E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 No. 173 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was U.S. SENATE, his first year. Democrats have invoked called to order by the Honorable LU- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, this delay for every single one of Presi- THER STRANGE, a Senator from the Washington, DC, October 26, 2017. dent Trump’s judicial nominees, so far, State of Alabama. To the Senate: except one. This week, they are at it Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby again. f appoint the Honorable LUTHER STRANGE, a Today, we will have a cloture vote on Senator from the State of Alabama, to per- the nomination of Trevor McFadden to PRAYER form the duties of the Chair. the U.S. District Court for the District The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- ORRIN G. HATCH, of Columbia. Not a single Democrat on fered the following prayer: President pro tempore. the Judiciary Committee registered an Let us pray. Mr. STRANGE thereupon assumed objection to the nomination; yet we O God, our King, we are grateful that the Chair as Acting President pro tem- still have to waste time in overcoming righteousness and justice are the foun- pore. a procedural hurdle from our Demo- dation of Your throne. Give our law- f cratic colleagues before the Senate can makers such a connection with You take up the nomination and consider RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY that they will hate evil. Let the light it. It came out of committee with no LEADER of Your wisdom shine upon them, pro- opposition. viding them with the joy of doing The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- We are not going to let these mind- right. Save them from life’s pitfalls, pore. The majority leader is recog- less attempts to slow progress stop us providing them with the protection of nized. from confirming the President’s nomi- the shield of Your favor. Lord, remind f nees to the judiciary. If that means them of Your faithfulness so that they more cloture votes and more time fo- JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS will trust the unfolding of Your loving cused on this task, that is what we will providence. Help them to remember Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the do, but we will confirm these nominees. that You have sustained America Senate is continuing to move forward You can count on it. throughout its history. Remembering on President Trump’s outstanding judi- f how You have led us in the past, may cial nominations. Many of the well- OPIOID EPIDEMIC our Senators feel confident that You qualified men and women the President will complete the work You have start- has nominated enjoy substantial bipar- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on ed. tisan support. another matter, for families in Ken- We pray in Your great Name. Amen. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats tucky and across the Nation, the dev- have decided to continue wasting the astation of opioid abuse can be a con- f Senate’s time with the pointless ob- stant and painful reality. Communities struction of these nominees. Time and are forced to endure grief, worry, and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE again, they have erected partisan pro- loss. A recent report showed that my The Presiding Officer led the Pledge cedural hurdles that are designed not home State suffered more than 1,400 fa- of Allegiance, as follows: to change the outcome—they don’t talities as a result of drug overdoses I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the change the outcome—but simply to last year alone. United States of America, and to the Repub- waste the Senate’s time. Often, Demo- Despite the troubling statistics, how- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, crats do not even oppose the nominee ever, there are glimmers of hope. The indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. in question. Republican-led Senate has worked hard Let’s compare the number of times to pass important legislation like f this days-long delay has been invoked Jessie’s Law, the 21st Century Cures for nominees of the last two Presidents Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction APPOINTMENT OF ACTING during the first years of their Presi- and Recovery Act. These measures are PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE dencies—during the first year of the important steps that should lead to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Obama Presidency and the first year of real progress. There are many other clerk will please read a communication the Trump Presidency. Republicans re- important efforts across the country as to the Senate from the President pro quired cloture on one of President well. From coast to coast, we hear sto- tempore (Mr. HATCH). Obama’s judicial nominees during his ries of men and women in recovery who The bill clerk read the following let- first year—cloture one time on a judi- are managing their addictions. We are ter: cial nominee for President Obama in heartened by these testimonies that

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:52 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.000 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6826 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 proper treatment offers real hope. They LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-Tenn.) and of deficits. What a stunning hypocrisy help remind everyone as to why we PATTY MURRAY (D-Wash.) now offi- it would be to abandon those principles must continue to press forward. The cially falls into the category of ‘so ob- today and vote for this budget simply task that remains is staggering, but we vious it should pass immediately.’ ’’ because it gives tax cuts to the are committed. That is not CHUCK SCHUMER talking. wealthiest of Americans and the most Later today, President Trump will That is not even MITCH MCCONNELL powerful, largest of our corporations. help our country take another step for- talking—for those on the hard right Now I would also remind my Repub- ward. We expect that he will formally who might doubt MITCH MCCONNELL’s lican friends in the House—particularly recognize the opioid epidemic for the fidelity. It is the beacon of the hard those in New York, New Jersey, Cali- public health emergency that it is. right, the Wall Street Journal editorial fornia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, This announcement builds upon years page. Washington, and Minnesota—that vot- of progress that Congress has made in They say, again: Alexander-Murray ing for the budget today is tantamount responding to addiction with com- ‘‘falls into the category of ‘so obvious to voting for the elimination of the prehensive action, including preven- it should pass immediately.’’’ State and local tax deduction, and that tion, enforcement, and treatment. So, my fellow Republicans, what are would sock it to the middle-class tax- I commend the President for his con- you waiting for? Everyone on your side payers in their States and districts. To tinued commitment to this cause. wants the bill. Jump on it. Support it. most of our Republican friends from When he visited us in the Senate ear- Let’s get this done, and let’s help sta- those States, they are blue States, but lier this week, he discussed the na- bilize our markets, whatever our views there are red districts that are subur- tional epidemic and his administra- are on healthcare. ban, well-off. They will get clobbered if tion’s efforts to fight back. Along with Above all, these reports should be all they take away the State and local de- my colleagues, I stand ready to work the evidence that President Trump duction. Those are the constituents with him on future proposals to pro- needs to come off the sidelines and en- hurt the most—not the rich and not vide the necessary tools to protect our dorse the bill. It doesn’t bail out the the poor—the middle class and the communities from this scourge. insurance companies; that is what he upper middle class. Not only will it A single bill or program is never said he was worried about. It doesn’t raise their taxes dramatically, but going to solve this crisis on its own. cost the government money, and, in most people would lose deductions be- Only a sustained, committed effort can fact, it reduces the deficit by $4 billion. tween $10,000 and $20,000. That ain’t do that. I am proud of our efforts to So there is no good reason for Presi- chickenfeed. combat opioid addiction already. I also dent Trump to continue to obscure his It would lower home prices. A recent know that we will continue to push for- position. study by the National Association of ward with continued collaboration Leader MCCONNELL has said he will Realtors done by Pricewaterhouse Coo- with many groups both in Washington put it on the floor if the President says pers, the esteemed accounting firm, and in States and communities all he will sign it. By delaying, the Presi- showed that eliminating State and across our country so that, one day, we dent is harming healthcare markets, local would erode property values, the can finally say that our country has causing significant uncertainty, and rock of the middle class, by 10 percent. beaten this crisis once and for all. doing nothing but hurting Americans To middle-class folks in New York and, I suggest the absence of a quorum. who are trying to afford healthcare. I believe, around the country, their The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- So, Mr. President—President Trump, home is their piece of the rock. They pore. The clerk will call the roll. not my dear friend, the Acting Presi- struggle each month, paying the mort- The bill clerk proceeded to call the dent pro tempore, the Senator from gage, paying the taxes, paying for the roll. Alabama—President Trump, if you upkeep, but they are hoping that by Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask don’t pursue this bill, the consequences the time they reach later middle age unanimous consent that the order for will fall on your back. Make no mis- they will own that home, and that the quorum call be rescinded. take about it. gives their kids a place or gives their The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- f kids a nest egg when they pass it on. But this bill, by eliminating State and pore. Without objection, it is so or- THE BUDGET dered. local, reduces across America, on aver- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on f age, home values by 10 percent. So it is taxes, later today, the House will like- a double whammy to the middle class, RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY ly vote on whether to pass the budget raising their taxes and lowering their LEADER resolution that recently passed the home values. Why would we do that? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Senate. My colleagues in the House You don’t have to take it from me. I pore. The Democratic leader is recog- should be aware that this budget will will tell this to my Republican col- nized. explode the deficit by $1.5 trillion. That leagues. PETER KING is a hard, rock- f is under the best of circumstances. ribbed Republican who has a lot of That is under circumstances where courage and who this morning was on HEALTHCARE they find $4 trillion of pay-fors. That is TV talking about investigating Hillary Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yes- probably unlikely. It will slash Medi- Clinton, but here is what he said about terday afternoon the nonpartisan Con- care and Medicaid by $1.5 trillion, and repealing the State and local deduc- gressional Budget Office came out with it will set up the same awful partisan tion. He said that it ‘‘will devastate my a score for the bipartisan Alexander- process that caused the Republican ef- district forever.’’ That is a solid mid- Murray bill. The CBO report confirms fort on repeal and replace to fail, be- dle-class and upper middle-class Repub- that the Alexander-Murray bill is a cause when you try to do it with one lican district on Long Island. great deal for the American people. It party, it is fraught with peril. If you do Here is what else PETER KING said: does precisely what it was intended to it in a bipartisan way, a few people on ‘‘How anybody from New York and New do. It stabilizes the marketplaces, either side will try to pull the bill off Jersey can vote for this budget without helps to prevent premiums from sky- course but they will not succeed be- knowing what is in the tax bill is be- rocketing, and reduces the deficit, by cause they don’t have the votes. yond me.’’ He was referring to the CBO’s estimate, nearly $4 billion. I remind my friends in the House who State and local tax deductions. As Senators ALEXANDER and MURRAY purport to be deficit hawks: You are I salute PETER KING for telling it like noted, the report shows that their bill voting for a budget that will increase it is. Having the courage to stand up ‘‘will benefit taxpayers and low-income the deficit by $1.5 trillion. Many of and say to his own party’s leadership: I Americans, not insurance companies.’’ these House Members, particularly in will not forsake my constituents for a Even the Wall Street Journal edi- the conservative wing of the caucus, tax bill when I don’t even know what torial board—no liberal cabal, that is particularly those in the Freedom Cau- the details will be. The remaining for sure—said today: ‘‘The bipartisan cus, have spent their entire careers on Members of the New York, New Jersey, compromise proposal crafted by Sens. the barricades, railing against the evils California, and other delegations have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.001 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6827 a decision to make. Will they protect oring for it. We don’t need to take a The bill clerk read the nomination of the middle class and tens of thousands trillion dollars from working families Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, to be of homeowners in their districts or go and give it to millionaire CEOs, period. United States District Judge for the along with the hard-right agenda that If that weren’t enough reason to vote Western District of Oklahoma. will cost their constituents hard- no, the Republican leadership is still The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- earned money for groceries, home re- debating capping pretax contributions pore. The Senator from West Virginia. pairs, and other needs, and do that all to 401(k) plans. Do you hear that, retir- TAX REFORM so that the very wealthy can get a huge ees and potential retirees? In their Ms. CAPITO. Mr. President, I rise to tax break and all so that the biggest craving thirst to give the wealthiest again highlight the importance of en- corporations which are flush with people in America a tax break, they are acting tax reform. I listened to the money can have even more money— going to say: You can’t save money for Democratic leader’s speech. I have wrong. retirement tax-free. What a gut punch heard that speech a thousand times—a I hear on the other side that we are to the middle class that would be. De- thousand times how only wealthy talking about a tax bill for the middle spite the President’s claims to the con- Americans are going to benefit from class. To eliminate State and local de- trary, Representative BRADY and Sen- anything the Republicans can come up ductibility hurts the majority of mid- ator PORTMAN have said that a 401(k) with. Well, do you know what? Ameri- dle-class people in this country. That is cap is still on the table. cans are smarter than that. Americans what will happen if they keep that in So do you know what this bill has be- are smarter than that. there. come? Again, in its desperation to help I represent a State, West Virginians Now, some will say, in the House— the wealthiest, it is like a quiz show. who have struggling economic situa- and I have heard one of my colleagues Which way do we hurt the middle class tions. If I were to go out on the street from New York, a Republican: Oh, that to pay for it? Door one is State and in West Virginia, and as I talked to in- SCHUMER is a Democrat; he is beating local deductibility. Door two is cap re- dividuals there, and asked them: Would up on Republicans. But I went through tirement. Who knows what they will you like more of your hard-earned this in 1986, the last time we had tax pick in door three? It could be the money at the end of the day and have reform. It was the Democrats who were mortgage deduction. Asking middle- a tax cut and tax relief, I can guar- pushing the bill—Senator Bradley, a class people to choose which poison to antee you 100 percent would say: Heck, legend in this Chamber, and Leader take so they can help the wealthiest yeah. I can spend my money better at Gephardt, one of the Democratic lead- makes no sense. home with my priorities than what you ers in the House. Despite their en- I would urge my colleagues in the are doing in Washington, DC. So let’s treaties, I told them not only would I House and here in the Senate: Stop not let that argument rule the day. As not vote for any reform bill that had doing this partisan bill that was dic- I said, we are smarter than that. State and local deductibility in it, but tated by the hard right, very wealthy Let’s talk about what this bill does. I would lead the charge and round up individuals, very rich corporations, This is now my fourth, actually, in a others, and I did. I got a lot of flak huge corporations. Work with us. We series of something I believe in, which from my fellow Democrats, but it was want to create a bipartisan bill that is tax reform for everybody in this the right thing to do for my middle- helps the middle class. We are for tax country. class constituency in southern Brook- reform, and we can get something My first speech described the benefits lyn. So when I ask our Republican col- done. we will have in economic growth. leagues to buck their leadership to help Please stop this train in its tracks Something that was not mentioned by their middle-class constituents, it is early on before it is too late and you the previous speaker is how we have something I did with the Democratic will regret it. There are large numbers been stagnated for so long. The eco- leadership the last time tax reform was of Democrats, including this minority nomic growth will rise all boats. Every on the floor. leader, who want to sit down with Re- middle-class worker will benefit from Some are already rationalizing their publicans and come up with a deficit- this, and every small business will ben- vote to approve the budget by putting neutral, middle-class, small business- efit from this. My second speech was their hopes in the vague possibility of oriented, bipartisan tax relief bill, not about small businesses. Ninety-five some kind of compromise on State and a plan to benefit the richest 1 percent percent of my State is small business. local deductibility. The harsh fact is, or the largest and most powerful cor- Last week, I highlighted the impor- there is no good compromise to be had porations that are already flush with tance of passing the budget resolution on State and local. If you want to cash. We want to work with our Repub- to allow Congress to move forward, and make taxpayers choose between the lican colleagues on a real bipartisan we did that. mortgage deduction and the State and deal. Defeat this budget, and we will. Today, I want to talk about the im- local, it is like asking taxpayers to de- I yield the floor. portance of tax reform for middle-class cide whether they want to cut off their families and the impacts this bill will f right arm or their left arm. Some are have on them, the very real impact. talking about a cap. Well, where are RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME You know what, raising a family is you going to cap it? More than 50 per- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- very expensive today. A recent study cent of the total value of the deduction pore. Under the previous order, the from the Department of Agriculture goes to taxpayers with incomes below leadership time is reserved. found that middle-income households $200,000. Cap it too low, and almost all will spend over $230,000 raising a child. f those middle-class taxpayers get It is staggering—staggering. whacked. Cap it too high, and it CONCLUSION OF MORNING The Federal Reserve found that al- doesn’t raise enough money to offset BUSINESS most half of American families are all the cuts my Republican friends The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- struggling right now to come up with want to give the corporations and the pore. Morning business is closed. $400 if they have an emergency ex- pense. In West Virginia, where the me- top 1 percent. Republicans in the House f shouldn’t stake the votes on the pros- dian income is $41,000—hardly the pect of a good compromise on State EXECUTIVE SESSION wealthy—families are forced to make and local because there is not one to be hard tradeoffs as they balance their had. checkbooks each month. The bottom line is, any Republican EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Expenses are going up. Yet most plan that limits SALT is the equiva- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Americans haven’t received a raise in lent of robbing middle-class families of pore. Under the previous order, the years. So we need to help working fam- tax benefits and handing it over to the Senate will proceed to executive ses- ilies, especially those living paycheck wealthiest Americans and biggest cor- sion and resume consideration of the to paycheck, and this is one of the pri- porations. There is no—no—compelling Palk nomination, which the clerk will mary goals of our tax reform. We want reason to do it. People aren’t clam- report. middle-class, middle-earned-income

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.002 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6828 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 folks, hard-working folks to get more really do a lot of work in the commu- Changing the dynasty tax to create a in their pocket to decide what they nity service parts of our country, dynasty loophole, wow, that really want to do with their money. I raised whether it is helping with schools or doesn’t benefit anybody in the working three children. I know just putting whether it is helping with the baseball class. Lowering the top bracket while shoes on your children is an expensive teams or sponsoring a robotics team. raising the bottom bracket, well, that proposition. Maybe you want to plan Why does that matter to working fami- doesn’t help anybody in the working for a trip or save for college. Well, to lies? More than $2 trillion in profits class. Providing a special passthrough pay for childcare and to save for col- earned by American companies is kept for those who can put their business lege at the same time is almost impos- offshore because of the flaws in our activities into limited liability cor- sible for our young families today. current tax system—$2 trillion—and I porations and have a special low rate, The framework we have set forward, think some of those estimates might be well, that certainly doesn’t help any- I think, will help our families in many low. Shifting to a more fair and com- body in the middle class. ways. First, it calls for a significant in- petitive system will bring those dollars One provision after another, after an- crease in the child tax credit. Yester- back to the United States. Those com- other is targeted at the richest Ameri- day, a number of my colleagues from panies want to invest in our country cans, while coming and preaching help the House and the Senate, joined with because they know we have the safest for the middle class. Oh, the American Ivanka Trump to highlight what an im- investments, we have the most techno- people will see right through this proved child tax credit would mean for logically advanced and we have the scheme. They are going to ask: Why is working families. The tax reform pro- best workforce, and this is great news it you do so little for those at the bot- posal would allow families to take a for American families. tom? In fact, you do nothing for those higher per child credit, saving money The White House Council of Eco- in the bottom third. Why is it you do on their taxes—money they have nomic Advisers estimates that low- so little for those in the middle class? earned, money the families deserve to ering that tax rate—that corporate tax In fact, many of them will see a tax in- spend on their own, and money that rate—from 35 to 20 could increase the crease. Why do you send the vast bulk could have significant impact to our pay for the average American by about of the benefits to the richest Ameri- families. $4,000. At my small business round- cans when the richest Americans are We will also create a $500 tax credit table, when I asked, what would you do already so much richer than anyone for families who are caring for a with tax relief, the first thing she said else? nonchild dependent. Many Americans was ‘‘raise the wages of my seven em- The debate we are going to have is find themselves in the sandwich gen- ployees.’’ important. For my colleagues who eration, where they are not only caring So I think that this would be good think they can fool the American peo- for their children, they are caring for news for working families, certainly ple by talking about the middle class their parents at the same time. This good news for 50 percent of the West and instead are targeting the richest to will help those families. Virginia workers who work in small be richer, I have news: It is not going Second, the proposal nearly doubles business. We need to make sure we to work. the standard deduction or the zero tax work together, that we target our tax bracket. It raises it up to $24,000 for CLIMATE DISRUPTION relief to middle-class families. Now, Mr. President, I will turn to a married taxpayers and up to $12,000 for I say to the Acting President pro different topic. Climate disruption is a single taxpayers. tempore, you and I were at lunch the seminal challenge of our generation. It What kind of impact would this have other day with the President. Priority affects everything from our forests to on a State like mine? Well, 83 percent No. 1, the President said that this tax fisheries and farming. Rural America is of the taxpayers in West Virginia take cut must be targeted to the middle the standard deduction. They are going class, the working families in this the core target of the impacts of the to get a doubling in their standard de- country. That is what this bill has put changing climate, and we see the im- duction. That is more money for them forward: larger tax credit, larger stand- pacts worldwide. We see it in dis- to take home, to put the value of where ard deduction, unlocking the wages by appearing ice sheets and melting per- they want to spend it with their own lowering the competitive tax rate. De- mafrost and the reduced number of gla- families. So four out of five West Vir- spite our hard work, too many middle- ciers around the world and dying coral ginia working families will benefit class families are falling behind, and reefs. We see it in migrating animals from that. That is an enormous sav- we want to make sure that trend stops. and insects. We certainly see it in the ings, and even more taxpayers are like- So all of us, I think, can join to- more powerful hurricanes hitting the ly to benefit, as the larger standard de- gether. This is going to go through United States in Texas and Puerto duction means fewer people will committee. Both parties will have lots Rico and Florida. itemize. We expect that figure to go of opportunity to weigh in, and I look In response, communities around the up—from 83 percent up. It makes filing forward to looking into the eyes of the world are transforming their energy taxes simpler, and it makes it so our working men and women in my State economies. They are increasing the ef- taxpayers can file on a single form and saying: Not only is help on the ficiencies of their buildings, their vehi- without all of the extra forms, time, way, but help is here. cles, and their appliances. They are and money it takes. Thank you so much. working to replace carbon-polluting Finally, and most importantly, fami- I yield the floor. fossil fuel energy with clean and renew- lies will benefit from the economic The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- able energy. growth that tax reform will bring to pore. The Senator from Oregon. Well, how much do you know about our country. This is probably the big- Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I the changes underway? Let’s find out. gest impact that tax reform will have think it is going to be a very robust Welcome to episode 6 of the ‘‘Senate for working families. We will lower the conversation about taxes. When we Climate Disruption Quiz.’’ Here we go. corporate rate, yes, for companies, but look into the eyes of working Ameri- First question: In December of 2016, we have to make our companies com- cans, I hope my Republican colleagues vehicle emissions and coal production petitive across the globe. We are not. are ready to answer this question, and in the United States of America were We are not competing. What kind of ef- that is, Why do they, the Republican each at record lows since what year? fect does that have? Fewer jobs and Party, want to send $3.5 trillion of tax Were they at record lows since 1970, lower wages. Companies know that if benefits to the top 1 percent? Why not 1974, 1980, or 1986? Lock in your an- they invest in their workforce, if they spend the tax benefits on the middle swers. invest in the wages of their workforce, class? The answer is not 1970 or 1974 or 1980; they are going to have a more produc- Well, my colleagues keep coming to the answer is 1986. We are now working tive workforce to produce products, to the floor and saying this is all about on over three decades, despite a vast sell products, to enhance the quality of the middle class, but they don’t men- increase in the vehicle miles traveled. life of their communities. tion that, in fact, every single major We have reduced the emissions, and we Many of these large corporations change is all about benefits for the certainly reduced the emissions in coal that are scattered around our country richest 1 percent. production. We are experiencing quite

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.004 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6829 a change. We see the transition ermen and our forests. That area which Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I ask through clean and renewable energy ir- has been leased out for the extraction unanimous consent to speak as in revocably underway. of fossil fuels, which, as citizens, you morning business. Let’s go to the second question. How and I own, is the size of Colorado—a The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- many Republican Representatives— vast sea of fossil fuel extraction leases pore. Without objection, it is so or- Members of the House—asserted that on public lands. It shows the dire need dered. climate change has the potential to ad- to pass the Keep It in the Ground Act. TAX REFORM versely impact all Americans? How The only responsible thing for us to Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, over the many Republican Members of the do is to not do any more leases of our next few weeks, the Senate, the House, House? Was it 13 or 17 or 20 or 22? Ad- citizen-owned oil or coal or gas. The re- Congress—everybody here in Wash- mittedly, it is a modest number. sponsible thing to do, the right thing ington is going to be engaged in what I The number was 17. The answer is B. to do, especially as we work in partner- think is one of the most important and These 17 Republican lawmakers intro- ship with the world, is to say no new potentially impactful debates we have duced a resolution warning that ‘‘if left leases that expand this 67 million acre had here in a long time. For a place unaddressed, the consequences of a number. that has been so criticized for not changing climate have the potential to Now let’s turn to Question No. 5. doing anything, we have a chance to adversely impact all Americans.’’ So Which U.S. community was the first to actually do something that is going to this is a very big deal, that 17 Repub- make a decision to divest all of its oil matter and help real people and help licans in the party financed by the coal and gas stocks because of the impact of the country. It is called tax reform. and oil billionaires, who have really oil and gas on destroying our Nation? I think the great thing about a tax taken complete control of the U.S. Was it Cooperstown, NY; Salem, OR; reform debate is that it actually goes Senate, stood up to them and said: We Lawrence, KS; or Walla Walla, WA? to the heart and soul of our identity as are going to speak on behalf of our re- Lock in your answers. a nation and who we want to be and sponsibility, as citizens of the United The answer is Cooperstown, NY. who we have been up to this point. States of America, to protect our citi- There is quite an interesting story be- We are a nation that has embraced zens from the assault on our farming hind this, a remarkable story. At the free enterprise. There are people who and our forestry and our fishing from center of the story is a man named don’t believe in free enterprise. There climate disruption. I praise those 17 for Louis Allstadt. Mr. Allstadt is a retired are people who believe in different having done so. It is a powerful, bipar- ExxonMobil executive. At one point, he variations of free enterprise. By and tisan step in the right direction of managed all of Mobil Oil’s exploration large, America has believed in free en- championing the cause of all Ameri- in the United States, Canada, and terprise. That basically means the gov- Latin America, so he knew the oil in- cans—and for that matter, the entire ernment doesn’t try to control too dustry, the fossil fuel industry, inside- planet. much of the economy. People have pri- Question No. 3: In July of this year, out from the very top level. vate property and private businesses. After retiring, he ran for town trust- California extended its cap-and-trade You have rules to make sure people ee in Cooperstown. As a town trustee, program to which year? Did it extend don’t cheat and steal from one another he then spearheaded an effort for Coop- it for just a couple of years to 2020 or or hurt people, but by and large, we be- erstown to become the first town in the to the year 2025, 2030, or 2035? How long lieve in a private economy. Why do we United States to divest its oil and gas did California lay this vision into the believe that? I think the answer to stocks. Mr. Allstadt summed it up this that is not just a purely economic one; future? Lock in your answers. way: ‘‘You don’t just keep driving your The answer is 2030. The program car when you see a cliff ahead.’’ Well you look back at our founding. would have otherwise expired in 2020, One of the unique things about this said. Yet so many in this Chamber are so they extended it another decade. It country that we have taken for granted determined to drive the car over the was basically a statement of con- and do not do a good enough job of cliff. fidence that the program that they laid From the high reaches of the execu- teaching young Americans is that out, that they have in place now, is tive suites of Exxon Mobil, Mr. America was not created as a nation to working and deserves extension. It is Allstadt could see the damage being bring together a common race or a the only program of its kind in the done to the planet by the continued common ethnicity or a common reli- country, and it is the second largest in burning of fossil fuels. He saw the abso- gion. There are a lot of nations around the world. lute need to stop, and he took a prin- the world—in fact, I would argue that Under this vision, this new and ex- cipled, moral stand on behalf of us all. most of the nations that have ever ex- panded program, California will cut its Thank you, Mr. Allstadt, for doing isted have been a homeland for the peo- emissions of carbon dioxide 40 percent that and setting that example. It is one ple who were born and have lived in from its 1990 levels, despite having a we should all pay attention to. Every that one place—not us. We were found- vastly expanded economy. That is a city council and every mayor across ed on the idea that you could bring dif- powerful vision and a vision we need to the country should ask the question: ferent kinds of people from different extend through completely eliminating Should we follow Mr. Allstadt’s exam- backgrounds and unite them as one the burning of fossil fuels in the next ple, the example of Cooperstown, NY? people, despite their differences in three decades. Because if we continue in the direction background and ethnicity and religion. Question No. 4: How many acres of we are going, we will do fabulous You could unite them behind a very our citizen-owned—that is, our Fed- amounts of damage from which we will powerful idea—the idea that all of us eral—fossil fuels were leased to indus- not easily recover—if we can recover at are created equal because we were born try as of October 2016? Had we leased all. with a God-given right to life and to out 30 million acres of Federal land for So there you have it, folks—episode 6 liberty and to pursue happiness. the extraction of fossil fuels or 45 mil- of the ‘‘Senate Climate Disruption That is not just a revolutionary idea; lion or 53 million or 67 million? Any of Quiz.’’ These questions were ripped it has changed the world. It has been these is really a vast amount of what from the headlines. Facts on the the identity of our country. It is we own as citizens. Lock in your an- ground are changing fast as climate among everything else that makes us swers. disruption increases and communities unique and special. In every genera- The answer is at the top end of the across the globe respond. We are racing tion, it has been challenged economi- spectrum—67 million acres. What this the clock, and we have no time to cally, socially, and culturally. We need means is that for years and even dec- spare. So stay engaged in the fight. to continue to fight for that. ades into the future, we have already In the near future, I will bring you One of the core principles behind contracted for a vast amount of fossil episode 7 of the ‘‘Senate Climate Dis- equal opportunity is the ability to ful- fuels to be extracted from our citizen- ruption Quiz.’’ fill your economic potential—to grow owned lands. These extractions add to Thank you, Mr. President. up and be who you want to be, do what the problem facing rural America and The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- you want to do, open a company or the impact on our farmers and our fish- pore. The Senator from Florida. work for a certain industry or career or

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.005 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6830 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 stay home and raise children. Whatever and put them out of business—or at Do you want to talk about the haves your choice is, they are all legitimate. least take away some of their cus- and have-nots in the 21st century? The We are a nation that believes we all tomers—because you are better than haves and the have-nots are the people have the God-given right to pursue they are. That is free enterprise. That who have advanced education and the that, and that is something which free is what we believe in, and the Tax Code right skills and the people who do not. enterprise makes possible. is a part of it. We have to close that gap. Vocational The difference between free enter- What has challenged free enterprise training—that is a separate topic that prise and people who want government in this country in the 21st century and has to be dealt with and is critically to control everything is—the best anal- you sense it in people’s frustrations? important in the way growth is distrib- ogy I can think of is, imagine a pie. There are two things. uted. But you have no growth to dis- Let’s use a pie as an example. I can’t The first is there is a lot of overcom- tribute if you don’t have growth. So bring one on the floor to graphically petition. It wasn’t true in the sixties that is why this is so important. detail it, but imagine one in your and seventies. We forget Germany and When you hear all this talk about mind. Imagine if I said to you: This pie Japan. These countries were wiped out wealthy corporations getting huge tax will never grow. It will always be the completely during World War II. It breaks, it is not necessarily true. It is same size. Every single one of us gets a took them decades to rebuild. America really, really important for people to slice. was the only show in town for much of pay attention to the details and not Well, if the pie can’t grow and every- the fifties, sixties, up into the seven- just the talking points on this. one gets a slice, then the bigger your ties. But all of these other countries For example, let’s say company X is slice, the smaller my slice. That is watched us grow, and they started a publicly traded company, so they sell what people who don’t believe in free doing the things we did. They started stock on Wall Street and the like. Next enterprise argue. They argue that the deregulating, and they most certainly year, because we lower taxes, that pie really can’t grow, and so you need started cutting taxes. company makes $1 million more than government to make sure that pie is The result has been that over the last they did this year. What can they do sliced equally or equal enough among 20 or 25 years, most countries in the in- with that million dollars for a publicly everybody. The Tax Code is one of the dustrialized world, the big economies, traded company? There are really only ways they do it. charge companies a lot less in taxes four things they can do with that There is another argument. It is the than we do. What that does over time money, and all four of them help work- one I believe in. It is the one that I is make us uncompetitive. That is why ing Americans. think has made this country the most not a day goes by that you don’t read The first thing they can do is grow prosperous in human history. It is the about some American company that the business. They can say: We like our argument that that pie doesn’t have to was bought by a company in another business a lot. We now have a million stay that size. We can make it a pie country and moved over there. Do you dollars more than we thought we were that is a lot bigger and make sure it know why? Because they pay less in going to have, but we believe so much keeps growing. Therefore, it doesn’t taxes over there than they do here. in our future that we are going to take matter how big the other person’s slice Anyone who doesn’t realize that is that million dollars and we are going is, as long as your slice is big too. More missing a big part of it. to invest it to grow the company. We for them doesn’t mean less for you. We are not the only show in town are going to open a new factory. We are That is one of the unique attributes of anymore. We have to compete, and going to open more stores and hire free enterprise: Everyone can be better that is why our Tax Code is important. more people as a result. We are going off without anyone being left worse off. If it becomes uncompetitive, you are to invest in more equipment, which That is the theory, but it doesn’t al- basically forcing and/or inviting com- means the people who make that equip- ways work in practice for a lot of dif- panies to leave the United States for a ment have more work. That is the first ferent reasons. That doesn’t mean an- more favorable tax treatment—and thing you can do with the money you archy. We do need government. I am that has happened. might save on taxes. not anti-regulation; I am anti-over- Do you know who has paid the price? The second thing you might have to regulation. Not the rich people. If you are a do—maybe you don’t grow your busi- I fly on airplanes. Everybody here wealthy investor, you can invest your ness, but with that million dollars flies on a lot of airplanes. I am sure we money anywhere in the world. Even if extra that you have from the tax cuts, are all glad that airplane is inspected you make your money here, I promise you are going to have to pay your em- and the person who is flying it is really you, you have the best lawyers and the ployees more because, if not, they are a pilot and not just someone who best accountants to find every creative going to quit and go to work for some- stayed at Holiday Inn Express. loophole to save money. And if that body else. So all of a sudden, you are I think all of us want to make sure loophole doesn’t exist, you will hire the now in a position to be able to hire that when you open a bottle of medi- best lobbyist to make one. good people and retain them by paying cine prescribed to you, what is in that In the end, the truly wealthy—the them more and by offering better bene- bottle is actually the medicine and not billionaires, the owners with these ex- fits to keep them. That is the second something fake or something different. traordinary amounts of wealth—they thing you can do with the money. When we eat food, we want to make will figure it out. Do you know who The third thing you can do with the sure it is not poisonous or going to gets hurt? The people who get paid million dollars from the tax cut that spread disease. These are all products every 2 weeks. That is who gets hurt you didn’t plan on having is lower of regulation. because when those companies leave prices. You can say: I am in competi- The same is true in economics. That the United States, they take their jobs tion with these five other businesses to is why we have antitrust laws. That is with them. The fewer of those there are sell the same thing. We are going to why we take on anti-competitiveness, and the more people we have com- use our million dollars to lower our because it actually undermines free en- peting for fewer jobs, the less people prices just a little bit, just enough so terprise. I am not talking about get paid at a time when everything that people buy it from us instead of corporatism, because there are a lot of costs more. them. Do you know what that other countries around the world that claim There is another thing that is hurt- company is going to have to do? They to be free enterprise, but they really ing us, and it is not part of the tax re- are going to have to lower prices, too, aren’t. Four or five big companies con- form, but it is the way growth is now to compete with you. Do you know who trol everything, and everybody else ei- distributed. We can no longer just as- benefits from the lowering of prices? ther works for them or is unemployed. sume that if the economy grows, every- The middle class. The people who are That is not what I am talking about. one will be better off automatically, going to shop are going to be paying I am talking about free enterprise—a because the truth is, in the 21st cen- less because of the competition. That is nation and a system in which someone tury, there are some careers, some in- the third thing that can happen. can quit their job, open a business, dustries, and some jobs that pay sub- The fourth thing that can happen and compete with their former employer, stantially more. the one that gets the most criticism is,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.006 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6831 well, they will just pay it to the share- at some point—the more money you owe it unless you are working. All we holders in dividends. OK. Who are the make. Why do we have it? We have it are saying is let people keep more of shareholders? The shareholders are for two reasons: No. 1, we truly believe their money to pay for their cost of liv- wealthy people who trade in Wall that the family is the most important ing. Street and spend all day in front of a institution in society and parenting is By the way, they are going to have to computer and have these brokerage ac- the most important job you will ever spend that money. We know that a counts and people who handle their ac- have. I don’t care who you are. If you large number of families in this coun- counts. They are a part of it. are the President, if you are a Senator, try are living beyond what they make. You know who else are shareholders? if you are a Congressman—I don’t care That is why credit card debt has risen Millions and millions of Americans. If what you do—the most important job over the last 20 years. They are going you are a firefighter or a police officer you will ever have, the most influence to take that money, and they are going with a union pension, you are a share- you will ever have, the most impactful to spend it. They are going to spend a holder. You might not be aware of the thing you will ever do is to raise a fam- lot of it on raising their children. They companies you have shares in, but it is ily, so our Tax Code accounts for that. are going to spend a lot of it on the in your pension, and the future of your It should. things that we talked about. pension will depend on how those in- The second thing is that raising chil- I am not saying this alone will vestments go. If you are a 401(k) hold- dren is expensive. If you are raising change it, but, hopefully, the child tax er, you are a shareholder. Just because children right now or have at any time credit, combined with a growing econ- you are not in front of the computer in the near past, you know how expen- omy in which there are more jobs that every day, checking your TD sive it is. I don’t know where they get pay more and prices are lower, is going Ameritrade account to see how much these numbers, but they sound right to to truly help people, and we have to money you have in X stock and Y stock me. The Department of Agriculture es- help people in that regard. So this has does not mean you are not a share- timates that to raise children from the to be a critical component of tax re- holder. You are a shareholder. time they are born to the time they are form. Virtually every sort of investment 18 is about $235,000 per child. That is a I wanted to set the stage for that, be- mechanism for retirement in America staggering amount of money. That cause, unfortunately, it is a com- is invested in what is called equities, is doesn’t even account for college, by the plicated thing. Unfortunately, taxes invested in the market, is invested in way. are very complicated, more than they All you have to do is spend just 10 stocks and bonds. If, in fact, those really should be. minutes; just go out one day this week- There is going to be a lot of misin- things are doing better, it is helping end and talk to the people you know formation out there about who this ac- you retire. That is why the business side of this who are working parents, and ask tually helps and how the economy ac- is so important. It will help grow the them. They are going to tell you one of tually works. So it is really important economy, but it actually will also help the most expensive things they face, for us to be clear and upfront about why it is that we are doing the things people because there is nowhere else especially between the time their chil- we are doing. for that money to go. dren are born and the time they turn 4 When I hear all this talk about help- The other type of small business, or 5, is childcare. In over two-thirds of ing millionaires and billionaires—they which is actually the majority, has the States in this country, this costs are probably the people who care the been called a passthrough, and that is more than it does to go to college. least about some of the tax reforms. what most businesses are organized as. Imagine that you make $800 a week They are going to be finding their way; That is where you pay on your personal that you take home, but you have to they just want to know what the rules rate. If you are a small business owner spend $400 a week on childcare for your are. They just want to know what the with three employees, you are an S two kids. That is half your paycheck. rules are because they are going to fig- corporation, and at the end of the year, I am not saying a child tax credit fixes all of that. I am saying that is a ure it out one way or the other. If their you pay your taxes on your personal cost that keeps going up. It is a reason taxes are too high, they will take their rate. Your rate is actually higher than why the tax credit has lost about $300 money to another country. If they are the companies, the corporations, ex- in value from the time it was last ex- low enough, they might invest it here. cept you can’t hire the lawyers and the panded in 2003. Either way, they are going to be fine. accountants and all the other exper- The other thing to add to it is, if you The people we really want to help are tise. You are actually, in many cases, look at some of the changes being pro- working people and small businesses, paying more than the big companies. posed on the personal deduction, that and the Tax Code is a part of that. It is These small businesses need to be is another $500 off. In essence, at $800 not the only part of that, but it is a big helped, too, and they would be with tax per child, we are just breaking even. part of it. That is why this has to hap- reform that lowers their rate and That is why we have to have a child pen. It has to happen. It has been far makes them competitive. tax credit that is at least $2,000 to real- too long. Beyond ensuring that people are ei- ly have an impact. I want to take a step back and say ther going to have better retirement The other thing we have to do is that 50 years from now, when people funds, lower prices, more pay, more make it refundable. What that means read about this time in American his- jobs, and we are helping small busi- is it has to apply against payroll tax. tory, they are going to ask themselves: nesses, the vast majority of which are Medicare, Social Security taxes—that What was wrong with those people? Did owned by people who are not multi- comes from FICA; it comes imme- they not realize that all these other millionaires and billionaires, the other diately off your paycheck. Everybody countries were taking their jobs, and thing we can do to help working-class pays that tax. one of the ways those jobs were leaving people in this country is an expansion Not everybody pays income tax. If is that they were giving them away. of the child tax credit. It is an idea you don’t make more than a certain They were literally inviting people to that Senator LEE and I have been push- amount of money, you don’t have an leave by acting so arrogant about ing for the better part of 2 years. It income tax liability, but you are pay- themselves that they thought they wasn’t always universally popular, but ing taxes. It is called the payroll tax. If could charge them anything they want- I am going to explain three reasons we don’t deal with that, if we don’t ed in taxes, and they would stay. That why it is important. In fact, not only is make the child tax credit apply to is just not true anymore. I am not sure it important, but it has to happen. If that, then we are basically not cutting it ever was entirely true, but it is less we don’t do this, then someone could taxes or not helping the vast majority true today than it ever was before. argue that this is not a middle-class of people who need it. There has been In the end, the people who are really tax cut. If we do it, it will be, perhaps, some speculation that this would be being hurt by this are the people whose the single largest middle-class tax cut too expensive and cost a lot of money. jobs don’t pay enough at a time when in modern history. It is not true. everything costs more. The child tax credit is a credit you No. 2, it is their money. You don’t The people who are really being hurt get per child. Obviously, it phases out get it unless you owe it, and you don’t by this are the people who wish they

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.008 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6832 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 could start their own business, but No. 1, you have to grow your econ- worse off. That is why we must do it. they can’t because they don’t think omy. You have to. That pie has to That is why the child tax credit has to they can make enough money to sur- grow. No. 2, the debt has to be held happen, by the way, because not only vive. back so it doesn’t grow as big as the can we not pass it without it, but we The people who are really being hurt economy. If you grow the economy by can’t justify it without it. by this are parents who are trying to 4 percent and you grow the debt by 4.5 I am optimistic that we are going to raise their children at a time when ev- percent, then you are not going to get get there. It will be a lot of work, but erything costs more, but their pay- there. You have to do both. This is part it will be good work. It will be the rea- checks aren’t keeping pace. one—grow the economy. son why so many of us are here to The people who are really being hurt Part two is going to have to be to begin with. We come here to make a by this are the people who sit down bring our spending on a sustainable difference. We come here because we every month, and they write down on a path so that the growth and the bene- want to contribute toward making piece of paper: This is our budget for fits of the growth and the revenue from things better—not perfect, but better. the month. And about 14 or 15 days into the growth aren’t being taken and used This will make things better. the month, something comes in the to pay for even more government. For all the people who complain that mail that they didn’t expect was on its To use a best analogy, if you owe a we spend years here and nothing ever way, and all of a sudden, that whole lot of money and you only make $2,000, happens, this is the chance to see budget gets blown out, and now they and next month you get paid $3,000 a something happen in our time here and have to use a credit card to pay for it. month but you add $1,500 a month of be able to look back when our service The people who are being hurt by expenditures, then you are still owing here is done and say: We made a dif- this are the people whose kids are now more money. So you have to do both. ference while we were there. 17 years old, and they say: I want them You have to generate more revenue That is what we are endeavoring to to go to college, but I have no idea through growth—not through more do, and I am excited about the fact whether they are going to be able to taxes—and you have to hold the long- that I believe we are going to do it. It go. Even with financial aid, they are term line on spending. This is step one will be long, it will be hard, but it will going to have to borrow money to go to of that two-step process. We have a be fun and it will be good for our coun- school, and now they are in debt. Be- chance to do it here before the year is try and for our people. If we do it right, fore they even vote in their first elec- out. We have to do it, and I believe we it will be one of the most rewarding tion, they already owe $10,000. We have will. It will be hard. It should be hard. things any of us will ever do in our to help them if we are going to rebuild I always laugh when I read these ar- time here in public service. the country’s economy, and tax reform ticles that say: Oh, tax reform is divi- I yield the floor. is a key part of it. sive, and people are arguing about it. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL- Here is my last point. There has been They should argue about it. They don’t LIVAN). The Senator from Minnesota. a lot of talk about debt—that this is have a lot of arguments about eco- HEALTHCARE going to grow the debt. That actually nomic policy in China, by the way, be- Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I rise doesn’t have to be true. If you lower cause there is not much of an opposi- today to talk about the urgent need for the tax rate and businesses are hiring tion, but in America, we are a republic. action on the Children’s Health Insur- more people, creating more jobs, and There are different ideas. There should ance Program and other vital safety growing, that is going to grow your be different ideas. Tax reform should net programs. economy. When you grow your econ- be controversial. It is important. There On September 30 of this year, 3 weeks omy, you have more taxpayers. When should be debate, and there will be so ago, funding for the Children’s Health you have more taxpayers, you have we arrive at good public policy. There Insurance Program, or CHIP, expired, more revenue. Even though you didn’t is nothing wrong with that. It is a good and funding for community health cen- raise the rate, you will still collect thing, not a bad thing, as long as that ters also expired, as did funding for the more money because even though you debate is geared toward reaching a re- don’t have more taxes, you have more sult. National Health Service Corps. These taxpayers. That is a big chunk of this. In the end, I will tell you this, if we three cornerstone programs provide es- Just a normal, not unrealistic don’t do it, I actually think it will hurt sential health services to hundreds of growth rate would more than pay for our economy, not keep it the way it is. thousands of my constituents and to the money that people are saying we It will actually hurt it because a lot of millions of people across the country. are not going to collect as a result of businesses, a lot of employers, and a Although these programs have his- this. That is part one of it. lot of Americans assumed that this torically secured strong bipartisan sup- The other thing that is interesting to would happen, given who won the elec- port and, ostensibly, still do today, the me is if we stood here today and said tions in 2016. They have already made Republican majority has not moved ‘‘Let’s take $1.7 trillion and spend it to investment decisions on the assump- these bills forward toward passage, and build stuff that the government does,’’ tion that some of this was going to it is really time to act. there would be no problem with that. happen. I am telling you, if it doesn’t My home State of Minnesota is one That would be seen as stimulus. That happen, the collapse of confidence will of the first States to exhaust its fund- is positive. That is good debt spending. hurt the economy badly. Failing to act ing for its Children’s Health Insurance But, somehow, if we say ‘‘Let’s take will actually reverse whatever gains we Program, or CHIP, a program that cov- money and give it back to people so have already made this year on the ex- ers 125,000 low-income children and they can spend it themselves,’’ that is pectation of growth and will actually 1,700 pregnant women. bad debt. That is ridiculous. shatter people’s confidence in Amer- While the Federal Government has The third thing I would say is that ica’s future. provided some emergency stop-gap you are never going to tax your way If you are sitting there today think- funding, that, too, is slated to run out out of debt anyway. Even if we tax ev- ing: Where am I going to open this big by the end of November. Minnesota has eryone in America next year—if, for ev- plant and hire 1,000 people, and you see a long tradition of insuring coverage to eryone in America who made $1 million tax reform collapse in the United vulnerable populations. So coverage for next year, we confiscated every penny States, and the people in the House, in low-income children will continue, no of it and said ‘‘Your tax rate this year the Senate, and in the White House are matter what. However, over the next is 100 percent,’’ it would not even make all supportive of tax reform, and you few weeks, if CHIP funding is not reau- a dent on the debt. That is how big the still couldn’t get it done, you are going thorized, the State will have to decide debt is and how fast it is growing. So to say to yourself: Guess what; I am whether it will take extraordinary you can’t tax your way out of this, and not going to invest in that place be- measures and incur significant finan- you can’t just cut your way out of it, cause even when the people who are in cial losses to continue providing cov- either, by the way. So the only solu- favor of it are in charge, they still erage for vital services, like prenatal tion to our debt long term is that you can’t get it done. and postnatal care for the pregnant have to do two separate things, and Not doing tax reform will not lead to women, whose coverage is currently you have to do them both. the status quo. It will actually leave us funded by CHIP. This is a terrible

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.009 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6833 choice that States shouldn’t have to some of the most isolated and rural WILDFIRE FUNDING make, and it doesn’t have to be that counties up in the northeastern corner Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, in re- way. of my State, in the Arrowhead. Saw- cent months, Americans have been hit Minnesota is not alone. Five other tooth reports that it would lose up to by a string of natural disasters—from States and the District of Columbia $1 million, which would force them to devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico, will see their funding dry up by Decem- cut back on staff and services, having a Florida, and Texas, to catastrophic ber, and 25 more States will exhaust drastic ripple effect across the entire wildfires in Oregon, Montana, and Cali- their funding by early next year. community. fornia. Earlier this week, the Senate Pretty soon, thousands of families The CEO of the clinic in Grand voted to provide urgent relief to our could receive notices informing them Marais explains: communities in need. that their coverage will be terminated. We are the only clinic and providers in all Although Colorado was fortunate Imagine for a second what that mo- of Cook County— this year—we could have easily had ment would feel like. You have a son or Parenthetically, that is a big coun- fires, but we were very fortunate, un- a daughter with a serious medical con- ty— like Montana, this year—we know the dition, and, perhaps, they are even in and also one of the only providers serving devastation of wildfires all too well. In the hospital. You find out that their the Grand Portage band. 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire raged for 16 health insurance is going to be cut off That is the band of the Chippewa or days, incinerating 18,000 acres, destroy- because the Republican-controlled Con- Ojibwe. ing over 300 homes, and forcing the gress couldn’t get its act together to Since 1965, Congress has provided this sta- evacuation of more than 32,000 Colo- continue funding for a bipartisan pro- ble and critically important funding that radans. Years later, our communities gram that has been in existence for supports our isolated and rural communities. are still recovering from the damage. decades. I would be livid. That is why Congress needs to do its work and needs to Out West, wildfires can be cata- we have to act now. act now. strophic events. Yet Washington con- For most of this year, the Republican Similarly, without funding for the tinues to fund them differently than majority has been consumed with de- National Health Service Corps—this is other major disasters, such as hurri- structive and counterproductive de- what the program does. It provides fi- canes, tornadoes, or floods. When those bates focused on repealing ObamaCare. nancial support and loan repayment for disasters strike, we pay for emergency They have done little else. That meant clinicians who practice in underserved response from an entirely separate ac- that not only did we blow past the areas. I know the Presiding Officer count. When a wildfire catches, that funding deadline for the Children’s must be interested in that, as Alaska cost falls entirely on the U.S. Forest Health Insurance Program, but we also has some underserved areas and needs Service. If it is a catastrophic fire, as blew through the funding deadlines for providers to serve in those areas. Many we see now in Montana and Northern community health centers and the Na- providers, including those in greater California, those costs can easily ex- tional Health Service Corps program. Minnesota, will not be able to recruit ceed the Forest Service budget for fire Now this critical reauthorization is on or hire new staff. suppression. That forces the Forest hold because Republicans can’t agree In a recent news article, the chief ex- Service to borrow funds from other ac- on how to pay for it. This comes just a ecutive of a Minneapolis-based network counts to make up the difference. That week after Republicans in the Senate of clinics stated that the National is something no one has to do for any endorsed the budget to increase the Health Service Corps Loan Repayment other disaster in America. This is often debt by up to $1.5 trillion over 10 years Program offered him a unique bar- at the expense of efforts to prevent the for tax cuts that will largely benefit gaining chip against the larger health the wealthiest Americans. In fact, the next catastrophic fire. systems. Without this program, he be- It stands to reason that if we spend Tax Policy Center estimates that 80 lieves he wouldn’t be able to success- less and less on fire prevention, which percent of benefits of the Republican fully compete for providers. is what the Forest Service is doing tax plan would go to the top 1 percent Look, I recognize how we got here every year because of the way the Con- of income earners in this country. and where the time and energy has This is truly a case of the absurd. been spent over the last few months, gress has set this up, we are going to When it comes to providing healthcare and I am proud that we were able to spend more and more on fire suppres- for needy children and keeping Ameri- abide by the will of the people and suc- sion, fighting fires, and that is what is cans healthy, Republicans are saying cessfully stop the effort to repeal the happening. That is exactly what has they can’t do it unless it is paid for, ACA and strip healthcare from millions happened. In 1995, the Forest Service spent and, often, that means making cuts to of people. I would hope that we would around 16 percent of its budget on fire other safety net programs in which recognize that we have here histori- suppression—16 percent. Last year, it vulnerable individuals rely. But when cally bipartisan legislation to reau- spent over half of its budget. For the it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy, thorize funding for children’s health in- first time in the Forest Service’s his- which costs many, many, many, many surance coverage and other safety net tory, they spent over half their budget times more than the cost of providing programs. It is incumbent upon us to fighting fires. You might as well call it children with health insurance, my Re- act, and act now. We have to reauthor- the fire-fighting agency, not the Forest publican colleagues are perfectly happy ize these programs so that Minnesotans Service agency. In fact, the number to do that without demands for offsets and millions of the families across the was closer to 60 percent. The Forest and, instead, adding costs to the debt. country are not unnecessarily and un- Service had to borrow over half a bil- This is not responsible budgeting, and fairly harmed as a result of our inac- lion dollars from other accounts in the it is not just kids that stand to lose tion. under this type of budgeting approach. In the same news story I referred to agency—accounts that are important Let me tell you about the other pro- earlier, the CEO of NorthPoint Health to Colorado, Wyoming, and Alaska. While we replenished those accounts grams at risk in my State of Min- & Wellness, another safety net clinic in in disaster aid packages earlier this nesota. Minnesota, stated: year, we once again failed to address In Minnesota, there are more than 70 There is a high degree of anxiety for staff community health center clinics that and for some of our patients. . . . I think why they were depleted in the first receive a total of $27 million in funding Congress understands that we are vital to place. Until we do, we are going to find to care for the uninsured and the the safety net and they have to continue to ourselves in the same position every underinsured in the State. If this fund- support the community health centers. year. This is no way to run a govern- ing is not reauthorized soon, these Let’s work together to pass this leg- ment. It makes no sense from a fiscal community health centers and the pa- islation so we don’t let these clinics perspective, and it makes no sense tients they serve are going to experi- and the patients they serve down. It is from a public welfare perspective. This ence serious losses and not just finan- time to act, and time to act now. is not how we should manage our tax- cial losses. Thank you very much, Mr. President. payer dollars. Undercutting fire pre- Take, for example, Sawtooth Moun- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vention is the definition of being penny tain Clinic, which provides care to ator from Colorado. wise and pound foolish. Every dollar we

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.011 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6834 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 spend on disaster prevention leads to $5 and put the Forest Service in a strong- gram to help veterans get care in their of savings down the road. er position to prevent the next cata- communities and to get it promptly. We need to reinvest in fire prevention strophic fire. Unfortunately, Wyoming veterans and in forest mitigation. In Colorado, I thank my colleague from Wyoming are continuing to experience delays our forests are in terrible shape. And it for his patience and for his leadership and limited access to care. I have heard is not just Colorado citizens who need on the Budget Committee. from many Wyoming veterans who to care about that; anybody who lives I yield the floor. have been unable to receive the care downstream of our rivers, which are The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- they need and many providers who States all across America, needs to ator from Wyoming. have been unable to get reimbursed for care about the condition of those head- Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, while I am medical services. Some doctors and fa- waters. Those headwaters that are disappointed that we didn’t continue cilities have ended their participation owned by the public, entrusted in the the tradition of alternating speakers, I in VA Choice because it is taking too Forest Service, are in terrible shape am glad that I got to hear both of the long to get reimbursed or they are un- because of this Congress’s inability to previous speakers. able to get reimbursed at all and they deal with this. I used to work with the Senators are having to do a tremendous amount We have over 800 million dead stand- from Colorado to make sure that there of paperwork in order to even get to ing trees in the State of Colorado were pictures taken annually from the that final reimbursement. Sometimes alone. Our communities, our water- same spots to show the way the trees when they finally get payment, the sheds, and our infrastructure are at are dying. There was an infestation check is made out to the wrong pro- risk. The Forest Service knows how to that was causing this. The only reason vider. Time and again, I hear reports of do this. They know how to mitigate we don’t still take those pictures is all how difficult it is to get simple an- that—by thinning timber and man- the trees are dead. You can’t show that swers, let alone care or provider reim- aging prescribed burns. But right now, it is spreading when they are all dead. bursement, from the VA and the con- all of those projects are on hold be- They need to be cleaned up, and I am tractor administering the program in cause the Forest Service anticipates glad there is work being done on forest Wyoming. having to fight more catastrophic fires management. The consequences of this poorly run next season. This is ridiculous. This is On healthcare, there is some effort program are ultimately borne by the an affront to the people of Colorado being made between Senator ALEX- veterans. In a frontier State like Wyo- and the people of the West. ANDER and Senator MURRAY to get a bi- ming, losing access to one specialist We have a solution. It is a simple so- partisan bill, but what we need to do can mean losing access to the only spe- lution. Let’s pay for fire suppression around here is get some of the appoint- cialist in the area. the same way we pay for other disas- ments finished up so that the President Sadly, Wyoming veterans continue to ters. Our bill, the Wildfire Disaster can have the people in place to solve tell me about these problems because Funding Act, would do just that. It is these problems. We are having to spend the situation isn’t getting any better— backed by seven Democrats and, I am 30 hours on the cloture of a district that is in spite of my having the Sec- very proud to say, by four Republicans. judge. I have never heard of that. I retary in my office and then having Unlike a lot of issues in Washington, have been here 21 years now, and I have him bring his staff in, who had pro- both parties actually agree on the solu- never heard of that. We have to get the vided the terrible statistics that they tion. appointments through. That is one of were working from. I know the administration is eager to our prime jobs—to provide advice and One such veteran was waiting for a fix this problem. Secretary Perdue consent for the President—and it is not surgery followup and cancer screening knows that the current system makes happening on a timely basis. and can’t go to the same doctor now no sense. He said as much at his con- We have had to do 44 cloture motions because VA Choice never paid them. firmation hearing and again when he on different people for the administra- Another veteran was not able to access invited—and I so much appreciated tion. At this point in President vision care. Another could not access this; we didn’t ask—a bipartisan group Obama’s first term, that had only hap- necessary neurological care because of of Senators to the Forest Service in pened five times. With the previous reimbursement issues. I have even been September to discuss this. He knows President, it hadn’t happened at all, contacted by veterans who are worried that important wildfire mitigation and the previous one, it had only hap- that they will go into collections be- projects are not getting done. He wants pened once. Already 44 times this year, cause of claims that have not been paid to fix the problem, and we should. It is it has taken us around 30 hours to get by the Choice Program—not by them far past time. This makes no sense somebody through the process, and we but by the Choice Program. from a fiscal point of view. have hundreds waiting to get through Without improvements to the pro- I know some colleagues in this Cham- the process. That is one of our primary gram, our veterans will have to con- ber would prefer to couple our proposal jobs. If we can’t get those through the tinue to wait for needed care, and their with broader forest management re- process, it is pretty hard for us to do quality of life will continue to be nega- forms. I have been part of forest man- the legislation we need to do. tively impacted. agement discussions in the past, and I VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM I mentioned before that we are the want to continue those discussions. In Today, Mr. President, I rise to ex- least populated State in the country, fact, in the last farm bill, we worked press my serious concerns on behalf of and we have so many problems that I across the aisle to improve forest man- our Nation’s veterans. This is a huge send a weekly list to the Secretary. I agement. problem in Wyoming. Wyoming is the can’t imagine what it is like in a high- Let’s be clear. For years now, efforts least populated State in the Nation. If population State. to link broad forest management re- it is a huge problem there, it has to be We created VA Choice to better serve form with a funding fix have failed. even greater in States across the coun- the healthcare needs of veterans, not They will not pass the Senate. Each try, and I am sure it is a problem in all to create a new source of uncertainty year we do nothing, we continue to of them. about whether they will be able to get shortchange fire prevention, the good In 2014, we learned that several vet- the care they need. That is unaccept- people who work for the Forest Service erans died in Arizona—a lot of veterans able. It defeats the entire purpose of all across the country in our States, died in Arizona while staff at the Phoe- the program. Until Congress steps in to and we needlessly expose our commu- nix VA medical center entered false in- improve the program, more providers nities to greater risks. formation about their wait times and will drop out of the program and more We have to act—Colorado and the appointments. They kept getting de- veterans will be harmed. These men West cannot wait another year—and we layed. Later that year, we found that and women have given our country so will have a chance when Congress votes such scheduling manipulation was much, and they deserve quality care in on another disaster package over the widespread, including in my home an efficient manner. Their providers next few months. We should use that State of Wyoming. Congress responded need to be paid on time so our veterans opportunity to finally fix this problem by creating the Veterans Choice Pro- can get the treatment they need. When

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.012 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6835 the system fails those who never failed and has in this Congress, with there cies, we are seeing a constant slowing. us, trust degrades. We can do better having been a 17-to-3 vote in the Judi- We have to be able to correct this. than this. We must do better than this. ciary Committee. It is not very often I would state that Americans will be I know my colleagues on the Senate that happens. very pleased when they get a chance to Committee on Veterans’ Affairs are He also has bipartisan support back see Scott Palk on the bench. He will be working hard to solve these issues. I home in Oklahoma. He comes highly a fair judge. He comes from a great am working with them to make sure recommended by David Boren. Every- family and has a great passion to serve that any new version of community one here knows who David Boren is. people, both as he served in the U.S. at- care for our veterans takes into ac- The Presiding Officer remembers David torney’s office in the past and at the count the unique challenges that rural Boren. He was my predecessor in this University of Oklahoma, working at and frontier healthcare networks face. seat. He was the president of the Uni- the law school there. He will make the We hold the highest debt to our vet- versity of Oklahoma but is retired now. Nation proud. I am glad we have finally erans. Let’s repay that honor and He is a Democrat. Actually, he and I gone through this extremely long proc- honor their selfless service by pro- were elected to the House of Represent- ess to finally get him on and to get him viding them with the care they de- atives in Oklahoma on the same day, seated on that bench. serve. so we go back a long way. David Boren In the days ahead, I look forward to The veterans program was considered knows Mr. Palk very well because the other positions in government to be one of the best-run healthcare Scott Palk has worked at the Univer- being filled as well with other well- programs anywhere, and I heard noth- sity of Oklahoma College of Law for qualified individuals. I look forward to ing but compliments about it until the about 15 years now after his having left seeing this done. I look forward to see- problem in Arizona, and then we found a successful career in both the U.S. at- ing Scott Palk not as Scott Palk but as that the system had changed. That torney’s office and as a county district Judge Palk. might be an indication of what could attorney. happen if we went to Federal David Boren said of Palk—now, this With that, I yield back. healthcare for all, but this is one area is a Democrat talking about Scott The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. that needs to be straightened out. It Palk—‘‘He would make an excellent SASSE). All time has expired. was a prime example of good care, and judge,’’ would be ‘‘balanced and fair in The question is, Will the Senate ad- it isn’t. We have to get it restored for his approach,’’ and has ‘‘an excellent vise and consent to the Palk nomina- our veterans. reputation for complete honesty and tion? I yield the floor. integrity.’’ I don’t know what more Mr. COTTON. I ask for the yeas and I suggest the absence of a quorum. you could want in a judge. nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The That is David Boren talking, my The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a clerk will call the roll. predecessor in the Senate. sufficient second? The legislative clerk proceeded to Again, I thank the leader for his call the roll. commitment to fulfilling our judicial There appears to be a sufficient sec- Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask vacancies, and I ask that my col- ond. unanimous consent that the order for leagues support the nomination, as I The clerk will call the roll. the quorum call be rescinded. am sure they will, with a ‘‘yes’’ vote The legislative clerk called the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without for Mr. Palk. Mr. CORNYN. The following Senator objection, it is so ordered. I suggest the absence of a quorum. is necessarily absent: the Senator from Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, we have The PRESIDING OFFICER. The South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM). a very significant couple of votes com- clerk will call the roll. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the ing up. One is the nomination of Scott The legislative clerk proceeded to Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), Palk to be a district judge for the call the roll. the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Western District of Oklahoma. We have Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask HEINRICH), the Senator from New Jer- been working on this for about 2 years unanimous consent that the order for sey (Mr. MENENDEZ), and the Senator now. He is one of the highest qualified the quorum call be rescinded. individuals. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without from Rhode Island (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) I thank the leader for moving for- objection, it is so ordered. are necessarily absent. ward on his nomination this week. I Mr. LANKFORD. I ask unanimous The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there know judicial nominations are a pri- consent to speak for 2 minutes. any other Senators in the Chamber de- ority of the leader’s, and I share his be- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without siring to vote? lief in the importance of filling the objection, it is so ordered. The result was announced—yeas 79, many vacancies we have with judges Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, we nays 16, as follows: who will uphold the rule of law, not are about to vote on a gentleman [Rollcall Vote No. 251 Ex.] predetermine outcomes and not legis- named Scott Palk, who was nominated late from the bench. Scott Palk fulfills by President Trump to serve as a U.S. YEAS—79 and embodies this philosophy, and I district court judge for the Western Alexander Fischer Nelson District of Oklahoma on May 8. Baldwin Flake Paul have full confidence that he will be a Barrasso Franken Perdue judge whom Oklahoma and the Nation On June 15 of this year, he passed the Bennet Gardner Peters will be proud of. Judiciary Committee with bipartisan Blunt Grassley Portman This nomination is of great need to support. It has taken us this long, from Boozman Hassan Reed Brown Hatch the Western District, located in Okla- June 15, going through the committee Risch Burr Heitkamp Roberts Cantwell Heller homa City, which has a very heavy process, to finally getting this to the Rounds Capito Hoeven caseload. In fact, we have three vacan- floor in the last days of October. Rubio Cardin Inhofe cies on the bench there. One vacancy This is the issue we face as a Senate Carper Isakson Sasse goes back over 4 years and another right now. We have an opening with a Casey Johnson Schumer over 3 years, so this nomination is des- judge who has already gone through Cassidy Kaine Scott Shaheen perately needed. the committee process, who has al- Cochran Kennedy Collins King Shelby Mr. Palk was nominated in the last ready been approved—who will be con- Coons Klobuchar Strange Congress—so it was not this Congress— firmed, I hope, with wide bipartisan Corker Lankford Sullivan during the previous administration. He support—but because of the ongoing Cornyn Leahy Tester made it through the Judiciary Com- delay of every nominee, of everything Cotton Lee Thune Crapo Manchin Tillis mittee by voice vote before we ran out in the process, this is slowing down the Cruz McCain Toomey of time at the end of the 114th Con- wheels of our government across the Daines McCaskill Udall gress. We would have had this done, country. Whether that be judges or Donnelly McConnell Warner Durbin Moran but we just flat ran out of time. He had whether that be individuals in the ex- Wicker Enzi Murkowski Young bipartisan support in the last Congress ecutive branch working in the agen- Ernst Murray

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.013 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6836 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 NAYS—16 Kennedy Paul Stabenow The minority party has undercut the King Perdue Strange Blumenthal Hirono Stabenow confirmation process of the adminis- Klobuchar Portman Sullivan Cortez Masto Markey Van Hollen Lankford Reed tration’s nominees and judicial ap- Duckworth Merkley Tester Warren Leahy Risch Feinstein Murphy Thune pointments. When new Presidents are Wyden Lee Roberts Gillibrand Sanders Tillis elected, they have always been given Manchin Rounds Harris Schatz Toomey an opportunity to put their team in McCain Rubio Udall McCaskill Sasse NOT VOTING—5 Van Hollen place in short order. Historically, this McConnell Schatz Warner is not just common courtesy, it is an Booker Heinrich Whitehouse Moran Schumer Wicker Graham Menendez Murkowski Scott expectation of the American people to Young The nomination was confirmed. Murphy Shaheen have a seamless transition of power, re- Nelson Shelby The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under sulting in a functional Federal Govern- the previous order, the motion to re- NAYS—12 ment. One of the eight judges confirmed consider is considered made and laid Booker Harris Peters was Neil Gorsuch, who I am thankful upon the table and the President will Brown Markey Sanders Cantwell Merkley Warren now serves on the Supreme Court. Jus- be immediately notified of the Senate’s Gillibrand Murray Wyden tice Gorsuch is an example of the type action. NOT VOTING—3 of judge we have the chance to put in f Heinrich Menendez Whitehouse place. As with Justice Gorsuch’s con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this firmation, we need to do all that is nec- CLOTURE MOTION vote, the yeas are 85, the nays are 12. essary to fill these vacancies with The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant The motion is agreed to. great judges like him. President Trump has nominated to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the f many judges and has more to nomi- Senate the pending cloture motion, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR nate. For those he has already nomi- which the clerk will state. nated, it is our duty to carefully review The legislative clerk read as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination. these nominations and ensure that CLOTURE MOTION The bill clerk read the nomination of these judges are confirmed in a timely We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, to be manner. We must be willing to put in ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the United States District Judge for the as much time as needed, whether that Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- District of Columbia. means working weekends, canceling nation of Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- State work periods, or working all to be United States District Judge for the ator from Nevada. through the night to get these Con- District of Columbia. Mr. HELLER. Madam President, I stitution-loving judges confirmed. Lamar Alexander, Susan M. Collins, rise to discuss an issue that is ex- I know this is important to all of us, John Boozman, Chuck Grassley, Orrin tremely important to me and to many but we need to do better. Last week, I G. Hatch, Steve Daines, Dean Heller, of my colleagues on this side of the was a proud partner with Senator Bill Cassidy, Cory Gardner, Michael B. aisle—the issue of judicial vacancies. I PERDUE and several of my other col- Enzi, Thom Tillis, John Thune, John came here to work and am honored to leagues in calling on the Senate to Kennedy, John Cornyn, David Perdue, Joni Ernst, Mitch McConnell. serve on behalf of the people of the work 24/7 until we get our work done. State of Nevada who sent me to Wash- We have a substantial list of important The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- ington. One of the most pressing issues work to complete, including con- imous consent, the mandatory quorum I have found since being here is, all too firming the judicial nominees the call has been waived. often Members of Congress go home be- President has sent us, passing tax re- The question is, Is it the sense of the fore their work is finished. form, fixing our broken healthcare sys- Senate that debate on the nomination Many of you here know the first tem, and funding the government. The of Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, to piece of legislation I have introduced American people elected us to com- be United States District Judge for the for the past two Congresses is my No plete these critical tasks. They elected District of Columbia, shall be brought Budget, No Pay Act. The concept is us to deliver a simpler, fairer tax code to a close? simple. If Congress can’t pass a budget and to make sure our Federal judiciary The yeas and nays are mandatory and all of its spending bills on time, is fully occupied with judges whose sole under the rule. then Congress itself shouldn’t get paid. purpose is to uphold the Constitution The clerk will call the roll. The Senate should apply the same as it was written. The bill clerk called the roll. concepts, in my opinion, to confirming To my fellow Senators, I am calling Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the judges. I commend our majority leader on all of us to do what the people have Senator from New Mexico (Mr. HEIN- for bringing two more judges to the sent us to do and not let a light sched- RICH), the Senator from New Jersey floor this week, but there is a lot more ule stop us from fulfilling our duties. (Mr. MENENDEZ), and the Senator from work to do. We need to work day and The American people don’t go to work Rhode Island (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) are night to confirm those judges who are 4 days a week, and neither should we. necessarily absent. already on our calendar and have This isn’t France. We need to work a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. moved out of the Senate Judiciary full workweek. We must make it clear FISCHER). Are there any other Senators Committee. The Senate has an incred- to our constituents that we are fight- in the Chamber desiring to vote? ible opportunity right now to confirm ing for the hard-working Americans The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 85, Federal judges who will uphold the every single day. Americans do what it nays 12, as follows: Constitution. We should be here every takes to get the job done, and we [Rollcall Vote No. 252 Ex.] day, for as long as we need, to ensure should do the same. YEAS—85 all judicial vacancies are filled. I yield back. Alexander Coons Flake Our conference must be willing to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Baldwin Corker Franken work together in order to get the busi- ator from Oregon. Barrasso Cornyn Gardner ness of the Senate done. Right now, REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN Bennet Cortez Masto Graham Blumenthal Cotton Grassley there are 149 judicial vacancies. Let me Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, I Blunt Crapo Hassan repeat that. There are 149 judicial va- don’t often come to the floor of the Boozman Cruz Hatch cancies, and the Senate has only con- Senate to give a speech like the one I Burr Daines Heitkamp Capito Donnelly Heller firmed 8 judges this session—149 vacan- am going to give now, but today I plan Cardin Duckworth Hirono cies, 8 judges confirmed. That means, to start sounding the alarm, both from Carper Durbin Hoeven in 9 months, with well over 100 vacan- the standpoint of the process and the Casey Enzi Inhofe cies and over 60 judicial emergencies, substance of what is known about the Cassidy Ernst Isakson Cochran Feinstein Johnson we have only managed to confirm 8 Republican tax plan as of this after- Collins Fischer Kaine judges. noon.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.001 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6837 This morning, the House passed the This is not Washington lingo. What The road that the majority is taking us budget so now it is on to tax. The de- do the numbers mean for middle-class down in 2017 makes a mockery out of bate, if the Republicans have their people—the folks who are really hurt- the bipartisan process that brought way, will happen at the speed of light. ing now, who are walking on an eco- Ronald Reagan and the Democrats to- If they have their way, this all could be nomic tightrope in trying to pay bills? gether. As of now, there will be 20 wrapped up before most Americans We ought to make sure that people who hours of debate—20 hours. That is it— have even been able to put a dent in are knowledgeable about this have the on a bill that will transform the bot- their holiday shopping. time to really look at the numbers and tom line for every American family That is exactly what the majority of give us some general sense of what this and will affect the hopes and aspira- Republicans is counting on. The Repub- means, particularly for America’s tions of our middle class, which will licans are rushing to drive the tax give- hard-working middle class. Yet for this drive 70 percent of the economic activ- away to the superwealthy and the pow- partisan tax cut and a process that will ity in our country for years and years. erful corporations and to do it so be hyperpartisan—it is designed to be Then the debate will be over, and it quickly that most of America will real- an off-ramp to partisanship only—the will be time to vote. ly have no idea what will be going on. Republicans are just blowing right by What I am going to try to do here— Their hope is simple—to do it in a way those steps that constitute the normal and we will be talking often in the days so that nobody catches on. So this process that I have described. ahead—is to lay out what this really afternoon, as the ranking Democrat on The Congress is headed for a debate means for hard-working middle-class the Finance Committee, I am going to on legislation that has the potential to people, because, so far, what we have look at this from a few different an- reshape our entire economy at a cru- seen is kind of one hand giveth and the gles—first, as to the process and, then, cial time when we understand the chal- other hand taketh away. The details as to the policy that is on offer from lenge from global competition and for the top of the top, the the Republicans as of right now. change, but the Republicans, as of now, megawealthy, are spelled out, but we Right off the top, I am sure that Sen- are not going to wait to see the facts do not see exactly how the middle class ators have heard that, here in the Sen- and figures, never mind that the bill is is not going to go into the hole. As of going to affect every taxpayer in the ate and Congress, there is going to be a now, the numbers suggest, particularly real debate that is going to play out in country in one way or another. The Re- if you have a couple of children and are a careful and deliberate way and that publicans have said that we are going in a place with high State and local there is going to be plenty of give and to do some leaping without looking. taxes, that you really could fall behind. take. As of right now, my message to They may not even have legislative If we do not spell out what is actually the American people is this: You have hearings to examine the Republican at stake here and give the American been fooled. Don’t buy that. Here is tax cut bill and what the impact of it people the opportunity to tune in and what is going to happen. Anybody who could be, which was what Senator be heard, this process is just going to expects a repeat of the kind of bipar- Bradley was just stunned about be- race by before anybody notices, and tisan, deliberate process that took cause he and others worked for months place in 1986, when the Democrats and with the Reagan administration in try- that is what the Republicans are Ronald Reagan got together, is in line ing to do what was normal and, as of counting on. The bottom line is that, when the for some very disappointing times. now, is not going the happen. Our former colleague Senator Brad- What is even more ominous is that, if middle class and the American people ley, who served on the Finance Com- the bill clears the Finance Committee, find out what is in the Republican tax mittee with such distinction and was a the debate on the Senate floor will hap- plan as it is known today, the less they key author of the 1986 reform bill, pen in a flash. That is because, since are going to like it. There have been called a couple of days ago, and I ex- day one of this administration, the Re- sort of two versions of it. The first plained to him what was going on. He publicans have said—and Leader came out, I believe it was, late in the was just incredulous. He could not be- MCCONNELL has said this repeatedly— spring. It was a page long—shorter lieve that this was going to be the that they want to use the most par- than the typical drug store receipt. We process—that it would all be over in a tisan process around to move the tax got a bit more information a few weeks matter of weeks and that it would not cut. It is another round of what is ago, but in both instances, as I have de- even be like healthcare, with the de- called budget reconciliation. scribed, it looks like the middle class bate moving in fits and starts and What this comes down to is a rejec- is going to get hurt, and folks who are stretching out over months. tion of the kind of bipartisanship that successful and those who are at the top If Republicans have their way, as my has been proven to work on tax reform. of the top are, basically, going to get family used to say, this is going to be Ronald Reagan worked hand in hand even more. over lickety-split, and it is coming up with Democrats on tax reform in 1986. We want all Americans to be success- quickly. The House plans to offer up a The two sides brought forward their ful. We want to give everybody the bill in about a week, and the Ways and best ideas. They worked for months chance to get ahead, but we do not Means Committee is going to jump and months and, as Senator Bradley want tax breaks skewed to the very into action. The Senate bill could come told me, for several years. There were top. As of right now, the Republican out in a matter of days later, and then dozens of hearings that dug into the tax plan is a feast for the very wealthy, it would be the Finance Committee’s specifics and carefully examined the and the middle class is on the menu. turn. issues. After the bill came out, the Even the President’s top campaign ad- As most people in the Senate know, committee met over 18 days to debate viser on taxes said that the Repub- there is a normal process for these de- and vote on the amendments. There licans have made $4 trillion worth of bates in committee. You usually put was committee consideration—what is promises in this tax proposal, perhaps out draft legislation. You refine your called a markup—that lasted a total of even more, but because of budget rules, ideas. You update your work. You more than 45 hours. Then the bill came that pricetag has to come down to $1.5 share with both sides of the aisle the to the floor of the Senate, and, as is fit- trillion for the bill to get through the ideas that would make sense—those ting for a piece of legislation that can Senate. That means that somebody has that get both sides to say: Hey, biparti- reshape the whole American economy, to pay for a whole lot of that $4 trillion sanship is about taking each other’s the debate took almost a month. That of corporate goodies and handouts to good ideas, and politics is about taking is the textbook of how you successfully the wealthy. each other’s bad ideas. In this case, it write bipartisan tax reform legislation. The Republicans seem almost aller- is not about trying to make any bipar- By the way, that is the model by which gic to raising revenue by asking those tisan efforts at all. The normal process our former colleague Dan Coats—now a at the top to pay their fair share. involves exercising a little patience, member of the Trump administration— Every proposal that the Republicans giving the officials at the Joint Com- worked with me to produce a bipar- have put forward to pay for this tax mittee on Taxation and in the Congres- tisan Federal income tax reform bill. giveaway to the top has reached right sional Budget Office time to really Yet we are not going to see any of into the pockets of the middle class. make sense of what the numbers mean. that kind of work this time around. Take the elimination of the State and

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It will cause pain for and the idea that we would have a under rule XXII, the Chair directs the millions of Americans across the coun- bunch of fake promises to the middle clerk to read the motion. try, not just in the West—in places like class, very specific gifts to folks at the The legislative clerk read as follows: California and Oregon—and the North- top, and somehow unicorn theories of CLOTURE MOTION east but for those in scarlet red areas growth that will justify this, while We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- who voted for the President on election really creating deficits that hurt Medi- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the day—places like North Carolina, Geor- care, Medicaid, Social Security, and Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby gia, Wisconsin, and Texas. Then there our safety net—those are the issues the move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- is the plan to double the standard de- American people deserve to know more nation of Amy Coney Barrett, of Indiana, to duction while simultaneously getting about. We are going to tell them a lot be United States Circuit Judge for the Sev- rid of personal and dependent exemp- more about the details in the days enth Circuit. tions. Mitch McConnell, Orrin G. Hatch, John ahead because we believe in tax reform Cornyn, Chuck Grassley, Thom Tillis, When you cut out all of the tax that puts the middle-class first, doesn’t lingo—as I have said, one hand giveth Pat Roberts, John Barrasso, Johnny give gifts to the people in the very top Isakson, Roger F. Wicker, John Thune, and the other hand taketh away—what 1 percent, doesn’t clobber Medicare, Marco Rubio, James Lankford, Richard it means, based on the information Social Security, and Medicaid, and, as Burr, Steve Daines, Todd Young, Ben that is out now, is that a family of six Bill Bradley said earlier this week in a Sasse, Mike Crapo. in Medford, OR, could see its taxes in- conversation with me, is based on the f crease by thousands of dollars per year. kind of bipartisanship that a hugely That is a holiday surprise. My guess is important issue like tax reform war- LEGISLATIVE SESSION that people are going to say that it is rants. the nightmare before Christmas if this Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, I yield the floor. I move to proceed to legislative ses- plan becomes law. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- Even more middle-class Americans sion. jority leader. who checked on the news over the last The PRESIDING OFFICER. The few days probably had the wind ORDER OF PROCEDURE question is on agreeing to the motion. knocked out of them when they read Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The motion was agreed to. that their 401(k)s may be on the ropes I ask unanimous consent that notwith- f under the Republican plan. A few days standing rule XXII, that at 5:30 p.m., ago, the President said: No, do not Monday, October 30, all postcloture EXECUTIVE SESSION touch the 401(k). But it seems to me time on the McFadden nomination be like Republicans just cannot help considered expired and the Senate vote themselves. When the President was on confirmation of the nomination EXECUTIVE CALENDAR asked about it again, the new Trump with no intervening action or debate; Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, position was that middle-class retire- that if confirmed, the motion to recon- I move to proceed to executive session ments are a bargaining chip to get this sider be considered made and laid upon to consider Calendar No. 369, Joan Lar- lopsided tax handout through the Con- the table and the President be imme- sen. gress. diately notified of the Senate’s action; Let me repeat that last part. The further, that it be in order to proceed The PRESIDING OFFICER. The President of the United States said to the following nominations during question is on agreeing to the motion. that middle-class retirements are a today’s session of the Senate: Calendar The motion was agreed to. bargaining chip in this crusade to cut Nos. 368, 369, 432, and 433. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The taxes for the most fortunate. Nothing The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there clerk will report the nomination. illustrates more clearly how this proc- objection? The legislative clerk read the nomi- ess has gone horribly wrong, and I want Without objection, it is so ordered. nation of Joan Louise Larsen, of Michi- gan, to be United States Circuit Judge to make clear to the American people f to watch the details. Watch the details for the Sixth Circuit. because every time a new detail leaks LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOTURE MOTION out, the middle class loses. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture So my bottom line, colleagues, is real I move to proceed to legislative ses- motion to the desk. tax reform ought to be about putting sion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- more dollars back in middle-class The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ture motion having been presented pockets, but right now the majority is question is on agreeing to the motion. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the taking a different tack. It amounts to The motion was agreed to. clerk to read the motion. a hunt for ways to force the middle The legislative clerk read as follows: f class to pay for the tax breaks for CLOTURE MOTION those at the top. EXECUTIVE SESSION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- This scheme will explode the deficit. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the It is a con job on the middle class. It is Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby failed economic policy, but it could EXECUTIVE CALENDAR move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- rocket in the Congress in the weeks nation of Joan Louise Larsen, of Michigan, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ahead before the American people to be United States Circuit Judge for the I move to proceed to executive session Sixth Circuit. catch on. to consider Calendar No. 368, Amy Bar- So my counsel is, everybody ought to Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, Tom rett. strap in and get ready for what is com- Cotton, Pat Roberts, John Boozman, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ing. Every step of the way in the Fi- Mike Rounds, Patrick J. Toomey, John question is on agreeing to the motion. Barrasso, Cory Gardner, Richard Burr, nance Committee and here on the floor, Thom Tillis, Roger F. Wicker, James I will continue working with my Demo- The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The E. Risch, John Cornyn, Lamar Alex- cratic colleagues to fight for middle- ander, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley. class priorities and tax reform, and I clerk will report the nomination. hope we will have some from the other The legislative clerk read the nomi- f side of the aisle join us. We intend to nation of Amy Coney Barrett, of Indi- LEGISLATIVE SESSION keep sounding the alarm on a Repub- ana, to be United States Circuit Judge lican plan that as of now gives trillions for the Seventh Circuit. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, of dollars of handouts to those at the CLOTURE MOTION I move to proceed to legislative ses- top while hiking taxes on millions of Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, sion. middle-class families. I send a cloture motion to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Now that the House has passed its The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- question is on agreeing to the motion. budget, this is kicking off the debate, ture motion having been presented The motion was agreed to.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:52 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.023 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6839 EXECUTIVE SESSION Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby and laws, not what a judge or some pre- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- ferred political constituency might nation of Stephanos Bibas, of Pennsylvania, wish they meant. That, I believe, is the EXECUTIVE CALENDAR to be United States Circuit Judge for the view of the American people. Third Circuit. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, Tom President Trump has done a terrific I move to proceed to executive session Cotton, Pat Roberts, John Boozman, job of nominating judges who are al- to consider Calendar No. 432, Allison Mike Rounds, Patrick J. Toomey, John ready helping to restore the courts to Eid. Barrasso, Cory Gardner, Richard Burr, their intended function in our system The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Thom Tillis, Roger F. Wicker, James of government. The nominees we will question is on agreeing to the motion. E. Risch, John Cornyn, Lamar Alex- consider next week are sure to do the The motion was agreed to. ander, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley. same. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous We will continue our efforts with clerk will report the nomination. consent that the mandatory quorum consideration of the Barrett nomina- The legislative clerk read the nomi- calls for the cloture motions be waived. tion on Monday. Amy Barrett is a pro- nation of Allison H. Eid, of Colorado, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there fessor of law at one of our Nation’s pre- to be United States Circuit Judge for objection? mier law schools. Notre Dame happens the Tenth Circuit. Without objection, it is so ordered. to be a Catholic University. Amy Bar- CLOTURE MOTION Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous rett happens to be a nominee who is a consent that notwithstanding rule Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture Catholic and who speaks freely and motion to the desk. XXII, the pending cloture motions openly about her faith and its impor- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- ripen following the disposition of the tance to her. For some on the left, that ture motion having been presented McFadden nomination. seems to be a disqualifying factor for under rule XXII, the Chair directs the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there her nomination. clerk to read the motion. objection? I would remind colleagues that we do The legislative clerk read as follows: Without objection, it is so ordered. not have religious tests for office in Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, CLOTURE MOTION this country. There is no religious test in my opening remarks today, I com- for office in the United States of Amer- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- mended President Trump once again ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the ica. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby for the outstanding judicial nomina- Amy Barrett’s nomination has re- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- tions he has made, and I reiterated the ceived outstanding reviews. She is nation of Allison H. Eid, of Colorado, to be Senate’s determination once more to clearly well qualified for the office to United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth continue confirming them regardless of which she has been nominated. As the Circuit. the often mindless partisan obstruction president of Notre Dame recently Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, Tom we have been seeing across the aisle. wrote, ‘‘Her experience as a clerk for Cotton, Pat Roberts, John Boozman, This pointless obstruction is designed Mike Rounds, Patrick J. Toomey, John Judge Laurence Silberman of the U.S. simply to waste time, not to change an Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Barrasso, Cory Gardner, Richard Burr, outcome, and it will not. It didn’t stop Thom Tillis, Roger F. Wicker, James Justice Antonin Scalia is of the high- E. Risch, John Cornyn, Lamar Alex- the Senate from confirming Scott est order. So, too, is her scholarship in ander, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley. Palk, it will not stop the Senate from the areas of federal courts, constitu- confirming Trevor McFadden, and it f tional law, and statutory interpreta- will not stop the Senate from con- tion.’’ LEGISLATIVE SESSION firming even more outstanding nomi- Amy Barrett is going to make an Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, nees next week. You can count on it. outstanding Federal Circuit Court I move to proceed to legislative ses- I have filed cloture on four more judge. So, too, will Ms. Larsen, Ms. sion. well-qualified nominees for our Na- Eid, and Mr. Bibas. I look forward to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tion’s circuit courts: Notre Dame law the Senate confirming all of them next question is on agreeing to the motion. professor Amy Barrett, a nominee for week. The motion was agreed to. the Seventh Circuit; Michigan Su- preme Court Justice Joan Larsen, a f f nominee for the Sixth Circuit; Colo- LEGISLATIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE SESSION rado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid, a nominee for the Tenth Circuit; and University of Pennsylvania law MORNING BUSINESS EXECUTIVE CALENDAR professor Stephanos Bibas, a nominee Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, for the Third Circuit. I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- I move to proceed to executive session By confirming these nominees, we ate proceed to legislative session for a to consider Calendar No. 433, Stephanos can take a big step toward restoring period of morning business, with Sen- Bibas. our Nation’s courts to their proper ators permitted to speak therein for up The PRESIDING OFFICER. The role, interpreting and applying the law to 10 minutes each. question is on agreeing to the motion. based upon what it actually says, not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The motion was agreed to. what a judge might wish it to say. It is objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The quite a departure from the last admin- Mr. MCCONNELL. I yield the floor clerk will report the nomination. istration’s philosophy when it came to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The legislative clerk read the nomi- selecting judicial nominees. ator from Maryland. nation of Stephanos Bibas, of Pennsyl- For the last 8 years, we had a Presi- f vania, to be United States Circuit dent who said a criterion for lifetime Judge for the Third Circuit. positions was the ability to empathize GUN VIOLENCE CLOTURE MOTION with certain groups over others. It Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture came to be known as the ‘‘empathy rise to address the latest mass shooting motion to the desk. standard.’’ That is a great standard if in our country. This one took place The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- you are the party in the case for whom last week in my own State of Mary- ture motion having been presented the judge has empathy, not so great if land, in the city of Edgewood, in Har- under rule XXII, the Chair directs the you are the other person. It also is not ford County, which is northeast of Bal- clerk to read the motion. in keeping with the longstanding timore. The legislative clerk read as follows: American legal traditions of applying In this case, the suspect gathered co- CLOTURE MOTION the law equally to all, giving every liti- workers at his place of business, Ad- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- gant a fair shake, and ruling based on vanced Granite Solutions, and began ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the the actual meaning of our Constitution shooting. He killed three coworkers

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.028 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6840 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 and critically wounded two others who helping those around them and running chase a device designed to convert his remain in critical condition at the toward danger instead of running away gun into a military-style weapon with Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The from it. no legitimate civilian use. It is out- suspect then fled to Delaware. Thoughts and prayers console vic- rageous that a mass shooter was le- According to an article in the Balti- tims and their families, but actions gally able to purchase high-capacity more Sun, he shot an acquaintance in speak much louder. We must be out- magazine clips with no legitimate ci- the head at a car dealership. The vic- raged at this latest shooting, and we vilian use. These are weapons of war. tim was in stable condition and later must act. Congress must act. States You don’t need them for hunting, and identified his attacker to police. The must act. Weapons of war should not be you don’t need them for self-defense. suspect was finally arrested after a in the hands of civilians. We see the Earlier this month, I convened a brief foot chase, and police said the deadly results in Las Vegas just as we roundtable meeting with law enforce- suspect threw a gun at them after spot- have seen before in Orlando, ment officials at the First Baptist ting law enforcement approaching. Blacksburg, San Bernardino, Aurora, Church of Highland Park in Prince This terrible shooting in Maryland Sandy Hook, the streets of Baltimore, George’s County, MD. The group in- came a few weeks after the worst mass and elsewhere across this great coun- cluded officials from the local, State, shooting in modern U.S. history, which try. We need to do everything in our and Federal levels, including the sher- occurred in Las Vegas, NV, on October power to stop the carnage of these iff, police chief of Prince George’s 1. This mass shooting from a hotel shootings. How high does the death toll County, State delegates, the State at- room targeting concertgoers at an out- have to get before we enact real, bipar- torney general of Maryland, and rep- door music festival left 58 dead and tisan reforms that will make the Amer- resentatives of the U.S. attorney’s of- more than 500 people wounded, with ican public safer and reduce the risks fice. Maryland has progressive laws on dozens of victims still in the hospital that come from allowing such easy ac- gun safety and has taken steps to ban today, some of whom are in critical cess to dangerous weapons primarily weapons of war and high-capacity mag- condition. These are just staggering designed for the battlefield? Assault azines that have no legitimate civil numbers. But I want to put a human weapons are not needed to hunt deer or purpose. The group echoed the concern face on this for my colleagues and talk ducks; they are only meant to kill peo- to me that if Maryland has strict laws about one Marylander who was injured ple, and they do far too often in this relating to gun safety that protect in the Las Vegas attack. country. both the public and police officers, The Baltimore Sun shared the story I urge my colleagues to be bold and what is to stop someone from driving of Tina Frost. Tina is a native of fight to break the cycle of what could over the border to one of our neigh- Crofton in Anne Arundel County, MD. only be described as a callous disregard boring States in order to procure guns? She is a 2008 graduate of Arundel High for the victims of gun violence. More That is why we need a strong national School in Gambrills. She was a star talk will not save lives; only action law to protect all Americans, and Con- soccer player in school, and she now and real change and Federal and State gress should act on commonsense gun laws can. lives in California and works at the ac- safety measures. This attack and others like it in re- counting firm of Ernst and Young. What can we do in Congress? I have The story begins: cent years tear at the heart and leave cosponsored the Automatic Gunfire us angry, frustrated, and confused. We Before a bullet from 32 stories above cut Prevention Act, which Senator FEIN- through her face, Crofton native Tina Frost as a nation must resolve to stop those STEIN introduced. In the Las Vegas drove from San Diego with her boyfriend to who wish to do harm to Americans shooting, the gunman was able to un- see one of her favorite country artists in Las from committing, encouraging, and Vegas. . . . Becky Frost said her 27-year-old leash hundreds of rounds of gunfire on abetting acts of terror. We as a nation, the crowd, likely by using the bump sister had lost her right eye and was in a Las as a community, and as an American Vegas intensive care unit after a two-hour stock device. surgery. [She] said her bubbly and char- family must take action to change Fully automatic guns or machine ismatic older sister was in a coma that the minds, hearts, and finally change poli- guns are already banned for civilian family expected to last about a week. An- cies. We can stop others and save lives use under the National Firearms Act, other sister wrote on Facebook that the fam- by taking immediate action. but a loophole exists that allows for ily was waiting to see the extent of the brain I was disappointed that Congress these bump stock devices, as well as damage. ‘‘We’re sticking together and pray- missed yet another opportunity to similar accessories, to convert semi- ing,’’ Becky Frost said. enact commonsense, reasonable gun automatic weapons to emulate auto- Tina Frost did wake up from the safety measures after the June 2016 matic weapons. Senator FEINSTEIN’s coma and was recently transferred to shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Or- legislation would close the loophole in Maryland for additional surgery at lando, FL, which killed 49 people and current law that allows conversion de- Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. injured 53 others. The mass shooting in vices and accessories to be available to According to family members, she un- Las Vegas has now sadly surpassed the public. The bill bans the sale, derwent a second successful surgery those numbers. transfer, importation, manufacturing, last week. The family’s website update In the Las Vegas massacre, Stephen or possession of bump stocks, trigger said: ‘‘We are thankful Tina is still Paddock used a bump fire stock device, cranks, or anything that accelerates a being a true fighter and warrior!’’ which allowed a semiautomatic rifle to semiautomatic rifle’s rate of fire. Today, I want Tina and the entire fire at a rate similar to that of a fully Semiautomatic rifles typically have a Frost family to know that they are in automatic weapon—a rate of about rate of fire of 45 to 60 rounds per our thoughts and prayers. I understand nine bullets a second. Fully automatic minute; a bump stock could increase that their community has already been weapons are generally illegal under the semiautomatic rifle rate of fire to raising funds to help defray Tina’s current law. Paddock also stockpiled a 700 rounds per minute or 9 per second. medical expenses for her recovery. virtual arsenal in his hotel room, as I have also cosponsored the Large Ca- This is just one example of hundreds police found 23 firearms in the room. pacity Ammunition Feeding Device who were victimized in Las Vegas. I am Police also found a large quantity of Act, also known as the Keeping Ameri- just heartbroken by the terror in Las ammunition, including numerous high- cans Safe Act, introduced by Senator Vegas. With the entire country, I am capacity magazines capable of holding MENENDEZ. It prohibits the possession grieving for the senseless loss of life up to 100 rounds apiece. or transfer of large-capacity ammuni- and praying for the victims, their fami- The preliminary assessment—with tion magazines—more than 10 rounds lies, and all those who were injured the understanding that the investiga- per magazine—with limited exceptions like Tina Frost, whether by gunshots tion is still ongoing—from the Bureau for law enforcement personnel. Senator or the chaos that ensued. of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex- MENENDEZ’s bill authorizes a buyback Much thanks also goes to the first re- plosives is that the shooter legally pur- program for high-capacity magazines sponders, including our police, fire, chased all these guns, bump stocks, using Byrne JAG grants. ambulance, and emergency medical and ammunition. It is outrageous that To me, these two bills represent a workers, who saved countless lives by a mass shooter was legally able to pur- practical, commonsense approach to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.032 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6841 promoting gun safety and reducing the jobs, and higher wages for hard-work- nomic growth, and, as I said earlier, threat of gun violence without imping- ing Americans and then making sure global competitiveness. We propose to ing on the rights of legitimate owners. that they not only keep more of their do this in a number of ways, but the As NBC News recently reported, more earnings after tax but that they see biggest and most impactful thing is Americans have died from gunshots in growing wages due to a stronger econ- that we are lowering the tax burden. It the last 50 years than in all the wars in omy that is so important after the last needs to be tax relief. America’s history. Since 1968, more decade of stagnant wages and income. Right now, for our small businesses, than 1.5 million Americans have died in It is important to understand that this the marginal tax rate can reach as high gun-related incidents, according to tax relief is both. It is absolutely about as 44.6 percent. Think about that. Al- data from the U.S. Centers for Disease lowering the tax burden, but it is also most half of their income is going to Control and Prevention. about moving wages and incomes high- Federal income tax. That is nearly I have also cosponsored the Back- er. That is the rising tide that lifts all twice the average rate of the rest of ground Check Expansion Act, intro- boats in our country. the industrialized world. So here we duced by Senator MURPHY. This bill Today, the House of Representatives are trying to compete with that high would expand Federal background passed a budget resolution that the tax rate—almost double compared to checks to cover the sale and transfer of Senate sent them last week, so now we the average rate of the rest of the in- all firearms by private sellers, just as have completed the first step in terms dustrialized world. licensed dealers are required to do so of enacting pro-growth tax reform By reducing the maximum tax rate under the existing Brady law, with cer- that, as I said, will provide tax relief to for sole proprietorships, partnerships, tain limited exceptions. millions of middle-class families who and S corporations to 25 percent, we Under current law, unlicensed or pri- have been struggling to get ahead over are creating greater economic growth vate sellers are not required to conduct the past decade. and opportunity as small businesses re- a background check prior to transfer- Today, I want to focus on how our invest in their businesses, in their em- ring a firearm. This is outrageous, and tax proposal will reduce the tax burden ployees, in their communities, and gen- Congress should act right now to close on small businesses. Small businesses erate job growth. this dangerous loophole. It should not make up 96 percent of all employers in Additionally, many small businesses, matter whether you buy a gun at a my State and over 90 percent of the including farmers and ranchers, do not local gun store or a gun show or the businesses in the country. Over 90 per- have access to the equity they need to internet—you should have to pass a cent of the businesses in this country operate, instead relying heavily on basic background check to make sure are small businesses. debt financing to fund their businesses. the guns are kept out of the hands of Earlier this week, we had a very pro- They go to the bank and borrow. This people who should never have one. ductive meeting with the President to is particularly true for new and begin- Congress has an obligation to act. As talk about our priorities for tax relief, ning enterprises, including new I have indicated before, we need to act. and I specifically highlighted to him startups in technology—not just farm- Inaction is not an option. Many of our the importance of ensuring that tax re- ing and ranching and traditional busi- States have acted as well, including my form works for our small businesses. nesses but businesses across the board. own State of Maryland, but we need a When you talk about small businesses, Our Tax Code needs to incentivize national law that applies to all 50 you are talking about farmers and our Nation’s entrepreneurs to start States to ban bump stocks, prohibit ranchers. As I said, 90 percent of all the their business, and we need to make the sale or transfer of high-capacity businesses in this country are small sure they can get access to capital. magazine clips, eliminate the private businesses. So we are working with the They need to be able to get access to ownership of assault-type weapons, and administration and with the House to that capital, but when they do, by and require universal background checks enact tax reforms that will enable large, they are going to the bank and for all purchasers. American families to keep more of borrowing. That means they have to The time for action is now. We can- their hard-earned money and, as I said, pay interest on that debt. So it is very not wait. Congress should come to- empower our small businesses to invest important for small businesses that the gether and address the real problem, and grow. interest on that debt be deductible. which is lax gun safety laws, and Our effort is about growing our econ- That is a huge cost, particularly for should pass commonsense gun safety omy and regaining our economic com- our farmers and ranchers. They don’t measures to protect all Americans. petitiveness in a global economy. Our have opportunities to float equity. Let’s not wait for the next mass shoot- Tax Code needs to ensure that our They don’t raise equity for their farm- ing, when we send our thoughts and small business owners and entre- ing operation when they need to buy a prayers to victims and then stand by preneurs can compete in that global tractor or a combine or you name it. and pretend we are helpless and power- economy. They have to go to the bank and bor- less to prevent another tragedy. Let’s Small businesses, as I said, are the row. take action now. engine that drives our economy. They So the deductibility of that interest Mr. President, I yield the floor. are the backbone of our economy. expense to them is absolutely vital in The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Small businesses create more jobs and their interests. That is true with small PERDUE). The Senator from North Da- employ more people than major cor- businesses across the board. When you kota. porations. They are the heart and soul look at small businesses in your com- f of Main Streets across America. These munity, they go to the bank and they businesses earn the majority of all borrow, and that interest cost is a big TAX REFORM business income in the United States part of their business expense. They Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise and employ over half the private sector need to be able to continue to deduct once again today to talk about how we workforce in 49 out of 50 States. They it. are working to reform our outdated employ over half of the private sector In the framework that we have pro- Tax Code and to provide much needed workforce in 49 of our 50 States. posed, another very important issue is tax relief to our Nation’s small busi- Over the past month, I have hosted being able to expense investments. If nesses and to hard-working families tax reform roundtables across North you really want to trigger growth, you and ranchers. We are working to not Dakota to hear directly from our job encourage that investment. So the tax only provide hard-working taxpayers creators—from our State’s small busi- reform framework or proposal that we with tax relief but also to strengthen nesses, from our ag leaders, from our have put forward allows, in the first 5 our economy and to stimulate job cre- farmers, and from our ranchers. What years, full expensing of new invest- ation. are their priorities when we talk about ments. That is very stimulative to our Along with the regulatory relief we tax relief and tax reform? economy. It is very pro-growth. have already provided and are working Our tax blueprint supports those The other piece that I think is very to continue to provide, this tax relief is small businesses throughout the coun- important here is that we keep the sec- all about a growing economy, more try by promoting job creation, eco- tion 179 expensing longer term. I think,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.034 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6842 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 as we proposed it now, we would have relief and get that higher growth rate. inflicting on a group conditions of life expensing in the first 5 years—full ex- We also want to add an infrastructure calculated to bring about its physical pensing. That is great. That is, as I package. When you put those things to- destruction in whole or in part.’’ That say, stimulative to the economy. But gether, what do you get? You get more is what is happening in Burma, and beyond that, then we need to make jobs, higher wages, higher income, and that is genocide. sure that section 179 expensing is there a higher standard of living for hard- The Burmese military is clearly try- so that small businesses, farmers, working American citizens across this ing to destroy the Rohingya popu- ranchers, and others will know that great Nation. That is the objective. lation. For decades, the Burmese Gov- they are going to continue to be able to That is what we are trying to do. ernment has systemically repressed the expense their investment in new plants We all need to work together, and Rohingya people. This is a fact, and and new equipment. That is what keeps our goal is to get that done before the they have deliberately failed to inte- those small businesses growing. That is end of the year. grate the population into the general what keeps them hiring more people. With that, I yield the floor. population. As the U.N. High Commis- That is what creates more jobs, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sioner for Human Rights correctly that is what pushes wages and income ator from Maryland. stated, the ‘‘decades of persistent and higher. f systematic human rights violations Also, we need to simplify and stream- . . . have almost certainly ROHINGYA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS line the Tax Code. Right now, the Tax contribute[d] to the nurturing of vio- Code is nearly 70,000 pages long—talk Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, earlier lent extremism, with everyone ulti- about being difficult and complex. this week, the Senate Foreign Rela- mately losing.’’ They complain about Americans, right now, currently spend tions Committee held a hearing on an extremism. Yet they are creating it. 6 billion hours a year complying with issue that I consider one of the great- In my opinion, we are witnessing a that Tax Code. That is ridiculous. Can est moral tests of our time in the con- military-sponsored ethnic cleansing you imagine 6 billion hours a year just duct of U.S. foreign policy—the situa- campaign on the Rohingya, and it will to figure out how to pay your taxes? So tion in Burma, where the Burmese take significant engagement from the here is somebody who wants to pay military is committing ethnic cleans- international community, at the high- their taxes. They spend all that time ing and is perpetrating atrocities. est levels and in partnership with the and all that effort just to figure out We have a humanitarian crisis. We Burmese civilian government, to ad- how much they have to pay. Obviously, have perpetrators who expect impunity dress and to hold the perpetrators ac- we can do a lot better than that. and a situation, under the watch of the countable for these horrific acts. Our goal through tax reform is to international community and the Seventy-five years ago, the world and allow the vast majority of Americans Trump administration, that is allowing the United States could have claimed to file their tax return on a single sim- for the perpetration of atrocities. ignorance or lack of information as an ple page. I will mention that again. I Ethnic cleansing is defined by the excuse for inaction in the face of think it is important. Our goal is for United Nations Commission of Experts crimes against humanity, genocide, the vast majority of Americans, in es- as ‘‘rendering an area ethnically ho- and barbarism. Today, we have no ex- sence, to file their tax return on one mogenous by using force or intimida- cuse. page and to make it easier to pay your tion to remove persons of given groups Unfortunately, the Rohingya crisis is taxes, to figure out what you owe, and from an area.’’ Half of the population not the only vexing challenge Burma to take away all that stress and all of the Rohingya in Burma have left— faces. The Burmese military continues that difficulty in just trying to pay 600,000 people out of 1.2 million. I might to hold significant influence in politics your taxes. add that, of those who remain, many and in the economy. The peace process, Many economists agree that high are dislocated. There has been a sys- which sought to end a longstanding business taxes reduce wages to work- tematic burning of their villages. This civil war in the country, has stalled. ers, raise costs for consumers, and re- didn’t just start. It has been a cam- There are significant reports of human duces returns on retirement savings. paign that has gone on for a long pe- rights issues such as human traf- Maintaining these high tax rates do riod of time, since a 1982 law that de- ficking, free speech infringement, and nothing to improve the fairness of our nies the Rohingya citizenship, even political repression. The military con- system. They only punish everyday, though they have been residents for trol Burma today. That is unaccept- hard-working, tax-paying citizens and generations. able, and that is why we imposed sanc- reduce economic opportunity in Amer- The Rohingya are denied freedom of tions, because of military control. ica. movement. They are denied freedom of Sanction relief was given for what? So I will conclude on the same point education. They are denied healthcare. that people could be ethnically that I started with, and that is by say- This has been a systematic effort to de- cleansed? ing that there are two objectives here. stroy an ethnic community. I was pleased to hear State Counselor It is not just to simplify and reduce the We have seen this happen far too long Aung San Suu Kyi committed to imple- tax burden, so that people have more of in too many places around the world. menting all of Kofi Annan’s Rakhine their earnings in their pocket after Once again, we see this happening State recommendations and to ensure paying taxes, but the other is to make today in Burma. Once again, this is the that the Rohingya, who have fled in sure they earn more and that we move expectation: Well, it is far away; we the face of brutal military repression, wages and income higher. If you look will just let it go along. have a right to return to their homes. at the growth rate in our economy over The Senate should be outraged about However, she must continue to make the last decade, it has struggled, in es- what is happening. We need to see the this a top priority and work with the sence, to get to 2 percent. But compare international community come to- international community to provide that to the period from World War II to gether and say: No, we will not let this both the safety of the Rohingya left in the present. Over that longer period, continue. We will hold accountable Burma and those who want to come we averaged 3.3 percent. We want to those who are responsible for these ac- home. It is going to be difficult since get that growth rate back up. tions, we will provide humanitarian their villages have been destroyed. Are We started to get that growth rate need immediately, and we will stop they going to live in camps? Will they back up by reducing the regulatory this type of conduct in a civilized soci- have protection? Will they be safe? If burden. Over the course of this year, ety. This just cannot occur. the past is any indication, we have real the administration and this Congress In fact, I think what is transpiring in challenges ahead of us. have done a lot to reduce the regu- the Rakhine State today is genocide. I Although I would count myself latory burden. Our growth rate has know there will be some discussion among those who have been dis- ticked up in the most recent month to about whether it is genocide or not appointed with the civilian authorities 3.1 percent, the highest it has been in a based upon technical definitions. Yet and think they should have been more long time. So what we want to do is to what we see in Burma today clearly vocal, I am keenly aware of the real combine that regulatory relief and tax meets the definition of ‘‘deliberately limits of their power and ability to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.035 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6843 govern under the current Burmese Con- I also want to draw attention to the closely to see if he makes Burma and stitution and the military’s control of needs of the survivors, their families, human rights a top priority during this a large portion of Burma’s economy. and communities. There is an acute trip and to see what he and his admin- We have a challenge on our hands in lack of healthcare available to the sur- istration choose to undertake in the Burma, and we need to be engaged. But vivors, including reproductive health, coming days to address the tragedy un- the civilian leadership must take re- psychosocial, and other critical serv- folding in Rakhine State. sponsibility and must speak out. Too ices. With that, I suggest the absence of a often, the international community Seventy-five years ago, the world— quorum. has done too little, waited too long, or and the United States—could have said The PRESIDING OFFICER. The been caught unprepared by events that they did not know what is happening. clerk will call the roll. should not have surprised us. We con- Today we do. Today we have no excuse. The bill clerk proceeded to call the tinue to forget the lessons of the past Instead, the international community roll. and fail to live up to the post-Holo- must hold the perpetrators account- Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I ask caust pledge of ‘‘never again.’’ Ignoring able. In addition, to date, no real unanimous consent that the order for the genocide war crimes and crimes progress has been made either holding the quorum call be rescinded. against humanity that continue to perpetrators of serious violations ac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without rage around the world sends a message countable or in addressing the root objection, it is so ordered. to the global community that atrocity causes underlying the situation in f crimes are tolerable. We must respond Burma. Therefore, there is an urgent SOMALIA TERRORIST ATTACK robustly to the crisis unfolding in need to act. Burma because it is the right thing to The strong statements by Ambas- Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I rise do and because it is in our national in- sador Haley and last month by the Vice to talk about the recent terrorist at- terest to do so. President must be followed up with ac- tack in Somalia. The United Nations is calling the tion. The administration should lead On October 14, a truck filled with ex- military campaign ‘‘a textbook exam- efforts for action in the Security Coun- plosives detonated in a crowded dis- ple of ethnic cleansing’’ against cil. The Security Council should insist trict in Mogadishu—Somalia’s capital. Rohingya Muslims. From credible that persons responsible for grave The blast was especially devastating human rights organizations and news- abuses be held accountable for their because the truck blew up next to a papers, there are consistent accounts crimes. It also should press the Bur- fuel tanker, causing a massive fireball of widespread extrajudicial killings, mese authority to cooperate with the and leveling structures, including the arson, rape, and other atrocities. At U.N. factfinding mission established by nearby Safari Hotel, which collapsed least 288 villages have been decimated, the United Nations Human Rights and trapped many people under its rub- according to Human Rights Watch, Council and grant unfettered access to ble. According to Somali authorities, which has used satellite imagery as its staff to Burma, including the the target of the attack may have been evidence of the devastation caused by Rakhine State. the city’s international airport which the so-called ‘‘clearance operations.’’ We need to know what is happening also houses many Embassies. These current attacks on the on the ground. We need to know that in This is the worst terrorist attack in Rohingya follow decades of state-led Somalia’s history. Three hundred fifty- persecution and dehumanization. Gov- order to protect people and to get the eight people were killed, hundreds have ernment efforts to deny Rohingya citi- evidence necessary to hold the per- been injured, and dozens are still miss- zenship rights, to restrict their free- petrators accountable. The Council ing. dom of movement and the practice of should send a clear message that it As a Minnesota Senator, I represent their faith, and to deny their basic stands ready to take additional steps the largest Somali-American popu- human rights have all been identified to ensure justice, including through lation in the Nation. For Minnesota, as precursors to a genocide. the International Criminal Court, and The U.N. Office of the High Commis- urge member states to pursue other this wasn’t just a massive attack over- sioner for Human Rights found that the mechanisms that might provide justice seas. It affected every one of my esti- attacks were executed in a well-orga- for recent abuses. mated 74,000 Somali-American con- nized, coordinated, and systematic I should also add that Bangladesh de- stituents. manner by the Myanmar Security serves credit for keeping its borders Among those killed is Ahmed Eyow. Forces, often supported by the armed open to the influx of refugees—600,000 He was from Bloomington, MN. He had Rakhine Buddhists. They have de- have fled to Bangladesh, and they kept attended Normandale Community Col- scribed the attacks as a ‘‘cynical ploy their borders open. Bangladesh has lege and Metropolitan State Univer- to forcibly transfer large numbers of been one of the few bright spots in the sity. He left behind his wife and three people without possibility of return.’’ current crisis and should continue to children. There were also appalling acts of sex- honor its promise to build shelters for Another Somali-American who was ual violence, which clearly amount to new arrivals, accelerate humanitarian killed in the blast was Mohamoud crimes against humanity and/or acts of assistance, and provide the needed Elmi. He had lived in Ohio and had genocide that must not be forgotten. medical service for this traumatized moved back to Somalia about 2 years Women and girls, some as young as 5, group. ago. He was a young man with a bright were raped by men in uniform in front I also believe the United States needs future, working at the Ministry of Hu- of their families. U.N. and other health to reevaluate our policy and approach manitarian Affairs and Disaster Man- workers said that after this most re- to Burma. We need to have a policy in agement in Somalia. cent August 2017 military crackdown, regard to Burma that we understand, There was Abukar Mohamed. He they treated dozens of Rohingya that addresses these human rights vio- lived in Virginia before moving back to women and girls who escaped to Ban- lations, that reevaluates our approach Somalia, where he worked in the Min- gladesh for injuries consistent with for our relationship with the Burmese istry of Commerce and Industry. He violent sexual attacks. military, and that relooks at how to was killed along with his wife, Shadiye One woman told Human Rights best use sanctions as a way to seek ad- Hassan. They left behind seven chil- Watch that she and four other women ditional leverage with the Burmese dren who are between the ages of 3 and were taken to a hut, slashed with Government and military. 20. knives, and sexually assaulted. The sol- I am working with a number of my Hundreds of others perished in that diers then set the hut on fire. She was colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, heinous attack. They all have their the only one to escape alive. Another on legislation to seek to clarify U.S. own stories. They left behind their woman who was raped still has injuries policy and to address some of these wives, their husbands, their children, from the machete attack and beatings issues. their friends, their parents. that accompanied the rape and said she As the President prepares for his up- Somalia is one of the most, if not the barely managed to escape from a burn- coming trip to the ASEAN Summit in most, fragile nations on Earth. It has ing house. the region, Congress will be watching been an incredibly difficult country to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.036 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6844 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 govern ever since the civil war tore the member that we will all be more suc- cates from across this Nation have al- country apart in 1991. It suffers from cessful when we combine military ef- ready called on Congress to do its job the massive displacement of people, forts with diplomatic and humani- and move as quickly as possible to re- hundreds of thousands of refugees, lack tarian ones. While we cannot bring authorize this funding. Nevada’s Re- of sufficient public services, and war- back those who perished, if we focus on publican Governor, Brian Sandoval, is ring factions and clans. To make mat- rooting out the conditions that give one of those voices. Republicans and ters worse, a severe drought has rav- rise to terrorism, we can have a shot at Democrats alike know that kids can’t aged Somalia, leaving 6 million peo- averting the next one. go to school, they can’t go to soccer ple—half of the nation’s population— Thank you. practice, they can’t learn their times facing food shortages. The combination I suggest the absence of a quorum. tables or their fractions, they can’t do of instability, lack of security, and The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. things that healthy, happy kids like to shortage of goods and services has en- FISCHER). The clerk will call the roll. do if they do not feel well. abled terrorist groups like al- The legislative clerk proceeded to But don’t ask me why funding for Shabaab—widely believed to be the cul- call the roll. CHIP is important. Listen to the voices Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam Presi- prit in this attack—to gain a foothold of parents who lie awake at night, wor- dent, I ask unanimous consent that the in Somalia. ried that the cough they are hearing We have to have a comprehensive order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. down the hall in their child’s room will strategy to help the people of Somalia. not go away on its own. It is scary CAPITO). Without objection, it is so or- One component of that strategy is to dered. enough to have a sick child. No parent help Somalis root out terrorism. The should have to live with the additional Government of Somalia has announced f fear that they will not be able to afford its intent to step up the fight against HEALTHCARE the care their child needs. No parent al-Shabaab. The United States has and Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam Presi- should have to choose between treating will continue to aid those efforts, as dent, I rise today to urge my col- a cough that has been getting worse will the African Union Mission in So- leagues to reauthorize Federal funding and worse for weeks and paying next malia—a multinational peacekeeping for the Children’s Health Insurance month’s rent. People across the coun- force that is supported by the United Program. Children’s health insurance try are working every single day just States. is not a partisan issue in this country, to make ends meet. CHIP is their life- At the same time, we have to erode and it never has been. line. and eliminate the conditions that en- In 1997, the bill to create the Chil- Just ask Lisa, a self-employed mom. able terrorist groups to thrive. That dren’s Health Insurance Program Her children are able to see the means redoubling our efforts to help passed with bipartisan support. It was whiteboard in math class because CHIP stabilize fragile nations. That means introduced by the late Senator Ted allowed her family to afford glasses. supporting good governance, reducing Kennedy, a Democrat from Massachu- Ask Glenna, whose daughter broke extreme inequality, and helping setts, and our colleague, Senator ORRIN her arm on the monkey bars when she marginalized, disenfranchised individ- HATCH, Republican from Utah. This was 4. Without CHIP, Glenna would uals who are preyed upon time and program has been a resounding success. have had to take out loans to pay off again by terrorist recruiters. Tens of millions of kids from all over that medical bill. It is more important than ever that the country have received access to Hear from Vanessa about the excel- we fully fund our international pro- preventive care, doctors’ visits, pre- lent healthcare her daughter received grams that support these efforts, for scriptions, dental and vision coverage after she contracted meningitis at age humanitarian and security reasons. as a result of this act of Congress. 12, which was paid for with health in- Unfortunately, the administration’s Children’s healthcare is not a par- surance Vanessa purchased through 2018 budget proposal does the opposite. tisan issue in Nevada—the great State CHIP. Vanessa says that CHIP is the It includes a 30-percent cut to pro- that I represent—either. Over the past reason her daughter is alive today. grams that seek to bring stability, rule 20 years, more than 60,000 of Nevada’s These are just three of the countless of law, and humanitarian assistance to kids have benefited from our State stories I have heard from people who places that need it the most. The ad- CHIP program, Nevada Check Up. To- just don’t know what they would do if ministration’s budget is making the gether with the gains we have made private health insurance were the only world, and us, less safe. And I want to due to the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, option available to their family. urge the President to rethink his ap- our rate of uninsured children has fall- Illness, injury, these things happen. proach to foreign aid. en by half, making our program one of All of us get sick sometimes, but going My colleagues, Senators JOHN the biggest successes in the country. bankrupt trying to pay for your son or MCCAIN and TIM KAINE, put it this way Today, 9 million children from low- daughter’s medical treatment, that is in a recent op-ed they coauthored, say- income families nationwide, including not normal. That should not be some- ing: 27,000 from Nevada, get their health in- thing we accept as part of our everyday Today, 80 percent of our assistance pro- surance through CHIP. If Congress con- lives. vides relief and promotes stability in con- tinues to do nothing, those 9 million Every time I go home to Nevada, I flict zones and states on the verge of col- children will not be able to go to a doc- hear the same things over and over lapse. There are U.S. Agency for Inter- tor for their annual checkup; 9 million from people I meet. They say to me: national Development programs in many of the countries most plagued by terrorism, in- children will not be able to afford their My medical bills are out of control. cluding Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, prescriptions. The parents of those 9 Please do something to help. Mali, Yemen and Somalia. We’re saving lives million children will have to wait until We should be working night and day and creating partners to help address the in- their child’s headache or infection or around the clock to fix our healthcare stability that produces the threats our mili- sore throat becomes an emergency be- system and relieve the burden of tary risks life and limb to fight. fore taking them to the hospital. healthcare costs on working people. In conclusion, I urge my colleagues In 2008, the last time funding for Allowing funding for CHIP to expire, and the American people to not forget CHIP was on the chopping block, Sen- allowing State governments to go about the terrible tragedy in Somalia. ator Ted Kennedy said that the test of bankrupt, allowing rural hospitals and I urge everyone to keep Somali victims a great nation is in the way it treats our community medical centers to shut and other victims of terror acts its children. We are a great nation. We their doors and go out of business, this throughout the world in their thoughts know how to take care of our kids. is not what the American people sent and prayers. Americans understand that children’s us here to do. We are the representa- The world needs to know that the healthcare is the kind of thing that tives of this great Nation, and it is United States will continue to support should be beyond the reach of partisan time to act like it and stop playing pol- Somalia and other nations that are politics. itics with children’s health. fighting those who are wreaking havoc Governors from both parties, medical I yield the floor. on their nations. But we have to re- professionals, care providers, and advo- I suggest the absence of a quorum.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.039 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6845 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The rounded by more than 2,000 enemy Sergeant Iyotte’s remains are finally clerk will call the roll. fighters. Over 2 days of battle, Private being laid to rest this week in his The senior assistant legislative clerk First Class McCloughan put himself in hometown of White River, SD. proceeded to call the roll. danger time and again in order to res- Sergeant Iyotte was born in White Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, cue his fallen brothers. River on December 22, 1929. At just 18 I ask unanimous consent that the order His head and arm were bloodied by years of age, Iyotte enlisted in the U.S. for the quorum call be rescinded. shrapnel and small-arms fire; yet he re- Army and was assigned to Company E, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without fused to stop. When the battle was 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, objection, it is so ordered. over, he had saved the lives of 10 mem- 24th Infantry Division, during the Ko- (At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the bers of his company. rean war. following statement was ordered to be Private First Class McCloughan re- Upon being deployed overseas to printed in the RECORD.) ceived the Combat Medical Badge, two Korea, Sergeant Iyotte’s battalion was Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars with one of the first sent into battle in 1950. f ‘‘V’’ device for valor, and the U.S. During combat, Sergeant Iyotte was VOTE EXPLANATION Army Valorous Unit Citation, among wounded, but returned to the battle- ∑ Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I other awards. He was a hero in every field in just 3 weeks. was unavailable for rollcall vote No. sense of the word. However, he re- Months later, Sergeant Iyotte was 251, on the nomination of Scott L. mained focused on only one thing: how detailed to Operation Thunderbolt on Palk, of Oklahoma, to be United States he could best serve others. That is just February 9, 1951. During this assign- District Judge for the Western District what he did. ment, Sergeant Iyotte was captured of Oklahoma. Had I been present, I Jim McCloughan returned home and and ultimately held at a prisoner-of- would have voted nay. taught and coached at South Haven war camp in Changsong, where he Madam President, I was unavailable High School until retiring in 2008. That passed away in 1951. However, his re- for rollcall vote No. 252, on the motion might have been where his story ended mains never made it home. to invoke cloture on the nomination of had it not been for his one-time pla- Due to his many heroic efforts, Ser- Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, to be toon leader, LT Randall J. Clark. geant Iyotte was awarded the Purple United States District Judge for the Lieutenant Clark never forgot about Heart Medal, the Combat Infantry- District of Columbia. Had I been Private First Class McCloughan’s her- man’s Badge, the Prisoner of War present, I would have voted nay.∑ oism and worked tirelessly to get him Medal, the United Nations Service the recognition he had earned. In 2016, Medal, the National Defense Service f I passed a bill to make Private First Medal, and the Korean War Service 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Class McCloughan eligible for our Na- Medal. BIRTH OF BAHA’U’LLAH, THE tion’s highest military honor. In July, Through the combined effort of Ser- FOUNDER OF THE BAHA’I FAITH I was honored to be at the White House geant Iyotte’s family, the U.S. Defense as Private First Class McCloughan was POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I wish finally awarded the Medal of Honor by Department of Veterans Affairs, Ser- to extend my support for the Baha’i President Donald Trump. geant Iyotte’s remains were positively community in commemoration of the Jim McCloughan’s story is extraor- identified earlier this year. This week, 200th anniversary of the birth of dinary, but he is not alone. Across our they return to his family so he can fi- Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Nation—and throughout our history— nally be laid to rest near his home in Faith. people of common backgrounds and un- South Dakota. Baha’u’llah preached a message of common courage have put their lives With this, I welcome the opportunity justice, unity, and peace. The religion on the line in defense of our Nation. to recognize the life of a fallen hero, that he founded has spread across the Time and again, these brave men and SGT Philip James Iyotte, and com- world, including to the Commonwealth women have come home only to con- memorate his return to White River, of Pennsylvania. While the Baha’i peo- tinue serving in our schools, churches, SD. He is finally home. ple have and continue to face persecu- elected offices, and civic organizations. f tion for their beliefs, they persevere by Veterans like Jim owe us nothing promoting a message of peace and and keep giving us everything. It is our REMEMBERING RICHARD DUDMAN equality and with a commitment to solemn duty to keep our promises to Mr. KING. Madam President, today service. I congratulate the Baha’i com- them. Like Lieutenant Clark, we must we remember Richard Dudman, who munity of Pennsylvania who have con- continue working to provide them all passed away this August in Blue Hill, tributed so much to the spirit of the that they have earned, whether it is ME, at the age of 99. Throughout his Commonwealth on this momentous an- healthcare, education, the chance at a long and illustrious career as a jour- niversary. good job, or the Medal of Honor. nalist, Richard was never one to turn f ‘‘I’m humbled, very humbled,’’ Jim away from a good story, even if chasing McCloughan said about receiving his it meant putting himself in danger. TRIBUTE TO JIM MCCLOUGHAN award. ‘‘And, of course—as many indi- After college, Richard served his Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, viduals who are blessed to receive country in the Merchant Marine and today I wish to reflect on Veterans Day something like this—I’m receiving it the Navy before becoming a reporter and the debt of gratitude each of us for all of my men.’’ for the Denver Post. In 1954, he moved owes those who are willing to serve our The spirit of service lives on in Jim to Washington, DC, to work for the St. country in our Armed Forces. McCloughan, in Lieutenant Clark, and Louis Port-Dispatch’s Washington bu- Each year I have the honor of attend- in our veterans in Michigan and across reau. In this position, he would cover ing Veterans Day events across Michi- this Nation. On this Veterans Day, we the assassination of John F. Kennedy gan. At each parade, commemoration, remember them, we thank them, and and the Watergate Scandal, as well as and solemn ceremony, I am struck by we renew our commitment to serving war and revolution all over the world. the profound patriotism of our vet- them. Richard will perhaps be most remem- erans, but also their deep humility and Thank you. bered for the time he spent in Cam- lasting dedication to serving others. f bodia as a prisoner of the Viet Cong. He One amazing example of this is Jim and his colleagues were mistaken for McCloughan of South Haven. In May of HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES CIA operatives and were kept captive 1969, he was 23 years old and far from SERGEANT PHILIP J. IYOTTE for 40 long days. Towards the end of home, serving as a medic in Vietnam Mr. ROUNDS. Madam President, their captivity, once it had become after being drafted into the Army. today I wish to recognize the courage clear that the journalists were not, in The orders were to attack Nui Yon and bravery of a fallen soldier, SGT fact, working for the CIA, their captors Hill. However, Private First Class Philip J. Iyotte of the Rosebud Sioux began to refer to them not as prisoners McCloughan and his company were sur- Tribe. After 66 long years of waiting, of war, but as ‘‘travelers who lost their

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.050 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6846 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 way.’’ It was this experience that in- Delaware and Maryland coasts, as well Major General Sayler has served Idaho spired Richard to write the well-re- as spraying invasive plants that, if un- in a variety of leadership capacities, ceived ‘‘Forty Days with the Enemy.’’ controlled, can choke area wetlands. including 7 years as Idaho’s adjutant Even after retiring, Richard did not We are truly honored to extend our ap- general. Under Major General Sayler’s stop reporting. In fact, on his last day preciation for everything the business direction as commander, the 124th at the Post-Dispatch in 1981 Richard has accomplished. Fighter Wing played vital roles in nu- raced out of his own retirement party We wholeheartedly congratulate the merous overseas missions, including to cover the attempted assassination of many staff members past and present Operation Provide Comfort in 1994, Op- Ronald Reagan. From his home in Ells- of Allen Chorman & Son, Inc., on 30 eration Allied Force in 1999, and Oper- worth, ME, Richard continued to con- years of service to the State of Dela- ation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004. tribute to the Post-Dispatch and wrote ware and surrounding areas. Your qual- He subsequently served as assistant ad- editorials for the Bangor Daily News ity of service and continued care for jutant general from 2004 to 2010 before until 2012. our farms and environment set an ex- being appointed as adjutant general for In retirement, Richard and Helen, his emplary standard of service for many the Idaho National Guard in 2010, dur- wife of 69 years, were active and con- others to follow. We wish you contin- ing the fighter wing’s ongoing missions structive members of the Maine com- ued growth and success.∑ in the Middle East in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Free- munity. Ellsworth City councilor Gary f Fortier, a friend of the couple, de- dom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and RECOGNIZING KING CROP scribed them as ‘‘true givers,’’ saying Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The INSURANCE, INC. that ‘‘Ellsworth is a much better place 124th Fighter Wing has received numer- because they have been part of it.’’ ∑ Mr. COONS. Madam President, it is ous accolades under his steady guid- Richard and Helen received the Golden with great pleasure that I rise, along ance. These include the prestigious Spaatz Trophy in 2016 and again in 2017; Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of with Senator TOM CARPER of Delaware the Governor’s Outstanding Unit America in 2014 in recognition of their and Representative LISA BLUNT ROCH- Award; and the U.S. Air Force Out- outstanding community service. ESTER of Delaware, to honor one of standing Unit Award. Richard’s dedication to covering the Delaware’s longstanding businesses that has provided exemplary service to Major General Sayler has built on his news, regardless of how far from home extensive experience to lead with prac- the State of Delaware for the past 50 it occurred, won him the prestigious tical knowledge. His educational back- years: King Crop Insurance, Inc. George Polk Award in Journalism in ground includes a bachelor of science Since 1967, King Crop Insurance, Inc., 1993. In 2014, in recognition of that in history and education at North Da- has played an essential role in meeting same dedication, Richard was inducted kota State University in 1971 and later the needs of Delaware farmers and into the Maine Press Association Hall courses at the Air Command and Staff of Fame. I am pleased to be just one of those in its surrounding areas. From College, Weapons School, and Air War many to remember and praise the providing financial assistance and sup- College. Major General Sayler began many achievements of Richard’s ca- port—ensuring that farms have the his first assignment in the U.S. Air reer. The State of Maine was incredibly economic security to repay loans—to Force in Thailand, flying combat mis- lucky to have him for the time that we aiding those same farmers in expanding sions in Southeast Asia before joining did. He will be deeply missed. and growing their businesses, King the Idaho Air National Guard in 1977 as f Crop Insurance has committed itself to a weapons systems officer for the 124th the people of our great State, while ex- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS Tactical Reconnaissance Group. With a hibiting unyielding support of one our master navigator rating, he has exten- Nation’s most valuable industries: ag- sive experience flying multiple air- riculture. RECOGNIZING ALLEN CHORMAN & crafts and has logged more than 4,100 The values of hard work and giving SON, INC. flight hours. These include 392 combat back to their community have always ∑ hours that also account for his combat Mr. COONS. Madam President, it is been a part of the King family. Cath- missions flying the F4–G over Iraq dur- with great pleasure that I rise, along erine, Jackie, Donna, and the entire ing Operations Southern Watch and with Senator TOM CARPER of Delaware family are known throughout the State Provide Comfort. His promotions and and Representative LISA BLUNT ROCH- of Delaware for their generosity and list of major awards and decorations ESTER of Delaware, to recognize Allen support of local agricultural programs, that he has earned for his outstanding Chorman & Son, Inc., a longstanding such as the 4–H. The Kings are visible service are extensive and include the Delaware business that has provided examples of serving others, as well as Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Serv- exemplary service to the State and its sowing seeds of success for the future. ice Medal, and the Air Medal with sil- surrounding areas for 30 years. We are truly grateful for all they have ver oakleaf cluster. Since 1987, Allen Chorman & Son, done to inspire business growth and de- Based on these accomplishments, Inc., has played a vital role in the suc- velopment, as well as preparing future Major General Sayler has provided rea- cess of one of Delaware’s key economic generations for success in farming. soned and experienced council as we resources: farming. With the largest We wholeheartedly congratulate have worked together to address the aerial spraying business in the State, King Crop Insurance, Inc., on 50 years needs of the Idaho National Guard, in- Allen Chorman & Son, Inc., has as- of service to the State of Delaware and cluding protecting and advancing the sisted farmers in increasing crop effi- surrounding areas. Your quality of flying mission at Gowen Field as an ex- ciency via pesticide spraying and fer- service and continued care for our emplary force within the National tilizer spraying—sometimes in in- farming community serves as a won- Guard for generations to come. While stances when ground conditions are not derful example for many others. We visionary in his goals for the Idaho Na- conducive to tractor services. Allen wish everyone the best.∑ tional Guard, a hallmark of Major Gen- Chorman & Son, Inc., also provides f eral Sayler’s leadership has been his critical mosquito spraying for both high regard for the servicemembers he rural and urban areas. We are honored TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL leads and their families. In addition to to extend our sincere thanks for their GARY L. SAYLER the attention and support he has de- commitment and unyielding efforts to ∑ Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, voted to Idaho guardsmen and their support one of our Nation’s most valu- today, together with my colleague Sen- families, Major General Sayler has also able industries: agriculture. ator JIM RISCH, I wish to recognize the been instrumental in forging enduring In addition to aiding farmers within service of MG Gary L. Sayler as he re- relationships with the local commu- Delaware and the surrounding areas tires from leading the Idaho National nities and Native Tribes undergirding with critical crop services, Allen Guard this month. Gowen Field. These bonds will likely Chorman & Son, Inc., has assisted in With more than 40 years of his distin- propel the Idaho National Guard and environmental preservation efforts, guished 45-year military career dedi- Idaho communities forward for years monitoring artificial reefs off of the cated to the Idaho National Guard, to come.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.043 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6847 We congratulate Major General Steve’s demonstrated commitment At 1:38 p.m., a message from the Sayler on a distinguished and exem- to assisting others is a genuine reflec- House of Representatives, delivered by plary career serving our Nation and tion of uncommon moral stamina. The Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- leading the Idaho National Guard. Treasure State is humbled and blessed nounced that the House has agreed to Idaho has benefited greatly from his to have people like Mr. Fournier call the amendment of the Senate to the steady, astute leadership. We wish him Montana home. Thank you, Steve, for resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) estab- and his family the very best and thank repeatedly finding a refuge in times of lishing the congressional budget for him for his dedicated service to Idaho trouble.∑ the United States Government for fis- and our Nation.∑ f cal year 2018 and setting forth the ap- propriate budgetary levels for fiscal f 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE years 2019 through 2027. TRIBUTE TO NORM STEADMAN SCHWAN’S COMPANY STILWELL f ∑ Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, today FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY I wish to honor Norm Steadman for his ∑ Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I am MEASURES REFERRED longtime, dedicated service as mayor pleased to recognize the Schwan’s Com- The following bills were read the first of Weippe, ID. pany on the 75th anniversary of their and the second times by unanimous Weippe was incorporated in 1964, but Stilwell food production facility. This consent, and referred as indicated: its roots go much further back. The is a significant milestone for Schwan’s H.R. 469. An act to impose certain limita- Weippe Prairie is known to have been and its employees, but also for Adair tions on consent decrees and settlement inhabited by the Nez Perce Indians. County and the entire State of Okla- agreements by agencies that require the The city notes that it was not far from homa. Throughout their 75 years, agencies to take regulatory action in accord- the present townsite in 1805 that Lewis Schwan’s has been a committed com- ance with the terms thereof, and for other and Clark had their first encounter munity partner, hiring over 300 resi- purposes; to the Committee on the Judici- with the Nez Perce Indians. This beau- ary. dents and supporting hunger relief and H.R. 3342. An act to impose sanctions on tiful and strong community is nestled youth activities. among many recreation opportunities, foreign persons that are responsible for gross The food production facility in violations of internationally recognized including historic trails, fishing, hunt- Stilwell, originally called the Stilwell human rights by reason of the use by ing, skiing, snowmobiling, and all-ter- Canning Company, first opened in 1942 Hizballah of civilians as human shields, and rain vehicle resources. when World War II drove up the de- for other purposes; to the Committee on For- Over the years, the community has mand for canned items. The company eign Relations. seen its share of booms and busts. It has demonstrated a strong commit- f has been touched by the fur trade, gold ment to excellence, first expanding in MEASURES PLACED ON THE rush, the Homestead Act, and the log- 1999, when it became the largest frozen ging industry. The town’s current pop- CALENDAR dessert production plant in the coun- ulation of approximately 400 faces try. After being acquired by Schwan’s The following bill was read the first many of the challenges experienced by Company in 2003, they have continued and second times by unanimous con- rural western towns with an enduring to invest in the plant and its employ- sent, and placed on the calendar: commitment to their community. H.R. 3329. An act to amend the Hizballah Serving as mayor for a remarkable ees, putting the facility on the leading edge of pie production in the country. International Financing Prevention Act of nearly 50 years following his initial ap- 2015 to impose additional sanctions with re- pointment to the position in 1968, Today the plant is a 610,000-square-foot spect to Hizballah, and for other purposes. state-of-of-the-art facility that em- Mayor Steadman has led through con- f siderable growing pains with a steady ploys about 300 people. ENROLLED BILL PRESENTED hand and commitment to his commu- Congratulations on your 75th anni- nity that befit his name. A deep desire versary, and I look forward to seeing The Secretary of the Senate reported to help others and a sense of responsi- Schwan’s continue to make a positive that on today, October 26, 2017, she had ∑ bility to lead his community are clear impact in Stilwell. presented to the President of the characteristics of Mayor Steadman’s. f United States the following enrolled His decades of leadership and working MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE bill: to overcome challenges with limited At 10:55 a.m., a message from the S. 504. An act to permanently authorize the resources are commendable. Thank Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business House of Representatives, delivered by you, Mayor Steadman, for your nearly Travel Card Program. Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- 50 years of dedicated service. You are nounced that the House has agreed to f truly leading by example by continu- the following concurrent resolution, EXECUTIVE AND OTHER ously stepping up to assist.∑ without amendment: COMMUNICATIONS f S. Con. Res. 26. Concurrent resolution au- The following communication was TRIBUTE TO STEVE FOURNIER thorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in laid before the Senate, together with ∑ Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I the Capitol Visitor Center for the unveiling accompanying papers, reports, and doc- of the American Prisoners of War/Missing in have the distinct honor of recognizing Action (POW/MIA) Chair of Honor. uments, and was referred as indicated: Steve Fournier of Butte, a tireless ad- The message also announced that the EC–3275. A communication from the Dep- vocate for the most vulnerable Mon- uty Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits tanans. Steve is known by his peers for House has passed the following bills, in Security Administration, Department of his dedication, compassion, and integ- which it requests the concurrence of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- rity working to help the homeless. the Senate: port of a rule entitled ‘‘Religious Exemp- For nearly 16 years, Steve has helped H.R. 469. An act to impose certain limita- tions and Accommodations for Coverage of Montanans find housing stability tions on consent decrees and settlement Certain Preventive Services Under the Af- fordable Care Act’’ (RIN1210–AB83) received through his work as a case manager agreements by agencies that require the agencies to take regulatory action in accord- in the Office of the President of the Senate and service advocate for locally admin- ance with the terms thereof, and for other on October 25, 2017; to the Committee on istered housing programs. When the purposes. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. rescue mission served as the emergency H.R. 3329. An act to amend the Hizballah f housing alternative for the Butte area International Financing Prevention Act of after it closed earlier this year, Steve 2015 to impose additional sanctions with re- PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS helped 22 households find a safe and spect to Hizballah, and for other purposes. The following petition or memorial warm place to stay. His efforts have H.R. 3342. An act to impose sanctions on was laid before the Senate and was re- foreign persons that are responsible for gross helped many of his neighbors in south- violations of internationally recognized ferred or ordered to lie on the table as west Montana overcome crisis situa- human rights by reason of the use by indicated: tions and transition to a more hopeful Hizballah of civilians as human shields, and POM–130. A joint resolution adopted by the path. for other purposes. Legislature of the State of Texas rescinding

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:52 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.041 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6848 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 certain applications made by the Texas Leg- By Mr. McCAIN for the Committee on ver, which nominations were received by the islature to the United States Congress to Armed Services. Senate and appeared in the Congressional call a national convention under Article V of Air Force nomination of Lt. Gen. Stayce Record on October 16, 2017. the United States Constitution for proposing D. Harris, to be Lieutenant General. Army nominations beginning with Steven any amendment to the Constitution; to the Army nomination of Maj. Gen. Paul J. A. Baty and ending with Alisa R. Wilma, Committee on the Judiciary. LaCamera, to be Lieutenant General. which nominations were received by the Sen- SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 38 Army nomination of Col. Twanda E. ate and appeared in the Congressional Whereas, Over the years, the Texas Legis- Young, to be Brigadier General. Record on October 16, 2017. Army nominations beginning with Wesley lature has approved resolutions officially ap- Army nomination of Col. Roger D. J. Anderson and ending with Hope M. plying to the Congress of the United States Murdock, to be Brigadier General. Air Force nomination of Maj. Gen. David Williamsonyounce, which nominations were to call a convention, under the terms of Arti- D. Thompson, to be Lieutenant General. received by the Senate and appeared in the cle V of the Constitution of the United Air Force nomination of Col. Ralph L. Congressional Record on October 16, 2017. States, to offer various amendments to that Schwader, to be Brigadier General. Army nominations beginning with Gina E. Constitution; and Adam and ending with David R. Zinnante, Whereas, While no Article V amendatory Army nomination of Col. Donald B. which nominations were received by the Sen- convention has yet taken place thus far in Absher, to be Brigadier General. Army nominations beginning with Col. ate and appeared in the Congressional American history, nevertheless, there is a Record on October 16, 2017. very real possibility that one, or more than Richard E. Angle and ending with Col. Darren L. Werner, which nominations were Army nominations beginning with David J. one, could be triggered at some point in the H. Chang and ending with Matthew J. future; and received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record on October 16, 2017. Yandura, which nominations were received Whereas, Regardless of their age, such past by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- applications from Texas lawmakers remain (minus 1 nominee: Col. Douglas F. Stitt) Army nomination of Brig. Gen. Keith Y. sional Record on October 16, 2017. alive and valid until such time as they are Army nomination of Samuel A. Redding, later formally rescinded; now, therefore, be Tamashiro, to be Major General. Army nomination of Maj. Gen. Eric P. to be Lieutenant Colonel. it Army nomination of Sativa M. Franklin, Wendt, to be Lieutenant General. Resolved, That the 85th Legislature of the to be Lieutenant Colonel. Navy nomination of Vice Adm. Christopher State of Texas, Regular Session, 2017, hereby Army nominations beginning with Maurice officially rescinds, repeals, revokes, cancels, W. Grady, to be Vice Admiral. O. Barnett and ending with Aaron C. Barta, Navy nomination of Rear Adm. Bruce H. voids, and nullifies any and all, applications which nominations were received by the Sen- from Texas legislators prior to the 85th Leg- Lindsey, to be Vice Admiral. ate and appeared in the Congressional islature, Regular Session, 2017, other than Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, for the Record on October 16, 2017. the application provided by H.C.R. No. 31, Committee on Armed Services I report Army nomination of Grant R. Barge, to be Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Ses- favorably the following nomination Major. sion, 1977, that apply to the United States lists which were printed in the Records Army nomination of Michael W. Chung, to be Major. Congress for the calling of a convention, pur- on the dates indicated, and ask unani- suant to Article V of the United States Con- Army nominations beginning with stitution, regardless of how old such pre- mous consent, to save the expense of Chemitra M. Clay and ending with John C. vious applications might be, and irrespective reprinting on the Executive Calendar Hubbard, which nominations were received of what subject matters such applications that these nominations lie at the Sec- by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- pertained to; and, be it further retary’s desk for the information of sional Record on October 16, 2017. Resolved, That the 85th Legislature of the Senators. Army nomination of Charles K. Bergman, State of Texas, Regular Session, 2017, hereby to be Colonel. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Army nomination of Robert S. Patton, Jr., declares that any application to the United objection, it is so ordered. States Congress for the calling of a conven- to be Colonel. Army nominations beginning with Jason tion under Article V of the United States Air Force nominations beginning with P. Affolder and ending with D012388, which Constitution that is submitted by the Texas James A. Fant and ending with Dustin D. nominations were received by the Senate and Legislature during or after this Regular Ses- Harlin, which nominations were received by appeared in the Congressional Record on Oc- sion shall be automatically rescinded, re- the Senate and appeared in the Congres- tober 16, 2017. pealed, revoked, canceled, voided, and nul- sional Record on October 16, 2017. Air Force nomination of Erik M. Army nominations beginning with Andre lified if the applicable convention is not B. Abadie and ending with G001060, which called on or before the eighth anniversary of Mudrinich, to be Lieutenant Colonel. Air Force nominations beginning with nominations were received by the Senate and the date the last legislative vote is taken on appeared in the Congressional Record on Oc- the application; and, be it further Scott M. Abbott and ending with Kristina M. Zuccarelli, which nominations were received tober 16, 2017. Resolved, That, in a manner which would Army nominations beginning with Winfield by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- furnish confirmation of delivery and track- A. Adkins and ending with D013960, which sional Record on October 16, 2017. ing while en route, the Texas secretary of nominations were received by the Senate and Army nomination of Adrian L. Nelson, to state shall transmit properly certified copies appeared in the Congressional Record on Oc- be Major. of this joint resolution of rescission, pursu- tober 16, 2017. Army nomination of Todd M. Chard, to be ant to the Standing Rules of the United Marine Corps nomination of John J. States Senate (namely, Rule VII, paragraphs Major. Straub, to be Major. 4, 5, and 6), to the vice president of the Army nomination of Tristan D. Har- Navy nominations beginning with Suzanne United States (in his capacity as presiding rington, to be Major. T. Alford and ending with Laura C. Yoon, officer of the United States Senate and ad- Army nomination of David S. Lyle, to be which nominations were received by the Sen- dressed to him at the office which he main- Colonel. ate and appeared in the Congressional tains inside the United States Capitol Build- Army nomination of George B. Inabinet, to Record on October 16, 2017. ing); to the secretary and parliamentarian of be Colonel. Navy nominations beginning with Roy A. the United States Senate; and to both United Army nominations beginning with Ben- Aduna and ending with Kirtley N. Yeiser, States senators representing Texas; accom- jamin A. Barbeau and ending with Blair D. which nominations were received by the Sen- panied by a cover letter to each addressee Tighe, which nominations were received by ate and appeared in the Congressional drawing attention to the fact that it is the the Senate and appeared in the Congres- Record on October 16, 2017. 85th Texas Legislature’s courteous, yet firm, sional Record on October 16, 2017. Navy nominations beginning with Calvin request that the substance of this joint reso- Army nominations beginning with Garrett Loper and ending with Billy W. Young, lution be accurately summarized in the K. Anderson and ending with Roger D. Plas- which nominations were received by the Sen- United States House of Representatives’ por- ter, which nominations were received by the ate and appeared in the Congressional tion of the Congressional Record as an offi- Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record on October 16, 2017. cial memorial to the United States House of Record on October 16, 2017. Navy nominations beginning with Maureen Army nominations beginning with Joshua Representatives, and that this joint resolu- M. Derks and ending with Jeffrey P. Sharp, A. Akers and ending with D013005, which tion be referred to whichever committee or which nominations were received by the Sen- nominations were received by the Senate and committees of the United States House of ate and appeared in the Congressional appeared in the Congressional Record on Oc- Representatives that would have appropriate Record on October 16, 2017. tober 16, 2017. jurisdiction in this matter. Navy nominations beginning with Daniel Army nominations beginning with Jona- T. Barnes and ending with Jacquelyn O. f than L. Abbott and ending with Bovey Z. Vermilloherman, which nominations were EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF Zhu, which nominations were received by the received by the Senate and appeared in the COMMITTEES Senate and appeared in the Congressional Congressional Record on October 16, 2017. Record on October 16, 2017. Navy nominations beginning with Shamire The following executive reports of Army nominations beginning with Janetta E. Branch and ending with Alanna B. Young- nominations were submitted: R. Blackmore and ending with Jeffrey E. Oli- blood, which nominations were received by

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:15 Nov 02, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD17\OCTOBER\S26OC7.REC S26OC7 October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6849 the Senate and appeared in the Congres- (The following is a list of all members of Great Again; $400, 10/27/16, Trump Make sional Record on October 16, 2017. my immediate family and their spouses. I America Great Again; $400, 10/15/16, Walberg Navy nominations beginning with David L. have asked each of these persons to inform for Congress; $250, 10/15/16, Toomey for Sen- Aguilar and ending with David K. Zivnuska, me of the pertinent contributions made by ate. which nominations were received by the Sen- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- 1. Spouse: $1,000, 3/20/14, Land for Senate. ate and appeared in the Congressional formation contained in this report is com- 2. Children and Spouses: Erin Hoekstra— Record on October 16, 2017. plete and accurate.) none; Allison Hoekstra—none; Bryan Hoek- Navy nominations beginning with Rebecca Contributions, amount, date, and donee: stra—none. L. Anderson and ending with Kenneth R. 1. Self: none. 3. Parents—deceased. Vanhook, Jr., which nominations were re- 2. Spouse: Richard A. Figueroa: none. 4. Grandparents—deceased. ceived by the Senate and appeared in the 3. Children and Spouses: Elizabeth K. 5. Brothers and Spouses: Andrew and Congressional Record on October 16, 2017. Figueroa (not married): none; Alexandra M. Kathy Hoekstra—none. Navy nominations beginning with Arthur Figueroa (not married): none. 6. Sisters and Spouses: Grace and Dale Kra- D. Anderson III and ending with John E. 4. Parents: George M. Fitzpatrick—de- mer—none. Weaver, which nominations were received by ceased; Virginia M. Fitzpatrick—deceased. the Senate and appeared in the Congres- 5. Grandparents: Charles J. McAllister—de- Daniel J. Kritenbrink, of Virginia, a Career sional Record on October 16, 2017. ceased; Gertrude C. McAllister—deceased; C. Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class Navy nominations beginning with Joshua Emmett Fitzpatrick—deceased; Mary B. of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Ex- D. Albright and ending with Lisa L. Snoh, Fitzpatrick—deceased. traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the which nominations were received by the Sen- 6. Brothers and Spouses: G. Michael United States of America to the Socialist ate and appeared in the Congressional Fitzpatrick/Laura Henderson Fitzpatrick: Republic of Vietnam Record on October 16, 2017. none; Thomas J. Fitzpatrick/Teresa Lobb Nominee: Daniel J. Kritenbrink Navy nomination of Joe F. Moralez II, to Fitzpatrick: none. Post: Hanoi be Lieutenant Commander. 7. Sisters and Spouses—no sisters. (The following is a list of all members of Navy nominations beginning with Jessica my immediate family and their spouses. I B. Anderson and ending with Miranda V. Wil- * Michael James Dodman, of New York, a have asked each of these persons to inform liams, which nominations were received by Career Member of the Senior Foreign Serv- me of the pertinent contributions made by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- ice, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Am- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- sional Record on October 16, 2017. bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary formation contained in this report is com- Navy nominations beginning with Marco of the United States of America to the Is- plete and accurate.) A. Acosta and ending with Keith E. Zumar, lamic Republic of Mauritania. Contributions, amount, date, donee: which nominations were received by the Sen- Nominee: Michael James Dodman. 1. Self: None. ate and appeared in the Congressional Post: Mauritania. 2. Spouse: Nami Kritenbrink, None. Record on October 16, 2017. (The following is a list of all members of 3. Children and Spouses: Mia Kritenbrink, Navy nominations beginning with William my immediate family and their spouses. I None; Joseph Kritenbrink, None. J. Roy, Jr. and ending with Raquel T. Buser, have asked each of these persons to inform 4. Parents: Donald L. Kritenbrink, None; which nominations were received by the Sen- me of the pertinent contributions made by Joyce A. Kritenbrink, None. ate and appeared in the Congressional them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- 5. Grandparents: John Joseph Record on October 16, 2017. formation contained in this report is com- Kritenbrink—deceased; Ida Kritenbrink—de- Navy nominations beginning with Gregory plete and accurate.) ceased; Gerald Murphy—deceased; Clare F. Allen and ending with Clinton M. Woods, Contributions, Amout, Date, and Donee: Murphy—deceased. which nominations were received by the Sen- 1. Self: Michael Dodman: none. 6. Brothers and Spouses: N/A. ate and appeared in the Congressional 2. Spouse: Joan Dodman: none. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Kay L. Wigle (sis- Record on October 16, 2017. 3. Children and Spouses: Brian Dodman: ter), None; Don Wigle (brother-in-law), None; By Mr. CORKER for the Committee on none; Kaitlin Dodman: none; Margaret Nancy C. Campbell (sister), None; Matt Foreign Relations. Dodman: none; Claire Dodman: none. Campbell (brother-in-law), None. *Peter Henry Barlerin, of Colorado, a Ca- 4. Parents: Kirk Dodman: none; Pauline reer Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Dodman: none. * Michele Jeanne Sison, of Maryland, a Ca- Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Ex- 5. Grandparents: Paul Wiegand: deceased; reer Member of the Senior Foreign Service, traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Eileen Wiegand: deceased; Herbert Dodman: Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador United States of America to the Republic of deceased; Sarah Dodman: deceased. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Cameroon. 6. Brothers and Spouses: Mark & Tina United States of America to the Republic of Nominee: Peter Henry Barlerin. Dodman: none; Timothy & Colleen Dodman: Haiti. Post: Cameroon. none. Nominee: Michele Jeanne Sison. (The following is a list of all members of 7. Sisters and Spouses: Pamela Dodman: Post: Haiti. my immediate family and their spouses. I none. (The following is a list of all members of have asked each of these persons to inform my immediate family and their spouses. I me of the pertinent contributions made by * Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Am- have asked each of these persons to inform them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary me of the pertinent contributions made by formation contained in this report is com- of the United States of America to the King- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- plete and accurate.) dom of the Netherlands. formation contained in this report is com- Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Nominee: Peter Hoekstra. plete and accurate.) 1. Self: None. Post: Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Contributions, amount, date, and donee: 2. Spouse: None. Netherlands. 1. Self: N/A. 3. Children and Spouses: Sebastien (The following is a list of all members of 2. Spouse: N/A. Barlerin: None; Maximilian Barlerin: None, my immediate family and their spouses. I 3. Children and Spouses: Alexandra Kath- Ines Barlerin: None. have asked each of these persons to inform erine Knight: N/A; Jessica Elizabeth Knight: 4. Parents: Henry Barlerin—deceased; Vir- me of the pertinent contributions made by N/A. ginia Barlerin—deceased. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- 4. Parents: Pastor Bravo Sison—deceased; 5. Grandparents: Francois Barlerin—de- formation contained in this report is com- Veronica Sison: N/A. ceased; Josephine Barlerin—deceased; plete and accurate.) 5. Grandparents: Deceased; N/A. Charles Gilbert—deceased; Hilda Gilbert—de- Contributions, amount, date, and donee. 6. Brothers and Spouses: N/A. ceased. 1. Self: $1000, 10/11/13, Land for Senate; 7. Sisters and Spouses: Cynthia Morrissey 6. Brothers and Spouses: Michael C. $1000, 12/24/13, Land for Senate; $1000, 12/20/13, (Patrick Morrissey), $100, 2012, National Barlerin and Lisa Paretz: Unknown, Marco Sasse for Senate; $100, 5/27/13, Huizenga for Democratic Party; Victoria Morimoto (Miles Rubio for President. Congress; $1000, 8/29/14, Gillespie for Senate; Morimoto), $200, 2016, Bernie Sanders; $100, 7. Sisters and Spouses: Joan and Ed $1000, 10/30/14, Huizenga for Congress; $500, 1/ 2013, National Democratic Party; $100, 2012, Flaherty: None; Jody and Larry Mayer—de- 21/14, Huizenga for Congress; $500, 4/7/14, National Democratic Party. ceased. Molenaar for Congress; $500, 7/28/14, Ellis for Congress; $400, 7/29/14, Molenaar for Congress; * Jamie McCourt, of California, to be Am- * Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, of the District $500, 8/11/14, Comstock for Congress; $100, 12/ bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Columbia, a Career Member of the Senior 21/14, Comstock for Congress; $250, 9/30/15, of the United States of America to the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, Chrys for Maryland; $1000, 9/30/15, Kasich for French Republic, and to serve concurrently to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- President; $130, 7/31/15, Greenberg Taurig and without additional compensation as Am- potentiary of the United States of America PAC; $65, 8/31/15, Greenberg Taurig PAC; $65, bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. 9/30/15, Greenberg Taurig; $500, 10/5/16, Upton of the United States of America to the Prin- Nominee: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick. for all of Us; $150, 10/5/16, Comstock for Con- cipality of Monaco. Post: Timor-Leste. gress; $500, 10/27/16, Trump Make America Nominee: Jamie McCourt.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:19 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.010 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6850 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 Post: U.S. Ambassador to the French Re- formation contained in this report is com- 500.00, 08/21/2015, Ward, Kelli via Ward for public and U.S. Ambassador to the Princi- plete and accurate.) Senate; 500.00, 12/04/2015, Ward, Kelli via pality of Monaco. Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Ward for Senate; 500.00, 04/14/2015, Ward, Kelli (The following is a list of all members of 1. Self: $3,000, 2/9/2017, Molinaro for via Ward for Senate; 500.00, 07/22/2016, Ward, my immediate family and their spouses. I Dutchess; $5,000, 2/3/2017, Committee to Re- Kelli via Ward for Senate; 500.00, 06/23/2017, have asked each of these persons to inform Elect Anderson; $5,000, 10/28/2016, Trump for Ward, Kelli via Ward for Senate. me of the pertinent contributions made by America, Inc.; $2,700, 9/29/2016, Kelly Ayotte 450.00, 07/02/2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- for Senate; $2,700, 9/8/2016, Rubio Victory ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for Senate; 100.00, 08/01/2015, formation contained in this report is com- Committee; $449,400, 6/29/2016, Trump Vic- Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for Sen- plete and accurate.) tory—Breakdown Below; $5,400, Donald J. ate; 100.00, 08/09/2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Trump for President; $233,800, RNC’s General, ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 100.00, 09/17/ 1. Self: $2,600, 6/28/13, Susan Collins, Collins Convention and Building Fund Accounts; 2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for For Senator; $1,000, 3/20/14, Common Ground $110,000, State Parties Federal Accounts; President; 100.00, 09/29/2015, Cruz, Rafael Ed- PAC; $2,000, 6/02/14, Susan Collins, Collins For $100,200, RNC Recount Fund Account; $2,700, ward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 100.00, 11/ Senator; $2,500, 10/06/14, DCCC; $1,000, 10/29/14, 6/8/2016, Kirk for Senate; $2,016, 4/29/16, Right 01/2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz McCarthy Victory Fund Joint Fundraising to Rise Super PAC, Inc.; $25,000, 3/29/2016, for President; 100.00, 11/22/2015, Cruz, Rafael Contribution; $5,000, 12/23/14, RICKPAC; Team Ryan JFC—Breakdown Below; $19,600, Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President. $5,200, 2/23/15, John McCain Sedona PAC; NRCC; $5,400, Ryan for Congress, Inc.; $5,100, 100.00, 11/22/2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward $2,700, 3/31/15, Marco Rubio, Rubio For Presi- 3/15/2016, The Pat McCrory Committee; $2,700, ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 100.00, 12/06/ dent; $2,700, 4/08/15, Michael Bennet, Bennet 2/26/2016, Marco Rubio for President; $2,700, 2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for For Colorado; $2,700, 6/10/15, James R. Perry, 12/4/2015, Sedona PAC/Friends of John President; 100.00, 12/17/2015, Cruz, Rafael Ed- $2,700, (Rick) Perry For President; 6/10/15, McCain; $2,700, 11/16/2015, Heaney for Con- ward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 500.00, 01/ James R. Perry, (Rick) Perry For President; gress; $2,700, 6/26/2015, JEB 2016, Inc.; $2,600, 2/ 25/2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz ($2,700), 9/28/15, James R. Perry, (Rick) Perry 21/2014, Chris Gibson for Congress; $2,600, 2/21/ for President; 500.00, 02/15/2016, Cruz, Rafael For President; $2,700, 10/23/15, Kamala Harris, 2014, Chris Gibson for Congress. Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 500.00, Harris for Senate; $2,700, 12/09/15, Carly 2. Spouse: $5,000, 10/28/2016, Trump for 02/28/2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Fiornia, Carly For President; $5,400, 12/14/15, America, Inc.; $2,700, 9/8/2016, Rubio Victory Cruz for President; 500.00, 02/28/2016, Cruz, Mimi Walters Victory Fund Joint Fund- Committee; $449,400, 6/29/2016, Trump Vic- Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; raising Contribution; ($2,500), 12/23/15, John tory—Breakdown Below; $5,400, Donald J. 500.00, 03/06/2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ ¥ McCain Sedona PAC; $2,500, 12/23/15, John Trump for President; $233,800, RNC’s General, via Cruz for President; 50.00, 03/21/2016, McCain Sedona PAC; $2,700, 1/29/16, John Ka- Convention and Building Fund Accounts; Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for ¥ sich, $12,500, Kasich For America; 7/06/16, $110,000, State Parties Federal Accounts; President; 50.00, 04/25/2016, Cruz, Rafael Ed- Team Ryan Joint Fundraising Contribution; $100,200, RNC Recount Fund Account; ward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 450.00, 04/30/2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward $100,000, 7/18/16, Trump Victory Joint Fund- ($5,855), 5/2/2016, Refund—Right to Rise Super ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 450.00, 04/30/ raising Contribution; $100,000, 9/20/16, Trump PAC, Inc; $25,000, 3/29/2016, Team Ryan JFC— 2016, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for Victory Joint Fundraising Contribution; Breakdown Below; $19,600, NRCC; $5,400, President; 450.00, 07/02/2016, Cruz, Rafael Ed- $249,200, 10/13/16, Trump Victory Joint Fund- Ryan for Congress, Inc; $5,100, 3/15/2016, The ward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 250.00, 10/ raising Contribution; $5,000, 11/23/16, Trum Pat McCrory Committee; $2,700, 2/26/2016, 12/2014, Ernst, Joni K via Joni for Iowa; for America Inc.; $50,800, 12/13/16, 58th Presi- Marco Rubio for President; $2,700, 11/16/2015, 250.00, 03/29/2014, Wolf, Milton via Milton Wolf dential Inaugural Comm. Heaney for Congress; $2,700, 6/26/2015, JEB for US Senate; 1000.00, 10/24/2016, Trump, Don- 2. Spouse: Not applicable. 2016, Inc.; $50,000, 3/17/2015, Right to Rise ald J via Donald J. Trump for President, Inc; 3. Children & Spouses: Drew McCourt, Super PAC, Inc. 250.00, 08/10/2014, Maness, Robert L Col. Ret none; Travis McCourt, none; Casey McCourt, 3. Children and Spouses: Catherine Swift via Friends of Colonel Rob Maness; 250.00, 09/ none; Frank Gavin McCourt, none. Buchan (Daughter), none; Richard Duke 4. Parents: Jacob (Jack) Luskin, none; 16/2014, Cotton, Thomas via Cotton for Sen- Buchan IV (Son), none; John Francis Buchan ate; 250.00, 09/30/2014, Cotton, Thomas via Jeannette Luskin, none. (Son), none. 5. Grandparents: Nathan Luskin—deceased; Cotton for Senate. 4. Parents: Richard Duke Buchan, Jr. (Fa- 250.00, 03/30/2014, Bevin, Mathew Griswold Dora Luskin—deceased; Samuel Kitt—de- ther)—deceased; Betty Joanne Buchan via Matt Bevin for Senate Inc.; 250.00, 03/30/ ceased; Eleanor Kitt—deceased. (Mother), $2,700, 6/23/2015, JEB 2016, Inc. 2014, Maness, Robert L Col. Ret via Friends 6. Brothers and Spouses: Cary Alan Luskin, 5. Grandparents: Richard Duke Buchan, Sr. of Colonel Rob Maness; 500.00, 08/16/2014, Mil- None; Debbie Luskin, none; Kevin Eric (Grandfather)—deceased; Catherine Mangum ler, Joseph W via Citizens for Joe Miller; Luskin, $1,000, 3/19/13, Eric Cantor, Cantor Buchan (Grandmother)—deceased; Charles 250.00, 10/10/2014, Perdue, David via Perdue for For Congress; $1,000, 3/10/14, Mitch McCon- Gray Stainback, Jr. (Grandfather)—de- Senate; 250.00, 03/31/2014, Shannon, T W via nell, McConnell Senate Committee; $500, 1/25/ ceased; Rose Thompson Stainback (Grand- Shannon for Senate; 250.00, 10/14/2014, Tillis, 15, Ed Royce, Royce Campaign Committee. mother)—deceased. Thom R via Thom Tillis Committee; 100.00, Laurie Luskin, $1,500, 9/12/15, John Ratcliffe, 6. Brothers and Spouses: N/A. 10/31/2015, Carson, Benjamin S Sr MD via Car- Ratcliffe For Congress; $1,500, 9/12/15, John 7. Sisters and Spouses: Jo Dee DiRuzza son America; 100.00, 11/22/2015, Carson, Ben- Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe For Congress, $1,500, 11/09/ (Sister), $2,700, 11/24/2015, JEB 2016, Inc.; jamin S Sr MD via Carson America. 15, Brian Babin, Babin For Congress; $1,500, Barry Santi Diruzza (Brother-in-Law), $2,700, 100.00, 12/06/2015, Carson, Benjamin S Sr MD 11/09/15, Brian Babin, Babin For Congress; 11/24/2015, JEB 2016, Inc. Via Carson America; 100.00, 12/17/2015, Carson, $300, 1/29/16, Robert Pittenger, Pittenger For Benjamin S Sr MD via Carson America; Congress; $2,700, 1/29/16, Robert Pittenger, * Larry Edward Andre´, Jr., of Texas, a Ca- 100.00, 08/01/2015, Carson, Benjamin S Sr MD Pittenger For Congress; $300, 2/23/16, Carlos reer Member of the Senior Foreign Service, via Carson America; 100.00, 08/09/2015, Carson, Curbelo, Curbelo For Congress; $2,700, 2/23/16, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambas- Benjamin S Sr MD via Carson America; Carlos Curbelo, Curbelo For Congress; $500, 2/ sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of 100.00, 09/17/2015, Carson, Benjamin S Sr MD 29/16, Rob Portman, Portman For Senate; the United States of America to the Republic via Carson America; 100.00, 09/29/2015, Carson, $1,000, 3/31/16, Joe Heck, Friends of Joe Heck; of Djibouti. Benjamin S Sr MD via Carson America; $1,500, 3/31/16, Gus Bilirakis, Bilirakis For Nominee: Larry E. Andre´, Jr. 100.00, 08/01/2015, Fiorina, Carly via Carly for Congress; $1,500, 3/31/16, Gus Bilirakis, Bili- Post: Djibouti President; 100.00, 08/09/2015, Fiorina, Carly via rakis For Congress; $1,000, 3/21/17, Josh Man- (The following is a list of all members of Carly for President; 100.00, 09/17/2015, Fiorina, del, Citizens For Josh Mandel, Inc. my immediate family and their spouses. I Carly via Carly for President. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Not applicable. have asked each of these persons to inform 100.00, 09/29/2015, Fiorina, Carly via Carly me of the pertinent contributions made by for President; 100.00, 10/31/2015, Fiorina, Carly * Richard Duke Buchan III, of Florida, to them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- via Carly for President; 100.00, 11/22/2015, be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- formation contained in this report is com- Fiorina, Carly via Carly for President; 100.00, potentiary of the United States of America plete and accurate.) 12/06/2015, Fiorina, Carly via Carly for Presi- to the Kingdom of Spain, and to serve con- Contributions, amount, date, and donee: dent; 100.00, 12/17/2015, Fiorina, Carly via currently and without additional compensa- 1. Larry E. Andre´ Jr., None. Carly for President; 100.00, 01/25/2016, Fiorina, tion as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plen- 2. Spouse: Ouroukou Andre´, none. Carly via Carly for President; 100.00, 08/09/ ipotentiary of the United States of America 3. Child: Ruhiyyih Rahman Andre´, (No 2015, Rubio, Marco via Marco Rubio for to Andorra. spouse) none. President; 100.00, 09/17/2015, Rubio, Marco via Nominee: Richard Duke Buchan III. 4. Parents: Marco Rubio for President. Post: Spain and Andorra. 250.00, 10/12/2014, the 2016 Draft Committee, (The following is a list of all members of 250.00, 03/30/2014, Sasse, Benjamin E. via Ben 500.00, 07/20/2015, Sarah Pac; 250.00, 04/06/ my immediate family and their spouses. I Sasse for U.S. Senate Inc.; 250.00, 09/30/2014, 2015; Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for have asked each of these persons to inform Cassidy William M via Bill Cassidy for U.S. President; 100.00, 05/31/2015, Cruz Rafael Ed- me of the pertinent contributions made by Senate; 250.00, 09/30/2014, Brown, Scott via ward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz for President; 100.00, 06/ them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- Strong Country for Today and Tomorrow; 29/2015, Cruz, Rafael Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Cruz

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:19 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.016 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6851 for President; 450.00, 07/02/2016, Cruz, Rafael mittee; $50, 2/01/2017, Emily’s List; $50, 3/09/ Nominee: Kenneth Ian Juster. Edward ‘‘Ted’’ via Ted Cruz for Senate. 2017, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Com- Post: U.S. Ambassador to India. Larry E. Andre´ Sr., Kathleen Ann Hoyt: mittee; $35, 10/10/2016, California Democratic (The following is a list of all members of none. Party; $50, 3/31/2016, Democratic Senatorial my immediate family and their spouses. I 5. Grandparents: Ruth Eileen Andre´ (de- Campaign Committee; $25, 3/01/2016, Demo- have asked each of these persons to inform ceased), Phyllis Bushner (deceased), Harold cratic Congress; $50, have receipt letter n/d— me of the pertinent contributions made by Bushner (deceased), Sheldon Leo Andre´ (de- 2015, Democratic National Committee; $50, 7/ them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- ceased). 13/2015, Democratic Congressional Campaign formation contained in this report is com- 6. Brothers and Spouses: none. Committee; $36, 8/06/2015, Democratic Con- plete and accurate.) Contributions, amount, date, and donee: 7. Sister: Regina Kathleen Andre´ (no gress; $50, 3/15/2015, California Democratic 1. Self: $1,000.00, 12/21/2016, Republican Na- spouse): none. Party; $25, 9/04/2015, Kamala Harris for Sen- tional Committee; $32,400.00, 12/21/2016, Re- ate; $100, 1/22/2014, Democratic National Com- * Thomas L. Carter, of South Carolina, for publican National Committee; $5,000.00, 11/22/ mittee; $35, 3/20/2014, Democratic Congres- 2016, Trump for America, Inc., $500.00, 09/20/ the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of sional Campaign Committee; $35, 5/19/2014, service as Representative of the United 2016, Mark Steven Kirk, via Kirk for Senate; Democratic Congressional Campaign Com- $2,700.00, 08/07/2016, Thomas Cotton, via Cot- States of America on the Council of the mittee; $50, 7/03/2014, Democratic Senatorial International Civil Aviation Organization. ton for Senate; $1,000.00, 07/04/2016, Mark Ste- Campaign Committee; $25, 4/13/2013, Cali- ven Kirk, via Kirk for Senate; $1,000.00, 06/29/ Nominee: Thomas L. Carter. fornia Democratic Party; $25, 1/03/2013, Post: Rank of Ambassador while Rep- 2016, Kelly Ayotte, via Friends of Kelly Democratic National Committee. Ayotte, Inc.; $1,000.00, 06/12/2016, James resentative of the United States of America French Hill, via French Hill for Arkansas; on the Council of the International Civil * Daniel L. Foote, of New York, a Career $2,700.00, 06/05/2016, Elizabeth Cheney, via Liz Aviation Organization Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class Cheney for Wyoming; $2,700.00, 05/06/2016, (The following is a list of all members of of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Ex- John McCain, via Sedona PAC; $¥585.50, 05/ my immediate family and their spouses. I traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 02/2016, Right to Rise USA; $2,700.00, 04/25/ have asked each of these persons to inform United States of America to the Republic of 2016, Edward Rafael Cruz, via Cruz for Presi- me of the pertinent contributions made by Zambia. dent; $1,000.00, 02/22/2016, James French Hill, them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- Nominee: Daniel Lewis Foote. via French Hill for Arkansas; $1,000.00, 01/14/ formation contained in this report is com- Post: Zambia. 2016, Republican National Committee; plete and accurate.) (The following is a list of all members of $1,000.00, 12/21/2015, Mark Steven Kirk, via Contributions, amount, date, and donee: my immediate family and their spouses. I Kirk for Senate; $2,700.00, 06/18/2015, Jeb 1. Self: $500, 6/18/13, Lindsey Graham; $1000, have asked each of these persons to inform Bush, via Jeb 2016, Inc.; $5,000.00, 05/28/2015, 9/19/13, Martha McSally; $500 9/21/13 Howie me of the pertinent contributions made by Right to Rise PAC, Inc.; $5,000.00, 01/11/2015, Lind; $250, 10/21/13, Wendy Rogers; $250, 4/8/14, them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- Right to Risc PAC, Inc.; $5,000.00, 04/02/2014, Howie Lind; $1000, 4/10/14, Lindsey Graham; formation contained in this report is com- Republican National Committee; $1,000.00, 03/ $250, 6/15/14, Bentley Rayburn; $250, 7/10/14, plete and accurate.) 17/2014, Lindsey Graham, via Team Graham, Wendy Rogers; $250, 8/5/14, Lindsey Graham; My spouse, immediate family, and I have Inc.; $1,000.00, 03/2014; Daniel Sullivan; $500, 9/18/14, Martha McSally; $250, 10/20/14, not made any political contributions. $1,000.00, 02/24/2014, James French Hill, via Wendy Rogers; $1000, 3/31/15, Martha McSally; Contributions, amount, date, and donee: French Hill for Arkansas; $1,000.00, 09/30/2013, $500, 3/31/15, Sam Adcock; $1000, 6/25/15, 1. Self: None. Mark Steven Kirk, via Kirk for Senate; Lindsey Graham; $1000, 10/9/15, John McCain; 2. Spouse: Claudia V. Foote, none. $1,000.00, 03/16/2013, Concord 51 Political Ac- $1000, 12/8/15, Tim Scott; $250, 12/10/15, 3. Children and Spouses: Cecilia M. Lopez, tion Committee, Inc.; $2,600.00, 02/2013, Mitch Lindsey Graham; $500, 2/17/16, Kelly Ayotte; none; Daniel C. Foote, none. McConnell. $500, 3/25/16, Lindsey Graham; $500, 3/29/16, 4. Parents: Curtiss L. Foote, none; Caroline 2. Spouse: N/A. Mike McCaul; $1000, 3/31/16, Martha McSally; H. Foote, none. 3. Children and Spouses: N/A. $500, 6/15/16, Jack Reed; $250, 6/20/16, Will 5. Grandparents: Curtiss E. Foote—de- 4. Parents: Howard Juster—deceased; Hurd; $500, 6/29/16, John McCain; $250, 917/16, ceased; Lorraine C. Foote—deceased; Otto Muriel Juster, none. John McCain; $500, 9/21/16, Kay Granger; $250, Herold—deceased; Anna Herold—deceased. 5. Grandparents: Samuel Juster—deceased; 9/27/16, Mike McCaul; $1000, 10/21/16, Trump 6. Brothers and Spouses: Robert E. Foote, Minnie Juster—deceased; Benjamin Transition (501c4); $250, 11/15/16, Mike none; Dawn G. Foote (spouse), none; John C. Uchitelle—deceased; Lena Uchitelle—de- McCaul; $1000, 2/16/17, Martha McSally. Foote, none. ceased. 2. No other contributions by immediate 7. Sisters and Spouses: Kristen M. Foote, 6. Brothers and Spouses: Andrew Juster: family members. none. $2,700.00, 06/30/2017, Sean Patrick Maloney, via Sean Patrick Maloney for Congress; * Nina Maria Fite, of Pennsylvania, a Ca- * Richard Grenell, of California, to be Am- $1,000.00, 12/27/2016, National Association of reer Member of the Senior Foreign Service, bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. Political Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambas- of the United States of America to the Fed- Action Committee; $1,000.00, 09/25/2015, Jeb sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of eral Republic of Germany. Bush, via Jeb 2016, Inc.; $1,000.00, 09/15/2015, the United States of America to the Republic Nominee: Richard Allen Grenell. National Association of Real Estate Invest- of Angola. Post: U.S. Ambassador to Germany. ment Trusts, Inc. Political Action Com- Nominee: Nina Maria Fite. (The following is a list of all members of mittee; $1,000.00, 11/13/2014, National Associa- Post: Luanda, Angola. my immediate family and their spouses. I tion of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (The following is a list of all members of have asked each of these persons to inform Political Action Committee; $1,000.00, 09/24/ my immediate family and their spouses. I me of the pertinent contributions made by 2013, National Republican Senatorial Com- have asked each of these persons to inform them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- mittee; $1,000.00, 07/25/2013, National Associa- me of the pertinent contributions made by formation contained in this report is com- tion of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- plete and accurate. Political Action Committee; $2,600.00, 07/24/ formation contained in this report is com- Contributions, amount, date, and donee: 2013, Team Ryan; Janet Juster (Sister-in- plete and accurate.) 1. Self: $1,000, 6/19/2013, Lindsey Graham; law), none. Contributions, amount, date, and donee: $250, 9/11/2013, Mitch McConnell; $1,000, 9/16/ 7. Sisters and Spouses: N/A. 1. Self: none. 2014, Ed Royce; $5,400, 6/05/2015, Rob Portman; 2. Spouse: N/A. $1,000, 6/11/2015, John McCain. * W. Robert Kohorst, of California, to be 3. Children and Spouses: N/A. 2. Spouse: none. Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- 4. Parents: Francis Aloysius Fite—de- 3. Children and spouses: none. potentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Croatia. ceased; Neyde Tinoco Fite—deceased. 4. Parents: Judith Grenell—none; Denny Nominee: W. Robert Kohorst (aka William 5. Grandparents: Eugene Fite—deceased; Grenell—deceased. Robert Kohorst). Loretta Fite—deceased; Regulo Tinoco—de- 5. Grandparents: Nate Grenell—deceased; Post: U.S. Ambassador to Croatia. ceased; Ana Bezerra Tinoco—deceased. Esther Grenell—deceased; Rueben Pearson— (The following is a list of all members of 7. Brothers and Spouses: Richard Francis deceased; Gladys Pearson—deceased. my immediate family and their spouses. I Fite, none; Ruth Fite, $30, 2016, Hillary Clin- 6. Brothers and Spouses: Bradley Grenell— have asked each of these persons to inform ton. none; Jeffrey Grenell—none; Kerri Grenell— me of the pertinent contributions made by 8. Sisters and Spouses: Tereza Fite none; Jane Grenell—none. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- McNamee, Peter McNamee, see attachment 7. Sisters and Spouses: Deborah Grenell formation contained in this report is com- for joint contributions; Cynthia Fite—de- Kells—none; Dennis Kells—none. plete and accurate.) ceased. Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Attachment: * Kenneth Ian Juster, of New York, to be 1. Self: $32,400, 6/28/2013, Republican Na- Sisters and Spouses: Tereza Fite McNamee, Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- tional Committee; $2,600, 10/31/2013, Dinsdale, Peter Charles McNamee: $100, 1/30/2017, potentiary of the United States of America Sid for U.S. Senate; $32,400, 10/31/2013, Na- Democratic Congressional Campaign Com- to the Republic of India. tional Republican Senatorial Committee;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:37 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.029 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6852 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 $32,400, 2/3/2014, National Republican Senato- rial Committee; $2,700, 1/27/2017, Taylor, Post: U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of rial Committee; $25,000, 3/14/2014, Republican Scott for Congress; $5,000, 2/27/2017, McCar- Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles. Governors Association; $1,000, 6/5/2014, thy, Kevin Victory Fund. Katie Ann Kohorst: (The following is a list of all members of Orman, Gregory for U.S. Senate; $22,600, 6/18/ $5,400, 9/30/2015, Rubio, Marco for President; my immediate family and their spouses. I 2014, Republican National Committee; $1,000, ($2,700), 5/13/2016, Rubio, Marco for Presi- have asked each of these persons to inform 7/1/2014, Orswell, Jack for Congress; $32,400, dent—refund general; $2,500, 8/29/2016, Na- me of the pertinent contributions made by 10/31/2014, National Republican Senatorial tional Republican Senatorial Committee. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- Committee; $32,400, 1/30/2015, Republican Na- Matthew Allen Kohorst: $2,700, 6/19/2015, formation contained in this report is com- tional Committee; $10,200, 3/31/2015, Rubio Rubio, Marco for President; $2,700, 9/29/2015, plete and accurate.) Victory Committee for President; $1,500, 6/16/ Rubio, Marco for President; $25,000, 3/12/2016, Contributions, amount, date, and donee: 2015, Barger, Katherine for Los Angeles California Republican Party Federal Acct; 1. Self: none. County Supervisor; $1,000, 10/17/2015, Orswell, ($2,700), 5/13/2016, Rubio, Marco for Presi- 2. Spouse: Simonetta Romagnolo: none. Jack for Congress; $1,000, 10/18/2015, Young, dent—refund general; $2,500, 8/23/2016, Na- 3. Children and Spouses: N/A. Todd for U.S. Senate; $5,400, 10/26/2015, Booz- tional Republican Senatorial Committee; 4. Parents: Richard Reimer, $70, 4/4/2013, man, John for U.S. Senate; $85,200, 11/20/2015, $5,000, 11/30/2016, Trump for America Inc.; Wayne County (Ohio) Democratic Party; $50, Republican National Committee; $1,000, 11/25/ $2,700, 1/26/2017, Taylor, Scott for Congress; 6/4/2013, Democratic Senatorial Campaign 2015, Hoeven, John for U.S. Senate; $2,700, 12/ $5,000, 2/23/2017, McCarthy, Kevin Victory Committee (DSCC); $200, 6/12/2014, DSCC; 15/2015, Young, Todd for U.S. Senate; $250,000, Fund. $200, 6/12/2014, Democratic National Com- 1/29/2016, Republican National Committee; 4. Parents: William Robert Kohorst, Sr.— mittee (DNC); $200, 9/1/2014, DSCC; $100, 4/24/ $1,500, 1/30/2016, Barger, Katherine for Los deceased; Mary Helen Kohorst—deceased. 2015, Friends of Sherrod Brown; Lois Reimer: Angeles County Supervisor; $50,000, 2/10/2016, 5. Grandparents: Clement Bernard none. National Republican Senatorial Committee; Kohorst—deceased; Rose Kohorst—deceased; 5. Grandparents: Edwin Unruh—deceased; $50,000, 3/31/2016, California Republican Party Elmer Lawrence McGarry—deceased; Francis Lenah Unruh—deceased; David Reimer—de- Federal Acct; $50,000, 4/7/2016, Cruz, Rafael McGarry—deceased. ceased; Caroline Reimer—deceased. Edward ‘‘Ted’’ for President; ($2,500), 5/13/ 6. Brothers and Spouses: Garry Stephen 6. Brothers and Spouses: Paul Reimer, 2016, Rubio, Marco for President—Refund Kohorst: $5,400, 1/28/2016, Rubio, Marco for none; Melissa Miller, none. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Sue Reimer, none; from general; $1,500, 6/10/2016, Barger, Kath- President; ($2,700), 3/28/2016, Rubio, Marco for Craig Praul, none. erine for Los Angeles County Supervisor; President—refund general; $20, 6/26/2016, $2,700, 6/22/2016, Rubio, Marco for U.S. Senate; Trump, Donald J VIA Donald J. Trump for * Eric P Whitaker, of Illinois, a Career $5,400, 6/23/2016, Grassley, Charles for U.S. President Inc.; $100, 5/15/2015, Carson, Ben for Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class Senate; $194,400, 6/23/2016, Trump Victory; President. Dawn Kohorst: $5,400, 1/28/2016, of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraor- $2,700, 6/23/2016, Rubio, Marco for U.S. Senate; Rubio, Marco for President; ($2,700), 3/28/2016, dinary and Plenipotentiary of the United $5,400, 6/30/2016, Johnson, Ron for U.S. Sen- Rubio, Marco for President—refund general. States of America to the Republic of Niger. ate; $100,000, 6/29/2016, National Republican Keith Andrew Kohorst: $50, 2015, UNLV Re- Senatorial Committee; $5,400, 6/29/2016, Nominee: Eric P. Whitaker. gent Sam Lieberman. Kimberly Kohorst: Post: Niamey, Niger. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy VIA Cathy McMor- none. Brett James Kohorst: none. Natasha ris Rodgers for Congress; $2,700, 6/30/2016, (The following is a list of all members of Kohorst: none. my immediate family and their spouses. I Ernst, Joni for U.S Senate; $2,700, 8/10/2016, 7. Sisters and Spouses: none. Ayotte, Kelly for U.S. Senate; $2,500, 8/29/ have asked each of these persons to inform 2016, National Republican Senatorial Com- me of the pertinent contributions made by * Edward T. McMullen, Jr., of South Caro- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- mittee; $2,700, 8/30/2016, McCain, John for lina, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and U.S. Senate; $2,500, 9/10/2016, Hadley, David formation contained in this report is com- Plenipotentiary of the United States of plete and accurate.) for California House; $100,000, 9/26/2016, America to the Swiss Confederation, and to Trump Victory; $1,000, 11/5/2016, Guinta, Contributions, amount, date, and donee: serve concurrently and without additional 1. Self: none. Frank VIA Friends of Frank Guinta; $1,500, compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary 2. Spouse: Jonita—deceased 10/21/2016, Antonovich, Michael for California and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 3 Children and Spouses: Ginger Whitaker, Senate; $2,700, 11/22/2016, Kennedy, John for America to the Principality of Liech- $91, 12/15–03/16, Bernie Sanders; Jordan U.S. Senate; $250,000, 11/27/2016, 58th Inau- tenstein. Whitaker, none. guration Committee; $5,000, 11/27/2016, Trump Nominee: Edward Thomas McMullen Jr. 4. Parents: Edwin Whitaker—deceased; for America (transition team breakfast); Post: Ambassador Switzerland/ Carmen Whitaker—none. $5,400, 12/12/2016, Royce, Ed for Congress; Lichtenstein. 5. Grandparents: Lowell and Stella $5,400, 12/21/2016, Nunes, Devin for Congress; (The following is a list of all members of Barham—deceased; Edwin and Mame $2,700, 1/20/2017, Heller, Dean for U.S. Senate; my immediate family and their spouses. I Whitaker—deceased. $100,000, 1/26/2017, National Republican Sen- have asked each of these persons to inform 6. Brothers and Spouses: Craig and Mary atorial Committee; $2,700, 1/27/2017, Barrasso, me of the pertinent contributions made by Whitaker—none. John for U.S. Senate; $2,700, 1/27/2017, Taylor, them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- 7. Sisters and Spouses: None. Scott for Congress; $2,700, 3/1/2017, Garcetti, formation contained in this report is com- Eric for Los Angeles Mayor; $2,700, 3/20/2017, plete and accurate.) * Carla Sands, of California, to be Ambas- Thune, John for U.S. Senate; $25,000, 3/20/ Contributions, amount, date, and donee: sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of 2017, McCarthy, Kevin for Congress and PAC. 1. Self: $1000, 2/1/13, Joe Wilson; $1000, 1/12/ the United States of America to the King- 2. Spouse: Shelley Ann Allen: $32,400, 6/28/ 15, Joe Wilson; $2000, 11/21/11, Lindsey Gra- dom of Denmark 2013, Republican National Committee; $2,600, ham. Nominee—Carla Herd Sands. 11/20/2013, Dinsdale, Sid for U.S. Senate; 2. Spouse: none. Post: U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of $32,400, 2/3/2014, National Republican Senato- 3. Children and Spouses: Margaret Ann Denmark. rial Committee; $32,400, 1/30/2015, Republican McMullen; Edward Thomas McMullen III— (The following is a list of all members of National Committee; $10,200, 3/31/2015, Rubio none; Katherine West McMullen—none. my immediate family and their spouses. I Victory Committee for President; $10,200, 3/ 4. Parents: Christine McMullen Valliere— have asked each of these persons to inform 31/2015, Rubio Victory Committee for Presi- deceased; Edward Thomas McMullen: none. me of the pertinent contributions made by dent; ($10,200), 5/19/2015, Rubio Victory Com- 5. Grandparents: Clarence Theodore Coch- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- mittee—Refund of duplicate payment error; ran—deceased; Helen Cochran—deceased; formation contained in this report is com- $1,500, 6/16/2015, Barger, Katherine for Los Katherine Boyle McMullen—deceased; Erwin plete and accurate.) Angeles County Supervisor; $33,400, 1/29/2016, Oscar McMullen—deceased. Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Republican National Committee; $1,500, 1/30/ 6. Brothers and Spouses: Everett John 1. Self: $1,000, 12/20/16, Ed Royce Campaign 2016, Barger, Katherine for Los Angeles McMullen, none; Melissa McMullen, none. Committee; $100,000, 12/16/16, 58th Presi- County Supervisor; ($2,500), 5/13/2016, Rubio, 7. Sisters and Spouses: Michelle McMullen dential Inaugural Committee; $810, 10/5/16, Marco for President—refund of general elec- Clark, none; Victor Clark, none. David Hadley for Assembly; $29,434, 7/26/16, tion; $1,500, 6/10/2016, Barger, Katherine for Trump Victory Committee; $5,577.85, 7/26/16, Los Angeles County Supervisor; $5,400, 6/23/ * David Dale Reimer, of Ohio, a Career Trump Victory Committee; $214,988.15, 7/21/ 2016, Rubio, Marco for U.S. Senate; $5,400, 12/ Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class 16, Trump Victory Committee; $1,000, 7/20/16, 12/2016, Royce, Ed for Congress; $2,700, 3/1/ of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraor- Ron Johnson for Senate; $1,000, 7/20/16, Ron 2017, Garcetti, Eric for Los Angeles Mayor; dinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Johnson for Senate; $2,700, 7/2/16, Ted Cruz $2,700, 3/20/2017, Thune, John for U.S. Senate. States of America to the Republic of Mauri- (returned by campaign); $1,000, 6/30/16, Zeldin 3. Children and Spouses: Kevin Allen tius, and to serve concurrently and without for Congress; $900, 6/14/16, California Repub- Kohorst: $5,300, 9/30/2015, Rubio, Marco for additional compensation as Ambassador Ex- lican Party; $1,000, 6/9/16, Ron DeSantis for President; $25,000, 3/29/2016, California Repub- traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Florida; $2,700, 6/8/16, Friends of Joe Heck; lican Party Federal Acct; ($2,600), 5/13/2016, United States of America to the Republic of $2,700, 6/8/16; Friends of Joe Heck; $1,000, 5/27/ Rubio, Marco for President—refund general; Seychelles. 16, Sundheim for Senate; $5,000, 5/26/16, Re- $2,500, 8/29/2016, National Republican Senato- Nominee: David Dale Reimer. publican National Committee; $20,000, 4/29/16,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.023 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6853 Trusted Leadership PAC; $5,000, 4/27/16, New * Samuel Dale Brownback, of Kansas, to be folio, and for other purposes; to the Com- Majority PAC; $5,000, 4/5/16, Trusted Leader- Ambassador at Large for International Reli- mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- ship PAC; $2,700, 1/31/16, Ted Cruz (returned gious Freedom. fairs. by campaign); $5,000, 1/28/16, Stand For * Michael T. Evanoff, of Arkansas, to be an By Mrs. ERNST (for herself and Ms. Truth, Inc.; $10,000, 1/19/16, California Repub- Assistant Secretary of State (Diplomatic Se- HEITKAMP): lican Party; $2,700, 1/14/16, Cruz for President; curity). S. 2014. A bill to require greater trans- * Jennifer Gillian Newstead, of New York, $2,700, 12/29/15, Cruz for President; $500, 12/27/ parency for Federal regulatory decisions to be Legal Adviser of the Department of 15, Paul Chabot for Congress; $33,400, 9/23/15, that impact small businesses; to the Com- Republican National Committee; $1,600, 9/23/ State. * Manisha Singh, of Florida, to be an As- mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- 15, Republican National Committee; $2,700, 8/ mental Affairs. 31/15, Scott Walker, Inc.; $2,700, 6/19/15, Marco sistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs). By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. Rubio for President; $32,400, 10/24/14, Repub- MARKEY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. KLO- lican National Committee; $2,000, 9/30/14, Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, for the BUCHAR, Mr. FRANKEN, Ms. STABENOW, McSally for Congress; $2,600, 9/16/14, Strick- Committee on Foreign Relations I re- Mr. PETERS, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. WAR- land for Congress; $672.99, 9/11/14, Winning port favorably the following nomina- REN, and Mr. JOHNSON): Women for US Senate; $2,400, 5/28/14, Jobs tion list which was printed in the Growth & Freedom Fund (Cruz Victory); S. 2015. A bill to clarify the status of the $5,000, 6/10/14, Ted Cruz for Senate (Cruz Vic- Record on the date indicated, and ask North Country, Ice Age, and New England tory Committee); $2,600, 2/13/14, Strickland unanimous consent, to save the ex- National Scenic Trails as units of the Na- for Congress; $500, 10/16/13, Tea Party Patri- pense of reprinting on the Executive tional Park System, and for other purposes; ots Citizens Fund; $2,098, 8/9/13, Republican Calendar that this nomination lie at to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- National Committee; $2,600, 7/30/13, Friends the Secretary’s desk for the informa- sources. of Pat Toomey; $574.75, 7/12/13, Kevin McCar- tion of Senators. By Mr. MARKEY: thy In-Kind. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without S. 2016. A bill to prevent an unconstitu- 2. Spouse: Fred Sands (Deceased): $33,400, 9/ objection, it is so ordered. tional strike against North Korea; to the 23/15, Republican National Committee; $1,600, * Foreign Service nominations beginning Committee on Foreign Relations. 9/23/15, Republican National Committee; By Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. $2,700, 9/1/15, Scott Walker, Inc.; $2,700, 6/30/15, with Julie P. Akey and ending with Vera N. Zdravkova, which nominations were received BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. Jeb 2016; $1,440, 6/26/15, Marco Rublo for FRANKEN, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND): President; $2,700, 6/19/15, Marco Rubio for by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- S. 2017. A bill to amend the Fair Labor President; $2,700, 6/3/15, Devin Nunes Cam- sional Record on October 2, 2017. By Mr. GRASSLEY for the Committee on Standards Act of 1938 to provide that over- paign Committee; $1,000, 5/15/15, Carly for the Judiciary. the-road bus drivers are covered under the America Committee; $1,000, 3/18/15, Marco Allison H. Eid, of Colorado, to be United maximum hours requirement; to the Com- Rubio for Senate (Rubio Victory Comm); States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and $5,000, 2/4/15, Right to Rise PAC, Inc.; $1,000, Stephanos Bibas, of Pennsylvania, to be Pensions. 11/21/14, National Republican Congressional United States Circuit Judge for the Third By Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Comm; $2,500, 10/27/14, New Majority Cali- Circuit. BROWN): fornia Federal PAC; $1,000, 10/24/14, New Liles Clifton Burke, of Alabama, to be Hampshire for Scott Brown; $1,000, 10/7/14, United States District Judge for the North- S. 2018. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- Paul Chabot for Congress (Young Guns Vic- ern District of Alabama. enue Code of 1986 to make the child tax cred- tory Committee); $1,000, 10/23/14, Nestande for Walter David Counts III, of Texas, to be it fully refundable, establish an increased Congress (Young Guns Victory); $1,000, 10/22/ United States District Judge for the Western child tax credit for young children, and for 14, Carl Demaio for Congress (Young Guns District of Texas. other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- Victory Committee); $1,000, 10/7/14, Gorell for Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be nance. Congress (Young Guns Victory); $2,400, 9/30/ United States District Judge for the Western By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. 14, National Republican Congressional Com- District of Louisiana. DURBIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. mittee (McCarthy Victory Fund); $5,000, 9/30/ A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., of South BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. LEAHY): 14, Majority Committee PAC (McCarthy Vic- Carolina, to be United States District Judge S. 2019. A bill to amend title VII of the tory Fund); $2,600, 9/30/14, Kevin McCarthy for the District of South Carolina. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other statutes to for Congress (McCarthyVictory Fund); $2,100, Karen Gren Scholer, of Texas, to be United clarify appropriate liability standards for 9/16/14, Strickland for Congress; $672.99, 9/11/ States District Judge for the Northern Dis- Federal antidiscrimination claims; to the 14, Winning Women for US Senate; $400, 5/31/ trict of Texas. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 14, Carl Demaio for Congress; $2,600, 5/31/14, Tilman Eugene Self III, of Georgia, to be Pensions. Carl Demaio for Congress; $2,600, 5/28/14, Carr United States District Judge for the Middle By Mr. MARKEY: for Congress; $2,600, 4/4/14, Walters for Con- District of Georgia. S. 2020. A bill to establish a voluntary pro- gress; $2,600, 3/26/14, Ben Sasse for US Senate, John F. Bash, of Texas, to be United States gram to identify and promote Internet-con- Inc.; $2,600, 3/26/14, Ben Sasse for US Senate, Attorney for the Western District of Texas nected products that meet industry-leading Inc.; $500, 2/13/14, Strickland for Congress; for the term of four years. cybersecurity and data security standards, $2,100, 2/13/14, Strickland for Congress; $1,000, Erin Angela Nealy Cox, of Texas, to be guidelines, best practices, methodologies, 11/26/13, Nestande for Congress; $2,600, 9/19/13, United States Attorney for the Northern Dis- procedures, and processes; to the Committee McConnell Senate Committee ‘14; $1,560, 8/9/ trict of Texas for the term of four years. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 13, Reclaim America PAC (Rubio Victory R. Andrew Murray, of North Carolina, to Comm); $2,600, 8/9/13, Marco Rubio for Sen- be United States Attorney for the Western By Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. ate; $2,600, 7/30/13, Friends of Pat Toomey; District of North Carolina for the term of RUBIO): $2,500, 7/22/13, Issa for Congress; In-Kind, four years. S. 2021. A bill to repeal title I of the Pa- $574.75, 7/12/13, Kevin McCarthy for Congress * Nomination was reported with rec- tient Protection and Affordable Care Act and (McCarthy Victory Fund); $32,400, 6/26/13, Re- ommendation that it be confirmed sub- to amend the Public Health Service Act to publican National Committee; $500, 4/19/13, ject to the nominee’s commitment to provide for cooperative governing of indi- Strickland for Congress; $2,400, 3/11/13, Ryan respond to requests to appear and tes- vidual health insurance coverage offered in for Congress, Inc.; $2,600, 3/11/13, Ryan for tify before any duly constituted com- interstate commerce; to the Committee on Congress, Inc. Finance. 3. Children: Alexandra Sands: None; Jona- mittee of the Senate. By Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. than Sands: $2,700, 7/11/16, Donald Trump for (Nominations without an asterisk JOHNSON): were reported with the recommenda- President. S. 2022. A bill to amend the Federal Food, 4. Parents: Jack Herd: $75.00, 2016, Donald tion that they be confirmed.) Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for recip- Trump for President. Barbara Herd: None. f rocal marketing approval of certain drugs, 5. Grandparents: Deceased. 6. Brothers and Spouses: John Herd, none; INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND biological products, and devices that are au- David Herd, none; Paige Herd, none; Nathan JOINT RESOLUTIONS thorized to be lawfully marketed abroad, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Herd, none; Mark Herd, none. The following bills and joint resolu- 7. Sisters and Spouses: Deborah Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Sicchitano: $100, 2016, Donald Trump for tions were introduced, read the first By Mr. RUBIO: President. Joseph Sicchitano: $90.00, 12/31/16, and second times by unanimous con- S. 2023. A bill to require a study regarding Sun Trust PAC; $60.00, 11/28/16, Sun Trust sent, and referred as indicated: security measures and equipment at Cuba’s PAC; $30.00, 10/19/16, Sun Trust PAC; $180.00, By Mr. PERDUE: airports, require the standardization of Fed- 9/30/16, Sun Trust PAC; $180.00, 6/30/16, Sun S. 2013. A bill to amend the Truth in Lend- eral Air Marshal Service agreements, require Trust PAC; $360.00, 12/31/15, Sun Trust PAC; ing Act to provide a safe harbor from certain efforts to raise international aviation secu- $360.00, 6/30/15, Sun Trust PAC. Rhonda requirements related to qualified mortgages rity standards, and for other purposes; to the Carver: $100, 2016, Donald Trump for Presi- for residential mortgage loans held on an Committee on Commerce, Science, and dent. Brian Carver: None. originating depository institution’s port- Transportation.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:19 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.043 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6854 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 By Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself and Mr. ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS sponsor of S. 1412, a bill to amend the KAINE): S. 108 Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide S. 2024. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- for a percentage of student loan for- enue Code of 1986 to create a tax credit for At the request of Mr. HATCH, the name of the Senator from Connecticut giveness for public service employ- foster families; to the Committee on Fi- ment, and for other purposes. nance. (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- By Mr. YOUNG: sponsor of S. 108, a bill to amend the S. 1582 S. 2025. A bill to provide for the conduct of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal At the request of Mr. VAN HOLLEN, demonstration projects to provide coordi- the excise tax on medical devices. the name of the Senator from New nated case management services for TANF S. 422 York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a recipients; to the Committee on Finance. cosponsor of S. 1582, a bill to establish By Mr. NELSON (for himself, Mrs. At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, the name of the Senator from New the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial GILLIBRAND, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. Commission. MENENDEZ, and Mr. BOOKER): York (Mr. SCHUMER) was added as a co- S. 2026. A bill to amend titles XVIII and sponsor of S. 422, a bill to amend title S. 1774 XIX of the Social Security Act to make im- 38, United States Code, to clarify pre- At the request of Mr. HATCH, the provements to the treatment of the United sumptions relating to the exposure of name of the Senator from Wyoming States territories under the Medicare and certain veterans who served in the vi- (Mr. BARRASSO) was added as a cospon- Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; cinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and sor of S. 1774, a bill to provide protec- to the Committee on Finance. for other purposes. tions for workers with respect to their By Mr. PORTMAN: S. 514 right to select or refrain from selecting S. 2027. A bill to amend title XIX of the So- representation by a labor organization. cial Security Act to provide clarification At the request of Mr. PERDUE, the with respect to the liability of third party name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. S. 1850 payers for medical assistance paid under the ROBERTS) was added as a cosponsor of At the request of Mr. MANCHIN, the Medicaid program, and for other purposes; to S. 514, a bill to direct the Secretary of name of the Senator from North Caro- the Committee on Finance. Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot lina (Mr. TILLIS) was added as a co- By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. DURBIN, program to provide access to magnetic sponsor of S. 1850, a bill to amend the Ms. WARREN, and Mr. MURPHY): EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy to Public Health Service Act to protect S. 2028. A bill to provide for institutional veterans. the confidentiality of substance use risk-sharing in the Federal student loan pro- grams; to the Committee on Health, Edu- S. 796 disorder patient records. cation, Labor, and Pensions. At the request of Mr. WARNER, the S. 1871 By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. COONS, name of the Senator from Pennsyl- At the request of Mr. CASSIDY, the and Mr. BLUMENTHAL): vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- name of the Senator from Iowa (Mr. S. 2029. A bill to establish a National and sponsor of S. 796, a bill to amend the GRASSLEY) was added as a cosponsor of Community Service Administration to carry Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend S. 1871, a bill to amend title 38, United out the national and volunteer service pro- the exclusion for employer-provided States Code, to clarify the role of po- grams, to expand participation in such pro- grams, and for other purposes; to the Com- education assistance to employer pay- diatrists in the Department of Vet- mittee on Finance. ments of student loans. erans Affairs, and for other purposes. S. 808 S. 1967 f At the request of Mr. THUNE, the At the request of Mr. COTTON, the name of the Senator from Delaware name of the Senator from Missouri SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND (Mr. COONS) was added as a cosponsor (Mr. BLUNT) was added as a cosponsor SENATE RESOLUTIONS of S. 808, a bill to provide protections of S. 1967, a bill to amend the Internal for certain sports medicine profes- Revenue Code of 1986 to provide addi- The following concurrent resolutions sionals who provide certain medical tional exemptions to the individual and Senate resolutions were read, and services in a secondary State. mandate, and for other purposes. referred (or acted upon), as indicated: S. 818 S. 2004 By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. At the request of Mr. CASEY, the At the request of Mr. CASEY, the CORNYN, Mr. CRUZ, and Mrs. MUR- name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. names of the Senator from Connecticut RAY): COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) and the Senator S. Res. 308. A resolution commemorating 818, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- the 100th anniversary of the 2nd Infantry Di- from Connecticut (Mr. MURPHY) were vision; to the Committee on Armed Services. enue Code of 1986 to allow individuals added as cosponsors of S. 2004, a bill to By Ms. WARREN (for herself and Ms. with disabilities to save additional increase funding for the State response COLLINS): amounts in their ABLE accounts above to the opioid misuse crisis and to pro- S. Res. 309. A resolution expressing support the current annual maximum contribu- vide funding for research on addiction for the designation of October 2017 as ‘‘Na- tion if they work and earn income. and pain related to the substance mis- tional Protect Your Hearing Month’’; to the S. 872 use crisis. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the S. RES. 279 Pensions. name of the Senator from Iowa (Mrs. By Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, At the request of Mr. MCCAIN, the Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of S. name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 872, a bill to amend title XVIII of the RUBIO) was added as a cosponsor of S. FRANKEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. Social Security Act to make perma- Res. 279, a resolution reaffirming the HATCH, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. ISAKSON, nent the extension of the Medicare-de- commitment of the United States to Mr. NELSON, Mr. KING, and Mr. pendent hospital (MDH) program and promote democracy, human rights, and COONS): the increased payments under the the rule of law in Cambodia. S. Res. 310. A resolution recognizing the Medicare low-volume hospital pro- S. RES. 291 importance of a continued commitment to gram. ending pediatric AIDS worldwide; to the At the request of Mr. CRUZ, the name Committee on Foreign Relations. S. 1027 of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. At the request of Mr. HATCH, the GARDNER) was added as a cosponsor of MERKLEY): name of the Senator from Arkansas S. Res. 291, a resolution affirming the S. Res. 311. A resolution honoring the Port- (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- historical connection of the Jewish land Thorns FC as the champion of the Na- sor of S. 1027, a bill to extend the Se- people to the ancient and sacred city of tional Women’s Soccer League in 2017; to the cure Rural Schools and Community Jerusalem and condemning efforts at Committee on Commerce, Science, and Self-Determination Act of 2000. Transportation. the United Nations Educational, Sci- By Mr. CORNYN: S. 1412 entific, and Cultural Organization S. Con. Res. 28. A concurrent resolution At the request of Mr. BLUMENTHAL, (UNESCO) to deny Judaism’s mil- providing for a correction in the enrollment the name of the Senator from Mary- lennia-old historical, religious, and of S. 782; considered and agreed to. land (Mr. CARDIN) was added as a co- cultural ties to Jerusalem.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.034 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6855 STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED We cannot wait until an institution By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS is catastrophically failing its students COONS, and Mr. BLUMENTHAL): By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. before taking action. Institutions need S. 2029. A bill to establish a National DURBIN, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. greater financial incentives to act be- and Community Service Administra- MURPHY): fore default rates rise. Simply put, we tion to carry out the national and vol- S. 2028. A bill to provide for institu- cannot tackle the student loan debt unteer service programs, to expand tional risk-sharing in the Federal stu- crisis without States and institutions participation in such programs, and for dent loan programs; to the Committee stepping up and taking greater respon- other purposes, to the Committee on on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- sibility for college costs and student Finance. sions. borrowing. Mr. REED. Mr. President, as Ameri- Mr. REED. Mr. President, we all rec- That is why I am pleased to intro- cans, we take inspiration from those ognize that a postsecondary education duce the Protect Student Borrowers who have answered the call to serve, is required for most family-sustaining, Act with Senators DURBIN, WARREN, whether in defense of our Nation middle-class jobs, and that an educated and MURPHY. Our legislation seeks to abroad or to strengthen our commu- workforce is essential to a modern, ensure there is more skin in the game nities at home. This willingness to productive economy. A report by the when it comes to student loan debt by make common cause with our fellow Georgetown University Center on Edu- setting stronger market incentives for citizens and serve a purpose greater cation and the Workforce found that colleges and universities to provide than ourselves is a hallmark of our Na- college-level intensive business serv- better and more affordable education tion. We should ensure that every ices have replaced manufacturing as to students, which should in turn help American who wants to serve has the the largest sector in the U.S. economy, put the brakes on rising student loan opportunity to do so. To that end, I am and that while college-educated work- defaults. introducing the America’s Call to Im- ers make up only 32 percent of the The Protect Student Borrowers Act proving Opportunities Now (ACTION) workforce, they now produce more would hold colleges and universities for National Service Act with Senators accountable for student loan defaults than 50 percent of the Nation’s eco- COONS and BLUMENTHAL. Our legisla- nomic output, up from 13 percent in by requiring them to repay a percent- tion calls for elevating the Corporation 1967. A college degree also pays off, as age of defaulted loans. Only institu- for National and Community Service median annual earnings for bachelor’s tions that have one-third or more of (CNCS) to a cabinet-level agency and degree holders were $23,000 higher com- their students borrow would be in- supporting up to one million national pared to high school graduates in 2014. cluded in the bill’s risk-sharing re- service positions annually. quirements based on their cohort de- Yet just as there is growing recogni- Since 1994, over one million individ- fault rate. Risk-sharing requirements tion that postsecondary education is uals have served through the would kick in when the default rate ex- indispensable in the modern economy, AmeriCorps program. Additionally, ceeds 15 percent. As the institution’s families are being required to shoulder roughly 245,000 seniors over the age of default rate rises, so too will the insti- growing debt burdens that threaten ac- 55 volunteer annually through the Sen- tution’s risk-share payment. cess to college. ior Corps programs. These individuals According to an analysis of student The Protect Student Borrowers Act have addressed critical community loan debt by the Federal Reserve Bank also provides incentives for institu- needs in education, economic develop- of New York, between 2004 and 2014, tions to take proactive steps to ease ment, health, and many other areas. there was an 89 percent increase in the student loan debt burdens and reduce They have come to their fellow citi- number of student loan borrowers and default rates. Colleges and universities zens’ aid in times of national disaster, a 77 percent increase in the average can reduce or eliminate their payments including thousands who have been de- balance size. Today, over 40 million if they implement a comprehensive ployed in the wake of Hurricanes Har- Americans have student loan debt. student loan management plan. The This is a growing drag on our econ- Secretary may waive or reduce the vey, Irma, and Maria. Unfortunately, omy. As student loan debt has grown, payments for institutions whose mis- we have not created the capacity to young adults have put off buying sion is to serve low-income and minor- support all those who want to serve. homes or cars, starting a family, sav- ity students, such as community col- Rhode Island has embraced service. ing for retirement, or launching new leges, Historically Black Institutions, Providence is one of the top businesses. They have literally mort- or Hispanic-Serving Institutions—pro- AmeriCorps cities in the nation. Across gaged their economic future. vided that they are making progress in our State, nearly 4,200 AmeriCorps and We know that student loan borrowers their student loan management plans. Senior Corps volunteers are helping are struggling. A recent Department of The risk-sharing payments would be students succeed in school, ensuring Education analysis of outcomes for invested in helping struggling bor- veterans get access to the services they student loan borrowers who began rowers, preventing future default and need, supporting seniors in their com- their studies in 1995–96 and 2003–04 delinquency, and increasing Pell munities, protecting the environment, found that only 38 percent of the 1995– Grants at institutions that enroll a and addressing other critical needs. 96 cohort had paid off their loans with- high percentage of Pell Grant recipi- With additional resources and support, out default after 20 years, and only 24 ents and have low default rates. Rhode Island volunteers could accom- percent after 12 years. For the 2003–04 With the stakes so high for students plish so much more. cohort, only 20 percent had repaid their and taxpayers, it is only fair that insti- We strive to honor those who serve. loans without defaulting after 12 years. tutions bear some of the risk in the Even more importantly, we invest in Worse, 52 percent of students who at- student loan program. the education and professional develop- tended for-profit institutions had de- We need to tackle student loan debt ment of those who have sacrificed and faulted on a student loan within 12 and college affordability from multiple given so much to our Nation. Devel- years. Roughly, 8.5 million borrowers angles. And we need all stakeholders in oping the talents of our most com- currently have a loan in default. the system to do their part. With the mitted citizens pays life-long divi- We have seen the costs to students Protect Student Borrowers Act, we are dends. Our investment in the GI Bill and taxpayers when institutions are providing the incentives and resources not only honors our service members, not held accountable. Corthinian Col- for institutions to take more responsi- but also enriches our Nation. Simi- leges and ITT are two examples of in- bility to address college affordability larly, the education awards for those stitutions that failed their students and student loan debt and improve stu- who have served through CNCS pro- while benefitting from Federal student dent outcomes. I urge my colleagues to grams have economic impacts beyond aid. Their fraudulent business practices cosponsor this bill and look forward to the individuals who earn them. Just as eventually led to their demise, but not working with them to include it and we came together on a bipartisan basis before leaving their students and tax- other key reforms in the upcoming re- to expand and enhance the GI Bill ben- payers on the hook for millions of dol- authorization of the Higher Education efits, now is the time to increase the lars in student loan debt. Act. education award for those who serve at

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.037 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6856 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 home. The ACTION for National Serv- (1) the Battle of Soissons; (7) capturing the city of Breisig on March ice Act will ensure that national serv- (2) the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge; 9, 1945; ice volunteers who complete two full (3) the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; (8) crossing the Rhine to relieve the 9th Ar- terms of service earn an education (4) the 1918 campaigns in— mored Division in Hadamar and Limburg an (A) Iˆle-de-France; der Lahn on March 21, 1945; award equivalent to four years of in- (B) Lorraine; (9) capturing Merseburg on April 15, 1945; State tuition at a public university. (5) the Battle of Saint-Mihiel; (10) capturing Leipzig on April 18, 1945; and Those who are willing to serve should (6) the Battle of the Aisne; and (11) crossing into Czechoslovakia and at- not have to carry a heavy burden of (7) the Aisne-Marne Offensive; tacking the city of Pilsen on May 4, 1945; student loan debt to achieve their edu- Whereas immediately after the establish- Whereas 6 members of the 2nd Infantry Di- cational goals. ment of the 2nd Infantry Division (then com- vision received the Congressional Medal of Today, as our communities face chal- monly known as the ‘‘Indianhead Division’’) Honor for their gallant actions during World lenges in a host of areas, we need more the 2nd Infantry Division started to build a War II; people to participate in national serv- prestigious reputation for its service during Whereas, in recognition of exemplary serv- ice, and we need more partners to sup- World War I; ice during World War II, the 2nd Infantry Di- Whereas, by the end of World War I, the port them. As such, the ACTION for vision was — 2nd Infantry Division was 1 of only 4 divi- (1) the recipient of the Belgian Fourrage`re National Service Act will establish a sions of the United States to remain in ac- World War II; National Service Foundation to en- tive duty, a strong testament to the accom- (2) cited in the ‘‘Order of the Day’’ of the courage private sector and philan- plishments of the 2nd Infantry Division; Belgian Army for action at Elsenborn Crest; thropic investment in expanding na- Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division took— and tional service opportunities. (1) 1⁄4 of all enemy prisoners captured by (3) cited in the ‘‘Order of the Day’’ of the All AmeriCorps members take a the American Expeditionary Forces; and Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes; pledge to get things done for Ameri- (2) 1⁄4 of the total number of guns and weap- Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division re- cans, to make communities safer, ons seized during World War I; turned home to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, smarter and healthier, and to bring us Whereas 14 members of the 2nd Infantry Washington, on April 15, 1946; Division received the Congressional Medal of together. Today, I ask my colleagues Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division arrived Honor during World War I; in South Korea via Pusan, on July 23, 1950, to join us in pledging to ensure that all Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division— becoming the first United States unit to ar- who want to answer the call to serve (1) remained on occupation duty in Ger- rive directly in South Korea from the United can do so by cosponsoring the ACTION many to enforce the Armistice until April States; for National Service Act. 1919; and Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division helped (2) came to the United States for the first f repel attackers on the Pusan Perimeter dur- time in July 1919, having fought in every ing a 16-day attack beginning on the night of SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS major United States engagement and August 31, 1950, in a battle in which 2nd In- emerged as the most decorated United States fantry Division clerks, bandsman, technical, Division of the American Expeditionary and supply personnel all joined the fight to SENATE RESOLUTION 308—COM- Forces; repel the attackers; MEMORATING THE 100TH ANNI- Whereas, in recognition of exemplary serv- Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division was the VERSARY OF THE 2ND INFANTRY ice during World War I, the 2nd Infantry Di- first unit that broke out of the Pusan Perim- DIVISION vision was the recipient of— eter and led the Eighth Army drive to the Manchurian Border; Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. (1) French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Streamer embroidered AISNE-MARNE; Whereas, on November 26, 1950, with the CORNYN, Mr. CRUZ, and Mrs. MURRAY) (2) French Croix de Guerre with Palm, intervention of the Chinese in the Korean submitted the following resolution; Streamer embroidered MEUSE-ARGONNE; War, the 2nd Infantry Division was tasked which was referred to the Committee and with protecting the rear and right flank of on Armed Services: (3) French Fourrage`re; the Eighth Army; S. RES. 308 Whereas the Headquarters, 2d Division was Whereas fighting around Kunu-ri cost the 2nd Infantry Division nearly 1⁄3 of its Whereas October 26, 2017, is the 100th anni- redesignated on August 1, 1942 as Head- strength, but was 10 times costlier to the versary of the organization of the 2nd Infan- quarters, 2nd Infantry Division; enemy; try Division; Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division estab- Whereas the 23rd Regimental Combat Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division— lished the new home of the 2nd Infantry Di- (1) was established in October 1917 at vision in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and the French Bourmont, France, as the 2nd Division; Texas, to test new concepts and innovations Battalion were cut off and surrounded by 3 (2) was the first division organized on for- for the Army; Chinese Divisions on February 13, 1951, at eign soil; and Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division became Chipyong-ni, but fiercely fought over- (3) has been proudly serving since 1917; the first command reorganized under the whelming Communist forces in freezing Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division is the new triangular concept, having 3 separate weather conditions for more than 3 days, only Army unit that has ever been com- regiments in the division; killing over 5,000 enemies while possessing manded by a Marine Corps Officer because, Whereas, in June 1944, the 2nd Infantry Di- about 1⁄10 of the enemy’s strength; at the time of activation, the 2nd Infantry vision was called to action and made the as- Whereas the 23rd Regimental Combat Division— sault landing on Omaha Beach 1 day after D- Team, 2nd Infantry Division gave the first (1) was composed of both Army and Marine Day, June 7, 1944, which began the liberation major defeat to the Chinese at the battle of units; and of Europe from Nazi control; Chipyong-Ni, a turning point in the Korean (2) was commanded during World War I by Whereas, during World War II, the 2nd In- War; Marine Corps Generals Brigadier General fantry Division fought bravely in France, Whereas 20 members of the 2nd Infantry Charles A. Doyen and Major General John A. Germany, and Czechoslovakia from 1944 to Division earned the Congressional Medal of Lejeune; 1945; Honor during the Korean War; Whereas, since the heroic start of the 2nd Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division contin- Whereas, in recognition of exemplary serv- Infantry Division, the 2nd Infantry Division ued to provide invaluable service throughout ice during the Korean War, the 2nd Infantry has played an integral part in the history of World War II, including— Division was the recipient of— the United States by serving in— (1) fighting for the liberation of France and (1) the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit (1) World War I; Belgium; Citation Streamer embroidered NAKTONG (2) World War II; (2) fighting for the liberation of Tre´vie`res RIVER LINE; (3) the Korean War; on June 10, 1944; (2) the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit (4) the Cold War; (5) Operation Iraqi Freedom; (3) assaulting and securing Hill 192; Citation Streamer embroidered KOREA; and (6) Operation Enduring Freedom; and (4) fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, (3) the Presidential Unit Citation; (7) current operations in South Korea; where the 2nd Infantry Division pierced the Whereas, after 4 years of fighting in South Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division— dreaded Siegfried Line and held critical Korea, the 2nd Infantry Division was trans- (1) drew first blood at the Battle of Belleau roads leading to the cities of Lie`ge and Ant- ferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, on August Wood, France in May 1918; and werp; 20, 1954; (2) contributed to shattering the 4-year (5) capturing Tinchebray on August 15, Whereas, the 2nd Infantry Division was re- stalemate on the battlefield during the Cha- 1944; structured with personnel and equipment teau-Thierry campaign that followed; (6) capturing the vital port city of Brest, from the 10th Infantry Division in the spring Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division played a which was liberated in September 1944 after of 1958, and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia; central role in other monumental struggles a fierce 39-day battle in streets and alley- Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division was des- of World War I, such as— ways; ignated as a Strategic Army Corps Unit in

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.039 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6857 March 1962, and underwent intensified com- from Fort Lewis, Washington, to assist the Whereas workers in the fields of mining, bat, tactical, and field training to improve Iraqi security forces with counterinsurgence manufacturing, and construction and indi- operational awareness; operations in the Ninewa Province in sup- viduals serving in the military go to work Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division was the port of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June each day in damaging noise conditions and first to provide support for 3 brigades sup- 2006 to September 2007; occupational hearing loss is among the most ported by armor, cavalry, and artillery under Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division trans- commonly recorded work-related injuries; the Reorganization Objective Army Division formed into the ROK-US Combined Division Whereas living or working on a farm can concept in January 1963; with a Republic of Korea Army unit on June also expose individuals to harmful levels of Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division re- 3, 2015, in a cooperative designed to strength- noise, including from farm machinery, other turned to South Korea on July 1, 1965 and en the operational capabilities of both the equipment used on farms, and animals; merged with the 1st Cavalry Division; Republic of Korea Army and the United Whereas musicians of all ages, both ama- Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division was as- States Army; teur and professional, can be regularly ex- signed to guard portions of the demilitarized Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division is the posed to levels of noise that can be harmful; zone to keep the peace and help deter war on last remaining permanently forward-sta- Whereas, over time, continued exposure to the Korean peninsula; tioned division in the United States Army; harmful noise levels can lead to permanent Whereas members of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division has been noise-induced hearing loss; Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Divi- deterring aggression and maintaining peace Whereas hearing loss from harmful noise sion were killed in a North Korean ambush on the Korean Peninsula since 1965; can negatively impact communication and on November 2, 1966; Whereas the 2nd Infantry Division received quality of life for an individual; Whereas 16 members of the Armed Forces 7 Korean Presidential Unit Citations for its Whereas hearing loss from harmful noise is of the United States were killed by enemy outstanding service in South Korea from 1950 permanent and is not reversible, but is pre- attacks in the demilitarized zone; to the present; and ventable; Whereas Captain Arthur G. Bonifas and Whereas, since the establishment of the Whereas individuals can protect them- First Lieutenant Mark T. Barrett of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1917— selves against noise-induced hearing loss United Nations Joint Security Force were (1) the 2nd Infantry Division has been through simple measures to reduce exposure attacked and killed during a routine tree- present all over the world, assisting in com- to loud sounds, including turning down the trimming operation on August 18, 1976; bat and noncombat missions for 100 years; volume, moving away from the source of Whereas, in response, the United Nations (2) more than 13,200 members of the 2nd In- sound, and wearing hearing protection when Command launched Operation Paul Bunyan fantry Division have sacrificed their lives in involved in a loud activity; at 0700 hours on August 21, 1976, when a Re- combat; and Whereas protecting the ears of children is public of Korea Special Forces Company, the (3) 40 members of the 2nd Infantry Division an important measure to help prevent noise- 9th Infantry Regiment, and B Company, 2nd have received the Congressional Medal of induced hearing loss because children may Engineers moved in to cut down the infa- Honor in total: Now, therefore, be it be more susceptible to damage than adults mous Panmunjeom Tree while supported by Resolved, That the Senate— and are too young to protect their own ears; B-52 bombers and F-5 and F-11 fighter jets (1) commemorates on October 27, 2017, the Whereas Congress can help raise awareness aboard a Midway Task Force aircraft carrier 100th anniversary and a ‘‘Century of Serv- among the general public about the impor- standing by offshore; ice’’ of the 2nd Infantry Division; tance of protecting hearing; and Whereas members of the 2nd Infantry Divi- (2) commends the 2nd Infantry Division, Whereas October 2017 would be an appro- sion, proudly wearing ‘‘Imjin Scout’’ patch- now known as the ‘‘Warrior Division’’, for priate month to designate as ‘‘National Pro- es, patrolled the demilitarized zone through- continuing to exemplify the mottos of the tect Your Hearing Month’’: Now, therefore, out the 1980s and until 1992, and then re- 2nd Infantry Division: ‘‘Second to None!’’ be it mained deployed along the border; and ‘‘Fight Tonight!’’; Resolved, That the Senate— Whereas the 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Divi- (3) honors the memory of the more than (1) supports the designation of October 2017 sion— as ‘‘National Protect Your Hearing Month’’; (1) was reactivated at Fort Lewis, Wash- 13,200 members of the 2nd Infantry Division ington, on March 29, 1995, as part of I Corps; who lost their lives in battle; and and (4) expresses gratitude and support for all (2) recognizes that all individuals in the (2) became the first Stryker Brigade Com- 2nd Infantry Division members, veterans, United States should become more aware bat Team in the Army in May 2000; and families; and of— Whereas, in the defense of the interests of (5) recognizes that the 2nd Infantry Divi- (A) the potential for noise-induced hearing the United States, the 3rd Stryker Brigade sion holds an honored place in the history of loss as a result of daily activities; and Combat Team deployed in support of Oper- the United States. (B) the measures that individuals can take to protect hearing for a lifetime. ation Iraqi Freedom from November 2003 to f November 2004; f Whereas, in August 2004, the 2nd Brigade SENATE RESOLUTION 309—EX- SENATE RESOLUTION 310—RECOG- Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE NIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A deployed with the Republic of Korea Army, DESIGNATION OF OCTOBER 2017 CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO representing the first operational deploy- AS ‘‘NATIONAL PROTECT YOUR ENDING PEDIATRIC AIDS WORLD- ment from South Korea; HEARING MONTH’’ Whereas the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of WIDE the 2nd Infantry Division was given control Ms. WARREN (for herself and Ms. Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, of the Eastern half of Ar-Ramadi under the COLLINS) submitted the following reso- Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. direct command of the 1st Marine Division; lution; which was referred to the Com- BOOZMAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. Whereas the elements of the 2nd Infantry mittee on Health, Education, Labor, FRANKEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. HATCH, Division were attached to the 2nd Marine Di- and Pensions: vision during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a re- Mr. MARKEY, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. NELSON, versal of their respective roles during World S. RES. 309 Mr. KING, and Mr. COONS) submitted War I, where the 5th and 6th Marine Regi- Whereas the National Institute on Deaf- the following resolution; which was re- ment of the 1st Marine Division fought under ness and Other Communication Disorders ferred to the Committee on Foreign the United States Army 2nd Infantry Divi- and the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- Relations: sion; vention have found that up to 24 percent of Whereas the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of adults in the United States, 40,000,000 indi- S. RES. 310 the 2nd Infantry Division fought in the viduals, may have noise-induced hearing loss Whereas in 2016 approximately half of the Fallujah Offensive in November 2004, which in 1 or both ears; 36,700,000 people living with human immuno- provided Iraqis the opportunity to vote in Whereas individuals take part in activities deficiency virus (referred to in this preamble the historic national elections of January every day that can contribute to increased as ‘‘HIV’’) worldwide are women and 2,100,000 2005; exposure to harmful noise levels; are children; Whereas the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of Whereas potential sources of noise-induced Whereas HIV is a leading cause of death the 2nd Infantry Division provided humani- hearing loss include— worldwide among women of childbearing age; tarian relief to hospitals, schools, and hun- (1) portable music; Whereas nearly 90 percent of HIV-positive dreds of Iraqi civilians who had been dis- (2) movie and game systems; expectant mothers in need of HIV-related placed; (3) sports recreation activities, such as services worldwide live in sub-Saharan Afri- Whereas the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of auto racing, hunting, and snowmobiling; ca; the 2nd Infantry Division redeployed from (4) athletic events; Whereas women around the world rely on Iraq to Fort Carson, Colorado, in August (5) concerts; essential pre- and post-natal care to provide 2005; (6) yard work, such as mowing the lawn; screening for diseases such as HIV, and to Whereas the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat and provide care for the health of women and in- Team of the 2nd Infantry Division deployed (7) hobbies, such as woodworking; fants;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.040 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6858 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 Whereas the usage of antiretroviral drugs deficiency syndrome (referred to in this re- (1) honors the Portland Thorns FC as the as prophylaxis can reduce the likelihood of solving clause as ‘‘AIDS’’), and calls on the 2017 champion of the National Women’s Soc- mother-to-child transmission of HIV to less leadership of the United States in this area cer League; than 5 percent; to continue; (2) recognizes the outstanding achievement Whereas in 2005 only 14 percent of women (4) supports providing adolescents with the of the players, ownership, and staff of the received services for the prevention of moth- evidence-based approaches necessary to pre- Portland Thorns FC; and er-to-child transmission (referred to in this vent new HIV infections; (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary preamble as ‘‘PMTCT’’); (5) supports providing women and children of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of Whereas in 2016, 76 percent of women re- with HIV counseling and testing services this resolution to the Portland Thorns FC. ceived PMTCT services; where practicable, and scaling up access to f Whereas, since 2001, the number of children services and medicines that prevent mother- born HIV-positive has decreased by more to-child transmission of HIV and ensure HIV- SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLU- than half; positive mothers survive and thrive; TION 28—PROVIDING FOR A COR- Whereas, despite increased efforts by the (6) supports expanding treatment for HIV RECTION IN THE ENROLLMENT United States and countries around the for children and adolescents, including pro- OF S. 782 world, over 400 children were born HIV-posi- viding greater access to more efficacious tive each day in 2016; antiretroviral drug regimens, age appro- Mr. CORNYN submitted the fol- Whereas 90 percent of children with HIV priate services, and support for the care- lowing concurrent resolution; which live in sub-Saharan Africa; givers of children and adolescents; and was considered and agreed to: Whereas in 2016 only 43 percent of children (7) recommits the United States— Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask with HIV received antiretroviral therapy, far (A) to lead the world to end AIDS; unanimous consent that the text of the below the percentage of adults receiving (B) to eliminate new pediatric HIV infec- resolution be printed in the RECORD. antiretroviral therapy; tions worldwide; and There being no objection, the text of Whereas, without treatment, half of chil- (C) to support women, children, adoles- the resolution was ordered to be print- dren with HIV will die by their second birth- cents, and families infected and affected by ed in the RECORD, as follows: day, and 80 percent by their fifth birthday; HIV. Whereas, in 2016, 120,000 children died of S. CON. RES. 28 causes related to acquired immune defi- f Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- ciency syndrome (referred to in this pre- SENATE RESOLUTION 311—HON- resentatives concurring), That in the enroll- amble as ‘‘AIDS’’); ment of the bill S. 782, the Secretary of the Whereas, in 2016, 22 percent of new HIV in- ORING THE PORTLAND THORNS Senate shall make the following corrections: fections occurred in young women aged 15 to FC AS THE CHAMPION OF THE (1) In section 2, strike ‘‘42 U.S.C. 17601 et 24; NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER seq.’’ and insert ‘‘34 U.S.C. 21101 et seq.’’. Whereas, in sub-Saharan Africa, young LEAGUE IN 2017 (2) In section 2, strike ‘‘42 U.S.C. women account for 75 percent of new annual Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. 17617(a)(10)’’ and insert ‘‘34 U.S.C. HIV infections among adolescents; 21117(a)(10)’’. Whereas AIDS is a leading cause of death MERKLEY) submitted the following res- f among adolescents globally; olution; which was referred to the Whereas research efforts at the National Committee on Commerce, Science, and AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO Institutes of Health have led to extraor- Transportation: MEET dinary breakthroughs for children infected S. RES. 311 with and at risk for HIV; Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Whereas in 2002 the United States began Whereas the Portland Thorns FC won the have 9 requests for committees to meet investing in PMTCT services by establishing National Women’s Soccer League (referred during today’s session of the Senate. the United States International Mother and to in this preamble as the ‘‘NWSL’’) Cham- They have the approval of the Majority Child HIV Prevention Initiative; pionship on October 14, 2017; and Minority leaders. Whereas, since 2002, the Global Fund to Whereas the Portland Thorns FC won the Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph NWSL Championship, an event that has been Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- supported programs that provided 4,200,000 held for 5 years, for the second time by de- HIV-positive mothers with antiretroviral feating the North Carolina Courage by a ate, the following committees are au- drug prophylaxis for PMTCT; score of 1 to 0; thorized to meet during today’s session Whereas in fiscal year 2016, the United Whereas Portland Thorns FC midfielder of the Senate: States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Lindsey Horan scored the only goal in the COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES Relief (referred to in this preamble as 2017 NWSL Championship and was named the The Committee on Armed Services is ‘‘PEPFAR’’) supported HIV testing and coun- Most Valuable Player of that Championship; authorized to meet during the session seling for more than 11,500,000 pregnant Whereas the head coach, Mark Parsons, of the Senate on Thursday, October 26, women, and provided antiretroviral drug pro- and owner, Merritt Paulson, of the Portland phylaxis for PMTCT, allowing nearly Thorns FC won the NWSL Championship for 2017, at 10 a.m., in closed session to 2,000,000 babies to be born free of HIV; the second time; conduct a briefing on Niger. Whereas in 2014 PEPFAR announced the Whereas the Rose City Riveters and the COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN Accelerating Children’s Treatment Initia- fans of the Portland Thorns FC, who provide AFFAIRS tive, a 2-year effort that would double the the Providence Park venue with spirit and The Committee on Banking, Housing, number of HIV-positive children receiving pride, are the best fans in the NWSL; and Urban Affairs is authorized to treatment in 10 high burden countries; Whereas the Portland Thorns FC holds the meet during the session of the Senate Whereas the PEPFAR DREAMS initiative record for highest average game attendance on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 10 in the NWSL in 2017 and has held that record is working to reduce new HIV infections in a.m., to conduct a hearing on the fol- girls and young women in 10 sub-Saharan in each year since the establishment of the countries; NWSL in 2013; lowing nominations: Brian D. Mont- Whereas every mother should have the op- Whereas the goalkeeper of the Portland gomery, of Texas, Robert Hunter portunity to fight for the life of her child; Thorns FC, Adrianna Franch, was named the Kurtz, of Virginia, and Suzanne Israel and NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year for 2017; Tufts, of New York, each to be an As- Whereas every child and adolescent should Whereas the Portland Thorns FC adopted sistant Secretary of Housing and Urban have access to medicine to lead a long and the official State motto of Oregon, ‘‘Alis Development. healthy life: Now, therefore, be it Volat Propriis’’, meaning ‘‘She Flies with COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL Resolved, That the Senate— Her Own Wings’’, to capture the independent RESOURCES (1) recognizes that the prevention of moth- spirit of Oregon; er-to-child transmission of human immuno- Whereas the Portland Thorns FC holds The Committee on Energy and Nat- deficiency virus (referred to in this resolving community service events to inspire and in- ural Resources is authorized to meet clause as ‘‘HIV’’) is critical to stopping the volve young women and men in the Portland during the session of the Senate on spread of HIV worldwide; community through science, technology, en- Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 9:45 a.m., (2) applauds the leadership of the United gineering, mathematics, and environmental in room SD–366 to conduct a hearing. States for efforts to eliminate new pediatric education; and COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS HIV infections and to expand pediatric treat- Whereas the success of the Portland The Committee on Foreign Relations ment through programs and research; Thorns FC soccer team will broaden an ap- (3) recognizes that for more than 13 years, preciation of athletics in young people and is authorized to meet during the ses- the fight to eliminate pediatric HIV world- encourage Oregonians to engage in their sion of the Senate on Thursday, Octo- wide has been a priority in the response of communities: Now, therefore, be it ber 26, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a hear- the United States to global acquired immune Resolved, That the Senate— ing.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.044 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE October 26, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6859 COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, floor privileges for the remainder of If there is no further debate, the AND PENSIONS this Congress. question is, Will the Senate advise and The Committee on Health, Edu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without consent to the Kritenbrink nomina- cation, Labor, and Pensions is author- objection, it is so ordered. tion? ized to meet during the session of the f The nomination was confirmed. Senate on Thursday, October 26, 2017, f at 10 a.m., in room SD–430, to conduct EXECUTIVE SESSION a hearing entitled ‘‘Exploring Free UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREE- Speech on College Campuses’’. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR MENT—EXECUTIVE CALENDAR COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The Committee on the Judiciary is I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- I ask unanimous consent that at a time authorized to meet during the session ate proceed to executive session for to be determined by the majority lead- of the Senate on Thursday, October 26, consideration of the following nomina- er, in consultation with the Demo- 2017, at 10 a.m., in room SD–226 to con- tion: Executive Calendar No. 386. cratic leader, the Senate proceed to the duct a hearing on S.807 and the fol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without consideration of Calendar No. 247, the lowing nominations: Allison H. Eid, of objection, it is so ordered. nomination of John Gibson to be Dep- Colorado, to be United States Circuit The clerk will report the nomination. uty Chief Management Officer of the Judge for the Tenth Circuit, Stephanos The senior assistant legislative clerk Department of Defense. I further ask Bibas, of Pennsylvania, to he United read the nomination of Gregory Ibach, that there be 60 minutes of debate on States Circuit Judge for the Third Cir- of Nebraska, to be Under Secretary of the nomination, equally divided in the cuit, Liles Clifton Burke, to be United Agriculture for Marketing and Regu- usual form, and that following the use States District Judge for the Northern latory Programs. or yielding back of time, the Senate District of Alabama, Walter David Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to vote on confirmation with no inter- Counts III, to be United States District consider the nomination. vening action or debate, and that if Judge for the Western District of Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, confirmed, the motion to reconsider be Texas, Michael Joseph Juneau, to be I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- considered made and laid upon the United States District Judge for the ate vote on the nomination with no in- table and the President be immediately Western District of Louisiana, A. tervening action or debate; that if con- notified of the Senate’s action. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., to be United firmed, the motion to reconsider be The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without States District Judge for the District considered made and laid upon the objection, it is so ordered. of South Carolina, Karen Gren Scholer, table; that the President be imme- f to be United States District Judge for diately notified of the Senate’s action; the Northern District of Texas, Tilman that no further motions be in order; LEGISLATIVE SESSION Eugene Self III, to be United States and that any statements relating to Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, District Judge for the Middle District the nomination be printed in the I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- of Georgia, and John F. Bash, to be RECORD. ate resume legislative session. United States Attorney for the West- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ern District of Texas, Erin Angela objection, it is so ordered. objection, it is so ordered. Nealy Cox, to be United States Attor- If there is no further debate, the ney for the Northern District of Texas, question is, Will the Senate advise and f and R. Andrew Murray, to be United consent to the Ibach nomination? PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ACT OF States Attorney for the Western Dis- The nomination was confirmed. 2017 trict of North Carolina, all of the De- f Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, partment of Justice. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR I ask that the Chair lay before the Sen- COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ate the message to accompany S. 782. ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Presiding Officer laid before the The Committee on Small Business I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- ate proceed to the consideration of the Senate the following message from the and Entrepreneurship is authorized to House of Representatives: meet during the session of the Senate following nomination: Executive Cal- Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 11 endar No. 413. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 782) entitled ‘‘An Act to reauthorize the Na- a.m., in SR–428A to conduct a hearing tional Internet Crimes Against Children entitled ‘‘Strengthening the Entrepre- objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the nomination. Task Force Program, and for other pur- neurial Ecosystem for Women’’. The senior assistant legislative clerk poses.’’, do pass with an amendment. SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE read the nomination of Daniel J. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The Select Committee on Intel- Kritenbrink, of Virginia, a Career I move to concur in the House amend- ligence is authorized to meet during Member of the Senior Foreign Service, ment, and I ask unanimous consent the session of the Senate on Thursday, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Am- that the motion be agreed to and the October 26, 2017, at 2 p.m., in room SH– bassador Extraordinary and Pleni- motion to reconsider be considered 219 to conduct a closed hearing. potentiary of the United States of made and laid upon the table. SUBCOMMITTEE ON REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND America to the Socialist Republic of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without FEDERAL MANAGEMENT Vietnam. objection, it is so ordered. The Subcommittee on Regulatory Af- Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to f fairs and Federal Management of the consider the nomination. Committee on Homeland Security and Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, PROVIDING FOR A CORRECTION IN Governmental Affairs is authorized to I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- THE ENROLLMENT OF S. 782 meet during the session of the Senate ate vote on the nomination with no in- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 10 tervening action or debate; that if con- I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Im- firmed, the motion to reconsider be ate proceed to the immediate consider- proving Oversight of the Regulatory considered made and laid upon the ation of S. Con. Res. 28. Process: Lessons from State Legisla- table; that the President be imme- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tures’’. diately notified of the Senate’s action; clerk will report the concurrent resolu- f that no further motions be in order; tion by title. and that any statements relating to The senior assistant legislative clerk PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR the nomination be printed in the read as follows: Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I ask RECORD. A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 28) unanimous consent that my health pol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without providing for a correction in the enrollment icy fellow, Laura Knudtson, be granted objection, it is so ordered. of S. 782.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC6.047 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE S6860 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 26, 2017 There being no objection, the Senate afterschool programs held on October 26, executive session and resume consider- proceeded to consider the concurrent 2017. ation of the McFadden nomination resolution. There being no objection, the Senate under the previous order. Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous proceeded to consider the resolution. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without consent that the concurrent resolution Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, objection, it is so ordered. be agreed to and the motion to recon- I further ask unanimous consent that f sider be considered made and laid upon the resolution be agreed to, the pre- the table with no intervening action or amble be agreed to, and the motions to ADJOURNMENT UNTIL MONDAY, debate. reconsider be considered made and laid OCTOBER 30, 2017, AT 3 P.M. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without upon the table with no intervening ac- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, objection, it is so ordered. tion or debate. if there is no further business to come The concurrent resolution (S. Con. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without before the Senate, I ask unanimous Res. 28) was agreed to. objection, it is so ordered. consent that it stand adjourned under The resolution (S. Res. 297) was (The concurrent resolution is printed the previous order. agreed to. in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Submitted There being no objection, the Senate, Resolutions.’’) The preamble was agreed to. (The resolution, with its preamble, is at 4:33 p.m., adjourned until Monday, f October 30, 2017, at 3 p.m. printed in the RECORD of October 19, SUPPORTING LIGHTS ON 2017, under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) f AFTERSCHOOL f CONFIRMATIONS Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the ORDERS FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER Executive nominations confirmed by Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- 30, 2107 the Senate October 26, 2017: sions Committee be discharged from Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, THE JUDICIARY further consideration of S. Res. 297 and I ask unanimous consent that when the SCOTT L. PALK, OF OKLAHOMA, TO BE UNITED STATES the Senate proceed to its immediate Senate completes its business today, it DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLA- HOMA. consideration. adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, October The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 30; further, that following the prayer DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and pledge, the morning hour be GREGORY IBACH, OF NEBRASKA, TO BE UNDER SEC- objection, it is so ordered. RETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGU- The clerk will report the resolution deemed expired, the Journal of pro- LATORY PROGRAMS. by title. ceedings be approved to date, the time DEPARTMENT OF STATE for the two leaders be reserved for their The senior assistant legislative clerk DANIEL J. KRITENBRINK, OF VIRGINIA, A CAREER MEM- read as follows: use later in the day, and morning busi- BER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE, CLASS OF MIN- ness be closed; finally, that following ISTER–COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAOR- A resolution (S. Res. 297) supporting Lights DINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES On Afterschool, a national celebration of leader remarks, the Senate proceed to OF AMERICA TO THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:46 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 9801 E:\CR\FM\G26OC6.053 S26OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with SENATE