Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 160 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014 No. 147 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was APPOINTMENT OF ACTING graduate studies at Harvard and called to order by the Honorable JOHN PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Princeton. E. WALSH, a Senator from the State of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The For the past 25 years he has rep- Montana. clerk will please read a communication resented the parent church of his de- f to the Senate from the President pro nomination in governmental affairs, providing liaison service to the various PRAYER tempore (Mr. LEAHY). The bill clerk read the following let- agencies of the government as well as The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today’s ter: to Congress. opening prayer will be offered by Dr. I personally have known Dr. French U.S. SENATE, Calvin V. French, Pastor Emeritus, for going on almost 50 years now. When Community of Christ Church, in Wash- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Washington, DC, December 4, 2014. we first met in Iowa, his now deceased ington, DC. To the Senate: wife LaVon was a great friend of my The guest Chaplain offered the fol- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, wife’s. They were lawyers together in lowing prayer: of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby Iowa. We were close family friends, and Shall we pray. appoint the Honorable JOHN E. WALSH, a this brings back so many fond memo- Almighty God, we come as children Senator from the State of Montana, to per- ries of our times together in Iowa and in our Father’s house, asking that we form the duties of the Chair. later on. may envision the same spirit of our PATRICK J. LEAHY, President pro tempore. I would note that Dr. French’s grand- Founding Fathers—that we are one na- daughter Dr. Kelsey French is here in tion under God. May this oneness of Mr. WALSH thereupon assumed the the gallery today with her husband spirit and purpose prevail that our leg- Chair as Acting President pro tempore. Vince Bzdek, the news editor for the islation will be seamless. f Washington Post. Their two children The challenges we face are difficult, are also here today Zola and Xavier but we turn to You asking for wisdom RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER who is celebrating his birthday today. to interpret rightly the signs of our Xavey is 13 years old today, so he was times. Through our prayer, O God, in The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- able to be here to see his grandfather our search for understanding, we re- pore. The majority leader is recog- give the opening prayer of the Senate. peat our solemn oath of office: ‘‘So nized. I also note that in 1975, when I first help me God.’’ Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield to came to the House of Representatives, We remember those who have served my friend, the junior Senator from I invited Dr. French to give the open- in this Chamber and will soon be leav- Iowa. ing prayer in the House. So now, al- ing. Grant to them peace of mind, joy- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- most 40 years later, I am privileged to ful hearts, and hallowed memories, re- pore. The Senator from Iowa. have had him here to give the closing minding them that when they were in prayer before I retire from the Senate. the service of their fellow beings, they f Dr. French, I would say, is someone I have been doing Your work. WELCOMING THE GUEST have admired for his commitment not In this Advent season, may we be CHAPLAIN only to his church but the broader comforted by the words of Isaiah 9:6, Mr. HARKIN. I wish to take a mo- commitment he has had to humanity, ‘‘The government shall be upon His ment to introduce and thank our guest to all that he has done to infuse—and shoulders, and His name shall be called Chaplain today. all around him—a spirit of kindness, Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, Dr. Calvin French is the pastor emer- generosity, and a spirit of under- the everlasting Father, the Prince of itus for the Community of Christ standing that while we may be dif- Peace.’’ May this counsel guide us as Church in Washington, DC, where he ferent in so many ways, we are all the we do our work this day. Amen. served that congregation for 30 years same in our humanity. He is one of the f before retiring. He has served as a pas- most wonderful human beings I have PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE tor for 60 years of his life, considerably had the privilege of knowing and being The Presiding Officer led the Pledge more than, I would note, my 40 years in with in my lifetime. of Allegiance, as follows: Congress. I say to my good friend, Dr. Calvin I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Calvin French, Dr. French, is a na- French, thank you. Thank you for all United States of America, and to the Repub- tive of Iowa. He holds degrees from the your pastoral work. Thank you for lic for which it stands, one nation under God, University of Iowa, Graceland College, your leadership and your guidance indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and Drake University in addition to his through the past 50 years of my life. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S6315 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:57 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A04DE6.000 S04DEPT1 rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6316 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 4, 2014 I yield the floor. proven himself a remarkably successful They have plenty of stories from the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Member of this body. trail, too, but one from MIKE ’s run for pore. The majority leader. That was true in his successful bat- Governor stands out particularly. This f tles to defend Nebraska’s rural commu- is what happened: The Johanns were nities against government overreach, it driving home after a long day of SCHEDULE was true when he worked with the late marching in parades in the hot Sun. Mr. REID. Mr. President, following Senator Byrd to sink a national energy They passed a barn on the way, assum- my remarks and those of the Repub- tax that threatened his constituents, ing it was a cattle sale. They figured lican leader, the Senate will proceed to and it was true when he led the first they would drop in and press a few executive session, with the time equal- successful legislative effort to revisit palms. Stephanie parked the car, MIKE ly divided and controlled between the ObamaCare, working with many Demo- opened the door, and dozens of well- two leaders or their designees. crats to repeal the so-called 1099 provi- dressed Nebraskan eyes fell on them. At 10 a.m. the Senate will proceed to sion. The Johanns, in their sweaty T- five rollcall votes on confirmation of MIKE has never looked for drama. He shirts, hadn’t dropped by a cattle sale; Franklin Orr to be Under Secretary for is always aiming for results. So it they had crashed a wedding. I will give Science, Department of Energy; Joseph didn’t take long for people in the Sen- them this, they made the best of it. Hezir to be Chief Financial Officer for ate to recognize that MIKE was more MIKE ended up dancing with the bride, the Department of Energy; and cloture than just another freshman in the mi- and of course he went on to win the on the nominations of Gregory N. Stiv- nority. He became the guy you would election as well. ers to be U.S. district judge for the turn to if you wanted to get an amend- This is the sequel: Months later, at Western District of Kentucky; Joseph ment up to 60 votes. an inaugural ball in Lincoln, two That is truly remarkable for a first- F. Leeson to be U.S. district judge for uninvited guests showed up. It was, of term Senator. It is especially remark- the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; course, the bride and her husband. able when we consider that MIKE came and Lydia Kay Griggsby to be a judge They had a simple message: ‘‘You to the Senate at a time when Repub- crashed our wedding, Governor, and of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. licans were in the deep minority. But There will be another series of up to now we’re crashing your inaugural.’’ then again, MIKE is a very remarkable six rollcall votes at 1:45 p.m. So the senior Senator from Arizona guy: county commissioner, city coun- may like to brag about his Hollywood f cilman, mayor, Governor, Secretary of cameo with Vince Vaughn, but our col- COST OF HEALTH CARE Agriculture. You name it, MIKE has leagues know the truth. Senator MIKE done it, and that was before he even set Mr. REID. Mr. President, a brief JOHANNS is the original—the original— foot in the Senate. wedding crasher. word. I was struck this morning by Some think MIKE must have a secret MIKE and Stephanie certainly have looking at the newspapers and listen- that allows him to assemble bipartisan ing to the news that: traveled a long and interesting road coalitions on conservative issues, but I from when they first met while serving Spending on health care in the United don’t think it is much of a secret at on the Lancaster County Board in the States grew in 2013 at the lowest rate since all.