Roger Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, this week, we honor and celebrate the 100th day of our 47th President, Donald J. Trump. I don't know about you, but it has been a blur to many of us, but I believe it has been a bold blur. As I searched over the last week to think about the words to describe these first 100 days, I think of the word ``consequential,'' that these first 100 days have been some of the most consequential we have ever seen in America's history. And I think about a vision. I think my vision is this big ship we call America, and she is slowly changing course back into the wind, and it is a good direction. At times, we have to tack into the wind, but the direction is positive. And it is exciting for me to see an 11-point surge in optimism in this country in January of this year alone. But to sum it up, what I have seen in these first 100 days is a return to American greatness--a return to American greatness. And I think I see a theme of ``promises made, promises kept'' by this President. You know, first and foremost, President Trump campaigned to secure our border. That was his top priority, to secure our border. Think about what has happened since he was sworn in. Under Joe Biden, we saw on days 10,000 people crossing our border illegally. Some days, it was 11,000. But under President Trump, we are now averaging less than 300 of those border crossings a day. We went from 10,000 a day to 300 a day. That is a promise made and a promise kept. President Trump also campaigned that he would make your families safer and more secure. To that end, he has deported 130,000 violent criminal aliens. As I travel the State and talk to law enforcement officers, to a person, they tell me that the number of violent crimes is down, that fentanyl poisoning is down. Indeed, the President's plan of securing our border has led to the health and safety of our families. President Trump promised that he would roll back regulations. To that end, of his 135 Executive orders, many have done just that--cutting redtape and saving American families some $2,000 each. Another promise made and another promise kept. President Trump said, ``We are going to drill, baby, drill''--one of my favorite expressions from his campaign, ``drill, baby, drill.'' Indeed, America once again is drilling. We have seen gasoline prices drop across America. It was common just a couple years ago under Joe Biden to see gasoline at over $4 a gallon. Today, all across the State of Kansas, it is averaging under $2.60 a gallon. So it has dropped from $4 to $2.60 a gallon. That is a promise made and a promise kept. Well, what about groceries? you ask. Last month, we saw the smallest increase in the Consumer Price Index since the spring of 2020. Since COVID, since the start of COVID, this is the smallest increase in grocery prices we have seen. Now, it would take 30 minutes, maybe an hour, for me to talk about all of the things that President Trump has accomplished in these first 100 days, but I want to just highlight a few more. He terminated the EV mandate. He has slowed the green energy transition. He has ended boys in girls sports. Under DOGE, he has cut over $100 billion, saving American taxpayers money. He got America out of the World Health Organization and out of the Paris climate agreement, establishing once again that he is an American-first President. But one thing I am really excited about is this economic boom we are starting to see that President Trump talked about, the $7 trillion of investment into America that has been promised, and so much of that is going to lead to good-paying manufacturing jobs, jobs with benefits, and we are seeing that already across the State of Kansas. These last 2 weeks, I was very purposeful, visiting several of our manufacturing companies, probably a dozen of them. To a company, each one was describing the increase in sales they are having, a big increase in the number of products that are wanted in the future. Why? Because they are American-made, because they are using American steel and American aluminum. I think that is what we can do with this Trump economy, is that his tariffs are bringing those manufacturing jobs back to this country, and, indeed, they are great jobs. I want to take a second here and put up a poster, Mr. President. You know, much has been made about the stock market the last week or two, but I think this chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average over the last 100 years is another sign of American greatness. You know, there have been days that aren't as good, but the trend here is what? It is upward. And you look at just the last several days, the last week here, there is a small little blip, a very small blip, but in relationship to what? I would remind Americans that the Dow today is up 5 percent compared to a year ago. The NASDAQ is up almost 10 percent compared to a year ago. The trend is the right way. And I don't know about you, but I am betting on America. We have had 5 days in a row now of the Dow Jones increasing in value. That is the longest winning streak we have seen in almost a year. And who knows--maybe today will be the sixth day where we have seen the Dow go up as well. But, to me, this stock market is another example of American greatness, and I wouldn't bet against us. Look, my belief is that President Trump has declared the apology tour is over with, that we are boldly putting America and Americans first. Gone is the despair of the Biden era. Today, families are safer, life is more affordable, and traditional family values are now thriving. Young Americans now have a renewed hope that they can chase their own American dream. That dream was gone the last 4 or 5 years, but today, the American dream is alive and well. What does that American dream look like? Raising a family, owning a home, and building a brighter future. I think a lot of this is due to President Trump's leadership because he is delivering strength, prosperity, and opportunity to Americans. Again, 100 days--promises made, promises kept. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I have five requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on agriculture, nutrition, and forestry The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on armed services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to meet in open session to consider nominations. committee on finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10 a.m., to consider nominations. committee on veterans' affairs The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. select committee on intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed business meeting and briefing.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President. I rise today to recognize the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and the city of Wichita for their exceptional commitment to providing world-class healthcare to our Nation's veterans. Recently, Wichita was recognized as the top city in the Nation for veterans' healthcare. This recognition highlights the unwavering dedication of the staff of the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and city leadership in delivering accessible, high-quality, and compassionate healthcare to those who served our country. For the second year in a row, the Dole VA received the maximum 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services--a remarkable achievement that places the Dole VA in the top 8 percent of hospitals nationwide. This 5-star rating highlights the Dole VA's commitment to not only meet but exceed the standards of the healthcare industry. In addition to the 5-star rating, the Dole VA ranked first among 132 VA hospitals nationwide for access to specialty care. It offers the shortest average wait time in the country for existing patients to see a cardiologist--just 3.8 days. The Dole VA also ranks second in the Nation for both routine specialty care access, at 95 percent, and urgent specialty care access, at 90 percent. Additionally, it holds the third-shortest wait time for new patients seeking pulmonology services. These accomplishments are a testament to the outstanding leadership and the tireless dedication of the staff at the Dole VA. The city of Wichita is also playing a vital role in providing care for our Nation's veterans, particularly in the area of mental health. Wichita ranks fifth in the Nation for access to mental health services, offering the seventh shortest average wait time for existing patients to access care--just 0.3 days--and the ninth shortest for new patients, at only 1.4 days. Additionally, Wichita ranks sixth nationally in overall hospital care quality and holds the eighth shortest wait time for existing patients seeking primary care. These distinctions reflect a city deeply committed to ensuring those in need receive the high- quality healthcare necessary. As a country, we owe a great debt to those who served, and the Dole VA and the city of Wichita are setting the standard for how that debt should be paid. I now ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and the city of Wichita for these exceptional achievements. Furthermore, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking the dedicated healthcare workforce in Wichita for their unwavering commitment to serving those who have worn the uniform.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann for his extraordinary service and leadership. For over 20 years, Archbishop Naumann has guided the archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas with unwavering faith, wisdom, and compassion. Shepherding Catholics across 21 counties, he has fortified faith in our communities, strengthened family life, and provided generous care for the poor and underprivileged in northeast Kansas. Ordained as a priest on May 24, 1975, Archbishop Naumann has dedicated his life to the Catholic Church, serving as a parish pastor, vicar general, and auxiliary bishop of St. Louis. He succeeded Archbishop James Keleher on January 15, 2005, becoming the spiritual leader of Kansas City's Catholic community. Archbishop Naumann's episcopal motto, Vitae Victoria erit--``Life will be victorious''--serves as a testament to his ministry. Championing the dignity of life as a primary mission of his ministry, Archbishop Naumann has worked hard to protect the most vulnerable Kansans. Under his leadership, the archdiocese sponsored and expanded numerous programs providing spiritual, emotional, and financial support for expecting mothers and young families across northeast Kansas. His commitment to life is further demonstrated through his service as chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As Archbishop Naumann embarks on his retirement after two decades of remarkable service to the archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, we commend him for his dedication and extend our prayers and gratitude towards him. His legacy serves as an example of what it means to be a faithful servant and follower of Christ and will have a lasting impact on Kansas for generations to come. I now ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann and in expressing our gratitude for all he has done for northeast Kansas.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I raise a point of order. It is outside the jurisdiction of the Budget Committee and, therefore, not appropriate for inclusion in the budget resolution. Adopting this amendment would jeopardize the privilege of the budget resolution. Now, we all agree that drug prices remain too high for many patients, and that is why Republicans and Democrats should come together to reform how PBMs work. So let's bring those bills to the floor and save some patients some real money. But this amendment risks our ability to prevent a $4 trillion tax increase on hard-working Americans and small businesses. Point of Order I raise a point of order against this amendment under section 305(b)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 8 a.m. on Friday, April 4; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 38, H. Con. Res. 14; further, that all time during adjournment and leader remarks count equally between proponents and opponents on the current resolution.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order following the remarks of my Democratic colleagues.

Mr. MARSHALL

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. As we all know by now, the purpose of this budget resolution is to unlock reconciliation so we can once again secure the border and keep America safe. I do look forward to working with the Senator from Massachusetts to prevent and better treat Alzheimer's, but the reserve funds in this instance are unnecessary and distract and delay the budgeting process. We need targeted solutions, not broad funding that doesn't directly address the immediate needs. I urge a ``no'' vote. I yield the floor. Vote on Amendment No. 911

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Striking the all-powerful Agriculture Committee's reconciliation instruction will make it more difficult to pay for critical improvements for border security and our national defense. A vote for this amendment indicates the Democrats don't believe there is a single area of waste, fraud, or abuse in our Federal nutrition programs. In 2022 alone, the staff program had an overpayment rate of 10 percent, which amounts to billions of dollars in erroneous payments. Republicans will find commonsense savings in the Ag Committee's jurisdiction while ensuring we have a well-targeted, nutrition safety net for those in need. I urge a ``no'' vote. I yield the floor. Vote on Amendment No. 957

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. As we have learned tonight, this budget resolution is about unlocking reconciliation to secure the border and keep Americans safe. This amendment is unnecessary and delays the budgeting process. That being said, I look forward to working with the Senator from Delaware to make HHS great again. I yield the floor. Vote on Amendment No. 311

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, what is truly a humble moment standing here with my senior Senator from Kansas and a couple gentlemen Senators from Virginia. I wish we weren't having to stand here together. It has been more than a week since that horrific night, but it feels as if it just happened hours ago. It doesn't seem possible. It doesn't seem possible. Yet, in the blink of an eye, we lost 67 brave souls. Each morning, I wake up hoping it was all just a nightmare, that somehow it wasn't real, but we all know it was and it is. Psalm 34:18 reminds us: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.'' It is times like these, when grief is overwhelming, that we hold on to the promise of Scripture and the faith passed down from generation to generation, a faith that has carried Kansans through hardship and loss. We remember 1955, a tornado leveled the little city of Udall, and 75 Kansans lost their lives; another horrific plane crash in 1970 carrying the Wichita State University football team, and 31 souls were lost. The tornadoes and storms, the floods, the wildfires--all these disasters have taken too many lives and left so many hearts shattered. Yet, through it all, one thing has remained: our faith and the love and support of our families and our communities. That is what has carried us before, and that is what will carry us now. But I do feel the hurt. We all feel that hurt. It is a pain that feels like a gut punch, an ache that disappears when we distract ourselves, only to return without warning. But I fear for the loved ones left behind because I know this pain never truly goes away. And I know, like my colleagues have said, there are truly no words that can capture the depth of our sorrow that we all feel right now, and we can't begin to imagine the grief of these family members. Yet we want you each to know you don't stand alone. We are with you. We stand beside you. We are mourning with you. Our communities are wrapping their arms around you in prayer and support. Just to speak to the families specifically: We, too, are brokenhearted just like you, and we are also crushed in spirit. Yet there is hope, and we want you to know this, that even in this tragedy, God has not deserted us. He walks with us through these darkest of valleys, and He weeps with those who weep. We are praying for your strength. We are praying for God's comfort and peace to cover you all as we, again, mourn together. Again, like my senior Senator expressed, I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the emergency responders and especially the divers, who I really believe risked their own lives by jumping into a dark, vast, cold river in search of survivors. Thank you so much for doing that, for doing your job so well. Your courage will not be forgotten. I will close with this, and I said this the night of the tragedy: When one life is lost, it is a tragedy. When many are lost at once, it is an unbearable sorrow. It is a heartbreak beyond measure. Again, to the families, we are with you, and so is our Father in Heaven. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Hope Women's Center in Newton, KS, for their efforts in declaring January 22, 2025, as the Sanctity of Human Life Day and Respect for Life Day in Harvey County, KS. Hope Women's Center has long been a leader in promoting the sanctity of life, as they have worked tirelessly to support expectant mothers, providing them with necessary resources, care, and education. Their commitment to protecting and caring for those in need reflects the core values that strengthen our communities, the State of Kansas, and our Nation. As an OB/GYN and a lifelong advocate for life, I delivered over 5,000 babies, witnessing the beauty of life with every birth. There is no greater moment than handing a newborn to their mother for the first time. I remain committed to protecting life at all stages, including the unborn, the expectant mother, and the new mother. Through my experiences in starting and supervising multiple family planning clinics, I believe we must ensure access to prenatal care, nutrition, and childcare, as well as attend to the social challenges a mother faces. I am proud to support legislation that addresses these points, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on legislative solutions that ensure life is protected at all stages in the future. Our Founding Fathers understood that the protection of life is the very cornerstone of our Nation. In declaring that all men are created equal, endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they affirmed the importance of defending life, from conception to natural death. It is our moral duty to ensure that life is cherished and safeguarded, as this principle serves as the moral foundation of America and should be a guiding beacon for the world. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing January 22, 2025, as the Sanctity of Human Life Day and Respect for Life Day in Harvey County, KS, as well as in thanking Hope Women's Center for all the great work they are accomplishing.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, today, I rise to honor and recognize Ms. Connie Palacioz, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday today. Connie's work as a riveter for Boeing during WWII and her pivotal role in the restoration of the B-29 Superfortress ``Doc'' have left an indelible mark on the history of aviation. Her dedication and perseverance embody the values that define Kansas and our Nation, and her remarkable achievements and service to our country are certainly deserving of recognition in the Congressional Record. Connie's journey is one of resilience and determination, demonstrating the power of teamwork and perseverance. Her efforts on the assembly line during the war, alongside her partner Jerri Warden, a trailblazing moment in its own right, exemplify her unwavering spirit and commitment to forging new paths, despite the challenges of the era. The legacy she has built will continue to inspire future generations, enriching the cultural fabric of Kansas and beyond. As she celebrates this milestone, I take this moment to express my deep gratitude for the work she has done. It is individuals like Connie who truly make our country great. Once again, congratulations, Connie, on reaching this incredible milestone. Your contributions to the aviation industry and to our Nation will never be forgotten. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Connie for all that she has accomplished, as well as in wishing her a happy 100th birthday.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, as you know, most every January, hard- working families across this country gather together at their kitchen tables, and they work on a budget. Then, once a month, they try to balance their checkbooks, making a budget, balancing the checkbooks. Congress seems to be incapable of doing either of these. That is why, today, this country faces a national debt of over $36 trillion--$36 trillion. I believe that debt is the greatest threat we have to our long-term national security and to the future of America in so many ways. First, we need to look at how we got here. How did we get to $36 trillion in national debt? I think many of us feel it has been driven by Federal waste, by fraud, and gross mismanagement. Now, last year's Federal deficit--I want you to think about this. We are talking about the deficit now. We have a national debt of $36 trillion. We have a deficit each year. So in this last fiscal year, the Federal Government took in $5 trillion, but we spent $7 trillion. Let me say it again. We took in $5 trillion, but we managed to spend $7 trillion. That is pretty simple math for a deficit of some $2 trillion. This last year, we eclipsed a new benchmark. The Federal Government spent more on interest payments--on interest alone--on the debt than it did on funding the national defense or Medicare. Let me say it again. We spent more on making an interest payment than we did on national defense or Medicare. No matter what your priorities are--whether it is schools, roads, and bridges, or maybe you think we need more military-- when we are spending $1 trillion a year as a nation on interest, lots of things are going to go unaccomplished. The American people have clearly spoken as 77 million people elected Donald J. Trump to be the President and, with them, his priorities in that we deal with the bureaucratic inefficiencies, the overregulation, and a government that prioritizes beltway politics over the heartland, all without any transparency or accountability. So what am I talking about? The Pentagon can't account for $824 billion. Improper Federal payments in 2023 were $236 billion. The pandemic relief lost to fraud and abuse was $200 billion. Right there together, just those three items alone, add up to $1.2 trillion of waste, fraud, and mismanagement. We take a peek again at 2023 and the Biden-Harris administration's open border policies. Think about the costs of taking on these 10 million--maybe more--illegal immigrants. It is at least $150 billion. Our Department of Education spent over $1 billion in promoting DEI initiatives in schools. Let me say it again--$1 billion in promoting the DEI initiatives in schools, but our kids can't read and write and do math. Meanwhile, the U.S. Government adds $6 billion of debt daily. So we are at $6 billion. By the time you wake up in the morning, go to bed, and wake up the next day, we have added another $6 billion of debt. The total debt now, as I said earlier, is over $36 trillion. Again, we are making an interest payment of $1 trillion each year. So this is where DOGE comes in. What can DOGE do here? I am proud to be one of the founding members. I appreciate Senator Ernst's leadership on this. I am committed to addressing this crisis and to reforming the Federal Government to operate with the efficiency and accountability that Americans deserve. To address this spending crisis, we need a plan, and we need accountability. We have some simple reforms that we can make on day one that slash the spending and disrupt the unaccounted-for blank check spending that we are seeing out of this Federal Government. So here are just a few examples, and I have been sharing these with people who are coming into this new administration. If this were a business, the first thing I would do when I would have seen that we had spent $2 trillion more than we had taken in--the first thing I would do is I would freeze Federal employees. I would not hire any more Federal employees. Next, I would require all Federal employees to return to their offices to work. You know, maybe only 1 out of 10, maybe 2 out of 10 Federal employees in DC are actually back in the office working. Next, I would decentralize the Federal Government. There are many functions of the Federal Government that could be better and less costly if we would move them out of this environment. Next, I would implement term limits for political appointees as well as long-term employees. I think there are opportunities for Agency consolidations. We can modernize the IT system. We are spending 80 percent of $100 billion annually on an outdated IT system here in the Federal Government. The opportunities that we would save financially with regulatory reform are infinite. We could roll back energy mandates, EPA limits, methane emission rules. We could expand Federal land leasing for oil and gas production. Next, I would talk about cutting subsidy waste--getting rid of some of the tax credits. For instance, taxpayer-funded electric vehicle subsidies could be done away with. Why in the world are we giving tax credits to foreign entities? So we have foreign countries, foreign entities that are benefiting from some of these tax credits as well. Our grant oversight is just pitiful in the spending of money. With the NGO research grants, we don't know who is spending it and where it is going. Then we are funding billions of dollars on gain-of-function research and teaching China how to develop weapons against Americans. The biodefense program for the NIAID is spending over $2 billion annually, again, to help communist China develop bioweapons against Americans. We need more research accountability. There are opportunities for education reform. Then, with the taxation and IRS reform, we could rescind the $80 billion for IRS funding under the IRA act as well. Certainly, simplifying tax laws would be a great opportunity as well. Those are just a few. That is just a handful of the ideas that we have passed on to DOGE and to President Trump's team, and we look forward to working with them. I think it is enough said. Enough is enough. It is time for Federal Agencies and unelected bureaucrats to remember that we the people sign their checks and that DOGE is absolutely committed to restoring accountability and putting the Federal Government back on the path to serving the American people. These solutions will give beltway bureaucrats fits--it will give them heartburn--but these reforms will finally put the Federal Government on notice and on a path to start working like a business. I will close with this. DOGE can help us identify and prioritize waste. So DOGE is going to help us identify and prioritize the waste, the fraud, and the mismanagement, but it is up to Congress to put their gloves on, roll up their sleeves, and get the work done. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I object.