Rand Paul

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. I object.

Mr. PAUL. Reserving the right to object, my oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. And no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America. We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy. In March, inflation hit a 40-year high. Gasoline alone is up 48 percent, and energy prices are up 32 percent over the last year. Food prices have increased by nearly 9 percent. Used vehicle prices are up 35 percent for the year, and new vehicle prices have increased 12 percent or more. Yes, inflation doesn't just come out of nowhere; it comes from deficit spending. The United States spent nearly $5 trillion on COVID-19 bailouts, leading to one of the highest and most sustained levels of inflation in U.S. history. Americans are feeling the pain, and Congress seems intent only on adding to that pain by shoveling more money out the door as fast as they can. This bill under consideration would spend $40 billion. This is the second spending bill for Ukraine in 2 months, and this bill is three times larger than the first. Our military aid to Ukraine is nothing new, though. Since 2014, the United States has provided more than $6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. In addition to the $14 billion Congress authorized just a month ago, if this bill passes, the United States will have authorized roughly $60 billion in total spending for Ukraine. For those who say this is not enough, for those of you in this Chamber who say that our military spending is never enough, let's put $60 billion into perspective. According to Elias Yousef, a security assistance expert at the Stimson Center, Kyiv would become the largest yearly recipient of U.S. military aid of the past two decades. Except for the top five countries, $60 billion is more than every other country in the world spends on their entire military expenditures. If this gift to Ukraine passes, our total aid to Ukraine will almost equal the entire military budget of Russia. And it is not as if we have that money lying around. We will have to borrow that money from China to send it to Ukraine. The cost of this package we are voting on today is more than the United States spent during the first year of the U.S. conflict in Afghanistan. Congress authorized force, and the President sent troops into the conflict. The same cannot be said of Ukraine. This proposal towers over domestic priorities as well. The massive package of $60 billion to Ukraine dwarfs the $6 million spent on cancer research annually, and $60 billion is more than the amount the government collects in gas taxes each year to build roads and bridges. The $60 billion to Ukraine can fund substantial portions or entire large Cabinet Departments. The $60 billion nearly equals the entire State Department budget. The $60 billion exceeds the budget for the Department of Homeland Security and for the Department of Energy. And Congress just wants to keep on spending and spending. Our allies and partners have sent aid to Ukraine. Some of them even broke longstanding traditions by sending military assistance. Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and others are stepping up to defend Ukraine like never before. In other words, it is not all about us. It isn't that we always have to be the Uncle Sam, the policeman who saves the world, particularly when it is on borrowed money. Yet the United States accounted for nearly half of what has been spent so far. With a $30 trillion debt, America can't afford to be the world's policeman. The United States is trying to recover from the $1.6 trillion we spent on wars in the Middle East, not to mention the $5 trillion borrowed for COVID. We should not forget that the Soviet Union collapsed, in large part, not because it was defeated militarily but because it ran out of money. In an attempt to save Ukraine, will we doom the United States to such a future? In the past 2 years, the United States has borrowed more money than at any time in our history. We are already experiencing the greatest rate of inflation in over four decades. The assault on monetary discipline is untenable, and it cannot go on forever. Unless we put an end to the fiscal insanity, a day of reckoning awaits us. Congress should evaluate the cost of continuing down this path. The biggest threat to the United States today is debt and inflation and the destruction of the dollar. We cannot save Ukraine by killing our economic strength. So I ask to modify the bill to allow for a special inspector general. This would be the inspector general who has been overseeing the waste in Afghanistan and has done a great job. Therefore, I ask the Senator to modify his request so that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 368, H.R. 7691; furthermore, that the Paul amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time; and that the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with a 60- affirmative vote threshold for passage.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Madam President, I rise today out of a desire to protect the rights and the health of the young men and women who serve the Senate as pages. I think we could all agree that the Senate wouldn't function well without pages. The very first Senate page was a 9-year-old boy named Grafton Hanson. He was appointed by Daniel Webster in 1829. In those days, the pages' jobs were to refill the inkwells and clean out spittoons. Fortunately, things have improved a bit for the pages. The work isn't quite as messy anymore, but it is still a high-pressure job for a high school student. When I was here on the floor voting last week, I noticed that the pages were all wearing masks, but none of my colleagues were. I threatened to come to the floor to seek unanimous consent to end the mask mandate, and the next day, the mandate ended. Coincidence? Perhaps. The new policy states, though, that the mask-wearing will become optional for pages who test negative. But once again, we see the masks on the floor. I urge my colleagues to look around. The pages are still wearing masks. The COVID policy for the Senate pages requires the reinstitution of a mask mandate if they have supposedly been exposed. Apparently, there are rules for the pages of the Senate, but not for the President of the Senate, Kamala Harris. When Vice President Harris was deemed potentially exposed to COVID, she not only presided over the Senate's confirmation vote of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, but was also seen at the White House with the President, the First Lady, and the Justice without a mask. Rules for thee but not for me. Jen Psaki justified the Vice President's violation of the COVID guidelines by stating that it was an emotional day. I guess if you are feeling like it is an emotional day then you can do what you please, unless you are a page. The impressive thing about that absurd defense was that Psaki was able to say it with a straight--and maskless--face. But an unseasoned mask mandate is not all that is required of the pages. According to the guidelines: ``All pages are required to be fully vaccinated; if their initial vaccination series was completed at least five months ago, pages are required to obtain [a] booster [shot]'' to participate in the Page Program. From day one, our country's response to this pandemic has made the comfortable more comfortable, while the working class or kids or people with no power have to keep on working but have to obey rules that the adults don't have to themselves. Now in the halls of Congress we have created a privileged class that can choose whether to get vaccinated and an underclass that has to abide by dictate. It makes absolutely no sense to mandate COVID vaccinations for teenagers who are healthy. It makes even less sense to mandate a booster. There is no scientific evidence that boosters are valuable, and there is scientific evidence that boosters increase the risk of a heart inflammation for young adolescent males. A study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology examined over 23 million people ages 12 and up across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. It concluded that the risk of myocarditis, an inflation of the heart, ``was more pronounced'' after a second mRNA vaccine dose, ``and the risk was highest among males aged 16 to 24 years.'' This is exactly why several European countries, including Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, all restrict the use of mRNA vaccines for COVID--particularly for adolescents, particularly for adolescent males. The policy of our pages does not address this issue at all and blindly commands boosters. In fact, if you read the policy, you could imagine an endless stream of boosters. Every 5 months that you haven't had another vaccine you would be required to get a booster. Last fall, the director and deputy director at the FDA's Office of Vaccines Research and Review both resigned. Realize who these people are. They are on the vaccine committee. They are pro-vaccine. Both of them are actually pro-vaccine mandate. Yet, they resigned from the Government, as reported, ``citing White House pressure to approve third doses for all adults and writing damning op-ed's critical of the FDA's subsequent decision to do so.'' It became a political decision. The committee voted against extending boosters to kids, and then it was overruled by politicians at the White House. These two researchers, long esteemed, who have been on this committee for years, resigned in protest. One of the op-eds that ran in the Washington Post was coauthored by Dr. Paul Offitt, a professor of pediatrics and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Once again--not an opponent of vaccines; a proponent of vaccines, a guy who has been on the vaccine committee for decades. As a Member of the FDA's advisory committee, Dr. Offitt, though, did not support widespread boosting when the committee met to consider boosters for all adults in September and October. He and the two former FDA officials wrote: ``A healthy young person with two mRNA doses is extremely unlikely to be hospitalized with COVID, so the case for risking any side effects,'' the case for forcing them to take a third vaccine when their risk of COVID after two vaccines is nearly, if not virtually, zero, he says--or they said that the case for risking any side effects--such as myocarditis--diminishes substantially. What happens is myocarditis is a rare event for vaccines, more common with young adolescent males. But you have to compare the risk of getting myocarditis with the vaccine to the risk of the disease. Young people who have been vaccinated twice--even without vaccines, young people, the death rate under 15 is 1 in 2.32 million. With the vaccine it is probably zero. We have studies of millions of people. We can't find kids that are dying or going to the hospital with two vaccines. And yet the policy for pages in this body is a booster--a mandated booster. It is actually malpractice. It is malpractice to give a booster, a third vaccine, to an adolescent male and probably to an adolescent female. There is no evidence it helps them. Then the other argument goes like this: Oh, we don't want them to transmit it to people. Guess what? We have done a study on that, too. Vaccinated versus unvaccinated: 25 percent of the household will transmit it. It is the same for both groups. The vaccine protects you from hospitalization and death. It does not prevent transmission. So we are going to vaccinate these kids to take care of the old folks in the Senate. It is not true. And they have already been vaccinated twice. The third vaccine--there is no scientific evidence. There is, however, evidence that it is a danger to them. And to ignore that danger, to be supportive of force I think is without question the wrong way to go. In January, a piece in The Atlantic cited Dr. Offitt--once again, a vaccine supporter who has been part of the vaccine committee with the FDA for decades--as saying this: Getting boosted would not be worth the risk for the average healthy 17-year-old boy. This is coming from an advocate of vaccines--not a denier, not someone who hasn't been vaccinated. His son has been vaccinated, I believe, twice. But he said he wouldn't do it for a 17-year-old. In fact, he advised his son publicly, who is in his early 20s, not to get the third dose. What if I am wrong? What if Dr. Offitt is wrong? I don't know. What if it is a controversy? Wouldn't we allow it, maybe, in a free society, up to free individuals consulting with their parents whether you want to get them? But, no. Everything is about force. Everything is about mandates. Do as I am told, even when the science doesn't support it-- even when the science is arguable. Do it or we will fire you. Do it or we will send you home. I think it is a terrible example and, coming from the Senate, an awful precedent. The Chicago Thinker is a paper for the University of Chicago, and the students there put it in a January 11 editorial. These are the kids who are being forced to do boosters as well: If being ``boosted'' becomes a prerequisite for participation in normal life, the vaccine's diminishing efficacy means the booster campaign will never end. See, we know this. This is the truth of the matter. While the vaccine does help you to prevent hospitalization and death, we know it has diminishing efficacy, meaning that it wears off, so you have to keep getting boosted and boosted and boosted. But shouldn't we at least study it? Shouldn't we be honest with these kids in that their death rate is virtually zero with nothing? If you vaccinate them, it is zero, and then we have just got to keep vaccinating them. Just do as you are told. Submit to the State. Do whatever people tell you despite the science; despite three scientists from the FDA's vaccine committee saying it is not warranted; despite people arguing that it is actually malpractice and puts these young people at risk to make them get a third vaccine. In December, Dr. Marty Makary, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, wrote in the Wall Street Journal: The U.S. government is pushing Covid-19 vaccine boosters for 16- and 17-year-olds without supporting clinical data. A large Israeli population study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this month, found that the risk of COVID death in people under 30 with two vaccine shots was zero. The risk of death is zero, and we are forcing them to get a third shot for which we know, from large, million-person studies, there is a side effect of heart inflammation. Even World Health Organization Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said in January that there is no evidence right now that suggests healthy children and adolescents need booster shots. So most of Europe has actually said don't take it because of the risk of myocarditis, and the head of the WHO says there is no health reason for which to do it. Yet the Senate thinks it is smart enough to mandate these kids. God forbid one of them dies. God forbid one of them gets myocarditis. Dr. Martin Kulldorff, an epidemiologist from Harvard Medical School, says that mandating people who have already had COVID to still get vaccinated ``makes zero sense from a scientific point of view, and it makes zero sense from a public health point of view.'' Furthermore, we now know the CDC released that, under age 11, 75 percent of the kids have already had it. So, in the age category of the pages and a little older than that, we are looking at a 70- to 75- percent chance they have already had it; they have already been vaccinated; their chance of death is zero. Yet it is not enough. They must submit--submit to the man; submit to the woman; submit to the State. The science isn't there. It is all about submission. Then we have weak lapdogs who just say: Go ahead and force them. We don't care. It is not very likely they will die. It is only a few out of 100,000 we may lose. A study in The Lancet last September supported this view, stating: Current evidence does not . . . appear to show a need for boosting in the general population. This is not just in kids. This is in The Lancet, saying there isn't evidence for boosting in the general population. What has been accepted by most people is that boosting for those at risk--those of age, those with obesity, those with, you know, other risk factors--is not an unreasonable thing. For most of the people our age and older, the vaccine, without question, is safer than the disease, but the disease is so rare, so uneventful, and the death rate so low in children that you need a near-perfect vaccine to say: Take the vaccine versus the disease. Even then, wouldn't you want to know if they had had it? Wouldn't we want the CDC to release, if you have had COVID or if you have had COVID and have been vaccinated, what your chances are of going to the hospital? They actually did look at this for a large population study, and they found that, if you were vaccinated versus unvaccinated, you were 20 times less likely to go to the hospital. I still believe that to be true, and I think it is for the overall population. It is probably not measurable for kids because kids aren't largely affected by this. Do you know what they also measured? They measured unvaccinated versus the unvaccinated who have had COVID--and guess what. You were 55 times less likely to go to the hospital. The disease is an incredibly potent source of immunity. If you have been vaccinated and had the disease, I think you would calculate that in. Do you just blindly submit and just take 100 vaccines and take it every 6 months or would you want to talk to your doctor and say: Well, I had COVID in January, and I have had two vaccines. I am relatively thin and relatively healthy. What do you think? Wouldn't there be a decision-making process? When we are talking to children--the young men and women at the ages of 15 and 16 years old, many of whom have had COVID already and have already had vaccines--wouldn't we want them to be part of the decision making? Wouldn't we say: What do your parents think? Wouldn't we ask for parental consent? This is insane what we are doing. We have taken off on a tangent where things that were once private decisions are now the realm of the State. In the study in The Lancet, they stated that the ``[c]urrent evidence does not . . . appear to show a need for boosting in the general population, in which efficacy against severe disease remains high,'' and ``currently available evidence''--this is also from The Lancet-- ``does not show the need for widespread use of booster vaccination in populations that have received an effective primary regimen.'' So here we have a not insubstantial journal, The Lancet. Now, you can disagree. You can disagree with the New England Journal of Medicine. You can disagree with The Lancet, but for goodness' sake, wouldn't you at least admit that it is an argument and that when there is an argument that has valid facts on both sides of it that maybe the individual ought to get to decide? The Lancet says: Currently available evidence does not show the need for widespread booster vaccination in populations that have received an effective primary vaccination regimen. There is absolutely no clinical data to support other than a bunch of bureaucrats who want to command you. There is no clinical data to say that 15- and 16-year-olds ought to get a booster--zero. When we consider the rules for pages, we ought to ask: Will these policies be expected to continue indefinitely? And, if so, to what end? based on what data? When will they change? We have got them in here wearing masks. The Vice President doesn't wear a mask when she is exposed. Look across all the pages of the news. Everybody has been exposed. I think we have had 8 to 10 Senators who have had COVID in the last couple of weeks. Do you think everybody who ran into them wore a mask for 2 weeks? No, nobody is doing it. Nobody is paying any attention to these people, but the pages are stuck under the thumb of these public health czars. When we consider the rules, we ought to ask: When will this end? When it comes to vaccines, though, they can benefit the vaccinated person, but it doesn't stop transmission. The best data we have comes from Denmark, where vaccines were not shown to have any impact on household viral transmission or the secondary attack rate. In other words, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, they both transmitted the disease equally. It is no coincidence that the Scandinavian countries have moved on to a targeted testing and treatment regime. They are no longer just saying for everybody to submit and for everybody to do the same thing. They are targeting the disease and those who are at risk. They don't expect people to live in a state of constant fear under an endless public health emergency. Instead, public health officials issue recommendations about how those at risk can protect themselves. They give advice. There was a time in the history of our country when public health officials gave advice, not dictates or mandates. Realize the policy we are adhering to is the same policy that Dr. Fauci espouses, and you know what his response was. When the court struck down the mask mandate on planes, do you know what Dr. Fauci had the audacity to say? He said: How dare the courts involve themselves in public health. We are not smart enough. Nobody outside the realm of Dr. Fauci is smart enough, but how dare the courts or the Constitution adjudicate what is individual liberty, what is the responsibility of government, and whether the CDC has the power to have mask mandates--none of this. How dare they? That was his response. Some offered a different approach. Some offered a more targeted approach to this. It is what Dr. Scott Atlas called for when he was at the White House in the last administration, but his voice was deliberately drowned out by Dr. Fauci and others who attempted to govern by stick rather than carrot. Public health measures should be backed up with proof that the benefits outweigh the burdens. There is no evidence of that when it comes to vaccination mandates, especially for teenagers, who as a group are less vulnerable to this virus than any Senator. That is why I am asking unanimous consent that the Senate pass my resolution to end all COVID mandates for pages and respect their privacy, their rights, their medical freedom, and their health for the young men and women who serve in this Chamber. Madam President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 631, which is at the desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. I object.

Mr. PAUL. Reserving the right to object, I agree that members of the judicial branch need better protection. In fact, I have been appalled that leftwing pro-abortion groups released the addresses of our Supreme Court Justices and that there have been people at their houses trying to intimidate them. It is appalling and shouldn't happen. Whoever it was that released the addresses of the Supreme Court Justices should be punished. So I think there is bipartisan support in this. I was disappointed though that the White House has not condemned the release of the Supreme Court Justices. I think that ranting and raving and noise all night is disturbing the peace and isn't actually First Amendment protected speech. But if recent years have taught us anything, it is that Members of the legislative branch also need protection. That was clear in 2011 when Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was tragically shot while doing the most important part of her job, meeting with constituents. Words cannot express how happy and inspired I was to see Congresswoman Giffords was in the Chamber as her husband, Senator Kelly, was recently sworn in, but words also cannot express the pain felt by the families of the people who were killed and wounded that day. That should have been a wakeup call to better protect Members of Congress and, in doing so, better protect the people around them. But just a few years ago, a shooter nearly killed Congressman Steve Scalise during practice for the annual charity baseball game. I know. I was there. One staffer was shot less than 10 feet from me. The Capitol Hill police were there and saved our lives. Had they not been there, things might have been much worse. But the Capitol Police aren't everywhere, and our families live in many cities outside of Washington. Extending the provisions of this bill to Members of Congress would do nothing to change the content. In fact, I believe our legislative changes add four words ``and Members of Congress.'' So I think these protections actually are good protections. I agree with the spirit of the bill; I agree with the letter of the bill, but really it should be judicial folks protected as well as Congress. My substitute amendment, which I will offer for unanimous consent, would make a simple change. My amendment would simply extend the protections that would be offered to the judicial branch to the legislative branch. So I ask the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn and that the Senator modify his request to include my substitute amendment which is at the desk; that the substitute amendment be considered read a third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week, I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Florek Family Chiropractic of Ft. Thomas, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Take a look at any small business owner's story, and you will find a common theme: determination in the face of risk. Thus proceeds the story of Florek Family Chiropractic. Justin Florek, owner and manager of the chiropractic office, went out on a limb in 2019 and opened his own chiropractic office after spending several years working in a larger chiropractor's office in Falmouth. However, the story would be incomplete without the mention of Justin's wife Samantha, who took out a small business loan and joined him in facing down the odds to embark on this new venture. Together, Justin, Samantha, and the rest of the team at Florek Family Chiropractic weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic only 1 year after opening their doors, and today, they continue to proudly service the residents of Ft. Thomas and wider Campbell County. Justin Florek has long been passionate about the body's health and wellness. In fact, Justin first became interested in the chiropractic field as far back as ninth grade. A school assignment required each student to shadow three different occupations and write a paper on their findings. A teenage Justin shadowed a police officer, a baker, and a chiropractor. While shadowing the chiropractor, Justin saw how chiropractic adjustments were able to help those struggling with unaddressed injuries. Just having recently suffered a football injury himself, Justin appreciated how much a chiropractor's touch and advice would have benefited someone in his own position. Thus what started as a school assignment led to a life-long career choice. After graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic in 2014, Justin set out to join a larger practice to offer his services to the community of Falmouth. To this day, Justin is profoundly grateful to the Falmouth community for the 5 years he spent in office honing in on his skills and trade before deciding to take the big leap and open his own shop. From Falmouth, Justin ventured north towards the Ohio border to settle in Ft. Thomas. In a convenient turn of events, Justin and his wife Samantha identified an affordable piece of property for sale that was perfectly located between Bellevue, Newport, Cold Spring, and Highland Heights. This lucky opportunity led to their venture in small business ownership, which proudly stands today as a testament to their hard work and determination. As previously mentioned, Justin takes a genuine interest in the health and well-being of those around him. He remains dedicated to improving the health of others and serves as one of the few chiropractors in Campbell County that accepts Medicaid payments. Justin takes pride in ensuring that all residents are cared for, regardless of their tax bracket. Moreover, he looks out for his community beyond just providing his chiropractic services. He often donates to northern Kentucky school groups and other local fundraisers; after all, he does owe the inspiration for his livelihood to that long-ago school assignment. Justin is a man who not only cares for the community in a medical sense, but also is a man who bolsters the environment with his good cheer and giving nature. I want to congratulate this upstanding entrepreneur for the dedication and grit he displayed throughout the pandemic and for navigating the uncharted terrain involved in owning your own business. I wish Justin and Samantha the best of luck and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week, I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products of Morgantown, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. As any small business owner knows, the path of entrepreneurship is rarely straight and narrow. As is the case with this small business owner, Tabby Daugherty, who opened P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products, also known as P31 Storefront Insiders, in 2018. P31's story began a couple years prior to her official opening date. In 2016, Tabby was a part-time employee at Life-Skills, working with adults with disabilities while she raised her several children. As a mother of a large family, she strived to keep the meaning of Proverbs 31 at the core of her work and home life. What served as a motto of sorts became the inspiration for her business and its name, hence the P31. Proverbs 31:17-18 reads, ``She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.'' Taking from that verse, Tabby sought to make herself and her household more self- sustaining and started to make her own laundry soap. Word gathered around town, and soon, there was widespread interest in Tabby's homemade soap. This do-it-yourself project and the demand it garnered soon led to her founding her own business. A business selling soap grew into a venture that offered over 100 products. After a friend suggested she start creating products using essential oils, Tabby expanded her variety of products and began to sell moisturizers, serums, bracelets, and diffusers. She also creates custom products used to treat maladies. Around town, people know Tabby as a giver, evident in her role as a mother of a big family and in her previous job at Life-Skills looking after those with disabilities. For that reason, many put their faith in her and her products, often coming to her with a special request for a specific blend. Tabby gladly takes all requests even though it requires extra time and care on her part to learn how to create these specially-requested items. Customers keep coming back to P31 Storefront Insiders because they appreciate the diligent care Tabby takes in creating her line of items. The citizens of Morgantown and beyond seek her out because they know that all her products are made with real ingredients, are made in store, and are created without fragrances or synthetic products. Moreover, Tabby and her business operations abide by a strict set of codes, the most fundamental of which is customer appreciation. Patrons walk in to feel welcomed and lifted up. Tabby keeps the essence of her favorite proverb at the core of her life and her shop, evident for all to see. Tabby is a strong force within the Morgantown community. She stays involved with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the local bass fishing team. She also makes sure her business is there to fill any sort of community need that may arise, for example, in previous clothes drives she has offered P31 Storefront Insiders as a drop-off location. And when her children's sports team needed to raise money for new equipment, she took a creative approach towards lending a hand: providing the ingredients of her famous soap to the team's players, requiring them to make it and sell it on their own. In this way, she provided the team the tools to achieve their fundraising goals but allowed the children to take responsibility for their efforts. Given its popularity, she has also opened that opportunity to other Butler County schools. A giving and charitable spirit permeates throughout Tabby's life and her business. She currently offers a ``Maggie Collection'' product line of bracelets. Maggie is a local young girl who was diagnosed with leukemia, and P31 donates $2 from every bracelet sold towards Maggie's treatment. Tabby also hosts an in-store bible study every Wednesday for local teenage girls, allowing them the opportunity to speak about devotion over pizza and soda. Without a doubt, Tabby is a force for good, and she capitalizes on her position as a local entrepreneur to help improve the lives of those around her. She truly captures the benevolent essence that so often goes hand in hand with the entrepreneurial spirit. I want to congratulate the whole team at P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products and wish Tabby the best of luck. I look forward to watching her continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PAUL. Last year, the Senate unanimously adopted my amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to finance gain-of-function research conducted in China. My motion to instruct asks that this language be incorporated into the final bill. Gain-of-function research enhances the severity or transmissibility of existing viruses that may infect humans. The dangers are so acute that from 2014 to 2017, the NIH suspended funding for all gain-of- function research projects. While we may never know whether the pandemic arose from a lab in Wuhan or occurred naturally, the emergence of COVID serves as a reminder that dangerous research conducted in a secret and totalitarian country is simply too risky to fund. Congress must ensure that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund gain-of-function research in China. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. PAUL. Madam President, I call up my motion to instruct conferees, which is at the desk.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we learned last week that the Department of Homeland Security has established a ``Ministry of Truth.'' They are calling it the Disinformation Governance Board--how Orwellian. Now, the details are scarce of this effort, but one would assume that the DHS Intelligence and Analysis would be part of that effort. The nominee being considered today was one of the architects of George W. Bush administrations's bulk metadata collection at the NSA-- what a great recommendation for him. Sarcasm included--which gathered the private electronic communications of millions of Americans without warrant. Is this someone we would want to be involved in the Biden administrations's new ``Ministry of Truth''? I will not provide my consent to expanding the surveillance state and the suppression of First and Fourth Amendment rights of Americans. I oppose this nominee and object.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, A Place To Belong Home Care of Radcliff, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. It is not every week that I have the privilege of honoring a veteran- owned small business, but when I do, it is with profound gratitude and respect not only for this Kentucky entrepreneur, but for our men and women in uniform. A Place to Belong Home Care was founded by SFC Lolita R. Martin who, before opening her business, spent 24 years in uniform, 3 and half of which spent on the battlefield in support of Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Even while serving her country overseas, Ms. Martin knew that entrepreneurship was her next calling. With that in mind, Ms. Martin remained steadfast in her desire to continue serving others in her career, which led her to the idea of senior care. Thus, after retiring from a lengthy career in our Nation's uniform, Lolita Martin founded A Place to Belong Home Care in 2019. The mission behind A Place To Belong Home Care is to improve the quality of life for aging adults and to support their families in caring for loved ones. The business provides a wide variety of services, not limited to elderly care. Whether the client is an adult or child with special needs, recovering from surgery or illness, or managing a disease or lifelong condition, A Place To Belong Home Care is there to help. And with services offered in Hardin, Bullitt, Meade, and Grayson County, as well as in other parts of Kentucky, Ms. Martin ensures that her business reaches the broad scope of needs for anyone requiring daily care. Upon her retirement from the U.S. Armed Forces, Ms. Martin was primed for her current career. During her third deployment to Iraq, Ms. Martin began pursuing her Bachelor of science in healthcare management. A requirement for the degree was a capstone project on senior care, thus the seed for A Place To Belong Home Care was planted. The idea grew and developed throughout her time protecting our Nation; hence there is no doubt as to why her business has seen such success and growth in Kentucky. In 2019, Ms. Martin was proud to receive the Best in Class Home Health Certification from the 21st Century Health Care Consultants group. After caring for others throughout her life, Ms. Martin clearly is the right fit for the job. This entrepreneur also understands the importance of maintaining an active presence in her local community. Ms. Martin preserves her dedication to national service by being an active member of the National Association of Black Veterans, the Kentucky Colonel, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars group. Though this patriot has moved on from her Active-Duty career, she stays true to her roots as she ventures into an equally honorable career of providing care for those who are not able to take full care of themselves. Congratulations to Lolita Martin and the entire team at A Place To Belong Home Care. I thank you for your brave service to this country and for your enduring desire to serve others. I wish the whole team the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners--NAWBO--provides dynamic opportunities for women to network with other business owners, mentor one another, develop partnerships, and incubate and foster that next big idea. It is comprised of women of all ages and levels of experience from all sectors of the marketplace. This year, as NAWBO Kentucky celebrates three decades of success stories that are as diverse as our Commonwealth, its members have established a Legacy Award to recognize women business owners who have excelled for 30 or more years. The first to be honored in such a way is Alice Houston, of Louisville. Alice is known as an entrepreneur, the president and CEO of the largest minority-owned transportation company in North America; as a tireless and dedicated board member, of such organizations as the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the National Urban League; as a philanthropist, leading with her own generosity to raise funds for worthy causes and institutions; and as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She embodies the true character of the Legacy Award. Every young woman who wants to be a trailblazer, who envisions a life of giving back while moving forward, or who is struggling to chart a bold new direction for her business is thankful that there are real- life phenomena like Alice Houston, whose business acumen, love of family and community, and generosity of spirit light a pathway to great possibilities. I am proud to salute the Kentucky Association of Women Business Owners on its 30th anniversary and to honor Alice Houston as the inaugural recipient of its Legacy Award.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, today, I want to honor Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who led the Lubavitch movement and contributed greatly to education, morality, and charity worldwide. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, much like his father, was a rabbi and scholar who served his community immensely. April 12, 2022, marks the celebration of what would have been the Rebbe's 100th birthday. In 1941, Rabbi Schneerson, also known as the rebbe, fled war-torn Europe, and arrived in the United States. As a refugee who experienced the despotic rule of Stalinist Russia and the horrors of Nazi Germany, he understood the importance of faith in times of hardship. Upon arriving in New York, Rabbi Schneerson led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. This movement grew greatly under Rabbi Schneerson's leadership and helped to guide the Jewish community after the atrocities of the Holocaust. By the time of Rabbi Schneerson's death in 1994, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement consisted of over 2,000 institutions with centers in cities and university campuses worldwide. These outreach organizations function to teach people about Judaism and foster the Jewish identity. Rabbi Schneerson also published renowned works on the Torah and Judaism. His work continues to lead many in spirituality, learning, and the process of restrengthening the Jewish faith internationally. He understood that all were created equal and exemplified this in his inclusion of every man, woman, and child in his teachings. Rabbi Schneerson's extraordinary life and work has long been recognized by the Congress and, in 1994, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions. Today, we celebrate the life of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The rebbe was an individual who exemplified channeling personal struggles into positive change internationally. His legacy lives on through the impacts he made, and the many Chabad centers worldwide, including those in Kentucky. For Kentuckians, Americans, and all in the international community, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's efforts will continue to make an impact well beyond the century since his birth.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, stories of the past and the memorabilia and photos that often accompany them serve many important purposes in our culture. They can entertain us and provoke laughter and joy. They can reinforce the values that were important to our parents and grandparents. And they can teach difficult or even painful lessons from our history. The West Kentucky Veteran and Patriot Museum, now celebrating its 10th year, is a place where such stories can be discovered. Founded by Sandy Hart, whose husband, Ray, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then went on to serve others as a pastor and foreign missionary, the museum houses an eclectic collection of personal objects, records, photographs, and narrative stories curated by Sandy and displayed in a red brick building in tiny Wickliffe, KY, which is located on the Mississippi River in far west Kentucky. While most of the donated materials are from servicemembers and their families in the Purchase Region of the Commonwealth, the visitors--the men and women you are likely to encounter when you stop by--are from all 50 States and beyond. Sandy loves to sit and talk to them and hear their stories, memories that are often stirred up as they wander through the displays in the museum. The vision for the West Kentucky Veteran and Patriot Museum was born when Sandy and others in the community helped organize a convoy of over a dozen buses and 800 people to visit the World War II Memorial here in our Nation's Capital. This outpouring of interest compelled Sandy to create a place that honored our veterans year-round--and not just those who served in the Second World War. I have visited with Sandy at the museum and watched her at work. She is tireless in her devotion to our veterans and in capturing and memorializing their stories so that we can learn from, laugh with, and be thankful for our men and women in uniform throughout our history.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Total Equine Services of Falmouth, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. The breeding, training, and of course racing of horses is an integral component in the history and culture of our beautiful State. Many refer to Lexington, KY, as the Horse Capital of the World, with their 1,200- acre Kentucky Horse Park in addition to the hundreds of horse farms operating in the area. Moreover, as of 2019, the Kentucky equine industry had an economic impact of $3.4 billion and supplied 80,000 direct and indirect jobs. Needless to say it is a leading industry in our state. For that reason I am delighted to honor a business so involved in that iconic industry, Total Equine Services, founded by Steve Thomas and his wife Patti Thomas. When it comes to raising Quarter Horses, Steve Thomas is a seasoned veteran. He and his wife founded Total Equine Services 15 years ago, but he has over 20 years' experience caring for this breed under his belt. Together, they opened the business which initially offered only an arena where one could come and ride horses. They quickly expanded to provide a variety of services ranging from boarding, breeding, and training horses. In addition to that same arena, the Thomas' constructed a Foaling Barn and 16 enclosed stalls where owners can board their horses. The Thomas' also offer nutrition and feed balancing services as well as a full tack shop where one can satisfy all their riding equipment needs. When it comes to the care and maintenance of horses, Total Equine Services offers a full package. With parents like Steve and Patti, it is no wonder that their son Jason Thomas grew up with a love for horses. He and his wife Nikki Thomas have joined the team at Total Equine Services. Nikki was a natural addition to the team since, just like her in-laws, she has an extensive background in raising Quarter Horses. Moreover, Nikki is seasoned in training horses in the art of barrel racing and pole bending. Pole bending is a timed event where a rider must direct their horse in a speedy serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. Meanwhile, barrel racing is an event where the horse and rider must attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time possible. Needless to say, training of this sort requires meticulous repetition and a keen eye for detail, which Nikki gladly brings to the arena. And with all the exercise and activity that their stock see, the Thomas' make sure to keep their horses properly shod, with Jason being a certified farrier, a blacksmith that creates horseshoes, who keeps their fleet equipped with the proper horseshoes they need. The Thomas' have developed a reputation for covering every need a horse owner or rider might have, but they are also highly regarded for their breeding services. Their current stud horse, Redneck Jettin Down, has not only won several local shows, he has placed at national competitions held through the American Quarter Horse Association. In 2014, Redneck Jettin Down placed fourth at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, placed 6th at the AQHA World show in Jr Pole Bending, and placed fifth at the North American Live Stock Show. It goes without saying that Redneck Jettin Down is an asset to Total Equine Services. Whether they grew up in the heart of our big cities or in our smallest of towns, every Kentucky citizen has heard about the glamour of Keeneland and Churchill Downs. The equine industry plays an active part of the Kentucky identity, and it is businesses like Total Equine Services that retain the respect and renown of that industry by taking special care of their breeds. Moreover, the Thomas' and families like them play a vital role in our State's economy, as they support commerce within our more rural communities. Congratulations to Steve, Patti, Jason, and Nikki Thomas and the rest of the team at Total Equine Services. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, while it is not possible to specifically recognize every Vietnam veteran who honorably served our Nation, each time we celebrate one, we also focus our attention on thousands of others, many of whom lost their lives decades ago. Today, I want to honor David Michael Thomas, who followed in the footsteps of his own father, Glenn Elmore Thomas, a personal bodyguard for Dwight D. Eisenhower, and joined the U.S. Army in 1970. Specialist Thomas was stationed outside the Tan Son Nhut Air Field with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Military Intelligence Group for 2 years. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Army Commendation Medal. Upon his return from Vietnam, he graduated from Western Kentucky University in my hometown of Bowling Green and, most notably, met his future wife, Julia Kirk at the Baptist Student Union. Together, they embarked on his 40 years of pastoral ministry in seven different States, finally retiring back in our community. He and Julia are blessed with four children and a host of grandchildren and great- grandchildren. His legacy of serving others, first in the Armed Services and then in pastoral ministry, continues in a unique way with which I have a personal connection. His daughter, Amy Bee, is a constituent service representative in my office in Bowling Green. She is one of the many talented staff members who help Kentuckians navigate the highly complex problems that they are experiencing with Federal agencies, like the Internal Revenue Service, or the Veterans Administration. Men and women who have exhausted every avenue of their own resources count on professionals like Amy--and her talented colleagues--to resolve their issues in a timely way. It is a unique and highly demanding form of service and reflects the values modeled by Amy's father and grandfather. Later this month, David Thomas--and a plane full of fellow veterans-- will come to Washington with an Honor Flight Bluegrass excursion. Each one of these veterans has his or her own story to tell, and by sharing a glimpse into the life of David Thomas, we salute them all.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Madam President, we have all heard the phrase ``law enforcement family.'' This law enforcement family is a diverse family with representatives from all walks of life. This family is not bound by traditions of race, religion, color, or sex. This family is all inclusive. Today, I want to provide an example of this family and how they came together to save the life of a fellow law enforcement officer. On January 28, 2022, Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Sanguini was shot multiple times while conducting a traffic stop in Harrison County. According to the preliminary investigation, he was struck six times, of which three shots were stopped by his ballistic vest. One shot struck his portable radio, and another struck his issued taser, with one shot striking his body. Although many officers from multiple agencies responded to assist the injured trooper, I want to recognize Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Officer Samantha Faoro for her quick response and actions of assistance. Officer Samantha Faoro is a native of Colorado, who moved to Kentucky to pursue her career with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. She graduated from the police academy in February 2021 and was assigned to work in Harrison County. Officer Faoro comes from a family of first responders, continuing the life of service to protect the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. Officer Faoro was working in the area of Cynthiana, KY, when she heard Trooper Sanguini state he had been shot. Without hesitation, Officer Faoro responded directly to the scene to provide assistance to a fellow officer in need. Upon arrival to the scene, she observed the wounded trooper and quickly transported him to the hospital. Trooper Sanguini quickly received medical treatment for his gunshot wounds because of the quick action of Officer Faoro. It is my privilege to stand here today and recognize another great officer such as Officer Samantha Faoro. She exemplifies the law enforcement motto, ``To Protect, and To Serve.''

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Kelsey's On Main of Jackson, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Like a good Southerner, Kelsey Sebastian is passionate about hospitality. After leaving her native Jackson, she pursued a degree in hospitality management and tourism from University of Kentucky. However, instead of taking her university expertise to the opportunities of the big city, Kelsey returned home to put her knowledge and skills to work. Thus in 2014, with the help of her family, Kelsey Sebastian opened Kelsey's On Main. The idea for Kelsey's On Main was born out of several needs for the little town of Jackson. With only a small number of sit-in dining establishments in Jackson, local residents needed more restaurant options. Moreover, there was a need for revitalization in the heart of downtown Jackson, a heady mission that Kelsey and her family bravely took on. The Hogg building, now home to Kelsey's On Main, was 98 years old when she and her family began the renovation process in 2012. A former pharmacy and pool hall, this historic building located in the center of downtown needed a healthy dose of tender love and care. Renovating the establishment was by no means an easy task but the town of Jackson and its residents will tell you that it was worth it. In 2014, the centennial anniversary of the Hogg building, Kelsey's On Main opened their doors. Kelsey's desire to restore beauty to the dilapidated old Hogg building corresponded with her mission to provide great food and top quality service to her hometown. In keeping the original tin roof and leaving one of the old walls exposed in its brick, customers can see that this building is mature in age but well taken care of. To that end, Kelsey and her family keep old photos of downtown Jackson as well as photos of her friends and family throughout the historic building. Of course, her family is not just present in the photographs that hang on the wall; her parents often come by to pick up a shift or two to support their daughter. And as a tenant in her aunt's building, Kelsey's On Main is a true family affair. Returning to Jackson to open her own business is not the only way Kelsey supports her community. She is an active member of the Jackson Women's Group and as a Jackson City Council member, Kelsey always volunteers her restaurant to host the monthly Jackson Chamber of Commerce lunch. Kelsey is also involved in the Breathitt County Honey Festival, a tradition that has been around for over four decades, by supporting the festival's musical committee. As someone so involved in the goings-on of her town, Kelsey does her best to bring life to the Jackson community, as illustrated by she and her family's decision to revitalize a historic downtown building. Moreover, as a recent participant in Kentucky's BRIGHT program, a professional and entrepreneurial development program, it is clear that Kelsey is headstrong in her desire to keep improving and impacting the community around her. All across the country are little towns like Jackson whose downtowns have been left empty by a shift in industry, and it is businesses like Kelsey's On Main that bring life back into those empty storefronts and keep historic communities thriving. Congratulations to Kelsey and her family and the entire team at Kelsey's On Main. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, everyone sworn law enforcement officer knows full well that he or she is never truly off-duty. On February 27, 2022, Louisville Metro Department of Corrections officer, Maranda Grayson, was relaxing at home when she heard gunshots. She immediately retrieved her duty weapon, called for emergency services, and ran toward the gunfire outside, where she discovered a badly injured neighbor and saw a bleeding child being carried inside. Unable to locate the source of the gunfire, Officer Grayson focused her initial actions on the wounded child. A trained first responder, she applied a dressing to his hand and then returned outside, where she performed CPR on the adult victim until additional emergency services arrived. These were moments of true heroism, which probably seemed like hours to Officer Grayson and the victims. For these actions, she has been recognized with her department's Award of Valor for ``bravery above and beyond the call of duty when facing grave and imminent danger to her own life.'' Louisville Metro Department of Corrections director Dwayne Clark said that ``she represents the neighbor we all want.'' I couldn't agree more, and I am proud to honor Officer Grayson for her professionalism and tremendous bravery.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, we have all heard the phrase ``law enforcement family.'' This law enforcement family is a diverse family with representatives from all walks of life. This family is not bound by traditions of race, religion, color, or sex. This family is all inclusive. Today, I want to provide an example of this family and how they came together to save the life of a fellow law enforcement officer. On January 28, 2022, Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Sanguini was shot multiple times, while conducting a traffic stop in Harrison County. According to the preliminary investigation, he was struck six times, of which three shots were stopped by his ballistic vest. One shot struck his portable radio, and another struck his issued taser, with one shot striking his body. Although many officers from multiple agencies responded to assist the injured trooper, I want to recognize Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Officer Samantha Faoro for her quick response and actions of assistance. Officer Samantha Faoro is a native of Colorado, who move to Kentucky to pursue her career with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. She graduated from the police academy in February 2021 and was assigned to work in Harrison County. Officer Faoro comes from a family of first responders, continuing the life of service to protect the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. Officer Faoro was working in the area of Cynthiana, KY, when she heard Trooper Sanguini state he had been shot. Without hesitation, Officer Faoro responded directly to the scene to provide assistance to a fellow officer in need. Upon arrival to the scene, she observed the wounded trooper and quickly transported him to the hospital. Trooper Sanguini quickly received medical treatment for his gunshot wounds because of the quick action of Officer Faoro. It is my privilege to stand here today and recognize another great officer such as Officer Samantha Faoro. She exemplifies the law enforcement motto, ``To Protect, and To Serve.''

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, I think it is incredibly important that we read bills before we vote on them, that we have adequate debate, and that we really understand what we are doing. The Magnitsky Act was originally an act that sought to sanction people in Russia--still does--but was expanded beyond Russia, and now, this bill would expand it further. When you are going to sanction people, there has to be an argument about whom you are going to sanction, so the original Magnitsky Act has in law that you would sanction people who have gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Well, that sounds good, but the Magnitsky Act goes a step further and defines what these are. Gross violations of human rights include torture; cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment; punishment or long detention without charges and trial; causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of those persons--a lot of this applies to, really, what happened to Magnitsky; this was named after him because of what happened to him--other flagrant denials of the right to life, liberty, and the security of the person. What we are having happen right now is sort of--they are trying to pull a fast one, basically. We are going to get rid of all definitions of gross human rights, and we are going to replace them with not a list of things like torture and murder, indefinite detention; we are going to replace it with the words ``serious human rights abuse.'' Well, it still sounds pretty good, but it is like, what does that mean? The problem is that many different people have different definitions of rights. The left, including the U.N., believes you have a right to an abortion, to a house, to the internet, to healthcare. So you can see how, if you have wide-open, vague, vastly ambiguous language, someone could be President and say: The leader of that country is denying the human right to abortion, so therefore, we must sanction them. Without any sort of tribunal, without any sort of due process, they would just simply sanction them. Or what if they are not providing the internet? So the thing is, words are important. You can't have vacuous sort of definitions. Where did this definition--it came from the Trump administration. So basically, what they are trying to do is mirror the Trump administration, which gave unlimited authority to the President. It is kind of surprising, for all the superficial rhetoric and opposition to President Trump, that they are trying to adopt his language now. But this language also comes from the Biden administration because the one thing Presidents have in common is they like unlimited power without checks and balances. If this language goes through, it will remove any checks and balances or any definitions as to what human rights abuses are. It is a terrible mistake. It is rash, and we shouldn't do it. I have offered an amendment, and I will offer it here in a moment. My amendment simply includes the definition that I just read. Gross violation of human rights--torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, indefinite detention. That is what we would put in the bill, is the actual definition. These aren't my words; these are the words of the mostly Democrats who wrote the bill, the Magnitsky Act. What they are trying to do is take the Magnitsky Act and drive an enormous hole in it that you can push anything through and do sanctions on anybody, anywhere in the world, based on a vague, ambiguous, and vast definition that is not specific. All I am asking is that you keep the Magnitsky Act. The irony here is the very authors of the Magnitsky Act are on the floor saying: We don't want the Magnitsky Act anymore. We want a big, enormous hole, that the President can sanction anybody in the world anytime. It is a terrible idea. It is ripe for abuse from a President. Many on the other side had arguments with the previous President, and they worried about him having unlimited power. So they want to give unlimited power to their President because they like him better. Well, guess what? I am an equal opportunity, ecumenical kind of guy who says: No President should have vast powers. All Presidents' powers should be circumspect. All Presidents' powers should be controlled. All I am asking for is that we pass the original Magnitsky Act. So this is going to be forever. This isn't a year or 2. When we first started into the Magnitsky Act, we were going to do it for just a year or 2 and see how it is going. This is forever. It will never come back up again. And we are doing it with 5 minutes' worth of debate, not going through a committee, and we are just simply going to say: Do whatever you want. Sanction anybody in the entire world. It is a huge mistake, it is a huge expansion of government power, of Presidential power, and it will lead to abuse. And I promise you, the moment there is a Republican President back in the White House, the other side will be squawking, saying: Why is he doing this? Why is he doing this? So I would say take a step back. We could talk about this over the next several days. We could come to an agreement. I have even said we could expand the definition. The definition of ``gross violation of human rights'' from Magnitsky should not be thrown away. And we could add to it. If there are other things, such as corruption, that you don't think are included, give us some words, and we will talk about it and see if we can come to a compromise. That is what was offered, and what we get back is that, oh, everybody else agrees on the other side, so I should be quiet. I am talking about something that is arcane. This is your language. This is the Magnitsky Act from the last 5 years, and you are calling it arcane? This is a very reasonable request. It is a very unreasonable request to ram this down the throats of Americans, to expand Presidential power with no checks and balances, and I absolutely object to it. I will offer as a counter, though, a unanimous consent request that is at the desk to have my amendment pass immediately, and if my amendment is passed immediately, that the remaining request from Senator Schumer be passed as well.

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I object.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Our Best Restaurant of Smithfield, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. In 1990, the late Kenneth Way and his wife Kay embarked on a new adventure in the autumn of their lives. After retiring from a career in the retail industry, Kenneth bought an old wheat mill in Smithfield, KY, population 100. Joined by his wife Kay who had just retired from her career serving the Kentucky State government, the two opened Our Best Restaurant. Kenneth's son Kenny Way will tell you himself that his father was not in the restaurant business; he was in the ``people business.'' Kenneth's motto was that if you treat people well, your business will succeed no matter what you do. Clearly, Kenneth was on to something as his restaurant and legacy continue to thrive for the past 32 years. Kenneth's son Kenny Way now owns and operates the business, carrying on his father's mission of providing top quality service to everyone who walks in the door. Though Our Best Restaurant consistently serves delicious country cooking, it is the warm and friendly atmosphere that keeps people coming back time and time again. With a population as small as Smithfield's, the restaurant cannot depend on the typical walk-in customer that other Main Street businesses often see; their bread and butter are the locals--and even visitors, who keep coming back. A change in ownership never stopped their ``regulars'' from choosing Our Best Restaurant because Kenny learned from his late father that a loyal customer will only come back if you treat them right. That is why the staff of Our Best Restaurant put in such an effort to get to know their customers, to meet their families and their children, to ask them about their day, and to show that they care about the customer's experience beyond just the meal. Such high-quality customer service and food have allowed Our Best Restaurant to grow and expand. Since 1990, they have expanded their dining space and have branched out to offer catering services asides from their dine-in operations. The catering business became a crucial stream of revenue for the restaurant as the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary end to in-person dining. Local energy and utility companies turned to Our Best Restaurant to safely serve meals to their employees during the height of the pandemic. Our Best Restaurant has consistently proved to be a steadfast member of the small community of Smithfield. The restaurant maintains great relationships with the local high school, looking out for the local students and always feeding them a hearty meal of Kentucky country cooking. The reputation of the feel-good-food and friendly atmosphere of Our Best Restaurant has allowed them to be a destination in themselves. They often have folks drive in from Jefferson County and Franklin County to enjoy their famous cooking. And of course, any and all visitors receive the same smalltown welcome as any Smithfield local would. Our Best Restaurant is the entrepreneurial embodiment of the late Kenneth and Kay's dream come true and a wonderful example of a father's mission carried on by his son. All across the country are little towns like Smithfield, areas that contain little more than a post office and a church, and it is businesses like Our Best Restaurant that keep those small communities thriving. Congratulations to Kenny, his son Aric, and the entire Our Best Restaurant team. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

Mr. PAUL

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, when a police officer is shot in the line of duty and survives, every fellow officer breathes a sigh of relief and offers a silent prayer of thanks because they know that such a risk exists each time they put on their uniform and begin another day on the job. Today, I want to recognize a member of the Lexington Police Department, Officer Junior Pauleus, who was shot in the back at close range on February 5, 2022, as he was conducting a routine investigation with other members of the Lexington police force. Officer Pauleus, only 28 years old, has an interesting and compelling life story. He is a proud American, but not by birth. Originally from Haiti, Officer Pauleus met his future wife, Audrey, while she was on a mission trip. He eventually immigrated to the U.S. and became a citizen. Now, settled and thriving with his young family in Kentucky, he very recently joined the Lexington Police Department and was still on field training officer status on that fateful Saturday in February when he said his normal goodbyes to his wife and three children-- including his 5-day-old son--and started another shift. Thankfully, this is a story with a happy ending, and we are grateful for many things: for the fact that he and the officers with whom he was working with are all safe following the shooting; for the discipline and training on which they all rely; for the body armor that protected him; and for all the men and women of his department who willingly serve the Lexington community, even with the knowledge that, in an instant, their own lives can be taken. I am privileged to meet young men and women like Officer Pauleus each time I travel to events throughout Kentucky. I am personally indebted to them for their service, and I am honored to recognize one example from among their ranks today.