Kevin Cramer

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. CRAMER. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. CRAMER. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. CRAMER

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I want to honor a very special North Dakota resident who turned 100 years old on July 17. Margaret Michalski Dagman has been a lifelong resident of the Nome and Enderlin, ND, area. She and her late husband, Vernon, raised two children and farmed for many years near Enderlin. They were active in their community, and Margaret supported Vernon during his years representing Ransom County in the North Dakota Legislature in the early 1960s. Throughout the decades of her life across the past century, Margaret has experienced great moments in North Dakota's history. She shared her memories of attending the Nome Schoolhouse in a recent video produced about the restored building. She recalled bringing lunch to school in syrup pails, the many poems she and her classmates were required to memorize, and some of her favorite teachers. Although a large celebration did not happen on Margaret's birthday, the community of Enderlin drove by her home and honked with birthday wishes. I hope she will be able to celebrate this great milestone with friends and family at other opportunities throughout the year. North Dakota is home to more than 200 centenarians, and we consider them among our most treasured residents. Their pioneer spirit, dignity, and hard work have brought them through many challenges and personal achievements. On behalf of all North Dakotans, I wish Margaret a happy 100th birthday and hope this is the start of a year filled with happiness and joy.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 617.

Mr. CRAMER. 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.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 23; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 483, S. 4049; finally, that all time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on substitute amendment No. 2301, as amended.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. 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. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, in reserving the right to object, I, like the entire staff in the Chamber today and like the Presiding Officer for most of this time, has endured this for the last hour, an hour that has been very similar to the hour we had yesterday on the very same topic and with the very same motion to have the very same amendment passed in the Defense Authorization Act. I am a member of the Committee on Armed Services. Prior to the Presiding Officer, I was presiding. I was honored to sit in that chair and watch the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services and the ranking Democrat of the Committee on Armed Services talk in glowing terms about each other and the bipartisan effort that has led to a National Defense Authorization Act that has considered 807 amendments to this point. As we sit here, 40 more amendments--20 by Republicans and 20 by Democrats--are being hotlined for further consideration for, hopefully, tomorrow's final passage. The National Defense Authorization Act has been greatly debated. In fact, it has been the most debated bill that I have been part of since I got here. Not only that, the amendments that are represented in this 807 are almost, nearly, equally divided among the two parties represented in this great Chamber. What we have been witnessing tonight is a diatribe--in some cases, fantasy but, in every case, an exaggeration and, in many cases, a fabrication. The good Senator from Oregon has shown us pictures of what democracy looks like. I don't disagree. We are self-governed. The exceptionalism of America is that we are self-governed. Democracy also demands protocol in this Chamber, the most deliberative body in this world. Yet, without any warning--without any heads-up--here we are, dealing with a unanimous consent motion on an amendment that has already failed to get unanimous consent just in the last 24 hours on a bill that has already been debated for weeks and months. It included bipartisan amendments across the board. Then we are confronted with this breach of not only protocol but of--well, let's just say--common decency and respect for each other. I do agree with the Senator from Oregon on this point: He is right in that we should have the debate, and that is why it is too bad that his amendment wasn't allowed to be debated in Senator Tim Scott's JUSTICE Act. And the reason it couldn't be debated there was because he and most every one of his colleagues on the Democrat side other than three filibustered against Tim Scott's police reform bill. I don't think they want a solution. They want to have this crazy rhetoric, demagogue all day and all night, wherever they can have a demagogue, and they want to blame President Donald Trump for the actions of criminals. Now, I have heard it all when I have heard, from the Senate floor, antifa referred to as the anti--what did he call them? The antifascists. The antifascists. That is the way to sugarcoat thugs. So for these reasons--and I could think of dozens of others, but I will spare you all and the staff this late night, getting later--I object.

Mr. CRAMER. I think we have had enough debate. I object.

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I don't object.

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I am just going to reiterate my final point one final time, and I promise not to take more time than the Senator from Oregon. He had his opportunity to have this amendment considered, debated, and voted on in the JUSTICE Act, introduced by Senator Tim Scott, a bill that dealt specifically with police reform. It would have been the perfect place to have the debate, except that my colleague voted against cloture so we couldn't even proceed to the bill. I don't know how we could have made it any easier or better. In fact, when we took up the JUSTICE Act, he and his side were provided at least 20 amendment opportunities. We could have had the debate he seeks tonight at the appropriate time on the appropriate bill, and I am sorry that we didn't do that. Perhaps after tonight's episode, he and his colleagues will reconsider, and perhaps before we are done this year, Senator Scott's JUSTICE Act could be brought to the floor and we could have an adult discussion and debate on amendments and on the bill and on all kinds of great ideas right here in the most august body in the United States. I hope that can happen. With that, I yield the floor and wish you a good night.

Mr. CRAMER

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

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the Minot Air Force Base on the 65th anniversary of its beginning. On July 12, 1955, Minot, ND, community leaders and area residents gathered to break ground on land north of the city for what would become the Minot Air Force Base. One and a half years later, operations commenced at the base, and personnel and aircraft made their way to Minot, where they have enhanced our State and defended our Nation ever since. By the mid-1960s, it was recognized as one of the Nation's largest military installations, with a population of nearly 19,000 military and civilian men and women and their families. It was also recognized as having the largest housing village on a military base in the continental United States, with more than 2,450 homes. The mission, aircraft, and staff have changed over these past seven decades. Today, the Minot Air Force Base supports two legs of the Nation's nuclear triad and provides vital defense to our security. It is the only dual-wing nuclear-capable installation in the Nation, with the 5th Bomb Wing and its B-52 bombers and the 91st Missile Wing, along with Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. During these 65 years, the Minot community and State of North Dakota have remained constant in their support for the thousands of people who have been stationed at the Minot Air Force Base. We take pride in all they have done and continue to do to ensure peace throughout our world. We will continue to stand by them in the years ahead. To the men and women of the Minot Air Force Base, you and all who came before you have faithfully served our country and lived up to your motto, ``Only The Best Come North.'' Every day, you go to work carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. Thank you for all you do to make America great.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I thank Chairman Inhofe for his leadership and eloquence. I rise today in defense of the heroes on the thin blue line and in opposition to amendment No. 2252 to the National Defense Authorization Act, which Chairman Inhofe just spoke to. Over the past few months, America has watched as we have seen a rise in civil unrest turn into violence in cities all across our country. Anarchists and domestic terrorists have exploited the peaceful protests of millions of well-intentioned Americans in order to inflict chaos and instill fear in our communities. Standing on the frontlines as a shield from absolute anarchy are our local law enforcement officers who, by and large, have applied the appropriate force required to protect American families as well as First Amendment rights. Unfortunately, some have made the political calculation that they would benefit more from chaos than from peace. They believe defunding and abolishing police departments and restricting their access to protective gear are politically better than an honest look at what our justice system really needs to succeed. The 1033 Program has been utilized for years to provide State and local law enforcement with valuable tools already purchased by the Federal Government to promote public safety. It would be the epitome of waste to gut this program and let these valuable tools rust in a pile or a closet someplace. As the chairman stated, the police and sheriffs associations oppose amendment No. 2252, and for good reason. Patrick Yoes of the Fraternal Order of Police says: It is important for Senators to understand that equipment received through the 1033 program is demilitarized and repurposed for public safety use. Simply because a piece of equipment was originally purchased with our tax dollars by the Department of Defense does not make it military equipment. A tool is defined by its use. The equipment is used to defend and protect officers and civilians from threats and to carry out law enforcement and public safety objectives. It is stunning to me that some of my colleagues are more appalled at where law enforcement gets some of their tools and equipment than they are at the violence that our police officers have to endure every day. The amendment offered today would bury law enforcement, especially those from poor communities, in unnecessary bureaucracy, effectively preventing them from procuring the equipment needed to keep our communities and citizens safe. This unworkable messaging ploy is born out of Democrats' belief that vilifying the police will somehow help them win the election in November. Thankfully, there is an alternative, amendment No. 2411, offered by the chairman from Oklahoma. It is a thoughtful, commonsense approach with a focus on trained prevention and deescalation. It puts the right equipment in the right hands and places commonsense restrictions on what transfers can occur, all while saving the taxpayers' money. I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 2411 and call on the Members of this body to reject any attempts to prevent these brave men and women from doing their jobs to safely secure our communities. I yield back.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I come to the floor today with, frankly, a heavy heart and a fair bit of trepidation. My goal over the next few minutes is to pay tribute to somebody who is so special, so remarkable, so beloved, so important to my home State of North Dakota that I feel inadequate, frankly. But here I am to pay tribute to Sister Thomas Welder, who died and went to be with the Lord on Monday morning of this week at the age of 80. Sister Thomas was for 31 years the president of the University of Mary and in the last several served as president emerita--very active. She was a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery at Bismarck. She was a dear personal friend--and not just to me but to everyone. When I say ``everyone,'' I mean everyone who mattered. I am unprepared, frankly, to begin to really address all that she is and was and does and means to people. Madam President, first of all, I would like to ask unanimous consent to print in the Record her obituary, as well as the news release announcing her passing from the University of Mary

Mr. CRAMER. I am going to read some of the facts of her life from her obituary and do my best to fill in some personal thoughts while I do that. I am not going to read the entire thing. It starts out: ``Sister Thomas Welder, 80, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, and president of the University of Mary for 31 years, passed into eternal life June 22, 2020, at the monastery, following a recent diagnosis of kidney cancer. ``A graduate of St. Mary's High School, she joined Annunciation Monastery after a year of college in Minnesota. Attracted by the community and prayer life of the sisters, she felt God's call to become one of them. As a novice, she was given the name of Sister Thomas. She made her monastic profession on July 11, 1961. Sister Thomas cherished Benedictine monastic life which she lived faithfully for 59 years.'' I recall a speech--or an interview--once at an event. In fact, I think it was during her retirement. She was asked about monastic life. She was asked: What is it that grounds you? Where is it you get your inspiration? She said: ``My wellspring are the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.'' Skipping down a little bit, her obituary reads: ``A dedicated servant leader''--and we will speak to that in a little bit--``she gave her life to the University of Mary for 57 years. She led from her heart and touched the lives of many. She was president from 1978 to 2009.'' I had the great honor of serving as the master of ceremonies at her 30th anniversary as president. ``Under her remarkable leadership, the school attained university status in 1986; tripled in size . . . ; added the university's first doctorate, grew on-site and online adult learning programs to 16 locations across the state, region'' and the country, and moved the school from NAIA to NCAA Division II athletics. This is an important line: ``Sister Thomas was present to students, faculty and staff.'' I will elaborate on that a bit as well. ``She attended student recitals and concerts, cheered at athletic events and participated in many university gatherings. She called students by name and her genuine caring attitude left a deep impression on them. She enjoyed getting to know friends of the university whose financial assistance made growth possible.'' I went on many fundraising calls with her. ``After her retirement as president, she was named President Emerita and served in the university's Mission Advancement Office.'' I had the great honor of working with her and then working for her after she hired me and then working with her again as a member of the board of trustees and sharing and serving on many boards and committees at the university. Her obituary goes on to say: ``One of the most widely known and highly respected women in North Dakota, Sister Thomas loved visiting with people of all ages and walks of life. People gave her energy. She would focus her entire attention toward listening to the person right in front of her.'' Boy, do we need that lesson here, Sister Thomas. We need you to teach us. Let me say that again: ``She would focus her entire attention toward listening to the person right in front of her.'' In fact, in a TED talk she did for TEDx on TV about, I think, 3 years ago or so--she was speaking to a lot of young people, of course, at this TED talk and was talking about connectivity, and she was speaking to the issue of monastic life and community and the stability that comes from being grounded in a community, while also talking about--not criticizing, mind you; she was rarely critical--but speaking of the challenges of the digital era. She said this: ``The challenge is to be fully present to those around us. The challenge is to be fully present to those around us, to engage face to face with one's child, with a colleague, with a neighbor. . . . '' and she went on to say ``even that person who may not be in our circle of friends.'' See, she didn't just speak to this value of being present; she was present. She was the epitome of always being present. In fact, her humility caused her to always deflect attention away from herself and to the person in front of her. Earlier I mentioned that in the obituary it mentions she called the students by name, and this is perhaps the best example of what I mean when I say she was always present: The University of Mary had about 3,000 students a year by the time she retired. She knew them all by name, and when she would greet students, faculty, friends, neighbors, supporters of the university, she always called you by name--but not just you; she asked about your spouse by name, your children by name. We all thought that was some special spiritual gift--a big brain with an incredible memory that just automatically recalls people's names. Yeah, she was really smart. She had a good memory, to be sure. But she didn't call us by name because she had a great memory; she called us by name because it was important to her because she knew it was important to us. It was a conviction, a commitment that she had to being present all the time. It was a remarkable thing--a remarkable thing. Sister Thomas modeled many Benedictine values at the University of Mary. We learned them all, all the time. The six that they highlight there are the Benedictine values of hospitality, respect for persons, prayer, moderation, service--really important, as she called them, gospel values. But she didn't just call them gospel values. She didn't just teach them, although she does a lot. By the way, the internet and YouTube are full of her speeches on Benedictine values and other values and leadership, especially servant leadership. ``She committed herself to instilling these values throughout the monastery's sponsored institutions,'' which included, of course, the University of Mary and CHI St. Alexius Health. ``She served on many state and national boards including CHI St. Alexius Health and MDU Resources Group,'' a Fortune 400 corporation. ``She received numerous honors during her lifetime including North Dakota's highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award.'' She earned them all. She earned them all. In fact, whenever she was complimented--which was often, as you might imagine, when you know as many people as she knows and have accomplished as much as she accomplished--she always, as I said earlier, deflected her accomplishments and gave someone else credit. She said this in an interview once when confronted with her many accomplishments: ``I have always been blessed with the sense that I can do only what I do with the guidance and the help of the Spirit.'' Think of that. All that she accomplished--she takes no credit but credits the fact that she was blessed with the sense that at least she was aware that the Spirit was the one that was guiding her. Her obituary also states: ``Sister Thomas was grateful for many blessings in her life. She was particularly thankful to two kidney donors who gave her the gift of life through two kidney transplants. She often prayed for and stayed connected''--connected--``to these special people.'' In that TEDx speech that I talked about from about 3 years ago, she was talking about connectivity, as I said. She was challenging them. She said: ``A disconnect from our cellphone or iPad makes possible a reconnect with those around us.'' ``A disconnect from our cellphone or iPad makes possible a reconnect with those around us.'' I could share lots of personal stories. I am tempted to, but I don't think that would be the tribute she would want. She and I made a lot of calls together. We went on a lot of road trips together. We spoke at a lot of the same events. I was always grateful when I could go first. It was impossible to follow her--an incredible speaker. One time we were at an event--I think I was the emcee, actually--a local event in Bismarck. She gave one of her phenomenal speeches. They all are. They all were. In the audience, unbeknownst to me, was the president of the National Automobile Dealers Association. He came up to me afterwards, and he said: ``Do you realize that every year we pay about $50,000 for a speaker at our national annual meeting, and we have never had one this good?'' I said: ``Well, I could get her to do it for less.'' He said: ``It is unbelievable. I have never been this inspired in my life.'' I would just challenge everybody who has a minute and wants to be inspired to just do a quick Google search of Sister Thomas Welder, and you will find a video that will inspire you. Every person I know who ever met her is better because they did, everybody I know whom she encountered. I once brought John Wooden, the great wizard of Westwood, the winningest coach in NCAA history, to the University of Mary to give a speech on servant leadership. It was a remarkable time. I sat there, and as I watched Coach Wooden--he was 96 years old at the time--come up to the stage after Sister Thomas introduced him, I stood between them and I thought, wow, I am between saints, two of the best servant leaders, who both taught and lived that incredible value. As I said, my heart is heavy. It is hard not to be sad. Yet Sister Thomas and I, of all of the things we talked about over the many years that I worked with her and for her, talked mostly about matters of faith. I am not Catholic. I do have a degree from the University of Mary. I am on their board of trustees. I love the place. I love the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and Sister Thomas especially because she embodies all that is good about them. But we always talked about matters of faith. I will never forget one trip to Fargo. I will never forget, in fact, where we were--sitting in my car, waiting to go in to call on somebody about a gift to the school. And we talked about Heaven. She said: ``I think we're going to be surprised at who we will see there.'' And I thought, yeah, you are probably right. She gets the blessing of being there first now and seeing who all is there, but there will be a lot of people there who know her, and they are looking forward to welcoming her and thanking her for the incredible gift she was in their life. I look forward to the day when I can go and be welcomed by her. I am grateful for her life. I love you, Sister Thomas. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, reserving the right to object, it is clear to the five or six of us Senators who are in the room right now that there is passion, that it is an important issue, and that there may even be unanimous consent in the hearts and minds, certainly, of the Senators with regard to both the spirit of the resolution and perhaps the letter of the bill, of which I am a cosponsor, that has been introduced by UC by the Senator from Maryland. I think it is clear that we all have the same objective here, but I also know there is just a handful of us in the room talking about a very important issue that may seem simple but we know is very complicated. We know that the administration has provided both technical and policy views on the bill, and I think with such an important issue that so many of us care deeply about, it deserves a little more discussion and debate than just to come to the floor with a UC. I am committed, as a member of the Banking Committee and as a cosponsor, to working with both committees and with the chairs of both committees of jurisdiction over the resolution and the bill to make sure we get it right as opposed to this UC. I want to work hard. I know you all do. I think we should work at looking at the comments from the administration, working together as Republicans and Democrats who care about this country, care about the people of Hong Kong, and who are concerned about the behavior of China. So I object to adoption of this bill before we have a chance to do exactly that.

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I want to recognize four talented North Dakota students whose artwork will be on display in my State offices this year. They are the winners of the State of the Arts Awards in this year's North Dakota Juried Student Art Show. Hosted by the Taube Museum of Art in Minot, this year's contest had more than 300 entries from students across North Dakota. The four State of the Arts awards are among 116 awards presented to our State's young artists in this competition. The students whose art was selected for my offices are: Matthew Upton, Artwork Title: ``Eagle,'' Grade 8, South Middle School, Grand Forks; Ashlynn Hartsell, Artwork Title: ``Heart Sunset,'' Grade 5, Washington Elementary, Valley City; Sydney Nelson, Artwork Title: ``Welding in the Fall,'' Grade 12, Valley City High School, Valley City, and Olivia Dorsher, Artwork Title: ``Good Boring Days,'' Grade 11, Grand Forks Central High School, Grand Forks. I congratulate these students and thank them for sharing their talents with my North Dakota constituents who will visit my State offices this year. They are an inspiration to all of us who appreciate the gift artists have for capturing the beauty all around us. I also commend those who judge this annual competition and the teachers and parents who have nurtured the emerging skills of these young North Dakota artists.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I want to congratulate Kara Four Bear, the principal at the New Town, ND, Middle School, for being one of two educators in the Nation to be presented with the Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award. The U.S. Department of Education received nominations for 43 educators from 23 States for this inaugural award. Kara Four Bear's selection was based on her passion for developing digital literacy and safety skills in her students and then helping them make real-world connections with what they learn. She has led her school in establishing robust, global, and relevant education programs using curriculum provided from the National Integrated Education Research Center. This curriculum challenges students to put into practical use their lessons in topics such as cyber ethics and cyber law. They start this curriculum as sixth graders and continue through middle school and high school. Through various class projects and State, regional, and national competitions, they explore science, technology, engineering, and mathmetics and the careers available in these fields. This Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award was established on May 2, 2019, by President Trump's executive order on America's Cybersecurity Workforce. The Department of Education was charged with creating this award within 1 year and in consultation with the Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at the National Security Council and the National Science Foundation. Because the demand for STEM careers continues to grow in my State, our Nation, and around the world, there is a critical need for students to excel in these subjects. Because women continue to be underrepresented in careers focusing on computer science and cybersecurity, the challenge is even greater to encourage girls to develop the creative thinking and problem-solving skills needed in these careers at an early age. The New Town students joined young North Dakota women from Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, West Fargo Sheyenne, and Williston schools last month in the Girls Go CyberStart competition, sponsored by the SANS Institute. North Dakota had the highest nationwide participation per capita for the second year in a row, and I commend all who participated in this competition. Inspirational educators like Kara Four Bear are leading the way to increase opportunities for North Dakota students to prepare for careers in the field of cybersecurity. I thank her for her passion for cyber education and for being an inspiration to what can be done to successfully create this level of excellence in schools across the Nation.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I thank my colleague Senator Hoeven, and I associate myself with everything he said about Officer Holte. He is right. It was an appropriate celebration of Officer Holte's life on Tuesday of this week as we attended the funeral, along with Congressman Armstrong, Governor Burgum, Adjutant General Gorman, and a whole bunch of other friends, family, members of law enforcement, community leaders, and even strangers who came to provide that heroes celebration that Cody earned. An interesting thing about what Cody went into, he and a fellow officer from the Grand Forks Police Department were called to a scene where shots had already been fired and the deputy sheriff had already been hit by somebody who was simply being served an eviction notice, assigned by a judge--somebody who was very well armed with an AK-47. He had shot 41 rounds before doing the damage that he had done and before he was stopped. When Cody arrived, like all good officers do, he didn't run from the fire but ran to it. He saved lives by giving up his own. It is what heroes do. It is what all of our men and women in law enforcement who wear the badge are prepared to do. We live in an interesting time. It was ironic, to say the least, that we in North Dakota, along the Red River, Grand Forks, are just up the interstate from Minneapolis, paying tribute to a hero, and yet that hero doesn't seem to get the same attention that a criminal gets. That hero and his brothers and sisters who wear the badge don't seem to be as respected by our media as criminals are. In fact, the restrictions and the restraint that our heroes exercise in carrying out their duties, the vast majority of them, are really rarely, if ever, highlighted. Yet we celebrate the life of Cody Holte--29 years old, the father of a 10-month-old son and a husband to Mandy. It is just really important that we stand in this Chamber today and give Cody the respect and the honor that he earned here in these hallowed halls and tell his story to a nation that is intrigued and fixated, in many respects, on those that Cody protects us from. It was a great honor to be there with his family and with hundreds-- thousands, perhaps--of other law enforcement officers to pay tribute to a real hero. I think it is important to note that this hero is also a real person. I thought that his chief of police gave an absolutely marvelous speech, and I want to just reiterate a couple of things that the Grand Forks chief of police said about Cody at the funeral. Chief Mark Nelson said that he and Cody had formed a close bond--by what?--in part, by sharing baby photos, the chief's of his grandchild and Cody's of Gunnar, his son. He recalled that Cody was a friend to all. Now, who doesn't want a cop who is a friend to all and with a grin that could brighten anyone's day? More importantly, he said that Cody was a cop's cop, whose heart was bigger than his courage and who had passion and an unwavering dedication for protecting and serving his community. He said, when Holte was on duty, there was never any need to worry. So we pay tribute today to this hero, but we are reminded that he was also a husband to Mandy and a father to Gunnar. He was a son to Bret and Tracy. I know Bret and Tracy very well. I have known Bret nearly all of my life. He was a brother to Brady and Alexis, as Senator Hoeven said. Brady is his twin brother and a police officer in Fargo, which is just an hour down the interstate from Grand Forks. Bret and Tracy are raising heroes, but, today, they are mourning the death of a son. I know something of that, as you know. It has been an interesting experience for Kris and me to share our journey, after the loss of our son a couple of years ago, with Bret and Tracy. I want them to know how very, very much we love them and that, in the valley they are in, as deep as it is, they are not in it alone. Just as King David walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with the confidence that God was with him, they, too, can do that but that, in addition to God, there are a whole bunch of other people who are holding them up in prayer, who have their backs, with love, hugs, and whatever is needed and that, likewise, Mandy, as the wife of a fallen hero, has all of the brothers and sisters who wear the badge as part of her extended family. It is an incredible group. In addition to being a hero, Cody was these things, these very personal things. I thought the eulogy that was provided by his uncle, Anthony Carter, was exceptional. Anthony reminded us, as did other speakers but particularly Anthony, that when Cody swore an oath 3 years ago, he said, in protecting the city of Grand Forks, he likely knew there would be challenging days, which is why he wore a medallion around his neck that bore his favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13: ``I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.'' Cody has left--because somebody left for him--a legacy of faith. I know that to be true. I know that to be true because I know the Holtes so well. In fact, his Grandpa Pete was in my very first TV ad for Congress in 1996. It was a losing cause, but Pete was in the ad. His Grandma Sue was my mom's very best friend. They were prayer partners. They did Bible study together. They ministered together. They might have gossiped a little, but they were forgiven. Sue and Pete left for Bret and his sisters a legacy of faith, and Bret and Tracy left for Cody and Brady and Alexis a legacy of faith. It is that legacy of faith in a risen Lord and in a Father who knows the grief of losing a Son, who died for freedom, too, you see. That faith is what sustains them today. It is really important that we as national leaders, as community leaders, as local leaders, and as family members stand in this valley with the family, and that is what we are doing today in addition to paying honor. Finally, to Cody's brothers and sisters who wear the badge, it seems like the world is upside down. It feels like the country is on fire. Yes, there is the occasional criminal police officer who does something really awful, and that person needs to be brought to justice, and, in Minnesota, that is happening. Yet the heroes far, far outnumber the criminals in our police officers. So I think it is important, as we pay tribute to a fallen hero, that those who are still out there protecting us, as we stand in this building and express our views, and who are standing in the gap throughout our country and throughout our communities protecting the rights of people to assemble and express themselves peacefully that they know we are in their corner, that we have their backs, and that we honor them along with Cody today. We respect them, and we hold them up because we love them--because we love them for what they do for us. I ask their forgiveness for taking them for granted and for not expressing the gratitude often enough. Cody's short 29 years of life, with his last 3 years as a police officer and his several years as a member of the North Dakota National Guard--his testimony in his life and now in his death--reminds us to never take for granted our own safety and security. Say thank you to a police officer in honor of Cody, who I know is OK. I know that he is OK today. I hope he is with his Grandpa Pete and his Grandma Sue somewhere. I hope that my Isaac, my son, bumps into him. We had a lake cabin right next door to the Holtes when those kids were growing up. So I stand with confidence that he is OK, but I continue to pray for those left behind, especially his family--especially his young son and beautiful wife and mom and dad and brother and sister--in that they, too, are confident that they will be OK but that, while we are in this valley, they are not alone. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I want to honor the service and dedication of one of North Dakota's most dedicated volunteer firefighters. Art Stavens of Hatton, ND, became a member of the Hatton Volunteer Fire Department in 1951 and has served ever since. Art turned 95 on May 19 and was honored by his fellow firefighters and community residents with a surprise drive-by parade past his home. It appropriately included several fire trucks. His time in the department has included being the fire chief for 6 years and assistant fire chief for another 3 years. When Art stopped responding to fire calls, he could be found standing on the highway directing vehicles to the location of a fire. Art still attends firefighter functions such as meetings and conventions, and he remains as dedicated as ever to the role of volunteers who step forward to protect their communities. Art Stavens may be the longest serving volunteer firefighter in the United States. On behalf of all North Dakotans, I thank him for his 69 years of service on the Hatton Volunteer Fire Department. I congratulate him on his 95th birthday and wish him many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, first of all, I just want to associate myself with the words of my colleague Senator Blunt. I couldn't say it as eloquently. I certainly couldn't improve upon it. I am just going to say I completely agree. Thank you. The real purpose for my coming to the floor today is to demonstrate my support for MG Scott Spellmon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. General Spellmon is up for a promotion to Lieutenant General and has been nominated to become the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General to replace General Semonite as he retires. Since coming to the Senate, General Semonite and I have become well acquainted with each other. While we haven't always agreed, I do appreciate his service, his very hard work, and his accessibility, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. His retirement is well earned, and I thank him for his service and wish him well. As a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, I serve on two of the Army Corps committees of jurisdiction. As many of my colleagues can attest, it is a rare occasion that I compliment the Corps. It is an agency that is the epitome in many cases of cumbersome bureaucracy. I am not unique in my frustration. During our last EPW hearing with the Corps, criticism was both bipartisan and tangible. From Rhode Island to North Dakota to Oregon, each of us expressed frustration with a seemingly tone-deaf bureaucracy, which either doesn't do what it is supposed to do or does what it is not supposed to do. That frustration brings me here today: Major General Spellmon's pending nomination and promotion. Throughout this process, I have worked closely with General Spellmon on numerous issues important to North Dakota and other Western States. Early on, I spoke with him regarding the Spring Creek embankment in Central North Dakota. Due to the poor maintenance of relief wells, the Corps was going to move forward with a water control plan that could potentially devastate water supply and irrigation needs in eastern parts of my State. As per usual, the Corps' decision matrix was overly complicated and did not adequately reflect the needs and realities of rural America. When I brought the issue to General Spellmon, he promised to take a fresh look and reassess the economic impacts of the project. He then worked with me to craft legislation supporting these efforts, which was added to the water infrastructure legislation we unanimously passed out of the EPW not too long ago. He listened to the problem and is working with me to help solve it. I also challenged General Spellmon on Western State water rights--a problem that has plagued Western States that operate under the prior appropriation doctrine. On a bipartisan basis, Democrats and Republicans from Western States have been frustrated by an Army Corps that either ignores States and Tribes or needlessly inserts extra bureaucracy into decisions that are really not theirs to make. Once again, General Spellmon listened intently to the concern and provided thorough, honest responses to be used as a guidepost for Corps policy moving forward. Of equal importance, he acknowledged the flaws within his own organization. In my time in Congress, honesty sometimes seems to be missing but not with General Spellmon. He has proven he is willing to listen and be responsive in a forthright manner, and I thank him for that. I am confident General Spellmon will continue to listen to Western States and provide the necessary deference to them pursuant to congressional intent and to our Nation's Constitution. I have appreciated getting to know the general, and while my oversight and questions may not have always been the most enjoyable to him, he has proven to be up to the task of replacing General Semonite. I support his nomination and promotion, and I hope his exemplary service will be replicated by the rest of the bureaucracy he is going to lead. I yield the floor.