in the Rio Grande Valley every day, 90 Chinese nationalists every day crossing our border. Probably the saddest thing I have heard about from the Border Patrol is they shared the horrific situation and the repeated sexual assault young women are enduring to come here. They compared it to a never- ending cycle of ``sex slavery''--that was their term--sex slavery by the cartels. In fact, the cartel had made $13 billion last year in the sex trade industry. And they told us that these young ladies enter a lifetime of debt to their criminal traffickers. So many other people turned into indentured servants. These smugglers are also bringing in lethal fentanyl that is poisoning our children, 300 young adults dying every day in America from fentanyl poisoning brought across our southern border. The data we received--and the briefing was given to us by the Border Patrol, by local law enforcement, and the CBP--do not reflect a border that is closed, far, far from being closed. It is a border that has been erased by failed leadership in the White House. Under the current circumstances, only 10 percent of the Border Patrol agents are actually tasked with securing the border, only 10 percent of them are doing the job they were hired to do. The other officers, they are tasked with running the refugee camp, acting as nurses and social workers. But it didn't have to be this way; it doesn't have to be this way. On every trip, I have asked the Border Patrol: What do you need? And in past trips, they have talked about, ``We need more doctors; we need more dentists; we need more help, more cooks.'' But this time, they didn't ask for more officers or resources. What they specifically asked for were policy changes from this administration. They asked for policy changes from this administration. These are people on the ground. These are the people who have been doing it--again, multigenerational officers whose fathers and grandparents had patrolled these same borders. They asked for policy changes. Secretary Mayorkas has stripped them--the Border Patrol--of the tools they need to secure our border. What they asked was to reinstate the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy and end catch-and-release. It is that simple. This could be all accomplished with the President's pen. He created this crisis. He can end it. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

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

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise in support of our CRA disapproval of the Department of Homeland Security's public charge inadmissibility rule. Last week, I had the honor of leading a trip with several of my fellow Senators to Brownsville, TX, to see the border crisis up front and firsthand for myself--the border crisis created by Joe Biden--as title 42 was coming to an end. We met a lot of people on the trip, and I want to share some of their thoughts, some of their concerns. We met a young former marine officer who said he felt safer in Afghanistan than he did in southern Texas right now. Local residents were bracing for the impact, with 170,000 people just across the border waiting to come across with the end of title 42. Families are gearing up to protect their families against the cartels, very specifically. We met a fifth-generation rancher who was leaving his family ranch and moving his family into town, and even that night, he was teaching his wife how to load a 410-gauge shotgun to protect their family. We met officers. Many of these officers were multigenerational--their fathers, their grandparents had served on the border--and they said it was worse than they have ever seen in their lifetime. Something new on this trip: We were told that 90 Chinese military-age nationalists are entering illegally every day in South Texas. As we all know, over 6 million people have entered the country illegally since President Biden took office--6 million people. That is twice the size of my home State of Kansas. Another 1.5 million people have evaded apprehension and entered the country--``got-aways,'' as they call them on the border. Thousands upon thousands more continue to overwhelm the borders. I think we all realize our immigration system is broken, but rather than fix the problem, this administration continues to point fingers and find ways to ignore or abuse our laws to provide pathways for illegal immigrants to come here. Many of the people crossing our border will get to roam freely throughout our country. They leave our intake facilities with a cell phone and a court date, a court date that is 4 to 5 years from the date they entered. I think we are all kidding ourselves if we think these folks will ever show up for those dates in 5 years. Despite breaking our laws, they will be long gone, settled into communities across the country. In fact, on our trip, law enforcement officers told me 90 percent of the migrants are not showing up for these court dates so far. Sure, they are going to seek citizenship down the road. There is no doubt about that. And open border colleagues across the aisle will no doubt call for amnesty for all of them. We expect President Biden will support that. He has said that as much himself, broadcasting across the globe that you can take advantage of the benefits we provide, despite breaking our laws. I think it is fair to say Americans have the most generous legal immigration standards in the world, but we have to draw the line somewhere. Since the 1800s, our Nation has required foreign nationals seeking admission to the United States to show that they can care for themselves without becoming a public charge or burdening the taxpayers. Most nations require you to have a job before you come into their country. We just don't want you to become a public charge if you want to become a permanent citizen. Being a public charge is a ground of inadmissibility under our immigration laws. Let me say that again. Being a public charge is a ground of inadmissibility under our immigration laws. Congress specifically directed the executive branch to consider various factors when allowing people into this great Nation. These factors include: age, health, family status, assets, resources, and financial status, along with education and skills. Indeed, as recently as 1996, Congress clearly declared in a policy statement included in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that self-sufficiency is a basic principle of U.S. immigration law and should continue to be a governing principle in the United States. Specifically, the Immigration and Nationality Act makes an alien who is an applicant for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status inadmissible if he or she is likely at any time to become a public charge. The public charge ground of inadmissibility, therefore, applies to aliens applying for a visa to come to the United States temporarily or permanently for admission or adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident, with some limited exceptions. We need an immigration system that welcomes the best and the brightest, but we need to limit the cycle of chain migration. Again, we need some type of guardrails. While we open our hearts to asylum seekers, we must also build a merit-based immigration system that considers that immigrants' potential contributions to our economy, to our communities, and our future. We don't want a system that rewards idleness and reliance on taxpayer-funded benefits. Under the previous administration, the Department of Homeland Security issued a rule that would have required immigrants seeking to remain in the country to be self-sufficient. But under President Biden, the regulations have changed. Now, my hope is to override the Biden public charge rule today with a vote here in the Senate. The Biden administration's public charge rule makes a mockery of the law and the intent of Congress to ensure that immigrants are self-sufficient. According to an estimate by the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform, at the start of 2023, the net cost of illegal immigration for the United States at the Federal, State, and local levels was at least $150 billion. Again, since the start of 2023, the cost to taxpayers, $150 billion. Now, this number is going to increase drastically if this rule stands. Our resolution of disapproval would rescind the Biden public charge rule and, hopefully, spur this administration to come to the table and craft a solution that will ensure the self-sufficiency of immigrants and protect American taxpayers. I encourage my colleagues to vote to support this CRA of disapproval, to introduce some sanity into our immigration system. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, on National Police Week, we celebrate our law enforcement officers, but it is also important to pause and honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty and to pause and remember the families they left behind. Last year, I stood in this Chamber as we unanimously adopted the National Police Week resolution and honored the 576 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2021. Today, I take this moment to honor the 246 brave men and women who were killed in the line of duty in 2022. In order to rightfully honor these men and women who lost their lives, we must continue to demand policies that will make our communities safer and, by extension, our officers in the line of duty safer. This topic is incredibly personal to me. My father was a chief of police in our hometown of El Dorado, KS, for 30 years. Here is a picture I share of my father in 1965, a proud new police officer with our family dog and police officer dog, Rinny. On more than one occasion, my dad put his life on the line to protect our community, and on many other days, he would tell stories of the bravery and courage of his officers when responding to an emergency. These were all my friends, but they were heroes in my eyes, as well, and always will be remembered as such. But, today, I am sad to report that our men and women in law enforcement feel demoralized. They are constantly put in a no-win situation, and their own city governments are setting them up to fail. In short, like my dad told me recently on a fishing trip, law enforcement officers know this White House and many mayors and city councils do not have their backs. They feel abandoned, and they feel like they get no respect, even to the point of being wrongfully shamed. These brave men and women need our support now more than ever. Democrat-run cities have demonized law enforcement, making it harder for our men and women in uniform to do their jobs. And, sadly, their dangerous rhetoric and policies are emboldening criminals at the expense of our officers. You don't have to look any further than our own Nation's Capital. In November of last year, here in Washington, the DC Council voted to dramatically reform the city's criminal code to favor the rights of the offender during a crime wave across the District. The legislation eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for most crimes and lowered the maximum penalties for crimes such as carjacking and robbery. The reforms to the city's criminal code came as the city's crime crisis hit a fever pitch. Listen to this. Our Nation's Capital had 203 homicides in 2022--our Nation's capital, 203 homicides. Carjackings have tripled since 2019. This year, so far, violent crime is up by double digits. Last year, a physician was murdered after he tried to prevent a carjacker from stealing his car. A city council candidate had his car stolen at gunpoint. More recently, a Senate staffer was brutally attacked and stabbed in the head in broad daylight. I remain fearful for my staff as they walk from their homes to the Capitol. Just recently, I gathered with a group of Senators to discuss policy, but the topic of discussion soon became the safety of our employees and what we could do to help ensure their safety. With the culture of lawlessness on the streets being embraced by the DC City Council, at a time of low morale and increased crime, it is no wonder why the city has lost over 1,200 officers over the last 2 years, a number that is growing each day. We need to stop here and talk about the culture of lawlessness started by this White House. It started during his campaign with a summer of applauding violent riots and vandalism. After being sworn in, the administration purposefully and shamelessly opened our borders, and, even now, this administration turns their heads to violent criminals and terrorists crossing our borders. And with the Democrats embracing cashless bail in Joe Biden's America, we are now not only a country without borders but also a lawless society, where criminals roam the streets and fentanyl poisons our children. This Nation must change its course before it is too late. To preserve this union, we need law and order. Our Republic will not survive without it. H.J. Res. 42 I rise today in support of Senator Vance's motion to nullify the DC Council's Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. By passing this resolution, we can now join our House colleagues in firmly rejecting the council's antipolice, pro-criminal laws and reaffirm our support for our heroic law enforcement officers. I urge all of my Senate colleagues and the White House to choose people over politics by joining our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, DC. With its passage, we can send a clear message to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: We in the Senate will not stand by while our law enforcement officers are vilified and cut off at the knees when trying to do their job. And with its passage, it will make Washington, DC, a safer place for the millions of visitors who pilgrimage to this great Capital to petition their elected Members of Congress, to regale in our history, and to celebrate our freedom. This is a bill that makes DC safer, but it also sends a message to the entire country--a message that we want safe streets, we want safe communities, we want safe schools, and we want to do it in a bipartisan way. Let's signal to every county, every city, and every State that Washington, DC, will no longer be soft on crime and cater to criminals. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I am proud to stand with my friend, the senior Senator from the great State of Alabama, as he continues to fight against the Department of Defense's attempt to circumvent Congress and ignore existing Federal law which prevents the Department of Defense facilities from being used to provide or facilitate abortions for servicemembers. The policy is immoral, taking the Department of Defense abortions from less than 20 per year to over 4,000 abortions annually. It is beyond me why the White House wants to pick this fight. The policy is illegal. It forces taxpayers to subsidize abortion in violation of Federal law. The policy is outside the Department of Defense's mission to uphold and fight for life, not destroy it. The Biden administration and Senate Democrats claim this is harming our military readiness. With policies like this, they continue to destroy recruiting. If readiness was truly a concern of theirs, they wouldn't have discharged 8,000 troops for choosing not to take the COVID vaccine, a vaccine with minimal benefits to an otherwise healthy, young population. Look, this policy is wrong, and until the military gets back to providing for our common defense and out of the business of abortion, I will proudly stand with Senator Tuberville. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to use a prop during my remarks.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, today, I rise in support 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. Since I was 10 years old, my family has enjoyed hunting prairie chickens. As a matter of fact, the first bird I ever shot, the first time I ever went hunting, 10 years of age with a 20-gauge single shotgun, I was able to down one of these beautiful birds. But last November, the Fish and Wildlife Service ignored decades of voluntary conservation efforts and published a rule lifting the lesser prairie-chicken species as endangered and threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Enacted in 1973, the Endangered Species Act, the ESA, was created to protect species believed to be on the brink of extinction. Today, the consequences of this law reach far beyond its original intent. If saving species were the only consideration, then this administration wouldn't be listing the lesser prairie-chicken whose population is considered stable in my home State of Kansas. I ask you, was the ESA made for the good of human kind or was human kind made for the good of the ESA? Make no mistake about it, the listing of any species adds more rules, more hoops to jump through, more time and costs from everyone, from our farmers and ranchers, our oilfield workers, and our utility linemen who are building out new power poles and electric lines to get wind- generated electricity out to more populated States. The ESA is just another weaponized tool that this President uses to attack rural America. This move is not surprising, considering the President recently vetoed the bipartisan resolution to strike down the WOTUS rule. This White House continues to push policies and resurrect taxes that disproportionately hurt rural America. For over 20 years now, Federal, State, and private landowners have voluntarily collaborated with Fish and Wildlife Services 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 species. To list the bird now, after all the conservation effort, sends a message to stakeholders that no matter how much good work you do, the hammer will still fall, the heavy-handed government will still step in and list species under the ESA and attempt to regulate your industry out of existence, all in the name of climate. The Federal Government thinks it knows best when it comes to conservation, but this law continues to fail its most basic mission: recovering and delisting species. Despite billions of dollars spent in the name of the ESA, less than 2 percent of all listed species have been removed from its ESA protection since 1973--just 2 percent. Through a combination of public and private efforts, the lesser prairie-chicken is better protected now more than ever. Listing them as threatened or endangered will not provide any additional conservation benefits above what already exists. As this chart shows, while the prairie chicken numbers tend to follow rainfall, they have been growing since the Obama administration first attempted to list the bird in 2014. No one in this body wants to see this beautiful bird go extinct. As a matter of fact, we are fighting to preserve it. My hope is that one day, once again, my grandchildren can hunt lesser prairie-chickens like their great-great-grandfathers did. No oil producer, no rancher, no farmer, no wind energy producer wants the demise of the lesser prairie-chicken. That is why voluntary partnerships have worked and are working. Just like all my fellow Kansans, I am committed to saving our environment for future generations. To share some wise words from one of my friends: We are passengers on this planet, not captains. We need to continue to work with Mother Nature, not punish hard- working Americans. A listing of this species now will only slow down and drive up the cost of our wind energy exports from Kansas, which shares many of the same range. The listing will also push oil and gas development to countries that have long track records of violating human rights or the extraction of these important and necessary energy sources in a manner much more harmful to the environment than those utilized by American producers. Whether it is gas or diesel or wind energy, this decision to list the chicken would increase the cost of energy. It would federalize millions of acres of ranch lands and expand the regulatory burden on our farmers and ranchers, ultimately, increasing the cost of food. But for what? An attempt to protect the species by an Agency that has only successfully recovered 2 percent of the species that it has listed. No, thanks. The local communities have and will continue to do what is best for the bird and, more importantly, for the environment through ongoing, proven conservation efforts--conservation efforts passed on from one generation of farmers and ranchers to the next. This administration ignores the impact that overregulation has on American industries. And I hear this from everyone who visits my office. The costs of this administration's rules and regulations already outpace the last two administrations combined, with $363 billion in rules so far. Since January 1 of this year alone, that number is $148 billion. Under this administration, the annual paperwork burden on businesses has increased to over 220 million hours. Since January 1, that number is approaching 50 million hours--indeed, a redtape of nightmare for businesses. This resolution is one of many vital steps the Senate GOP is taking to unleash the economy from the bureaucratic harassment that the White House has deployed. I am asking you to join me in applauding, rather than punishing, voluntary conservation efforts and support the joint resolution for congressional disapproval of the lesser prairie-chicken listing. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Ernie Barrett, synonymously known as Mr. K-State. Ernie was born in Pratt, KS, on August 27, 1929. He is a proud graduate of Wellington High School, where he led his basketball team to their first State championship in 1947. He was recruited by the likes of the University of Kansas and Oklahoma State, but chose to attend Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, beginning a lifelong affiliation with the school and town. During his 3-year collegiate career, K-State won two Big Seven Conference titles in 1950 and 1951. As a First Team All-American for the 1951 season, Ernie led the team to the school's first and only NCAA National Championship game appearance. Ernie earned two degrees from K- State, a bachelor's in physical education and a master's degree in journalism. He would go on to be selected by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick in the 1951 NBA draft. However, he would not join the Celtics for another 2 years, as he proudly served his Nation in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-53. Despite a yearlong hiatus from professional basketball, Ernie played under legendary head coach Red Auerbach for the 1953-54 and 1955-56 seasons. He was a key contributor to two Celtics teams that reached the Eastern Division finals in both of his professional seasons. Following his professional basketball career, Ernie came back to K- State as an assistant basketball coach where he helped lead the school to five Big Eight regular season titles in his 6 years as a coach. His service to K-State was not limited to the basketball court, as he would go on to serve as assistant athletics director, director of athletics, university consultant, and director of development throughout his career as a university administrator. A legendary fundraiser and promoter for K-State, his efforts contributed to the development of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, R.V. Christian Track and Field Complex, Bramlage Coliseum, Tointon Family Stadium, Colbert Hills Golf Course, as well as many other projects that have greatly impacted the students of K-State and the residents of Manhattan, KS. After 75 years of service to K-State, Ernie passed away on April 21, 2023. His list of accomplishments are endless, and his impact on K- State, and Manhattan, KS, is timeless. There will certainly never be another Mr. K-State. I now ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Ernie Barrett, as well as celebrate his tremendous impact on Kansas State University.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to honor, recognize, and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Smoky Valley Roller Mill in Lindsborg, KS. On October 14, 1897, the Smoky Valley Roller Mill went up in flames, and while the communities' efforts to fight the fire saved the town, the mill was lost. One week later, Theodore Teichgraeber, owner of the mill, vowed to rebuild. By May of 1898, the mill was back in operation turning wheat into flour. The Smoky Valley Roller Mill would serve as a vital agricultural and commercial hub to Lindsborg and the surrounding region for over a half century, as the mill was in operation from 1898 to 1955 under the leadership of the Teichgraeber, Hagstrom, and Runbeck families. Through the efforts of community members and the leadership of Malcom Esping, Mary Borg, and George Teserek in particular, the historic mill and original equipment were restored and preserved throughout the 1960s, `70s, and `80s. Through their hard work, Smoky Valley Roller Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The mill continues to be in good, working condition under the ownership of the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum and continues to serve as a historical treasure, cultural center, and landmark of the community. In fact, it is the only operable flour mill in the Midwest still using roller mills. This year marks the 125th anniversary since Smoky Valley Roller Mill was rebuilt, and the city of Lindsborg will be celebrating the Mill's quasquicentennial anniversary at their annual Millfest on May 6, 2023. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 125th anniversary of the Smoky Valley Roller Mill, as well as celebrate all those who have contributed to the mill's 125 years of history and success.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today in support of the joint resolution for congressional disapproval striking down the President's revised definitions of waters of the United States. As a fifth-generation farmer, I know how hard-working Kansas farmers work daily to protect our environment and conserve our precious resources. Farmers serve as our land's original and best stewards. We all want to leave this world cleaner, healthier, and safer than we found it. Since coming to Congress, we have worked hard alongside our farmers and ranchers and rural landowners to ensure our waters become cleaner and healthier and, at the same time, protect our land and water from aggressive government overreach. This includes working with the previous administration to roll back purposeless, ``one size fits all'' Federal WOTUS regulations that drive up the cost of doing business for Kansans and are detrimental to their ability to care for their crops and livestock. As Kansas farmers, ranchers, businesses, and even municipalities know all too well, the Obama-era definition of WOTUS in 2015 dramatically expanded the Federal Government's reach with minimal improvements in water quality. Today, this White House's reckless expansion of the WOTUS rule only adds more regulations, more redtape, and costs to everyday life in Kansas. This level of Federal overreach is harmful and ill-advised. It is important to note that my colleagues and I requested the administration suspend the rulemaking until the Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA. This would allow Congress to craft a lawful, predictable, and reasonable rule. But this request has fallen on deaf ears. Moving forward with this rule is the administration's attempt to revive the Obama-era WOTUS rule, which was rightfully blocked in nearly half of the United States due to litigation in courts across the country. Now, as the saying goes, history repeats itself, and a Federal judge recently blocked the implementation of the brandnew rule in Texas and Idaho. Now, back home, my farmers are already bracing for the impact. In fact, I heard from one organization that said: Farmers and ranchers should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants to determine how we can farm our land. And I agree. Kansan after Kansan I have met with on this issue has told me this administration didn't consider their input on the new WOTUS definition, further proof of the clear disconnect between DC bureaucrats and the hard-working farmers and ranchers who provide our Nation's food. Agriculture, oil and gas, energy, the housing industry, road builders, bridge builders, construction workers, and municipalities have all voiced their disapproval of the rule and the costs of the negative impacts that its adoption will have on American industries and consumers. It seems this administration only listens to radical environmentalists rather than the hard-working, pragmatic voices of the people who love the land which has been handed down from generation to generation, just like in my family--people who care every bit about the environment as any soul on Capitol Hill does. These are the same people who feed, fuel, and clothe America. This rule is the Biden administration's attempt to federalize our waters and take control of our private land and leave our producers with more questions than answers, more costs than gain. In fact--get this--mitigation costs related to the current White House WOTUS may cost farmers and ranchers over $100,000 per acre. The value of this land itself might be $1,000, $2,000, maybe $5,000 an acre, but mitigation will cost us $100,000 per acre. Let me ask a couple of simple questions: Should a dry creek that only has water run through it during a rain be a waters of the United States? Should playas in western Kansas be a waters of the United States? Should ditches draining into a dry creek bed be a waters of the United States? Should water trickling off the terraces my grandfathers built 50-some years ago to prevent soil erosion and the tall lush grassy waterway that is home to pheasants and quail and turkey and deer and rabbits-- should this be a waters of the United States? Under President Biden's rule, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineer will attempt to answer these questions on a case-by-case basis, meaning that the answer and the cost might change every time. That is no way to do business. In a time of economic uncertainty, this unpredictable, ambiguous rulemaking will amplify the efforts of inflation felt by ag producers and American consumers. No American industry would be safe from the impending rising costs, all while the Biden WOTUS rule fails to achieve the goal of improved water quality. The regulated community spent the better part of the last decade trying to operate under several different definitions of ``waters of the United States.'' We cannot allow the Biden administration to take us backward yet again. Farmers and other ag producers are the original stewards of the land, and we all have a special interest in protecting the quality of our Nation's waters. Consistent and clear guidelines and regulations are key to such protections. We cannot keep moving the proverbial goalpost. The Biden administration's failure to understand the ramifications of this is alarming. As Members of Congress, we must ensure agricultural producers and other stakeholders have the regulatory certainty to take care of our Nation's land and water resources, the lands and waters that we love, the lands and waters that we are leaving to the next generation--to my children and to my grandchildren. I, therefore, urge the support of the Joint Resolution for Congressional Disapproval, striking down this administration's revised definition of ``waters of the United States.'' I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.J. Res 7, a bill that will immediately terminate the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. Over a year ago, this body voted to end the COVID national emergency declaration. Actually, it has been a year and 26 days ago. Then, it was just 5 months ago that this body voted for a second time to end the COVID national emergency with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 61 to 37. Today, we hope the third time is the charm, that the rumors are true that the President will finally sign this legislation and end this chapter of physical, mental, and financial strife seldom seen in our world's modern history. Emergency powers are given to the executive branch so the Commander in Chief has the flexibility to quickly act in the event of a crisis. That declaration was appropriate in 2020, but now it is time for the proper constitutional checks and balances to be restored. It is time to end any and all authoritarian control and unilateral spending decisions without congressional consent. Many, many Kansans have asked me, ``What's the holdup, why is the White House waiting to end this emergency declaration?'' Well, sadly, I have to tell them, because the emergency declaration has allowed the administration to justify increased spending and push harmful mandates. Under this national emergency, we have seen a massive increase in government spending across the board. This spending over the past 2 years has resulted in the highest level of inflation Americans have encountered in 40 years. The gross Federal debt has increased by $3.7 trillion--$3.7 trillion--since this President took office, an increase of 12 percent. We sadly watched as interest rate hikes, combined with skyrocketing inflation, have raised the amount of debt many Americans hold and made almost everything cost more. On top of all of this, the authority granted to the President by this emergency declaration has been the direct justification for the White House's efforts to cancel as much as $20,000 in debt for Federal student loan holders--a plan that would cost taxpayers an additional $400 billion. We all understand what it means when politicians say: Never let a good crisis go to waste. But it doesn't stop there. With the national emergency in place, the administration also moved to mandate vaccines for private companies with 100 or more employees. If not halted by the courts, this massive Federal overreach would have forced millions of Americans to choose between the jab or their job. Next, the White House tried to force healthcare workers, Federal employees, contractors, and even members of our military to receive the vaccine against their choice. Thankfully, these were also halted by the courts across the country. These are the consequences of a 3-year emergency declaration. Take a good look at the decisions made under this prolonged, supersized government rule, and you will quickly understand why our Founding Fathers warned of this type of abuse of power when they authored the Constitution and made it a top priority to keep each branch of government in line with systems of checks and balances. I come to the floor today hopefully for one last vote on terminating this declaration. Is the emergency indeed over? Well, our President himself said as much in a September 2022 interview on CBS's ``60 Minutes.'' I quote the President's direct words: ``The pandemic is over.'' Enough is enough. It is time to end this chapter and let Americans get back to their own lives. I ask my colleagues to join me again in a strong bipartisan fashion in sending this resolution to the President's desk to end the national emergency declaration for COVID-19 once and for all today. I yield the floor. Vote on H.J. Res. 7 The joint resolution was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 26, a resolution to overturn the recent law passed by the DC Council to revise the city's Criminal Code. I was pleased to join Senator Hagerty as an original cosponsor of the Senate's version he introduced in February. The Nation's Capital is a unique American city in that it was established through the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in order to host the Federal system of government established by our Founders, separate from the authority of any one single State. Founded in 1790, the city has grown immensely since its earliest years and, with a population of nearly 700,000, has become one of the largest cities in the region. In addition to the residents of this city and those who commute daily from neighboring Maryland and Virginia, Washington, DC, hosts nearly 20 million visitors on an annual basis--one of the most visited cities in the United States--as Americans from all 50 States, including my home of Kansas, come to the seat of their government to meet with their elected officials and visit the National Mall, memorials, and museums their tax dollars go to maintaining every year. Sadly, as the Capital City has expanded, so, too, has the influence of the far-left politicians who serve as members of the council. Similar to their Democratic counterparts in the White House, Congress, and other U.S. metro areas, the DC Council has gone full tilt in giving the keys of this city to its criminals and vagrants and in failing in their duty to protect its inhabitants and visitors. This culture of lawlessness--the same that is on display at our southern border, where just yesterday we learned that two of the four Americans kidnapped by the Gulf Cartel were brutally murdered--is a product of cashless bail laws and efforts to defund the police. In DC, these efforts have come in the form of major cuts to the city's police department. In 2020, the council implemented a $15 million cut to their own police force--$15 million. Since then, the number of sworn officers has decreased steadily year over year, and, predictably, crime has been running rampant ever since. In 2021, more than 200 homicides were committed. It was the first time homicides surpassed 200 since 2003. In 2022, DC topped its mark again, and the trend is continuing in 2023. Crime is up 25 percent from this time last year; murders are up 33 percent; sexual abuse crimes are up 120 percent; and motor vehicle thefts are up 108 percent. Shockingly, despite these staggering numbers, the DC Council, over the objections of the city's police chief and chief prosecutor, moved in November of last year to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences and reduce maximum penalties for these very crimes. Thankfully, the same Constitution that established the Capital City gave Congress authority over the District, and while I am a strong supporter of local control, Republicans in Congress have taken an important stand to not stand by and watch as the radical DC Council further inflames the crimewave engulfing our constituents' Capital City. I myself am afraid for my own wife to walk from our apartment to the Capitol. I am afraid for my own staff to walk from working here to their own homes. This last Christmas, I gave every woman on my staff a special device to be able to defend herself should she be attacked. This is real. We see it every day in this city. We see the crime everywhere we go. This city is no longer safe. This city no longer belongs to the people. This city now belongs to the criminals. I know the Democrats in the House did not get the memo from the President in time that he would sign our legislation into law--that of overturning the DC Council's overhaul--but I am glad our colleagues across the aisle here in the Senate will be joining him in passing this important bill in order to blunt the crime victimizing the residents and visitors of this city and the efforts of the DC Council to return the District of Columbia back to being the murder capital of America. Unfortunately, we know this is just a politically motivated move to protect their electoral chances in 2024. Lawlessness runs deep in the Democratic Party, and no matter how they vote today, much more must be done to turn back the harm they have done to our inner cities and at our southern border. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and recognize Commander Cade Keenan of the Missouri Air National Guard. Cade Keenan, of Great Bend, KS, was recently named commander of the 139th Operations Support Squadron, 139th Airlift Wing, of the Missouri Air National Guard in St. Joseph, MO. In this role, Commander Keenan will lead 46 full-time instructor pilots, navigators, flight engineers, loadmasters, and other support staff of the 139th Airlift Wing. Commander Keenan has served our Nation faithfully, with his first deployment being to Uzbekistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as regularly deploying throughout southwest Asia between 2003 and 2020. An expert in infrared weapons and defense systems, he instructed crews from across the USAF, USMC, and 10 partner countries in combat tactics for the C-130, C-17, C-160, and C-235 aircraft. As a command pilot, Commander Keenan has 4,764 hours in military aircraft, with 852 of those hours being in combat. Commander Keenan has earned a certificate in electo-optical and infrared applications from the Georgia Tech Research Institute, a master of business administration from Colorado State University, and a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from Kansas State University. He has also graduated from the USAF Advanced Instrument and USAF Weapons schools. Commander Keenan's extensive experience, wide breadth of knowledge on U.S. Air Force operations, and his impressive academic achievements give me great confidence in his ability to lead the 139th Operations Support Squadron. He will certainly make his country, the State of Kansas, and his community proud. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Commander Cade Keenan for his recent promotion, as well as thank him for his dedicated service to our Nation.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor, in my opinion, the Kansan of the year, Willie Fritz. Fritz is currently the head football coach at Tulane University in New Orleans, which saw unprecedented success this year, culminating in a thrilling victory over the University of Southern California in the Cotton Bowl Classic. To give some background on Coach Fritz, he graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1978 and went on to be a dual sport athlete in basketball and football at Pittsburg State University for 4 years, both fantastic Kansas institutions. After multiple assistant coaching roles at various colleges--including Pittsburg State--Coach Fritz landed his first head coaching job at Central Missouri in 1997 and began his run of success as a head coach. He would stay at Central Missouri for 12 years and then went to coach at Sam Houston State and Georgia Southern before arriving at Tulane in 2016. During his time at Tulane, his teams have played in three consecutive bowl games from 2018-2020, winning two, but this season the program's success was historic for Tulane. Coach Fritz and the team made their mark first by winning Tulane's first-ever American Athletic Conference Championship after beating the University of Central Florida. The team then not only won the program's first Cotton Bowl, but did so in heroic fashion by coming from behind 28-14 at halftime and scoring 16 points in the final 5 minutes to beat USC and Heisman winner Caleb Williams by a final of 46-45. The team finished the season ranked No. 9 in both the coaches and AP polls at the end of the year. Following a 2-10 season in 2021 in which Tulane lost 17 players to season-ending injuries and were forced to play two of their home games on the road due to damage from Hurricane Ida, the 10-win increase marks the greatest turnaround in college football history. The success for Tulane's football program didn't stop on the field though. This year alone, the team had 46 players receive Academic All- AAC honors and holds an 87 percent graduation rate. Both are true signs of the high standards that Coach Fritz certainly holds his team to. For as much success as the team has had, I would be remiss not to mention a few of Coach Fritz's individual achievements. After the Cotton Bowl victory, Coach Fritz now has the most bowl appearances ever by a Tulane coach and now boasts a 236-119-1 career record. He was also awarded both the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation's 2022 Dodd Trophy and the George Munger College Coach of the year award. He is deserving of all these accolades and has also been recognized for his efforts on giving back and making a positive impact in the New Orleans community. The only blemish on Coach Fritz's resume is that he had beat my alma mater, Kansas State, in Manhattan, KS, this season. Since he is a Kansan, I am willing to look past that one. I now ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Coach Fritz on an incredible season at Tulane. May he see continued success throughout his career.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and recognize the wonderful career of Amy Button Renz. Like many, Amy began her career in Washington, DC, where she interned for both Senator Bob Dole and Representative Garner Shriver during the summer of 1974. After graduating from Kansas State University in the spring of 1976, Amy came back to DC, where she worked for Senator Roman Hruska until his retirement that December. Her time in public service was not over, as she moved back to Kansas to work for State Senator Ron Hein during the 1977 legislative session. After her time in the Kansas Statehouse, Amy began her career with the Kansas State University Alumni Association in 1977. She would be named president and CEO of the alumni association in 1994, becoming the first female alumni director in the history of the Big Eight and later the Big 12 conference. Throughout her career, she has been crucial in the development of programming efforts, most notably as the lead fundraiser for the alumni center building campaign as well as serving as the chair of several search committees that have brought key administrator to Kansas State University. She has raised millions of dollars for student scholarships, and has always put the students of Kansas State University first. Amy has been recognized for her servant leadership ceaselessly. In 2009 she received the Staley School of Leadership Mike Holen Outstanding Leadership Award, and in 2012 she was selected for the Directors Award by the K-State Marching Band. That same year, she was the recipient of the inaugural Amethyst Award, the University's highest award honoring those for their extraordinary contributions to K-State. Her influence extends past the university, as she was recognized with the Lyle Butler Distinguished Leadership Award from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in 2020. Amy is a third generation K-Stater, and has earned two degrees from the University, a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration. Her husband, Allen, is a K-Stater, as are her three children. Her last day at the Kansas State University Alumni Association will be on June 30th, 2023. Her leadership and devotion will certainly be missed, but always remembered. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Amy's outstanding career, as well as thank her for 45+ years of service to Kansas State University. Amy is a true inspiration to those around her, fighting ever fighting for a wildcat victory.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, last Friday, during the annual March for Life, it was once again encouraging to see tens of thousands of young Americans travel to the National Mall to show their support for the most important human rights issue of our time: the right to life. This year, we celebrate the 50th year that the March for Life has taken place, marking a significant, multigenerational milestone for this celebration of the sanctity of life. The fact that this event is now in its 50th year is a testament to the truth and justice of our mission. I thank and congratulate everyone who kept this movement alive for the past five decades, and I especially want to thank all the brave pro-life Americans who made their voices heard as part of the March for Life. For half a century now, Americans have brought their voices to Washington to halt the mass elective abortions of perhaps a million unborn American lives every year in our Nation. Abortion is not a political issue to me; it is a human rights issue. And this is not a political battle we fight but, rather, the tip of the spear in a spiritual battle for the heart and soul of this Nation. This year's momentous March for Life truly was a celebration, as our Nation's Supreme Court has finally freed us from the undemocratic, pro- abortion decision forced on the American people in 1973. My prayer is that our God will heal the emotional and physical wounds that were ripped open across this Nation by this ruling. As we celebrate this victory for life, all of us should pause and thank God for giving us a majority of Supreme Court Justices who had the courage to overturn Roe v. Wade. This Supreme Court, by an overwhelming 6-to-3 ruling, defied the left's mob-style intimidation tactics, and in too many extreme cases, they overcame even the vile threats on their lives as well as on their families' safety and privacy. The Court's majority stuck to constitutional principles and cast aside the pro-abortion status quo even in the face of threats by the current Senate majority party and its current majority leader. The way our Justices stood up to the opposition represents true leadership and the very best of America. Let us commend our Republican Senate leader and the Senators who fought for the lives of the unborn, who, when we had control of the White House and the Senate, had the courage, the fortitude, the willpower, and the know-how to shepherd three principled Justices through the confirmation process and ascend to the highest Court in the land. This tremendous lifegiving decision also would not have happened without Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her team, who championed their State's pro-life law. They forever etched their place in history. The rights and lives of millions of American human beings are now protected as a result of the Dobbs decision. As an obstetrician, I had the honor and privilege to deliver over 5,000 babies, and I want all those who stood tall in the March for Life last Friday to know that, just like I fought for those babies in the delivery room, I am going to continue the fight beside you to protect the sanctity of life and to show our Nation that Congress values these precious lives as well. At the Federal level, we, of course, have much more work to do on this issue. We must continue to ensure taxpayer dollars do not fund abortions so millions of Americans are not forced to violate our own beliefs. We must combat this administration's effort to remove conscience protections for medical professionals--doctors, nurses, ultrasound techs, and so many others--who object to participating in abortion. Perhaps most urgently, we must reimplement safety restrictions on the abortion pill. This unprecedented mass distribution of this pill by mail and over the counter that this administration is pushing will lead to thousands of women using it incorrectly, causing medical emergencies, possibly deaths and fetal malformations. If you don't believe this can happen, I just encourage you to spend some time in our emergency rooms, where I and many other doctors treat numerous women suffering complications from the abortion pill. Most of these patients are completely unaware of the potential side effects. Many are misdiagnosed or perhaps victims of just a horrible guess at the gestational age of the unborn baby. But I think it is also important that we as a party and Congress also work to further support legislation to provide resources to moms and babies in need. This help would include more access to long-term nutritional, educational, economic, and social support, as well as healthcare. We must find more compassionate and effective ways to better encourage pregnant women who are contemplating abortion to choose life instead. We need to open the doors to pregnancy crisis centers for assistance throughout and, very importantly, after the pregnancy. Despite violent attacks, acts of vandalism, and harmful misinformation directed at these centers, they continue to provide critically needed services to women all across this country. I am also committed to dispelling the left's malicious lies about ectopic pregnancies in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. As someone who understands the science and practiced obstetrics for over 25 years and, frankly, treated hundreds of women with ectopic pregnancies, I want to state that I agree with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We always have and always will support the treatment of women suffering from the always-life-threatening condition of an ectopic pregnancy. The radical activists, who wildly claim ectopic pregnancies will be left untreated because of this Court decision, are simply misinformed and dangerously practice fearmongering tactics. For a physician to not treat ectopic pregnancies would be, No. 1, unethical, as well as, No. 2, below the standard of care for every community in America. Let me close by saying once again, thanks to all of you, the tens of thousands of Americans who participated in the 50th March for Life, for courageously and tirelessly fighting for life. Each and every one of you is my encouragement. You give me the strength and hope to wake up every day and join my fellow pro-life Senators and millions of pro-life Americans to fight to protect the sanctity of life. Your being here, praying together, marching side by side, arm to arm, you strengthen my resolve, and you can count on me to tirelessly fight to defend and secure the right to life for all human beings. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, certainly the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and I agree on so many goals when it comes to American energy. We both believe in American energy independence. We believe in affordable clean energy. We agree that we want to leave this world cleaner, healthier, and safer than we found it. But unfortunately I oppose his amendment and ask my colleagues to oppose it as well. I am afraid this amendment will do more harm than good. It will give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--FERC, as it is known--the power to socialize the cost of new high-voltage transmission lines. That is right--a huge shift of power will go from the States to the Federal Government. Unelected bureaucrats would have the authority to make electric customers in mostly red States pay to deliver expensive and intermittent energy that fits the green energy dreams of blue States and in many cases causes rural America to pay for urban America's electricity. It would even give Federal regulators the authority to make residents of inland States pay for transmission lines that connect offshore wind farms to coastal States, such as California, New Jersey, and New York. It would allow these same regulators to make our residents pay for these transmission lines even if power on those lines would not serve them. While this transportation of wind and solar electricity fits their social agenda, let me remind everyone that the cost of transporting this electricity is approximately 10 times more than transporting enough clean natural gas to produce an equivalent amount of electricity. We need not only clean energy, we need affordable energy. This is why Republican attorneys general from across the Nation and the nonpartisan National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners strongly oppose this amendment. These expert public officials pleaded with us not to go down this road in September. They remain opposed to Senator Manchin's latest draft. In a December 12, 2022, letter, the attorneys general state that they ``write to again express strong opposition to the renewed attempt to make sweeping changes to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's authority.'' They go on to say that the Manchin amendment ``guts states' traditional authority over energy and land use policies.'' Let me say that again. They go on to say that the Manchin amendment ``guts states' traditional authority over energy and land use policies.'' They tell us that the amendment does little, if anything, to address the concerns they raised in September. In their December letter, the public utility commissioners say Senator Manchin's legislation ``eliminates the last vestiges of states' electric transmission sitting jurisdiction.'' This is simply bad policy. Another issue is the damage the amendment would do to the efforts to develop hydrogen as an energy source. It would choke hydrogen pipelines under a mountain of regulation. The final text of this amendment only saw the light of day just a week ago. The amendment has not been the subject of any debate in committee. We have had no hearings, no witnesses, and no markups. Changing the complex Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act during a lameduck session without any opportunity for meaningful public input is a recipe for disaster. This is no way to make changes to complex laws. Finally, Senator Manchin's amendment does nothing to address the problem of never-ending environmental litigation. We both represent proud energy States: West Virginia, a great coal State; Kansas, oil, gas, wind, solar. But it seems like there is never an end to the environmental litigation challenges we have. Nuisance lawsuits block energy projects from moving forward, driving up the cost to consumers. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. I look forward to working with my colleague and with the chairman this next Congress through regular order to enact changes to laws that will actually speed energy projects of all kinds. We must enable Federal permits for energy projects to be more durable. We must ensure that Federal permitting is evenhanded. We must rein in the endless and often federally funded litigation that is killing projects. Senator Manchin's amendment addresses none of these problems. The Senate should reject this amendment. We should work together under regular order. We should enact real and effective permitting reform in the next Congress. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 150th birthday of our home, Great Bend, KS. Anticipating the westward expansion of the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railroad, D.N. Heiser and E.J. Dodge made the first settlement in the Great Bend Township in 1871. The railroad reached the township in July of 1872, and Great Bend was soon incorporated as the permanent county seat for Barton County, named after the great bend of the Arkansas River--pronounced Ar-Kansas--that the town sits on. Later, this great bend on the river became the crossing point for settlers and supply wagons traversing the Santa Fe Trail. Great Bend would go on to be a premier shipping point for cattle, as well as a center of regional trade and commerce for western Kansas. The oil and gas industry arrived in Great Bend soon after, with the county bringing in more than $30 million annually from the petroleum industry by 1930. From its beginnings, Great Bend has been pivotal in the development of Kansas's economy, and today, our agriculture and oil help feed and fuel the world. I had the privilege of raising my family in Great Bend and delivering some 5,000 babies in the community. Thanks to investments of hard work, innovation, and determination, as well as great pride in our schools, Great Bend continues to serve as an economic driver for central Kansas. The city of Great Bend plays such a vital role in telling the story of Kansas, so it is my honor to celebrate the city's 150th birthday. I would like to thank and honor everyone living in Great Bend and our predecessors for the pride they have in our city and especially thank everyone who helped organize the sesquicentennial celebration. I now ask my colleagues to join the residents of Great Bend in celebrating the city's 150th birthday and recognize them all for their contributions to the city's 150 years of history. I am humbled and proud to call Great Bend home.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today in support of S.J. Res. 63, a resolution to terminate the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. It has now been more than 2\1/2\ years since this first issued proclamation declaring the National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, and it has been extended twice already by President Biden since the initial declaration--most recently, February of this year. It is with this national emergency declaration, in tandem with other additional emergency powers, currently invoked by the President, which this administration is manipulating to supersize government powers. And now, it is obvious they need these powers to continue their spending spree to enact their radical partisan agenda and grow government dependency through further expansion of the welfare state. Today marks the third time many of us have come to the floor to terminate the emergency declaration. In March, we brought an identical resolution to this floor under the expedited procedure contained in that National Emergency Act that passed this body 48 to 7. That is right, this body passed this same resolution 8 months ago. Since then, even more evidence shows the emergency phase of this pandemic has come and gone. The number of new patients admitted to hospitals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains near lows since the start of the pandemic, and the same is true of emergency department visits. Let me point out that the percent of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 visiting emergency rooms represents less than 2 percent of ER visits nationwide. And just last week, the World Health Organization announced COVID- related deaths have dropped 90 percent globally compared to February of this year--again, shortly before our March vote the Senate took to terminate this same national emergency declaration. Again, this body passed the same resolution 8 months ago, and the clinical situation on the ground has only improved. Listen, the decrease in hospital cases and deaths can be contributed to the fact that an estimated 95 percent of Americans, ages 16 and older, had developed identifiable COVID antibodies, and that is according to the CDC. This includes individuals who have gained immunity through natural infection, as well as those who have received the vaccine. More than 646 million doses have been administered and 227 million Americans are fully vaccinated, nearly 70 percent of the population. Vaccines are so widely available for those that wish to receive inoculation that millions of doses are going unused. Between December 2020 and mid-May of 2022, the U.S. wasted 82 million doses. Additionally, we have a growing roster of antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and treatment protocols that are helping vulnerable populations avoid life-threatening complications. Don't take it from me. Take it from President Biden. Just 2 months ago, the President stated the coronavirus pandemic was over in a ``60 Minutes'' interview. That is right. Two months ago, the same person who wants to continue to use this so-called emergency said it was over. And, no, I can't make any sense of it. So despite all the advances we have made in our fight against this virus and the victorious declaration by our chief executive, this administration insists the national emergency declaration remain in place. And to add insult to our intellect, just last week, the White House failed to alert States of any intent to lift the public health emergency, another emergency power being used to greatly expand government powers over American lives and validate their continued expansion of government spending and programs. Everyone should remember, it was this government-imposed state of emergency that justified their continued lockdowns of small businesses and schools. It was this government-imposed state of emergency that justified their mask and vaccine mandates, including a military vaccine mandate that has resulted in the removal of more than 8,000 Active Duty troops since the Defense Secretary issued the requirement in August 2021--8,000 Active Duty troops dismissed because of this mandate. Today, our businesses and children suffer the consequences. Too many businesses are now shuttered, and our youth struggle with low academic performances and stunning record numbers of mental health issues. And lest we forget, it was this government-imposed state of emergency that justified President Biden and congressional Democrats' spending binge, increasing the total government spending by more than $9 trillion since February of 2021 and lighting the fire for record inflation. And most recently, it was the national emergency declaration that the President used as justification to extend the payment pause and cancel up to $10,000 in outstanding federally held student loan balances and even a more generous $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Well, thankfully, a Federal judge in Texas ruled last week that the loan forgiveness plan was unlawful and must be vacated, stating that the program was ``one of the largest exercises of legislative power without congressional authority in the history of the United States.'' I want to say this again. This was not me, not a politician, not a conservative blog. This came from a Federal judge. Listen again to what he said. This is ``one of the largest exercises of legislative power without congressional authority in the history of the United States.'' So while the law being cited by the President does not authorize him to grant the unfair relief that would have cost the Federal Government and taxpayers more than $400 billion, his actions show this White House is more than willing and able to use this emergency declaration to advance as many of their inflationary giveaways as possible. Folks, where and when does this power grab stop? Congress must take the responsible action of reining in this massive expansion of government and restore Americans' fundamental right by terminating the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. As for the elements of the pandemic response that are working and needed, let's codify them into law. Let's work with the White House and with their friends across the aisle and exercise our article I powers and do so through the legislative process. I encourage all my colleagues to join me and, once again, support our resolution to terminate the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. I yield the floor.