Kelly Ayotte

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I urge a ``yes'' vote on amendment No. 400. Unfortunately, the bipartisan work we have done on the Veterans Choice Card has not been properly implemented by the VA. Our veterans want this choice of private care. The Senator from Vermont has worked very hard on this issue, which enjoys bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to make sure we get this right for our veterans. That is what my amendment does.

Ms. AYOTTE. I would.

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, last year in this body, we heard and saw evidence about what was happening at some of our VA facilities--the manipulated wait lists, the delays our veterans had to endure--and, unfortunately, some of our veterans died waiting for care. We passed a bipartisan bill, one on which we all worked together, and I appreciate that Senator Sanders worked very hard on that bill. The Veterans Choice Program was part of that bipartisan bill, but this program has yet to be implemented in the way this body intended. The goal was to expedite care for veterans who had been waiting longer than 30 days or who live farther than 40 miles away from the VA hospital. In my home State of New Hampshire, we don't have a full-service veterans hospital, so too often our veterans are driving long distances--to Massachusetts or to other locations--to get the care they earned for having served and sacrificed so much for our country. Recently, a study conducted by the VFW found that 92 percent of program-eligible veterans were interested in non-VA or private care options that they could go to. Yet that same survey found that 80 percent of eligible veterans were unable to access the Veterans Choice Program. Barely 2 months after the program started--and we worked on it on a bipartisan basis in this Congress--the administration announced plans to divert money from this important program by saying it was underutilized. Let's be clear. It is underutilized because the VA is not implementing it properly. Veterans are not being told their rights, and we owe it to them to get this Veterans Choice Program right and give veterans the choice they want for private care options so they are not driving or waiting in line, given what they have done for our country. Our veterans chose to fight on our behalf. We should honor the work we did together and ensure that this program is properly implemented by the VA, which is not happening right now. Our veterans want this choice. Let's get this veterans program right. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which, again, is an amendment designed to support what we intended in this body--to ensure that veterans don't have to wait in line, that they can exercise private care options when they want to, thereby giving them the choice for the sacrifices they have made for this country. They deserve nothing less.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I congratulate New Hampshire commissioner of administrative services Linda Hodgdon on her retirement and to recognize her nearly 30 years of dedicated public service to New Hampshire and our Nation. Commissioner Hodgdon has distinguished herself as an extraordinary public servant. Linda's administrative and analytic talent, commitment to the prudent use of tax dollars, and her exceptional work ethic resulted in her holding increasingly challenging and responsible positions throughout New Hampshire's State government. She started her service in 1985 as a financial analyst in the Governor's office, and has since served in various positions with the Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Justice. In 2008 she was appointed to serve as the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services. Throughout her career serving the people of New Hampshire, Linda has earned a reputation for her exemplary commitment to fulfilling the fiduciary duty we all have to spend tax dollars wisely, and she has worked to boost efficiency and increase accountability. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to work with Linda when she served as the director of administration for the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 2004 to 2006. During my tenure as attorney general I came to value and greatly appreciate Linda's work managing our budget and many other administrative functions within the office. Her skill, dedication, and hard work played an integral role in the success the office enjoyed. When Linda took on a task you knew it would be done thoroughly, professionally, and on time. Linda was a trusted member of my leadership team, who was greatly appreciated by all of the members of the office. As Commissioner Hodgdon retires from public service, I commend her on a job well done. The government of the State of New Hampshire and the lives of the people of our State are better off because of her exemplary service. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Linda for her service and wishing Linda, her husband Mark, and their daughter well in all future endeavors.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from Hawaii. This is such an incredibly important issue. It is an honor to see my colleague from North Dakota as well. This is a great example of an incredibly important issue that is a bipartisan issue. Unfortunately, human trafficking, sex trafficking--this is something that impacts everyone. This is something that the women of the Senate have been very focused on, but it crosses all party lines. We want to work together to end this modern day slavery. Unfortunately, the funding for this is really supporting criminal syndicates and so many other crimes. It is also supporting terrorism. So working together, we hope to make meaningful progress to end this slavery that is happening for too many young people in this country who are vulnerable. But let's make no mistake. This happens in every single community in this country. I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, along with Senators Mikulski, Collins, and Gillibrand, regarding the importance of legislation to fight sex trafficking and ensure, most of all, that we understand that the victims of these horrific, horrific crimes need our support. We need to ensure that we can get them back on their feet, help them get the support they need and make sure they can lead productive lives--and hold the traffickers accountable. Those who are participating in trafficking need to understand that we are going to work together to ensure they are held fully accountable and the victims do not get blamed for these crimes. The Judiciary Committee heard from experts who are dedicated to changing lives and helping victims. Their work is incredibly important. In my State of New Hampshire, the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, which I had the privilege of working with as attorney general, has done some tremendous work in supporting victims and also in bringing attention to the trafficking in New Hampshire and across this country. What we know is that sex trafficking is something that is devastating. This is something where we need to work with local, State, and Federal agencies, working together to prevent trafficking, to provide support for those who are vulnerable in the community and are often targeted, whether they are runaways or people who are homeless. But also there are people who come from communities where it is not the homeless who are targeted. Children and women and also boys are targeted for trafficking. Last week I was encouraged to see that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed two bipartisan pieces of legislation of which I was honored to be a cosponsor: Senator Cornyn's Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and Senator Klobuchar's Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act. I am pleased to be a cosponsor. I cannot wait for these bills to come to the floor. I hope our leadership makes this a priority because this is such a strong bipartisan issue. Also last week the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed Senator Corker's End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, which aims to eliminate modern slavery throughout the world. It is totally unacceptable in this day and age that people are trafficked the way they are. But to mention it again, modern slavery is being used to support terrorism. It is being used to endanger the world as well. So we have to work to end it. I also recently helped reintroduce the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, which helps prevent sex trafficking. This has been a very useful program in the State of New Hampshire. I see my colleague here from North Dakota. I know she shares with me--having been an attorney general of her State--that we understand that these are horrible crimes that happen in every single community, from my home State of New Hampshire to her home State of North Dakota. We are going to work together to make sure that we can end human trafficking, that we can hold those accountable who are traffickers, and, most of all, that we can support the victims of these horrible crimes. So with that I would like to turn the floor over for the Senator from North Dakota.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. I thank the Senator from North Dakota and the Senator from South Carolina. As I look at where we are right now--first of all, our support for Israel and our friendship with Israel--this has been a very strong bipartisan issue, and it is an issue that rightly crosses party lines because we share the same values, the relationship is very important, we share technology, we share intelligence, and we share the concern that we do not want the world's worst regime to obtain the world's most destructive weapon, and that is the Iranian regime. So I want to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Congress and very much listen to what he has to say, because he comes to us in a very important time where the administration is negotiating a potential agreement with Iran. What we want most of all is that that agreement will end Iran's nuclear program and be a real, verifiable, transparent agreement, because a good agreement is a blessing, a bad agreement is a nightmare. We have to hear from the Prime Minister of Israel, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say today about what a good agreement looks like. But make no mistake about why we must stop the Iranian regime from having a nuclear weapon. Because what they are doing around the world right now--they are the largest State sponsor of terrorism in the world. They have essentially destabilized the Government of Yemen through their support of the Houthis there. They have been supporting Hezbollah, a terrorist organization. They have been helping the Assad regime murder its own people. They have been participating in cyber attacks against our interests. This is a regime that has said they want to wipe Israel off the map. I can understand--and I want to hear from the Prime Minister of Israel--why the people of Israel would say ``never again'' when they hear those words. But make no mistake, this is not just about the security of Israel; this is about our security in the United States of America. They have called us ``the great Satan,'' and this is an issue that represents a threat to our core national security interests, to allow state- sponsored terrorism to obtain the most destructive weapon in the world. That is a danger we cannot afford in our country. It is one of concern. It is important that we share with our strong ally, Israel. We need to do everything we can in this Congress on a bipartisan basis to ensure that never happens. That is why I am honored to be a sponsor of bipartisan legislation that would give the Congress a say on this very important issue, because we worked together to put together some of the toughest sanctions that actually brought the Iranians to the negotiating table. We should not lift the sanctions that have been put together on a bipartisan basis without ensuring that this is a good agreement that will end their nuclear program. When I say end it, I don't mean end it for a decade, I mean end it permanently, because Iran has been engaged in terrorist activity for longer than a decade. So this is something we have to make sure is a transparent, verifiable agreement. I would also add we cannot have a situation where we have a splitup. There has been a discussion about a year breakout period in this agreement. I would like to hear what the Prime Minister thinks about that, because my concern about that is this will lead to the situation my colleague from South Carolina talked about, where we have a Sunni- Shia nuclear arms race in the Middle East, where everyone seeks to enrich uranium and to have a breakout period. That results in more proliferation of nuclear weapons in a way that makes the world less safe and endangers the United States of America. So today we welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu. I very much look forward to listening carefully to what he has to say. This is a bipartisan issue. This is about the security of the United States of America. This is obviously about our strong friendship with Israel. We are aligned in ensuring that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon and ensuring that we work together to stop their support of terrorism around the world, that we work together to end their ICBM program, which the estimates are they could hit the east coast of the United States of America by 2015 if they continue on this path. This is about us, this is about our relationship with Israel, and I very much look forward to hearing the Prime Minister today.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I wish to honor the life of William ``Blake'' Marston, a Navy SEAL from New Hampshire who was tragically killed in the line of duty. Blake Marston was an extraordinary man who served our Nation with honor, courage, and commitment. His decision to become a Navy SEAL and take risks in training and combat missions alike speaks to his love of country and his dedication to serving his fellow Americans. His ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty leaves all New Hampshire citizens in Blake's debt. Blake grew up in Bedford, NH, where he excelled as a student athlete and was known by his coaches for being a hard worker and dedicated team member. He loved baseball and was an alpine ski racer. It is clear that Blake was special from an early age. From his involvement in the church youth group, to his mentorship of young athletes, Blake was devoted to helping others. At Stonehill College, Blake majored in criminal justice and studio arts, and it was during his senior year that he decided that he wanted to become a Navy SEAL--a member of the most elite special forces unit. Blake's athleticism, leadership, and determination provided him with the physical and mental toughness he needed to endure one of the most grueling training experiences in the world in order to become a SEAL. And he succeeded. Blake's service to our Nation included two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He never let up on his desire to improve and be the best SEAL he could be. Just as he put in the time in his backyard with his dad honing his baseball skills, he also worked tirelessly at being the best that he could be as a defender of our country. Blake died training to conduct the kinds of missions that keep Americans safe. We owe our freedom and security to Blake and the men and women like him in our armed services. During the Celebration of Life service held in Blake's honor, his family, friends, and classmates described a young man who was kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and funny--a gentle giant, yet also a highly trained, elite warrior. In describing his devotion to his fellow SEALs, Blake once remarked to his father, ``You know, Dad, I can't possibly imagine being in any other profession where I have such respect and love for my teammates.'' Blake will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, a hero surrounded by his brothers in arms. My thoughts and prayers are with Blake's parents Nancy and Bill, and sister Emily, who have lost a loving son and brother. May God bless Blake and his family.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, I wish to recognize the extraordinary life of my friend Chip Kennett, who passed away on January 17 after a courageous 2-year battle against cancer. Bayard Winslow ``Chip'' Kennett II was born and raised in Conway, and he was a proud New Hampshire native son. The Kennetts are pillars of the Conway community whose roots in the Mount Washington Valley go back generations, and I have been fortunate to know Chip's family and to witness their countless contributions to business and civic life in New Hampshire. Chip carried on his family's tradition of public service when he first came to Capitol Hill to serve his home State of New Hampshire. He served as a congressional staffer for nearly 8 years--first as a legislative correspondent to my predecessor Senator Judd Gregg and later as a policy aide for former Senator John E. Sununu. More recently, he was a senior aide to my colleague from Maine, Senator Susan Collins. When I first came to the Senate in 2011 and did not yet have a full legislative staff in place, Chip generously offered his counsel on national security and defense issues, for which I was very grateful. While working for Senator Gregg, Chip met the love of his life, Sheila, who would become his wife. In October 2012, Chip--seemingly healthy and active at the age of 31--was diagnosed with Stage IV nonsmoker's lung cancer. There was no cure. In the face of an unimaginable prognosis, Chip understood better than most that life is a gift, and he inspired us all with his determination to live his life to the fullest--making the most of the time he had with his wife Sheila and their two young children, Joe and Crosby. Together, they found joy and meaning in simply being together during everyday, ordinary moments--resolving to be ``present and grateful.'' From family dinners to rooting for his favorite football team on ``Patriots Football Sunday'', Chip savored the blessings of family and friendship. True to his compassionate nature, he turned his diagnosis into a cause for good--becoming a counselor to others battling cancer, raising public awareness of the disease and the need to reduce the stigma associated with lung cancer. The blog that Chip and Sheila started provided a ``Playbook for Living'' that served as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others who were fighting similar battles with cancer. Chip also put his Capitol Hill experience to work as an advocate for lung cancer research, and his efforts are credited with helping spur changes in Medicare coverage for lung cancer treatments--a legacy that will continue to touch many lives. Chip summed up his approach to living with cancer at a hearing last May before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, where he testified that ``thanks to medical breakthroughs, I have been able to experience many quality filled days. We have enjoyed spending holidays with friends and family. I have been able to continue working full time. As a family, we have sat down at the dinner table together, have attended innumerable swim lessons, soccer and tee ball practices for my son on Saturday mornings, and have sat in a church pew together on Sunday mornings. In other words, we have stayed busy--busy LIVING with cancer.'' Chip's strong network of family and close friends was extremely important to him. He was always happiest being around the people he loved. After his diagnosis, his family, friends, coworkers, and former Hill colleagues--affectionately known as Team Kennett--mobilized to not only support Chip and his family but also to support their efforts to aid others fighting cancer. The courage and strength with which Chip and his family faced his illness is an inspiration to us all. Perhaps Chip's greatest legacy is the valuable lesson he taught us all about how to live fully in each moment. Chip was a wonderful, smart, and fun-loving man, and he had a big heart. It was a joy to know him and to call him a friend, and his loss is simply heartbreaking. My heart and thoughts are with all of Team Kennett, including Sheila, Joe, and Crosby; as well as Chip's parents Bayard and Theresa Kennett of Conway; and his brother and sister-in-law Tanner and Sarah Kennett of North Conway.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the exceptional service and the extraordinary life of Lt. Col. Stephanie Riley of Concord, NH. Born and raised in Henniker, NH, Stephanie graduated from Henniker High School in 1984. An excellent student, Stephanie attended St. Paul's advance studies program the summer before her senior year and was the valedictorian of her high school class. In 1988, she graduated cum laude from Boston College's School of Nursing and in 1989 was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force, where she completed a 4-month nursing internship at Travis Air Force Base in California. Following her internship, she was stationed at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for the remainder of her 3-year tour. In 1992, Colonel Riley entered the Inactive Ready Reserve and became a civilian travel nurse. Showing both her love for the military and her home State, she returned to New Hampshire in 2000 and joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Westover, MA, and then the NH Air National Guard in 2003. She subsequently volunteered for a tour abroad and deployed to Qatar in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. She held appointments in the Medical Group as officer in charge of staff development, assistant chief nurse, and the chief of education and training. Colonel Riley was employed by the New Hampshire Army National Guard as a case manager and was active on State and national committees. She became a voice for National Guard members and New Hampshire veterans and was a key member of New Hampshire's State Veteran's Advisory Committee, the Military Officers Association of America, and the national and State chapters of the National Guard Association. She served in key leadership positions on the New Hampshire Legislative Commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI. In October 2013, Steph was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and in what may have been her most heroic effort, she channeled her energy into a personal and sustained effort to promote health screenings and cancer awareness. She posted openly on social media and spoke courageously about her decision to undergo a preemptive double mastectomy. She sparked a team, ``Steph Strong,'' that helped raise several thousand dollars for Concord Hospital. Her important message for all was to take preventative health screening seriously. From her extensive military service, to her work as a civilian nurse, Stephanie devoted her life to serving others--a commitment that endured even while battling her own illness. She was taken from us far too soon but her legacy of compassion and her inspiring dedication to caring for her fellow citizens will live on through all those whose lives she touched. Steph leaves behind the love of her life, her husband Shawn Riley, a deputy fire chief with the Laconia Fire Department, and their son Shane, age 13, and daughter Sammie Riley, age 9. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Lt. Col. Stephanie Riley, an extraordinary woman and proud New Hampshire daughter who served our State and Nation with honor, courage, and dedication. She represented the very best of our State, and I ask my colleagues to join me in sending Shawn and his family our deepest condolences and our gratitude for Steph's life and for her work.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from New Hampshire and my colleague from Ohio, Senators Shaheen and Portman, for their work on this legislation. As my colleague from New Hampshire has said, unfortunately this is a piece of legislation that is being blocked. As we saw on the floor, we don't even know the reason it is being blocked. I think, when we have an objection on the Senate floor, we should have to come to the floor and state what our objection is. So here we are. We are going to again ask for this legislation to be brought forward that passed overwhelmingly in the House and in fact has overwhelming support from both the business community and environmental groups. If the Tenant Star provision is what is being raised--we are not quite sure what the objection is because we haven't heard here publicly. This program is supported not only by commercial landowners but also tenants, the business community, and environmental groups. What it does is establish a market-based approach that is not a mandate but encourages both the commercial owners and tenants to be able to create a voluntary Tenant Star certification to encourage commercial tenants to implement cost measures that will help reduce energy consumption. Energy efficiency is a bipartisan way we can reduce energy costs, we can protect our environment, and we can ensure that we don't have to be dependent on countries overseas. It is about security of this country too. I thank my colleagues, Senators Shaheen and Portman, for working so hard on this bill. It is surprising, this bill that passed--obviously, a smaller version of the bill that they have introduced and I am proud to cosponsor, but it has overwhelming support. It passed the House. It is unfortunate that we are here and aren't going to be able to get this done because it is just common sense. Again, the program is not a mandate. There is no tax incentive, no grant program. It contains no regulatory authority, no new costs. This is one that just makes common sense. So I am very disappointed that this bill is not going to be brought forward tonight. It is unfortunate that we are essentially here fighting against something we don't even know what the objections are because they haven't been stated publicly. With that, I again thank my colleagues for working on this bill. I hope to support their efforts in the next Congress to get this bipartisan, commonsense energy efficiency legislation through this body. With that, I turn to my colleague from Ohio.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, first of all, I wish to thank my colleague from New Hampshire for her leadership on this important legislation, and I join her request, as well as the Senator from Ohio, Mr. Portman's request for unanimous consent on H.R. 2126 that passed the House overwhelmingly in March by a vote of 375 to 36. Why is that? Because this is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that creates jobs, increases energy efficiency, reduces the amount of energy we need to use, and less pollution--and think about our overall goals of making sure America remains safe, energy independent, and energy secure, and it does it all in a way that is market-based, in a way that you have seen overwhelming support from both the business community and the environmental community. This House bill on which we are asking unanimous consent is a companion bill to the work done by Senators Portman and Shaheen in the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act, of which I am proud to be a cosponsor. This is an area where I believe we can find strong common ground in this body--energy efficiency measures that are market based, that move us forward to use less energy and create American jobs. Within this bill is a provision called the Better Buildings Act, which I was proud to introduce with Senator Bennet from Colorado, and this is commonsense, no-cost legislation that would help boost energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction of efficiency improvements in leased tenant spaces in commercial buildings. So one of the important pieces of this legislation that is contained in the Better Buildings Act actually brings the tenants into the discussion. It is voluntary. It creates a situation where we have tenants and owners working together to reduce energy costs, save us money, and create jobs. So I am hopeful that this bill will be cleared, this legislation. If you look at the list of groups that are supporting this legislation, it is not often that these groups all come together, and it really speaks to the commonsense nature of this legislation, the importance of it. I, again, want to thank my colleagues for their leadership, especially Senator Shaheen and Senator Portman. I hope as a body we can get this done because this is just plain common sense. I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I want to thank the senior Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. Inhofe, for his leadership, along with Senator Levin, working hand in hand to get the Defense authorization done this year. This is so important. I know all of us would like to have a process where we can have an open amendment process here, but I know that Senator Levin and Senator Inhofe worked very hard. We had this ready to go a long time ago. I thank you for your work and your commitment on this, and I thank you for the way you and Senator Levin have run this committee in a respectful bipartisan manner. As we look at the importance of the Defense authorization, making sure that we get this done before we go home, we have to understand with the threats we are facing around the world right now, now would not be the time for the first time in over 50-plus years not to pass the Defense authorization, given what it means to support for our men and women in uniform, their readiness, their equipment, the training, the support for their families, military construction, investment in technology that they need to keep us safe. So I want to thank Senator Inhofe for his work on this. I also want to take the opportunity to thank Senator Levin, who is retiring this year, for being an incredible chairman of this committee. I have to say this has been one of the best experiences I have had since I have gotten to the Senate. I have been here for 4 years, and Senator Levin has conducted this committee and treated everyone with respect. He has gotten us all to work together, where almost every year we passed out the Defense authorization almost unanimously--how often does that happen--and most times unanimously in a divided Congress. I wish Senator Levin the best, because he has been so knowledgeable and so committed to ensuring that our Nation is safe and committed to our men and women in uniform. On a personal note, he has been so respectful to me and someone who I think has run the committee so very well and has served our country with such dignity and such dedication. I wish he and his wife Barbara the best in the future. He is someone whom this body will miss. Certainly as the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, he has treated everyone on both sides of the aisle with incredible respect and given us opportunities to raise issues that are important to us. I think he is a model of how we should conduct ourselves. We can disagree with each other but still find ways in common ground where we can work together to get things done for the American people. I come to the floor to discuss the Defense authorization and the provisions in it that are so important to not only my home State of New Hampshire but to the country and also to address some of the provisions I want us to keep an eye on as we go forward. With skill and courage, our men and women in uniform are doing their job. It is essential we do our job as well. In a time of war, we cannot neglect our constitutional duty to provide for the common defense. As a member of the Armed Services Committee I have been privy to many briefings, as the Presiding Officer has, as a member of the committee about the threats facing our country and the needs of our men and women in uniform, the concerns we have of ensuring our troops are ready and that we are prepared to address potential threats to the country. In this bill, my home State of New Hampshire, we are a State that is very dedicated to serving, just as the Presiding Officer's State of Virginia is very dedicated to serving. There are many provisions in this bill that I have introduced and supported that I am proud of that will make a difference to our national security and to our men and women in uniform. I would like to talk about some of those provisions. In terms of supporting our troops and our families, it is very important that we pass this bill every year because it authorizes expiring benefits for our troops that if we don't reauthorize, they would expire, including dozens of specific special incentive pays for our troops and their families, particularly those who are serving us overseas and facing great danger as we stand here today. The Defense bill also authorizes more than one dozen provisions to enhance protections for victims of sexual assault and extends to the Secretary of the VA the authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to servicemembers with severe illnesses and injuries. It also strengthens the Department of Defense's suicide prevention efforts. Unfortunately, suicide is happening to too many of those who have served our Nation and is an issue that we are so concerned about on a bipartisan basis. The bill also authorizes $6.3 billion for needed military construction and family housing projects. Included among that authorization are military construction projects at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire to prepare for the arrival of the KC-46A, not to mention a very important energy conservation project at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The shipyard has continued to invest in energy conservation and to save taxpayer dollars while doing so, and I am pleased it is included in this bill. The Defense bill also maintains critical close air support capability in the Air Force, which our troops need, in that it ensures that the Air Force cannot prematurely retire the A-10 aircraft in fiscal year 2015. Having traveled to Afghanistan and hearing directly from the men on the ground, I know how important it is they have the very best air support to keep them safe. The bill also authorizes continued funding for the Virginia Class 10- boat multiyear procurement program, including two in fiscal year 2015, which is very important because keeping the 10 boat multi-year production and procurement program on track--and I know the President shares this concern--will help achieve savings in excess of 15 percent, compared to purchasing only one per year. It makes cost sense, and we need to continue to invest in our attack submarine program. With the help of the skilled workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, these submarines will protect vital shipping lanes and U.S. national security interests around the world for decades to come. With the administration's discussion of a shift to the Asia-Pacific and the importance of that area of the world to our economy and our interests, our attack submarine fleet is so critical in meeting our needs around the world. These measures, which are included in this bill, will help ensure that Portsmouth and Pease will remain valuable national security assets. I am so proud of the members of our National Guard, everyone who serves at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the incredible workers there who do the maintenance of our attack submarine fleet. The bill also includes provisions of ``never contracting with the enemy'' legislation. This is legislation which I have previously introduced which has allowed our military to ensure that dollars don't flow to our enemies. So when we are contracting in places such as Afghanistan, we have given them tools to cut off contracts sooner to make sure the contracts aren't going to the wrong people. This legislation will extend those authorities across the Federal Government, to USAID, and to the State Department to ensure that our taxpayer dollars don't go to people who are acting against our interests. So I appreciate USAID and the State Department working with me on this legislation, and I am very pleased it is included in these provisions. These are a few of the positive examples of the importance of this Defense authorization bill. There are many other important provisions in this bill. That is why it is important that we get this done today or tomorrow. There are two areas of issues that I want to address briefly which I am a little concerned about on this bill. As a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee--and I am also married to a veteran--I plan to vote for this bill because of the positive components. But one of the areas with which I am concerned is that we are again looking at compensation and we are looking at housing allowances of our men and women in uniform. It reminds me a little bit--it is not an exact analogy--of when we had the budget agreement over 1 year ago. There was an adjustment made to the cost-of-living increases. It was a cut, really, in the military retirement of some of those who have served our country. I was someone who came to the floor to reverse this reduction to the cost-of-living increases, which for some of our men and women in uniform, who had served so admirably, would have cost them up to $80,000 a year in their retirement. We are talking about enlisted people who worked so hard, and it would make such a big difference for them. One of the reasons I came in that regard to fight against what was included in the budget agreement was because there seemed to be a disconnect. That budget agreement made changes to civilian retirement but only prospectively to those who were just joining the retirement program. When it came to making the cuts to the military retirement and to their cost of living, it was affecting current recipients. So there seemed to be a disconnect. How could we ask those who have given the most--have sacrificed so much to defend us--to make a sacrifice when we were treating other civilian employees differently. I am pleased Congress reversed that. What came out of that is that we need to have a greater understanding of the unique sacrifices our men and women in uniform make. The sacrifices they make are different than that of other workers--the traveling they do, the danger they face. Often their spouses can't have second careers because they are constantly moving. Since 2000, collectively as a Congress, we worked hard to correct the pay-and-benefit structure for those who wear the uniform to close what was a 13.5-percent gap between the private sector and what our men and women in uniform were getting. We eliminated out-of-pocket housing expenses--that used to be 20 percent--and expanded health care for retired military personnel over the age of 65. But as I look at the provisions of this bill, I don't want us to erode the work we have done to recognize our men and women in uniform and the positions and the danger they face. In this bill, generally, the dollar amounts associated with the provisions about which I am concerned are much smaller than those involved with the COLA debate earlier this year. Again, we are back looking toward our men and women in uniform in several areas. These problematic provisions relate to the compensation and health benefits for our servicemembers and their families. More specifically, they relate to the basic allowance for housing or BAH, TRICARE pharmacy copays, and basic pay for our servicemembers. BAH is currently designed to cover 100 percent of servicemembers' monthly housing costs. The BAH provision in this NDAA will allow the Secretary of Defense to reduce BAH payments so they only cover 99 percent of a servicemember's monthly housing costs. Obviously, that is a small reduction. But it is the significance of the reduction I am concerned about. We can't keep going down this road, where we are trying to choose between military readiness and making sure our men and women in uniform have the compensation they need in terms of compensation and support for their families. That is why I am concerned about this provision. In terms of pharmacy copays, while the Pentagon's budget request is important to understand, they requested a much greater increase in future years in copays than this body would accept--than the Armed Services committees would accept. The negotiated NDAA would still permit a $3 pharmacy copay increase for non-Active-Duty TRICARE beneficiaries who fill prescriptions outside of military treatment facilities. Congress has worked hard to close the military-civilian pay gap, but this year's NDAA is once again only set to give our military a 1- percent pay raise for the second straight year. I believe our military servicemembers deserve a higher pay raise. I will continue to push for that in the future, and I hope it is something we can work together on because we have to keep up with inflation for our men and women in uniform. It is very important. One of the reasons it is important is that they are our greatest treasure. The reason we have such a wonderful military--we can have the very best equipment, we can have the greatest technology--but the reason we have the best military in the world is because of our great men and women in uniform. We can never lose sight of that. We can never lose sight of the importance of our all-volunteer force. As we look at where we are with defense spending, one thing that very much concerns me is the incoming impact of sequester again in 2016 and 2017. It is my hope this body will understand and work together in addressing sequester for our defense because I see us continuing to be in a situation where our military leaders come to us and ask us to take from the men and women in a way that is unacceptable because they are worried about sequester, they are worried about the readiness of our troops, and they are concerned they won't be able to provide the training and equipment our troops need to meet and face the threats around the world and to ensure that our men and women in uniform never become part of a hollow force. The Presiding Officer serves on the Armed Services Committee with me. It is my hope as we look at this NDAA that we don't set a precedent where we are continuing to take from our military, that we continue to look to how we can work together to address sequester in the coming years, because there is a big disconnect of where we are now. If we impose the sequester in 2016 and 2017 with the threats we face around the world, with what our men and women need to address those threats to keep this country safe, what they deserve in terms of our support, given what we are asking them to do--they are the very best, and they go out and do it on our behalf every single day. It is my hope we can work together. I have addressed these issues in my additional views to the 2015 Defense authorization, and it is my hope we will recognize the treasure that is our men and women in uniform going forward, that we will cut through the partisan politics, that we will address sequester, and that our men and women in uniform will know that we will continue to stand by them. This Defense authorization is important, but it also prefaces the challenges we face coming forward in 2016 and 2017, which I believe we will not be able to fully meet unless we come together and address sequester. We do need to get the Defense authorization done today. There are provisions that are very important for our national security. The issues I have addressed as concerns today I hope we aren't addressing them again next year. I hope we can correct them and make sure that we are giving the men and women in uniform a pay raise that is better than this year. I hope that together we can continue to work on a bipartisan basis in the Armed Services Committee, as Chairman Levin has championed, as Senator Inhofe, as the ranking member has done as well, and I look forward to doing that in the future. I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, today I wish to recognize Portsmouth resident grand master Sun Woo Park--an exceptional New Hampshire citizen who has devoted his life to teaching martial arts and serving his community. Sun Woo Park immigrated to the United States from Korea in 1985. Shortly after settling in Portsmouth, he opened Park's Taekwondo School, a world-class taekwondo training center. In fact, Park's is one of the only taekwondo schools in the world to have eight practicing Masters who learned under the same grand master. During his nearly three decades of teaching taekwondo, thousands of seacoast area students have developed self-esteem, self-control, confidence, and fitness through studying the key elements of martial arts. Sun Woo Park even brought taekwondo to the University of New Hampshire, founding a taekwondo club there in 1995. On June 16, 2000, Sun Woo Park proudly became a U.S. citizen. True citizenship means serving your country, your community, and your fellow citizens, and Sun Woo Park has done just that. He is a founding member and the current president of the Korean American Society of New Hampshire. Every year since 1987, he has organized an event to honor the brave service and sacrifice of New Hampshire's Korean War veterans. He has even been honored by the President of the Republic of Korea, Noh Moo Hyun, for his service on behalf of Korean war veterans. Sun Woo Park has also been quietly helping his local community in many other ways. He is held numerous fundraisers in support of the Saint Charles Children's Home in Rochester, NH, as well as many other local schools and nonprofits. I am pleased to join the citizens of New Hampshire and all of grand master Sun Woo Park's students in wishing him all the best in his future endeavors. We thank him for his many years of teaching and service to the State of New Hampshire.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, today I wish to recognize an outstanding New Hampshire citizen, Mr. Gary Frost. Gary will retire at the end of this year after serving as the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Manchester for 26 years. Gary grew up in Keene and graduated from the University of New Hampshire. He has devoted his life to improving the lives of children and New Hampshire citizens in need. In his 37-year tenure at the Boys and Girls Club of Manchester, it has become a safe and welcoming place for Manchester's youth to study, play and find a hot meal. When Gary first joined the organization, the club was housed in one building on the corner of Union and Lowell Streets in Manchester. One of his greatest accomplishments was spearheading the $7.2 million dollar capital campaign to renovate and expand the Union Street Club House so that the organization could serve more children. Today, under Gary's capable leadership and steady hand, the Boys and Girls Club now extends across an entire city block and serves over 600 children a day. Those who work with Gary describe his deep commitment to and compassion for the children he works with and his community. In addition to his work transforming the Boys and Girls Club, Gary has served Manchester in many other ways. He was an integral member of the committee that brought the Verizon Wireless Arena to Manchester, an important addition to the city's cultural offerings. He's also been a longtime member of the Manchester Rotary Club. I hope Gary enjoys retirement at his camp on Newfound Lake and spending time with his wife Dotti and his two daughters, Abby and Kara. I join the City of Manchester and residents across the Granite State in thanking Gary for his service and wishing him all the best for a long, happy and fulfilling retirement.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise to thank my friend Saxby Chambliss. Senator Coburn spoke about leadership. We are very much going to miss Senator Coburn, Senator Johanns, and Senator Chambliss in this body. But what he said is very true; because as someone who has only served here for 4 years, one of the people who has been most welcoming to me and a mentor and role model and someone from whom I have sought advice is Saxby Chambliss. As we look at this body and people whom we can emulate as role models, Saxby Chambliss is one of those role models. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable on the issues that are so important to this Nation--and I can say, having served with him on the Armed Services Committee, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in this country, not only on what we need to do to keep the country safe because of his role on the Intelligence Committee, but also what we need to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the very best to keep our country safe. Saxby has a deep understanding and very much loves our men and women in uniform, and has stood up for them in ensuring that they have gotten what they need to keep this country safe. From my perspective, he is someone who is going to be so missed in this body, because he has understood that you can stand on principle, as he has, for the important challenges facing this Nation--whether it is keeping us safe, or addressing the national debt that threatens not only our security but the prosperity of America; but he has also done it in a way that he has been able to build relationships--relationships within our own conference in the Republican Caucus, where he is a go-to leader, where people like me seek his advice on how to get things done--but also, as we can see here, relationships across the aisle. As we go into the new Congress, I hope as Saxby goes on to do other important things with his lovely family and Julianne and his children and grandchildren, that we will follow the example of Saxby Chambliss of what it means to work together, of what it means to be respectful of each other to get things done for this country, and to address the great challenges that Saxby has done so much important work on-- including keeping our Nation safe and making sure that America remains strong. Saxby, I want to thank you for being so welcoming to me, for being a role model, and for being someone who I think is an example of what it means to serve this country with distinction.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. I thank my colleague from Delaware. It has really been an honor to work with him on the Manufacturing Skills Act, and we share the goal to ensure that manufacturing remains vibrant and a vibrant source of jobs in our economy. Training our workforce to have the right skills to address today's 21st-century manufacturing is quite different from yesteryear. Today as we look at manufacturing, we see the skills our workers need: critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, math and writing skills and the ability to communicate, an understanding of the manufacturing process, and an ability to engage workers in improving that process. This wasn't necessarily the case 20 or 30 years ago, but the United States is poised and has an opportunity to be the leader in advanced manufacturing. We have a talented workforce, but our workers need the type of training that is going to address this new type of manufacturing that is focused on having the right skills and technology, use of technology and problem-solving skills that we know workers in New Hampshire and Delaware are quite capable of if we give them the tools they need. A reality of today's world is that although our economy is bigger, we are more interconnected than ever before. Job training needs to be customized to the particular business area--the city, the State, the local economy. There is no ``one size fits all'' model. This is especially true in manufacturing--and I visited many manufacturers in our State--where different companies and places need workers with varying skills. That is one of the reasons I am so enthusiastic about the Manufacturing Skills Act that Senator Coons and I have introduced together. Rather than prescribe job-training standards or dictate reforms from Washington, our bill allows local officials, business leaders, and workers to come together in local communities to build training plans that fit their needs and help grow jobs in the community because Wilmington and Newark, DE, have very different workforce challenges, perhaps, than some areas of New Hampshire, whether it is Nashua or Concord or Berlin. We need to ensure that local officials, local employers, and the people of our States are using the grants we are able to provide under this legislation to design new training programs for those localities to really allow those workers to be trained for 21st-century manufacturing skills. By both targeting manufacturing and giving localities the discretion to design the reforms that fit their needs, we have come together on a bill that could help our country meet some of its most critical economic challenges and opportunities. I know Senator Coons has a strong background in manufacturing and has worked very closely with employers and workers in Delaware to hear from them about what job-training needs they have to ensure Delaware can have that 21st-century workforce. I would love to hear more about some of the challenges he has heard about from employers and workers in Delaware.

Ms. AYOTTE. I thank my colleague from Delaware. As I look at the new Congress coming in, I view our bill--the Manufacturing Skills Act--as an opportunity where we can all work together to help workers and employers across the country meet the challenges of ensuring that manufacturing continues to thrive and grow in this country. These are good-paying jobs where the workers--who are excellent and want the opportunity but just need the skills--need the type of technology training and understanding of process, such as the lean process, and how we can improve our manufacturing. The bill Senator Coons and I worked on together will allow the local decisionmakers to put together the best training that will help create good-paying jobs, not only in Delaware, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin but across this country. I hope we can take up this bill very early on in the next session and get behind it. In New Hampshire, there are 66,000 jobs that are directly connected and related to manufacturing. As I have traveled to visit manufacturing employers throughout our State, I have been hearing about the same issues that my colleague from Delaware has heard; that is, that they are challenged in actually finding the right workforce for excellent- paying jobs and opportunities, but they need partnerships and help to get that trained workforce in place. New Hampshire, similar to Delaware, has had some strong partnerships among the private sector and community colleges in my State, and we need to do more of that in the future. I believe our bill will allow those local education institutions to partner with private employers and State and local officials so the training is valuable and will ensure that everyone has a stake in the right workforce going forward. I wish to thank some of the businesses I have had the privilege of visiting in our State. So many businesses have told me--whether it is Burndy in Littleton or Velcro in Manchester or Codet in Colebrook or Hypertherm in the Upper Valley--that our private sector is focusing on this issue, and our Manufacturing Skills Act can help companies move forward and ensure that our workers have the right skills so we can grow jobs in this country. I thank Senator Coons for his leadership on this issue and the work he has done every single day in this body to ensure that the people of Delaware have good-paying jobs and the right workforce training. This is a goal I share with the Senator from Delaware. I wish to also thank him for his leadership on other issues, including the protection of this Nation and many other issues he has become an expert on in this body. I hope we can all get behind bipartisan solutions, such as that offered by my colleague from Delaware, and I hope many of our colleagues will think about joining us on this Manufacturing Skills Act. As we go into the new Congress, I hope this will be a priority for our leadership so we can bring this bill to the floor for a vote right away. I thank the Presiding Officer, and I thank my colleague from Delaware for his leadership and work on this important issue. I look forward to continuing to work on this until we get it passed.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Ms. AYOTTE. I thank my colleague from Georgia, Senator Chambliss, for his incredible leadership on the Intelligence Committee, on the Armed Services Committee, and his deep commitment to ensuring that our country remains safe, that our freedoms are protected. I daresay from the time I have been in the Senate, Senator Chambliss is one of the most knowledgeable people in this body about the threats we face, how we address those threats, and how we ensure that America remains safe. I thank Senator Chambliss for his incredible leadership in this body, not only on the issue of how do we address ensuring that the detainees who are held--who are very dangerous--at Guantanamo Bay do not present additional threats to our country and to our allies, but on so many issues, ensuring that our intelligence officials have strong information and oversight to ensure that America remains protected. I rise in support of what my colleague from Georgia has just talked about. If we look at what is happening around the world, the recent developments with ISIS, combined with the continuing threats we face here at home from Al Qaeda and its affiliates, it underscores the continuing need we have for a military detention facility that is outside the United States of America, that prevents enemy combatants who are at war with us from returning to the battle, and allows us a secure location to gather intelligence, to ensure that when we capture a member of Al Qaeda, or when we capture one of its affiliates that is in a position where the organization is threatening the United States of America that we take the opportunity to ensure there is a full and complete interrogation of those terrorists to make sure we know everything they know, to ensure we can prevent future attacks, and that the United States of America is protected. So I would argue, as we look at what is happening around the world, the need for this detention facility actually has become more apparent. Yet what we have seen with the administration, as Senator Chambliss has so eloquently outlined, is there has been a push--there was a political promise made in the President's campaign to close Guantanamo Bay. Despite having a policy as to how we are going to handle the capture of these enemy combatants, one that he worked with Congress on, and how we will ensure the full interrogation of those combatants to ensure information we need to protect our country, we have seen a rush to release people from Guantanamo Bay that has been accelerated recently, as my colleague from Georgia talked about, where the Department of Defense has announced the transfer of seven detainees fairly recently. Some of those detainees were reportedly assessed to be high risk. There are also questions about what are the conditions the countries that are taking these detainees are going to ensure so they do not return to the fight, where we have direct evidence of a 29-percent reentry rate with those who have been released from Guantanamo Bay, not just under this administration but under prior administrations, who are confirmed or suspected of having reengaged in terrorism. There is nothing that must appall our troops more than to be on the battlefield, or our intelligence officials or our allies, to reencounter a terrorist we had safely detained at a detention facility, at Guantanamo Bay, and to see that person again and to know they continue to be a threat to the United States of America and to our interests. I would urge, I hope, my colleagues, now more than ever, that it is important we have that detention facility there that is safe, secure, and we can ensure that those who are captured, who want to do us harm, members of Al Qaeda terrorist groups--that we can ensure they cannot get back in this battle against us. I specifically want to talk about the country of Yemen, because as a member of the Armed Services Committee--and Senator Chambliss supported this effort--we passed an amendment in the Senate Armed Services Committee that would have prohibited the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the country of Yemen until December 31 of 2015. That provision was removed during the conference committee. I am being told we will not have a chance to debate that issue on the Senate floor or to amend the Defense authorization as it comes to the floor because-- this is something that I cannot understand, why this provision was removed and why the administration would want the ability to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Yemen. Let's talk about what is happening in Yemen. Last May, President Obama, in my view unwisely, lifted the moratorium on detainee transfers to Yemen. Since that decision was made, between the date of the President's and the administration's order that we could potentially release detainees to Yemen--let me outline what has happened in Yemen since then. That country has continued to be a place where there is instability, lack of government control, and, in fact, between November 24 and December 2 of 2014, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula reportedly claimed responsibility for 17 attacks in 8 Yemeni provinces. I have a laundry list of very dangerous attacks that have occurred in Yemen. One of the most troubling things that has occurred--as we think about those who are present at Guantanamo who are very dangerous individuals, a number of them are Yemeni. If they were to be transferred back to the country of Yemen--for example, in February of 2014, militants attacked Yemen's main prison, killing 7 and enabling 29 inmates to escape, including 19 members who were convicted members of Al Qaeda. So I don't know why the administration would seek to transfer Guantanamo detainees to this country, where there have been prison breaks and where there have been multiple incidences of violent attacks by Al Qaeda. Yet this provision got dropped from the Defense authorization even though it had the support of the Senate committee. I am very troubled by that. I am very troubled we will not have an opportunity to debate that on the floor. I would hope the administration would look very closely at the record of what has occurred in Yemen since the President has made the decision to end the moratorium on transfers to Yemen because it is an incredible list of dangerous activities and prison breaks by members of Al Qaeda. So there is no way if we transfer someone from Gitmo to Yemen there, we can guarantee that those individuals will not get back in the fight, that they will not escape from any prison we put them in because that country cannot secure their security. I want to talk about a very important issue as we look at this issue of the administration's rush to close Guantanamo; that is, the issue of ISIS. There have been reports that a certain number of former Guantanamo detainees may be fighting with ISIS. We all saw--with horror--the acts of ISIS, how brutal they are, and the brutality that they have taken out on Americans, including one of my constituents. We all know ISIS is a group the President himself has said we need to defeat. I have written the President and asked him about these reports. In fact, I wrote a letter to President Obama and requested that all international transfers be suspended until we could know more about potential Guantanamo detainees whom we released who may be getting in the fight in support of ISIS. It was recently reported that one former Guantanamo detainee has pledged his allegiance to the leader of ISIS and is recruiting fighters for ISIS in northern Pakistan. If that is true we need to revisit not only ensuring that we aren't transferring dangerous detainees from Guantanamo to countries such as Yemen--and allowing them to be in a position to get back in the fight-- but that we are also ensuring that we have a moratorium on transfers until we understand how many of these detainees may actually be joining ISIS and present a threat to us. This issue--as we look at the national security challenges we face now--we have to reevaluate. I would hope the President would reevaluate the campaign promise he made in light of the national security threats we face. Now is not the time to be closing the facility of Guantanamo when we are presented with so many threats around the world--not only from Al Qaeda but from ISIS--and we need a secure facility to ensure that those who are there now, who are tremendously dangerous individuals, don't get back in the fight to continue to harm us and our allies. Also, we need to ensure that if future enemy combatants are captured who are members of Al Qaeda or its affiliates, that they have a secure place where they can be held and fully interrogated. I again thank my colleague from Georgia for his leadership on this issue and on so many national security issues. I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Lincoln, NH--a town in Grafton County that is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. I am proud to join citizens across the Granite State in recognizing this historic occasion. Located in the heart of the White Mountains, Lincoln is renowned for its spectacular scenery. Several of New Hampshire's natural wonders are in Lincoln, including ``the basin'' at Franconia Notch State Park, Indian Head Profile Rock formation, and the Flume Gorge--all examples of the Granite State's unique natural beauty. The town of Lincoln was named for Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, the 2nd Duke of Newcastle, 9th Earl of Lincoln. It was granted in 1764 by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth to a group of 70 land investors from Connecticut. The grant was so large that today Lincoln remains the second largest town by area in the State. Lincoln's location near the Pemigewasset River was integral to the development of its logging and paper industries, an important part of the town's history. By the mid-19th century, Lincoln was a center for processing and shipping timber. North Country businessman James E. Henry purchased over 100,000 acres of timber at the turn of the century and constructed a pulp and paper mill to process the wood in what is now the center of Lincoln. Henry also built the Lincoln House Hotel to house the increasing number of tourists eager to experience the beauty of the White Mountains. Today, the population of Lincoln has grown to over 1,600 residents, and the town has become one of New Hampshire's most popular tourist destinations. Visitors come from across the Nation to ski at Loon Mountain, hike the Appalachian Trail, spot a moose, or take a ride on the Kancamagus Highway--one of the State's most scenic routes. Families--including mine--also enjoy stopping by Clark's Trading Post to see Clark's famous trained bears perform, and riding through the mountains aboard the Hobo Railroad. Each September, Lincoln hosts the New Hampshire Highland Games, where thousands gather to celebrate Scottish culture and heritage. On behalf of all Granite Staters, I am pleased to offer my congratulations to the citizens of Lincoln on reaching this special milestone, and I thank them for their many contributions to the life and spirit of the State of New Hampshire.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I wish to honor the town of Piermont, NH, which is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding this year. I am delighted to recognize this very special milestone. Piermont, a town in Grafton County, lies in the shadow of Piermont Mountain and is bordered by the Connecticut River and the magnificent White Mountain National Forest. The town of Piermont has a unique history. It was chartered on November 6, 1764, by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, and the town derives its name from the ``Piemonte'' region of Italy, which in Italian means ``at the foot of the mountain.'' Piermont's location in the Connecticut River Valley played an important role in the development of its proud agricultural heritage. Piermont is home to Lake Tarleton, named after Colonel William Tarleton, who served as a delegate to the 1791 Constitutional Convention. Two well-known summer camps are located on the lake--Camp Walt Whitman and Kingswood Camp for Boys. Each year, campers come to Piermont to enjoy the great outdoors and have some good old-fashioned summer fun. Throughout the town's history, Piermont residents have been well known for their commitment to serve our great Nation. One distinguished Piermont resident, Ira Hobart Evans, a Civil War hero, was awarded the Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest military honor. As the town marks its 250th anniversary this year, Piermont citizens are demonstrating their pride and community spirit with many special events in celebrating this historic occasion--including a parade in August that brought together residents, businesses, and community organizations. I am pleased to join all Granite Staters in congratulating Piermont citizens on reaching this milestone and in thanking them for their contributions to the State of New Hampshire. Congratulations, Piermont.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, I come to the floor to, first of all, thank President Poroshenko for the speech he gave to a joint session of the Congress today. It was a very moving speech. I think it was a very direct speech, and it really showed how important it is that we stand with the people of Ukraine during this trying time with the aggression they are facing from Russia. I come to the floor to say a couple of things. At the end of his speech, he used the motto of my home State--the State of New Hampshire: Live Free or Die. In New Hampshire we are very proud of that motto. It came from a statement during the American Revolution from General John Stark, and it really does not only have meaning to my home State of New Hampshire but also to the people of Ukraine with what they have been facing--those who stood in the Maidan and gave their lives for freedom and democracy in Ukraine. I have had the privilege of going to Ukraine twice, both in March and also to oversee their presidential elections. In both instances, I was very struck by the patriotism, by their love for America, and their gratefulness for our support. As we heard President Poroshenko say to all of us today, now more than ever they need American support. There is something I have been calling for--for a while, in fact. When I went there in March--and also I had the privilege of traveling with Senator Donnelly--it was a bipartisan codel--and also in May, in both of those instances we had the request for lethal assistance so that the Ukrainian military would have the arms they need to defend themselves against this Russian aggression. So today we also heard President Poroshenko call upon us again to provide the support for the Ukrainian military. They have fought and continue to fight and die for their own independence, freedom, and territorial integrity. The least we can do is provide them lethal assistance. As President Poroshenko rightly said today: Blankets and night vision goggles are important, but one cannot win a war with a blanket. I would hope all of us stood together today, both Democrats and Republicans, to say we stand with the people of Ukraine. I know this afternoon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has come together and marked up a very important aid package to Ukraine which contains lethal assistance for their military. I would hope our President would see that on a bipartisan basis we stand with the people of Ukraine and we must provide them with this assistance they need. Finally, I would say that the Budapest Memorandum that President Poroshenko mentioned today is very important. We were a signatory to that memorandum, as was Russia. In that memorandum, the signing of it, Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons in exchange for our assurances that we would respect their sovereignty, security assurances, and their territorial integrity. Obviously, Russia has trampled all over this. But I would say the least we can do is provide this lethal assistance they have asked for given that they gave up their nuclear weapons. We signed on to that agreement. We should support them in their time of need so that they can defend their sovereignty. What country ever again is going to give up their nuclear weapons if we will not even give them basic military assistance when their country is invaded the way Ukraine has been invaded by Russia? Now is our time and our moment. We all stood together in the House Chamber today for the people of Ukraine. What matters is our actions, not just our words and our standing ovations. I hope we will stand with the people of Ukraine. I call upon our President to provide lethal assistance to the people of Ukraine and to provide the support and tougher sanctions on Russia--economic sanctions--for their invasion and their total disrespect for the sovereignty of the country of Ukraine. I would defer to my colleague, Senator McCain from Arizona.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to say a few kind words about my longtime communications director and friend, Jeff Grappone--a native of Concord, NH. Jeff has served as my chief spokesman since I ran for the Senate in 2010. He's traveled with me from Nashua all the way up to Colebrook, and from Keene to Portsmouth. He was by my side at the Statehouse when I filed my paperwork to become a candidate, and he was there when I won the primary and general elections. Jeff was present for my ceremonial swearing-in that took place in the Old Senate Chamber, and he then immediately got to work establishing my Senate press office. Jeff helped me hit the ground running as a first-time candidate and as a new Senator. He has provided me with outstanding communications counsel, and I've drawn on his considerable experience here on Capitol Hill as well as back home in New Hampshire. He's been an invaluable adviser as I've gone about my work in the Senate--helping me effectively communicate my legislative priorities in Washington and in the Granite State. Jeff has worked tirelessly in my office. It wasn't unusual for him to work into the night until the last vote was called in the Senate, and then head up to New Hampshire for a press conference the next morning. He has brought energy and enthusiasm to my staff, and he shares my strong commitment to serving the people of the Granite State. After nearly a decade in politics and on Capitol Hill--on the legislative staff of Congressman Charles F. Bass, as Press Secretary to Senator John E. Sununu, and as a spokesman for Senator John McCain's presidential campaign, Jeff is about to embark on a new chapter in his career outside of government. As he makes this transition, I will miss his intellect, his expertise, his good humor, and his inherent decency. Jeff lives by our State's motto, ``Live Free or Die,'' and he has New Hampshire in his blood. He has been a talented and diligent member of my staff, and he's a loyal friend. I wish Jeff the very best always.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor one of New Hampshire's most respected, accomplished, and beloved citizens--Bob Nash--as he enters into his retirement. I am proud to recognize his illustrious professional career, and his continued service to our country and many communities across the Granite State. Bob attended the Georgia Military Academy before transferring to the University of Florida, where he graduated with a degree in journalism. After college, Bob joined the Army and bravely served our Nation as a helicopter platoon commander in Vietnam. Bob flew 325 missions and was awarded both the Bronze Star and United States Military Air Medal. He eventually earned the rank of Captain. Following his dedicated service to our country, Bob began a 38-year career in association management, and obtained his Master's in Business Administration and Certified Executive Association certification. In 2001, he became president of the New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents, NHAIA. Under his leadership, the association received several accolades, including the Bronze Excellence in Education Award, Gold Excellence in Education Awards, the Diamond Excellence in Education Award, and the InsurPAC Eagle Award. The association was also honored with the Innovations in Education, Non-Seminar Education Services, and L.P. McCord Education Award for Excellence. Most noteworthy, in 2011, the NHAIA was awarded the Maurice G. Herndon National Legislative Award--the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a State association. Bob Nash is an extraordinary Granite Stater whose commitment to others extends beyond his military and professional career. For many years he has been actively involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, the Kawanis, and the United Way. I wish Bob and his wife Pat all the best as they enjoy retirement at home in Hillsboro. New Hampshire is fortunate to have such outstanding citizens such as Bob, and I am proud to call him my friend.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Lancaster, NH, which is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding this year. I am proud to join citizens across the Granite State in recognizing this special milestone. Located along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire's North Country, Lancaster is a gateway to the Great North Woods, Weeks State Park and the White Mountain National Forest. As Coos County's county seat, Lancaster is home to over 3,500 residents. The town welcomes hundreds of visitors from across the region who come each year to enjoy its scenic beauty and vibrant recreational opportunities, including snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing. Shops line the town's bustling Main Street, and every year the annual Lancaster Fair, which is the premier agricultural fair in the region, attracts citizens from across the Granite State and beyond. New Hampshire's covered bridges are a unique part of our State's beauty, history and charm, and the town of Lancaster is home to two of these classic bridges. The historic Mt. Orne and Mechanic Street bridges span the Connecticut and Israel rivers, respectively. Throughout its history, Lancaster has also been home to several notable public servants. John Weeks represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate, where he sponsored legislation that established the White Mountain National Forest. He also served in President Calvin Coolidge's cabinet as the 48th Secretary of War. Jared W. Williams served in the U.S. House and Senate, and was New Hampshire's 21st governor. Chester Bradley Jordan was elected the 48th Governor of New Hampshire, Irving W. Drew served in the U.S. Senate, and Jacob Benton and Ossain Ray both served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lancaster's citizens have contributed much to the life and spirit of the State of New Hampshire. I am delighted to congratulate all Lancaster residents--past and present--as they celebrate this historic occasion.