Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this resolution will provide government funding through April 28 at the level prescribed in last year's budget agreement. I urge the Senate to support the resolution. It provides funding to continue counterterrorism operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. It supports our allies through the European Reassurance Initiative. It includes funding for humanitarian assistance and to protect American diplomats. The resolution also funds important priorities here at home. It appropriates $872 million to fight opioid abuse and support innovative cancer research. These funds will begin to implement the CURES Act, which the Senate passed earlier this week by a vote of 94 to 5. The resolution also contains funding to respond to Hurricane Matthew, severe flooding in Louisiana and other recent natural disasters. In total, $4 billion is available under this bill and will be allocated to recovery programs that benefit 45 of our States. The resolution also provides funding to help Flint, MI, respond to the contamination of its water supply and to help communities around the country provide safe drinking water. Mr. President, I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed, but before I begin, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from California, Mrs. Boxer, be recognized following my remarks.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I rise to compliment and congratulate my good friend and colleague, the senior Senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski, on her decision to retire from the U.S. Senate. We are going to miss her very much. She has been a very effective Senator in speaking not only as a representative for the State of Maryland but also for the entire country on so many different issues and Federal responsibilities of our government. She has been very successful in every way--serving as chair of the committee on Appropriations, where it has been my pleasure to work closely with her as the vice chair when the Republicans were in the minority, and then coming to chair the committee, with her as the ranking Democratic member during other periods. It has been a distinct honor to serve with her on the Appropriations Committee. In 2012, she became the first woman to chair the committee. She has also served as vice chairwoman for the past 2 years. I am pleased that we have been able to work together to report bills that reflect our shared commitment to national security, scientific research, education, and economic development. Senator Mikulski has been a very valuable partner throughout. Her approach to funding decisions as chairwoman and vice-chairwoman highlights the importance of the constitutional role of Congress to be good stewards of taxpayer money. I congratulate Barbara Mikulski on her distinguished career representing the people of Maryland which reflects great credit on our U.S. Senate. Best wishes to her. I yield the floor.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the life and service of Major League All-Star pitcher and longtime head baseball coach at Delta State University, David ``Boo'' Ferriss, who passed away on November 24, 2016. Boo Ferriss was born in Shaw, MS, and was raised in the Mississippi Delta region. He joined the baseball team as a student at Mississippi State University in 1941 before signing a Major League contract with the Boston Red Sox organization in 1942. Ferriss's early career with the Red Sox included a 2-year hiatus to serve in World War II. Discharged in 1945, he was called up to play for the Red Sox, helping lead the team to the 1946 World Series. Despite suffering a shoulder injury in 1947, Ferriss played for the Red Sox until 1950, finishing with a 65-30 record as a pitcher. Following his retirement from professional baseball, Ferriss went on to become the head coach of the Delta State University baseball team, a position he held with great success for nearly 26 years. He led the Statesmen to three Division II World Series and four Gulf South Conference Championships. Induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Red Sox Hall of Fame are among the numerous awards made to honor Ferriss's achievements. In 2003, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame established the Ferriss Trophy, which has become the Heisman Trophy for Mississippi college baseball players. Boo Ferriss's accomplishments extended beyond the ballfield. He was an active member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS, and a founder of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Mississippi. He was a dedicated family man, married for 67 years to his wife, Miriam. They raised two children, Dr. David Ferriss and Margaret Ferriss White, and have two grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Coach Ferriss will be remembered as a great Mississippian who dedicated his life to the game that he loved and to a generation of players that he educated on the field and in life. For myself and all those who knew Boo Ferriss, I commemorate his years of service and a life well lived.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the Senate is scheduled to vote at 2:15 on the continuing resolution. The resolution will provide $1.1 billion in emergency funding to respond to the Zika virus outbreak. Funds are included to accelerate vaccine development, provide mosquito control in areas where the virus is being transmitted, and address health conditions related to the Zika virus. The bill also includes $500 million to help Louisiana, West Virginia, and other States recover from devastating floods. We will continue to assess the total recovery needs in those States, but this funding is needed immediately to help get residents back into their homes and businesses. The fiscal year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill is also included in this legislation. The bill provides record levels of funding for medical care and other important veterans programs. It also funds housing for military personnel and their families and supports infrastructure that sustains U.S. military forces. Enactment of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill would mark the first time since 2009 that a regular appropriations bill has been signed into law before the end of the fiscal year. This would be another step in the right direction as we seek more regular consideration of appropriations measures. This legislation also includes a continuing resolution to sustain government operations at current levels until December 9. This will give us additional time to complete work on the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bills. I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee reported all 12 of the regular appropriations bills for the second year in a row. The Senate has approved three of these bills. We look forward to completing our work on the remainder. I urge the Senate to approve the continuing resolution.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have an explanatory statement regarding Senate amendment No. 5082 to H.R. 5325 printed in the Record.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the life and service of my friend and former staff member Henry Ruempler, who passed away on August 29, 2016. Mr. Henry Ruempler served as staff counsel to the House Committee on Government Operations before joining my staff in 1979 as counsel and later served as legislative director. Henry worked many years in my Washington, DC, office, and was a trusted colleague and friend to those who knew him. Following his departure from the U.S. Senate, he worked in the private sector, specializing in taxation and banking until his retirement in 2003. Henry's accomplishments and service extended beyond the workforce. He was a Boy Scout leader, for which he received the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service; PTA board member; and treasurer of Northern Virginia Senior Softball. Above all, Henry was a dedicated family man. He was married for 45 years to his wife Susan. They have to two children, Kyle and Shannon; and two grandchildren, Maryella and Charlie. For myself and all those who knew Henry, I commemorate his years of service, his friendship, and a life well lived.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is an honor to pay tribute today to MG Augustus L. Collins, the adjutant general of the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard. General Collins is retiring after a remarkable legacy of nearly 40 years of military service. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant appointed General Collins as adjutant general in 2012, and the readiness of Mississippi's 12,275 citizen soldiers and airmen has thrived under General Collins's strong leadership. The excellent organizational and command skills exercised by General Collins have ensured that Mississippi's National Guard forces are equipped and trained to accomplish any mission, whether responding to natural disasters at home or deployed to combat zones overseas. General Collins enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard in March 1977. Following his enlistment, he completed State officer candidate school and was commissioned in July of 1980. As a commissioned officer, General Collins advanced quickly up the ranks and continuously trusted with new levels of responsibility. General Collins's leadership skills led to assignments in command and staff positions at every level, including company, battalion, regiment, brigade, and the adjutant general's primary staff in both a traditional and Active Guard Reserve status. General Collins's record of military service also includes being called to Active Duty in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and commanding the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2006. The commitment, courage and sacrifice demonstrated by General Collins is reflected in the many awards and decorations earned over his distinguished career. These honors include, but are not limited to, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Mississippi Magnolia Cross. General Collins is a true patriot and one of the most respected leaders in Mississippi. His care and commitment for our citizen soldiers and their families is unwavering. On a personal level, I am grateful for the opportunity to work closely with General Collins. His strength of character, gracious presence, and warm personality always make him a pleasure to be around. It is an honor to commend General Collins and to express appreciation to him for a job well done. The State of Mississippi and United States of America are better because of you.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the service of my staff member Janice Rankin Mitchell of Madison, MS, on the occasion of her retirement following a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Senate as a constituent service representative. Janice joined the staff of U.S. Senator John C. Stennis on January 15, 1978. She joined my staff in January 1985 following Senator Stennis's retirement. Janice's tenure as a Senate employee has been historic. Janice Mitchell is one of the longest serving staff members in Senate history and the only African-American woman to have worked for two Senators from Mississippi. Janice has been a steady and effective presence in my Jackson, MS, field office, where she has directly served Mississippians in need of help with Medicare, Medicaid, and the Social Security Administration. Janice is compassionate, caring, and proficient. She has exceeded her duty to help Mississippians navigate Federal programs and receive the benefits to which they are entitled. During her tenure in the Senate, Janice has managed nearly 5,000 constituent cases, more than 3,000 of which have been resolved favorably. One constituent, Mr. Buddy Cooper of Florence, MS, wrote to me about Janice's work on his behalf. He described her as ``the person who reached out her hand and led us from darkness to light . . . who went from being a friend to part of the family.'' Beyond her service to the Senate, Janice's involvement in her community and church reflect her commitment to serve others. Janice is a faithful and devoted member of Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She has served in many ministries there, including the choir and the Sunday school, where she is currently in charge of all classes for teenagers. Janice and her husband of 37 years, Johnny Mitchell, have two children, Jonathan and Jasmine, and a granddaughter, Ja'Lena, by Jonathan, and his wife, Santina. Janice's parents, the late Reverend and Mrs. Nelvis Rankin, Sr., would be proud of their ``baby daughter.'' Retirement will be the end of Janice's 38-year career with the Senate but will mark the beginning of many new opportunities for her and her family. Janice looks forward to travelling and spending time with her family in her favorite role as ``Granny.'' From myself and all of those who have worked with Janice, we say thank you for your years of service to Mississippi and the United States.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I wish to express my appreciation to the Dayton Development Coalition, the city of Dayton, OH, and the Air Force Research Laboratory for recently hosting city officials and community leaders from Vicksburg, MS. Representatives from the Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi State University, and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center also joined this trip to share ideas about how these two communities can continue their progress in support of these two critically important Department of Defense laboratories. I would like to especially recognize Jeff Hoagland, Michael Gessel, and John Ingham of the Dayton Development Coalition for the guidance and insight they have provided and continue to provide to the Vicksburg community. I also appreciate Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and the offices of the Senators from Ohio for their hospitality and insight. We hope that this is the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship between the city of Vicksburg, MS, and the city of Dayton, OH. I look forward to our continued work together and hope that Vicksburg will be able to host a delegation from Dayton in the near future.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, we have come to a point where it is timely that we urge the Senate to approve the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs conference report. This conference agreement increases funding for veterans programs by nearly 9 percent, including a 4.1-percent increase in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agreement provides funding for veterans health care, benefit claims processing, and medical research. The agreement funds housing for military personnel and their families and enhances the capabilities of U.S. military forces. The conference agreement also includes $1.1 billion in emergency supplemental funding to fight the Zika virus. This is the same amount previously approved by the Senate. These funds will be used for mosquito control, vaccine development, and health services. The conference agreement also enhances mosquito control efforts by eliminating duplicative permitting requirements for approved pesticides. This provision is specific to combating the Zika virus, and it expires after 180 days. The conference agreement carries rescissions of previously appropriated funds that are not needed for their original purpose. The fact that rescissions are included is not novel or unique. For example, the appropriations bill that provided funding to fight the Ebola virus included nearly $5 billion in discretionary rescissions and $2.5 billion in mandatory rescissions. This conference agreement is the result of extensive bipartisan negotiations. It is a good bill, and it should be sent to the President without delay. I urge the adoption of the conference report.

Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the Senator.

Mr. COCHRAN. We were just passing through, checking to see what the order was, and I understand there is a standing order. So we are going to wind up, we hope, with just a few minutes of conversation about the conference report.

Mr. COCHRAN. Reserving the right to object, we are trying to set up a conversation about the conference report, and I wonder, would it be inconvenient for the Senator to defer?

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I strongly urge the Senate to reject S.J. Res. 28, which would overturn a catfish inspection rule that is working to protect American consumers. In both the 2008 and 2014 farm bills, Congress directed the administration to transfer authority for catfish inspection from the Food and Drug Administration to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We did so based on evidence that the FDA inspection regime then in place was inadequate. And we have been proven right. The FDA's inspection regime was inadequate. Over the course of 2 years, from 2014-2015, the FDA caught a total of two shipments of foreign catfish containing known dangerous cancer- causing chemicals that are illegal in the United States--two shipments over 2 years. Under the catfish inspection rule, USDA has intercepted two shipments of foreign catfish containing illegal, cancer-causing chemicals in less than 2 weeks. If you do the math, USDA is intercepting harmful catfish at a rate nearly 21 times greater than the rate at which FDA was before its inadequate program was closed down. USDA's inspection program has already proven to better safeguard consumer safety than FDA, which makes sense. After all, USDA is the most experienced, well-equipped agency to ensure farm-raised meat products, including catfish, are as safe as possible. The catfish rule is not costly. The Congressional Budget Office has said this resolution won't save a dime. The catfish rule is not duplicative. The FDA ceased all catfish inspections on March 1 of this year. USDA is now the only agency charged with inspecting catfish. The catfish rule does not create a trade barrier. The rule applies equally to foreign and domestic producers. USDA has stated that the rule is compliant with the World Trade Organization's equivalency standard. The catfish rule has already been proven to keep American consumers safe from illegal, cancer-causing chemicals. Adoption of this resolution would not change the law regarding catfish inspection. It would only call into question, and potentially halt, the ability of the U.S. Government to carry out these proven consumer safety protections. It is clear that the inspection rule is working as intended to protect U.S. consumers. Congress was right in twice mandating these inspections. I hope Senators will reject this resolution.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I strongly urge the Senate to reject the motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 28. This resolution would overturn a catfish inspection rule that is working to protect American consumers. Congress directed the Department of Agriculture to write this rule in both the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. It did so based on evidence that the inspection regime then in place was inadequate. Almost all catfish consumed in the United States is raised on farms in controlled environments. The Department of Agriculture, or the USDA, is the most experienced and well-equipped agency to ensure that farm- raised meat products, including catfish, are as safe as possible. Since assuming responsibility of catfish inspection just a few week ago, the Department of Agriculture has intercepted and impounded two large shipments of foreign catfish contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals banned for use in the United States. Prior to the implementation of the rule, less than 2 in 1,000 catfish products entering the United States was laboratory tested. If it were not for the rule that S.J. Res. 28 seeks to nullify, this dangerous foreign fish would be in the U.S. food supply today. Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule is costly. This is not true. The Congressional Budget Office has said that this resolution won't save a dime. Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule is duplicative. This is untrue. The Food and Drug Administration ceased all catfish inspections on March 1 of this year. The Department of Agriculture is the only agency charged with inspecting catfish. Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule creates an artificial trade barrier. This is untrue. The Department has stated that the rule is compliant with the World Trade Organization's equivalency standard and would not violate its principles. Adoption of this resolution would not change the law. It would only call into question and potentially halt the ability of the U.S. Government to carry on important activities authorized by law to keep American consumers safe. It is clear that the inspection rule is working as intended to protect U.S. consumers. Congress was right in twice mandating these inspections, and reconsidering that decision would be a poor use of the Senate's time. I hope Senators will reject the motion to proceed to this resolution. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Al Rankins, Sr., of Greenville, MS, for his service and contributions to the State of Mississippi while serving as the 80th president of the Delta Council. Since its founding in 1935, this important organization has grown into a widely respected economic development collaborative representing the business, professional, and agricultural interests of the Mississippi Delta region. I am grateful to Delta Council for its continuous role in meeting the economic and quality of life challenges in this unique part of our country. Al Rankins' tenure as council president began in May 2015, and he has been a notably strong advocate for the Delta Council's role in water resources development. His effective leadership on flood control issues affecting the alluvial floodplain has served the area well. His former service as a local public official has provided him a unique perspective on the needs of proper access to healthcare, workforce readiness, educational progress, and important matters related to transportation infrastructure in this rural, predominantly agricultural region. A native of Washington County, MS, Mr. Rankins graduated from Simmons High School in Hollandale, MS, and later received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mississippi Valley State University. Prior to his contributions as president of Delta Council, Mr. Rankins served his community as a law enforcement officer, an elected county official, past president of 100 Black Men of the Mississippi Delta, and active participant in the local Boys and Girls Club. Mr. Rankins' dedication to the future of the delta and all of those who live there is laudable. I am pleased to join the people of my State in commending Al Rankins and sharing our appreciation with his wife, Mary, and their children, CeCelia, Alfred, Jr., Ansel, and Anthony, as the 81st annual meeting of the Delta Council organizational membership convenes.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am encouraged that the Senate will soon complete consideration of the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. This legislation funds important components of our national defense, invests in our waterways and flood control infrastructure, and supports a safe and affordable domestic energy supply. I commend the managers of the bill, the senior Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Alexander, and the senior Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein. They make a good team. They have been persistent and they have worked diligently to ensure that all Senators' interests have been considered in drafting this legislation. I look forward to continued progress on appropriations bills in the weeks ahead. I yield the floor.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I join with the vice chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski, and the chairman and ranking member of the Budget Committee, Senator Enzi and Senator Sanders, in honoring Janet Airis on her retirement after 32 years of distinguished service to the Congress with the Congressional Budget Office. Janet is highly regarded by both Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the Capitol for her encyclopedic knowledge of the appropriations and budget process and its lexicon, her responsiveness to committee and Member staff, and her dedication to the nonpartisan role that CBO plays in the successful enactment of appropriations bills year after year. Janet has been a valuable asset to eight of the nine CBO directors. Janet came to CBO in the waning days of 1983, fairly soon after graduating from Wellesley College. She joined the scorekeeping unit in the budget analysis division, which has the responsibility of tracking and scoring the appropriations bills at each legislative stage as well as tracking mandatory spending in authorizing legislation. Janet was hired to assist in maintaining the database used by the division. Janet has worked to keep the database in sync with the many changes in the budget process, integrating new categories and methods so that CBO could accurately tabulate and report on Federal spending. Janet started as the scorekeeper for the defense and military construction appropriation bills. Over the course of her career, she also handled the Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture, and legislative branch appropriations bills, in the process gaining a vast array of knowledge of a substantial part of the Federal budget. In 2000, Janet made the transition to unit chief. For the past 16 years, she has successfully overseen the analysis of the President's budget request for each of the appropriation bills, the scoring of the appropriation bills at each stage, the production and review of baselines, and the writing and coordination of CBO's annual report on unauthorized appropriations and expiring authorizations. Through all of these tasks, she has been the steady hand of the scorekeeping unit, generous with her time and knowledge, and vital to the smooth functioning of the budget analysis division. Senate staff and colleagues have come to depend on her for her ready expertise, diligence, and attention to detail. Janet is also famous for sharing her prodigious baking talent. Every year she has coordinated the provision of cookies during the conclusion of the December baseline, which often coincided with the final days of a congressional session. The appearance of a red-clothed table outside of the scorekeeping unit bearing plates of homemade cookies always brings a smile to stressed budget analysts checking final numbers or scoring final bills. Janet's expertise, corporate knowledge, and generosity of time and spirit will be sorely missed, but she well deserves an opportunity to rest after her years of outstanding service to the Congress. We are grateful for that service, and we wish her the best in the years to come.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, with the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, our Nation has lost an exceptional jurist and unshakable defender of the U.S. Constitution. Justice Scalia will be remembered for using his substantial intellect to affect how the American public views the Constitution and the role of the courts in interpreting the law. His thoughtful opinions over nearly 30 years on the Court shaped modern jurisprudence and helped facilitate a larger discussion on the role of the Constitution in contemporary terms and application. Justice Scalia had an accomplished career as an attorney, law professor, general counsel for the Office of Telecommunications Policy, chairman of the Administrative Conference, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel for the Department of Justice, and as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. It was an honor for me to support his confirmation as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court following his nomination by President Reagan in 1986. Justice Scalia, who had a great love for the arts, education, and hunting, developed an affinity for the State of Mississippi and made many friends during his visits to my State. Many Mississippians shared Justice Scalia's interest in hunting deer, duck, quail, and turkey, but his most important influence on Mississippi may result from the generous time he invested speaking to young scholars during his visits to university campuses in my State. We mark Justice Scalia's passing by rightfully acknowledging his many years of public service, his defense of the founding principles of our Nation, and his steadfast adherence to a conservative view of our Constitution. I am proud to have known and supported him. I extend to his family sincere condolences and the thanks of a grateful Nation for Justice Scalia's distinguished contributions and service to our Nation.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this weekend, Disney Pictures will release ``The Finest Hours,'' a cinematic retelling of a 1952 Coast Guard rescue mission off the New England coast. I am pleased to use its release as an opportunity to commend Mr. Gil Carmichael of Meridian, MS, an important participant in this mission, for his bravery during that storm and for a lifetime of service to the State of Mississippi and the Nation. Mr. Carmichael, an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard at the time, was awarded the Silver Life-Saving Medal for his heroic actions during that rescue mission. A 1952 Coast Guard news release described the rescue: For Release at 10: 30 a.m., May 14, 1952 Twenty-one Coast Guardsmen were decorated today by Edward H. Foley, Under Secretary of the Treasury, and Vice Admiral Merlin O'Neill, Coast Guard Commandant, for the rescue of 70 men in a heavy storm at sea Feb. 18-19. The rescued men were crew members of the tankers SS FORT MERCER and SS PENDLETON which broke in two in 70-knot winds and 60-foot seas off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass. The group ceremony was held in the Treasury before members of Congress and high ranking Coast Guard officers. Members of Congress from the homes of each man decorated, and members of committees which handle Coast Guard legislation, also were invited. Also present were William B. St. John of the National Bulk Carriers, Inc., owner of the PENDELTON, and C.A. Thomas, W.G. Johnson and P.J. Clausen of the Trinidad Corp., owner of the

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the State of Mississippi and the city of Tupelo lost a leader and model citizen with the passing of Jack Reed, Sr., on January 27. He led a remarkable life and earned an enviable reputation as a businessman, community leader, civil rights advocate, and education reformer. His tireless work in these roles was felt throughout Mississippi and set an example for embracing our better nature in facing all challenges. It has been a great privilege to have known Jack Reed. He was the epitome of a goodhearted man and my friend. I join a grateful State in expressing our appreciation for a life well lived that benefited us all. I ask that a January 28, 2016, article titled ``Tupelo Spirit loses a star: Reed remembered as one of Tupelo's best'' from the Daily Journal newspaper be printed in the Record. The material follows: [From the Daily Journal, Jan. 28, 2016] Tupelo Spirt Loses a Star: Reed Remembered as One of Tupelo's Best Tupelo.--Jack Raymond Reed, 91, Tupelo's pre-eminent civic leader, died Wednesday at his residence. Reed was among the last of a Greatest Generation cadre of Tupelo's business and professional leadership who, after World War II, transformed a pleasant county-seat town into a thriving city which became a regional magnet for economic growth, employment, strong public education and a vigorous arts and cultural community. Reed earned a national reputation as an eloquent advocate for racial fairness and reconciliation in Mississippi. He had served as a member of the United Methodist Church's Commission on Religion and Race, through which he became friends with key leaders in the national Civil Rights Movement. ``Of all the people I have known in our state of Mississippi, none has been more inspiring than Jack Reed. He was a leader in every way his whole lifetime,'' said former Mississippi Gov. William Winter. ``He was right and generous and fair in his personal, private and public views. He was an inspiration to me in both political and personal relationships. Jack commanded respect. He did nothing that was detrimental to our state or the principles for which he stood. He was a Christian man, an active member of his beloved Methodist church. He has made a mark in Mississippi that will live forever.'' Reed was chairman of R.W. Reed Co., the retail store founded by his father in the early 20th century, and he led Reed Manufacturing, which was a major force among Mississippi garment industry employers in its heyday. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Reed, born May 19, 1924, in Tupelo, was the son of Robert W. Reed Sr. and Hoyt Raymond Reed, herself a descendant of an early, influential Lee County family. Reed and his brothers, R.W. Reed Jr. and William Reed, were high-profile leaders in the region's business and manufacturing community for more than 50 years. Reed graduated from Tupelo High School with honors, attended Vanderbilt University and graduated with a bachelor's degree with honors in 1947, following an interruption of his college days for service in the South Pacific during World War II in the Signal Intelligence Service, U.S. Army of Occupation. Following the war, Reed earned a master's degree in retailing from New York University and returned to Tupelo, where he joined the businesses founded by his father and his father's brothers. ``Since the 1950s, Jack was considered to be in the upper leadership tier of the Tupelo area and from that platform, he really helped thousands of people by supporting numerous programs and initiatives,'' said Lewis Whitfield, senior vice president of the CREATE Foundation. ``He cared deeply about all people everywhere, and he was of course a tremendous advocate for education. He saw education as not only the key to community and economic development, but as a way for people to improve themselves. Jack was a great man and he left his mark on virtually every good thing in this community.'' Reed was a director emeritus of the Daily Journal's corporate board of directors, a position in which he served for a half century. Reed had been a close friend, confidant and community builder with the late George McLean, the Daily Journal's executive editor, publisher and the founder of CREATE, the not-for-profit foundation which owns all stock in Journal Inc. ``Jack Reed lived a remarkable life, a life marked by love for his family, love for his community and really a love for all mankind,'' said former Daily Journal publisher Billy Crews, now a development officer at the University of Mississippi. ``He is among the best businessmen I have ever known, in part because his trade was only a portion of his total business interest. His combination of intellect, humor and optimism influenced thousands of others and the very culture of Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi. He was a pioneering leader in education and race relations.'' Reed was no stranger to community involvement. He was active in his whole career in the Mississippi Economic Council, of which he served as president in 1964; president of the Mississippi Retail Merchants in 1967; chair of the Tupelo Community Development Foundation in 1968; president of the Yocona Council of the Boy Scouts of America; national president of the Vanderbilt Alumni Association in 1972 and 1973; chair of the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church; chair of the Governor's Special Committee of Public Education in 1980 and 1981; chair of the State Board of Education; a member of the board of trustees of Millsaps College; a founding member of the executive committee of Lee United Neighbors; chair of the board of CREATE; founding director of LIFT Inc. and chair of the National Advisory Council on Education Research and Improvement from 1991 through 1994. In addition, he received Tupelo's Outstanding Citizen Award in 1971 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. ``He was a very compassionate man, always willing to help those in troubling situations and people in every kind of life situation,'' said Guy Mitchell III, an attorney and confidant of Reed's. ``He was a giant as far as our city is concerned.'' He was married to Frances Purvis Reed, and they were the parents of four children, all of whom returned to Tupelo after college, three of them working for R.W. Reed Co. The fourth owns an investment firm in Tupelo. Jack Reed Jr. served as Tupelo mayor for one term, from 2009-13. Reed was well known statewide and worked with other leaders of many political persuasions for causes held in common. ``He was a strong leader, not only on the local level but on the state level. A very open minded and fair thinking person,'' said Tupelo City Council member Nettie Davis, the longest serving council member and lifelong Tupelo resident. ``He's one that stood out as far as providing unity and good leadership. I think it's going to be a great loss to our city, our area and the state of Mississippi.'' Reed chaired Mississippi's first lay State Board of Education from 1982-87, and later was tapped by President George H.W. Bush to head up the National Advisory Committee on Education Research and Improvement. Reed's stance on public education was a dominating portion of his campaign as the Republican nominee for governor in 1987. Reed eventually lost that race to Democrat Ray Mabus. Reed, in a 1999 archived interview for the University of Southern Mississippi, described his early years in Tupelo. ``Well, it was different. It was a good time for me,'' Reed said in the interview. ``My father was a merchant here, and my mother was also a native of this area. I had two brothers; we had a nice home. And of course, in this area, if you had anything at all, servants were plentiful in those days. So, we always had a cook, and it was in the Depression. We were aware of the Depression, but my father, fortunately, sold his business at the . . . appropriate time, and just before the Depression hit its bottom. And he bought it back within a year for considerably less than he sold it for, and it gave him enough inventory to keep things going. So, we weathered the Depression better than most.'' Reed also was an adolescent when the 1936 tornado--a deadly, devastating storm--struck, and he recalls its impact on the city. ``Our home was literally destroyed by the tornado,'' Reed said. ``People were killed across the street, and next door and behind us, but we survived that. Interestingly, during that time of the tornado, the store was not damaged. So, [my father] opened the store, told his friends to take what they needed, pay him when they could. I don't think he lost any money on the basis of that.'' But above all his civic, business and other contributions to Tupelo, Northeast Mississippi and the state, Reed said he always placed family as a top priority. ``The conclusion is family has been the most important thing in my life; remains so; has always been,'' Reed said. ``I'm a privileged person. All four of my children, went away, out of this state to college. All four of them are living here, now. I see my four children and my grandchildren every day unless something exceptional [happens]. We work together. My brothers and I were business partners for 50 years. ``I've been in one church all of my life. All of my children went to Tupelo public schools. I know some people would think that that's pretty provincial, but there's a stability to it that I have found has been very satisfying to me. So, that's the conclusion to my memoir.''

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I am pleased to recommend approval of the Omnibus appropriations and tax relief bill that will soon be considered by the Senate. This bill is consistent with the Budget Act that was enacted in November. It funds the operations of the Federal Government for the remainder of this fiscal year. It provides funding for the Department of Defense and the State Department, along with the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. immigration enforcement provisions. It provides a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health. It also funds improvements to our Nation's water and surface transportation infrastructure. I deeply appreciate the good work and active leadership of our committee's vice chairwoman, the distinguished Senator from Maryland. She has been a pleasure to work with. She has been very helpful in producing this bill. I also thank the very able staff members of the committee who have been very diligent and professional throughout this process. They are a credit to the Senate. Madam President, I urge approval of the bill.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend the remarkable 66-year, and still counting, career of Mississippi State University professor and lifelong educator, Robert E. ``Bob'' Wolverton, Sr., of Starkville, MS. His many years of hard work and dedication continue to inspire the Mississippi State family to learn more and achieve more for the betterment of our State and Nation. I congratulate Dr. Wolverton for his important contributions to higher education throughout his distinguished career. He and his wife, Peggy, are well respected and admired throughout the university and community. Mr. President, I ask that a December 1, 2015, article from Mississippi State University, titled ``MSU honors Wolverton with naming of new building rotunda,'' be printed in the Record. The material follows: [From the Mississippi State University, Dec. 1, 2015] MSU Honors Wolverton With Naming of New Building Rotunda (By Harriet Laird) Starkville, MS.--An accomplished professor and lifelong educator whose career spans more than six decades will be honored by Mississippi State with the naming of a select area in one of the university's newest and largest buildings. Robert E. ``Bob'' Wolverton Sr., former vice president for academic affairs and longtime professor of classics, will see his name etched into the rotunda of MSU's new classroom building, a 150,000 square foot structure currently under construction in the heart of the 137-year-old campus. The honor comes while the 90-year-old educator is still active as a member of the MSU faculty. Seeing more than 2,000 students walk each day through the facility's rotunda once construction is completed in the fall of 2016, this naming reflects Wolverton's dedication to educating students for 66 years, 38 of those at Mississippi State. ``Simply put, Dr. Wolverton is a venerable institution at our university,'' said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. ``At an age where most professors have long since retired, Dr. Wolverton continues to inspire his students, his colleagues, and this administration through his true wisdom and the passion he still has for the subject matter he imparts. What a fitting honor that the rotunda in one of our soon-to-be iconic buildings will forever bear his name.'' Wolverton began his tenure at MSU in 1977 when he became the university's vice president of academic affairs, having served previously as president for the College of Mount St. Joseph in Ohio. In 1986, he began teaching in the Department of Foreign Languages, now the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, serving as the unit's head from 1991-1996. A two-term chair of MSU's Robert Holland Faculty Senate, he last held the title eight years ago at age 82, with many regarding him as the ``elder statesman'' in such a position at any college or university. Also an MSU John Grisham Master Teacher, the highest honor given for excellence in classroom instruction, Wolverton has been honored with the MSU Alumni Association Faculty Achievement Award and College of Arts and Sciences Humanist Award. ``All of us admire Bob Wolverton for his unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching and to the students of MSU,'' said Jerry Gilbert, MSU provost and executive vice president. ``Through his many years of service, he has established himself as a tremendous asset to the university. I am so proud that we have chosen to recognize Bob by naming the rotunda in his honor.'' Wolverton holds a bachelor's degree in classics from Hanover (Indiana) College, a master's from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina. He has been on the faculty at the University of Georgia, and Tufts and Florida State universities. Active in the community, he was honored in 2001 as one of Mississippi's ``Ageless Heroes'' by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi. He has served as a board member for the Starkville Friends of the Library, president of the Starkville-MSU Symphony Association, and was a founding member of the Starkville Community Theatre.