Mr. President, Americans breathed a brief sigh of relief last week when the Supreme Court knocked out Trump's harmful tariff proposals.
Americans are suffering because Donald Trump is raising tariffs. People pay more for so many daily goods, so many groceries, for cars, for homes, for everything. And the American people hate the tariffs because they know it is raising their costs.
And so, for a brief moment, there was a sigh of relief that you heard from one end of America to the other because the Supreme Court correctly said: The President can't raise tariffs on an emergency basis, only the Congress can.
But Donald Trump, who is in a bubble, has no understanding of what the American people need, feel, or want, reimposed the tariffs right away, and then he one-upped it--doubled down on it--and raised them again, and now Americans are back in the same position they were before the Court decision: higher prices, more inflation, harder to afford things, harder to pay the bills. And a good chunk of that increase, the difficulty in paying the bills, is because of Trump's tariffs.
Democrats will not stand for it. And, in fact, the new tariff regime that
Tariffs are highly unpopular among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Donald Trump, in his bubble, does not understand the burdens he is imposing on American families, but we Democrats do, and we will do everything we can to stop these odious tariffs that are causing so much harm, so much pain, on American families.
I yield the floor.
Mr. President, I rise today with deep personal gratitude and profound admiration to honor a legendary American, Roger S. Penske. This past Friday, February 20, marked his 89th birthday.
Born in Shaker Heights, OH, Roger Penske has made America better and has touched the lives of millions of Americans in an extraordinarily positive way. As we celebrate this occasion, we also mark the 60th anniversary of Team Penske, the racing dynasty he founded at the age of 29 in February of 1966. Team Penske has defined excellence, innovation, and triumph in motor sports, unlike any other racing program in U.S. history.
Roger's journey is truly inspiring. At the age of 21, he became a champion driver, capturing the SCCA national title. He competed in Formula 1. He competed in NASCAR, and, as I just mentioned, he competed in the SCCA.
In 1961, he was named the Sports Illustrated Driver of the Year. His success on the track earned him the enduring nickname of ``The Captain'' for his unmatched strategic mind and competitive fire.
After an incredible racing career, he turned his attention to building Team Penske into one of the most successful teams in the history of any professional sport. The results are truly staggering. Let's go through them: a Formula 1 victory, three Daytona 500 wins, a record-setting 20 Indianapolis 500 victories.
You can see that photograph here--20 times won the Indianapolis 500. By the way, it is incredible to win it once; to win it 20 times is unheard of.
Forty-eight national championships, over 700 pole positions, more than 650 major wins across INDYCAR, NASCAR, and IMSA, along with other racing series--this includes victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia's legendary Bathurst 1000 race.
More than 100 drivers have raced for Team Penske over the course of six decades, includes legends such as Mark Donohue, Rick Mears, Rusty Wallace, and Al Unser.
Just recently, Roger bought and revitalized the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which hosts the single largest 1-day sporting event on the planet, the Indy 500. This acquisition assured this iconic venue's future for generations of fans.
And those are just Roger Penske's accomplishments on the racetrack. He leads Penske Corporation, a global powerhouse in transportation, logistics, and retail automotive, employing tens of thousands of Americans, with operations in every single State. Penske Automotive Group is the largest automobile dealership owner on Earth, selling more new vehicles in more places than any other single organization. It also owns the single largest automobile dealership on the planet, Longo Toyota, which sells almost 20,000 new vehicles in a single location per year.
In 2019, Roger's extraordinary contributions earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor, given to only 674 Americans in our entire history. This award celebrated not just his dominance in racing and industry but his embodiment of American entrepreneurship, patriotism, and excellence-- qualities that continue to shine brightly.
And, fittingly, Roger's legacy ties directly into our Nation's upcoming milestone. As part of America's 250th anniversary this year, he is spearheading the Freedom 250 DC Grand Prix, a groundbreaking INDYCAR street race around the National Mall and our iconic monuments on August 21 to 23. This historic, first ever motor race in our Nation's Capital will showcase the majesty of this great city, honor our independence, and highlight the innovation and pride of American motor sports. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose life has been dedicated to speed, strategy, and service to this great country.
Roger Penske is more than a racer, more than a businessman, more than a philanthropist supporting education, veterans, and communities in Ohio and beyond. He is the best of what America represents: grit, integrity, and an unyielding belief in doing things the right way.
My own connection to Roger Penske goes back two decades. I bought my first automobile dealership from him, a pivotal moment in my life. That taught me firsthand the values that underpin the Penske way: Effort equals results.
I have gotten to know Roger Penske, I have gotten to know his family, I have gotten to know his company, and I have gotten to know his team. They are utterly amazing, and his attention to detail is impossible to capture with words.
It is why George Costanza, in a memorable Seinfeld episode, was declared as ``most definitely not Penske material.'' But in fairness to George Costanza, that is a high bar that many of us would find hard to achieve.
As the U.S. Senator from Ohio, his birthplace, and someone whose path was forever changed by him, I am honored to salute Roger Penske on his 89th birthday and the 60th anniversary of Team Penske.
Thank you, Captain, for your friendship, for your inspiration, and for showing all of us what it means to win with class and with heart.
Happy birthday, Roger. Here is to many more victories on and off the track.
I yield the floor.
Mr. President, I rise today alongside my companion and friend and colleague, the senior Senator from Ohio, to honor and recognize a great American, and that great American would be Roger Penske.
Last week, Roger celebrated his 89th birthday. Team Penske celebrated its 60th year. Both Roger and Team Penske have very much of which to be proud; yet Roger is going to be the last person ever to discuss his remarkable achievements.
His guiding principle is ``effort equals results.'' Now, that is a phrase those of us from Wyoming understand very well. ``Effort equals results'' simply means that a hard day's work equals real rewards. It also means extra efforts yield exceptional results. Honesty, hard work, and integrity are going to get you far in life, and Roger Penske continues to go the full distance.
Now, as a teenager, Roger got into the car business--buying and fixing up old cars. Cars were his calling. Even during college, at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, he was successfully racing automobiles. He had a successful racing career, a successful career as an owner of a fleet of car dealerships, and a successful career helming Penske Truck Rental. He employs tens of thousands of Americans, and he employs people in all 50 States. The Penske name is synonymous with success, with excellence, and with moving America forward. Effort equals results.
As Roger grew more and more successful in business, racing was always on his mind. So, 60 years ago this month, at the age of 29, in 1966, Team Penske was born. Racing is where Roger's passion comes alive. Team Penske debuted at the 24 Hours of Daytona. They haven't hit the brakes in 60 years. To use a racing term, Roger is still ``standing on the gas pedal.''
Roger is known in racing as the Captain, and the Captain's leadership has made Team Penske the most successful racing team in automobile history. Their drivers have had more than 600 victories all across various forms of racing. Team Penske has won a record-setting 20 Indianapolis 500 races and, this year, a historic three-peat at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Effort equals results.
Just like race car driving itself, the Penske name is woven into the fabric
As a lifelong racing fan, I can't think of a better way to celebrate American innovation, American speed, and enduring excellence. Many people might suggest that the Freedom 250 DC Grand Prix is a culmination of all of Roger's hard work. Those people would be mistaken because, at only 89 years old, Roger is just starting his engine.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
