Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Charles Dowd of Deer Lodge County, MT for his honorable service in uniform at a pivotal time in our Nation's history and as a leader in his community. In January of 1941, at the age of 17, Charles volunteered for service at sea in the U.S. Navy. He completed boot camp in Newport, RI, and later communications school in San Diego. In September, as a basically trained radio operator, he was transferred to his first permanent duty station: Pearl Harbor, HI. Three months later, he would take his place in history. On Sunday morning, December 7, just after completing a night shift, he and his fellow shipmates came under attack by more than 300 enemy aircraft. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service conducted a successful military strike on the heart of the U.S. Pacific Fleet--destroying or severely damaging 21 ships and claiming the lives of 2,400 Americans. In only a t-shirt and trousers, he sprinted from the barracks to the armory, where he climbed to the roof with a .30-06 Springfield rifle and began firing at the pilots of low-flying torpedo bombers. He suffered burns on his arms and neck from the nearby USS California, which was engulfed in flames. Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Charles volunteered for duty in Solomon Islands during the bloody Guadalcanal campaign, where he earned the nickname ``Devil Dog Dowd,'' harkening to the marines of Belleau Wood in World War One. Once U.S. forces secured the islands, Dowd would climb a signal tower on the island of Tulagi and message a nearby destroyer that he was willing to exchange duties with any willing radioman. The ship's commodore, CAPT Arleigh Burke, accepted his request. Burke would later reach the rank of four-star admiral and serve as Chief of Naval Operations. In Burke's stateroom, Dowd shared his experiences at Pearl Harbor and Tulagi. Burke was so impressed by Dowd's fighting spirit, that he assigned Dowd as his flag radioman. During the course of his service, Dowd was awarded seven Bronze Star medals. After the war, Charles and his wife returned stateside, where he worked in masonry and carpentry construction, before completing his degree at the University of Florida. After graduation, he spent the next 18 years passing on his knowledge of industrial arts and drafting to high school students. An avid sportsman with a passion for the outdoors, Dowd later relocated to Anaconda, MT. He has been an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of World War II and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Charles continues to speak for civic groups and museums around the State. It is my privilege to honor the life of this esteemed Montanan, who contributed so much to the preservation of freedom and improving the lives of others. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank Charles, whose courage and selfless dedication to others are a hallmark for generations to come.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I come to the floor to discuss one of the most significant responsibilities I have as a U.S. Senator; that is, providing advice and consent to the President's nominee to the Supreme Court. I just had the privilege of hearing from my distinguished colleague Senator Hatch, Chairman and President Pro Tempore Hatch. I have heard about the scandals: He drives a minivan. He goes to church on Sunday. For heaven's sake, he is a Redskins fan? I applaud the chairman for frankly sharing perspective around some of the ludicrous arguments being made by the other side about moving forward with an outstanding nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Kavanaugh. Confirming a Supreme Court Justice is a lifetime appointment. Laws come and go, but judges stay on the bench for a lifetime. So it is critical that we confirm the right person to serve on our Nation's highest Court. The American people want a Supreme Court Justice with impeccable academic credentials--someone who does not legislate from the bench but upholds the rule of law and follows the Constitution. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Kavanaugh in my office. I can say, without a doubt, Judge Kavanaugh should be and is ready to be our next Supreme Court Justice. Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified people to ever be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. You may hear from the other side that he is out of the mainstream. That is simply not true. In fact, the Supreme Court has adopted Judge Kavanaugh's reasoning more than a dozen times. This gives him one of the most impressive records of any Federal appellate judge and hardly places him outside of the mainstream. During my meeting with Judge Kavanaugh, we had a very thoughtful discussion about the Founders' vision and intent when they crafted the Constitution. We discussed the separation of powers. We discussed the importance of the Second Amendment. Just as he does with his rulings on the court, Judge Kavanaugh did not focus on his personal opinions but rather he brought it back to the text of the Constitution and the historical understanding required. That is exactly what we need on the Bench from our highest Court. I want to thank President Trump for nominating such an outstanding and well-qualified jurist. I would also like to thank Chairman Grassley for committing to a fair and transparent process for moving Judge Kavanaugh through this process so that he can be confirmed prior to the Supreme Court's October term. I am most confident that Judge Kavanaugh will serve well. I look forward to casting my vote to confirm him. I yield back my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Olivia Mitchell of Wheatland County. At just 11 years old, Olivia took third place on her Americanism essay at the Montana Department of the American Legion Auxiliary convention. She wrote on a topic that is far beyond her years, serving as a testament to her exemplary work. Olivia said she loves to write and even finds it relaxing. Olivia lives in Judith Gap and will soon be a sixth grader at Judith Gap School. She is able to balance her school work and extracurricular activities, including hunting, fishing, and sports with ease. Olivia loves to hunt. She already has a mule deer under her belt and has a goal to bag an elk and antelope next. She loves being outdoors and hopes to visit Yellowstone National Park soon. Her values and work ethic can be attributed to her loving parents, Lane and Christie Mitchell, and her two younger sisters. Olivia is a compassionate leader and loves to help her community. I congratulate Olivia on her accomplishments. I look forward to seeing her succeed as she continues to grow.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Vietnam War spanned twenty years with nearly 60,000 American soldiers' lives lost. Many others served in this war and either came back wounded or were changed forever. Simply put, this war shaped an entire generation. It is imperative that we honor and commemorate this generation of American service members who sacrificed their livelihood, and in some cases their lives, for the sake of their Nation. I firmly believe that history is our greatest teacher. In an attempt to venerate and educate the American public of the sacrifices American soldiers made in Vietnam, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was founded. Dedicated in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial spans over 493 feet with the names of fallen servicemen and women inscribed into the black granite. Each year millions come to pay their respects at The Wall. To further commemorate the sacrifices made by American soldiers, the Education Center at The Wall will be added as an addition to the Memorial. It will aid in the continual education of the sacrifices made in the Vietnam War, so that all who visit may learn from this period of history and pass it on to the generations to come. The Education Center at The Wall will be an underground center, located near The Wall. The proposed center will show the faces of each soldier whose name is on the wall, showcase some of the artifacts left behind at The Wall, and highlight the inspiration of the monument designer Maya Lin. In 2003, Congress authorized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to raise funds to construct a visitor and education center. The funds needed to complete this project must be completely raised by private donations. The project is estimated to cost approximately $130 million and after fifteen years of fundraising, the VVMF still needs a few extra years to raise the needed capital. I am proud to introduce the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Extension Act along with my colleague, Senator Duckworth. This bill will extend the authorization for an additional four years until 2022, to allow VVMF the time they need to complete this important project to honor those who served and died in Vietnam. It is imperative that we continually educate the American public and all who visit about those who served and sacrificed for their country during the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall will allow for this unique educational opportunity. I ask my colleagues to join Senator Duckworth and me in supporting this bipartisan effort.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Vietnam War spanned twenty years with nearly 60,000 American soldiers' lives lost. Many others served in this war and either came back wounded or were changed forever. Simply put, this war shaped an entire generation. It is imperative that we honor and commemorate this generation of American service members who sacrificed their livelihood, and in some cases their lives, for the sake of their Nation. I firmly believe that history is our greatest teacher. In an attempt to venerate and educate the American public of the sacrifices American soldiers made in Vietnam, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was founded. Dedicated in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial spans over 493 feet with the names of fallen servicemen and women inscribed into the black granite. Each year millions come to pay their respects at The Wall. To further commemorate the sacrifices made by American soldiers, the Education Center at The Wall will be added as an addition to the Memorial. It will aid in the continual education of the sacrifices made in the Vietnam War, so that all who visit may learn from this period of history and pass it on to the generations to come. The Education Center at The Wall will be an underground center, located near The Wall. The proposed center will show the faces of each soldier whose name is on the wall, showcase some of the artifacts left behind at The Wall, and highlight the inspiration of the monument designer Maya Lin. In 2003, Congress authorized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to raise funds to construct a visitor and education center. The funds needed to complete this project must be completely raised by private donations. The project is estimated to cost approximately $130 million and after fifteen years of fundraising, the VVMF still needs a few extra years to raise the needed capital. I am proud to introduce the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Extension Act along with my colleague, Senator Duckworth. This bill will extend the authorization for an additional four years until 2022, to allow VVMF the time they need to complete this important project to honor those who served and died in Vietnam. It is imperative that we continually educate the American public and all who visit about those who served and sacrificed for their country during the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall will allow for this unique educational opportunity. I ask my colleagues to join Senator Duckworth and me in supporting this bipartisan effort.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Sherry Fugere of Daniels County for her contribution to the Scobey community through her work at the Daniels County Fair. Raised in Scobey, Sherry graduated from Scobey High School. After graduation, she attended Miles Community College and finished her degree at Northern Montana College in Havre. Following college, Sherry moved back home to Scobey where she has dedicated her time to the community serving as the Secretary of the Daniels County Fair Association, where her contributions have made the event a huge success. Over the past 15 years, Sherry has gone above and beyond to ensure the success of the Daniels County Fair which has brought families and community together, and will be cherished for generations to come. I congratulate Sherry on her significant role to Daniels County and the Daniels County Fair. I look forward to seeing that success continue to grow.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing George Ostrom of Flathead County, on his 90th birthday, for his 60-plus years of contributions to news broadcasting and journalism in Montana. A native Montanan, George spent the beginning of his formative years on a ranch in Sanders County and then in a mining camp near Kila. At age 17, George left Flathead High School to enlist in the Army and served his country for the next 3 years while stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Following his return to the States, George spent a few years as a Forest Service smokejumper before an injury led him to seek employment at a newly founded radio station in Kalispell. Ever since landing the gig as an announcer for KOFI radio in 1956, George has been a staple in Montana broadcasting. After rising up the ranks to eventually become co-owner of the station, George purchased the Kalispell Weekly News in 1974, which he grew into the most circulated weekly in Montana. He was also the host of a KCFW-TV program. George is the author of three books and writes a weekly column for the Hungry Horse News. He continues on-air in the Flathead with his own ``George Ostrum News & Comment,'' a key component of the KGEZ 600 AM Good Morning show. He has served on countless boards including the Red Cross, ALERT, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and, for more than 20 years, the University of Montana president's advisory council. Now known as the dean of Montana radio broadcasters, he has been inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Presently, George resides in Kalispell with his wife, Iris, and has 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He still finds time to go on weekly excursions with the ``Over-the-Hill Gang'' in Glacier National Park. I congratulate and thank George for his continued dedication to sharing his voice with his fellow Montanans.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up the following amendments to amendment No. 3399: Moran No. 3433, Udall No. 3414. I further ask consent that at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, the Senate vote in relation to the Moran and Udall amendments in the order listed and that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 25; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 6147.

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, this week I have the honor of recognizing Andy Henry of Prairie County for his impact on the Terry community while working at the Roy Rogers Saloon. Andy has spent the last 17 years of his life in Terry. After Andy graduated high school in Terry, his mom Amelia and her husband, John, bought the Roy Rogers Saloon. Following that, he began working at the Saloon. He has been working there since his family took it over, just under 6 years. Andy's work at the Saloon brings the community together. Whether it be a friend or an old elementary school teacher of his, folks from all over the community come together at the Saloon. He enjoys spending time with their regulars and making sure the experience at the Saloon is as pleasant as it can be. I congratulate Andy on his role in growing and contributing to the Roy Rogers Saloon. I look forward to seeing that success continue to grow and enjoying the hometown bar soon.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I live in a State--the State of Montana-- that has a northern border. ICE agents keep our border secure, and I want to thank them for the very important work they are doing. Far too many people are coming into our country illegally and putting the safety and security of American citizens at risk. In fact, in Montana, the effects of unsecured borders are very personal. All across our State, communities at this moment are torn apart by the meth and opioids that are trafficked through the southern border. In fact, just last year, ICE seized nearly 50 tons of narcotics, nearly a million pounds of heroin, fentanyl, and other deadly drugs that criminals and cartels are smuggling into our country. At a time when America is suffering from a drug epidemic, how many more lives would be lost if ICE agents were not protecting our borders? How many more innocent Americans would be harmed or murdered if we did not have ICE agents to arrest illegal immigrants with criminal convictions? These are the questions that those who call for the abolishment of ICE should be asking. It is outrageous. It is irresponsible to call for abolishing one of our country's most critical security measures. Abolishing ICE would give terrorists, gang members, drug dealers, and other criminals a field day. I stand for protecting American security. I stand for upholding the rule of law. That is why I stand with ICE.

Mr. DAINES. I object.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 572; 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 have 7 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Sharks''. 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 Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``the semiannual monetary policy report to the Congress''. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Environment and Public Works The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 9:45 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Reducing Healthcare Costs: Eliminating excess healthcare spending and improving quality of value for patients.'' Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 12 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, all postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 595 be considered expired at 2:25 p.m. and the Senate immediately vote on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that following disposition of the nomination, the Senate vote on cloture on the Oldham nomination.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Betsey Hedrick of Dawson County for her contribution to the community through Betsey's Badlands Catering. Betsey was born and raised in Bozeman. After graduating from high school, she attended culinary school in Portland, which led her to work at a local country club and eventually run a steakhouse back in Bozeman. She and her husband, Phil, moved to Glendive 14 years ago, had their son Sam, and shortly after, she opened Betsey's Badlands Catering. Fixing food has always been Betsey's passion. Her favorite part about cooking is not what she is cooking or who she is cooking for; it is the impact that food has on people. No matter people's backgrounds or history, food brings them together. She loves being a part of something that brings joy to people's lives, and that is why she continues to do it daily. I congratulate Betsey on her significant contributions to Glendive and the greater Dawson County. I look forward to seeing her business grow and trying some of her famous seasonal dishes soon.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Tom Labrie of Phillips County for his 18 years of serving his community as the head chef at the Great Northern Restaurant. Tom was born and raised in Malta. After graduating from Malta High School, Tom began working at the Great Northern Restaurant where he is a self-taught chef. He has since worked at the Great Northern Restaurant for 18 years, working his way up the line to head chef. He and his wife Anna have two kids and are active members of the Malta community. Tom's time at the restaurant stands out for two reasons: his hard work and his skills in the kitchen. Although he is the head chef, he does more than cook the food. Other employees and customers find him filling in wherever help is needed, including cashing out customers. While he is a self-taught chef, the food he creates makes the Great Northern Restaurant and Hotel stand out in Malta and the greater Phillips community. Tom is the secret ingredient to the success of the Great Northern Restaurant. The employees are grateful for his leadership and hard work as it keeps the restaurant running smoothly. Congratulations, Tom, on your successful career and impact on Malta's community. I look forward to my next stop at the Great Northern Restaurant to try your famous chicken fried steak.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I am very glad my Senate colleagues joined me in supporting the Senate farm bill, in fact, with a very strong vote of 86 to 11. This farm bill is good news for Montana farmers and for Montana ranchers, and it is going to help to provide certainty for Montana agriculture in these most difficult times because agriculture is Montana's No. 1 industry, and it supports tens of thousands of jobs in our State. Yet, with more than 25,000 family farms and ranches in Montana alone, it is clear that ag is more than just an economic driver in our State; it is very much a way of life. That is why, as Montana's Representative on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, I fought to ensure that this farm bill reflects the priorities that Montana farmers and Montana ranchers have shared directly with me. Some of these priorities are the crop insurance and the sugar program; ag research funding at Montana State University, as well as ag research stations all across Montana; and prioritizing rural broadband for Montana's underserved communities, as well as supporting and maintaining conservation programs that are important to our farmers, to our ranchers, and to our sportsmen. This farm bill is also critically important to the health of our national forests. Last year in Montana, catastrophic wildfires harmed numerous communities, and it cost our State millions of dollars. I am glad to have secured important forest reforms that are critical to healthy forests, to Montana timber jobs, and to wildlife habitat, such as encouraging the coordination among the Forest Service and State forestry agencies to restore our forests to reduce the risk of wildfire and allowing the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to enter into agreements with counties, as well as with States and Tribes, to implement forest management projects on national forests and public lands. Additionally, there is a provision that will support more innovation, as well as to develop new markets for Montana's timber industry. These are important wins, but I want to make something very clear that there is still so much more we can do to help improve the health of our forests and support Montana's farmers and ranchers. In fact, in Montana, as well as across the West, we are seeing extensive collaboration. Groups are collaborating--conservation groups, wildlife groups, wood products stakeholders, along with our counties--and they are working together to determine responsible forest management practices. These partners know very well that active management is critical to restoring a healthy forest and that it helps to reduce wildfire risks. It is important that we don't allow extremists to hinder this most important work because, today, it takes 18 to 24 months to do many of these environmental reviews. After that is done, many projects in Montana are litigated, and this can add years of delay. In fact, listen to this: There are 29 timber sales in Montana that are currently impacted by fringe litigation. Just today, we were informed that another timber project in Montana has been delayed by a restraining order because of litigation. That makes 30. This project was scheduled to start this coming Monday, July 2, and now those folks will be out of work. Reducing redtape and combating chronic litigation doesn't erode public trust. In fact, it safeguards it. It does so by ensuring that the public feedback of the majority isn't obstructed by a few extreme dissenters. This disastrous Ninth Circuit Cottonwood ruling must also be addressed because it imposed unnecessary paperwork that even the Obama administration has said had the ``potential to cripple'' Federal land management without conservation benefit. My amendments would address this excessive redtape while continuing to ensure that robust, science-driven environmental review and public engagement would remain. Many similar provisions are found in the House bill as well. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the inclusion of these amendments as we work together now, with the House, in a conference of the final farm bill. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the passage of H.R. 5895 and the adoption of amendment No. 2910 to H.R. 5895, previously agreed to amendments Nos. 2920 and 2999 be considered as having been agreed to following the adoption of amendment No. 3066 and that the instruction line for amendment No. 2920 be modified with the changes at the desk.