John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about America's highway infrastructure. It is important to every State. I have just come back from Wyoming, and it clearly is important in my home State. It is important in every community. It is important in every Tribe in the country. I see that week after week in Wyoming. Our roads, our bridges, our highways, our tunnels support America's economic growth and our competitiveness. The Presiding Officer, from his home State of Missouri, knows this as well. These are an essential part, really, of everyday life for all of America. We use the infrastructure. We use the roads, the bridges, the tunnels. We use them when we drive to work, when we head to school or we head off to summer vacation. Our economy is built on a well- functioning road system that allows products from rural areas to get transported to population centers. They are used to ship American-made products and goods from one coast to the other. Certainly in Wyoming, we see a lot of goods coming in then being transported from the coast in California to Chicago, with truck after truck going through Wyoming. Interstates, like I-80 in my home State of Wyoming, are critical arteries for commerce in this country. Our roads create jobs. They move products, and they keep our country running and going strong. In 2015, the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 49 million tons of freight; that is, a daily average of 49 million tons of freight worth more than $53 billion--every single day. Our roads and our bridges have to keep pace. These systems are vital to our country, and they need to be taken care of. We must maintain, upgrade, and, when necessary, build new ones. Since his election, President Trump has called on Congress to act on infrastructure. Last year, Congress answered the President's call by passing America's Water Infrastructure Act. He signed it into law. It passed this body 99 to 1. The legislation helped streamline major projects and helped keep communities safe. It made a significant investment in our Nation's dams and our locks and our ports and in drinking water systems. Now is the time to do the same for our roads and for our bridges. That is why, today, I am introducing America's Transportation Infrastructure Act, and I am doing it along with my fellow leaders of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Ranking Member Carper and Senators Capito and Cardin. This legislation will make a historic investment in our roads. It will cut Washington redtape. It will improve safety and will help grow our economy. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act authorizes $287 billion over 5 years from the highway trust fund. Of that money, $259 billion will go directly to the States through the highway formula funding process. This is the largest investment in America's roads in any highway bill ever passed by Congress. The legislation will help the entire country. It will ensure both rural and urban areas have access to funding. Formula funding gives each State the flexibility it needs to address specific surface transportation needs. The formula-based approach has a proven track record of efficiently delivering infrastructure money directly to the States. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act maintains this important approach so that States will get the funds they need faster. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act also continues successful Federal loan programs, such as the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which many people in the business know as TIFIA. TIFIA and programs like it get taxpayers significant bang for their buck. A single taxpayer dollar in the TIFIA program can be leveraged 40 times that much in terms of infrastructure spending. Between new authorizations, leveraging within Federal loan programs, with State-match requirements and likely additions from the Commerce and Banking Committees, our bill's total impact on infrastructure will be nearly one-half trillion dollars--a historic high. With these investments, it is critical for us to speed up government approvals for important projects. Last Congress, the Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony about a highway safety project that I am very familiar with in Wyoming--and not too far from where the Presiding Officer lives-- near the interstate north of Sheridan, between Sheridan and Montana. It took a decade to get the permits but actually took only months to build. That has to stop. This was a safety project linking our States together. It was held up for 10 years because of Washington permits. It is unacceptable. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act cuts Washington redtape so projects can get done faster, better, cheaper, and smarter. President Trump has set a goal for his administration of completing environmental reviews for projects within 2 years. It is a goal that I applaud, and the policy is called One Federal Decision. Our legislation makes key elements of that policy into law. Instead of several Federal agencies having duplicate requirements on the same project, the process is simplified because it needs to be simplified. Our bill gives States increased flexibility so that Federal approvals can get moving and so that project construction can get started. It also reduces the amount of paperwork that is needed from the States to complete a project. Our legislation gets long delayed safety projects moving faster. Washington shouldn't prioritize paperwork over people's safety, but that has happened in the past, and it is unacceptable. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act makes road safety a top priority. It supports innovative research and technology deployment, including new construction technologies that will make roads safer and will expedite project delivery. For example, the bill supports technologies that allow construction projects to be managed digitally. That will enable project managers to better track projects from design through operation. The Presiding Officer knows this and sees it, and I saw it this past weekend. When a car collides with an animal on a highway, the results can be dramatic and sometimes even deadly for both the animal and for the driver. Our bill creates a pilot program to build wildlife highway crossings to minimize the danger of vehicle-wildlife collisions. Across the country, aging bridges are in need of maintenance. Our bill establishes a competitive grant program to help address the backlogs of bridges that are in poor condition. Our bill establishes a new program to incentivize States to lower the total number of fatalities with there being a special focus on pedestrian deaths, which are on the rise. Of course, the climate is changing, and humans have a collective responsibility to do something about it. I believe that American innovation, not government regulation and taxation, is the answer to our addressing a changing climate. Our bill includes a climate change title that ensures the durability of our transportation infrastructure, and our bill provides flexible resources to help States reduce carbon emissions. It helps States build more resilient highways. We want to make sure that our roads and our bridges are built to withstand extreme weather events, like hurricanes and floods, or natural disasters, like wildfires, earthquakes, and rockslides. The legislation also helps to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions. The very successful bill that had been signed into law previously and is expiring, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, is a program that has helped communities in Wyoming and Montana to replace aging school buses and public equipment. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act helps to reduce black carbon emissions. This is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Our bill reauthorizes this program, and it supports innovation. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration technologies hold the key to major emissions reductions. I have introduced the USE IT Act, along with my colleagues in the Senate, to support this important research, and it is included in this bill. As I have stated, this is bipartisan legislation. It doesn't just include Republican priorities; it includes Democratic priorities as well. For example, this legislation establishes grant programs to help fund the construction of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure for other alternative fuel vehicles, such as natural gas. This provision has been a priority for several Senators, including for Ranking Member Carper. My priority is to make sure these vehicles are actually contributing to the maintenance of our roads. With a rapidly growing electric vehicle market, it is necessary to make sure drivers of these alternative fuel vehicles are contributing to road maintenance. Nearly every automaker is ramping up electric vehicle production. Right now, none of these vehicles pay to maintain America's roads. How can that be? The highway trust fund is funded through fuel taxes. Because they don't buy gasoline, these vehicles simply do not contribute. Yet electric vehicles do as much damage to our highways as do traditional gas-powered vehicles. Everyone who drives on our Nation's roads should contribute to the cost of road maintenance. Our bill is bipartisan, substantial, and needs to be paid for. As the Presiding Officer knows, the Committee on Environment and Public Works doesn't have jurisdiction over revenues for the highway bill. Ranking Member Carper and I are going to work closely with Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Ron Wyden to responsibly pay for this legislation. In the process of writing this legislation, we have received extensive feedback from experts from our home States and from other Senators. The bill has already received broad support from groups like the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Highway Users Alliance, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the North American Concrete Alliance, and many more. We have planned to mark up America's Transportation Infrastructure Act this week. The business meeting will be a great opportunity in which to strengthen the legislation and move this important process forward. I am thankful to Ranking Member Carper and to all of the members of our committee for working with me on this important piece of legislation. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act will grow the Nation's economy, will improve the safety of our roads, and will enhance the quality of life for the American people.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about America's highway infrastructure. It is important to every State. I have just come back from Wyoming, and it clearly is important in my home State. It is important in every community. It is important in every Tribe in the country. I see that week after week in Wyoming. Our roads, our bridges, our highways, our tunnels support America's economic growth and our competitiveness. The Presiding Officer, from his home State of Missouri, knows this as well. These are an essential part, really, of everyday life for all of America. We use the infrastructure. We use the roads, the bridges, the tunnels. We use them when we drive to work, when we head to school or we head off to summer vacation. Our economy is built on a well- functioning road system that allows products from rural areas to get transported to population centers. They are used to ship American-made products and goods from one coast to the other. Certainly in Wyoming, we see a lot of goods coming in then being transported from the coast in California to Chicago, with truck after truck going through Wyoming. Interstates, like I-80 in my home State of Wyoming, are critical arteries for commerce in this country. Our roads create jobs. They move products, and they keep our country running and going strong. In 2015, the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 49 million tons of freight; that is, a daily average of 49 million tons of freight worth more than $53 billion--every single day. Our roads and our bridges have to keep pace. These systems are vital to our country, and they need to be taken care of. We must maintain, upgrade, and, when necessary, build new ones. Since his election, President Trump has called on Congress to act on infrastructure. Last year, Congress answered the President's call by passing America's Water Infrastructure Act. He signed it into law. It passed this body 99 to 1. The legislation helped streamline major projects and helped keep communities safe. It made a significant investment in our Nation's dams and our locks and our ports and in drinking water systems. Now is the time to do the same for our roads and for our bridges. That is why, today, I am introducing America's Transportation Infrastructure Act, and I am doing it along with my fellow leaders of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Ranking Member Carper and Senators Capito and Cardin. This legislation will make a historic investment in our roads. It will cut Washington redtape. It will improve safety and will help grow our economy. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act authorizes $287 billion over 5 years from the highway trust fund. Of that money, $259 billion will go directly to the States through the highway formula funding process. This is the largest investment in America's roads in any highway bill ever passed by Congress. The legislation will help the entire country. It will ensure both rural and urban areas have access to funding. Formula funding gives each State the flexibility it needs to address specific surface transportation needs. The formula-based approach has a proven track record of efficiently delivering infrastructure money directly to the States. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act maintains this important approach so that States will get the funds they need faster. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act also continues successful Federal loan programs, such as the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which many people in the business know as TIFIA. TIFIA and programs like it get taxpayers significant bang for their buck. A single taxpayer dollar in the TIFIA program can be leveraged 40 times that much in terms of infrastructure spending. Between new authorizations, leveraging within Federal loan programs, with State-match requirements and likely additions from the Commerce and Banking Committees, our bill's total impact on infrastructure will be nearly one-half trillion dollars--a historic high. With these investments, it is critical for us to speed up government approvals for important projects. Last Congress, the Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony about a highway safety project that I am very familiar with in Wyoming--and not too far from where the Presiding Officer lives-- near the interstate north of Sheridan, between Sheridan and Montana. It took a decade to get the permits but actually took only months to build. That has to stop. This was a safety project linking our States together. It was held up for 10 years because of Washington permits. It is unacceptable. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act cuts Washington redtape so projects can get done faster, better, cheaper, and smarter. President Trump has set a goal for his administration of completing environmental reviews for projects within 2 years. It is a goal that I applaud, and the policy is called One Federal Decision. Our legislation makes key elements of that policy into law. Instead of several Federal agencies having duplicate requirements on the same project, the process is simplified because it needs to be simplified. Our bill gives States increased flexibility so that Federal approvals can get moving and so that project construction can get started. It also reduces the amount of paperwork that is needed from the States to complete a project. Our legislation gets long delayed safety projects moving faster. Washington shouldn't prioritize paperwork over people's safety, but that has happened in the past, and it is unacceptable. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act makes road safety a top priority. It supports innovative research and technology deployment, including new construction technologies that will make roads safer and will expedite project delivery. For example, the bill supports technologies that allow construction projects to be managed digitally. That will enable project managers to better track projects from design through operation. The Presiding Officer knows this and sees it, and I saw it this past weekend. When a car collides with an animal on a highway, the results can be dramatic and sometimes even deadly for both the animal and for the driver. Our bill creates a pilot program to build wildlife highway crossings to minimize the danger of vehicle-wildlife collisions. Across the country, aging bridges are in need of maintenance. Our bill establishes a competitive grant program to help address the backlogs of bridges that are in poor condition. Our bill establishes a new program to incentivize States to lower the total number of fatalities with there being a special focus on pedestrian deaths, which are on the rise. Of course, the climate is changing, and humans have a collective responsibility to do something about it. I believe that American innovation, not government regulation and taxation, is the answer to our addressing a changing climate. Our bill includes a climate change title that ensures the durability of our transportation infrastructure, and our bill provides flexible resources to help States reduce carbon emissions. It helps States build more resilient highways. We want to make sure that our roads and our bridges are built to withstand extreme weather events, like hurricanes and floods, or natural disasters, like wildfires, earthquakes, and rockslides. The legislation also helps to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions. The very successful bill that had been signed into law previously and is expiring, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, is a program that has helped communities in Wyoming and Montana to replace aging school buses and public equipment. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act helps to reduce black carbon emissions. This is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Our bill reauthorizes this program, and it supports innovation. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration technologies hold the key to major emissions reductions. I have introduced the USE IT Act, along with my colleagues in the Senate, to support this important research, and it is included in this bill. As I have stated, this is bipartisan legislation. It doesn't just include Republican priorities; it includes Democratic priorities as well. For example, this legislation establishes grant programs to help fund the construction of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure for other alternative fuel vehicles, such as natural gas. This provision has been a priority for several Senators, including for Ranking Member Carper. My priority is to make sure these vehicles are actually contributing to the maintenance of our roads. With a rapidly growing electric vehicle market, it is necessary to make sure drivers of these alternative fuel vehicles are contributing to road maintenance. Nearly every automaker is ramping up electric vehicle production. Right now, none of these vehicles pay to maintain America's roads. How can that be? The highway trust fund is funded through fuel taxes. Because they don't buy gasoline, these vehicles simply do not contribute. Yet electric vehicles do as much damage to our highways as do traditional gas-powered vehicles. Everyone who drives on our Nation's roads should contribute to the cost of road maintenance. Our bill is bipartisan, substantial, and needs to be paid for. As the Presiding Officer knows, the Committee on Environment and Public Works doesn't have jurisdiction over revenues for the highway bill. Ranking Member Carper and I are going to work closely with Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Ron Wyden to responsibly pay for this legislation. In the process of writing this legislation, we have received extensive feedback from experts from our home States and from other Senators. The bill has already received broad support from groups like the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Highway Users Alliance, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the North American Concrete Alliance, and many more. We have planned to mark up America's Transportation Infrastructure Act this week. The business meeting will be a great opportunity in which to strengthen the legislation and move this important process forward. I am thankful to Ranking Member Carper and to all of the members of our committee for working with me on this important piece of legislation. America's Transportation Infrastructure Act will grow the Nation's economy, will improve the safety of our roads, and will enhance the quality of life for the American people.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Chandler 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. Chandler is a native of Laramie. She is a student at the University of Wyoming, where she is studying political science and communication. 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 Chandler 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 Trevor for his hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Trevor is a native of North Carolina. He is a graduate of Auburn University, where he studied 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 Trevor 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 Patrick for his hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Patrick is a native of South Carolina. He is a graduate of Wofford College, where he studied history. 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 Patrick 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. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today again, as I have week after week, to highlight the healthcare policy disaster the Democrats have labeled as Medicare for All. This mislabeled, one-size- fits-all approach takes health insurance away--takes it away--from 180 million Americans who have earned and who get their health insurance on the job. Still, many Democratic Members and many Presidential candidates support this radical proposal, which would actually eliminate on-the- job insurance. Offered originally by Senator Sanders, this so-called Medicare for All bill would dramatically raise taxes. It would destroy Medicare as we know it, and, of course, it would ration care. Last week I discussed healthcare rationing in Britain and in Canada. Today my focus is the plan's impact on medical innovation. As a doctor, I continue to remain astonished at how far medical technology has come in the 30 years since I started to practice medicine. Scientific breakthroughs are saving lives all around the world. I know because my wife Bobbi is a breast cancer survivor. According to the American Cancer Society, the death rate for women with breast cancer has fallen nearly 40 percent. More women are living longer after being diagnosed and treated. The progress is due to earlier detection as well as better treatment. It is a combination. This is not limited to breast cancer alone. The death rate for all cancer patients has steadily declined. The diagnosis of cancer is no longer considered a death penalty. People survive and thrive. We have made tremendous strides. U.S. brain power has led the way. According to the New York Times, the United States is ``home to an outsize share of global [healthcare] innovation.'' The innovation comes from America. Patients the world over depend upon our medical breakthroughs. What happens if we put Washington in charge of all of U.S. healthcare? Washington bureaucrats--not you, not your family, not your doctor, not scientists, but Washington bureaucrats--will call the shots. Let's look again at Britain, which has a government-run system. There was a recent headline in the British newspaper, the Guardian, and it is enlightening. It says this: ``NHS cancer scans left unread for weeks.'' The cancer scans have been left unread for weeks. The Guardian reports: ``Cancer scans showing the presence or spread of the disease are going unread for as long as six weeks.'' Think about that. You are a patient. It is cancer. It is ongoing, and it is spreading. You have had a scan and have been waiting 6 weeks to know what is happening with your own body. Cancer scan reports used to take a week; then, about a month and now, 6 weeks. As a result, according to one of the radiologists in Britain, ``[u]nexpected and critical findings are going unreported for weeks.'' As he said, ``We are now just firefighting.'' The patients are getting the scans, and they are waiting for results. American patients simply would not tolerate this. They wouldn't in my home State. They wouldn't in your home State, Mr. President. American patients will not tolerate this. That is why we can't afford to lose our competitive edge. The return of our investment in medical research and development in this country is absolutely tremendous. It is thanks to U.S. investment and innovation. That is why patient care is improving not just in the United States but worldwide. President Trump is asking Europe and other developed countries to start paying their fair share. The President is right. American patients shouldn't have to foot all of the bill for global cures. Still, U.S. patients will surely suffer if Washington bureaucrats start blocking new innovations. As I said last week, the Congressional Budget Office came out and talked about their report on what Medicare for All would mean, and they said that there would be a delay--a delay in treatment, as well as a delay in technology if we had a one-size-fits all healthcare system and 180 million Americans lost the insurance they get from work. Patients in England have bureaucrats as judge and as jury weighing the value of every advancement, seeing if they can even have it in that country. What we see is that the bureaucrats are denying lifesaving treatment, much of it invented in the United States. British patients recently protested their National Health Service. They protested because the National Health Service refused to permit the use of a cutting-edge drug to treat cystic fibrosis. The protesters ended up placing T-shirts in Parliament Square, representing the 255 people in England who have died as a result of the refusal of England to approve the use of a drug that exists and that works. Of course, we all agree the prices of medications need to come down. In England, the government just says: No, we are not going to have that treatment, that cure, to be used in our country. We need to get the cost of care down. We also need to protect innovation because that is the future of healthcare. Doctors and scientists need the freedom to give us the next generation of lifesaving drugs. That is why I am concerned that under the Democrats' plan such medical progress is threatened. Clearly, Democrats have taken a hard-left turn when it comes to healthcare and when it comes to the role of imposing more government in our lives. They want to take away your health insurance, the one you get from work, and in place of on-the-job insurance, they want one expensive, new, government-run program for everyone. Democrats' extreme scheme is expected to cost $32 trillion. It is so expensive, in fact, that even doubling everyone's taxes wouldn't cover it. That means Washington bureaucrats will be restricting your care. You will lose the freedom to choose your doctor. You will lose the freedom to choose your hospital. You will have the freedom to make choices about your own life, and bureaucrats will limit your access to new treatments as well as cutting-edge technologies. It is hard to know how many months you will have to wait for urgently needed care. We have seen it in Canada. We have seen it in England. We do not want to see it here in the United States. Delayed care becomes denied care. Why should you pay more, which is what this so-called Medicare for All does? You will be paying more to wait longer for worse care. Why would America want that? That is exactly what the Democrats are proposing. Meanwhile, Republicans are focused on real reforms--reforms that lower costs without lowering standards. That is the key difference. We want to lower costs but not standards. In England, they say: Well, it is free, but you are going to have to wait for a long time for your free care. As I reported last week, people have actually gone blind while waiting and others have died while waiting. The Democrats' proposal actually lowers standards while limiting your choices and raising your costs. It is time to reject the Democrats' one-size-fits-all healthcare scheme. Instead, let's ensure our patients get the innovative care they need from a doctor they choose at lower costs. Thank you. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2249, introduced earlier today.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Al for his hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Al is a native of New Jersey. He is a student at the College of William and Mary. 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 Al 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 Avery for her hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Avery is a native of Florida. She is a student at the University of South Carolina School of Law. 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 Avery for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is 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 journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jayme for her hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jayme is a native of California. She is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying history. 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 Jayme for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is 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 journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Madison for her hard work as an intern in my Sheridan office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Madison is a native of Ten Sleep. She is a student at Sheridan College, where she is studying agricultural business. 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 Madison 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 Brianna for her hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Brianna is a native of Casper. She is a student at the University of Wyoming, where she is studying physiology. 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 Brianna 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 Garrett for his hard work as an intern in my Cheyenne office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Garrett is a native of Cheyenne. He is a student at the University of Wyoming, where he is studying agricultural business and pre-law. 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 Garrett 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 Gigi for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Conference. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Gigi is a native of Virginia. She will attend the University of the South: Sewanee. 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 Gigi for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is 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 journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Kaitlyn for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Conference. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Kaitlyn is a native of Colorado. She is a student at the University of Wyoming, where she is studying political science and Spanish. 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 Kaitlyn for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is 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 journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Skylar for her hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Skylar is a native of Baggs. She is a student at Casper College, where she is studying art education. 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 Skylar 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 Jack for his hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Conference. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jack is a native of Buffalo. He is a student at Colorado Mesa University, where he is studying history and business. 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 Jack 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 Kameron 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. Kameron is a native of Cheyenne. He is a student at the University of Wyoming, where he is studying chemical engineering. 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 Kameron 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 Preston 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. Preston is a native of Casper. He is a student at Pepperdine University, where he is studying economics. 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 Preston 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 rise today in celebration of Phil and Jody Schmidt, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming's 2019 honorees. Since 1978, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming has committed itself to making a positive difference in the lives of children. Their mission is to inspire all youth, especially those who need them most. The goal is to help these children to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Their activities provide the children in our community a sense of dedication, purpose, and belonging. The Boys and Girls Club will host its annual awards and recognition breakfast on August 28, 2019. This event celebrates the outstanding efforts by individuals who have made remarkable and significant contributions to the Boys and Girls Club mission and to the City of Casper. Phil and Jody Schmidt will be honored at this year's breakfast. Their lifelong commitment toward bettering the lives of youth in the Casper community is remarkable. Their dedication to Wyoming's young people embodies the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming's charge to better the lives of children in Casper. Phil is a devoted family man, successful businessman, and selfless community member. After graduating from high school, Phil attended Black Hills State University, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. Phil and Jody moved to Casper in 1982, immersing themselves in the community. Phil began his career as a CPA. In 1988, he became the president and owner of Greiner Motor Companies. Under his guidance, Greiner Motors grew from one dealership to three, employing almost 300 people. Phil received the Ford Motor Company's ``Salute to Dealers'' award in 2009. The award commends dealers ``exhibiting unparalleled dedication to their communities.'' Phil was one of six recipients, selected from almost 6,000 dealers. Remarkably, Phil's hard work and contributions to the Casper community extend far beyond his business successes. Phil and the employees of Greiner Motor Companies led a cleanup effort of Casper Skate Park in 2004. Phil recognized a clean, safe park would give Casper youth an area where they could safely socialize and develop athletic skills. Greiner Motor Companies also helped to host the ``Fill-A-Ford'' food drive, parking Ford pickups at various bank branches to collect canned good and donations for food banks. They raised $26,000 and collected enough canned goods to fill up three pickup trucks. Phil also devotes much of his time and energy serving on the boards of many outstanding organizations. Any group lucky enough to have Phil on its board is destined for success. The Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming, Casper Family YMCA, Wyoming Medical Center, Wyoming Auto Dealers, the Natrona County Library Foundation, and the Wyoming Transportation Commission have all benefited from his servant leadership. Phil credits Jody for his great success. Her support and strength during times of both hardship and good fortune allowed Phil to thrive with his ventures. Jody is a dedicated mother and caring wife. Raised in Fruitdale, SD, alongside five siblings, Jody learned the values of hard work and community involvement from her parents. They ran the family's beekeeping business, McIntire Honey. Her father, Russell, served on the board of directors for their local hospital, delivered Meals on Wheels to his neighbors in need, and served as a member and Grand Knight in their local council of the Knights of Columbus. Her mother, Betty, served in the local community club and was honored for her work as a hospital auxiliary volunteer. Their values of kindness and generosity were instilled in Jody, who then brought them to the Casper community. Jody also supports their neighbors and community with volunteer work and service efforts. She serves on the boards of the National Alliance on Mental Issues and Interfaith of Natrona County. She volunteers at Holy Cross Center with the food bank ministry and helps St. Anthony Tri-Parish School in countless areas, including coordinating charity runs and auction galas. Like my wife Bobbi, Jody is a strong, resilient breast cancer survivor. She is a pillar of courage and perseverance. Phil and Jody have been married 37 years and were blessed with six children: Allyson, Madelyn, Reid, Evan, James, and Nathan. The family persevered through tremendous pain; their sons Evan and Reid passed away at the ages of 11 and 29, respectively. In the wake of this tremendous personal challenge, Phil and Jody chose to continue their commitment to others. They looked past their pain, turning tough times into a means to assist and help care for those in need. They believe their difficult experiences give them the ability to come alongside others who face similar challenges. This mindset of perseverance demonstrates just how deserving they are of this award. There is no doubt the work and endless hours given by Phil and Jody will continue to shape and improve countless lives for years to come. Together, the couple represent Wyoming's characteristic strength, resilience and determination. Their generosity is exceptional. In the midst of enormous challenges the pair find the courage to not only push on, but to help others do the same. It is with great honor that I recognize these exceptional members of our Wyoming community. My wife, Bobbi, joins me in extending our congratulations to Phil and Jody Schmidt for this special acknowledgement.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to once again give the facts about the Democrats' one-size-fits-all healthcare proposal, the legislation that many Democrats are referring to as Medicare for All. My focus today is what is going to happen to American patients if the government takes full control of our Nation's healthcare system. I speak as a doctor who practiced medicine for 24 years in Casper, WY. It is so interesting, as a doctor, to take a look at what is being proposed because I know the specifics of the impacts on the lives of patients, patients I have taken care of as part of my training and part of my practice in Wyoming, and as a doctor, I have personally studied what is happening to healthcare in other countries around the world. You have no doubt heard about the worsening crisis of care in England. There are doctor shortages, and, of course, there is rationing of care. British rationing has actually become the focus of a recent article in the magazine, The Economist. The article is entitled, ``The front line of England's NHS is being reinvented.'' It says, ``A shortage of family doctors leaves little choice but to try something new.'' Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have this article printed in the Record.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the story opens with a simple observation, and this is the first sentence: ``The national health service is free, so it is also rationed.'' That is what we are seeing, and that is what people are living with every day in Britain. Under the guise of healthcare being free, they live in a world where healthcare is rationed. So how bad can that be? What would this mean with this one-size-fits- all Medicare for All, which the Democrats are proposing? The Economist writes that in Britain today ``[o]nly patients with the most complicated or urgent problems make it to a doctor.'' Actually, today you need a doctor's referral to see a specialist in England. But now, in some parts of the country, a British bureaucrat must preapprove your visit to the family doctor, who will then make the referral to the specialist. I can't imagine people in our country tolerating that. So, ironically, ``access to the rationers is itself now rationed.'' According to the article, ``Only half of [British] patients say they almost always get to see their preferred doctor.'' So only half get to see the doctor they choose. Remember that old line--``If you like your healthcare, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.'' In Britain, only half get to see their doctor--if they get to see them, if they get to go through the rationer, who is a bureaucrat. What happens after you wade through all of this, wade through the morass of the bureaucrat and the family doctor to get to the specialist? What does the article say about when you actually get to see a doctor? The average consultation time, it says, is only 9 minutes. It is 9 minutes on average. As a doctor, I can state that 9 minutes is one of the shortest consults I have ever heard of. I cannot imagine 9 minutes--after waiting all of this time to see the doctor, 9 minutes and then you are done, and they are on to the next patient, who has also been waiting and waiting and waiting to see the doctor. What does this tell us about what would happen in the United States to patients trying to see doctors if we followed this one-size-fits- all, government-run healthcare program that Senator Sanders and so many of the Democrats are supporting? If we adopt a government-run, one- size-fits-all healthcare system, which is what they are proposing, I would tell Americans to expect to pay more to wait longer for worse care. That is what we would see. To borrow the line from The Economist, bureaucrats will, as they say, reinvent what healthcare means for you. You may have seen the stories about the thousands of elderly patients right now going blind in Britain--going blind. Why are they going blind? Well, because the British health service is rationing eye surgery. The president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has said that the rationing is part of the government's cost-cutting in England, and people are going blind as a result. Thousands of elderly patients are desperately in need of eye surgery, but the bureaucrats who must approve it are denying the treatment. The number of denials has doubled in the last 2 years. According to the Royal College of Surgeons, a quarter of a million British patients have been waiting more than 6 months for planned medical treatment. That is happening in England today. The waiting times are getting longer. Now let's look at Canada. According to the New York Times, Senator Bernie Sanders likes the Canadian healthcare system because he says it is ``free.'' Of course, Senator Sanders knows it is anything but free. After all, the healthcare proposal that Senator Sanders is proposing has a $32 trillion price tag. The Senator admits the plan hikes taxes on middle-class families. He said it in the debate the other night. The truth is, even doubling our taxes couldn't cover this huge cost. Yet a majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives--a majority--have cosponsored what Senator Sanders is proposing. A majority of the Democratic Senators running for President today have cosponsored Senator Sanders' one-size-fits-all proposal. Apparently Senator Sanders approves of the Canadian long wait times because he says wait times are not a problem. Well, maybe he should check with the Canadians to see if wait times are a problem, because patients in Canada typically wait 3 months for treatments and for certain treatments, much, much longer. In some ways, the Canadian healthcare system has been called trick-or-treat medicine because if you haven't gotten your care by the end of October, by Halloween, you will have to wait until next year because they will have run out of the money allotted for that procedure or that healthcare in that country in that year. As a doctor practicing in Wyoming, I have actually operated on people from Canada who came to the United States for care. It is free up in Canada, but they couldn't afford to wait for the free care they were going to get in Canada, so they came to the United States to pay for the care here. Still, that is what the Democrats are proposing--a one-size-fits-all approach. So people will pay more through their taxes to wait longer for care that will be worse care. Even the Congressional Budget Office people who looked at this in terms of funding, looked at what it would cost to do a Senator Sanders' style approach, said it would be expensive, complicated, and the delays would be not just in treatment but also in technology. Many Democratic candidates for President have also endorsed-- amazingly so--free healthcare for illegal immigrants. You saw the question being asked on the debate stage. Every one of the Democrats running for President was standing there and was asked: Which one of you would have in your healthcare plan free health insurance, free healthcare, for people in this country illegally? And every hand on the stage went up. When you take a look at what the proposal actually is--this Medicare for All, this one-size-fits-all approach--it actually takes health insurance away from 100 million people who get it through work and gives it to illegal immigrants. So 180 million American citizens will lose their on-the-job insurance while illegal immigrants will get it for free. That is the Democrats' Medicare for All proposal. The Congressional Research Service recently reported that the Sanders bill ends Medicare as well as on-the-job health insurance, and what we will be doing is entering into one expensive, new, government-run system. Still, the Democratic Senators who are running for President and the 118 Democratic Members of the House support the Sanders' legislation. They have cosponsored it, saying: Let the Washington, DC, bureaucrats call the shots--unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats calling the shots as they ration your care. They will micromanage your care, and they will delay your care, delay your treatment--treatment that you urgently need. That is the difference. People will lose the freedom to see their own doctor. We have seen what has happened in England. Patients will wait months for treatment. Keep in mind--care delayed is often care denied, and if they finally get to see a physician, the amount of time in consultation will be incredibly short. That is why what is being proposed by the Democrats in this one-size-fits-all approach--a British plan, a Canadian plan--is completely unacceptable to American citizens. You don't need Democrats' phony promises of free care; what you need is to have the freedom to get the care you want and need from a doctor whom you choose at lower cost. That is why Republicans are going to continue to work on real reforms that improve patient care, that increase transparency, that lower the cost of care, and that lower the cost of what people pay out of their own pockets, without adding these incredibly longer wait times and the loss of the ability to make choices on your own. Why should we pay more to wait longer for worse care, which is what we are seeing with a one-size-fits-all approach? Let's make sure patients can get the care they need from the doctor they choose at lower costs. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, whether you support the ObamaCare law or oppose it--and let me be clear, I oppose it--it remains the law. This week, a Federal appellate court heard arguments related to the case of Texas v. United States, and I expect it will eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Regardless of the outcome, our commitment remains to protect people with preexisting conditions. As a doctor, as a husband of a breast cancer survivor, I know the importance of making sure patients can have access to high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost. Since the Obama healthcare law passed, this has not happened for many families to whom I speak at home in Wyoming. They keep telling me that ObamaCare made their insurance unaffordable, and it has made it more difficult for them to get the care they need. Simply put, they know that the Obama healthcare law has failed because they have personally experienced the law's sky-high premiums and fewer choices. It has taken Washington Democrats a little longer to figure that out. Now they are clamoring for a one-size-fits-all healthcare plan. They want a healthcare system controlled by Washington bureaucrats, and as a doctor, my focus is on making healthcare better for patients, period. Republicans in the Trump administration are taking on the tough issues facing patients across the country. We eliminated the individual mandate so that patients aren't punished for refusing to buy insurance they cannot afford. We support more insurance choices, such as association health plans, so folks can find the best coverage for themselves and their families. We are taking on the drug companies. Congress has already eliminated gag clauses, and more reforms are on the way. Finally, with the President's support, we are going to end surprise medical bills. Simply put, Republicans want patients to pay less for the coverage they already have. Democrats want to take away people's health insurance, especially the coverage they get through their work. It is simply wrong. The question is whether Washington Democrats are interested in actually solving the problem or playing politics. Therefore, I object.