Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, we simply cannot allow these harmful, indiscriminate budget cuts to be triggered. It is so disturbing to see our seniors worried about the possibility of a $25 billion cut in the Medicare Program. That is a 4-percent reduction. That would affect healthcare providers and healthcare services. There is no need for this indiscriminate cut to occur. It is critical that Congress act tonight, act immediately, so that seniors and our disabled citizens do not have the anxiety of wondering whether the tax bill will somehow negatively affect their healthcare. By voting to waive the point of order, we can remove that anxiety and prevent the indiscriminate cuts in Medicare and other essential programs from occurring. Pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the waiver provisions of applicable budget resolutions, I move to waive all applicable sections of that act and applicable budget resolutions for purposes of the House message to accompany H.R. 1370, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague from Rhode Island, Senator Reed, in introducing the Museum and Library Services Act of 2017. This bill would reauthorize the core programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which support libraries and museums in Maine and across the country. This bill includes important updates to improve the abilities of libraries and museums to meet the needs of local communities. The Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that enrich our communities. Libraries provide not only a wonderful learning tool, full of books, public documents, and internet access, but also are community hubs where citizens can meet to share and explore ideas. Likewise, great museums do more than accumulate artifacts--they tell stories. The programs reauthorized in this bill would help libraries and museums across Maine and the United States better serve the public by helping with research, planning, and programming. The Museum and Library Services Act would make important improvements to IMLS's ability to collaborate with states and communities. It would reauthorize the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the only federal program that helps public libraries meet their community's needs, enhance their services through technology, reach underserved and rural populations, and recruit new professionals to the library field. Ensuring that federal resources reach our rural communities is particularly important to me, and I am pleased that this bill highlights support for rural and tribal areas. Every state in our country receives its share of the LSTA, which leverages the federal investment with a state and local funding match. In Maine, the LSTA has helped libraries lend books and other materials by mail to reach residents in communities that do not have libraries nearby or who are homebound. It has helped Maine libraries serve individuals with disabilities through access to book recordings and special media players, including braille and audio downloads. It has helped my state improve online access to magazines, newspapers, and reference books, and spurred innovative collaborations with schools statewide. The bill would also reauthorize the Museum Services Act, providing support for museums to collaborate with schools, libraries, and colleges and universities, and to encourage new technologies to extend the reach of programs and museum collections. As with the LSTA, museums are incentivized to leverage other sources of support to match the federal investment. This reauthorization underscores the role that libraries and museums play in community revitalization. Libraries are important information centers for workforce development, health information, and digital and financial literacy. Museums are also vital community partners that work to connect our communities to the cultural, historical, natural, and scientific pieces of our heritage. From providing job search resources and free internet access to exposing children and families to enriching literary and educational experiences, libraries and museums serve vital roles in our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague from Rhode Island, Senator Reed, in introducing the Museum and Library Services Act of 2017. This bill would reauthorize the core programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which support libraries and museums in Maine and across the country. This bill includes important updates to improve the abilities of libraries and museums to meet the needs of local communities. The Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that enrich our communities. Libraries provide not only a wonderful learning tool, full of books, public documents, and internet access, but also are community hubs where citizens can meet to share and explore ideas. Likewise, great museums do more than accumulate artifacts--they tell stories. The programs reauthorized in this bill would help libraries and museums across Maine and the United States better serve the public by helping with research, planning, and programming. The Museum and Library Services Act would make important improvements to IMLS's ability to collaborate with states and communities. It would reauthorize the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the only federal program that helps public libraries meet their community's needs, enhance their services through technology, reach underserved and rural populations, and recruit new professionals to the library field. Ensuring that federal resources reach our rural communities is particularly important to me, and I am pleased that this bill highlights support for rural and tribal areas. Every state in our country receives its share of the LSTA, which leverages the federal investment with a state and local funding match. In Maine, the LSTA has helped libraries lend books and other materials by mail to reach residents in communities that do not have libraries nearby or who are homebound. It has helped Maine libraries serve individuals with disabilities through access to book recordings and special media players, including braille and audio downloads. It has helped my state improve online access to magazines, newspapers, and reference books, and spurred innovative collaborations with schools statewide. The bill would also reauthorize the Museum Services Act, providing support for museums to collaborate with schools, libraries, and colleges and universities, and to encourage new technologies to extend the reach of programs and museum collections. As with the LSTA, museums are incentivized to leverage other sources of support to match the federal investment. This reauthorization underscores the role that libraries and museums play in community revitalization. Libraries are important information centers for workforce development, health information, and digital and financial literacy. Museums are also vital community partners that work to connect our communities to the cultural, historical, natural, and scientific pieces of our heritage. From providing job search resources and free internet access to exposing children and families to enriching literary and educational experiences, libraries and museums serve vital roles in our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I thank Senator Nelson. I say, through the Chair, that is very gracious of the Senator. I have completed my statement. Thank you.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise to express my support for the conference agreement on the Tax Cuts and Job Act, the first major overhaul of our Tax Code since 1986. This legislation will provide tax relief to working families, encourage the creation of jobs right here in America, and spur economic growth that will benefit all Americans. Let me start by discussing the effects of this bill on individuals and families. Throughout this debate, I have emphasized that reforms to our outdated Tax Code must help working families. I, therefore, authored three key amendments that were retained in the final package. My amendments allow families to deduct up to $10,000 in State and local taxes, increase the deduction for medical expenses, and protect tax-free contributions for retirement savings. The original Senate bill would have eliminated the deduction known as SALT that allows taxpayers to avoid paying a Federal tax on State and local taxes that they have already paid. This provision has been in the Tax Code since 1913, when the income tax was first established. It is intended to prevent double taxation. My amendment, which was adopted by the Senate, restored the deduction for property taxes up to $10,000. I am pleased that the final bill goes a step further by allowing the deduction of property and income or sales taxes up to this level, which will assist even more Americans. My work to restore this deduction is especially important to families living in high-tax States like Maine, which has one of our Nation's highest tax burdens; yet Maine's per capita income ranks only 31st, which is nearly $5,200 below the U.S. average. Maintaining this deduction therefore provides important tax relief for those Mainers who itemize. My second amendment included in the conference agreement is a very important one. It is aimed at helping Americans struggling with high, unreimbursed healthcare costs, including seniors paying for long-term care for a loved one and those with expensive chronic healthcare conditions. My amendment lowers the threshold for claiming this deduction for these unreimbursed expenses from 10 percent to 7.5 percent of income for 2017 and 2018. The House bill would have eliminated this longstanding deduction used by approximately 8.8 million Americans annually, nearly half of whom make less than $50,000 per year. Retaining this important deduction and lowering the threshold will provide relief for those experiencing particularly high healthcare costs. That is why AARP and 44 other consumer groups strongly endorsed my amendments, stating: ``It provides important tax relief which helps offset the costs of acute and chronic medical conditions for older Americans, children, pregnant women, disabled individuals and other adults, as well as the costs associated with long-term care and assisted living.'' At a time when we need to be encouraging Americans to save more for their retirement, I am encouraged that the final agreement preserves the pretax contribution limits for retirement savings plans. We are in the midst of a silent but looming retirement security crisis in this country. According to the nonpartisan Center for Retirement Research, there is a $7.7 trillion gap between the savings that American households need to maintain their standard of living in retirement and what they actually have saved. We should be doing everything we can to encourage more saving, not less. For this reason, I am pleased that the final bill will include my third amendment, which struck the original Senate language eliminating the ability of public employees, such as firefighters, schoolteachers, and police officers, as well as clergy and those employed by charities and nonprofit organizations, to make what are called catch-up contributions to their retirement accounts. These employees are generally paid less than their counterparts employed by for-profit companies and thus are less able to save for their retirement. My provision would allow them to continue making these important extra investments toward a secure retirement. The conference agreement benefits lower and middle-income taxpayers significantly, while simplifying the tasks that no one relishes of completing their tax returns. Significantly, this bill nearly doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for those filing jointly. The child tax credit will be doubled from $1,000 to $2,000. Thanks to Senator Rubio's efforts, which I strongly supported, up to $1,400 of that tax credit will be refundable in order to benefit low-income families. Let's be more concrete. What do these reforms mean to families across our country? The 72 percent of Mainers who already use the standard deduction will have their taxes reduced. A family with $24,000 in income will pay no Federal income tax. A single mom earning $35,000 a year with one child will see her taxes drop by nearly 4,000 percent. Instead of paying money back to Washington, she will be getting back nearly $1,100 to help her make ends meet. A couple with no children earning $60,000 will see their taxes fall by more than $900. A couple with two children earning $60,000 will get a tax cut of about $1,700. That is a reduction of more than 100 percent. The bottom line is that most Maine households will see their taxes go down. I was very concerned about a number of important deductions for individuals that would have been eliminated under the House bill. Having worked at Husson University in Bangor before my election to the Senate, I am well aware of how critical education deductions and credits are to our students and their families; therefore, I had several fruitful discussions with a key conferee, Senator Rob Portman, about preserving those deductions that help students afford higher education. I appreciate his strong advocacy for these provisions that I care so much about as a result of my direct experience working with college students. In fact, one of the very first bills that I introduced in the Senate as a new Senator in 1997 was to provide a deduction for interest paid on student loans. The conference agreement maintains that deductibility of interest on student loans, as well as the tax exemption for employer-provided tuition assistance and for graduate student tuition waivers. All of those important deductions are maintained in this bill and will help Americans improve their earnings because of the increased education they will have. The bill also maintains a $250 deduction--a provision I authored some 15 years ago--that allows teachers to deduct the costs of classroom supplies they purchase with their own money. Having visited more than 200 schools in the State of Maine, I know firsthand how dedicated teachers dig deep into their own pockets to buy supplies to enhance the education of their students. In addition, this bill would modernize the ABLE accounts, which are tax-preferred savings accounts essential for providing long-term support for individuals with disabilities and their families. The bill also continues the tax credit to encourage adoptions. The final agreement also preserves a number of deductions and credits that are so important to our communities. I worked hard to preserve the historic tax credit so businesses rehabilitating older buildings in communities like Lewiston, ME, will continue to do so. I am also pleased that private activity bonds, which are vital to many hospitals and institutions of higher education, are continued, as are the affordable housing and new markets tax credits. We have found proven ways to encourage public-private partnerships, and we ought to continue to incentivize these important partnerships. How this legislation treats employers has also been the subject of much debate, but the reality is the United States cannot continue to have the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world at 35 percent. We are losing jobs as businesses make the calculation to invest overseas. I have talked to the executives of General Dynamics, which owns Bath Iron Works in Maine and employs more than 5,000 Mainers; to United Technology, which employs more than 1,900 people in North Berwick at its Pratt & Whitney plant; to General Electric, which has a major plant in Bangor; to Proctor & Gamble, which employs 400 workers in Auburn; and to Idexx, which is such an important high-tech employer in Westbrook, about the positive difference this legislation will make in their ability to create jobs in America. New Balance, which has about 900 workers in Maine manufacturing footwear, describes the tax reforms as follows: ``New Balance will be more competitive and manufacture more footwear in Maine that we can export across the globe.'' This significant Maine employer went on to say: ``Companies like New Balance, which already has a strong domestic manufacturing presence, will be able to increase investments in their facilities and be more globally competitive while remaining a U.S. company hiring U.S. workers.'' These words are echoed by the manager of the Pratt & Whitney plant who wrote to me: ``The reforms . . . will allow companies like ours to bring home earnings from abroad to invest in research and development, advanced manufacturing, energy efficiency, and workforce initiatives. . . . Pratt & Whitney plans to hire thousands of people over the next several years across our U.S. operations, and this tax reform will further support our efforts.'' Isn't that what we seek? Isn't that what tax reform should bring about--more jobs, right here in America? The bill also includes changes important for our small businesses which employ nearly half of all workers and generate two out of three net new jobs in our country. They are the true engine of our economy, especially in the great State of Maine. The bill would provide tax relief that enables them to create more jobs, increase paychecks, and grow our economy. As the president of the Retail Association of Maine recently commented about this tax reform bill, ``For Maine and its nearly 9,000 retail establishments and the more than 80,000 retail jobs, this is welcome relief for small businesses.'' According to the National Federation of Independent Business, Maine ranks fifth in the Nation for the share of workers employed by passthrough businesses, as most small employers are structured. The NFIB, our Nation's small business advocacy group, has strongly endorsed this final bill. Small businesses make an outsized contribution to our Nation's economy; yet they face a tax burden that can reach nearly 40 percent at the Federal level and can be significantly higher than the corporate tax rates paid by larger firms. Small businesses are forced to devote more resources to tax payments and fewer resources to creating good jobs and investing in their communities. This bill provides important tax relief to small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. Let's listen to the words of some of the small businesses from Maine that have written or talked to me. The owner of Windham Millwork, an architectural woodworking company, described the relief for small businesses and how it will help manufacturing workers and families this way: ``Most importantly, it means Windham Millwork will have more money to spend on what matters--our workers and community. With the money we'll save, we can create new jobs or offer better pay to our workforce . . . which helps everyone in our community and contributes to a growing Maine economy.'' The innkeeper of the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport noted: ``This tax reform bill helps level the playing field for small businesses not only in the hotel industry, but across the economy. With a lower tax burden, small businesses in all industries can continue to grow, creating more jobs.'' Moreover, a family-owned business in southern Maine described for me how the bill would benefit Maine companies and the people who work for them: ``When [companies] become more profitable, they reinvest faster, grow faster, and increase profit-sharing. Employees benefit when companies grow. There are more jobs, more opportunities, more security, more mobility, more innovation.'' Tax reform should spur this kind of economic growth. The weak growth and stagnant wages we have seen in recent years cannot be accepted as the new normal for our country. It is clear where the current path would lead if we do not act. CBO projects the current slow growth of just 1.9 percent per year will continue throughout the next decade--far below the historic average of 3 percent. This would result in our public debt exceeding 90 percent of GDP by 2027, just as our obligations to the baby boom generation begin to crest. Surely, we can do better. Tax relief and reform will lift our economy, leading to higher wages for workers and more revenue for government. Extrapolating from a CBO estimate, an increase of just four-tenths of 1 percent in economic growth could produce revenues that are in excess of $1 trillion over the next 10 years. If we remain on our present trajectory, however, growth will remain stagnant. Continued slow growth will crowd out many funding priorities, harm our national security, place significant strain on Federal programs, and impose a burden on our children and our grandchildren. We must act now to reignite the engine of growth, to provide for the next generation the same promise of a brighter future we received from those who came before us. Finally, let me discuss the critical issue of healthcare. It has been deeply disturbing to see seniors frightened about the possibility that this tax bill could trigger an automatic 4-percent cut in the vital Medicare Program. Although I knew that the law that could cause this reduction has been waived 16 times, I felt it was essential that our leaders publicly commit that Medicare reductions would not be triggered by this legislation. I don't know of any Senator on either side of the aisle who is seeking to have an automatic 4-percent cut in Medicare go into effect. I ask unanimous consent that my exchange of correspondence with the Senate majority leader be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my statement. This pledge is ironclad and, I hope, reassuring to our seniors. I am also concerned about the inclusion of the repeal of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act as part of this tax bill. I don't think the two issues should have been combined, but let me be very clear: I have never supported the individual mandate. There is a big difference between fining people who choose to go without health insurance versus the bills considered last summer and fall that would have taken away insurance coverage from people who have it and want it. Those bills also would have made sweeping cuts in the Medicaid Program. The financial penalty under the individual mandate for failing to comply with it falls disproportionately on lower-income Americans. Eighty percent of those who pay the fine make under $50,000 a year. For many of these individuals, the cost of insurance under the ACA is simply unaffordable. Individuals making 250 percent of the Federal poverty level--that is just over $30,000--are not eligible for the subsidies to reduce deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs that are known as the cost-sharing reductions. So, essentially, the insurance they are being fined for, if they don't buy, is virtually useless to them because the deductibles and the copays are so high, and if they make over 250 percent of the poverty level--over $30,000 a year--they cannot afford it. I want to make an important point that has been overlooked in this debate. Any Senator, Democratic or Republican, could have offered an amendment on the Senate floor to strike the repeal of the individual mandate. None--not one--chose to do so. That is telling, indeed, and reflects both how unpopular the mandate is and how burdensome its impact is. Nevertheless, repealing the individual mandate without other healthcare reforms will almost certainly lead to further increases in the costs of health insurance premiums that are already too expensive under the ACA. For these reasons, I have made it a priority to secure passage of two bipartisan bills that will help make health insurance more affordable. Shouldn't that be a goal that all of us can embrace? Both of these bills have the support of the President, the Vice President, and the Senate Republican leaders. In fact, Majority Leader McConnell and I engaged in a colloquy affirming that commitment. The first bill, the Bipartisan Healthcare Stabilization Act, sponsored by Senators Alexander and Murray, will provide vital funding to help low-income families pay their out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and copays associated with certain ACA health insurance. I am proud to be one of the 22 cosponsors of the bipartisan Alexander- Murray bill. The second is a bipartisan bill that I introduced with my friend and colleague Senator Bill Nelson. It would protect people with preexisting conditions while lowering the cost of health insurance through the use of high-risk pools. This plan will provide $5 billion annually for 2 years in seed money for States to establish invisible high-risk pools or traditional reinsurance programs. We don't have to guess about the impact. I am going to quote some actuarial studies shortly. The fact is that we know from experience in States like Maine and Alaska that high-risk pools can help to lower premiums substantially, by an average of 20 percent. Analyses show that enactment of these two bills together will reduce the cost of health insurance, thus making it more affordable. According to analysis by experts at Oliver Wyman, the passage of these bills will more than offset the premium increases caused by the repeal of the individual mandate. In fact, Oliver Wyman suggests in its estimate that the $5 billion in funding would be sufficient to allow States to leverage more than $15 billion in reinsurance coverage, and it would result in premiums that were more than 20 percent lower than if the individual mandate were repealed and the package of provisions were not implemented. Furthermore, analysis by experts at Avalere project that ``in combination, CSR funding and $5B in annual reinsurance could lower 2019 premiums by 18% and increase enrollment by 1.3M people.'' The National Association of Insurance Commissioners wrote that these two bills would significantly reduce health insurance premiums and help promote more stability in insurance markets. The NAIC said: ``Providing reliable federal funding to reimburse health insurance carriers for the Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) program assistance they give to low-income consumers and grants for states to establish invisible high risk pools or reinsurance programs would reduce premium increases as much as 20 percent and could encourage some carriers to stay in the market.'' In evaluating this bill, the question we should ask is not, Does this tax cut make Washington better off? The right question to ask is, Does this tax cut make the American people better off? The answer to that question is yes. The bill puts money back into the pockets of American taxpayers with tax cuts beginning January 1. As soon as the IRS updates withholding tables this winter, taxpayers will see the benefit of this bill in their paychecks. Over time, Americans will also see more benefit from this legislation in the form of higher wages. Businesses, small and large, will make the investments that will create more jobs.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I will cast my vote in support of the conference agreement on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While it is by no means perfect, on balance, this reform bill will provide much needed tax relief. It will benefit lower and middle-income families, while spurring the creation of good jobs and greater economic growth.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague from Illinois, Senator Duckworth, in introducing the Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act of 2017. Our bill seeks to encourage and support women pursuing careers in the field of aviation. As Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I believe it is important to help women achieve their professional aspirations across all transportation sectors. Although women make up over 50 percent of our Nation's workforce, they are significantly underrepresented in the aviation industry, representing only two percent of airline mechanics, four percent of flight engineers, five percent of repairmen, six percent of pilots, 18 percent of flight dispatchers, and 26 percent of air traffic controllers. Our bill expresses the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should explore the possibility of offering opportunities, such as pilot training, STEM education, and mentorship programs, which would help to encourage women to pursue aviation careers from a young age. In addition, our bill would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and manage a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to hold the industry accountable for providing education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment programs that are aimed at women. Finally, in another effort to improve the availability and quality of educational opportunities for women pursuing careers in aviation, this legislation would require that the FAA submit a report to Congress on current trends concerning women in aviation and the potential for expanding related programming. Mr. President, I believe this bill will have a positive impact on the workforce supporting one of our country's leading industries. I want to thank Senator Duckworth for partnering with me on this effort, and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague from Illinois, Senator Duckworth, in introducing the Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act of 2017. Our bill seeks to encourage and support women pursuing careers in the field of aviation. As Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I believe it is important to help women achieve their professional aspirations across all transportation sectors. Although women make up over 50 percent of our Nation's workforce, they are significantly underrepresented in the aviation industry, representing only two percent of airline mechanics, four percent of flight engineers, five percent of repairmen, six percent of pilots, 18 percent of flight dispatchers, and 26 percent of air traffic controllers. Our bill expresses the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should explore the possibility of offering opportunities, such as pilot training, STEM education, and mentorship programs, which would help to encourage women to pursue aviation careers from a young age. In addition, our bill would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and manage a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to hold the industry accountable for providing education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment programs that are aimed at women. Finally, in another effort to improve the availability and quality of educational opportunities for women pursuing careers in aviation, this legislation would require that the FAA submit a report to Congress on current trends concerning women in aviation and the potential for expanding related programming. Mr. President, I believe this bill will have a positive impact on the workforce supporting one of our country's leading industries. I want to thank Senator Duckworth for partnering with me on this effort, and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell and to express my gratitude to Senator Luther Strange as he leaves the U.S. Senate. During his too-brief tenure here, he established an admirable reputation for hard work, dedication to his State of Alabama and our Nation, and a commitment to principles. Senator Strange was appointed to the Senate last February to fill the vacancy created when Senator Jeff Sessions became Attorney General of the United States. From the start, it was clear that Senator Strange's pride in his home State was matched only by his humility at being selected to represent the State he loves. Building on the reputation he earned as attorney general for Alabama, Senator Strange established himself here as a determined advocate for the rule of law and defender of our Constitution. From preserving the Senate traditions that foster full and open debate to supporting our veterans and strengthening our national security and our economy, Senator Strange has worked on a number of important initiatives. Senator Strange has met the obligations of his office with energy and dedication, and it has been an honor to serve with him in the U.S. Senate. I wish him and Melissa all the best in the years to come and look forward to many more contributions and accomplishments from this distinguished American.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by my colleague Senator Angus King in sponsoring this resolution to designate December 16, 2017, as Wreaths Across America Day. Since its inception, the Wreaths Across America project has become an annual tradition of donating, transporting, and placing Maine balsam fir remembrance wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at veterans cemeteries and memorials in every State and overseas. In the program's 26 years, more than 4.5 million wreaths have been placed in honor of those who have served our country. The origin of Wreaths Across America is an inspiring example of that generosity and gratitude. During the Christmas season in 1992, Morrill and Karen Worcester took time during their busiest season to donate and deliver wreaths from their company in Harrington, ME, to Arlington National Cemetery to honor the heroes who lie at rest there. At first, a small group of volunteers laid the wreaths with little notice. In recent years, however, the Arlington Wreath Project has grown to become a national phenomenon. The people of Maine are proud that this important and well-deserved tradition began in our State. This year, on December 16, thousands of volunteers in Arlington, throughout our Nation, and overseas will carry out the mission of Wreaths Across America to ``Remember, Honor, Teach.'' This will conclude a weeklong procession between Maine and Virginia, with stops along the way to pause and remember the men and women who have died to preserve our freedoms, spread the message about the importance of honoring those who serve, and remind the people of the United States about the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. This procession helps to ensure that those sacrifices are never forgotten. The Patriot Guard Riders, along with other dedicated escort groups, will accompany tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. America's trucking industry has long supported Wreaths Across America by providing drivers, equipment, fuel, and related services to assist in the transportation of wreaths across the country to more than 1,200 locations. Wreaths Across America not only honors our departed heroes but also imparts the important message to veterans who are still with us that we honor their service. It tells our men and women in uniform today that we are grateful for their courage and devotion to duty. It tells the families of those serving our country that they are in our thoughts and prayers. And it tells the families of the fallen that we share their grief. Throughout human history, the evergreen wreath has been offered as a tribute to heroes. On December 16, 2017, we will again offer this enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice as part of our never-ending obligation to thank those who wore the uniform of our country. In this season of giving, we will pay tribute to those who have given us the most precious gift of all--our freedom.

Ms. COLLINS

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

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 495 expire at 4 p.m. today, December 5; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today I wish to join in a colloquy with the majority leader to address concerns that I have with the tax reform legislation that we are considering and to thank him for the many discussions that we have had over the past months about this bill. I have made clear that I don't think that the repeal of the individual mandate should have been included in the tax bill. Rather, I would prefer to see the mandate issue and the other flaws in the ACA addressed through a series of discrete bills that can be thoughtfully targeted to correct specific problems. That said, I have long-supported the repeal of the so-called individual mandate because I do not believe that the Federal Government should force any American to buy healthcare coverage he or she either does not want or cannot afford. Eighty percent of the people who pay the penalty imposed by the mandate make less than $50,000 a year. Nevertheless, it appears very likely that the individual mandate repeal will be part of this legislation. Unless we take action, that repeal will almost certainly lead to further increases in the cost of health insurance premiums--premiums that are already too expensive under the ACA. Therefore, I believe that it is imperative that Congress take action to mitigate this likely premium increase. There are two steps we can take to help remedy this situation. First, we need to pass the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017, legislation authored by HELP Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray. This legislation will not only give States critical flexibility to better manage their insurance markets, but will also provide funding in 2019 and 2020 for cost-sharing reductions received by low-income enrollees in the ACA exchanges.

Ms. COLLINS. I thank the majority leader for his response. Second, it is critical that we provide States with the support they need to create State-based high-risk pools for their individual health insurance markets. In September, I introduced the bipartisan Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017, a bill that would allow States to protect people with preexisting conditions while lowering premiums through the use of these high-risk pools. That bill would create a menu of options States could use to design reinsurance programs, which in turn would be eligible for Federal ``seed money'' grants that could leverage section 1332 ``flow-through'' funding to finance the programs. States may also add funds from other sources to the mix. We know from the experience of Alaska and Maine just how effective such high-risk pools can be. Alaska's pool reduced a projected 40 percent rate increase to just 7 percent this year and is expected to contribute to a 20-percent decline in premiums next year. Maine saw similar results in its program, the Maine Guaranteed Access Reinsurance Association. I believe that passage of legislation to create and provide $5 billion in funding for high-risk pools annually over 2 years, together with the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act, is critical for helping to offset the impact on individual market premiums in 2019 and 2020 due to repeal of the individual mandate.

Ms. COLLINS. I thank the majority leader

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to discuss four amendments that I have submitted to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would strengthen this legislation in ways that are important to our middle-income families. I express my thanks to the majority leader, my colleagues, and the administration for working with me on these proposals. The first amendment would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in State and local property taxes. In recent years, more than 95 percent of all of those who itemize on their tax forms and 28 percent of all Federal income tax filers deducted State and local taxes, including property taxes. Yet the Senate bill would eliminate this deduction altogether. The deduction for State and local taxes has been part of our Tax Code since 1913, when the income tax became law. It was intended to prevent a Federal tax from being imposed on a State tax. In other words, it was to prevent double taxation. This deduction is especially important to the people of Maine. In my State, 166,000 itemizers deducted a total of $725 million in property taxes on their Federal income tax returns. This amendment would allow the vast majority of Mainers who itemize to continue to fully deduct their property taxes. Improving the bill in this way--by preserving the property tax deduction up to $10,000--is crucial for middle-income taxpayers across the United States. In fact, for filers earning less than $75,000 who itemize, the State and local property tax deduction is typically larger than the State and local income tax deduction. While I would prefer allowing the deduction of both State and local income and property taxes, the benefits of the property tax deduction are particularly important to middle-income families with less than $75,000 in income. In addition, by allowing the deduction of up to $10,000 in property taxes, my amendment parallels the provision that has been included in the House version of the tax bill. My second amendment would strike a provision that could lessen the retirement benefits of church, charity, school, and government employees, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers. I appreciate very much that my colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman, has cosponsored this amendment. We are in the midst of a retirement crisis in this country. According to the nonpartisan Center for Retirement Research, there is a $7.7 trillion gap between the savings that American households need to maintain their standards of living in retirement and what they actually have. As Americans are living longer, seniors are in danger of outliving their savings or of no longer being able to enjoy the comfortable retirements they once had envisioned. We must do everything we can to encourage people to save more for retirement, not less. Employees of churches, charities, schools, and local governments are generally paid less than their counterparts who work for for-profit businesses. Thus, they are less able to save for their retirements, especially early in their careers. Accordingly, there are special catch-up rules that allow these employees to contribute additional amounts near the ends of their careers when they are likely to have higher salaries. There is also a special rule that permits churches, charities, and public educational institutions to make contributions for employees after they retire so as to make up for the shortfalls in the employees' retirement savings during their working years. Regrettably, as drafted, the Senate bill would hurt many church, charity, school, and government workers by eliminating these critical tax rules, including the ability to make these catchup and makeup contributions to retirement accounts. Striking this provision, as my amendment would do, would ensure that those employees who serve the public achieve greater retirement security. My third amendment would improve the child and dependent care tax credit by making it refundable, thus providing much needed assistance to low-income working families. Making this credit refundable would help many families afford high-quality childcare or adult daycare for older parents or relatives who can no longer care for themselves. Working families are increasingly faced with difficult decisions when it comes to balancing care and work, with some concluding that the steep cost of care serves as a barrier to working more or working at all. Nearly 15 million children in America under the age of 6 have working parents. These parents, particularly single parents, often struggle to find affordable, quality daycare, which ensures that they can continue to work while having the peace of mind that their children or their elderly parents are well cared for. Congress should make this tax credit refundable, meaning that families who have no Federal income tax liability but pay other taxes will also benefit. Since it is not currently refundable, most low- and some middle-income tax-paying families are unable to take advantage of the childcare tax credit. In fact, according to the Tax Policy Center, almost no families in the bottom income quintile have been able to claim that credit. Think about that. These are the lowest income families who need help the most in paying for childcare or care for a dependent, elderly parent or grandparent or other relative; yet virtually none of them qualify for the credit--none of them are able to claim the credit. To pay for making the child and adult dependent care credit refundable, my amendment would close the carried interest loophole, a tax reform that the President has endorsed. Finally, high medical expenses are continuing to burden many American consumers, yet due to a highly unfortunate provision in the Affordable Care Act, consumers can deduct medical expenses only if they exceed 10 percent of their income. That threshold used to be 7.5 percent, and my amendment would return the threshold to that level to help taxpayers, particularly seniors who are struggling with the cost of long-term care for a loved one. Just this past week, when I was in Maine, an elderly gentleman stopped me in the grocery store to tell me that he simply cannot afford long-term care for his beloved wife, given the change in this threshold. For those who suffer from chronic medical conditions, experience unexpected illnesses or injury, or find that long-term care services are a necessity but are not covered by insurance or Medicare, healthcare expenses can quickly become an unbearable burden. Many Americans are forced to choose between purchasing medical services and making other equally necessary expenditures. Since World War II, the medical expense deduction has provided much needed assistance to Americans with catastrophic medical expenses. We should reverse this ill-advised provision of the Affordable Care Act and reinstate the ability of those hard-pressed by high medical costs to deduct expenses in excess of 7.5 percent of their income. I believe that all four of these amendments would strengthen this legislation in critical ways and make it more beneficial for middle- income Americans. Thank you.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Maine is home to strong communities and compassionate citizens. Nowhere are those qualities more evident than in our State's commitment to end the scourge of homelessness. This effort has taken a significant step forward through the establishment of a single continuum of care for the State of Maine. The merger of the Portland Continuum of Care and the Maine Balance of State Continuum of Care will better enable local service providers, the statewide homeless council, and State and Federal agencies to address homelessness throughout Maine while accommodating specific local needs. This consolidation began in 2012 with the merger of the Bangor/Greater Penobscot Continuum with the Maine Balance of State Continuum of Care. I particularly commend the Maine State Housing Authority for its leadership during this process. Maine's unified continuum of care will create greater efficiencies in the use of Federal funding under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, the first major national response to homelessness. As chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I am confident that this unification will enhance the ability of Maine's service providers to help guide Federal policies and programs that assist low- income Americans, families with children, young people, seniors, and our veterans in obtaining safe shelter and affordable housing. With a 9-percent reduction in homelessness from fiscal year 2016 to 2017, Maine is making great progress in aiding our most vulnerable citizens. The creation of a unified continuum of care will accelerate this progress, and I congratulate all who made it possible.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today, I join my colleagues, Senators Shaheen, Isakson, and Menendez, in introducing the International Violence Against Women Act of 2017. This legislation makes ending violence against women and girls a top diplomatic priority. It permanently authorizes the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues and the position of the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. It requires the Administration to develop and implement an annual strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls for each of the five years after the date of enactment. This bill would ensure that efforts begun under President George W. Bush and President Obama to combat gender-based violence continue in future Administrations. Mr. President, we have witnessed great strides in women's equality in our own Country, and in much of the world, over the past century. Across vast swathes of the globe, however, violence against women and forced marriage remain everyday problems. One out of every three women worldwide will be physically, sexually, or otherwise abused during her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries. This type of violence ranges from domestic violence, rape, and acid burnings to dowry deaths and so-called ``honor killings.'' Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic, and a barrier to solving global challenges such as extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, and conflict. Such violence is often exacerbated in humanitarian emergencies and conflict settings. In Iraq and Syria, girls and women have been abducted from their homes and villages, sold into sexual slavery, and forced into marriages with fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In Burma, rape is used as a weapon against the women and girls of the Rohingya ethnic group. In Nigeria, girls as young as 11-years-old are offered a horrendous choice by Boko Haram: carry out suicide bomb attacks against Nigerian villages or live in forced marriages and sexual slavery. This systemic targeting of women is not confined to conflict zones. In India, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women said that they experience such crimes ``from womb to tomb.'' Compounding this tragedy, local police often decline to investigate or seek justice. In Afghanistan, women and girls are concerned that as Western forces draw down and attention shifts away from their country, the fragile gains that have been made there could be lost. The International Violence Against Women Act--IVAWA--ensures that the U.S. will continue to take a leadership role in combatting these problems. It establishes that it is the policy of the United States to take action to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the globe and to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to address gender-based violence into U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance programs. Specifically, IVAWA will foster efforts in four areas. First, it will increase legal and judicial protections by establishing and supporting laws and legal structures that prevent and appropriately respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, including ``honor killings'' and forced marriage. Emphasis will be placed on promoting political, legal, and institutional reforms that recognize violence against women and girls as a crime and train police and the judiciary to hold violators accountable and to respond to the needs of victims. Second, IVAWA will increase efforts to build health sector capacity, integrating programs to address violence against women and girls into existing health programs focused on child survival, women's health, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Third, IVAWA will focus on preventing violence by changing community norms and attitudes about the acceptability of violence against women and girls. And fourth, IVAWA will focus on reducing women and girls' vulnerability to violence by improving their economic status and educational opportunities. Efforts will include ensuring that women have access to job training and employment opportunities and increasing their right to own land and property, allowing them to potentially support themselves and their children. Violence has a profound effect on the lives of women and girls. In addition to being a pressing human rights issue, such violence contributes to inequality and political instability, making it a security issue as well as a moral issue for us all. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to end violence against women and girls and to provide the assistance and resources necessary to achieve this goal.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today, I join my colleagues, Senators Shaheen, Isakson, and Menendez, in introducing the International Violence Against Women Act of 2017. This legislation makes ending violence against women and girls a top diplomatic priority. It permanently authorizes the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues and the position of the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. It requires the Administration to develop and implement an annual strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls for each of the five years after the date of enactment. This bill would ensure that efforts begun under President George W. Bush and President Obama to combat gender-based violence continue in future Administrations. Mr. President, we have witnessed great strides in women's equality in our own Country, and in much of the world, over the past century. Across vast swathes of the globe, however, violence against women and forced marriage remain everyday problems. One out of every three women worldwide will be physically, sexually, or otherwise abused during her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries. This type of violence ranges from domestic violence, rape, and acid burnings to dowry deaths and so-called ``honor killings.'' Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic, and a barrier to solving global challenges such as extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, and conflict. Such violence is often exacerbated in humanitarian emergencies and conflict settings. In Iraq and Syria, girls and women have been abducted from their homes and villages, sold into sexual slavery, and forced into marriages with fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In Burma, rape is used as a weapon against the women and girls of the Rohingya ethnic group. In Nigeria, girls as young as 11-years-old are offered a horrendous choice by Boko Haram: carry out suicide bomb attacks against Nigerian villages or live in forced marriages and sexual slavery. This systemic targeting of women is not confined to conflict zones. In India, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women said that they experience such crimes ``from womb to tomb.'' Compounding this tragedy, local police often decline to investigate or seek justice. In Afghanistan, women and girls are concerned that as Western forces draw down and attention shifts away from their country, the fragile gains that have been made there could be lost. The International Violence Against Women Act--IVAWA--ensures that the U.S. will continue to take a leadership role in combatting these problems. It establishes that it is the policy of the United States to take action to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the globe and to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to address gender-based violence into U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance programs. Specifically, IVAWA will foster efforts in four areas. First, it will increase legal and judicial protections by establishing and supporting laws and legal structures that prevent and appropriately respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, including ``honor killings'' and forced marriage. Emphasis will be placed on promoting political, legal, and institutional reforms that recognize violence against women and girls as a crime and train police and the judiciary to hold violators accountable and to respond to the needs of victims. Second, IVAWA will increase efforts to build health sector capacity, integrating programs to address violence against women and girls into existing health programs focused on child survival, women's health, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Third, IVAWA will focus on preventing violence by changing community norms and attitudes about the acceptability of violence against women and girls. And fourth, IVAWA will focus on reducing women and girls' vulnerability to violence by improving their economic status and educational opportunities. Efforts will include ensuring that women have access to job training and employment opportunities and increasing their right to own land and property, allowing them to potentially support themselves and their children. Violence has a profound effect on the lives of women and girls. In addition to being a pressing human rights issue, such violence contributes to inequality and political instability, making it a security issue as well as a moral issue for us all. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to end violence against women and girls and to provide the assistance and resources necessary to achieve this goal.

Ms. COLLINS

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

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Fourteenth Street School in Bangor, ME, on being named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Serving students from prekindergarten through the third grade, this outstanding school in the city I am proud to live is one of only 342 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability. The success at Fourteenth Street School is the result of two guiding philosophies. The first is ``meet the students where they are,'' with instruction and support tailored to the strengths and needs of each individual student. The second is ``all hands on deck,'' a call for all staff members to engage with students and encourage them to achieve their full potential. One of the unique features of Fourteenth Street School is the use of every opportunity during the school day to support learning. Whether in the classroom, preparing for recess, or standing in the lunchroom, students may be participating in a math game, reciting a rhyme, or singing. The entire school eats lunch together daily, and a staff member uses this time to read aloud to students. This focus on literacy even extends to physical education classes, where the PE teacher often reads articles from sports magazines to students. The impact of this dedication to individual students is evident. Over the last 5 years, average attendance exceeded 95 percent, and 100 percent of students participated in at least one afterschool activity. Another important factor in the school's success is the emphasis on building strong relationships with families. Through schoolwide and classroom newsletters, parent meetings, parents and educators accelerating kids--PEAK--events, academic showcases, and, most important, direct communication with teachers, parents have the opportunity to play a significant role in their children's education. I applaud the administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students of Fourteenth Street School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to generate confidence and momentum for learning. This outstanding school is making a difference in the lives of its students, helping them to become independent, responsible learners and citizens. I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has selected Fourteenth Street School for this well-deserved honor, and I congratulate the entire school community for this outstanding achievement.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Bernard Shaw devoted his life to supporting Maine's family farms and to preserving our State's agricultural heritage. His recent passing at 88 years of age was a great loss, but he left behind a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come. I rise today in tribute to this outstanding leader and to offer my deepest condolences to his wife Norma, family, and friends. Growing up in Aroostook County, the heart of Maine's potato industry, I saw every day the importance of family farms to our way of life and to our communities. Bernard was a leader in this iconic Aroostook industry. Born in Limestone, ME, near my hometown of Caribou, Bernard began farming with Norma's father, Herman Ward. In addition to helping to build a strong and successful family business, he served the industry in numerous agricultural organizations at the local, State, and national levels. Bernard served as Maine's commissioner of agriculture from 1988 to 1996 during Governor McKernan's administration. During my own service in State government, I had the pleasure of working alongside Bernard, a leader of uncommon energy, intelligence, and dedication. During their 67 years of marriage, in both Aroostook County and our State capital of Augusta, Bernard and Norma were active volunteers in their community, serving youth programs, civic organizations, schools, and their church. Upon Bernard's retirement in 1996, the couple devoted countless hours to the Augusta Food Bank, helping their neighbors in need throughout the capital region. In 2012, Bernard and Norma were honored with the Maine Agriculture Commissioner's Distinguished Service Award. The citation accompanying that award described them as ``two of the most accomplished, yet humble, contributors to Maine's agricultural community'' who personified the traditional, hard-working Maine farm family. Bernard Shaw was guided by the traditions that define Maine, and he strengthened them for the future. His invaluable contributions to agriculture and to our State will be deeply missed, but he will long be remembered for his leadership and vision.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Falmouth Elementary School in Falmouth, ME, on being named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Serving students from kindergarten through the fifth grade, this outstanding school is one of only 342 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability. The Blue Ribbon designation continues a tradition of quality education in Falmouth. Established just 6 years ago, the elementary school is relatively young; however, it has a rich history steeped in tradition. The union of two schools in 2011 created the largest elementary school in Maine. One of those schools, Plummer-Motz, received a Blue Ribbon Award in 2005, and the dedication to quality education was expanded through a transition that was guided by a team of representatives from each of the two schools. Faculty and staff at Falmouth are committed to both academic excellence and each child's social, emotional, and physical health. They work to ensure a safe and secure learning environment and to develop strong and collaborative relationships with parents and community members. Students have rich and diverse learning opportunities in art and music, and library skills are part of every child's learning. World language instruction starts in the first grade, and computer science classes start in grade 3. Students benefit from interdisciplinary learning through the garden-greenhouse and through celebrations such as Arts Nights, Coder Express, and Engineering Night. This award recognizes that Falmouth Elementary School students achieve at the highest level. The school involves all students in extracurricular activities, which helps forge a strong school community where students are connected and encouraged to pursue their interests. I applaud the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Falmouth Elementary School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to generate confidence and momentum for learning. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens. I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has selected Falmouth Elementary School for this well-deserved honor, and I congratulate the entire school community for this outstanding achievement.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Connors-Emerson School in Bar Harbor, ME, on being named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Serving students from kindergarten through the eighth grade, this outstanding school is one of only 342 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability. The Blue Ribbon designation continues a tradition of quality education at Connors-Emerson. Since first being named a Blue Ribbon School in 2004, educators and staff have deepened and expanded standards-based teaching and learning. More than half of the faculty have advanced degrees or certification as master level teachers. A strong commitment to professional development ensures that teachers and staff, as well as students, are lifelong learners. Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, and the school has a strong ethic of environmental responsibility. Currently, the seventh grade students at Connors-Emerson are working on an expeditionary learning unit which is exploring the effects of climate change on Acadia and all of Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor also is home to the MDI Biological Laboratory and to the Jackson Laboratory, world-renowned research institutions. Connors- Emerson excels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. The math team and robotics team have received honors at both the State and national levels, and the school has been awarded several grants to advance STEM education. Fully 98 percent of students in grades five through eight participate in afterschool activities. From the State champion jazz band and drama to Destination Imagination and the Outdoors Club, students are encouraged to pursue their interests. As a school community, Connors-Emerson is dedicated to the values of fairness, compassion, honesty, responsibility, respect, and courtesy that help to create a positive, diverse, safe, and caring learning environment. This Blue Ribbon Award is a tribute not only to the students but also to the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Connors-Emerson School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to generate excitement and momentum for learning. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens. I congratulate the entire Bar Harbor community for this well-deserved recognition.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto, to introduce the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's--or BOLD--Act. I am pleased that Senator Capito and Senator Kaine are also joining us as original cosponsors. Our legislation would create a public health infrastructure aimed at combating Alzheimer's disease and preserving brain health. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and most under-recognized public health threats of our time. Former Surgeon General David Satcher has said that it is the most under-recognized public health threat of the 21st century. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number will soar as our population continues to grow older and lives longer. In addition to the human suffering it causes, Alzheimer's is our Nation's most costly disease. The United States spends more than $259 billion per year, including $175 billion in Medicare and Medicaid costs. The financial impact of this dreadful disease will only continue to grow. In fact, it is estimated that by the year 2050, Alzheimer's will cost our country $1 trillion and afflict 16 million Americans. While Alzheimer's is the only one of our Nation's most deadly diseases without an effective treatment or cure, tantalizing new research suggests that there are steps we can take to promote prevention and improve treatment. The first step we should take is to recognize Alzheimer's as a public health crisis. It is because of public health advancements that we have safe water to drink, vaccines to prevent deadly diseases, interventions to quit smoking, and emergency preparedness tools to save lives. The effort to combat Alzheimer's disease requires a similar unified, national public health effort. That effort is gaining steam. In 1999, when I founded the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's, there was virtually no focus in Washington on this devastating disease. In fact, people were afraid to even refer to the disease, just as years ago people did not talk about cancer. Seven years ago, I coauthored with then-Senator Evan Bayh the bipartisan National Alzheimer's Project Act, which set the primary goal of preventing and effectively treating the disease by the year 2025. That bill created an expert council, which has calculated that $2 billion in Federal funding per year is needed to achieve that goal. On the Appropriations Committee, I have worked hard with Senator Blunt and others to turn the words of that recommendation into action. The funding bill for this year provides another $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health, and that includes a $414 million increase for Alzheimer's research--the largest in history. That brings the total for Alzheimer's research to $1.8 billion--well within reach of the $2 billion goal, which the experts tell us is necessary for breakthroughs. While this research is moving forward, we must put into practice what we know and enhance the quality of care and support for those living with Alzheimer's and their families. In March, the Aging Committee, which I chair, held a hearing on the arc of Alzheimer's, from preventing cognitive decline to ensuring quality care for those living with dementia. The hearing shed light on the fact that although we do not yet know how to prevent Alzheimer's, we are advancing in our understanding of the disease. Its progression does not happen overnight; it is preceded by years and perhaps decades of changes in the brain and a continuum of changes in behavior, including cognitive decline. A growing body of evidence suggests that lifestyle factors, such as regular physical activity and attention to heart health, may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. There is so much we have yet to know. Alzheimer's is a public issue for those living with the disease, for those caring for their loved ones with the disease, for all of us as taxpayers, and for those who know that our brain is our most precious resource. Alzheimer's exacts a tremendous personal and economic toll on families and communities. More than 40 million Americans know all too well the compassion, commitment, and endurance that it takes to be a caregiver of a loved one facing a chronic disease like Alzheimer's. The legislation we are introducing today would apply a new public health approach to Alzheimer's disease. It would establish Centers of Excellence in Public Health Practice dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer's disease management and caregiving interventions, as well as educating the public on the disease, cognitive decline, and brain health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is already doing tremendous work to combat Alzheimer's within the Public Health Road Map of the Healthy Brain Initiative. This legislation would create centers of excellence across the country to implement the CDC's Public Health Road Map. The centers would take a number of key steps against Alzheimer's. They would work to support early detection and diagnosis, lessen the risk of avoidable hospitalizations, reduce the risk of cognitive decline, enhance support to meet the needs of caregivers, reduce health disparities, and support care planning and management for those with the disease. The Centers' activities would support health and social services professionals as well as families and communities. In addition to establishing the Centers of Excellence in Public Health Practice, this bill would spread the opportunity for communities across America to create the necessary core capacity to combat Alzheimer's and to enhance existing efforts in this regard. The legislation would establish and distribute cooperative agreements to public health departments to support systems change, communications, and programmatic interventions. These agreements would also support the actions in the CDC Healthy Brain Initiative's Public Health Roadmap. Finally, at the heart of public health is data. This legislation would direct the CDC to collect data on cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, caregiving, and health disparities within its current systems. The bill would also create cooperative agreements for the analysis and reporting of data to ensure that the results are disseminated to the public and are used, ultimately, to improve brain health. For far too long, we have viewed Alzheimer's disease as an aging issue that plagues our seniors today and threatens to affect many more tomorrow. In fact, the disease is far more than that. It is a public health issue with a course that we can change. If we do not take action, both in this new public health approach and by continuing to build on the research, this disease will bankrupt the Medicare and the Medicaid Programs. We cannot afford to spend over $1 trillion in the year 2050 on just this one disease. We cannot afford to lose 16 million Americans by that year to this devastating disease. We cannot afford to allow the heartache and devastation of this disease to affect more and more American families. There are steps that we can take today to prevent cognitive decline and to improve the lives of those who are living with Alzheimer's and the lives of their caregivers. This public health approach is not only empowering, but it is key to avoiding the terrible impacts that I have outlined. After decades of expanding much needed biomedical research in Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step--to translate research into policy. The BOLD bill would create a new, enlightened public policy out of promising research by creating the first ever national public health infrastructure for Alzheimer's disease. I am pleased to say that the bipartisan bill that the Senator from Nevada and I have introduced, with our colleagues from Virginia and West Virginia, is endorsed by the Alzheimer's Association, the Alzheimer's Impact Movement, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, and the National Association of Counties. I ask unanimous consent that their letters of support be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks. I urge my colleagues to support this critical and bipartisan legislation.