mr. tuberville: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. mr. tuberville: reserving the right to object. i want to start by reminding everyone about why this shhappening. it's not -- why this is happening. it's not about the dobbs decision. it's about a tyrannical branch walking over the senate and doing our jobs. i got word that the pentagon was thinking about spending taxpayer dollars to facility elective abortions. this goes beyond what the law allows. the law only allows the department of defense to facilitate abortions in the case of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. i warned secretary austin that if he did this and change this, i would put a hold on his highest-level nominees. secretary austin went through with the policy anyway in february of this year, so i am keeping my word. this was secretary austin's choice, not mine. he knew newt consequences for sl months. nothing in the law allows secretary austin to facilitate elective abortions. in fact, the law just says the opposite. and so this was secretary austin's choice. secretary

mr. tuberville: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. mr. tuberville: i'm truly disappointed but expected that the democrats are going to block this legislation to protect young girls and women. again, it's shameful. it really is. i see my colleague from iowa is on the floor, and i want to thank her for joining me in this effort to protect women, and i yield the floor to senator ernst. ms. ernst: thank you, madam chair. the presiding officer: the senator from iowa, you're recognized. ms. ernst: thank you. i would like to thank the senator from alabama for leading this effort. madam president, iowa has celebrating a history of exceptional girls sports programs. we recently saw the iowa hawk eyes women's basketball team make it to the national championship after taking home their fifth big 10 tournament title just days after cheering on the high school girls competing in the state tournament. last year the iowa high school girls athletic union proudly sanctioned girls wrestling opening up new opportunities for girls to be part of a team and rec

mr. tuberville: i move to proceed to calendar 35, s.j. res. 10. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the joint resolution the clerk: calendar number 35, s.j. res. 10, joint resolution providing for a congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, united states code of the rules submitted by the department of veterans affairs relating to reproductive health services. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the time until 4:15 will be equally divided between two leaders or their designees. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. carper: mr. president, i have nine requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of both the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly noted. mr. carper: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, happy earth week. i rise today along with a couple of my colleagues, one from west virginia and another, i don't see our other colleague out here but one from arkansas to speak on recycling infrastructure an

tuberville. >> thank you, mr. chairman. ms. su, thank you for being here today.and long history of activism on behalf of organized labor. i think that's all understood, but very few examples of impartiality. you've been biased. for instance, you wrote to in 2005 that businesses perpetuate economic injustice and use, abuse and exploit poor people. i have some legitimate concerns that i you won't be fair and neutral, if confirmed. i'm notan confident that your ability to act as a neutral and fair secretary won't be compromised by personal view. ms. su, your nomination is is opposed by at least 32 the business groups and coalitions, and the primary concern we're hearing is that your confirmation would be devastate dog a wide number of industries and -- devastating to a wide number of industries and business. this much opposition concerns me. you have tried to assure critics that you would wear a different hat and be less of an activist, but i find that very hard to the believe with all this opposition. can you explain that and how you're going to overcome that? >> t

tuberville. >> thank, you chairman. thank you, mr. cassidy. mr. schultz, thank you for being here. thank you.i know this is pretty tough at times, but it's good to hear your side of the story. i came from the coaching profession. four years, i taught young kids every year at the beginning of the year about, they all wanted and needed something. i always told him one thing. the only thing you will get from me and from this country is an opportunity. and you took that opportunity and ran with it. and you've got a lot of people that work for you over the years and work for your company, and their company. and made something out of themselves. so thank you for that. you've been a huge idol for this country, in terms of what you have done. we have heard a lot about what you give to your employees. health care, and all that. i fully support unions. people want to join a union, that's fine. i think that is what this country is all about. it sounds like starbucks employees as a whole, from what we've heard so far, have a great working environment. i understand collective bargaining processes are ongo

mr. tuberville: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. mr. tuberville: mr. president, i'm proud to have come from a military family. our veterans are some of the best people in this country, and because of that i'm grateful to serve on the veterans affairs committee. giving back to our veterans has been a passion my whole life. our men and women in uniform deserve the best medical care available. i'm grateful for every health care provider that works for and with our veterans. the mission of the v.a. is taken from abraham lincoln's second inaugural address. lincoln pledged our country to care for him who shall have borne the battle. that's what the v.a. is supposed to be about. but today under the biden administration, we see the v.a. increasingly, increasingly getting distracted from that very important mission. the biden administration increasingly has the v.a. involved in politics. last year the v.a. announced they would begin providing taxpayer-funded abortions. last year. this is something the v.a. has never ever done. let me repeat that. the v.a. has n