Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. This is a moment in which I am just bringing the frustration and the fear that I hear in the voices of Montanans who are asking: What in the world is going on back in Washington, DC? We have a package. As you can see, what happened today in the markets around the world is that there was optimism. Why? Because we have something here that is going to be a rescue. First, they called it a stimulus. Then they called it a recovery package. I think this is called a rescue package. We are into a rescue here--rescuing this economy and rescuing the jobs of these small business owners. We could spend the next 30 to 40 minutes going through, in detail, all of the things that are in this bill that are going to help working people in this country and small businesses. In the meantime, Senator Graham, I agree with you. If we can't get this passed, every Member of Congress should start donating his pay to a charity that is currently on the frontline of dealing with the coronavirus and COVID-19.

Mr. DAINES. It more than doubles what they would otherwise receive in the State of Montana in unemployment benefits. By the way, this unemployment insurance backstop that is part of this rescue package is not what Montanans are after. They want their jobs.

Mr. DAINES. So their first choice is, Would you please help me keep my job. For whatever reason, if we can't do that, there will be the unemployment insurance. I will tell you that Montanans don't want a handout, but it is there if they need it because it is really a hand- up--a bridge--until we get this economy back on its regular course.

Mr. DAINES. There has been plenty of time to negotiate, Senator Graham. There have been good faith negotiations on both sides, and there has been shuttle diplomacy going on between both sides. There has been a lot of give and get. We are at a point now at which we need to vote, and we should be voting tonight. Regarding that $10 billion that is in this bill, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about how we get out of this war.

Mr. DAINES. How do you win this war?

Mr. DAINES. When you step back for a moment and think about the basics--of the panic and fear that the American people have with regard to this economy--the panic and the fear will not stop until the pandemic stops, and the pandemic will not stop until these great drugs start. Here is what we are thinking about, and I want to give a reason for great hope and optimism as to how we are going to get over this great hurdle that we face in our Nation today. We have some amazing vaccines in development as we speak. In fact, they started a trial in Seattle a week ago on Monday. They vaccinated 45 adults aged 18 to 55. They are getting the initial results. They will be looking at the safety as well as the efficacy--how well does it work?--over the course of several weeks. We have some other amazing, miracle drugs. They are called monoclonal antibodies. That is the technical term for them. When you take that drug, it provides protection against the coronavirus so that you don't even get the COVID-19 disease. Here is the challenge, Senator Graham. We have to be operating on parallel paths right now to make sure we have those drugs available to the American people in a widespread fashion before the next flu season hits this fall. We are seeing reports right now from Singapore and Hong Kong, and there are some reinfections going on. That should put us on notice. Assuming our containment strategy works and that we bend this curve, as we have talked about, so that we look more like South Korea than Italy--we pray for that and hope for that and are working to that end-- the challenge will be our not having enough immunity in our society coming up this fall. That will leave us vulnerable to a second wave of this virus. The solution--the way we win this war--is to start manufacturing some of these drugs earlier, in parallel with the testing that is going on, so that, by the time the fall hits, we will have it available for the American people. That is in this bill. Listen, every hour that goes by in which we don't pass this bill is an hour that is lost in this fight. We see what is going on. If you look at the World Health Organization's numbers--we are calculating them on a daily basis and sometimes on an hourly basis--every hour matters right now, and every day matters. We have now lost 2 days this week. It has been incredible. Lindsey, it is Wednesday tomorrow. It is time to vote. This Chamber is empty. Senator Graham, let's get this Chamber full of Senators, and let's have an up-or-down vote. Let's get it done.

Mr. DAINES. Senator Graham, thank you, and we will conclude here. This is a moment in our history as a nation. Truly, we have got to come together. The American people are asking us to come together. Senator Graham, I thought for certain we would have a vote today, and here we are, approaching 8:30 p.m., and no sign of a vote. We are going to lose another day while the unemployment claims are rising and people are getting sicker. There is help on the way with this historic package. It is time to forget who is a Republican and who is a Democrat. The question is--these are 100 Americans serving the U.S. Senate. It is time to rise above the current fracas and vote.

Mr. DAINES. Steve Luebeck.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I can give you a very long list to describe everything we are doing here to help small business people in this country, our hospitals, personal protective equipment. Let me say this. This bill was written by both Democrats and Republicans in good faith. It is time to get over our differences and put our country before ourselves. Let's come together and vote this bill out of the Senate now.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, the health and livelihoods of the American people are at risk; they are in danger. We cannot afford to keep squabbling and arguing in the U.S. Senate. Time is not on our side. Each day matters. In fact, every hour matters. As we look at the stats coming in terms of those who have been infected with COVID-19, it is literally hour by hour. This is a logarithmic kind of scale. This is a doubling-every-day kind of scale that is going on. Hours matter; minutes matter. Like many of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate, I have been talking to Montanans around the clock to get their feedback--hospital leaders, ag groups, Tribal leaders, small business leaders, construction workers. We are in a public health and an economic crisis. I have not sensed fear like this from the American people anytime in my life. I remember 9/11. I remember the crisis of 2008. I remember the 1987 crash. Those pale in comparison to what we are seeing today at this very moment in our country. This is a time that we need to come together. This is a time we must get this done for the good of our country. Neither side is going to be happy with the final product. That is part of negotiations. It is give, and it is get. The Senate bill before us provides relief for workers, for families, for small businesses, and for healthcare professionals. I have heard some things said today on the U.S. Senate that are flatout not true. Let me set some of the facts straight--what this bill before us does do. It provides $250 billion of unemployment insurance for those who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus outbreak-- $250 billion. What that means in Montana is $600 a week. That is twice as big as what is currently paid per week. It is $4 billion for masks, for gowns, for gloves, ventilators. It is the PPE discussion I just had a couple of hours ago with some of my hospital leaders and doctors and medical leaders across Montana. They are scared. There is a shortage of PPE. This bill provides $4 billion to CDC to address that. I will tell you what: By dinking around here over this today, we lost another day when we could be moving forward to get it in the hands of our healthcare professionals. It provides $350 billion to allow our small businesses survive and rebound. We have had some very healthy, prosperous, good small businesses employ a lot of people in Montana. These are good jobs. Now they are not just worried about liquidity; they are worried about insolvency. These are ranchers. These are restaurant owners. It provides $10.5 billion for drug development to treat and prevent the virus. Listen, we will not stop the panic we see right now in our country until we stop the pandemic. We will not stop this pandemic until we have drugs available for the American people that will provide immunity to them. There is great hope on the horizon. There are amazing vaccines. There are amazing monoclonal antibodies through incredible ingenuity and innovation that we can provide to the American people before the second wave hits this fall. You talk to the doctors, our best leaders at NIH, at the FDA, at the CDC; they are telling us there is probably a second wave pandemic coming in the fall of 2020 if we don't act now because, as is true with most of the world, we don't have the immune systems here to combat this virus--this coronavirus--that produces COVID-19. You either get the immunity from catching the disease or getting a vaccine or these other drugs that can provide the antibodies. There is good news on the horizon. What did we do in this bill? We are going to allow the acceleration of manufacturing so we can get this into a widespread distribution for the American people to protect them in the next flu season when most scientists believe we will probably get hit with this again. We just lost another day here in the U.S. Senate. Every day matters. We have vaccine trials going on, as we speak, in Seattle. They started on Monday. There are 45 individuals who received a vaccine that we believe can protect you from the coronavirus. Can you imagine the good news for the American people if we found out we have a vaccine that will protect us; we have a drug that will protect us; we have therapeutics that will help us if we contract the coronavirus. We just lost another day that could be a day we could have been closer to getting that into the hands of the American people. We are in a race for time. We are now into the end of March. We have to get this available by September to the American people. This is literally an all-of-government, Manhattan Project kind of approach. And we just lost another day here because we couldn't get this passed in the U.S. Senate. This also provides $75 billion for our hospitals and our healthcare providers. Those are the men and women on the frontlines right now, saving lives. God bless them--$75 billion for them. If you heard the Democrats talk about this bill, you would think there is nothing here for the average, hard-working person in this country. That is absolutely false, and we can lay it all out. There are parts of the bill that I don't like. There are parts of this bill that I would change. But we have to be satisfied now with a good 80 for 20 because speed matters. It matters to get something done. The American people are looking here. The dysfunction in Washington they don't understand. Frankly, I don't either. This bill before us was written by Republicans and Democrats. I will tell you why I know that--because I was part of helping negotiate to get $10 billion for this acceleration of vaccines and drug program. I went in this weekend. We were sitting, looking at spreadsheets that said here is the Republican ask; here is the Democrat ask. There are spreadsheets. We can show them to you. We were going back and forth in a bipartisan way to try to craft a bill that we could pass in the Senate last night. In fact, the American people are watching, both sides, in this ping pong match where one side says one thing, and the other side says the other. Sometimes I look to people like Susan Collins and Lamar Alexander at moments like this. I think few Americans, few Senators, would claim that either Lamar or Susan are hyperpartisan Senators. They have a pretty good temperature of the Senate. They have a good sense of finding ways to make things work. When you hear Senator Susan Collins outraged at what happened when Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi basically put the brakes on the discussions, we lost another day--maybe two--by demanding that this bill include an ideological wish list. Susan Collins is outraged. Lamar Alexander was shocked. Let me tell you something: When Susan Collins is outraged and Lamar Alexander is shocked about what is going on around here, that tells you something. You can discount what I am saying here--and many Republican Senators and Democratic Senators--but those two Senators are viewed as some of the most bipartisan Senators here, and when they are outraged and shocked, that tells you what is going on in terms of one of the low levels of partisanship we have achieved in the U.S. Senate over the course of the last couple of days. This obstruction will create a devastating impact on American workers, on families, and small businesses. They are pushing for things that have nothing to do with the public health and economic crisis we are facing today. The issues they are pushing have nothing to do with overcoming this pandemic. In a global pandemic, some have tossed aside bipartisanship to push for airline emissions standards. I was told there is no such thing as a House bill. That is false. Here is Nancy Pelosi's House bill. She is part of the discussions. Why? Because we need something that can pass the Senate quickly now and then go to the House even more quickly. Let me tell the American people something else. The House is not here this week. I was just speaking with a Montanan on the phone off the floor of the Senate a few minutes ago. I was describing what is going on. He was despondent, by the way, fearing both the pandemic and also the economic panic because he is losing his business. I said: Do you realize the U.S. House is not even in town right now? He said: I didn't know that. They are not. They left town last week. They are not here. At a moment when the country needs us, the House left town. They are not here as we speak. I think that has been lost in the discussion. We can debate some of their ideological requests another time down the road. I mean, here is one from Pelosi's bill: the full offset of domestic airline emissions by 2025 for airlines that need assistance. This is section 1 of the Pelosi bill. It is right here. We can have a debate another time whether they should have part of this New Green Deal to offset emissions. Now is not the time for that debate. Now is the time to save the American people both economically and with their health. We need to get our priorities straight. That means putting the American people first. This is not a stimulus package. That is the wrong name for it. This is not a recovery package. That is the wrong name for it. This is a rescue package. What we are debating right now is a rescue package. We must come together on both sides. The coronavirus is not partisan. It crosses party lines. It crosses country boundaries. This is a global challenge on the shores of our country. It was time for both sides to come together and vote this bill out of the Senate yesterday, but that didn't happen. The next best time is today. I urge my colleagues on both sides to set aside the perfect and move forward with this to restore the confidence of the American people for their health and their economic well-being.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Senator Cassidy, thank you--Dr. Cassidy. It is a really good thing to have a physician serving on the floor of the U.S. Senate and your additional insight you have as a physician. Thank you. Madam President, I am grateful for not only Senator Cassidy's leadership but also Senator Grassley's on this very important issue impacting millions of Montanans and Americans across our country. I also want to thank my colleagues who spoke on this issue earlier today. When I am back home in Montana, I hear the same concerns in virtually every corner of our State. Whether I am down in southeast Montana, in places like Ekalaka or Baker; or up in northeast Montana, in places like Westby and in places like Sidney and Plentywood; and if we go out to the northwest part of our State, to places like Eureka, Libby; or in southwest Montana, where I am from, in Bozeman, Belgrade, or anywhere you go, I am hearing that Montanans are concerned with the high cost of prescription drugs. That is why I have made it one of my top priorities in Congress and on the Senate Finance Committee to lower prescription drug costs for Montanans and for folks across the country. Year after year, prescription drug out-of-pocket costs are reaching sky-high levels. They are impacting our seniors, our veterans, our families, and our working men and women. It is truly heart-wrenching to hear the stories of folks who are rationing or even skipping doses of daily medications because they can't afford the out-of-pocket costs. The American people are struggling under the burden of these out-of- control, high costs of prescription drugs, and they need relief. That is why I am grateful to be working with Chairman Grassley on the Finance Committee and my colleagues here today in a bipartisan fashion to lower costs, improve competition, and get our patients more bang for the buck. The complex drug pricing system has allowed Big Pharma and these pharmacy benefit managers--you may have seen the chart that Senator Cassidy just laid out showing some of these complexities. These pharmacy benefit managers are the middle men responsible for negotiating drug prices, but in doing so, they take advantage of the secrecy of the pricing supply chain. The bipartisan reforms we are fighting for and advocating for today would help fix the secrecy and save taxpayers more than $80 billion. These reforms will cap out-of-pocket costs in Medicare, providing our seniors with enhanced financial security. One of the great sources of anxiety for our seniors is financial security. When you think about it, their financial situation could be devastated with the out-of-pocket costs for a single prescription drug. Our efforts would reform the payment incentives and ensure that Big Pharma and the pharmacy benefit managers have more skin in this game. These reforms are the product of over 1 year of bipartisan negotiations. Although this may not be what you hear on the news, bipartisan compromise is not dead. I am pleased to see my colleagues putting politics aside and doing what is right for this country. Lowering costs is more than just figures and numbers and spreadsheets. This is about keeping our families healthy without having to worry about how much it is going to cost or if they can even afford it. This is about getting relief for the retiree who has worked and saved their entire life only to see the dollars they earned go down the drain because of the high cost of prescription drugs. President Trump is ready to sign prescription drug reform. He is committed to getting this done on behalf of the American people. He hears it when he travels around the country. With strong support from this administration, I am confident we can achieve some major reforms for the American people. Montanans and Americans across the country want to see reform, and that is why I am standing here today, fighting for it. Let's move past the congressional gridlock and get this done. We had a good, strong, bipartisan vote out of the Senate Finance Committee, which will allow us to take a vote here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Truly, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can deliver a historic victory for the American people, and I will continue working to get this bill on President Trump's desk. I yield the floor.

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 ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. DAINES. I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 10; 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 S. 2657; finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:10 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

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, this week I have the honor of recognizing Jerry Ronning, of Ronning Auto, Truck and Tractor in Carbon County for winning business of the year at the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce Awards. Jerry was nominated for the award because of his commitment to the community and the excellent services he provides for locals and tourists in the Red Lodge area. Red Lodge Assistant Police Chief Scott Cope nominated Jerry saying, ``Whatever the time of day or the time of year they go all out to help the community. They routinely drop everything to help trapped motorists on the Beartooth Pass. They embody the definition of small town, hometown pride.'' Assistant Police Chief Cope's words describe exactly why the folks of Red Lodge are proud of Jerry and Ronning Auto, Truck and Tractor. It is my honor to recognize Jerry for earning the Business of the Year Award, and I, along with all of the folks of Red Lodge, are grateful for the services Ronning Auto, Truck and Tractor provide for the community.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Fred and Tressie Fike of Mineral County for their commitment to helping others in the community. Fred and Tressie lead the Superior Community Church Shoebox Ministry, which is part of the Samaritan's Purse's national initiative, Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry. Fred and Tressie partner with their church and folks in the community to provide shoeboxes filled with toys, hygiene items, clothes, sewing kits, and school supplies around the world to children impacted by devastating circumstances like war, natural disasters, poverty and disease. When Superior Community Church first participated in this ministry 15 years ago, they were able to deliver 25 boxes. In 2019, thanks to the leadership of Fred and Tressie, they delivered 900. It is my honor to recognize Fred and Tressie for their generous and selfless efforts within their church ministry helping children across the world. The world is a better place as a result of their dedication.

Mr. DAINES

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

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, we are here today to discuss two pieces of legislation that will be voted on tomorrow in the U.S. Senate. These two important bills address the issue of life, a most basic human right--the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This first bill, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would end the barbaric practice of late-term abortions after 5 months. It is a time, in fact, that the science tells us that babies feel pain. The second bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, will protect babies who are born alive after surviving botched abortions. These back-to-back votes will present an opportunity for every Senator and, more specifically, for nearly every one of the Senate Democrats to show the American people whether they believe there are any--any--limits to radical abortion practices. I am joined this evening by several of my esteemed Senate colleagues and good friends: Senator Ernst of Iowa, Senator Sasse of Nebraska, and Senator Braun of Indiana. These folks, like me, know how important it is that we protect the sanctity of life and put an end to the cruel practice of late-term abortions and the horrific act of infanticide. I founded the Senate Pro-Life Caucus last year because I believe the U.S. Senate needed to take bolder action to protect human life. In fact, at the State of the Union Address, President Trump invited Ellie Schneider and her mother, from Missouri, as his guests. Ellie's mother stood proudly as the President shared their story and the miracle it was that Ellie was with us that night, healthy and thriving. You see, Ellie was born at 21 weeks and 6 days. In fact, she is one of the youngest premature babies to survive in the United States. Despite the odds being stacked against her, Ellie was given a chance at life. Thanks to the grace of God, she is alive and she is healthy today. Ellie's story and the stories of so many others like her underscore how important it is that we put an end to this very cruel practice of late-term abortion. It is heartbreaking to know that here in America-- in the United States of America--nearly 12,000 children a year are lost to late-term abortions. At 20 weeks, science tells us, these babies can suck their thumbs. They can feel pain. They can yawn. They can stretch. They can make faces. In fact, if you have a smartphone, if you are watching tonight, just Google 20weekbaby--2-0-W-E-E-K-B-A-B-Y. Here is one of the images that will show up on your smartphone. That is what a 20-week baby looks like. It is unconscionable that preborn babies, after 5 months of pregnancy, can be killed, even though they are capable of feeling pain. In fact, during this age, preborn babies are oftentimes given anesthesia if there is fetal surgery involved. Now, here is one of the shocking statistics. The United States is only one of seven--seven--countries in the world, which include North Korea and China, that allow these barbaric late-term abortions after 20 weeks. That is a list we don't want to be on, but we are. As Americans, we must strive for better. This isn't political. This is about working to ensure that every single child has a chance at life. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is a commonsense bill and has overwhelming public support. Do you realize public attitude and opinion on abortion and late-term abortion keeps swinging in the pro- life direction? Why is that? Well, perhaps one reason is because technology has gotten so much better, and 3D ultrasounds give us such a clear picture of what is happening there in the womb. Look at this picture right here. The images are very clear. I believe in a principle that people believe what they discover for themselves. Technology is helping young people see that what we are talking about here is a baby. It is life. Sixty-two percent of voters oppose late-term abortion. This bill is something that I firmly believe every Republican and every Democrat can get behind. Why can't we at least come together on late-term abortion and banning it? Passing this bill would be a major step forward for the pro-life cause. The next bill we are voting on tomorrow is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Back home in Montana, this piece of legislation moved through our State legislature up to our Governor's desk. It was called the ``Baby Born Alive'' bill. It is the same thing. It mandates that if a baby is born alive following a botched abortion, the doctor must protect that baby and give the same medical care that any other baby would receive. Is that really too much to ask for? Honestly, the fact that we are having this debate on the floor of the U.S. Senate is astonishing. The American people agree. In fact, 77 percent of pro-abortion advocates believe that babies born alive should be medically protected. Sadly, today there are States that do not offer protections for babies born alive. In fact, just earlier this month, in Colorado, State legislators killed a bill that would grant legal protections for babies born alive after abortions. I would like to turn to my colleague from Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst. She has been an unwavering, relentless champion for life, and she has been a dear friend. She is a great colleague and a great leader on this issue of protecting the most vulnerable--these little babies. Senator Ernst, would you agree with me that Senate Democrats should join us in voting for these commonsense bills that protect innocent human life?

Mr. DAINES. Senator, thank you, and thanks for your very moving story about Micah Pickering. It helps to take these ideas and translate them directly into these children today, whom you can see there as a little baby. There are critics of the born-alive bill who would say this horrible act that we described here tonight simply doesn't happen. For those who say that, they should talk to somebody named Melissa Oden. In fact, just last year when we had the born-alive bill on the floor of the Senate, I was coming down to speak on behalf of the bill. I was just about maybe 50 feet from where I am standing right now, outside the doors of the Senate, as I was making my way to speak, and guess who was standing outside the door of the Senate. It was Melissa Oden. She is a beautiful mother today. She survived a saline-infusion abortion as a little baby at about 5 months. She was left for dead, and she was discarded--this was in Kansas City, MO--until a hospital nurse heard her little cries. This nurse saved Melissa's life, for which we are very thankful. It was quite an experience to meet her just outside these Chamber doors. Now Melissa herself is a mother. I believe we have a duty, an obligation to protect life and particularly the most innocent life and the most vulnerable life, like a little baby who can be born alive as a result of a botched abortion attempt. It is my hope that the Members of this body, Republicans and Democrats, will vote to support and defend this most basic human right and recognize that late-term abortions--I recognize this is a very divisive issue in this country, but I would think that on the issue of late-term abortions, on the issue of babies born alive as a result of botched abortions--can we at least come together where public opinion overwhelmingly supports both and say, let's stop these barbaric practices. These are extreme positions. They should be outlawed in this country. We can no longer simply stand by as our children--we talk about children in this country losing their lives to abortion and infanticide. As Americans, we have an obligation to honor our Nation's founding promise enshrined in our Declaration of Independence that all men and all women and all human life are created equal and endowed by our Creator with these certain inalienable rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Think about it this way: Of these important rights, you can't have liberty and the pursuit of happiness without first having the right to life. This right to life is the first and most important of these inalienable rights. So I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting these commonsense bills to stop this brutal violence of late-term abortions of pain- capable babies. That is why it is called the Pain-Capable Act. Babies are capable of feeling pain at about 20 weeks. That is why, when in utero surgery is performed, they administer anesthesia--because the baby is feeling pain. That is where we are drawing the line with these bills to stop late-term abortion and also babies who are born alive-- which isn't about abortion; this is about infanticide. We must protect these innocent babies, standing for life, standing for those who are most vulnerable. I see that my colleague from Nebraska, Senator Sasse, has come to the floor. Senator Sasse authored the baby born alive bill. I am grateful Senator Sasse is joining us here tonight in this colloquy. Senator Sasse, can you explain the importance of passing the bill you have authored?

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Ashley Kemmis and Brianna Page for their entrepreneurial spirit in Valley County. Ashley and Brianna saw a need in the community for more options for women's clothing after Shopko closed in Glasgow in 2019. They teamed up together to launch Thistle and Thread, an online women's clothing boutique. Since they launched their website one year ago, Ashley and Brianna's project flourished into a successful operation out of Eastern Montana. Women across the country can purchase the boutique's clothing online and those in eastern Montana can visit their storefront in Glasgow. It is my honor to recognize Ashley and Brianna for taking the initiative to successfully launch Thistle and Thread. Thistle and Thread is a now a proud part of the Glasgow community, and I am grateful for Ashley and Brianna's entrepreneurship.