Roger Wicker

Mr. WICKER

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I agree with my friend from Rhode Island, the distinguished ranking member on the committee, that this is something Senators need to think very carefully about. And I would remind my friend and my fellow Senators and my fellow Americans that the voters of the United States spoke very strongly and very firmly and overwhelmingly on the first Tuesday of November for change, and over 75 million Americans voted for change not only domestically, which we are seeing being fulfilled even in the first week of this term, but also on the international scene. The United States needs to return to a position of strength, and through that strength and through that military might, we can assure peace for a generation. So I think one of the things that over 75 million Americans spoke for on election day was peace through strength. The President has made his choice, and he is putting his team together to strengthen our military and to get us ready, and the person he has chosen to lead the Defense Department is Pete Hegseth. The more I have seen of this young man over the time that we have had a chance to visit and over the time that he has been questioned and actually put through a number of trials, the more impressed I am with his character and with his ability to withstand the slings and arrows that we see in politics and in government today. Pete Hegseth is ready to put forward the program of President Donald Trump, and he has satisfied me that he will be a change agent in the Department of Defense and that he is the person we need. He is the President's choice, and we owe it to this Commander in Chief to put him in this position unless he is not qualified for the office. Mr. Hegseth is a retired major from the Army National Guard. He has had multiple combat tours of duty. And then he has come back and he has had some struggles. He has had some PTSD. And there are thousands and thousands of his comrades who have experienced the same thing, experienced problems after they came back. But he has overcome those. And those thousands of young officers and people who have been in combat for the United States are watching the U.S. Senate tonight, even so, and they are watching to see whether we have listened to the dreams and to the plans and to the hopes of this young man as the next Secretary of Defense. I agree with my friend: We should look carefully. But once we look carefully, I think we will decide that this President, who has had this mandate, is entitled to this remarkable young man as his Secretary of Defense. I am going to vote for him early and enthusiastically, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

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

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, in a few moments, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of our next CIA Director, and then immediately following there will be a vote on cloture on the nomination of Mr. Peter Brian Hegseth, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense. I am going to vote yes for cloture, and I expect that a majority of our Senators will do so. Three months ago, 77 million Americans voted for change in the United States, and they sent President Trump back to the White House. It was a decisive victory and a clear mandate to focus this Nation on prosperity and peace. That work begins at the Pentagon, where we must return to a policy of peace through strength. We are facing the most complex and dangerous global security environment since World War II. The next few years will shape the direction for the remainder of the 21st century. It could be led by the United States, a future which would lead to freedom and prosperity for all Americans and the absence of armed conflict, or it could be led by despots. The Chinese Communist Party is working against us. Its dictator, Xi Jinping, uses military force and economic coercion to try to reshape the world order with the help of his junior partner Kim Jong-Un of North Korea. At the same time, the despot Vladimir Putin remains intent on territorial expansion. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and their like continue to attack Israel and the United States, and ISIS remains set on killing Americans every day--every day. Unfortunately, the Biden administration wasted precious time and significant resources pursuing divisive social policies at DOD. For instance, we just spent months organizing with the administration over whether the Defense Department should pay for hormone therapies or puberty blockers for minors out of taxpayer dollars. Seventy-one percent of Americans oppose that policy, including more than half of Democrats, so I am glad we are going to abandon that type of policy. I could go on, but let me now turn to focusing on the future. Together, Congress and the President have a lot to do, and we don't have much time to do it. We have a broken shipbuilding industrial base to fix. We have defense manufacturing jobs to build up and munitions lines to expand. We have an ossified budgeting system to update, and we have got an audit to finish for the first time in decades. And we have a resourcing problem that needs attention. On his way out the door, Secretary Austin now tells us we need to spend a lot more on national security. Well, thank you, Secretary Austin; it is an admission 4 years too late. We are simply falling behind our adversaries in too many ways. So President Trump seeks to reverse this trend and bring much needed change to the Pentagon, and he has chosen a man to lead the Pentagon. His choice to spearhead these efforts is Pete Hegseth, a retired major and combat veteran in the Army National Guard. Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee himself is unconventional, just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for President. That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth a good choice. He is not beholden to the status quo, and he is open to new ideas. He is intent on lethality and readiness, and shouldn't we all be? His experience in the line of fire and his servicemember advocacy make at least one thing clear: Pete Hegseth will put the men and women of our military first. Congress has often seen defense secretaries delay and evade Congressional oversight. I think Pete Hegseth will be willing and eager to partner with us in that regard. Last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee convened to consider Mr. Hegseth's nomination. In testimony lasting nearly 4 hours, he addressed three key audiences: our committee, the U.S. Senate as a whole, and the American people. I think the American people liked what they saw; I know I did. He showed each of us why President Trump chose him to be the next Secretary of Defense. First of all, he articulated a clear vision of the Pentagon, and it is clear to anyone who listened that he is going to bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the Department's stagnant bureaucracy. He will restore a warfighting ethos and relentlessly focus on the military's core mission: to defer conflict and, if necessary, to win a war. Mr. Hegseth is committed to bringing a swift end to the corrosive social policies that serve to divide our servicemembers rather than unite them. And as I have pointed out earlier, the American people are behind him in this regard overwhelmingly. He correctly stated that we need to change the way the Pentagon does business. He will restore a culture of accountability by cutting redtape, incentivizing innovation, and rebuilding the defense industrial base. He affirmed his intent to tackle the hardest systemic problems that plague the Pentagon, challenges that previous secretaries have proven unable to fix. And I mentioned that audit. I sincerely believe we will get an audit done under his oversight. And, importantly, he agreed that maintaining the inadequate Biden-era defense budget levels would be dangerous to our national security. And we hear, as I said, the outgoing secretary admitting that very thing. In his testimony before our committee, Mr. Hegseth said this: My only special interest is--the warfighter. Deterring wars, and if called upon, winning wars, by ensuring our warriors never enter a fair fight. We let them win and then bring them home. Well put, Major Hegseth. I am confident Mr. Hegseth, supported by a team of experienced top officials, will do exactly that. Pete and his family have endured numerous smears and false news stories. Less reported is the outpouring of support this nominee has received. Pete Hegseth has devoted his career to fighting for his fellow soldiers, and his fellow soldiers--men and women--are now speaking out on his behalf. In the past few months, a host of flag officers signed an open letter enthusiastically commending Mr. Hegseth. I thank these generals and admirals for doing so. The Armed Services Committee has received letters from female soldiers who support Pete. We received messages from those who served alongside him on the battlefield, including a moving statement from a Medal of Honor recipient who backs Pete Hegseth to the hilt. These men and women uniformly vouch for Pete Hegseth's leadership, tenacity, and passion for supporting the warfighter. On the day of his hearing, 100 Navy Seals marched from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Senate office buildings. They marched together that distance, and rows of Mr. Hegseth's fellow soldiers sat behind him in solidarity for the entire 4-hour-long hearing. These patriotic Americans were willing to step forward and declare their support for Mr. Hegseth publicly--in stark contrast, I might add, to the anonymous attacks we have heard about. In this critical moment for our national security, I believe we have the right man for the job. I urge my colleagues to continue in their support of Mr. Hegseth's nomination to be our next Secretary of Defense. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. WICKER

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

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I rise tonight to make a simple but important point on behalf of the brave, freedom-loving citizens of the Republic of Georgia. It is time for the United States to stand alongside the brave nation of Georgia, the citizens of which went to the polls recently and voted to elect their own leadership. It is time to impose heavy sanctions on the individuals and institutions now trying to thwart the democratic will of the people of the Republic of Georgia. Now is the time to act. This is the 20th of December 2024. We don't need to act in mid-January. We need to act now while the people of Georgia are taking to the freezing streets in towns like Tbilisi and elsewhere to exercise their right to protest. Now, here is what has happened--and it is such a familiar story, Mr. President. The Georgian people recently went to the polls, as really is the right of all mankind according to our Declaration of Independence. And the Georgian people rejected the Georgian Dream Party, which is really more and more becoming an arm of Vladimir Putin's Russian dictatorship. The Georgian people, when they voted, rejected Bidzina Ivanishvili, the pro-Russian oligarch behind the party. This is similar to what other free voters have done in other countries around in that area--a decade or so ago in the Republic of Ukraine, in the recent Romanian elections. It is happening also in Moldova. The people there do not wish to be under the thumb of a reincarnation of the Soviet Union under Vladimir Putin's dictatorship. And so they voted against the Georgian Dream Party, but the Georgian Dream Party in charge of the election machinery has tried to rig the election. And so the people of Georgia have risen up in response. And the Georgian Dream government, an arm of the Putin Russian Government, has responded in tyrannical fashion. The Georgian Dream Party has worked to overthrow the will of the voters and has marshalled the power of the police to crack down violently on peaceful protest. In a number of days, Mr. President, the Georgian Dream Party could actually forcibly remove the democratically elected President of Georgia from power. Now, the Biden administration has taken baby steps, long overdue, and I wish they would be more forceful. Our American administration has now publicly sanctioned two individuals. The State and Treasury Departments have sanctioned a senior ministry official and the Georgia Minister of Internal Affairs. Now, what do the sanctions involve? They involve blocking the offending officials of the Georgian Dream Party from transactions in American banks. We can do that. They have frozen any assets these Russian puppets have owned in the United States and revoked any visas they have for our country. And I applaud the administration for these steps, but they could do so much more. Of course, in response, the Georgian Dream Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced that he would decorate these two sanctioned Russian puppets and give them state honors in their roles for quashing the protests. This is what is going on around the world. This is how tyrants act. Georgian Dream has thumbed its nose, of course, at our somewhat half- hearted measures. And so it is time, I would say, for the United States to demonstrate more decisive and timely resolve. Half measures are the wrong message at this point. So I call on the Biden administration to sanction the leaders of Georgian Dream, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, Kakha Kaladze, and Prime Minister Kobakhidze. The Republic of Georgia is the home of freedom-loving people. They were once under the thumb of Moscow, and they do not wish to go back. Vladimir Putin would like to have Georgia back in its orbit, just like they would like to have Moldova back in their orbit, just like they even wish to have Romania and certainly Ukraine. And Vladimir Putin is willing to rig elections to have his agents brutally repress the peaceful protests that are going on. Now, I admire these Georgian freedom fighters. They strongly oppose Putin's interference; and we ought to stand with them. I call on the State Department and the Biden administration in the last month of office to stand tall with the freedom-loving Georgian people. We must continue our legacy of cooperation and shared democratic values with the Republic of Georgia. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Mrs. Holly Allgood, who has devoted her career to serving our State's young people. Holly is a native of Tupelo, MS, and she earned an undergraduate degree at Mississippi State University. She has faithfully supported the Bulldogs' football team, but nothing brings Holly more joy than watching her sons play sports. Her love for children extends to her students, as she cares for them in the classroom. For 13 years, Holly has served in the Tupelo Public School District, giving back to the community that raised her. Today, she leads a special education class in the city's Early Childhood Education Center. Holly is guided by her mother's mantra: ``All children can learn. You just have to find out how they learn best.'' Few embody that principle better than Holly. Every day, she works to give the gift of education to those at risk of being left behind. However, it is an act of profound selflessness that entitles Holly Allgood to special recognition today. This year, she learned that one of her 5-year-old students urgently needed a liver transplant. For his whole life, he had faced a rare genetic disorder that necessitated this procedure. Holly signed up to be a donor. A perfect match for her young student, she traveled from Tupelo to Pittsburgh, PA, for a 6-hour, intensive liver transplant surgery. Holly's kindness saved the life of her beloved student. Mrs. Allgood's story is a testament to the impact one person's amazing generosity can have. I join my fellow Mississippians in thanking Mrs. Holly Allgood for her daily work in the classroom and for her recent sacrificial, compassionate act of heroism.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Reed, Senator Schumer, and I be allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each prior to the scheduled rollcall vote.

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, the Senate will soon consider the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025. The NDAA is among the most important bills Congress considers each year. It is a primary way of fulfilling our most solemn obligation: our constitutional duty to provide for the common defense. Congress has come together to pass the NDAA each year for more than six decades--63 years to be precise. Today, we continue our streak of earned success. In our best moments, we worked out the NDAA in an open and aboveboard process. Here I must say that I am frustrated with the majority leader's decision to thwart that regular order this year. He did not bring the bill to the floor, thus denying Americans the opportunity to witness their elected representatives make decisions in the open on critical national security issues. Still, we continued in the spirit of honesty and collegiality. The numbers bear that out. The Armed Services Committee considered nearly 3,000 requests submitted by all Senators. We considered 618 amendments at markup, adopting 327 of those amendments. We then processed over 90 amendments during the informal conference process. These statistics tell the story of the hard work and professionalism that characterized the construction of this bill. We are currently experiencing the most dangerous national security moment since World War II. One need only scroll through the headlines summarizing this year's world events. Congress needed to respond in kind. At every possible opportunity, we should be sending a signal of peace through strength of strong deterrence. Accordingly, the Senate Armed Services Committee took an honest look at growing capability and aggression by our adversaries. We decided that this year was the time to change our course and move our military toward the generational defense investment it deserves. That vital committee action included an upgrade of $25 billion for our missile defense, shipbuilding, and counter-drone technology, among other modernization programs--$25 billion. This should have been part of the bill today. Regrettably, we missed an opportunity to strengthen the President-elect's hand as he takes office in a precarious world situation. I hope and expect we will see bipartisan support for much-needed investment early in 2025. And yet as I note what is missing from the bill, I am happy to recognize the immense accomplishments that Members have included in NDAA. We secured a significant 14.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted servicemembers, as well as a 4.5 percent increase for all other servicemembers. We made investments in junior ROTC and recruitment capabilities, both of which will help solve the military's manpower crisis. This bill stops the Department of Defense from paying for puberty blockers and hormone therapies for children. We blocked the teaching of critical race theory in military programming, and we froze diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring at the DOD. In fact, we defunded DEI. The NDAA authorizes critical investments across the board. We accelerated ongoing nuclear deterrence efforts; we moved forward in shipbuilding programs for our destroyers and submarines; finally, we learned from the wars going on around us today, using real world experience, we found ways to strengthen security assistance for frontline allies in the Pacific, the Middle East, and in Europe. So let me say again, this is a good bill. It is a piece of legislation in which I take pride. As always, I am grateful to have the opportunity to advance our national security. And as I speak of gratitude, I want to extend special thanks to my friend, Chairman Jack Reed. I also want to thank his team on the Armed Services Committee, ably led by staff director Liz King. I thank my Republican and Democratic colleagues on the committee as well; each made important contributions to the bill. This is especially true of our subcommittee chairs and ranking members, and I will recognize those on my side of the aisle: Senator Tom Cotton, ranking member of Airland; Senator Deb Fischer, ranking member of Strategic Forces; Senator Mike Rounds, Cybersecurity ranking member; Senator Joni Ernst, Emerging Threats and Capabilities ranking member; Senator Rick Scott ranking member of Personnel; and Senator Dan Sullivan, ranking member of Readiness. I also want to thank my Armed Services Committee staff. These patriotic individuals burned the midnight oil for months, literally. They delivered a product that this body can be proud of, one that does much to advance American interests. The American people would be astounded to see how hard and how long these staff members work. And I can hardly mention my staff without thanking my intrepid staff director John Keast. John and his superb team know how to get the job done, and I want to recognize John Keast and his staff by name. They are Rick Berger, Brendan Gavin, James Mazol, Greg Lilly, Adam Barker, Zach Barnett, Kristina Belcourt, Jack Beyrer, Cody Emerson, Isaac Jalkanen, Kevin Kim, Eric Lofgren, Katie Magnus, Jonathan Moore, Sean O'Keefe, Brad Patout, Katie Romaine, Eric Trager, Adam Trull and Olivia Trusty. This year's NDAA will further the cause of our national defense, but it cannot do all that we need. This bill--this will be the final vote on this bill. It has passed the House. We have invoked cloture, and this vote will send this bill to the President. Let this piece of legislation be an exhortation that Congress can no longer leave the job of national defense half finished. We have no choice but to move ahead and to move ahead early next year with a generational investment in our military.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 588, S. 2620, Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, and Calendar No. 636, S. 4994, Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification.

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment, where applicable, be agreed to; that the bills, as amended, where applicable, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. I thank my colleagues. I will yield for a moment to my friend from Maryland and then I may say a word after that.

Mr. WICKER. Reclaiming my time simply to say that I appreciate the cooperation of the Senator from Maryland, and I thank the Senate for giving unanimous consent to these two measures. S. 4994, the Vicksburg National Military Park Modification Act, will modify--simply modify--the boundary of the Vicksburg National Park in my State of Mississippi. This transfer will convey a small parcel of Federal land to the State government and to the Friends of Vicksburg Military Park, an organization that will assist with restoration efforts at the park. These efforts include a new, state-of-the-art, interactive center, which will guide tourists through the park and teach them the history and importance of Vicksburg, MS, during the Civil War. To execute these plans, the park will need to perform this land transfer. The State will then be responsible for building and maintaining the connector road as well as the bridge to the new center, relieving the National Park Service from that burden. So I am glad to see that our partners as well as Friends of Vicksburg are working together to establish a modern, interactive center that will tell the story of the siege and battle of Vicksburg for many generations to come. I thank the Chair, I thank my colleague, and I thank the Senate for giving unanimous consent to these two measures. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I am tempted to simply say: Amen and amen to yield back, but I didn't want this moment to pass without rising, on behalf of my wife Gayle and me, to say how much we have appreciated the friendship of Ben and Myrna Cardin and the leadership that they have shown to us as we have represented the United States of America to citizens around the world and particularly to our friends in Europe. Myrna has been a wonderful friend to Gayle. She is deserving of all of the accolades that she has received and will receive. I have had an opportunity in this city several times in the last few weeks to make remarks on behalf of Ben Cardin. He suggested to me almost that he had heard enough and that I need not say anymore. But I do want to say how much I appreciate his leadership and the list of accomplishments that he has listed and to say how grateful I will always be for Ben allowing me to be a part of the Magnitsky struggle and getting the Magnitsky Act passed and Global Magnitsky, which is renowned around the world as an effective tool against totalitarianism and corruption. And so I would simply say that people in the audience may have happened by--I know a number of people here came for this particular purpose--but if you happened simply to be in the Gallery at this particular time, you have been--these people, Mr. President, have been subject to the testimony of a magnificent public servant. And if I serve decades more, which I do not feel that I will, if I live to be 100, I will not see a finer leader in terms of intellect, talent, in terms of savvy, in terms of accomplishment, in terms of leadership and statesmanship than I have known in the person of Ben Cardin, and I am grateful to have been his colleague and his friend. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, it is fitting that a daughter of Mississippi is presiding at this poignant moment for me and for my entire staff. I come to the floor today with a forced smile and a bittersweet message, a bit of official news I have not been eager to report, and that news is that Michelle Barlow Richardson, who sits at my side at this very moment and who has stood by my side for a quarter century, my chief of staff, will soon depart Capitol Hill. This closes a 25-year chapter of service to my office, to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, to the State of Mississippi, and to the citizens of the United States. Anyone who knows Michelle has found out very quickly that Michelle is a Mississippi State Bulldog. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 1997 and then moved up east to Washington, DC, to begin work at my office. And she got right to work, beginning where many staffers do, as a legislative correspondent and then as an executive assistant. She set my schedule. She began to guide proposals into law, which is what we do here. Michelle would go on to higher rungs up the ladder, but she never lost her appreciation for every role on the team. And many members of the team join us in this Chamber at this moment. To this day, no task is too small for Michelle. She has not hesitated to climb into the trenches again and again. Michelle is fiercely loyal. Her relationship to Mississippi State University is a prime example of this trait. When the MSU community sings their school's anthem at an event, they all sing, ``Loyal friends we'll always be.'' Quite fitting. We even lost Michelle to Starkville briefly in 1999. At that point--only a couple of years out of college-- she was given the very important job of fundraising for a project that ended up generating over $4 million to endow a scholarship. That fund is helping students in Mississippi to this very day. But luckily, in 2001, we got her back. As I reflect on the 23 years that have passed since then, I am filled with gratitude for Michelle. And I am beaming with pride over all the good work she has accomplished. In Washington, DC--as you so poignantly know, Madam President--change is constant: a different Congress every 2 years, new leadership opportunities, Senators come and go, changing committee assignments. During these transitions, Michelle has been a steadfast presence, guiding my staff and me through numerous changes over the years. A big change came in 2007, not long after Michelle had been promoted to be my chief of staff. Our office picked up and moved to this end of the Capitol when I was selected to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Senator Trent Lott. The success of that transition is due, in no small part, to Michelle's deep institutional knowledge, broad networks, and natural leadership skills. The next year, to the extent permitted by the law and the rules, she helped lead my first statewide election campaign. She expanded a campaign and fundraising organization that she had developed in the First Congressional District, and she applied it to all of our great State of Mississippi. Of course, when you get elected, you have to govern. And over here on the Senate side, Michelle once again rose to the challenge of a larger role in governing. She scaled up the size of ``Team Wicker'' from 18 people to 45 teammates across 5 offices. Over the years, she also established a network of Senate chiefs of staff. In fact, it is known throughout Capitol Hill that Michelle Barlow Richardson has become the ``dean'' of the Senate chiefs of staff. That is what we are losing tomorrow when she moves to another capacity. Michelle has built a community where collaboration, information, and mutual support can flow. Then, in 2016, we had another transition. I was elected to chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and, as usual, Michelle was right there to help. Under her leadership, the office adjusted to new responsibilities and certainly new schedules. A few years after that, I took up the gavel on the Senate Commerce Committee. Michelle helped build a team of policy experts who would craft smart legislation on the vast portfolio of the Commerce Committee--everything from the seabed to the stars. President Ronald Reagan once said that ``personnel is policy.'' Well, Michelle and the personnel she has cultivated have gone on to produce substantive and savvy policy. She has been pivotal to work that has brought billions of dollars in new jobs and new investments to Mississippi. Through years of legislative efforts, Michelle has been making connections, educating stakeholders, and holding our strong legislative principles--and holding our feet to the fire. Through every negotiation and late night, she has been motivating our staff. In scaling up the staff from the House team to the much larger Senate team, over the years, Michelle has led literally hundreds of able staff members. Her leadership left an incredible legacy. Michelle was good at identifying talent. She has challenged staffers to accomplish goals they did not know they were capable of reaching. She has embraced the burden of making tough decisions. She has delivered tough but constructive feedback directly and concisely, without ever making it personal. And a massive cloud of witnesses can testify to her influence. Many former Wicker staffers are now serving in leadership roles around the country. I am the one privileged to give this floor speech, but I know many could give speeches--and perhaps will give speeches--of their own, telling the stories of Michelle's influence in their lives. Those who know Michelle Barlow Richardson know her for her strong devotion and friendship. That is especially true for my wife Gayle and me. Michelle's title has been chief of staff, but she has been so much more. She has been by our side in public service and in private moments and moments of joy and moments of pain. Words are inadequate, and these remarks, in particular, are inadequate. We will miss Michelle's enthusiasm for all things Mississippi. We will miss the presence she--and occasionally her children--have brought to the office. We will even miss the Mississippi State University maroon and cowbell. But loyal friends we will certainly always be. We will remain grateful for her friendship, and we wish her, this public servant and American patriot, the very best. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Sherwood R. ``Woody'' Bailey, Jr., who has worked tirelessly to develop the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy. Woody earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama and completed law school at the University of Mississippi. For a time, Woody worked at a Jackson law firm. In 1979, he departed to join his family's business, Bailey Lumber & Supply Co., where he served as president for many years. By the 1990s, he was already creating jobs in Gulfport, but Woody wanted to do even more for the city. He became the finance chairman for Mississippians for Jobs. The organization successfully advocated for legal gambling along the coast. Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2004, threatening thousands of jobs in the gaming industry. Woody persuaded legislators to allow casinos onshore, securing the livelihoods of many people. The same year, he began ``Smokin' on the Sound,'' a festival where attendees enjoyed powerboat races in Biloxi and drag boat races in Gulfport. To most Mississippians, Woody's name is synonymous with ``Cruisin' the Coast,'' the annual car show he founded in 1996, a time when gulf coast tourism tended to taper off around Labor Day. Woody wanted to extend the season, and for the past 28 years, he has successfully done so. In 1996, 374 cars participated in the inaugural celebration of classic vehicles. This year, nearly 10,000 cruisers made the trip, including visitors from 44 U.S. States, as well as Canada, England, and New Zealand. The weeklong festival spans the 12 cities and 3 counties of the Mississippi coast and has grown to over $36 million in economic benefits for the state. Because of Woody's work, Mississippi welcomes the Nation and world to ``America's Largest Block Party.'' His life and career are a testament to the impact one leader can make on our State. I join my fellow Mississippians in thanking Mr. Woody Bailey for keeping the gulf coast lively, festive, and prosperous.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the attached article entitled ``NATO at 75'' by Alan W. Dowd in the American Legion Magazine, be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. WICKER

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

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend the accomplishments and career of Jackie Reed. Jackie is a veteran driver known for his lofty standards of care. The Collinsville, MS, resident has notched 3 million safe miles in his 34 years behind the wheel, and he has been increasingly recognized as a leader in the Nation's vital trucking industry. His lifelong commitment to excellence has made our highways safer and helped power the American economy. For the past few years, Jackie has competed at the National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships. The event--known as the ``Super Bowl of Safety''--has consistently demonstrated his knowledge of safety requirements, his industry awareness, and his driving skills. In 2022, he secured the Mississippi Grand Champion award in the three-axle category. He returned the next year, finishing second place in the State's two-axle group. In 2024, Jackie topped all his previous achievements. He was named America's top truck driver, besting 421 other elite contestants from almost every State. Jackie earned the Bendix Grand Champion title, and he also won first place in the tank truck vehicle class. Jackie says he has won big awards because he has paid ``attention to the small stuff.'' He scours the Facts for Drivers guidebook. He diligently inspects his truck. That level of detail pays off in trophies, and it also benefits Americans nationwide. Jackie's careful driving helps deliver goods to consumers, and it keeps his fellow drivers from accidents along the way. Mississippi is lucky to have such an outstanding representative on the national stage. It is for his decades of distinction, his many achievements, and his continued quality that I commend Jackie Reed today.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I want to join my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, in expressing regret that we don't have the important national security business of this Congress before the Senate right now. Clearly, it is important to do a nomination and a confirmation every few days. The election is approaching and, of course, there are some show votes. And I think probably my side of the aisle has engaged in that sort of thing in years past. But it is such a shame that we face this axis of aggressors like we have never faced in 50 years. And every national security official, whether a retired four-star or someone who is no longer in service but giving us good advice, they come before us, and they say we have never had such a threat from China; from Russia, which is engaged in a shooting war right now having invaded the sovereign space of a next- door neighbor; from Iran, which is directing the three--at least the three--terrorist groups that are raining so much havoc on Israel; and then a very unstable leadership in North Korea. This axis of aggressors is signaling that they don't fear an invasion of Taiwan in three short years. They have said it publicly. While all of that is going on, our leadership, the distinguished majority leader from New York, has not let us bring the appropriations bill to the floor; has not let us bring the authorization bill, which we must pass--we must pass both of these bills every year--the two essential bills that cannot go without being taken care of every fiscal year. I will say to you, Mr. President, to my colleagues, and to others that are paying attention, this has been bipartisan, absolutely. Senator Murray is correct. She is unhappy about this too. But I point the finger to the one person on the face of the Earth that can actually bring a bill to the floor, and that is the majority leader. Senator Reed, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and I have been putting together a managers' package for this year's National Defense Authorization Act. It would have been much better had we brought the bill to the floor and had 100 amendments winnowed down and worked back and forth together as we should be doing; then have open votes so the people of the United States could see how Senators from Maine to Mississippi and from the west coast to the east stand on important issues affecting the U.S. military. We have not been able to do that. But we are working together, Senator Reed and I, on a plan. And we worked on nearly 100 variations of the legislation that was passed months and months ago by the Armed Services Committee to resolve issues of local and State interests--issues involving how quickly we can get our industrial base going to meet the need that, frankly, we are not meeting at the present time; and to get ahead of the game so we can prevent war; so we can have enough strength to have the Reaganesque peace through strength that we enjoyed in the eighties and early nineties. The appropriations bills are just as important--if not more important--than the authorization bills. They contain funding increases we need to prevent our Air Force from shrinking. We know that the Chinese Navy is expanding enormously and our Navy is shrinking, literally shrinking. It is regrettable that here we are a week and half to go before we must break for the election, and the distinguished majority leader, Senator Schumer, has not brought any of this legislation before the full Senate, bills that have been ready since July. Also, I want to commend my colleague from Maine, the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, for accommodating the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. I had prepared today to come down here and support Senator Collins in an effort to have a unanimous consent request to bring the bill to the floor. I mean, what else are we doing? Look at us. In a matter of comity and to continue the great working relationship that these two senior Senators have had, Senator Collins refrained from that. So we are not asking for unanimous consent and requiring someone from the other side to come and object to that. We will continue to work. But what is absolutely sure is that the fiscal year will begin in just a few days. And the appropriation for what we need to do at the Pentagon--what new things we need to do--will not be passed, and we will be stuck with last year's priorities. And as a result, at a time when we need to be putting more resources into national security and sending new direction based on the new facts and the new challenges that are out there--at that time, we will actually be wasting money of the taxpayers by having priorities still extended for another 3 months--hopefully, it is only 3 months--rather than putting the resources there that the experts tell us and that we have learned are necessary for the next fiscal year. If my colleague from Maine would like to speak on my time, I will be glad to yield to her. If not, I am prepared to yield the floor and just regret so profoundly that our leadership has not allowed us to do the work that the taxpayers expect us to do.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I rise today to commend a great public servant, CAPT Eddie Crossman of the U.S. Navy, a friend, an outstanding sailor, and a dedicated patriot. This year, after nearly three decades of service, Captain Crossman is retiring from the Navy. I know I speak on behalf of my colleagues, my staff, and a grateful nation when I say: Thank you for a job very well done. Since he left the Naval Academy in Annapolis as a young ensign in 1996, Captain Crossman has set the standard for excellence and achievement. Today, on the other side of his Navy career, I want to give Captain Crossman a proper send-off by saying a few words about this remarkable public servant. This summer, I traveled with Eddie on a congressional delegation trip. As usual, he was a top-notch Navy liaison with superb attention to detail and a winning, positive attitude. We could not have accomplished so much without him. I know my colleagues would be able to share similar stories--very many of my colleagues. As a member of the Navy Senate Legislative Affairs team, Captain Crossman made sure no Senators' question went unanswered. He has left no delegation unsupported. The relationship between this body and the Navy is better because of his efforts. This summer's visit to three of our strong allies capped a working relationship between Captain Crossman and me that began in 2009, when I was lucky enough to have him join my office as a defense legislative fellow. In that role, he conducted himself with distinction. He took his job seriously, completing thorough research and staff work, but he didn't take himself too seriously. I remember one day--Halloween--when the captain entered my office dressed in full costume, not in a Navy uniform. He had taken on the ``Schoolhouse Rock'' character Bill from Capitol Hill. He worked in that outfit all day alongside the rest of my staff, who were wearing the usual business attire. I can only attribute his costume to his zeal for the legislative process. His work in my office clearly benefited the people of Mississippi and the United States, but I would be remiss if I did not mention how the people of Mississippi have supported Captain Crossman, particularly the shipbuilders of Mississippi. The captain was at sea when COVID-19 hit the United States, extending his deployment to 206 days at sea--the longest consecutive deployment for a warship in U.S. Navy history. He completed that charge as commander of the USS San Jacinto. That vessel, the one that carried him on his lengthy deployment--historic deployment--was built on the Mississippi gulf coast. Earlier this year, it was my privilege to pay one final visit to some Mississippi shipyards with Captain Crossman. I have traveled the country and the world with this fine young man-- in some sensitive places and stressful situations. I have come to know the measure of CAPT Eddie Crossman--his industry and talents, his energy and character. I know he will continue to excel in whatever he does next. I have served with a lot of military liaison people. I seldom come to the floor to do as I am doing this afternoon. But on this occasion, for this fine Navy officer and this great American and great friend, I say: Fair winds and following seas. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER. I would be glad to yield to my friend.

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, reclaiming my time, the distinguished chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has plenty to do to distract him from thinking of making remarks. I am delighted that he happened to be within the sound of my voice for this occasion. And as Senator Cardin proceeds toward the last 5 months of his distinguished service, in both the House and Senate, I do think it speaks volumes that he has been so appreciative and benefited so much from the great patriotic work of Eddie Crossman. I yield the floor.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I simply rise to ask unanimous consent that Captain Edward Crossman be granted floor privileges until August 2, 2024.