Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, Larry Gianchetta, the dean of the University of Montana School of Business, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of this school year. Dean Gianchetta has been a part of the University of Montana staff for 41 years and has served as dean of the School of Business for the past 30 years. Dean Gianchetta has been an inspiration not only for his staff, but also for his students. Dean Gianchetta is an enthusiastic teacher who has instilled an excitement for learning and a commitment to service in his staff and students. He created positive environment for his staff and students, making experiences at the University of Montana enjoyable for all. Dean Gianchetta made sure the school of business could support students for generations to come through its scholarship program. He worked tirelessly to promote the University of Montana School of Business Administration name to gain the financial support needed to educate Montana's next generation of leaders. His dedication not only resulted in donations for the school's scholarship program, but also funding for new school buildings, including the Gallagher Business Building, which opened in 1996, and the Gilkey Center for Executive Education, which opened earlier this year. One of Dean Gianchetta's most admired accomplishments is the founding of the American Indian Business Leaders. It began at the University of Montana and, today, has grown to be a national organization that includes 76 high schools, colleges, and universities. Dean Gianchetta has also helped the University of Montana develop new college majors in marketing and management, a minor in business program, and six certificates in several different areas. Dean Larry Gianchetta does not boast about the accomplishments he has made while at the University of Montana School of Business, but they can be clearly seen not only on the University of Montana campus, but also throughout the country. I may be a Bobcat, but I recognize the tremendous impact this Grizzly has made on our State and our Nation. He will be greatly missed at the University of Montana, but I am confident that the legacy he's left will be carried on for years to come.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Beverly Anderson of Conrad, MT, for her incredible generosity and service to the people of her community. Beverly has a huge heart for helping those in need and has truly cared for those around her. Beverly previously worked as an emergency dispatcher before taking on the many volunteer roles that she now serves in. She is head of her community's Salvation Army, serves at the food bank every Friday, and volunteers for the local abused spouses advocate groups, DFS and CASA. She has a heart for children as well. Every week, she plans crafts and other afterschool activities for area students. Beverly prioritizes spending time helping underprivileged children and, every year, coordinates local efforts to gather school supplies for those in need. As a woman of faith, Beverly regularly takes individuals in recovery from drug abuse with her to church and out to lunch. She visits and prays for those who are sick and dying in her community and takes a special effort to cook food and provide encouragement for the bereaved families. During the holiday season, Beverly is known to secretly shop for children of families in need and gathers people across town to participate in a ``knock and drop'' with presents. She also delivers turkey dinners to families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. A proud parent of two soldiers, Beverly gladly promotes every veteran activity that takes place in her community and helps the VFW send gift boxes to soldiers every Christmas. I am humbled by Beverly's heart for service and her selfless commitment to putting the needs of others before herself. She is truly a standout in her community and has made Montana a much better place. It is with deep gratitude that I honor her today.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, at the beginning of February, Montana lost a true conservationist. Alexander Boris Diekmann, 52 years old, passed away peacefully at his Bozeman home after battling cancer for many years. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and his two sons, Logan and Liam. Alex is originally from California, graduated from Yale University, and previously worked as a financial analyst and in a commercial real estate agency before deciding to pursue his love of the outdoors and taking a position with the Trust for Public Land in Bozeman, MT. In Bozeman, Alex worked as a senior project manager for the Trust for Public Land. He not only worked diligently to increase access to public lands, but also strived to secure Montana's beauty for many years to come. Alex did just that through his 16 years of work to protect the Madison and greater Yellowstone Area, which include the Taylor Fork in the Gallatin Canyon, Three Dollar Bridge, Chestnut Mountain, and Frog Rock and the restoration of O'Dell Creek in the Madison Valley. A large part of his success came from Alex's remarkable ability to facilitate open dialogue and cooperation amongst different interest groups, such as landowners, government agencies, elected officials, and nonprofits. Alex was known as a man very passionate about his work and his efforts to preserve open spaces will have a lasting impact for many years to come. His heartfelt love for conservation can be understood by his own words: ``It is unbelievable how proud people are of being involved in this (conservation) and that's something you can't put a price tag on. The rewards are entirely different. It is all about the heartfelt connection we have with the places we help conserve.'' He worked on more than 55 projects and helped to preserve more than 100,000 acres during his time with the Trust for Public Lands. Some of his accomplishments also include conserving 23,000 acres of forested lands surrounding Whitefish, MT. As a result of Alex's efforts, there is also an abundance of wildlife habitat, water resources, and migratory corridors that are now secured in Montana. Despite Alex's impressive achievements from his time with the Trust for Public Land, he kept a humble spirit and truly cared about the people he worked with. He considered the concerns of others when making decisions and going about his work. He has been described by some of his colleagues as honest, warm, generous, creative, and extremely dedicated. Alex Diekmann, you will be greatly missed, but your legacy of conservation lives on. Thank you for doing what you did to keep the beauty of Montana secure for generations to come. Montanans thank you, and I thank you.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth generation Montanan and engineer who worked at a cloud computing company for, 13 years, I have seen firsthand the opportunities created by advances in technology. As a father of four, I am aware of the huge role technology plays in our students' lives. February 17, 2016, is Digital Learning Day. Students around the globe will be using technology to enhance the classroom learning experience. While digital learning offers many benefits, we must sufficiently protect the personal information of our students. Without proper safeguards in place, our children's privacy is at risk, and student data could end up in the hands of criminals and other bad actors. We need policies in place to ensure students' information and electronic records are processed and stored safely and securely. I am committed to working with my colleagues to harness the power of digital learning while protecting the privacy of our kids.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I remember as we were raising our four children, sometimes it would be late at night with a sick child, and I would turn on ``Sesame Street'' with the child. I remember there was that ``One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)'' song. As I look at that chart, this could be a ``Sesame Street'' illustration. One of these circuits is not like the others. It is such a stark contrast to what we see with the Ninth Circuit. With the disproportionate number of cases that are pending in the Ninth Circuit, this is not that complicated of a problem in terms of trying to identify where the problem lies. It is simply a factor of constraints, and it starts with the population chart my colleague from Alaska has, but then it results in a disproportionate share of cases coming out of that population. That is why something must be done. These two prior Commissions that have studied this before, the one in 1973--which, by the way, in 1973, I was 11 years old. I was about ``Sesame Street'' age then. At that point they said the Ninth Circuit had an overly burdensome size in 1973. Yet again in 1998, I am grateful that California Senator Dianne Feinstein was championing that Commission. She looked at this same issue 18 years ago and determined that the Ninth Circuit was overly burdened and suggested changes be made to the structure of the Federal courts of appeal. So I look forward to working with my colleague from Alaska as we have identified this problem and now move forward to a solution. If there is something we hear over and over again from the American people, it is this: You are not solving the problems facing this country. We have a problem. We have a solution. I look forward to vigorous discussions and continuing to get more information, and I look forward to the alternatives. We think this is the best solution--to split the Ninth, add the Twelfth Circuit. Even after that is done--you take the Ninth and create the new Twelfth Circuit--the Ninth Circuit will still be the largest circuit by population in the United States. I again thank the junior Senator from Alaska for taking the lead in this effort and look forward to continuing this discussion.

Mr. DAINES. I thank the junior Senator from Alaska, and I appreciate him joining me in this most important effort and also for the leadership he has demonstrated on this issue. As the junior Senator from Alaska knows, the Ninth Circuit Court is broken. It is overburdened and is unable to provide quality service and expeditious justice for the Americans it is supposed to serve. When we offer the Pledge of Allegiance, we close with ``and justice for all.'' As I frequently tell my staff, we in public service are ultimately in the customer service business. As U.S. Senators, our No. 1 job is to represent and to serve the people in our States. Our courts should reflect the same serving mentality as they uphold their responsibility to justice, but when our courts are overburdened and overworked, it is the American people who are left underserved and waiting far too long for justice. Unfortunately, under the current structure, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is unable to provide Americans in the West the service they deserve. Take a look at this chart behind me. At 64.4 million people served, the current Ninth Circuit is the largest circuit by population as well as the largest land area. As the junior Senator from Alaska will sometimes remind us, if they divide Alaska in two, Texas is the third largest State in the Nation. It is not just about the geographical size of the West. Look at the number of people who are served in the Ninth Circuit. It includes Montana, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, California, and Hawaii, not to mention several U.S. territories, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. That alone amounts to 20 percent of the Nation's population. Let's put this in context. That is 85 percent larger than the next largest circuit which serves just 34.8 million people, and this chart illustrates that well. Needless to say, the Ninth Circuit's caseload is significantly greater than any other circuit, and that means backlogs and that means delays. Not only is it larger, it is disproportionately larger. On average, the Ninth Circuit has had more than 32 percent of all cases pending nationally. As the junior Senator from Alaska mentioned, it currently has over 14,000 cases pending. As you can see in this next chart behind me, that is three times more than the next closest circuit, the Fifth Circuit, which has around 4,700 cases pending. Processing all these cases takes time; in fact, on the average, over the last 5 years, nearly 15 months from appeal to determination. It is time to take a serious look at how our court system can better serve the American people, and that is why Senator Sullivan and I have introduced two separate bills to address these challenges. Our bills would bring much needed reform, not just to the Ninth Circuit but also to the entire Federal circuit courts of appeals system. The Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act would split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two circuits, providing a more manageable balance of population and geography for both circuits so western Americans can be better served by our courts. The Federal Courts of Appeals Modernization Act would establish a commission to study the Federal circuit courts of appeals system and identify changes needed to promote an expeditious and effective disposition of the Ninth Circuit caseload. Keep this in mind. When we split the circuits into a new Ninth and the Twelfth Circuits, the Ninth Circuit would still have a larger caseload than any other circuit. In the new Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction, there would be 40.8 million people. It would continue to maintain its status as first in population. In the Twelfth Circuit's jurisdiction, this new circuit we would establish, there would be 24.3 million people, which makes it the seventh largest in population among the circuits. It is just a little bit below the average. Those numbers alone should make it clear reforms are needed. It is worth remembering that the challenges facing the Ninth Circuit have been longstanding, and the efforts to find solutions are bipartisan. In fact, two prior Commissions--one in 1973 and the other in 1988, which, by the way, was championed by California Senator Dianne Feinstein--both determined that the Ninth Circuit had an overly burdensome size and scope and suggested that changes be made with the structure of the Federal courts of appeals. It is time to move forward with concrete solutions to address this problem. The bills introduced by the junior Senator from Alaska and I will do so. I was trained as an engineer. As an engineer, one identifies a problem and most importantly finds a solution. We have a capacity constraint which can be alleviated. In thinking about our communities, as our communities grow, we need to add more schools, add more teachers, and add more police officers. We need to ensure that all Americans have access to the justice they deserve. It is time to split the Ninth Circuit. I want to thank the junior Senator from Alaska for championing this important issue, and I look forward to working with him to find a resolution.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize two outstanding and nationally prominent pro athletes, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards and Denver Broncos backup quarterback Brock Osweiler. I am so proud that Montana will be well represented in this year's Super Bowl, and I am so proud to honor these men for their leadership and athletic accomplishments. Dwan grew up in Columbus, MT, and graduated in 1999 from Columbus High School. He then went on to play for Oregon State University and eventually was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2004, where he played for five seasons. In 2010, he was picked up by the Buffalo Bills for two seasons. He signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2012 and is now playing in his 12th NFL season. Dwan has certainly not forgotten where he is from. He is currently making arrangements to bring former Columbus High School football coach John Smith out to watch Dwan play in his first Super Bowl game. This summer, he will put on the eighth Dwan Edwards Elite Football camp, where he spends a week in Billings helping young players develop their football skills. Brock represents Kalispell, where he attended Flathead High School. He graduated in 2009 as an honor roll student and was coached by Russell McGarvel. Brock played college football for Arizona State and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2012. During his time playing in the NFL, he has given back to Flathead and its football program by regularly sending letters of encouragement to the high school team and donating a Flathead Football captains board in 2014. The football team's captains' names are etched into the board each year, which serves as a great honor for these young leaders. My biggest congratulations goes out to both of these fine men for representing the great State of Montana well, both on and off the field. Best of luck to you both in Super Bowl 50 this Sunday. Keep making Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize former BG Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton, MT, on behalf of his lifetime of dedication to our Nation and his selfless service on congressional U.S. Military Academy nomination boards. Bruce has tirelessly served on nomination boards for 25 years, both as a member and board chairman, and has interviewed more than 1,000 young Montana students seeking a nomination to one of our Nation's service academies. Throughout his years of conducting interviews, he has had numerous opportunities to meet and interact with incredible students from all over Montana. Bruce said it was his pleasure to help these students pursue their dreams of becoming an officer in one of our Nation's military branches. In addition to Bruce's tremendous volunteer hours for the nomination boards, he proudly served in the Montana Air National Guard for 34 years. He retired in 1994 as the assistant adjutant general for air for the State of Montana. As a National Guard fighter pilot, Bruce successfully flew over 2,000 hours in the F106 Dart, F102 Dagger, and F89 Scorpion. A graduate of Montana State University, Bruce has also been an active member in his community. He has served on the Highwood School Board for 9 years, is a lifelong member of the Air Force Association, and is an active member of Representative Ryan Zinke's Veterans Advisory Board. Bruce and his wife of 43 years, Miriam, have three daughters and nine grandchildren. Bruce recognizes the great value in supporting our next generation of leaders--especially those who will be defending and protecting our country. I am deeply thankful for Bruce's years of service to our State and Nation and his tireless work on behalf of Montana students.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, modernizing our Nation's energy policy is vital to protecting our national security. The bill that we are discussing today advances our Nation's energy independence and provides for new measures to defend our critical infrastructure. Specifically, cyber threats challenge the security of our Nation and the integrity of our energy infrastructure. This bill will formally introduce the foundational principles of cyber security into our Nation's energy security calculus. However, challenging the Department of Energy to enhance the cyber security of our Nation's electric grid is not enough if the Department of Energy does not have the requisite cyber experts to fulfill the mission. The amendment I submitted today, amendment 3119, will address the gap between the Department of Energy's mission to keep our Nation's energy infrastructure safe from cyber attacks and the Department of Energy's ability to actually do it. Currently, the bill provides for a 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board composed of nine members. The purpose of this board is to anticipate the needs of the future energy workforce. While the bill requires that the board members be representative of disciplines such as labor organizations, education, and minority parties, nowhere does the bill require that a single member of the board have any background on cyber. My amendment requires the membership of the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board to include representation from the cyber security discipline. This amendment better positions the advisory board to integrate cyber security into the energy sector's workforce development strategy for the 21st Century and ultimately provides a mechanism to bring cyber security expertise to the energy sector. Hardening the electric grid and the Nation's energy supply chains against cyber security threats is a critical component to protecting our national energy infrastructure. This amendment lays the foundation to ensure that the Department of Energy has the right cyber security experts to defend these vital national security assets. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to honor Edward B. Smith--a man of great character and a dedicated public servant who was called home on January 25, 2016, at the age of 95. ``Big Ed'' was born in Dagmar, MT, in 1920. He and his wife, Juliet, raised four children near the family homestead, where Ed helped manage the family farm and ranch. He was an avid hunter and sportsman and earned his nickname ``Big Ed'' while playing in the Big Muddy Baseball league. Ed was an active member of the Sheridan County community, serving as a member of the Sheridan County Stockman Association, Wool Growers, and the Sheridan County Fair board, as well as a 4-H leader. Ed's heart for service led him to run for the Montana State Legislature in 1966, where he served for 20 years. In 1972, Ed ran as Montana's Republican candidate for Governor. He went on to serve on Montana's Highway Commission for several years after retiring from the State legislature. Big Ed was a commonsense and independent leader and a man of great integrity. He made a lasting impact on Montana and will be truly missed. Cindy and I will keep his wife, Juliet; his four children; and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 is a crucial step forward in modernizing our country's energy policy and public lands management for the first time in nearly a decade, and we are doing it in a strong, bipartisan fashion. Moreover, we are taking the necessary steps to secure our Nation's energy future, in turn increasing economic opportunity and protecting our Nation's security needs. Here are a few important components of this bill that I would like to highlight. No. 1, it permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This is an important tool for increasing public access to public lands and one of the country's best conservation programs. No. 2, this bill also streamlines the permitting for the export of liquefied natural gas, allowing more American energy to power the world. Montana is the fifth largest producer of hydropower in the Nation, and we have 23 hydroelectric dams. This bill strengthens our Nation's hydropower development by streamlining the permitting process of new projects and finally defining hydropower as a renewable resource. Only Washington, DC, would not define hydropower as a renewable resource. This cleans that up by statute, allowing FERC to provide more time to construct new hydroelectric facilities on existing dams. It also extends construction licenses for Gibson Dam and Clark Canyon Dam, two projects critical to tax revenue and jobs for communities in Montana. This energy bill establishes a pilot project to streamline drilling permits if less than 25 percent of the minerals within the spacing unit are federal minerals. The provision, sponsored by my good friend the senior Senator from North Dakota, Mr. Hoeven, is of particular importance to Montana, given the patchwork of land and mineral ownership in the Bakken. It also improves the Federal permitting of critical and strategic mineral production, which supports thousands of good-paying Montana jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues for our State to support our infrastructure, our schools, and our teachers. Metal and nonmetal mining has created more than 8,500 good-paying Montana jobs. In fact, mining helps support more than 19,000 jobs in total across Montana. Metal mining in Montana has contributed $403 million in taxes, and nonmetal mining produces $128 million every year. This includes $288 million of State and local taxes. Finally, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 modernizes and strengthens the reliability and security of bulk power in America's electrical grid. In Montana, we know the important balance of responsibly developing our natural resources and serving as good stewards of our environment. Our energy sector supports thousands of good-paying jobs for union workers and tribal workers. Access to our State's one-of-a-kind public lands is critical to our State's tourism economy and our very way of life in Montana. This bill facilitates all these goals. Given the overwhelming support this bill received in committee, I am hopeful that this bill will also receive strong bipartisan support as we work through the amendment process and take a final vote on this bill next week. I also look forward to having the opportunity to make this bill even better for our Nation. This legislation makes important gains for Montana energy, but there is still work to do. We can't fully discuss our Nation's energy future without also addressing the President's moratorium on new Federal coal leases and royalty increase attempts for Federal coal, oil, and natural gas. I hope we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to address these important issues, which have a significant impact on jobs, tax revenue, and energy prices in Montana. I would like to thank Chairman Murkowski, Ranking Member Cantwell, and their staffs for their work in getting us to this point. I look forward to seeing and voting on additional amendments from my colleagues in the coming days, and I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line, providing the American people with a comprehensive energy policy that works to support both our economic security as well as our national security.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to honor Blake Wombold of Heart Butte, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, for his generous contribution of new shoes for the Heart Butte High School Boys basketball team. Blake was born in Browning, MT, and is an alumnus of Heart Butte High School, where there were only 19 students in his graduating class. He played basketball throughout his high school career and truly feels basketball is ``king'' in Indian Country. Blake went on to graduate from Salish Kootenai College with a general science degree. He has been with the Army Reserves for 7 years, is a staff sergeant, E-6, as well as a combat trainer/biomedical equipment technician. This year marks the second year that Blake has donated new shoes to Heart Butte's basketball team. Growing up, Blake witnessed the sacrifices his mother, a teacher at Heart Butte School, made to provide for him, and he wanted to be able to give back to the community that supported him. Staff Sergeant Wombold is currently preparing to deploy overseas. His selfless heart is a true example of what it means to be a Montanan. On behalf of all Montanans, I am proud of his service to our community, State, and Nation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Sheradia Linton, a teenager from Havre, MT, who recently used her Make-A-Wish request to support an orphanage for special needs children in India. Sheradia and her family visited the Save the Children India School in Mumbai, where they delivered school supplies and nearly $3,000 that they had raised to the orphanage. During the trip, the family also met with Save Our Sisters girls, who had been rescued from sex trafficking, and participated in a sports day for the special-needs children at the orphanage. Sheradia has Burkitt Lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that affects her immune cells. But despite all she has been through, she still has a desire to help others in need. I commend Sheradia and her family for their work to help and support the children at the Save the Children India School. Sheradia's heart for service and her dedication to improving the lives of others is something that all Montanans can be proud of.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to honor Mark Gollinger for his faithful devotion to the veterans of Butte-Silver Bow, MT. Mark has tirelessly served countless veterans over the years by serving as a liaison between veterans and veteran providers. Mark is a U.S. Navy retired senior chief who now runs the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, DVOP, from the Butte Job Service. One of the chief responsibilities of his position is communicating with veterans in the area and keeping them informed of what is happening around the community. Some of his most recent efforts have included free tax preparation for veterans and Active-Duty military members, virtual career fairs with the Forest Service, and a career mini-summit. Mark also hosts a quarterly veteran service provider, VSP, meetings in Butte, at which presentations are given with information to help veterans learn more about the providers in the area, in addition to sharing any other relevant information for veterans. As a strong advocate for ensuring our veterans are cared and provided for, it is my honor to have someone like Mark Gollinger call Montana home. I am grateful for his exceptional work and look forward to hearing about the continued impact he is having in the Butte community.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the Rocky Mountain Rifle Club, RMRC, for their efforts to support the Teton County 4-H Shooting Sports Air Rifle and Air Pistol clubs. I appreciate RMRC's efforts to honor Montana's strong hunting legacy and protect our Second Amendment rights. There are currently 20 Montana kids enrolled in the Teton program. Three students are among the top 10 Montana shooters for their age groups: Berit Bedord, age 14; Ashley Pearson, age 13; and Luke Ostberg, age 12. These three have been the longest lasting members of the Teton club and have steadily earned top scores in State competitions. The aim of the Teton County 4-H program is to introduce young Montanans to shooting with a focus on safety and the proper and ethical use of firearms. The shooting sports program is one of the most popular 4-H programs in the country, according to Brian Bedord, the coordinator for the Teton 4-H shooting program. The Rocky Mounty Rifle Club has been a strong supporter of the Teton County 4-H Shooting Sports Air Rifle and Air Pistol clubs and is currently raising funds to purchase top-of-the-line air rifles and air pistols in addition to target equipment for the 4-H program. It is my honor to thank the Rocky Mountain Rifle Club and all of its members and employees for continuing to work towards the responsible education of firearms for young Montanans. The right to keep and bear arms is an issue that is of upmost importance to me and the people of Montana. I am grateful for all of RMRC's hard work to educate Montanans and support our State's strong tradition of responsible firearm ownership.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want to recognize Rick Young, a proud veteran from Forsyth, MT. Montana is blessed with a rich legacy of service, and it is my honor to recognize not only Rick's service to our country, but his work to make quality health care accessible for all Montana veterans. Rick proudly served our country as a marine from January 1971 to January 1975. Unfortunately, his current illness requires constant care and attention. His wife, Sharon, long served as his primary round-the- clock caretaker and was confined to their home due to Rick's condition, which required an external ventilator to breathe at all times. Eventually his needs surpassed his ability to stay home, and he had to move into a long-term care facility. While Rick was still at home, the Rosebud Health Care Center, RHCC, facility initiated a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, to be able to provide care and services to veterans in its long- term care unit. The previous aging and resource center for Rosebud County was in Glendive, MT, about 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Rick's home in Forsyth, MT. Thankfully, RHCC received approval from the VA to provide care services close to home for Rick on November 1, 2015. Rick's persistence and advocacy throughout his illness helped serve as the catalyst for RHCC establishing a contract with the VA that allows for veterans to receive long-term care in Forsyth. Our State has one of the largest populations of veterans per capita, and Rick's efforts have led the VA to create additional resources to help to provide health care services to Montana's extensive veteran population. I am so proud to have advocates like Rick and Sharon fighting for veterans in Montana. Through his inspiring work to increase veterans' access to care, Rick Young has created an unmatchable legacy that will leave a lasting mark on our State. Keep fighting, Rick. I am rooting for you.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, last year when I decided to run for Montana's open Senate seat, I promised the people of Montana I would work tirelessly to repeal ObamaCare. I am upholding that promise. Tomorrow the Senate will vote to repeal President Obama's broken health care law because for many Montana families the President's health care law hasn't been what it was promised to be. Too many Montanans have seen their work hours cut, have been forced off the plans they liked, and were told they couldn't see the doctors they trusted. Health care premiums are not as affordable for Americans as President Obama claimed they would be. We are seeing premiums rising once again. In Montana, folks who are purchasing plans from the ObamaCare exchanges are getting hit with double-digit rate increases. More than 40,000 Montanans are expected to receive notices that their insurance rates have increased by double digits--an average of 34 percent for some plans. To put that into perspective, that is another $1,000 a year for a 40-year-old on one of Montana's silver plans. Some Montanans have been hit with even higher rate increases. Take Cindy from Missoula, MT, who received a letter from her health insurance company that her premiums were increasing by 40 percent. Unfortunately, these rate hikes are the predictable result of forcing a partisan piece of legislation through Congress without transparent consideration or bipartisan input. Sadly, those impacted the hardest by these steep rate increases are often those who can least afford it. Americans need access to affordable care, but ObamaCare not only takes uninsured Americans in the wrong direction, it is failing to reliably provide the basic coverage Americans deserve. Look no further than the health co-op system established under ObamaCare. All but one lost money in the last year--all but one. More than half have collapsed, forcing more than 700,000 Americans to find new health insurance options. In 2007, President Obama said himself that by the end of his first term ObamaCare would ``cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family's premium by up to $2,500 a year.'' Montanans haven't seen their premiums decreased by $2,500 a year. It is not even close. Montanans are forced once again off the health care plans they liked and away from the doctors they trusted because when Washington, DC, bureaucrats take over a health care system, inevitably prices go up and the quality of care goes down. That is exactly what we have seen happen with ObamaCare. After more than 5 years of this Obama experiment, it is clear ObamaCare isn't working. I grew up in Montana. Spending time outdoors is an important way of life for us back home. I was fly fishing before Brad Pitt made it cool in the movie ``A River Runs Through It.'' When you are in one of Montana's blue-ribbon streams and your fishing line gets tangled up, you have a couple different options. Sometimes you can take some time to untangle it and make another cast, but other times, your line gets so tangled up and knotted up that the best option is to cut the line and start over. It is time to cut the line on President Obama's failed health care law and tie on a new fly. That is what the Senate is going to do this week. This bill dismantles President Obama's bungled health care law. It also puts our States on a glide path away from ObamaCare. It will build a bridge to replace this broken law with State-led solutions that put patients back in the center of the health care equation and return the health care decisions to Americans, to families, to their doctors and away from a bunch of DC bureaucrats. When we pass this historic legislation tomorrow, it will be the first time an ObamaCare repeal bill will be on President Obama's desk for his signature. He is going to have to decide whether to put the American people first or if he will continue imposing fines and substandard care on the hard-working people of this country. Even if the President rejects the will of the American people and vetoes this bill, I will continue working to protect Montanans from rising health care costs, and I will keep working to ensure that all Americans receive the quality health care they deserve. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools, I understand how important a first rate education is to our kids' future. By increasing local control of our schools and lessening the influence Washington bureaucrats, we can provide States with the flexibility needed to meet the unique needs of our students and communities. That is why I am introducing the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success, or A-PLUS, Act. By shifting control back to the states, individual and effective solutions can be created to address the multitude of unique challenges facing schools across the country. Through these ``laboratories of democracy,'' Americans can watch and learn how students can benefit when innovative reforms are implemented on the local level. The A-PLUS Act would give states greater flexibility in allocating federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement in their schools. With A-PLUS, States would be freed from unworkable teacher standards, Washington-knows-best performance metrics, and onerous Federal testing requirements that have failed to bring about promised improvements in academic achievement. States would be held accountable by parents and teachers because a bright light would shine directly on the decisions made by State capitals and local school districts. With freedom from Federal mandates comes more responsibility, transparency, and accountability on States. States would need to adhere to all civil rights laws and work towards advancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children as well. This legislation would go a long ways towards returning the responsibility for our kids' education closer to home and reduces the influence of the Federal Government over our classrooms. I want to thank Senators Grassley, Cruz, Lee, Rubio, Lankford, and Perdue for being original cosponsors of this bill and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools, I understand how important a first rate education is to our kids' future. By increasing local control of our schools and lessening the influence Washington bureaucrats, we can provide States with the flexibility needed to meet the unique needs of our students and communities. That is why I am introducing the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success, or A-PLUS, Act. By shifting control back to the states, individual and effective solutions can be created to address the multitude of unique challenges facing schools across the country. Through these ``laboratories of democracy,'' Americans can watch and learn how students can benefit when innovative reforms are implemented on the local level. The A-PLUS Act would give states greater flexibility in allocating federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement in their schools. With A-PLUS, States would be freed from unworkable teacher standards, Washington-knows-best performance metrics, and onerous Federal testing requirements that have failed to bring about promised improvements in academic achievement. States would be held accountable by parents and teachers because a bright light would shine directly on the decisions made by State capitals and local school districts. With freedom from Federal mandates comes more responsibility, transparency, and accountability on States. States would need to adhere to all civil rights laws and work towards advancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children as well. This legislation would go a long ways towards returning the responsibility for our kids' education closer to home and reduces the influence of the Federal Government over our classrooms. I want to thank Senators Grassley, Cruz, Lee, Rubio, Lankford, and Perdue for being original cosponsors of this bill and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in honor of National Adoption Month, I want to recognize one member of Montana's community who has opened her home and heart to be an adoptive parent. Mrs. Mary Crawford is what I believe one of the best Montana has to offer. As an original cosponsor of a resolution to designate November as National Adoption Month and November 21 as National Adoption Day that passed the Senate unamiously this week, I could find no better time than this to honor Mary. This month we honor selfless individuals like Mary who have dedicated themselves toward comforting, protecting, and improving the lives of children they have welcomed into their homes. Like most foster parents who later become adoptive parents, the process isn't easy, but the resolve of both Mary and husband to continue to provide a loving home for nine children is nothing short of admirdable. Mary has provided a family which has made a huge difference in these childrens' lives--giving them a family for life, beyond just their childhood years. These children are safe today in the arms of loving, adopting parents because of Mary. Montana has kids who are ready and waiting to be adopted. In fact, there are 415,000 children currently in the U.S. Foster Care System, and 108,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. Mary has taken tremendous steps in providing six children with a forever home to give them the stability and love that she and her husband could provide. I am unbelievably proud to have a citizen like Mary Crawford in the great State of Montana. I am thankful for the love and support she has shown these children.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2297 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the men and women of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana who proudly defend our Nation by ensuring safe, secure, and effective nuclear forces and combat ready airmen. They are the best of the best. During the fifth Global Strike Challenge, the 341st Missile Wing ``brought home'' the coveted Blanchard trophy for Best Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, ICBM, Wing in the Air Force. Additionally, the members of the wing earned the following awards during the competitions: Best Security Forces M240 Crew; Best Helicopter Search and Rescue Team; Best ICBM Missile Handling Team; Best Missile Communication Maintenance Team; Best Facilities Maintenance Team; Best Missile Munitions Team Trophy, Blackburn Trophy, Best ICBM Maintenance; Klotz Trophy, Best ICBM and Helicopter Operations; Neary Trophy Best Emergency War Order Crew; and Innovation Trophy. The citizens of Montana and this Nation are proud of the great warriors stationed in Great Falls at the 341st Missile Wing who daily ensure our country and our allies are safe from nuclear attack.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Obama administration's war on energy isn't just a war on coal, it is a war on American jobs, American families, and our national security. That is why it is no surprise that the President's anti-energy agenda is gaining opposition from both sides of the aisle. I am thankful for the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by leader McConnell, Senator Capito, two Republicans, as well as Senator Manchin, Senator Heitkamp, two Democrats, in standing up against the President's harmful regulations on our Nation's coal- fired plants. I am proud to have joined them as a cosponsor of the two bipartisan resolutions to stop the EPA from imposing its anti-coal regulations. The Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval we are considering today will block the Obama administration's regulations on existing coal-fired plants. We are also seeing strong opposition from more than half of the States in the country, including my home State of Montana, which through three different lawsuits have requested an initial stay on the rule. The Obama administration's reckless agenda is shutting down coal- fired powerplants across the United States. It is killing family waged jobs for union workers and for tribal members in Montana, and it is stifling investments that could lead to innovations to make coal even cleaner here in the United States. President Obama calls it the Clean Power Plan. It is not named correctly. It should be called the unaffordable energy plan. President Obama's unaffordable energy plan will have a negligible impact on global coal demand and global emissions, but it will lead to devastating consequences for affordable energy and these good-paying union and tribal jobs. Here are the facts: The United States mines just 11 percent of the world's coal and consumes about 10.5 percent of the world's coal. Said another way, approximately 90 percent of all the coal that is mined and consumed occurs outside of the United States. Global demand for coal- fired energy will not disappear even if the United States were to shut down every last coal mine and coal-fired plant. Coal use around the world has grown four times faster than renewables. There are plans for 1,200 coal plants in 59 countries. Let me say that again: 1,200 coal plants are planned in 59 countries, about three-quarters of which will be in China and India. China alone consumes 4 billion tons of coal each year. Compare that to the United States, which is at 1 billion tons. In other words, China's coal consumption is four times greater than that of the United States. In fact, China will be building a new coal plant every 10 days for the next 10 years. Look at Japan, for example. After the great earthquake in Japan, they lost their nuclear power capability. Japan is currently building 43 coal-fired plants. By 2020, India may have built 2\1/2\ times as much coal capacity as the United States is about to lose. The Obama administration's reckless war on energy will have little impact on global emissions, but here is what it will do: It will devastate significant parts of our economy. It will cause energy bills to skyrocket. It will be a loss of tax revenues for our schools, roads, and teachers. And it is going to destroy family-wage union and tribal jobs. If this rule moves forward, countless coal-fired plants like the Colstrip powerplant in Montana will likely be shuttered, thereby putting thousands of jobs at risk. It will also make new coal-fired plants incredibly difficult to build. The bottom line is this: Coal keeps the lights on in this country, and it will continue to power the world for decades to come. In fact, in my home State of Montana, it provides more than half of our electricity. I have told my kids--we have 4 children--when they plug in their phones, odds are it is coal that is powering that phone. Rather than dismissing this reality, the United States should be on the cutting edge of technological advances in energy development. We should be leading the way in powering the world, not disengaging. Unfortunately, President Obama's out-of-touch regulations take us in the opposite direction, and the people who can afford it the least will be impacted the greatest. I urge my Senate colleagues to join in this bipartisan effort to stop the President's job-killing regulations on affordable energy and join us in standing up for American energy independence. With what we have seen happen in the world in the last week, our national security and energy independence are tied together. Stand up for American jobs. Stand up for hard-working American families. I thank the Presiding Officer.