Kevin Cramer

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 343, S. 490.

Mr. CRAMER. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1365 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. CRAMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Graham amendment at the desk be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

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

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

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I have 7 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 9 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: John Leonard Badalamenti, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, Anna M. Manasco, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Drew B. Tipton, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, and Kathryn C. Davis, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims. Special Committee on Aging The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 9 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate complete its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, February 13; 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; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of S.J. Res. 68 under the previous order.

Mr. CRAMER. For the information of all Senators, we will vote in relation to six amendments starting at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, it has been 150 years since bighorn sheep have roamed the Tribal lands of the Fort Berthold Reservation in northwestern North Dakota. At the end of January, the sheep returned. Their re-introduction to lands they had inhabited for centuries was a long-held goal of many tribal leaders and state wildlife professionals. Their dream was realized when the Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department worked out a cooperative agreement, which they signed last month. Thirty bighorn sheep from the Rocky Boy Reservation in north central Montana were brought to Fort Berthold and released near Mandaree and Twin Buttes on reservation habitat known to be ideal for the sheep. Their management and maintenance will be shared between the state and tribe. The rarest big game species in my state, bighorn sheep are found only on steep terrain near the North Dakota Badlands. With these new sheep, their total population in the state is now approximately 360. Bighorn sheep are historically significant to the Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Hunted with bow and arrows and used in traditional ceremonies for years, they were recorded as being seen in what is present-day North Dakota in scientific journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. Paintings by well-known artists like Karl Bodmer depict tribal chiefs, including the prominent Mandan Chief Four Bears, wearing their valued hides. The return of the bighorn sheep to native habitat honors the past and enriches the future of the residents of Fort Berthold. It is a remarkable example of the profound impact a collaboration of like minds can have on a mutual goal. I have long admired the rugged beauty of the bighorn sheep and am among many North Dakotans who appreciate their historical significance in my state. I applaud all who had the vision to bring the bighorn sheep back to the Fort Berthold Reservation and wish them every success in ensuring they thrive in this new habitat.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise today to officially declare that I will vote against both Articles of Impeachment brought against President Trump by the very partisan and, quite frankly, ridiculous House of Representatives. I know my position is hardly a surprise, but it is almost as unsurprising as the House impeaching the President, to begin with. Since the moment he was sworn into office, Democrats have schemed to remove Donald Trump from office. It is not my opinion. I take them at their word. Their fixation on his removal was a conclusion in search of a justification, which they manufactured from a phone conversation between world leaders leaked--leaked--by one of the many career bureaucrats who seem to have forgotten that they work for the elected leaders in this country, not the other way around. So the two Articles of Impeachment before this body today, in my view, are without merit. They are an affront, in fact, to this institution and to our Constitution, representing the very same partisan derangement that worried our Founding Fathers so much that they made the threshold for impeachment this high. The Senate exists exactly for moments like this. I didn't arrive at my conclusion to support acquittal hastily or flippantly, and I don't believe any of my colleagues did either, including those who come to a different conclusion from mine. Despite being sent such flawed Articles by the House, the Senate did in fact dutifully and solemnly follow its constitutional obligation. During the last days of the trial, we heard sworn testimony from 13 witnesses, read 17 depositions, asked 180 questions, viewed 193 video clips, and poured over 28,000 pages of documents. But even more than the House managers' shallow arguments and lack of evidence against and due process for our President and the obvious derangement at the very root of every investigation, beginning with the corrupt FBI Crossfire Hurricane counterintelligence investigation during the 2016 election cycle, the Articles of Impeachment we will vote on in a few hours should have ended at their beginning. Can we agree that if a Speaker of the House unilaterally declares an impeachment inquiry, it represents the opinion of one Member of Congress, not the official authorization of the entire Congress? Can we agree that a vote to begin an impeachment inquiry that has only partisan support and bipartisan opposition is not what the Founders had in mind and in fact is what they firmly rejected and cautioned about? Can we agree that impeachment articles passed by a majority of one party and opposed by Members of both parties on their face fail, if not the letter of the law, certainly, the spirit of the Constitution? Yet, even under the cloud of purely partisan politics of the House of Representatives, the Senate conducted a complete, comprehensive trial, resulting, in my view, in a crystal clear conclusion: The Democratic- led House of Representatives failed to meet the most basic standards of proof and has dramatically lowered the bar for impeachment to unacceptable levels. It is deeply concerning, and I believe we must commit to never, ever letting it happen again to the President of any political party. That can start today. In just a few hours, the Senate will have the opportunity to cast a vote to end this whole ordeal, and, in doing so, can make a statement that the threshold for undoing the will of the American people in the most recent election and undoing the will of a major political party in the upcoming election should be higher than one party's petty obsession. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle join me in voting against these charges. But whether he is acquitted or convicted and removed, it is my prayer, as we were admonished many times throughout the last few weeks by our Chaplain Black, that God's will is the one that will be done. Then we can move on to the unifying issues the American people want us to tackle--issues like infrastructure, education, energy security and dominance, national security, and the rising cost of healthcare, among many others. These are issues the American people care about. These are issues that North Dakotans care about. These are issues that the people have sent us here to deal with. Let's do it together. Let's start now. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, after 32 years of serving his community in the Minot Police Department, including 8 of those years leading it, Chief of Police Jason Olson began a well-deserved retirement on January 31. He became a police officer in 1988 at the age of 21, as he was completing his criminal justice degree at Minot State University. Starting as a patrol officer, he went on to spend 18 years on the SWAT team. Officer Olson became chief of police at a time of significant change for the city of Minot and western North Dakota. The challenges this growth and development brought to the fourth largest city in North Dakota demanded a leader who would advocate for his staff and be open to change. The city had the right person in Chief Olson. Serving on the frontlines during some of the greatest challenges to the city of Minot, Chief Olson was there for the tragic train derailment that spread anhydrous ammonia across the city in 2002 and for the historic flooding of the Souris River in 2011. Through the best and very worst of times, Chief Olson exhibited his trademark calm and collected demeanor. Chief Olson credits his success to the experience he gained as a young officer from the veteran officers who had served for decades. Likewise, many of the 80-plus employees today praise him for the lessons he taught them as the head of the department. This includes the new Police Chief John Klug, a 25-year officer who took over on February 1, after being chosen in a national search. He speaks highly of Chief Olson and the example he set as a mentor and leader. We cannot thank our law enforcement officers enough for their sacrifices keeping our communities safe and for the bravery they exhibit every day on the job. I join the residents of Minot and all North Dakotans thanking Chief Olson for his many years of dedicated professional service. I wish him a well-deserved and rewarding retirement.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senator Young.

Mr. CRAMER

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

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I thank the President for yielding the floor and thank you for your previous speech. It is a great honor for me to follow the senior Senator from North Dakota, Senator Hoeven, in congratulating this remarkable, singular accomplishment by this remarkable, singular football team: the North Dakota State University Bison. Senator Hoeven did a great job of highlighting the highlights of this singularly great team as, last weekend, they did win their eighth out of nine FCS national championships; that is, NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He went through the statistics that are very impressive: the stretch of 37 victories in a row; the 16-0 season; the singular accomplishment of Trey Lance, this redshirt freshman from Marshall, MN, who threw, by the way, in the course of the season, 29 touchdown passes and a grand total of 0 interceptions--remarkable to say the least. He was just named, in fact, the 2019 FCS National Performer of the Year. Senator Hoeven paid tribute appropriately to Coach Entz. Senator Hoeven is exactly right--an incredible individual; an incredible, undefeated head coach. Not only was he named the Missouri Valley coach of the year, he was just named the AFCA FCS coach of the year--a tremendous person. We can talk about all the great things that the Bison football team does, and it is appropriate that we do that and that we celebrate them in North Dakota and Fargo and the region and all of Bison Nation, as Senator Hoeven said. There is something they don't do that I appreciate so much. I watched the game on ABC, as we have watched lots of football games lately on the national networks, and the one thing they don't do that I love is they never point to the name on the back of their jersey because they don't put their names on the backs of the jerseys because this is always a team effort. This is a legacy of a team. It is a culture of a team. It is the equality of a team. As great as every performer is, they are a team. That is the way they win; and, if they ever lose, that is the way they lose, but they don't do that much. They really have defined--redefined--excellence, but their excellence doesn't end on the field. I don't think it should surprise anybody to learn of a few other statistics of North Dakota State University. For example, just last year, for just the second time in our Division I history, all NDSU athletic teams reached a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Let me say that again: All NDSU athletic teams reached a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater, while also achieving our highest overall student athlete GPA of 3.43. Over 280 student athletes at NDSU scored a 3.0 or better, with 72--72--of their student athletes receiving a 4.0--earning, I should say, a 4.0. As you can tell, Senator Hoeven and I are proud Senators. We are proud of our team. We are proud of our university. We are proud of the entire university system in our State for lots of reasons. I think what the excellence of the North Dakota State University football team has illustrated is an excellence that can be achieved and can be applied not only to the gridiron, not only to the fields of athletic competition, but to life. As the Presiding Officer knows, their motto is that the strength of the herd is in the bison and the strength of the bison is in the herd. It is a good lesson in athletics and a good lesson in life. I join Senator Hoeven in congratulating the Bison. Go Bison. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAMER

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

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to express my opposition to the War Powers Act resolution that is making its way through Congress. I believe it is designed to hurt our President politically, while inflicting long-term damage to our national security and military readiness. Iranian provocation is nothing new. In the last several months, they have drastically and intentionally escalated tensions in the region. After several measured responses, President Trump made the appropriate decision to eliminate General Soleimani, a terrorist mastermind who ordered and helped carry out many attacks on American personnel and our allies. I want to emphasize an overlooked point here. General Soleimani was killed in Iraq, not Iran. He was in Iraq, in a car with another known terrorist, driving to meet militia members who recently fired rockets at Americans, killing an American contractor with rocket fire, and tried to storm our Embassy. I am going to remind everybody that our Embassy in Baghdad is sovereign U.S. territory. Whether through an existing authorization to use military force or the War Powers Act, President Trump was well within his legal bounds to take action against a known terrorist sitting in Iraq plotting attacks against U.S. citizens. It would have been culpable negligence to not act on the intelligence informing us of General Soleimani's position, location, and his imminent plans to attack again soon. I thank God the days of appeasement are behind us and we learned from history. President Trump averted another Benghazi-like tragedy. The President made Iranian leadership pay a price for its aggression. His decisive action made Iran realize that the cost of escalation was more than they can afford, and it worked. Without the loss of American life, while following our Constitution and laws, President Trump deescalated tensions with Iran and, through a clear message of strength, made war less likely. My colleagues on the other side of this issue know all of this well. They watched it play out in real time, just like the rest of us. Yet, whether it is their deeply rooted disdain for this President or a misunderstanding of the threats that the United States faces every day, they want to limit the President's ability to protect Americans abroad. The legislation they are promoting requires termination or in some cases complete withdrawal of our forces without any strategic or tactical considerations. Such actions are not based on military doctrine, the recommendations of senior military leaders, or even foreign policy experts; they would be based solely on politics and would constitute a strategic long-term loss in exchange for what they think would be a short-term political win. Ultimately, my colleagues who support this resolution refuse to accept the undeniable reality that the concept of peace through strength works. Removing the powers and capabilities of our military leaders that keep our country safe will not make us safer. Whether through personal animosity toward our President or a misunderstanding of the importance of deterring our enemies, some in this Chamber are advocating for changes that would make our country less safe. I will not support their efforts, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to do the same. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, on the day after Christmas, former Senator Jocelyn Burdick died in Fargo, ND, at the age of 97. Jocelyn served only 30 days, roughly--or 3 months, maybe, at the most--in the United States Senate while she filled the vacancy that was created by the death of her husband, the longtime United States Senator, Quentin Burdick. During those 3 months, Jocelyn was able to cast votes as her husband would have cast them and to support his staff after his death and through the transition to fill the vacancy in a special election. Jocelyn will forever hold a place in North Dakota history as North Dakota's first woman United States Senator. However, her service in North Dakota goes far beyond those 3 months she served in the Senate. All of us Senators know the importance and the incredible service of our spouses. Jocelyn stood by Quentin's side for 32 years while he served our State here in this important body. Throughout her life, Jocelyn embraced her place in public life with tremendous grace, dignity, and class. She demonstrated by example how people can be principled in their beliefs, yet friendly, cordial, even affectionate while having different political views. I am honored to be standing here using her desk--Quentin's desk. To be a part of this heritage is a great honor for me. The impact of her life well lived can be seen in countless ways, especially as a philanthropist, as a political and community volunteer, and certainly as a woman of deep faith. Jocelyn's memory will remain alive in the hearts of all of those who had the privilege to know her. Kris and I join Senator Hoeven and Mikey, and many, many North Dakotans in sending our condolences and our best wishes to the Burdick family. We pray that fond memories and the deep affection so many people held for Jocelyn will comfort them in these days and the days ahead. I pray that God will bless Jocelyn Burdick's memory. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, before I begin my comments about an upcoming nominee, I want to say in response to Senator Kennedy that I agree 100 percent. Thank you.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, a very special thanks to my senior Senator, my great friend, and our former Governor, Senator John Hoeven. In fact, as he went through much of my speech for me, I thought to myself: Why, this is kind of like when I played high school basketball in Kindred, and we would be ahead by 20 points and the coach would get me off the bench and say: Go in and try not to screw this thing up. That is a little bit how I feel right now, but I thank him for the very kind introduction. Most of it was true. The idea of a maiden speech a year into your first term may seem a little odd, but I actually kind of like the idea. It gives me a year's worth of opportunity to reflect, which creates greater clarity about the future and vision. The first thing I want to say to all of my colleagues here is thank you for being so welcoming--and I mean all of them. What they say about the Senate and the collegiality of it is very true. It is not just true. It is really important, and it is something worth preserving. I can honestly say that out of the 99 that I have met, I love every one, individually and collectively, and appreciate all they have meant to me. Kris and I have been married for 33 years. We have five children together, and I am going to talk about one in particular in a little bit. Our children range in ages from 12 to 38, and that is too long of a story to explain, but we love and are proud of all of them. Our five grandchildren are a little closer in range. They range from 1 to 7, and we love every single one of them--Lyla, Beau, Nico, Chet, and Willa--with all the love any grandparent could come with and with all the love that God has for us. I think it is important for people to know I am a child of God and a follower of Jesus, and it informs everything that I do, both at home and here and throughout life. I think it is important to know a little bit about where you come from. I was raised by loving parents. My dad was a rural electric lineman who never once complained about going out in a storm to get the lights back on for the farmers of our area. My mother was an elder care giver when she wasn't pumping gas at the local Farmers Union station. They did whatever they needed to do to help us kids and to provide for our family. We never felt like we needed anything because we didn't. We were loved, and we were well cared for and had great examples of culture and work ethic and values that are North Dakotan. I think it is important to understand where a person comes from, but I want to fast forward a little bit to this last year. I said I was going to talk a little bit about one of our sons. It was a tough campaign. A lot of people think that North Dakota is this bright red State and that everyone who runs there who is Republican wins. While that certainly has been the trend, I think it is sort of important for people to know that I am the first Republican in my lifetime to hold the seat that I hold right now for the people of North Dakota. In fact, the names of the previous Senators in this lineage are in this desk that I stand at. So it was a tough campaign. I got into the race late. I really didn't aspire to be a Senator. I liked the House of Representatives and still do, but the call came and I answered it. But what made the year so tough--and, fortunately, it was shorter than most campaign years in the U.S. Senate--is that I got in late. So it was a short year, but in the middle of the campaign, in the early part of the campaign, our 35-year-old son Isaac became very ill. He suffered from alcohol-induced liver disease, and we spent a good month and a half in the middle of an already short campaign at his bedside in intensive care both in Bismarck and in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. I say that because it was perhaps one of the hardest 6 or 7 weeks of my life, the deepest valley of my life, but it was also one of the most instructive and informing. It was as informing as all those years in North Dakota in the State office helping Senator Hoeven--then-Governor Hoeven--build this dynamic economy. Those several weeks with my son probably prepared me as well for this job as any. I got to see our healthcare industry up close. I got to know more about addiction and mental illness and how tragic it is and how devastating it can be and how consequential not dealing with it actually is. It robs people of life. It is not just an inconvenience. So it was instructive in those senses, but more than that, I got to learn about our community. I heard from thousands of Americans who watched this very public tragedy play out in the public arena because of the very public job I was seeking, and my faith in mankind was enhanced. My faith in God was strengthened--learning that the sufficiency of His grace is more than adequate not just for salvation but for life, and it makes everything shall we say clearer for me today. Senator Hoeven raised the subject of some of my committee assignments, and I wanted to speak to that for a minute because he is a very important part, as you can tell, of my public life and career. While I stand on the shoulders of former Governor and former Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer--John and I both served with him in economic development when John was president of the bank in North Dakota--it was John Hoeven who gave me my first entree into elected office at the Public Service Commission in North Dakota and worked with me. Then, of course, I had the opportunity to serve with him as he sat on the farm bill conference committee when I served in the House of Representatives. When I had that very first important meeting with Leader McConnell to talk about what committees I wanted to be on in the Senate, realizing that I was coming from the House, where I only served on only one--I served on the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is an important committee, a big committee, but it was only one committee. Here, I would serve on three or four or, as it turns out, five. The first thing I did was look at Senator Hoeven's committee assignments, and I wanted to assess how I could complement where he serves. He served on the Agriculture Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It made sense to me, with my environmental and regulatory background, to serve on the Environment and Public Works Committee, where both agriculture and energy development are greatly impacted. Whether it is environmental policy or land policy, regulations that I think serve as a bit of a taking of farmers' land are every bit as important as the revenue they receive through safety net programs. So I sought and received that. With respect to the Banking Committee, John talked a little bit about that and my role as an economic director in the State of North Dakota. I have always liked macroeconomics, and it has intrigued me how financial and economic policy go together. But as interesting as the Federal Reserve is to me, and it is, and as important as the Export- Import Bank is to me, and it is, it is really the community bank--like the bank Senator Hoeven comes from and whose family started and was building in North Dakota, the local credit unions, the farm lenders-- that is what drives me more than anything in the Banking Committee. The Veterans' Affairs Committee is a great committee, and it is something that I could never have imagined aspiring to or being involved with. But I do know that John and I love veterans. North Dakota is home to only 750,000 people, but 52,000 of them are veterans. In North Dakota, patriots sign up at a rate four times the national average. So public service in the form of wearing the military uniform is really big and really important in our part of the country. I had an opportunity for a number of years to chair the Rough Riders Honor Flight in North Dakota, where we raised the money and organized the trips for about 500 World War II veterans to come see the memorial built in their honor. What a moving experience that was. Before servicemembers return from duty, of course, they serve, and that is why we should be working to give them the best resources we can, which is why today is an appropriate day for this maiden speech, because it is also a day we passed a very important National Defense Authorization Act to provide the tools and the things our military men and women need to be the dominating force for good in the world. It is an honor to serve them. I am the very first member of the Senate Armed Services Committee from North Dakota. I didn't know that when I sought that committee assignment to complement my Veterans' Affairs assignment, but I am honored to do it. The reason I sought that one is because again, going back, Senator Hoeven is a defense appropriator. I thought, how can I best look out for North Dakota's assets? And the Armed Services Committee seemed like the right place to be. I also believe that North Dakota's assets are perfectly positioned for the future of warfighting. So I am very grateful today for the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act and for the opportunity to serve on the Armed Services Committee. We have Air Force bases in both Minot and Grand Forks. Their histories are similar, but their new missions are very different. In Minot, we have two-thirds of the nuclear triad and the B-52 bombers that carry those impressive bombs and, of course, the intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are being replaced now by the ground-based strategic deterrent. The modernization of our nuclear triad in this NDAA is very important to our State, and I am honored to have been a part of seeing it through to completion. We also have a very important space radar station in Cavalier-- something very few people know about. Very few people in North Dakota are aware of that space station in Cavalier. Yet it is a very important asset. Now, as we launch this sixth service, the Space Force, again, we will see very important opportunities for North Dakota. We also have an excellent National Guard--both Army and Air Force National Guard--that does important work not just locally--and they do great work locally--but around the globe. Every Member here can attest to the power of their National Guard. Our ISR systems over in Fargo, flying the UABs--it is just remarkable, what they do and what they contribute to the national defense, our Air National Guard in Fargo, the 119th Wing, the Happy Hooligans. The Grand Forks Air Force Base--as I said, a base that was similar in its founding to Minot--is now a UAB base, a global hot base where they do important ISR work. Again, in the future of warfighting, the importance of good intelligence is so critical, and the airmen in Grand Forks are second to none in carrying out that mission. Again, the strategic pick of my assignments was designed to complement Senator Hoeven's and serve the good people of North Dakota. I will spend a little bit of time talking about my service in the House of Representatives because it is the People's House. I love the People's House. Senator Thune from South Dakota served in the House of Representatives, and he knows what it is like to be the only Member from an entire State. It has its opportunities and its challenges. I used to say to students who came to visit: If you want to know what America looks like, go to the House of Representatives, sit upstairs, look down, and you will see 435 people who are just like 700,000 others--just like each one of them. The diversity of our country is perfectly demonstrated in the House. I absolutely loved that, but I also knew how hard it was, because if I could get my colleagues from South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska to go along with me, I would have five votes. That is almost 10 percent of California. That is a lot of relationship building to get things done. Yet I love it. There are still things about the House that I watch and love. There are things lately I watch and I wonder, but there are a lot of things I love about the House. The Founders knew exactly what they were doing when they created it. To come here and be one of two, to be a Member of the U.S. Senate, which is the equalizer for our legislative Chambers--our Founders really knew what they were doing. To have an opportunity to work with you all to provide a level playing field for the people of a smaller State has been truly, truly marvelous. I will not elaborate on my years as tourism director and economic development director or even on the Public Service Commission because Senator Hoeven has done a good job on that. I would just say this: The thing that I learned more than anything on the Public Service Commission, even though--I carried the pipeline portfolio; sited the original Keystone Pipeline; sited thousands of miles of transmission lines, electric, gas, oil; carried the coal portfolio in reclamation; and worked with the Department of the Interior on those issues that are very important to our State. What I learned more from all of that than even big-time economics or engineering or energy security--as important as those lessons were over the 10 years I served, the thing I learned the most was how important the people are. In the wisdom of the Midwest, the laws required that whether you were raising somebody's utility rates, siting a pipeline or transmission lines, siting a refinery or a coal-fired powerplant or a wind farm, you had to hold a hearing in the community where the investment was taking place. In other words, you couldn't hide behind the pillars of the State capitol; you had to go to them and make it easy for them to come to you. I learned from the people of the prairies of North Dakota about not just life in general but how to site a pipeline. It was a farmer in Walsh County who said about the Keystone Pipeline at an open meeting: I don't know much about laying pipelines, but personally, I would try to avoid that quarry you are going through. So some very high-paid engineers moved the pipeline away from the rocks and into better soil. It was the mayor of Park River who came to a committee meeting and said to me: I don't know much about pipelines, but you are going right through the aquifer that serves the municipal water supply of my community. I think it would be better to move it. So I paid engineers to move it away from the aquifer. Through the collective wisdom of the people of North Dakota and the individual wisdom of many of the individuals of North Dakota, I learned that was something not to be taken for granted or wasted, which is why, in my service in the House and here in the Senate, I spend so much time holding townhalls of all types--so I wouldn't rob myself of the value and the benefit of the collective wisdom of the people I serve. I am so grateful to Senator Hoeven. He is a skilled and accomplished leader. He works tirelessly--you all know that--on behalf of the people of North Dakota. He is relentless in his pursuit of things for North Dakota. He has been a great friend and mentor. I am thankful for his partnership and his willingness to work with me in the future, as he did when I was on the Public Service Commission. As we go forward, I do have a couple of thoughts about some challenges. As I talked about this accessibility issue, this opportunity we have particularly in small States to know the people we work for really well and for them to have the opportunity to know us really well and to collect their wisdom, I fear a little bit that the lessons learned from being so close to the people are lost in this town--not so much by Members of Congress, but I am a fervent advocate of the administration and their officials getting out to our small towns and into the towns of North Dakota and other towns throughout our country. It is an area where I think the Trump administration has excelled beyond anybody. In fact, I believe this President to be the most accessible President probably since Abraham Lincoln, who used to hold office hours right in the White House, where people could come in off the street and have an audience with him. And I am not just talking about rallies. I am talking about a President who visits the State to speak with leaders at roundtables and a Vice President who comes to our military installations to meet with the airmen. We have an Agriculture Secretary who has been to North Dakota--what, three or four times, John?--not just to talk to the very important leaders of the Farm Bureau and the farmers union and the commodity groups, but I am talking about the farmers who get their fingers dirty. We have a Commerce Secretary who, in the middle of negotiating with China, came to North Dakota to talk to those farmers about the impact of tariffs on their markets; a Veterans Affairs Secretary who studies the alternative treatments being advanced and made available in Fargo; an EPA Administrator who lets North Dakotans continue to lead the way on promoting good waters of the United States policy; an Air Force Secretary who understands air capabilities because she has seen them firsthand; an Interior Secretary who came to listen to the concerns of farmers and actually changed the direction of certain regulations as a result of farmers pointing out how their personal property rights were being stolen by the Federal Government; and a NASA Administrator who observed the first ever university space program at the University of North Dakota. The list goes on and on, and I will spare you from it, but I think it is an important lesson and testament to how good this country can be and how much better it can be if we listen to the people in the heartland. All of this is why, in addition to bringing people of influence to my State so hopefully they can be influenced by it, I am concerned about the sheer magnitude of our bureaucracy. This week, we are going to hopefully pass a $1.5 trillion discretionary budget or appropriations, but I worry about the people who are going to manage that $1.5 trillion being so out of touch with real, everyday Americans. You can call it whatever you want. Some people call it the deep- state, out-of-control bureaucracy, misguided but well-intentioned public servants, power-hungry civil employees, whatever you call it. I call it unelected bureaucracy that has codified corruption in many cases. They turned their own interpretation of guidelines into infallible laws, placing the creation and implementation of their policies and processes above the needs of the American people whom we serve and the elected leaders that send them there. I had experienced it many times in the 6 years I had been in the House, but I experienced it multiple more times in the Senate. Whether this comes from a place of self-preservation or self-importance, I believe it has to come to an end. A defining part of my tenure since the day I arrived until the day I leave will be to take on a bureaucracy that I believe has run rampant. There are several Cabinet officials and agencies that can attest to that statement already. I am not unreasonable about it, I don't think. I don't intend to be, but, Madam President, I am passionate about it. As I have made clear, I do not believe in the abolition of government. But I do think government needs to be more responsive to the people that pay for it. We ought to be giving the people a government that is worth their investment. I aim as my highest goal at the highest level to return the focus of the Federal Government back to the people. I have listened to so many well-intentioned bureaucrats explain their process, explain their system, explain their traditions and rarely do they talk about a human being on the other end of all of that, so I am committed to doing what is best for the people of this country with a very keen focus on the 750,000 North Dakotans whom I committed my life to serving. Their individual and collective wisdom, along with their values, as old- fashioned as they may seem to some, is our contribution to a great nation. They would want me to say to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, today's 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge presents an opportunity to honor the heroism of the Allied forces who fought in this last major German offensive in Western Europe during World War II. More than 650,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, and other countries fought in this battle to defeat Nazi Germany. These soldiers bravely fought for 38 days from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, and their victory made possible the final defeat and surrender of Germany in May 1945. More than 40 Senate colleagues joined in cosponsoring S. Con Res. 23, which my West Virginia colleague, Mr. Manchin, and I introduced and the Senate passed last week to remember the significance of this historic battle. The Battle of the Bulge was an attempt by the Germans to split the Allied forces and pressure them to seek a negotiated peace. These troops, located in the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg, were greatly outnumbered by the German Army as they faced harsh weather conditions and treacherous and unknown terrain. It is difficult to comprehend the massive losses incurred from this one battle--including 89,000 American casualties. Nineteen thousand American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, with another 47,500 wounded and more than 23,000 captured or missing in action. Other nations suffered great losses as well. Belgium lost more than 74,000 civilians, in addition to many more who suffered through other atrocities that come with war. They persevered through this dark time and rebuilt their lives the best way they could after the war ended. In the decades since, the citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg have generously hosted thousands of U.S. veterans as they have kept the memory of the Battle of the Bulge alive through numerous memorials and museums. Among them has been one of North Dakota's most distinguished World War II veterans, Lynn Aas of Minot. Mr. Aas enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1942 at the age of 21 and was called into service in March 1943. He was assigned to the 193rd Glider Regiment in the 17th Airborne Division. Arriving in England in August 1944, he mastered glider-use techniques and was deployed in France on December 24. He first went to Camp Mourmelon, followed by Charleville-Mezieres, where his division was attached to George Patton's U.S. Third Army. There, he was among those ordered to defend a 30-mile defensive position along the Meuse River whose mission was to prevent the German advance in the Belgian Ardennes area. On January 5, 1945, Private First Class Aas crossed the Belgian border and settled in a wooded area near Bastogne. Combat ensued 2 days later as the Battle of the Bulge was raging. The fighting was so intense the area became forever known as Dead Man's Ridge. As he and his unit continued to advance toward Luxembourg, they pushed enemy lines back towards the Siegfried Line. In February, after the battle had ended and after weeks of combat in exceptionally harsh conditions, he returned to France to Camp Chalons- sur-Marne. He was reassigned to the 194th Glider Infantry after his regiment disbanded because of heavy casualties Private First Class Aas helped prepare for the airborne operation Varsity. On March 24, he left Coulommiers and landed in Germany near Wesel to help capture Rhine bridges and secure towns to protect Allied ground forces. The following day he was wounded by shrapnel and was hospitalized in Belgium and then Paris, where he spent several weeks recovering. Private First Class Aas returned to North Dakota following the war, earned his law degree from the University of North Dakota, and served in the State legislature for four sessions. To this day, he remains a community leader in Minot. He is one of the best examples of the thousands of World War II veterans we proudly call ``the greatest generation.'' For his valorous conduct in action, Mr. Aas has received prestigious distinctions, including the Purple Heart Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for heroic and meritorious service in Belgium, as well as the Luxembourg Medal of Honor and the honorific diploma of Citizen of Utah Beach--Sainte-Marie-du-Mont / Citoyen d'Utah Beach--Sainte-Marie-du- Mont. It was my honor in October 2017 to join French Consul General Lacroix, who made a special trip to Minot to present France's highest military recognition, the Legion of Honor, to Mr. Aas, who was then 96 years old. Mr. President, as we remember this 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, let us once again remember and honor the heroism and sacrifices of our American soldiers, who paved the way for victory in World War II and for our freedom today.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President.

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I don't think there is a single Member of the U.S. Senate who doesn't have serious concerns about Turkey's behavior both historically and currently. In fact, I support the spirit of this resolution. I suspect 99 of my colleagues do. At the right time, we may pass it, as Senator Cruz has stated; however, I don't think this is the right time. If there is a right time, this certainly isn't it. It is largely because just hours ago, our President returned from the NATO summit in London with NATO leaders, where this was a topic of discussion with the leadership from Turkey--this being the acknowledgement of genocide, as well as the purchase of the S-400. I want to have a clear readout of the President's interaction and discussion with President Erdogan and our delegation's negotiations with Turkey before adopting this resolution. I don't think we can take the risk of undermining the complex and ongoing diplomatic efforts which are in our national security interests as a country. I, too, want to be on the right side of history. I believe we will be on the right side of history, but these negotiations that the President is currently in are a part of getting on the right side of history. I appreciate the ongoing conversations and still hope we will be able to overcome the challenges in the bilateral relationship with Turkey. We know what these challenges are, and we all share the goal of seeing them appropriately addressed, but there is no good alternative right now. In my view, adoption of this resolution today is unnecessary and might very well undermine that diplomatic effort at a key time. I do not intend to continuously object to this resolution, but I believe it is appropriate for me to do so at this time, so I object.

Mr. CRAMER

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