Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the distinct honor of recognizing Bruce Dutton of Garfield County, who celebrated his 100th birthday in August this year. He is a Montanan and a veteran who served his country during World War II, and he is also a sheep rancher. Montana has a long history of strong work ethic and dedication to service and Mr. Dutton exemplifies these qualities. When Bruce was born 100 years ago, homesteaders were settling homes and setting up communities across Montana, carving out a living from the land. His parents, Bruce and Margaret, had a family homestead between Mosby and Sand Springs, MT. When Bruce's mother, Margaret, felt it was nearing time for her to give birth, she traveled over 20 miles to Mrs. McDougal's neighboring homestead for help. Mrs. McDougal provided her dugout for Margaret where she gave birth to Bruce, the third of seven children. Bruce did not lack for education on the homestead. The Dutton family even provided boarding for teachers who traveled from as far as Idaho to serve the local school. When a proper teacher was not available, a local high school graduate would fill in. After eighth grade, he took a break from school to help on the family ranch, but was still able to learn algebra. When he returned to school, Bruce traveled over 200 miles to stay with an aunt and uncle in Great Falls for high school but returned closer to home to finish school while ranching sheep. On July 25, 1942, Bruce traveled over 300 miles to Butte, Montana to enlist in the Army where he served a variety of duties. While training in Texas, Bruce worked for a local rancher bucking hay on the weekends. As the end of his duty approached, Bruce wrote his father asking if he was needed at home. If he was needed at home, he wanted his father to know he could elect to terminate his service early. His father did, in fact, call him home, and Bruce forfeited $75.00 of separation pay to terminate his military service early and return to Montana. With a $2,000 bank loan to buy sheep, Bruce committed to his own sheep business with his brother, Joe. His persistence and hard work continued to pay off when--as he says, through pure determination--he convinced Daisy, a teacher in Winnett, to marry him and devoted his life to his family, the community, and the work of lambing, docking, and sheering sheep. Today his legacy is the present-day Cat Creek Cattle Company Ranch near Cat Creek. Bruce and Daisy raised two children, continued to be involved in the community serving as Garfield County commissioner, working on the Weede State Grazing District Board, and the Sage Hen Grazing District Board, as a Mason and a Shriner. Now, on his 100th year, Bruce is part of a generation of Montanans who have witnessed incredible advancements in our State and our Nation. From the homestead dugout near Melstone, to his military service, a man on the moon, we owe much to his generation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. ObamaCare--it is still a train wreck of broken promises. President Obama promised that the cost of premiums would go down by $2,500 per family. But just yesterday, Montana's insurance commissioner announced an average premium increase of 58 percent for Montana's largest provider on the exchange. And not only have premiums not gone down, the coverage that people get from it is unaffordable and unusable. With some deductibles at or above $9,000 per family, middle-class families are being priced out of the market, all the while paying for a policy they simply can't use. Now plans are also restricting provider networks and eliminating doctors from their plans, all in an attempt to remain solvent under ObamaCare's requirements. In Montana, we like to fish. Sometimes when the fishing line gets really tangled up, the only thing you can do is cut the line. It is time to cut the line with ObamaCare. It is time to clear this train wreck from the tracks and get our health care moving forward again. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today is a good day for Montana and the Blackfeet people. With the passage of the Water Resources Development Act, the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act is one step closer to the President's desk. Today's action marks the first time the compact has passed the Senate after being introduced four times since 2010. Today, for the first time, this important legislation came to the Senate for a vote and it passed. I, along with my colleague Senator Jon Tester, worked hard to make sure it made it through this time. The settlement is long overdue and will not only establish the tribe's water rights but will also facilitate real, tangible benefits for the Blackfeet and surrounding communities. The bill will improve several Federal water structures that are some of the oldest and most in need of repair in the country and will help irrigate some of the most productive farmland in our State. The Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act also balances the need of the State and the local community. The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located adjacent to Glacier National Park and is some 1.5 million acres in size. There are 17,000 enrolled tribal members, about half of whom live on the reservation. This water settlement also upholds agreements by the State that will strengthen irrigation for neighboring farmlands. We call that Montana's Golden Triangle. It is where my great-great-grandmother homesteaded because of its wheat production. I commend the Blackfeet Tribe and Chairman Harry Barnes, who have been diligent and patient in seeing this settlement forward. I commend our State for its commitment to the Blackfeet Tribe and Indian Country in Montana and my colleague Senator Tester for working with me on this bill. I am proud to get this through the Senate and will continue to fight for its enactment.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I say to Senator Perdue, thank you. Your clear eyes in bringing that clear-headed perspective and 40 years of experience in the private sector are so badly needed here. I am grateful for your love for our country and your experience here and fighting on behalf of our veterans in Washington, DC. The Senator mentioned that the world is more dangerous than it has ever been before. I was flying back home to Montana late Thursday night, flying Delta Air Lines through Minneapolis back to Great Falls, MT, to be at Malmstrom Air Force Base, with the airmen there, on Friday. We often have Wi-Fi on planes today. I was watching my Twitter feed, and I saw the reports of the 5.0 quake that was reported in North Korea because they had conducted their fifth test--their most powerful test yet of an atomic bomb. Six weeks ago I was in Israel. We talked about Iran, spoke about nuclear threats and existential threats to the world. We spoke to the Israeli leadership, to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli intelligence, about the threat from Iran. We crawled in the terror tunnels that came out of Gaza that Hamas had built--Hamas largely funded by Iran. We stood on the northern border of Israel staring into Lebanon at 100,000-plus rockets from Hezbollah pointed at Israel today that are primarily funded by Iran. I agree with Senator Perdue--the world is more dangerous today than it was on September 11, 2001, when you look at the threats and, as he pointed out, the cyber threats as well. I am very privileged and honored to stand with Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. My father is a marine. He served with the 58th Rifle Company out of Billings, MT. To have a lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan--Senator Sullivan, it is an honor to have you with us here today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Mr. DAINES. I say to Senator Rounds, thank you. We have heard from a lieutenant colonel, Senator Ernst. We have heard from a former Governor, Senator Rounds. I say to Senator Rounds, I could see the passion. This is not just in our head, it is in our heart. You looked in the eyes of the troops. You have wished them the very best as they deployed--going into harm's way to protect our freedoms in this country--as the Governor of South Dakota. I am honored to stand here today with you and to push this institution to fulfill its duty on behalf of our men and women who serve in the Armed Forces and are performing their duty. Speaking of executive leadership, I am honored now to ask Senator Perdue of Georgia to share his thoughts on this. Senator Perdue served 40 years in the private sector, rising to the highest level in the corporate world, to CEO. He brings that business experience, that focus on results, that accountability that Washington, DC, so desperately needs. Senator Perdue has the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, one of the two submarine bases that support the sea leg of our nuclear triad. In Montana, we have the ICBMs, the land leg. Senator Perdue has the sea leg, one of the three legs of that very important deterrent that we have, a nuclear deterrent. I say to Senator Perdue, thank you for joining us today.

Mr. DAINES. I say thank you to Senator Ernst. As I listened to Senator Ernst, I was struck by the fact that here to my right I have Lieutenant Colonel Ernst, who proudly served in the Iowa Army National Guard, and to my left I have Lieutenant Colonel Dan Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Senator from Alaska. So it is really an honor to be here between veterans who are speaking on behalf of our veterans about what is going on here in Washington and how broken it is. It is my honor now to introduce Senator Mike Rounds. Mike was the Governor of South Dakota. So he had the Guard reporting to him as the Governor. Montana and South Dakota share a fence line, as we say, Senator Rounds. So my good friend and my neighbor from South Dakota, Senator Rounds, thanks for joining us.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with my freshmen colleagues.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, just yesterday I joined a colloquy with my freshmen Republican Members on the importance of our national security, the importance of our troops, the importance of the threats that are currently facing our Nation. I was honored to be on the floor with my fellow freshmen Members, including Senators Rounds, Capito, Sullivan, Lankford, and Gardner. Today, Senators Ernst and Perdue will also join us. I wish to take this opportunity to talk about the Republican freshmen class and describe who we are. We were all elected just about 2 years ago, in the fall of 2014. While each one does much more than these brief descriptions, I thought it might be important to share this: Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard, where Iowa, of course, is home to Camp Dodge National Guard Base. Senator Ernst was the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate as well as see combat. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Senator Sullivan is a marine. My dad is also a marine. Of course, Alaska is home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Senator Mike Rounds, the former Governor of South Dakota. He is a great businessman, and he resides in South Dakota, which is also the home of Ellsworth Air Force Base. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. I served with Cory in the U.S. House. Of course, Colorado is proudly home to the U.S. Air Force Academy as well as NORTHCOM and NORAD. Senator David Perdue of Georgia. Senator Perdue has over 40 years of business experience, including being a CEO. Of course, Georgia is home to many military operations but is the home of Fort Benning as well. Senator Shelley Capito of West Virginia, the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia. I also served with Shelley in the U.S. House. West Virginia is proudly the home of McLaughlin Air National Guard Base. Then, Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma. Again, I served with James in the House. Oklahoma is the home of Tinker Air Force Base and many others. Senator Lankford is on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as serving on the Appropriations Committee with me, and we will talk more about that in a moment. We are all new to the Senate, and I can tell you we are scratching our heads trying to understand why this institution is not funding the Department of Defense. Here are the facts: The Department of Defense appropriations passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June on a bipartisan vote of 282 to 138. Forty-eight Democrats were part of that vote in the affirmative. I sit on the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. Senate. We passed the Defense appropriations bill out of the Appropriations Committee on May 26. There are 16 Republicans and 14 Democrats on that committee, for a total of 30, and it passed 30 to 0. It was a shutout. Not one member on either side of the aisle opposed funding the Defense appropriations bill. I ask my colleagues, what has changed? The other side has filibustered our troops a total of six times in the last year and a half. Senator Capito raised a very good and simple question yesterday: Why? This past Friday, I visited Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, home of 4,000 airmen in my home State, and I thought the same thing. Here we are having a 9/11 remembrance ceremony there in the beautiful chapel on Malmstrom Air Force Base. Here we are in the middle of Malmstrom Air Force Base that protects us and has responsibilities for 147 intercontinental ballistic missiles. Why can't my colleagues on the other side of the aisle vote to support the troops who keep us safe? I can tell my colleagues one thing for certain. The world is a very dangerous place, and the defense of our country relies on properly and promptly funding the Department of Defense. Usually, the Defense appropriations is one of the easiest appropriations to get passed. It is the layup, if you will, that this body can do. I can tell my colleagues one thing. Our enemies aren't waiting around for Democrats to drop their political games. Why can't they support a bill that was voted out of committee unanimously on a bipartisan basis? Why can't they work with us to pass this very important bill that would provide the necessary funding for our military? What has changed? I think I might have figured it out, and it is not a good answer. It is about political credit. The other side does not want to fund our military because they don't want the Republicans to take credit for funding our troops. That can't be, can it? I hope this body, the U.S. Senate--the great deliberative body of Congress--has not become a place where we hold up a noncontroversial bill that funds our troops because one side is playing politics. I am very honored to have Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa join me. Senator Ernst is a great American. Senator Ernst is an officer, retired from the U.S. military; the first woman who has served in both the U.S. Senate and has been in combat. It is an honor to stand with Senator Ernst on behalf of our troops, and I am looking forward to her comments.

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Gardner for those great thoughts. This struck me: What if the Members of Congress were dependent upon the members of the U.S. military to vote on whether we got our paychecks or not? Maybe we ought to turn around the tables. Maybe we should halt paying this body until our troops get the assurance that they are going to get paid. Let's put the accountability right back on this institution. I thank the Senator for standing up on behalf of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America military. I spent 28 years in business before I came to Capitol Hill. I spent one term in the House, and now this is my first term in the Senate. When I came here with my freshman class in January 2015, we came in here with our loved ones. Our friends and family were up in the Gallery, near where we stand here and sit here today. About 30 feet from where I am standing right here, we all stood on that step, and the Vice President, right there, administered an oath to us. We raised our right hand and took the oath. In that oath that I was honored to give that day after I was elected by the people of Montana, I swore and said: ``I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.'' What has happened? We all took that same oath. It is time we started acting like it. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Sullivan. I am not sure whether to call him Senator Sullivan or United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan, but his humility as a soldier, as someone who served in the United States Marine Corps leads me to brag about him. He is bringing the voice of the troops, as he is one--a reservist--to the floor of the Senate. He is a voice for those whose voices are not being heard right now. We are making that clear today, and I thank him again for bringing that voice to the floor. I also think about Senator Sullivan when he talks about Russia. It is one thing being a Montanan and speaking about Russia, but when you are an Alaskan speaking about Russia--well, Alaska is on the doorstep of a resurgent Russia. I know this threat is particularly meaningful to him as an Alaskan, and he is proud of the men and women from Alaska who serve regarding that threat. I am now looking forward to hearing from Senator Gardner. I think we are going to have Senator Sullivan preside over the Senate so Senator Gardner can come and share his thoughts. Senator Gardner is a dear friend. He also resides in a Rocky Mountain State. He is from Colorado, and I am from Montana. We share a love of the West and our beautiful States. I have been so impressed with Senator Gardner's leadership as a freshman here in Washington, DC. We served together in the House, and then we came to the Senate. Senator Gardner has been a leader on the threat of North Korea and helped to pass a bill with strong bipartisan support as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. I am grateful for his leadership and what he is doing for our country in coming to the floor today and speaking on behalf of our troops. I thank him. (Mr. SULLIVAN assumed the Chair.)

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Rounds for those thoughts. As a member of the Appropriations Committee myself, I am again struck by thinking that the Defense appropriations bill passed out of our committee by a vote of 30 to 0. Yet trying to bring it to the floor of the Senate just to debate on it, just to begin--let's bring it down and start having a discussion on this bill that we have stopped six times in a strictly partisan vote. I am pleased to have another freshman Senator join us today, Mrs. Capito of West Virginia. Senator Capito is also a member of the Appropriations Committee. I am grateful Senator Capito is here as well. I know she has the McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, the airlift wing, in her State and is proud to represent the men and women who serve in the Guard in West Virginia. I thank Senator Capito for sharing her thoughts today.

Mr. DAINES. Senator Capito has made a very good point. After she spent 14 years in the House, this is the easy bill to pass. Funding our military, funding the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States--that is the easy bill. In the Senate Appropriations Committee, there are 16 Republicans and 14 Democrats. As Senator Capito pointed out--another appropriator--it passed 30 to 0 out of the Senate committee on May 26, but we haven't had a response from the other side as to what has changed since May 26 when we passed it 30 to 0. I thank Senator Capito for her thoughts. I now welcome Senator Sullivan, another freshman Senator from Alaska. I wish to say something special about Senator Sullivan, U.S. lieutenant colonel, Marine Corps Reserve. We are grateful for his service to our Nation as a marine. I am the son of a marine. I am standing next to a marine on the floor. Senator Sullivan, thank you. By the way, Senator Capito and I both had a chance to visit Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson twice in the first 6 months of this year, various visits. It is an impressive operation. I am very proud, as I know you are, of those men and women who wear the uniform. Senator Sullivan. (Mr. GARDNER assumed the Chair.)

Mr. DAINES. U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan, I thank you, and I appreciate those comments. When Senator Sullivan talks about our colleagues saying no, what they are saying no to is over 1.2 million Active-Duty military and over 800,000 Reserve military. They are saying no to almost 10,000 troops engaged in combat in Afghanistan and the additional military in harm's way in places like Iraq, Syria, and other places around the globe. We have been hearing from freshmen Senators from the Republican Party here today in this colloquy. We have another freshman from Oklahoma. I am very honored and grateful to serve with Senator Lankford from Oklahoma, the home of Tinker Air Force Base. Senator Lankford, I thank you for sharing your thoughts today. (Mr. SULLIVAN assumed the Chair.)

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Lankford for his thoughts. As freshmen who are new to the Senate, we are scratching our heads, like the American people are, as this institution--our friends across the aisle are holding up funding our troops. At the same time, as Senator Lankford mentioned, the President is shipping $1.7 billion of foreign currency--because he can't do it in U.S. currency without breaking the law--to the Iranians. I am glad to be joined now by Senator Gardner of Colorado. He is a dear friend, a great colleague, and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee as well. I thank him for joining us on this important topic.

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Gardner. I know he is very proud as he is standing here representing the Air Force Academy--what an incredible institution--Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD. I thank him for coming down to the floor and making their voices heard here, speaking on behalf of them on the floor of the U.S. Senate. To wrap up, we have had six of the new Republican freshmen speaking today in this colloquy. These are fresh eyes and fresh voices, looking at what is going on in Washington, DC, and saying: It is broken. It is very simple: We must make sure our military forces have the tools they need to perform their job because I can tell you one thing-- our enemies are not waiting around for Senate Democrats to fund our military to make it a fair fight. Maybe we should do this: Maybe we should stop funding Congress until we fund the military. I wonder if that would wake this institution. Why don't we put congressional pay in limbo? Why don't we see somebody filibuster congressional pay? I think we should. We should forfeit our paychecks until we fund the U.S. military. The bottom line is, the world is a dangerous place. The defense of our country relies on properly and promptly funding the Department of Defense. How can this institution--how can our friends across the aisle-- continue to stand here and say no to our U.S. military when so much is at stake? The U.S. House has passed this bipartisan bill; the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. Senate passed it 30 to 0--16 Republicans joining 14 Democrats on a 30-to-0 vote on the Defense appropriations. We must say yes to our military who fight for us every day, who stand up, protect our rights and our freedoms that we enjoy every day. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, while I was home last weekend, I had a chance to visit with servicemembers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, as well as the Montana Air National Guard, also in Great Falls. Every time I visit them, I am incredibly humbled by their character, their dedication, and their determination toward their mission. The airmen of Malmstrom bear the great weight of standing ready with the world's most powerful weapons, employing them everyday as a vital component or our Nation's nuclear deterrent force. This is where approximately one-third of our Nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles reside. I have the utmost faith in the nearly 4,000 airmen at Malmstrom who operate, maintain, and provide security for the missiles that silently sit across North Central Montana. From the airman first class raised in Butte who stands armed and ready on his first 5-day post, to the senior leadership, I know those airmen will not fail our Nation. However, as I speak today, my friends from across the aisle are blocking funds for these troops, for our troops, and have already six times blocked consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017, denying our troops the proper funding and support they deserve. So today I am standing here with some of my freshmen colleagues imploring our friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop the political gamesmanship. Let's get back to work, and let's start with funding our military. We see ISIS expanding into places like Libya and managing to influence people and attacking Western targets in Paris, in Belgium, and even in our homeland, in San Bernardino and Orlando. We must make sure our military forces have the tools they need to perform their job and defend against 21st-century threats. A couple of months ago, I was en route to China. On the way over, I stopped at Pearl Harbor and had a briefing from Admiral Harris, the head of Pacific Command, and heard about the threats that are faced right now in the region--in North Korea, for example. In fact, just Friday morning I was at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the chapel at Malmstrom Air Force Base with the airmen there. It was a very moving ceremony as we were remembering what happened 15 years ago. We saw the videos and the images of New York and the Pentagon. Thursday night, as I am heading back to Great Falls for the Friday morning remembrance ceremony, I am seeing tweets about a 5.0 quake that occurred in North Korea as they tested their fifth underground nuclear bomb--a bomb that is now starting to rival the size of what was dropped on Hiroshima--or whether it is spending time in Alaska on the way home and hearing about the threats of Russia and the aggression we see from the Russians. Five weeks ago I was in Israel hearing firsthand from the Israeli leadership of the existential threat of a nuclear Iran in the future, hearing about Hezbollah and how they now have over 100,000 rockets in Lebanon pointed at Israel, funded in large part by the Iranians. There are the Hamas terror tunnels that came out of Gaza. There is nothing more chilling than crawling in one of those tunnels. There we were in our jeans and our hiking boots. It wasn't fancy. It was just outside Gaza in an agricultural area. You could look off and see tractors tending to their fields around us. In Israel there were tunnels built by Hamas, primarily funded and sponsored by the Iranians, where they had very extensive electrical systems, HVAC systems. They found syringes there. They were planning to kidnap Israeli solders and drug them and take them back as hostages. And then going to the Syrian border in a Jeep and standing right on the border between Israel and Syria and glassing into ISIS-controlled villages 3 miles away. Looking across the security perimeter fence and seeing a black SUV, I asked my Israeli escort there--I said: What am I looking at there? He said: Is there a black flag coming out of the back of it? I said: There is not. He said: That is an Al Qaeda vehicle. This is why we must ensure that our men and our women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our Nation. Whether it is our Nation's peace-through-strength strategy at Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base or our Army and Air National Guard members who work to support our communities in times of emergency and respond to deployments overseas, Montana is playing a critical role in meeting our Nation's security and military needs. At Malmstrom, the commander's coin that I was given a couple of years ago says this: ``Scaring the hell out of America's enemies since 1962.'' They do so because this body--the Senate, the Congress--chose duty over politics. We must stand with our nearly 2 million members of the U.S. military who fight threats every day. That is why we are down on the floor today fighting on behalf of them. We must stand up for those who stand up for the rights and freedoms we enjoy, and we must make sure we are ready for the 21st-century threat. I am very pleased to have one of my colleagues, Senator Rounds from South Dakota, here. Senator Rounds was the Governor of South Dakota before he was elected to the Senate, another freshman I have the privilege of serving with. Of course, he has Ellsworth Air Force Base there, the home of the B-1 Lancer. I am grateful that Senator Rounds has come down to the floor today--another freshman Senator--to discuss these very important issues.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with my Republican colleagues.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I recognize Tom Rummel of Sanders County, who has served as sheriff since 2010. Thanks to his initiative and hard work, citizens affected by the Copper King Fire have been kept safe and up to speed on the latest fire activity. Sheriff Rummel has coordinated local law enforcement and emergency services for weeks to ensure the safety of Montanans and their property as the Copper King Fire has grown to be the largest wildfire in the State. As the fire increased in size to over 28,000 acres, Mr. Rummel implemented evacuation and pre-evacuation notices to numerous residences. In addition to phone calls, public notices around the county, and house visits, Sheriff Rummel has used Facebook to keep the community apprised of the very latest information about the fire. He has posted regular updates to the Sanders County Sheriff's Facebook page, using the power of social media to get the word out to his community. While recent weather has tempered the spread of the Copper King Fire, Sanders County will not be completely out of the woods until we see a season-ending weather event. As Montanans continue to suffer the consequences of Federal mismanagement of our forests, it is often up to local leaders to protect our communities from wildfires. I commend Sheriff Rummel for his tireless work to keep Montanans safe and keep his community informed. All Montanans, and indeed all Americans, owe our local law enforcement and emergency responders a debt of gratitude for their daily efforts on our behalf.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, my distinguished colleague from Oregon commented about how technology companies are concerned about what is going on. I spent over a decade in the private sector--in fact, 12 years with a cloud computing company. We had 17 offices around the world and a product in 33 different languages. I saw firsthand what it means to be engaged in the high-tech business and the challenges related to hacking. I also know firsthand the challenge our country does face when it comes to cyber criminals. We were attacked routinely in our company and had to defend those attacks off and build rock- solid, hardened firewalls to protect our customers. Technology has made it easier for bad actors to steal our identities, to distribute malware, and to commit a whole host of other crimes, all from behind a computer screen anywhere in the world. Our law enforcement faces tremendous challenges in tracking and stopping these criminals. The fact is, our law enforcement policies need to be updated to reflect the 21st-century realities, but these policy changes need to be made through a process that is transparent and that is effective and, importantly, protects our civil liberties. The changes to rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure would allow the government to hack an unlimited number of Americans' computers, including innocent victims, with a single warrant. This rule change was approved behind the closed doors of a little-known judicial conference. Fundamental changes to the way we allow law enforcement to execute searches need to be made, there is no doubt about that. We are in agreement that changes need to be made; however, it must be through a process that is fully transparent to the American people. We cannot give the Federal Government a blank check to infringe upon our civil liberties. If Congress does not act, this rule change will automatically go into effect on December 1. S. 2952, the Stopping Mass Hacking Act, stops the rule change and will allow Congress to consider new law enforcement tools through--and this is very important--the full, open, transparent process they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support this not only bipartisan but also bicameral piece of legislation. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in the Capitol in Washington, DC, there is a corridor that highlights the discovery and expansion of America. Just above one of the doors, there is a quote that reminds me of the people who have helped shape Montana, and that makes me proud to be a Westerner. The quote from Horace Greenley reads, ``Go West, young men, go West and grow up with the country.'' Today I honor a man who has grown up in the city of Belgrade, MT. Valentine Kuntz was born and raised on the family farm after his parents immigrated to America from Russia. Folks know him as Val, but many may not know the role he has played in serving and building Belgrade. Val has served his country honorably throughout his life. As a young man he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Pacific theater during World War II. On September 2, 1945, Val was a part of the 200 ships sitting in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese surrendered and ended the war. After the war, Val served as a sawmill operator and business owner in Belgrade. The city of Belgrade owes thanks to Val for his part in constructing the Catholic church and the goalposts for the Belgrade High School football field. Val was also the entrepreneur behind the first fourplex housing unit in Belgrade. Together, Val and his wife, Betsy, have raised nine children, four of whom inherited the talent and building trades from their father. Today their children continue his legacy by working on construction projects all over the world. However, out of all of his achievements, his children are his pride and joy. On July 23, 2016, Val will celebrate his 90th birthday, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you for the long hours and hard work that helped build Belgrade, MT. I am so grateful for all that you have done and all that your children continue to do, and I wish you a very happy birthday.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, data has become a form of currency. Today, businesses and government are processing and storing more information than ever. This creates access, organization, and security problems for government agencies using outdated, legacy IT systems. I worked in the technology sector for over a decade. We were doing cloud computing before the cloud even had a name. So I know first-hand the advantages cloud computing offers from a cost-saving, organization, and security perspective. The private sector is transitioning to cloud computing systems at a rapid pace, but the government continues to lag behind. There are unnecessary impediments related to planning, funding, and procurement that inhibit Federal agencies from migrating to cloud computing services. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues Senator Moran, Senator Udall, and Senator Warner in introducing the Cloud IT Act. This bill will accelerate deployment of cloud computing services in the Federal government by removing impediments to investment. It will streamline the procurement process for IT tools and encourage the government to work more closely with the cloud computing industry. Migrating Federal government systems to cloud computing services will reduce redundancies and save time and taxpayer dollars. I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this much needed legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I thank Senator Sullivan. What an honor to stand here today next to two lieutenant colonels-- Lieutenant Colonel Ernst and Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan. Lieutenant Colonel Ernst was the first woman to ever serve in combat and also serve in the U.S. Senate. I am truly grateful for their service. I thank them also for organizing this colloquy and bringing us together. The leadership they provide as Members who have worn and do wear the uniform of the U.S. military and also serve in the Senate is critical in this most perilous time for our Nation as we face the many threats around the world--and to think that the Senate is going to recess tonight for an extended summer recess and leaving the very important unfinished business of funding the U.S. military and our troops. Today the Senate Democrats are expected to once again block the consideration of the Defense Appropriations Act of 2017, denying our troops proper funding and support they deserve. What kind of message does that send to the men and women who are today putting their lives at risk to protect our country? What message does that send to them? As Senator Sullivan said, and Senator Ernst, this is not the first time. It is not the second time. It is not the third time. It is not the fourth time. It is the fifth time we will see our friends across the aisle, Senate Democrats, filibuster the funding of our troops. This reminds me of ``Goundhog Day.'' What is even more frustrating, the Senate Democrats are refusing to even debate the issue. I spent 28 years in the private sector. I will tell you, one way to assure you don't get anything done is to not even discuss it. That seems to be the road the Senate Democrats are taking. It is the low road, not the high road. They would prefer to once again obstruct what we call regular order in this body, much in the same fashion they did during the past few years, which became the hallmark of a failed Democratic-led Senate majority. While our troops are actively engaged in multiple theaters across the world, and they need the critical support for our growing mission overseas, my friends from across the aisle are actively blocking our troops from being combat-ready. Let's remember--just remember this: A few short weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed this bill on a solid bipartisan vote, 282 to 138--48 Democrats supported that bill. It passed with strong bipartisan support. Then, over here on the Senate side--I serve on the Appropriations Committee. We passed this bill out of the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 30 to 0--30 to 0. That is called a shutout, that is called running up the score. I remember that clearly. Not one Democrat opposed this bill to fund our troops when it passed out of committee. Yet, when it comes to the floor, the Senate minority leader now is instructing the Senate Democrats to filibuster getting the bill even debated here as well as passed on the Senate floor. What has changed? What has changed? Nothing has changed, except for the fact that our troops are not getting the funding and support they need. Is that what you really want, Mr. Minority Leader? The passage of this legislation is critical to carrying out the missions in an increasingly dangerous world. I can tell you one thing: Our enemies are not waiting for Senate Democrats to fund our troops and make it a fair fight. This bill pays the salaries of 1.2 million military Active Duty, 800,000 Reservists. The Senate Democrats are saying no to almost 10,000 troops engaged, right now as we speak, in combat in Afghanistan, an additional 5,000 troops in harm's way in Iraq, and many more throughout the globe. I come from Montana. We have one of the highest per capita vet populations in the United States. I am proud of the Malmstrom Air Force Base. We have one-third of our Nation's ICBMs ready at any moment here to defend our freedom. They silently sit across the plains of Montana. Senate Democrats are failing them. It is unacceptable. As the Senate heads home for the work period, I challenge my Democratic colleagues to go back home and look at those veterans and those Active-Duty troops in the eyes and ask: Did I serve these selfless men and woman or did I let the minority leader of the Democrats play cheap party politics with funding their pay? The minority leader's constituents in Nevada deserve more, Montanans deserve more, and the American people deserve more. I want to now recognize the junior Senator from North Carolina Thom Tillis, who has an amazing group of Active military and veterans there in North Carolina. I am proud to stand here with Senator Tillis. I look forward to what Senator Tillis has to say.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, ``If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.'' These are inspiring words and a mantra for the Miles City nonprofit Wake Up & Lace Up. But for Kelly and Cindy Reid, this quote is a lifestyle, and for the last 34 years this couple has selflessly volunteered their time to setting the community of Miles City in the right direction. Together they have brought economic growth and national recognition to this town of nearly 9,000 people. They are an active couple and have used sports and athletic events to bring people from their community, Montana, and neighboring States together. Cindy uses running and athletics as a powerful motivator. As a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia, she used exercise as a way to work through her illness. From this experience she cofounded Wake Up & Lace Up, which provides direct funding to eastern Montana family to help cover the costs of cancer treatment. These costs include travel expenses and even wigs to chemotherapy patients. For one family, they even provided a stroller to accommodate a family of triplets. When dealt a hard hand, she turned her hardship into an opportunity to extend kindness and has inspired many others to her cause. Altogether the organization has provided nearly $103,000 to 157 patients and their families in Miles City, Forsyth, Colstrip, Hysham, Jordan, Broadus, Baker, Sidney, Plentywood, Fairview, and Circle. Along with her nonprofit, Cindy inspires young girls through multiple athletic programs in her area. Cindy has coached fifth and sixth grade girls traveling basketball teams, girls' softball, and track and field at Washington Middle School and Custer County District High School. Over the years, she has organized multiple athletic events such as Range Runners, Row Run & Ride, and the Badlands Bowl Fun Run. When she isn't running, coaching, or raising money, you can find Cindy playing piano at the Sacred Heart Parish. Her husband and teammate is Miles City native, Kelly Reid. Over the years Kelly has brought economic growth to Miles City through a variety of businesses and events. After serving 2 years in the Army and working as an air traffic controller in Salt Lake, UT, Kelly moved back to his hometown and has been promoting others to be a part of Miles City ever since. Kelly has coordinated numerous events, including boxing matches with Olympic boxer Todd Foster, concerts with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, the 1995 Cattle Drive, and most recognizably the Montana North Dakota All Star Football game. Every year, this game recruits 34 of the best senior players from each State and brings them together in June to raise money for the Knights of Columbus. Over 1,500 players have participated since the inaugural game and brings together over 2,500 friends, families, and fans. The game showcases Montana talent and instills camaraderie and healthy competition into these young men. USA Today even recognized the event as the ``No. 1 Montana Community Event'' in 1998. They have played an irreplaceable role in the lives of so many. Their good deeds and hard work has affected citizens all over Custer County, MT, and North Dakota and improves the lives of Miles City citizens every day. Thank you for the tireless and selfless dedication you have for your community.