Kelly Ayotte

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. I want to take a moment to thank the Capitol Police, who devote themselves to keeping us safe each and every day and who have become friends to my staff and me over the years. I am so grateful for all of our first responders who put their lives on the line each and every day to keep us safe. I also thank the Senate floor staff, the pages, and everyone who works so hard behind the scenes to make our work possible here. During the past 6 years, I have traveled throughout New Hampshire talking to people from all walks of life, listening to their ideas and learning from their experiences. I have met so many hard-working people in our State who have, in turn, inspired me to work hard on their behalf. True to the nature of our great State, they have never been shy about letting me know what is on their minds, whether it was at one of the 50 townhall meetings we held or in the grocery aisle at the Market Basket. They sent me to the Senate with a sense of purpose. It has been an honor to fight for them and their families every single day. One of the most rewarding aspects of my time in the Senate has been standing up for those who put their lives on the line for our country-- our veterans and our men and women in uniform and their families. Today, we mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We are reminded once again of their selfless service and sacrifice on behalf of our great Nation. I was honored during my time here to lead the charge to repeal unfair cuts for our military retirees and to help make progress toward improving access to local health care for veterans in New Hampshire, who for far too long have been forced to travel long distances to receive care from a VA facility because we don't have a full-service hospital, unfortunately, in the State of New Hampshire. Too often, our veterans are not treated as they should be, and this has to change. They have sacrificed so much for our freedom and deserve only the best from us. As the wife of a combat veteran who served in Iraq, nothing has been more important to me than keeping our country safe. That commitment is deeply personal to me. One of the greatest privileges I have had as a Senator is to visit with members of our New Hampshire National Guard and our men and women in uniform who serve overseas and are there now as we are here today. We pray for their safe return. They make us so proud. They represent the very best of our State and our country. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have been proud to advocate for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the skilled workers there who make vital contributions to our national security. This has been a team effort between New Hampshire and Maine. I thank my colleagues--Senator Shaheen; Senator Collins, whom I see here today; and Senator Angus King--for their incredible work in supporting the shipyard. I especially want to thank Senator Shaheen for all the work we did together on important issues for our State. Whether it was advocating for the shipyard, for Pease and the 157th Air Refueling Wing to receive the new tanker, for our National Guard, or for our veterans, we always looked for ways to come together for the people of New Hampshire, and I appreciate her dedication and service. Since I first came to the Senate, one of my top priorities has been reversing the Obama administration's misguided policy to empty and close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Each year I have led efforts to prevent the transfer of terrorist to the United States, to our soil here, and to urge the administration to be transparent with the American people about these dangerous detainees. As I have called for previously, I hope the new administration will immediately halt the dangerous policy of releasing Guantanamo terrorists to other countries where they even rejoin terrorist activities, and finally establish a commonsense detention policy that keeps terrorists off the battlefield and protects American lives and our national security. We made progress in saving taxpayer dollars at the Pentagon--and I know there is more work that needs to be done--by ending wasteful programs, such as the missile to nowhere, and passing the Never Contract With the Enemy legislation that cut through redtape and helped prevent tens of millions of dollars from ending up in the hands of our enemies. Working with Chairman McCain, I was proud to help lead the successful effort to help prevent the premature retirement of the A-10 aircraft, ensuring that our ground troops continue to have the best close air support possible to keep them safe. During my time on the committee, I have had the privilege of working closely with Chairman John McCain and Senator Lindsey Graham to ensure that America maintains the strongest and best military in the world and to ensure that our country continues to be the greatest force for good in the world. There are no stronger voices in this body for America's leadership in the world, nor fiercer advocates for our men and women in uniform than Chairman John McCain and Senator Lindsey Graham. Now more than ever, we need their leadership, expertise, and passion for keeping this country safe with the challenges we face around the world. I am honored to have worked with them and, most of all, to call them my friends. Serving on the Armed Services Committee has been one of the best experiences I have had in the Senate. I want to express my gratitude to all of my fellow committee members because it has truly been a bipartisan effort each year to ensure our troops have the resources they need to do their jobs. I see Senator McCaskill, the Senator from Missouri, here. I have deeply appreciated the work we have done together on behalf of our men and women in uniform. Thank you. Going forward, it is critical that Congress and the next administration work together to reverse the harmful cuts to our military and to ensure that we have a defense budget based on the threats we face around the world right now, which are unprecedented. Another issue that has been near and dear to my heart is addressing a devastating epidemic that is facing the State of New Hampshire; that is, the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic that is taking a devastating toll on our State. I have met so many people in New Hampshire who are hurting because of this epidemic--mothers and fathers who have lost children, brothers and sisters who have lost siblings. Many of the families who have been affected have become my dear friends, like Doug and Pam Griffin of Newton, NH, who lost their beautiful daughter Courtney, who had so much potential. They lost her to an overdose. The Griffins, like so many other families in New Hampshire I have met, have turned their pain into passion to save our families. I have learned so much from their experiences. They inspired me to work with a group of great Senators and my colleagues: Senator Rob Portman, who I know is here today; Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island; and Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. The four of us came together and worked on what is called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This bill will provide a much needed framework for addressing this epidemic through prevention, treatment, recovery, and support for our first responders, who are doing so much for this epidemic. As a bipartisan team, we worked on this legislation for more than 2 years. Our bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly and was signed into law earlier this year. CARA will focus on the best programs to help State and locale efforts in turning around the tide of addiction that is facing so many in this country. CARA is an important first step, but there is so much more work that needs to be done. I am encouraged that because of our efforts, this body has recognized the seriousness of this crisis. I was particularly glad to advocate for $1 billion in funding to address the heroin epidemic being included in the 21st Century Cures Act, which we are expected to pass and send to the President this week. I thank Senator Lamar Alexander for his incredible leadership in getting this important public health bill passed. The funding in the 21st Century Cures bill goes hand in hand with the important policy provisions in the CARA bill and will help save lives in New Hampshire and across this country. Finally, I would like to return to the reason I ran for the Senate back in 2010: to make sure we leave New Hampshire and our Nation stronger and better off for the next generation. As the mother of two young children, I was increasingly concerned that, left unchecked, our skyrocketing national debt would ultimately burden future generations and diminish their opportunities. I ran because I believed it was time for New Hampshire to bring some of its common sense here to Washington to deal with our Nation's spending habits. On every committee I served on, we looked for ways to cut wasteful spending and fought to hold the government accountable for the way it spends our hard-earned taxpayer dollars. It is my hope that this issue will be at the top of the agenda of the incoming Congress and the new administration. If there is anything I have learned in my time here, it is that it takes cooperation from both sides of the aisle to get things done. It has been a privilege to serve with so many in this body who care about our country deeply and work tirelessly each day on behalf of their constituents. I am so honored as I see my colleagues who are here today, because I know how hard you work every day. I want to thank you for what you do on behalf of the people of this country. I am humbled by what I have learned from each of you and from each of my colleagues in the Senate and for the opportunity to serve with so many good people on behalf of our great Nation. I thank each of you for your dedicated service and, most of all, for your friendship. Without leadership here, things just don't get done. I especially want to thank Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his commitment to making the Senate work and to making sure we are doing the people's business. On a personal note, I have deeply appreciated his mentorship and his friendship. Working with our new President, the Senate has a fresh opportunity to create a better quality of life for all Americans in this great country. That means elected leaders will need to work together and put aside our partisan differences. During this election, we heard the frustrations of the American people with their government. They rightly expect this body to move forward in solving the significant challenges facing our Nation, such as getting our fiscal House in order, ensuring that families can afford quality health care without Washington between them and their doctors, reforming our broken Tax Code so we can keep and grow jobs here in the United States of America, and foremost, keeping America safe in a dangerous world. My hope is that the Members of this body will appeal to the better angels of our nature, put partisanship aside, and focus on the challenge of building a more perfect union because the challenges before us are great and we cannot hope to overcome them unless we do so working hand in hand. I know my Senate colleagues are people of great character, and they are up to this challenge. I wish them the very best as they continue their very important work on behalf of the people of the greatest Nation on Earth. To the people of New Hampshire, Joe and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the greatest honor of a lifetime, for serving you and for the privilege of serving in the United States Senate with so many good people. Mr. President, I thank you, and I yield the floor. (Applause, Senators rising.)

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, it is with deep gratitude that I rise today to address my Senate colleagues and members of my staff with whom I have had the privilege of serving over the last 6 years. First and foremost, I want to thank the people of New Hampshire for giving me the extraordinary opportunity to serve them. From Nashua to Newport, to the North Country, they have inspired me. The people of our State are hard-working, caring, compassionate people with grit. They have a fierce sense of independence that I respect and admire. That spirit has guided me during my time here, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve them. I want to thank my family--my husband Joe, my wingman. Joe is a patriot with a heart of service. That is why he served our country as a fighter pilot in the Air Force and why he has been my biggest supporter during my service not only as New Hampshire's attorney general but as a Senator. We are so proud of our children, Kate and Jake, who are now 12 and 9. My family has sacrificed so that I could serve the people of New Hampshire, and I am grateful for their patience and love. I also thank my mother Kathy, who is and always has been my mentor and No. 1 cheerleader. I could not have done it without her help and that of my stepfather Jim, my uncle Jack, my aunt Jane, and all of our extended family who have done so much for us. They made it possible for me to serve, and there are not adequate words to express how much their love and support means to me. I also thank my wonderful and hard-working staff in New Hampshire and Washington, whose dedication, work ethic, and talent are unparalleled in the Senate. I am especially fortunate that some of the members of my staff have served by my side since I was first sworn in 6 years ago. My staff is dedicated, creative, tireless, and compassionate. I am so proud of our team and all we have accomplished together. I am confident that they will continue to work to create a brighter future for New Hampshire and for our country. I ask unanimous consent to have a list of their names printed in the Record.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Plaistow Fire Department, as this year marks the 101st anniversary of its founding. The department was established on August 9, 1915, and was originally known as the Plaistow Volunteer Fire Company. It was formed with the objective of providing better fire protection for the community and served as an active working organization in order to protect the citizens of Plaistow. In 1915, the town noted ``we have a village, the best in the State and would seem almost criminal not to protect our property and our beautiful shade trees, which, if destroyed by fire, would be a great loss to the town.'' The Plaistow Fire Department is comprised of full-time and on-call staff who are dedicated and professional individuals that are committed to serving the town of Plaistow and our State. Importantly, Plaistow placed an emphasis on inviting all of its residents to contribute to safety and ``most earnestly invite the co-operation of every citizen in this matter of fire protection and extend a most cordial welcome to everyone to attend its meetings and try-outs.'' Today the Plaistow Fire Department remains committed to responding to every call in a safe and professional manner to protect the lives and property of its citizens. We ask so much of our firefighters and first responders, and we will be forever grateful for the selfless nature of their service. On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I join with the residents of Plaistow in celebrating the 101st anniversary of the Plaistow Fire Department and wish them continued success in the years to come.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Lempster, NH--a town in Sullivan County that is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. I am delighted to join citizens across the Granite State in recognizing this historic occasion. The territory was originally discovered in 1735. In 1753 it was regranted and named Dupplin after a leader of Nova Scotia at the time. Lempster, named for Sir Thomas Fermor of Lempster, England, received its current name after it was regranted a final time in 1767. Lempster is located in the center of western New Hampshire and consists of three parts: East Lempster, Dodge Hollow, and Keyes Hollow. With a population of 1,154 residents, this close-knit town may be best known for its meetinghouse that is more than 200 years old. The meetinghouse is a source of great pride for Lempster and embodies its deep historical roots. The town of Lempster is also home to a number of unique landmarks, including New Hampshire's first wind farm. Additionally, Lempster also received the first electric pole under the Rural Electrification Act on December 4, 1939. Nestled among these landmarks are beautiful recreational areas that allow the residents of Lempster and countless visitors the ability to enjoy all that the Granite State has to offer. On behalf of all Granite Staters, I am pleased to offer my congratulations to the citizens of Lempster 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, today I wish to speak on the importance of passing legislation to address a serious issue that impacts New Hampshire, New England, and the rest of the country each year, the issue of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. This fall, as the leaves begin to turn and temperatures start to drop, millions of Americans will head outdoors to hike and otherwise experience the beauty of nature. In my home State of New Hampshire, hiking is one of the State's most popular recreational activities. New Hampshire is also among the 14 States through which the Appalachian Trail runs. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail spans nearly 2,190 miles, and is hiked annually by 2 to 3 million people. While our attention in the Northeast usually turns to the dangers of ticks in the spring and summer months, adult blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are still active in the fall. Approximately half of these deer ticks carry Lyme disease, and they have played a leading role in our Nation's dramatic rise in tick-borne diseases. While approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported annually by State health departments, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, the actual number of cases each year is about 300,000, making Lyme disease the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the country. Underscoring that Lyme is no longer simply a regional problem, the CDC reports that the species of ticks that spread Lyme disease now live in 46 percent of the Nation's counties. That is why I am continuing to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bipartisan Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act, S. 1503. Working with Senator Blumenthal, I coauthored and introduced this legislation which is designed to better coordinate the Federal Government's response to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases by creating an advisory committee within the Department of Health and Human Services HHS. The committee established under our bill would be tasked with identifying best practices to combat tick-borne diseases and would be comprised of patients, advocates, researchers, medical professionals, and government officials. Our legislation would also require the HHS Secretary to coordinate efforts to strengthen disease surveillance and reporting, develop better diagnostic tools and tests, create a physician education program, establish epidemiological research objectives for Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses, and report to Congress on the progress of efforts to combat these devastating diseases. The significant increase in cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases over the past decade is extremely troubling, and it demands a strong and coordinated effort at the Federal level. This critical legislation has been endorsed by nearly 100 Lyme and tick-borne disease patient groups, along with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Despite the staggering statistics, the voices of those who are living and struggling with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases have not adequately been heard. Senator Blumenthal and I have put forth a commonsense, bipartisan legislative proposal that will bring greater attention to Lyme disease and give patients and their families a greater say in their care. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act, and I urge the Senate to follow the lead of the House by passing legislation that will help more effectively prevent, diagnosis, and treat Lyme disease.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the exceptional service and the extraordinary life of a dear friend and champion for veterans, Lt. Col. Edward ``Ed'' H. Josephson, U.S. Air Force retired. Born in Syracuse, NY, on February 21, 1938, to Edward Josephson and Kathleen Beatrice, the family soon returned to Concord, NH, where Ed grew up. At an early age, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, his paper route, and visiting the New Hampshire Historical Building. Joining the New Hampshire Civil Air Patrol, Ed quickly encourage his love for flying, and during his senior year at Concord High School, he learned of the new U.S. Air Force Academy, which would be accepting candidates for its first graduating class. Ed wrote a letter to Congressman Perkins Bass and, soon after, received a letter stating he had been nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy. Not long after that, he received a telegram from the Air Force Academy saying he had been accepted. In a long and distinguished career flying transport planes for the U.S. Air Force, Ed visited all 50 States, many countries, and all 7 continents. After his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Ed joined AVCO, which became Textron Systems Division. Assuming many roles with many jobs and titles for Textron, he worked his way up to become vice president and ombudsman, a title and job he thoroughly enjoyed. Ed Josephson has been a strong and effective advocate for many New Hampshire veteran organizations, having served with great distinction as the chair of the legislative committee for the New Hampshire State Veterans Advisory Committee, and with the board of directors for the Military Officers Association of New Hampshire. Ed was proud of his work in the U.S. Air Force Academy Association, which was an important part of his life. He believed the values expressed in the Honor Code were the most important, and he lived his life by those values every day. Lt. Col. Ed Josephson passed away on September 4 with his family at his side. He joins his daughter Karen Baker, who predeceased him on December 22, 2014, and leaves behind his wife, Judy Josephson, of 53 years, son Edward Andrew ``Andy'' Josephson from Charleston, SC, and granddaughter Monica Louise Josephson of Bayreuth, Germany, now living in Bucksport, ME, his brother Michael A. Josephson from Webster, NH, and many others. Our thoughts and prayers are with Judy and the family, but we are confident that they will be comforted in knowing that Ed's legacy of service and advocacy will live on across New Hampshire. We will be forever grateful that he called our great State home.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I recognize the extraordinary life of a dear friend and champion of veterans' rights, Griffin ``Griff'' Dalianis. Griff served with the 1st Special Operations Group of the Strategic Air Command in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1965. His service here may have influenced his work later in life--Griff was well known and loved in his community for his tireless work on behalf of his fellow veterans. After his service, Griff Dalianis earned his bachelor's degree in history and psychology from Suffolk University in Boston, followed by a master's degree of education. He then earned a certificate in advanced graduate study in counseling from Northeastern University in 1975 and earned his doctorate of philosophy from California Western University in 1982. The next several years of Griff's life show a man who was deeply dedicated to serving others. In addition to founding Southern New Hampshire Family Counseling Associates in 1975 and serving as an instructor of psychology at Rivier College in Nashua, Griff became an active and respected member of the Nashua community. He was affiliated with numerous Nashua groups, including the Nashua Rotary Club, the Nashua Youth Council, Nashua Planning Board, and Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Griff Dalianis's advocacy on behalf of his fellow veterans was unparalleled. In addition to serving as chairman of the State Veterans Advisory Committee, chairman of the U.S. Veterans Administration Committee on Rehabilitation, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, and receiving a Distinguished Service Medal, Griff worked with Harbor Homes, an organization in New Hampshire that provides transitional housing for homeless veterans. An apartment house Griff worked to establish with Harbor Homes was named after him. As a result of his efforts, approximately 40 veterans at risk of homelessness now have homes. Griff even had a weekly column in the Nashua Telegraph called ``Ask the Commander.'' Griff leaves behind his wife, New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Linda Stewart Dalianis, daughters Deborah A. Bischoff and Cynthia E. Godfrey, sons Matthew Dalianis and Benjamin Dalianis, grandchildren Allison Bischoff and Mariah Willis, and many other family members and loved ones. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of such an influential and exemplary member of Nashua's community and dear friend to so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chief Justice Linda Dalianis and her family during this difficult time. Griff's legacy of service and advocacy will live on in Nashua and across New Hampshire, and we are forever grateful that he called our great State home.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the New Hampshire College & University Council, NHCUC. Throughout the past half century, the NHCUC has consistently endeavored to advance the interests of both public and private higher education in my home State of New Hampshire. Established in 1966 as a statewide consortium of both public and private higher education institutions, the council is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in New Hampshire, offering students attending its member institutions opportunities for enriched experiences, as well as providing a foundation for enhanced communication among the member institutions. The NHCUC is directed by the chancellors and presidents of the member institutions who have supported the collaborative work of the organization for 50 years. The council serves its member institutions through programs in academic affairs, admissions, library services, career services, and many other programs and initiatives in service to the students, faculty, and staff at the member institutions. In addition, the NHCUC offers an important voice in advocating awareness of and appreciation for the importance of the higher education sector as a partner in growing New Hampshire's economic prosperity, educating the next generation of skilled workers for the twenty-first century, and enhancing the civic life of our State and local communities. I appreciate the work of this unique statewide higher education consortium that strives to encourage all of New Hampshire's citizens to promote and advance both public and private higher education in the Granite State. It is my honor to recognize and congratulate the New Hampshire College & University Council as they reach this historic milestone, and I wish them many more years of success.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize National Recovery Month and to applaud the accomplishments of a great organization in my home State: HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery. As New Hampshire battles a growing heroin and prescription opioid abuse crisis, the team at HOPE has brought a compassionate approach to caring for their fellow Granite Staters. Across our State, HOPE has opened six recovery centers in Manchester, Derry, Newport, Claremont, Concord, and Berlin. I was glad to join them at many of these grand opening ceremonies. These centers are important community resources, and I appreciate their work to reach every corner of our State. On Sunday, September 17, 2016, HOPE is hosting the Rally4Recovery NH, so that New Hampshire residents can show support for their families, friends, neighbors, and loved ones living in or seeking recovery. National Recovery Month is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a means to bring greater awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and to celebrate people in recovery. Ensuring support exists for policies, programs, and initiatives that can lead to long-term recovery is a critically important piece of our comprehensive response to the heroin and prescription opioid abuse epidemic. This crisis touches all of us and as a significant public health crisis; our response must be comprehensive in nature, focusing on prevention, treatment, recovery, and support for first responders, in addition to working together to eliminate the stigma associated with addiction. National Recovery Month helps bring awareness to the efforts of groups like HOPE, who work in their communities to provide long-term resources for individuals seeking and in recovery. We are fortunate for the dedicated work that HOPE does on a daily basis to support recovery in New Hampshire, and I am deeply grateful for their efforts to change the conversation around substance use disorders and show that long-term recovery is achievable. As we recognize National Recovery Month this September, I applaud organizations like HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery that are making significant differences in their communities and helping to save and improve lives.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the exceptional service and the extraordinary life of New Hampshire firefighter Charles ``Charlie'' Waterbury of Orford, NH. Born and raised in Orford, Charlie graduated from Orford High School in 1978. Following graduation, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for 4 years. After returning home, Charlie continued to serve his country and joined the New Hampshire Army National Guard. After 20 years of dedicated service to our State and our Nation, Charlie rose to the rank of E-5 sergeant. Demonstrating his commitment to service, Charlie was a devoted member of the Orford community and known for his willingness to step up whenever help was needed. Prior to becoming a firefighter, Charlie served his hometown as a member of the town budget advisory committee, as a town tree warden, and, impressively, as a road agent for 17 years. Ten years ago, Charlie joined the all-volunteer Orford Fire Department, where he soon became a beloved member of the team. Orford fire chief Terry Straight described Charlie as an excellent public servant whom ``everyone respected and looked up to'' and ``a great go-to guy.'' On Sunday, July 24, as reports of a brush fire in Lyme came in, Charlie rushed to the scene, as he had done so many times before, placing the safety of others first. Sadly, Charlie gave his life in the line of duty to help extinguish the fire in Lyme. We are all grateful for Charlie's selfless service to Orford and the rest of our State. Firefighter Waterbury leaves behind a daughter, Whitney Banker; a grandson, Arlo Austin Banker, and parents; Allan and Shirley Waterbury. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of a wonderful friend to many and an outstanding public servant, Charlie Waterbury. Charlie represented the best of our State, and I send my deepest condolences to Whitney, Arlo, Allan, and Shirley during this difficult time. While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary man, we know that he served our State, Nation, and community with honor, courage, and dedication. Charlie gave so much to New Hampshire and our Nation, and we are forever grateful for his sacrifice and service.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and honor the exceptional service and the extraordinary life of New Hampshire State Police Lieutenant James ``Jimmy'' Geraghty of Bedford, NH. I join his family, his friends, and the law enforcement community in New Hampshire in mourning Jim's passing after a courageous battle with cancer. I had the honor of working with Jim over the years, and I know that he made a positive difference for so many people in our State. Jim truly embodied a life of service, a life of heroism, and a life of integrity. Lieutenant Geraghty served honorably in the U.S. Army for 5 years, where he was stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Polk in Louisiana, and Fort Richardson in Arkansas. Ultimately, he earned the rank of sergeant and received an honorable discharge. After courageously serving our Nation, he then returned home to New Hampshire and embarked on a career in law enforcement, first serving as a police officer in the Hudson Police Department, after which he became a trooper for the New Hampshire State police. Jim 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--a post in which he served until he became ill last year. Lieutenant Geraghty handled some of the most troubling and horrific cases. He always conducted himself with incredible dedication and commitment. In 2009, Lieutenant Geraghty led the investigation into the brutal Mont Vernon homicide that focused on multiple, juvenile defendants and was a ``complex, and extremely time-consuming investigation.'' Despite these challenges, Jim's thoroughness and professionalism as commander of the major crimes unit allowed the prosecution to successfully convict all the defendants involved. As New Hampshire's former attorney general, I worked closely with the major crimes unit, and those of us who had the privilege of working with Jim saw his natural talent for leadership and keen ability to work collaboratively with others. He represented the very best of New Hampshire's law enforcement officers. While Jim was known for his many professional accolades, he was a humble man who never wanted to discuss his accomplishments. Instead, Jim lived by the motto ``family first,'' which was very apparent to anyone who knew him. Jim and his wife, Valerie, were married for 30 years. Together they had four wonderful children--a son, Jimmy, and daughters, Colleen, Katie, and Erin. I am honored to recognize Lieutenant Jim Geraghty and his tremendous contributions to New Hampshire as the commander of the major crimes unit. Jim was an amazing individual and a committed family man. There is no question that he lived his life with great dedication, courage, and integrity. We are all deeply saddened by the untimely loss of this true hero, a dear friend, and a beloved father, Lieutenant Jim Geraghty. My thoughts and prayers remain with Valerie, Jimmy, Colleen, Katie, and Erin. I continue to offer my deepest condolences and gratitude for Jim's life and his work. Jim gave so much to New Hampshire and our Nation and truly represented what it means to be an American.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Epping, NH--a thriving community in Rockingham County that is celebrating the 275th anniversary of its founding. I am proud to join citizens across the Granite State in recognition of this historic event. The land where Epping stands today was given by the town of Exeter in 1710 as the part of the ``Great Land Giveaway.'' In 1741, Epping officially separated from the town of Exeter and was established under Governor Benning Wentworth during the westward expansion of New Hampshire. Epping is renowned for its many brickyards that thrive off the town's supply of naturally occurring clay. While the first brickyard did not open until 1840, many previous generations learned the trade and produced their own bricks. Evidence of their hard work is still visible today and indicative of the nature of Epping's residents. Epping has produced three New Hampshire Governors, the most notable being William Plummer. Governor Plummer was a lawyer, a Baptist preacher, a historian, and an author. He was also one of New England's first weathermen, recording weather conditions daily from 1796 to 1823. Steeped in a rich history of hard work and dedication, Epping is a shining example of what makes New Hampshire great. This year, on the occasion of Epping's 275th anniversary of its founding, I am proud to join the more than 6,000 residents in celebrating this special milestone and Epping's many wonderful contributions to New Hampshire and our Nation.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the extraordinary life and service of a true hero and dedicated public servant whose time was tragically cut short, Officer Ashley Guindon of Merrimack, NH. Born and raised in Merrimack, NH, Officer Guindon graduated from Merrimack High School in 2005. She later joined the Marine Corps following graduation, honoring the service of her father, New Hampshire Air National Guard member David Guindon, who passed away after returning from serving in Iraq. In her high school yearbook she wrote, ``As I take flight it only makes me closer to [you] daddy. Mom, thanks for everything it'll be a long road but we can manage and it will only make [you] stronger.'' Underneath her picture in her high school yearbook, the caption read, ``live for something rather than die for nothing.'' Officer Guindon did live for something. She lived for her country and she answered the call of duty. Officer Guindon began her career with the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia and was sworn in as a police officer on February 26, 2016. Tragically, she was killed in the line of duty on her first day. Officer Guindon responded to an emergency call on her first day of duty as an officer with the same sense of professionalism and dedication demonstrated by the very best of our law enforcement community. Officer Guindon responded quickly and compassionately, embodying her true spirit of selflessness. Her caring manner and desire to help those in need will not be forgotten. Officer Guindon left behind her mother, Sharon, and her beloved family pug, Scout. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Officer Ashley Guindon, an extraordinary young woman who served our country and her community with honor, courage, and dedication. She represented the very best of our law enforcement community, and it is an honor to recognize her service. She will be truly missed and my thoughts and prayers remain with her family. We will never forget Officer Guindon's service and sacrifice to keep us safe.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my thoughts and prayers to the five Dallas police officers and their families who were killed in the line of duty on July 7, 2016. I want to recognize them on the Senate floor for the sacrifices they have made, for their heroic service to protect the people of Dallas, and also to recognize our law enforcement officers for what they do every single day on our behalf. On July 7, 2016, unfortunately, killed in the line of duty--adding to the rollcall, and whose names will be added to the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington--are Sergeant Michael Smith, a former Army Ranger who also served our Nation and who had been with the department since 1989; Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, 48, who had been with the department since 2002; Officer Michael Krol, 40, who had been with the department since 2007; Officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, a former Navy Seal and Iraq war veteran, who had been with the department since 2011; DART Officer Bart Thompson, 43, a former marine who had been with the department since 2009. Thompson was the first DART officer who was killed in the line of duty since the department's inception in 1989. Having served as attorney general for the State of New Hampshire, we have, unfortunately, been through this with our law enforcement officers in New Hampshire when we lose an officer in the line of duty. This is such a tragedy for the Dallas community, but it is a tragedy for our country. So, today, we stand with those mourning in Dallas. We stand with the law enforcement community. We stand with all of those who serve our Nation because they go out every single day when we are home with our families and on holidays. When we are home late at night, when we are sleeping, they are out in the streets patrolling, keeping us safe, the ``Thin Blue Line'' between us and those who want to do us harm. So, as we look at what is happening around our Nation, law enforcement is the solution to bringing us together. They work in our communities every single day. I have seen the phenomenal work that our law enforcement community does in New Hampshire. I have been to the Police Athletic League and seen what they are doing with the youth in our community. I have seen the outreach they do every day on this horrible drug epidemic that we are facing in the State of New Hampshire. I have seen the difficult situations they face with those struggling with mental illness--every single challenge they are taking on in our communities. So, today, let's remember those five brave officers who gave their lives in the line of duty, and let's remember all those who have given their lives in the line of duty to keep us safe every single day. Without our brave law enforcement officers, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we have and not be able to enjoy our own families and our way of life. So we are grateful to all of those who serve. We stand with you. We thank you for what you do every single day on our behalf. To your family members, we say to you as well, thank you, because families do serve as well. And when your loved ones go out on our streets to keep us safe, we know you worry about their safe return. So we stand with you as well, and we say thank you for your service and sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe. Mr. President, I would also like to speak today about a very important piece of legislation that I hope we will be considering on the Senate floor this week. I rise in support of the conference report for a critical piece of legislation called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, otherwise known as CARA. I have now been working on this piece of legislation with Senators Portman, Whitehouse, and Klobuchar for about 2 years, and I thank them for their leadership on this legislation and their partnership in the work we have done, along with hundreds of coalition groups that have helped us put this legislation together. CARA passed this body in March by a vote of 94 to 1. Not much passes the Senate with a vote of 94 to 1. Numbers like that speak volumes to the fact that every community is facing a heroin and opioid epidemic right now, and we need to take national action. And after conferencing the Senate version with a package of House bills related to opioid abuse, just this past Friday the House of Representatives passed the conference report by an overwhelming vote of 407 to 5--407 to 5 in the House of Representatives. Those are very powerful numbers in support of this legislation, but I want to touch on the numbers that matter the most and why we need to act on this legislation--numbers like 129, the number of people who die each day in our country from a drug overdose; or 248, the number of stakeholder groups who have endorsed the final version of CARA because they know it takes the right legislative approach to fighting back against this public health crisis. That number includes some groups from my home State of New Hampshire whom I have had the honor of working with. I appreciate so much their phenomenal work on the frontlines in helping those struggling with addiction, including HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery; Hope on Haven Hill; the Kingston Lions Club in Kingston, NH; and Project Recovery in Newton, NH. And I know there are many other individuals and groups on the frontlines in New Hampshire who are making a difference. CARA is also supported by nearly 40 chiefs of police from across our State, the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Fraternal Order of Police because our law enforcement knows we need a comprehensive response. I have heard so many times from our police officers that we cannot arrest our way out of this public health crisis. Another number never far from my mind is 439--the number of individuals in my home State of New Hampshire who died from a drug overdose last year. And just this year alone, 2016, 161 have died. So unfortunately we are looking at even greater numbers with what we see happening on the streets of New Hampshire. I will never forget those numbers because they are so much more than numbers; they are the lives of loved ones we have lost, and they represent the overwhelming heartbreak felt by too many families. Every time I am out in New Hampshire, I have another family, unfortunately, whom I meet and who tells me about their story of losing someone they loved or a loved one they are trying to get help for who is struggling with addiction. That is why in this debate we must give a voice to those who no longer have a voice of their own. We must put faces, names, and stories to this epidemic because it is affecting families and communities all across our country. I want to share some stories from those in New Hampshire who are driving us to take action. In passing CARA, we are remembering them, and we are honoring them and making a change that can help save lives. We are making sure we have the right legislative framework in place as we push for more funding to get to the States to address this epidemic. I am spurred to action by these stories, and it is my hope that by sharing this here today, my colleagues will join me in passing this legislation. I just spoke to a woman yesterday from Plaistow, NH--Kathy. Kathy's son Thomas was a hero in his local community. He was compassionate and caring to his peers and even helped a fellow student who was living alone in the woods rededicate himself to studying and eventually graduate. He literally went out in the woods to find a homeless student and brought him into his home. Around 7 years ago, this bright young man became addicted to painkillers. This is a story we hear all too often. He had an injury, he became addicted to painkillers, and his family was shocked at how many pills he was legally prescribed for his back pain. It wasn't long before he turned to something else--heroin. In fact, the national data shows that four out of five people who turn to heroin actually started with misusing or overusing prescription drugs. Thomas's life, unfortunately, took a turn for the worse, and he spent time in jail before eventually passing away from an overdose. When I spoke with Kathy, she told me that more needs to be done to help others struggling with a substance use disorder. She wants to see more resources for early education. She wants to fight back against the stigma associated with addiction. In having this debate on the Senate floor, that is something we need to turn around--the stigma. This is a public health crisis. This is a disease, and we need to get help for those struggling with addiction. But Kathy is not alone. A woman in Goffstown wrote to me after losing her brother to a heroin overdose: From here forward, we will never have another holiday where our family is complete. At Thanksgiving, when our close, loving family gathers, there will be an empty seat where he once sat. An unfilled stocking at Christmas will remind us of the void we feel each day. Come his 25th birthday this year, we will visit his grave site where he is buried instead of hugging him in our arms and wishing him another wonderful year. A father in Brentwood, NH, lost his son to an overdose and told me: I cannot describe the pain, feeling of helplessness and grave despair [my wife] and I went through upon finding our son dead. This has been a tragedy we in the end were not able to fix, and a war we were not able to win. Our son is now part of the statistics. A woman in Wakefield wrote that her niece's dreams were crushed when she became addicted to heroin. She wrote: Her death has left the family heartbroken, and we have chosen to tell everyone the truth in hopes that her death will not have been in vain. A mother in Manchester said: I wake up every morning with the fear of finding my son dead. I am crying out for help. A mother from Greenville, NH, who spends her days helping people living with substance abuse disorders only to come home and see her own son struggling with using heroin, 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 he is faced with a 5-month waiting period to get into a facility. He wrote: In 5 months, these individuals will be dead. A parent from Salem contacted me and told me her son is struggling with heroin addiction, and she needed help finding a treatment program for him since she couldn't afford to pay for treatment herself, like the mother of these three children who had to revive her son from an overdose before the paramedics could arrive, or like the Griffin family, Pam and Doug and Shannon Griffin from Newton, NH, whom I have gotten to know well. The Griffin family lost their beautiful 20-year- old daughter Courtney to a fentanyl and heroin overdose. Courtney's father, Doug Griffin, and his wife, Pam, have made it their life's mission to raise awareness about this terrible epidemic to help save lives and help others going through the same difficulty and tragedy. Doug and so many other dedicated people in New Hampshire are working tirelessly to turn the tide against this epidemic. Earlier this year, I met with families from New Hampshire who actually traveled to Washington to urge Congress to take up and pass CARA. If we don't act, what kind of message are we sending to these families who need our help and need us to act? That is why we need CARA and we need to ensure this framework is passed. CARA authorizes resources for treatment, prevention, recovery, and first responders--critical facets of a comprehensive approach. And CARA is an authorizing vehicle. Some have made this argument around here: Why should we pass an authorization vehicle if the funding is not attached? Under that reasoning, we wouldn't have passed the Violence Against Women Act, we wouldn't have passed the Head Start Program, we wouldn't have passed a program for vaccines for children, we wouldn't have passed the Second Chance Act, and there are so many more. The reality is that in the appropriations bill there have been increases in funding for CARA, and we are going to fight for even more increases in funding. In fact, at the end of the day, the Senate appropriations bills include a 46-percent increase in spending on opioid addiction programs since last year. So we can do more, but if we don't pass CARA, then we will do a great disservice to the American people. President Obama's Director of the Office of National Drug Policy, Michael Botticelli, told me at a hearing in New Hampshire last year: ``Certainly the CARA Act, I think, highlights many of the issues and fills really critical gaps not only in terms of funding but in terms of policy around this issue.'' Mr. President, I hope this is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, we know, whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent--it doesn't matter what your political background is--we have so many families in New Hampshire and across this country who are struggling with addiction, and it is time for us to rise above the politics and pass this important legislation. I again thank Senator Portman. I thank Senator Klobuchar and Senator Whitehouse for the passion and leadership they have shown on this legislation. There is an urgent and pressing need for this legislation, and I call on my colleagues to come together and make sure we duplicate what happened in the House of Representatives, where there was an overwhelming vote to pass this legislation, so we can get it to the President's desk and make sure this legislation is funded. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and honor one of New Hampshire's finest and most respected journalists, Garry Rayno of the New Hampshire Union Leader. Garry is set to retire after a long and impressive career covering news and people in the Granite State. Today, he and his wife, Carolyn, live in Bow, just a few miles from our State's capital. Garry currently works in the Union Leader's State House Bureau, where he has had a front-row seat for debates that impact the future of our State. These days, he is perhaps best known for writing the State House Dome column, a must-read round-up of political news for readers following events at the State House in Concord. As a first-rate journalist, Garry has committed himself to putting forth the facts and figures so that New Hampshire residents can be apprised of legislation, votes, and negotiations that impact their daily lives. His writing allows readers access to detailed accounts of everything from political careers of New Hampshire State representatives to our State's efforts to combat the opioid abuse epidemic. It has been a pleasure to work with Garry over the years during my time at the attorney general's office. We will certainly miss his straightforward analysis and reports of what's happening in Concord. Since announcing his retirement, numerous letters to the editor by citizens and elected officials alike have been published in the Union Leader, thanking Garry and lauding his excellent and informative coverage of the Legislature. I join with New Hampshire residents, as well as his colleagues, in thanking Garry for his unparalleled service to our State and commitment to journalistic integrity. I am very proud to celebrate and recognize Garry, and I wish him and his wife, Carolyn, all the best as they enter this new chapter.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Greenfield, NH--a flourishing community in Hillsborough County that is celebrating the 225th anniversary of its founding. I am proud to join citizens across the Granite State in recognition of this special event. Greenfield originally encompassed parts of the towns of Peterborough and Lyndeborough, as well as the Lyndeborough Slip and Society Land until the residents petitioned the General Court of New Hampshire to become a separate town, so that they might have access to a church and school. Permission was granted, and the town of Greenfield was incorporated on June 15, 1791. Founded primarily by Revolutionary War veterans, the town of Greenfield was named by Major Amos Whittemore for its peaceful and fertile location between the Monadnock Hills. The early settlers were known for growing hops, building carriages, and their many sawmills. The first townhall meeting was held at the house of Mr. Daniel Gould on July 5, 1791, and since that time, the population has grown to include 1,477 residents as of the year 2014. Known for its mountainous terrain, Greenfield is home to North Pack Monadnock and Crotched Mountains. Due to the prevalence of the mountains, the town contains an abundance of scenic trails that travel throughout the region. This has made Greenfield the perfect venue for all kinds of recreational outdoor activities. Greenfield's past is well represented by its historic meeting house. The town's other notable landmarks include the Crotched Mountain Foundation, a rehabilitation center for handicapped children, the County Covered Bridge, Yankee Siege, a onetime world record holding trebuchet, and Greenfield State Park. On behalf of all Granite Staters, I am pleased to offer my congratulations to the citizens of Greenfield as they celebrate 225 years of exemplifying what is best about our home, and I thank them for their many integral contributions to the life and spirit of New Hampshire.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today to say to my colleagues who are here that I hope that we can stop the politics and really focus on a result that will make a difference for the American people. All of our hearts were broken across this country as we woke up the Sunday before last to the news of the horrific terrorist attack on the nightclub in Orlando that took the lives of 49 innocent people, and 53 more were injured. I can't imagine how their families feel and the pain their loved ones must be experiencing. Our prayers are with them and those who were wounded and with our brave first responders who had to go there to address this horrible terrorist attack. This was an attack that shook our Nation. It was an attack on our LGBT community in a place where people come together to enjoy themselves to celebrate who they are. It was an act of terrorism; it was an act of hatred. This was the worst terrorist attack on our soil since September 11. It is a somber reminder--unfortunately, the terrorist who committed this attack, someone who pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS, someone who, unfortunately, committed an act of terrorism and an act of hatred--that ISIS continues to plan and inspire attacks against us here at home and that we do have to take this fight to ISIS much more aggressively and make sure that they don't continue to have the capacity to inspire terrorist attacks against us on our homeland or against our allies around the world, as we have seen in other places such as Paris and Brussels. We have to defeat radical Islamic terrorists, and we have to destroy ISIS so they can no longer spread hatred, violence, and death. Unfortunately, the terrorist who committed this horrible attack in Orlando was investigated by our FBI. During that investigation, he was placed on what is called the selectee list. That list is part of a larger list sometimes referred to as the terrorist watch list. When an individual goes to purchase a firearm and they are on the terrorist watch list, the FBI is notified that purchase is taking place. They have up to 72 hours to take some action or to further their investigation. This individual, this horrible terrorist was taken off the list because the FBI had closed its investigation. So I hope we do not lose sight on this floor of the fact that we better do everything we can to understand any gaps that exist in our intelligence system regarding that investigation, understand why it was closed, and make sure investigations like this don't get closed in the future. We must have a situation where the FBI has the resources and tools it needs to follow up properly when they have someone in their sights the way they had with this terrorist. The reality is, had he been on the list, as he had been previously before the investigation was closed, the FBI would have been notified of his firearm purchase. On the floor today, we have proposals to address whether terrorists should be allowed to purchase guns. Make no mistake, Mr. President, gun control won't stop terrorism. However, I think we can all agree that we do not want terrorists to purchase firearms. With both these competing proposals on the floor, we do have some common ground: that terrorists should not be permitted to purchase firearms. Unfortunately, where we find ourselves is playing our typical political football. I believe we should stop playing political football with something so important. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I am going to recommit myself--and I hope everyone in this body will--to doing everything I can to defeat ISIS. I also believe we should recommit ourselves to finding out if there are gaps in our intelligence system that need to be addressed and understanding why this investigation was closed. We must also make sure the FBI has the tools it needs to prevent these attacks. I also believe we should work together to ensure that terrorists are not allowed to buy firearms. But we know what is going to happen. We will not find a solution by sticking to two measures that failed before, mostly on party lines. So I have been working with Senator Collins, Senator Flake, and Senator Graham, and talking to people on both sides of the aisle about coming together with a compromise that can pass this body and make sure terrorists are not allowed to buy guns. If you are too dangerous to board a commercial plane, it stands to reason you should not be able to buy a gun. It is as simple as that. And I think people on both sides of the aisle agree on that in principle. So why can't we act in good faith and figure out the best way to achieve that goal? This is a gravely serious issue that requires a serious response. There is a solution here, and I am committed to finding it, but to find that solution, we have to come together. Instead of having competing proposals that have already mostly failed in this Chamber when we took those votes back in December, let's put aside the gamesmanship and come together to get a proposal that will be effective and get a result for the American people. The Senate will be considering two proposals, as I referenced. Both have failed, mostly on party lines. By all accounts, these proposals are likely to fail again and we will then be right back where we started--no safer, no smarter, no more successful in protecting our citizens. There will be more political blame, but we will be no closer to a solution, to a result on something that matters, that means we will move forward in ensuring that terrorists do not have access to firearms. I am here to talk about a better way. During the past week, in working with Senators Collins, Flake, Graham, and others and reaching out to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we want to propose legislation that may actually pass the Senate. To get to that solution, we have to move this debate forward. That is why I will be voting today to advance both options before us in order to provide an opportunity for us to come together with a bipartisan compromise that will get a result for the American people. There is an opportunity in this debate to go forward and to get a result. Unfortunately, both bills on the floor aren't the answer. We know that. They both failed before. So I will be continuing to push to get a result. What we are doing this afternoon in this political exercise is pushing for legislation that both sides know is going to fail. Both options before us--that of Senator Feinstein and Senator Cornyn--are well-intentioned, but each has flaws that I am concerned about. Senator Feinstein's approach is very broad, and it would include the entire terrorism database. It could include instances where there has only been a derogatory allegation made about an American which has not been validated. There are real due process questions about that, using the broader list. It is much broader than the phrase ``no fly, no buy.'' I think we all understand that--no fly, no buy. But this is much broader, and it is misleading to call the Feinstein proposal that proposal. If you cannot get on a plane, you shouldn't be able to buy a firearm, but this measure doesn't require the government show anything other than a reasonable belief that you have been engaged in conduct relating to terrorism, and it doesn't necessarily mean it has been validated. In December, I supported Senator Cornyn's legislation because it was similar to Senator Feinstein's legislation but it had additional, stronger due process protections. However, Senator Cornyn's legislation requires the FBI to act in 72 hours, to go to a court in 72 hours to present probable cause. Having been a former murder prosecutor, I am concerned that is not enough time under these circumstances to take proper action and to be able to mount all of that before a court to meet a probable cause standard. So I think there are some concerns that I have in terms of the timing with Senator Cornyn's legislation and also the fact that if you had probable cause, you probably would have already charged someone with a crime. There is a better way. These two pieces of legislation that I will be moving forward in this debate are a start, but they are not the end. They are not an end until we get a commonsense result that ensures that terrorists can't buy guns and that we protect the due process rights of American citizens. So our proposal is one that would ensure that if you are on the no-fly list--which, by the way, roughly 800 Americans are on the no-fly list--that would ensure you could not go and purchase a firearm. But if you believe you are being wrongfully denied your right, you can challenge that in court. If the government is wrong, then they are going to have to pay your costs and attorney fees. Our legislation would also ensure that individuals like the horrible terrorist who committed these attacks in Orlando and who are on a smaller sublist called the selectee list, which is a list that is smaller than the overall terrorist watch list--there must be reasonable suspicion that an individual meets additional heightened criteria, where they have additional derogatory information above and beyond the criteria required for the broader database that someone is engaged in terrorism. The Orlando terrorist who committed these horrific attacks was on this list. That group of individuals would not be permitted to purchase a firearm, but they, too, would have the opportunity to go to court and to challenge that decision and, if the government is wrong, to make sure their costs are paid for. Our proposal would also ensure that if you have been on this list for the last 5 years, the FBI would be notified if you went to purchase a firearm. Why is that important? Because unfortunately the terrorist who committed these horrible attacks was taken off the list. We better find out why that happened. But we will make sure, in this legislation, that if you were on the list and you go to purchase a firearm, that at least the FBI is notified so they can follow up. If they want to conduct additional investigation and surveillance--like I hope they would have done in this instance had they learned about this individual--they have the opportunity to do that. We believe this is a fair, workable solution. It is a solution that makes sense. It is a solution when we think about the overall terror database, which has about 1 million people on it. The no-fly list has about 800 Americans on it. If you combine the selectee list and the no- fly list, we are talking about fewer than 2,500 Americans. If you are on that list and you are being focused on in an open investigation by the FBI, with the belief you are engaged in terrorism or engaged with terrorists, then you should not be able to buy a firearm. We have a responsibility to protect peoples' constitutional rights. We need to make sure there is due process for anything we do here. That is our basic responsibility. That is why our legislation makes sure terrorists can't buy guns, and it also makes sure the due process rights of Americans are protected. If the government is wrong, their costs and attorney's fees will be paid for because the government should have that burden. I suspect these two proposals may fail tonight--not because of anything I will do, because I am going to be asking to get to this debate. I want a result. I think we should stop playing political football with this. If these two proposals fail tonight--which, unfortunately, I think is likely to happen since it is almost Groundhog Day again, since they are similar to two proposals we voted on in December, and we know what the result of that was: They both failed--I hope we can come together. I have talked about a good-faith, workable solution tonight that makes sense. I hope that on both sides of the aisle we can work together to get a result for the American people. We need to make sure we get something done and ensure terrorists cannot purchase firearms. But let's also make sure we continue to go after ISIS and defeat ISIS so they cannot inspire further attacks like this on our country. Let's also make sure that if there are gaps in our intelligence system-- because the FBI didn't follow up or should have followed up or they need more resources to follow these cases to their end--that we work together to address that as well because this was a horrific act of terrorism, and we need to treat it accordingly. It is my hope that we can work together on bipartisan solutions that will help keep the American people safe. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Croydon, NH, a wonderful community in Sullivan County that is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. Croydon sits atop the plateaus between the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers. The charter of Croydon was signed by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth and witnessed by Theodore Atkinson on May 31, 1763. Named for a suburb of London, England, Croydon was incorporated and granted to 71 individuals. In the spring of 1766, individuals hailing from Grafton, MA, made their way to Croydon to begin the settlement process. On June 10, 1766, the Chase family became the first family in Croydon. The first town meeting was held March 8, 1768, and since that time, the population has grown to include 764 residents as of the year 2010. Known for its mountainous terrain, Croydon is home to many peaks and hills. Croydon Peak is the highest location in Sullivan County with an elevation of 2,756 feet, and it extends across the western portion of the town. Pine Hill lies in the eastern part. Due to Croydon's access to the Sugar River, the town is well-fertilized, which encouraged residents to become skilled in agriculture and raising cattle. Croydon's most notable landmark is the ``Little Red School,'' which is reported to be the longest continuously operated one-room schoolhouse since the late 1700s. Little Red first opened in 1794 and today is the schoolhouse for the third and fourth grade classes. In the year of 2016, we join together to honor the 250th anniversary of Croydon. Croydon has contributed greatly to the State of New Hampshire. I am proud to salute its citizens and recognize their accomplishments, their love of country, and their spirit of independence.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the 300th anniversary of the town of Stratham, New Hampshire. Stratham is located in southeast New Hampshire, in a region inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans on our shores. It was first settled in 1631, and in 1709, the residents petitioned for the creation of their own town in order to build a school, church, and meeting house. Lieutenant Governor George Vaughn granted residents permission, on March 20, 1716, to collect taxes, hold town meetings, elect selectmen, appoint a minister, and build a meeting house on Kings Grant Highway. The location of the original Stratham Meeting House is where the Stratham Community Church stands today. In 1906, a park was opened in town after Edward Tuck sold 70 acres of land to the town of Stratham for $1. Mr. Tuck's major stipulation during the transfer of Stratham Hill Park's land was that ``it was given for the free use and enjoyment of the residents of Stratham and the surrounding communities.'' In 1966, the town of Stratham celebrated their 250th anniversary and residents have gathered every year since to celebrate their founding at what is now known as the Stratham Fair. A Land Protection Committee was created in 2002, and a decade later, over 543 acres or nearly 6 percent of the town of Stratham has been conserved and protected permanently. Today Stratham is home to the headquarters of the Timberland Corporation and to the only Lindt & Sprungli factory in the United States. This year, on the occasion of Stratham's 300th Anniversary of its founding, I join more than 7,000 residents in commemorating the rich heritage and valuable contributions to the State of New Hampshire and our Nation.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor to talk about an issue I have worked on for a number of years and something I feel very strongly about; that is, our detention and interrogation policy. Since this administration has gotten into office, based on a campaign promise, the President has sought to close Guantanamo Bay. This administration has continued to release individuals held at Guantanamo--dangerous terrorists, with backgrounds, whether it is involvement with Al Qaeda or involvement with the Taliban or other groups. Just recently, they have released another 11 individuals from Guantanamo Bay. One of the issues that has troubled me most about this is that I think it is very important the American people know what is going on, but so much of this is happening in the cloak of darkness. So much of it is an unwillingness of this administration to level with the American people about the terrorist affiliations and activities of current and former Guantanamo Bay detainees. We have seen the most recent example of that which is troubling. On March 23 of 2016, Paul Lewis, the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Detention Closure, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that there have been Americans who have died because of Guantanamo Bay detainees. He was asked about this in this House hearing. My assumption is one of the reasons he was asked about it is because 30 percent of those who were held at Guantanamo--terrorists who have been released from Guantanamo--are suspected or confirmed of reengaging in terrorism. Apparently, Mr. Lewis was asked, and he said there have been Americans who have died because of Guantanamo detainees who have been released. So a fair question--a very important question--is to understand what these former detainees have done in terms of attacking Americans or our NATO allies who have worked with us to fight terrorists in places around the world. That was a question I posed to this administration. Based on what Mr. Lewis, who is the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Detention Closure said, I asked the administration for information about those who have been killed by Guantanamo detainees. On May 23 the administration responded to me, but their answers to my questions were classified in such a way that even my staff with a top secret security clearance could not review the response. I was able to review the response. What I want to be able to do is to give information to the American people so they can understand the response, because this administration continues to push to close Guantanamo. They continue to release terrorists from Guantanamo to countries around the world, and they continue to refuse to tell the American people--hiding behind classification--who the people are who are being released in terms of their backgrounds and in terms terrorist affiliations. They have been releasing a name and the country they are transferred to--but no information to the American people about the terrorist background of these individuals, no information to the American people about how these individuals have been released, what they have been engaged in, and whether they have been engaged in prior attacks on Americans or our allies. I believe the American people have a right to know. On Tuesday I also wrote a followup letter to the President urging him to provide without delay an unclassified response to understand how many Americans and our NATO partners have been killed by former Guantanamo detainees and which former detainees committed these terrorist attacks, so we can understand what we are facing. Unfortunately, we don't know. But in the Washington Post today there was an article that reported that 12 former Guantanamo detainees were involved in attacks on Americans after their release. The estimate in the Washington Post report says that these detainees have killed about a half dozen Americans. Why should the American people have to rely on the ability of the Washington Post to talk to people off the record to try to find out exactly what the activities are of these terrorists whom the administration continues to release without full information to the American people? I appreciate the reporting of the Washington Post, but I believe the American people deserve an answer directly from this administration. Since Mr. Lewis testified that Guantanamo detainees have been involved in killing Americans, the administration has released 11 more detainees from Guantanamo, with more than two dozen likely to be released in the coming months. Again, 30 percent are suspected or confirmed of reengaging in terrorism--people such as Ibrahim al-Qosi, affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who was released by this administration in 2012 to Sudan. He has joined back up with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is headquartered in Yemen. Previously, what has been revealed about him publicly is that he trained at a notorious Al Qaeda camp as a member of Osama bin Laden's elite security detail. What is more troubling is that he is now back with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He is a leader and a spokesman for this group, and he is urging attacks on American and our allies. That is what is at stake when we think about the security of the American people. Yet the policy that this administration and this President keep pushing is to close Guantanamo. They are trying to take de facto steps to close Guantanamo by releasing people without information to the American people. In this Defense authorization bill that is pending on the floor, in the Armed Services Committee I have included a provision that would prohibit international release or transfer of any detainee from Guantanamo until the Department of Defense submits to Congress an unclassified report on the individual's previous terrorist activities and affiliations, as well as their support or participation in attacks against the United States or our allies. The administration keeps claiming that it is in the best interests of the United States--in our national security interests--to close Guantanamo. I fully disagree with that argument. But if that is what they really believe, why have they not told the American people, when they release the terrorists who are held at Guantanamo, whom these people have been involved with and whether they have been involved with attacks on Americans or our allies. Instead, they give the name and the country they are going to. That is all they are telling the American people. If it is in our national security interests, they will fully tell the American people why they believe in transferring or releasing these terrorists to third-party countries, and they will tell the American people the truth about who is being released and what they have been involved in. I think the American people, if they know that information, will side with my view of this, which is that to close Guantanamo--especially by releasing dangerous individuals who are there, with 30 percent of them suspected or confirmed of getting back into battle--is against our national security interests and makes us less safe. I ask, no matter where you stand in this body on the closure of Guantanamo, don't we owe it to the American people to tell them? When they are releasing individuals from Guantanamo, doesn't the administration owe to the American people what terrorist group this person is affiliated with? Has this person ever been involved with the attack of Americans or our allies? Don't the American people deserve this basic information? The American people need to know who is being released, why they are dangerous, and what is happening in terms of our national security interests, because I believe they are being undermined greatly by continuing to release terrorists who get back in the fight. The last thing our men and women in uniform or any of our allies should see is a terrorist whom we had previously captured and was at Guantanamo. I hope the administration will live up to its transparency policy, because when it comes to releasing dangerous detainees from Guantanamo--some of whom have gotten back in the fight, and 30 percent are suspected or confirmed of getting back in the fight of terrorism against us--the American people deserve information about what is happening and what danger these individuals pose to us and our allies. I yield the floor.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate the Pease Greeters' nonprofit organization for more than 11 years of continuous service in greeting our troops and civilian personnel from the Department of Defense, DOD, passing through the Pease International Trade Port in Portsmouth, NH. In June of 2016, they will have welcomed more than 1,000 flights passing through the trade port on their way to or from Afghanistan, Iraq, or other areas of conflict in the world. The Pease Greeters organization was created in May of 2005 when an unannounced plane carrying members of the U.S. military landed at the Pease International Airport. The airport director, maintenance manager, and airport employees quickly got together to meet and greet these troops, offering coffee, donuts, and a big thank you for their service. Soon thereafter, the airport director discovered that additional charter flights would be arriving at Pease. Upon learning this, he reached out to the Seacoast Marine Corps League for assistance welcoming the troops and putting together a fitting ceremony to show respect, appreciation, and honor for their service. Once word spread, dozens of citizens from New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, lent their support to organize what quickly became known as the Pease Greeters, whose mission is to promote broad participation in this welcoming of heroes, paying special attention to the education of school children by instilling respect and admiration for the troops through formal ceremonies for each flight. Whether it is 4 a.m. in the morning or 4 p.m. in the afternoon, the Pease Greeters are there to welcome and thank the members of the military and the civilian men and women working in the DOD coming through Pease. As of May 2016, the Pease Greeters have met more than 190,000 servicemen and servicewomen at the trade port, provided a bank of phones where they can call loved ones anywhere in the world free of charge, offered them more than 27,000 pizzas, 167,000 sandwiches, 110,000 bottles of water or soda, and 74,000 knitted hats. As the Pease Greeters welcomes its 1,000th flight on June 26, 2016, I commend the board of directors, the many volunteers, the supporting businesses, the Pease International Airport director and staff, and the hundreds of well-wishers who have spent more than 11 years thanking and honoring our troops and DOD members for their service and selfless sacrifice to our Nation. As the Pease Greeters' mission continues, I have no doubt they will continue to provide comfort and welcome many future military members arriving or departing from the Pease International Trade Port.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, first of all, we have 10 GAO reports that have found this to be duplicative and wasteful. For some reason, there is a special office for catfish but no other fish species. The USDA normally inspects meat and poultry, not fish, so to waste taxpayer dollars this way lacks common sense. I say to my friend from Mississippi, I know he made an argument on the Budget Committee, but the Budget Committee's opinion basically says there is no direct spending. We all know that a lot of domestic spending is discretionary spending, and discretionary spending will continue on this program. The GAO has found that this costs an additional $14 million a year, this duplicative program. By the way, the $1.5 million that has been cited has not been confirmed by GAO. Colleagues, let's not be bottom dwellers. Let's get rid of duplicative and wasteful spending. We have 10 GAO reports stacked up. We can get rid of this duplicative program that inspects catfish, which is already inspected by the FDA. By the way, as Senator McCain has said, the FDA has intercepted the toxins my colleagues and friends from Mississippi have cited as well as toxins found in domestic fish. They know how to do this, and we don't need a special office for catfish.

Ms. AYOTTE

Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of what, frankly, is an egregious example of why folks get very frustrated with Washington and what happens here; that is, what has been described as one of Washington's most wasteful programs--the duplicative USDA catfish inspection program, which was slipped in the farm bill in 2008. All other fish species are inspected not by USDA but are inspected in this country by the FDA. Yet, added to the 2008 farm bill was a provision to create a special office within the USDA for the one species of catfish. We know they are bottom dwellers, but this was something that was done to protect domestic catfish producers, and it was something that is wasting taxpayer dollars. There have been 10 GAO reports, each finding that this inspection regime--set up especially for catfish but no other species--is duplicative and is a waste of taxpayer dollars. The good-government groups, such as Citizens Against Government Waste, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the National Taxpayers Union, and many of the other groups that my colleague Senator McCain cited on the floor that are supporting the resolution to disapprove this duplicative rule, have called this program one of the most demonstrably wasteful and duplicative programs ever created. Boy, in Washington, that says a lot, to call something one of the most demonstrably wasteful and duplicative programs ever created. These groups have written that the GAO also notes that it not only wastes taxpayer dollars and duplicates work already done by the FDA, but it actually weakens rather than strengthens our food safety systems. The agency's proposed catfish inspection program further fragments Federal oversight over our system for food safety without demonstrating that there is a problem with catfish or a need for a new Federal program. With all respect, I heard my colleague from Mississippi on the floor citing the most recent findings by the newly stood up USDA office for the inspection of catfish talking about harmful contaminants in catfish that the USDA intercepted. There are some facts that are conveniently missing from this argument. First of all, when the FDA was inspecting catfish--like they inspect all other fish in the country--at times, they were also able to intercept contaminants found not only in catfish but in other fish species. So the notion that the FDA couldn't find these very same contaminants--well, guess what, folks, they did, just as they do every day when they are looking at ensuring that all of our fish species are appropriate for our public health and for us to consume. One of the interesting things about it is that not only would the FDA find this in the catfish coming from overseas, but they have actually intercepted contaminants in the domestic catfish supply at times as well. I think that is important for people to understand. This notion that somehow we need to set up a special program within the USDA for just catfish because that is the only way we can find contaminants and protect the public health--apparently the FDA is able to do it for every other fish species, was able to do it before 2008, and yet we now have a separate office for the catfish, and the GAO found that it cost us nearly $20 million extra to set up this special office to inspect catfish for the one species. In fact, my colleague from Mississippi serves on the Budget Committee, as I do, and he mentioned on the floor the fact that the CBO said that there will not be additional spending on this program. One thing that is important for people to understand--and those of us who serve on the Budget Committee understand this--is that the Budget Committee said that there is no additional mandatory spending. That means mandatory spending that has already been set aside in the budget. We separate spending in the Federal Government--mandatory versus discretionary spending. Guess what? Yes, there isn't mandatory spending on this, but, conveniently, what has been left out is that there is absolutely discretionary spending on this program. In fact, GAO has found that it not only cost $20 million to set up this new inspection regime, but they have estimated that it costs $14 million a year in discretionary spending to run this new inspection regime for catfish. I just want to make sure that people understand, for the record, that this budget opinion that is being cited is really meaningless because it is saying there is no mandatory spending. Well, guess what? I could come to the floor on almost any kind of domestic spending, whether it is on an issue of DOD, a weapons system, or anything we are talking about here, and tell you that there is no mandatory spending on this, and the Budget Committee would issue the same opinion. What really matters is this: Are we spending any taxpayer dollars? The answer at the end of the day is absolutely, because the dollars that go to the USDA or the FDA are actually discretionary spending. I hope my colleagues who are listening to this understand that this budget opinion really means nothing. We are still spending taxpayer dollars that matter to you and me, and we could spend these millions of dollars much more effectively elsewhere than on a duplicative program for catfish. In fact, former FDA Safety Chief David Acheson commented that this duplicative program is ``everything that's wrong about the food-safety system. . . . It's food politics. It's not public health.'' For all the claims that have been made on this floor about somehow needing to set up a separate inspection regime for catfish, the USDA itself said: ``The true effectiveness of FSIS inspection for reducing catfish- associated human illnesses is unknown.'' This is the USDA itself: ``unknown.'' ``Also, the rate at which FSIS inspection will achieve its ultimate reductions is unknown. . . . There is substantial uncertainty regarding the actual effectiveness of an FSIS''--meaning the USDA inspection regime--``catfish inspection program.'' That is not very promising. We already had an inspection regime in place, as we do for every other fish species under the FDA, and that costs us roughly $700,000 a year, according to the GAO reports, and now, under what we have done with the duplicative inspection regime with the USDA, it costs roughly $20 million to build a new inspection regime with new infrastructure in a different agency, and then roughly $14 million, according to the GAO. We just asked them again if they could confirm the numbers that are being cited of it only costing $1.5 million. No, they can't confirm those numbers. There were 10 GAO reports defining duplicative and wasteful spending, yet here we are. I was really shocked by the vote on the Senate floor. I was very shocked that my colleagues would have 10 GAO reports in front of them that say this is a duplicative and wasteful program, and we already have every other fish species inspected by the FDA. Yet we are going to set up a separate office for catfish. Almost every good government group that focuses on addressing wasteful spending in Washington has called this duplicative program egregious and really cited this as an example of what is wrong when we are worried about taxpayer dollars and what happens in Washington. I hope, as I look at the votes on the Senate floor, that as we proceed to this measure, my colleagues will look at these GAO reports, listen to these good government organizations that have basically said that this program is really a waste of taxpayer dollars, and that they will support the resolution to disapprove this duplicative inspection program. Before 2008, the FDA was inspecting catfish, and they were doing their job just like they do with every other fish species. They can continue to do that rather than have an entire separate program just to inspect one fish species under the USDA. By the way, the focus of the USDA is actually on meat and poultry. They don't regulate any other fish. They don't have fish experts like the FDA, and that is one of the reasons it costs so much more to set up this new program. There is a lot of talk about why people are frustrated with Washington; right? They are very frustrated. They want to make sure their taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. My constituents complain to me about wasteful spending and duplicative programs. Yet here we have such an obvious example. As I look at what we have pending on the Senate floor--if we don't pass this resolution of disapproval for this duplicative program after so many groups have said that they have looked at this and concluded that it is wasteful and duplicative--and 10 years of GAO reports saying the same thing, that we don't need a separate inspection regime for catfish, I don't know how we are ever going to address $19 trillion in debt. I don't know how we are ever going to take on the big burning issues that the American people want us to address. I know a lot of bad things have been said about Congress. I personally think we might be called bottom dwellers if we don't pass this legislation. I am hoping that as we look at the duplicative program of catfish inspections, we will understand that one fish species does not deserve a separate office just to look at the catfish, that the FDA can handle this inspection as it does for every other fish species, that we could save millions of taxpayer dollars by doing this, and that we can let the American people know that we get it and we want to wisely spend their money wisely, we want to eliminate wasteful spending, we want to get our fiscal house in order, and we want good government. We don't want protectionist government that is just trying to protect one industry, crony capitalism, and all the bad things. What we want is common sense. I hope my colleagues will join me. I thank Senator McCain and Senator Shaheen for their efforts in helping us bring this important resolution for disapproval forward, and I hope we can take a small step forward in this body for good government, eliminating wasteful spending, eliminating duplicative programs, and tell the American people: We are not bottom dwellers. We really get it, and we want to make sure we do the right thing by them. I thank the Presiding Officer.