What Jerry Moran said, and what was done

“Mr. President, today--this afternoon--the Senate took a really important step to strengthen our national security and pay a final tribute to our colleague Lindsey Graham, the Senator from South Carolina.”

“Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:46 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10 a.m.”

“I now ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.”

“I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.”

“COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.”

“Madam President, reserving the right to object, it saddens me that we are here because I wish we were here with a vote on the Senate floor to pass the Major Richard Star Act and other pieces of legislation that are so important to veterans, their families, and their caregivers across the country.”

“Mr. President, I look forward to continuing to work to make sure the veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to and to make certain that the VA does its job in a medical- and science-based manner and would await for the VA to accomplish that, which they indicated as recently as 2 weeks ago they were going to do.”

“Mr. President, the rulemaking process that was initiated in the Biden administration in 2022 has continued on the VA's list of work and has never been withdrawn and continues to be considered.”

“COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a date that is significant in the history of the U.S. Senate and that is especially meaningful to me and to my home State of Kansas.”

“His own service embodied those words. He brought the same values and character from rural Kansas to the role of Senate majority leader. Bob Dole was an American hero who served in uniform during World War II and who sustained serious, serious injuries--grievous, really--in battle during that service.”

“Mr. President, I rise here on the Senate floor for the third time in the last 2 weeks to explain to my colleagues that we are about to vote on a district judge.”

“Mr. President, earlier today, there was a discussion here on the Senate floor of the Major Richard Star Act, legislation that I cosponsored and strongly support. This legislation would allow medically retired veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive their full military retirement pay from the Department of Defense and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

“In the coming days, I will put forth a legislative package that accomplishes the goals of the Major Richard Star Act, and I will do so in a way that addresses the policy and cost concerns that have prevented this bill from passing the House or Senate despite widespread bipartisan support.”

“Madam President, the Senate will, here this evening, soon vote or at least begin the nomination process to vote for Tony Mattivi to serve as a U.S. district judge for the District of Kansas.”

“Madam President, the Senate will shortly consider--in fact, tomorrow we will vote on cloture and the confirmation of the nomination of--Jeffrey Kuhlman to be a judge for the U.S.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Pastor Rex Petty for devoting decades of his life to serving the people of Liberal, KS, as pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church and to congratulate him upon his retirement.”

“Mr. President, today, along with Senator Blumenthal, we honor the life and mourn the loss of Judge William Greenberg, who dedicated more than 50 years of his life to public service in the U.S. military and as a civilian judicial leader.”

“Madam President, later this evening, the Senate will consider the nomination of Robert Cekada to serve as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or what we call the ATF.”

“Madam President, the residents of Hill City, KS, a county seat town in Northwest Kansas will experience something new next winter: a new boys basketball coach will be on the sidelines for the Hill City Ringnecks.”

“Riley won his second State basketball championship. The Mid-Continent League was known for its football towns, like Smith Center and Plainville and Norton, but under Coach Riley, Hill City was definitely a basketball town.”

“Mr. President, the recent decision to waive oil sanctions on Russia and Iran in an attempt to stabilize oil prices frees up both of these adversaries to sell their oil at market prices.”

“Mr. President, I chair the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and my colleague, the ranking member of that committee, Senator Blumenthal was just here on the Senate floor discussing the importance of the Major Richard Star Act.”

“Mr. President, today marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin believed his so-called military operation would be over in 2 weeks, but, as the fifth year of the war begins, Russian forces have fought Ukraine longer than they fought the Germans in World War II.”

“Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:19 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.”

“SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.”

“Mr. President, today, I have the opportunity to rise here on the Senate floor and speak in support of the appropriations package that is currently before the U.S.”

“Mr. President, today, I rise to honor the passing of a 101-year-old Kansan, World War II veteran, and American hero, Horace ``Jim'' Sharp. Mr. Sharp was born in Morris County, KS, and he spent his early years tending to the family farm--not an unusual thing in Kansas, certainly not in his generation.”

“Mr. President, my hometown is Plainville, KS. The population, according to Google just this morning, is 1,746. I rise this morning to recognize and pay tribute to my hometown newspaper, the Plainville Times.”

“I would join in this call for getting things done. A message that I have tried to make clear is that many of us, most of us, perhaps all of us are away from home, away from family.”

“Mr. President, I rise further today in support of the nomination Jared Issacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. That is the vote that is now ensuing, just a few minutes later than scheduled.”

“Mr. President, congratulations, again, to my colleagues. Thank you to the U.S. Senate and its leadership for seeing that a version of the ROTOR Act was passed by unanimous consent.”

“Mr. President, Senator Cruz, the Senator from Texas, and Senator Cantwell, the Senator from Washington State, thank you very much for the opportunity to join with you today and throughout a long process since January 29, earlier this year.”

“Mr. President, the deadly collision that occurred here in our Nation's Capital between American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, KS, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29, 2025, forever changed how we look at and think about air travel.”

“Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 2:32 p.m., adjourned until Monday, October 20, 2025, at 3 p.m.”

“Mr. President, first of all, I would like to compliment the majority leader, the Senator from South Dakota, for his continued efforts to have the Senate return to the days in which we were the greatest deliberative legislative body, assuming that was ever true.”

“Mr. President, the month we are in, the month of October, is Domestic Violence Awareness Month--the time that we should recognize the devastating impact domestic violence continues to have on individuals, families, and communities across our States and the Nation.”

“Madam President, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 3814 to the NDAA. This amendment would improve collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to expand access to care for veterans and support greater utilization of military medical treatment facilities.”

“Mr. President, we are now 9 days into the government shutdown, and the disruption of the shutdown is being felt by many Americans. Particularly, what I want to talk about is the many Americans who are traveling or working in the aviation industry.”

“The consequences of the shutdown on our aviation system aren't isolated to major cities and large airports as the viability of the Air Service Program is also now put at risk.”

“Mr. President, we for a second time failed to pass a continuing resolution to allow the Federal Government to continue to operate. It is because we are coming to the end of the fiscal year.”

“A shutdown means uncertainty. A shutdown means dysfunction. The issue to me is this continuing resolution that would fund the Federal Government until November 21--a short period of time--is designed to avoid that dysfunction, to avoid that uncertainty.”

“Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the closure of a staple restaurant and icon of Hoisington, Ks. After more than 70 years of service to the local community, the Dairy Queen in Hoisington is closing its doors.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 320, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 319, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 318, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Again, Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 317, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 316, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 258, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 257, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 183, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 321, and I make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, as if in executive session, I ask consent to move to proceed to Executive Calendar No. 176 and make a point of order that the nomination was not properly reported.”

“Mr. President, today I would like to congratulate the Hutchinson Monarchs baseball team on an impressive season and their 2025 National Baseball Congress--NBC--World Series victory. Established in 2009, the Monarchs are a summer collegiate team comprised of current college baseball players.”

“Mr. President, I want to highlight one of my members, a former member of my staff, Mark Crowley. For the past 8 years, I have benefited from the service, the hard work, and the loyalty of my legislative director, Mark Crowley.”

“Reserving the right to object, Madam President, let me explain what the Senator from Maryland is asking to be done, and I explained earlier that there is a set of amendments that is in this unanimous consent request that are put into a managers' package where they have been agreed by both the Republican and Democrat leaders of the Senate.”

“Mr. President, today I want to speak on the nomination that we are considering now. That nomination is of retired Army CPT Sam Brown to be the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs.”

“Mr. President, I want to speak just a moment before we cast a vote in just a few minutes. I want to speak about the importance of confirming the nomination of Army CPT Richard Topping to be the Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

“Mr. President, I am on the Senate floor today as we are beginning the process for this fiscal year of considering appropriations bills. As this process works, there are 12 subcommittees in the Appropriations Committee.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory and mourn the tragic passing of a young Kansan, Phillips County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Gaede. On Friday, June 27, Kansas lost one of its finest in the line of duty.”

“Mr. President, I was pleased to see President Trump say that his administration will resume sending weapons to Ukraine. It is my understanding that they signed an order to do so.”

“Mr. President, the most significant responsibility and heavy burden a President has is the determination of when to engage the Armed Forces of our Nation. Such decisions can both cost and save lives.”

“Mr. President, I rise this evening to recognize and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Army. I would yield to the Senator from Rhode Island, my colleague but the cochair of the Senate Army Caucus, Senator Reed.”

“Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Rhode Island, my colleague and friend Senator Reed, for cochairing. I am the new one to this duo, and I consider it a privilege as a U.S.”

“Mr. President, today, I would like to recognize a fellow Kansan and friend Fred J. Logan, Jr., for dedicating his professional and personal life to representing and serving the people of Kansas and congratulate him on his retirement.”

“Mr. President, the call to feed the world has been answered by many Kansans, from farmers and ranchers to Senator Bob Dole and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. American farmers are linked to global markets and, by extension, to the well-being of people everywhere.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to seek the confirmation of Retired Army CPT Sam Brown to be the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. President Trump nominated Captain Brown for this important position.”

“Mr. President, on the last Monday of May--less than 2 weeks away--we observe Memorial Day. As Americans, we gather at cemeteries and memorials worldwide to honor the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of the men and women who served and are now in their final resting place.”

“Mr. President, today, I want to recognize National Donate Life Month. Throughout the month of April, our Nation observes National Donate Life Month to highlight the lifesaving impact organ donations continue to have in Kansas and around the world.”

“Madam President, I intend to ask for a unanimous consent agreement in regard to this issue of our care and the well-being of our veterans. I would indicate that, to my knowledge, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 1,500 fewer employees today than it did at the beginning of the year.”

“Madam President, reserving the right to object, clearly, this is an important issue and one that has received attention by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and will continue to make certain that the decisions that are made by Department officials and by the administration are compatible with the well-being and best interests of those who served our Nation and are now veterans.”

“Mr. President, we are in the process of reaching a conclusion in debating at least the first step--maybe now the second step--of reconciliation. It is an opportunity for us to make the Tax Code more permanent, an opportunity for us to reduce spending and to hopefully get the budget better in balance to bring our debt under control.”

“Mr. President, today I want to recognize the first responders who responded to a tragic multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate- 70 on March 14 and remember the victims of this accident.”

“I also want to thank the hospitals who received and treated the victims from the crash. Rural hospitals have small staffs and limited resources, but the medical centers in northwest Kansas did an outstanding job treating and transporting those who were injured.”

“Mr. President, today, I want to recognize a U.S. marshal who has served his country and the great State of Kansas for 34 years. Craig Beam grew up on his family's farm in Esbon, KS, and graduated from White Rock High School in Burr Oak.”

“Mr. President, today, I want to recognize Jones Heritage Realtors of Pittsburg, KS, as they celebrate 120 years in the real estate business. Jones Heritage Realtors was founded in 1905 by Frank A.”

“Mr. President, today, I want to recognize Pete Bunce, the president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, GAMA, who is retiring next month. Pete is a dedicated leader and a stalwart in the aviation industry.”

“Mr. President, today I want to speak about a program that has shaped our Nation's humanitarian efforts and made a significant impact on my home State of Kansas, a program called Food for Peace.”

“Madam President, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 119th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Ranking Member Blumenthal, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Congressional Record.”

“Mr. President, I appear before the U.S. Senate today to ask for support and for adoption of a resolution honoring the memory of 67 lives that were lost in a tragic accident that occurred last week over the Potomac River and to recognize the heroic efforts of hundreds of first responders who supported the rescue and the recovery operations in the aftermath.”

“U.S. Army Aviation Brigade Priority Air Transport 25 collided over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National. There were no survivors. This collision is the deadliest aviation incident America has witnessed in nearly 25 years, and I am heartbroken at the loss of life and the pain experienced by family, friends, and loved ones of the victims.”

“I very much value the remarks of my colleagues from Virginia and my home State colleague from Kansas. I would use this moment to thank all the folks in this Chamber.”

“Mr. President, I am here this morning--now, this afternoon--because, in just a few moments, we will be asked to make a decision as to whether or not Congressman Doug Collins should be confirmed as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.”

“Mr. President, for the entire time that I have been a Member of the U.S. Senate, I have had the privilege of having on my team a Kansan who invests his time, his energy, his passion--he gives his heart for helping my constituents, for helping our constituents, for helping Kansans and Americans.”

“Mr. President, for the past 8 years, I have benefited from the service, hard work, and loyalty of my communications director and deputy chief of staff Tom Brandt.”

“Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to address my colleagues about a circumstance in Kansas and, really, in the country, the pressing need for reform at Haskell Indian Nations University following serious allegations and finding of wrongdoing by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education.”