Roger Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I want to start by thanking the Senator from Nebraska for helping to bring to light the significance of the Dobbs Supreme Court case. For some 30 years, I had the honor, the privilege of delivering a baby most every day of my life. Some 5,000 babies in residency and another 5,000 babies in private practice. Some days, I delivered none. Other days, it was one or two. There were days when I delivered 10, 11, 12 babies a day. Some of those babies I could fit in the palm of my hand. Other babies--I delivered several babies over 15 pounds. It has now been almost 4 years since I delivered my last baby, but I am still often asked: Do I miss obstetrics; and let me tell you, boy, do I miss it. My favorite part of the whole process, as I recall, though, was after a hard, long labor, seeing that baby emerge from the mother, holding that baby in my hands and waiting for it to cry. Sometimes it was crying as it entered into this world, other times it took 5 seconds, sometimes 30 seconds, sometimes a minute or two would go by as we worked on the baby. But my favorite part of every pregnancy was taking that crying baby and handing it over to a new mom and dad. It was absolutely the most spiritual moment of my life--the closest I ever got to seeing what God was truly like, to see a newborn baby in the hands of its mom and dad, with this just total agape love--this unconditional love. It was just the honor of my life to experience that almost on a daily basis. But today I want to talk about my favorite OB visit which came at 15 weeks, typically. At about 15 weeks after conception, moms would come in for maybe their third or fourth visit. My first question was always: Are you feeling the baby move? And the mom's eyes would light up. Maybe she had had a miscarriage before or maybe it was an infertile couple or maybe this was her third or fourth baby, but when I asked them: Are you feeling the baby move yet, her eyes would light up. And mom would lie down on the bed, and I would put my hands on her abdomen and feel the size of her uterus to assess how big the baby was. And so often as I put my hands on her skin, I could feel the baby pushing back or kicking back. And then we put the Doppler on the mom's abdomen and listened to the baby's heartbeat, and usually if there was a brother or sister in the room, that baby's big brother or big sister would squeal: Mommy, what is that noise? What is that noise? And almost every time, as I heard the sibling ask mom that question, you could hear the baby's heart rate increase with excitement. That baby inside the womb knew that was its brother or sister there that was talking, and it was excited to hear that voice. And the mom would respond: Darling, that is your little baby brother or sister. And as mom spoke, the baby's heart rate would slow back down to what it was before--that calming voice. So that brings me to the Dobbs case. The Mississippi Dobbs case protects life after that 15-week visit I just described. I recognize and believe that life begins at conception, but maybe not all of America agrees with me on that. But I do believe with all my heart that a huge part of America agrees, we should not allow abortions on babies that can feel pain or that can respond to their mom's voice or their sibling's voices. Right? Ask yourself that same question. An unborn baby that can feel pain, that knows its mom's voice, should that baby be deprived of life outside the womb? I struggle as I watch America be one of seven nations that allows abortions after 15 weeks. And I point out that all these other nations are agnostic or totalitarian nations for the most part. And I struggle as I recall the moms and dads who lost a baby at 15 weeks or at 18 weeks or at 23 weeks. I recall their mourning. I recall their tears. I recall how, in our hospital, we might be struggling to preserve a pregnancy, to save a baby's life, to be resuscitating a baby while in a nearby town the abortion industry is claiming another life at this same gestational age. I struggle to think we live in a society that allows this barbaric treatment of the unborn. We hope and pray that this landmark Supreme Court case will result in a decision that reflects the values of most Americans and will protect life after 15 weeks. Unfortunately, because of a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court case, my home State of Kansas has become an abortion destination--an abortion destination. The Kansas Supreme Court has paved the way for unlimited abortions, abortions paid for with tax dollars. That is why, back home, I will be fighting for the Value Them Both Amendment that protects the values of both the mom and the baby. Look, America does not want an unlimited, unregulated abortion industry. This is not consistent with our values. I believe most Americans value them both. We value both the mom and the baby. I fought my whole life for moms and babies, and I am going to keep fighting for them both. Mr. President, I yield the floor to my friend and mentor from Texas, who has been leading the fight up here in DC for years. I look forward to his sharing with us what Texans are talking about on the significance of this Dobbs Supreme Court case.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, today I wish to recognize a fellow Kansan, Jace Ward, for his incredible fight against cancer, inspiring advocacy work, and unyielding display of hope in the face of a terminal illness. At the age of 22, Jace passed away surrounded by family and friends, and today, I commemorate the remarkable accomplishments during his short life. Jace was born on February 18, 1999, in Wichita, KS. He enjoyed a fantastic childhood in Inman and then moved to Wamego at age 12, where he excelled in school and extracurricular activities. After graduating from Wamego High School in 2017, Jace attended the University of Kansas, studying law and business with scholarships under the Law Education Accelerated Degree Program and the Business Scholars Program. Following a rollover car accident in February 2019, Jace started to experience eye problems. After an MRI, it was revealed that Jace had an aggressive and particularly deadly form of brain cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine plioma, DIPG. It generally affects children between the ages of 5 to 9 and has no chance of survival as no effective treatment exists. In fact, only 10 percent of patients survive 2 years after their diagnosis, and less than 1 percent survive past 5 years. Despite these unforgiving odds, Jace decided to make the most of the time he had left. After being diagnosed with DIPG, Jace transferred to Kansas State University--KSU--on scholarship and majored in business entrepreneurship. He was awarded a bachelor of business administration degree posthumously from KSU, but while he was studying, he also championed advocacy and awareness for pediatric cancer. While attending KSU, Jace worked vigorously for California-based Emerson Collective as a member of the Health Team, which focuses on advocating and investing funds to combat rare cancers like his. As a member of this organization, he visited with Federal officials in Congress and various agencies at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to raise awareness. Notably, Jace delivered a keynote address at a congressional briefing on DIPG, spoke to the NIH on patient ownership of genomic data, and met with over 67 congressional offices, including mine. As a Member of the House of Representatives and his Congressman, I cosponsored a House resolution expressing support for honoring a day towards DIPG to raise awareness and encourage research into cures for DIPG and other pediatric cancers. As a business major keenly aware of private sector dynamics and pharmaceutical manufacturing, Jace also helped establish partnerships with biopharmaceutical innovators and foundations. He regularly brought together foundations to partner with him on aspirations he had to fill gaps in research and patient navigation. Jace conceptualized a DIPG Patient Navigation System to direct patients to molecular diagnostics and clinical trials, attracted the support of 20 top doctors and several foundations to open this novel system in November. Because of Jace, over 300 tumors previously held in storage awaiting funding for genomic sequencing are now being sequenced added to quadruple those available for researchers. Jace inspired an astonishing $5 million in funding for pediatric brain cancer research and treatment, and it is because of him that over 200 patients received expanded access to an investigational drug. When asked about what he wanted to do with the remaining time he had left and whether he would devote it towards travel or other personal experiences, Jace responded, ``I can't die, I'm busy.'' Jace ignored the ticking clock tethered to him to become a thundering voice for future patients, always putting the need to advance science and protect younger kids and their legacies before his own. As a physician for nearly 30 years, I am no stranger to cancer or the miracle of hope when faced with the heartbreaking news of a diagnosis. Even during the toughest of times, I have witnessed God in my patient's grace and acceptance; Jace is no exception. I am profoundly honored to have had the opportunity to get to know him and his remarkable family. Jace is survived by his loving parents, Roger and Lisa, and his sister, Brooke. I ask my colleagues and all Kansans to join me in remembering Jace's courageous fight, his ability to rise to the challenge, and to make a lasting impact in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, today I wish to recognize Lacy Bower of Hutchinson, KS, for her incredible achievement in attaining not only Girl Scouts's highest honor in the Gold Award, but Boy Scouts's Eagle Scout rank as well. Both are remarkable achievements on their own, but attaining both is truly a remarkable feat. For her Gold Award, Lacy decided to focus her efforts to helping the Hutchinson domestic violence center with her project, ``A Walk of Love.'' To help the shelter, Lacy worked with the community to collect over $5,000 worth of toiletry items, which she then turned into 200 toiletry bags to donate to the shelter. In addition, she helped establish a continual collection process for these items so the shelter can more adequately provide resources for those that use it in the future. Of course, that is only half the story. To accomplish the double feat, Lacy needed to create yet another community project for her Eagle Scout rank. Lacy set her sights on repainting the gymnasium of a church in Hutchinson. After plenty of preparation and recruiting, what she initially thought would take 2 weeks only took her 2 days after successfully recruiting help throughout the Hutchinson area during her preparation process. After achieving these two feats, Lacy has said that she hopes to be an inspiration for young girls to show that they are capable of making a difference and achieving what they want, so long as they put their mind to it. She has certainly set a tremendous example for young women everywhere, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lacy for her outstanding achievements.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, this week's fantasy consideration of the NDAA was a gut punch to our servicemembers and one of the weakest displays we have seen during the Senate Democrats' time in the majority. Let's not forget there are 25 Senate Members serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee under the skillful leadership of Senators Reed and Inhofe. They cleared their version of the NDAA in July of this year--July of this year, months ago--but the majority leader dragged his feet all the way up until late--late--last night, bringing the NDAA to the floor at the third latest point in the year ever. Considering China's military rise and the foreign policy disasters this White House has created, one would think delivering a paycheck to our servicemembers and providing funding to increase our military's lethality would be top of mind. Instead, the majority leader remains focused on reckless taxing, reckless spending, and reckless borrowing that is pushing Americans further into debt, driving up inflation, putting our Nation at a disadvantage, and helping China. While he pointed his finger at Republicans who simply wanted the opportunity for additional amendments on important subjects, the majority leader is to blame for the fact that the other 75 Senators will not get to offer floor amendments and have an opportunity to help shape our military policy this year. But, regardless, the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the majority leader. The inclusion of a manager's amendment is standard operating procedure. It is actually the starting point and should not be where this process is stopped. Not allowing floor amendments breaks years of precedent. What is also standard operating procedure is that the NDAA is a bill that is considered on the floor for multiple days and possibly multiple weeks, not one night. In fact, last year, the Senate debated the NDAA for nearly 3 weeks--3 weeks--starting in June. This body should be able to vote on a myriad of amendments, such as ours, which would prevent dishonorable discharges for military men and women who are forced to separate from the military because of the COVID vaccine mandate. Now, as a physician, I support the vaccine, but I also believe in the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship. And I support those who are defending our freedoms and have carefully weighed their decision with their doctor, their loved ones, their spouses, perhaps their chaplain, and decided this vaccine isn't right for them. Once upon a time, I was that army doctor. And if a strapping, well- fit, 20-year-old Army Ranger or a 19-year-old Navy SEAL or a 22-year- old Air Force pilot walked into my office and said, ``Doc, tell me about this vaccine,'' I would have to say, ``Well, there are certainly benefits to the vaccine, certainly benefits to it, but the risk of having a career-ending complication from this vaccine--like heart inflammation, heart swelling--is greater than the chances of you being hospitalized from the virus.'' Now, that is not true for my parents. That is not true for senior citizens. That is not true for obese people. But a fit, young military person in the prime of their life has a greater chance of having a career-ending complication from the vaccine than they do of being hospitalized from the virus. And by the way, as I am sitting there talking to this pilot, to this Navy SEAL, to this Army Ranger, I would say: If you have that complication, you are going to be out of action for at least 6 months-- at least 6 months--and chances are you will be grounded the rest of your life. You are going to have a checkmark in your medical history. I don't think you'll probably ever be able to fly a plane again. You are never going to be a special ops person again. You have to be the fittest of the fit. And once you have a heart swelling, do you think that I am going to be able to clear you for the needs of your job? Your career as a pilot or a special OPs personnel is over. That is right. Your lifelong dream--the career you have worked your whole life for--is over. And we are going to give this military personnel a dishonorable discharge over this? That is un-American. It is not what Americans believe is right. Unfortunately, the sledgehammer policy out of the White House says that one size has to fit all, and there are no exceptions to its mandate. This is the biggest sledgehammer I have ever seen. They refuse to consider natural immunity, even though we know natural immunity to COVID is the same as, if not more powerful than the vaccine. As a result, President Biden wants to slap a dishonorable discharge on our unvaccinated heroes who put their lives on the line each day to defend our freedoms and our American way of life. A dishonorable discharge is excessive and beyond harsh. They are disqualified from most jobs. They lose access to the GI bill. They lose VA home loans and medical benefits. They lose military funeral honors. A dishonorable discharge treats those defending our freedoms as felons. Our American heroes deserve better. It is important to point out that this amendment, the amendment that we hoped to have offered last night, hoped to have votes on the Senate floor, passed the House Armed Services Committee--unanimously passed the House Armed Services Committee--and was included in their final bill, which passed with 316 votes, including 181 Democrats. That is right. This same amendment passed unanimously out of the House Armed Services Committee, and 181 Democrats on the House side supported this amendment in their NDAA. Over here in the Senate, though, don't let the majority leader fool you; this NDAA process was a closed one as a result of his inability to bring the bill to the Senate floor in a timely manner in order to provide sufficient opportunity for Member input. I urge the majority leader to change course and allow a robust NDAA amendment process that includes a vote on our amendment when the Senate returns after Thanksgiving. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Well, thank you Senator. Indeed, there are more options out there. There are, indeed, more tools in the tool shed that we can use. We plan to oppose any efforts to enforce Joe Biden's vaccine mandate with all the other tools at our disposal, including blocking cloture on any continuing resolution in the absence of language protecting Americans from the mandates. In fact, 50 GOP Senators recently supported this as an amendment to the CR in September. Senator Blackburn, I know that you also would be concerned about using any type of future funding to enforce this unconstitutional mandate.

Mr. MARSHALL. It is, indeed. Thank you so much, the senior Senator from Tennessee, for asking me about something so near and dear to my heart--the patient-physician relationship. I just want to start my remarks by saying that I support the vaccine. I support the vaccine, but I also support an individual's right to decide whether he wants the vaccine or not. That is why I think it is so important to have this patient-physician relationship. I had the duty and the honor to treat thousands of women with a virus. I learned very quickly that the same virus could cause different problems for different patients, and it was based on their previous medical histories and their underlying medical problems as to what my advice might be. What my concern today is, is that so many of these heroes of yesterday, the COVID-19 heroes of yesterday, are now being treated so poorly. They are being told to get the jab or else lose their jobs. This mandate is going to lead to unemployment. It is going to lead to more inflation and further disrupt our supply chain. I just wish I could paint a face of all of these people from Kansas who are reaching out to me, saying: Please don't make me make this choice between the jab or my job. I think of the nurses whom I worked with in Liberal, KS, when the ICU was overflowing. I think of the nuclear engineer folks and the union workers at Wolf Creek Nuclear energy who kept our electricity on. I think of those union workers who work for the Department of Defense contracts in the aerospace industry, and now they are being kicked in the face. They are being told that they are no longer essential, that they are no longer heroes. Senator Blackburn, I am supposing there are heroes in Tennessee who are now being forgotten as well.

Mr. MARSHALL. Senator Blackburn, absolutely. I can't agree with you more. One of the big concerns I have is of our safety as well as our national security. I know that both Tennessee and Kansas have Army and National Guard units, and I have been told that perhaps half of the enlisted soldiers have not had their vaccines yet, and I encourage them to do that. But if they get separated from the military, it is going to leave a huge hole in our national security. I am also concerned about those Active-Duty soldiers who are now being separated from the military as well for refusing the vaccine, and I am concerned about what is going to happen to their records going forward. I was so discouraged when I found out the White House suggested these soldiers get a dishonorable discharge. In case you don't know what a ``dishonorable discharge'' means, you could be treated like a felon. You lose your VA benefits, and you may lose some of your Second Amendment rights and some of your voting rights as well. Certainly, again, there is the impact on national security in losing thousands of our soldiers. Senator Blackburn, I am sure that you have so many people who are reaching out to you of the COVID-19 heroes of Tennessee. I appreciate your bringing this bill to the floor, and I am so happy and honored to support it.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, today I wish to congratulate Julia Misemer, of Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS, on her fourth consecutive State champion title in golf. She is the only golfer to achieve 4-time 6A State champion in Kansas history. The Blue Valley West senior recorded back to back 73s in the 2-day Class 6A State tournament held at Emporia Municipal Golf Course. Her excellence also helped the Jaguars take home the team State championship. Julia is now a four-time Eastern Kansas League Champion, four-time 6A regional Champion, and four-time 6A State Champion--making her the most decorated golfer in Kansas high school history. This year alone, Julia has also finished second in the Justin Thomas Junior Championship, second in the Girls Junior PGA Championship, and first in the UHY Kansas City Junior Tournament. She is currently ranked 23rd nationally by the American Junior Golf Association. Julia was also a member of the Junior Ryder Cup Team which participated in an exhibition match at this year's Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI. This incredible career of talent and consistency on the golf course has been rewarded by an offer to play at the University of Arizona, which she accepted. I take pride in distinguishing Julia Misemer as an exceptional competitor in the world of Kansas high school sports and national junior golf. I look forward to seeing Julia continue her athletic excellence at the collegiate level and beyond. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Julia's achievement and wish her the best of luck as she begins playing at the next level.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I wish to honor two brave citizens of Junction City, KS, Braden and Jayden Harper. These young gentlemen put themselves in the face of danger to save two toddlers from a near fatal accident. In September, Braden and Jayden were helping their aunt wash her car, when they heard screaming coming from a nearby house. They thought at first it was just other children playing on a trampoline, but soon the screaming sounded more like people in peril. The two boys peered over the fence of a nearby house to find the source of the noise and saw twin toddlers not even 2 years old about to drown in a swimming pool. The second they saw the situation, Braden and Jayden hopped over the fence and made a beeline for the pool to rescue the two toddlers. Both the twins were unharmed in the incident, thanks to the Harpers. Because of their efforts, the Harper brothers not only were acknowledged as heroes in school, but also by the Junction City Police Department. Now, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Braden and Jayden for their heroics. These two young men have truly shown what being a good neighbor and good citizen means. They have made their families and the great State of Kansas proud.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I come to the floor today in support of our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line each day to defend our freedoms and our American way of life. Unfortunately, thousands of our heroes are about to lose those very freedoms that they have fought so hard to defend, as Joe Biden's vaccine mandate is threatening them with a dishonorable discharge should they choose not to get the COVID vaccine. Now, let me be clear, as a physician and a veteran, I am confident the vaccine has saved countless lives, and I encourage every veteran, every American to consider and to discuss with their physician getting that vaccine. I believe vaccinating our servicemembers, though, against COVID-19 is such a very, very important effort. But deep down inside, I am still this real doctor from Great Bend, KS, and I believe in the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship and that every one of our situations is unique. A soldier's clinical history is unique. There are pros and cons; there are risks and benefits of taking this vaccine. And each of our soldiers all are using common sense--the common sense that God has given them, and I respect their decisions. This administration should too. Right now, thousands of our servicemembers are not vaccinated. When it comes to our guardsmen and -women in Kansas, only 58 percent are fully or partially vaccinated--a number I am confident would hold true across the remainder of the country. Unfortunately, the policy out of the White House says that one size has to fit all; that there is no exception, even though we know that natural immunity to COVID is the same as, if not more powerful than, the vaccine. We have never asked people--especially military folks--to get a vaccine for a virus they are already immune to or a virus that doesn't affect them. It just doesn't make sense. Because of Joe Biden's vaccine mandate, thousands of American heroes are going to be separated from the service, and they are going to, perhaps, be given a dishonorable discharge. I want to make sure this body and the American people understand exactly what the significance of a dishonorable discharge is. Soldiers will lose access to medical benefits from the VA. They will lose access to home loans from the VA. They will lose access to the GI bill for further education. They will potentially lose their right to vote in some States. They will lose their Second Amendment rights and access to ammunition. They will lose military funeral honors. They will lose the ability to reenlist in another branch of military. And they will have an extremely difficult time finding employment. Getting a dishonorable discharge may be the worst checkmark you can get in your life--truly, a scarlet letter. These sort of repercussions sound like they should be reserved for felons. But, no, this is what Joe Biden wants to hand down to our servicemembers. This is insulting, and we must put a stop to it. For these reasons, I introduced legislation--the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act--to prohibit the Department of Defense from dishonorably discharging American heroes who choose to not receive a COVID-19 vaccine. There is no question about it: American heroes should not be treated as felons because of their personal medical choices. This is one of a number of highly important issues for our national security that Leader Schumer and our colleagues across the aisle have to put on hold while they go back and forth on how to spend taxpayers' money on their radical agenda instead of finalizing the NDAA. The annual defense bill is the only authorizing legislation that Congress passes every year--60 years in a row, as a matter of fact--but this now is the fourth latest in history that it has been initially brought up for consideration on the Senate floor. Considering the foreign policy disasters this White House has created, one would think delivering a paycheck to our servicemembers and funding to increase our military's lethality would be top of mind. Our troops deserve better, and I am calling on Leader Schumer to bring the NDAA to the floor. Our American heroes deserve better than this, and we need to get to my amendment as soon as possible. I want to thank Senators Cruz, Lankford, Tuberville, Cramer, Johnson, Senators Rick Scott, Kennedy, and Senator Wicker for joining me in this important legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with them once we submit it as an amendment to the NDAA. I yield back.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, EcoHealth Alliance received hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer grants and contracts, including $65 million from USAID. This company and their research may well hold in their hands the smoking gun to getting to the bottom of COVID's origins, and millions of families who lost loved ones deserve closure. Any Federal Agency that has given them money must be transparent and provide Congress all information on what EcoHealth used that money for. We asked for this information months ago. USAID has failed to do so, and that is why I am here to object to these two unanimous consent requests. Therefore, I object.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I wish to honor and recognize a true hero from Phillipsburg, KS, Deputy Sheriff John Miner. On November 4, 2020, Deputy Miner responded to an accident caused by a semi-truck colliding with multiple vehicles in Long Island, KS. What was already a scary situation on its own turned worse when fuel from the semi began leaking and ignited shortly after. A raging fire quickly started, and suddenly, bystanders realized two toddlers--a 4-year-old and 2-year-old--were stuck in one of the cars caught in the accident. Without a second thought, Deputy Miner performed his duty to protect and serve by leaping straight into the whipping fire to rescue those two children. With just a pocketknife, he was able to cut through the seatbelts trapping them and pulled them out miraculously unharmed. Deputy Miner, however, suffered second- and third-degree burns which required skin grafts. Thankfully, he has since recovered from his injuries. This valiant story caught the attention of many in Kansas and, now, around the Nation, as Deputy Miner has been awarded the Carnegie medal for an extraordinary act of heroism. This award is bestowed on a select few each year for showing true bravery and courage in the face of danger. Deputy Miner is absolutely deserving of this award after rescuing those two children last year from certain death. I want to thank this brave officer for being so courageous to dive headfirst into peril. As the son of a police chief, I know the risks our men and women in blue take on each day, and they are the most admirable citizens for continually working to ensure our safety. Deputy Miner has shown what true valor looks like, and Phillipsburg is safer because of him. I ask now that my colleagues show this same admiration and recognition for Deputy Miner and that he may stay safe protecting his community.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, before I wrap up, I want to voice my support for Kansas City's bid to serve as host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup prior to tomorrow's highly anticipated venue visit by FIFA representatives. Kansas is home to some of the most devoted, fanatic soccer fans in the world that are ready to cheer on Team USA, and what better place to do it than in America's heartland. The Kansas City community, alongside Sporting KC, has shown unwavering commitment to make this dream a reality, and Kansas City is no stranger to hosting major sporting events, from the Big 12 Men's Basketball Conference Championships, NCAA March Madness, and plans to host the NFL Football Draft in 2023. We have great, fan-friendly facilities and something for everyone in the family to do. We have the lodging, public transportation, shopping and dining options needed to make the 2026 World Cup a great success. The FIFA World Cup is the largest and most prestigious single-sport event in the world, and there is no better place for it to be held than Kansas City. Thank you. I yield back.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns in my office be granted floor privileges until October 21, 2021: Dominique Rupp, Mason Witzke, and Francis Prosser.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today with a warning for Kansans and all Americans that the inflation we are seeing, Bidenflation, as I call it, is here to stay so long as those on the left continue to jam through reckless tax-and-spend bills. Unfortunately, the inflation we are seeing is a double whammy. You have less money to spend, and the things you want to buy cost more. It is hurting every hard-working American but none more than our seniors and young families living paycheck to paycheck. No, President Biden, inflation is not a problem of just the high class. Indeed, there is no equity in Bidenflation. Make no mistake, inflation and all of its lingering effects rest squarely on the shoulders of President Biden's failed social policies. It is yet another crisis created by this administration. Having personally lived through the seventies and eighties, I have seen inflation happen firsthand. I have seen it bring so many businesses down. And to put it in simpler terms, inflation is a vicious cycle, like a dog chasing its own tail and the tail is on fire. And, of course, the Biden administration has been throwing gasoline on this fire since the moment they took office. Today's inflation crisis began with Joe Biden's boondoggle stimulus bill and the proceeding labor shortages. For months now, we are seeing ``Help Wanted'' signs everywhere, from the small mom-and-pop shops on Main Street to big hotel chains and fast-food restaurants. Employers are struggling to fill the open jobs they have despite raising wages and offering return-to-work bonuses. This labor shortage is having a rippling effect across our economy, from slowing down the supply and logistics chains to putting an unfair burden on employees who choose to show up. This ripple has turned into a tidal wave of inflation and now a full-blown tsunami. But the storm waves don't stop there. The cost of living has increased as a result of production delays caused by labor shortages. Higher costs at home, such as the cost of gasoline, vehicles, groceries, and energy costs caused workers to go on strike asking for higher wages just to make ends meet. Folks, I have got news for you: Wages never keep up with inflation. All this, in turn, drives up the cost of goods and services even more. You get the point. Inflation is a vicious cycle. This is the dog chasing its own tail. But Bidenflation doesn't stop there now. Why? Because President Biden is throwing more gasoline on the fire with his unconstitutional vaccine mandate. I, too, have seen this firsthand. Just last week, I was in Kansas to meet with union members who are facing the difficult choice of keeping their jobs or getting the COVID vaccine. These folks aren't just mad; they are panicked. And it is literally job or jab for them. In fact, the unions I spoke with estimate they will lose 30 to 50 percent of their workforce due to Joe Biden's vaccine mandate. This will make both our supply chain shortages as well as inflation even worse. Mr. President, while I support the COVID vaccine and encourage folks to talk to their doctor about whether to get it, there is no doubt that President Biden's vaccination decree is an all-out assault on our private businesses, our civil liberties, and our entire constitutional system of limited government. And it is a slap in the face to so many people who stood on the frontlines of the COVID battle last year and never stopped working: nurses, doctors, first responders, and those union workers I met with last week. Trust me, I have heard loud and clear these few weeks from Kansans about what they want, and it is not an unconstitutional vaccine mandate. It is not the socialism that is born out of trillions of dollars' worth of spending and taxing that has led to reckless inflation, hampered our economy, and killed our jobs. The question is, Do Americans want Big Government socialism or do we want economic freedom and prosperity? Kansans agree that if you want strong roads, bridges, high-speed internet, good schools, and a strong military, we need a strong economy. That should be our focus right now, not continuing down this administration's socialist economic policies. Pre-COVID, we had the greatest economy in my lifetime. That came about because we lowered people's taxes; we lowered regulations; and we lowered energy prices. We need smart, targeted investments, not radical spending that leaves the country at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, in the meantime, everyone better buckle up and grab your wallets. Bidenflation is here to stay as long as this administration continues its reckless taxing, reckless borrowing, and reckless spending agenda.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise in support of our amendment to prohibit funds in this legislation to be used to promulgate, fund, or enforce President Biden's unconstitutional vaccine mandate on private employers. As a physician, I am confident the vaccine has saved lives. My wife and I got the vaccine. My parents got the vaccine, and they are waiting to get their boosters. But whether to receive it is a personal choice between individuals and their doctor, not mandated via unconstitutional Executive actions that the administration recently acknowledged they didn't have authority to put in place. No precedent exists in American history for punishing private employers that don't enforce government vaccination edicts. Astonishingly, House Democrats included fines of up to $700,000 on businesses that have unvaccinated employees as a way to pay for their out-of-control spending. Make no mistake. This vaccine mandate is not about public health or science. If it were, we would recognize natural immunity as a highly effective way to combat the virus.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, with a Democratic President in the White House, Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, and Democrats controlling the Senate, those on the left have every arrow in the quiver they need to raise the debt limit. It is their sole responsibility. They own this. It is also their responsibility, having control of all the levers of government, to ensure that government does not shut down next Thursday at midnight. As you have already heard from my colleagues here today, we Republicans are united in the fact that we will not assist in passing another reckless, Big Government, socialism package designed to reshape the Nation and make Americans more dependent on the government from the moment they are born to the moment they die. FDR once warned of a government dependency when he said that ``continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit.'' As elected officials, we are supposed to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We are supposed to leave this country in better shape for our children and grandchildren. But the Democrats' tax-and-spending spree accomplishes neither of these things and, in fact, further promulgates the government dependency FDR cautioned future generations about. What is shocking is that in just one generation the national debt has soared from $5 trillion to more than $28 trillion. Think about that for a second. In the first 225 years of our Nation's history, the national debt was approximately $5 trillion. In the last 20 years, we have increased it by nearly another $25 trillion, including accumulating more than $7 trillion in just the past 2 years. Now, I said this before, but, folks, grab your wallets. Grab your wallets because the bill they want to pass for reconciliation is going to include massive spending that will put heavy debt on our country. It is going to raise your taxes. It is going to cause Medicare to run out in 2 years. And it is going to continue to drive up the cost of living. The inflation we are seeing now is a double whammy. You have less money to spend, and the things you are able to buy cost more. It is hurting every hard-working American, but none more than our seniors and young families living paycheck to paycheck. This looming government shutdown is just another crisis created by this administration. They created a crisis at our southern border, in Afghanistan, with a labor shortage, and now on the pocketbooks of Americans with a multitrillion-dollar socialist spending package. While it is true America has seen a number of horrendous financial crises before, none have so quickly developed as the pending fiscal crisis President Biden created with the trillions of dollars' worth of reckless spending and reckless taxing in just the first 9 months of control. And Democrats are now pointing fingers at Republicans, claiming that by refusing to go along with their out-of-control spending and joining them to increase the debt limit, that we are the ones who are being financially irresponsible. Give me a break. If they were serious about getting our fiscal house in order, they wouldn't be trying to force through another partisan spending bill that is going to bankrupt our country and instead would be pursuing budget reforms and debt reduction proposals in exchange for increasing the debt. This is not a serious political party, and America needs to recognize that we have a choice between free enterprise capitalism and a socialist economy. Trust me, I heard loud and clear this past weekend during my townhall meetings in the Kansas City area about what Kansans want, and it is not the socialism that has borne out trillions of dollars' worth of spending and taxing that has led to reckless inflation, hampered our economy, and killed our jobs. Ultimately, if you want strong roads, bridges, high-speed internet, good schools, and a strong military, we need a stronger economy. That should be our focus right now, not continuing down this administration's socialist economic policies. Pre-COVID, we had the greatest economy in my lifetime. That came about because we lowered people's taxes, we lowered regulations, and we lowered energy prices. We need smart, targeted investments, not radical spending that leaves the country at a disadvantage. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, as we all work to address vaccine hesitancy and anxiously await full approval of the COVID-19 vaccines, open border policies undermine these efforts. Americans can travel to Mexico City but not return to America without a COVID test, while an illegal immigrant has no test requirements, and in just a few days, it will be easier to illegally cross our southern border than go to a restaurant or a bar in New York City. Some estimates would suggest hundreds or, perhaps, even thousands of COVID-positive illegal immigrants enter our Republic every day. That means we have a superspreader event at our southern border every single day, and Americans are watching this public healthcare crisis. In McAllen, TX, almost 1,500 new infected migrants were released into their communities this past week alone. There is a healthcare crisis at our southern border, and it is unacceptable for the government to be transporting illegal migrants who pose a grave risk of transmitting COVID across our Nation. My amendment would ensure resources are provided for testing and treatment of migrants at the border and for quarantining those who test positive for COVID as well as prohibiting the transportation of migrants who have not received a negative test.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 3797 and ask that it be reported by number.

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, were I present during the vote today on H.R. 3237, as amended, I would have vote yea.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, America has seen a number of horrendous financial crises before, but none that have so quickly developed as the fiscal crisis this White House created with trillions of dollars' worth of drunken spending and tax proposals in just the first 7 months of control. The most glaring, almost parody-level, example is the administration's $3.5 trillion and growing, newly labeled, human infrastructure package, which is nothing more than a rosy-sounding title for socialism. The results of these radical tax-and-spending policies, what are they? A sluggish economy, inflation, and one of the most dramatic expansions of the welfare state in recent history. Recently, the Department of Labor reported that consumer prices climbed for the third straight month, jumping 5 percent in June, the largest increase in 13 years. Every day, we see inflation impacting hard-working Americans. In fact, this past weekend, we held five townhall meetings in Kansas, and thanks to this administration's economic policies, runaway inflation has replaced COVID at the top of the mountain of concerns for people of my home State. In Kansas, we are paying more than $1 more per gallon at the gas pump, 40 cents more per gallon of milk, and almost 20 percent more for a home than we were at this time last year. While wages have increased, inflation continues to outpace them by more than two-to-one. I have heard loudly and clearly the concerns from Kansans, and especially from small business owners, the backbone of our economy, about the impact of the Democrats' reckless summer tax-and-spending spree. One tax proposal, the elimination of stepped-up basis, would be devastating to small businesses and family farms, as that provision allows them to hand down their family business from one generation to the next without paying a costly tax burden. Under the administration's plan, the average farmer would have a new tax obligation of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, as cropland values in Kansas have risen 220 percent since 1997, not to mention the economy-killing policy of eliminating 1031 exchanges and taxing capital gains at ordinary income levels. On the spending front, this administration continues to pursue unsustainable and irresponsible spending policies that are actually ruining our economic recovery. Further, they want to increase the debt limit without implementing any spending reforms. This is going to crush our children and grandchildren, leaving their generation to pay for the social sins of this generation. Instead of getting our fiscal house in order and curbing back on massive government spending, this administration and Democrats in Congress are working to pass trillions more in reckless spending under the guise of infrastructure. Pre-COVID, we had the greatest economy in my lifetime. That came about because we lowered people's taxes, we lowered regulations, and we lowered energy prices. We need smart, targeted investments, not radical spending that leaves this country at a disadvantage and kills jobs. I yield the floor.

Mr. MARSHALL

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to join my colleagues in opposing the motion to discharge President Biden's nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, Tracy Stone-Manning. Since Ms. Stone-Manning's first hearing in the beginning of June, members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee have gathered copious amounts of information regarding a number of controversies that disqualify her for this important role within our Federal Government. As has been highlighted today, Ms. Stone-Manning was involved in a tree-spiking plot as a member of the ecoterrorist group Earth First!--a tree-spiking plot. I have to tell you, I didn't know what tree spiking was until a couple of weeks ago. Could you imagine taking this nail and driving it into a tree with the hopes it would deter that tree from ever being cut down And the concern is, someone that would take a chain saw, cutting through that tree, when they would hit this spike, what would happen? I, unfortunately, had to take care of more than one chain saw situation in the emergency room. Let me tell you about a chain saw accident. The chain doesn't cut the flesh; it tears the flesh apart. It tears the skin apart, the muscles apart. It grabs the tendon and literally wraps them around the chain saw, usually permanently maiming people. So could you imagine, if a chain saw hit this spike, what would happen? Again, I have ran a chain saw before, and I know, as you are running the chain saw and you hit something solid, something hard--a knot-- sometimes that chain saw bounces. It bounces back into your body. And that is where most of the accidents occur. So could you imagine, if that chain saw hit this spike, the chain saw is going to bounce back, going to recoil into the person's body, and turns this spike into a piece of shrapnel? This Earth First! Ms. Stone was a member of is a radical organization that spanned the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the peak years of what is often referred to as ``the wilderness wars.'' As described by the Wall Street Journal, Earth First! had, at the time, ``defined itself''--and I should quote here, ``defined itself as the tip of the fanatical spear,'' and Ms. Stone-Manning was referred to as ``an Earth First! spokesperson.'' Debuting in 1985, the group engaged in a number of protests over the expansion of certain campgrounds and street theater asking people to take oaths to protect the Earth. However, they graduated into violence and ecoterrorist activities, including arson, equipment destruction, and the dangerous practice of tree spiking, which mangles saws and can easily result in the death of loggers. In 1989, Ms. Stone-Manning was involved in an incident of tree spiking herself. Despite her denial, she was aware of the act being carried out, aided those who were involved, and helped cover it up. She obstructed the investigation and, finally, traded testimony for immunity. At a time when the Biden administration has declared domestic extremism as one of the biggest threats the United States faces today, how can the President nominate someone with a record like this to lead the Agency that governs one-eighth of the country's landmass? How can this body bring her confirmation vote to the floor? It is reckless and dripping with hypocrisy. Republican Members who have come to the floor today are not the only individuals who believe she is unfit for this role. President Obama's first Bureau of Land Management Director, Bobby Abbey, who led the Agency from 2009 to 2012, said last month that Ms. Stone-Manning should withdraw her nomination due to her involvement in the tree-spiking case. Steve Ellis, who served as Deputy Director of BLM under President Obama, joined Mr. Abbey last week in expressing his concern about Ms. Stone-Manning's nomination, stating the leader of the BLM must--again, I quote--``be respected by career employees and across the landscape, in both blue and red states'' in order to be effective. In addition to her involvement with Earth First! and this horrific tree-spiking incident, Ms. Stone-Manning had a questionable financial history during her time serving in government. During the lengthy hearing process, I was alarmed to learn that Ms. Stone-Manning received a $100,000 loan from a Montana land developer and Democratic donor when she worked as a congressional staffer. Senate Ethics rules and Federal statute prohibit Senate staff from accepting gifts greater than $250, including a loan, unless a waiver is granted.