John Boozman

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be able to complete my remarks and for the Senator from Arizona to follow me.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 103, which was received from the House.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the impact that tax reform is having in my home State of Arkansas. Despite what you may have heard from those who opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including House Minority Leader Pelosi's infamous description of the tax plan's benefits as ``crumbs'' and the passage of the plan as ``the end of the world, Armageddon,'' the economy is responding incredibly well to the changes we made to the Tax Code. I have long believed our economy has struggled under the weight of an outdated, inefficient, and ineffective tax system. Now, businesses are beginning to do the math and are realizing that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will mean more savings. As a result, many have announced they are passing some of these savings on to their employees or will now be seeking to grow and expand operations. As of today, more than 350 companies have announced pay raises, bonuses and/or 401(k) increases, benefiting over 4 million Americans. According to a recent National Federation of Independent Business survey, 32 percent of small businesses believe now is a good time to expand--the highest level ever recorded by this survey. This is happening across the country and in Arkansas. Here are just a few examples of the companies headquartered in Arkansas, with a sizable presence in the State, that are passing along savings to their employees through wage increases, bonuses, and other benefits, are giving to charity, and/or making investments to grow their businesses and better serve customers: BancorpSouth Bank is giving pay increases and/or one-time bonuses to nearly all noncommissioned employees. The investment of over $10 million in 2018 will benefit 96 percent of the company's noncommissioned workforce. Pay increases were effective as of January 1, 2018. Home Bancshares, Inc., of Conway, AR, is distributing a one-time bonus of $500 to more than 850 full-time, tenured employees. Home Bancshares' chairman, John Allison, said ``investing in these individuals is an important step to help support them, their families and the communities in which we operate.'' People's Bank of Magnolia, AR, provided a $500 bonus to employees and contributed $50,000 to its charitable endowment. Little Rock, Arkansas-based Bank of the Ozarks is giving up to $1,200 annual bonuses. Approximately 2,300 employees will be eligible under the plan. Walmart, whose headquarters is located in Bentonville, AR, is a significant economic force not only in our State but nationwide, is increasing starting hourly wage rates in the United States to $11 an hour, expanding maternity and parental leave benefits, and providing one-time cash bonuses of up to $1,000. It also has created a new benefit to assist associates with adoption expenses. Regions Bank is increasing its minimum wage to $15, contributing $40 million to the company's charitable foundation, and increasing the company's capital expenditures budget by approximately $100 million, or 50 percent over the 2017 level. Springdale, AR, is home to Tyson Foods' headquarters. The company recently announced that it is giving bonuses to more than 100,000 employees whose compensation does not include an annual bonus. Eligible full-time team members will receive a bonus of $1,000, and eligible part-time team members will receive $500. In addition, Tyson will use savings resulting from tax reform to improve training and education opportunities for employees, including teaching English as a second language and general education development classes, and it will also be accelerating capital projects. FedEx, whose freight headquarters is located in Arkansas and which employs over 3,500 Arkansans, is investing more than $3.2 billion in growing its business, including raising wages and investing $1.5 billion in pension plans. Finally, UPS is investing $12 billion to expand the company's Smart Logistics Network, and it also made a $5 billion tax-qualified contribution to the company's three UPS-sponsored U.S. pension plans. This represents about $13,000 per participant. The company has more than 2,200 active employees in Arkansas in addition to around 390 retirees who reside in the State. The numbers speak for themselves. Clearly, when Washington helps to create an environment that makes businesses more globally competitive, it benefits Arkansas, and it benefits the entire country. The law is already helping hard-working Arkansans keep more of their money in their own pockets. By nearly doubling the standard deduction, lowering rates, eliminating loopholes, and creating a climate that incentivizes business to boost wages and give employees bonuses as a result of the reduction in the corporate tax rate, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is providing much needed tax relief to Arkansans. Additionally, our Governor, Asa Hutchinson, has instructed the Arkansas Public Service Commission to examine how the new lower tax rates will benefit utility providers in Arkansas. He is encouraging the commission to instruct utilities to pass savings down to ratepayers, which could mean possible lower utility rates for those in the Natural State. That is not all. Arkansas-based companies like ArcBest and Murphy USA are already reaping the benefits of the new tax system with higher revenues and incomes. This is only the beginning. I believe we will continue to see positive trends and reactions to the tax law that will help grow our economy and spur even more investment in Arkansas and across the country. One provision included in the law that I believe can have an enormous impact on average Arkansans is a new incentive for employers to offer paid family leave benefits to their employees. Now employers can offer 12 weeks of paid family leave in exchange for a tax credit. My friend and colleague from Nebraska Senator Fischer fought to get this idea included in the bill. Thanks to her vision and perseverance, families in Arkansas and across the country who most need access to this type of benefit will now have that chance. This is just one more example of tax reform delivering results that will help the middle class. I want to reiterate how well tax reform is working for my State. We are seeing growth, higher wages, and other positive benefits. Employees are getting bigger paychecks and businesses are investing in their workforces and expanding their operations. Those are not ``crumbs.'' It is ``not Armageddon.'' It isn't an attack on working Americans. It is opportunity, it is upward mobility, and it is what Americans deserve. I am proud to have cast my vote for tax reform. Learning about how it is helping our economy and benefiting American families just confirms what we predicted would happen if we made American businesses more competitive and let average individuals and families keep more of what they earn. Moving forward, I am committed to ensuring that the changes we made to the Tax Code help increase economic activity and spur growth, address our national debt, and create jobs. I am confident it will have lasting, positive effects on our economy. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 10 minutes.

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

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. I further ask that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Branch nomination; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. and that all time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on the Branch nomination.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 107, which was received from the House.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, tonight in the State of the Union Address, President Trump will discuss the importance of infrastructure investment. This is an important conversation for the administration to lead because our Nation's infrastructure is in need of an overhaul. Having the support of the administration provides us tremendous opportunity to revamp the way we prioritize and fund our Nation's infrastructure. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I understand the importance of infrastructure investment. Since I came to Congress, I have been a constant advocate for increased investment, particularly for our Nation's water resources. Last Congress, I supported the passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act, as well as a comprehensive highway bill, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. Passing these pieces of legislation was a major step forward, but only a step in the process. There is still more to be done, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to make critical infrastructure investments this Congress. Like many Americans, I am encouraged by the President's commitment to improving our Nation's crumbling infrastructure. Looking at the example set by President Dwight Eisenhower and the establishment of the Interstate Highway System, it is clear that infrastructure investment boosts our economy, creates immediate jobs, and produces decades of economic prosperity and opportunity. Unfortunately, since President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, we have relied on a fix-as-fail approach to our Nation's infrastructure. Not only is this approach more expensive, increasingly causing delays to commerce, but it also poses a risk to public safety. By ensuring that our roads, bridges, and water systems meet an American standard for excellence, we can save many lives. In water infrastructure funding alone, the United States faces a shortfall of over $500 billion, which includes drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and water supply projects. This funding shortage is reflected in the American Society of Civil Engineers' overall grade for America's infrastructure, which is a D-plus. This is not a rural issue or a big city issue. It is not a red State problem or a blue State problem. This is a national emergency, one where we can find bipartisan support. We can, and must, work together to provide all Americans with safe and reliable drinking water and effective wastewater and storm water treatment. Access to safe and clean water is critical to the livelihood of every American. Senator Booker and I am introducing commonsense legislation that will revolutionize the way we invest in needed water infrastructure. The Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now--or SRF WIN--Act takes the best of State revolving funds, SRFs, and combines them with the best of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, better known as WIFIA. The SRF WIN Act creates a significant pot of money within the WIFIA Program that is available only to SRFs. Further, the bill allows State SRFs to bundle their priority drinking water and wastewater projects together and make a single loan request. This dramatically increases the availability of SRF funding to communities across the Nation while substantially reducing the time and related costs for completing projects. Because all 50 State SRFs have a triple A bond rating, they have a very low risk of default, less than one-half of 1 percent. This, combined with the leveraging power of WIFIA, has given the SRF WIN Act the leveraging capacity of an incredible 100 to 1, according to technical assistance provided by the EPA's Office of Water. Simply put, the SRF WIN Act is a critical component to future water infrastructure financing. With a $1 billion investment, the U.S. Government will create over $50 billion in project money. This is not a handout; this is a loan from the Federal Government to the States that will be paid back over 35 years. The SRF WIN Act gives communities the tools they need to help themselves. Instead of waiting decades for funding, communities will be able to invest in their crumbling water infrastructure now. With 35 years to pay back their loan, ratepayers will avoid harm and not see massive rate spikes. What the SRF WIN Act does is simple. It combines the efficiency and trust associated with the SRF with the leveraging power of WIFIA. This legislation makes the process easier and more affordable for States and communities to access Federal water infrastructure funding. I encourage my colleagues who support the SRF, WIFIA, and more funding for water infrastructure projects in rural communities and big cities alike to cosponsor the SRF WIN Act. This has been a monumental effort of bipartisan work. Senator Booker and I have been working for months to meet with everyone in the water industry to ensure that our bill helps people all over the country, in communities both big and small. This bill is the result of months of negotiations, taking the best ideas available to ensure this commonsense, bipartisan legislation will work effectively and efficiently, providing billions in project dollars to communities that have traditionally not had access to these types of funds. I would like to specifically thank the EPA Office of Water, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies for providing us technical assistance to ensure that we preserve the WIFIA and SRF Programs. The fact is, communities need every possible funding tool at their disposal, and this bill is another great tool that will work with the WIFIA and SRF Programs. The SRF WIN Act has strong support from rural and municipal water and wastewater organizations. This landmark legislation also has the support of our Nation's leading construction, engineering, labor, and manufacturing organizations, including the National Rural Water Association, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Ducks Unlimited, the American Public Works Association, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, the Water Systems Council, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Vinyl Institute, the Hydraulic Institute, and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies. Congress needs to do a better job of providing basic public services, such as safe roads, bridges, and an up-to-date water infrastructure system. This is the time to act to make water infrastructure investment a priority. With innovative financing and private sector investment, not only will we be providing Americans with basic water infrastructure, but we will also be creating jobs, keeping commodity and utility prices low, and remaining competitive on the global stage. We can no longer kick the can down the road and ignore our infrastructure problems. It is time for the United States to be realistic about its water problems and start investing in water infrastructure today. I ask my colleagues to join Senator Booker and me in supporting significant new investment in our Nation's water infrastructure and to cosponsor the SRF WIN Act today.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, tonight in the State of the Union Address, President Trump will discuss the importance of infrastructure investment. This is an important conversation for the administration to lead because our Nation's infrastructure is in need of an overhaul. Having the support of the administration provides us tremendous opportunity to revamp the way we prioritize and fund our Nation's infrastructure. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I understand the importance of infrastructure investment. Since I came to Congress, I have been a constant advocate for increased investment, particularly for our Nation's water resources. Last Congress, I supported the passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act, as well as a comprehensive highway bill, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. Passing these pieces of legislation was a major step forward, but only a step in the process. There is still more to be done, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to make critical infrastructure investments this Congress. Like many Americans, I am encouraged by the President's commitment to improving our Nation's crumbling infrastructure. Looking at the example set by President Dwight Eisenhower and the establishment of the Interstate Highway System, it is clear that infrastructure investment boosts our economy, creates immediate jobs, and produces decades of economic prosperity and opportunity. Unfortunately, since President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, we have relied on a fix-as-fail approach to our Nation's infrastructure. Not only is this approach more expensive, increasingly causing delays to commerce, but it also poses a risk to public safety. By ensuring that our roads, bridges, and water systems meet an American standard for excellence, we can save many lives. In water infrastructure funding alone, the United States faces a shortfall of over $500 billion, which includes drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and water supply projects. This funding shortage is reflected in the American Society of Civil Engineers' overall grade for America's infrastructure, which is a D-plus. This is not a rural issue or a big city issue. It is not a red State problem or a blue State problem. This is a national emergency, one where we can find bipartisan support. We can, and must, work together to provide all Americans with safe and reliable drinking water and effective wastewater and storm water treatment. Access to safe and clean water is critical to the livelihood of every American. Senator Booker and I am introducing commonsense legislation that will revolutionize the way we invest in needed water infrastructure. The Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now--or SRF WIN--Act takes the best of State revolving funds, SRFs, and combines them with the best of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, better known as WIFIA. The SRF WIN Act creates a significant pot of money within the WIFIA Program that is available only to SRFs. Further, the bill allows State SRFs to bundle their priority drinking water and wastewater projects together and make a single loan request. This dramatically increases the availability of SRF funding to communities across the Nation while substantially reducing the time and related costs for completing projects. Because all 50 State SRFs have a triple A bond rating, they have a very low risk of default, less than one-half of 1 percent. This, combined with the leveraging power of WIFIA, has given the SRF WIN Act the leveraging capacity of an incredible 100 to 1, according to technical assistance provided by the EPA's Office of Water. Simply put, the SRF WIN Act is a critical component to future water infrastructure financing. With a $1 billion investment, the U.S. Government will create over $50 billion in project money. This is not a handout; this is a loan from the Federal Government to the States that will be paid back over 35 years. The SRF WIN Act gives communities the tools they need to help themselves. Instead of waiting decades for funding, communities will be able to invest in their crumbling water infrastructure now. With 35 years to pay back their loan, ratepayers will avoid harm and not see massive rate spikes. What the SRF WIN Act does is simple. It combines the efficiency and trust associated with the SRF with the leveraging power of WIFIA. This legislation makes the process easier and more affordable for States and communities to access Federal water infrastructure funding. I encourage my colleagues who support the SRF, WIFIA, and more funding for water infrastructure projects in rural communities and big cities alike to cosponsor the SRF WIN Act. This has been a monumental effort of bipartisan work. Senator Booker and I have been working for months to meet with everyone in the water industry to ensure that our bill helps people all over the country, in communities both big and small. This bill is the result of months of negotiations, taking the best ideas available to ensure this commonsense, bipartisan legislation will work effectively and efficiently, providing billions in project dollars to communities that have traditionally not had access to these types of funds. I would like to specifically thank the EPA Office of Water, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies for providing us technical assistance to ensure that we preserve the WIFIA and SRF Programs. The fact is, communities need every possible funding tool at their disposal, and this bill is another great tool that will work with the WIFIA and SRF Programs. The SRF WIN Act has strong support from rural and municipal water and wastewater organizations. This landmark legislation also has the support of our Nation's leading construction, engineering, labor, and manufacturing organizations, including the National Rural Water Association, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Ducks Unlimited, the American Public Works Association, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, the Water Systems Council, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Vinyl Institute, the Hydraulic Institute, and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies. Congress needs to do a better job of providing basic public services, such as safe roads, bridges, and an up-to-date water infrastructure system. This is the time to act to make water infrastructure investment a priority. With innovative financing and private sector investment, not only will we be providing Americans with basic water infrastructure, but we will also be creating jobs, keeping commodity and utility prices low, and remaining competitive on the global stage. We can no longer kick the can down the road and ignore our infrastructure problems. It is time for the United States to be realistic about its water problems and start investing in water infrastructure today. I ask my colleagues to join Senator Booker and me in supporting significant new investment in our Nation's water infrastructure and to cosponsor the SRF WIN Act today.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, I rise to express my support and to highlight the importance of reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP. CHIP expired in September, causing great concern and worry for families and providers who depend on this program to care for our Nation's neediest children. Many States have been operating on reserve funds, which will soon run out. It is time we provide the program with the necessary funding to take care of America's children. I know Arkansas families who rely on the program to provide medical care for their children are pleased with the inclusion of a 6-year reauthorization for CHIP, including in the legislation before this Chamber. This would mark the longest extension for the program since its inception. I thank Chairman Hatch, the original author of CHIP, for his dedication to the health of our Nation's children, and his bipartisan effort with Ranking Member Wyden that brought a 5-year CHIP reauthorization out of the Senate Finance Committee last fall. Approximately, 50,000 children in Arkansas--and nearly 9 million low- income children nationwide--receive healthcare through CHIP. Currently, these children, their families, and providers are living in a cloud of anxious uncertainty. Take for instance this story of a young Arkansan: In Little Rock, a precious little girl marks the milestone of turning 8 months old tomorrow in the care of Arkansas Children's Hospital fighting an infection. She has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and other floors there since the day she turned 2 months old. Her mother has four other children and spends every hour she can at her daughter's bedside. Every one of those hours is an hour spent away from the baby's brothers and sisters, two and a half hours away in Fort Smith. Again, she has other children she is trying to take care of at the present time. In addition to her child's medical condition, her mother is worried because her daughter's care is covered by CHIP. As much as she looks forward to bringing her daughter home, this mother knows that even those supplies she needs to make that happen--the tubes, the medicines, the fluids--all of those are at risk without that coverage. This story highlights the reality so many families are currently facing. Failing to reauthorize this important program would have real, direct, and serious consequences. We must work to ensure these families need not worry every year--or, as of now, months--about continued access to benefits for the health and well-being of their children. We must commit to passing this extension to provide these families peace of mind and stability. Arkansans recognize how important this program is. My office has received significant amounts of inquiries on the issue. Our response has always been the same: Everyone in Congress is working in good faith to find a solution--at least it seemed that way until a few days ago. I would have supported a 5-year reauthorization like the one my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were pushing for, and guess what. We did even better with a 6-year reauthorization attached to the current CR. Now those same Members who had been asking for a 5-year reauthorization just days ago are refusing to support the longest extension of the program since its inception. That is not negotiating in good faith. That is not being part of the solution. That is being part of the problem. Additionally, I continue to be frustrated by this unfortunate new normal of continuing resolutions and stop-gap measures to fund the government year after year. The idea of willingly facilitating a government shutdown is reckless, but, unfortunately, it appears that some of my colleagues prefer stalemate over robust debate. We need to keep the government open and solve our differences through regular order, understanding, and compromise. Governing by hostage and crisis does not fulfill our moral and our constitutional duties to the American people. We must not lose sight of our shared goals and purpose or the impact our decisions here have. We must aim to use the power of our offices for good. Supporting children's healthcare and passing this continuing resolution is certainly a component of that goal. I hope my colleagues remember the story I shared today--and the stories I know they have heard from their constituents--and vote in favor of children's health. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to highlight the positive impacts our historic tax reform law will have on the agricultural community. Agriculture is Arkansas' largest industry by far, adding $16 billion to our economy every year and accounting for approximately one in every six jobs. We are the top rice-producing State in the Nation, No. 2 in the Nation in broiler chicken production, and the third largest producer of catfish in the United States. We could also clothe and shelter ourselves from fiber grown in Arkansas, as we are the third in the Nation in cotton production and the fifth largest softwood lumber- producing State. You could keep going down the list, and you would find Arkansas as one of the Nation's top 10 producers of a number of agricultural commodities. Clearly, ensuring that Washington helps create an economic environment that allows the agricultural industry to thrive is extremely important to my home State of Arkansas. When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, his signature provided much needed tax relief to America's farmers. More than 94 percent of farms are organized as passthrough businesses, which means they are impacted by the same tax provisions as individual filers. Lower tax rates across the board and a 20-percent deduction from their taxable income means immediate savings, which can be reinvested to help grow their operations. Ninety seven percent of the farms in Arkansas are family owned, and the vast majority of them will now be exempt from the estate tax--the death tax. This is a big deal. It will help keep those farms and ranches in the family for generations to come. Finally, farmers and ranchers will be able to expense 100 percent of their capital investments, such as equipment, over the next 4 years. In his address to the Farm Bureau earlier this week, the President called this the ``sleeper'' in the bill. He is right. People don't realize and there hasn't been enough talk about how beneficial this provision will be for our family-run agricultural operations. The substance of the President's Farm Bureau speech tilted heavily toward our efforts to bring stability and predictability to the economy. As we have witnessed over the course of the previous administration, uncertainty is devastating to our economy. There are few industries that are inherently more affected by uncertainty than agriculture. This is why we have taken steps to eliminate some of the punitive, needless regulations that create uncertainty for our farmers and our ranchers. It is also why my colleagues and I on the Agriculture Committee, under the steadfast leadership of Chairman Roberts, are working hard to reauthorize the farm bill. Programs are authorized by the farm bill that are absolutely vital to farmers, ranchers, and consumers. These programs will provide more certainty in rural America to address the challenges ahead. Finally, it is why we took great care to ensure that the agricultural industry will see the benefits of tax reform. Establishing a tax code that works for our farmers and ranchers, as opposed to against them, is vital to their ability to plan for the future and invigorate our rural communities. I am proud of our efforts to pass this landmark tax reform law, and I am confident it will have lasting, positive effects for our economy. With that, I yield back. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. President. I have to add, coming from Arkansas, that I wish to congratulate the Southeast Conference for being the championship teams. It is going to be a great game.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and pay tribute to the exceptional role that pump manufacturers have played in improving the delivery of water to American homes, American industry, and American agriculture over the past century. Today pump systems touch the lives of every American, and the Hydraulic Institute plays a central role in developing the policies and standards needed for safe, reliable, and efficient pump operations. On April 18, 1917, the Nation's leading pump manufacturers met in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago for the purpose of forming a trade association that would ``promote friendship and cooperation among manufacturers in improving overall pump performance.'' Since this auspicious gathering of pump manufacturers, government agencies have relied on the Hydraulic Institute to provide the technical expertise required to set pump standards that reflect the evolving priorities of society. In recent years, energy efficiency has emerged as a national priority, and the Hydraulic Institute has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Energy to improve the efficiency of pumping systems. These systems now account for over 20 percent of domestic electrical energy use and the standards, laboratory testing, and labeling advanced by the Hydraulic Institute will ultimately save consumers and businesses billions of dollars. Pumping systems protect our communities from flooding and fires, deliver drinking water to our homes, irrigate our farms, and bring water and fuel to American manufacturers. The Hydraulic Institute works closely with Congress to ensure that the laws governing energy, water, and infrastructure reflect the prominence of pumping systems in the management of these essential resources. I would like to specifically applaud the Hydraulic Institute for bringing an important perspective to congressional deliberations on how to thoughtfully increase investment in our Nation's critical water infrastructure. It is with sincere admiration that I stand today to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and to wish this exceptional organization continued success in developing policies and advancing standards that improve the lives of every American.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, as co-chair of the Air Force Caucus, I rise to pay tribute to Lt. Gen. Michael C. Short, who served this country faithfully for over 51 years, 35 years as an Air Force fighter pilot and another 16 years as an Air Force and joint senior mentor to leaders and future leaders of our military. Lieutenant General Short passed away on 27 October after a battle with cancer, and for those who knew him, it is the only battle he ever lost. Born in Princeton, NJ, on 24 February 1944, Lieutenant General Short was the only child of Janet MacDonald Short and Charles Francis Short. He grew up in a military family and lived in New Jersey, North Carolina, Japan, Kentucky, Mississippi, and France. Lieutenant General Short's father, Charles, was a paratrooper and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. When Lieutenant General Short was born, his father was stationed in England preparing for the D-Day invasion. On 6 June 1944, Charles Short jumped into occupied France as a member of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate Europe from Nazi Germany. As most military children, Lieutenant General Short attended several schools growing up and excelled athletically and academically at every one. He attended high school in France, participating on his school's football, basketball and baseball teams, and graduating at the top of his class. Lieutenant General Short applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, entering as a basic cadet on 26 June 1961. In February 1965, then-Cadet First Class Short met the love of his life, Virginia Suhonen, a fourth-grade school teacher, in Manitou Springs, CO. Lieutenant General Short graduated the Air Force Academy on 6 June 1965 and married Jini on 14 August 1965, and together, they began an incredible journey of partnership and selfless service to each other and our Nation that lasted 52 years. Their first of 23 assignments began at Webb Air Force Base in Texas, where he attended pilot training. Follow-on assignments included Arizona, South Vietnam, Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, Thailand, Philippines, the Pentagon, North Carolina, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Germany, and Italy. Along the way, they grew their family, with Jini giving birth to a son, Christopher, and daughter, Jennifer. They lovingly welcomed in their daughter-in-law Brooke and son-in-law Scott, and celebrated the birth of five grandchildren, Emily, Rachel, Sara, Jacob, and Katie. Of course, no family is complete without its pets and those who knew the Shorts will always remember Hobo, Bogie, and Muppet. Lieutenant General Short understood the importance of family and was a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather. He was also an airmen's airman. Lieutenant General Short exemplified what the Nation should demand of its military members and senior leaders. He was a master in the profession of arms, a master of employing the military tool of national power, and a master instructor to generations of officers who continue to follow him and keep his legacy alive in service to our Nation. Upon earning his silver wings, he began a flying career focused on fighter aviation. He amassed over 4,600 flying hours and flew the F-4C, F-4D, F-4E, RF-4C, F-102, F-106, A-7, F-117, A-10, F-15E, and F-16. He flew 276 combat missions over Vietnam in the F-4, flew and commanded combat missions during Desert Storm in the F-15E, and directed over 35,000 combat missions during Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia. In 1969, then-Captain Short, an F-4C pilot, was awarded the Silver Star for courageous action in Vietnam. General Short was enroute to a target in North Vietnam when he was diverted to support an F-105 pilot that was shot down, had ejected, and was in the water off the coast of North Vietnam. He was tasked to take out the antiaircraft artillery sites that had shot down the F-105 so they could bring in the rescue aircraft. Both he and his wingman were hit multiple times by antiaircraft artillery but were able to make it back to base safety after delivering all their rockets on target, knocking out the gun sites, and enabling the rescue of the downed F-105 pilot. In 1986, then-Colonel Short was hand-picked to be the operations group commander of the 4450th Tactical Group at Nellis Air Force Base, which operated the highly classified F-117A stealth fighter. He soloed in the F-117A on 14 January 1986, Bandit 199, and commanded the group until 1988. In 1995, Lieutenant General Short was the chief of staff to the commander of NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, during Operation Deliberate Force, NATO's first air campaign, that brought the war in Bosnian-Herzegovina to an end. The following year, as the director of operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, he was responsible for the deployment and sustainment of NATO forces and their equipment in Bosnia-Herzegovina during and after Operation Joint Endeavour. Gen George Joulwan, the then-Supreme Commander Europe, said, ``He did the planning for the bombing of Bosnia in 1995 and then, when we put the force into Bosnia, he was critical coordinating the air transport. He was impressive because he was not only professional but innovative--this was all new stuff'' In 1998, Lieutenant General Short returned to Naples, Italy, now as the commander NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, leading the 19- member NATO alliance and directing all air operations in southern Europe. It was during this time our Nation called on General Short's expertise in the employment of military power to try and achieve peace. Lieutenant General Short, who always left political discussions to others, was directed to travel with Richard Holbrooke to Belgrade, Serbia, to be part of negotiations with Federal Republic of Yugoslavian President Slobadan Milosevic. During the meeting, President Milosevic leaned forward and said to Lieutenant General Short, ``So, you are the man who is going to bomb me.'' Lieutenant General Short replied, ``Well, I hope that won't be the case. I have a plan to propose to your generals that will prevent your country from being bombed, but in essence, you're right. I have U-2s in one hand and B-52s in the other, and the choice is up to you.'' His statement broke the tension, and the discussions went on from there. The negotiations successfully postponed the war, but on 24 March 1999, Lieutenant General Short was directed to begin air operations against Yugoslavia. He successfully executed Operation Allied Force, a 78-day NATO bombing effort to stop the Serbian ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Kosovo. Lieutenant General Short received a bachelor of science degree from the Air Force Academy, a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, was a distinguished graduate of Air Command and Staff College and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oakleaf cluster, the AF Distinguished Service Medal with one oakleaf cluster, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oakleaf cluster, and the Air Medal with fourteen oakleaf clusters. In 1999, he was presented the Air Force Association's highest honor to a military member in the field of national security, the H.H. Arnold Award for commanding the air campaign during Operation Allied Force. Lieutenant General Short retired on 1 July 2000 and began 16 years of work as an Air Force and joint senior mentor focusing on the command and control of airpower. Lieutenant General Short was known and respected by servicemembers from all services in the United States, as well as our allies. He always gave clear, hard-hitting advice, passing on his knowledge of things he did right and things he did wrong. He traveled to the Republic of Korea, Qatar, and many other locations to advise, teach and train airmen of all ranks in the art of ``operational'' level warfare. Long after the senior mentor ranks thinned, due to intense scrutiny and significant pay cuts, Lieutenant General Short stuck with the program because it was his passion. Lieutenant General Short touched many lives as evidenced by comments written about him by those who knew and served with him: ``He was a father, a husband, a grandfather and what made it all work was his complete devotion to those he loved and commanded. It was an honor to serve alongside him `` ``High standards, demanding, but fair. You knew where the bar was and he challenged you to exceed it. He pushed me to limits I did not know I could reach.'' ``He was a no-nonsense leader who let his Commanders command. He was also a hands-on mentor who touched thousands; admired by all and will be greatly missed.'' ``A superb officer, great warrior and outstanding teacher.'' ``A great leader . . . as the Air Boss for Operation Allied Force he provided clear guidance and support for me and the men and women in my deployed Wing . . . I consider it a high honor to have served under him in combat!'' ``He really was the kind of leader that made you want to work for the organization and its goals. His name always comes up when we talk about the good men in those days.'' ``General Mike Short was a great leader and Patriot. He was a mentor and more importantly a friend. Mike loved his Family and his Country . . . he will be missed.'' ``He did a superb job in a very tough situation. With leadership and top cover like that, the U.S. Air Force is unstoppable.'' ``I will miss your words as they were always on target and well understood. Rolling a nickel on the grass in your remembrance, sir.'' I extend my heartfelt thanks to Lt. Gen. Mike Short for his selfless service to this Nation, to his wife, Jini, and to his children, Chris and Jenn, and their families, for a lifetime of service to this Nation. Words cannot describe the extraordinary character of Lieutenant General Short, his accomplishments, or the lasting impact he will have on generations of service members. His personal accomplishments live on through the examples set by his son and daughter, two highly capable and highly respected Air Force senior officers. My prayers are with his family, and I pray the ``Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.''

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the commissioning of the USS Little Rock, a Freedom-class littoral combat ship. I was proud to celebrate this historic occasion with all who gathered for the commissioning in Buffalo, NY, this past weekend. It is an honor to have one of the Navy's more versatile warships named after our State's capital city. The USS Little Rock's logo features one of the most recognizable images associated with Arkansas-- the Razorback. The University of Arkansas football team was given the nickname after the head coach at the time said the team played like a bunch of razorback hogs. I am confident this crew, known as the Warhawgs, will carry on that same work ethic. It has been more than four decades since the Navy had a ship named after the city of Little Rock, and we are thrilled that it will again be represented in the Navy's fleet. Saturday marked the first time in the history of the Navy that a ship was commissioned alongside her namesake. This special occasion brought together members of the original USS Little Rock and those like LT Robert Dyer from Mountainburg, AK, who is a member of the current crew. During its time as a light cruiser and then as a guided missile cruiser, the original USS Little Rock and its crew were vital to defeating the growing threats of its time. The new USS Little Rock is just as critical to our Navy's sea power. This ship and the strength and resolve of the Warhawg crew are the future of the Navy, offering unique capabilities to defend against evolving threats around the globe. There are things this Chamber and our colleagues in the House of Representatives can do to ensure that the Navy has the resources to stay ahead of the threats our adversaries pose to us and our allies, and that begins with passing individual appropriations bills. As Congress continues discussions for fiscal year 2018 funding, it serves as a reminder that continuing resolutions are an inefficient method to keep the government operating. We should be approving individual appropriations bills instead of relying on continuing resolutions. The starts and stops in the budgeting process impact the Defense Department and the Navy significantly. They certainly slow down the already long timetable to achieve the goal of a 355-ship fleet. Continuing resolutions negatively impact our military ratings and take our eyes off the focus of eliminating wasteful spending. They hinder our Navy's leaders' ability to plan and purchase equipment in support of its missions. They restrict the Navy from starting new programs or eliminating old and unneeded ones. Earlier this month, Navy Secretary Spencer said the service wasted $4 billion since 2011 because of continuing resolutions. This could have gone a long way toward growing our fleet. Instead, it is gone. A continuing resolution means that the Navy is operating on the previous year's budget level and last year's priorities. It means delays in shipbuilding and ship repair. It also means reducing training opportunities, flying hours, and steaming days. That forces more requirements onto the operational fleet, which is already stretched thin after decades of constant worldwide deployment. Secretary of Defense James Mattis has said that the longer the continuing resolution, the greater the consequences for our force. Funding the government is the basic responsibility of Washington. It is an obligation that my colleagues and I on the Senate Appropriations Committee take very seriously as we craft the appropriations bills, set priorities, and make difficult decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars. We must return to a process in which we debate and pass annual spending bills in order to provide much needed predictability to our military leaders, as well as other agencies of government. We can make this happen by returning to regular order and passing individual appropriations bills. I can't say that enough. We owe it to our servicemembers, their families, and all Americans. We owe it to the crew of the USS Little Rock. Admittedly, Little Rock is not the first place most people think of when you mention the Navy. Our State doesn't border an ocean. But now the State capital will once again have a place on the high seas. This is a tremendous honor for the city of Little Rock, and I know the ship and its crew will make Arkansas proud. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate Luke and Deedee Alston of Polk County. The Alstons were recently named the 2017 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. The owners of Holly Springs Homestead--a cattle, poultry and agritourism farm near Mena, AR--Luke and Deedee, along with their sons Ryan and Drey, are fifth-generation farmers who are working the land as their parents and grandparents did before them. Holly Springs Homestead is an Arkansas Century Farm that was established in 1897 and has been in operation for 120 years. The Alstons took a leap of faith a few years ago, leaving corporate jobs to return to the family farm full-time. Luke proudly says that he was born to farm, and it is a lifelong dream to look over the hood of a tractor every day. Through hard work and determination, the Alstons are enjoying tremendous success not only commercially but also in their efforts to educate visitors to the homestead about agriculture and the many reasons it is so important to our State's past and future. As 2017 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, Luke and Deedee will represent Arkansas well and use this award as a platform to promote farming and agriculture and foster respect for all the farmers, ranchers, and producers who contribute so much to our economy and food supply. They will also compete for the honor of being named the 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year in Moultrie, GA. I wish the Alstons good luck in that competition and once again congratulate them on all their hard work that has culminated in this well-deserved honor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to former U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Eisele who passed away on Sunday, November 26, at the age of 94. Judge Eisele was a native of Hot Springs, AR. He served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II and then went on to attend Harvard Law School. Eisele then came back to Arkansas to practice law in Hot Springs and Little Rock. When Winthrop Rockefeller ran for Governor in 1966, Eisele became a legal adviser to his campaign and then to Governor Rockefeller during his administration. Rockefeller recommended to President Richard Nixon that Eisele be appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Eisele was appointed to the position in 1970 and served on the bench for 41 years, including as chief judge from 1975 to 1991. Judge Eisele was widely respected by his legal peers and was known by lawyers who argued cases before him for his thoughtful approach in the courtroom. An intelligent, passionate, humorous, and reverent man, Judge Eisele left a significant judicial legacy when he retired from the court in 2011. His colleagues, former law clerks, and others he impacted all fondly reflect on and remember his professionalism, integrity, wisdom, and demeanor. To understand how highly regarded he was, we need look no further than the establishment of the G. Thomas Eisele Endowment for the Study of the History of the United States Federal Courts in Arkansas at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I am grateful for the influence that Judge Eisele had on our State, country, and judicial system during his extraordinary career. I also want to acknowledge and thank him for his service in the military as part of America's Greatest Generation. He will certainly be missed, but I hope his loved ones take comfort in his incredible legacy and life well-lived.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the courageous service and selfless sacrifice of our Nation's veterans. Honoring our veterans is one of the greatest privileges I have as a Senator, which is why I often attend celebrations in Arkansas to acknowledge and salute some of the brave men and women who have served our Nation in uniform. I recently had the pleasure to recognize the service and valor of 15 Arkansas veterans during the Arkansas Military Veterans' Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The class of 2017 inductees comes from all across Arkansas. These veterans served in conflicts ranging from World War II through the War on Terror. Together, they have earned some of our Nation's most prestigious honors and commendations, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the Silver Star Medal for gallantry. I also had the opportunity to present three Arkansas veterans with the medals and commendations they had earned when I attended the Veterans Day celebration in Fort Smith, AR. I am proud of the work that we do to obtain the service medals and recognition that these heroes have earned. We have also worked hard to honor the efforts of Mr. Errol Severe, of Eureka Springs, AR, as he strives to preserve and promote the role of joint service aviation cadets in the 20th century. Mr. Severe, an Air Force veteran, operates the Aviation Cadet Museum, which is the only museum in the United States that exists exclusively to celebrate the teamwork, collaboration, patriotism, and courage of the individuals who trained for and fought in the national aviation effort from 1917 to 1965. As we recognize our veterans and honor the sacrifice and heroism of those who have been called to serve our Nation in uniform, we must recommit ourselves to fighting on their behalf. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am committed to honoring the promise made to our veterans. We have made tremendous progress during this Congress. In June, President Trump signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. This strengthens accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs by allowing the VA to dismiss bad employees while protecting those who expose wrongdoing. We are also continuing to improve the Choice Act. Earlier this year, we hosted listening sessions with Arkansas veterans to obtain their input on the strengths and the weaknesses of the program, as Congress continues to expand access to adequate healthcare options for veterans. In addition, we enhanced the post-9/11 GI bill benefits to increase educational opportunities. I am proud to have played a role in crafting this law, along with my colleague from Oregon, Senator Wyden. I am pleased that he can join me on the floor to recognize the importance of the provision we have championed for several years to fix an oversight that prevented combat-injured members of the National Guard and Reserve from receiving the same GI bill benefits as Active-Duty military members. This is a great example of Senators on both sides of the aisle working together to get things done. Fixing this clear oversight in the law that unfairly penalized wounded and injured servicemembers and kept them from accruing educational benefits they rightly earned while in recovery was a priority for both of us because these men and women deserved better. To correct this injustice, we introduced legislation earlier this year, as well as in the last Congress, and I am pleased that it was included in the comprehensive GI reform bill that was signed into law this summer. While we have made improvements, there is still more that needs to be done, including the expansion of VA services for female veterans. I encourage my colleagues to support the Deborah Sampson Act to address these concerns, and I urge VA Secretary Shulkin to implement reforms written in the bill that don't require congressional action. Our work must continue. Today, my colleague from Indiana, Senator Donnelly, and I will introduce legislation to allow veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam war era the opportunity to prove toxic exposure in order to qualify for VA benefits. Let me take one more opportunity to thank our veterans and their families. This country made a promise to our veterans that we must live up to, and I am proud to be able to work for them to ensure that we follow through with our commitment. The men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of our country deserve our undying gratitude. They also deserve our support when they transition back into civilian life, which is why we must support efforts to improve their health, their ability to further their education needs, and to pursue their dreams, just as they fought to make that possible for their fellow Americans. That sentiment is shared throughout this Chamber. For all of our disagreements in Washington, we truly do come together in support of our veterans. That is one area of agreement. I thank Senator Wyden for his leadership to ensure equal treatment of education benefits for wounded guardsmen and reservists. I was very proud to work with him in support of this efforts, and I look forward to working with him in the future. Our guardsmen and reservists are called to defend and protect our Nation, exactly like Active-Duty members. So it is only right that they receive the same GI bill benefits. I yield the floor.