Ashley Moody

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true hero with the Florida's Finest Award. It is so important that we as Members of Congress recognize those who bravely step up to serve and in their own way, whether personally or professionally, preserve our democracy and preserve this Nation's commitment to the rule of law. Certainly, as the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have always been so proud to do this and recognize some of our bravest among our Florida heroes-- Florida law enforcement. Back in December, Port St. Lucie police sergeant Eric Levasseur--a 27-year veteran of the force--was brutally shot twice in the face when responding to a residence where a suspect emerged, armed with a rifle, and opened fired on him. This happened back on December 6. It was a routine response to a call for help, a call for service. That call stemmed from a neighbor dispute, and it involved a mental health issue. Certainly, as police officers are called upon every day to show up in neighborhoods and answer these calls for service, he had no idea what awaited him. When Sergeant Levasseur and other officers arrived at the scene, they encountered an armed male suspect. The police report shows that when they arrived on scene, this person emerged from the garage, hoisting a gun and firing shots immediately. He attempted to run at and flank them--covering them with bullets. Sergeant Levasseur was struck twice--one bullet near his nose and another just beneath it. They are one-in-a-million injuries that narrowly avoided major arteries and brain trauma. Other officers on scene subdued the suspect, but Sergeant Levasseur's journey to recovery was just beginning. He underwent five surgeries-- two on his eyes to remove shrapnel and three others on his face. From the beginning of those recovery efforts, he repeatedly said--again, this is someone who is a 27-year veteran on the force. He said repeatedly that he was looking forward to getting back to work to continue to serve his community, to show up for others when they call for help. In March, he was surrounded by family, friends, and fellow officers when he received a law enforcement Purple Heart from the Port St. Lucie Police Department for his service. Since that tragic day, Sergeant Levasseur's courage and sacrifice have been repeatedly recognized by people throughout his community and even across our Nation. Earlier this year, he was honored with a Valor Award from the First Responders Foundation, which was a fitting tribute to an officer who demonstrated extraordinary bravery in the face of danger. Another really meaningful gesture and recognition came from a fellow American who understood sacrifice in a deeply personal way. A local veteran in Florida, SSgt Thomas Mateo, chose to present Sergeant Levasseur with one of his own Purple Heart medals--a distinction that he earned through his service to our Nation. Mateo had also served in law enforcement and had earned six Purple Hearts over two deployments to Vietnam in the 1960s. Two weeks after Sergeant Levasseur was shot in action, Mateo placed one of his own Purple Hearts in a box and presented it to St. Lucie police chief Leo Niemczyk to give to Sergeant Levasseur. The Purple Heart, as the Presiding Officer knows, is one of our Nation's most revered symbols of courage and sacrifice. For a veteran to entrust and present his own medal to Sergeant Levasseur was a profound recognition of the selflessness he displayed while protecting his fellow officers and the community he serves. It takes a very special person to become a law enforcement officer. I can tell you that, having served as a prosecutor, as a judge, and as the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have watched those who sign up and say they will put their safety behind the safety of others. It takes someone willing to face uncertainty, as was realized here, and not knowing what ultimately a shift may bring. It takes someone with a family who will back them to do that. Not everyone is cut out for it. For those who swear the oath and wear the badge to protect and serve, we are so grateful for their service and sacrifice. Sergeant Levasseur's 27 years of service, his courage under fire, and his determination throughout recovery show that he is truly cut from a different cloth. It is my privilege to recognize Sergeant Levasseur today on the Senate floor with the Florida's Finest Award in recognition by this Congress and to share my gratitude and appreciation for his dedicated service to not only his community but to our great, free State of Florida. It is people like him who truly make Florida the envy of the Nation and a stronger and safer State. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, today I ask the Senate to recognize and celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. For 175 years, Alpha Delta Pi has been a wellspring of sisterhood, service, character, and knowledge for young women across the country. Growing from a handful of members in 1851 to its more than 290,000 lifetime initiates today, Alpha Delta Pi has shaped generations of women who have gone on to lead in every corner of American life. Florida holds a particularly special place in the story of Alpha Delta Pi. Today, the organization has 11 active chapters across our State, with 1,775 active members, 1,458 of whom call Florida home. Notably, the Gamma Iota Chapter from the University of Florida has alumni serving as Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. This resolution acknowledges the contributions that Alpha Delta Pi has made to the United States. The women of Alpha Delta Pi do not simply wear letters; they ``Live For Each Other.'' I congratulate Alpha Delta Pi on this remarkable milestone and look forward to many more years of sisterhood. To every sister, past, present, and future: Thank you for the lifelong sisterhood you represent.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Clarke nomination; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motions filed on May 14 ripen at 11:45 a.m. and that if cloture is invoked on the Clarke nomination, then, following that vote, the Senate recess for the weekly conference meetings until 2 p.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at 2:15 p.m.; and, finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mrs. MOODY. Madam President, for the information of my colleagues, we expect to vote in relation to S.J. Res. 185 tomorrow afternoon.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that following the confirmation vote of the nominations to be considered en bloc pursuant to S. Res. 690, the Senate resume legislative session and stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, today I ask the Senate to recognize and celebrate a truly iconic symbol of American strength and excellence, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, known to millions simply as the Blue Angels, as they mark their 80th anniversary on April 24, 2026. Established on April 24, 1946, by order of Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Blue Angels were created to showcase the skill, precision, and professionalism of U.S. naval aviation and to inspire confidence in our Armed Forces following World War II. Eighty years later, they have done exactly that--and so much more. Based in Pensacola, FL, since 1955, the Blue Angels are not just a flight team; they are a proud part of the gulf coast community and a cornerstone of our Nation's military heritage. Each year, the squadron performs in more than 60 air shows across the United States, thrilling approximately 11 million spectators annually, while reaching tens of thousands more through visits to schools, hospitals, and community events. Since their inception, the Blue Angels have inspired over 500 million spectators worldwide, serving as powerful ambassadors of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Their mission is simple: to demonstrate the teamwork, discipline, and pride that define the men and women of our naval services and to inspire the next generation to serve something greater than themselves. Today, the team flies the F/A-18 Super Hornet, one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, showcasing the cutting edge of American military aviation. But what makes the Blue Angels truly extraordinary is not just the aircraft; it is the people. The squadron is composed of 158 Active-Duty sailors and marines, supported by a highly selective group of pilots who represent the very best of naval aviation. More than 290 demonstration pilots have worn the Blue Angels uniform since 1946. These are men and women who have served in combat, led in the fleet, and volunteered to take on one of the most demanding and visible roles in the military: flying in tight formation at speeds exceeding 400 miles per hour, often separated by mere inches. From their earliest days flying the F6F Hellcat in 1946, to their transition into jet aircraft in 1949, and now into the modern era of advanced Super Hornets, the Blue Angels have continually evolved while maintaining the same core values of precision, discipline, and excellence. They are the second-oldest formal aerobatic team in the world and, without question, one of the most respected. For 80 years, the Blue Angels have reminded us what greatness looks like when courage meets discipline, when teamwork meets trust, and when Americans commit themselves fully to a mission. They represent the very best of our Nation. This is the story of the Blue Angels. And in many ways, that is the story of America. On behalf of the State of Florida and especially the proud community of Pensacola that calls them ``our Blue Angels,'' I extend my deepest gratitude to every pilot, every sailor, every marine--past and present--who has worn the Blue Angels uniform. I ask to please join me in honoring the 80th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. May they continue to inspire generations to come. May God bless them, and God bless the United States of America.

Mrs. MOODY

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

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I also rise today to address the importance, in fact, the necessity that we expediently fund ICE and CBP and we take measures to ensure that in the future these Agencies are not held hostage by political games from the Democratic Party. We are here again facing a situation where we have critical public safety Agencies at risk for not being funded at a time when we are in the middle of an armed conflict, at a time when we need our communities to have our officers and those that support them at the top of their game because the men and women of ICE and CBP are on the frontlines every single day. They secure our borders, they enforce our laws, and they protect our communities. And yet we will debate again whether we are going to give them the resources they need to do their jobs. And this should not be controversial. I cannot believe in my first year at the U.S. Senate, I have had to come to the floor multiple times to merely fund critical public safety Agencies, Agencies that were created after 9/11. We have to pass the reconciliation bill, and we have to fund ICE and CBP, not just for the short term, for the long term because this is not going to stop. The modern Democratic Party has no interest in being on Team America. Everything that they are espousing is subversive to the strength and security of this Nation, whether that is abolish ICE, whether that is defund the police, whether that is destroy our borders and roll out a welcome mat. It cannot happen. And too often in this town, we see the same pattern play out when we face this obstructionist behavior. I would call it dangerous behavior. We kick the can down the road, and the American people are sick of it. Thousands of TSA agents who have worked more days unpaid than paid during this fiscal year are sick of it. We aren't sent here to keep parts of our vital government Agencies shuttered at a time when our security is threatened. All of us here know we need DHS to keep us safe. So we should be coming here every day to give them the tools that they need, the resources they need, not tying their hands behind their back with short-term funding patches and political gridlock--not to mention the attack on morale that they must feel when their very jobs are threatened every time the Democrats throw a political tantrum. It shouldn't take Executive orders or emergency measures to get these critical safety folks paid, but that is the hand that the Democrats keep dealing us. And if we are serious about solving this, not just now as we move into passing reconciliation, but if we want to prevent this from happening in the future, if we want to move the Senate's work forward, especially when we are dealing with funding critical public safety Agencies, we have to take a hard look at how this body--the Senate-- operates. Because what has happened when there have been lapses in funding, what has happened in my first year here at the Senate, when I have pushed to get this done, pled with all--everyone in this Chamber--to get this done, stayed here, what happens? Government workers go unpaid, our government shuts down, and often Senators are told to go home. We are not just told to go home. Taxpayers fund Senators to go home. They reimburse them for travel in the middle of a government shutdown when we are not paying government workers, and the buck stops here. We have to commit to solving this problem, not just funding the Agencies, but solving the problem that how the Senate has done things historically is not working. It is not working in the face of a Democratic Party who is not on Team America. It is not working on the face of the modern-day Democrats in this Chamber that are not just voicing subversiveness, they are taking actions in this Chamber to undermine the security of this country. The ways we have always done things as a Senate does not work anymore. It does not work for this country. It does not work for the American people, and we have got to be bold and do something about it. And that is why I have introduced a resolution to forbid taxpayers dollars for reimbursement of Member travel home during a lapse in government funding because if we are asking Federal employees to deal with uncertainty, if we are asking our ICE officers and Border Patrol to continue doing their jobs without clarity, if we are asking TSA agents to continue showing up without clarity, we should be willing to stay here and do ours. If Senators stayed in Washington and worked through the problem and focused on the discussions and delivering results and how do we do this--I mean, we are having to work around and go to a reconciliation as opposed to the normal budgeting process in order to fund DHS. I dare say, I wonder if we would have gotten to this idea if we had been forced to stay here and deal with this a lot sooner. It shouldn't be complicated; funding the government is one of our most fundamental roles. The stakes of not fully funding ICE and CBP are far too high. Americans are clearly at risk right now. We know why my Democratic colleagues are obstructing this process. They told you--they told you-- where their priorities lie. They want to go back to how things were under the previous administration, you know, when they broke down all security measures at the border, when they made it open borders, when they demoralized and undermined law enforcement. They like that. They don't like it when they have Republican leadership and a President in the White House that are saying: That was backward. That put Americans in danger. We have to do things differently, and we have got to clean up the mess. And what is this mess? I mean, I don't want to just broadly say it was dangerous. Let's talk about the mess. Let's talk about the catastrophic place we find ourselves in. We now have thousands of people that were on the Terrorist Watchlist that were ushered in by the Biden administration, and we know that they released them and pushed them into this country. They are here right now. So in the middle of an armed conflict, we have people in this country right now that were on the Terrorist Watchlist that were released by the last administration, and the Democrats' response is to not fund the folks that were going to go out and find them. Let's talk about the 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was killed by an illegal immigrant in Georgia, or the 18-year-old college freshman Sheridan Gorman, shot and killed in a random attack by an illegal immigrant in Chicago. Or in my home State of Florida, in Fort Myers, just recently, an illegal immigrant bludgeoned a mother to death outside of a gas station. These are just a few examples, but they are not--it is reality. It is not hypothetical. It is not what could happen. It is what is happening. And so we have to take action today, and that means if we have to stay here and get this done during times of shutdown, let's do it. And anything that will incentivize that, we should promote, we should support, and we should pass. And that means changing our own rules, changing the way that we are doing business here in the Senate, because in so many ways, business as usual in the Senate isn't cutting it. And so I invite my colleagues, who are really on Team America, to show that they are on Team America and show they are willing to put in the hard work and roll up their sleeves and stay here, when we find ourselves in a funding lapse of critical safety Agencies, to support my resolution and support the reconciliation that will fund CBP and ICE. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. 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:

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, today I ask the Senate to recognize an extraordinary athlete and a proud son of Florida's Suncoast, Declan Farmer for once again bringing honor to our Nation with his gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This remarkable achievement marks a historic fifth consecutive gold for Team USA in para ice hockey, a testament to the talent and tenacity Declan brings to the ice. Declan's journey began in Clearwater at the age of 9. A bilateral amputee, he discovered a passion for sled hockey that would propel him from the local rinks to the world stage. From his early days at Berkeley Preparatory School to his time at Princeton University, Declan has exemplified excellence both on and off the ice. His local roots in Florida remain deep. He has competed with the Tampa Bay Lightning Sled Hockey Team, the Space Coast Hurricanes, and Florida Bandits, inspiring athletes across our State and Nation. Since joining the U.S. National Team at just 14 years old, Declan has become a dominant force in the sport. His accomplishments include: Paralympic gold medals in 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026; leading scorer honors at the 2013 World Championship, as well as the 2018 and 2026 Paralympics; and recognition as the Best Male Athlete with a Disability at the 2014 ESPY Awards. Through tireless dedication and unmatched skill, Declan Farmer represents the best of the American spirit. It is a privilege to recognize his achievements and his contributions to Team USA and honor the legacy he continues to build for future athletes in Florida and across our Nation.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I, like you, I know, am incredibly frustrated at the lack of funding for one of our most important Agencies in the Nation--the Department of Homeland Security. Due to my Democratic defund disorder colleagues, the political antics they have thrown up to block funding for this incredibly important Agency is being done at the expense of protecting Americans. We are now in week 6 of an ongoing DHS shutdown. While our country is actively fighting an adversary in the Middle East, it leaves our homeland vulnerable to attacks. Thousands of DHS employees have now missed multiple paychecks because of the show. At the same time, security efforts around the Capitol are being increased, so Democrats get to hide here in Washington, in the Capitol, safe and sound, while blocking funding to individuals around the Nation who can help protect Americans and keep our country secure. Let's not fool ourselves. Floridians and Americans alike know that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are pushing a shutdown of DHS funding because they don't want a secure border. They don't want to remove people that are here illegally and committing crimes. They have done everything they can to work against that. This shutdown is about way more than what they profess it to be. This is about blasting apart the security structure President Trump has rebuilt after Biden destroyed the border. For 4 long years, we watched as the previous administration disregarded the law and sowed chaos and destruction at our southern border, allowing a historic surge-- historic; some say up to 20 million people, many unvetted--to pour into this country. The shutdown has been dragging on so long because my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle cannot stand that the border is now secure again and DHS is doing its job. They cannot stand that the border isn't wide open. They can't stand that unmitigated illegal immigration has been halted. Because of this, they are throwing a temper tantrum, disguising this shutdown as anything other than what it is, and that is a mission to defund police. Under Biden's watch, approximately anywhere from 11 million to 20 million people flooded into this country. Narcoterrorist cartels were enabled to bring massive amounts of deadly substances like fentanyl into our neighborhoods. It killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. As the attorney general in Florida, I was among the first to call attention to the disregard of law and fought in court against the massive security breaches and shed a spotlight on how Biden and his administration disregarded their duty and put us all at risk. I took legal action to force them to simply follow the law and stop releasing dangerous people and violent offenders into our country. That once wide-open border was closed by Trump. It is closed. On day one, he took unprecedented action to close the border and started enforcing the law again. He took action against the drug cartels and the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to keep our communities safe. Under President Trump, DHS provided the most secure border in American history. It is such a stark difference in what the border looked like under the Biden years to what it looks like today. In fact, during the last month of the Biden administration, every single month saw more than 100,000 illegal immigrant encounters at the southwest border. At the peak of the disaster, they saw upwards of 300,000 encounters a month. And we know that approximately 85 percent of those immigrants apprehended at the border were released into our interior. The judge who sided with Florida's lawsuit when I took Biden to court and stood up against the illegal actions of his radical administration--that judge who sided with Florida said it best: Biden ``turned the Southwest Border into . . . little more than a speed bump.'' ``[L]ittle more than a speed bump.'' Then the American people fought back and elected President Donald Trump. Speed bump met the wall. On day one, Trump ended catch-and- release, and we saw 10 straight months of zero releases--zero--compared to its peak in 1 month by Biden of 300,000. Total border apprehensions under the Trump administration's first year in office were lower than a single average month under the Biden administration. In addition to the millions of unvetted illegal immigrants Biden let into our country, according to at least 1 recent report that, shockingly, the mainstream media isn't reporting, they allowed 18,000 known or suspected terrorists into the United States. This opens up our country to dangerous attacks from within. The current DHS shutdown is affecting President Trump's effort to get the unprecedented number of undocumented immigrants that may be a threat to this Nation and to our people out. Now with our country engaged in fighting in the Middle East and DHS hampered by my Democratic colleagues, we face unimaginable danger, and we have already seen violent attacks within our borders. In fact, DHS recently issued a memo warning Americans to be on guard against potential cyber or other violent attacks. Those attacks are already here. It is going to take time to clean up the disaster of the last administration, but we are well on our way. We were making great strides, and the other side of the aisle hates that. We know that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been instrumental in preventing terror threats, removing more than 1,500 known or suspected terrorists. One of the saddest things that I think we learned after the last administration, and certainly as a mother--not just as Florida's attorney general but as a mother--we watched as hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors were trafficked across the border by cartels, and then the Biden administration took the last step--shipped them all over the country. From a grand jury investigation, we know that some were put with people they didn't even know. One ended up at a strip club. One ended up in an empty lot. We know many went into trafficking. It is the saddest thing imaginable for a child. Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after they came across that border with cartel members. All told, it is estimated that the Biden administration lost more than 450,000 children. Today, it is a different story. Under President Trump, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 of those unaccompanied children that the Biden Administration lost. The American people expressed their will when they said: Trump is now our President. We want to secure our Nation. They wanted to secure our border, and now my Democratic colleagues are obstructing the will of the American people by saying: Oh yeah? You have a President that is following the law? You have a President that is taking seriously his duty to protect this country and our communities? Well, watch what we do now. We are going to defund the police, we are going to defund those agents at the border, and we are going to defund those within that are protecting your communities and helping get those that are here right now--we saw this in Chicago last week; a murder by someone here, let in by the Biden administration-- here illegally--of a young college student again. And they want to tie the hands of the law enforcement officials charged with getting them out. That is nothing more than defunding the police that have taken oaths to protect you and your family. Someone needs to remind my colleagues across the aisle that the American people are our bosses. They want a safe border. They want safe communities. The shutdown of DHS has gone on long enough. We are in our 38th day. People are going without paychecks, people that are doing very important jobs, like our TSA officers, like our law enforcement officers, like our personnel at the border, thousands that are charged with keeping this country safe. Every day the Democrats on the other side of the aisle put politics above people, they show where their allegiances lie. I, for one, know who I am for. I am for the American people. I am for the people that wear a badge and keep us safe. I will always show up on this floor and make sure that the American people know who we are fighting for. The American people are our bosses. It is time we stand up for this country and for its people and put it first. Put simply, I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to remember why they are here, to remember the country they profess to serve and the people they profess to serve. Put them first. And let's fund DHS. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY

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

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 12 noon on Friday, March 20; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate resume the House message with respect to S. 1383.

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, for the information of my colleagues, we expect to vote on reconsideration of cloture on the motion to proceed to DHS appropriations at approximately 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Mrs. MOODY. 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 Senators Lee, Baldwin, and Kim.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk, S. Res. 652 and S. Res. 653.

Mrs. MOODY. I now ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to; the preambles be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I know how hard the Presiding Officer and so many of our colleagues have worked to get the SAVE America Act to the floor. I want to thank the Presiding Officer because more than 200 years ago, this Nation began as a bold experiment in self- representative government, guided by the enduring words ``we the people.'' While the challenges we face today may seem more modern, more complex, and more immediate than those confronting the Founders, the principles they laid out still offer us lasting guidance because ``we the people'' agreed as to how we would live among one another. We laid out our founding documents in how we would create and enforce and uphold our laws. We made it clear that our strong Republic depended on ``we the people'' being engaged in our elections so that we could elect our representatives--the representatives of ``we the people''--to serve us. That is why the issue before us--the SAVE America Act--is so important. It is because it is grounded in a simple, commonsense-- indeed, a foundational--principle that only American citizens should vote in American elections. This should not be controversial. We should not have to dedicate days and days and days on the Senate floor in the United States of America to guarantee the foundational principle that only Americans should vote in American elections. It is a basic safeguard of our Republic that ensures that our government remains truly of, by, and for the American people. In the very beginning, our Founders understood the importance of protecting elections. The Framers knew that our laws and our systems should reflect the will of the American people--no one else. So Americans must trust that their elections are not corrupted or skewed or nullified by noncitizens or fraudulent voting. Right now, as I stand here, the American people have been very clear with us--with all of us--not just with those of us on the Republican side in this room but all of us--the Independents, the Democrats. They have been clear. Over 80 percent of the American public agree and think that we should have IDs presented when we vote. Eighty-three percent of Americans support voter ID laws. I sat there on the dais late last night and listened to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle come up with some plausible reason they may oppose this simple concept, and none of it holds water. They say it will keep certain people from voting, so we fixed that. You can file a paper and explain right there when you vote who you are and why you don't have the correct ID. It is very simple. They say it is going to harm people. In fact, the people they profess to be protecting in some way have come out and said they want voter ID--the very people they think this will harm. This is not a fringe idea. It is broadly supported. It is a commonsense safeguard. Questions about election integrity are not new. They were debated by the Founders themselves. We now have States that give licenses, admittedly, to people who are here in our country who are not here legally. Many States do that. We also have many of those States that sign people up to vote right when they give them that ID. So people ask: Why now? Why do we need ID now? Because of the nonsense and the subversiveness of radicals in the States in this country. In Florida, where we have done everything right--everything we can do to secure our elections--how do Floridians know that their votes are not being diluted by some of these lawless, radical States? I am one of the newest U.S. Senators here, and I am constantly asking: Who do the Democrats stand for? They will fly off to other nation-states to defend noncitizens. They will even stand up for communists in New York. For the life of me, I think they are even putting their necks out there for cartels time and time again. When the rubber hits the road, they know exactly what they want to advocate for. They know exactly who they want to defend and who they will stand up for. But when it comes to American citizens and having their backs: We are going to fight it. We are fighting it for somebody. It may not be American citizens, but they are fighting against it for somebody. We have to ensure people's confidence in the system and in the legitimacy of our election results, and if we see resistance on the other side of the aisle to even the most basic safeguard--that of requiring an ID at the ballot box--it does not make sense. In fact, the States that have implemented voter ID laws did not see participation decline. In most cases, participation increased. In the Federalist Papers, it was warned that groups may place their own interests above the public good, risking instability and distrust. That certainly feels familiar to me these days. One of the ways we protect against that danger is by ensuring that the rules governing our elections are fair, consistent, and trusted by the people because when trust erodes our entire system, our Republic is weakened. The SAVE America Act helps to reinforce trust in our elections, but it is about more than this one bill; it is about preserving the great experiment of the United States of America, of ``we the people'' governing ourselves and doing so through our duly elected officers. That is how we hold them accountable to ``we the people,'' and power rests where it should--with the people. It is about protecting this great Nation that has endured for 250 years. Because of that, regardless of what party you identify as supporting, I urge my colleagues to pass the SAVE America Act. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I am honored to rise on the Senate floor today to recognize one of Florida's best. Last month, a Martin County man was going about his day when he saw a terrible crash behind him in his rearview mirror. And what he did next was truly remarkable and heroic. The car behind him had crashed into a canal and was sinking under water. Casey Curtis, who I am told is watching this, didn't hesitate. He jumped into the water ready to help. And when he got out there, he found three young children stuck in the back, screaming for help from that sinking vehicle, and their mother was unconscious behind the wheel. Casey acted quickly and helped free the kids. He got them to dry land, and then he turned back and went to the driver. He stayed in the water, holding the unconscious woman's head above the water to keep her from drowning, until the first responders got there. Because of his courageous efforts, this mother and her three children are still alive. The family is still together because he selflessly acted without hesitation and put others' safety ahead of his own. I am so proud to honor him today with a ``Florida's Finest Award.'' This is not somebody who dedicated his professional career in law enforcement. He didn't take an oath. He just decided that day he was going to be someone's guardian, and he chose to do what few others would have chosen to do. This award honors Floridians and law enforcement officers who demonstrate selfless courage and go above and beyond to save lives. Casey did not have to do what he did that day, but what he did makes him remarkable, and we are so proud of his efforts. So thank you, Casey, for stepping in, risking your own safety to save a family. You are truly one of Florida's finest. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, I rise today in support of what should be a given. It is already law, common sense--a bill that supports this country and our citizens. I rise today to, in fact, speak on behalf of American citizens and in support of the rule of law, and I rise to say that we have to pass without delay the SAVE America Act. This would require ID to vote. This is something where the vast majority of Americans agree-- Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. The vast majority agree this should become law. According to the Pew Research Center, that is about 83 percent of Americans that are in support of ID to vote. Breaking that down into groups, 76 percent of Black Americans support this idea, and 82 percent of Hispanic Americans support this idea. These are all groups that the Democrats claim this measure would harm. So my Democratic colleagues--coming up with excuse after excuse after excuse, which I suspect is just distraction from why they are really opposing this--my Democratic colleagues continue to block this reform, and they place partisan politics above the clear will of the American people. The United States of America, which will celebrate its 250th anniversary this year--indeed, this great American experiment--hinges on the sanctity and integrity of our elections. We must protect this institution and safeguard our democracy by ensuring that only Americans are allowed to participate in American elections. This just makes sense. If you need a valid ID to drive, to buy alcohol, to check into a hotel, why would you not need an ID to vote? In fact, even the mayor of NYC is now requiring people to provide IDs to take part in their snow-shoveling program. Yet they say it is unreasonable to expect Americans to provide one at the ballot box. Retaining election integrity should not be a partisan issue; it is foundational to our self-government. The SAVE America Act upholds the rule of law. It makes sure there are stronger protections in place across the country to ensure that only citizens can participate in our elections. When voters trust the system, participation increases. Secure elections will strengthen democracy. Ben Franklin famously replied to a bystander after the Constitutional Convention that we have a Republic if we can keep it. We must preserve our elections to preserve our Republic, and that is why it is so important that we pass the SAVE America Act. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MOODY. I ask unanimous consent that the rollcall vote begin immediately.

Mrs. MOODY

Mrs. MOODY. As the newest, most junior Member from the great State-- the free State of Florida, I rise today--as well as the proud granddaughter of a World War II Army veteran--and I rise today to congratulate Mr. Duane Brewton of Cantonment, FL, on the extraordinary occasion of his 109th birthday celebrated on February 5, 2026. Mr. Brewton is Florida's oldest living World War II veteran and among the oldest surviving veterans of the Second World War in the United States. He is a proud member of what history rightly calls the ``Greatest Generation''--ordinary Americans who answered the call, did extraordinary things, and helped save the world. They did not do it for recognition. They did not ask for praise. They simply did their duty. Honoring their service while they are still with us is both a privilege and a responsibility. When his country called, Duane Brewton answered. He served from 1944 to 1945 as a private in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. He was stationed in Vire, France, where he was wounded in the line of duty and later returned home. For his sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart, a lasting testament to his courage, humility, and devotion to freedom. The world owes a debt to Mr. Brewton and to his generation that can never be repaid. Born and raised in Pensacola, FL, Mr. Brewton returned home after the war. He raised a family and devoted his life to faith, service, and community. A devout Christian, he lived his values daily and by example. His daughters recall that throughout their childhood, their father rose every single morning at 4 a.m. to study the Bible and pray, an enduring memory that shaped their lives and reflected the quiet strength of his character. That faith extended far beyond his home. Mr. Brewton was a founder of the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, a church that continues to serve his community today. Through his life, he set a shining example--before his children, his family, all who knew him, and to us--of what it means to honor God and country. May we all strive to live with the same humility, discipline, and integrity that he has shown for more than a century--109 years, to be exact. In recent years, Mr. Brewton has resided in an assisted living community where he is deeply loved by residents and staff alike. I am told that they are all watching today. On his 109th birthday, it was marked by a joyful celebration of family, friends, and community members gathering in great numbers. Surrounded by his two daughters and loved ones, the occasion was fittingly warm and celebratory--centered, as it should be, on a man whose life had meant so much to so many. Florida is the proud home to more than 1.4 million veterans. Florida is also home to the second largest number of living World War II veterans, a distinction we hold with deep gratitude and respect. We honor their service, we cherish their presence and recognize our responsibility to preserve their stories and sacrifices. Mr. Brewton embodies the very best of Florida and, indeed, the very best of America: faith, family, humility, duty, and service. His life stands as a living reminder of the generation that answered the call, endured unimaginable hardship, and secured liberty for generations that they would never meet. On behalf of the people of Florida and a grateful nation, I congratulate Mr. Duane Brewton on his 109th birthday, thank him for his extraordinary service, and wish him another joyous year surrounded by faith, family, and the enduring appreciation of a nation forever indebted to him. I yield the floor.