Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today the Senate passed the bipartisan, bicameral Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act--S. 758, H.R. 1568-- and will send it to the President for his signature. In 2017, a small Montana trucking company came to me with concerns that servicemembers and Americans moving home from abroad were having their identities stolen after cargo manifests were made public by Customs and Border Protection without the removal of their personally identifiable information. So I took action, drafted the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act, and worked with a bipartisan group of Members in the House and Senate to move forward with a solution. The bill is simple and straightforward. It requires Customs and Border Protection to remove all personally identifiable information, including Social Security Numbers and passport numbers, from manifest sheets before making them public. This is an easy solution to a longstanding problem, and I am glad Congress is finally acting to get this bill to the President's desk and signed into law. In 1984, Customs and Border Protection were required to publicly disclose certain manifest information. Since then, we have seen the inadvertent disclosure of Americans' personal data with little to no recourse. In today's digital world, once a person's information is put online, it is nearly impossible to remove it. And while the CBP does offer a process for consumers of shipping services to make their information confidential, these forms can take months to process and are often processed after the individual's data has already been released to the public. I believe the priority should be to protect Americans' privacy and automatically remove this personal information, rather than requiring citizens to make a request and hope the paperwork is processed in time. This bill will ensure that happens. I want to thank Senator Peters for helping lead this bill with me in the Senate, as well as Senator Marshall and Senator Stabenow. I also want to thank Representative Waltz and Representative Pascrell for leading the House companion bill that we passed in the Senate today. I also want to thank all our staff and the staff on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee for their work over the years to get this bill signed into law. Finally, I want to thank all the Montanans and Americans, including the large group of trucking, moving, and servicemember organizations, who have championed this bill for so long. I look forward to our bill getting signed into law and ensuring Americans' and servicemembers' privacy is finally protected.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Mary Erickson, forest supervisor for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, for her years of service. Mary has been active in the stewardship of natural resources for nearly 40 years, the last 15 as forest supervisor in Montana. During her tenure, she worked to consolidate the Custer and Gallatin National Forests into one National Forest that Montanans enjoy today. The Custer Gallatin National Forest stretches over 3.1 million acres and covers portions of southern Montana and western South Dakota. It is known for its wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and opportunities for industry and recreation. Mary graduated from Oregon State University's College of Forestry with a bachelor of science in forest management in 1982 and received a master of science in forest economics in 1986. In her time with the Forest Service, Mary has supported numerous collaborative efforts to better the connection between communities, organizations and the Forest Service and led the Custer and Gallatin Forest through a forest plan revision process that engaged public users and local communities. Mary's support of the communities who enjoy and rely on their public lands is exemplary and personifies what it means to be a public servant. With her retirement at the end of December, Montana recognizes her distinguished career and thanks her for her contributions and dedication to our wonderful State, the natural resources we enjoy, and the people who call it home.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Sherm Anderson of Powell County for his long-standing dedication to Montana's timber industry, carrying out his family's entrepreneurial spirit in his hometown of Deer Lodge and for selflessly serving the greater Powell County community. His perseverance in his personal and professional life helps the State of Montana maintain its vital wood products industry. Sherm's dedication to healthy Montana forests first began when he was a teenager driving a logging truck. Years later, he and his wife Bonnie went on to form the Sun Mountain Lumber forest products company, which employs hundreds of people and serves as the Treasure State's largest lumber mill and North America's largest finger joint plant. Sun Mountain Lumber plays a vital role in the Deer Lodge Valley economy and continues to have an impact across the State. Earlier this year, Sherm purchased R-Y Timber, a Livingston, MT, sawmill, that was shuttered following a devastating fire--and saved even more logging jobs. Montanans are lucky to have this forest products powerhouse right in our backyard. When it comes to Sherm's accomplished work history, he served in the Montana State Legislature, branched out into real estate and construction, operates a fitness center, contributes to a local auto museum, maintains his own 1,200-acre ranch, and most recently invested in the town's old hospital complex in order to renovate it into workforce housing. As Sherm continues to weather the volatility of the timber industry, he understands that collaboration is critical to keeping important wood product jobs viable and also ensuring our forest lands remain healthy for generations to come. It is clear Sherm understands the importance in working with folks from all backgrounds to make southwestern Montana a better place to live and work. It is my distinct honor to recognize Sherm Anderson for his passion to preserve our shared Montana way of life. The Anderson family has created a multigenerational legacy that promotes fruitful forest stewardship.``Montana Proud!''

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Chad Bauer of Missoula County for his commitment to stewarding safe and ethical practices among the next generation of Montana sportsmen and women. Chad served as a volunteer with the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Missoula branch for 20 years where he instructed over 1,000 Montanans in hunter and bowhunter education classes. We know that Montana's public lands and wildlife deserve the utmost respect, so ensuring future sportsmen and women commit themselves to safety and conservation is key. From proper firearm handling, administering bear spray, crossing fences, responsible land use and fair-chase practices, Chad wants to ensure that Montanans' ethics translate beyond their time spent in hunter orange. September in Montana means the official start of archery season. As Montanans in every corner of the State are putting in long days in the backcountry to fill their respective tags, Chad understands the importance of being bear-aware when it comes to grizzlies. When Chad served on the State of Montana's Grizzly Bear Advisory Council, he applied his knowledge as a lifelong outdoorsmen to help make recommendations that would allow for commonsense management of these apex predators. I am glad to see Chad not only share his insight with the council, but also with his students in hunter and bowhunter education classes to ensure they could enjoy the great outdoors while upholding best safety practices. It is my distinct honor to recognize Chad Bauer for his enthusiasm and dedication to equipping future Montana hunters with the skills and knowledge needed to create treasured hunting memories of their own. I am confident his 20 years as a volunteer instructor helped strengthen the integrity of Montana's hunting heritage, and the skills and lessons he has shared will not be forgotten. Thank you for encouraging our youth to get out and experience all that Montana has to offer, Chad-- you make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to use my time today to raise awareness about an important issue. Actually, it is about an important person, and his name is Marc Fogel. Marc is a beloved father and husband. He is also a son, a brother, and an uncle. Over the course of his life, he has been a formative mentor to many young minds. You see, Marc Fogel spent 35 years teaching American history at American international schools around the world and most recently in Moscow. But after dedicating so much of his life to the service of others, he is currently detained in a Russian labor camp. On August 14, 2021, as Marc returned to Russia for 1 final year of teaching before a much-deserved retirement, he was arrested in a Moscow airport for carrying about half an ounce of medical marijuana in his luggage. Marc had been prescribed the medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids to manage his chronic pain after undergoing multiple back surgeries, including a spinal fusion and various other challenging and painful procedures. Marc did not think that this healthcare decision would cost him his freedom and maybe even his life, but following his arrest, a Russian court convicted Marc of ``large- scale drug smuggling'' and sentenced him to 14 years in a maximum security penal colony. He has been there ever since. In 2021, the same year as Marc's arrest, the U.S. State Department described the conditions in Russian prisons and detention centers as ``often harsh and life threatening.'' They reported overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to healthcare, food shortages, and inadequate sanitation as common occurrences--many practices that most Americans can't even imagine. Considering the inhumane and harsh treatment reported in these centers and especially given the health challenges that Marc was already facing upon his arrest, Marc's family now fears he is not going to survive his sentence. This is an injustice at the highest level, and it must not be tolerated by our government. It is important to recognize that Marc is not the only American illegally detained abroad. U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich are both still trapped in Russian prisons as well. But while all three of these men are wrongfully detained in Russia, only Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich have been recognized as wrongfully detained by the State Department. The State Department considers a formal wrongful detention status as being one of the first steps to getting an American who is detained abroad back home. This determination mobilizes multiple U.S. Agencies to work with the State Department and the family of the detained to secure the prisoner's release. There are currently over 50 American citizens the State Department lists as wrongfully detained in Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela. However, despite being unjustly detained for the last nearly 2 years-- with no end in sight--Marc is still not designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department. You may recall the Biden administration's high-profile negotiation to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner home after she was detained in Russia, just after Fogel, over a similar drug-related offense. Ms. Griner is, thankfully, home. One of the key differences between Brittney Griner's and Marc Fogel's cases is that, less than 3 months after Griner's arrest, the State Department classified her as wrongfully detained. Fogel deserves the same justice, and we should be using every tool at our disposal to bring him home. I have had the privilege of getting to know some of Marc's family, some of whom are Montanans. They have been fierce advocates here stateside, but they fear they will never see their brother's face again or hear their father's voice. We can't let that happen. In working alongside the Fogel family, I have also teamed up with President Obama's U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Mike McFaul. Mike McFaul was my former Bozeman High School debate partner, whose son was actually a student of Marc Fogel when Ambassador McFaul was serving in Moscow. Mike McFaul and I are working together to implore the State Department to finally declare Marc as wrongfully detained. This week, I also worked with colleagues across the aisle to introduce a resolution highlighting the unjust and disproportionate criminal sentence by Russia and calling for the immediate release of Mr. Fogel. Time is of the essence. Tomorrow is Marc's 62nd birthday, but instead of celebrating with his friends and family, he will be spending it illegally detained in a Russian labor camp. No American should ever have to endure this type of injustice. It is time the country and the world know about Mr. Fogel's case, and I urge the administration to help bring this American back home once again. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleague from Montana, Senator Tester, and all of those who have worked so hard to get this home today. This settles a 100-plus-year battle in Montana. This is the last Indian water rights settlement for the State of Montana--the Fort Belknap water rights settlement. It codifies existing water rights, prevents costly litigation, provides clean drinking water, and invests in irrigation for farmers and ranchers to provide food for our country. This bill passed out of committee by a voice vote. It is supported by the Governor of Montana, by the entire Montana congressional delegation, the Fort Belknap community, all of the locally affected counties, including the county commissioners, and our farmers and our ranchers. This is truly a win for our State and the country. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I am going to ask for a voice vote.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing David Stamey, chief of emergency services for Stillwater County, MT, for his dedication to keeping his community safe, no matter what disaster may ensue. David has served Stillwater County as the chief of emergency services for nearly a year and a half, and since assuming his position in April of 2022, he has managed several disasters that few county DES coordinators would see in a lifetime. Just 2 months after stepping into his role, David was tasked with responding to historic 500-year flooding throughout the region. When the substantial amount of snow and heavy rainfall from earlier that spring met the rapidly rising temperatures in June, the snowmelt and water runoff sparked immediate flooding throughout the Yellowstone Valley. Agricultural land, homes, roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure took a significant hit. The Sibanye-Stillwater Mine in Nye, the world's only viable platinum and palladium mining operation outside South Africa and Russia, was forced to suspend operations for roughly 6 weeks due to a road that provided entry to the mine being washed out. David continued to work tirelessly with local, State, and Federal partners to ensure the road would be restored in a timely manner and that his community at large remained on a swift path to recovery. Most recently, a portion of a train headed westbound near Reed Point derailed while crossing a bridge over the Yellowstone River. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries, but there were multiple railcars submerged in the river releasing asphalt downstream. About a week later, all of the railcars involved in the derailment were removed from the scene, and after just 28 days post outage, the bridge was newly constructed, allowing the first train to cross over safely as crews continue to work diligently to remove remaining asphalt from the river. Thanks to David's effective leadership and coordination within the Unified Command structure, train service was restored while never compromising anyone's health or safety. It is my distinct honor to recognize David Stamey for his unwavering commitment to keeping residents of Stillwater County safe. He has selflessly dedicated 30 years of his life to disaster and emergency services, and I am confident his passion and expertise in this field will benefit folks in Stillwater County and across the State of Montana for years to come. Thank you for your continued efforts to keep Montanans safe, David. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of congratulating the Billings High School class of 1973. These graduates grew up in the shadow of the Cold War, they all remember the day that President Kennedy was shot, and they came of age during a turbulent and restless period of our country. They saw protests over Vietnam, civil rights, and social unrest. They lived through the space race, listening on transistor radios as rockets launched into space. They memorized the names of all the Mercury astronauts, saw men land and walk on the moon. Some veterans in the class served through four wars, countless interventions, and many shows of force. They saw phones go from rotary dials with party lines, to cell phones and smart watches that can access almost any piece of information with the touch of a button. They saw television go from black and white boxes to 85-inch flat screen TVs streaming color events live via satellite around the world. They saw the dawn of computers, survived Y2K, and lived to see the birth of artificial intelligence. They have lived through two different centuries, and they saw and embraced more new technology than any previous generation. Now in their late 60s, they have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will lead the country into the next millennia. It is my distinct honor to recognize the Billings High School class of 1973 for their incredible legacy. They have etched their name on those majestic sandstone rim rocks that grace their town.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing U.S. Army MAJ Robert Bourgeau of Missoula County for his heroism on and off the battlefield. Since graduating high school, Robert committed his life to military service. Growing up in Missoula, the uniform and the duty that came with wearing it inspired him. We all know being a member of the U.S. Armed Forces is more than a job; it is a noble calling to serve that translates beyond one's time spent in uniform. On October 3, 2022, at Torii Station in Okinawa, Japan, Robert demonstrated his steadfast commitment to putting others before himself. Around 2 p.m. that day, Robert and some of the students he instructed in scuba diving were at Mermaid's Grotto, a diving spot in Okinawa, when they noticed a Japanese woman calling for help with her 11-year- old daughter and a U.S. soldier who were trapped in a rip current 100 yards off shore. As 6-foot waves came crashing in on the endangered snorkelers, Robert made his way to the young girl as well as her mother who became engulfed in the waves in the process. He grabbed them both and swam as hard as he could until he reached the shore and brought them both to safety. His strength and energy were depleting, yet he made his way back out to the dangerous waves for the soldier and was able to direct him safely to shore. Robert's commitment to his oath to protect and serve sets him apart from his peers. Being willing to lay down his life for others is more than a choice; it is his duty. Robert is a proud husband, father, and grandfather, and I know his leadership and bravery are inspiring not only to his family, but people around the world. It is my distinct honor to recognize U.S. Army MAJ Robert Bourgeau for his commitment to putting service over self. The Treasure State's rich legacy of military service is carried on for generations because of brave men like Robert. Thank you for your service. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Lori Hoppe of Park County for her dedication to fostering excellence in agricultural education and across Park County. In 2013, Lori saw an opportunity to bring agricultural education to her hometown of Gardiner; a quaint gateway community to Yellowstone National Park with a population of 800 people. She established Gardiner High School's first agriculture program and FFA chapter, which today proudly boasts a near 50-percent student body participation rate. The Gardiner FFA Chapter has consistently built a name for themselves as being fierce competitors; they are the first agricultural sales career development event team to not only champion the district contest, but also to qualify for the national convention. As Gardiner FFA prepared for the national competition, their means of getting there was threatened when historic flooding impacted Park County. With a state of emergency declared and access to Yellowstone National Park halted, the lack of tourists required the cancellation of the local rodeo, with sales from the concession stand being the primary means of funding for Gardiner FFA's trip to the National FFA Convention and Expo. Lori knew they needed to come up with a new fundraising idea if they wanted to compete at nationals. During the school year, the students built a utility trailer that they decided to try and sell at the Park County Fair. The community rallied behind the students and helped them raise more than five times their goal. The Gardiner FFA Chapter went on to make their community proud, earning a seventh place team finish, and one student placing third individually. Now reaching her 10th year as an educator, Lori is receiving statewide recognition from the Montana Association of Agricultural Educators--MAAE--for being among the best ag instructors in the Treasure State. Her application will be forwarded on to the regional level where she will be evaluated alongside winners from other States. I am confident Lori will represent Montana well. It is my distinct honor to recognize Lori Hoppe for her commitment to promoting agricultural education in Park County and throughout the Treasure State. The future of Montana agriculture is better off because of her tireless work. Thank you, Lori. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Keith Bicsak of Cascade County for his longstanding commitment to providing medical response and transport for countless sick and injured Montanans through his role as a critical care flight paramedic. For 52 years, Keith has diligently provided emergency medical services--EMS--to folks throughout the Treasure State. His time-honored career is a testament to his passion and expertise in providing emergent lifesaving care. Keith's calling to selfless service began with his family's own ambulance service, Bicsak Emergency Air Transport--BEAT--which later became Mercy Flight, its esteemed crew proudly serving Montanans today. EMS providers like Keith and the lifesaving care they deliver remain a vital component to the overall health and wellness of the State of Montana and the United States of America. These men and women choose to put their lives on the line as they stand ready to respond to any disaster or crisis they may encounter. Professionalism, expertise, and grace under fire enable these heroes to deliver swift and efficient lifesaving care to families in need. Keith's passion for helping Montanans is evident through his distinguished career, as he now steps into a new season of life and enjoys a well-deserved retirement. As Keith reflects back on his time as an EMS provider, he is quick to point out the great experience it has been and the ``work families'' he has made along the way. He continues to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in emergency services to help build up Montana's EMS workforce in order to ensure needs are being met in every corner of the State. It is my distinct honor to recognize Keith Bicsak for his revered 52 years of frontline service in helping Montanans reach health and safety. I am confident that Keith's work as an EMS provider will long be remembered and appreciated by families throughout the Treasure State. Thank you for your selfless service, Keith. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, when most people talk about the fentanyl crisis crippling our communities today, they talk the numbers. And the numbers are very powerful. In 2022, synthetic opioids like deadly fentanyl claimed over 75,000 lives in our country. In fact, it is estimated that over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to the synthetic opioids, the most common one being fentanyl. But today, what I really want to tell you about is one person. I want to tell you about Reilly Schrapps from Butte, MT. Reilly was born November 6, 1997. We have four children. Our youngest of four was born in 1996. This all hits way too close to home. You see, Reilly loved his mother and his father, Tom. Incidentally, Tom was my guest at the State of the Union Address earlier this year. His stepmother, his brother, his stepsiblings, their family's two dogs, were all loved by Tom. In fact, according to those who knew him best, Reilly was an avid fisherman, he was a sportsman--so much like most Montanans--and he spent his free time enjoying the great outdoors in Montana with family and friends, floating the Big Hole, skiing Discovery, and camping Canyon Ferry. Reilly was also an artist. He enjoyed all these things and more until July 30 of 2022, the day Reilly died taking a pill laced with fentanyl. Reilly was in Montana when this happened. He was just 24 years old. Reilly lives on in the stories that families and friends tell about him. But that shouldn't be the case. Reilly should be alive today. Fentanyl overdoses quickly became the leading cause of death for 18- to 45-year-olds in our country. It is a fast-acting poison--50 times more powerful than heroin, 100 times more potent than morphine. And it is taking children away from their parents and spouses away from their partners. We lost over 75,000 people just last year. And I commend law enforcement in Montana and across our country for doing everything in their power, many times risking their own lives, to get fentanyl off our streets, but they can't do it alone. We must stop fentanyl from flooding our streets to begin with by securing our wide- open southern border. Since President Biden took office, there have been over 5 million illegal border crossings. Montana has just over 1 million total residents. We have had over 5 million illegal border crossings since the President took office. This includes gang members, drug dealers, suspected terrorists, as well as thousands of pounds of deadly, illegal fentanyl. This is the most in our Nation's history. You see, Mexican cartels are using chemicals that come from China sent to Mexico; and there in Mexico, they manufacture illicit fentanyl, which is pressed then into counterfeit pills, smuggled across the southern border, and sold as pills in powder form in our communities. These cartels are terrorist organizations. We need to call and treat them as such. The cartels are taking advantage of the wide-open and lawless southern border. So many of us have spent nights on the southern border, including myself, shoulder to shoulder with those brave men and women, with Border Patrol, trying to protect our country but vastly outnumbered, because they are not only flooding the southern border with illegals but also flooding the southern border with poison, including our Montana communities. Montana is a northern border State. But we have a southern border crisis. And the consequences of this crisis are most tragic. These are not just numbers and statistics. They are human lives--lives like Reilly's. Every single one is someone's child, somebody's parent, somebody's friend. And they are people that should still be here today. When Tom Schrapps joined me at the State of the Union Address earlier this year, he said that even though talking about what happened to Reilly is so painful, that if he could just save one person, one family, from the pain that he has gone through, the pain would be worth it. So I am here talking about this, urging--urging--the administration and my colleagues to secure the southern border, change the policies that once were working that this President rescinded. We need to do everything to prevent more families from feeling this pain. The scourge of fentanyl on our communities is the single greatest threat to public safety today. When you look at the violent crime that we are seeing increasing across the State of Montana--you spend a little time; it doesn't take a lot of time--a little time with any law enforcement across the State of Montana, they will tell you it is the drugs that are causing the crime--every one of them. Fentanyl will continue to fuel the worst drug crisis in American history until we take serious action to address the open border crisis at our southern border. And there are solutions right here at our fingertips. If this administration and my colleagues across the aisle would join us, we can crack down on these Mexican drug cartels and those who supply them with the chemicals to produce illicit fentanyl.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Trina Jo Bradley of Pondera County for her lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Montana agriculture and her tireless advocacy for common sense grizzly bear management. Trina Jo grew up on a ranch on the East Front of Montana's Rocky Mountains, where she received a unique, hands-on introduction to the rich fulfillment that can be earned through a life in ag. She went on to earn an associate of science degree in agri-business, was then married to her husband Peter, and finally returned to the land she's always known to raise their daughter Kadence, on the edge of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Bradley family run Angus cattle and Quarter Horses amongst some of the most beautiful foothills featured throughout the Treasure State. In addition to her tireless work on the ranch, Trina Jo maintains an esteemed record of service to Montana's agricultural community through various leadership roles in organizations such as the Marias River Livestock Association, Montana Cattlewomen, North Country Cattlewomen, and the Rocky Mountain Front Ranchlands Group. In 2019, Trina Jo was appointed to the State of Montana's Grizzly Bear Advisory Council to apply her firsthand accounts with these apex predators in pursuit of sensible grizzly bear conservation practices. Much of Trina Jo's time is spent educating people on the dynamics of working and living with a grizzly bear on personal property, including the threat this species inflicts upon livestock and how families can best protect children. She has been an outspoken advocate for grizzly bear management to be returned to the State of Montana, with hopes that the species will finally be delisted in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem--NCDE--in northwest Montana. It is my distinct honor to recognize Trina Jo Bradley for her commitment to preserving our Montana way of life through her extensive work in the agricultural sector and her leadership in the ongoing discussion surrounding grizzly bear management. Keep up the great work, Trina Jo. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing Justin Heupel of Flathead County for his dedication to his students and passion for advancing agriculture education in Montana. Originally from Culbertson, MT, Mr. Heupel first joined FFA as a student in 1988. His passion for farming and ag took him to Montana State University where he received a degree in agricultural education-- ``Go Cats!'' He has served Montana as an educator for 27 years and has spent the last 19 years teaching at the H.E. Robinson Agricultural Education Center in Kalispell, where he also serves as a faculty adviser for FFA. Mr. Heupel has been instrumental in improving and expanding ag education in our great State. He served as president of the Montana Association of Agricultural Educators and advocated for the Advancing Agricultural Education in Montana program that helped create over 25 new agriculture education programs in Montana schools and provided funding to improve the quality of existing programs. Recently, Mr. Heupel received the National FFA Organization's highest degree recognizing him for his exceptional service to agricultural education. Teachers serve an important role as they shape the minds of young Montanans and help prepare them for future careers. Montana has a rich legacy of agriculture, as it is the primary driver of our economy. There is no doubt that Mr. Heupel's passion for teaching about agriculture helped encourage young Montanans to pursue careers in this important field. In fact, nine of his former students have gone on to become agricultural education teachers themselves. Passionate educators like Mr. Heupel help make Montana a better place and give students the tools they need to be successful. It is my honor to recognize Mr. Heupel for his devotion to shaping the next generation of Montana ag leaders and keeping Montana's rich legacy of agriculture alive. Keep up the great work; you make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing a true Montana hero, Dr. Daniel Edelman. Dr. Edelman is a veteran of the U.S. Army who was seriously injured on a mission while deployed overseas as the noncommissioned officer in charge of security and intelligence of the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Despite his severe injuries, Dr. Edelman pursued and obtained bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, along with several professional certifications, allowing him to have a long and distinguished career serving his fellow Montanans. While serving as chancellor at Montana State University Billings, Dr. Edelman championed many student causes, with a particular focus on veterans, disabilities, first-generation, underserved, and Native American students. He worked with the FBI and other agencies to provide educational opportunities for victims of human trafficking and also entered into an agreement for MSUB to partner with the University of North Texas Health Science Center to identify human remains, particularly those of murdered Native Americans. Additionally, he created a veterans success center at MSUB. Dr. Edelman helped raise the final funds for a science building and student scholarships. Outside of his work at MSUB, Dr. Edelman volunteers by serving on the board of Horses Spirits Healing, a nonprofit that helps veterans with PTSD. After a career dedicated to serving Montana and our Nation, Dr. Edelman recently retired from MSUB due to a terminal condition connected to his time in the U.S. Army. Dr. Edelman truly embodies the values and the spirit of a Montanan, and I have no doubt that his legacy of service will continue for many generations to come. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Edelman, who is here in the Chamber today in the Gallery with his family. I want to recognize Dr. Edelman for his service to our great State, our great Nation, and for his dedication to improving the lives of his students and his fellow Montanan veterans. Dr. Edelman, you have made Montana and our country very proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing a true Montana hero, Dr. Daniel Edelman. Dr. Edelman is a veteran of the U.S. Army who was seriously injured on a mission while deployed overseas as the noncommissioned officer in charge of security and intelligence of the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, First Infantry Division. Despite his severe injuries, Dr. Edelman pursued and obtained bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, along with several professional certifications, allowing him to have a long and distinguished career serving his fellow Montanans. While serving as chancellor at Montana State University-Billings, Dr. Edelman championed many student causes with a particular focus on veterans, disabilities, first generation, underserved, and Native American students. He worked with the FBI and other Agencies to provide educational opportunities for victims of human trafficking and also entered into an agreement for MSUB to partner with the University of North Texas Health Science Center to identify human remains, particularly those of murdered Native Americans. Additionally, he created a veteran's success center at MSUB. Dr. Edelman also helped raise the final funds for a science building and student scholarships. Outside of his work at MSUB, Dr. Edelman volunteers by serving on the board of Horses Spirits Healing, a nonprofit that helps veterans with PTSD. After a career dedicated to serving Montana and our Nation, Dr. Edelman recently retired from MSUB due to a terminal condition connected to his time in the U.S. Army. Dr. Edelman truly embodies the values and spirit of a Montanan, and I have no doubt that his legacy of service will continue for generations to come. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Edelman for his service to our great State and Nation and for his dedication to improving the lives of his students and fellow Montana veterans. You have made Montana and our country proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the purpose of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is to help pregnant mothers in the workplace receive accommodations so that they can maintain a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, I want to make clear for the record that the terms ``pregnancy'' and ``related medical conditions,'' for which accommodations to their known limitations are required under the legislation, do not include abortion. On December 8, the sponsor of this legislation, Senator Bob Casey stated on the Senate floor as follows: ``I want to say for the record, however, that under the act, under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the EEOC, could not--could not--issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of State law.'' Senator Casey's statement reflects the intent of Congress in advancing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act today. This legislation should not be misconstrued by the EEOC or Federal courts to impose abortion-related mandates on employers, or otherwise to promote abortions, contrary to the intent of Congress.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing and congratulating Montana West Economic Development for its 25 years of service to the communities of northwest Montana. As a small, private nonprofit, MWED has spent the last quarter century working to attract, launch, and grow businesses. From their launch in the late 1990s, MWED has worked to help diversify local economies and attract capital investment. Their vision has always been the long-term health of the northwest Montana economy. From maintaining and growing economic drivers such as rail and timber, to growing new businesses in the manufacturing, tech, and service sectors, their work has provided substantial support and opportunities to grow northwest Montana's economy. They have also provided loans and services to launch dozens of local small businesses and run the Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center to help local companies with the government contracting process. I have had the pleasure of working with MWED on a number of projects including the construction of the Kalispell Bypass and the Kalispell CORE and Rail project. They believe in their community and advocate strongly for its needs. Despite facing obstacles, MWED staff always maintains a can-do attitude and works to find solutions while maintaining the trust of community leaders. Congratulations to Montana West on their 25th anniversary. I look forward to working with them on more projects for years to come.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Timmye Crowley of the U.S. Postal Service in Yellowstone County for her dedication to serving her fellow Montanans and a unique act of kindness that saved a man's life. Timmye has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years, delivering countless letters and packages to the people of Montana. Recently, on her day off, she decided to extend a helping hand during this busy season by making additional deliveries along her normal route. As she approached a house which she knew belonged to an elderly resident, she decided to walk up to the front door to personally deliver this man's mail, in an effort to avoid the man potentially falling on the icy sidewalks, which are a common sight during Montana winters. Upon reaching the front door, Timmye realized smoke was billowing out of the house and suspected there was a fire inside. She saw through the window that the man was asleep in a chair and promptly began pounding on the door to wake him up to ensure he would not get hurt. The man was hard of hearing, so he was unaware of the smoke detector alarms. He soon woke up and walked to the front door as Timmye called 9-1-1. First responders arrived on the scene shortly, and the man was no longer in danger. Thanks to Timmye's efforts, a potentially fatal outcome was avoided. It is my distinct honor to recognize Timmye Crowley for her passion and willingness to go the extra mile serving the Billings community. Keep up the great work, Timmye. You make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Les Gilman of Madison County for his longstanding dedication to protecting the land and people that make up Ruby Valley. Les is a fifth generation Montana rancher in the Alder area with family roots that date back to the Gold Rush in Virginia City in 1863. The history of the Gilman family's revered land can be recounted by historical documents written and compiled by Les' father, Lowell Gilman, complete with photographs and stories of the agricultural and mining activity that took place over the years. Les and his wife, Donna, now proudly tend to their family's ranch along with other family members.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Dr. Doug Reisig of Missoula County as Montanan of the Month for his distinguished career as an educator and for his devotion to Montana students, Montana parents, and the community. Doug was born and raised in Montana. He earned his master's degree from the University of Montana and his Ph.D. from Montana State. Back home in Montana, Cat-Griz bipartisanship is what Doug has in his background. You see, Doug taught at Billings West High School before accepting a job at the St. Ignatius School District. It was in St. Ignatius that he met his lovely wife Mary Jo. Doug and Mary Jo have been married for almost 43 years and have raised two wonderful daughters, Megan and Callie. They are now the proud grandparents of four grandsons. Doug has been a teacher, building administrator, and superintendent for 46 years, serving as superintendent at Hellgate Elementary for the past 34 years. Prior to his retirement, he received the G.V. Erickson Award from the School Administrators of Montana for his contribution to education in our great State. Since Doug took over as superintendent, the school has seen a 33- percent increase in enrollment. He also oversaw the construction of the new middle school, and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, under Doug's leadership, Hellgate Elementary was a leader in delivering meals to children in need and even went the extra mile by selflessly donating his increase in salary to the Family Resource Fund. With Doug's direction and precautions in place, both Hellgate Elementary and Middle School were in session 5 days a week during the 2020 and 2021 school years. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Doug Reisig for serving the State of Montana as an educator and for his dedication to ensuring that Montana students have a very bright future ahead. Congratulations on your retirement, Doug. You truly make Montana proud.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Cheryl Heser of Rosebud County for her passion for education and her dedication to preserving American history as a living history presenter for Montanans across the Treasure State. Cheryl has served her community as an educator for many years teaching high school English, Spanish, and journalism, and she managed a K-12 school library. She is also a published author and served as the director of the Rosebud County Library in Forsyth, MT, for 17 years. Cheryl earned statewide recognition for her esteemed radio program and was named the 2014 Librarian of the Year by the Montana Library Association. Even after her retirement, Cheryl's dedication to education and passion for storytelling continues through her work as a living history presenter. Cheryl travels to Montana communities to utilize her knack for storytelling and skilled research to educate Montanans of all ages and preserve American history by portraying the lives of historical figures like Dolly Madison and Annie Oakley. It is my distinct honor to recognize Cheryl Heser for her passion for education and her work to preserve American history. I have no doubt Cheryl's unique and captivating living history presentations have influenced Montanans of all ages. Keep up the great work, Cheryl; you make Montana proud.