By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse):
  S. 5018. A bill to approve certain requests for a major disaster
declaration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Disaster Relief
Fairness Act, along with Senator Whitehouse. This bill would approve
major disaster declarations requested under the Trump administration
for incidents that meet or exceed FEMA's damage thresholds. I wish that
this bill was not needed, but it is because President Trump has chosen
to block disaster assistance based on political partisanship.
  According to the Urban Institute, roughly 84 percent of disaster
requests from States that voted for President Trump in 2024 have been
approved under this administration, compared to just 42 percent from
States that voted for Kamala Harris. Further, POLITOCO reported that
Republican-led States have waited 39 days on average for a decision
compared to the 80-day average for Democratic-led states.
  This winter, Rhode Island was struck by the largest blizzard in State
history. Over 3 feet of snow fell on the State in a 24-hour period--the
highest 1-day snowfall on record for Rhode Island. The storm hit Rhode
Island with the

intensity of a category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles
per hour. It caused widespread power outages and tragically resulted in
two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits. Local businesses
faced prolonged closures due to disruptions to transportation,
utilities, and public services across the State.
  Following the storm, the State of Rhode Island worked with FEMA to
develop a preliminary damage assessment of the storm's impact. The
assessment found over $19 million in damages, amounting to more than
nine times the threshold required for a major disaster declaration.
Under any other administration, this disaster declaration would have
been approved on the merits, given its historic nature and FEMA's own
damage assessment. However, after months of waiting, on July 2, 2026,
President Trump denied the request from Rhode Island with no
explanation. On the same day Trump denied Rhode Island's request, he
also denied requests from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts that
all reportedly exceeded FEMA's damage thresholds. Yet, that same week,
he approved disaster aid for six Republican-led States.
  Disaster aid and helping communities recover from deadly storms
should never be political. Yet President Trump's record proves that he
cannot be trusted to adjudicate disaster money fairly without invoking
his own partisan biases. The Disaster Relief Fairness Act would address
that problem by granting all disaster declarations requested between
January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2029 that meet the Federal
requirements and thresholds for assistance. This will help ensure that
States and Tribes get the relief they need--regardless of who they
voted for--and allow them to fully recover from disasters.
  I urge my colleagues to join Senator Whitehouse and me in supporting
this legislation.
                                 ______

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
  S. 5020. A bill to require a study on manufactured homes in areas at
high risk of natural hazards and weather extremes; to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of my
legislation to require a study on how to improve the resiliency of
manufactured homes in areas that are at high risk of natural hazards
and weather extremes, which I introduced today.
  More than 22 million Americans, most of whom earn less than the
median national income, call manufactured housing home. These homes are
significantly less expensive than traditional site-built homes and will
play a key part in how we address our country's affordable housing
crisis and increase home ownership.
  I was proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle to pass the
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes provisions to increase
the supply of America's manufactured housing. Yet manufactured housing
is disproportionately located in areas that are the most exposed to
climate hazards. As we continue to see a pattern of increased extreme
climate events, we need all our housing to be resilient in areas at
high risk of natural hazards and weather extremes.
  Congress should be aware of what strategies industry leaders are
currently employing and understand potential options to increase the
performance of manufactured homes in high-risk areas.
  I want to thank my colleague Senator Cassidy for introducing this
bill with me. I hope our colleagues will join us in taking a step
towards improving the resiliency of our nation's housing stock.

                    AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I have eight requests for committees to
meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of
the Majority and Minority Leaders.
  Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the
Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's
session of the Senate:

                       COMMITtEE ON ARMED SERVICES

  The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the
session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., to
conduct a hearing on a nomination.

             COMMITtEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS

  The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to
meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10
a.m., to conduct a hearing.

            COMMITtEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

  The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized
to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at
10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination.

                COMMITtEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

  The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet
during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9:30
a.m., to conduct a business meeting.

                           COMMITtEE ON FINANCE

  The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of
the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing
on nominations.

                      COMMITtEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

  The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the
session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 11 a.m., to
conduct a hearing on nominations.

           COMMITtEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS

  The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized
to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at
10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination.

                        COMMITtEE ON THE JUDICIARY

  The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the
session of the Senate on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9 a.m., to conduct
an executive business meeting.

                        PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following
members of my team be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the
Congress: Ava Wyden, Kira Posner, Julia Long, Collin Park, Olivia
Hicks, Daniel Reichert, and Mahima Yogesh.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

            UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previous
order with respect to the Westercamp nomination be modified so that the
confirmation vote may occur notwithstanding rule XXII and with all
other provisions remaining in effect.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                 MEASURE READ THE FIRST TIME--H.R. 2913

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I understand that there is a bill at the
desk, and I ask for its first reading.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the
first time.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2913) to authorize support for Ukraine, and
     for other purposes.

  Mr. THUNE. 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.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bill will
receive its second reading on the next legislative day.

                    ORDERS FOR MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the
Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on
Monday, July 20; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of
proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired,
the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the
day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators
permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at
5:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session to resume
consideration of the Flowers nomination and the cloture motion filed
today ripen at that time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

             ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 3 P.M. MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

  Mr. THUNE. 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 3:51 p.m., adjourned until
Monday, July 20, 2026, at 3 p.m.