John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 18, S. 94.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I further ask that the committee- reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 59, S. Res. 67.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I know of no further debate.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I know of no further debate.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 58, S. Res. 35.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 19, which was received from the House.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 16, which was received from the House.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 156, S. Res. 157, and S. Res. 158.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 155, submitted earlier today.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I have 14 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on child nutrition reauthorization. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on broadband. Committee on Environment and Public Works The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 9:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Indian Affairs The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Jeffrey A. Rosen, of Virginia, to be Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice; and Jeffrey Vincent Brown, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Stephanie L. Haines, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Brantley Starr, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on SBA's international trade programs. Committee on Veterans' Affairs The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``VA Mission Act''. Subcommittee on Cybersecurity The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing. Subcommittee on Seapower The Subcommittee on Seapower of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety The Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. Subcommittee on the Constitution The Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate the Centennial of the Rotary Club of Casper, Wyoming, a club which holds special importance for my wife, Bobbi and me. On Saturday, May 4, 2019, the Rotary Club of Casper will recognize their 100th anniversary at a special celebration. Rotary organized in Casper, WY on March 12, 1919, just 14 years after the first Rotary club was formed in Chicago, and 28 years after Wyoming's admission to the Union. At a luncheon on March 12, 1919, 15 businessmen, representing all walks of Casper life, met and elected their leadership--President James T. Gratiot, Directors Loui McMahon, Steve Starrett, George Nelson, Billy Johnson, Carl Shumaker, and Otis Walker. With a shared mission and sense of duty, these charter members laid the groundwork for a century to come. The Casper Daily Tribune noted Rotary's founding in an article the following day, March 13, 1919, ``The purpose of the club is to encourage business and social relations and its by-laws define the policies of the club in a way that marks various departures from other clubs or societies.'' With this in mind, the club hit the ground running, impacting the Casper community in positive and distinct ways. Within their first years of forming, Casper Rotary's commitment to the community was proven and acknowledged. As early as 1920-21, with memories of WWI fresh in their minds, they voted to support and donate funds to the construction of an air base near Casper. This air base, established in 1942, would come to fruition as the Casper Army Air Field. Governor Bryant B. Brooks, who would join the club and become president, noticed their initiative and addressed the club early on. This began a pattern with the club hosting a great number of Wyoming Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen, and local officials. The Rotary Club of Casper always realized the importance of the youth of their community. From the beginning, the club sponsored the Boy and Girl Scouts. They established a student loan fund for students wishing to further their education and engaged with high school students to encourage their ambition. They were part of the effort to bring a junior college to Casper, lobbying the State legislature in Cheyenne. Their efforts were rewarded in 1945, when Casper College was established as Wyoming's first junior college. Countless dollars and volunteer hours were donated and continue to be given to the creation of parks, camps, playgrounds, and swimming pools for the community. The most well-known is Rotary Park on Casper Mountain. Popular since the early 1940s, Rotary Park contains the picturesque Garden Creek Falls and Bridle Trail. Additionally, each August, Rotary helps host Casper's Riverfest and the Great Duck Derby. Rubber ducks fill the North Platte River with the proceeds going to the area's trail systems. The club's continuing engagement and investment in future projects ensure these areas are enjoyed for generations to come. The history of Casper's Rotary Club is a microcosm of the history of Casper. Professionals encompassing the entire Casper community worked together throughout the years to promote good will, service, and character. For the club's 40th anniversary celebration in 1959, Rotarian M. E. ``Monte'' Robertson wrote, ``We can all be justly proud of our Casper Rotary Club, of the pioneers who constituted its membership in the beginning, and the character and quality of those members who have carried on until the present day.'' These words hold true today with the leadership of President Dick Jay, President Elect John Griffith, President Elect Nominee Lisa Scroggins, and Centennial Committee Chair Barry Johnson. It is a high honor for me to rise in recognition of this significant milestone for the Rotary Club of Casper. I have seen firsthand the important work the club does, as Bobbi and I have been fortunate to call ourselves Rotarians. Since my days as an orthopedic surgeon in Casper, I have been involved with Casper Rotary for 36 years. We made countless lifelong friendships along the way and continue to appreciate the dedication of our fellow members. It is a great privilege to recognize this incredible service organization and their dedication to the betterment of their Wyoming community. Bobbi joins me in extending our congratulations and deep gratitude to the Rotary Club of Casper on their centennial celebration.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, you have heard the quote: ``In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.'' Of course, that was from Benjamin Franklin back in 1789. Well, just as Franklin predicted, the tax man cometh on Monday. This year, tax day follows a very strong March jobs report. Our booming economy remains an incredible boon for U.S. workers. Employers added 196,000 jobs last month. It beat all expectations. U.S. unemployment is right now at historic lows. It has remained at or below 4 percent now for over a year. Weekly jobless claims have fallen to a 50-year low--50 years. It has never been lower, and the unemployment rate for women is now the lowest since 1953. Wages have increased by more than 3 percent, the fastest growth in a decade, and it is worth noting that in recent months, the biggest pay increases have gone to lower income workers. Bigger paychecks mean a higher standard of living. Bigger paychecks mean the median household income continues to rise and is, today, at the highest level ever in the United States. There are currently 7.6 million jobs open. We actually have more open jobs in America today than we have people to fill them. Small businesses recently set hiring records, and 60 percent of small businesses have additional plans to hire more people. You would have to go back 20 years--two decades--to find as many new manufacturing jobs as we have added last year. So this solid jobs news reflects an American economic renaissance brought about by Republican tax reform. Republicans reduced tax rates across the board. We have done it for individuals and have done it for businesses starting in 2018. We lowered tax rates for small businesses, as well as for family farms and family ranches, which is certainly a big thing for me in Wyoming. We nearly doubled the standard deduction. We cut our excessively high corporate tax rate as well so U.S. companies are able to compete better globally. We made it easier for business owners to recoup the cost of their investments because we want them to invest and hire more people in the process. As a result of Republican leadership, American workers have abundant opportunity. The Washington Post reports that due to the strong labor market, economists, they say, now foresee ``almost no risk of an imminent recession.'' According to the Post article, ``As long as hiring remains strong and wages are climbing, the economy is likely to continue growing, experts say, because people typically spend more when they are not worried about losing their job.'' Our economy is strong. Our economy is healthy. Our economy is growing. The U.S. GDP has risen 3 percent year over year. Lower tax rates have freed job creators, giving companies the confidence to invest, to grow, and to hire. Employers have created more than 3 million jobs since tax reform passed and 5.5 million new jobs since President Trump took office. With faster job growth and better profits, businesses can invest more in their workers. Last year, a number of Wyoming employers boosted pay and benefits due to tax reform. Darden Restaurants, with locations nationwide, including in Cheyenne and in Casper, invested $20 million in its workforce. Kroger grocery stores and convenience stores, with more than 1,400 employees in Wyoming, well, they invested $500 million to boost worker pay. Kroger plans to add, actually, 11,000 more jobs. Many companies in Wyoming have made similar investments. I hear about them every weekend. Our utility company in Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Power, has rewarded our customers as well. It decreased its electricity rates last year by 3 percent, and, they say, as of course other utilities have across the country, it is a direct result of tax reform. Democrats, on the other hand, are threatening to reverse these gains and dramatically increase taxes with their extreme socialist agenda. Democrats want to take over all of healthcare in this country and eliminate insurance from 180 million Americans. That bill was introduced today by the Senator from Vermont and cosponsored by, I assume, just about every Democrat who is running for President who is a Member of the Senate. Medicare for All, let's be clear, is government-run healthcare. It has an estimated 10-year price tag of over $32 trillion, meaning massive tax hikes for American families. Democrats also want to control our energy sector. It is called the Green New Deal. Its estimated 10-year price tag is $93 trillion. This unaffordable, unworkable plan would destroy our economy and dramatically increase taxes. Far-left Democrats are touting tax-the-rich plans that would punish success. These include raising the top marginal tax rate to 70 percent, imposing a 2-percent annual ``wealth tax,'' and raising the top estate tax rate to 77 percent on farmers, ranchers, and business owners. Republicans dramatically reduced the estate tax or the ``death tax'' as a result of tax reform. This tax is double-taxation. It taxes money that has previously been taxed already. It hurts family-owned businesses, and it hurts ranchers and farmers and should be fully repealed. Clearly, Democrats have taken a sharp left turn. Their policies will send our strong, healthy, and growing economy careening over the liberal cliff. Republicans' pro-growth tax relief has produced a booming economy with millions of new jobs and larger paychecks. We freed job creators to hire again. We put Americans back to work. We raised the standard of living. Thanks to Republican tax reform, America is back in business. So I say, we must come together. We must do it now. We must embrace commonsense policies that will continue our progress. Republicans have provided successful solutions. Democrats are now promoting the failure and the horrors of socialism. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 60, S. Res. 95.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Hirono, and under the provisions of S. Res. 155, and do so as a further mark of respect for the late Fritz Hollings, former Senator from South Carolina.