Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I have already made my remarks about the hypocrisy on this issue of dark money. I think it is also worth pointing out that it was a very different situation in 2016, when Merrick Garland was nominated by President Obama. In every White House controlled by one party and the U.S. Senate by another, the President of the Senate, going back to 1888--in an election year when both the Senate and the Presidency are controlled by the same party, you move forward; when not, you don't. That is exactly what we did. We had an election in 2016. President Trump won, and here we are in 2020 with Republicans controlling the Senate, and the White House began to move forward. So with that, I object.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I am here to talk about my support for confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Barrett's qualifications and her character are indisputable. I had the honor of meeting with Judge Barrett earlier this month when she said her guiding principles as a judge were in the mold of a great Justice--the late Justice Antonin Scalia. In fact, during our meeting and over the course of her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Barrett demonstrated her understanding of the purpose of the U.S. Supreme Court and the proper role of a judge. Judge Barrett believes that judges shouldn't legislate from the bench. Keep in mind that she is currently a sitting judge on the Seventh Circuit Court. She won't misuse her power as a judge to impose her policy preferences, and she won't twist the original and the true meaning of the Constitution to advance a political agenda of any kind. Judge Barrett will uphold our cherished constitutional rights, including the Second Amendment. I have an A-plus rating from the National Rifle Association and the Montana Shooting Sports Association. I firmly believe that a correct understanding--a profound understanding--of the Second Amendment is essential. In the discussions I had with Judge Barrett, she confirmed she has that understanding. Judge Barrett's strong support of the Second Amendment can give every law-abiding Montanan who owns a firearm the full confidence that she will never allow the government to take away our guns. She understands what ``shall not infringe'' truly means. I believe Judge Barrett will stop Congress in its tracks when it exceeds its limited constitutional powers. For decades, Congress has imposed policies that this body has had no authority in creating in the first place. Judge Barrett will ensure that Congress stays within its limited constitutional powers while returning powers to the States and back to the people. She will defend the Constitution. She will protect our Montana way of life, including our Montana jobs. Judge Barrett will not bend to the radical fringe groups that are looking to kill Montana timber and coal jobs. She will be a fairminded Justice whom Montanans will be proud of. Yet some on the far left not only oppose Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation but have also said they are open to packing the Supreme Court with liberal judges. Let me just define what ``packing'' means. That means increasing the number of Justices on the Supreme Court from 9, which has been the case for 151 years, to 11 or 13 or more, perhaps. That will be an attack on our Montana way of life. I stand with Montanans in strongly opposing this dangerous power-grab proposal. With Judge Barrett on the Supreme Court, the age of activist Justices rewriting the laws to accomplish their own policy agendas will be gone. She is a mother of seven children--five biologically and two adopted Haitian children. We will have a Supreme Court Justice whom we can also call a minivan mom. Judge Barrett is an inspiration to professional women, to working moms, and to school-aged girls across Montana who can feel certain there is no American dream that women cannot achieve. Just last week, I met with several northwest Montana businesswomen leaders in Kalispell to talk about their support for Judge Barrett's confirmation. These Montana businesswomen shared their views of Judge Barrett as a mentor, a role model, a wife, a mother, a brilliant jurist, and a great leader. I would also like to take a moment to congratulate and thank President Trump for nominating such outstanding and well-qualified individuals to the U.S. Supreme Court. With Judge Barrett's confirmation, we will take another major step toward restoring the Founding Fathers' vision for the Supreme Court and the separation of powers they brilliantly created. As a U.S. Senator from Montana, supporting Judge Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court is an easy call. She is someone whom Montanans can be proud of and whom Montanans can look up to on the Court. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I appreciate the Senator from Rhode Island bringing up dark money spent in our elections. We all agree that dark-money spending has gotten out of control; however, the Senator from Rhode Island gives me an opportunity to point out the blatant hypocrisy from those in the Democratic Party on this very issue. I know I speak for probably every Montanan, if not most, when I say that we are tired of being bombarded with never-ending television, digital, radio, mail pieces, and most of it is from dark-money organizations. And where do you think much of this dark money is coming from? It is from groups aligned with the minority leader and the Democrats. In fact, according to a September 2020 report by OpenSecrets, which tracks political spending, two dark-money groups aligned with the Democratic Senate leadership have spent more than $44 million on political TV ads--more than any other outside group on television ads during the 2020 election cycle. Let me say that again. These are two dark money groups aligned with Democratic Senate leadership that have spent more than any other outside group on television ads during the 2020 election cycle. Yet neither group has reported any spending to the FEC at all--zero. You may ask yourself why the minority leader and his dark money allies are dumping so much money into races across our country, including Montana. The reason for that is the minority leader wants to be the majority leader and take control of the U.S. Senate. He wants to change the rules, destroy 151 years of precedent, and pack the Supreme Court with activist, liberal judges who will strip away our rights and our freedom. Packing the Court is a direct attack on our Montana way of life. That is why, more than ever, my Court packing resolution is so important. It just says: Let's keep it at nine. It is not that complicated. We cannot let this Court packing occur. So while the Democrats continue to decry dark money--until it benefits their campaigns, of course--we must all take a stand in ensuring that our Montana way of life is protected. For those reasons, I object.

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 the 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 and will continue to be in her new capacity. 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.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to use props during my speech.

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, water is the most basic element of human life. In Montana, we depend on a steady supply of water to drink, to irrigate our crops, to water our livestock, and to provide energy through hydropower. Water is a precious resource, but there are still rural communities in Montana that face challenges to access and that are in dire need of Federal assistance. The health and economic risks associated with the lack of reliable water have increased because of the current pandemic. I stand here today to highlight three bills that would ensure rural Montana communities have access to water. S. 1882 would allow the 130 family farms in the Kinsey Irrigation Company and Sidney Water Users Irrigation District to continue the use of Pick-Sloan power, which they have reasonably relied on for more than 74 years. Thankfully, this bill has been passed out of the U.S. Senate and now awaits House consideration. I thank both Senate and House leadership for getting this bill to the finish line, and I urge my colleagues in the House to pass it. Another Montana water priority is the bipartisan St. Mary's Reinvestment Act, which supports the St. Mary and Milk River Project by allowing the reconstruction and restoration of the over 100-year-old infrastructure. I am proud to be working with the entire Montana delegation on this important bill that supplies over 18,000 water users and municipalities along the Hi-Line, including the Blackfeet Reservation and Fort Belknap. The catastrophic failure of a drop structure this past summer is proof that Congress must pass this bipartisan legislation. I spent time out there in July and saw firsthand the catastrophic failure of that drop and why it is so important to get this legislation passed. This bill is critical for Montana's families and Montana's farmers and ranchers along the Hi-Line. I would also like to highlight my bipartisan bill, the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act. It is hard to believe that there are approximately 40,000 Americans across 12 counties in both Montana and North Dakota who currently do not have access to water that is safe to drink. In fact, I have brought with me today some examples of the drinking water that Montanans in the central and eastern parts of our State have shared with me. Here is a sample that literally came from the tap of the Arnesons. It is hard to believe we are in 2020 and that a Montanan can open up a tap and see water like this. This example came from the Good family. Again, it is yellow water, and this is black water. This is water that has literally come from the taps of Montanans who live in the eastern part of our State. You see, iron content in these impacted areas is nearly five times the Safe Drinking Water Act's standard, and nearly all residents must rely on bottled water. This water is so contaminated that it is corrosive to appliances, which requires residents to operate water softeners to avoid damage. My bill would allow two regional, rural water systems to be rebuilt in order to provide Montanans access to reliable, safe water in central and eastern Montana. I don't think that is asking for too much. All we are asking for is reliable and safe water for thousands of Montanans. Both of these rural drinking water projects have been working with the Bureau of Reclamation for over 15 years to gain Federal authorization, and they can't wait any longer. I rise on behalf of the 40,000 Montanans who lack access to clean water, and I urge the swift passage of the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act as well as the St. Mary's Reinvestment Act I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from Florida for yielding his time. He is not only the Senator from Florida; he is also a former Governor. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about the brave men and women of law enforcement in Montana and across this Nation. These men and women, many who are my friends, are the best of the best. Montana heroes literally put their lives on the line every day to protect our families--our moms, our dads, our kids. They don't do it for the pay or the accolades; they do it to serve their communities, to keep us safe. The men and women wearing that badge accept that every time they leave home to go to their shift and give their loved ones a kiss goodbye, they may never come back home. That is courage. My home county sheriff--Gallatin County, MT--Sheriff Brian Gootkin-- just a little over 1 week ago, we had a huge, massive wildfire that struck the Bridgers just north and east of Bozeman. It has been my hometown for 56 years. There were huge plumes of smoke, a great big fire--11,000 acres. They rushed into the fire and evacuated the residents there. Twenty-eight homes were destroyed, and not a single person lost their life. I can tell you why--because of the actions of the Gallatin sheriff's department, firefighters, and other agencies. This courage is something we should celebrate every day. This is something we should defend every day, including right here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. But, sadly, some people have other ideas. The way that members of our law enforcement are being treated right now around this country is atrocious. It is disturbing. Just this past weekend, two members of L.A.'s law enforcement, a man and a woman, were ambushed while sitting in their car--shot point-blank. Many of you have seen the horrifying videos. If that weren't sickening enough, there were violent protesters storming the hospital that they were being treated at and chanting ``Let them die.'' There are no words to describe the outrage of what is happening here. This anti-police rhetoric is beyond dangerous, and those who support it should be ashamed of themselves. They should be publicly condemned by every Senator, every Representative, and every Governor across this great country. In fact, just this year, 37 officers have been killed. By the way, that is more than a 20-percent increase over the same time last year. Being a police officer in this country is more dangerous than ever before. I am having private conversations with members of law enforcement, our peace officers, men and women who will quietly tell you that it is difficult to continue to serve in this environment where they are not getting the support of their elected officials. I will tell you they are getting the support of their communities in many cases, though. But where is the outrage being expressed by those who are elected to serve, and how are these heroes repaid? Cities and towns across our country, including Montana's very own city, Missoula, are talking about reducing their budgets and proposing abolishment in some areas--abolishment of police departments. That talk is crazy. We have some of this crazy talk in Montana, where some of our communities were looking to take school resource officers out of our schools. They were looking to slash budgets. Thankfully--thankfully-- the community rose up, and they pushed back and, in most cases, stopped it. That is happening right in Montana in some communities. The Senators standing before you today will not accept it. We should not be defunding the police. We should be defending them. To my Democratic colleagues who support defunding these American heroes and these Montana heroes, you should be ashamed. I will always back the blue. I yield back to my colleague Senator Scott.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Virgil Gust of Sweet Grass County for his commitment to keeping entrepreneurial spirits high during these challenging times. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of all Montanans and has proven to be a significant challenge for small business owners. Over the past several months, local business owners have faced tremendous financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, making it difficult to hold on to hope. Virgil Gust, the founder of Gusts of Big Timber, opened the store in 1947 and has worked there for over 70 years. Virgil still approaches his work with the same enthusiasm and dedication as he did at the beginning of his career. It is my honor to recognize Virgil for fostering the values of positivity and hard work in his community during these difficult times. As both a WWII veteran and a small business owner, Virgil brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to his community and is a truly exceptional role model to Montanans from all walks of life.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing the women of the TreasureBelles out of Treasure County for their efforts to promote Montana ag in their community. The TreasureBelles are made up of over 20 women who have made it their goal to promote and highlight the importance of beef through various efforts to integrate agriculture into different community organizations and events. The TreasureBelles enjoy hosting Ag Day at the school in Hysham each Spring, feeding Lions Club members each month, serving food at the annual StreetFest, and rallying community members together to donate beef for student lunches. The TreasureBelles are also proud members of the Montana Cattlewomen Association and the American National Cattlewomen Association. It is my honor to recognize the TreasureBelles for their commitment to Montana ag, and I applaud their efforts to serve their fellow Montanans in the Treasure County community.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Trista Hovde of Richland County for her outstanding achievement in earning a position on the North Dakota State/Provincial National High School rodeo team. Trista, a junior at Sidney High School, traveled with her fellow teammates to Guthrie, OK, to compete in the 72nd National High School Finals Rodeo. She partook in the barrel racing, girls' cutting, and reined cow horse competitions. The NHSFR boasts the title of the largest rodeo in the world, featuring over 1,650 contestants from 43 States as well as Canada, Australia, and Mexico. Participating in the NHSFR is a tremendous honor and I know that she has made both her community and Montana very proud. It is my distinct honor to recognize Trista for her tireless dedication to the rodeo community and her unique contributions to Sidney and Montana. Her drive and ambition serve as an inspiration to all young Montanans to strive to do the best that they can in everything they do. I look forward to following Trista's rodeo career and all of her future accomplishment.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Roundup Fire Chief Keith Salthe of Musselshell County for his bravery and decisive action that stopped the spread of a fire in downtown Roundup. On the morning of May 20, 2020, Fire Chief Salthe and his team of 20 volunteer firefighters, as well as firefighters from Hawk Creek, Dean Creek, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, responded to a fire that broke out at the Vintage Cafe in Roundup. Five hours after the fire ignited, Salthe and his team were forced to knock down the building to ensure that the fire didn't spread to the remaining businesses on the block. For his decisive action, Musselshell County sheriff called Chief Salthe the real hero of the day and said that if it weren't for Chief Salthe and his team, the entire block would have been lost. It is my distinct honor to recognize Fire Chief Salthe today. His leadership during this fire emergency stopped the spread of the fire towards other businesses, saving lives and preventing what could have been a tragedy for the community of Roundup. Roundup is fortunate to have brave men like Keith Salthe and his team of volunteer firefighters who were ready to jump into harm's way at a moment's notice for the safety of their fellow Montanans.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, it is my honor to recognize Terry Tobiness for her 50 years of dedication to her country, her patients, and her fellow veterans. A graduate of the Helena College of Technology, Terry's first job out of college was at St. John's Hospital in Helena. From then on, Terry went on to work at Crest Nursing Home in Butte, holding various roles over 18 years as a medical nurse, physical therapy aide, and assistant director of nursing and social services representative. In 1980, Terry continued her service and joined the Army Reserves, deploying to the United Arab Emirates during the first gulf war as part of Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s. As a fellow veteran herself and a dedicated health care hero, Terry spent the last 10 years of her nursing career in Great Falls, providing care at the Great Falls VA clinic in the Neurology and Pain Department as a nurse. Terry's commitment to helping others is exemplary of the rich legacy of service we have in Montana. I know that all of Terry's patients over the years are thankful for her lifetime of service to the community, the State of Montana, and our country.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I am here to speak about a very important issue facing our veterans in Montana. In Montana, we are home to one of the largest veteran per capita population in the Nation. It is an extraordinary privilege for me to represent our veterans. I am the son of a veteran, a marine. In the U.S. Senate, I represent Montana's brave men and women who serve our country in uniform, and I have had the opportunity to hear concerns from our veterans in all corners of our State. That is why I am here today. Last spring, the widow of a Montana veteran, Patricia Pardue, who lives in Northwest Montana, approached me with a heartbreaking story. Patricia saw nearly all of her pension benefits that her husband had earned in service to our country stripped away by a scam artist. This scam artist is also referred to as a pension poacher. This scam artist was receiving Patricia's full VA pension, charging her for services that would have been free at the VA. Sadly, Patricia's story is not a rare occurrence. There are bad actors across the country taking advantage of innocent Montanans like Patricia, and they need to be stopped. After hearing her story, I introduced a bipartisan bill to protect our veterans and their families from these pension poachers. My bill has the support of Senators across both sides of the aisle, as well as the support of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association, and other military and veterans associations. This is a bipartisan bill. It punishes those who act illegally by providing advice or representation to veterans without proper accreditation from the VA. It is a shame we are even in this position today, that there are people out there looking to take advantage of our Nation's heroes. Today, there are no legal consequences for these people--these shameful and unpatriotic individuals who steal money from our Nation's veterans. It is shameful. That is why I am fighting to include this bipartisan bill as an amendment to the defense legislation, the NDAA, before us today--to protect our servicemembers throughout their lives, not just while in uniform but always. Right now, we can take an important step to do everything in our power to ensure veterans and their families keep their benefits, not lose them to scammers. The longer we wait to fix this issue, the longer we are failing our veterans and their financial well-being. We can fix that right here, right now. That is why I am calling on my colleagues today to adopt my amendment to the NDAA--to protect our veterans, to protect the great men and women who have served in the defense of our country. I will stand by the Montana veterans, and I will continue fighting this fight until we get this done. Therefore, I ask the Senator to modify his request to include the Daines amendment, No. 2481.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Jessica Cochran of Blaine County for her entrepreneurship and creativity during these challenging times. The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted so many Montana small business owners and local communities. During these challenging times, it is tougher than ever for new entrepreneurs to open up shop. Jessica, a sixth grade teacher at Harlem Elementary School, however took the initiative to start up her own ice cream truck business this summer to spread some cheer to her community during these hard times. Jessica started Bliss Ice Cream, after acquiring and renovating a 1985 Chevy Astro van. Jessica also secured all the necessary permits and licenses as an independent contractor and food vendor for the summer. Owning an ice cream truck has been a dream of hers since a child. She has taken the initiative to purchase all the necessary supplies and decorations for the children of Harlem and the Fort Belknap area. It is my honor to recognize Jessica for taking the bold initiative to pursue her dream and bring some much needed joy to the children of her community. As a teacher and a new entrepreneur, Jessica is a great role model for all of her students and the folks of Blaine County.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Jackie Stratton of Toole County for her tremendous efforts to support her community. Jackie, a graduating senior at Shelby High School, took the initiative to start a food bank at her school to help those in need. Jackie's FFA and Ag teacher encouraged her to apply for a grant from Montana State University to fund her idea. After applying for the grant, she received $500 from the Alpha Gamm Rho fraternity at Montana State University to start her food bank. Her selfless efforts then caught the attention of community member Lynda Barker, who was able to secure a $2,500 grant from the America's Farmers Build Community Bayer Fund to help Jackie's efforts. With these grants, Jackie was able to purchase a refrigerator, shelving, food, and hygiene products. Jackie also collaborated with the local Albertsons for dairy, breads, and frozen foods. Additionally, Jackie secured the donation of 300 pounds of ground beef from Flesch Angus in Shelby for her food bank. It is my honor to recognize Jackie for her selfless efforts to help her fellow students and community members in need of support during this difficult time. Her bold initiatives inspired-- others to give as well and demonstrated how Montanans can come together to help one another.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today, we will make history in the Senate. Today, we will vote on one of the most important conservation bills not just in years but in decades. Today, we get one step closer to protecting our outdoor heritage for our children, our grandchildren, for future generations of Montanans, and for all Americans because today we will be casting the final vote on this historic bipartisan bill entitled the ``Great American Outdoors Act.'' Today, for the first time ever in the U.S. Senate, we will vote to make funding for a critical conservation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, full and mandatory. This funding will protect the program and provide certainty for our land managers, for conservationists, for sports men and women. I spoke with Montanans across our State about the importance of this program. What is interesting is no matter what the ideologies are, these ideologies across the board, from left to right--they agree that this program will protect our outdoors for current and future generations. As a Senator from Montana, Big Sky Country--in fact, we like to call Montana ``The Last Best Place''--I know just how important it is that we have access to our public lands and the opportunity to enjoy our outdoors. In fact, it is a major driver of our economy, the outdoor recreation economy. The Land and Water Conservation Fund enables better public access to our public lands. It is going to help create jobs in a time when we need them the most. It will help protect wildlife habitat. It will help improve land management. It links conservation to a strong energy sector, and it costs the taxpayers nothing. Today, by voting on the Great American Outdoors Act, we will also provide a significant downpayment to address the maintenance backlog that is facing our national parks and our public lands. I chair the National Parks Subcommittee here in the Senate. As a fifth-generation Montanan who grew up going to our national parks--I grew up in the shadows of Yellowstone National Park, just about 1\1/2\ hours from my home--because of enjoying the outdoors with my family, this has been one of my top priorities. You see, our national parks and our public lands set us apart from the rest of the world, but our parks have seen an increase in visitation--in fact, record visitation for many of our parks. That is a really good thing. Our park infrastructure is at risk of being loved to death, leading to dilapidated infrastructure that can compromise the visitor experience and safety. There is nearly $12 billion in maintenance backlog facing our national parks across the Nation, including over $700 million in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, an additional $34 million throughout other national parks in Montana. We have a great opportunity today to address this by getting this bipartisan bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, done and passed out of the Senate and send it over to the House. As a kid who grew up in Bozeman, I went to kindergarten through college in Bozeman. I was a Bozeman Hawk in high school and proud Montana State University Bobcat. I know just how important it is to get this done for Montana. I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy Montana outdoors with my sweet wife, Cindy, and our four children and our granddaughter, Emma, and soon-to-be new grandson in just a few months. You see, Montana's public lands are part of our Montana way of life. They are part of our heritage, who we are as Montanans. I have been very fortunate to be able to fly fish many of Montana's rivers and their streams. In fact, my son took that picture of me up in the Beartooth a few years ago. I remember that distinctly. Just around the corner of where that picture was taken, I was working my way up that stream and got a real nice cutthroat and ripple. In fact, Cindy and I backpack in the Beartooth, in the wilderness area, every August. We take along two of our dogs, Ruby and Reagan. In fact, I took that picture of our son, Michael, up in the High Country of Montana. We get places like this where there are virtually no trails. This is wild country. It is unique to the world that we have places that are so pristine and still remain so relatively untouched. My wife and I have instilled in our family the same passion and love for outdoors that we have shared for so long. Here we are at a backpack, again, up in the Beartooth. This is not too far from Granite Peak, Montana's highest point. Some of our best memories are spending time with our son, Michael, there, the dog, Cindy, and me there. I want to show you this next picture because that sums up probably who we are as a couple. We went back up to the Hyalite area south of Bozeman a few years ago. That peak is Hyalite Peak. Back in 1986, that is where I asked Cindy to marry me. We got engaged on top of that mountain, a peak over 10,000 feet high. This is more than just some theoretical discussion that we are having today on the floor of the Senate. This is about protecting our Montana outdoor way of life. It is the very heart and soul of who we are as Montanans. In fact, since I came to Congress, I made it one of my highest priorities to protect and expand access to our public lands. I am proud to be standing here today, ready to vote on this historic conservation bill. Today, I urge my colleagues--it doesn't matter whether you are a Democrat or Republican--to come together and pass this bipartisan bill that will benefit generations. I think we are going to have a really strong vote today. My sense is it will be an overwhelming affirmation of this important legislation. I look forward to seeing that. I look forward to passing the Great American Outdoors Act today, working to get it out of the House, which is our next step, and getting it onto President Trump's desk. I spoke with him today, and he is excited to sign this historic piece of legislation into law. Montana is ready. I am ready. Let's get her done I yield the floor.

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

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations. Committee on Environment and Public Works The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 4:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 4:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 12 p.m., to conduct a hearing.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Thanks, Senator Heinrich. I am going to hand this over to the Senator from Ohio, as well as our Senator from Tennessee, where it is so important to the Restore Our Parks Act. I know we have a lot to talk about in our national parks. I want to add one point, Senator Heinrich, about what you mentioned around the economic benefits. Seventy percent of the fishing access that is in Montana has been funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund--70 percent. As a kid growing up, I had a fly rod in my hand back in the early 1970s before fly fishing became very popular. My grandpa and my dad would take me out, not unlike in ``The River Runs Through It.'' That is a classic movie. When Robert Redford and Brad Pitt came out to Montana and filmed this amazing movie, it was filmed on the Gallatin River, where I grew up fishing as a kid, in Bozeman. Little did we know what a movie like that and fishing access might do to spur our fly fishing industry in Montana. Now our outdoor recreation economy is $7 billion in Montana. What started out as access for the public and primarily Montanans has turned into something that is an economic driver, as others want to share the amazing experiences we have in places like Montana, on our rivers and seeing a trout on a fly line. It is an important economic driver.

Mr. DAINES. I want Senator Portman from Ohio to speak.

Mr. DAINES. I think that is exactly right, Senator Heinrich. It is one of these unique moments tonight in the Senate where this body is coming together. Here we are--as Senator Heinrich mentioned and Senator Gardner has mentioned--we may disagree on various issues, but we are coming together tonight at a time when the Nation needs to come together to move this very important legislation forward In Montana, we had cabin fever, as I am sure folks in New Mexico and Colorado had as well. There were too many times on Zoom and not enough time outside. It has been good to see, as we have been through a phased opening in our State, like other States, people are getting back outside again and back into our national parks. I think about being a kid growing up in Montana. My earliest memories were literally when Mom and Dad would load us up in a pickup. Those were the days when you laid down in the back of a pickup. Kids rode in the back of the pickup. Nobody was strapped in. I am not suggesting this become the normal practice, but back in the day, we just rode in the back of the pickup. Mom and Dad would take us up to Cooke City, MT. Sometimes we would do day hikes out of there. Sometimes there were overnights on our public lands. You don't realize how special that is when you are growing up until you realize not everybody around the country has that kind of direct accessibility to our public lands. That is why more and more Americans are actually coming out West and why they want to be closer to these amazing public lands that we are so grateful we have in places like New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana. We say in Montana that we get to work, but we also like to play. We work hard during the week, and I think we work hard so we can get out on the weekends, where there is hiking, fishing, hunting, and backpacking. This is our life. These are pictures I have taken with my phone. The picture right here--we have three Mini Australian Shepherds. These are two of them. Our older dog, Jessie, has a hard time getting down the trails and mountains now, but the younger ones still can. We think about our fondest memories spending time outside on our public lands. It is why we continue to preserve, protect, and expand that access to this incredible treasure we have in America.

Mr. DAINES. Senator Heinrich, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has been such an important tool for us to provide access to the type of situation you just described. We have about 1.5 million acres of Federal lands in Montana that are not accessible because they are landlocked. They are inholdings because of the complex nature of the checkerboard ownership infrastructure that we oftentimes see out West-- a section, 640 acres, a square mile. You have a State section, you have a Federal section, and you have a private land owner. This is working with willing landowners who want to work and find a way to consolidate some of these sections to provide better access to the public lands. We have had some great projects, like the Tenderfoot project, we call it, over by the Smith River, which is a treasure in Montana. It is kind of the Montana bucket list, to float the Smith. It is an amazing several overnights from one point to the next, an over 50-mile kind of float. I did that once, and I would love to do it again. We had the Falls Creek acquisition that is outside of Augusta. By being able to provide access through a few hundred acres or a couple thousand acres, it gets the public into tens of thousands of acres of some prime elk habitat. This is where we bring together some of these great wildlife conservations, like the Rocky Mountain elk conservation, that see these tools as critical to, one, help protect and expand elk habitat, but importantly, Montana is still one of those States where a mom or a dad, grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle can take a son or a daughter, a niece or a nephew or a cousin down to Walmart and buy an elk tag or a deer tag over the counter and jump back in the pickup and go to our public lands within an hour, sometimes even a shorter time than that. That is something, as you mentioned, Senator Heinrich--

Mr. DAINES. It is--every State has its own philosophy and ways they are going to manage wildlife, but in Montana, in many cases, it is an over-the- counter tag. We have special draws. Antelope is still a draw. There are some places for elk and deer that are a draw, but in most cases, for elk and deer or a bear, you can go and buy that tag over the counter. That is very unique. As you mentioned, Senator Heinrich, it is so different from Europe. What sets our country apart--while Europe may have beautiful castles and chateaux and chefs and so forth, what we have are national parks and our public lands. As you mentioned, it is something our forefathers had the vision for. They went before us and set that aside. Had they not done that--you never get that back. Had that not been put in the hands of the public, we wouldn't have Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park. They are such beautiful places. They would have been subdivided. They would have been privately held, and the public couldn't enjoy these treasures. I am grateful for that legacy. We get to work on it here tonight, to continue to maintain it well and be better stewards of these public lands.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Aubree Root of Richland County for her academic achievements and desire to give back to her community. Aubree is a graduate of Fairview High School and plans to attend Minot State University to study psychology and art in the fall. She has a desire to use her education to eventually work with children who have experienced trauma once she graduates from college. Aubree was awarded a scholarship by the ROI Foundation. The ROI Foundation selects a Richland County graduating senior every year who plans to pursue a career in the field of special education, psychology, or any related field having to do with human services. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their academic standing, their involvement in the community, and their desire to work with those with intellectual, physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. It is my honor to recognize Aubree for receiving this distinguished scholarship. Her selfless desire to receive an education in order to support those in challenging situations exemplifies the Montana spirit of serving others. I look forward to following Aubree's future accomplishments, and I congratulate her for receiving this honor.

Mr. DAINES

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