Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 626, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 3386 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 610.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in the Capitol in Washington, DC, there is a corridor that highlights the discovery and expansion of America. Just above one of the doors, there is a quote that reminds me of the people who have helped shape Montana, and that makes me proud to be a Westerner. The quote from Horace Greenley reads, ``Go West, young men, go West and grow up with the country.'' Today I honor a man who was a fourth-generation Montanan and arguably one of Montana State University's biggest fans, Doug Alexander. Doug will be deeply missed as a member of the Bozeman and Bobcat community. Doug was born in Miles City, MT, in 1942 and attended many Montana schools before graduating from Montana State University in 1964. Even after he graduated, he remained very involved with is fraternity Sigma Nu serving as an adviser to the chapter, a friend and mentor to many members, eventually pinning his son Dan with his own Sigma Nu badge in the early 1990s. At the beginning of his career, Doug served his country proudly in the National Guard and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1970. Doug maintained adventure in his life, owning many small businesses across the State. However, it was when he acquired Bozeman's Story Motor Supply that he made his way back to the place he loved. It was Doug's compassion for his business and the community that made him such a strong leader and employer for Bozeman. He even joined the Montana Petroleum Marketers Association where he enlisted others to join and eventually lead the association as its national director in 1988 and 1989, where his service and dedication landed him in the Western Petroleum Marketers Association Hall of Fame. Doug maintained his support of MSU through a position on the foundation board, the Football Quarterback Club, and the Rodeo team, among others. Suffice it to say, MSU wouldn't be where it is today without Doug Alexander and his incredible loyalty to his alma mater. I had the pleasure of being a Sunrise Rotary member with Doug for many years after he cofounded it in 1992. I am thankful for Doug's passion and am thankful that his legacy will be continued by many others in the years to come.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 578, S. 2971.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 648, S. 3183.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5995, which was received from the House.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5509 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the message to accompany S. 1550. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1550). entitled ``An Act to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish entities tasked with improving program and project management in certain Federal agencies, and for other, purposes.'', do pass with an amendment.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment; and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, December 1; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; finally, that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 6297 at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow, as provided for under the previous order.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5110 and ask unanimous consent that it be reported by number.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, Montanans have always been on the cutting edge of frontier medicine, using ingenuity to overcome the challenges in frontier and rural America to make sure we have access to high- quality health care. In fact, going back to the time my great-great- grandmother homesteaded near Conrad, MT, our health care providers have worked and continue to work to increase access despite geography, weather, limited resources, and government regulation. Rural Montanans are often hours away from a hospital and even farther away from any kind of trauma center. Our local providers are the first- line responders. They tackle everything from the common cold to emergency situations. It is their actions that can make the difference between life and death. Rural providers give Montanans access to preventive and behavioral health services. They help ward off chronic illness with early detection and provide care and support through cancer and other debilitating diseases. They deserve our respect and the resources that will help them better serve Montanans. That is why I am honored to join my colleagues in supporting the ECHO Act and making sure it is passed and signed into law. I am thankful for the leadership of the senior Senator from Utah, Senator Hatch, who has been out front leading in this effort. Geographic location should not dictate the quality of care. This bill will promote opportunities to improve access to high-quality care in rural communities, such as access to specialists and support and training for rural health care providers. In fact, this year the Billings Clinic launched the Montana-based Project ECHO hub in an effort to address a lack of access to mental health and substance abuse resources. The hub connects rural providers with a team of specialists to collaborate, share case studies, and offer support. The hub is built to be flexible, allowing teleclinics on any topic or any disease. It also allows Montana's providers to collaborate with specialists at academic centers, such as the University of Washington and the University of New Mexico. Because of the success of this first hub, the Billings Clinic will launch two more teleclinics next year to help primary care sites across Montana integrate behavioral health services in their practices. The ECHO Act will promote these programs throughout the country and increase access for all Americans. I am thankful to see strong bipartisan support on the passage of this bill as we work together to improve rural health care. I thank the Presiding Officer. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Albert Wade of Yellowstone County. Albert, a Pearl Harbor survivor and a pilot of the B-17 Fortress, who is celebrating his 98th birthday this month. We celebrate our independence and freedom, because of people like Albert, who selflessly put himself in harm's way for his country. In 1939, Albert was one of the first six men appointed to form the original Army Air Corps, and was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese bombers attacked. During the attack, his entire fleet of the B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down, and unknown to anyone at the time, Albert was the only survivor. It wasn't until 4 and a half weeks later, Albert says, that the American Red Cross found his then paralyzed body at the Russian Aid Station and brought him home. Albert has been offered the Purple Heart many times; however, he continues to turn it down, saying that he is just a regular person. Albert went on to marry the love of his life, Louise, and has two children, Maggie and Del. Albert has dedicated his life to his family and has started several businesses, written several books, and became a pastor. On September 23, 2012, Albert, along with nearly 100 veterans of the Second World War, were honored in Washington, DC, through the Honor Flight Program. Albert embodies the kind of selflessness at the core of Montana's strong legacy of service. I am proud to honor this brave man for his service to his community and to our country.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I wish to recognize veteran Jeremiah Kennedy for his years in service in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Kennedy was inspired by his grandfather, the late Jerry Kennedy, who was also in the Navy during Vietnam and played a role in his decision of which branch to join. Mr. Kennedy joined the Navy and left for boot camp in June of 2007. He then went on to an advanced training course to become an aviation ordnanceman, responsible for loading and building fighter jets with bombs and missiles, as well as maintaining all of the equipment that is used to transport those bombs and missiles from the magazines to the flight deck. As an aviation ordnanceman, Mr. Kennedy was stationed aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, which was sent out to replace the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft carrier located in Yokosuka, Japan. There, he remained in a forward deployed status, subject to being deployed anywhere in the world within 72 hours upon the President's request. Mr. Kennedy was stationed overseas in Japan, as well as nine other different countries, and he considers the chance to experience different ways of life and traditions a truly incredible opportunity. After 5 years of service, Mr. Kennedy was honorably discharged from the Navy in June of 2012. I want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Kennedy for his dedication and service to our country.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I want to recognize Detective Dan O'Malley who has served Lewis and Clark County sheriff's office proudly for 18 years. In his work as patrolman, a narcotics officer with the Missouri River drug task force, and detective with the criminal investigation bureau, he has made our communities a safer place to live. Currently, he is assigned to the domestic violence multidisciplinary team, where he works tirelessly to protect women and children from violent crimes and domestic violence. In addition to his duties with the sheriff's office, Detective O'Malley serves as a liaison for the Lewis and Clark County drug treatment court. Dan dedicates countless hours assisting those struggling with substance abuse issues and increasing their likelihood of successful rehabilitation. He continually goes above and beyond to provide the guidance and leadership people desperately need to overcome life's challenges and he does it with great compassion and empathy. His efforts have saved lives, families and have protected our communities. His commitment and dedication to protecting and serving our community and his compassion to help others in need is second to none. This past July, Detective O'Malley was named Montana's ``Law Enforcement Officer of the Year'' by the Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association for his exemplary service. We are blessed to have officers like Dan O'Malley serving the people of Montana. Each day, he looks forward to taking on new challenges, making our community a safer and better place for us all. As a proud father of four, I know he understands the importance of integrity, honor, and commitment.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as someone who spent over a decade in the private tech sector, I know firsthand the challenges our country faces when it comes to cyber criminals. Technology has made it easier than ever for bad actors to steal identities, distribute malware, and commit a whole host of other crimes, all from behind the computer screen. Law enforcement is facing tremendous challenges in tracking and stopping these criminals. The fact is, our law enforcement policies need to be updated to reflect the reality of the 21st century, but these policy changes need to be made through a process that is transparent, effective, and one that protects our civil liberties. The changes to rule XLI of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure would allow the government to hack an unlimited number of Americans' computers--including innocent victims' computers--with a single warrant. This rule change was approved behind closed doors at the Department of Justice. Fundamental changes to the way we allow law enforcement to execute searches need to be made through a process that is fully transparent to the American people. We cannot give the Federal Government a blank check to infringe upon our civil liberties. If Congress does not act, this rule change will automatically go into effect December 1. This bill simply delays the rule change. It is a delay which will allow Congress to consider new law enforcement tools through a process they deserve. I urge my colleagues to join my colleagues in delaying this rule. Mr. President, I yield the floor.