John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor after Speaker Pelosi has ended her delay of the Senate impeachment trial today. For the past month, the American people have watched the Speaker, I believe, make a spectacle of herself. They talked about the need to pass this in a way that was rushed, that was partisan, that was sloppy, but they had to get it done. Their key word from the Speaker and from so many in the House was ``urgency.'' We have to get this done, they said--urgency, urgency, urgency. So they took the vote in the House before Christmas. Then the Speaker decided to sit on this for 4 long weeks. She blocked the moving of the articles from the House to the Senate by refusing to send over the necessary papers. In the end, the American people, including key Members of the Democrats in the Senate, realized that this was just a political stunt. Even the Senate Democrats lost patience with her cynical scheming. The American people saw what this was. A Harvard-Harris poll cites that 56 percent of Americans say that what she was doing was just a political stunt. We are talking about the impeachment of the President of the United States, but it was just a political stunt. She should have done her job. She should have delivered the articles in a timely manner. Nevertheless, the Senate Republicans are ready to move forward today. We have the majority's support to adopt the rules that were used in the impeachment trial of President Clinton. President Trump deserves the same treatment. In 1999, all 100 Senators--all 100--including the Democratic leader, Senator Schumer, voted for these rules, and 77 percent of the American public says: Hey, if it is good enough for Clinton, we ought to do the same thing today. So, after making his own, unreasonable demands for weeks, Senator Schumer now says he is ready to begin the trial. The truth is that the Democrats have already made a mockery of impeachment. What they really want is a show trial, not a fair trial, and that is what happened in the House of Representatives. It was all for show. What do I mean by that? Let's take a look at what happened in the House. First of all, their hearings were in secret, behind closed doors, in the basement of the Capitol. Then they selectively released misleading information. They denied the President due process, and they denied the President the opportunity to face his accusers and to face the whistleblower. Even though there was immediate interest and, at first, they said ``Oh, the whistleblower will testify,'' they then said ``No, no, no. We don't want you to even know who the whistleblower is or what reason or personal issues related to the whistleblower may have brought forth the reason for that person to come forward. We don't want you to know where the whistleblower's alliances may lie.'' The Democrats have always known they cannot remove this President. Their real agenda is the 2020 Presidential election and the Senate elections. Thankfully, the Democrats' 3-year-long partisan impeachment effort--their goal being to impeach from day No. 1--is finally nearing an end. It was from day No. 1. We saw Elizabeth Warren, candidate for President, on the debate stage last night. Yet, in December of 2016, after Donald Trump had been elected but before he had even been sworn in, she had held a press conference and had talked about impeaching him. On the day the President took the oath of office, there was a headline in the Washington Post that read: ``The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun.'' Here we are now, over 3 years since election day of 2016, and we are getting ready to have votes in Iowa in less than 3 weeks. So this isn't really about trying to remove President Trump from office; it is about trying to influence the vote of 2020. With voting in Iowa being 3 weeks away and the general election's not being far away--November 3--voters, not Congress, are going to decide whether to keep President Trump in office. The President has a terrific record to stand on. There have been 7 million new jobs created since he has been elected. The President has cut taxes and gutted regulations that have been punishing to the economy. There have been trade deals. He is signing one with China today, and there are additional trade deals. We are going to pass the USMCA tomorrow. There is a new trade deal with Japan. Unemployment is at an all-time low. There is a 50-year low in unemployment in this country, and wages are going up. It is time for the Democrats to stop wasting the time of the American people. There are jobs that need to be done. Congress needs to get its job done, which is to focus on the issues that the American public care about--roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, infrastructure. There is key legislation we need to be advancing, like lowering the costs of prescription drugs--helping people get insulin that is cheaper for them. We need to help those families. We need to secure the border. That is what is going on. To think that we are going to spend the amount of time that we are going to spend on impeachment as a result of what the House has been doing and the Democrats have been doing since day No. 1 is a misuse of taxpayer money and is a misuse of Congress's time to do the job that we were elected to do--to help the American people. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to engage in a colloquy with my friend and colleague, the Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Enzi.

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

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today to mark another major milestone for the landmark U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. This morning, Madam President, with you in the committee in voting, the Environment and Public Works Committee overwhelmingly passed the USMCA. With the approval of our committee, the USMCA is now one step closer to final passage in the Senate. We all know that it isn't perfect, but, still, it is an important deal that benefits all Americans. Passing this deal provides much needed certainty for America's manufacturers. Our ranchers and our farmers--certainly, in Wyoming but across the breadbasket of the country and the Rocky Mountain West--are counting on it as well. Americans have waited patiently now for over a year. Speaker Pelosi was the roadblock and held this hostage for an extended period of time. She finally allowed the House to vote on it. Now the Senate is working to move this critical piece of legislation forward and to the President. Passing USMCA will start the next chapter in the American economic success story. The deal is going to increase our gross domestic product by $70 billion. Above all, it is a win for American workers. It is going to create 180,000 U.S. jobs, and you know that is just the start. Already, our strong, healthy, and growing economy has been setting records across the board. It is thanks to Republican pro-growth policies. That is what we look to and point to when we take a look at the record job growth we have had since President Trump has taken office. In just 3 years, we have created over 7 million new jobs in America. The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low. It is astonishing. Wage growth is the fastest it has been in a decade, especially benefiting lower income workers. Everyone is better off with this growing economy. There is still some untapped potential, and we need to unlock it now. My home State of Wyoming is poised to reap huge benefits not only from USMCA; our State has much to gain from new trade agreements with China and with Japan as well. The China trade agreement is scheduled to be signed tomorrow and Japan on January 1. Together, these America- first trade deals mean expanded access to export markets. Wyoming farmers and ranchers are very eager to seize these opportunities for future growth. I would just say, as I conclude, that here is the bottom line. Passing USMCA means more jobs, and it means economic growth. It means more certainty and more stability for our job creators. It means more opportunity and more prosperity for America's working families. That is the real measure of this. It is time now for the Senate to pass the USMCA. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, we have here a picture of Jerry Brown--Jeralyn Joy Brown--age 89, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis, WY. She was surrounded by her loving family. For many years, Jerry was a dominant force in Wyoming. For the last 12 years, she was the single most influential voice with the Wyoming Senate delegation. She is my wife Bobbi's mom. Yet Senator Enzi knew her long before I did. Senator Enzi.

Mr. BARRASSO. I thank Senator Enzi. She was born May 29, 1930, in Casper, WY--the youngest of eight children--to the Dodge family. As Senator Enzi talked about building the dam in the Thermopolis area, the family lived in Alcova during the construction of the dams and the reservoirs in that area before moving to Thermopolis, where the family owned and ran the Wigwam Bakery. They had the best bread, doughnuts, and anything you could ever imagine. She worked a number of places--certainly at the family bakery, but also she worked at the First National Bank. Jerry always volunteered to take the mail from the bank to the post office because she had caught the eye of a young postal employee, Bob Brown. The two were married on September 18 in 1949, and as the Senator knows, they recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. As newlyweds, Bob was sent to Korea. He had been in World War II. He was sent with a whole group from the basin area of Wyoming, as part of the National Guard, to Korea. They first went to Fort Lewis, WA, and Jerry followed. To pay her way, she had to pick filbert nuts. She was telling me at Christmas the size of the bag that they had to fill with these filbert nuts before they got any pay. Well, it was a full day's work, so the lessons she taught Mr. Enzi about hard work, she knew it personally. She was a hard worker. She worked at the bakery. She also worked for Dr. Nels Vicklund, Vicklund Pharmacy, in Hot Springs County. She worked for the Hot Springs County treasurer's office. Her really great joy was when she owned and operated her own store in downtown Thermopolis called Country Charm. As the Senator knows, she was dedicated to her children, Bobbi and Mike, and adored her granddaughter, Hadley. She taught them to work hard, to be kind, and to always do their best. She was a talented crafter, she enjoyed playing bridge, and she was a collector. She collected Santa Clauses, she collected chickens and pictures of chickens, and she collected rocks from around the world. No matter where I went, I needed to bring back a rock for Jerry. She also, as the gentleman knows, collected friends and memories. She had an encyclopedic memory of Wyoming names, Wyoming places, and Wyoming relationships--who was married to whom and whose cousin was who. She rarely left anywhere without a hug and really loved being everyone's favorite Aunt Jerry. She was also an avid reader--and an NBA fan, of all things. She loved God, loved America, and loved our flag. She was a longtime member of the Community Federated Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, and, as we were talking about in the cloakroom, she was State president of PEO. Jerry Brown dedicated her life to her family, to her faith, and to her friends. She was committed to her church and her community. She had a well-deserved reputation for being a joiner, a goer, and a doer. We will celebrate her life on Saturday, January 18, in Thermopolis at the Community Federated Church, and we miss her dearly. May she rest in peace. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today following the U.S. airstrike in Iraq, the airstrike that killed Iranian's terrorist mastermind. I fully support President Trump's decision. As Commander in Chief, I believe he had an obligation to do what he did to act when American lives were at stake. With the death of Iran's General Soleimani, the American people and people around the world are much safer. This general was an emboldened, blood-thirsty terrorist. He was a killer. He has the blood of countless people around the world on his hands. In the last 2 months, we have seen 11 attacks--11 attacks--on U.S. forces and bases, including the killing of an American citizen. He became bolder and more aggressive in both his actions and his ambitions, and he was stepping up his attacks on Americans. In fact, General Soleimani was at war with the United States his entire career, and it was a military career. He was the commander of Iran's terrorist network. In recent months, we watched as he personally directed brazen attacks on our Embassy and our personnel in Iraq. We knew that more attacks were coming, so the United States took action. Soleimani's death makes America safer in the long run. Taking out this war criminal will help us avoid war in the future. Let me be clear: I don't want war with Iran. The United States does not want war with Iran, but we know that appeasement does not work. The Obama administration's strategy of wishful thinking failed. Soleimani's terrorist network was made more powerful by U.S. money. The Obama administration gave billions and billions of U.S. dollars as part of that Iran nuclear deal. What did they do with the money? They used the money to support terrorists around the world. Without a doubt, appeasement brought only failure. It made Iran stronger, and it hurt the United States and our allies. We know that the winning strategy is peace through strength. We knew it through Ronald Reagan, and we know it today. Already, U.S. sanctions on Iran have been crushing and crippling. We must continue President Trump's maximum-pressure campaign. Now Iran knows the United States means what it says. We are prepared for retaliations, should they come. This past weekend, Joe Biden actually said that Iran is in the driver's seat. Iran is not in the driver's seat; Iran is in the center of the bull's-eye. U.S. forces will respond. We will respond to any future attacks on Americans or Americans' safety, and we will do it swiftly and with a punishing response. It will be a grave mistake for Iran to further escalate tensions. Instead, what Iran ought to do is dial down its aggressive nature and posture. The facts are these: General Soleimani was a blood-thirty terrorist. He had the blood of innocent civilians on his hands, and he would have killed many more if given the chance. This general spent his entire career at war with the United States. He was responsible for the deaths of American soldiers--hundreds of deaths with IEDs--and for the maiming of American soldiers with roadside bombs. Thousands of Americans have been permanently disabled because of him. Thankfully, the general's 20-year reign of terror has now ended, and there is broad condemnation all around the world over the mass destruction and the death that he caused. It is now time for Iran to take a step back, away from nuclear weapons, away from terrorism, away from aggressions, and to come to the table. It is time for them to discuss peace. Thank you. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today to mark the 75th anniversary of the epic Battle of the Bulge. It was an incredible battle in World War II. To quote British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, this was ``the greatest American battle of the war.'' It was an incredible privilege to join veterans this past weekend at the 75th anniversary ceremonies in Luxembourg and Belgium. Remember, it was 75 years ago. The youngest among these veterans, if they went into the service at the age of 18, would, as of today, be 93 years old. The World War II Memorial in Washington pays special tribute to the 16 million Americans who served and especially to the 400,000 who gave their lives for our freedom. There are two flagpoles at that memorial, and at the base of these flagpoles are the words ``Americans came to liberate, not to conquer, to restore freedom and to end tyranny.'' In winning World War II, this generation gave their all to ensure that we continue to live in freedom. These heroes didn't return home until the war was over. This weekend, we recognized a number of veterans who are still with us who helped win the pivotal Battle of the Bulge. For these soldiers, the brutality of the battle came in the bitter cold of winter. They battled the elements--wet snow, intense cold, and freezing fog. Every one of them suffered from hyperthermia, trench foot, frostbite, and illness. They shivered in their foxholes. They shivered from frigid conditions and maybe some from fright. I speak with deep appreciation and admiration and awe for their efforts, their excellence, and their remarkable endurance. The battle began on December 16, 1944. That is when Germany launched a surprise attack on the Allied forces in Europe. The Allied troops were generally outnumbered by more than three to one. In addition to the harsh weather, they faced treacherous terrain. Still, GEN Dwight David Eisenhower spoke with confidence. He said: ``United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will with God's help go forward to our greatest victory.'' The Germans sought to divide and destroy the Allies, but it was the Allies who ultimately crushed the German Army. The Bulge was one of the most punishing battles in the history of the U.S. military. Most of the 650,000 Allied troops were Americans. From December 16, 1944, to January 29, 1945, the Americans suffered 75,482 casualties; 8,407 were killed. The brave soldiers who fought in this brutal battle saved the free world. Every soldier was a hero, and every soldier has a story to tell. My father, CPL John Barrasso, was one of those heroes. He reported to duty to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1941, 4 days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He didn't return home for 4 years. He was a gun crewman in the 108th Field Artillery Battalion of the 28th Infantry Division. He wore on his arm the red keystone patch. The Germans called the patch the Bloody Bucket, referring to the ferocity of its fighters. He was one who landed at Omaha Beach, but he was always clear to point out that he wasn't there on that very first day. That is how humble these men are. He landed in Normandy in July of 1944. They beat back the German Army through France and then into the fiercest battle of them all. In combat for nearly 200 days, they fought against 45 of the 90 German Army divisions. He was awarded five Bronze Stars. I have with me my dad's dog tags from World War II, along with his military prayer book. On the front it says ``My Military Missal.'' On the back cover is a rosary, and there is a cross, as well as the beads, and you could work your way through the beads in your hand in your pocket in a foxhole, praying the rosary, as many of them did. I would point out that these beads are very well worn. My father was a man who always put his family, his faith, and his country first. On this, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we honor the heroic and selfless efforts of our Allied forces. Their triumph over evil speaks to the core strengths of courage, character, and commitment. We will forever give thanks for all of our World War II veterans and their families. We will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. And we will always remember the valiant Allied forces who saved the free world. In closing, I want to wish everyone--especially our dedicated men and women in uniform--a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Mary Eileen Manning, a State Department fellow in Senator Sullivan's office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the Congress.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the rollcall vote scheduled to begin at 4:15 begin at 4:05 p.m., immediately.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the Senate is considering the nomination of Aurelia Skipwith to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency needs Senate-confirmed leadership in place, and Ms. Skipwith is well qualified to serve as the Director. She has a degree in biology from Howard University, a degree in molecular genetics from Purdue University, and a law degree from the University of Kentucky. For almost 3 years, Ms. Skipwith has served as the Department of the Interior's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. At her nomination hearing, Ms. Skipwith was introduced by Democratic Congressman William Lacy Clay, of Missouri. He said Ms. Skipwith was ``one of the most talented, hardest working and driven persons that I have ever known.'' I encourage every Senator to support her nomination. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, together with Senator Carper, I rise today to recognize Carolyn Edwards for her distinguished career and significant accomplishments at the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA. After 46 years of exceptional Federal service, Carolyn is retiring from FHWA on January 3, 2020. She is a dedicated public servant recognized as an unparalleled national expert on Federal Highway Programs and the highway trust fund. Through her technical assistance to Congress and her policy advice to departmental and agency officials, Carolyn has provided an invaluable contribution to the programs that support our Nation's roads and bridges. She has helped to shape not only these critical highway programs, but also, as colleague and mentor, she has shaped and guided a generation of highway policy experts. Her work will have a lasting legacy for many years to come. Carolyn's entire 46-year Federal career has been with the U.S. Department of Transportation, USDOT--44 of these with FHWA. To put Carolyn's remarkable public service longevity in perspective, FHWA was formed in 1966, only 7 years prior to her arrival. She joined FHWA in 1973 as an economist. Over the ensuing four and a half decades, she has served in a range of high-level analytical and leadership positions, including positions in FHWA's Office of Highway Policy Information and Office of Legislative Affairs and Policy Communications. She also worked in the Office of the Secretary's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs with a portfolio that covered FHWA programs. Carolyn is currently a member of FHWA's Legislative Analysis Team, where she serves as the authoritative expert on a wide range of highway-related topics, including Federal highway legislation, the highway trust fund, and the operations of the Federal-aid highway program. Throughout her successful and impressive career, she has been a ``go-to reference'' on these topics for both agency and departmental leaders and staff. Among her many exemplary accomplishments, Carolyn has been in the development and implementation of every Federal surface transportation bill since the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century--TEA-21-- was enacted in 1998. Additionally, she has also been a recipient of several prestigious honors and awards. Carolyn has been recognized with a Secretary's Team Award, two Secretarial Awards for Partnering for Excellence, and multiple FHWA Superior Achievement Awards, FHWA's highest honor award. Carolyn exemplifies the highest standards of public service and embodies FHWA's spirit of professionalism and customer service. Over the years, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with other congressional committees, Members of Congress, and their staff have relied on Carolyn's legislative and highway policy expertise, quick turnaround technical assistance responses, and wealth of information. Carolyn's colleagues at USDOT and FHWA have depended on her tireless efforts, her endless wealth of knowledge and willingness to share and transfer it. They will miss her indomitable spirit and her purple sweaters, purple pens, and love for everything purple to brighten their days. Carolyn has helped shape highway policy discussions and implement new programs. Her contributions will continue to make a difference on USDOT, FHWA, and the surface transportation community. Her retirement from the Federal Government is a celebration of her dedication to the American people. It is a great honor to recognize this exceptional public servant. Senator Carper joins me in extending our appreciation and well wishes to Carolyn on her retirement.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor as we celebrate today, in Wyoming, the 150th anniversary of Wyoming's women's right to vote--150 years. Before we even became a State, women were voting in Wyoming. Today, at our State capital building in Cheyenne, there is a huge celebration of people from around the State and around the country celebrating this historic day. Many people watching today may not know the history of what happened 150 years ago. Yesterday afternoon, Senator Enzi spoke on the Senate floor and outlined some of that history. I am so proud of my home State's amazing record in advancing this entire issue and concern and allowance of women's voting. Women in Wyoming were the first in the Nation to use the right to vote. That is a fact. Wyoming women have been voting for 150 years. On December 10, 1869, Wyoming took a giant leap forward for women's equality. We are called the Equality State. This is a lot of the reason why. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, in a ceremony this morning at our State capital in Cheyenne, is proclaiming today Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day. Wyoming is the first place in the country to pass a law securing women's right to vote, as well as the right not just to vote but to hold public office. The people of Wyoming spoke loud and clear 150 years ago today. We stood with women 50 years ahead of the rest of the Nation. Wyoming was a territory back then. Our State had not yet joined the Union. That didn't happen until 1890. Still, that is when we earned the proud name of the Equality State. Wyoming earned far more than the name. By leading the fight for women's rights, Wyoming has forever earned a hallowed place in the books of history. Nobody embodies that legacy more than Wyoming's Louisa Ann Swain. On September 6, 1870, Louisa Swain of Laramie, WY, became the first woman in the United States to vote in the general election. By casting her historic ballot, she claimed a great victory for women everywhere. It is a tremendous heritage that we celebrate today. Wyoming truly is the Nation's trailblazer for women's equality. In fact, ``Equal Rights'' is our State motto. On November 19, the Senate unanimously passed the Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day resolution. Senator Enzi and I cosponsored the resolution to commemorate today's 150th anniversary. Now the entire Nation can join in celebrating Wyoming's groundbreaking law. Then, 20 years after the law's passage, Wyoming refused to enter the Union as a State unless we had equal voting rights, men and women. There was a big fight about it in Wyoming and in the Nation's Capital. When standing on principle became a major sticking point, Wyoming stuck to its guns on women's equality and actually ended up delaying becoming a State over this very issue. On March 26 of 1890, Wyoming statehood legislation narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure passed the Senate a few months later, but part of the debate on the floor of the House of Representatives had to do with Wyoming women actually voting in our then territory and now State. President Benjamin Harrison signed Wyoming's statehood into law on July 10, 1890, upholding women's rights. Wyoming was technically the 44th State to enter the Union, but Wyoming really is the first State when it comes to women's equality. Wyoming put women first even before statehood. Back home, 2019 is the ``Year of Wyoming Women.'' Our State is paying tribute to our strong women leaders. We had the great honor of electing the first woman Governor, Wyoming's 14th Governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross. Wyoming boasts many more female firsts. These include the first woman to serve on a jury and the first female justice of the peace, Esther Hobart Morris. Wyoming also claims the first all-female city government. These pioneering women leaders were elected in 1920 in Jackson, WY. The Jackson press dubbed them ``the petticoat government.'' So we celebrate 150 years of equal rights in Wyoming and 100 years for women nationwide. In 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women's suffrage. This hard-fought legislative victory would ensure women's full participation in our democracy. To mark this 100th anniversary, President Trump recently signed into law the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. I had the privilege of cosponsoring this legislation that was introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate. I made sure that Wyoming's Esther Hobart Morris was among the suffragettes honored in this legislation. All Americans owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Nation's extraordinary women leaders of the past, the present, and today as we pause to remember where it all started 150 years ago in the trailblazing State of Wyoming, the Equality State.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jordan for his hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jordan is a native of California. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied international relations and French. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jordan for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jasmine for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jasmine is a native of Pennsylvania. She is a student at George Washington University, where she is studying public health. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jasmine for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jeremiah for his hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jeremiah is a native of Cheyenne. He is a student at Laramie County Community College, where he is studying political science. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jeremiah for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today having just spent Thanksgiving Day with our troops serving in Afghanistan. It was an incredible honor to join President Trump in a surprise visit to the soldiers stationed at Bagram Air Force Base. We served Thanksgiving dinner to our dedicated servicemembers. Those are the individuals who serve us every day. Our troops were absolutely thrilled to receive the thanks of our grateful Nation directly delivered from the Commander in Chief. They know President Trump has their back. The photo shows a number of members of the Wyoming National Guard, the 2-300th, the Cowboy Calvary. My father-in-law, Bob Brown from Thermopolis, WY, was a member of this group when he served in Korea. It was such a privilege to introduce the President to some of my home State's Wyoming National Guard members. He actually had two of them up on the stage with him. They are doing a tremendous job on behalf of Wyoming's largest deployment overseas right now in about a decade. We told all of our servicemembers how grateful the Nation is for their service and their sacrifice and their dedication. Meanwhile, here in Washington, the Democrats continue to block the bills that we need to have passed to keep our Nation secure. Incredibly, they are blocking both the Defense authorization and the Defense funding bills. The whole funding of our national defense expires in 2 weeks, but still the Democrats continue to waste time-- precious legislative time--on their partisan, obsessive approach to impeachment. Their holiday season impeachment is hurting the American people, and especially, it is hurting our military. The defense funding measure includes a well-earned and well-deserved pay raise for the troops. The President told the troops about that on Thanksgiving evening after serving dinner and after eating with them. It makes you wonder why on Earth Democrats would block the pay raise right before Christmas. It is amazing. They seem to be blocking all of the things that need to be done for our country to move ahead. The truth is, they are so focused on giftwrapping an impeachment process for the far left that they have left the rest of us in this country out in the cold. Besides that, they are slow-walking so many of the pro-worker and pro-farmer USMCA trade deals that are so critical for our Nation. It certainly means a lot for the breadbasket of America. It means so much for us in the Rocky Mountain West. They are preventing us from lowering drug costs. Above all, people expect us to support our troops. One thing after another after another, the Democrats continue to obstruct. The Republicans are fighting to fully fund the military. Democrats are in the process of waging war against the Commander in Chief. Remember, both parties came to the table, and they completed a bipartisan budget deal this past summer. The Democrats went back on their word. In doing so, they broke faith with the troops and with all Americans. Democrats--they filibuster, they impeach, and they neglect the troops. Really, they are hurting the American people, not the President. The President is busy doing his job. This week, he attended NATO's 70th anniversary summit and is also meeting with the U.N. Security Council members. U.S. forces, meanwhile, are facing heightened threats with last year's funding levels. While necessary, the stopgap spending resolution we have right now is taking a toll on the military, and here is why. The short-term funding means that a $22 billion cut has occurred from the summer's bipartisan budget deal. It is harming military readiness. It is harming the training of our troops. It has delayed and suspended weapons systems and programs. Now, that hasn't stopped the House Democrats and the Senate Democrats from blocking the full-year defense measures. They continue to obstruct. Republicans need Democratic support to pass these bills. These need to be bipartisan bills. The National Defense Authorization Act has a long history of strong bipartisan support. Yet House Democrats continue to delay final passage. Let's not forget, our troops in harm's way are far away from home this holiday season. They are on the frontlines. They are defending our freedoms. They sacrifice 365 days a year. They do it to protect our Nation. U.S. servicemembers never complain and never quit, and Republicans won't quit supporting them. Democrats remain too obsessed with impeachment to finish important business. The question is, Why are Democrats fast-tracking impeachment and filibustering defense legislation? Their partisan impeachment production is choreographed down to the final curtain call. It is simply a costly, chaotic waste of time. I believe most Americans know it. That is certainly what I hear in Wyoming. Democrats turn out to be the party of no--no positive ideas, no positive vision, no positive agenda for America. All they want to do is focus on impeachment. Some ran on it, and others didn't. Whether or not they ran on it, that is what they are doing, and they are neglecting the American people and the wishes and desires of American families for jobs; for a strong and healthy economy, a growing economy; for infrastructure, roads and bridges; for all of the things that are important; for lowering the cost of medical care and lowering the cost of drugs. They are ignoring it all, and certainly they are ignoring national security. It is time for the Democrats to stop stonewalling. It is time to pass the Defense bills. It is time to give our troops the raise they have earned and deserve. Let's send the right message to our troops as well as to our adversaries. It is time to pass these Defense bills now.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I also come to the floor today to talk about another issue, and that is that there is a climate conference meeting right now in Europe, the United Nations climate conference. Earlier this week, House Speaker Pelosi and 14 other Democrats traveled to Europe for the conference. To me, they went there to undermine the President and to push their radical Green New Deal. They told the international group that the United States is committed to the Paris climate deal. That is just not true. Secretary of State Pompeo said that the Paris climate deal imposed an unfair economic burden on American workers, on American businesses, and on American taxpayers. President Trump began formally withdrawing from the Paris climate deal last month. It may appeal to Democrats' liberal elite to talk about climate in Europe. Republicans, however, are going to stay focused on the work ahead of us at home. We have a packed year-end agenda here in Congress. Americans expect us to continue the progress we have made on jobs and on the economy--incredible success. This means passing better trade deals, funding the government, improving our roads--the things we were elected to do. The Speaker is nowhere to be found--certainly not on this continent. Rather than pass American priorities, the Speaker is sidelined in Spain. Republican pro-growth policies have led to a worker boom. Wages are up, and unemployment is down. Wages are up to a 50-year high. Unemployment is down to a 50-year low. I mean, think about that. As a result of Republican tax cuts and regulatory relief and unleashing the American energy, right now, today, we have the lowest African-American unemployment in history. People have more take-home pay, more money in their pockets, and costs are lower because of the regulatory relief. And we have seen this with shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend in terms of people feeling that confidence in the economy and in their futures. Democrats' message is more regulation and higher costs, which lead to fewer jobs. It is not going to work at home, and it is certainly not going to work in Wyoming. Maybe they think it will work in Europe. But just to clear up any confusion, President Trump has gotten us out of the Paris Agreement. Republicans' pro-growth agenda has us producing and exporting more energy at home, and we are seeing millions of new jobs. Republicans are going to stay clear-eyed and focused on the economy. We are going to continue to deliver real results, tangible results, results that people can understand and see and hold on to. We need to do that for the people who elected us, and we will continue to do it. I yield the floor.