Joe Donnelly

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I wish to applaud Oak Trace Elementary School of Westfield, IN, for being recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized over 7,500 public and nonpublic schools that have demonstrated a vision of educational excellence for all students, regardless of their social or economic background. Since its inception, this program has offered the opportunity for schools in every State to gain recognition for educational accomplishments in closing the achievement gaps among student groups. Oak Trace Elementary School continues to be one of the best performing schools in the State of Indiana. It has been named an Indiana Four Star School several times. In 2014, Oak Trace Elementary School's ISTEP+ pass rate for English/ Language Arts scores increased by over 2 percent to a full 100 percent. Mathematics scores increased to 98.7 percent combined for third through fourth grades. Oak Trace Elementary School's effectiveness can be found in its holistic approach and dedication to student achievement. Oak Trace staff, students, and students' families work together to teach and instill values that develop strong character including integrity, responsibility, effort, and kindness. With some of the highest English and mathematics scores in Indiana, Oak Trace Elementary School is a stellar example of the benefits that result from dedication, motivation, collaboration, and family partnership in education. I would like to acknowledge Oak Trace Elementary School principal, Robin Lynch, the entire staff, the student body, and their families. The effort, dedication, and value you put into education led not only to this prestigious recognition, but will benefit you and our communities well into the future. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate Oak Trace Elementary School, and I wish the students and staff continued success in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I wish to applaud Centerton Elementary School of Martinsville, IN, for being recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized over 7,500 public and nonpublic schools that have demonstrated a vision of educational excellence for all students, regardless of their social or economic background. Since its inception, this program has offered the opportunity for schools in every State to gain recognition for educational accomplishments in closing the achievement gaps among student groups. Centerton Elementary School continues to be one of the best performing Indiana schools. It was first named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008 and has been named an Indiana Four Star School for 18 out of the last 20 years. In 2014, Centerton Elementary School's ISTEP+ pass rate for English/ Language Arts scores increased by approximately 5 percent to 97 percent. Mathematics scores increased to 97 percent and above for third through fifth grades. Centerton Elementary School's effectiveness can be found in its holistic approach and dedication to student achievement. At Centerton, staff members collaborate to pinpoint and address individual students' needs. In addition, Centerton staff and students' families work together to teach and instill values that develop strong character including responsibility, goal setting, commitment, and communication. With some of the highest English and mathematics scores in Indiana, Centerton Elementary School is a stellar example of the benefits that result from dedication, motivation, collaboration, and family partnership in education. I would like to recognize Centerton Elementary School principal, Debbie Lipps, the entire staff, the student body, and their families. The effort, dedication, and value you put into education led not only to this prestigious recognition, but will benefit you and our communities well into the future. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate Centerton Elementary School, and I wish the students and staff continued success in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I wish to applaud Farmersville Elementary School of Mount Vernon, IN, for being recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized over 7,500 public and nonpublic schools that have demonstrated a vision of educational excellence for all students, regardless of their social or economic background. Since its inception, this program has offered the opportunity for schools in every State to gain recognition for educational accomplishments in closing the achievement gaps among student groups. Farmersville Elementary School continues to be one of the best performing schools in the State of Indiana. It has been named an Indiana Four Star School multiple times. In 2014, Farmersville Elementary School's ISTEP+ pass rate for English/Language Arts scores increased by more than 5 percent to 99 percent. Mathematics scores increased to approximately 97 percent and above for third through fifth grades. Farmersville Elementary School's effectiveness can be found in its holistic approach and dedication to student achievement. Farmersville staff and students' families work together to teach and instill values that develop strong character including responsibility, goal setting, commitment, and communication. With some of the highest English and mathematics scores in Indiana, Farmersville Elementary School is a stellar example of the benefits that result from dedication, motivation, collaboration, and family partnership in education. I would like to acknowledge Farmersville Elementary School principal Dr. Elizabeth Johns, the entire staff, the student body, and their families. The effort, dedication, and value you put into education led not only to this prestigious recognition, but will benefit you and our communities well into the future. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate Farmersville Elementary School, and I wish the students and staff continued success in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today, I wish to applaud Memorial Elementary School of Valparaiso, Indiana for being recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized over 7,500 public and nonpublic schools that have demonstrated a vision of educational excellence for all students, regardless of their social or economic background. Since its inception, this program has offered the opportunity for schools in every State to gain recognition for educational accomplishments in closing the achievement gaps among student groups. Memorial Elementary School continues to be one of the best performing schools in the State of Indiana. It has been named an Indiana Four Star School multiple times. In 2014, Memorial Elementary School's ISTEP+ pass rate for English/ Language Arts scores increased by nearly 2 percent to 96.7 percent. Mathematics scores increased to 98 percent combined for third through fifth grades. Memorial Elementary School's effectiveness can be found in its holistic approach and dedication to student achievement. Memorial staff, students, and students' families work together to teach and instill values that develop strong character and HEART: honesty, effort, attitude, respect, and teamwork. With some of the highest English and mathematics scores in Indiana, Memorial Elementary School is a stellar example of the benefits that result from dedication, motivation, collaboration, and family partnership in education. I would like to recognize Memorial Elementary School principal, Debra Misecko, the entire staff, the student body, and their families. The effort, dedication, and value you put into education led not only to this prestigious recognition, but will benefit you and our communities well into the future. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate Memorial Elementary School, and I wish the students and staff continued success in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, whether you are a farmer or a small business owner, a Republican, a Democrat or someone who works at the EPA, we all want clean water. If we are going to ensure that our clean water protections are effective, we need to work together and we need to use the feedback from the people who work with the land every single day. Unfortunately, the EPA's waters of the United States rule was written without sufficient collaboration with some of the people who care about this rule the most--our farmers, our small business owners, our cities and States. As a result, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has blocked the implementation of the waters of the United States rule, known as WOTUS, nationwide. This ruling was in line with the concerns we have raised all along. When you write a rule without significant input from all of those impacted, including our farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and local governments, legal challenges are inevitable. Instead of further lengthy and costly court battles, Congress should act to clarify the coverage of the Clean Water Act or the courts will do that job instead of us. It is time to roll up our sleeves and provide to our ag producers, conservationists, and county and local governments the regulatory certainty they need to continue efforts to improve water quality. That is why I was proud to help author and introduce the Federal Water Quality Protection Act with a bipartisan group of Senators, including Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky. Most Hoosiers believe we can get more accomplished when we work together, and I have worked across the aisle on what I believe is a very responsible solution. I hope today we will continue this debate. It will be difficult, but we have the ability to get this right. If Congress fails to act, our ag community will be faced with continued confusion and uncertainty, and we will not have strengthened our efforts to protect the waters of this country. The WOTUS rule is a perfect example of the disconnect between Washington and the Hoosier ag community, farmers and ranchers around our country, small businesses, and our families. No one wants cleaner water or healthier land more than the families who live on those farms and who work on our farms every single day right next to those waters-- the same waters their children play and swim in and with which they work every day. That is why countless Hoosier farmers are frustrated that Washington bureaucrats are calling the shots rather than working together with our ag community and our families to develop sensible environmental protection. This can be done if it is done the right way. In Indiana we are already leading in many agricultural conservation and environmental protection efforts. We have more farmers than ever before doing things such as planting cover crops and using no-till farming techniques that keep soil in the fields and keep the inputs in the fields. We are leading the Nation in cover crop efforts. It is voluntary, and it is part of a program to make sure our waters--our rivers and streams--are cleaner. This is being done by people, not by bureaucrats. Let's have some faith and confidence in the people of this country and in the wisdom of our ag community in Indiana and in every other State. If we work with our friends and our neighbors, we can do even more to improve water quality. Listen to farmers such as Mike Shuter and Mark Legan. Mike is an Indiana Corn Growers Association member from Frankton, IN, who won the National Corn Growers Association Good Steward Award this year for sustainable corn farming practices. Mike said: I want clean drinking water for my wife, kids, and grandkids. We work hard to reduce the amount of pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizer on our farm. The EPA is going too far by attempting to unilaterally claim jurisdiction over my farmland. Mark Legan is a farmer who received the American Soybean Association's Conservation Legacy Award in 2013. Here is what he had to say: Farmers have been good stewards of the land for generations. We have found ways to produce more while using less pesticides and fertilizers. Waters of the U.S. gives the EPA one-sided jurisdiction over our ditches and fields, makes it more difficult to grow crops, and makes it harder to feed the world. After hearing these frustrations from Hoosier ag producers and from local and county governments about this rule, and because I am the hired help not only for Indiana but for our country, we wrote the Federal Water Quality Protection Act. The intention is to strike a reasonable, bipartisan compromise--what a unique concept. It is the concept that our country has been built on. The legislation is simple: Focus on common science principles to shape a final rule and to require straightforward procedures that the EPA skipped the first time. These are steps the EPA should have done in the first place, such as reviewing economic and small business impacts. The bill is not designed to destroy or delay the rule. In fact, our bill asks the EPA to complete its rule by December 31 of next year. There is no long hide-the-ball game being played here. We want to have this done by the end of next year. The legislation includes explicit protections for waters that almost everyone agrees should be covered. If a body of water impacts the quality of the Wabash or Kankakee Rivers, the Great Lakes or anything similar, our bill protects those waters. It protects commonsense exemptions for isolated ponds and agricultural or roadside ditches-- most of which the EPA has indicated they never intended to cover. We require consultation with stakeholders such as States and the ag community, including soil and water conservation districts. Giving the EPA principles, procedure, and a clear deadline this bipartisan effort is meant to be constructive. I urge my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, to allow us to consider the bipartisan Federal Water Quality Protection Act. It is our obligation to debate this important issue. I am confident a bipartisan majority of my Senate colleagues will support this commonsense bipartisan bill. This much I promise: I will continue to push Congress to pass a permanent solution. We will never stop advocating on behalf of Indiana's farmers and families, ranchers and small businesses, and those of the entire country. I yield back my time.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Extraordinary people.

Mr. DONNELLY. To my colleague, the leader of the Senate, our President pro tempore, I am so honored for you to speak of our fine young men that way. Every citizen of Indiana is grateful. They were an extraordinary group. I met them when I was back home. As fine a people as they were when they were young, they are even more extraordinary citizens for our State and for our country.

Mr. DONNELLY. Thank you.

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

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, earlier this year I was incredibly fortunate to be part of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a moving and meaningful experience in Selma, AL. Fifty years ago, during the marches from Selma to Montgomery, civil rights leaders and everyday citizens of this country put their lives at risk in a passionate, nonviolent demonstration for a more equal and more just society. The passion and courage for equality reflected in the historic marches in Selma were the culmination of decades of struggle shown by men and women across this country. In my home State of Indiana, a place that takes great pride in high school basketball, it is fitting that 60 years ago the civil rights movement played out on the hardwood of Indiana basketball courts. On March 19, 1955, at the Butler Fieldhouse, the Flying Tigers of Crispus Attucks High School became not only the first all-African-American high school team to win a State championship in Indiana but the first all- African-American high school athletic team to win a State championship in the United States. Led by future NBA Hall of Famer--and maybe the best basketball player of all time--Oscar Robertson, the Flying Tigers finished their 1955 season with a 30-and-1 record, capped with a 97-to- 74 victory over Gary Roosevelt High School in the State final. Before Crispus Attucks' historic 1955 season, no Indianapolis basketball team had won a State championship in the tournament's 45- year history. Attucks' win was a source of pride, particularly for the African-American community. Crispus Attucks High School was founded in 1927 as a segregated high school for Black students. The Indiana High School Athletic Association initially refused to grant Crispus Attucks membership, and the school could not play in the State tournament until 1942. Even then, many of the all-White schools refused to play Crispus Attucks. The Crispus Attucks team would often have to travel dozens or even hundreds of miles to find teams willing to play against them. Because the school's gym was built too small for home games, every game was an away game for the Flying Tigers. Despite the segregation and racism, Crispus Attucks thrived. African- American educators could not teach in White schools, so Crispus Attucks attracted an elite African-American community. Nearly every teacher had either a doctorate or master's degree. Teachers at Crispus Attucks included former Tuskegee Airmen and members of the Golden 13, the first African-American U.S. Naval officers. One of those teachers was Ray Crowe. A native of Johnson County, IN, Crowe became head coach of the basketball team in 1950. He instituted a new fast-paced style of offense and was a coach who cared deeply about his players. Crowe's coaching style brought enormous success to the team. Soon, the same White schools that refused to play Crispus Attucks wanted to schedule games with them. Lacking a home court, the team would frequently play at Butler Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University. The Flying Tigers packed the house, regularly attracting 10,000 fans or more to a high school basketball game. Still the team was not treated fairly. When traveling for games, the players were unable to stay at hotels or to eat in restaurants that only served White people. That wasn't the only challenge the Flying Tigers confronted. They also had to contend with bias from the referees. Coach Crowe used to tell the team they had to play against seven people every game--the five players and the two refs. Yet the Flying Tigers kept winning. In 1954, the team made it all the way to the State semifinals, even with several key players missing from injuries. The stage was set for the 1955 season, when a junior forward named Oscar Robertson was ready to lead the team. He had some of the most amazing teammates you could ever find. Coach Crowe and the Flying Tigers finished the regular season with one loss. They breezed through the first four games of the tournament, winning by an average of 28 points per game. Then they faced Muncie Central, another powerhouse basketball program, and the Flying Tigers won by a single point--but all you need to win by is one point. Over 15,000 fans came to the Butler Fieldhouse to watch Crispus Attucks beat New Albany in the State semifinal and then again to witness history as Crispus Attucks defeated another all-African-American team, Gary Roosevelt, 97-to-74 to become State champs. The trailblazing players who made it possible included Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Brown, Willie Burnley, John Clemons, John Gipson, Bill Hampton, Willie Merriweather, Sam Milton, Sheddrick Mitchell, Stanford Patton, Oscar Robertson, and Bill Scott. It was a crowning achievement. The ``Big O'' Oscar Robertson said: I remember that night. They called us Indianapolis Attucks, not Crispus Attucks. . . . To me, that sort of meant we arrived. They just wanted you to win; they didn't care what color you were. There was a tradition in Indiana that after every State championship the winning team would climb onto a firetruck and then be taken around the city of Indianapolis for a victory parade. The parade route always included a stop at Monument Circle for pictures and celebration, followed by a tour of downtown Indianapolis, but as the firetruck carrying the Flying Tigers approached Monument Circle, it didn't stop, and it didn't continue through downtown. Instead, the firetruck brought the players and fans to a park in the city's African-American neighborhood. Crispus Attucks, the team that had just made American history, didn't receive the celebration they deserved simply because of the color of their skin. When Attucks repeated in 1956 and again won the State championship, the firetruck took the same detour. Change did not come overnight, but the Crispus Attucks basketball team inspired many schools to begin recruiting African-American players along with starting to end their long-held policies of segregation. Oscar Robertson later said: By us winning, it sped up the integration. I truly believe that us winning the state championship brought Indianapolis together. In March, members of the Indianapolis-based Family Girls Youth Mentoring Program honored the seven living members of the 1955 championship team and the celebration included the traditional victory tour through the streets of Indianapolis, an honor that was denied to these players 60 years ago. At this year's Indy 500, the 1955 Crispus Attucks basketball team served as the grand marshals of the Indy 500 Festival Parade. For the first time in the parade's history, there was a stop at Monument Circle, where the Flying Tigers got the celebration they had rightfully earned so long ago. Today I am proud to join my friend Congressman Andre Carson in honoring the legacy of the 1955 Crispus Attucks basketball team. As Indiana's Senator, on behalf of Hoosiers, I want to recognize the Crispus Attucks team not only for their amazing accomplishments on the court but for the powerful message they always sent throughout the State of Indiana and for the pride that is still present in Indianapolis today for them and for all their accomplishments and for all they mean to us. The members of the 1955 State championship Crispus Attucks basketball team, their coaches, the teachers who taught them, the community that supported them, and the families who loved them--they were an inspiration in 1955 to all of us, and they are an inspiration today. God bless all of those young players, God bless Indiana, and God bless America.

Mr. DONNELLY. Yes.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, here we are again. There is just over a week before funding runs out to keep our government open, and some in Congress are threatening to shut down the Federal Government again to advance their own political agendas. I have said before and I will say it again, most Hoosiers think Congress can play a role in improving the economy, but at the very least we shouldn't make things worse. That is exactly what Congress has done with the Export-Import Bank. The Ex-Im Bank helps level the playing field for American businesses, it helps protect and create jobs here at home, returns money to the Treasury, and over 100 companies in Indiana use the Ex-Im Bank. In July, some in Congress blocked the bipartisan effort to reauthorize the bank just so a few Members could play politics. As a result, the Export-Import Bank is unable to provide any new financing to American businesses. In fact, we just found out, we have already seen some companies moving American jobs overseas because of this. Despite the lessons learned just 2 years ago, we are once again debating whether Congress can meet its most basic needs and duties: keeping the government open. Frankly, it is embarrassing that some in Congress are willing to bring us to the brink of a government shutdown and would rather play games with our recovering economy than solve the problems and challenges in front of us. The truth is, there is reason to be optimistic in our country. Unemployment is dropping, and nowhere in the world are there more opportunities to invest and to innovate in a brighter future and stronger economy than right here in the United States, but to realize our full potential, we have real work to do. We need to create more good-paying jobs with which we can support a family and strengthen our communities, we need to invest in a 21st century infrastructure, and we need to prepare and train a workforce ready to lead the world in both innovation and production. Over the last several weeks we have heard a lot of rhetoric about making America great again. America is already great. It starts with the basics, and that is what we need to get back to--by showing up to work every day and doing our jobs, just like every Hoosier does. I am an optimist. I know we can do great things for our country. Let's do the job we were sent here to do in Congress--work together and keep the government open. It is the least we should do. I am ready to do it. I hope my colleagues will join me. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I recognize the 100th anniversary of Allison Transmission, a company that traces its history back to the founding of the Indianapolis Speedway Team Co. in 1915. As a co-founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and part owner of several racing teams, James A. Allison established a machine shop on Main Street in Speedway, IN. Allison's initial focus was racing. However, in 1917 when the United States entered World War I, Allison shifted focus to produce parts and tooling for Liberty engines used by many Allied airplanes in the war. After a brief return to racing at the war's end in late 1918 and a win at the 1919 Indianapolis 500, Allison continued to focus on engineering aircraft and marine products. When James Allison died in 1928, General Motors bought the company. Shortly before the start of World War II, aircraft engines became the Allison Division's focus. Later, as part of GM, Allison Transmission developed the first cross-drive hydraulic unit for the M-41 Patton tank. Since then the company has made transmissions for most of the U.S. military's armored and tactical wheeled vehicles. Further development of transmissions for buses, automatics for trucks and buses, hydraulically controlled trucks and buses, and transmissions with electronic controls were developed by Allison from the 1950s through the 1990s. GM sold Allison Transmission in 2007 to a pair of private equity firms, and in March 2012, Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. became a public company with its shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, Allison Transmission, a company founded on the values of innovation and Hoosier hard work, continues to deliver quality products and reliable services with a current focus on fuel economy. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Allison Transmission is the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic commercial-duty transmissions and a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems. Today, vehicles powered by an Allison fully automatic transmission can be found on every continent doing everything from transporting school children, fighting fires, and unlocking oil beneath the earth's surface. Allison Transmission currently has approximately 2,700 employees and a presence in more than 80 countries, including manufacturing facilities in the United States, Hungary, and India. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I would like to congratulate Allison Transmission on 100 years of success. As a multinational company that grew out of a humble machine shop in Speedway, IN, Allison Transmission has served as an economic and community anchor for the greater Indianapolis area and beyond. On this special occasion, we congratulate Allison Transmission on 100 years of excellence in innovation and service, and honor the generations of Hoosiers who have devoted their careers to manufacturing excellence under the Allison Transmission brand. We are proud that Allison Transmission calls Indiana home, and we wish them continued success for many years to come.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today, I wish to recognize and honor the extraordinary service of Wayne Townsend, a lifelong Hoosier who spent 23 years in the Indiana State legislature and was the 1984 Democratic nominee for Governor. Wayne passed away on July 3, 2015, at the age of 89. A native of Grant County, Wayne dedicated his life to Indiana and embodied the true definition of a public servant. Throughout his legislative career, Wayne was a tireless advocate for Hoosier public schools and helped lead the effort to pass the School Reorganization Act of 1959 and its reauthorization in 1965. He also was a strong advocate for equal rights. Throughout his political career, Wayne remained humble and caring. He served as a role model to all Hoosiers and tirelessly fought to improve the lives of millions. I had the privilege of meeting Wayne on several occasions. His dedication to public service inspired me to create the Wayne Townsend Legislative Program in his honor. The Townsend Program affords college students and recent graduates the opportunity to serve Indiana by working in our Washington, DC, office for a semester. Wayne has been an important mentor to me during my own legislative career, and his legacy continues to motivate me today. Born on May 1, 1926, on his family's farm in Grant County, the youngest of six children, Wayne graduated from Jefferson Township High School and went on to study agriculture at Purdue University. He joined the Army during the Korean War and served in the Counterintelligence Corps. In 1951, Wayne started his own farming business, which he eventually grew from 225 acres to 2,500 acres. He was elected to the Indiana General Assembly in 1958 at 32 years old and elected to the Indiana Senate in 1970. During his legislative career, Wayne was a member of the house ways and means committee and the senate finance committee. Outside of politics, Wayne was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He married Helen Hardin, his college sweetheart, in 1953, and they had five children together: Jay, Mark, Lisa, Steve, and Alan. All five of their children went to Blackford High School and graduated from Purdue University. He was also a proud grandfather to 18 grandchildren. Wayne continued to play a prominent role in Indiana after his time in the state legislature. He was president of the Grant County Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and a director of the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association. Wayne also continued his involvement in education, serving as a trustee for Earlham College for 8 years and a trustee for Purdue University for 15 years. In 2007 he received the Frank O'Bannon Public Service Award, and in 2014 he received Purdue University's highest honor, the Order of the Griffin. Wayne will be deeply missed by all Hoosiers. His integrity, tireless efforts, and strong leadership helped to make Indiana a better place, and we will always be grateful for his service. May God welcome him home and bring comfort to his family and friends.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, as Indiana's Senator, my top priority and most fundamental responsibility is to ensure the security of the people of Indiana and our Nation, as well as the security of our friends and allies, including Israel and the Gulf States. It is through the lens of these solemn obligations that I have carefully reviewed and evaluated the proposed nuclear agreement. In making this decision, I bring to bear not only my responsibilities as a Senator but as the ranking member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, overseeing our Nation's own nuclear arsenal and global nonproliferation efforts, and my convictions as a strong supporter of Israel and my concerns as a Hoosier who has attended the funerals of too many young men and women lost protecting our Nation in this conflict-ridden region. After exhaustive assessment and careful thought, I determined that despite my questions about Iran's intentions, the most responsible course of action is to give this agreement the opportunity to succeed. It is not the agreement I would have written, but it is the one we have to make a decision on, and I believe the alternative is much more dangerous to our country and to Israel. While reasonable people can disagree on the substance of the agreement, we can all agree that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an unacceptable threat to global security and the Iranian leadership should not and cannot be trusted. The question then becomes this: How can we most effectively eliminate Iran's nuclear threat? This agreement rolls back Iran's nuclear capabilities, shrinks its program, and gives us unprecedented access with the most intrusive inspections and verification regime ever put into place. Iran must get rid of 98 percent of their stockpiled uranium, more than two-thirds of their centrifuges, and the existing core of their heavy water plutonium reactor. These measures not only give us the opportunity to restrain Iran's nuclear capabilities but also, according to our military leadership, improve the effectiveness of our military option should that one day become necessary. Without this agreement, we risk the worst of both worlds. The united front we have formed with the international community against Iran's nuclear program would break apart, the agreement would dissolve, sanctions relief would flow into Iran from those countries that are no longer willing to hold the line, and Iran is left with tens of thousands of centrifuges capable of producing highly enriched uranium, a heavy water reactor capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium, and a breakout time of just 2 to 3 months. While I support this agreement, I also recognize that the only true guarantee that Iran will never become a nuclear-armed state is the steadfast resolve of the United States and our allies to do whatever is necessary to stop them and to put in place the policies to make that happen. With or without this deal, the day may come when we are left with no alternative but to take military action to prevent Iran from crossing a nuclear threshold. The burden and danger would, as always, be on the shoulders of our servicemembers, who put their lives on the line for our country. Indiana is home to the Nation's fourth largest National Guard contingent, with more than 14,000 Hoosiers standing ready to serve their communities and our country. These men and women and the thousands of Hoosiers who serve in the Reserves and on Active Duty across the country and around the world have been called to serve time and time again. They have done so with honor and distinction. They make up the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, and I have every confidence in their ability to meet any challenge put before them. If the day does come that I am faced with a vote on whether to authorize military action against Iran, I owe it to our Armed Forces and to the people of Indiana to have tried all other options to stop Iran before we consider putting our servicemembers into harm's way. We stand ready to take military action if needed, but we owe it to the young men and women who protect our country on the frontlines--from Terre Haute, Angola, Evansville, and Indianapolis--to at least try to find a peaceful solution. They should be able to expect at least that much from us here in the Senate, and if that solution does not succeed, they stand ready. While I share the concerns expressed by the agreement's critics about what may happen 10 years or 15 years or 20 years from now, I cannot in good conscience take action that would shift the potential risks of 2026 and 2031 to 2016. I believe this agreement is, as my predecessor and friend, former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, recently said, ``our best chance to stop an Iranian bomb without another war in the Middle East.'' I owe Senator Lugar and my other fellow Hoosier, former Congressman Lee Hamilton, a great debt of gratitude for their input and expertise throughout this process. This deal will not resolve every problem we have were Iran. It must be part of a comprehensive strategy to counter the broader threat Iran poses through their support for terrorists and other proxies across Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and elsewhere. I remain committed to working with my colleagues and friends on both sides of the aisle to confront these challenges with a clear, decisive strategy in the Middle East. I thank the Presiding Officer. I yield back my time.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I wish to congratulate the University of Southern Indiana, USI, on its 50th Anniversary. I also want to recognize the outstanding faculty and staff for the extraordinary impact they have had on the education and lives of hundreds of thousands of students. USI was founded September 15, 1965, in Evansville to respond to the need for a public higher education institution in southwestern Indiana. It began first as a regional campus of Indiana State University and then on April 16, 1985, legislation was signed into law making USI a separate State university. The university started out small, but quickly expanded, sitting on 330 acres by September 1969 and today covering 1,400 acres. USI is home to four academic colleges: the Romain College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through outreach and engagement. USI also houses the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville. More than 9,300 students are currently enrolled at USI, and the university serves full-time, part-time, commuting and continuing education students. USI takes great care to keep class sizes small to maintain a high quality of individualized instruction; 40 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students and only 7 percent have more than 50. These numbers reinforce an institution committed to its vision of ``Shaping the future through learning and innovation.'' The USI curriculum offers a wide variety of classes in 70 undergraduate majors in the areas of liberal arts, preprofessional, professional, technical, and occupational programs at both the associate and baccalaureate levels, in addition to its 10 master's programs and a nursing doctorate. With more than 140 student groups on campus, USI's student body is living up to the university's mission to be an ``engaged learning community,'' one that always strives to achieve its goal of ``advancing education and knowledge, enhancing civic and cultural awareness, and fostering partnerships through comprehensive outreach programs.'' USI has exceled outside of the classroom as well. The Screaming Eagles compete as a member of the NCAA Division II athletics in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. USI boasts 17 varsity teams and has claimed three national championships--men's basketball in 1995 and men's baseball in 2010 and 2014. The Screaming Eagles have finished as national finalists three times--men's basketball in 1994 and 2004 and women's basketball in 1997. In addition, the USI men's and women's cross country/track teams have combined to capture seven individual national championships since 1997. These teams have accomplished much over the past 50 years, all the while meeting high academic standards in the classroom. USI has, for the last five decades, provided its students from southwestern Indiana, across our State, and around the country with the opportunity to achieve their dreams through higher education. USI remains representative of the hard work, dedication, and innovation that are such integral parts of the Hoosier spirit. I congratulate president Linda L. M. Bennett, the entire faculty and staff, and students both past and present, on this important anniversary. I am confident USI will continue to be a fixture in southwestern Indiana and know the faculty and staff will continue to provide an outstanding education to our students in the years to come. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate each and every member of the USI community on this 50th anniversary. I wish the University of Southern Indiana continued success and growth for many more years to come.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I wish to honor the city of Muncie on its 150th anniversary and to recognize the many contributions of Muncie's citizens to the great State of Indiana and to our country. Muncie's history dates to the 1790s when the Lenape Native Americans settled the area and named it Wapicamikunk. As early European settlers moved into the area, it was named Munsee Town after the dialect of the Lenape Native Americans, who spoke Munsee. When it was incorporated in 1865, Munsee Town became the city of Muncie. The gas boom helped establish the city of Muncie as an important manufacturing center for the Nation. In 1880, the Ball brothers founded Ball Corporation where they specialized in manufacturing glass bottles. The company was moved from Buffalo, NY to Muncie in 1887 to take advantage of the ample amounts of available natural gas. The Ball Corporation provided jobs, local business funding, and philanthropy that propelled Muncie into a thriving city. As business boomed for the Ball Corporation, new businesses opened and Muncie grew. In the early 1900s, manufacturing and industrial companies including Delco Battery, New Venture Gear, BorgWarner, and General Motors opened factories and businesses in Muncie. Muncie is also home to one of the famous early 20th century ``Middletown'' studies, which helped to measure social trends in the U.S.; Muncie is considered one of most studied communities in the country. Over the years, the city continued to grow and innovate with the addition of railroads, higher education institutions, and health care facilities. Today, Muncie is one of the 10 largest cities in Indiana with a population of more than 70,000 citizens. Top attractions in the Muncie area include the north Walnut Street Fieldhouse, Emens Auditorium, historic downtown Muncie, the National Model Aviation Museum, the Cardinal Greenway trail system, Minnetrista Cultural Center, and Ball State University. Ball State opened in 1899 as a small, private teacher training school. The university was founded in 1918. Ball State attracts students from around the Nation and 43 different countries, and is currently one of the top employers in the city of Muncie. Ball State is home to about 21,000 current students in undergraduate and graduate programs, and it recently experienced the largest 5-year increase in on-time graduation rates of any Indiana public institution of higher education. A report released by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education found that between 2009-2014, Ball State's 4-year graduation rates increased by 12.1 percentage points. Distinguished Ball State graduates include David Letterman, former host of CBS's Late Show and Jim Davis, creator of the iconic comic strip Garfield--recognized as the world's most widely-syndicated comic strip. With the addition of Ivy Technology Community College and Harrison College, Muncie has shown a continued commitment to higher education. The city of Muncie reflects our Hoosier values, and its citizens serve as an example of how hard work and dedication lead to success, opportunity, and prosperity. It is a great honor to represent the city of Muncie in the Senate. On behalf of the State of Indiana, I congratulate each and every citizen of Muncie on the city's 150th anniversary and wish you continued success and prosperity in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

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

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to ADM James Winnefeld, Jr., who is retiring at the end of this month after serving with distinction for more than 37 years, culminating his career as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Throughout his service as a senior military leader, Admiral Winnefeld has provided this body, and in particular the Senate Committee on Armed Services, with valuable testimony and candid military advice. Over the last 4 years, Admiral Winnefeld has served as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His vast experience, knowledge, outstanding leadership, and professionalism, combined with his deep respect and consideration for our service men and women, will be greatly missed. During his tenure as Vice Chairman, Admiral Winnefeld provided military advice to not only the legislative branch but also to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on a wide range of complex military and national security issues during an extremely challenging period in our country's history. In a challenging fiscal and security environment, Admiral Winnefeld helped to lead our military through global events and threats, to include the Department of Defense's rebalance to the Pacific, Iraq troop withdrawal, Afghanistan transition, the global threat of ISIL, instability in Syria, and Russia's provocative actions in Eastern Europe. In addition, the Vice Chair played key roles in advising our Nation's leaders on various counterterrorism efforts. As Vice Chairman, he led the development and implementation of the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, an effort that involved thousands of senior leadership man hours. Pivotal to his role as the Vice Chairman, he also chaired the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, where he worked tirelessly to transform the requirement processes to become more agile, transparent, and inclusive. Admiral Winnefeld focused his efforts on the immediate capability needs of the combatant commanders and the most pressing military issues of the joint warfighter. As cochair of the Defense Acquisitions Board, Admiral Winnefeld worked to link the requirements, resource, and acquisition communities in developing programs to deliver appropriate capabilities to the joint warfighter at the right time and for the right price. Admiral Winnefeld's work as a cochair of the Nuclear Weapons Council ensured our military's nuclear enterprise and No. 1 priority remained viable and relevant as a strategic deterrent to our Nation's adversaries. Admiral Winnefeld graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology--also known as Georgia Tech--and received his commission from the Navy ROTC Program there. He subsequently served with three fighter squadrons flying the F-14 Tomcat and as an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. Admiral Winnefeld's unit commands at sea include Fighter Squadron 211, the USS Cleveland, and the USS Enterprise. He led the ``Big E'' through her 18th deployment, which included combat operations in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom immediately after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. As the commander of Carrier Strike Group TWO, he led Task Forces 50, 152, and 58 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interception operations in the Arabian Gulf. He also served as the commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, the commander of NATO Allied Joint Command Lisbon, and the commander of Striking and Support Forces NATO. His shore tours include service in the Joint Staff Operations Directorate, as senior aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and as executive assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. As a flag officer, Admiral Winnefeld served ashore as the director of Warfare Programs and Transformational Concepts at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, as the director of Joint Innovation and Experimentation at U.S. Joint Forces Command, and as the director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the joint staff. Prior to becoming the vice chairman, Admiral Winnefeld served as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command. As the commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, Admiral Winnefeld led historic advances in the working relationship between NORTHCOM, Homeland Security, FEMA, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and the National Guard, specifically with the dual status commander concept. In addition, he led the U.S.-Mexican military-to-military relationship to a historic level of collaboration and brought tangible results to our Nation's important struggle against the fast-growing transnational criminal organizations. Through his distinctive accomplishments, Admiral Winnefeld culminated a long and distinguished career in the service of our Nation. His tenure leaves a lasting, positive legacy on our armed services. I appreciate his extraordinary service which reflected great credit upon himself, the U.S. Navy, and the Department of Defense. For nearly 40 years, Admiral Winnefeld has performed his duty professionally, honestly, and with great dedication. Our Nation will miss his leadership and expertise. We wish him and his family all the best as he moves to the next phase of his life. Personally, I want to thank Admiral Winnefeld and say job well done, God bless, and Godspeed. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

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

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, early childhood learning is critical to building a strong foundation for each child's welfare and success. It is linked to better outcomes in school, such as high school and college completion rates, higher wages, and better social and emotional skills. Research shows that for every dollar spent, the benefits of early childhood education to society are $8.60. Around half of that reflects increased earnings for children when they grow up. Early childhood education can also lower involvement with the criminal justice system and reduce the need for remedial education. Clearly, early childhood education such as pre-K is crucial to preparing each generation for the academic and professional challenges ahead. There is no doubt that families play a critical role in achieving academic success. When families are involved in children's learning at a young age, it better prepares them to succeed in school. Research shows that when parents and families are involved in their children's education, children are more likely to succeed. For example, children whose parents read to them at home recognize letters and write their names sooner than those whose parents do not. It is because of the importance of early childhood education and parent and family involvement in that early education that I worked on language that is now included in the Every Child Achieves Act. I thank my colleagues, Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray, for working with me to include language allowing funding for programs that promote parent and family engagement in the new early learning and improvement grants as a part of the Every Child Achieves Act. This effort was also supported by the National PTA, the National Center for Families Learning, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers. The competitive early learning alignment and improvement grants would provide funding to States that propose improvements to coordination, quality, and access for early childhood education. The language I worked on would allow States to use funding from the early learning alignment and improvement grant to develop, implement or coordinate programs determined by the State to increase parent and family involvement; encourage ongoing communication between children, parents, and families, and early childhood educators; and promote active participation of parents, families, and communities. I thank my colleagues again for working with me to get this included in a substitute amendment because parent and family engagement in those early years is critical to each student's success as well as to our country's future. I am committed to working with partners in Indiana to ensure that Hoosier children can take advantage of these important programs, and I stand ready to continue working with my friends on both sides of the aisle to further invest in early childhood education so we can provide brighter futures for more Hoosiers and additional American children. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today, I wish to honor the town of Ferdinand on its 175th anniversary and to recognize the many contributions of Ferdinand's citizens to the surrounding communities, the great State of Indiana, and to our country. Ferdinand's history dates to the mid-1800s when Dubois County was known for its merchants and tobacco market. The town was established on January 8, 1840, as a resting point for travelers and was officially incorporated as a town in 1905. Ferdinand quickly began to grow and develop with the discovery of materials needed to make paint. The town began manufacturing paint and developed the largest foundry in the county. By the end of the 19th century, Ferdinand innovated as industries changed and grew to include manufacturing plants, small businesses, a mill, schools, churches, and a convent. Today, manufacturing continues to be its top industry. Ferdinand is a community of 2,500 citizens located in the beautiful hills of southern Indiana. Throughout the year, outdoor enthusiasts visit Ferdinand to take advantage of its numerous natural wonders. Camping, hunting, swimming, fishing, and hiking are just a handful of the activities available to visitors. Since its founding, Ferdinand has remained the home to some of our State's most beautiful parks and forests, plus an expanding trail system. Ferdinand is home to the Ferdinand State Forest, a historic Benedictine monastery, and the Ferdinand Folk Festival. The community is also a short drive from Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home and the gravesite of his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln. The strength of Ferdinand is rooted in an importance placed on community, family values, and quality education. Ferdinand Elementary School and Cedar Crest Intermediate School are both four-star academic institutions that provide quality education to young Hoosiers. Furthermore, the residents of Ferdinand are widely known for their strong work ethic, sense of community, and Hoosier hospitality. It is due to these enduring qualities that Ferdinand has been a contributor to Indiana's success. It is a great honor to represent the town of Ferdinand, also known as the ``gateway to Dubois County and a gateway to opportunity,'' in the Senate. On behalf of the State of Indiana, I congratulate each and every citizen of Ferdinand on the town's 175th anniversary and wish you continued success and prosperity in the future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, it is an honor to follow my colleague from New Hampshire, who has done such an eloquent job. Export-Import Bank I want to talk about the Export-Import Bank. I said this during the unnecessary 2013 Government shutdown, and I will say it again: Most Americans think Congress can do something to help create jobs and strengthen our economy--even if it is simply not doing any harm. Yet here we are again, willfully allowing an important tool for economic growth to expire by not taking commonsense action. On June 30, the charter for the Export-Import Bank will expire. During its 80-plus years of existence, the Bank has garnered support from every President during that span and repeatedly been renewed by Congress, often without any objection. The Export-Import Bank is not a Democratic program or a Republican program. It is a program to help American businesses. President Reagan's words from 30 years ago still ring true: Exports create and sustain jobs for millions of American workers and contribute to the growth and strength of the United States economy. The Export-Import Bank contributes in a significant way to our nation's export sales. The Gipper was right then, and he is right today. Those who oppose the Ex-Im Bank for ideological reasons may make their case in the abstract, but I have to operate in the reality, where I have heard over and over from Indiana small business owners and workers about the importance of the Ex-Im Bank. Jon, the vice president of Specialty Hardwoods of Indiana, in Nappannee, told me about their small company, which has around 40 employees. They got through the financial downturn of 2008 and 2009 but suffered during that time, as all small manufacturers did, not only here in this country but worldwide. As they returned to profitability, they made a decision to try to diversify markets. Up until 2008, they mostly sold their products to the recreational vehicle industry. Since then, they have started to sell to cabinet companies that market to the kitchen and bath industry nationally and made a direct attempt to go after export sales. Lumber product exports now account at Specialty Hardwoods for more than 45 percent of their current sales. Jon told me: We could not have done this without the support of EXIM bank. I personally have helped other small companies in our industry contact EXIM and establish relationships with EXIM to market their products. It levels the playing field for smaller companies to enter this market segment of our industry. We have grown our business and survived because of EXIM bank and the efforts of the 40-45 people that we employ. The stories continue. Mark, the vice president and co-owner of Agrarian Marketing Corporation, told us about his company that makes feed additives and nutritional supplements for the livestock industry. They have a very large distributor in Cairo, Egypt, that represents nearly 30 percent of their business. For this Hoosier business, nearly 30 percent of their business comes from Cairo, Egypt. The credit insurance they purchase through Ex-Im Bank allows them to source this business by extending beneficial credit terms to their Egyptian customer. It would not be possible if they required their customer to prepay for those orders. Mark said: Although we are a small business, this segment of our business is very important to us and provides excellent profitability and jobs here in Indiana as well as jobs for our contract manufacturers in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. All would suffer if we lost this business. Bruce, the CEO and chairman of Sullivan-Palatek in Michigan City, noted that not only are the 140 jobs at his company impacted but several hundred more at local suppliers. Bruce said: In the event that the Ex-Im Bank were to be shut down, the impact to us would be immediate. I believe we would have very much difficulty in getting any new orders. In fact, the orders that we have in house, many of them we would not be able to ship. We would have to shut them down right in the middle . . . of the order process. Jon, Mark, and Bruce are three of many in Indiana, many around the country. In my home State, the Hoosier State, since 2010 the Export- Import Bank has directly helped more than 100 companies that have exported more than $3 billion in goods and services. The Ex-Im Bank costs zero in taxpayer dollars. In fact, it turns a profit. Since 1992, the Bank has returned more than $7 billion in profits to the Treasury. Last year, $675 million was returned to the Treasury. And the default rate is 0.175 percent. That is less than one-fifth of 1 percent. That is an effort to manage it in a fiscally prudent, fiscally responsible manner. In fiscal year 2014, the Ex-Im Bank authorized around $20.5 billion for 3,746 transactions, which contributed to $27.5 billion of U.S. exports and more than 164,000 jobs right here in the United States. These are not, for the most part, huge corporations. They are small companies that wouldn't be able to afford financing elsewhere. In 2014, 90 percent of the transactions approved by the Bank were in support of small businesses. So what happens if Ex-Im's charter is to expire? It will be forced to shut down, unwind current obligations, and the loss of future financing could result in a significant amount of business being lost overseas. That directly affects the bottom line for many businesses, leaving them with less revenue to reinvest and less revenue to pay wages or create new jobs. It becomes difficult--if not nearly impossible--for the private sector to replace the loans, the guarantees, and the insurance provided by the Ex-Im Bank. At a time when American companies are competing in a game that is often rigged by foreign currency manipulation, intellectual property theft, and insurmountable regulatory barriers, unilaterally eliminating our export credit agency further handcuffs U.S. job creators and allows competitors in foreign countries to pick up the business. If Ex-Im no longer provides financing, foreign companies and countries are still going to buy their goods and products. They need the products. But instead of buying that product from Muncie, IN, they will purchase it in Russia or China. This is, to me, the direct opposite of what Congress should be doing. It seems as if up is down and down is up in this discussion. Nearly every other major country has a credit export agency. Many are larger and much more aggressive than the Export-Import Bank. Unilaterally eliminating our export credit agency hurts not only the United States and handcuffs our job creators, but it also helps competitors in foreign countries to capitalize and seize that business. Our global competitors, including China, Brazil, and India, are investing more in export financing every single day. They are investing in their companies and in their economy. If we take this measure, we are stepping back. They are rooting for America's Export-Import Bank to close because it means more business for them. Even our neighbor Canada is providing far more export financing than the United States. Canada's economy is one-tenth the size of the U.S. economy, and their export-import agency already provides far more export financing than we do at the present time. The Ex-Im Bank is a tool that helps American companies compete in the global economy. In Indiana, we pride ourselves on what we call Hoosier common sense. It does not get more common sense than creating more American jobs in a fiscally responsible way. That is what the Export-Import Bank does. Congress needs a dose of that Hoosier common sense, which is the same as the common sense in the Presiding Officer's home State of Ohio. We should act quickly to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank to help our companies, to help our employees, to help workers around our country, and to help our Nation. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Bosma Enterprises on the 100th anniversary of its founding. I commend Bosma for remaining steadfast in its mission to decrease the unemployment rate among those who are blind or visually impaired. Since its founding, Bosma Enterprises has provided employment opportunities and rehabilitation to visually impaired Hoosiers throughout our State. Originally a public institution created by the Indiana State Legislature in 1915, the Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind was renamed after Charles E. Bosma, an advocate for the blind and visually impaired citizens of Indiana. Indiana State Representative and Speaker of the Indiana House Brian C. Bosma has served as a founding director since 1988 when the organization was granted not-for-profit status. Since then, Bosma has grown tremendously. A little more than 15 years ago, Bosma secured a major contract allowing it to package and distribute gloves to hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Bosma then expanded their contract with the Department of Veteran Affairs and began to package and distribute surgical gloves, creating even more jobs. Bosma Enterprises has grown into a business with more than 200 employees, 85 of whom are blind or visually impaired, making this the largest employer of individuals with visual disabilities in the State of Indiana. Bosma relocated to the northwest side of Indianapolis 10 years ago, where it doubled in size with increased production, training rooms, and rehabilitation services. Recently, Bosma added a second location for production, warehousing, and office space. As the only service of its kind and magnitude in the State, Bosma Enterprises continues to make a difference in the daily lives of visually disabled Hoosiers. Today, I commend the efforts of Bosma Enterprises as it prepares for its future, and the futures of the visually impaired Hoosiers it seeks to help. Innovation and diversification have allowed Bosma to grow, provide services to more and more people, and create jobs throughout Indiana. It stands as a shining example of the hard work and service of Hoosiers. I wish Bosma Enterprises continued success towards its noble vision: a future in which the blind and visually impaired will have equal opportunities in every aspect of their lives. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I would like to congratulate Bosma Enterprises on 100 years of success. This organization embodies the Hoosier spirit and improves the lives of visually impaired Hoosiers across the State. Bosma has a proven track record of being an advocate and reliable employer for our visually impaired Hoosiers. We are proud that Bosma calls Indiana home.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Kiwanis International for its 100th anniversary celebration. Since its formation in 1915, Kiwanis has become a global service organization, supporting communities both in its Indianapolis headquarters and beyond. Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Stan Soderstrom, who serves as the executive director of Kiwanis International and oversees the organization's branches and clubs in 80 nations, from the Kiwanis Club of Pike Township in Indianapolis. With a hands-on approach and great leadership from folks like Stan, as well as previous leaders such as State Representative Christina Hale, Kiwanis clubs provide a place for fellowship, as well as personal and community growth. Kiwanis and its affiliates boast more than 600,000 members who raise more than $100 million and contribute more than 18 million volunteer hours each year. Their impact is tremendous and felt globally. In the State of Indiana, there are more than 190 Kiwanis clubs and more than 6,000 adult members participating in a wide variety of charitable efforts. Kiwanis has served the Indianapolis area by providing everything from playground projects to scholarship programs. Hoosier Kiwanis clubs have raised more than $234,000 to benefit the Child Life program at Riley Hospital for Children and contributed more than $1.1 million toward the Eliminate Project, which works with developing countries to help immunize millions of women in the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus. These Hoosiers serve as an example of the hard work and service that make Indiana a great place to live. Each year, Kiwanis clubs in Indiana serve nearly 300,000 children and youths, raise more than $1.1 million, and donate more than 50,000 volunteer hours of invaluable service. I commend the Indiana district Kiwanis leaders for these great accomplishments in doing good for Indiana communities and the world. On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate and thank each and every member of Kiwanis International for helping Kiwanis evolve into the thriving and impactful organization that it is today. For a century, Kiwanians have faithfully served their local communities and communities around the world. I wish them continued growth and success for many more years to come.