Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I am not sure if that is a direct question or a rhetorical question. Of course, Cory--the Senator from Colorado--they would be held accountable, and that is why we need to hold the Superfund sites. We need to hold sites, like what happened here with the mine in Colorado--hold the EPA accountable for that.

Mr. DAINES. We will work together on that. I yield back my time.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Jess Lockwood, a tough-as-nails cowboy from Volberg, MT. Earlier this week, Jess moved into the top spot of the professional bullriders world rankings. In the early stages of this bullriding season, Jess has shared his talent with rodeo fans across the Nation. From Sacramento to New York City, Jess has tackled the challenge of competing at the highest level and made Big Sky Country proud while doing it. Bullriding is a young person's sport, and that maxim is brought to life by this 19-year-old cowboy from the rolling hills of southeastern Montana. When asked about his success in the sport, Jess replied with graceful Montana simplicity: ``I just have to keep staying on my bulls and doing my job.'' In the world of bullriding and in life itself, Jess Lockwood's Montana wisdom rings true. Jess focuses on what needs to be accomplished and gets the job done. And he didn't arrive at his level of success by circumstance, coincidence, good fortune, or luck. His accomplishments are the fruit of efforts sown many years in advance and watered by a steady stream of hard work. In high school, these successful habits led Jess to three Montana High School rodeo State championships. Back home in Montana, we all hope that his string of success continues, and are confident he has what it takes to maintain his performance. Jess has confidence in his ability, too, and you need confidence if you are going to ride a nearly 2,000-pound bull. His clarity of purpose to rise to the top in his chosen field should be refreshing and rejuvenating to us all. Reflecting on his accomplishments, Jess expressed his approach this way, ``You just have to show up each weekend and expect yourself to win,'' and added ``If you are showing up each weekend, if you are not planning on winning, what is the point really?'' Prepare, show up, and do your best: that sounds like a Montana recipe for success.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in 2003, Congress mandated the Next Generation Air Transportation System known as NextGen, transitioning our radar-based system with radio communication to a satellite-based one, to increase safety and efficiency. NextGen deployment has been bogged with delays and cost overruns, highlighted by Government Accountability Office reports. Final implementation is to be completed by 2025. This legislation would simply create measurable annual performance goals and hold Federal officials accountable to meeting these goals through the remainder of implementation. I want to thank Senator Booker for being an original cosponsor of this bill, and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in 2003, Congress mandated the Next Generation Air Transportation System known as NextGen, transitioning our radar-based system with radio communication to a satellite-based one, to increase safety and efficiency. NextGen deployment has been bogged with delays and cost overruns, highlighted by Government Accountability Office reports. Final implementation is to be completed by 2025. This legislation would simply create measurable annual performance goals and hold Federal officials accountable to meeting these goals through the remainder of implementation. I want to thank Senator Booker for being an original cosponsor of this bill, and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation. 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 distinct honor of recognizing Ms. Ally Martin of Wheatland County, a tough ranch hand with a very bright future. This young lady has flat out excelled in her community. The superintendent of Harlowton Public Schools said of Ally, ``I have known Ally for her whole life and she has yet to disappoint me.'' Ally is the oldest of four siblings on a working sheep and cattle ranch not too far from the Musselshell River in central Montana. Anyone who knows the amount dedication and perseverance it takes to keep this type of family business running knows that Ally's achievements in sports, school, and 4-H are remarkable. Ally gets her grit from her family. Her parents would drive 25 miles to take Ally to her part-time job washing dishes and waiting tables at the Crazy Mountain Inn in Martinsdale. From 2013-2015, Ally was recognized as the Wheatland County 4-H ``Grand Champion'' for her sheep project. Ally meticulously cross-bred Suffolk sheep into her family's Targhee flock, making noticeable gains to weaning weight. Some of her 4-H peers even started using her lambs in 4-H as well. Ally has been able to shoulder the demands of the ranch while ranking first in her class academically, earning all-State athletic honors in basketball and track, and participating in student government. Ally commits to whatever she sets her mind to, from ranching to school to sports. Ally broke new ground as the first person from Harlowton High School appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The number of cadets at West Point will be nearly double the population of Wheatland County. Ally won't flinch at this. She is not one to seek out comfort, make excuses, or look for shortcuts. She will do what she has always done--wake up when almost everyone else is still sleeping, focus on the tasks at hand, and simply get the job done. Her exemplary hardwork and leadership will serve our Nation well in the military. Good luck, and Godspeed, Ally; the people of Montana support you.

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, in recent years we have seen the inability of the Federal Government to quickly adapt to changing technology and emerging threats. In June of 2015 the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, was infiltrated with a major cyber breach, affecting more than 22 million current and former Federal employees, including myself. In January of 2016, another nearly half a million Americans had their social security numbers stolen when the Internal Revenue Service was hacked. I spent 28 years in the private sector, 12 years with a global cloud computing company. We faced cyber threats daily, and our customers expected security of their data. We delivered, not once was our data compromised. Until I came to the Federal Government and received the letters from OPM, my data had been secured too. I know firsthand that industry has the talent and incentive to keep their information systems secure. The Federal Government should continue to innovate and utilize industries' expertise and learn from their best practices. That is why I am introducing the Support for Rapid Innovation Act. This legislation will extend the authorization for the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out innovative research and development projects that will enhance our Nation's cyber security. It will focus efforts on developing more secure information systems, technologies for detecting and containing attacks in real-time, and develop cyber forensics to identify perpetrators. This will be done by leveraging private sectors' innovation and ingenuity. I want to thank Senator Warner for being an original cosponsor of this bill and Representative Ratcliffe of Texas for leading introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in recent years we have seen the inability of the Federal Government to quickly adapt to changing technology and emerging threats. In June of 2015 the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, was infiltrated with a major cyber breach, affecting more than 22 million current and former Federal employees, including myself. In January of 2016, another nearly half a million Americans had their social security numbers stolen when the Internal Revenue Service was hacked. I spent 28 years in the private sector, 12 years with a global cloud computing company. We faced cyber threats daily, and our customers expected security of their data. We delivered, not once was our data compromised. Until I came to the Federal Government and received the letters from OPM, my data had been secured too. I know firsthand that industry has the talent and incentive to keep their information systems secure. The Federal Government should continue to innovate and utilize industries' expertise and learn from their best practices. That is why I am introducing the Support for Rapid Innovation Act. This legislation will extend the authorization for the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out innovative research and development projects that will enhance our Nation's cyber security. It will focus efforts on developing more secure information systems, technologies for detecting and containing attacks in real-time, and develop cyber forensics to identify perpetrators. This will be done by leveraging private sectors' innovation and ingenuity. I want to thank Senator Warner for being an original cosponsor of this bill and Representative Ratcliffe of Texas for leading introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

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, as an engineer who worked at a cloud computing company for 13 years, I have seen firsthand how technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Innovative products and services have made it easier than ever to learn, communicate, and to share our data with others. Personal data has become a form of currency, and the sharing of personal information may compromise privacy if appropriate protective action is not taken. That is why I am proud to recognize January 28, 2017; as National Data Privacy Day. Each year, our Nation recognizes this day as an opportunity for private organizations, governments, and individuals to work together to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices. I am pleased to recognize this day and am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure the privacy of individuals is protected. S. Res. 29 Whereas, on January 28, 2017, National Data Privacy Day is recognized; Whereas technology has enhanced our ability to communicate, learn, and work and is now a part of our everyday lives; Whereas personal information has become a form of currency; Whereas it is easier now than ever before to share personal information with friends, colleagues, and companies; Whereas the sharing of personal information may compromise the privacy of individuals if appropriate protective action is not taken; Whereas governments, corporations, and individuals have a role in protecting the privacy of individuals; and Whereas National Data Privacy Day constitutes a nationwide effort to educate and raise awareness about respecting privacy and safeguarding data: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes January 28, 2017, as ``National Data Privacy Day''; and (2) encourages governments, individuals, privacy professionals, educators, corporations, and other relevant organizations to take steps to protect the privacy of individuals.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools from kindergarten through college, husband to an elementary school teacher, and father of four children, I understand how important a first rate education is to our kids' future. That is why I am reintroducing the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success, or A-PLUS, Act this Congress. This measure will help expand local control of our schools and return Federal education dollars where they belong: closer to the classrooms. By shifting control back to the States, individual and effective solutions can be created to address the multitude of unique challenges facing schools across the country. Through these ``laboratories of democracy,'' Americans can watch and learn how students can benefit when innovative reforms are implemented on the local level. This bill would give states greater flexibility in allocating federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement in their schools. With A-PLUS, States would be freed from Washington- knows-best performance metrics and failed testing requirements. Should this legislation be adopted, states would need to adhere to all civil rights laws and work towards advancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children as well. States would be held accountable by parents and teachers because a bright light would shine directly on the decisions made by State capitals and local school districts. With freedom from Federal mandates comes more responsibility, transparency, and accountability on States. It would also reduce the administrative and compliance burdens on state and local education agencies, and ensure greater public transparency in student academic achievement and the use of federal education funds. Increasing educational opportunity in Montana and across the country isn't going happen through federal mandates or one-size-fits-none regulations. We need to empower our States, our local school boards, our teachers, and parents to work together to develop solutions that best fit our kids' unique needs. That is precisely what my A-PLUS Act does. Washington is the problem-- and we have the solutions in Montana and in states across the country. The A-PLUS Act goes a long ways towards returning the responsibility for our kids' education closer to home and reduces the influence of the Federal Government over our classrooms. I want to thank Senators Cruz, Perdue, Johnson, Lee, and Rubio for helping reintroduce the A-PLUS Act this Congress. I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in empowering our schools to serve their students, not DC bureaucrats, and support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, small businesses are the backbone of America. They generate more than half of the country's private GDP and support millions of families. In Montana, small businesses are innovating, offering new products and services, and creating jobs. The business community relies on the Internet to access the global marketplace. In rural states like Montana where it is costly to provide internet access, consumers and businesses depend on small businesses to provide connectivity. Without small broadband providers, many Montanans would not have the internet access that most of us take for granted. Burdensome regulations like the FCC's net neutrality rules are strangling our small businesses and preventing growth and investment. The enhanced transparency requirements in particular require small businesses to disclose an excess amount of information including network packet loss, network performance by geographic area, network performance during peak usage, network practices concerning a particular group of users, triggers that activate network practices, and the list goes on. Small companies operate with a small team of employees and do not have a team of attorneys dedicated to regulatory compliance. Small businesses simply do not have the bandwidth to take on additional regulatory burdens. That is why I am proud to introduce the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2017 with my colleague Senator Manchin. The bill provides a temporary small business exception to the net neutrality enhanced transparency requirements. There is broad support in the record for this exception, including support from the American Cable Association, Rural Wireless Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, CTIA--The Wireless Association, Rural Broadband Provider Coalition, WTA-- Advocates for Rural Broadband. Providing relief from burdensome disclosure rules will allow small businesses to focus on deploying infrastructure and serving their customers rather than spending time on regulatory compliance. I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this much needed legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools from kindergarten through college, husband to an elementary school teacher, and father of four children, I understand how important a first rate education is to our kids' future. That is why I am reintroducing the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success, or A-PLUS, Act this Congress. This measure will help expand local control of our schools and return Federal education dollars where they belong: closer to the classrooms. By shifting control back to the States, individual and effective solutions can be created to address the multitude of unique challenges facing schools across the country. Through these ``laboratories of democracy,'' Americans can watch and learn how students can benefit when innovative reforms are implemented on the local level. This bill would give states greater flexibility in allocating federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement in their schools. With A-PLUS, States would be freed from Washington- knows-best performance metrics and failed testing requirements. Should this legislation be adopted, states would need to adhere to all civil rights laws and work towards advancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children as well. States would be held accountable by parents and teachers because a bright light would shine directly on the decisions made by State capitals and local school districts. With freedom from Federal mandates comes more responsibility, transparency, and accountability on States. It would also reduce the administrative and compliance burdens on state and local education agencies, and ensure greater public transparency in student academic achievement and the use of federal education funds. Increasing educational opportunity in Montana and across the country isn't going happen through federal mandates or one-size-fits-none regulations. We need to empower our States, our local school boards, our teachers, and parents to work together to develop solutions that best fit our kids' unique needs. That is precisely what my A-PLUS Act does. Washington is the problem-- and we have the solutions in Montana and in states across the country. The A-PLUS Act goes a long ways towards returning the responsibility for our kids' education closer to home and reduces the influence of the Federal Government over our classrooms. I want to thank Senators Cruz, Perdue, Johnson, Lee, and Rubio for helping reintroduce the A-PLUS Act this Congress. I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in empowering our schools to serve their students, not DC bureaucrats, and support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, small businesses are the backbone of America. They generate more than half of the country's private GDP and support millions of families. In Montana, small businesses are innovating, offering new products and services, and creating jobs. The business community relies on the Internet to access the global marketplace. In rural states like Montana where it is costly to provide internet access, consumers and businesses depend on small businesses to provide connectivity. Without small broadband providers, many Montanans would not have the internet access that most of us take for granted. Burdensome regulations like the FCC's net neutrality rules are strangling our small businesses and preventing growth and investment. The enhanced transparency requirements in particular require small businesses to disclose an excess amount of information including network packet loss, network performance by geographic area, network performance during peak usage, network practices concerning a particular group of users, triggers that activate network practices, and the list goes on. Small companies operate with a small team of employees and do not have a team of attorneys dedicated to regulatory compliance. Small businesses simply do not have the bandwidth to take on additional regulatory burdens. That is why I am proud to introduce the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2017 with my colleague Senator Manchin. The bill provides a temporary small business exception to the net neutrality enhanced transparency requirements. There is broad support in the record for this exception, including support from the American Cable Association, Rural Wireless Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, CTIA--The Wireless Association, Rural Broadband Provider Coalition, WTA-- Advocates for Rural Broadband. Providing relief from burdensome disclosure rules will allow small businesses to focus on deploying infrastructure and serving their customers rather than spending time on regulatory compliance. I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this much needed legislation. 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 distinct honor of recognizing Mrs. Belle Wendelburg for her continued work in serving her community all the way to the age of 95. Belle retired from Dahl Memorial Nursing Home in Ekalaka, MT, in July of 2016 after working there for more than 20 years. She loved the residents and enjoyed the opportunity to work and serve others. Belle was born on May 3, 1921, on a family homestead near Westmore, MT. She was the youngest of three children. Growing up around Westmore, Belle attended Spring Hill Grade School where she had to ride a horse 7 miles to get to school. Belle enrolled in the ``Green Thumb'' program, a government work program, and then began working in activities for Dahl Memorial Nursing Home. While her primary job was to work in activities, Belle wasn't afraid to work wherever she was needed. She helped make meals, set up for meals, wash dishes, read to residents, and work with Alzheimer's patients. She continued to work at the nursing home even after she was diagnosed with cancer. Her family reports that she is still as fit as ever and can probably outrun most people much younger than she. Belle also worked every Christmas at the home, ensuring the residents got the presents they were supposed to get and helping them write thank you letters for the gifts. She was involved with the spiritual health of the residents by reading devotionals to them. Belle worked at the home every Sunday when extra staff were needed to help residents attend chapel services. Through her giving spirit, she provides residents encouragement and inspiration every day. To her coworkers, she is also an inspiration. The nursing home CEO, Nadene Elmore says, ``Whenever I see Belle, I tell her I want to be just like her when I grow up.'' Belle entertains staff at lunches with stories and endless knowledge of the community's history. Throughout the past 20 years, Belle has remained faithful in her love for her home and the eastern Montana prairie. I want to express my deep gratitude to Mrs. Belle Wendelburg for her dedication and service to her community, Montana, and our country.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in 2005, the Federal Government enacted the REAL ID Act, imposing Federal standards established by the Department of Homeland Security to the process and production of the issuance of States' driver's licenses and identification cards. This law was an underfunded, top down, Federal mandate, infringing on personal privacy, increasing the personal information susceptible to cyber-attacks, and undermining State sovereignty. Furthermore, a REAL ID compliant State ID will be required for all ``official federal purposes,'' including boarding commercial aircraft, impeding the movement of American citizens. Montana led opposition to this Federal mandate. In 2007, Montana enacted a law, after both chambers of the State legislature unanimously passing legislation, refusing to comply. That is why I am reintroducing the Repeal ID Act--to allow Montana and other States to implement their laws, protecting their sovereignty and citizens' information. Consistent with the Montana State legislature, this legislation will repeal the REAL ID Act of 2005. Montanans are fully aware of the power that big data holds and the consequences when that data is abused. Montana has shown how States are best equipped to make licenses secure, without sacrificing the privacy and rights of their citizens. The Repeal ID Act will allow us to strike a balance that protects our national security, while also safeguarding Montanans' civil liberties and personal privacy. I want to thank Senators Paul and Tester for being original cosponsors of this bill and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

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 distinct honor of recognizing Mack Cole of Treasure County, a third generation Montanan and dedicated public servant. Next month, Mr. Cole will celebrate 55 years of marriage with his wife, Judy. Mack and Judy Cole were married in February 10, 1962, in the town of Hysham, one of the many beautiful small communities in the quiet and peaceful high plains of eastern Montana. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cole spent 2 years in South America, providing much needed services while working for the Food for Peace Program in Brazil. Mr. Cole's experience in South America would serve as a trailhead for a lifelong journey of civic minded virtue and dedication on behalf of his fellow citizens. In the late 1970s, Mr. and Mrs. Cole moved down the road, west on I- 90 to Billings, MT, and they continued to build upon their honorable records of public service. During this chapter of his life, Mr. Cole worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in multiple western States and was involved in a wide variety of programs, including the development of irrigation projects. His work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs took him to Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. After retiring from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1993, the Coles moved back to the family ranch outside of Hysham. Mr. Cole continued his distinguished record of public service by representing the people of Treasure County in the Montana Legislature, retiring from the State senate in 2003. During his time in legislature and even after retirement from public life, Mr. Cole has always been a steadfast supporter of responsible energy development, a critical component for the livelihood of many of his friends and neighbors. His humble efforts to help provide food to the hungry, keep water flowing to farms and ranches ensuring energy was always ready at the flip of a switch make him a great Montanan. It is hard to find a better example of a fellow Montanan that is always ready to offer a helping hand. I want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Cole for his dedication and service to Montana and our country.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in 2005, the Federal Government enacted the REAL ID Act, imposing Federal standards established by the Department of Homeland Security to the process and production of the issuance of States' driver's licenses and identification cards. This law was an underfunded, top down, Federal mandate, infringing on personal privacy, increasing the personal information susceptible to cyber-attacks, and undermining State sovereignty. Furthermore, a REAL ID compliant State ID will be required for all ``official federal purposes,'' including boarding commercial aircraft, impeding the movement of American citizens. Montana led opposition to this Federal mandate. In 2007, Montana enacted a law, after both chambers of the State legislature unanimously passing legislation, refusing to comply. That is why I am reintroducing the Repeal ID Act--to allow Montana and other States to implement their laws, protecting their sovereignty and citizens' information. Consistent with the Montana State legislature, this legislation will repeal the REAL ID Act of 2005. Montanans are fully aware of the power that big data holds and the consequences when that data is abused. Montana has shown how States are best equipped to make licenses secure, without sacrificing the privacy and rights of their citizens. The Repeal ID Act will allow us to strike a balance that protects our national security, while also safeguarding Montanans' civil liberties and personal privacy. I want to thank Senators Paul and Tester for being original cosponsors of this bill and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation. 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, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today is the day when we will begin to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Repealing and replacing this disastrous law is one of the top jobs that citizens elected us to get done. In many ways, it is why Donald J. Trump will be sworn in next week as the 45th President of the United States. I think what is most helpful is to recap why repealing ObamaCare is so important to so many American families. Montanans were promised that with this bill you could keep the health plans that you liked. That was wrong and millions of Americans lost their plans. Montanans were assured that coverage under ObamaCare would be affordable. For millions of Americans, for thousands of Montanans, nothing could be further from the truth. Montanans were guaranteed that ObamaCare would lower health care costs. We witnessed premiums skyrocket since ObamaCare's implementation. Finally, Montanans were assured that ObamaCare would create more competition in the marketplace, but now Americans in one-third--one- third--of the counties across our entire country have but one plan to choose from. Let's not forget, supporters of ObamaCare paid for these failed programs by raiding Medicare of over $700 billion. Seniors and people with disabilities in Montana and across our country deserve much better. Over the past several years, I have heard from countless Montanans about how ObamaCare has failed them. Take, for example, Terry from Choteau, MT, who wrote: We just got a letter from Pacific Source that our premium is going up $260 per month and our deductible is going up to $1000. This is $1025 per month and a $7500 deductible for 2 healthy adults [with] (no preexisting conditions). For a ranch family this is a huge hit, especially in these times with low commodity prices. Something needs to change. Jeff from Kalispell, MT, said this: I am married with 5 children. I live in Kalispell. I bought Blue Cross Blue Shield of MT PPO Gold insurance plan #104 for the 2016 year. My premium was $1,477.28 per month. In early November 2016 [2 months ago] I received notice that my same plan would increase to $2,820.00 per month. That is a 91% increase. . . . If keeping the same rate hikes, my insurance will be $5,500 in 2018, then $10,000 per month in 2019. That was from Jeff in Kalispell, MT. I have Anthony from Bozeman. That is my hometown. I went to college in Bozeman. A fellow Bozemanite writes this to me. He says: I have never been able to afford Obamacare insurance. With quotes of over $400 a month for a single healthy male I found it easier to pay the penalty. So now not only can I not afford to have medical insurance but I am getting fined for not making enough money to pay all of my bills and give a 20% tithe to the medical insurance industry. Here is another Bozemanite, Kenneth. He writes this: For 2014 we had med insurance from Pacific Source for my wife which was adequate and filled our needs. For 2015 Pacific Source canceled that policy, citing Obamacare rules, and best alternative was 150 percent more expensive. We did it for 6 months and then canceled; it just took too much from our budget. The IRS fined us $584 for missing insurance for 6 months. We are doing without coverage for 2016 again because of the outrageous costs for this high- deductible policy. Our IRS fine will probably be about $1500. The list and the heartfelt stories go on. They all share one common theme: ObamaCare is not working. This ObamaCare hardship did not just impact Terry, Jeff, Anthony or Kenneth. Montanans, on average, face premium increases between 27 and 58 percent just this last year. This is year-over-year numbers. Last evening, I had a telephone tele-townhall meeting where thousands of Montanans joined me, thousands across the entire State. Every corner of our State was on the call last night. I asked a simple question. I asked: How many of you would want to repeal ObamaCare? An overwhelming 82 percent said they support the repeal of ObamaCare. The reason why is quite simple. They did not get what was promised to them on this very floor of this Chamber back in 2010. ObamaCare is failing because it is a massive intrusion by the Federal Government. It is centered on raising taxes, huge spending increases, and heavy regulations from Washington, DC. It is straight from the Big Government, Washington-knows-best playbook, and that is what happens when Congress doesn't listen to the American people. You know, Montanans have very good horse sense. They know when somebody from Washington, DC, shows up and says: We have this 2,700- page bill from Washington, DC, led by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama--Montanans know better. They know they should run for cover. And that is exactly what ObamaCare is and what is happening now to the American people. ObamaCare can't be tweaked. It has to be repealed. It needs to be replaced with better reforms. And we need to make sure that we do as much as we can as soon as we can so folks aren't having to deal with ObamaCare for much longer. People are hurting. It is time to replace it. I urge my Democratic colleagues to work with us. Don't use scare tactics. Unlike 2009, we are focused on a path forward that conveys practical benefits, not hopeless ideology. I ask them to accept the reality that ObamaCare is irreversibly flawed, it must be repealed, and it must be replaced with effective policies. I know there are comments out there about a plan and what is next. Well, for me, it is not that complicated. It is getting the costs down. You have heard the stories. The American people are asking for relief. For the generation of Americans just now entering the workforce--and that would be my kids; they are just entering the workforce--health care costs have increased by 77 percent. This is outrageous. It is unacceptable. These are supposed to be the easiest people to insure, yet ObamaCare seems intent on placing health care out of their reach. I believe there are policies that are fundamental to any health care system, and it will be working and fighting for provisions that provide access to affordable insurance, that protect people with preexisting conditions, that allow young adults to stay on their parents' coverage until age 26, that return decisionmaking authority back to the States, that will eliminate these harmful Washington regulations and mandates, that will empower the American people with greater access to health savings accounts. That was part of the health care system that was actually working pre-ObamaCare, and ObamaCare moved in and slashed health care savings accounts. We need to make it easier to purchase health insurance across State lines, encourage and incentivize work among able-bodied Americans, and uphold fiscal responsibility by preserving and protecting Medicare for our seniors. I very much look forward to working with the nominee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Tom Price. I served with Dr. Price in the House. There is not a better leader at this point in time in our Nation's history to assume the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services. He is a doctor, has served in Congress, and will be able and ready to lead from day one. We will work together to find the best solutions, Montana solutions, solutions that work for our respective States, for people like Terry, for Jeff, for Anthony, for Kenneth, and for the thousands of other Montanans who have been harmed by this law. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DAINES

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