Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, Livingston, MT, lost an incredible member of the community on August 30 when Harold Dean Wilcoxson, son of Carl and Harriett Esther (Swingley) Wilcoxson, passed away at age 94. Harold spent much of his life operating the family-owned business and Montana institution, Wilcoxson's Ice Cream shop. Wilcoxson's Ice Cream has provided delicious ice cream and fond memories for Montanans for over 100 years. Harold was born on April 15, 1923, and graduated from Park County High School in 1941. He pursued a certificate in electronics repair at Kinmen Business University in Spokane, WA, and used his electronics expertise for the rest of his life. On September 15, 1942, Harold joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Quincey as an electronics chief during World War II. His ship was located off of the French coast during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944 and was anchored in Sagami Wan during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in 1945. Following his service, Harold returned to Montana to continue building Wilcoxson's Ice Cream. Amidst long hours of building the family business, Harold also enjoyed racecars. His love and passion for fast cars lasted a lifetime. From cleaning cream cans as a boy to fixing electrical issues and managing new plant projects, Harold ensured Wilcoxson's Ice Cream shop would continue in its legacy of gourmet ice cream and service to Montanans for generations. Harold Dean Wilcoxson, beloved businessowner and mentor, brought much to the Livingston community through his quiet leadership and commitment to service and will be missed by many.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, is tasked with keeping the American public safe in the homeland. Its mission ranges from thwarting terrorist attacks to responding to natural and manmade disasters, from interdicting the movement of illicit drugs at the border to combating human trafficking and protecting its victims. Nearly one-quarter of the population within our borders are children They have unique needs, and we must ensure those needs are met in the face of threat and in recovery. For example, when children are stranded at school because of a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, they need a planned route and means to get home safely. A child is caught up in a drug cartel and used as a trafficking mule--the child is a victim, not a criminal. He needs help breaking the addiction. An adolescent, promised a better life, has her passport stolen and forced to sell herself. She needs help escaping her captors and healing. The recent tragedies of wildfires in Montana and across the Northwest and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are all too recent reminders that we need to plan for the needs of children in both building resiliency and responding to disasters. That is why I am introducing the-Homeland Security for Children Act. This legislation would simply ensure DHS's Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans includes input from organizations representing the needs of children when soliciting stakeholder feedback and developing policies. Further, a technical expert at the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to lead its external collaboration and policy developments to integrate the needs of children into its activities to prepare for and respond to, disasters. I thank Senator Hassan for being an original cosponsor of this bill, as well as Representative Donald Payne of New Jersey for leading in the House of Representatives. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation. Mr. DAINES Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, is tasked with keeping the American public safe in the homeland. Its mission ranges from thwarting terrorist attacks to responding to natural and manmade disasters, from interdicting the movement of illicit drugs at the border to combating human trafficking and protecting its victims. Nearly one-quarter of the population within our borders are children They have unique needs, and we must ensure those needs are met in the face of threat and in recovery. For example, when children are stranded at school because of a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, they need a planned route and means to get home safely. A child is caught up in a drug cartel and used as a trafficking mule--the child is a victim, not a criminal. He needs help breaking the addiction. An adolescent, promised a better life, has her passport stolen and forced to sell herself. She needs help escaping her captors and healing. The recent tragedies of wildfires in Montana and across the Northwest and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are all too recent reminders that we need to plan for the needs of children in both building resiliency and responding to disasters. That is why I am introducing the-Homeland Security for Children Act. This legislation would simply ensure DHS's Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans includes input from organizations representing the needs of children when soliciting stakeholder feedback and developing policies. Further, a technical expert at the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to lead its external collaboration and policy developments to integrate the needs of children into its activities to prepare for and respond to, disasters. I thank Senator Hassan for being an original cosponsor of this bill, as well as Representative Donald Payne of New Jersey for leading in the House of Representatives. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation. Mr. DAINES Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Albert ``Al'' Lee of Forsyth. Al has made a lifetime of contributions to our State and our Nation. Al's experiences as a veteran, rancher, long-serving volunteer, and renowned shooting sports enthusiast have made him a highly respected member of his community in Rosebud County. After finishing his military service with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean war, Al returned to Montana State University and married Sharon, a fellow Bobcat. Al and Sharon soon settled near the Yellowstone River and began operating the family ranch. Over the years, the Lee family has opened large sections of their ranch to the Boy Scouts, hunters, and to the participants of the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match. The Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match recently completed its 26th annual competition in June. This prestigious shooting match has grown from a few dozen shooters the first year, to well over 600 shooters this year, including international competitors from six nations. Al's love for shooting sports and his passion for sharing our Montana cultural traditions has been highly valued at both the State and national levels. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has honored Al for over five decades of volunteering to teach firearms safety to rising generations of future hunters. In 2001, The National Rifle Association recognized Al with their highly esteemed public service award. Montana cowboys like Al Lee give a unique character to the Treasure State. Thank you, Al, for the many years of service and for strengthening our Montana traditions.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, Connor Westlake of Bozeman, MT, is a driven, determined and diligent 19-year-old who has proven to be a leader among his peers and in his community. As an athlete, Connor has had a distinguished career and was awarded the Christian Character Award by the Montana Christian Athletic Association These experiences have led him to apply his leadership in the service of our Nation's defense, continuing the legacy of military service of his grandfathers, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy; and uncles, U.S. Navy. Connor has spent the past year preparing to enter the U.S. Army, where he plans to serve his country in Special Forces with the Green Berets. He will war the uniform for the first time later this month upon arrival at Fort Benning, GA, where he will be among a group of highly qualified recruits who will proceed directly from initial entry training to Special Forces training. Upon completion of the rigorous and challenging 2-year training, Connor will become a member of one of the best and most highly skilled combat forces in the world. I join the Westlake family in praying for his success and safety and thank Connor as he pursues this noble calling of service.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka, MT. The Carter County Museum is a treasure to our State and well worth the time to stop in and visit if you are traveling through eastern Montana. The Carter County Museum has helped preserve the history of eastern Montana for over 80 years and was the first county museum in the State. This region of our State is known for plentiful dinosaur discoveries, and one of the exhibits at the Carter County Museum includes a complete skull of a Triceratops. Recent regional history is also on display at the museum. Artifacts from American Indian Tribes and late 19th century homesteaders help visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the history of the 41st State to join the Union. Over the past two summers, members of the museum's staff have used their expertise to help recover the remains of a Columbian mammoth along the Powder River. Just last month, the staff unearthed a mostly intact skull, including both tusks. It is uncommon to find a museum that offers such a unique collection of rare exhibits outside of a major population center, but that is precisely what you will find at the Carter County Museum. Eastern Montana, widely recognized for its contributions to our Nation in the areas of agriculture and energy, is also home to many items of cultural significance. Local gems like the Carter County Museum and all of the folks that make its day-to-day operations possible help make Montana an exceptional place.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 3 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 3 p.m. today, the Senate recess until 4:15 p.m. to allow for the all-Senators briefing.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I left Montana yesterday morning to come back to Washington, DC, to do the work of the American people but, as always, my heart remains in Big Sky Country. That is especially true right now as fires burn across our State. In fact, just yesterday, of the top 30 wildfires in the Nation, 28 of those 30 wildfires were in Montana. Our crisis in Montana isn't water. It is not too much water. It is not hurricanes. It is fire. It is smoke filling the air and filling our lungs. It is communities being evacuated, Montanans standing on the side of the road looking at the fires moving toward their homes. We have seen the loss of homes and many structures. Montanans are looking at the tons of fuel just lying on the forest floor waiting for a spark to ignite. In fact, in this year alone, over 1,600 fires have burned nearly 1 million acres in Montana. That is nearly the size of the entire State of Delaware. At my invitation, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke both came to Montana, just about 2 weeks ago--in fact, 2 weeks ago tomorrow--so they could see firsthand the impact wildfires are having on our great State. We went out and saw the Lolo Peak Fire. The impact is devastating. We need to be sure Montana gets the resources it needs, first of all, to stop the fires. I am very grateful to the men and women who are risking their lives to fight these fires, going on virtually very little sleep, living in tents, fighting these fires. The firefighters battling on the ground are away from their families, and they are giving everything to protect our lives, our lands, and our property. Tragically, already in Montana, two firefighters have lost their lives--Trenton Johnson, age 19, and Brent Witham, age 29. Preventing wildfires is impossible, but we can do much more to lessen the severity and impact of these fires. Seven million federally controlled acres in Montana are at high risk for wildfire. Five million acres--five million acres--have been designated for accelerated forest management due to insect infestation. We are talking about dead trees. Yet, since 1990, our State of Montana has lost over 40 percent of its forestry workforce and two-thirds of its mills. The remaining mills that we have are not running around the clock, multiple shifts, which they could do, except for the fact they can't get enough logs. We are literally bringing in logs from out of State and even out of the country to our mills in Montana to keep them going. Let's talk about Mineral County, MT. Mineral County was founded in 1914. This county in Western Montana is well known for its dense forests and abundant natural resources. The first sawmill came to this area around the turn of the 20th century. Multiple others followed suit. For decades, the timber industry thrived. Montanans worked hard, and they earned good money in the timber industry. In fact, the timber industry produced tax revenues to support their schools, teachers, infrastructure, and allow our counties to prosper, but in the early 1990s things changed. Across the State of Montana, environmental lawsuits became a barrier to timber contracts that were awarded to Montana's small businesses. A community that once thrived on the abundant resources surrounding them now sits with one of the highest unemployment rates in the State. Today, Mineral County has just a single lumber mill. Folks living there today are watching the very resources that supported their grandparents burn. In fact, in Mineral County alone, over 25,000 acres have been torched this fire season, and the fires continue to burn. The weather outlook for September continues with above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. This fire season is not over. We are going to be in it for quite some time. The mismanagement of our Federal forests and radical environmentalists have prevented hard-working Montanans from having jobs, and this just adds more fuel, literally, to these wildfires. Our inability to act and treat these acres further deteriorates the health of our forests and the communities that desperately depend on them. I can tell my colleagues--and I can speak on behalf of all of Montana--that we are tired of being told that others know better than we do when we watch our forests burn every summer, our mills close, our neighbors lose jobs, and our counties lay off road crews because they don't have the funds anymore to support basic infrastructure, and our communities suffer from the lack of management of our Federal lands. A safe forest, a vibrant forest is a managed forest. A healthy forest is a managed forest, and timber jobs are good jobs. A properly managed forest is also good for wildlife habitat. We have teamed with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Their headquarters are in Missoula, MT. If you want to see more elk, if you want to see more wildlife, you need to manage the forests. It is good for wildlife habitat and good for water quality. A wildfire is devastating to the watershed because what happens is the wildfires come through, they wipe out the trees and grasses, and then when the spring rains come--when the snow melt comes from the spring--we see tremendous erosion and devastation of fish habitat and the loss of good sources of water for our communities. Let's talk about the unspeakable amount of carbon emissions that are produced by these wildfires. I can tell my colleagues that we are done listening to radical environmentalists when they tell us otherwise. Too many forest management projects have been held up in frivolous litigation at the expense of the people of Montana. One such project-- the Stonewall project--was halted because of the terrible Cottonwood decision, which is the 21st century poster child for radical environmental activism. Two fires blazed on the very lands that were set to be managed had it not been for these radical environmentalists. This is wrong. We need litigation relief. We need to reform the process that our land managers go through to get these projects done. The National Environmental Policy Act--NEPA--was established to provide guidance for land managers to analyze all project alternatives and allow for public comment. This process has become so bogged down with additional steps and litigation that projects now at times take years to get through it. Others never even make it. When it takes this long to analyze whether to even start a project, the forests continue to get more and more overstocked, more and more littered with fuels. A forest is a renewable resource, but if we do not manage the forests, they become unhealthy. They become prone to wildfire. Something needs to be done to streamline the process while allowing more collaboration between stakeholders. We can't wait any longer. We need our colleagues to come to the table because we need comprehensive forest management reform. How many more thousands of acres in Montana and all over the West must burn before we act? Tying the hands of the State, tying the hands of the local communities, tying the hands of the people of Montana who best know how to manage these lands has not served us well. We need to change course. I will work with anyone of any party and at all levels of our government to ensure that forests are managed in a way that reduces the severity of wildfires because Montanans deserve it, and because, quite frankly, it makes sense. Montanans are tired of seeing and breathing the smoke. The firefighters risking their lives out there deserve it as well. Here is the bottom line. Either we are going to manage the forests or the forests are going to manage us. It is time to put the loggers of Montana back to work. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. It is in the opening paragraphs of the bill, the preamble part.

Mr. DAINES. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. DAINES. As the chairman, the Senator from Kansas, just mentioned, I believe that Montanans and the American people deserve to see us debate different ideas. That is why I brought this amendment to the floor today. Earlier today, a couple of hours ago, my colleague from Vermont, Senator Bernie Sanders, was on the Senate floor suggesting that my amendment is intended to embarrass Democrats. Senator Sanders, my amendment shouldn't embarrass anyone. I am trying to show the American people--bring it out here in full light--who is supportive of socialized medicine and who is not. If you are supportive of that, why be embarrassed? The Senator from Vermont announced that he wouldn't support the amendment unless I voted for the amendment myself. But let me be clear. I don't support socialized medicine. Senator Sanders does. It is time to fish or to cut bait. Why are Senators on the other side of the aisle running for the hills when they now have the chance to vote on the gold standard bill their party supports? Senator Sanders and the Democrats who support Representative Conyers' bill shouldn't be dependent on my support. Senator Sanders said he would vote for it if I voted for it. Guess what. Tell the American people what you think. I think we should vote no on this. What say you?

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Chairman, in preparing this and in reading this bill, for those who want to see the heart and soul--the vision--of the Democrats, they can be found in this first paragraph of the bill. In fact, I will read it. ``The bill establishes the Medicare-for-all program to provide all individuals residing in the United States free healthcare.'' It goes on to say a couple of paragraphs later: ``Health insurers may not sell health insurance that duplicates the benefits provided under this bill.'' If that is not a complete takeover of the healthcare system from the government, then you tell me what is.

Mr. DAINES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with you. That is what I am planning to do today. I ask unanimous consent for an additional 6 minutes of debate equally divided between the managers or their designees.

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

Mr. DAINES. For those who are watching and observing, it is H.R. 676. There are 115 Democratic cosponsors on that bill as we speak.

Mr. DAINES. It is the Conyers' bill. I did not write this amendment-- this bill--that I am offering. We cut and pasted the precise text and are bringing it over here and offering it today.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have listened to some of my colleagues from across the aisle decry our desire to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Yes, I do want to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Why? Why are we doing this? Repealing and replacing ObamaCare is a means to an end. This is what I have heard from so many Montanans. Here is the end, and I will sum it up into three items: No. 1, to lower costs; No. 2, to ensure that we save Medicaid--protect Medicaid--for the most vulnerable in our society; and, No. 3, to ensure that we protect those with preexisting conditions. Some of my friends across the aisle want to see more government control of families' healthcare decisions--in fact, a complete government takeover. I believe that we need less government control, not more government control. Their gold standard for healthcare reform is really socialized medicine. It is called various things. Some call it government-run healthcare. Some call it single-payer healthcare. Some call it Medicare for all. But, in essence, it is socialized medicine. The amendment that I am putting forward today is cut-and-pasted text. It is the exact, precise language. It is a carbon copy--down to every last comma and period--of Representative John Conyers' bill, who is the Representative from Michigan, which has 115 Democratic cosponsors as I speak. It is an impressive 60 percent of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. House that supports and, in fact, has cosponsored this very bill-- this very amendment--that I am putting on the floor here today. In addition to the 115 House Members, who on the Senate side supports this bill? Well, moveon.org has circulated a petition in support of the Conyers' bill, and the bill has been endorsed by hundreds and hundreds of labor groups, medical groups, political groups, and civic organizations. Let me be clear. I believe that socialized medicine would be a disaster for the American people. Last November, the American people voted to make America great again, not to make America like England again. Yet I believe that Montanans and the American people deserve to see us debate different ideas right here on the Senate floor. This is referred to as the greatest deliberative body in the world. Well, let's deliberate, including the leading idea coming from the other side of the aisle, which is why I have offered this amendment.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Skip Walters of Great Falls for a tremendous radio broadcasting career. Last week, Skip retired after providing over four decades of entertainment to his fellow Montanans. It was great to be interviewed by Skip on several occassions; he was always professional and never pulled any punches. Skip originally came to Montana while serving our Nation in the U.S. Air Force during the early 1970s, and his media journey began in Miles City on the same weekend as the annual Bucking Horse Sale in 1976. During his early days in Custer County, he broadcast mostly rock-and- roll tunes and covered local sports, on KATL radio for the folks in eastern Montana. Three years later, an opportunity in his industry brought Skip to Great Falls. It was in Great Falls that Skip would further refine his skills by broadcasting country music to the listeners in Cascade County and the surrounding communities of central Montana. His 41-year career in the radio business culminated at KMON radio in Great Falls, where he broadcast for 27 years. Among his accomplishments, Skip was recognized in 2008 by the Journalism Education Association as a ``Friend of Scholastic Journalism.'' When asked about the circumstances that inspired him to begin a career in radio, Jim stated ``it's all about the music.'' Skip's love of music has been an acoustic blessing to many in the Treasure State. From helping to guard the intercontinental ballistic missile fields in the center of the State, to broadcasting good tunes across an even larger swath of the State, Skip has had a good journey. As he begins to enjoy his retirement, I would like to offer my thanks for his service to our Nation and appreciation for the artistic entertainment he provided to our State.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, Karen from Missoula County wrote to me about how her daughter can't afford to buy insurance. ObamaCare imposes a tax penalty on Americans who don't buy insurance. In fact, in 2014 and 2015 alone, they collected over $5 billion in fines. It turns out, this tax has hurt poor and middle-income Americans the worst. That is why I refer to this as ObamaCare's ``poverty'' tax. For Karen from Missoula, paying ObamaCare's poverty tax is cheaper for her so she pays the IRS a fine because she can't afford healthcare insurance. Take Debbie from Roundup, MT. She lost her own healthcare insurance. She couldn't afford the $1,700 per month premiums so she, too, was subject to ObamaCare's poverty tax and was forced to pay the IRS. Take Mike from Kalispell, MT. He is concerned for his son who can't afford a health insurance plan either. The poverty tax he is forced to pay to the IRS is expensive. It is hard to come up with money to pay it. There are American families who can't afford health insurance because of ObamaCare, and what does ObamaCare do? It fines them. This is adding insult to injury. These are just a few of the stories I have received from my constituents back home in Montana, where ObamaCare is doing more harm than good. Yes, it is doing some good, but it is doing more harm than good. In fact, 40 percent of the 34,250 Montanans who paid ObamaCare's poverty tax made less than $25,000 a year; 80 percent made less than $50,000 a year. This is not a tax on the rich. In fact, just 3.4 percent make more than $100,000. This is a tax on the poor. Instead of helping these vulnerable Montanans to make ends meet, ObamaCare puts a poverty tax on them for being too poor to afford health insurance. In fact, in Montana alone, they paid nearly $7.8 million to the IRS. This individual mandate--this poverty tax--is immoral. It is unfair. It is a tax on freedom. It needs to be repealed immediately, and these poverty taxes must be paid back to the poor who have paid them. Our friends across the aisle will say we want to get rid of taxes on the rich, but the rich aren't paying this tax. The poor are paying this tax. I think the right thing to do--the handshake agreement we have back in Montana as Montanans, where a man or woman's word is worth something--the right thing to do is, they should be paid back. That is why I will be offering an amendment on the floor when we debate. We should pay back this poverty tax to the poor who have paid it. The poverty tax is just one of the many problems of ObamaCare, and I look forward to continued debate. By the way, if you take this to the higher level here nationwide, nearly 8 million Americans have paid this poverty tax. As we looked at every State's numbers, it all is about the same: Somewhere between 40 percent and 50 percent of those Americans make less than $25,000 a year. In Indiana, it is 176,000 Indianans. We have them for every State. Look at West Virginia. West Virginians, 45,000 have paid the poverty tax; 49 percent make less than $25,000 a year. Take North Dakota. We share, in Montana, the same fence line with North Dakota. They are our neighbor. Over 20,000 North Dakotans paid the poverty tax. North Dakotans paid $4.6 million, and 40 percent of them make less than $25,000 a year. Missouri: 143,000 Missourians paid the poverty tax, and nearly 48 percent of those Missourians make less than $25,000 a year. Wisconsin: 115,000 paid the poverty tax, and 45 percent make less than $25,000. I have a lot of other States. I would urge my colleagues to take a look at their respective States, and I ask: Can you look in the mirror and say we should be charging this poverty tax on those who make less than $25,000 a year? Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to complete my remarks.

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

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, David Bernhardt is a well-qualified nominee to serve as our next Deputy Secretary of the Interior. The Department of the Interior is charged with managing our wildlife, our public lands, including our national parks and refuges, and our Nation's rich natural resources, which are key to American energy independence. They are charged with the sacred responsibility of protecting the Federal Government's trust responsibility to Indian Tribes. Managing the Department of the Interior is a complex balancing act. We need someone who is able to balance these competing interests, and we need someone who understands the importance of our public lands. David Bernhardt has spent his life balancing competing interests, weighing the stewardship of our natural resources and wildlife with the letter of the law. His relationship to our lands and the western way of life is not second nature; it is first. Mr. Bernhardt was confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 2006 as the Solicitor of the Department. As Solicitor he proved he was capable of upholding the law, even under difficult situations. My colleagues may remember that he wrote the opinion that decided to list the polar bear and drafted a workable rule. As we know, Secretary Salazar then upheld this rule. As Solicitor, he prioritized establishing a robust ethics team at the Department. That ethics team still exists today. Mr. Bernhardt has proven to have the highest level of integrity and work ethic. For heaven's sake, he is a westerner. He is from Rifle, CO, and the importance of our public lands and wildlife flows through his veins like a lot of us who live out West. I have confidence that he will be a dedicated servant to our western way of life, where we love to hunt, to fish, to hike on our public lands. I have confidence in this because I know he loves this way of life as well. I am not the only one who has this confidence. Listen to this list of support from groups across our country that support his appointment: the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Ducks Unlimited; the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Boone and Crockett Club, and others that many Montanans are members of, including the Mule Deer Foundation, the NRA, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. While the U.S. Senate confirmed Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Interior, he became the first Montanan, my friend Ryan Zinke, to serve on the President's Cabinet since our statehood in 1889. It sent a message that the Department of the Interior would have our Montana values and our western values, and the confirmation of David Bernhardt as Deputy Secretary would make good on that promise. While Montanans and westerners highly value access to our public lands and wildlife, Montanans are also pleading--pleading--for our land management agencies to be better partners, to work alongside our States, and to work alongside our landowners. Secretary Zinke needs a right-hand man to make sure we uphold our commitment to Indian Nations. Secretary Zinke promised to rebuild trust in our Federal land and wildlife management agencies and strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes. He needs a deputy in place who can help implement this vision to restore trust and balance to the Department of the Interior for Montanans. My colleagues, it is time Secretary Zinke has a Deputy we can all count on, and I look forward to casting my vote for David Bernhardt.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as I speak, wildfires are blazing across Montana. In fact, as of this moment, we have 21 active fires, with just about 300,000 acres burned, which has turned our big sky into gray smoke. In fact, the Lodgepole fire in Eastern Montana alone has burned over 250,000 acres, and there are 300-plus heroes bravely working to tame those growing flames. I was on the phone a couple of times with our county commissioner from Garfield County, and we talked about how to get more resources for these devastating fires. I just got word an hour ago that the Sunrise fire on the western side of our State, near Superior, MT, was just elevated in the last couple of hours as the No. 2 national priority fire in the Nation. Montana is hot, Montana is dry, and there is a long way to go yet in this fire season. The status quo is simply unacceptable. With these fires blazing and the ground cracking beneath us, we are reminded of how fragile the way of life in Montana is. Our No. 1 economic driver in Montana is agriculture. Montana ag supports our economy in seasons of plenty, as well as in seasons of drought, including physical drought and unseasonable rains. We have seen both in Montana, and farmers and ranchers have risen to the occasion each time. As they have supported us, we must support them. The historic drought conditions in Eastern Montana warrant relief from regulations that limit the producers' abilities to use our land in the best ways possible. I was pleased by the decision of Secretary Perdue and the USDA to allow impacted producers to best use the Conservation Reserve Program acreage for grazing, but I believe Montana producers are not able to sleep at night for fear of losing their family farms. They deserve more support from those who benefit from their legacy of hard work. I have held and will continue to hold USDA's feet to the fire, urging additional emergency relief for farmers and ranchers. I have been engaging with Montana farmers and ranchers. Most recently, I spoke with officials; I was literally on the phone last night with officials from Garfield County, talking with folks on the ground as to what the lack of rain has meant for them. I understand the severity of drought and the risk of wildfires. Let me tell you, wildfires are all too common for those of us who live in Montana. Hundreds of fires burn through Montana's forests every year, with countless firefighters fighting to protect lives and property. Year after year, I will come down here, and you will hear me speak on the floor; you will hear me in committees; you will hear me back home, talking about the fact that these fires are ready to ignite at any moment. You can see the unmanaged forests we have in Montana are literally just waiting for a massive wildfire. With nearly 300,000 acres burned--and we aren't even in August yet; it is still July--it is a big deal for a State known for its wide open landscapes. We need forest management reform urgently. It is a topic always on the forefront of my mind and on the forefront of Montanans and those of us out West, but it is on the back burner of the swamp here in Washington, DC, until, of course, we get to fire season; then we will talk about it. We must reform the way we manage our national forests. We can use proven tactics to reduce the threat of wildfires, as well as to reduce the rate of spread and intensity of those fires when they occur. We need a wildfire funding fix because we can't just keep hoping the Congress will pay back the Forest Service at the end of every season. It is not the way a family budgets, and the Forest Service shouldn't have to either. We have nearly 5 million acres of national forest in Montana that have been identified as critically in need of restoration. We are talking about dying and dead timber, primarily because of beetle kill, and we can't even get in and manage the timber because we have these far-left groups that would challenge many of our timber sales in court. I have joined Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota in sponsoring legislation to encourage partnerships between the Forest Service and the State foresters to carry out these cross-boundary restoration projects. A fire does not respect boundaries; it doesn't know where the State land ends or Federal land begins or where private land is or reservation lands are. We need to work better as neighbors along the fence line to reduce fuels and wildfire hazards across the country. These partnerships and projects will make fighting these wildfires safer for firefighters and allow them to return home safely to their families. At this time of year, we recognize our firefighters, in particular, as some of the bravest men and women out there. The courage with which they run toward danger--I tell you, if you have never seen a wildfire burning out west, it is an incredibly terrifying sight to see huge plumes of flames that reach up to 30,000 feet in the atmosphere. They are ominous. These brave men and women run toward danger to protect our lives and our homes. Honoring Trenton Johnson Mr. President, let me close by recognizing a young man who lost his life in Montana just this past week. His name was Trenton Johnson. Trenton Johnson was such a man--one of those brave heroes. It is with a heavy heart that I offer prayers of strength and peace to the family and friends of Trenton Johnson, who died fighting a fire just last Wednesday near Seeley Lake in the northwest corner of Montana. Trenton will be remembered for his bravery, and I pray that his family and friends find solace and encouragement in the memories of his vibrant but way too short life. He was just 19 years old. As we pray for rain in Montana, we also pray for the safety and protection of all of our firefighters who, as we speak at this very moment, are still battling blazes all across our State and across the Western United States. Mr. President, as I said, it is with a heavy heart that I offer prayers of strength and peace to the family and friends of Trenton Johnson. This brave Montanan died fighting a fire last Wednesday near Seeley Lake in the northwest corner of our State. Over this past weekend, in his hometown of Missoula, Trenton's loss was mourned by his family and friends, his fire crew, and many of his fellow Montanans. This 19-year-old was celebrated by many as a successful high school leader and athlete, a student at Montana State University, and a fire crew member in his first season battling forest fires. The tragedy of his passing was felt across the State. The inherent danger firefighters face with bravery when they defend the lives and livelihoods of a community from the path of an unpredictable fire is awe inspiring. In Montana, the annual efforts of firefighters at every turn is essential to our collective safety. The men and women who make up these fire crews are a combination of expertise, courage, and grit. I pray that Trenton's family and friends find solace and encouragement in the memories of his vibrant life, and I pray for the safety of all firefighters still battling blazes across Big Sky Country. Thank you.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Jim Sinclair of Plains for the leadership he has provided to his community in northwest Montana. As the senior pastor of his church, Jim has provided a helping hand to others for over two decades. The people of Sanders County know Jim and his wife, Renee, for the admirable work their ministry has done to support those in need. Before becoming a pastor, Jim made a living harvesting timber, and those skills have been valuable with helping the most vulnerable members of their community stay warm during the cold Montana winters. In addition to distributing firewood, Jim's church harnesses the talents of many volunteers in order to provide a food bank, soup kitchen, and clothing bank. Jim's hands on approach to ministry has empowered his community to help each other overcome challenges. Communities like Plains depend on folks like Jim and Renee, as well as the dozens of volunteers they have mentored over the years. I thank them for all the hard work they have done and wish them the best as their ministry continues to grow in the service of others.