Jack Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, next week, the Naval War College in Newport, RI, will host the unveiling of the keel plate for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG-138, which will be named for an extraordinary American and an extraordinary Rhode Islander: Ambassador J. William Middendorf. I won't be able to honor Ambassador Middendorf in person. So I would like to take this opportunity, along with my colleague Senator Whitehouse, to say a few words of appreciation for his contributions and public service. Ambassador Middendorf, who now resides in the town of Little Compton, RI, was born 99 years ago, on September 24, 1924, in Baltimore, MD. He remains a person of tremendous intellect, interests, and achievement. To this day, he continues to share his strong and always interesting opinions as a frequent contributor for the Providence Journal. I don't always agree with him, but his column always makes for a lively read, and he has been preparing an upcoming book on the way called ``On My Watch: Tyrants and Patriots.'' I would like to highlight some of Ambassador Middendorf's extensive record of achievement and patriotic accomplishments. In the 1940s, while our Nation was at war, he served in the Navy as an engineering officer and navigator aboard the landing craft support ship USS LCS-53 and earned his bachelor of naval science from the College of the Holy Cross under the Navy's V-12 Program. After he was discharged from the Navy, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University in 1947 and then an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at New York University in 1954. Ambassador Middendorf became an investment banker and cofounded Middendorf, Colgate and Company, which became a prominent Wall Street firm, and he took on important roles in the national Republican Party. In 1969, he left his investment firm and was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and continued in that position until 1973. He then served as Under Secretary of the Navy with an appointment from President Nixon. On April 8, 1974, Ambassador Middendorf became the 62nd Secretary of the Navy, serving through the Ford administration. During his tenure as Secretary of the Navy, he championed and oversaw the development of four major Navy programs: the Ohio-class submarine program and the accompanying Trident missiles, the Aegis surface-launched missile system, the CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter for the Marine Corps, and the F/A-18 Hornet carrier-based attack aircraft. Ambassador Middendorf is also credited with creating the famed Marine Corps Marathon. As Secretary of the Navy, he encouraged and approved the first Marine Reserve Marathon and provided replicas of the Iwo Jima statue to be used as trophies for the male and female marathon winners. After his tenure as Secretary of the Navy, he returned to the private sector as president and chief executive officer of Financial General Bankshares, which he reorganized and renamed as First American Bank. In 1980, Ambassador Middendorf led the CIA transition team for President Reagan's incoming administration. He was later named the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, a post he served in until 1984, when he accepted the appointment as U.S. Representative to the European Community, which is now known as the European Union. He served in that role until 1987. On June 10, 2022, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG-138, now under construction at Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine, will be named the USS J. William Middendorf. The name selection follows the tradition of naming destroyers after U.S. naval leaders and heroes. I congratulate Ambassador Middendorf on his well-deserved honor and express my gratitude to the shipbuilders and sailors who are bringing this new Arleigh Burke destroyer into the service of our Nation. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. REED

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

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

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise today to recognize one of the hardest working public servants in my State--indeed, in any State--Mark Hayward. Mark will be retiring at the end of the year as the District Director of the Small Business Administration in the State of Rhode Island. This is no normal retirement. Mark's commitment to public service and Rhode Island stretches back 45 years. He was first elected to the city council in his hometown of East Providence, RI, while he was still a student at Providence College. His peers on the council quickly recognized the intelligence, the compassion, and the work ethic that dominated his career. And despite his youth, they voted him mayor of the town. After 6 years as mayor, Mark made the decision to leave Rhode Island for Washington, DC, in order to serve as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs at the Department of the Interior. But the pull to return to Rhode Island was strong. After joining SBA in 1990, Mark moved to the Rhode Island office, which he was soon appointed to lead as the District Director. In total, Mark has spent a remarkable 29 years as acting and then permanent SBA District Director for the State of Rhode Island. Most of our small businesses have never known a world without Mark's guidance. But his story is characterized by more than longevity. It is defined by hard work and an encyclopedic knowledge of SBA programs and business opportunities. Mark's combination of dedication and knowledge has been particularly valuable during times of crisis. From snowstorms to hurricanes, to the devastating floods that struck the Ocean State in 2010, Mark has been there to orchestrate the response and help businesses and homeowners recover. This past August, Mark was on the scene working to help small businesses recover from a devastating fire on Block Island that destroyed one of the island's landmark hotels and harmed a number of small businesses. But Mark's skill and commitment shone highest during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he seemed to be everywhere all at once. He was ever-present on Zoom townhalls, constantly on the phone with myself and other Members of the delegation, and always available to small business owners who needed help understanding the finer points of the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans. He was in demand because everybody knew that no one is better at slicing through the redtape than Mark. It is not exaggerating to say that the loans and grants he helped Rhode Island businesses secure kept them afloat. Across his two-plus decades as permanent District Director, Mark has helped pipe $6.8 billion into Rhode Island's economy, enabling our small businesses to start, to grow, and to thrive while staying local. That is a hugely significant number, particularly for a State of Rhode Island's size. Mark's work ethic during the pandemic was simply an extension of the work he puts in every day. Mark has long worked early mornings and been on call at all hours of the week and weekend, always ready to listen and to help. Don't just take my word for it. SBA leadership has asked Mark to cover vacant Regional Administrator positions five times during his tenure with the Agency--a clear demonstration of the trust and respect his peers hold for him. For Mark, this isn't just business, it is personal. It is about his dedication and commitment to public service. He is not just helping small businesses with their finances. He visits and patronizes them in his free time, embracing the mantra ``to shop local.'' And, at this point in his career, it is hard to find a Rhode Island business that he hasn't helped. That is why we are going to miss Mark. Our entrepreneurs will miss his guidance, and I will miss his thoughtful advice and quick wit. I know he will fill his time with his family, his wife Nancy, his children--Patrick, Kelsey, and Megan--and grandchildren, Johnny and Lily. And in true Mark Hayward fashion, I also know he will find new ways to continue serving in Rhode Island. And, I must say, this is a Rhode Island story. So the following should be obvious. Mark's grandmother and my grandmother would talk about once a week on the telephone in Portuguese, just to make sure the whole State was running properly, and, if they had to give advice, they would give advice. So he is an old family friend as well as a brilliant public servant. Mark, congratulations on your retirement, and thank you. Let me yield to my colleague.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, today I pay tribute to a dear friend and one of Rhode Island's most thoughtful and visionary civic leaders, Jonathan ``Jon'' Houston. After 45 years of tireless advocacy, Jon will be relinquishing his role as executive chairman of Justice Assistance, the nonprofit organization he founded both to assist victims of crime and to provide meaningful support for ex-offenders. I have been privileged to know Jon since our time together as students at La Salle Academy in Providence, RI. After high school, Jon went on to graduate from the University of Rhode Island before completing advanced management certification programs at Harvard and Salve Regina University. He also served on a number of public safety boards and commissions in Rhode Island, but his vision in founding Justice Assistance in 1978 stands as a signature achievement in the area of criminal justice reform. It is no small task to radically change the way we treat and look at victims of crime, nor is it easy to take on the challenges facing former offenders after they have completed their sentences, but that is why Jon has become such a respected figure in the community. He has dedicated his life to a problem that few others were stepping up to solve. And Justice Assistance has been enormously successful. According to the Providence Journal, Justice Assistance's sentencing alternative program--one of the organization's major initiatives--has collected over $5 million in restitution on behalf of victims of crime, and 90 percent of its court-referred clients successfully complete its ex- offender intervention and support programs. Justice Assistance's success is a testament to Jon's tenacity and devotion. Rhode Islanders have been fortunate to have Jon dedicate more than four decades to strengthening our communities and developing systems of support for those who may otherwise not have had any. I, too, have experienced Jon's knowledge, insights, and humility on criminal justice reform when I worked with him to increase Federal support for innovative and transformative solutions to recidivism and for victim protection. Jon has undoubtedly made a mark on Rhode Island. His work and advocacy have directly impacted the lives of thousands who have come in contact with our criminal justice system. Through Justice Assistance, Jon's work will continue to improve lives of victims and offenders for years to come, but this won't be the only way his mission carries on after the mantle is passed. Jon was the primary author of the ``Rights of Victims of Crime'' amendment in the State constitution, the first constitutional amendment in the Nation dedicated to protecting the rights of crime victims. In a very literal sense, Jon's passion and words have been permanently added to the foundational document of the state. I would also like to take the time to recognize Jon's wife Pamela, his daughter Shannon, and his son Adam. I join many others in the State in thanking Jon for his service to our communities and the well-being of those impacted by crime. I wish him fulfillment and continued success in his next chapter.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise to honor William Patrick ``Pat'' Towell, Ph.D., for his more than 17 years of service to Congress and the American people as a specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget at the Congressional Research Service, CRS. Dr. Towell is widely recognized as a foremost defense policy expert. Senators, Members of Congress, and staff have all relied on his knowledge, expertise, and guidance at pivotal points in the development of the annual defense authorization and appropriations bills. Having served with CRS since 2006, Dr. Towell will retire at the end of this year. Throughout his tenure at CRS, Dr. Towell has advised congressional leaders, Department of Defense civilian and military officials, and foreign dignitaries on a range of defense policy and budgetary matters. A political scientist by training, he has exhibited a profound respect for the institution of Congress and an encyclopedic knowledge of the events and political personalities that have shaped defense issues. In addition to coordinating and authoring reports on annual defense authorization and appropriations legislation, Dr. Towell has written insightfully about key strategic guidance documents such as the Quadrennial Defense Review and the National Defense Strategy. He has also provided analyses of the debates over how to best organize the Federal Government to address national security challenges, and he has closely monitored funding for post-9/11 military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Dr. Towell's vast knowledge of the history of congressional operations has been an important source of institutional memory, particularly for newer Members and staff seeking to understand the lessons that can be drawn from past debates. A gifted public speaker known for his humor, quick wit, and enthusiasm in discussing defense matters, Dr. Towell has often presented at CRS's new Member seminar, an orientation for new Members of Congress, in Williamsburg, VA. He has served as a CRS speaker or panelist for visiting delegations from the U.S. war colleges, the NATO Defense College, and foreign Parliaments sponsored by the House Democracy Partnership. Dr. Towell also has participated in a staff exchange with the European Parliamentary Research Service--EPRS--in Brussels. For many years, he helped to organize and present at CRS's annual defense budget seminar for congressional staff. Drawing on a deep professional network built over decades of experience in both journalism and policy, Dr. Towell has mentored colleagues in part by organizing internal discussions with various defense scholars and practitioners, from leading think tank experts to senior Defense Department civilian leaders. Before joining CRS, Dr. Towell was a lecturer in political science at California State College, Bakersfield from 1972 to 1975, a defense reporter at Congressional Quarterly from 1975 to 2003, and a fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments from 2003 to 2006. He received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Georgetown University in Washington, DC; a master's degree in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL; and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. On behalf of the U.S. Senate and the American people, I express deep gratitude for the contributions of Dr. Towell during his nearly two decades at CRS. Along with his family, friends, and colleagues, I thank him and wish him and his wife K.T. all the best in retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, agree to the conference with the House, and authorize the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees, as provided under the previous order. I know of no further debate on the compound motion, and I ask for the yeas and nays. Vote on Compound Motion

Mr. REED. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Klobuchar, I call up her motion to instruct the conferees.

Mr. REED. I know of no further debate on the motion. Vote on Motion to Instruct

Mr. REED. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Hickenlooper, I call up his motion to instruct the conferees.

Mr. REED. I know of no further debate on the motion. Vote on Motion to Instruct

Mr. REED. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Manchin, I call up his motion to instruct the conferees.

Mr. REED. I know of no further debate on the motion. Vote on Motion to Instruct

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, reserving my right to object, I believe we must move forward with emergency funding for our allies--all of our allies, not just the State of Israel but also Ukraine. We are in a situation where both of these countries are under tremendous stress. But it is very clear that the proposal before us, this unanimous consent request to pass the bill including only funding for Israel, is just ironically an attempt to deny funding for Ukraine. It is not really about helping Israel; it is about making sure we don't continue our support and commitment to Ukraine. That commitment is just as vitally important to us as our solemn commitment to Israel. If we fail to support Ukraine, we will send a very unfortunate message to our adversaries: You can succeed in overrunning America's allies if you simply wait us out. My colleagues on the other side of the debate have been spinning a false narrative that says: By providing support for Ukraine, we will deny support for Israel. The truth is that the only obstacle to providing help to both nations is them. The truth is also that the United States is already supporting the State of Israel. The United States has provided Israel with over $12.4 billion in military assistance and missile defense funding over the last 3 years. In response to the attacks of October 7, President Biden has moved two aircraft carrier strike groups into the region. He ordered marines into the region. U.S. forces have already engaged and shot down missiles from adversaries in the region. We have also suffered more than 56 injuries of American military personnel because of actions against the U.S. position in the Middle East. We need to support Israel. We are supporting Israel. We will continue to support Israel. But we cannot abandon Ukraine. They have lost hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel. The horrors of October 7 were grotesque. I was in Israel last month. I saw the images--some that have not yet been released--of the slaughter. It was traumatic for the entire State of Israel--in fact, the Jewish community worldwide. But go to Ukraine. Go to Bucha. Dig up the graves of people shot in the back of the head while their hands were tied. You want to talk about atrocities? Those were atrocities perpetrated by the Russians. So we are fighting forces that are dark and evil in two fronts, and we have to support all of those democratic nations--Israel and Ukraine. They are struggling against the darkness. This is not my opinion alone. Two weeks ago, Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State for Donald Trump and a former Congressman from Senator Marshall's home State of Kansas, wrote this about Ukraine: Make no mistake: The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on U.S. national security. Should Putin prevail-- whether on the battlefield or through a war of attrition that leads to ill-conceived diplomacy-- And I would suggest that denying this aid is ill-conceived diplomacy-- the war would be felt well beyond Ukraine's borders. Indeed, I would add that if we fail to support Ukraine with funding and equipment, then it is more likely that young American servicemembers will be called upon to fight and perhaps die and suffer in Eastern Europe because, as so many of my colleagues have suggested and as Secretary Pompeo suggested, Putin will not be satisfied with simply taking Ukraine, and we could see ourselves engaged in defending one of our NATO allies. I have a very simple sort of notion about American military policy, having had the privilege to serve in our military. I would rather send resources to a country fighting than send American soldiers to do the fighting. And if we don't support Ukraine, that will happen. Let me conclude by simply saying that it is time to get serious. We have 3 days before our government runs out of funding. Israel needs our support. Ukraine needs our support. American families and communities are counting on us to deliver critical disaster assistance. They need support for affordable, high-quality childcare. There are many needs we must address. We have to move now but not by isolating our Ukrainian allies. We are in the fight with them, and we will finish the fight with them. At this point, I would yield to Senator Durbin of Illinois.

Mr. REED

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

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would request that the scheduled vote be initiated.

Mr. REED

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

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, reserving my right to object, I, too, believe, with my colleague from Washington State, that we must move forward with emergency funding for our allies--all of our allies, not just the State of Israel but also Ukraine. I also think we have to move quickly to head off a closure or shutdown of our government next week, and we have to address the pressing needs of the American people in this process. But it is very clear that this proposal before us--this unanimous consent to pass the bill including only funds for Israel--is just an attempt to deny assistance to Ukraine. It is not really about helping Israel. It is about making sure we don't continue to keep our commitments to Ukraine. And we have had a debate about Ukraine. We have talked over 2 years about Ukraine, how dangerous Russian aggression can be, not just with respect to the people of Ukraine but to the rest of the world. As my colleague said, China is watching. In fact, I think they are paying more attention to Ukraine than the current issue in Israel because Putin's imperialistic dreams of restoring the Russian Empire resonate more closely to the Xi Jinping's imperialist dreams to reunite Taiwan to China. So if we fail in Ukraine, I think that will send a very strong and unfortunate message to China that you can attack, wait the West out, and, eventually, they will concede. That is not good strategy or policy. My colleagues argue that this will deny Israel getting the means to defend itself. Well, we have already been supporting the State of Israel. We have moved two aircraft carrier strike groups into the region. We are moving marines into the region. We are sending signals that we are strongly protecting them. Indeed, we have already engaged and shot down missiles from our naval forces. We have also suffered more than 40 injuries of American military personnel because of actions against the United States' positions in the Middle East because of our protection of Israel. We cannot abandon Ukraine. They have lost hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel. If you want to talk about horrors, October 7 was a horrible day. I was in Israel. I saw photographs--some that have not yet been released--of the tragedy. It was traumatic for the entire State of Israel. But go to Ukraine. Go to Bucha. Dig up the graves of people shot in the back of the head while their hands were tied. You want to talk about atrocities? Those were atrocities. So we are fighting forces that are dark and evil, and we have to support all of those democratic nations--Israel and Ukraine--that are struggling against that darkness. Now, this is not my opinion alone. Last week, Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State for Donald Trump and a former Congressman from Senator Marshall's home State of Kansas wrote: Make no mistake: the outcome of this war will have a direct impact on U.S. national security. He was speaking of Ukraine. Should Putin prevail--whether on the battlefield or through a war of attrition that leads to ill-conceived diplomacy--the war would be felt well beyond Ukraine's borders. Indeed, I would add, if we fail to support Ukraine with funding and equipment, then it is more likely that young American servicemembers will be called upon to fight and die and suffer in Eastern Europe, because, as so many of my colleagues have suggested and as Secretary Pompeo suggested, Putin will not be satisfied with simply taking Ukraine, and we could see ourselves engaged in defending one of our NATO allies. I have a very simple sort of notion about American military policy. I would rather send resources to a country fighting than send American soldiers to do the fighting, and, if we don't support Ukraine, that will happen. Now, this is a situation that calls on us to do the right thing, and we have to do the right thing. But this is not something that we can do separate one from another, because, as we have all said, there is a connectivity here, and this connectivity has to be recognized. Now, the other point I would make, too, is that this bill is paid for. Now, this to me is one of the most startling aspects of the legislation that the Senator from Kansas is promoting because they pay for it by taking money away from the Internal Revenue Service. Some would say they are using the Israeli crisis as a way to do what so many of my Republican colleagues like to do--give tax breaks to the wealthy--because when you take money away from the IRS, you go ahead and ensure that people can feel much more comfortable about not paying their taxes. The Wall Street Journal published an article a few days ago. In 2021, the IRS failed to collect $688 billion that was owed to the United States of America. That is many times this supplemental that we are talking about. No financial institution would take money away from its bill collectors on the notion that, oh, that is OK. Only in Washington would we do that. This bill is, thus, irresponsible in the way it is paid for and irresponsible in ignoring our commitment to Ukraine. It is time to get serious. We have 10 days before our government runs out of funding. Israel needs our support. Ukraine needs our support. American families and communities are counting on us to deliver critical disaster assistance. They need support for affordable, high- quality childcare. They need many things that are also at a crisis level. And we don't have time--we don't have time--to entertain political gestures to send a signal to Israel and a signal to the rich in America that we are with you and neglect and leave out Ukrainians, who have been struggling and fighting against a foe that is determined to continue this fight in Europe. Ultimately, I feel if we don't respond appropriately, this forces us to send our men and women into the fight. I commend Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins for standing up for this country and for our allies.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak for 5 minutes and that, following my remarks, Senator Blumenthal be allowed to speak for 5 minutes.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to express my support for three military leaders whom we will soon be voting on: ADM Lisa Franchetti, Gen. David Allvin, and Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney. These are some of the finest leaders our Nation has to offer, and America is stronger because of their service and their sacrifice. I am particularly proud to support the nomination of ADM Lisa Franchetti to be the next Chief of Naval Operations. Admiral Franchetti brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position. She has served in leadership roles at every level throughout the Navy, both ashore and at sea, and with postings around the globe. She has served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea; commander of Carrier Strike Group 9; commander of Carrier Strike Group 15; commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet; commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa; and director for strategy, plans, and policy on the Joint Staff, among many other operational roles. She has worked her way up the ranks in the U.S. Navy. She has commanded at sea. She has accepted and has excelled at every challenge that is presented to her. She is superbly prepared to be the Chief of Naval Operations. As the current Vice Chief and now as the Acting Chief of Naval Operations, she brings an important perspective on the key challenges for the Navy. Her understanding of the Joint Force and the Navy's ever- expanding role within it will be critical. I want to acknowledge the historic nature of Admiral Franchetti's nomination. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to serve as CNO and the first woman on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I am glad we have reached this moment. At every step of her career, Admiral Franchetti has been a trailblazer and a team builder who focuses on the mission, leads by example, and gets the job done. She is an inspiration to many and someone who will always put the security of our Nation and all who defend it first--first before herself, first before anything else. Those are the qualities that make an outstanding officer and an outstanding leader. Indeed, the Navy faces a dangerous and evolving global security environment. Threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and violent extremist groups remain persistent, and the Navy has an important role to play in addressing them. But the clear, pacing challenge for our naval forces is China. In the Indo-Pacific and in seas and ports around the world, the U.S. Navy will continue to be the first line of deterrence and defense against China's expanding global ambitions. I am confident that Admiral Franchetti has the skills and experience to meet this challenge and provide the Nation's sailors, their families, and Navy civilian employees with the leadership they deserve. I urge my colleagues to vote for Admiral Franchetti's nomination.

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

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I know of no debate on the nomination.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I know of no debate on the nomination.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. I would ask that my colleagues yield so that I can ask unanimous consent to prepare for tomorrow's session.