Kelly Ayotte

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of National Police Week to honor and thank the men and women in uniform, law enforcement officers in our great State of New Hampshire who do a phenomenal job every single day keeping us safe. When I worked as attorney general, I was honored to work directly with our law enforcement officers at every level in our State. We have the very finest law enforcement officers in the State of New Hampshire. During this week, I want to thank them for every single thing they have done under the difficult circumstances they face every day in order to make sure our communities are safe in the State of New Hampshire. Tragically, just last week we had an example of the dangers our police officers face every single day when two Manchester police officers were shot in the line of duty early Friday morning. Early Friday morning, Officer Ryan Hardy encountered a situation on Second Street, where he noticed the description of someone who had robbed a gas station the night before. As he was approaching this individual, Officer Hardy was shot multiple times at close range. The individual fled, and then this suspect fired into a group of police officers, and when he did that, he unfortunately also shot Officer Matthew O'Connor in the leg. Both of these police officers acted with great heroism, tenacity, and courage in the work they do every single day on the streets of Manchester. All of the police officers who responded that day did a phenomenal job, but that is an example of what our police officers are facing on a daily basis. They don't know whether the next stop they make of someone is going to go bad. Unfortunately, early on Friday morning, it did go bad. We are so grateful for their service, for the service of Officer Hardy and the service of Officer O'Connor. We are grateful and blessed that despite significant injuries, they are doing OK and they did not get killed in the line of duty. I just want to say to them, I want to say to the Manchester Police Department, and I want to say to their wives, Amanda and Elise--because families serve too. We worry about our police officers, but I know from having served as attorney general of New Hampshire that every time we are home on Thanksgiving or we are home on Christmas or we are home on some other holiday or great occasion, guess what our police officers are out doing. They are out patrolling our streets and our highways, keeping us safe, making sure we can enjoy that moment with our families. But their families worry. They worry when they are out: Is my loved one going to come home? So I say to the families of our law enforcement officers as we stand here during National Police Week: Thank you. Thank you for what you do in allowing your loved ones to serve and for supporting our law enforcement officers because families serve too. We are so grateful for what Officer Hardy and Officer O'Connor did on that early Friday morning, and we are grateful to all of the officers who responded to that call. I am grateful they are doing well in their recovery. We wish them the very best. They continue to be in my prayers and in my family's prayers for a speedy recovery. All of the police officers in our State are in my prayers. When I was attorney general, two of the most difficult moments I had were giving a eulogy at the funerals of two police officers who were killed in the line of duty during my time as Attorney General. One of them, Officer Bruce McKay, had served the Franconia Police Department for 12 years, and he was brutally murdered in 2007 during a traffic stop. The other police officer was Officer Michael Briggs. In fact, on Sunday I am going to the dedication of a community center in Manchester in honor of Officer Michael Briggs. It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since he was killed in the line of duty, but the fact that they are naming a community center in his honor there in the center of Manchester, where he helped so many young people and so many people in how he served the people of Manchester, is a testament to the kind of person he was. I got to know the family of Officer Michael Briggs very closely, including his parents Lee and Maryann and his wife Laura and his sons, Brian and Mitchell. I want them to know today--I know it has been almost 10 years, but I will never forget--and we will never forget-- their sacrifice and certainly what Officer Michael Briggs did for the State of New Hampshire, his heroism. In fact, before he served as a Manchester police officer--as I think about coming toward the 10th anniversary of his death--before he served as a police officer, he served as a marine, serving our country in the line of duty. He served as a corrections officer also and did an incredible job. In fact, he received awards for saving people's lives, running into burning buildings to save people in the line of duty. I will never forget that he saved the life of the individual who murdered him. He had saved his life before. Unfortunately, he was murdered by a career criminal in the line of duty. That is a true example of the heroism of our police officers, the service and sacrifice they make, as well as their families. Unfortunately, that says it all right there. So today as I stand on the Senate floor, I think about my time as attorney general, I certainly think about the families of the police officers who have been killed in the line of duty in New Hampshire and the sacrifices that every single day our men and women in uniform make on our behalf. On Friday in New Hampshire there will be a law enforcement memorial ceremony. It is a ceremony I plan to attend. It is a ceremony where each year we read the names that are etched into the memorial of those law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty in New Hampshire. There have been far too many--far too many--who have made the ultimate sacrifice so the rest of us could live our lives in safety and in happiness. One of the privileges I had as attorney general was to read the names of our law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty, to recognize their service and their sacrifice, with often many of their family members there--family members who would offer a flower or a beautiful wreath to recognize the sacrifice of their family so we could remember their family member, the law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. Today on the Senate floor I would like to read the names of these police officers who were killed in the line of duty in New Hampshire. I know we will recognize them in New Hampshire on Friday, but I want to recognize them on the Senate floor. They are, from Cheshire County, Deputy Sheriff John Walker, Sr.; from Dover, Officer George Pray; from Laconia, Police Officer Charles H. Dolloff; from Strafford County, Deputy Sheriff Charles E. Smith; from Manchester, Sergeant Henry McAllister; from Manchester, Inspector William M. Moher; from Exeter, Officer Albert L. Colson; from Nashua, Patrolman James H. Roche; from Carroll County, Sheriff Harry M. Leavitt; from New Hampshire State Police, Raymond Elliott; from Lancaster, Chief Andrew T. Malloy; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Harold B. Johnson; from Colebrook, Chief Fred T. Towle; from Nashua, Patrolman Michael Latvis; from New Hampshire State Police, Lieutenant Ivan H. Hayes; from Northumberland, Officer Joseph H. Platt; from Nashua, Patrolman Edward C. Graziano; from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Conservation Officer William Mooney; from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Conservation Officer Gary Waterhouse; from Farmington, Assistant Chief Louis A. Sheets; from Berlin, Officer Robert Devoid; from Berlin, Officer Dorman Wheelock; from Gorham, Officer Jerome O. Piet; from Rockingham County, Department of Corrections Officer Robert Charles Prescott; from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Conservation Officer James Clark II; from Nashua, Acting Chief Armand J. Roussel; from Seabrook, Chief Charles S. Knowles; from Durham, Lieutenant Robert Hollis, Jr.; from Berlin, Sergeant Paul G. Brodeur; from Manchester, Officer Ralph W. Miller; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Richard F. Champy; from Somersworth, Patrolman Donald R. Kowalski; from Jaffrey, Police Supervisor William E. O'Neil, Sr.; from Hanover, Chief James H. Collins; from Derry, Sergeant Thomas C. Kelly; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Gary P. Parker; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Joseph Edward Gearty; from Antrim, Chief of Police Ralph C. Brooks; from New Hampshire State Police, Sergeant James Stanwood Noyes; from East Kingston, Officer Melvin Alan Keddy; from Auburn, Lieutenant Donald Eaton; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Leslie George Lord; from New Hampshire State Police, Trooper Scott Edward Phillips; from Epsom, Patrolman Jeremy T. Charron; from Manchester, Officer Michael Leland Briggs; from Franconia, Corporal N. Bruce McKay; from Greenland, Chief of Police Michael P. Maloney; and from Brentwood, Patrolman Stephen Arkell. As I read those names, it obviously strikes me--it is shocking how many names are on that wall in our State. Having met and worked with so many of our law enforcement officers--they are incredibly brave. The sacrifices of their families are tremendous. Most recently, I went to two community events to recognize--really memorialize--these fallen heroes. The Maloney family and the Arkell family have started foundations to help other police families, to help have scholarships in the names of these two decorated officers. Unfortunately, those are the two most recent additions to this wall. Chief Maloney embodied the values of service, integrity, and honor. His leadership in the Greenland Police Department will never be forgotten. He was admired by everyone in the community. This is another example of the sacrifice our police officers make. He was only a few days before his retirement. He could have stayed in the station, but he went out to the call with his fellow officers and, when the situation escalated, Chief Maloney did what he always did. He put his life before his fellow officers, and because of his sacrifices that day, other lives were saved. Unfortunately, we lost Chief Maloney in the line of duty just days before his retirement. If that is not a hero, I don't know what is and who is. When I think about his family, and having gotten to know his family, I know today, as we think about the importance of this week, I just want to say thank you to them and just let them know they continue to be in our prayers, and we will not forget Chief Maloney's service and his sacrifice and his heroism. Likewise, just like Chief Maloney, Officer Stephen Arkell was taken from us far too soon. He was an unsung hero. He went about his extraordinary work as a police officer very quietly and humbly, going above and beyond the call of duty not only as a police officer but as a coach in his community, as someone who has helped so many other people and made a difference in people's lives. During his 15-year career as a police officer, he made a difference for the people of Brentwood. He made us proud, and he was another true hero in his community. Today, during National Police Week, I want to say to his family, who recently had a 5K in his honor to provide scholarships for others in the Brentwood community, thank you for your sacrifice. We will never forget the sacrifice of Officer Stephen Arkell. During National Police Week, as I stand on the Senate floor, one of the things that has bothered me is, too often the rhetoric we have been hearing about our police and our law enforcement officers out in the public discussion has been negative. It has been negative. It has been sweeping. It has been basically stereotyping our police, and it has been wrong. So, today, during this important week, I want to say to our law enforcement officers in New Hampshire, I want to say to the law enforcement officers across this country who keep us safe: Thank you. We stand with you. We are proud of you. We have your back because we know you have our backs every single day, because we would not be a free and safe society but for the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make every single day in New Hampshire and in every State in this country. They are the thin blue line between us and those who want to do us harm and threaten our way of life. So when we hear people who are making sweeping generalizations about our police that are negative, I want the people of this country to think about what it would be like if we didn't have the courageous law enforcement officers who patrol our streets every single day, who go out on nights and weekends and holidays when we are safely home sleeping, who are out making sure we are safe. We should stand up for our law enforcement officers. This week, of all weeks, as we are here for National Police Week, we need to honor our law enforcement officers. We need to thank our men and women in uniform who patrol our streets and our highways and in every way protect us, whether as corrections officers or Fish and Game officers or as State police--at every single level in the State of New Hampshire, we say thank you. We stand with you. I thank you. I hope that as we stand here this week, all of us will make sure that we thank also the Capitol Police for the incredible work they do here keeping us safe and defending this Capitol.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the significant contributions that Peterborough native Jim Grant has made to New Hampshire throughout his life. I am proud to recognize Jim's service in the Granite State and dedication to his fellow New Hampshire residents. Jim has lived his entire life in Peterborough and is proud of his roots, which are represented on his vanity license plate with the phrase ``LUVPBRO.'' In addition to being well-known and beloved by his neighbors, Jim epitomizes the spirit of generosity in New Hampshire. Spanning decades, Jim's dedication to volunteerism is outstanding, and he has served as a volunteer firefighter for 53 years. His record of service also includes volunteering for the Salvation Army, founding the Monadnock Workspace--an organization that employs and empowers those with developmental challenges--and co-founding the Peterborough Sunshine Fund, which assists individuals with emergency and travel needs. It is only fitting that Jim's own profession would be as a teacher who educated and inspired generations of students. His passion for teaching compelled him to found the organization where he works today, Staff Development for Educators. By ensuring and enriching the professional development needs of educators, Jim is helping to spread education across the globe. Jim has contributed greatly to the Greater Monadnock region, injecting positivity into the lives of people he may never know. It is an honor to highlight Jim's life of service and commitment to a cause greater than himself. His selflessness and generosity is a testament to all that is great in New Hampshire. I extend my sincerest thanks to Jim for all that he has done and continues to do for the people of New Hampshire. I am extraordinarily proud to join his friends and neighbors in commending Jim for a life well lived and his lifetime of giving.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, on rollcall vote No. 53, I voted yea. It was my intention to vote nay. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to change my vote since it will not affect the outcome.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I certainly thank the Senator from Maryland. I agree, and I believe there are many hard-working Federal employees. The reason that I have been fighting for this bill in particular is, No. 1, to make sure that those who commit misconduct are held accountable. No. 2, I actually want to make sure that we aren't sending the wrong message to the people who are working hard and doing their jobs. When they see someone else who has committed misconduct by literally manipulating wait lists get a bonus, that actually demoralizes the good, hard-working employees who are doing their jobs and serving veterans. So this is about making sure that the people who actually do a good job get recognized. But when you give a bonus to someone who has committed misconduct, you not only obviously undermine our system-- thinking about the veterans who have served our Nation with so much courage and done so much for us--not only do we corrode their trust, but I think we corrode the trust of the workforce that is doing really great work every day, and I want to thank those who are doing the good work on our behalf. I have had a chance to meet many of them. I want to address the point of the Senator from Maryland about giving managers authority. I wish to point out that the problem we have here is that this is rampant--absolutely rampant. If we look at what happened with the director of the Phoenix VA who lost her job--fired for misconduct--where literally wait lists were manipulated and veterans died, she got a $9,000 bonus. So who are we going to leave discretion to here? Many of the managers, I know, need to manage the facilities, which is important. But when it comes to the bonus issue, we literally would be putting, for example in the Phoenix situation, the individual who gets fired for overseeing all of this in charge of whether and how long other people's bonuses are clawed back. I would also say that this has been rampant, unfortunately, about management, and not just of the director of the Phoenix VA but the other examples I gave, including the VA senior managers who improperly leveraged their positions to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in relocation funds. So, in other words, they were misappropriating taxpayer dollars. They got bonuses too. They are managers. We have executives overseeing the huge cost overrun in the Colorado VA who got bonuses. We have many examples. If we put this at the discretion of how long this is going to go in place instead of putting a logical time period in place, which my bill does, then we are going to keep perpetuating the same situation where the discretion makes it so it doesn't happen. That worries me, because, unfortunately, we have a pattern here that needs to be addressed. Second, I would just say that, as we look at even the ability to retain records, most employers do have standard recordkeeping in terms of if you receive a reprimand or an admonishment and how long that is retained. So if we just leave that completely loosey-goosey discretion among managers, where we have already established some of them have been part of this misconduct, then I fear there really will be no accountability and these provisions will not have the teeth in them that they should. Let me just say that this bill that we have been working on, that did pass out of committee, is something that I have been working on and negotiating for months, working and taking people's concerns into account. It does ensure that, before any employee is subject to having the bonus clawed back, they do have the opportunity for due process. So that is built into this to challenge the underlying claims made against them. But if we put this all into a discretionary basis, then we are just going to be in the same situation that we are right now and not have the teeth that we need in this commonsense measure. I talked to some of my constituents about this issue, and they can't believe that we actually have to pass a law to say that if you got a bonus and you committed misconduct--in fact, one of the reasons you got the bonus is because of the misconduct, because you manipulated the wait list--yes, you can give that money back, and you shouldn't be receiving a bonus. It is kind of shocking that this isn't just common sense. But right now the VA Secretary does not have this authority. Our veterans deserve better. This is plain common sense. I am disappointed that the modification that was sought on the floor would weaken this commonsense bill. I am going to continue to fight for more accountability in our VA. But let's have some common sense in all of this. We shouldn't be rewarding our employees who are committing misconduct for the very conduct that they are committing and that unfortunately is harming our veterans who have done so much for this Nation. I am the granddaughter of a World War II veteran. My husband is an Iraq veteran. I have had the privilege in my job of meeting so many of our veterans, both current Active-Duty military and those who have served in conflicts going back to World War II. There is no greater example of patriotism and what makes our country great than our veterans. Really, if we think about what has happened in our VA and how shameful it is, this is something that we need to make sure we get right once and for all for those who have defended this Nation and who really show us what it means to be an American. So I am going to continue to fight for such a commonsense piece of legislation, but I hope my colleagues will join me in this so that we can make sure that the VA performs its mission, which is to give our veterans the best care they can receive and that they certainly have earned defending our great Nation. Thank you, Mr. President.

Ms. AYOTTE. No, I do not.

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, America was horrified 2 years ago as the scandal at the VA unfolded. We heard about veterans dying while they were waiting for care. Meanwhile, we discovered that VA employees manipulated appointment wait lists to hide the fact that the VA couldn't provide the care our veterans needed in a timely fashion. The denial of earned care is always tragic, but it is inexcusable when the denial is driven by bureaucratic tampering and falsifications. Cooking the books was one bureaucratic offense, but not holding accountable those responsible is an additional bureaucratic failure, and one that continues to haunt our system. These weren't just a few scattered incidents either. The VA inspector general investigated 73 VA facilities across the country and found problems in 51 of them, ranging from rule violations to outright fraud. These reports demonstrate that inappropriate scheduling practices were systematic at the VA. This map shows how widespread the wait-list rule violations and manipulations have been. The inspector general's office found out how our veterans were treated when they called up looking for care. The information the VA gave was manipulated to make it seem as though the VA was doing much better than it was. We literally know that veterans died while waiting for care. That is shameful, and we owe it to those who served this Nation to serve them. They earned this by defending us and our freedoms. Unfortunately, one of those 51 cases was the VA medical center in my home State of New Hampshire. A New Hampshire newspaper summarizes the inspector general's report as follows: Staff at the Manchester VA Medical Center manipulated appointment dates and refused to schedule referrals beyond 14 days in some speciality departments, all to make it appear patients were being seen quickly. One report also shows that top officials at the Manchester VA discouraged the use of electronic waiting lists. Another shows extremely long waits at the facility's Pain Clinic, where one patient waited an average of seven to eight months for injection treatments. The reports show a near obsession with keeping numbers down when it comes to the length of time that veterans had to wait for appointments, which is one of the ways bonuses for hospital officials were determined. Bonuses were determined by how you performed on the scheduling and whether you were actually meeting the needs of our veterans on time. Yet we know they were manipulating wait lists across the country to show that they were, in fact, serving our veterans when they were not. Last week I met with the current Manchester VA medical center director to discuss the findings of the inspector general's report. Even though it didn't occur under her leadership, these findings are serious and must be dealt with appropriately. While I was encouraged to hear of the steps the director has taken to address the scheduling misconduct, I will be closely following the medical center's practices and performance. We cannot let this happen again. Part of not letting it happen again is what brings me to the floor today. I will make sure we aren't incentivizing misconduct and allowing wrongdoers to get away with it, whether it is the wait-list manipulations or misconduct. Unfortunately, the wait-list scandal isn't the only scandal at the VA. There is a common theme with all these scandals: Those committing misconduct are getting bonuses--yes, bonuses. Those involved in wrongdoing are getting checks paid by the American taxpayer. That is unacceptable, and that is why I introduced bipartisan legislation to improve accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs by requiring the VA Secretary to claw back bonuses paid to VA employees who were involved in serious misconduct or felonies. It would also require the VA to retain a copy of any reprimand or admonishment given to an employee by the Department which would then be in that employee's permanent record. Keeping that information in someone's employment record seems like common sense, but we have to pass this bill in order to do that. Amazingly, the Secretary of the VA doesn't currently have the authority to claw back bonuses even if, as with the wait list, the perpetrator's misconduct led to a bigger bonus check. That is unacceptable. We cannot reward those who commit fraud and misconduct by doling out taxpayer dollars. A recent report noted that in 2014 the VA paid out $140 million in bonuses. Nearly half of the VA's employees got bonuses. More importantly, we know that individuals who were implicated in an array of scandals also received bonuses. For example, the director of the Phoenix VA hospital who was fired for her misconduct got a $9,000 bonus. The VA senior managers who improperly leveraged their positions to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in relocation funds to move to new facilities, along with a bump in pay--even though they were committing misrepresentations and fraud--got bonuses. A VA employee who recently pleaded the Fifth Amendment before a congressional committee got a bonus. Executives overseeing the $1 billion-over-budget VA medical center construction project in Colorado got bonuses. A doctor implicated in overprescribing opioids at the Tomah VA facility called ``Candy Land,'' where veterans were harmed--bonus. We can't let these bonuses keep going to wrongdoers. It will just continue the erosion of trust of our veterans, who have done so much to defend this Nation and our freedom. That is why we need to pass this bill. The VA Secretary must be active in pursuing the disciplinary actions against VA employees guilty of misconduct so they aren't getting bonuses and taking away resources that could go to help our veterans. Without my legislation, the VA Secretary does not have the authority right now to go after a bonus, even if the bonus is given to a wrongdoer, to claw that money back. This bill passed out of committee by a voice vote. The records retention provisions in this bill passed out of the House of Representatives by voice vote. Let's put this authority into law so that those who break the law don't get bonuses. That is why I am standing on the floor today asking for unanimous consent to pass this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 240, S. 627. I further ask that the Ayotte and Brown amendments be agreed to; the committee-reported substitute amendment, as amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the title amendment be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise because it is Equal Pay Day, and I would like to talk about the importance of finally ending gender-based discrimination in wages. It is unfortunate that in the year 2016, this is still an issue we need to address in this country, but it is. I had the privilege of serving as our State's first female attorney general. I think it is the right thing to do and the obvious thing to do, and under our laws this already exists--that equal pay for equal work should be the standard. All of us should be judged in the workplace by our experience, our qualifications, and our capability of doing our job and nothing else. Women face many challenges in balancing work and family life. I know that firsthand, being the working mom of two young kids. On top of those challenges, no woman, whether she is a mother or not, should ever face gender-based pay discrimination in the workplace. Today, more than half of New Hampshire's women serve as the primary or coearner in their household. That just underscores the serious need to address this problem. Men and women should receive equal pay for equal work. It is that simple. Your salary should be based on how you do your job. Because of that, I introduced the Gender Advancement in Pay Act, or GAP Act, along with Senators Capito, Portman, Burr, and Heller, and I thank my cosponsors for supporting this effort. What we did is we built on a highly successful bipartisan pay equity law that was signed into law in my home State of New Hampshire in 2014. The GAP Act makes it clear that employers must pay men and women equal wages for equal work, without reducing the ability of employers to provide merit pay and reward merit, which all of us want. Having been the first woman attorney general, I want to give women the opportunity to outperform their male counterparts as well because I know we can. Today, there is a patchwork of laws that govern equal pay and an employee's ability to discuss their pay without fear of retaliation, and differing court opinions have led to a situation where some employees receive protections not available to others simply based on where they live. As such, the GAP Act is a sensible approach to updating, clarifying, and strengthening these laws. For 20 years the Paycheck Fairness Act has been around in the Congress. It has never passed. One of the reasons, I think, was described very well in 2010 by the Boston Globe. It said that the Paycheck Fairness Act, as a whole, was too broad a solution to a complex, nuanced problem, but that a narrower bill that would stiffen some penalties and ban retaliation would be helpful. That is exactly what the GAP Act is--a bill that stiffens penalties, bans retaliation, and clarifies the law so that we can ensure we have equal pay for equal work. In short, my bill updates the Equal Pay Act's ``factor other than sex'' clause. Currently, employers can explain away pay differentials by pointing to a number of factors. One of those was ambiguously written to be a ``factor other than sex.'' Our bill closes this loophole and clarifies that any factor other than sex must be a business-related factor, such as education, training, or experience. It makes sense; doesn't it? Why would you allow a defense of a ``factor other than sex'' that has nothing to do with your job? To me, that seems to be inviting discrimination. That is why we should clarify the law to make clear that it has to be a factor related to your job--such as education, training, or experience. This would clarify the law for employees and protect the rights of employees, and, also, employers would clearly have this provision defined. The GAP Act also creates a penalty for willful violations. This is actually one step further than New Hampshire's bipartisan pay equity law. So it would put teeth into it, and I think that is important. Employers that knowingly act with the intent to discriminate should have to pay a penalty. What we do with the funds from this penalty is to take the funds and, rather than putting them back in the General Treasury, we are going to study the wage gap issue, make sure we have the best research on what is causing it and what is happening, and find more ways to expand opportunities for women in the workforce with better paying jobs. The GAP Act would also promote salary transparency. According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, about half of workers were discouraged or outright prohibited from discussing their pay with coworkers. When employees are allowed to discuss their pay, they are more likely to uncover incidents of discrimination. Yet, if I am not allowed to discuss my pay and I find a coworker who is the same situated as me yet making more money--a male counterpart--and I am not allowed to raise this because I can't discuss pay comparisons, then how am I going to raise a claim of discrimination? So we need to make it more transparent. We need to ensure that employees are allowed to discuss their pay. This will make it more likely to uncover incidents of gender-based pay discrimination. So our bill prohibits retaliation against employees who discuss their pay, and tells employers they can't institute secret pay policies and they can't ask an employee to bargain away their right to be able to talk about their pay if they choose to. Importantly, after getting feedback from stakeholders in our States, we made sure that provision is strong. The cosponsors of this bill reintroduced an updated version of this bill this week to ensure that there are stronger provisions for salary transparency and to make it clear that employers cannot sidestep provisions that ban retaliation against employees who discuss their pay. It prohibits pay secrecy policies that could encourage this kind of behavior. On Equal Pay Day, today, it is very important that we all work together to do anything we can to end the gender wage gap. One of the things we should do is to stop the political posturing. Let's stop using this incredibly important issue as a political football, because legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act has been around 20 years. I am glad to introduce the GAP Act, because I believe this is a commonsense piece of legislation that gets at the issue by clarifying our laws in a way that benefits employees. It makes sure it is clear that if you willfully violate our laws, you are going to have to pay a penalty. We are going to take that money, and we are going to put it back into research to further help us address the pay gap. We are also going to make clear for plaintiffs that, if you want to file an EEOC claim and you also want to file an equal pay claim, we will make sure you can do both, and your rights will be protected to do both by staying the statute of limitations while the EEOC claim is going forward. This will help plaintiffs not have to litigate in two forums. This will also allow the EEOC to do their job and, if they find discrimination, to be used in an equal pay act claim. This is another important step for plaintiffs and also to clarify that those who are victims of discrimination are able to bring their rights forward. On Equal Pay Day today, I hope we can stop making this a partisan issue and start actually passing legislation that will make a difference. In 2014 New Hampshire passed an important law. I was glad New Hampshire did that. I was glad that I could introduce what New Hampshire did here in the Senate on a bipartisan basis and build on that to introduce the GAP Act with some of my colleagues. I hope today, on Equal Pay Day, we will take up legislation like the GAP Act and address gender-based pay discrimination. We are in 2016. I have an 11-year-old daughter. I don't want to be discussing this 20 years from now. I would like us to work on this in a serious, bipartisan manner, to address this, and to end gender-based pay discrimination once and for all, because equal pay for equal work just makes sense. It is the right thing to do, and it should be how our laws work. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Deerfield, NH--a town in Rockingham County that is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. I am proud to join citizens across the Granite State in recognizing this special milestone. Deerfield was originally part of the town of Nottingham until residents petitioned to become a separate town by requesting the Colonial Governor ``set us off a distinct parish.'' Permission was granted, and Deerfield was incorporated in 1766 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. Major John Simpson, a native of Deerfield, is notoriously known for firing the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill without permission from his commanding officers. Founded with a strong background in agriculture, the town was once cleared of most of its forest in order to farm the land and is home to the oldest family fair in New England--the annual Deerfield Fair. Deerfield was also shaped by a steadfast commitment to education, and by the mid-19th century, the town had 13 school buildings, one within walking distance of almost every child in town. The town became a prosperous center as it lay on the road between larger hubs such as Portsmouth, Exeter, and Concord. In the 20th century, as the agricultural economy began to fade, Deerfield's forests slowly returned, and the population began to decrease. Today Deerfield has a population of over 4,000 residents and is proud of its 250-year history. The residents have created a vibrant civic and social community, which serves our State and Nation well. The town exemplifies the motto, ``Deerfield, a place to call home since 1766.'' Deerfield has greatly contributed to the life and spirit of New Hampshire. I am pleased to extend my warm wishes to the people of Deerfield as they celebrate this very special occasion.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I thank Senator Portman and Senator McCaskill for their strong leadership on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, of which they are the chair and ranking member, on such an important issue because enforcing the subpoena--the resolution we have before us to enforce the subpoena is critical. As you heard today, I was attorney general of New Hampshire. I had the opportunity to work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that of suspected child trafficking reports it receives from the public, 71 percent involve backpage.com. What is the resolution about? It is about the fact that Senator Portman, Senator McCaskill, and the committee they lead has asked legitimate questions and asked for documents from backpage.com. We have heard the horrific stories of things that have happened and have been reported. Senator Portman referenced a recent report in Boston about a 15-year-old girl who had been raped over 1,000 times as a result of being advertised on backpage.com. Of course, we have heard horrific stories about children. In one Pennsylvania case, a defendant forced a minor to have sex with approximately 15 different men in one encounter where she was threatened with a weapon--advertised on backpage.com, so it is pretty straightforward. In a Florida case, a trafficker drugged and threatened to kill a 14- year-old girl so he could sell her for sexual services online-- backpage.com. In a California case, a trafficker forced two women to work as prostitutes through beating and threatening them with sexual violence-- backpage.com. These are very legitimate questions that have been asked to inform our policy decisions of backpage.com. Yet they will not produce the documents that have been asked of them, to ask how they were screening to ensure they aren't taking illegal actions when it comes to child sex trafficking and trafficking of women and men and boys and girls. Yet they will not answer that. The CEO of backpage.com was subpoenaed to testify, and he refused to appear here. If backpage.com is not doing the things in some of these reports that have come forward and is not acting illegally, then they will come and talk to us about this. The CEO of backpage would not try to hide behind the First Amendment, making arguments that don't bear out under the First Amendment because we are talking about illegality, the trafficking of children in horrific ways--then this is a legitimate inquiry for this committee. I again commend Senator Portman and Senator McCaskill. I urge the Members of the Senate to support this resolution to enforce this subpoena so we can ensure that we get the information this committee needs to inform our policy decisions to address a very important issue that is putting children at risk, that is harming families, that is harming men and women who are being trafficked, and we need to get to the bottom of it. I yield the floor back to Senator Portman.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I very much thank the Senator from Rhode Island for the work that we were able to do together on this important legislation, for his leadership, and, really, his passion for this issue that is devastating my State--the heroin and opioid epidemic that is facing all of us. I thank him for a very thoughtful approach and bringing people together around this. I am so pleased we are debating this on the Senate floor today. Honoring Officer Ashley Guindon and Lieutenant James ``Jimmy'' Geraghty Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today with great sadness to discuss and to honor the lives of two of our outstanding law enforcement officers from New Hampshire who were taken from us far too soon. One is New Hampshire State Police Lieutenant Jimmy Geraghty, a U.S. Army veteran and outstanding public servant. Another is Prince William County Officer Ashley Guindon of Merrimack, NH. Ashley was a Merrimack, NH, native and a Marine Corps veteran who was killed in the line of duty in Virginia 1 day after being sworn in as a police officer to serve in the Prince William County Police Department. These individuals represent the very best of law enforcement. It is with such a heavy heart that I pause to remember Ashley Guindon, an incredible young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Ashley was killed in the line of duty last week, tragically, on her first day as a police officer with the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia. Ashley could not have known her fate when she responded to an emergency call, but she responded to the call with the same sense of duty and resolve that all of our faithful law enforcement officers do every single day because they don't know at that next stop, at that next house that they respond to help someone in need, what they are going to be confronted with. Ashley's death is a terrible, unthinkable tragedy and serves as a somber reminder of the tremendous sacrifices that our law enforcement officers make every single day by putting their lives on the line to keep us safe. My heart breaks for Officer Guindon's mother Sharon, for her family, for her friends, and for the public safety community, as they mourn the loss of this tremendous young woman whose life ended far, far too soon. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers as I know everyone in this Chamber will. But Officer Guindon should not be remembered because of the circumstances of her death. Rather, she should be remembered for her tremendous life of service to her Nation, to the people whose community she worked to keep safe, and for the sacrifices that she has made and her family has made on behalf of all of us. Officer Guindon demonstrated an incredible commitment to her country in so many ways. Following her graduation from Merrimack High School in 2005, she joined the Marine Corps. In doing so, she was honoring the life of her father and the service of her father, who deployed to Iraq as a member of the New Hampshire Air National Guard. So she comes from a family of service. Her father lost his life after returning home from serving in Iraq, and Officer Guindon felt that she could honor his memory by joining the armed services herself. So she joined and became a marine. In her high school yearbook she wrote: As I take flight it only makes me closer to u daddy. Mom, thanks for everything it'll be a long road but we can manage and it will only make u stronger. Underneath her picture in her high school yearbook, the caption read: ``live for something rather than die for nothing.'' Think about that: ``live for something rather than die for nothing.'' Well, absolutely, Officer Guindon did live for something. She lived for our country in her service as a marine. She lived for members of her community, giving of herself and making the ultimate sacrifice to keep others in her community safe. She lived with such honor and distinction, and she answered the call to duty. Officer Guindon was taken from us far too soon. But by working to ensure that we honor her service, her heroism, her commitment, and the sacrifice she and all law enforcement officers make on our behalf every single day, we can ensure that her inspiring legacy of dedication to others, of service to her country and to her community will never be forgotten. We will never forget her service or her sacrifice. We will continue to honor her and her family for what they have done in service to our Nation every single day. I also wish to take a moment to honor another law enforcement officer, someone with whom I had the privilege of working personally when I served as attorney general of our State, someone whom I probably called a friend, and who has also been taken from us far too soon. I honor Lieutenant James ``Jimmy'' Geraghty, who passed away recently following a courageous battle with cancer. I join his family, his friends, and the law enforcement community in New Hampshire who mourn his death. I am speaking about someone who touched so many people in our State, who really lived a life of service, a life of heroism, a life of integrity. I honor his service, his integrity, and his dedication to excellence. He was a member of the New Hampshire State Police for 24 years and rose to the rank of commander of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit. The New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit is the unit that handles the most difficult cases in our State--murder cases, very difficult cases. It is a unit where you are called upon at every hour of the day in the most difficult of circumstances. Lieutenant Geraghty handled some of the most troubling cases and the most horrific cases you can imagine as a law enforcement officer. He handled them with such incredible dedication, compassion, and commitment, and he did his job so well. In the most high-profile case of his career, Lieutenant Geraghty led the investigation into the brutal 2009 Mount Vernon homicide--a horrific, horrific case. It was a complex and extremely time-consuming investigation that focused on multiple juvenile defendants. Because of the thoroughness, professionalism, and dedication brought to the case by Lieutenant Geraghty and the major crimes unit, the prosecution was able to pursue the successful conviction of all the defendants involved. For their work on the 2009 Mount Vernon case, Lieutenant Geraghty and the major crimes unit were presented with the New Hampshire Congressional Law Enforcement Award for unit citations. I had the privilege of being there when Lieutenant Geraghty received that award, when he was there with his family. Really, the incredible work that he did on that case made such a difference in bringing to justice defendants who committed horrific, horrific crimes and in keeping New Hampshire safe. Lieutenant Geraghty will also be remembered for his entire outstanding career of service to both New Hampshire and the Nation. Lieutenant Geraghty also served very honorably in the U.S. Army for 5 years, holding posts at Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Polk in Louisiana, and at Fort Richardson in Arkansas. He also served overseas by participating in the REFORGER exercise in Germany. He achieved the rank of sergeant, E-5, during his career with the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge. But his service did not end there. After serving in the armed services, he then returned home and embarked on his career in law enforcement, first serving as a police officer in the Hudson Police Department, after which he was accepted as a trooper in the New Hampshire State police. During his time with the New Hampshire State police, Lieutenant Geraghty spent 8\1/2\ years with the Narcotics and Investigations Unit, and he did a phenomenal job there investigating a variety of cases, from street-level buys to multistate trafficking organizations. While serving in the Narcotics and Investigations Unit, Lieutenant Geraghty was assigned to the HIDTA--high-intensity drug trafficking area--for 2\1/2\ years, so he understood and worked hard on the issues we are trying to address on the Senate floor today regarding heroin and opioid addiction and so many other illegal substances as he fought to keep them off our streets. Lieutenant Geraghty's natural talent for leadership and keen ability to work with others were critical in the role he played in HIDTA. During his time with HIDTA, he received several awards and recognitions for his dedication and commitment to excellence. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in May of 2006, and from there he was assigned to the Major Crime Unit as a detective sergeant in February of 2008. In 2010 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant within his unit, assuming the commanding officer's position--a post in which he served until he became ill last year. And he served with such distinction. I have many friends at the attorney general's office who worked with the Major Crime Unit and with whom I have spoken--the chief of the criminal bureau unit and with other prosecutors--and they speak of Jim Geraghty's service with such glowing reviews, with such incredible compassion, and they speak of the incredible hard work he put in. He represented the very best of our law enforcement officers. I wanted to talk about his career today because it was important for me to mention his professional accolades, and there are many, because he was such a humble man and he never liked to talk about all of his accomplishments. He liked to focus on something I want to make sure we remember about Jim Geraghty: He lived by the motto ``family first,'' which was incredibly apparent to anyone who knew him. He was married to his wife Valerie for 30 years. Together they had four wonderful children. They are an amazing family, son Jimmy and daughters Colleen, Katie, and Erin. I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to Valerie, to Jimmy, to Colleen, and to Katie and Erin. You are an incredible family, and your husband and father will never be forgotten. What an incredible person he was. He impacted the lives of so many people with the service he gave to his State. It has been said that although Geraghty had an exceptional law enforcement career, he considered his family his greatest adventure. In a 2015 letter, his fellow local law enforcement officers described him as a ``gallant public servant who has spent most of his life serving others.'' Others said of him that ``he [was] truly a consummate team player who demonstrated the true meaning of a quiet professional.'' Another individual said that ``he [was] humble, dedicated, and resilient with any duties and/or responsibilities [he was] faced with.'' And, lastly, ``His remarkable and unblemished career within law enforcement is a true testament and shining example of what we all wish to aspire to.'' This is how the officers who served with him, the troopers who served with him, described Lieutenant Jim Geraghty. He will be deeply missed. I am honored to recognize Lieutenant Jim Geraghty and to honor his tremendous contributions as the commander of the State Major Crime Unit and to say what an amazing family man and great human being. He was someone who lived his life with great integrity. He was truly someone we would all want to emulate in living our lives. Again, I offer my prayers to his family. They are an incredible family as well, and I hope they know we will continue to stand with them in their most difficult days ahead. So today I wish to say about both Officer Ashley Guindon and Lieutenant Jim Geraghty that they were incredible law enforcement officers who gave so much to New Hampshire, to our country, and that they really represented the very best in what it means to be an American. Mr. President, with that, I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This is a bill that we have been working on for 2 years--Senator Portman, Senator Whitehouse, and Senator Klobuchar. I thank them for their partnership and leadership on this bill. This is something the four of us got together on because we saw in our own States the public health epidemic that was happening with our constituents: individuals struggling with addiction, people who were addicted to prescription drugs and overusing and misusing prescription drugs, and then with the price of heroin on our streets so low that people are turning to heroin and also a combination of heroin and a deadly drug called fentanyl. I thank Senators Portman, Whitehouse, and Klobuchar for the work we have been doing together over the last several years on this bill to see this bill come to this Senate floor. This is a very important piece of legislation and will help us address the public health epidemic facing my home State of New Hampshire and this country. This is something I have come to the floor about on several occasions before. Traveling around my State, I can't tell you the number of stories I have heard from people in New Hampshire about what we are facing and the number of lives that are lost, the number of lives that are devastated by heroin and fentanyl and misuse of prescription drugs. This is a life-or-death issue in my State. The number of drug overdose deaths has been staggering. Before I came to the Senate, I served as attorney general of our State, and so I worked with law enforcement on these issues, whether it was methamphetamine, cocaine, or other illegal drugs, but I have never seen anything like this. As of last week, the chief medical examiner's office had recorded that there were 420 drug deaths in 2015, and that was a dramatic increase in New Hampshire from the year before. The year before, we had about 320 drug deaths. So this is more than one person dying a day in my State. Many more than die in traffic accidents are dying from drug overdoses, and it is a combination, again, the driver of this--heroin and Fentanyl. Fentanyl is 40 to 50 percent times more powerful than heroin, and when the drug dealers mix it up with the heroin, it is a killer. As Eric Spofford told me--he is an incredible guy who is in recovery and has opened treatment facilities in our State. He got it right when he said fentanyl is a serial killer because that is what it is. In the month of February alone, there were 14 suspected opioid overdose deaths just in the city of Manchester--14 in just one city in my State. That is a record high in Manchester, NH. These are not just numbers that we are talking about. Behind every statistic is a life, a life that is taken from us far too soon and has been tragically lost--a mother, a daughter, a son, a brother, a neighbor, a friend, a coworker. This hits all of us, and these are people who are being lost from this horrible epidemic. Behind the statistics and behind the headlines we see every day in the news, there are family members, friends, and communities that have been deeply impacted by this public health crisis, such as the mother from Greenville, NH, who wrote to me. She spends her days actually doing incredibly important work, helping people who are struggling with addiction. She helps them, and yet she has been coming home to see her own son struggling with heroin. She told me, ``As I tried to comfort those who have been affected by this tragedy, I think that my son will be next.'' In Laconia, a man helps those struggling to get treatment, but he feels helpless when they are faced with a 5-month waiting period for a rehabilitation facility. He wrote, ``In 5 months, these individuals may be dead.'' A parent from Salem, NH, contacted me and told me her son is struggling with heroin addiction, and she needs help finding a treatment program for him since she could not afford to pay for treatment herself. Parents don't know where to go. I have met many parents who want to get help for their kids, and they are having a hard time finding a place and knowing where to go. Another mother of three children had to revive her son from an overdose before the paramedics could arrive. The Griffin family from Newton, whom I have gotten to know well, lost their beautiful 20-year-old daughter Courtney to an overdose. Now, Courtney's father Doug and Courtney's mother Pam have made it their mission to bring awareness to this issue and to make sure that others don't suffer from the same tragedy they have suffered in the lost life of a beautiful young woman named Courtney, who had so much of life before her and so much potential. Doug and Pam and so many other dedicated people in New Hampshire are working tirelessly to turn the tide against this epidemic. Over the past 2 years, I made it a priority to travel the State and hear from our public safety community, treatment providers, addiction experts, families, and individuals in recovery about finding effective strategies to address this problem. On ride-alongs with the police and fire, I have been to overdoses. I have seen them bring people back to life, administering Narcan only to say that they face this every single day. If we don't focus on prevention and we don't focus on treatment, and the important work that our first responders are doing, then we are not going to get at this problem and make sure people who are struggling get out of this cycle of addiction. Treatment facilities in New Hampshire are certainly working tirelessly, and individuals are stepping up to expand our capacity in New Hampshire to support individuals who need help, and they need more support. I want to take a moment to recognize some of their hard work. Among so many others, I am grateful that there are so many working hard together in New Hampshire: Hope for New Hampshire Recovery, Families in Transition Willows Program, the Farnum Center, Westbridge Community Services in Manchester, GateHouse Sober Community in Nashua, Hope on Haven Hill, Bonfire Recovery Services in Dover, The Granite House in Derry, and the New Freedom Academy in Canterbury. I have met many incredible people who are dedicating their lives to this. I have had the opportunity to visit these facilities and hear directly from the dedicated professionals who work there. They do critically important work. You have average people coming together, whether to organize a 5K race or to gain resources and support for people who are on the frontlines. This is what those who are on the frontlines are saying: Tackling this epidemic and reversing the tide of addiction will take a comprehensive, thoughtful approach, and include strategies for treatment, prevention, education, support for individuals in recovery, and interdiction. That is why we have to pass CARA. CARA is important because it embodies the comprehensive approach that so many in my State have told me they need. Here is what it looks like. It gives more support to first responders and law enforcement, expanding the availability of lifesaving drugs like Narcan, which our first responders are using every day. And because CARA will help make this happen, it has been endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association, and National Association of Attorneys General, including New Hampshire's own attorney general, Joe Foster. It strengthens prescription drug monitoring programs to help prevent ``doctor shopping.'' This is something I have been advocating for since I was attorney general of our State so that our public health officials can have the tools--because we know from SAMHSA research that four out of five people started by misusing or overusing prescription drugs and transferred to heroin. So this is critical. It increases access to treatment, including evidence-based medication assisted treatment, which can help people have more access. We need to turn the tide. Over 130 stakeholder groups have gotten behind this legislation, groups that are on the frontline of this issue. Just to name some of them, it has been endorsed by the National Council for Behavioral Health, American Psychological Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Harm Reduction Coalition, Faces and Voices of Recovery, Mental Health America, Young People in Recovery, National Association of State Alcohol and Substance Abuse Directors, among many others. I thank these groups for their feedback. It would support additional resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders and expand prevention. It is so important we address prevention. It would establish a campaign to bring greater awareness to the association between the overuse and misuse of prescription drugs and what happens as people misuse prescription drugs and then go to heroin and deadly drugs like fentanyl. This bill has overwhelming bipartisan support. It has 42 bipartisan co-sponsors. I see my colleague from New Hampshire on the floor. I want to thank her for her sponsorship of this legislation. This crisis does not discriminate. It doesn't care. Heroin, fentanyl--the devastating impact of this drug does not care whether you're a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, whatever your background. This is something that affects all of us. A high school student from Manchester who wrote to me, sharing how concerned he is about the negative impact this epidemic is having on his city. When he walks home from school, he sometimes sees discarded needles on the sidewalk, and tragically he lost his best friend to a fentanyl overdose. Abi, who lives in the Seacoast Region, struggled with an opioid use disorder through her pregnancy until she was finally able to receive help and treatment and enter recovery. I met Abi, and I am so inspired by her because she shows us we can make a difference and we can turn this around. A woman in Londonderry, who spoke to me at a community forum, was terrified her brother would suffer a reoccurrence as soon as he was released from prison because he wasn't getting treatment. She was worried about his path to a successful life because he was still suffering from a substance abuse disorder. Then there is Angela from Nashua, who has turned her story into a rallying cry for others. Angela lost her mother to a heroin overdose 17 years ago and has adopted the children of several of her aunts and cousins who have lost their battles with addiction. After all of this, Angela's son and his girlfriend have become addicted to opioids and his girlfriend overdosed in Angela's home. Her son is still battling with heroin addiction. There are so many groups that are working to support these individuals and we need to give them our support. They cannot and should not have to do this alone. I see my colleague, Senator Shaheen from New Hampshire on the floor. I really appreciate her leadership on this issue. I am a cosponsor of Senator Shaheen's standalone legislation which would provide emergency appropriations in order to combat the heroin and prescription opioid crisis facing our State. In fact, she and I have both written to Health and Human Services and asked them to designate this as a public health emergency. We have seen the impact on our State and we have seen the lives that are being lost and impacted by this. So I am going to be cosponsoring Senator Shaheen's amendment to CARA and supporting it on the floor. I very much support her getting a vote on this amendment, and I hope that happens. In addition, I appreciate that the President has put in additional resources in his budget to address this issue. This is an issue that we all have to work together on. At the end of the year, there was also important funding that was passed that CARA would provide a very important framework for. Last year during the appropriations process, Congress worked to increase by 284 percent funding for programs at CDC and SAMHSA related to combating opioid abuse. While this is a positive step forward, these dollars actually haven't been distributed yet. It is important we pass CARA to make sure that as we go forward with the dollars that have already been appropriated and as we go forward in the appropriations process this year, that we have the framework to properly redirect this funding for prevention, treatment, and first responders, to make sure we have the feedback of 130 stakeholder groups and law enforcement throughout the country and to ensure that these dollars are appropriately spent to address the epidemic we are facing. I have been honored to work over the last several years, again, with Senators Portman, Whitehouse, and Klobuchar in introducing this bill. In fact, I also thank the head of drug policy in the administration, Director Botticelli. He summed it up well when we asked him what he thought about CARA. He said in a hearing before the Judiciary Committee in January: There is clear evidence that a comprehensive response looking at multidimensional aspects of this that are embedded in the CARA Act are tremendously important. We know we need to do more, and I think that all of those components put forward in this bill are critically important to making headway in terms of this epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act would be a significant step forward in a Federal response to this public health epidemic that is facing New Hampshire and so many other States in the country. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation, to listen to the people of New Hampshire and to the people of this country who are asking us to act. This is what they are saying in New Hampshire. In Center Barnstead: ``Please pass legislation to save my son's life.'' In Manchester: ``I wake up every morning with a fear that I will find my son dead. I am crying out for help.'' In Spofford: ``I want my voice to be heard so that no one else falls through the cracks.'' In Londonderry: ``Addiction can happen to anyone.'' In Tilton: ``We need action, and we need it right now.'' We have an opportunity on this floor right now, in this debate, with very thoughtful legislation, very bipartisan legislation--the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act--to take action now. We owe it to all those who have lost their lives, their families who have been impacted, and those who are struggling with addiction. We owe it to the first responders in our community and to the people who are working hard to turn this around in New Hampshire and across this country. To all, I thank them for the incredible work they are doing. We need to pass this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This bill will make a difference, and I believe it will help save lives in New Hampshire and across the country. There is no doubt that passing this bill will make a difference. We will all need to continue to do more. We will all need to continue to fight for more and more support through the appropriations process and any way we can. I intend to keep up this fight because I know lives are on the line. I know this issue is impacting my State. I know that as I talk to the mothers, the daughters, the fathers, the sons, the friends who are telling me the stories of the people they have lost, that we can turn this around. It is so important that we pass this legislation. Again, I wish to thank my colleague from the State of New Hampshire for her work on this. With that, I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to express my serious concerns with the FDA's actions on opioid pain relievers and my concern that they have not sufficiently addressed what we are seeing as an epidemic in my home State of New Hampshire. The implications of prescribing opioids and ensuring that we take a very strong public health approach toward these pain relievers is important. I know my that my colleagues--Senators Markey, Manchin, and Blumenthal--have been on the floor previously to discuss the concerns they share about the FDA as well. I thank them for their leadership on this important issue. I think what is important to understand here is what we are facing when it comes to heroin, the drug deaths that are occurring in my home State of New Hampshire, the connection between people who are misusing prescription opioids and then becoming addicted to heroin, and the deadly use of a drug called fentanyl, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin. When we bring this all together, we have a situation with opioid abuse which includes painkiller abuse, heroin use, fentanyl abuse, and it is killing people in New Hampshire and across this country. Across this country, approximately 30,000 people died of heroin or prescription opioid overdoses in 2014. As we come to receive the 2015 numbers, unfortunately, if the experience is anything like my home State of New Hampshire, the numbers are going to be much larger than 30,000 because in New Hampshire, every corner of my State has been impacted by this. I had the privilege of serving as attorney general before I came to the Senate, and I dealt with many drug issues as attorney general. In fact, I had a drug task force that reported to me. We dealt with the surge of methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs that certainly have caused addiction and people to struggle with addiction. Obviously, alcohol is also something people struggle with when it is misused, but I have never seen anything like this. I talk to my law enforcement officers and I talk to my first responders about what they are dealing with. In 2015, in New Hampshire, we had over 400 overdose deaths, and those 400 deaths were situations where there was a combination--many of them, hundreds of them--of heroin and/or fentanyl. And that was a dramatic increase over 2014. In 2014, we had 320 deaths. And by the way, that is a 60-percent increase from the year before. Unfortunately, this is not stopping. It is the single most important public health and safety issue facing the State of New Hampshire right now, but I know New Hampshire is not alone. Certainly working with my colleague Rob Portman from Ohio, I know this is hitting Ohio. Working with Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, I know this is hitting Rhode Island. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota--this is hitting so many different places in our country. That is why I know Senator Markey from Massachusetts is concerned about this and Senator Manchin from West Virginia, who was on the floor earlier. This is about our quality of life in this country and the ability for people to live full lives and about our public safety and about our children most of all. The headline from the Union Leader over this weekend: ``Fentanyl, other drugs suspected in three Manchester deaths.'' So we had three deaths in New Hampshire, in our largest city, within 24 hours, and those three deaths were from a combination of heroin and fentanyl. According to Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Goonan, in just 24 hours in Manchester, these overdoses claimed the lives of a 23-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and a 34-year-old man. That was in just a 24-hour period. In fact, what our first responders are seeing--I did a ride-along with the Manchester fire department. I was there less than an hour. We went to an overdose, and I saw the firefighters and their emergency personnel bring someone back to life using CPR and Narcan. If we did not have that drug, the over 400 we had in New Hampshire--I can't even tell you what the numbers would be, because not only did I do a ride- along with the Manchester fire department, I did one with the police, too, and we went to two overdoses in an hour and a half, and I saw them bring those individuals back to life. But lest we think this is something that happens on some other street or in some other neighborhood, I can assure you that this can happen to any family, and that is something we need to understand. That was really brought home for me from a wonderful family I met, Doug and Pam Griffin, who lost their beautiful daughter Courtney. They are wonderful people. I think about what our first responders are facing. This same article I just talked about, over the weekend--unbelievable. Twice the fire department in Manchester revived a woman who was 4 months pregnant, working on her in front of her young children. I will never forget the overdose I went to. The firefighters came into the room, and there was a young man on the ground. They administered the Narcan and brought him back. But do you know what was in the corner? A crib with a baby in it. The firefighter grabbed the baby and was bringing the baby over. The father was lying on the ground. So this is having a tremendous impact on not only those who are struggling with addiction but also their families and the children around them and the future generations. In this article, the assistant fire chief from Manchester basically said: It is more deadly than we have ever seen. So that is why I have been proud to work with my colleagues, proud to work with Senators Whitehouse, Portman, Klobuchar, and so many others on the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act. I thank the members of the Judiciary Committee for voting that important piece of legislation out of the committee, and I look forward to us taking that up on the floor. Right now pending on the floor, we have an important nomination for the FDA. That is why I come to the floor today, because if you look at what we are addressing here, we are concerned about heroin and fentanyl, but there is a very important connection for us to understand, unfortunately, and it is also why I have been such a strong supporter of prescription-monitoring programs. The opiates that are prescribed--SAMHSA has found that four out of five individuals who turned to heroin actually started with prescription opiates and misusing prescription opiates or overusing those and then transitioning to heroin because heroin is cheaper, unfortunately, on our streets. So it is very important that we have the FDA engaging on this issue very aggressively with our medical community, that the FDA take a prominent role in ensuring that what they are saying is, this is the appropriate use of prescription opiates. In my humble opinion, the FDA needs to take a much more aggressive role than it has in recommending the appropriate uses and engaging the medical community and the pharmaceutical community, very importantly, on this discussion, this public health crisis we are facing. We have come together as a body on this issue, and I think it is important that we have been working on this in a very bipartisan basis. But just to talk about the importance of the FDA and the leadership we need there, in 2013 we saw the FDA approve Zohydro--a powerful, pure hydrocodone drug--without an abuse-deterrent formulation, and an abuse- deterrent formulation is important so that it will be used for its intended purpose and not chopped up or otherwise abused. Yet the FDA approves Zohydro--this powerful, pure hydrocodone drug--without an abuse-deterrent formulation despite the fact that its own advisory committee voted against approving the drug by a vote of 11 to 2. I see Senator Markey coming to the floor, and I appreciate his leadership on this. One of the things that I know have troubled Senator Markey, Senator Manchin, and me as well is that last year the FDA approved OxyContin for use by children as young as 11, and when they did that, they did not have an advisory committee or use an advisory committee before taking that step. So I would say that I certainly appreciate that I had the opportunity to sit down with Secretary Burwell on this issue and learn more about the FDA's action plan that it issued, but unfortunately I believe the agency has to go further than it is going. The example I would use is the issuance of the recommendations for the children as young as 11 with OxyContin, without an advisory committee on something so important, seems--to me, it just doesn't pass the commonsense test. So I would recommend to the FDA, let's make sure we have an advisory committee look at this issue carefully and then reissue a recommendation, because to me it seems important that we have that guidance and the careful, thoughtful approach of the advisory committee. Of course, what troubles me is we hope they would take the advisory committee's recommendations, unlike what happened with Zohydro, unfortunately. So we need leadership right now in the FDA. I have concerns that we are not going to be in a position where we get the strongest leadership we can have. We have a nominee pending on the floor. These concerns are very important. I hope, if he is confirmed, he will be aggressive on this issue and that the FDA will take a stronger leadership role on opiates, understanding that they have a very important role when it comes to this public health concern. Right now I am not satisfied with where we are. I believe there is so much more we need to do. That is actually why yesterday I voted to not go forward with this nomination, because I haven't heard this clear statement, I haven't heard what the leadership plans are on this issue. While I appreciate some of the steps the Department of Health and Human Services has taken, those steps to me need to be very much strengthened. As I look at the FDA's action plan, it pledges to make the use of advisory committees more frequent, but it should require the use of advisory committees for all opioid pain relievers, not just when we decide we want to use it. This should be consistent, given that we unfortunately know that the data is there on the connection between misuse of opioid pain relievers and the connection to those who unfortunately then turn to heroin, with the deadly combination of fentanyl, which is killing people in this country. Again, I wish to thank Senator Markey for his leadership on this issue. There isn't a place I go in my State where I don't hear from a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a grandmother, a grandfather, a friend about someone who lost a loved one, lost someone they care about, because of heroin, opioids, fentanyl, the deadly combination that is killing people. We have an opportunity, not only with the important work in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to add more resources to address prevention, treatment, and support for our first responders but also the FDA has a very important role, and we need stronger leadership there and greater engagement of our medical community on the best prescribing practices for opioids. To me, this is an opportunity where I would like to see stronger leadership and I would like to hear a much more aggressive stance from this FDA. Of all the issues we struggle with, the things we disagree on in this body--heroin, fentanyl, they don't care whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, I can assure my colleagues, or an Independent or a Libertarian because these drugs are taking everyone's lives. So as I think about all the issues we can come together on, this is one about our public health, about our public safety, about our quality of life, and it requires all of our leadership. There is nothing partisan about this. I hope we will see stronger leadership from the FDA. I hope we as a body will build on what the Judiciary Committee did and bring to the floor the CARA bill that many of us have worked hard on and support each other's efforts to do all we can to end this public health crisis and ensure that none of us have to run into families of people in our State whom we represent who are losing people they love to heroin or fentanyl or misuse of opioid prescription drugs. This is devastating. I know we can make a difference. This is something we can make a difference on in this body. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, today is the 30th anniversary of the tremendous loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and of New Hampshire teacher in space Christa McAuliffe of Concord, NH. Today I rise to honor the legacy of the Challenger. On this day 30 years ago, America was saddened by the tragic loss of seven brave crewmembers of the Space Shuttle Challenger : Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael Smith, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, and, of course, our own New Hampshire teacher in space and payload specialist, S. Christa McAuliffe. Each of the members of the Challenger crew conducted themselves with such bravery, heroism, and a desire to reach beyond and into the stars that it inspired me. As a high school student, I remember where I was that day. We were all watching as the Challenger was lifting off into the stars. I was a student at Nashua High School and Christa McAuliffe inspired all of us. She captured the Nation's imagination as she looked to be the first teacher in space. That tragic day touched the lives of every man, woman, and child in New Hampshire. It was one of those days in history when time stopped and everyone remembers what they were doing at that moment. I know I certainly do. You see, Christa was a role model, someone who lived among us and was able to achieve extraordinary things. She inspired young people across New Hampshire and the Nation to ``touch the future.'' She was a gifted educator and had such an infectious enthusiasm for teaching. She taught social studies at Concord High School and was selected from 11,000 applicants to be the first teacher in space. When asked about the mission on national television, she said: ``If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on.'' It really shows her dedication to teaching, her bravery, and her commitment to inspiring the next generation of leaders, scientists, dreamers, and explorers, all of whom have made our Nation great. Today, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH, is named in her honor. This state-of-the-art facility not only provides a lasting tribute to the courage and bravery of Christa McAuliffe and all of the members of the Challenger crew, but it also helps educate visitors about the contributions of these extraordinary New Hampshire citizens--not just Christa McAuliffe but other New Hampshire citizens who have braved and explored space. The McAuliffe planetarium is doing amazing work by showing the next generation of scientists and leaders how exciting it is to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is a tremendous legacy to Christa McAuliffe and all who have traveled in space and explored the edges of the universe on our behalf so we can learn more about ourselves and new developments. President Ronald Reagan eloquently said that frightful day 30 years ago: The crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ``slipped the surly bonds of earth'' to ``touch the face of God.'' Today we remember and honor the legacy of a great Granite Stater and great American, Christa McAuliffe, and all of the brave crewmembers of the Space Shuttle Challenger that day because their legacy continues to live on in our children and in our continuous focus on improving in science, technology, mathematics, and our continuous reach for the stars. I thank the Presiding Officer. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Lee, NH, a town in Strafford County that is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. I am proud to join citizens across New Hampshire in recognizing this special milestone. Lee was originally settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1766 by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. In the century leading up to its incorporation, Lee was part of Durham and the Oyster River Plantation. Lee was also one of the last towns to be incorporated by Governor Wentworth. Wadleigh Falls, located in Lee, is a historic landmark and one of the oldest areas in New Hampshire to be inhabited by humans. Abenaki and Penacook tribes would come to the falls for hunting, fishing, and farming as far back as 8,000 years ago. Upon settlement, the Europeans would follow in the Native Americans' footsteps and use the falls to their economic advantage. The settlers started using this site in 1657, and the first mill was built in 1665. Mills in Lee processed timber, grain, leather, wooden buckets, and herbal medicines. Generous clay deposits and the town's lumber mill system allowed Lee to become a valued location for industry in the early history of the United States. The town's agricultural tradition has also been very important to Lee and its many farms that are still operating today. In addition to its agricultural advantages, Lee is also known for its unique landscape features including scenic plains, meadows, winding streams, brooks, and Wheelwright Pond, named after Reverend John Wheelwright. Today Lee's students and families enjoy an exceptional education system, thanks in large part to a tradition of learning and knowledge that has long been ingrained in the community. The Oyster River Cooperative School District is consistently regarded as one of the top school districts in the State of New Hampshire. The town's population has grown from 1,029 residents in 1790 to over 4,300 in 2013. The people of Lee have a strong commitment to the spirit of community and volunteerism as evidenced by the hard work and dedication of residents involved with the planning of many events to celebrate the town's 250th anniversary. Lee and its residents have greatly contributed to the life and growth of New Hampshire. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending congratulations to the people of Lee as they celebrate the town's 250th anniversary.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Tennessee. The Perkins loan is a very important loan program to people in New Hampshire and to 5,000 students in New Hampshire who are current recipients. While I know my colleagues who are on the floor who have fought so hard for this--Senator Baldwin, Senator Casey, and Senator Portman-- would have preferred that the Senate take up and pass the House's Higher Education Extension Act prior to Perkins expiring, because all of us were on the floor on September 29 as well, I do very much appreciate the spirit of compromise that the Senator from Tennessee has shown in working with us to extend this very important loan program for 2 years, and I thank him for that and for not letting this expire. I thank my colleagues on the floor who have fought so hard for the students in their States who, like the students in New Hampshire, the 5,000 students who received a Perkins loan during the last academic year--this is very important to those students. I have heard from them, the colleges, universities, and financial aid administrators in New Hampshire, who have urged that it is very important, especially before we end the year with the Perkins Loan Program expired, that we pass this extension. Certainly I look forward to continuing to work to make sure that all of our student loan programs are easier for people to use; that they are simpler; and that we make sure young people in this country and those who are returning to education as well--perhaps in a change of career or a new course in their life--that they get the opportunity, no matter where they come from or their economic background, to reach their full potential in this country because that is the essence of the American dream. Again, this program is very important to my home State. This program is also important to half a million students across the country. It hits a lot of students. Unfortunately, in my home State of New Hampshire, we have the distinction of having the highest average student loan debt in the country. So every bit helps students. These 5,000 students in New Hampshire--I want them to know this program will continue, and I want to make sure the people of New Hampshire understand that I am going to continue to fight for access for all of our students in New Hampshire and those who want to have better educational opportunities to better their lives and reach their full potential. I thank the Senator from Tennessee, and certainly I thank the other Senators who are on the floor on a bipartisan basis who fought so hard for the Perkins loan extension.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau. As a resident of Nashua, I am so proud to call Donnalee my mayor. She is an extraordinary public servant, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude as she approaches the conclusion of her two terms serving the people of the Gate City. As a third generation resident of Nashua and a graduate of the city's public school system, Donnalee cares deeply about Nashua's future, and she has a long record of service to the people of our city. That includes her previous service to Nashua in the New Hampshire House of Representatives for eight terms, earning the role of deputy speaker. She has always been known for her independent leadership, her commitment to bringing people together to build consensus, and for ensuring that government is responsive and efficient on behalf of hard- working taxpayers. Donnalee grasps the qualities of what makes our State unique, and in turn, she leads with a passion for problem-solving and a dedication to delivering results. She truly listens to everyone and communicates in sincere and candid terms--which I believe makes her an exceptional leader. In addition, as Nashua's first female mayor, Donnalee is an inspiration for young women in our State to pursue public service. Under her leadership, Nashua's growth and resilience as a city helped lead to major accomplishments in infrastructure, public education, new business sectors, and companies. Donnalee brought her welcoming, honest, and accessible approach to governing and enhanced the reputation of the city of Nashua by exemplifying those values. In addition to her tireless work at city hall, she has also been an active leader promoting philanthropic, cultural, and business activity across the city. As part of her ongoing dedication to serving Nashua's community and those in need, Donnalee will continue to contribute to our city as executive director of Southern New Hampshire Services, a nonprofit social services agency. Her legacy is also being honored by Nashua's Rivier University with the creation of the Mayor Donnalee Lozeau Leadership Scholarship, which will be used to support the development of many generations of new leaders to come. As Donnalee prepares to leave city hall, I would like to thank her for the thousands of hours she devoted to making Nashua an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. I am so grateful for Donnalee's leadership, commitment, and friendship, and I wish her all the best as she begins the next chapter of her career.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate the 100th annual Winter Carnival held in Newport, NH. The maiden Newport Winter Carnival was held in 1916, making it the oldest continuous winter carnival in the country and the largest annual event in Newport. For over a week in early February, Newport will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Families, friends, and visitors will gather for this yearly celebration and participate in events that include the ice fishing derby, hockey games, Main Street 1 Mile Run, horseback riding demos, horse show tournament, and countless gatherings, dinners, and historic remembrances, capped off by fireworks to light up the winter sky. The Newport Winter Carnival is one of New Hampshire's longest and most exciting winter events. The people of Newport are justifiably proud of this unique and treasured tradition. The carnival epitomizes the spirit of the Granite State and celebrates New Hampshire's beautiful landscape and snow-covered season. Providing wintertime fun for the residents of and visitors to our State, Newport's Winter Carnival brings warmth and cheer throughout the frosty month of February. On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I join with the residents of Newport in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Winter Carnival. I commend the people of Newport for this great New Hampshire tradition and wish the town of Newport continued success for generations to come.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and honor George J. Katis, an exceptional community leader and businessman in New Hampshire. George Katis cares deeply about the well-being of children in New Hampshire, and he has an exemplary record of advocacy on their behalf, especially through his leadership with the Nashua Goes Back to School program. This initiative helps provide free backpacks stocked with school supplies to Nashua's neediest schoolchildren. Since helping found the program in Nashua, George also helped start Manchester Goes Back to School, which serves more than 4,000 Manchester kids and their families each year. George has generously devoted his time and energy to programs that build homes for wounded warriors, and he is also a strong supporter of athletics in our local communities. A baseball connoisseur, he has served on the board of directors of the Ted Williams Museum and Foundation since 2003. George started and continues to fund several Ted Williams Museum Scholarships, including the Johnny Pesky Scholarship, the Ben Topkin Scholarship, and the Ted Williams Scholarship for deserving students. George serves on the Granite State Baseball Dinner committee, which has raised more than $1.28 million since 2007 for several charitable organizations--including the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the Ted Williams Museum, and the Fisher Cats Foundation. In addition to his dedication to philanthropic efforts, George is a leader in New Hampshire's business community and has helped support the region's economy and provide good-paying jobs. As a dedicated and engaged citizen, George has made tremendous contributions to our State, and I am pleased to recognize his tireless efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of children in New Hampshire.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I want to thank our leader and thank Senator Casey for introducing and pushing to pass this very important legislation. This legislation, the Protecting Our Infants Act, of which I was proud to be an early sponsor, will help address the increasing number of newborns born with opioid dependency. I thank the additional Members, including the chairman of the HELP Committee and Ranking Member Murray, for helping get that through this important committee. New Hampshire is facing a public health epidemic. In fact, the heroin and prescription drug addiction crisis is the single most urgent issue facing my State right now. So many families who have lost children have come to me. The other day, I was buying something, and the woman behind the counter said to me: Keep working on this issue. I asked her why. She said: I lost my granddaughter. Too many families are experiencing losing their loved ones, their family members who are struggling with addiction. Our first responders are inundated. They are saving lives with lifesaving drugs such as Narcan. Public health and safety officials in our State--this is truly something on which we all need to work together to address. One of the tragic results of this growing opioid abuse epidemic--it has often been overlooked--is the increasing number of infants who are born dependent on opioids and suffering from withdrawal. Researchers estimate that almost every hour in this country, there is an infant being born who is suffering from withdrawal symptoms or born with dependency symptoms from opioid addiction. This is an issue which I am so glad is being addressed in this bill, the Protecting Our Infants Act. How we treat our children and our infants is so much a reflection of who we are. That is why I was proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation which will call for the development of recommendations to prevent and treat prenatal opioid use, including neonatal abstinence syndrome. This bill would also ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist States in data collection and increased surveillance to better monitor the prevalence and causes of neonatal abstinence syndrome so that we can work on more support for prevention, treatment, and recovery to help mothers get support and get into treatment so that we don't have infants who are born with opioid dependence and withdrawal symptoms. As the leader said, across the Nation the number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal has increased 300 percent since 2000. In my home State of New Hampshire, in May of this year, I visited the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester and heard directly from medical personnel there and first responders who have been treating and responding to cases of newborn withdrawal. Catholic Medical Center officials reported that 7 percent of newborn babies at that hospital were born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. That is a significant increase from last year. According to officials at Catholic Medical Center's Pregnancy Care Center, close to half of the mothers cared for are struggling with addiction. I thank the leader. I thank Senator Casey. Today's passage of the Protecting Our Infants Act is one very important step to address the crisis of opioid abuse seen in New Hampshire and across this country. Now that we have passed this in the Senate, I want to thank those Members in the House who have led this effort. I hope the House quickly passes this and sends it to the President of the United States. I hope the Senate will continue to focus on this public health epidemic because there are many solutions that are bipartisan. One is called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This is a bill I helped introduce with Senator Whitehouse, Senator Portman, and Senator Klobuchar. This is a bill which will deal with prevention so that we can make sure we get that message out to prevent people from overusing and misusing prescription drugs and also turning to heroin. It is so we can have more support for treatment and recovery where there is a big gap in my State and so we can support our first responders and make sure they have access to the lifesaving drug Narcan. One experience I had recently was I went on a ride-along with our largest police department, and I had previously gone on a ride-along with our largest fire department. Within half an hour of the fire department ride-along, we went to a heroin overdose. I watched the emergency personnel--police, fire, emergency first responders--bring someone back to life using Narcan. When I did the police ride-along, within an hour and a half, we went to two heroin overdoses. Again, first responders saved those two individuals' lives. I have to tell you, I was a murder prosecutor. I saw a lot of tough things when I was attorney general. But I couldn't breathe when I was sitting in that room and watching that second individual, a young man, on the ground, the first responders doing everything they could, another dose of Narcan--I thought he was gone. This is what our first responders are dealing with every single day.

Ms. AYOTTE. Yes.

Ms. AYOTTE. Leader, I will tell you, Director Botticelli came to New Hampshire as well, and he testified at a field hearing Senator Shaheen and I had in New Hampshire. For the people of New Hampshire right now, this is a crisis. It is a public health epidemic. I did a townhall last night, and the single biggest issue I got asked about was this because I believe this is one of the top issues, if not the top issue on the minds of people in New Hampshire because they see their friends and family being impacted by this. Every socioeconomic group is being impacted by, unfortunately, prescription drugs and then heroin, which is so cheap on our streets right now, also sometimes mixed with a deadly drug called Fentanyl. In fact, we had a 60-percent increase in drug deaths. There were 320 drug deaths last year.

Ms. AYOTTE. It is the exact same thing in New Hampshire. In our State, more people are dying from heroin, Fentanyl, and abuse of prescription drugs than car accidents, which is staggering when you think about it. This is a national epidemic. That is why I appreciate the bill that was passed today. I think there is more that we in this body could do that would benefit the Nation and would benefit our States of Kentucky and New Hampshire to help give tools to the first responders, the public health officials, treatment providers, those supporting recovery and helping prevent this in the first instance. It is something that would obviously help address this crisis but also something that is a public health issue we should all care about.

Ms. AYOTTE. I thank the leader for this bill today, which I am glad was passed, and I look forward to working on additional legislation. Mr. President, I yield the floor.