Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 14; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany S. 140 and vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as modified.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, on the heels of Veteran's Day and in honor of President Trump's designating November 2018 as National Veterans and Military Families Month, I have the distinct pleasure of recognizing Jason Gleason of Great Falls, MT, for his dedication to serving veterans in North Central Montana. Jason serves as a nurse practitioner in the Great Falls VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic and has become one of the most sought-after experts in veterans' healthcare. A veteran himself, Jason spent 20 years in the Montana Air National Guard, retiring as lieutenant colonel. During his time in the Guard, he served as officer in charge of health promotion, medical readiness, staff development, and as assistant chief nurse, where he gained a great deal of knowledge and experience caring for fellow servicemembers. Jason retired from the Air National Guard in 2015, and since then he has dedicated himself to providing exceptional healthcare to Montana veterans. He has built and maintained a patient panel that is at 110 percent capacity and has 1,000 patients. When another provider recently retired, he stepped up and took over the patient panel and provided care to another 556 veterans. Jason has worked to improve the overall Montana VA system. He has recruited and mentored other nurse practitioners, which helped fill critical positions in the VA system. Jason also participated in a VA residency program that trains providers to better serve our women veterans. In 2011, he experienced a deep personal tragedy when his wife of 16 years, Heather, passed away from a stroke, leaving him a widower with three children. After his wife's death, he dedicated himself to becoming an expert on strokes. He regularly speaks to healthcare providers across the country about stroke prevention and treatment and received the Montana State Department of Health and Human Services Stroke Hero of the Year Award. Montana is incredibly lucky to have a healthcare professional like Jason Gleason serving our veterans. He is truly an excellent example of someone who puts service before self. He understands that his service to our country did not end with his service in the military. I want to personally congratulate and thank Jason for his excellent work. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Ethan Davidson of Lewis and Clark County for his outstanding academic achievements. Ethan Davidson epitomizes hard working Montanan's, his work ethic has shown in his academics Ethan recently received a perfect score on his ACT, being one of the 2,760 high school students across the United States who received a perfect score of 36. About 2 million high school students take the test each year. At a young age, Ethan devoted himself to his academics, always striving towards being a straight-A student. He attends Capitol High School in Helena, where he is involved in many extracurricular activities, ranging from being the cocaptain of the cross country team, to being a member of the math and science club. To add to his accolades, Ethan is a National Merit semifinalist and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. I congratulate Ethan on his impeccable academic achievements, as well as his willingness to give back to his community by being a role model for all high school students I look forward to seeing his success in his future endeavors.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6896 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President I would like to discuss my strong support for the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. In July I had the opportunity to meet with Judge Kavanaugh in my office, and it was clear to me that President Trump had nominated an outstanding jurist who was well- qualified and ready to be our next Supreme Court Justice. From the very beginning, just minutes after his nomination, some of my Democratic colleagues had already decided to oppose Judge Kavanaugh at all costs. They refused to meet with him, spread a misinformation campaign about his record, and claimed he was outside of the mainstream. The indisputable fact is that Judge Kavanaugh is the mainstream. His reasoning has been adopted by the Supreme Court more than a dozen times, and he is well respected by people across the spectrum, from fellow judges to those who have argued before him. Judge Kavanaugh sat through more than 30 hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and subsequently responded to 1,287 questions for the record, more than every previous Supreme Court nominee combined. It was not until the 11th hour, when Judge Kavanaugh was on the verge of being confirmed, that unsubstantiated and uncorroborated claims from 36 years ago were leaked to the media in a last ditch effort to derail his nomination. The F.B.I. conducted yet another background investigation, its seventh, and yet again, nothing was discovered that would disqualify Judge Kavanaugh from sitting on the Supreme Court. Montanans overwhelmingly want a Supreme Court Justice with impeccable academic credentials, someone who does not legislate from the bench, but upholds the rule of law and who follows the Constitution. Judge Kavanaugh is without a doubt that person. Yesterday, I was happy to cast my vote in favor of bringing debate to an end on this nomination. While I was unavailable this afternoon for the vote due to a longstanding family commitment, I spoke with Judge Kavanaugh and assured him that, if my vote was needed for final passage, that I would return as soon as possible. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Senator Murkowski, for pairing votes so that my absence would not change the outcome. However, I would be remiss not to mention that we would not be in this position had my friends across the aisle not turned this entire process into a political circus. They have done this for no other purpose than to obstruct and delay this nomination through the election in hopes that they take back control of this body and block all of President Trump's nominees. I fully support Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation look forward to his many years of service on the Supreme Court.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Leland Paul Cade of Golden Valley County for his impact on the surrounding central Montana region. Leland was born in 1925 on the Cade homestead just North of Lavina, MT. He was the third child of five. Leland often recalls the days of having no car and having to harness a team up to the wagon. Years later, he recalled what a challenge it was for a kid from a homestead that had no electricity or running water to learn to use flush toilets with paper on a roll and faucets with hot and cold water. Leland graduated from Lavina High School in 1942. Directly after graduation, Leland enlisted in the Army, where his main job was to be a horse trainer. After being discharged from the Army, Leland attended Montana State College in Bozeman, graduating in 1950 with a degree in agriculture. He went on to work as an extension agent for the next 16 years. Later he went and worked as the editor for the Montana Farmer- Stockman, located in Billings. During this time, he continued his commitment to education and improving the farm and ranch economy throughout Montana and the West. Leland has published 11 books on the homestead era. His recognition of the homesteaders on the eastern Montana plains has helped educated a great many people. Along with his publications, Leland also helped found the Museum of the Northern Great Plains in Fort Benton. Leland Cade is truly a son of Montana, born and raised on that short grass prairie north of Billings, a testament to all that embodies Montana. I congratulate Leland on his lifelong commitment to agriculture and education.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senators be allowed to present legislative items at the desk during today's session.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Mark Biel of Flathead County, natural resources program manager at Glacier National Park, for his outstanding work bringing new programs and research to the Crown of the Continent. Growing up hiking and camping, Mark fostered a love of the outdoors, particularly national parks and public lands. He has had a long and distinguished career with the National Park Service and served at multiple national parks across the West. Mark has been at Glacier National Park for the last 8 years, where he has been recognized for his research on mountain goats and helped the park achieve designation as an International Transboundary Dark Sky Park. He has also pioneered a wildlife shepherding program with his dog Gracie. Gracie, known as the bark ranger, has been trained to move bighorn sheep and mountain goats out of areas of high visitor traffic, such as visitor centers and parking lots. The program has helped make the park safer for both humans and animals while also providing an excellent tool for educating park visitors on the importance of avoiding human-wildlife conflicts. Earlier this month, in recognition of his work at Glacier, Mark won the National Park Service Director's Award for Professional Excellence in Natural Resource Stewardship. He was selected over six other nominees, one from each National Park Service region. I congratulate Mark on such a tremendous achievement and thank him for his dedicated service to Glacier National Park and our entire National Park System.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Thank you, Senator Burr. I will tell you why that permanent reauthorization is important in places like Montana, Colorado, and North Carolina. It is because it takes time to put together some of these consolidations of checkerboard lands to make this all work. Here is an example of that right here. This is a project that was executed. And you see we are not playing checkers here; this is the way the land management works oftentimes out West. So to make all that happen, to get the parties--the State, the Federal Government, and a private landowner--together here, sometimes takes years. What we don't need to have is the Federal Government back here-- Congress--providing uncertainty about whether we are going to fund a process that oftentimes takes years, getting the landowners, the State, and the Feds together to execute a consolidation that gives the public access to those public lands. That is why permanent reauthorization is so important, to take that off the table. There are enough challenges already with the LWCF and with trying to make these transactions work without having Congress get in the way. I thank you, Senator Burr, for your passion, for your steadfast commitment to the permanent reauthorization. And keep reminding us that it costs the taxpayers nothing. I think it is a pretty good value. So, again, I want to thank both my colleagues here. They have been strong leaders on this issue. We are going to keep fighting. As Senator Burr just ticked down from 100 days, now we are down to 4 days. We are going to fight for this every opportunity we have. We all urge our colleagues to listen to the stories you heard today, listen to your constituents, and join us and finally reauthorize to save LWCF. Thank you.

Mr. DAINES. Yes.

Mr. DAINES. Senator Gardner, thank you. I thank Senator Burr as well. I think this is something that, for us, is more than a policy discussion. You can see the passion from each Member here. It is a way of life. I come from a State--Montana--where a mom or a dad or a grandpa or grandma can still load up a son or daughter or granddaughter or grandson in the pickup and go down to Walmart and buy an elk tag or a deer tag over the counter and then head out and have access to public lands to hunt and to fish. That makes America unique. You don't see that in most places around the world, and that sets us apart as a unique people.

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Burr. I think it also demonstrates the diversity, geographically, that we have a Senator from North Carolina, a Senator from Montana, and a Senator from Colorado. It doesn't matter if you are a Western State or a State on the East side of our Nation. I knew Senator Burr would talk about the fact that it costs the taxpayer nothing. I hear that all the time. Members care deeply about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. It doesn't cost the taxpayer anything. There is another word I always hear from Senator Burr; that is, it is ``permanent'' reauthorization. This is no longer an experiment. This is proven. This is why we need to move away from this temporary reauthorization and make it permanent. I am pleased to have another colleague of mine from Colorado, Senator Gardner, join me now. We would be border States if it weren't for the State of Wyoming. Senator Gardner is in the southern part of the Rockies, a beautiful State. I am grateful to have the Senator as one of the key champions in the U.S. Senate of LWCF, Mr. Gardner.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have come down to the floor today to discuss a very important issue to Montanans and to many of my colleagues in the Senate, and that is the Land and Water Conservation Fund, also known as LWCF. I am joined by friends and colleagues--in fact, by the Senator from North Carolina, Mr. Burr, and the Senator from Colorado, Mr. Gardner--who know like me, firsthand, the importance of LWCF. Why we are here today is because in just a few short days--in fact, on September 30--this program is going to expire. Without any action from Congress, a program that is widely supported, provides more access to public lands, conserves our public landscapes, and--I think this is probably Senator Burr's favorite comment about LWCF--costs the taxpayers nothing--I bet you will hear that from him in a moment--is going to expire. Of the many benefits provided by LCWF, the most important one to Montanans is making public lands accessible. In fact, I brought a few maps of Montana to show some of the challenges we have. This map shows all the public lands in our State. Anything that is colored is a public land. That is Forest Service, BLM, national parks, wildlife refuges, and State trust land. As you can see, there is a lot of public land in Montana. Our public lands help to drive a $7 billion outdoor economy, create tens of thousands of jobs, and supply about $300 million in State and local tax revenues. As an avid outdoorsman, myself, I know firsthand the importance of our public lands. In fact, in August, back home in Montana, my wife and I did a 25-mile backpack in the Beartooth Wilderness, fly fishing at lakes above 10,000 feet. That is my idea of a great weekend in Montana. But public lands out of public reach benefit no one. This next map shows a portion of the eastern side of our State. In Montana, much of our public land is checkerboarded. You can see it a little better here because these checkerboards are sectioned. There are 640 acres in square miles. This means that each one of those yellow squares are inaccessible in many cases to Montanans. This is BLM-owned public land, but despite being owned by the Federal Government, it cannot be accessed by the public. In fact, a recent study by the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and onXmaps, a great Montana tech company, found that there are 1.52 million acres in Federal land in Montana alone that are inaccessible. I have the onXmaps app on my phone. If you are a hunter, fisherman, or outdoorsman in Montana, you oftentimes will have that app because it tells exactly where you are and where the lands are public and where the lands are private. Let me put this in context about the inaccessibility of our lands. In Montana, we have more inaccessible public lands to the people than the entire State of Rhode Island--about the size of Delaware--all of which Montanans are locked out of, and public land that is only open to a select few or to none at all is really not public at all. The next map shows the western side of Montana, where we see the same problem on Forest Service land. If you look here, you can see a piece of checkerboarded land. We are using LWCF dollars to expand public access. In fact, the Beavertail to Bearmouth corridor is currently the highest ranking Forest Service LWCF project. This project unlocks approximately 1,900 acres of currently inaccessible public land. As you can see on this map, there are whole sections that Montanans are locked out of. This project--like many LWCF projects--ensures that our booming outdoor economy can continue to grow. It allows hunters, anglers, and other sportsmen to have access to their public land. However, projects like this are in danger if we don't reauthorize LWCF. Luckily, very fortunately, there has been some good work done. Recently, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed a bill to permanently reauthorize LWCF. I thank Congressman Gianforte from Montana, on the House side, and Chairman Bishop of Utah for getting that pushed through. The House has done their job. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has also passed legislation to reauthorize LWCF. We now need to get this through the full House and the Senate, and we need to do that now. LWCF is a program that maximizes the value of public lands to taxpayers, it boosts our economy, and it has strong bipartisan support. Lord help us, we know we need some bipartisan bills right now in this city. That is why I stand here today to urge my colleagues to act and reauthorize this critical program. Montana is not the only State that has greatly benefited from LWCF. I want to turn it over to my colleague--truly one of the warriors in LWCF--the Senator from North Carolina, Mr. Burr.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with colleagues.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act will protect and enhance Medicare benefits by reversing a damaging policy created by the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Obamacare attempted to provide better benefits for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in the highest rated Medicare Advantage plans. But Obamacare also inadvertently limited these bonus payments from ever reaching beneficiaries by putting a cap on the payments, or benchmarks, that these Medicare plans receive. Now, 17,000 Montanans, and millions of Americans across the country--are being denied the full scope of the Medicare benefits that they should be receiving. I'm glad to join with Senator Angus King of Maine to introduce legislation that reverses this ill-advised policy. Our bill protects Medicare benefits by removing the damaging limitation on payments to Medicare Advantage plans with a 4-star rating or higher. This legislation is crucial to ensuring that these top-rated Medicare Advantage plans are offered throughout Montana and our country. Nearly 20% of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana, and one-third of Medicare enrollees nationwide, receive their Medicare coverage through Medicare Advantage plans. I'm pleased that our legislation enjoys strong support from diverse stakeholders, and I will continue to champion this issue on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities in Montana who rely on Medicare Advantage for their Medicare coverage.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act will protect and enhance Medicare benefits by reversing a damaging policy created by the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Obamacare attempted to provide better benefits for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in the highest rated Medicare Advantage plans. But Obamacare also inadvertently limited these bonus payments from ever reaching beneficiaries by putting a cap on the payments, or benchmarks, that these Medicare plans receive. Now, 17,000 Montanans, and millions of Americans across the country--are being denied the full scope of the Medicare benefits that they should be receiving. I'm glad to join with Senator Angus King of Maine to introduce legislation that reverses this ill-advised policy. Our bill protects Medicare benefits by removing the damaging limitation on payments to Medicare Advantage plans with a 4-star rating or higher. This legislation is crucial to ensuring that these top-rated Medicare Advantage plans are offered throughout Montana and our country. Nearly 20% of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana, and one-third of Medicare enrollees nationwide, receive their Medicare coverage through Medicare Advantage plans. I'm pleased that our legislation enjoys strong support from diverse stakeholders, and I will continue to champion this issue on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities in Montana who rely on Medicare Advantage for their Medicare coverage.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues in this body for their hard work and their true bipartisan efforts to address the opioid and drug crisis in the United States. The legislation before us will help to combat an epidemic that touches the lives of almost every person in our country. In Montana opioid overdoses have claimed the lives of 700 people since 2000. From 2013 to 2014, 42 percent of all drug-related deaths were caused by opioids. With easier access and a larger supply on the street, we are finding opioids in the hands of more and more people. It is tearing families apart. It is devastating our communities. While we must focus on combating the opioid crisis, we must also continue to address a related but separate epidemic that is wreaking havoc in Montana and in many other States; that is, the methamphetamine epidemic. In Montana, meth is destroying families and communities and disproportionately impacting our Tribes. In fact, we have seen a 415- percent increase in meth cases from 2011 to 2017, and a 375-percent increase in meth-related deaths in that same timeframe. To put this in perspective, in 2013, law enforcement seized 40 pounds of meth. In 2017, that number more than quadrupled to 188 pounds. Almost all meth in Montana is smuggled across the southern border. We have seen a dramatic increase of that drug flowing from Mexico into our communities. Meth is linked to more violent crimes and robberies than any other drug. Meth is highly addictive. It is destructive; it destroys the body both inside and out. We are seeing sad story after story on the effects and impacts of meth and drug use in Montana making headlines. In fact, just last week, a man was charged with leaving a baby in the woods near Lolo Hot Springs. He admitted he was high on meth and bath salts. According to reports, he left a 5-month-old in the woods because ``he grew tired of carrying it.'' While this is a despicable and horrible story, this is just one of many we are seeing across Montana. I am thankful--I am thankful for those on the ground in Montana for diligently working to combat this crisis, including our very own attorney general, Tim Fox, as well as our local law enforcement. At the Federal level, our goal must be to partner with States and communities to overcome this devastating reality, and that is why I fought for specific provisions to be included in this opioid bill we are going to pass this week. My bipartisan legislation, the Mitigating METH Act, expands the State-targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian Tribes as eligible recipients and is included in this broader legislation that we have before us. This initiative is extremely important to curbing substance abuse on Indian reservations. The STOP Act, another bipartisan bill that I have cosponsored, is included in this package before this body. This bill helps stop illegal drugs from crossing the border or being shipped through the Postal Service. Additionally, programs like the high intensity drug trafficking areas, drug courts, and the COPS Anti-Meth Program are all reauthorized in this package, and I can tell you something: These are vital resources in combating meth use in Montana. Without these tools, we will continue down a dark path, but I believe, with these programs and by passing this bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate, we can begin to finally curb this problem. I truly want to thank my colleagues, and I look forward to passing this legislation and sending this to the President's desk.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have a request for one committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Countering Russia: Assessing New Tools.''

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the conference report that we are considering today is good news for our country. Along with providing funding for our veterans and supporting critical energy and infrastructure projects, it also includes $4.8 billion for the agencies in the legislative branch. The legislative branch portion of the conference report allocates funding in an appropriate manner. It promotes government transparency, as well as increasing security here at the Capitol Complex. This is very important. In support of good government, this agreement includes a provision known as e-file, requiring U.S. Senate candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically, directly with the Federal Election Commission, as every other Federal candidate must do. Not only does this provision increase transparency, it will reduce bureaucratic inefficiency and will save about $1 million in taxpayer dollars. This agreement also provides $589.7 million for the Government Accountability Office to hire additional staff to bolster oversight of government programs and spending. Having spent most of my career in the private sector, accountability is a good thing. There is not enough of it here in Washington, DC. In fact, according to a report issued by the GAO, the GAO returns $128 for every dollar invested in its budget. That is a good example of accountability and getting results for the American taxpayer. In fact, the resulting benefit of this oversight by GAO was approximately $74 billion in documented savings for the taxpayers in 2017. That is where you get the $128 return for every dollar invested in the agency. The Capitol Police is fully funded at the requested level of $456.3 million, allowing for the continued protection of visitors coming to the Capitol campus every year, as well as the Members and their staff. These are just a few highlights of the bill, which allocates resources in a responsible way to maintain existing services, as well as providing critical investments across the U.S. Capitol campus. Lastly, and importantly, I want to thank Senator Chris Murphy, my ranking member, for working with me in a bipartisan manner throughout this process. This is my first year as chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee. I would also like to thank Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairman Leahy for their leadership and efforts to return to regular order on a Senate appropriations bill. This is quite remarkable, but it shouldn't be. The bar has been set so low in Washington, DC, that Congress can't get their appropriations bills or spending bills passed before the end of the current fiscal year going into next year. Well, guess what. The fiscal year ends on September 30, and here we are on September 12, moving forward now on appropriations. That is a good thing for our country. I urge my colleagues to support this conference report as we continue to move these bills forward to fund the government on time and in the right way. I see my distinguished colleague, Senator Murphy from Connecticut, is here as well, and it has truly been an honor to serve with Senator Murphy to move this forward on behalf of the American people. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing the Winnett Lion's Club for their impact on Petroleum County and surrounding communities. Over the past 3 years, the Winnett Lion's Club has serviced rural communities through free visionary health screenings. This preventative care aids in catching Ambylopia, an easily treatable disease during childhood. I just 3 years, the Winnett Lion's Club has served over 3,000 children and has traveled over 2,500 miles to help rural communities. The Winnett Lion's Club has served children from Headstart, Child Find programs, local public schools, colony-based schools, and business fairs. They have gone above and beyond to support the children in their surrounding communities. I congratulate the Winnett Lion's Club for their dedication in serving their community and for leaving a positive impact on Petroleum County.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have the honor of recognizing Charles Garland Schwab, a World War II Veteran, and a man who is ever grateful to celebrate his 100th birthday on October 6, 2018. Charles Garland Schwab was born to homesteaders in the Big Snowy Mountains, southeast of Lewistown, MT. He grew up on that homestead, and in 1940, he married his wife Thelma. Charles was drafted into the U.S. Army in January of 1944. After basic training and a bout with pneumonia, he joined his fellow soldiers in France on the front lines during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, the European, Africa, Middle East Theater Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, as well as several ribbons, including the Army Occupation Ribbon. Upon returning to the United States, Charles was honorably discharged from the Army on May 2, 1946. Following his discharge from the Army, Charles and his wife purchased and operated the Lake View Cabins near St. Mary. During the off season, Schwab practiced his trade as an oil field pipefitter throughout Montana. He and his wife moved to Missoula in 1950, where they raised two daughters. He continued his pipefitter career and was instrumental in the process of bringing natural gas to the homes of the citizens of Missoula. Charles' wife Thelma passed away after 55 years of marriage in 1995. Although Charles sold the Lake View Cabins after 20 years and is now a retired pipefitter, he continues to enjoy the company of his daughters, children, grandchildren, and friends and remains active in the community. One of Charles's most treasured memories is that of the honor flight he took to Washington, DC, during the government shutdown in 2013. He will forever treasure the memories of that trip, his time as a private first class in the U.S. Army, and the opportunity to defend our great Nation during World War II.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Edgar E. Lewis of Golden Valley County for his contributions and impact to the Golden Valley community. Edgar is a lifelong Montanan. Born on his family ranch in Lavina, he is the youngest of seven kids. Edgar began running the ranch at a young age after his older brothers went off to fight in World War II. It would take Edgar and his father 5 days to move their cattle to the summer grazing range. These trips made Edgar fall in love with ranching and are what made him become a lifelong rancher. Edgar's heart for his country and community is clear in the ways he has served. Edgar served his country during the Korean war. After the war, he settled down and bought his current ranch, just north of the Snowy Mountains. He served on the board of directors on the Montana Livestock Ag Credit from 1986-1998. Edgar also served as the Golden Valley commissioner from 1989-2002. At 86, Edgar encapsulates the Montana cowboy spirit that brings so much character to our great State. I thank Edgar for giving back to his community and for continuing the tradition of the Montana cowboy.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Defense appropriations bill being considered by the Senate. With this important measure, we are greatly enhancing our national defense by providing the actual funds our warfighters need to maintain a decisive advantage over our adversaries. As home to one-third of our strategic ground-based nuclear arsenal, Montana plays a critical role in deterring aggression, enabling diplomacy, and maintaining a posture of peace through strength. While serving in the U.S. Senate, I have visited Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, several times. I have toured the missile fields and the silos. I have had the honor of sitting down and speaking with the men and women who maintain this important nuclear deterrent. Their hard work and their professionalism are unmatched. We owe it to them to support their work and give them the tools they need to be successful. It is so important that we advance the deployment and the development of the next ground-based strategic deterrent. This bill achieves that goal by replacing Montana's current Minuteman Missile, as well as the UH-1N replacement helicopter that services our missile fields. It also recognizes the important work Montana's university researchers and small businesses do in support of our Nation's military readiness. Montanans are quite proud of the critical role our State plays in defending this great Nation. This bill strengthens and enhances that role. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am pleased to note that it makes substantial investments in emerging technologies, such as hypersonics, directed energy, artificial intelligence, and cyber security. In particular, we are providing additional funding for new cyber units within the National Guard that will be available to the States under title 32 authority. I worked with my colleagues here in the Senate to secure these additional funds because I believe the National Guard will play an increasingly important role in defending our Nation against government- backed cyber attacks from nations like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. These nations target critical civilian networks like schools, hospitals, or private businesses, where the military's authority is limited. Only the National Guard has the unique ability to provide assistance on request by a State's Governor. These new units will fill a critical need and increase the effectiveness of our military's existing cyber defense forces. They will also bring in new skill sets and new perspectives from citizen soldiers who work in cyber-related professions. In closing, I wish to urge my colleagues to support the measure before us today to empower our servicemen and our servicewomen and ensure that our Nation's military capabilities are unmatched by our adversaries. With that, I yield the floor.