LEGISLATIVE SESSION

                                 ______

                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. HUSTED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
resume legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with
Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                               GUATEMALA

  Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, in December 2022, I traveled to Guatemala
as part of a congressional delegation led by Senator Tim Kaine. Four
months earlier, to the shock and dismay of powerful rightwing forces in
Guatemala's Congress and business community, Bernardo Arevalo, an anti-
corruption activist, had been overwhelmingly elected President in an
election widely recognized as free and fair.
  Guatemala is one of Central America's most corrupt countries, so it
was not surprising that his election triggered a frantic attempt by his
opponents, led in part by then-Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who
had been sanctioned by the United States, to invalidate the election on
fabricated grounds of fraud and prevent Arevalo's inauguration. The
purpose of our trip was to demonstrate our strong support for the
choice of the Guatemalan people, in particular Guatemala's historically
marginalized indigenous population, and for the integrity of the
democratic process.

  To the country's credit, Arevalo was inaugurated on January 15, 2024,
and for the first time in decades, Guatemala has a President who is not
beholden to the corrupt forces that have exploited political power for
their own enrichment and used Guatemala's armed forces and police to
harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and even murder their opponents.
  But having failed to prevent Arevalo from taking office, those forces
have carried out a relentless campaign, aided by counterparts and
lobbyists in Washington with close ties to the Trump administration, to
sabotage his efforts to reform the justice system and end the culture
of corruption, violence, and impunity that has plagued Guatemala for
generations. Career U.S. foreign service officers who stood up for the
rule of law and democracy in Guatemala, were summarily replaced by U.S.
Embassy appointees who reportedly urged members of Guatemala's Congress
to support a rightwing candidate tainted by corruption for a seat on
the constitutional court, or risk losing their U.S. visas.
  Unlike President Trump and officials in his administration, I do not
believe it is our role--using threats, inducements, or other means--to
try to influence the outcome of election of foreign candidates for
office, whether Presidents, legislators, or judges. We oppose such
interference in our own sovereignty, and it is hypocritical and unwise
to engage in such conduct ourselves.
  I mention this because President Arevalo has another year and a half
in his 4-year term. If political and economic forces in Guatemala,
backed by nefarious associates of the Trump administration, continue to
try to deny the will of the Guatemalan people and thwart Arevalo's
anti-corruption mandate by using their influence to undermine the
institutions of democracy for the benefit of themselves and their
cronies, they will pay a price when the balance of power shifts in
Washington. People here know the history of U.S. political and economic
intervention in Guatemala dating back to 1954, and they have long
memories when it comes to corruption and the manipulation of judicial
and law enforcement institutions in that country.
  The appropriate role of the United States in Guatemala, as in the
rest of Latin America, is to support the people there by improving
their lives through free and fair elections, equitable economic
opportunities, and access to justice that conforms to international
protections of due process. Too often, U.S. policy in Guatemala has
strayed from those goals, motivated instead by greed and corrupt
interests in our own country, and promoting the militarization of
internal security. That is a recipe for a return to authoritarianism,
ethnic and social division, and armed conflict. Guatemalans who choose
that path should be forewarned that it will ultimately be their own,
and the country's, undoing.
  No President, even in the best of circumstances, can transform a
country like Guatemala in 4 years, but President Arevalo deserves our
strong support. At a time when the trend in Latin America is to elect
leaders who equate law and order with subverting judicial independence,
militarizing the police, and running roughshod over due process of law,
President Arevalo has restored integrity to the office and defended the
institutions of democracy. In the long run, that has the best chance of
producing the transparency, accountability, stability, and prosperity
the Guatemalan people need.

                       REMEMBERING SHERMAN STOCK

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr.
Sherman E. Stock, who passed away on May 26, 2026, at the age of 98. As
a dedicated public servant and lifelong advocate for our environment,
Mr. Stock demonstrated his commitment through his involvement in
important environmental projects such as Earth Day and the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act, and the establishment of the Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.
  Mr. Stock was born in Milwaukee and attended Rufus King High School,
where he met his high school sweetheart and wife of 70 years, Sally.
The two settled in Hales Corners, WI.
  Mr. Stock continued his education at Marquette University, where he
earned his bachelor's degree in business administration, after which he
enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his military service, Mr. Stock rose
to the rank of captain and was stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, and
northern New York. He then returned to Marquette, where he earned his
juris doctor in 1958 and connected with then-State Senator Gaylord
Nelson, whom he would eventually serve as legal counsel in the U.S.
Senate.
  During his 18 years in the Senate, Mr. Stock worked closely with
Senator Nelson, sharing ideas about environmental projects, working
zealously to protect our planet, and building a close friendship. Mr.
Stock went on to work for Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl, serving as his
Veterans Affairs adviser, cribbage opponent, and fishing partner.
Following Governor Earl's departure from office, Mr. Stock worked for
the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers in Madison until he retired.
  Throughout his decades of public service, Mr. Stock made a lasting
impact not only on the people and natural lands of Wisconsin, but on
communities across the Nation and around the world. While his most
notable project may be Earth Day, he will be remembered by friends and
family for his artistic expression, his love of travel, and his
dedication to his community.
  Mr. Stock is an inspiring example of putting your beliefs into action
and leaving the world better than you found it. His passing is a great
loss to all who knew him and worked alongside him, but the legacy will
live on for generations to come. As we honor his remarkable life, I
extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all
those whose lives were enriched by knowing him.

                RECOGNIZING THE GAYNOR CRANBERRY COMPANY

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 150th
anniversary of the Gaynor Cranberry Company, located in Wood County,
WI. I am pleased to honor this family farm and commemorate this
historic milestone.
  The roots of the Gaynor Cranberry Company trace back to when brothers
John Alexander Gaynor and James Gaynor immigrated to the United States
from Ireland. Their journeys eventually led them to Wood County, where
they established a cranberry farm in 1876 that became a foundational
force in the industry.
  With John Alexander's legal expertise and James' agricultural acumen,
the brothers helped transform Wisconsin's cranberry industry from a
wild harvest into the highly structured, scientifically advanced,
billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. The practices they established
and championed on their town of Cranmoor marsh built the legal,
business, and operational foundations that have enabled Wisconsin to
become the Nation's leading cranberry-producing State, producing more
than half of the world's cranberry supply.
  The Gaynor farm also hosted the first Wisconsin Cranberry Research
Station from 1903 to 1917. It was my distinct honor as a U.S. Senator
to play a role, 100 years later, in helping establish the second
Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station to support the long-term success
of our State's cranberry industry.
  Margaret Gaynor became the sole heir following the deaths of John
Alexander and James. In 1927, she named Charles Dempze as her
successor, establishing a multigenerational family legacy. His son
Gordon, who was born in the old experimental station house, assumed
control of the company in 1968. He was later succeeded by his sons
James and Gary.
  Today, the Gaynor Cranberry Company is owned and operated by Gary
Dempze and his wife Susan, alongside their children Jenna Dempze and
Heidi Slinkman, who represent the fourth generation of this family
farm.
  Just as it did 150 years ago, the Gaynor Cranberry Company continues
to move the industry forward. Its 200-acre cranberry crop is 100-
percent verified sustainable. The farm remains committed to land
stewardship, innovation, and community impact. It plays an active role
in agricultural education for residents, researchers, and policymakers,
while also inspiring the next generation to learn about cranberries and
explore potential career pathways.