[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S623-S625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
resume legislative session.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Recognition of the Minority Leader
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic leader is
recognized.
Tariffs
Mr. SCHUMER. 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
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Trump put in must expire in a few months and needs Congress' approval.
I am here to tell Donald Trump and the American people: We will not
extend those tariffs, and they will expire in a few months. And
hopefully then Republicans will join us in not allowing Trump to raise
tariffs, which so raise costs for the American people.
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.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Ohio.
Tribute to Roger S. Penske
Mr. MORENO. 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.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority whip.
Mr. BARRASSO. 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
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of America. Fittingly, both will be part of this year's America 250
celebrations. In this historic year, Roger Penske is spearheading the
Freedom 250 DC Grand Prix. It will be this August. Our Nation's Capital
will host its first-ever INDYCAR street race. It will be magnificent.
This course will take drivers around the Nation's Capital, and it will
be a historic race. This was Roger's vision, a vision for how to put
American patriotism on full display.
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.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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