Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I send a question to the desk.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, when Jane Harman left Congress in 2011 to head the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, she described herself as dedicated to the belief that the political center is where most Americans are and where the best policy answers are found. As this great leader and my dear friend steps down from the Wilson Center, I take this opportunity to thank her for unswerving devotion to that principle. Our friendship was forged in the challenging days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Reaching across the aisle, we worked closely together as leaders of the Homeland Security committees in the House and Senate. From the landmark intelligence reform legislation we crafted, to addressing protections for our Nation's cargo ports and other critical infrastructure, to improving emergency preparedness in communities throughout America, Jane was always an informed, effective, and committed partner. I will never forget how, when Jane testified at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on maritime security in 2006, she called me her ``Security Sister.'' It is a title that fills my heart with pride and affection. Jane's untiring work to protect our Nation defines her public service. Elected nine times by the people of California's 36th Congressional District, she served on all major security committees-- Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Armed Services. She served as ranking member of the Intelligence Committee's Working Group on Terrorism and Homeland Security and chaired the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment. After Jane left Congress, she served as a member of the Director of National Intelligence's Senior Advisory Group. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Trilateral Commission and the Advisory Board of the Munich Security Conference. She also cochairs the Homeland Security Experts Group and is a member of the Presidential Debates Commission and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Jane has been recognized as a national expert at the nexus of security and public policy issues with the Defense Department Medal for Distinguished Service, the CIA Agency Seal Medal and Director's Award, and the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal. The University of Southern California's Presidential Medallion, its highest award, is a fitting tribute to her outstanding service to her State and to our Nation. Jane is the first woman to lead the Wilson Center. Chartered by Congress in 1968, the center is the Nation's key nonpartisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue. Under her leadership, the center advanced its mission to generate actionable ideas for policies that affect our security and our relations with the world. No tribute to Jane would be complete without mention of her late husband, Sidney. Driven by a shared ideal of public service, they accomplished so much in politics, business, philanthropy, and the arts. I thank Jane Harman--my colleague, my friend, my ``sister''--for all that she has done for our country. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the question before us is quite simple: Do we want stimulus checks to go to households with family incomes of $300,000 or do we want to target the assistance to struggling families who need the help and provide a boost for the economy? I urge my colleagues to support the Manchin-Collins amendment.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment to replenish and strengthen the Provider Relief Fund, which has been a lifeline for hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers, as well as physician practices across the country, but especially so in rural America.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, our rural hospitals have been particularly hard hit during this pandemic. With that, I would yield to my friend from West Virginia.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask that I be notified when I have 30 seconds remaining.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, on behalf of myself, Senator Manchin, Senator Capito, Senator Moran, Senator Shaheen, Senator Portman, and Senator King, I call up amendment No. 546 and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, as we face an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19, we will need steady, proven leadership at the Treasury Department. A highly respected economist, Dr. Yellen served first as Vice Chair and then Chair of the Federal Reserve. She has served under Democratic and Republican presidents and during periods of economic crisis and economic growth. Last year, I worked with my colleagues to deliver bipartisan relief for those who have been harmed by the pandemic. We addressed the crisis in five bills totaling approximately $3 trillion. Through subsequent negotiations in November and December on an additional $900 billion package, we secured a second round of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans for the hardest hit small businesses and extended unemployment programs, assistance for schools, vaccine delivery, and more. But additional work remains. During this crisis, Secretary Mnuchin proved himself to be an able partner to all of us in delivering this relief. It is my hope that Treasury Secretary-designate Yellen will build on our work. In her testimony before the Senate Finance Committee and during the subsequent questions, Dr. Yellen made clear that she understands these needs. Our nation's eight living former Secretaries of the Treasury have provided their support for the nomination. I urge the swift confirmation of Janet Yellen to ensure that President Biden has a qualified economic team in place. Thank you.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Town of Canton, ME. Canton was built with a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. The year of Canton's incorporation, 1821, was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the land of fields, rivers, lakes, and forests of what is now Oxford County was the home of the Abenaki Tribe, and Canton Point, or Rokomeko, was the headquarters of the Anasagunticook Band of the People of the Dawn. The reverence the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is upheld by the people of Canton today. In the 1790s, following America's independence, an early settlement called Phipp's Canada was established. Maine achieved statehood in 1820, and on February 5 of the following year, the town of Canton was incorporated. With the mighty Androscoggin River providing power, Canton soon was home to lumber and grain mills, along with many other small industries. When the first paper mill opened in nearby Rumford in 1893, the people of Canton were part of the skilled and dedicated workforce that built a great Maine industry. The prosperity produced by hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to create a true community. Maine is known as ``Vacationland,'' and Canton has played a key role in the development of our State's tourism industry. A guidebook to the region published in 1888 described the easternmost town in Oxford County as ``one of the most beautiful and charming in all this attractive region.'' With guests arriving by train and, later, by bus and car, some of the first family vacation resorts were established on the shores of Lake Anasagunticook. Today, visitors and residents alike enjoy Canton's scenery, history, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The energy and planning that are going into Canton's yearlong bicentennial celebration demonstrate the pride townspeople have in their town. The celebration of Canton's 200th anniversary is not merely about the passing of time. It is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the people who, from the dawn of our Nation to our time, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Canton, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today in opposition of the legislative waiver for the nominee to become the next Secretary of Defense. Since the inception of our Republic, civilian control of our military by democratically-elected civilians has been fundamental to American Government. This principle was firmly established as General George Washington famously resigned his commission to the Continental Congress in 1783, when he might have easily positioned himself as the leader of the fledgling American Government instead. With this bedrock principle in mind, Congress in 1947 established a limitation on former military generals serving as Secretary of Defense without a sufficient number of yes in civilian life. Today, Active-duty military members must have been retired for at least 7 years before becoming eligible to serve as Defense Secretary. Four years ago, despite great concern for what I saw as an erosion of the principle of civilian control of our military, I voted in support of granting a ``one-time exception'' to the statutory requirement for the confirmation of Gen. James Mattis. Until Congress granted a waiver of this requirement in 2017 for General Mattis, Congress had approved a waiver only once before, in 1950 for General George Marshall. With the nomination of Gen. Lloyd Austin, what I had thought would be a once-in-a-generation waiver in 2017 now appears to be the start of an unwelcome trend. To be clear, I do not believe that General Austin himself poses a specific risk to the civilian control of our military. By all accounts, he is a dedicated public servant and patriot with more than 40 years of successful military service. However, I do not believe that President Biden has offered a strong enough justification for granting another legislative waiver in so short a time. Should a waiver for his service be approved over my objections, which appears likely to occur, I intend to support General Austin's nomination based on his merits and qualifications. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, including as commander of U.S. Central Command during one of the region's most challenging periods for the United States, he has served with professionalism and diligence and has earned the trust of President Biden. General Austin has committed to uphold the principle of civilian control of the military and pledged to ensure civilian leadership and oversight over the Pentagon's strategic and operational planning. I commend General Austin for once again answering the call to serve, and I look forward to working with him to rebalance our civil-military relations toward civilian control. In November 2018, the congressionally appointed National Defense Strategy Commission concluded that, ``There is an imbalance in civil- military relations on critical issues of strategy development and implementation. Civilian voices appear relatively muted on issues at the center of U.S. defense and national security policy.'' Losing this civilian perspective can have profound, long-term strategic impacts on the Pentagon and our national security policy. There are many reasons for this trend toward unbalanced civil- military relations in recent years, including the failure of the prior administration to adequately fill Senate-confirmed positions at the Pentagon, instead relying on acting officials with limited ability to assert themselves within the department. We have also seen a troubling increase in the politicization of our military. For example, hundreds of retired generals and admirals signed public letters of support for Presidential candidates in 2020, with both campaigns competing for the most military endorsements. That was coupled with a growing trend toward political expression among the ranks on social media and elsewhere; in at least one instance, servicemembers in uniform were featured at one of the national Presidential nominating conventions. It is imperative that military officers do not come to view their commands as auditions for future political appointments or opportunities to curry favor with civilian political leaders. As Dr. Lindsay Cohn, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College, stated during the recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing examining civilian control of the Armed Forces, civilian control of our military is not necessarily an on-off switch. It is a web of institutions, norms, practices, and understandings which can be weakened or strengthened. Recently, we have begun to see the principle of civilian control of the military weakened and degraded. In my view, Congress must not simply acquiesce to that growing trend. I do not believe it would be wise to allow the exception to swallow the rule when it comes to such a foundational principle of our Republic as civilian control of the military.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, let me begin my remarks tonight by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the law enforcement community and the National Guard whose hard work and courage made it possible for us to resume our deliberations tonight. We return to this Chamber tonight undeterred by the violence we witnessed and strengthened in our determination to fulfill our constitutional duty. The Constitution is the foundation of our American democracy, and the Constitution is what must guide our decisions on the Presidential election. The process the Constitution sets forth for electing Presidents through the electoral college is straightforward. The people vote. Electors are chosen. The electors vote. Then Congress counts the electors' votes. That final step in the process is why we have convened today. Counting the votes of the electors, a function that the 12th Amendment assigns to Congress, is an administrative and largely ceremonial act. Our job is simply to count the votes certified by each State--nothing more. We should not attempt to usurp the roles of the voters, the States, or the electoral college. The American people have done their job, turning out in record numbers to vote in the midst of a frightening pandemic. Indeed, as a percentage of the voting-eligible population, the turnout was the highest in 120 years. Similarly, in the midst of this pandemic, hundreds of election officials and volunteers have done their job, staffing polling places and faithfully counting and often recounting votes. The States have done their job by certifying the election results. Now, I have heard the proponents of these objections raise questions about whether the various States conducted their elections properly. When disputes over elections arise, candidates are able to appeal to our legal system, not Congress, for recourse. In the 2 months since the 2020 election, the President's lawyers and allies have had the opportunity to make their arguments and challenge election results before the courts. Notably, every one of nearly 60 lawsuits they have brought forward have been rejected. In fact, the Supreme Court has twice refused to hear their election challenges. We must abide by these rulings. The time has now come for Congress to do its job. We should affirm the certified results of each State by counting the votes of their electors. Altering the results of the electoral college would set a terrible precedent in which the party in control of Congress could override the will of the voters and overrule our courts to unilaterally choose the next President. One Senator attempted such a maneuver after the election in 2004, and the Senate overwhelmingly rejected that effort. The Senate has demonstrated by its vote tonight that it will follow that precedent and do so again. Today--tonight, Mr. President, I will continue to vote to reaffirm the foundation of our democracy, the Constitution of the United States. And I will reject these challenges to the electoral college. Thank you, Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I appreciate Senator Daines joining me to clarify the intent of the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019. This legislation, which Senator Daines has introduced with Senator Leahy, would modify the McCarran-Ferguson Act by eliminating the health insurance industry's exemption from Federal antitrust laws. That sounds like a good idea, but it has implications for longstanding State regulation of the insurance industry. States have had the primary responsibility for the regulation of health insurance since the 1940s. Given my past experience as commissioner of Maine's Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, I know firsthand that State insurance regulators do a good job of responding to the needs and concerns of their insurance consumers. To protect consumers, State insurance regulators hold probing hearings on rate requests which often lead to lower rates being approved. Most State insurance regulators have consumer protection advocates who resolve disputes between insurers and individual consumers. State regulators do not tolerate unfair or anticompetitive practices. As the National Association of Insurance Commissioners wrote to the leaders of the Senate and the Senate Judiciary Committee, ``The potential for bid rigging, price-fixing and market allocation is of great concern to state insurance regulators and we share your view that such practices would be harmful to consumers and should not be tolerated. However, we want to assure you that these activities are not permitted under state law. Indeed, the state insurance regulators in all states actively enforce their antitrust rules and review rates to ensure they are actuarially justified, sufficient for solvency and nondiscriminatory.'' Based on this experience, I have consistently raised concerns about legislation that could interfere with the current State-level regulation of insurance and could ultimately harm Maine consumers and smaller insurers. These concerns extend to the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act. While the bill does not directly modify the portion of McCarran- Ferguson that affirms State regulatory authority, it, however, does add a layer of Federal review, and we need to ensure that in doing so we do not create increased confusion, cost, and possible conflicts between State and Federal efforts. This is why it is very important to make clear Congress's intent that along with the changes specified in the bill, it is Congress's expectation that the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission must notify State bureaus of insurance and attorneys general of any complaints or investigations they have received or are performing that involve entities in their state. I appreciate Senator Daines' willingness to join me today to ensure this intent is clearly stated in the Congressional Record. Given the agreement to provide formal clarification of the expectation that DOJ and FTC shall provide notification to States regarding complaints or investigations they have received or are performing, I will withdraw my objection to passage of this legislation. Thank you.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, later tonight, the Senate will vote on comprehensive legislation to fund the government throughout the remainder of fiscal year 2021 and to provide additional, long-overdue funding to address the ongoing emergency needs of our country during the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to have helped lead a bipartisan, bicameral coalition that literally worked night and day to develop a commonsense plan that provided the foundation for this final agreement. There are many important components of the package before us, including assistance for struggling families; additional funding for testing, vaccine distribution, and healthcare providers; resources to help our schools operate safely in a COVID environment; and aid for the Postal Service and for airlines, airports, mass transit, and motor coach companies that keep our country moving. I come to the floor tonight, however, to focus on one aspect of the agreement, and that is the extension and expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program, better known as PPP. As the Presiding Officer well knows, the PPP has been a critical lifeline for more than 5 million small employers, at one point helping to sustain the jobs of upwards of 50 million Americans. It was one of the most successful programs in the CARES Act. It was so successful that it went through the initial allotment of money in just 13 days, and then we had to pass additional legislation replenishing it. In the State of Maine, the PPP has provided nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans to 28,000 small businesses--that is 3 out of 4 of the small businesses in my State--and has helped sustain more than 250,000 jobs. In its original form, the program provided one-time loans sufficient to support 8 weeks of payroll, plus a limited amount to help cover certain overhead expenses. All of this was completely forgivable as long as the borrowers retained and paid their employees and kept within the other parameters of the program. Our whole purpose was to help our small businesses save jobs and pay their workers, keeping the employer- employee relationship alive so that they could reopen and Americans could quickly return to work when the pandemic subsided. When Chairman Marco Rubio and I, together with Senators Ben Cardin and Jeanne Shaheen, put the PPP together at the onset of the national emergency, none of us could have imagined that the pandemic would still be forcing shutdowns and curtailing operations and that extreme mitigation measures would be necessary these many months later. Yet, sadly, the virus is still spreading, and many of the steps taken to fight it, although they may be necessary to protect public health, threaten catastrophic damage to many of our small businesses and their employees--small businesses that have now spent their PPP loan funds but are still unable to return to normal operations. I talked with a restaurant owner in Bangor, ME, where I live, who told me that he, because of the size of his restaurant and to comply with the public health spacing and social distancing guidelines, can only have four tables a night. Because the Governor of Maine has imposed a 9 p.m. curfew, he can't turn over those tables to compensate for the reduced number of people he can serve at one time. It is so tough, and I could hear the pain in his voice when he talked about having to lay off some of his longstanding staff in order to just stay alive. That is why the $284.5 billion provided in this bill to extend and expand the PPP is so vital. The program improvements in this bill are the result of months of work on the part of Chairman Rubio, Ranking Member Cardin, Senator Shaheen, and myself. I am pleased to see that so much of the Continuing the Paycheck Protection Program Act that Chairman Rubio and I introduced this fall is reflected in this final bill. The final bill also reflects the very hard work that our bipartisan, bicameral coalition put into assistance to small business. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and I had countless meetings, Zooms, and phone calls to work out the details in conjunction with the rest of the members of our group. I would like to take a moment to outline a few of the key features that are included in this package. First, the bill will allow the hardest hit small businesses to receive a second forgivable PPP loan. To ensure that assistance is targeted to those most in need, eligibility for these second loans is generally limited to small businesses with 300 or fewer employees that have seen their gross revenues drop by 25 percent in some quarter this year compared to an identical quarter in 2019. Second, recognizing the severe impact that the COVID-19 mitigation measures have had on our restaurants and hotels, the bill maintains the general terms for the loans for these entities but with an important enhancement. The maximum forgivable loan size for hotels and restaurants is increased to 3.5 times their average monthly payroll costs compared to 2.5 times for other borrowers. This increase in the loan amount will be so critical to the very survival of businesses like Simones' Hot Dog Stand and Restaurant in Lewiston, ME, and the Angler's Family Seafood Restaurant, which has locations in Hampden, Searsport, and Newport. These small businesses all received forgivable PPP loans during the first round, but, faced with continuing dining restrictions and a long, cold winter, they are really worried about their survival and about being able to retain and pay their valued employees. Third, forgivable expenses under the program are expanded in very commonsense ways. Supplier costs and investments in facility modifications and personal protective equipment needed to operate safely during the pandemic will now be part of the forgivable overhead expenses. This is especially important to restaurants struggling to adapt dining restrictions or to get a high-quality food supply because, through no fault of their own, they have fallen behind on their bills. Fourth, the bill extends the PPP to small 501(c)(6) organizations that are not lobbying groups and that have 300 or fewer employees, such as local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. Fifth--and I want to give credit to our colleague Senator Cramer for this concept--the bill greatly simplifies the loan forgiveness process for small borrowers with loans of no more than $150,000 and directs the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department to develop a simplified loan forgiveness form for these borrowers. I remember when the first form came out and it was 14 pages long and so complicated that you would need an advanced degree in economics or a CPA to help you figure it out, even if you had a very small loan. The bill, to guard against fraud and abuse, also provides the SBA with $50 million in additional audit funding. Finally, the bill sets aside funding for smaller businesses and borrowers in underserved communities to ensure that they get the help they need through, for example, CDFIs and minority business associations and depository institutions. It also includes $25 million for the Minority Business Development Agency. Mr. President, the Paycheck Protection Program is the result of a bipartisan commitment to support our small businesses and their employees, to keep them afloat, the businesses afloat, and the employees paid during this pandemic. It has been by any measure a tremendous success, but many of these hardest hit small businesses require more help now in order to survive, and this bill aims to provide that help. Before I close, I want to talk briefly about another provision of the bill, and that is the grant assistance provided for live venues, museums, and movie theaters. Let me make clear that I support funding for our community-based live venues. I know they have really been hurt. They have had to cancel their seasons. They have lost all their ticket revenues. They are in real danger. I have enjoyed these throughout Maine, like the Ogunquit Playhouse and the Center Theater for the Performing Arts in Dover-Foxcroft. They are the heart and soul of our smaller communities. I was disappointed to see that the final bill had stripped provisions from our bipartisan, bicameral group that we included in our package to try to keep the focus of these grants on these smaller entities. Specifically, our proposal would have limited the grant amounts that related entities could receive to no more than $10 million and excluded museums with endowments larger than $75 million--commonsense safeguards. Now, I do appreciate that the legislation sets aside $2 billion for entities with 50 employees or fewer, but I am concerned that, as drafted, many venues and museums with significant endowments and other resources could be the largest beneficiaries of this section because of the safeguards that were stripped out by the negotiators. For example, a museum in New York City, say, with a billion-dollar endowment could receive an outright grant as long as the museum has an auditorium and meets the other eligibility requirements. That surely does not seem like an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars to me and was clearly designed to help large city venues that will survive without our help. Nevertheless, I am pleased to support this package. This COVID relief is vitally needed for our struggling families, for our hard-hit small businesses, for our challenged schools, for our stressed healthcare system, to promote the distribution of the vaccine and more testing, and to help our overwhelmed Postal Service. I urge support for the package. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to honor a member of my staff, Mark LeDuc, who will soon retire after decades of distinguished service. Mark exemplifies the ideal public servant, demonstrating integrity, thoroughness, a spirit of inquiry, and hard work in every undertaking. Above all, Mark has always demonstrated his belief that it is an honor to serve the people of Maine and our Nation. Mark was born in New Jersey, but his father's final tour of duty in the U.S. Navy brought the family to Maine, where they were finally home. I first met Mark in 1986 at a campaign event for then- Representative John McKernan, who was running for Governor of the State of Maine. He had recently graduated from a joint degree program at Columbia Law School and the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He had just moved back to Maine with his wife Marie, whom he had met while they were both studying at Princeton. Mark and I both went on to work in the Governor McKernan's administration. Mark served as head of the Governor's legislative staff, and I was commissioner of professional and financial regulation in his cabinet. At the time, Maine's workers compensation market was in the midst of a crisis, leading to a 17-day State government shutdown. Mark and I worked closely together on the reform legislation that ended the shutdown and successfully resolved the crisis. Mark held other roles in State government, but it was during his service in the Governor's office that I first saw and came to appreciate his ability to master complex issues and his dedication to public service. Mark joined my Senate staff in 2003. He has served in various roles since that time, first in my personal office, then on my Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee staff, and now as chief counsel on my Aging Committee staff. Through the years, Mark has advised me with expertise and thoroughness on a wide range of issues. He served as my lead economic staffer on such legislation as the 2003 tax cuts, the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform legislation, and the Collins capital standards amendment. He also advised me on the economics of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and later put his knowledge of State insurance regulation to work when he helped me to draft the Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act. Mark's most significant professional accomplishment may very well be the Paycheck Protection Program that he helped me craft earlier this year. During the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, this program has helped to sustain more than 50 million American jobs, including more than 250,000 jobs in the State of Maine, and I so appreciate the great knowledge and untiring energy he put into this crucial project. It was important, and it helped real people--the small business owners and their employees who are the backbone of communities across our Nation. Mark has achieved great professional success, but what he is most proud of is his family. Mark and Marie have three daughters: Miriam- Rose, Julie, and Karen. While I am delighted for him that in his retirement he will have more time to spend with the family he loves so dearly, his absence as a member of my staff will be deeply felt. Mark is a true public servant. He performs his work not for accolades but for a belief in helping people and doing what right. I wish him and his family all the best as they embark on this next chapter.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, before I give my remarks, I want to strongly associate myself with the comments that have been made this evening by my colleagues from Texas and New Jersey--Senator Cornyn and Senator Menendez--in support of a museum to celebrate and commemorate the achievements of Latinos in our country. I could not help but wonder, as I heard the comments of my colleague from Utah, whether he also tried to block the museum celebrating and telling the history of African Americans, that museum which is so popular on the Mall. I wondered whether he tried to block also the creation of the museum that tells the story of Native Americans. I am convinced that if this bill, which has just been described by my two colleagues, were brought to a vote on the Senate floor, it would pass, not unanimously, that is clear, but with a very strong vote. And it seems wrong that one Senator can block consideration of a bill that would have overwhelming support by a majority of this body. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 959 So, Madam President, I rise today on behalf of myself and the Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein, to urge the Senate to take the important step of passing our legislation to establish a long overdue women's history museum in our Nation's Capital. This is an issue that I have been working on since 2003, when I introduced the first bill to tell the story of more than half of our population, of the contributions of American women to our country in every field: government, business, medicine, law, literature, sports, entertainment, the arts, the military, the family. Telling the history of American women matters, and a museum recognizing our achievements and experiences has long been a goal of many of the women and men who serve in this Chamber. Following 18 months of study by an independent, bipartisan commission established by Congress, the Commission unanimously concluded: ``America needs and deserves a physical national museum dedicated to showcasing the historical experiences and impact of women in the country.'' I agree wholeheartedly with the Commission's unanimous conclusion. This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of suffrage for women in this country and the decades-long fight for women's equality at the ballot box. It is extraordinary to me that just 100 years ago, not every woman in this country was allowed to vote in every State. That is not that long ago. That story is one of the stories that needs to be told. Amid the celebrations of this historic year, I can think of no better way to tell the story of American women to inspire those young girls and young boys who come to Washington to tour all the wonderful museums that are part of the Smithsonian than to create a museum of American women's history so that they can better understand the contributions of American women to the development of our Nation and its proud history. As with the legislation that would establish a museum celebrating and commemorating the history of Latino and Latina Americans, this legislation has passed the House by an overwhelming margin. Surely, we ought to be able to take it up and pass it here too. So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 599, S. 959. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn, the Murkowski amendment at the desk be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I think this is a sad moment. I had hoped that we could proceed with both of these bills and pass them before the end of this year. Surely, in a year where we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, this is the time, this is the moment to finally pass the legislation unanimously recommended by an independent commission to establish an American women's history museum in our Nation's Capital. I regret that that will not occur this evening, but we will not give up the fight. Thank you

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, when his official portrait that will hang in the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing room was unveiled last month, Senator Pat Roberts said the panel he led so well ``has a long history of caring more about the issues than the ideology, more about the people than the party.'' Those words perfectly describe Pat's philosophy of public service. Throughout his four decades in Congress, this remarkable Kansan has always stood for government that is responsible to the taxpayers and responsive to the needs of the American people. He believes in a legislative process that is open, transparent, and bipartisan. Pat retires with an extraordinary record of accomplishment. He is the first person in history to have served as chairman of the Agriculture Committees in both the House and the Senate. He is Kansas' longest serving Member of Congress. As the ultimate evidence of the trust the people of his beloved State have in him, Pat has been on the ballot in 24 elections since 1980 and has won every time. Pat and I were sworn in to the Senate on the same day in January of 1997. It has been an honor to serve alongside this national leader in agriculture, health care, and defense. He is an advocate of a strong education system, free and fair trade policies, increased investment in science and technology, a focused foreign policy, and a strong military. This effective advocate for our Nation's family farms is a champion for rural America. A recent example is the State Offices of Rural Health Reauthorization Act he introduced and that I cosponsored. This law helps equip rural communities with the resources they need to strengthen their health care delivery systems and improve access to high-quality services for individuals living in rural and underserved areas. From the U.S. Marine Corps to the U.S. Congress, Pat has served our Nation with uncommon dedication. His wide-ranging accomplishments are united by a commitment to move America forward and empower the American people. I thank him for his service and his friendship and wish him, Frankie, and their family well in the years to come.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, Cory Gardner and I first met in 2011, when he became the first alumnus of the United States Senate Youth Program to be sworn into the House of Representatives. As the first Senate Youth Program delegate elected to the U.S. Senate, I felt an immediate connection to this new Member of Congress from Colorado. One year, both of us had the privilege of addressing the student delegates to this wonderful program that had made such a difference in the lives of both of us. Since he joined the Senate 6 years ago, Cory has demonstrated his leadership on many issues which we have heard described today. His upbeat personality and his commitment to compromise, to solutions, and to bipartisanship have had a positive influence on this Chamber. As the renowned columnist George Will once called Cory, he is ``a human beam of sunshine.'' I am sure that is the phrase that was going through the mind of his colleague from Colorado. His approach to legislating has indeed been enlightening, but it has been his positive approach to every problem that we encounter, his upbeat personality, his wonderful smiles, and his problem-solving devotion to America and to his State that have distinguished him. Cory's landmark achievement, which he discussed today, is the Great American Outdoors Act. I was proud to cosponsor his legislation. This historic bill, at long last, fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provides funding to address significant parts of the multibillion-dollar national parks maintenance backlog. The Great American Outdoors Act will help to ensure that both current and future generations can enjoy the pristine beauty of our natural treasures in Colorado, in the great State of Maine, and throughout our country. Cory's hard work to bridge the partisan divide and secure support from both sides of the aisle leave a lasting legacy that the American people will cherish. I would note that he never gave up in his pursuit of seeing this landmark legislation signed into law. That is typical of the approach that Cory takes. He doesn't give up. He persists. But he does so in such a delightful way--always in search of a solution--that it is very difficult for his colleagues to ever say no to him. Cory's commitment to environmental stewardship extends from the great outdoors to the frontier of technology to advance the development and deployment of energy from renewable, sustainable, and clean energy sources. Cory, as was mentioned by Senator Bennet, has also been a champion for those who have served our Nation in uniform. In 2017, a troubling GAO report revealed an unacceptable trend of VA facilities failing to report healthcare providers who made major medical errors to the boards responsible for tracking dangerous practitioners, or, in some cases, revoking or suspending their licenses. As a result, these practitioners can go into private practice from their work at the VA or simply move across State lines without disclosing prior performance problems to either patients or State regulators. To solve this serious problem, Cory introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act. His bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, helps to protect patients by requiring the VA to disclose major errors committed by its medical providers. Time and again, I have seen Cory put into practice the values that the Senate Youth Program imparts to high school students--a deep respect for our enduring system of government, a dedication to public service, and a willingness to work in a bipartisan spirit to get the job done. It has been such an honor and a great joy to serve with Cory in the U.S. Senate. I am certain he will continue to serve his State and his country, and I wish him and his family all the best. Thank you, Cory, for all you have done.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, when Senator Tom Udall announced last year that he would not seek reelection, he said, ``The worst thing anyone in public office can do is believe the office belongs to them, rather than to the people they represent.'' Throughout his more than three decades of service to his State and to our Nation, Tom has demonstrated time and again his adherence to that principle. As New Mexico's attorney general, Congressman, and Senator, he has always treated public office as a public trust. Everyone who serves in this Chamber takes an oath to support and defend our Constitution. That remarkable document begins with three words Tom lives by, ``We the People.'' That commitment to our Constitution was put to the test in early 2019 when the President issued an emergency declaration that diverted $ 3.6 billion from 127 military construction projects that Congress duly approved and funded and the President had signed into law. Tom stood strong against this clear violation of the separation of powers doctrine that is so vital to our enduring Republic, and I was proud to stand with him. In a powerful floor statement on the resolution we introduced to overturn the emergency declaration, Tom got right to the point. He said: This is no longer about the president's wall. This is not about party. This is about protecting the very heart of our American system of governance. Congress--and only Congress-- holds the power of the purse. Tom also made clear that this encroachment upon Congress's authority was not an isolated incident but part of a dangerous pattern Congress has permitted over many decades and under many Presidents. And make no mistake--the hyperpartisanship that afflicts Congress far too often aids and abets this lamentable historical trend. By pursuing a bipartisan response to this Executive overreach, Tom helped to make real progress in defending the separation of powers. It has been a pleasure to work with Tom on many other issues over the years. From land conservation and environmental protection to rural health care and pandemic relief, he has been an informed and effective legislative partner. Tom leaves the Senate with an impressive record of accomplishments. Even more important, he leaves a legacy of reverence for our Constitution and courage in defending it. I thank him for his service to the people of our Nation and wish him well in the years to come.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I first met Lamar Alexander when he was a candidate for President 25 years ago. He was campaigning in the State of Maine, and after giving an articulate speech outlining his priorities and his policies, he proceeded to charm everyone by playing the piano. Little did I know then that we would one day serve as colleagues and friends in the U.S. Senate. Lamar, as you heard already today, is an extraordinary legislator. He has the ability to bring people together even on very contentious issues and hammer out a compromise. He is extremely effective because he is always well informed, focuses on the issue at hand, never gives up, and is willing to work across the aisle. He gets things done that matter not only to his constituents and his beloved Tennessee but also to citizens across this great country. He has been an extraordinary leader on important issues that many of us care deeply about, such as biomedical research, education, and combating the opioid crisis. He is that rare individual who is far less interested in who gets the credit than in getting the job done. But, in fact, each of us who has had the privilege of working with Lamar knows that he is the one who deserves the credit. I have served for years with Lamar on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which he chairs. On one challenging issue after another, when others would throw up their hands and say ``This is impossible; it simply cannot be done,'' Lamar never gives up the search for a solution and for common ground. Lamar has been so prolific as a legislator that it is difficult to single out one accomplishment among so many, but if forced to do so, I would say that the 21st Century Cures Act is his signature achievement. As the name implies, this law is a lasting legacy for him, and it is already providing lasting benefits for our country. Whether it is the BRAIN Initiative that will finally help us to make progress on diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological illnesses, or the Cancer Moonshot that was done in honor of Beau Biden, or the funding that was included to look at the impact of lifestyles on our health, all of the provisions of this landmark law will improve the health of the American people far into the future, and it will be Lamar Alexander who deserves the credit. As a close second, I would cite the educational reforms he drafted to replace and improve No Child Left Behind to give more autonomy back to the States and local school districts. That law--Every Student Succeeds Act--was a momentous bipartisan achievement, and Lamar has already explained what it took to get the job done. It is not surprising that in 2016, the Nation's Governors named Lamar the first recipient of the James Madison Award to recognize Members of Congress who support Federalism. As we have heard today, the Wall Street Journal called ESSA the ``largest devolution of federal control to the states in a quarter- century.'' In addition to being a skillful legislator, Lamar is also a wonderfully talented musician, as both a pianist and a singer. His hilarious performance at the annual Alfalfa Club dinner back in 2011 is legendary, and thanks to YouTube, it is also immortal. Lamar was a great friend, as he mentioned today, of the writer Alex Haley, the author of ``Roots.'' Mr. Haley's personal motto was ``Find the good and praise it.'' Lamar quotes that often, and he lives by it. Optimism and gratitude, effectiveness and skill are his defining characteristics. To Lamar, ``the good'' isn't simply what is pleasant; it is what is worthwhile, what makes us better people, better citizens, a better nation. If we follow the advice he gave us today, we will be a better Senate. Not long ago, I was interviewed by a journalist for a retrospective on Lamar's service in the Senate. She said that she happened to be in the Senate Dining Room on December 17, 2018--the day that Lamar announced his intention to retire--and that a room usually alive with chatter was unusually quiet and tinged with sadness. That somber atmosphere was genuine and bipartisan. Lamar, I can't tell you how much personally I will miss serving with you. You are not only a great Senator and extraordinary legislator but a wonderful friend. Thank you so much for your many years of public service. I feel very honored to have served with you, to have learned from you, and I wish you and Honey all the best.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Mike Enzi and I were both sworn in to do our first terms in the U.S. Senate on January 7, 1997. I immediately saw in the gentleman from Wyoming a quiet, effective, and ethical leader who was focused not on partisan advantage but, rather, on results--results that would benefit the people who had sent him to Washington and results that would benefit the American people as a whole. The nearly 24 years since then have only confirmed my initial impression. For the first 14 of those years, Mike was the sole accountant in the Senate. That discipline, combined with his experience as a small business owner, have served him so well in his role as chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget. He knows how important it is to set a budget, to follow it, and to control spending. His priority has always been the American taxpayer. As chairman of the Committee on the Budget and as a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, he has been a leader on tax issues as well. He helped to shape the 2017 tax reform act, which has helped to boost economic growth and the creation of more jobs. Mike's leadership style is characterized by his willingness to always search for common ground. He described in great depth today what he calls his 80-20 rule, and anyone who has ever worked with Mike Enzi on any issue quickly learns about the 80-20 rule. Through it, he forges solutions where many others see only impasse. The key to success in moving legislation, as he told us today, is to focus on the 80 percent of issues on which agreement can be found and not waste time on the 20 percent on which the disagreements are insurmountable. That rule served him well when he, along with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, sat at the helm of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Well, as Mike has described today, it would be difficult to think of two individuals serving in the Senate who had more different political philosophies than he and Ted Kennedy. You could probably say that this is true with his current ranking member of the Budget Committee. Yet, together, he and Senator Kennedy crafted dozens of laws. Neither side got 100 percent of what it wanted. They put aside the areas of disagreement. For them, it was far more important that progress was made for the American people. In serving with Mike on the HELP Committee, I have seen him employ this rule over and over again to bring about real progress. He has led efforts to help to ensure that everyone can receive a quality education. He has helped to provide Americans with access to affordable, quality healthcare. He has helped to protect workers and foster job training opportunities. As the leader of the committee, he has worked to oversee the biggest revision in pension laws in 30 years--to strengthen funding rules to enhance retirement security for millions of Americans. Mike comes from a small business background, and as Senator Durbin just described, he was passionate about the Marketplace Fairness Act-- to enable States to collect sales and use taxes from out-of-State online retailers. He recognized that the brick-and-mortar Main Street businesses that provide local jobs should not be penalized. Mike and I also worked together on successful legislation to improve workplace safety for postal employees and to better protect the American people from deceptive mailings that mimic official government documents. Senator Mike Enzi has compiled a long record of selfless service as a business leader, as a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, as a mayor, as a State legislator, and as an involved citizen. When he announced his intention early last year to leave the Senate, he said that he had no definite plans other than to find other ways to serve. I am 100 percent certain that the author of the 80-20 rule will continue to contribute to his community, his State, and our Nation. I wish him and his beloved wife Diana all the best in the years to come. I thank the Presiding Officer.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, this year, in addition to celebrating the bicentennial of the State of Maine, we are also commemorating the bicentennial of the first major find in North America of the treasured semiprecious stone tourmaline in the mountains of western Maine. It is a fascinating historical coincidence that the State of Maine and the discovery of its official State gemstone share the same anniversary. Maine became our Nation's 23rd State on March 15, 1820. In late autumn of that year, college students Elijah Hamlin and Ezekiel Holmes were pursuing their studies in mineralogy on an expedition to Mount Mica in Paris, ME. As they headed down the mountain at sunset, they spotted a vivid green sparkle amid the tangled roots of a fallen tree. The beautiful crystal was an exciting find, but the encroaching darkness prevented further exploration. Their plan to continue their search the next morning was cancelled by an overnight snowfall that blanketed the ground until spring. When the two students did return months later, they were astonished by the amount and variety of the crystals among the rocky ledges. The many shades of green, red, white, and yellow translucent stones they found explain why the word ``tourmaline,'' which comes from an ancient language of Sri Lanka, roughly translates to ``many colors.'' News of the discovery spread, and the region soon became the foremost hunting grounds in North America for these remarkable gems, rivaling famous sites in South America and Asia. Among the early Maine rock hounds was Elijah Hamlin's younger brother Hannibal, who four decades later would serve as President Lincoln's first Vice President. Today, Maine tourmaline is treasured by jewelers, artists, and collectors. Our distinctive watermelon tourmaline, which combines pink, white, and green in one stone, is especially prized. Residents and visitors alike delight in searching for these gorgeous stones amid the marvelous scenery of our western mountains. The Hamlin Necklace, containing stones of various colors from the original find, can be seen at the Harvard University Mineralogical Museum. In 1972, a spectacular discovery in Newry, ME, yielded hundreds of pounds of red and green crystals, including the ``Jolly Green Giant,'' a 10-inch crystal now in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History collection. The State of Maine tourmaline necklace was designed using Newry gems and presented to the State in 1975 by the Maine Retail Jewelers Association. On Presidents Day 2010, a major discovery included a 120-carat blue tourmaline crystal, among the most rare of hues. This was named ``The President'' and was cut into nine gems. The largest was presented as a gift from the State of Maine to President Barack Obama when he visited that year. How and why such large deposits of tourmaline are found in Maine, so distant from the usual locales, remains a puzzle for geologists to solve. It is worth noting, however, that tourmaline is said to bestow on its bearer fearlessness, happiness, and self-confidence--qualities that define the people of our State. Mr. President, Maine is renowned for the stunning beauty of its mountains, forests, and seacoast. The 200th anniversary of the discovery of tourmaline is a reminder that some of the most beautiful things are not as readily apparent but are well worth looking for.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, when the Senate considers nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, it is particularly important that we act fairly and consistently, using the same set of rules, no matter which political party is in power. When President Obama nominated Judge Garland 8 months before the 2016 Presidential election, I met with him and maintained that he was entitled to a hearing. Others argued that the winner of that year's Presidential election should be allowed to choose the nominee, and that is what happened. My views did not prevail, and the standard was established that a nominee to the Court would not be voted on prior to the election in a Presidential election year. This year, a vacancy has also occurred, notably much closer to the election. Prior to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, I stated that, should a vacancy on the Supreme Court arise, the Senate should follow the precedent set 4 years ago and not vote on a nominee prior to the Presidential election. Since her passing, I have reiterated that in fairness to the American people--who will either be reelecting the President or selecting a new one--the decision on the nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy should be made by whoever is elected on November 3. Because this vote is occurring prior to the election, I will vote against the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. To be clear, my vote does not reflect any conclusion that I have reached about Judge Barrett's qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court. What I have concentrated on is being fair and consistent, and I do not think it is fair nor consistent to have a Senate confirmation vote prior to the election.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today. along with my colleague Senator Cardin, to introduce the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth Act or Heat Act. This bipartisan bill would help ensure that seniors who rely on home health care have the choice to receive these critical services through telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies. COVID-19 is the greatest public health challenge since the flu pandemic of 1918 and has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Americans. This public health emergency has underscored the need for older adults and other at-risk populations to have access to health care in the home setting. Home-based care is crucial to ensuring that this pandemic does not create devastating long-term health consequences due to delayed care. The highly skilled and compassionate care that home health agencies provide are an important component of this inhome care. I have been a strong supporter of home care since my very first home visit, which took place in my hometown in Aroostook County early in my Senate service. This experience gave me the opportunity to meet and visit with home health patients, where I saw first-hand what a difference highly skilled and caring visiting nurses and other health care professionals make to the lives of patients and their families. I have been a passionate advocate for home care ever since. In March, my bipartisan home health legislation, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act, became law as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This new law will improve the access Medicare beneficiaries have to home health care by allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives to order home health services. Far too often seniors experience unnecessary delays in accessing home health care. To avoid these needless delays, it is common sense that other medical professionals who are familiar with a patient's case should be able to order these services. Home health professionals have continued to provide face-to-face services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, but this crisis has created additional challenges, including the need to maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to protect themselves, their patients, and their patients' families. The use of telehealth and virtual visits can help address these challenges. Unlike other Medicare providers, however, home health agencies are not eligible to receive Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services during the COVID-19 emergency. In May, I led Congress' first hearing examining COVID-19's devastating impact on seniors. During the hearing, Dr. Steven H. Landers, President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, testified that, despite this lack of Medicare reimbursement, his organization has found telehealth to be an essential part of providing high quality home health care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. He urged action to ensure that home health providers can continue offering these critical services remotely. Maine home health care providers have also shared stories about how telehealth is helping them to continue caring for their patients during COVID-19. Through a combination of video visits and care calls, one provider has been able to care for a woman with severe heart and lung disease and keep this patient out of the hospital. The nurse would speak with the woman by phone a couple of times per week to assess any symptoms that needed follow up. If the nurse identified an issue during the call, she would schedule a video visit and also work with the patient's physician to modify medications as needed. The bill I am introducing today would authorize Medicare reimbursement for home health services provided through telehealth during a public health emergency where telehealth can be used appropriately. The services would not be reimbursed unless the beneficiary consents to receiving the services via telehealth. To ensure that the Medicare home health benefit does not become a telehealth-only benefit, Medicare reimbursement would only be provided if the telehealth services constitute no more than half of the billable visits made during the 30-day payment period. Home health serves a vital role in helping our nation's seniors avoid more costly hospital visits and nursing home stays. The COVID-19 emergency has further underscored the critical importance of home health services and highlighted how these agencies are able to use telehealth to provide skilled care to their patients. The Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act would ensure that seniors in Maine and across the country retain access to remote home health services during the COVID-19 emergency and future public health emergencies. Thank you, Mr. President.