[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Kosovo

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, I talked about Lithuanian 
Independence Day; yesterday, Estonia's Independence Day. Today, I have 
another country, but I don't want my colleagues to think that I am 
going to be speaking about the Independence Day of all 200 nations on 
the face of this Earth. In fact, I know very few of their Independence 
Days.
  But because the United States and my State of Iowa has a close 
relationship with Kosovo, I want to recognize that Tuesday, February 
17, was that Republic's Independence Day; that is, the 18th anniversary 
of Kosovo's Declaration of Independence in the year 2008.
  Also, next month will mark 15 years of Kosovo-Iowa National Guard 
partnership. Many Iowa National Guard members have served in Kosovo, 
starting with the NATO mission there, to working with the Kosovo 
Security Force as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. 
Both my State of Iowa and Kosovo have found this partnership to be very 
beneficial, so much so that it has grown into a whole sister state 
relationship.
  Our Governor Reynolds and the president of the Kosovo exchange visits 
and keep in contact, and that close working relationship extends down 
to other Iowa and Kosovo Government officials.
  Kosovo and Iowa have also developed close ties in areas like trade 
and education, in addition to the national security concerns of both 
countries. People from Kosovo have attended Iowa's educational 
institutions, and Kosovo has even established a consulate in our 
capital city of Des Moines.
  When you look at the polling of which countries have a favorable 
impression of the United States, Kosovo often comes up on top. I am 
proud that my State has such a close relationship with arguably the 
most pro-American country in the world. Our State and the country of 
Kosovo both benefit from the ties that we continue to build. I know 
that both Iowans and people of Kosovo cherish our partnership, and I 
look forward to that partnership continuing to grow.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.