Joe Donnelly

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. I ask unanimous consent the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3304, and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. DONNELLY. I ask unanimous consent the Levin amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read three times and passed; the Levin title amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. DONNELLY

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

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate my friend from Kentucky on Ford's expansion there. We have a proud auto building history in Indiana as well. We are extraordinarily proud of all the different folks who help make our country run, who help make our cars go, and in Indiana it is part of who we are. It is great to see expansion in Kentucky as well.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I am here today to discuss the most important issue facing Hoosiers--and all Americans--and that is getting a good job. Good jobs allow us to provide for our loved ones, educate our children, and ultimately retire with dignity. Good jobs are also critical for strong communities and a vibrant economy. That is why I am proud to be part of the group of Senators working on Manufacturing Jobs for America. It is an effort to refocus the Senate on helping businesses create jobs and helping communities pursue economic development in the area of manufacturing. This effort is aimed at building bipartisan support for modernizing the manufacturing sector, increasing access to capital, strengthening our workforce, and creating the conditions necessary for American manufacturers to grow and create jobs. I have two bills as a part of this effort, the Skills Gap Strategy Act and the AMERICA Works Act. Both of them are focused on closing the skills gap. There are an estimated 600,000 manufacturing jobs that are unfilled across our country in part because employers cannot find workers with the skills they need to fill these open jobs. We need to match up unemployed or underemployed Americans with the training and education programs employers need so we can get more Americans into these good-paying, skilled jobs. Last month my friend, Senator Dean Heller, and I introduced the Skills Gap Strategy Act. This directs the Department of Labor to develop a goal-oriented strategy to address our skills gap challenges. In order for every Hoosier who wants a job to have a job, and for Indiana's economy to continue to grow, we must train Hoosiers for the jobs that are available right now. Our bill examines how we can better use existing resources to prioritize training and education programs and prepare our workforce to hit the ground running on day one. The Skills Gap Strategy Act requires the Department of Labor to provide recommendations on: increasing on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities, helping employers participate more in education and workforce training, and identifying and prioritizing in- demand credentials in existing and emerging industries. When completing this report, we call on the Department to consider: specific labor barriers contributing to the skills gap; policies that have proven successful in key industries, regions, and countries where employers play a larger role in education and workforce training; and ways to better utilize Registered Apprenticeship and other workforce development programs. We are also asking the Department of Labor to develop plans with the Departments of Commerce and Education to align education with industry and enhance employer participation in K through 12 and career and technical education programs, to increase preapprenticeship and college credit courses in secondary schools, and to improve school-to-work transitions and connections. I am a strong believer in being fiscally responsible with Hoosier taxpayer dollars. That is why our bill asks the Department of Labor to focus on these solutions that use existing resources, existing programs, and existing personnel--not new programs or new spending. Closing the skills gap requires participation from individual workers, the education community, and employers. But we have the ability to help, and a specific plan should be in place to do just that. Also a part of the Manufacturing Jobs for America effort is another bill I am proud to support that focuses on closing the skills gap. Introduced by Senators Hagan, Heller, and myself, the AMERICA Works Act modifies existing Federal training programs so that they place a priority on programs and certifications that are recognized and demanded by industry. I have heard time after time from Hoosier business owners and educators and workers about the pressing need to close the skills gap and to get more people to work. To address this issue while not increasing Federal spending, the AMERICA Works Act modifies the Workforce Investment Act, Perkins Career and Technical Education, and Trade Adjustment Assistance to prioritize the credentials that employers need now. The improvements made in this bill benefit both workers and employers, as workers would know that the time they spend training is more likely to lead to employment in a good-paying job, and employers would know that it is more likely that the people they hire would have the training they need to get the job done on day one. The Department of Labor estimates there are nearly 4 million job openings in the United States, despite an unemployment rate that is still over 7 percent and despite millions of Americans looking for work. Now is the time to get to work on these jobs and match these people up with the job opportunities that are available out there. That is the most important thing we can be doing. When Americans are working, we are a stronger nation. The Manufacturing Jobs for America effort to pass bipartisan legislation that everyone can buy into that helps manufacturers and workers is one important way we can move the ball ahead. I yield back the remainder of my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, on Veterans Day we come together to honor the brave men and women who have given so much to defend our country and protect our freedoms. I think of so many veterans, including my dad, who served in the U.S. Navy. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to our country's veterans, and the nearly 500,000 veterans in the State of Indiana, for your service to the Nation. Veterans Day is also a chance to reaffirm our country's commitment to caring for veterans and their families. While it is important to say thank you to veterans, it is even more important to express our gratitude through action for all generations of veterans. There are several ongoing efforts in my office that I would like to share with everyone. I have been a proud supporter of the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress, and it has done an outstanding job in leading this effort. We have so much to learn from our veterans, and it is vital that we record their stories and experiences for future generations. I urge veterans of any conflict to contact our office if you would like to share your story. We stand ready to give Hoosiers information on this important project, and please contact us at any time if you would like to participate. Additionally, there are Hoosier veterans of Vietnam and other wars who still have not received, or have lost over the years, their honors or their medals that they earned for heroism. Now is the time to resolve these cases. I am so deeply honored this Veterans Day to be handing to four Hoosier veterans--Mr. Michael Hodgson, Mr. Canard Terhune, Mr. Jim Horn, and Mr. Julian Quarnstrom--the many medals and ribbons they were awarded for their service and bravery but still have not received. I also believe it is important to honor veterans from all conflicts, which is why earlier this year I introduced a bill that would authorize the construction of a National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial at no cost to the government. The men and women who fought in the first gulf war, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, deserve to have their service memorialized. Now we have a new generation of veterans. They have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and many of them are still coping with readjusting to civilian life. They have experienced health challenges, including traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. These incredible challenges have resulted from their service and their dedication to our country. Our veterans have earned the best care we can provide, and this includes access to timely and quality medical care. It is both our challenge and our priority to ensure a smooth transition and to effectively treat any health conditions linked to their service efforts. In particular, I am dedicated to addressing the problem of military and veteran suicide. If you are in need of or know of a servicemember or veteran who has challenges and who is in need, please know that seeking help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness, and from that strength there is always help that is available. I am also committed to addressing the backlog in benefits claims, one of the significant challenges facing the Veterans' Administration. Wait times for benefits claims are at an unacceptably high level. In the VA regional office in Indianapolis, Hoosiers play a critical role in processing claims to eliminate the backlog. I thank them for their public service, their hard work, and urge them to continue to do whatever they can to reduce that wait time so benefits may be received more promptly. While I know the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, General Shinseki, is fully committed to solving this problem, more must be done. I stand ready to work together with my colleagues to provide the VA the tools it needs to accomplish this goal, reduce the wait times, and take even better care of our veterans. In addition to ensuring care and benefits for our veterans, I believe economic opportunity is equally important. When I ask servicemembers what we can do for them, they always have the same answer: We just want to make sure there is a good job to come home to and a good job that can help take care of our families when we do. A quality education and gainful employment give our veterans the chance to fulfill the American dream, and it helps fulfill our responsibility in supporting our veterans. That is where all of us come in. As one of Indiana's U.S. Senators, I am always looking for ways to improve the transition from military to civilian life. Let's make sure our trade schools and universities welcome our veterans with open arms. To our business owners, thank you for all of the veterans you have hired, and I urge you to hire even more. Veterans have many skills that can translate to a variety of positions, they have a strong commitment to quality and service, and you can always rely on our veterans. Hoosiers in every community, please welcome back our brave men and women--whether it is in your neighborhood, whether it is at the local restaurant, whether it is at your child's school, or whether it is at church on Sunday. On Veterans Day, and every day, let us honor America's veterans by cherishing the freedoms they have defended. Our country is grateful for all you have done for all of us. You have given us our safety, our freedom, and our liberty. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I thank Senator Collins, who helped lead our group, Senator Pryor, Senator Manchin, and so many others who helped lead our group as well. This was not Democrats and Republicans, this was Americans who were sent here to serve our country. I am blessed to come from the State of Indiana. They gave me this great honor to serve. I know precisely why they sent me here, which is to do the work of the Nation, to protect our Nation, to not worry about Republican or Democrat, but to do what is right. I take that charge very seriously. That is why I am working with my colleagues to see is there a way we can help bring an agreement closer, bring an agreement together that protects our credit ratings, that protects our financial situation, and that protects our country. I was very lucky to be part of such an extraordinary group of partners in this effort. I thank all of them. As the Senator from Alaska was saying, we have a lot of work to do, as all Senators know. We stand ready, on whatever front our Nation needs us, to do that kind of work. That is not Democrat work, that is not Republican work, but that is American work, to move our Nation and our country forward.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. First, I wish to thank the Capitol Hill police and the Secret Service for their bravery, their heroism, and their work, not only yesterday but every day, to keep this Capitol safe and to keep the people in it safe. We are in their debt. The people of Indiana all want jobs. We want to go to work. We want and we know the dignity that comes with a good day's labor and the chance to take care of our family. The people in Indiana have told me time after time, and they have said it very clearly: Joe, focus on jobs, focus on the basics. I couldn't be prouder of my home State. Every day I am thankful I have the amazing privilege to represent all Hoosiers in the Senate. But our economy in Indiana isn't as strong as we would like it to be. The national unemployment rate is 7.3 percent; Indiana, 8.1. Indiana's median household income declined 13.2 percent from 2000 to 2012 and it lags behind the national average. We have dropped to 40th among States in per capita income. We have so much work to do in my home State and in our country. As you know, I am an optimist by nature, but I am incredibly disheartened by what I have seen in Washington recently. Some in Congress are playing a game of chicken with our jobs, with our economy, and with our future. Because these folks haven't gotten their way, thousands of Hoosiers are furloughed and are not receiving paychecks, the paychecks that help them feed their families, pay for college, and invest their hard-earned money in the local-run businesses. Many of the good people at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN, who keep our troops in Afghanistan and around the world safe, were sent home recently. They can't do their critical work that keeps our Nation safe. The demands of a few here have caused the scientists at the Centers for Disease Control to be unable to go to work. These actions have also caused many of the patriots at Fort Wayne's Air National Guard Station and Grissom Air Reserve Base and at Terre Haute to have their work and their operations idled. We are now at a point in the debate where some are putting our economy at risk simply to advance their own political agendas. These folks are shutting down operations across our Nation and in my beloved home State, and that hurts our still recovering economy. We have so much work to do to move Indiana and our Nation forward, and Congress isn't helping. We talk all the time about providing certainty to our business friends. Hoosier businesses thrive on hard work, creativity, and teamwork. They also deserve a government that provides certainty, a steady hand in choppy seas. They don't need a government that creates the storm. Most folks back home think Congress can play some role in improving the economy, even if that role is simply not to make things worse. But over the past year, Congress has made and continues to make things much more difficult. It is embarrassing that the actions of some in Congress these days are now the greatest obstacle to future job creation in our country. America's economic confidence is measured daily by polling by Gallup. It is currently at minus 22. It matches the low for the year. It is worth pointing out that the other low for the year happened right before sequestration took effect in March--another problem, another self-inflicted wound caused by Congress. The implementation of sequester cuts, which is what happened when Congress proved itself unable to make the tough decisions that Congress was sent here to make, has led to job losses and furloughs, so many families don't have as much to make ends meet. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported we could lose up to 1.6 million jobs next year if these across-the-board cuts continue. Further, a number of economists have concluded that Congress significantly reduced this country's economic growth because we failed to replace the cuts with something smarter. Economic growth is a fancy term for people going to work and people who have jobs. The American people are losing confidence in their economy because of Congress. Here we are 6 months later, 4 days into a government shutdown, 13 days away from defaulting on our debt. History tells us government shutdowns are terrible for the economy and terrible for jobs. If we look at the last time the Federal Government shut down in 1995 and 1996 for 27 days, Congress put hundreds of thousands of people out of work, with $1.4 billion in damages, and consumer confidence took a double-digit dip. Back then our country's economy was in a stronger place than it is today and it recovered a little bit more quickly. This government shutdown is damaging our economy at a time where it is very fragile. However, this government shutdown has damaged our economy, but a default on our bills as we look forward would be absolutely devastating. What happens if we fail to raise the debt limit and if we stop paying our bills? That is what the debt limit is. It is our obligation to pay our bills. While it is completely unprecedented, well-respected economists warn it could send us right back into a tailspin. We are still recovering from the last recession. At a time when Hoosiers are trying to get back to work and take care of our families, Congress's inability to work together is making it so much more difficult. Congress is not helping and is actually hindering job creation and economic growth. This is no way to run a country. I stand ready to work with anyone in a commonsense way out of this train wreck. We must find a way to stop hurting the economy and to actually help the people who have made this country such a great place.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, when I was working in Indiana last month, there was one thing I heard everywhere I went: Congress should spend less time fighting and more time focusing on creating jobs. We have made significant progress in Indiana since seeing unemployment rates north of 20 percent in some of the counties in our State just a few years ago, but there is a lot of work yet to be done. Too many Hoosiers are still looking jobs. For all of the fighting here in Washington, back home in Indiana everyone is on the same page. They want good-paying jobs so they can take care of their families, send their kids to college, and retire with dignity. That is what Hoosiers want, and most think Congress can do something to help in that regard, even if that something is simply this: Don't make things worse. What, instead, do many of my constituents think they are getting from the legislative branch? George Smeltzer from Nineveh, IN, sent me an e- mail. He said: Enough is enough already! Washington is like a bunch of children playing at recess and all fighting for one toy. Unfortunately, the toy is the American people. I've news for you, most average Americans are not liberal lefts' or conservative rights,' we are somewhere in the middle and we are tired of being smashed around like ping pong balls in a partisan game of ``politics.'' We are at a critical point in our ongoing economic recovery. In the next week this Congress will decide whether to keep the Federal Government open and operating. In the weeks ahead this Congress will decide whether to continue to pay the government's bills--our bills. We can go one way, the responsible way, and show the American people we are capable of working with one another or we can continue to yell at each other to score political points, refuse to be realistic about the need to find common ground, and shut down the government and stop paying our bills--the bills for which we are responsible. Clearly, I prefer the responsible way--the way that can add thousands of additional jobs for the folks back home who want and need them. When I first spoke on the Senate floor this spring, I discussed my strong belief that government can help create the conditions necessary for businesses to expand and hire more workers and for the American workforce to be better ready to hit the ground and be moving on day one. I am offering three straightforward, bipartisan, commonsense things that we can do right now to help the economy. We should pass the bipartisan AMERICA Works Act introduced by my friend Senator Kay Hagan from North Carolina and supported by Senator Dean Heller and me. We are training the next generation of employees to have the skills that employers need. We should finish our work on a 5-year bipartisan farm bill that the President can sign into law. American farmers deserve that certainty. We should also cut redtape to encourage private investment in infrastructure. I am working with Senators Portman and McCaskill on a bill that would cut redtape to improve the permitting process for big infrastructure projects so we can help private industry create jobs in Indiana, Ohio, and across the country. Fights to and possibly beyond the brink about whether to have the government up and running and whether to pay the government's bills, our bills, in a timely fashion have a devastating effect on confidence and on our still-recovering economy. However, when we do the responsible thing and actually do our jobs, we can help the economy and we can help our constituents and maybe as a result give them reason to have a little bit more confidence in this institution and in our country's government. Sharon O'Brian of Crawfordsville, IN, told me in an email: I am sure many Hoosiers feel as I do. There needs to be compromise between the parties in order to begin solving the many problems facing our country today. Let's start solving, not creating, problems for our country. Let's help create jobs, let's get to work, and let's build America. I yield back.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I am here today with my colleague from Missouri, Senator Blunt, to talk about our efforts to bring some common sense to the EPA's emission standards. It is my firm belief that we can establish emission standards that protect our environment without hurting our economy and without hurting the pocketbooks of families in Indiana and across the country. When the EPA released draft standards in 2012 that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions from powerplants, it was clear that the administration's standards far exceeded the level of carbon reductions that would be available using existing technology. They also failed to acknowledge that different fuel types pose different challenges when trying to reduce emissions. If we don't address these standards in a commonsense way, the affordable, reliable energy that Hoosier families and businesses depend on will be in doubt. It is absolutely critical that the EPA understand the impact of these standards and the price their proposed regulation would ask Hoosiers to pay. Our amendment urges the EPA to use common sense when putting together emission regulations by ensuring that efforts to regulate carbon dioxide emissions are realistic about existing technology and do not negatively impact our economy. Our amendment states that if the EPA puts together regulations to control carbon dioxide emissions from an industrial source, the EPA must develop the regulations using emission rates based on the efficiencies achievable using existing technology that is commercially available. ``Commercially available'' is defined as any technology with proven test results in an industrial setting. It also must be subcategorized by fuel type. Different fuel types must have different emission rates to be reflective of what is realistic for fuel producers using all available technologies. Our amendment develops an NSPS for carbon dioxide emissions to protect our environment while also ensuring that the regulations do not excessively burden Hoosier families and businesses that rely on affordable power. The EPA is scheduled to release its updated standards tomorrow. I urge them to make sure that any NSPS regulation is something that reflects existing technology. We must prevent anything that would jeopardize the affordable, reliable energy that allows many Hoosier families--and families and businesses across our country--to make ends meet. Again, I thank my friend Senator Blunt for working with me on this issue.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I am here to talk about the importance of a bipartisan, commonsense, 5-year farm bill to Indiana's agriculture and rural communities as well as our entire country. This bill, passed with bipartisan support in the Agriculture Committee, protects the estimated 16 million agriculture-related jobs across the country. Last year, Indiana and many other States were plagued by severe drought, leading to a loss of crops and livestock, hurting our food supply and the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. Farmers in Indiana and around the Nation need the certainty of a 5-year farm bill that reflects and addresses the inherent risk of feeding and fueling our world. The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 strikes the right balance, ending direct payments and improving risk management tools to give farmers what they need to manage natural disasters or severe market downturns that are completely outside of their control. In this budget environment, where we are looking for ways to cut spending and make government more efficient, it is important to note this bill would reduce the deficit by $23 billion. We made the tough decisions necessary to cut spending, increase accountability, and eliminate duplicative or unnecessary programs to continue our efforts to get our fiscal house in order. In my home State of Indiana, this bill is critical. Nearly 190,000 Hoosiers work in agriculture. Eighty-three percent of the State's land is devoted to farms or forests. Agriculture contributed nearly $38 billion to Indiana's economy in 2011. Clearly, the certainty of a 5- year farm bill is important not only for the producers in our State but to the entire State's economy and overall well-being. While no bill is perfect, there are a few areas of this bill I worked to improve based on feedback from Hoosiers. During the Agriculture Committee debate, I introduced an amendment with Senator Roberts that would give the next generation of bio-energy crops access to base levels of risk management so a reasonable safety net will be in place for energy crops. This bipartisan amendment, passed as part of the overall bill, would amend the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to offer coverage for crops producing feedstock for energy purposes. Further, the amendment would direct USDA to research and develop risk management tools for promising new sorghum crops. I support the many Indiana farmers who have and continue to contribute to our domestic energy security. Also, during the committee discussion, I helped introduce an amendment that would put the USDA, not the OMB, in charge of conservation program technical assistance funding levels. This gives USDA the authority to make sure that technical assistance reflects the needs of producers in the field and the stakeholder community, while allowing conservation practices to be adopted on a broader scale. We need robust technical assistance to give producers the assurances they need to know they are implementing practices correctly. These decisions should be made more reflective of needs on the ground. Further, I have continued my efforts from the 2008 farm bill to ensure that there are not restrictions on Hoosier farmers who want to grow fruits and vegetables. After a successful Farm Flex pilot program, I worked to expand full planting flexibility for farmers in Indiana and across the country wanting to grow what they want to grow on their own farms. Finally, I am proud to cosponsor an amendment with Senator Grassley. We should pass this amendment. It protects livestock and poultry farmers from having their personal information released by the EPA. It is outrageous that earlier this year the EPA released the personal contact information of over 80,000 livestock and poultry owners from across the Nation, including many from Indiana. This blatant violation of privacy must not happen again. I hope my colleagues will support the Grassley-Donnelly amendment when it comes up for a vote. Put simply, this farm bill makes sense. It is an example of Republicans and Democrats working together to do good things for the American economy and America's people. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House on a farm bill that we can get signed into law. No one is going to get 100 percent of what they want, but it is 100 percent necessary to get this farm bill done. I urge prompt passage of this bill by the Senate and for our colleagues in the House to do the same. Farmers in Indiana and across our great Nation deserve more than partisan political gridlock that prevented a 5-year bill last year. This year we need to get it done. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and honor the extraordinary service and ultimate sacrifice of SGT Tristan Mykal Wade, of Indianapolis, IN. Sergeant Wade was serving in the U.S. Army, assigned to the 573rd Clearance Company at White Sands Missile Range in Afghanistan. He was serving a 9-month deployment and his unit was scheduled to return to White Sands in April. On Friday, March 22, while serving in Qarah Bagh District, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, enemy forces attacked Sergeant Wade's unit with an improvised explosive device and he was killed. Command Sgt. Major Joe Medlin of Rock Hill, the ranking enlisted man for the task force, stated Sergeant Wade was: An outstanding soldier and a true hero. He will certainly be missed by his unit and all of us in Task Force Prowler. White Sands Missile Range Commander BG Gen. Gwen Bingham said: We thank him for his outstanding service and sacrifice. We will never forget him. Our brave men and women perform a multitude of missions in a magnanimous way in Afghanistan and all places around the globe. They do so selflessly without any expectation of anything in return. Certainly, Sergeant Wade is a shining example of this selflessness and patriotism. An Indianapolis native, Sergeant Wade attended three different high schools while a freshman. He enrolled at Southport High School at the beginning of his sophomore year and joined the football program, which had endured a 10-year plus stretch of losing seasons. Head football coach Bill Peebles remembered Tristan as a cocky young kid who wanted to catch touchdown passes and become a Friday-night star. Although Coach Peebles didn't expect much from Wade, Tristan represented the epitome of the program's goal--exceling in the classroom, in training and on the field. Over the following 3 years, Coach Peebles watched Tristan grow into a leader who helped turn the football program into a winning program. ``He went from wanting to be a Friday-night hero as a skinny sophomore, to being a Friday-night hero.'' Peebles said. Sergeant Wade graduated from Southport High School in 2009. He carried into the Army his enthusiasm for sports where he was a member of the Army volleyball team. Friends and family remember how he enjoyed practical jokes and dancing. But most important to Sergeant Wade was his precious daughter Skylynn of whom he wrote, ``She is my world and I'll truly miss her while in Afghanistan.'' While still in high school, Tristan volunteered for the U.S. Army, following in the footsteps of his father SGT Daniel L. Wade who had been to Afghanistan in 2004, and his uncles. He knew he would likely be deployed to active combat zones, but as he was known to do all his life, he demonstrated courage and conviction. ``No matter how scared he was, he never showed it,'' his mother Tisa Wade said. Sergeant Wade was respected and appreciated by his fellow soldiers for his professionalism as well as his personal qualities. As LTC Andre Balyoz pointed out in his eulogy, Sergeant Wade was: A natural leader, the type who took charge and made things happen. He always took care of and protected his Soldiers. And although the gravity of his mission was always with him, Lieutenant Colonel Balyoz said that: Tristan was someone who was always happy, always in a good mood and he could very quickly cheer up those around him. His positive attitude was certainly contagious. Prior to his service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Sergeant Wade served in Iraq. During those deployments he earned the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge. On April 6, 2013, Sergeant Wade's family was presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in honor of the supreme sacrifice he made for his fellow Americans and the United States. Sergeant Wade is survived and mourned by his wife, Alisha Morales of Las Cruces, NM, his mother Tisa Wade and father Daniel Wade, Jr., both of Indianapolis, and his daughter Skylynn Marie Wade. In addition, he is survived by his brothers Cory Alan Lee, Zachary Daniel Wade and his fiance Victoria Lloyd; his niece Molly Diane Wade; maternal grandmother Denise Webb; maternal grandfather, Gerald Lee, Sr.; paternal grandmother Betsy Brown and her husband Tommy Brown; paternal grandfather, Daniel Lee Wade, Sr., and his wife Linda as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Adrian David Wade. Sergeant Tristan Mykal Wade is a quintessential Hoosier, and true American hero. Let us always remember and treasure the memory of this stalwart, brave man and honor him for protecting our treasured country. May God welcome him home and give comfort to his family and friends. Thank you.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DONNELLY. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I wish to take time to speak about an important issue that needs immediate attention, suicide among our servicemembers and veterans. Last year, we lost more servicemen and women to suicide than we lost in combat in Afghanistan. In 2012, approximately 349 members of the U.S. military, including Active-Duty, Guard, and Reserve, committed suicide--more than the total number of servicemembers who died in combat operations. This number does not even include the more than 6,000 veterans we lost last year to suicide. This is unacceptable. This has to end. Today, I am introducing my first bill as a Senator, the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act of 2013. We are doing this to address this pervasive issue. This bill seeks to better identify servicemembers struggling with mental health issues and to ensure they receive the assistance they need before resorting to this tragic act. I named this bill after a member of the Indiana National Guard, Jacob Sexton, a native of farmland Indiana, who tragically took his life in 2009 while home on a 15-day leave from Afghanistan. His death came as a shock to his family and his friends as well as his fellow Guard members. This is a picture of Jacob while on duty. He is an American hero. He did everything he could to serve his country and to help people from another country, to help people around the world live a better life. A couple months ago, I heard from Jacob's dad Jeff, and I have since learned about his childhood in Indiana, Jacob's service to our Nation, and the big heart he always showed through his dedication to bringing winter coats to all the kids he met in Afghanistan during his deployment. Jeff, along with his wife and Jacob's mom Barbara, has since become an advocate for suicide prevention. They want to make sure what happened to Jacob doesn't happen to anyone else. They helped inspire this bill, and I thank them for their dedication to preventing these tragedies for other parents and loved ones of men and women in uniform. This is a collage made in honor of Jacob by his mom Barbara, and it is a reflection of who he was, the things he did, the people he served, and the wonderful spirit of ``can do'' and ``how can I help my country'' that permeated who he was. My hope is we can help men and women similar to Jacob who are struggling with mental health issues to get the help they need before they resort to taking their own life. The facts on military suicides are stark. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control, at least 30,000 veterans and military members have committed suicide since the Department of Defense began closely tracking these numbers in 2009. It is important to note suicide is not necessarily linked to deployments abroad. Since the Defense Department Suicide Prevention Office began keeping detailed records in 2008, less than half of suicide victims had deployed and few were involved in combat. Most of DOD's existing suicide prevention programs work within the context of deployments. As we draw down in Afghanistan and away from the strain of multiple deployments, it is time to find a more integrated solution that does not rely on the deployment cycle to the servicemember's mental health. Instead, research has shown that other risk factors, such as relationship issues, legal or financial issues or substance abuse play a larger role in suicides than a servicemember's deployment history. We have heard this firsthand from crisis intervention officers right in my home State of Indiana. Further, many of these suicide victims did not communicate their intent to take their own life nor did they have known behavioral health issues. Given the facts before us, what does the current mental health system look like? The current mental health systems for both Active and Retired military rely on a servicemember's or a veteran's willingness to self-report suicidal thoughts and to seek out assistance. The backup to this system is if family members, peers or coworkers identify changes in behavior and then recommend their loved one or friend seek assistance. How do we improve this system? The Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act of 2013 would establish a pilot program in each of the military services and also the Reserve components to integrate annual mental health assessments into a servicemember's periodic health assessment--or PHA. That is an annual review designed to track whether a servicemember is fit to serve. The pilot program would expand that review to include a more detailed mental health review and to identify those risk factors for mental illness so servicemembers can receive preventive care and help. By building on the system that monitors the member from induction to transition into veteran status, an expanded review, including a mental health assessment, would create a holistic picture of a servicemember's readiness to serve. The servicemember can carry this record with them as they leave the service, and it could help inform any future claims for veterans' benefits. The Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act would also integrate a first-line supervisor's input. The first-line supervisor plays an important role in a servicemember's life and may be aware of relationships or financial problems but not be able to address them unless the servicemember speaks up. Sometimes these problems affect performance. The supervisor's input would help identify potential triggers for stress and suicidal tendencies or problems in work performance. The results of the whole questionnaire would be reviewed by mental health specialists. If problems or risk factors are identified, servicemembers would be referred to behavioral health specialists for further evaluation and medical care. I included in this legislation--and this is critical--privacy protections to ensure information collected through the survey is used only for medical purposes. It cannot be used for promotion, retention or disciplinary purposes. I strongly believe a servicemember should not bear any consequence for reporting on their mental health or trying to seek out mental health assistance. Finally, as I think we should expect of all government programs and proposals, my bill would require an assessment as to whether it is actually working. To determine the effectiveness of the program and the ways to move forward, this bill would require a report from the Department of Defense to Congress on the impact of the program in identifying behavioral health concerns and interventions in suicides. We have lost far too many men and women such as Jacob. Let us come together in a bipartisan fashion to honor the memories of Jacob and all those Americans we have lost by working to improve our ability to spot warning signs before it is too late. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation on behalf of those who sacrifice so much for our Nation every day.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I wish to take time to speak about an important issue that needs immediate attention, suicide among our servicemembers and veterans. Last year, we lost more servicemen and women to suicide than we lost in combat in Afghanistan. In 2012, approximately 349 members of the U.S. military, including Active-Duty, Guard, and Reserve, committed suicide--more than the total number of servicemembers who died in combat operations. This number does not even include the more than 6,000 veterans we lost last year to suicide. This is unacceptable. This has to end. Today, I am introducing my first bill as a Senator, the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act of 2013. We are doing this to address this pervasive issue. This bill seeks to better identify servicemembers struggling with mental health issues and to ensure they receive the assistance they need before resorting to this tragic act. I named this bill after a member of the Indiana National Guard, Jacob Sexton, a native of farmland Indiana, who tragically took his life in 2009 while home on a 15-day leave from Afghanistan. His death came as a shock to his family and his friends as well as his fellow Guard members. This is a picture of Jacob while on duty. He is an American hero. He did everything he could to serve his country and to help people from another country, to help people around the world live a better life. A couple months ago, I heard from Jacob's dad Jeff, and I have since learned about his childhood in Indiana, Jacob's service to our Nation, and the big heart he always showed through his dedication to bringing winter coats to all the kids he met in Afghanistan during his deployment. Jeff, along with his wife and Jacob's mom Barbara, has since become an advocate for suicide prevention. They want to make sure what happened to Jacob doesn't happen to anyone else. They helped inspire this bill, and I thank them for their dedication to preventing these tragedies for other parents and loved ones of men and women in uniform. This is a collage made in honor of Jacob by his mom Barbara, and it is a reflection of who he was, the things he did, the people he served, and the wonderful spirit of ``can do'' and ``how can I help my country'' that permeated who he was. My hope is we can help men and women similar to Jacob who are struggling with mental health issues to get the help they need before they resort to taking their own life. The facts on military suicides are stark. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control, at least 30,000 veterans and military members have committed suicide since the Department of Defense began closely tracking these numbers in 2009. It is important to note suicide is not necessarily linked to deployments abroad. Since the Defense Department Suicide Prevention Office began keeping detailed records in 2008, less than half of suicide victims had deployed and few were involved in combat. Most of DOD's existing suicide prevention programs work within the context of deployments. As we draw down in Afghanistan and away from the strain of multiple deployments, it is time to find a more integrated solution that does not rely on the deployment cycle to the servicemember's mental health. Instead, research has shown that other risk factors, such as relationship issues, legal or financial issues or substance abuse play a larger role in suicides than a servicemember's deployment history. We have heard this firsthand from crisis intervention officers right in my home State of Indiana. Further, many of these suicide victims did not communicate their intent to take their own life nor did they have known behavioral health issues. Given the facts before us, what does the current mental health system look like? The current mental health systems for both Active and Retired military rely on a servicemember's or a veteran's willingness to self-report suicidal thoughts and to seek out assistance. The backup to this system is if family members, peers or coworkers identify changes in behavior and then recommend their loved one or friend seek assistance. How do we improve this system? The Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act of 2013 would establish a pilot program in each of the military services and also the Reserve components to integrate annual mental health assessments into a servicemember's periodic health assessment--or PHA. That is an annual review designed to track whether a servicemember is fit to serve. The pilot program would expand that review to include a more detailed mental health review and to identify those risk factors for mental illness so servicemembers can receive preventive care and help. By building on the system that monitors the member from induction to transition into veteran status, an expanded review, including a mental health assessment, would create a holistic picture of a servicemember's readiness to serve. The servicemember can carry this record with them as they leave the service, and it could help inform any future claims for veterans' benefits. The Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act would also integrate a first-line supervisor's input. The first-line supervisor plays an important role in a servicemember's life and may be aware of relationships or financial problems but not be able to address them unless the servicemember speaks up. Sometimes these problems affect performance. The supervisor's input would help identify potential triggers for stress and suicidal tendencies or problems in work performance. The results of the whole questionnaire would be reviewed by mental health specialists. If problems or risk factors are identified, servicemembers would be referred to behavioral health specialists for further evaluation and medical care. I included in this legislation--and this is critical--privacy protections to ensure information collected through the survey is used only for medical purposes. It cannot be used for promotion, retention or disciplinary purposes. I strongly believe a servicemember should not bear any consequence for reporting on their mental health or trying to seek out mental health assistance. Finally, as I think we should expect of all government programs and proposals, my bill would require an assessment as to whether it is actually working. To determine the effectiveness of the program and the ways to move forward, this bill would require a report from the Department of Defense to Congress on the impact of the program in identifying behavioral health concerns and interventions in suicides. We have lost far too many men and women such as Jacob. Let us come together in a bipartisan fashion to honor the memories of Jacob and all those Americans we have lost by working to improve our ability to spot warning signs before it is too late. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation on behalf of those who sacrifice so much for our Nation every day.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, one of the best parts about this job is getting the chance to talk to Hoosiers here in Washington, back home in Indiana, and, on those special occasions, a chance to see our Hoosiers when they are serving our country overseas. When I was visiting our servicemembers in Afghanistan in Khost Province in July 2009, I asked our Indiana National Guard members if there was one thing I could do for them, what would that be? I expected them to tell me about safety vests or about new trucks. They said, Joe, we have this handled here. What we need more than anything is a chance to have a job when we get home. We owe our servicemembers that opportunity. From Hoosiers serving our Nation in Afghanistan and around the world to the communities of Vincennes and Madison and Plymouth and Gary, the message is the same everywhere. It is about jobs, and the chance to go to work and take care of your family. So how do we take the Hoosier commonsense approach, focus on jobs and create the conditions needed for our people and our businesses to succeed? I propose an opportunity agenda. Government doesn't create jobs; businesses create jobs. So let's create the opportunities, help put the conditions in place for our businesses in Indiana and around the country to be able to create more jobs, put the programs in place for all of the American people to be ready to hit the ground running on day one. Because if we don't have a job, nothing else works. We can talk about health care, we can talk about climate change, we can talk about any other issue, but if we don't have the chance to go to work and earn a living and take care of our family, nothing else works. That is why earlier this month I conducted a series of roundtable meetings in eight different Hoosier communities trying to get ideas from Hoosier businesses, community leaders, and educators, asking one simple question: How can we help our entrepreneurs, our small business owners, the men and women who go to work every day, how can we help them create more jobs? So in creating an opportunity agenda built on Hoosier common sense, I heard loudly and clearly: The place to start is with education and with training. In every community I went to, I heard about the skills gap: jobs that are currently going unfilled--opportunities that are there for the taking but we have to have workers who have the skills our employers need. Getting a job is a two-way street. Both Hoosier companies and Hoosier workers have responsibilities. We can't expect a good job and good pay if we don't bring some skills to the table. I heard from a welding trainer in Gary, IN, from an IT company in Noblesville, and from rural health care providers in Terre Haute, IN, and the message was the same, and it resonates across the board and across the State: Employers need more skilled workers. Good skills equal good jobs. That is why I helped introduce the bipartisan AMERICA Works Act, which modifies Federal training programs to place a priority on those programs and those certifications demanded by today's businesses and today's industries. The improvements in this bill are a benefit for both workers and employers. Workers would know the time they spend training is more likely to lead to a good job. For employers, they will be more likely to hire people they know have the training they need to be productive the moment they walk in the door. We also have to make sure our businesses do not get overwhelmed by regulations. In Fort Wayne I heard about businesses dealing with too many regulations that don't make any sense for their particular industry. It is time to get rid of the bureaucratic mess and to keep what works. Regulations should be like the umpire on the field: Make sure everyone is playing by the rules, make sure the rules are common sense, and then stay in the background. Regulations should protect the health and safety of our families and our workers while not creating unnecessary burdens for our business owners. Further, the regulatory system should give businesses the certainty they need to plan for the future and the ability to compete with anyone anywhere in the world. We need to go all-in on American energy. This helps our businesses, helps our families, and helps national security. I was in Lawrenceburg, IN, a beautiful town right along the Ohio River. When I was there, I heard of one of the companies located there, a trucking company, that is trying to turn their fleet into a natural gas fleet. They are interested in making that transition, but the front-end costs are high and the infrastructure isn't in place yet. So developing American energy sources makes sense for American business, makes sense for our families, and makes sense for national security. Let's keep more of our hard-earned dollars in Indiana--or in Wisconsin, the home State of the Presiding Officer--by investing in homegrown energy including solar, coal, wind, oil, natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear. We are blessed with an abundance of energy right here in America. It makes us stronger, creates jobs, reduces our debt, and gives us a chance to make our Nation safer. I support projects such as the Keystone Pipeline because it creates jobs, puts people to work, and has significant bipartisan support. That is an example of a commonsense investment in domestic energy that both sides of the aisle can support. These are just a few of the ideas I have gotten from people who are creating jobs, running businesses, meeting payroll, employing our neighbors, and growing our businesses all across Indiana. There is a whole lot more wisdom in Washington, IN, than there is in Washington, DC. A big reason for this is because Hoosiers, as many Americans, are focused on just getting things done, working together. It is not about partisanship, and it is not about politics. In Indiana it is about common sense and trying to solve the problem. It is about an opportunity agenda that creates jobs for hard-working people and a good life for their families. That is what it is all about. Here is what I am about: taking the best ideas from both parties, both sides of this Chamber, and getting things done--starting with jobs. As Hoosiers, we do not care if you are a Democrat; we do not care if you are a Republican; we care if you are ready to go to work on what matters most. We make decisions based on what is best for our families. We take pride in making the checkbook balance and making tough choices necessary to make that possible. We expect the same from our government. Keep taxes low, cut waste, and do not throw more money at the problem. Just try to solve the problem. Hoosiers are hard working. We do not want a free lunch; all we want is a fair shake. We believe respect is earned through the sweat and the hard work we put in every single day. We do not expect to receive anything we have not earned. Hoosier common sense tells us that our families are all better off when we have stronger communities and more opportunities for businesses and workers. We take care of our brothers and sisters in need, not with a handout but by providing them with the opportunity to work hard and to build a better life. We have a proud tradition of Senators from Indiana who have embodied these principles of Hoosier common sense: from Senator Lugar's decades of leadership in matters of commonsense foreign policy, his leadership in saving over 100,000 Hoosier auto jobs, and his constant efforts on behalf of Indiana's farmers, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River; to Senator Birch Bayh's tireless efforts to expanding voting rights and equality for women through his efforts on title IX; to Senator and Vice President Dan Quayle's bipartisan efforts to pass job training legislation; to Senator Evan Bayh flexing his independence and his passion to get our fiscal house in order; and to my current colleague, Senator Dan Coats, in his efforts to keep our Nation safe. The people of Indiana expect their leaders to put Hoosier common sense ahead of partisanship. We expect our Senators not to be the loudest people in the building but the hardest working people in the building, and in my case to make my job about making sure I am looking out for their jobs. I am honored to be here in this Chamber working every day--not because I work for anybody here; I work for everyone back home. That is my mission, that is my job, and I am incredibly privileged to do that. God bless Indiana. God bless the United States. Madam President, I yield back.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today joined by members of the Indiana delegation, Senators Dan Coats and Richard Lugar, Representatives Larry Bucshon, Dan Burton, Andre Carson, Mike Pence, Todd Rokita, Marlin Stutzman, Pete Visclosky, and Todd Young to honor The University of Notre Dame du Lac on the occasion of its 170 years in South Bend, Indiana. The University has made significant contributions to the United States of America since its founding in 1842 by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C. Fortified by a deep faith in God and an unwavering commitment to the common good, the University has impacted the Nation's history, its educational accomplishments, and its outreach and ministry to the vulnerable and the poor. As Fr. Sorin sought to bridge the education gap in the expanding frontier, he began a history that intertwined with and influenced the history of our Nation. During World War II, Notre Dame established a Naval center that trained 12,000 officers in South Bend, Indiana, an episode that is commemorated yearly in a respectful football rivalry. Notre Dame has been a leader in promoting diversity in higher education and American culture, especially the pioneering work of Fr. Theodore Hesburgh as the guiding voice of the Civil Rights Commission that crafted the framework to end segregation with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. An association with the Peace Corps goes back to the agency's founding in 1961, when the first volunteers were trained on campus under the strong support of Fr. Hesburgh; since then, more than 800 Notre Dame graduates have entered the Peace Corps, more than from any other Catholic college or university. Notre Dame's dedication to educational excellence is reflected in its highly ranked Mendoza College of Business and Law School in addition to a well-regarded School of Architecture. Its research programs have made great contributions to national science and health over the years, ranging from the discovery of synthetic rubber by Fr. Julius Nieuwland in the 1920's to the mapping of the mosquito genome in this century as a way to prevent the spread of malaria and other diseases. More recently, the Nuclear Science Laboratory began construction on a new nuclear accelerator, the first accelerator the National Science Foundation has funded in nuclear physics in nearly a quarter century. The University encourages research and innovation as evidenced by Innovation Park at Notre Dame which connects aspiring innovators with Notre Dame faculty, students and resources, collaborates with industry experts, and supports entrepreneurs. Notre Dame continues to build on its inspiring legacy of service which has left a positive and lasting impact on the soul of this Nation for over 170 years. Its Summer Service Learning Program has provided some 4,000 undergraduate students with a scholarship to perform eight weeks of community service in the communities of Notre Dame alumni clubs across the Nation. The Alliance for Catholic Education, ACE, sends nearly 200 recent graduates each year to teach in about 100 understaffed Catholic schools across the country. The administrators, faculty, students and graduates, have provided leadership that has helped shape our Nation--and the world--with approximately eighty percent (80%) of Notre Dame students active in social service each year through the University's Center for Social Concerns. In addition, the Notre Dame family contributes more than 400,000 hours of volunteer service each academic year. The University's mission is to cultivate in its students not only an appreciation for the great achievements of human beings, but also a love of God and a disciplined sensibility to the poverty, injustice, and oppression that burden the lives of so many. Its aim is to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice. Notre Dame makes our Nation stronger and deserves our deepest appreciation. Once again, we offer congratulations to the University of Notre Dame and join the Northern Indiana Center for History as they celebrate Notre Dame's 170 years of vision, leadership, and engagement in the community, the State, the country, and the world.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to request the House of Representatives be allowed to vote on the 2012 farm bill. With many of the provisions of the previous farm bill set to expire on September 30 and with only 13 legislative days scheduled between now and then, we cannot afford delay. Whether it's from Mother Nature or market prices, our farmers face an incredible amount of uncertainty. We cannot allow this Congress to be another cause for concern. Farmers in Indiana and throughout our country don't have time for political games. They have a Nation and a world to feed and an economy that relies on them to be all-star performers and to increase productivity every single year. Mr. Speaker, bring the farm bill to the floor now. If not, let's stay here through all of August, all of September, all of October, all of November, and all of December until we get this work done. There is no excuse for not having a vote on the farm bill. We need a farm bill now. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, Ara Parseghian, who has led a life dedicated to coaching and teaching others, serving others, and a life that has given hope to families all across the world. Many Americans know about Ara Parseghian through his legendary football career. Before that, though, he proudly served our Nation in the United States Navy during World War II. He went to college at Miami of Ohio and was lucky enough to marry Kathy Davis. He was a leader and role model as the head football coach at Miami of Ohio, Northwestern, and the University of Notre Dame, which is located in the congressional district that I'm honored to represent. Mr. Parseghian's impressive record at Notre Dame included two consensus national championships and three bowl victories, accomplishments that resulted in his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980 as a recognition of his tremendous achievements. More important, though, was his personal leadership and example, and the character he instilled in the players that he coached. To Ara Parseghian, it was a lot more important that his players be good citizens than good football players, although he made sure they were very good football players as well. What many Americans may not know is that Mr. Parseghian's most important work began after his football career, when he devoted his life to finding a cure for Niemann-Pick type C disease and multiple sclerosis. In 1994, the Parseghian family learned that three of Ara and Katie's youngest grandchildren were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick type C. This tragic disease is a degenerative neurological disorder afflicting thousands of children and is ultimately fatal. Rather than be overwhelmed by their grief, Mr. Parseghian and his family began a fight to find a cure for this disease. Together, they founded the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation in 1994. It was devoted to funding research and finding a cure for Niemann-Pick type C. In 1997, scientists funded by the Parseghian Foundation were able to isolate the gene responsible for causing Niemann-Pick type C and have since made tremendous strides towards finding a cure. The Parseghian family lost Michael, Christa, and Maria to this terrible disease, but the family and Katie and Ara have never lost hope. Their efforts will end Niemann-Pick type C and help families all across the world. Mr. Parseghian's commitment to medical research did not stop with the disease that took the lives of his grandchildren. Ara, whose sister, brother-in-law, and daughter have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, has fought nonstop against the scourge of MS, which took away his beloved daughter Karen just last month. While Ara Parseghian has accomplished much as a coach on the football field, his devotion to others will truly define the era of Ara. When I talk to my son about what it means to be a man and what it means to live a good life, I tell him about Coach Parseghian. He and Katie have epitomized devotion to family, faith, and country. May God bless Ara Parseghian, and may He keep the entire Parseghian family in the palm of His hand.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of a distinguished State Representative, former Mayor and outstanding citizen, Nancy Dembowski of Knox, Indiana. Ms. Dembowski used her background in radio broadcasting to launch a career in public service that has been notable for her ability to communicate with her constituents and understand their concerns. State Representative Dembowski's dedication to community service and her life as the spouse of a steelworker have made her an effective spokesperson for the interests of average working Hoosiers. Ms. Dembowski began her public life in 1984 as a member of the Starke County Council where her tireless efforts earned her the Starke County Citizen of the Year Award in 1990. After two terms on the Council, she served three terms as mayor of Knox during which her plans for economic development brought 1100 jobs to the area. Also during her service as Mayor, the City of Knox received two Achievement Awards from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, a tribute to her efforts to build the Knox Community Center and renovate the historic Gateway Depot. Ms. Dembowski served as a Senator in the Indiana State Senate from 2002 to 2004 and then moved to the State House in 2006 where she served as the Majority Caucus Chair. While serving in state government, she has championed local education, economic development, pro-life issues and the fight against domestic and child abuses. As if holding public office was not contribution enough, Ms. Dembowski is also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, and Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She has been the President of the Starke County Junior Achievement Board, Secretary of the Starke County Youth Club, Chair of Starke United and a member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees. She is a former member of the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, where she helped inaugurate a plan to build the Phoenix House, a safe haven for families escaping abuse. Despite her many professional successes, Ms. Dembowski values most her 43 years of marriage to the late Ed Dembowski, her three children, Michael, Rebecca and Patrick and her eight grandchildren. It is with great pride and honor that I rise on behalf of the citizens of Indiana to salute not only State Representative Nancy Dembowski's personal achievements and her contributions to our community, but also the generosity, courage and spirit that made her a remarkable public servant and a dear friend.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to John Oliver, an outstanding American citizen who has shown commitment and service to his hometown of Plymouth, Indiana, our State, and our country. A native of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, 50 years ago this month. John immigrated to the United States on March 19, 1962, when he was only 19. In 1975, he officially became a United States citizen. He is a dear friend, not only to me, but to people all around the country and around the world. He began his journey in the manufacturing industry as a laborer for a small research and development firm. He moved to Plymouth, Indiana, to work for that company, ultimately becoming its president in 1977. Nine years later, John purchased the company and renamed it U.S. Granules, which today produces 50 percent of the world's granulated aluminum. With his leadership, U.S. Granules remains a leader in technology and in quality, and they have established customers on five different continents. John's heart and soul, though, is with his family, his friends, and his service to his community. He has been a pillar of support for the children of Plymouth. Quietly, and without recognition, John endowed a fund to benefit the Plymouth High School speech team, a State leader in debate competition. To further advance the strength of local schools, John has made donation after donation to help with the purchase of books for school libraries, leadership seminars for students, and the expansion of scholarship and other award programs. In addition, John maintains an intern program at U.S. Granules, and it provides work experience and scholarship assistance and a chance for our children to succeed and for their dreams to come true. John has also been a supporter of youth baseball, in particular, American Legion Post 27, and he has also extended his support to the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. When he was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, he humbly, as he always did, reminded everyone that his contributions were dedicated to his community's youth and to their future and that it was not about him. John has also been an active board member of the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, where his work has helped provide vital health care for an entire region. He is a former director of the Indiana Manufacturing Association, the Marshall County Industrial Association, and the Plymouth Industrial Development Company. He has served as fundraising drive chairman for the Marshall County United Way and the Plymouth emergency vehicle fund. John has also served in the United States Army Reserves. He exemplifies the promise and the spirit of America, that with hard work, determination, and love of country you can accomplish anything. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana's Second District, I would like to salute John's character, his personal achievements, and his contributions to our community. We are very lucky to have been touched by you, John, and for our lives to have been changed by you. Happy 50th anniversary as an American citizen. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to John Oliver, an outstanding American citizen who has shown commitment and service to the Plymouth, Indiana community. A native of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, John immigrated to the United States on March 16, 1962 when he was 19 years old, and in 1975, he was officially recognized as a United States citizen. John began his journey in the manufacturing industry as a laborer for a small research and development firm. He moved to Plymouth to work for that company's manufacturing subsidiary, ultimately becoming its president in 1977. Nine years later, John purchased the company and renamed it U.S. Granules Corporation, which today produces fifty percent of the world's granulated aluminum. With his leadership, U.S. Granules remains a leader in technology and quality, producing particle products from aluminum recovered from industrial waste. Today, U.S. Granules has established customers on five continents. But what truly reflects John's commendable spirit is his service to his local community. He has been a pillar of support for the children of Plymouth. Quietly and without recognition, John endowed a fund to benefit the Plymouth High School Speech Team, a state leader in debate competition. To further advance the strength of local schools, John has made many financial donations to help with the purchase of books for school libraries, leadership seminars for students, and the expansion of scholarship and other award programs. In addition, John maintains an intern program at U.S. Granules that provides work experience and scholarship assistance. John has also been a supporter of youth baseball programs. He has been a longtime patron of the American Legion Post 27 baseball club, the Diamond Spyders, and helped organize its first sports program in the Plymouth area. John's support extends to the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, and with his assistance, it dedicated the Bill Nixon Plymouth Baseball Wing in October 2007. When inducted in to the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame himself in 2009, John humbly reminded us that his contributions were dedicated to his community's youth and their future, not for personal gain. Moreover, John has been an active board member of the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center since 2004, where he has worked extensively on the hospital's committees related to finance, executive leadership, governance, and strategic planning. He is a former director of the Indiana Manufacturing Association, the Marshall County Industrial Association, the Plymouth Industrial Development Company, and the Marshall County Solid Waste Management District Citizens Board. In addition, he was chairman of the audit committee for the Marshall County Community Foundations. He served as fundraising drive chairman for the Marshall County United Way and the Plymouth Emergency Vehicle Fund. Through his extensive participation in his community including his service in the U.S. Army Reserves, he serves as the model of a civic- minded American. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana's Second District, I would like to salute his character, his personal achievements, and his contributions to our community.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to solemnly remember and honor the life and dedicated service of Specialist Robert Tauteris, Jr., a native son of Hamlet, Indiana, and a proud member of the 713th Engineer Company based in Valparaiso and assigned to 81st Troop Command. Specialist Tauteris died, along with three of his fellow soldiers, on January 5, 2012, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when their vehicle was hit by a roadside improvised explosive device as they scouted for bombs and potential problems along a major supply route. The State of Indiana mourns the loss of the four brave men who took on this dangerous mission to ensure the safety of their fellow soldiers. Specialist Tauteris died, along with his fellow National Guardsmen, Specialist Brian Leonhardt, Specialist Christopher Patterson, and Staff Sergeant Jonathan Metzger. Private Douglas Rachowicz was severely injured in the same incident. Robert graduated from North Judson High School in 1986 and had worked in manufacturing at Ferro Corporation in Plymouth. Robert Tauteris served one tour in Afghanistan with the National Guard and volunteered for his second deployment when his son, Robert Tauteris III enlisted. Father and son left together for Afghanistan in the fall of 2011. Bobby III accompanied his dad's body home to Dover Air Force Base. Robert's posthumous awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He also earned the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with the Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge, Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge, and the Overseas Service Bar. It is an extraordinary record, and he is an extraordinary hero. Robert will be remembered by his friends, his family, and fellow soldiers as a dedicated, reliable, hardworking man who cared deeply for his family. He is survived by his sons, Robert III and Matthew; Robert III's wife, Kayla--and they are here with us today--his dad, Robert Tauteris; his sister, Tammy Tauteris Smith; brother, Tom; half-brother, Darrel Ray Minix; and stepmother, Nichelle; as well as extended family and friends who are left to treasure his memory. It is my solemn duty and humble privilege to honor the life, the service, and the memory of Specialist Robert Tauteris, Jr. He is a testament to the great honor possessed and sacrifices made by our men and women in the Armed Forces. We mourn his passing and offer solemn gratitude for his service and sacrifice. On behalf of the United States of America, we want to thank your family for your service, for your sacrifice, and for everything you have done. God bless you.