I have always related to that idea of the American founding on a
personal level. I grew up among farmers and tradesmen and factory
workers. My dad was a union factory worker, and my mom was a nursing
home cook. I came from a working-class family and grew up in a working-
class town--a small town--in Northeast Indiana called Columbia City. It
was a town that had about 5,000 people when I was born. It is around
10,000 people today. I am still proud to live in Columbia City and to
call it my home--this small town, my home today. Even though Columbia
City is a humble town, I love it intensely. I have so many great
memories from my childhood in Columbia City, and I feel great pride in
my hometown, but Columbia City's humble nature didn't stop people from
doing great things.
  Columbia City shaped Thomas Riley Marshall, who became the Vice
President of the United States of America in 1913. It shaped me, too,
into who I am today--in my serving here, with the Presiding Officer, as
a U.S. Senator. That is the beauty of smalltown America. Small towns
like my hometown are where the American dream is realized, and it was
in the Thirteen Colonies 250 years ago that the dream of America came
to life.
  That is why, on this July 4, I will be celebrating Independence Day
back in my hometown with my family. Growing up, I remember spending
every Fourth of July in Columbia City, watching the community's
celebration and the fireworks in the evening. That is exactly what I
will be doing with my kids and my parents and my family this year as
well.
  I know that there will be a lot of incredible festivities happening
right here in Washington, DC, and I am all for that. President Trump
says it is going to be the biggest and best fireworks display in
American history. I have no doubt that he is right about that, but I
think it is also important for people to spend time celebrating with
the local communities that shaped them. I encourage everyone here and
those listening today, if you can, the America 250 celebrations
happening in your hometowns are going to be great, and I hope you will
be a part of them.
  My upbringing instilled within me a profound love for this country.
Sadly, not enough people share that same love today. Three years ago,
the Wall Street Journal had a poll that showed that only 38 percent of
Americans believed that patriotism was important to them, and that was
down from 70 percent in 1998. For the last 3 years, I have wondered
about and wanted an update on that poll--what does that look like
today?--because it has really bothered me ever since I read that story
in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago.
  Last year, Gallup released new data about American pride and
patriotism. Unfortunately, the numbers have hardly changed. Only about
41 percent of American adults said they were extremely proud to be
American. Among America's young people, that picture was particularly
damning. Only 41 percent of Gen Z said that they were extremely or very
proud to be an American. These are record low numbers, but this is what
happens when too many people, especially young people, feel detached
from our Nation's story.
  But here is the thing: As we celebrate America on this historic and
monumental occasion, this decline is not irreversible. We can
absolutely fix this trend. One way that we can fix this trend is to
make our Nation beautiful again and do everything we can to make our
Nation beautiful.
  A few months ago, I came to the Senate floor to talk about one of my
bills that is very important to me, the Beautifying Federal Civic
Architecture Act. I spoke about how important it is to have and build
beautiful buildings that reflect the beauty of this great country. We
owe it to ourselves and to our children to build beautiful buildings
that reflect who we really are as a nation.
  And that is why I fully support and applaud President Trump and his
efforts to make the Federal buildings and communities all across
America even more beautiful than what they were before. When a nation
sees beautiful and great buildings, it sees beauty and greatness in the
nation.
  And there is another way that we can reverse the downward trend of
American patriotism as well, and that is by returning to our roots in
our small communities. Our small communities are what made this country
great and are what continue to make America great.
  The original Thirteen Colonies succeeded in founding the Nation
because ordinary people in ordinary places believed in something that
was much bigger than themselves.
  We can make America beautiful again, inside and out, by rediscovering
the power of those small places and the ordinary Americans who call
them home.
  When we strengthen our communities, teach our full and honest history
with pride, and recommit to the founding principles that turned 13
fragile Colonies into a global beacon of liberty and freedom, we will
see national pride rise once again.
  Let me end by saying this: Mighty empires that once ruled the world
have vanished to the dustbin of history, but America, this great
country, still stands, and she stands taller and mightier than the
rest.
  So as we gear up for the 250th birthday of this great country, let us
recommit ourselves to the incredible American story that is still
unfolding right before our eyes. And let us never forget that, from
small and humble beginnings, rose the greatest country on Earth, the
United States of America.
  Happy America 250.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Banks). The Senator from Texas.

              Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

  Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I rise today to address one of the most
consequential decisions the Supreme Court of the United States has ever
made.
  Four years ago, on this day, our country waited with bated breath--
from the streets of Washington, DC, to homes all across America--
waiting to hear news from the Supreme Court on a case that sought to
determine the value of human life.
  At approximately 10:10 that morning, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme
Court announced that, for the first time since 1973, abortion was no
longer mandated by Federal law across the Nation.
  Overturning Roe v. Wade was an incredible milestone. It reversed
precedent set by judges whose interpretations were rooted in judicial
activism.
  And in Dobbs v. Jackson, the Court made clear that the issue of
abortion--an issue on which people of good faith can disagree--would be
returned to the people and their elected representatives.
  While today and every day we celebrate this milestone, it is
important to remember that the fight for life did not end 4 years ago.
It continues today and will continue to be a fight for many years to
come.
  Abortion remains legal in many States across the country, and, as a
result, thousands upon thousands of unborn children are lost to
abortion every year. Unfortunately, in some areas, the numbers are
rising.
  There are serious challenges we face in this fight. The expansion of
mail-order abortion pills, individuals traveling across State lines for
abortions, and significant funding--taxpayer funding--for organizations
like Planned Parenthood are among the most significant issues. It is
evident that this battle is far from over.
  While we should celebrate the victories that we have achieved, we
must also continue to seek new avenues and new opportunities to ensure
that every life is protected. One of the most important ways we can do
this is by reaffirming the inherent value of life.
  Life is not an accident or a coincidence. It is a gift from God and a
blessing, and it is the very greatest gift we can share. Life is the
foundation of every other right we hold dear. Without life, there can
be no liberty, no prosperity, no pursuit of happiness.
  Protecting life means more than just defending the unborn. It also
means supporting mothers. It means uplifting pregnancy resource centers
and ensuring that when mothers welcome children into the world, they
have the support that they need.
  I am reminded of how important this fight is every January, when
thousands gather in Washington, DC, for the March for Life. People from
all across the Nation come together and walk miles and miles, marching
for the unborn and the protection of human life.