Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. The only thing that has been killed is the Keystone XL Pipeline by President Biden. This resurrects the Keystone XL Pipeline. The union jobs are needed. The rural communities need these tax revenues for their schools. This is what we want to do. We had bipartisan support for that this morning. Let's do it again. I urge passage of this motion to commit. Vote on Motion to Commit

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, this week I have the honor of recognizing John Laird of Liberty County. John embodies the American dream and exhibits strong Montana values. In 1887, John's ancestors came to America from Scotland looking for a better life. John's ancestors homesteaded in the Sweet Grass Hills region that surrounds present day Chester, MT. They built a large sheep farm and broke horses for the Canadian Guards. Farming is hard work and not for the faint of heart, but John's family persevered. The land was passed down from generation to generation. John is a proud wheat farmer of those hills today, moving the same rocks as his great-great-grandfathers did. John and his wife, Rita, raised their three children, Cory, Heather, and Mitchell, on this land. All three of their children attended Montana schools and universities and have gone on to start families of their own. The Laird family story highlights the agricultural history of Montana, and the tenacity and legacy of those who immigrated to the United States seeking to create a better life. It is my honor to recognize John Laird as a successful farmer and father and for leading a life that represents everything Montanans hold dear.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, well, I want to thank my colleague from West Virginia, Senator Capito, for clearly laying out her concerns with this COVID package. I think about where we were a year ago. We were right here in this Chamber. It was March of 2020, and we were debating, working together in a bipartisan fashion to come up with a major--over $2 trillion-- COVID relief package. In fact, if we look back over the course of the last 12 months, Congress passed five bipartisan COVID-19 relief packages--five of them. During that time, as we know, the Republicans were in the majority in the Senate, and we believed it was very important--we were dealing with COVID challenges in our country--that we come together in a bipartisan way to address this horrible pandemic. It didn't stop us from working with our colleagues across the aisle to reach a compromise in order to get needed relief for Montanans and the American people who were struggling because of the pandemic. Bipartisanship--it takes work. It takes both sides coming together. It takes a little more time as well. But for the good of Montanans and for the good of the American people, they expect that of us here in the Senate. Unfortunately, what we are witnessing today is that ``bipartisanship'' is no longer in the vocabulary of President Biden and the Democrats. They have taken this bipartisan process that we have had over the course of the last 12 months and they have taken it hostage. It has become their way or the highway. Take it or leave it. They are trying to jam through a hyperpartisan--not a bipartisan but a hyperpartisan $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package. We shouldn't even call this a COVID-19 relief package, and here is why: Ninety percent of what is in it has nothing to do with the core health needs of combating COVID-19. Nothing. This nearly $2 trillion package is nothing more than a Pelosi payoff, a liberal wish list that gives President Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer billions of dollars for these partisan pet projects. This COVID-19 relief package includes a laundry list of liberal priorities. Now, I am not making this up. What I am about to share was actually included in the most recently passed package of this COVID legislation out of the U.S. House, which, by the way, passed in the wee hours of the morning this past weekend, on Saturday, when the American people were asleep, and it was not supported by a single Republican Member. By the way, contrast that to where we were a year ago. We passed a huge COVID package here in the U.S. Senate 96 to zero. You can't get any more bipartisan than that. Yet, when they jammed this package in the House Saturday morning, not a single Republican supported it. In fact, a couple Democrats opposed it. Here is what is in that so-called relief package for COVID-19: One hundred million dollars for Nancy Pelosi's train to nowhere. It is a Silicon Valley underground rail project to help Big Tech. You tell me what that has to do with COVID-19. Three hundred fifty billion dollars to bail out blue States that had financial problems before the pandemic. Now, Montana should not be footing the bill to bail out States like New York, California, and Illinois, especially when we have seen reports that States are actually doing much better than projected when we look at revenues coming in in 2020. In fact, listen to this, California is projecting a $25 billion surplus in 2020. There is $50 million in this package for ``climate justice.'' There are millions in bailouts for Planned Parenthood. It also makes Planned Parenthood eligible for taxpayer dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program. Now, there is $130 billion in there for schools. Now hear this: 95 percent of it won't be spent this year. In fact, 95 percent of it is spent in years 2022 through 2028. You tell me what that has to do with this immediate rush to get this package passed when most of the spending is in the years out to 2028. This is ironic, as President Biden and the Democrats are bowing to political pressure from the teachers unions to keep kids out of the classroom. I cannot tell you how many parents we are hearing from who want to see the schools opened up and want to see the kids back in school, back in the classroom. They support opening the southern border for illegal immigrants over opening schools for American students. As I have laid out, President Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer's COVID-19 package is not about COVID-19 relief at all. In fact, the White House Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, said this: ``This is the most progressive domestic legislation in a generation.'' I believe that. This is all about political favors for Democrats. It is about cashing in on campaign promises, and it is outrageous. While Democrats are trying to further their liberal agenda under the guise of passing COVID-19 relief, we are sitting on $1 trillion of unspent, already allocated COVID-19 relief dollars from the prior five packages. In fact, of the last package we passed in December of $900 billion, only about 50 percent of that--allocated dollars--is out the door. So shoveling out almost $2 trillion--and how much is $2 trillion? The entire annual Federal discretionary budget of the U.S. Government is about $1.4 trillion--the entire discretionary budget. The Democrats want to push another $2 trillion into this economy that is poised to rebound as businesses reopen. It is deeply irresponsible. It will needlessly cause our debt to soar to new heights and could harm our economic recovery by sparking inflation. Its partisanship is exceeded only by its recklessness. The American comeback is well underway. Our economy is rebounding. GDP is expected to grow 10 percent by the end of the first quarter. Personal saving rates are way up--20.5 percent this past January, compared to 7.6 percent in prepandemic January 2020. Manufacturing is at its highest growth level since August of 2018. Vaccines are being distributed and hospitalizations are going down. In fact, hospitalizations are down nearly 20 percent this week versus last week, looking across the country. In fact, more than 40 percent of those over the age of 65 are vaccinated with at least one dose. That is good news. On vaccines, I want to recognize our Governor back home in Montana, Governor Gianforte, for his outstanding leadership on getting vaccines distributed across Montana. I also want to thank Montana's healthcare heroes for their dedication to getting the vaccines out and keeping our communities and our families safe. In fact, just last week, Montana was recognized as the most efficient State in the Nation--No. 1 out of 50--for administering vaccines received from the Federal Government. But in Montana, we are in need of more vaccines. That is why I joined forces with the Governor and Congressman Rosendale, requesting them from President Biden. I am pleased to see that it was announced just this week that Montana will be receiving 8,000 doses of the J&J vaccine in the coming days. Vaccines and vaccine distribution are what we should be focusing on now. They are what will help us get life back to normal. They are what will end this pandemic. Yet, sadly, only 1 percent of Biden and Pelosi's COVID-19 package goes to vaccines. That is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that the partisan Pelosi-Schumer bill lacks foresight and badly misdiagnoses what America needs now, because we are seeing the light at the end of this tunnel. We must keep moving in this direction. Any future relief must be targeted and focused on vaccine distribution. Let's just start by retargeting the $1 trillion that is not even yet out the door. Why don't we start there? But, instead, the Democrats continue to go their own way in a purely partisan piece of legislation to spend another $1.9 trillion, most of which does not address anything related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It must be directed instead toward ending the pandemic, helping the American people, not supporting the liberal dreams of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, outrage--that is what American families should be feeling right now, and many are. We are seeing President Biden and the Democrats support opening the border, the southern border, for illegal immigrants while bowing to political pressure and keeping many of our Nation's schools closed for our students--opening the southern border for illegal immigrants, closing our Nation's schools for our students. Schools across the Nation remain closed to in-person instruction largely due to teachers unions and their influence on many of our local and Federal leaders on the other side of the aisle--all, unfortunately, to the detriment of the education and the health of our students. In States and localities where schools remain closed, America's youngest and brightest minds are posed with challenges that generations before have never dealt with. Children are continuing to cope with the unprecedented hardship of virtual classrooms, a lack of social interaction with their peers, and other impediments to their education. But this isn't because of the pandemic itself; it is because President Biden, the Democrats, and local leaders have caved to the political pressures of teachers unions and have kept many classrooms closed and students at home despite what the available science and other experts are telling us. The science is clear: Schools are not major COVID-19 spreading grounds, and younger students are a low-risk group. Studies indicate that students across the country are months behind where they should be academically. The hardships our students face go beyond academics because the mental and physical health of children has also taken a toll. We are seeing depression and anxiety rates skyrocket among our young people. I was on a call today, a Zoom call, with several elementary school principals in Montana, hearing their firsthand, frankly, tragic accounts of what is happening with the mental health of our students in elementary school and hearing about elementary school students assaulting teachers. A whole year without full-time, in-person learning has done irreparable damage. The status quo is truly devastating to many of our students. Despite this--despite the science, despite the overwhelming data--schools across the country, in many parts of our country, remain closed. Frankly, it is unacceptable that many of my colleagues across the aisle and the Biden administration are standing by while this happens to our students across our country. They have chosen to play politics with our Nation's students instead of ensuring that our children are getting the very best education possible, which is full-time, in-person instruction. They are intent on jamming through this partisan $1.9 trillion COVID package, which does include billions of dollars for schools. Incidentally, in working together, we have passed five bipartisan COVID relief packages. Yes, it is harder to work in a bipartisan fashion, but that is why we were sent back here to Washington--to work together. Yet President Biden and the Democrats are saying: We are going to do this one alone. It is going to be their way or the highway. The sad reality is, the more the American people hear what is in this $1.9 trillion package, the more they are not going to like it. Most of the money in this package is not to be spent now. In fact, 95 percent of it will be spent over the next 7 years, after the crisis. We should not use this COVID crisis as a liberal wish list of items here wherein 95 percent of it gets spent in the out-years. How does this help our students and our schools now? The answer is, it doesn't. This is not how we solve the problems that our students are facing. Fortunately, there is a pretty simple solution. It is this: Listen to the experts. Listen to the science. Reopen our schools, and let's get our students back in the classroom. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Lesley Robinson of Phillips County. Lesley recently made history when she became the first woman elected as the Montana Stockgrowers Association's second vice president. Lesley is not afraid to be the first in any venture. Her past experience as a leader in Montana began in 1996 when she became the second woman ever elected to serve on the board of directors for the Montana Stockgrowers. Lesley also ran for office and was elected as a Phillips County commissioner in 2005. During her 12-year tenure as a commissioner, Lesley was a strong advocate for Phillips County and rural Montana. She also had a leadership role on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Counties. Most recently, Lesley served as former Congressman Greg Gianforte's State director. As a fourth-generation rancher, Lesley knows the importance of hard work. She and her husband, Jim, own a commercial cow/calf and yearling operation near Zortman, MT. Her past leadership roles and ranching experiences have led her to be a fierce voice for agriculture and the importance it has as Montana's No. 1 economic driver. It is my honor to recognize Lesley for her leadership and service to Montana. I look forward to hearing about her continued success.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 678 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, despite President Biden's call for unity, with the stroke of a pen, he killed the Keystone XL Pipeline and the thousands of jobs that come with it. He eliminated tens of millions of dollars of tax revenues for communities in Montana for education, for law enforcement, for infrastructure, as well as across the West. Hard- working Americans across our country, dozens of families in Montana have already been given the pink slip. They were told to go home. Their paycheck is gone. This isn't because of a pandemic; this is because of President Biden. I hope all of my colleagues join me today for the good of American energy and our blue-collar workers, or they can stand with the job- killing Green New Deal agenda. The choice is clear. I yield back my time.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I want to thank my colleague from Utah, Senator Mike Lee, for his remarks. Last week, with the stroke of a pen, President Biden eliminated critical pro-life protections. He reversed the Mexico City policy and began the process of dismantling title X protections against abortion. I am glad to join Senator Lee, Senator Blackburn, along with several other pro-life Senators fighting back and calling on the Senate to pass the important bills today to reverse President Biden's pro-abortion actions. The bottom line is, President Biden's actions were basically a handout to Planned Parenthood. It is no surprise, as Planned Parenthood spent millions to get the President elected. Now they are simply cashing in--this time, on the taxpayer's dime. The United States should not spend taxpayer dollars to support a radical abortion agenda throughout the world, and we should absolutely not allow a slush fund of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of Planned Parenthood. I also want to thank my colleague Senator Inhofe, who urged the Senate to pass his bill today to protect babies with Down syndrome from being targeted for abortion. Now, I watched what happened here just minutes ago. The Democrats objected. It is truly astounding. This bill should have passed unanimously, and it really exposes a terrible hypocrisy. Most Republicans and Democrats today in Congress are unified in support for the Special Olympics. We are unified in supporting protecting those individuals with disabilities. Yet my colleagues across the aisle today opposed this commonsense legislation that would stop the most lethal kind of discrimination--the most lethal kind of discrimination imaginable--and that is being singled out and brutally killed simply because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. Last week, I stood right here to bring attention to this very chilling issue. Today, babies with Down syndrome are the most endangered on Earth. In fact, sadly, in the United States, 67 percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. That is two out of three. And, for me, this is personal. Last week, I shared the story of a sweet baby boy named Andrew. He is the son of some of my very good friends. Andrew has Down's. He brings light and joy to his family's life every day. He has an older brother, an older sister. I can tell you, this world, their family would not be the same without him. I am deeply concerned that for babies with Down syndrome, abortion has become a tool of eugenics. It is the duty of this body to end this lethal discrimination. It is our duty to protect every innocent life, no matter how small, no matter how many chromosomes they may have. I believe every human being is created with God-given dignity and God-given protection. No court, no legislature, no law can take that away. I will not give up this fight, and I know many of my colleagues standing here today will not give up as well. I want to thank Senator Lee. I yield the floor back to Senator Lee.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing my good friend Chuck Roady of Flathead County. It is hard to imagine where the Montana timber industry would be right now were it not for the leadership of Chuck. The last few decades haven't been easy on the timber industry or the communities that rely upon it for good paying jobs. Yet, throughout his career, Chuck has met these challenges head-on, fighting tooth and nail to protect timber jobs and advocate for the proper management of our forests. Growing up, Chuck loved the outdoors and wanted to find a job that would allow him to be in the woods. After graduating from the University of Idaho College of Forestry, he worked for various timber companies across the Pacific Northwest. In 2003, he became lands and resources manager for F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company in Columbia Falls, MT. The Stoltze Mill employs more than 130 hard-working Montanans. From the beginning of his time with Stoltze, Chuck became a leading voice in the community for our timber industry and proper forest management. Chuck's approach is to build bridges and find common ground amongst groups with different interests. His work has brought people together to find solutions that benefit the mills, the communities that depend on them, and our forests. Chuck has been a leader on timber issues on the national stage as well. He was a founding member of the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and served as its chair. In this role, he successfully worked to elevate forest management issues to the forefront of our national debates, making real progress along the way. He has given us all a reason to be optimistic about the future. I thank Chuck for his years of service to this cause and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing Mike, a Montana ranch dog who was crowned this year's runner up for Farm Dog of the Year. As a dog dad to Ruby, Reagan, and Jessie, I know the important role a dog plays in life. Dogs are there for us through the good and the bad, and they are always happy to see you. Our four-legged friends are a source of laughter and always make for a good hunting partner. In Montana, our dogs take on another role. They become a trusty ranch hand for many. Tim Feddes, a rancher from Manhattan, knows just how important it is to have a hard-working cow dog. That is exactly why he thought Mike, his border collie, should have a shot at American Farm Bureau's 2021 Farm Dog of the Year Contest. Out of hundreds of furry applicants, an expert panel chose Mike to be crowned as the runner-up for Farm Dog of the Year. Mike is a special dog that takes his job seriously and makes life on the ranch a little bit brighter. It is my honor to recognize Mike on this incredible accomplishment. He has represented ranch dogs everywhere, and especially in Montana, with pride.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing Sarah Moyer of Yellowstone County for serving her community in a time of need. When schools were shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of children who rely on school for getting their meals were sent home. Sarah saw the need to feed her community and did not hesitate to jump in. Her business, Project Lunch, started to make healthy lunches available to anyone in need. By the end of the summer, Sarah and her volunteers had delivered over 21,800 lunches right to the front doors of Montanans--a truly remarkable act of service for her neighbors. Her dedication to her fellow Montanans does not stop there. Heading into 2021, Sarah opened a pay-what-you-can restaurant in downtown Billings that employs Montanans who are struggling to find employment elsewhere. The community rallied behind Sarah and donated time, equipment, and resources to help get this restaurant started. Her goal for this project is to create a place for folks to give back and support their neighbors. Sarah has brought her community together, inspired volunteers, helped those in need, and started a legacy of service. I am thankful for Sarah's dedication and heart for the Billings community. She has truly shown us all what it means to put service above self.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, tomorrow is the 48th annual March for Life. Although this year's march will primarily be virtual, the importance of standing together to protect the unborn, the most vulnerable, and all life, is as important now as it has ever been. Forty-eight years ago, our country started down a dark path. Forty- eight years ago, the Supreme Court tragically ruled in Roe v. Wade, and since then, we have lost the lives of 62 million people--62 million and counting--unborn babies, precious lives, by abortion. I believe every human being is born with God-given dignity and potential. No court, no legislature, no law can take that away. Nevertheless, today, babies with Down syndrome are the most endangered on Earth. For me, this is very personal. Just under 3 years ago, our world was blessed with a sweet baby boy named Andrew. He has Down's. His parents are very close friends. Andrew is a true joy, and his family celebrates his life every single day. Our world truly would not be the same without him. But in the United States, 67 percent--67 percent--of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, two out of three. For every person with Down syndrome alive today that you know or you meet--our friends, our family members, loved ones--two more are gone from this world because of abortion. This is chilling. In Europe, the numbers are even worse. In fact, in Iceland, because of abortion, the population of individuals with Down syndrome is virtually being eradicated. As prenatal screenings increase in availability, mothers frequently learn before birth if their baby has Down syndrome. Rather than giving supportive resources, these vulnerable moms are often pressured to abort the baby. We all too often hear of a false compassion that it would be better for unborn babies with Down Syndrome or other disabilities to not be brought into this world rather than live a life that might be different from other children. But that is not who we are as Americans. I am deeply concerned that for babies born with Down syndrome, abortion has become ``a tool of modern day eugenics,'' as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said. It pains me to think about it. But we can't just think about this pain and the pain that it causes. We have to do something. We have to protect those precious lives at all costs. It is the duty of this body to end this injustice. That is why I am joining my colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, in introducing the Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act, which will prohibit abortions that are sought because of a diagnosis that an unborn child has or may have Down syndrome. This effort has the overwhelming support of the American public. In fact, just yesterday, a new Knights of Columbus-Marist poll found that 70 percent of Americans oppose aborting a child on the basis that the child will be born with Down syndrome--70 percent. In fact, that includes over half of those who identify as pro-choice. This issue also sadly exposes a terrible hypocrisy we are seeing among supporters of abortion on demand. In fact, today, most Republicans and Democrats here in Congress are unified in their support for the Special Olympics and for protecting individuals with disabilities. Yet many of my colleagues across the aisle will oppose this commonsense legislation to stop the most lethal kind of discrimination imaginable, and that is being singled out and brutally killed because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. It is shameful. As Henry Hyde famously said: ``The promise of America is not just for the privileged, the planned and the perfect.'' It is our duty to protect every innocent life, no matter how small, no matter how many chromosomes they may have. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Dale Hankins of Chouteau County for volunteering countless hours to support his fellow veterans. When Dale was 10 years old, a friend of his father, a WWII vet, carried a diamond willow cane. Dale was so intrigued by the way the diamonds stood out, he couldn't take his eyes off of it. At the age of 17, he made his first attempt at carving a cane, and soon realized and appreciated the effort it took to create such beautiful craftsmanship. By the time he finished, his hands were so full of blisters he decided to pursue other hobbies. Dale later joined the U.S. Army and served in Charlie Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, as an airborne infantry soldier. After receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Montana and joined the Montana Army National Guard. Having a renewed appreciation for the sacrifices veterans give, he picked up his hobby again in 2007 and began making diamond willow canes for disabled veterans. Each one is unique and personalized for the veteran, and an American flag is included on the handle of each cane. Dale hasn't stopped since. He invests 80 hours or more to make each cane beautiful and durable, all at no cost to the veteran. Veterans across the Nation from Florida to Washington are proudly using his gift which has aided in their quality of life. It is my honor to recognize Dale for his efforts to support and appreciate our heroes for the sacrifices they have made for our great Nation. The compassion and commitment of these extraordinary veterans are an inspiration to us all.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about my bipartisan legislation, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, which I introduced with my colleague Senator Patrick Leahy. This is important legislation that will protect consumers from anticompetitive practices by repealing the outdated antitrust exemption for the health insurance industry. This bill has wide bipartisan support, as well as a strong history of near-unanimous congressional consensus, having passed the House of Representatives three times, most recently this September. In 1944, the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters that the business of insurance was a form of interstate commerce. This meant that the health insurance industry would be subject to Federal antitrust laws under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The insurance industry began raising uncertainties about whether this meant that States would no longer have authority to regulate insurance. When Congress acted to reaffirm this State authority, in the McCarran-Ferguson Act, the insurance industry managed to add a last-minute special-interest loophole that exempted the business of insurance from Federal antitrust laws. It has become clear that this antiquated exemption has effectively given insurance companies the power to collude to drive up prices, restrict competition, and deny consumers choice. The large health insurance companies of today have taken advantage of this exemption to abuse the market and artificially inflate healthcare costs. As a result, consumers are paying higher prices to get basic healthcare services, which couldn't be a worse outcome in the middle of a major pandemic. I recognize concerns have been raised about whether this legislation might impair or create uncertainty regarding the authority of State insurance regulators. I appreciate hearing from all stakeholders and wish to put those concerns to rest by making clear the intent and scope of the bill. This legislation merely amends a peripheral provision of the McCarran-Ferguson Act containing an antiquated exemption from Federal antitrust laws as it applies to health insurance companies. It does not in any way interfere with, supersede, or abrogate the authority provided and guaranteed by the McCarran-Ferguson Act to State insurance regulators to regulate the health insurance industry. This legislation would ensure that health insurance companies would be subject to Federal antitrust laws in the same way as the rest of the American economy, including other regulated sectors. Most importantly, as this bill does not disturb any of the authority provided to State insurance regulators under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, it does not empower Federal authorities to interfere with, supersede, or prevent states from regulating the health insurance industry however they see fit. Simply put, this legislation would give the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission authority to apply antitrust laws to anticompetitive practices in the health insurance industry. Furthermore, it is the intent of the authors of this legislation that the DOJ and FTC notify and work with states on investigations they have received or are undertaking that involve health insurance entities in their state. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act will restore full transparency, promote oversight, and encourage competition within the health insurance industry. I look forward to this legislation being signed into law by the President.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Larry ``Skip'' Ahlgren of Petroleum County for his dedication to his community and volunteer efforts. Skip currently serves as president of the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts and previously served as county commissioner. These titles are only the beginning of his service to Petroleum County. Skip and his wife Diane spend hundreds of hours volunteering in various community groups and focus putting their time into Montana's youth. Winnett Agriculture Community Enhancement and Sustainability, ACES, is a group cofounded by Skip that brings Petroleum County producers together to address the problems facing the environment and their community. The group also works with Montana's youth to create opportunities that will bring them back to the community where they were raised. As farmers and ranchers play a key role in one of the most rural counties in Montana, Skip saw an opportunity to serve them and created this incredible organization. Skip is described by friends and colleagues as an all-around good guy, a man who embodies Montana values, and a true friend. It is my honor to recognize Larry ``Skip'' Ahlgren for his service and dedication to Petroleum County.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the legacy of David W. Armstrong, Jr., of Helena, MT on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Dave is a distinguished World War II veteran who played a pivotal role in the U.S. Army's plan to liberate Norway from Nazi occupation as well as numerous search and rescue missions across northern Europe. Dave first came to Helena in February 1943 to begin training sled and pack dogs at nearby Camp Rimini. Camp Rimini was one of only two sites that produced dogs for the Army's K-9 Corps during the war. Later, Dave found himself stationed in Newfoundland, where he and his dogs participated in the recovery of downed personnel and sensitive equipment from aircraft wreckage sites in Greenland and Baffin Island. After the war, Dave returned to Montana with his wife Alice and founded the annual Race to the Sky, which preserves the legacy of the soldiers and the dogs who served at Camp Rimini. Dave also preserved the legacy of this special program in his 2008 memoir ``Camp Rimini and Beyond.'' Were it not for his efforts, the memory of this unique program and its special place in our State's history may have been lost to time. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I want to thank Dave for his service to our State and to our Nation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing Butte Police Officer Nick Butorovich for his heroism in the face of danger. On Tuesday, September 15th, 2020, during a routine late night shift, he pulled an unconscious woman from a rolled-over, burning car, just in time, saving her life. The woman suffered second- and third-degree burns, but because of Officer Butorovich's quick and selfless actions, the driver is alive today. Butte Sheriff Ed Lester told the community, ``This is an outstanding example of a patrol officer doing his job and being in the right place at the right time. If Nick arrived 30 seconds later or hesitated because of the danger, this woman would not have survived.'' When Officer Butorovich arrived at the scene, he saw an SUV at an intersection rolled over and burning--as other emergency personnel were on the way. He immediately located the driver still hanging upside down by her seatbelt in the burning car. She was unconscious. As flames were consuming the car, Officer Butorovich quickly cut her free and dragged her to safety--without concern for his own personal safety. During the rescue, he sustained second-degree burns. Butte Fire Chief Jeff Miller also agreed that the driver would not have survived without his quick-thinking actions, saying, ``From what my guys told me, when they arrived--and they were fairly close behind the police--that it wouldn't have been long at all, that they most likely wouldn't have been able to save her, that it would have been too late. He was there just in time, took the appropriate action and literally saved her life.'' Officer Nick Butorovich proudly continues the tradition of law enforcement in his family. He is the grandson of former Butte Silver- Bow sheriff, the late Bob Butorovich, who served his community for more than 12 years. Officer Butorovich exemplifies what it means to serve as a law enforcement officer in Montana, and I thank him for his heroism and service.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing Mr. George McClure of Gallatin County for his decades of service to the Bozeman community, including his 25 years as a volunteer at Hospice of Bozeman Health. George spent his career as a professor of architecture at Montana State University. After many years of educating our State's next generation of architects, he retired in the mid-1900s. Yet his service to the community was not finished. Once he retired, he began volunteering at Hospice of Bozeman Health. For the last 25 years, George has shown up to volunteer every single Tuesday. His volunteer work focuses on administrative and paperwork jobs, allowing the nurses and other staff to be more focused on patient care. The staff say of George that ``he magically gets it done'' and that ``he is the wind beneath our wings.'' Even the COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed George down. Despite the potential risk to his own health, he has continued to show up every Tuesday throughout the pandemic to do his volunteer work. His presence always gives the staff at Hospice of Bozeman Health a much needed morale boost as they deal with the grim reality of the pandemic and continue to care for patients. I thank George for his tireless service and his courage to carry on despite the hardship of the pandemic. He exemplifies what it means to put service before self.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the honor of recognizing Shirley Anne Johnson of Missoula for her many decades of service to her community through the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Mrs. Johnson was born in Bozeman, MT, in 1939 and lived in several different communities across the State while growing up. She eventually settled in Missoula with her husband Ted and became an elementary school teacher. During those years, she joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary and rose through the ranks, eventually chairing her local auxiliary club and becoming grand auxiliary president for the State of Montana. During her work for the Eagles, Shirley donated much of her time to the creation and maintenance of Missoula Manor Homes, a nonprofit retirement home for seniors in need. Shirley and her husband were involved in Missoula Manor Homes from the very beginning. They played a direct role in securing land and overseeing its construction. In later years, she donated her time to Missoula Manor Homes bake sales every month, raising money for the residents of the facility. Mrs. Johnson continues to serve her community, volunteering for the Missoula Food Bank and remaining involved with the Eagles. She has 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. In October, she was honored with the Legion of Honor Award by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains for her nearly six decades of community service. Shirley Anne Johnson embodies the spirit of community that is so common across Montana. I congratulate Shirley and thank her for steadfast commitment to service.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Doug Martens of Rosebud County for his years of service to his community and being elected to serve as president of the Montana Association of Counties. Doug raised is family in Montana and is a proud husband, father, and grandfather. Before serving 10 years as a commissioner in Rosebud County, Doug was a fire warden and president of the Montana Fire Wardens Association. Doug is a dedicated public servant, and at the same time, he runs his family farm and ranch operation outside of Forsyth, MT. Doug has also been an outspoken advocate for Montana energy and coal jobs. He has been a passionate leader in this space and continues to help educate Montanans on the importance of coal including the jobs it creates and the energy it produces throughout our Nation. It is my distinct honor to recognize Doug for his lifetime of service to the people of Rosebud County. I have no doubt his dedication and hard work will continue to serve his community and the Montana Association of Counties exceptionally well.

Mr. DAINES

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I am here to express support for this payroll tax holiday, and I think Congress should do much better than that, and that is to come together and forgive these taxes, period. In fact, back in March, I pushed for Congress to include a payroll tax cut in the CARES Act, and I still support that today because the payroll tax cut is about supporting workers who might have had their hours reduced. These are workers who are living paycheck to paycheck, workers across our country who are struggling to make ends meet because of the impact of COVID-19 on our economy. Allowing folks to keep more of their hard-earned money could make a big difference. It would provide immediate support--immediate support-- for Montana's families who are struggling to get by. And, importantly, we ensure that this will have no impact--zero impact--on Social Security because we transfer money from the general fund to the Treasury. This is not a new concept. It has been done by Congress. In fact, it was done under the Obama administration. As an example, a Montanan who earns an annual salary of about $40,000 typically pays about $2,500 in payroll taxes every year. Forgiving the taxes deferred during this 4- month payroll tax deferral would save that Montanan about $827. What we should be doing is working together to pass a COVID relief package that delivers much needed aid for families who have had a tough go the last several months. And it is going to get tougher going forward, not only for these families but workers and small businesses. Instead, my colleagues across the aisle have continued to block very targeted relief, several times, right here on the floor of the U.S. Senate, which is holding Montanans and the American people hostage. We should come together and agree on this targeted relief. We can continue to disagree on these other items, but let's get this targeted relief package passed. So instead of coming to the floor today to try to pass a bill that undermines a payroll tax holiday to save folks more of their hard- earned money, I urge my colleague here before us to work with Members of his caucus and get the COVID-19 relief passed. Once again, we should be forgiving these taxes as a payroll tax holiday, not unlike what happened during the Obama administration, and for these reasons, I object.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I appreciate the Senator from Maryland raising these points. In regard to the proposal of the bill that was passed by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of House, the reason we didn't take a vote on that bill in the U.S. Senate is because it was full, basically, of her wish list of many items that didn't really relate to COVID-19 relief. We did put a targeted bill on the floor of the U.S. Senate in the amount of $600 billion that, frankly, addressed many of the issues that the House had in their bill, and we had many issues that we agreed on here in the Senate that would be at least targeted. This is about the Paycheck Protection Program. This is relief for schools. This is resources for the vaccine, for additional PPE, for additional testing. It is a long list, including relief for the U.S. Postal Service. Of course, I would hope that you would support it, but we were blocked from even bringing that bill to the floor of the U.S. Senate. We couldn't get to debate on that bill in September when it came before the U.S. Senate. I appreciate these points. Obviously, we have a disagreement. President Trump pushed for Congress to pass a payroll tax cut. I would rather see a cut, not a deferral. That is the way to really help workers across this country. When Congress failed to act in July, the President enacted that deferral as a way to provide immediate relief to the American people. I would ask that we come together and let's forgive those taxes. Forgive them, and they won't be getting a surprise tax increase if we do that.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to yield back the time in order for the vote to occur now.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Laura Nowlin of Teton County for her compassion and dedication to her community. Since 1986, Laura has devoted her time to working at the Teton County Food Pantry as both a volunteer and a member of the executive board. Over the course of her 33 years at the food pantry, she ensured families in the community had healthy and hearty groceries with no exceptions. Rain or shine, Laura was always there to help the people of Teton County get the nutrition they needed. Recently named a board member emeritus of the pantry, Laura will be dearly missed by her colleagues. Her unwavering selflessness was an incredibly valuable asset to both the pantry and her community. It is my distinct honor to recognize Laura for her tireless service to the people of Teton County. Her kindness and charitable approach to work serves as an inspiration to all Montanans who serve our communities.