Bill Cassidy

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 33, S. 665.

Mr. CASSIDY. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage.

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

Mr. CASSIDY

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 136.

Mr. CASSIDY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 158, Cinco de Mayo; S. Res. 159, National 9-1-1 Education Month; S. Res. 160, Public Service Recognition Week; S. Res. 161, Financial Literacy Month; S. Res. 162, Alcohol Responsibility Month; S. Res. 163, earthquake in Nepal; S. Res. 164, Dia de los Ninos; and S. Res. 165, World Malaria Day.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 84 through 94, and 96 through 106, and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; that the nominations be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, May 4; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the veto message to accompany S.J. Res. 8.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, Senators should expect a vote in relation to the veto message to accompany S.J. Res. 8 at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. CASSIDY

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

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I wish to commend my fellow freshman, Senator Perdue, for a great maiden speech. I like particularly his emphasis upon growing our gross domestic product, growing our economy, and making it stronger. It echoes what Senator Enzi just said. It is not just about balancing the budget but about creating the sort of growth that creates more prosperity for the families who depend upon this prosperity for better jobs for them and their families. It was a great speech. I thank the Senator for capturing the optimism that makes the United States unique. I yield back.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise in favor of the Cassidy-Peters amendment. I am a physician who has been working in a public hospital for 30 years. I am aware the following is true: 90 percent of victims in a recent survey saw a nurse or doctor or other health care professional while being held captive. If those health care workers had the training and tools to identify the signs and symptoms of those being trafficked, they can make the appropriate referral and help them escape that terrible existence. This amendment will provide for the development of best practices to enable health care workers to recognize and assist victims of human trafficking. If passed today, this will help women and children in Louisiana, Michigan, and across the Nation rebuild their lives. I thank Senator Peters for joining this effort, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment. Mr. President, I yield back the remainder of my time. Vote on Amendment No. 296

Mr. CASSIDY

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

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, 5 years ago today, 11 Americans were lost when the Deepwater Horizon exploded off the gulf coast. I would like to name them. This is hard. These were the people we grew up with. I apologize for being emotional, but these are our neighbors, and so to remember them--Jason Anderson 35, Midfield, TX. Jason had two kids, and his wife Shelley said that Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday. Aaron Dale ``Bubba'' Burkeen, 37, of Philadelphia, MS. He passed on his wedding anniversary and 4 days before his birthday. He was married with two children. Donald Clark, 49, of Newellton, LA. Husband to Sheila with four kids. He was a fisherman. To honor him on the anniversary of his death, his family says a prayer and releases balloons over a lake in his favorite color, which is sky blue. Stephen Ray Curtis, 40, of Georgetown, LA. Stephen was married and the father of two teenagers. Gordon Jones of Baton Rouge, LA. Gordon was 28. His wife was Michelle. His son Max was born 3 weeks after Gordon passed. An oak tree was planted on the LSU campus on the path where he ran. Roy Wyatt Kemp, 27, of Jonesville, LA. He was married to Courtney and father of one child. Karl Kleppinger, Jr., 38, of Natchez, MS. He was a veteran of the first gulf war and the father of one. Keith Blair Manuel, 56, of Gonzales, LA. Keith had three daughters, was a big fan of LSU sports, and had football and basketball season tickets. Dewey A. Revette, 48, of State Line, MS. His wife was Sherri. They had been married for 26 years. Shane M. Roshto, 22, of Liberty, MS. He was the youngest of the men who died. His wife was Natalie, and his son is Blaine. Adam Weise, 24, of Yorktown, TX. Adam drove 10 hours to Louisiana every 3 weeks to work on the rig. He was a high school football star and spent his off time hunting and fishing. We pray that the families find peace in the memories of their sons, husbands, and fathers. The spill was the worst in our Nations's history, and while the consequences of this spill are still seen, it is our task to live forward and, in so doing, honor the memory of these men and provide a better future for their families. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that there be a moment of silence to honor their memory.

Mr. CASSIDY. Thank you, Madam President. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, speaking first to amendment No. 341, a principal challenge in our society today is how do we create better jobs with better benefits for working families. There are some industries that clearly have done that. Those include the energy industry and, by extension, the low cost energy being produced domestically that in turn is creating new manufacturing jobs. To further this process, I will first point out that over 85 percent of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf is closed off to energy exploration and production. Opening the American OCS, as it is called, will provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and increase our national security by increasing our energy security. My amendment encourages the security and these jobs by opening up America's Outer Continental Shelf to energy exploration and production. Amendment No. 539. I am a doctor. I have been working in the public hospital system of Louisiana for the last 25 years caring for the uninsured. I am so aware of the importance of safety-net programs such as Medicaid. I point out, though, that Medicaid is a broken program--so broken that it is bankrupting State governments and contributing to our runaway national debt. The question is how do we preserve this important program but, at the same time, also preserve the financial integrity of our State government, of our Federal Government, and, if you will, ultimately the pocketbook of the taxpayer. This amendment would build upon proven models that will provide financial security for the patients who benefit from Medicaid as well as for the States that provide those benefits for those Medicaid patients. This is an important beginning to reform Medicaid to preserve its benefits, but, again, to protect the American taxpayer. Lastly, amendment No. 795. I return to what I said earlier. A chief challenge now is how do we create better jobs with better benefits for working families. Those jobs oftentimes are in construction, mining, and manufacturing. The EPA is promulgating new regulations which they estimate for ambient air quality standards, which they estimate the cost of compliance will be $3.9 billion in the year 2025. This is estimated to decrease our gross domestic product by $140 billion, a $3.9 billion cost, leading to a $140 billion decrease in our economy. Inevitably, there are lost jobs associated with it, working families that are less well off. The EPA would prevent construction of manufacturing and energy- intensive enterprises. My amendment ensures the American energy and manufacturing renaissance is not interrupted by EPA's costly regulation. It preserves those jobs for the American people. I yield the floor.

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside to call up my amendment Nos. 341, 539, and 795 en bloc.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a serious crime and a violation of human rights that must be stopped--human trafficking. It is a form of modern-day slavery, people profiting from the control and exploitation of others. I rise as a doc, a fellow who has practiced in the public hospital system for 32 years, understanding the unique role nurses, physicians, and other health care providers play in this issue. Health care providers are frontline and one of the few to interact directly with trafficked women and children. A recent survey published in the Annals of Health Law reports that 28 percent of trafficked women sought a health care professional while being held captive. Now, this does not mean that the nurse, the doctor or other health care provider had the training to recognize it, but because of the unique and critical involvement with these victims, it is important these health care providers do have the tested tools and training to identify and help those being trafficked. The Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care amendment would save lives and, as importantly, would begin the rebuilding of lives destroyed by modern-day slavery. It would provide for the development of best practices to enable health care workers to recognize and assist victims of human trafficking. It is proven that many trafficking victims report receiving health care from federally funded clinics and emergency rooms while in captivity yet, as I mentioned earlier, they go undetected. This legislation would improve the awareness of health care workers, ultimately helping these victims. Senator Tim Kaine recently spoke about a missive that Pope Francis gave on Ash Wednesday, calling for us to be ``islands of mercy in a sea of indifference.'' The ethic of nurses, physicians, and other health care workers is to be that merciful creature. This would give them the training to better enable them to be that ``island'' in what for that woman or child caught in captivity must seem a ``sea of indifference.'' Having passed the House by unanimous consent, this amendment represents a bipartisan effort that will enable the medical community to bring relief to those suffering in ways that those of us who have never been there cannot imagine. Senator Peters is joining me in this bipartisan effort. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and help transform victims of trafficking into survivors and people who blossom. I yield back.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the House- passed Homeland Security appropriations bill. This bill is not just about whether we should fund the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the very important work of protecting our Nation, but also whether we will provide amnesty to those here illegally. First, let's establish that the Constitution says Congress has authority over our immigration and naturalization laws. The President does not have the authority to waive legal requirements. The Supreme Court has upheld this on numerous occasions. The President has admitted more than 20 times he does not have this authority. That said, now his administration is attempting to block the ruling the judge recently made to protect his amnesty plan. As has been reported in the papers, Judge Hanen in Texas has put an injunction against proceeding with the President's amnesty bill. It is reported the Department of Homeland Security, at the President's direction, is moving forward with plans to seal large contracts with companies to process deferred-action applications for millions of illegal immigrants as soon as possible. American families have seen President Obama rewrite the laws many times, and the outcomes of the recent elections show they do not support President Obama's Executive overreach. The President intends to grant amnesty to 5 million people. This will not be done on a case-by-case basis as the law suggests it should be. It is going to be a rubberstamp, a rubberstamp at the expense of those who are legally attempting to come to our country. It will take longer for those who are attempting to come legally to gain admittance under the law. I support the efforts of those coming to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their family. We all believe in immigration. We just think immigration should be legal. The President has rewritten the law to allow illegal immigrants the ability to receive work permits and drivers licenses which also includes receiving a Social Security number. After a certain period of time they will be eligible for Social Security. This goes far beyond his legal authority. By the way, many of my Democratic colleagues have expressed concerns about the President's action and whether he had the constitutional authority to take the action he has taken. Clearly he does not. While the President says this legal status is temporary, the reality is once work permits have been issued and Social Security cards are given, folks will be allowed to stay. They would not be deemed a priority for removal. On top of that, the temporary status may be renewed. In 2011, the President took Executive action for the Department of Homeland Security to start prioritizing illegal immigrants for removal. In April 2014, several months before he took his most recent action, the Los Angeles Times quoted former ICE Director John Sandweg in an article where he said, If you are a run-of-the-mill immigrant here illegally, your odds of getting deported are close to zero. The Associated Press reported in September 2014 the Department of Homeland Security admitted to a group of immigrant advocates during a confidential meeting that about 70 percent of illegal immigrants traveling as families failed to report back to ICE as ordered after they were released at the border. A few weeks ago Louisiana school administrators and I met, and they expressed concern about how the President's immigration policies have stressed our school systems. Classroom sizes have grown. Their associated costs to hire more teachers, buy textbooks, and the required resources to educate these students all have grown. President Obama is giving Executive amnesty to suit his agenda but is stretching limited local and State resources. By stretching them, it is making it tougher on Americans who are born here. The administration says only 5 million people will be impacted by the President's Executive order. The reality is with numerous options for illegal immigrants to remain in this country, people are going to hear about it. They will attempt to come. This will be a magnet for others to come here illegally. Illegal behavior is being rewarded. If the President's supporters feel compelled to continue blocking the funding bill, it must be clear they feel that Executive amnesty is legal regardless of how the courts have ruled. It is clear they believe that protecting the President's illegal action is more important than providing our men and women with the resources to protect our border. We must fund the Department of Homeland Security. As I have said, many of my colleagues who expressed serious concerns with the President's Executive actions in November are now voting to protect these actions. It is unfortunate they voted four times to prevent this bill--the Homeland Security funding bill--from coming up for debate. They won't even allow debate. Folks say they want funding for the Homeland Security Department, but they won't allow debate. This is unconscionable. I believe it is important we move forward to avoid a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. I urge my colleagues to please stop blocking this important legislation we must pass to protect our country and give the men and women of Homeland Security the resources they need and, most importantly, to protect the Constitution. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.