Tom Cotton

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the conference report to accompany S. 524, with the time until 11 a.m. equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4875, which was received from the House.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the nomination.

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 652 only, with no other executive business in order.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, the Senate will pass legislation renaming Post Office 620 Central Avenue in Hot Springs National Park after CPO Adam Brown. I have visited that post office many times as a child, as a Congressman, and as a Senator. I can't say there is all that much remarkable about it, but it will be remarkable after this law is passed. I didn't know Adam Brown, but Adam was about my age. Adam was a great warrior and a hero. Three years ago on Memorial Day in Hot Springs, a gentleman came up to me after I spoke and handed me a book titled ``Fearless'' by Eric William. It is a New York Times bestseller. It tells the story of Adam Brown. That title captures his spirit. He was fearless, relentless, and also a joyful and Godly man. As a child in Hot Springs, he was the one who always lined up to hit the biggest kid in football. He would jump off a bridge into the local lake and jump out of trucks. Adam was an all-American boy. During his teenaged years, Adam succumbed to addiction. He began to drink, started to use marijuana, became addicted to cocaine, and that led to many crimes. At one point, he had 16 outstanding felonies. Larry and his mother Janice didn't know what to do, so they told the sheriff where he was, and he was arrested. Adam went to Teen Challenge, a Christian ministry dedicated to helping youth overcome addiction. Through his faith in God, love of his parents, and the love of his wife Kelly, he was able to fight back his addiction, although he continued to struggle with it. With the help of a good recruiter and out of a sense of deep and abiding patriotism for his country, Adam cleaned up his life by enlisting in the Navy. He didn't just enlist to do any job, though, he enlisted to be a Navy SEAL. It entails some of the hardest training our military has. Adam, of course, got his golden trident and went on to display the same kind of fearlessness and relentlessness but also the same joyfulness that so many people in Hot Springs and in Arkansas had known. As anyone who has been in the military knows, there are always some guys in the unit who are downers, looking on the dark side of things, wondering what was going to go wrong next, and Adam was the antidote to that. He always looked on the bright side, always had a sunny outlook, and always had a helpful word for a friend or buddy. He was always ready to help the unit accomplish the mission. Adam went through multiple deployments as a Navy SEAL, and there was never any quit in him. In 2003, he was injured in a simulation round during a training exercise with a miniature paint ball that the military uses. Somehow it got underneath his eye protection and hit him in the eye, and as a result he lost his eye, but, as he always did, he looked on the bright side. He got a glass eye with an Arkansas Razorback on it, and he would put on a pirate patch and play pirate with his two little kids, Nathan and Savannah. It didn't stop him from continuing to deploy as a Navy SEAL. He was later involved in a multicar accident while deployed. His hand was crushed and three fingers were severed. The doctors were able to reattach it, but it could no longer be used. Of course, he was eligible to leave the military because of his combat injury, but he didn't do that. He learned to shoot with the other hand and use his other eye when shooting. In fact, he went on to become a member of SEAL Team Six, the most elite element of the Navy SEAL community. He continued to deploy and fight but also showed deep compassion. In Afghanistan, he noticed that many of the poor, little Afghan children didn't even have shoes on their feet on the darkest, coldest days of winter, so he arranged for a local pastor in his community to send shoes that he could give to them. On March 17, 2010, Adam was on a mission high up in the mountains in Afghanistan. His unit came under intense enemy fire. Adam helped to save the lives of his fellow SEALS, taking multiple rounds himself, and he ultimately perished as a result of his wounds. Adam received a hero's welcome in Hot Springs, where he rests today. Adam's story is about faith, redemption, service, and love. When little boys and little girls drive by that post office in Hot Springs in the future, I hope they ask their parents who Adam Brown was. I hope their parents can tell them his story and inspire them with his example. I yield the floor.

Mr. COTTON

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

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 528, submitted earlier today.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Mid-Arkansas River Valley Abilities Workshop, better known as MARVA, in Russellville, AR, just over the bridge from my hometown of Dardanelle. For more than 40 years, MARVA has provided individuals with developmental disabilities meaningful work in a supportive environment and given them access to a variety of social services. Those employed at MARVA produce and sell, for example, top-quality recyclables, planners, and calendars. My visit to MARVA deeply moved me. I saw firsthand how important this organization is to so many Arkansans, and I met and heard from some truly amazing people, like Ron, who has been at MARVA for 17 years. Ron said he had dropped out of 3 different colleges and was fired from 10 jobs before he was diagnosed with a mental illness. Ron was actually told by one former employer: ``You are dumb and have no future.'' Ron moved back to Arkansas and found his place at MARVA, where he is currently thriving. In Ron's words: MARVA has helped me to feel that I can be independent and encouraged me to feel a sense of worth. I feel that my life has come from the gutter to glory. I can't imagine any other life. I don't want to get fired again. I also met Mike, an Arkansan who has been employed at MARVA for 38 years--38 years. Mike was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 2. He was lucky enough to have parents who took him to the best schools and the best physical therapy, but there are still real limitations from his disability. For Mike, MARVA has been a saving grace. His mom said it is a safe environment for him to grow as a person, providing purpose for his life and a network of friends with whom to socialize-- and earn a little money while doing it. MARVA offers Ron, Mike, and 28 other Arkansans a chance to be part of a team, a chance to do meaningful work, make friends, and have loving, understanding coaches and mentors who recognize their limitations. It offers them integration and a chance to live a full and meaningful life. I talk about MARVA today not just because it is an incredible place with incredible people but because there is a movement afoot in Congress that could harm or even eliminate places like MARVA. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act helps create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities that prevent them from finding jobs at market rates. In nearly all cases, these waivers are used for sheltered workshops like MARVA. These organizations are nonprofits with a mission to help persons with disabilities, not companies getting rich from subminimum wage labor. I recognize that some in the disability rights community oppose 14(c). I met with some good people who devote their lives to serving the disabled and have this point of view. There are bills in both the House and the Senate to eliminate 14(c), and, in turn, likely shut down organizations like MARVA. I am sympathetic to their concerns, especially in rare isolated cases of abuse. And if there is a choice between a workshop job and a suitable market job in, say, a retail store, for many disabled persons the market job would be a better option. But as the client-workers and their families told me, at MARVA they don't have this choice. They can't choose between a sheltered workshop job and a market job. It is this employment or nothing. And who can argue that the client-workers of MARVA would be better off not having this opportunity? Would that be progress? Or would that be an unintentional but tragic return to the failed and limiting policies of the past? I encourage all of my colleagues to visit a workshop like MARVA and talk to the full-time staff and the client-workers, talk to the family members of the client-workers, and see for yourself how important these organizations are in the lives of people with disabilities who have found a place that offers them meaningful work in their community. MARVA and similar organizations are a true blessing to their client- workers, their families, customers, and all Arkansans. I am committed to protecting MARVA and organizations like it from any effort to close them down. And if you want the simplest reason why, I will close by reading a Facebook post from Mike's brother: Whether it's shredding by hand outdated phone books or making ballpoint pens for area businesses, these people WANT to work and are fiercely dedicated to doing their jobs with pride, and they want to work in the environments where they feel sheltered, safe, and where their needs are met. God bless MARVA and may all healthy sheltered workshops survive and keep giving life and a sense of purpose to people like Mike. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. COTTON. Madam President, I would like to recognize Patrick Combs, of Hot Springs, AK, as this week's Arkansan of the Week, for teaching Arkansas students to share his love of music and pushing them to succeed in everything they do. Patrick just completed his fourth year as band director for the entire Fountain Lake School District. As the program's sole instructor, Patrick teaches instrumental music for all middle school and high school students and directs both the marching and symphonic bands. To put that in perspective, the Fountain Lake Middle School and High School have a combined student body of over 800 students. Patrick is remarkable not just for teaching so many students, although I know that is a feat in and of itself. Under his direction, the Fountain Lake music program has truly soared. Over the last 4 years the number of Fountain Lake students who earned a place in all-region bands more than doubled, and the number of students who won competitive tryouts in the Four States Honor Band and the Arkansas All-Star Band both more than tripled. As a group, the Fountain Lake band earned a first division ranking in concert assessment for all 4 years of Patrick's tenure. In 3 of his 4 years, the band also had the honor of being an Arkansas Sweepstakes band. Most recently, the Fountain Lake band was one of only two Arkansas bands selected to participate in this year's National Independence Day Festival on the Fourth of July here in Washington. I was able to see the Fountain Lake band while they were in town and congratulate them on this big achievement. While I, unfortunately, wasn't able to see the parade in person, all reports indicated their performance was spectacular. I know I speak for all Arkansans when I say they truly made the Natural State proud. I am confident their success was due in no small part to Patrick's leadership, as well as the hard work of Fountain Lake students. I am honored to recognize Patrick Combs as this week's Arkansan of the Week and commend him for his dedication to music education and the Fountain Lake School District. Arkansas is lucky that a passionate educator like Patrick calls our State home. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, in honor of the National Park Service's 100th birthday year, I want to recognize Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, AR. Hot Springs is a world famous tourist destination and it is not hard to see why. Whether it is to take advantage of the many recreational activities like hiking or boating or to bathe in the hot, therapeutic waters found in the area, guests have traveled from across the country and around the world to visit Hot Springs. In an effort to preserve its unique hot springs, Hot Springs first became a protected area in 1832 when Congress declared the area a reservation. It was officially designated as a national park in 1921. In the years after it became a reservation, Hot Springs experienced extensive economic growth and majestic bathhouses replaced the rudimentary wooden structures surrounding the hot water springs. The remaining bathhouse row structures in Hot Springs National Park are now part of a National Historic Landmark District that sees thousands of visitors each year. But Hot Springs has more than just unique natural features. Over the last century, they have hosted Major League Baseball spring training. They are also home to Oaklawn horse racing, and the notorious gangster Al Capone is even rumored to have spent time in town. Finally, former President Bill Clinton graduated from Hot Springs High School. Hot Springs National Park is a true Arkansas treasure, and the surrounding town makes it that much better. This park has a storied history, but its best days are ahead of it. The hot springs are still flowing, the bathhouses are still open, and the scenery remains breathtaking. In honor of the National Park Service's 100th birthday year, I encourage you to go out and find your park.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back.

Mr. COTTON. I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I would like to recognize Corporal Jason Chester and Sergeant Trey Dupuy of the Jonesboro Police Department as this week's Arkansans of the Week for heroically saving the life of a 13 year-old boy trapped in a storm drain. Last month, 13-year-old Jacob Hunter was swept away during a flash flood in Jonesboro. Jacob was washed through the city's drainage system underneath a parking lot, where he held on for hours. Initial search efforts by police, fire, EMS, and other volunteers to find Jacob were unsuccessful, but Corporal Chester and Sergeant Dupuy wouldn't give up hope. They returned to the area where Jacob was first swept away and searched it again. Sergeant Dupuy leaned toward a storm drain and heard a faint cry for help. That is when the two officers jumped into action. They removed a heavy manhole cover and were able to pull Jacob to safety. The entire State of Arkansas is grateful to Corporal Chester and Sergeant Dupuy and to all the first responders for their heroic efforts. We don't hear news stories with happy endings enough these days, especially when the circumstances seem so grim, but because of the persistence and quick thinking of these two officers, Jacob Hunter is alive and well today. I am honored to recognize Corporal Jason Chester and Sergeant Trey Dupuy for their efforts. Their determination and commitment to finding Jacob is a reflection of the true spirit of Arkansas. They remind us we owe a debt of gratitude to all first responders and emergency personnel across the country for the work they do to keep us safe. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COTTON

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

Mr. COTTON

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

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Joel Spencer of Little Rock, AR, as this week's Arkansan of the Week for his dedication to educating the next generation of computer coders, teaching students computer coding skills, and training other teachers as well. Studies show that students who learn coding and computer science at a young age are more successful later on, and Joel Spencer wants to make sure each child who comes through his classroom has the opportunity for that success. Joel is an elementary science specialist and teacher in the Little Rock School District and each week teaches over 500 students. But his dedication to learning doesn't end there. Joel also conducts an afterschool computer Science First club, a Lego MINDSTORMS robotics club, and various other day camps around the State to introduce Arkansas students to programming. To say he is passionate about computer science education is an understatement. Children aren't the only ones Joel teaches. He is also dedicated to helping his fellow teachers become better educators. Joel serves as an affiliate trainer for Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented groups. Through his work with this organization, Joel has trained over 1,000 teachers in code curriculum. He was also part of the committee that developed and adopted the K-8 computer science standards in Arkansas. Joel's dedication in computer coding education hasn't gone unnoticed. He received the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media Technology Teacher of the Year Award for the State of Arkansas and is also a nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. And during National Teacher Appreciation Week earlier this year, he was one of the computer science teachers recognized by President Obama at the White House. While he was in town for that ceremony, Joel made some time to visit my office and share his passion for computer coding education. I am proud that Arkansas has teachers like Joel, who are making students' futures brighter each day. It is my honor to recognize Joel Spencer as this week's Arkansan of the Week, and I am confident that the future of our State and Nation is brighter because of his work to inspire students to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, on September 2, 1939, the House of Commons convened to debate whether to declare war on Germany for having invaded Poland. Prime Minister Neville Chamberland seemed ambivalent and didn't immediately call for a declaration. Clement Atlee, the Labor Party leader was absent that day. When his deputy rose and declared that he would ``speak for Labor,'' Conservative MP Leo Amery famously yelled from across the floor: ``Speak for England!'' I am here today to speak for England, for Great Britain, indeed for all of the United Kingdom. This Thursday, June 23, the British people will answer a momentous question: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? I have not stated nor will I state today a position on this question. The British people alone should decide their policy toward the Continent. What I will defend is their sovereign right as a people to decide this question free of external influences, foreign threats, and hysterical fear-mongering. The ``great and the good,'' the Davoisie elite, are united in horror at the prospect of a British exit from the EU. According to these Eurocrats, if the British people choose to leave the EU, then the people must be punished. Some have called for immediate tax increases and budget cuts should the ``Leave'' campaign win. Business leaders threaten to move jobs out of Britain and to the Continent. Many economists speculate that recession is the best possible outcome, with depression the more likely outcome. Most disappointing of all, foreign governments have made egregious threats of retaliation in trade, financial matters, and other economic matters, both to punish the British people for exercising their sovereign right of self-government and to intimidate the other peoples of Europe from doing the same. I would say the only thing they aren't predicting is war and pestilence--but they are. Indeed, one leading Eurocrat said a British exit could mean ``the end of Western civilization.'' If the Davoisie elite were doing even a passable job of governing their own countries, perhaps their unsolicited advice might be heeded. But let's face it. Europe is beset by its own problems, not the least caused by the democracy deficit in the European Union. With no coordination or democratic accountability, the Eurocrats last summer allowed migrants to overrun their continent. Most of these migrants lack the job skills and education to contribute meaningfully to European economies. Some migrants went on rampaging crime sprees, and terrorists infiltrated the migrant flows to enter France and commit the Paris attacks. Meanwhile, the migrant flow continues across the Mediterranean, with hundreds dying en route. What is the Eurocrats' policy? ``If you survive the trip, you can stay.'' How is that moral? How is that wise? The economies of Europe aren't much better. Many countries are trapped beneath unpayable mountains of debt, saddled with austerity plans merely to make the next repayment and avoid default. Unemployment is high, and for young people it is rampant and chronic. Growth is negligible. In fact, the only continent with lower growth than Europe is Antarctica. I am amazed, maybe even a little amused, that despite these and other manifest failures, the Eurocrats presume to lecture the British people. Perhaps they hope ``Project Fear'' will sufficiently intimidate the Brits into voting for ``Remain.'' After all, if the EU loses Great Britain, Europe will lose 350 million pounds a week, and it will lose a dumping ground for a quarter million migrants a year. The stakes are pretty high for Brussels. But that doesn't justify their flagrant interference with Britain's domestic politics. Since the Davoisie elite are threatening to punish the Brits if they leave the EU, let me say in response that the American people will stand with our British cousins no matter what they decide. If the Continent dares to retaliate against Britain, I will do everything in my power to defend and strengthen the Anglo-American alliance that built so much of the modern world and on which it still depends. The Eurocrats may want to pressure Britain, but perhaps they might recall that Britain is not the only land where pressure can be brought to bear. On my last trip to Europe, I heard from many political and business leaders who were eager--desperate, even--to consummate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The Paris and Brussels attacks vividly reminded us that the small continental countries depend heavily on American intelligence to support their counterterrorism efforts. Of course, need anyone be reminded which NATO country underwrites the independence and security of Europe, particularly in the face of a revisionist Russia? It would be regrettable if a continental temper tantrum imperiled these important relationships with the United States. One would hope that cooler heads will prevail in the capitals of continental Europe should the British people elect to leave the EU. One would hope that Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and other capitals will realize that Britain, in or out of the EU, is a NATO ally, a trading partner, and a friend in freedom. One would hope that a British exit, if that is Britain's choice, would be followed by the spirit of magnanimity, generosity, and continued friendship. But hopes aside, one should know this: The American people will stand with Britain, in or out of the EU, and will stand against punitive retaliation against the British people. Of course, I must admit that, unfortunately--though not surprisingly--our own government is also sticking its nose where it doesn't belong. President Obama traveled to London last month to say that a newly free Britain would go to ``the back of the queue'' in trade negotiations with the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has cautioned: ``We're not particularly in the market for [free trade agreements] with individual countries.'' This strange combination of arrogance and ignorance is all too typical of the Obama administration. The United States has a bilateral trade agreement with Oman, after all. But negotiate a new bilateral trade agreement to support the special relationship with Great Britain, our ancestral ally? No, sir, we will have none of that nonsense. So, for the record, let it be noted that the American people will stand up to the ``great and the good'' not only on the Continent, but also here in Washington if this or any future administration tries to punish Britain should it leave the EU. Just as I will do everything in my power to preserve our special relationship against continental meddling, so will I do the same with any administration that doesn't fully appreciate that relationship. I suspect many other Senators feel the same. Put simply, there will be a new bilateral trade agreement, NATO will survive, our Five Eyes intelligence partnership will continue, and the special relationship will remain a bedrock for the prosperity and security of both our nations. The British people can cast their votes certain of those things. The British people deserve nothing less. Were it not for them, Europe--indeed, the world over--might still be a mere plaything of kings and tyrants. Of all the peoples of the world, surely the Brits have earned the sovereign right to govern their own affairs, free of external influence or threats of retaliation. Like most Americans, I stand in admiration of Great Britain, and I stand with the British people, in or out of the EU. I also call on the Davoisie elite, on the ``great and the good,'' to spend a little less time fulminating about British democracy in action and a little more time looking in the mirror at their own failures. Populist insurgencies are raging on both sides of the Atlantic, on both the left and the right. Rather than obsess about Great Britain, rather than keep the populists at bay one desperate election at a time, these leaders should consider why these insurgencies are gaining in every election--stagnant wages for the working class, uncontrolled migration without regard to economic need or cultural assimilation, Islamic terrorists massacring our citizens, and a loss of national honor around the world. This record is not pretty. In politics, as in medicine, it is usually better to address the cause than the symptom. If our leaders addressed these challenges more creatively, more forthrightly, more effectively, perhaps neither the British people nor so many other people would be disappointed in their leaders to begin with. Let the British people manage their own affairs, whether right or wrong in your eyes. In the words of Scripture, whatever you may think of their mote, take care of your own beam first. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I would like to recognize Marion Fletcher of Hot Springs, AR, as this week's Arkansan of the Week, for 53 years of service to agriculture education in Arkansas. Marion recently retired, and I would like to take a few moments to recognize his legacy and his impact. Arkansas is a rural State, and for Arkansans agriculture isn't just an industry. It is a way of life. Over the last five decades, Marion has been a fixture in the Arkansas agriculture community, serving in dozens of roles in countless organizations, impacting every person he met. To say he is passionate about agriculture education is an understatement. Since 1997, Marion worked as the State supervisor and program manager of agricultural education at the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, and before that he spent 30 years in numerous roles with the Arkansas Department of Education, Vocational and Technical Education Division. He also had a 3-year stint as an ag instructor at Desha Central Schools. Locally, he has been a dedicated board member of the Garland County Farm Bureau for over 30 years. But Marion's service isn't just limited to Arkansas. He has also played an important role in the National FFA, where he has been a member of the board of directors, served as national treasurer, and has been a part of various task and action force committees. To quote longtime friend Keith Stokes, ``there is not a young person who went through the FFA program that was not influenced in a positive way by Mr. Fletcher.'' His hard work hasn't gone unnoticed, and he was honored with the first-ever National FFA Advisor's Golden Owl Award. He has also received the FFA VIP Award, recognition in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, Arkansas's ``service to citizens'' award, and a litany of others on a long list of well-deserved commendations. The honors, distinctions, and accolades earned by Marion are endless. Like those before me, I am proud to honor Marion's work and legacy. He is an outstanding Arkansan, and our State agriculture industry is better because he committed his life to agriculture education. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COTTON

Mr. COTTON. Madam President, today I recognize Thomas Galyon of Rogers, AR, as this week's Arkansan of the Week for his advocacy work with the Arkansas chapter of the national ALS Association. Tom was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 and has been a tireless advocate ever since. Tom isn't one to let ALS hold him back. In fact, after spending 33 successful years in the tourism industry, Tom decided retirement wasn't for him and went back to work as the property manager for the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary's in northwest Arkansas. As luck would have it, the ALS Association is headquartered in the very building Tom manages, making his commitment to their organization that much stronger. Recently I had the opportunity to meet with Tom when he came to Washington to advocate on behalf of the ALS Association. We had a long discussion, where I learned about Tom's story and the struggle of nearly 20,000 other Americans who are currently living with ALS. During our meeting, Tom asked me to address the problem that persons with ALS face when seeking disability insurance. I was proud to work with my colleague Senator Whitehouse to become the lead Republican sponsor of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act, a bill that would waive the 5-month waiting period to receive disability insurance program benefits for those living with ALS. While the waiting period may be prudent in many cases, for ALS it consumes a lot of the remaining life expectancy once you get a diagnosis of ALS. We now have nine sponsors. As we gain more support, I am hopeful this bill will move forward and eventually become law. In a testimony about his journey with ALS, Tom writes: ``Until there is a treatment or a cure for ALS I will continue to be an avid advocate for change in government policies and procedures that affect all ALS patients in a negative way.'' I encourage all Arkansans to take a lesson from Tom's words: Advocacy works. If there is a bill or regulatory matter that impacts your life, I want to hear about it. To become an advocate, contact my office and tell me your story. It is part of my job to represent you in the Senate. Tom's journey is a remarkable one. He has not let the unexpected discourage him. In fact, he has used his diagnosis to teach others about ALS and bring us closer to a cure. As Tom himself always says, ``Blue skies always.'' I think that is a mantra everyone in the Senate and Arkansas could adopt, too. It is my honor to recognize Thomas Galyon as this week's Arkansan of the Week. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COTTON

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