Joni Ernst

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. Chief Justice.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senators Burr, McSally, Daines, Moran, Young, and Sasse.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I stand proudly before this body today in support of the passage of the Debbie Smith Act of 2019. Since its enactment in 2004, the Debbie Smith Act has been renewed twice with overwhelming bipartisan support. With the tireless work of Senator Cornyn and Senator Feinstein, we will renew this vital piece of legislation for a third time today. I want to thank Senator Cornyn very much for being such a diligent leader on behalf of this act. The Debbie Smith Act removes one of the most substantial and burdensome roadblocks to survivors of sexual violence achieving the justice they deserve. I have told many people about the time I volunteered when I was a young woman in Iowa State University. I volunteered for a crisis hotline and a woman's shelter. The type of work I was able to volunteer for at that time was responding with a beeper to crisis calls at the hospital for women who had been through a rape. That, in itself, is very difficult, but the follow-on work that has to be done can often be just as difficult if evidence is not processed timely. The Debbie Smith Act does this by providing funding for crime labs that process DNA evidence and by strengthening the national DNA database used to help solve these horrific crimes. In addition, this bipartisan bill supports audits of evidence awaiting analysis at law enforcement agencies and charges the Justice Department with the task of developing national testing guidelines. We all know the criminal justice system isn't designed to be fair to survivors of sexual violence, and it is not easy on them. It certainly is not a comfortable process. Coming forward as a survivor is not the end. It is just the beginning. That is why it is so important that this Congress, with Senator Cornyn's leadership, and our criminal justice system support survivors of sexual violence by funding the availability of DNA evidence to help bring these predators to justice. Again, I thank the Senator for his diligent work on this. The bipartisan Debbie Smith Act helps to bring us to the end that our survivors need and they deserve. Thank you for your leadership. With that, I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, Johnny Isakson will be a legend in the Senate. His life is marked with such tremendous service. From his time in the Georgia Air National Guard to his service in the Georgia house and senate, and on to the U.S. House and the Senate, Johnny has been making his home State proud every single step of the way. As a fellow veteran, I can't tell you how much I especially appreciate Senator Isakson's relentless and dedicated focus on veterans' issues. As chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, he has worked tirelessly to put our veterans first. One of the most important pieces of legislation we worked on together was the VA MISSION Act. Veterans in Iowa and in Georgia are oftentimes living in rural areas or are simply homebound. So with the VA MISSION Act, I knew that Johnny would be a great ally and partner to make sure that we prioritized telehealth and ensure that veterans could receive necessary care closer to home, and we did just that. Folks, the MISSION Act is truly landmark legislation that is making a difference in the lives of countless veterans across our Nation. It would not have been possible without the hard work and the diligent efforts of our colleague Senator Johnny Isakson. He understands the importance of building relationships and working across the aisle, putting our veterans ahead of politics, and getting his job done. His determination and commitment to veterans is remarkable, and I will forever be grateful for his leadership in this particular area. I have been asked many times what I am going to miss about Johnny Isakson. Well, there is quite a lot that I will miss about Johnny, but if I had to narrow it down to just a few things, I would say, first, his joy. Johnny always--always--has a smile on his face. His joy truly is contagious, and it is genuine. He loves serving the people of Georgia, and you can't help but smile when you see Johnny Isakson. Second is his passion. There is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind around here that Senator Johnny Isakson loves his country. You can see it when he speaks on the floor of the Senate and in the way he works with colleagues to fulfill his duties as a Senator. Georgians really should be very proud of him. Finally, for me, I would have to say his encouragement. When I see Johnny in the halls or in the cloakroom, always--no matter how quickly I seem to be walking--he smiles. He will stop me, and he will always speak an encouraging and a very kind word. I know he does this not just with his Republican colleagues but also with our Democratic friends. While you will not see that on TV or in the headlines, it is real, and it is Johnny Isakson. That leads me to what I will miss most of all. I will miss Johnny, plain and simple. He has never taken his eye off the ball. He has been committed and he has been focused on serving the people of his home State that he loves so dearly. We will miss Johnny. He has been a tremendous colleague and a friend to all of us. Johnny, you will be missed on this floor and in these halls. From one veteran to another, thank you for all you have done for our great veterans, not just in Georgia, not just in Iowa, but all across our Nation. May God bless you, Johnny Isakson, and may God bless your family. Thank you for your service. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to SGM Derek Gondek for his exemplary dedication to duty and service as an Army congressional fellow and congressional budget liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management and Comptroller. Sergeant Major Gondek is retiring after 27 years of dedicated service to his country and the U.S. Army. A native of Lewiston, ME, Sergeant Major Gondek enlisted as an infantry soldier in July 1992, attending infantry one station unit training at Fort Benning, GA. Sergeant Major Gondek has served in a broad range of assignments during his Army career at all levels of command. Starting as a rifleman with the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Polk, LA, Sergeant Major Gondek led soldiers as a team leader, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, and operations sergeant major across the Army. His highest level of leadership was as a battalion command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, HI. He has also instructed at the Army's Jumpmaster School and provided coaching to rotational units at the Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. Sergeant Major Gondek has served forward deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2017, Sergeant Major Gondek began his tenure with the U.S. Senate, first as a Defense fellow and next in his subsequent assignment as a congressional budget liaison for the U.S. Army. Sergeant Major Gondek worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and their staffs to accurately articulate the Army's budget positions to the Appropriations Committees. His professionalism, diligence, and commitment to the mission are unmatched, and his work both as a fellow and as a liaison very effectively represented the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense to the U.S. Congress. The foundation of Derek's military success is his family. He is a devoted husband to his wife Maura and committed father to his daughters, Winnie, Ellie, and Zoey. Maura, Winne, Ellie and Zoey provide the foundation for Derek's service. Their attitude of service, sacrifice, and care for others permeates every organization and activity they participate in. The Gondek family is truly an example of servant leadership in the Army and the communities they engage. Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Gondek has positively impacted soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited tremendously from his extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion. I join my colleagues today in honoring his dedication to our Nation and invaluable service to the U.S. Congress as an Army congressional liaison. It has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with SGM Derek Gondek over the last 3 years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Derek for his service to our country, and we wish him all the best as he continues his service in his future endeavors.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, there are just 21 days left in 2019. With the days dwindling, Congress has made little progress on its to-do list that without question must be addressed before going home for the holidays. This is largely due to the distractions and delays caused by the Democrats in this body and especially by those across the Capitol. Let's take the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. President Trump signed it over 1 year ago. If approved, USMCA would create 176,000 new jobs by expanding access to markets and providing much needed certainty for American businesses and farmers. Literally, everyone benefits. Yet here we are still waiting for the House Democrats to bring it up for a vote--a vote that would be broadly bipartisan. Speaker Pelosi even admitted today that there is no question that USMCA is much better than NAFTA. I am hopeful the House will finally vote on the measure next week before leaving town. This would be a great Christmas gift for American workers, farmers, and businesses. But it is not just on trade deals. We are now over 2 months into the new Federal fiscal year. Yet Congress still has not approved the annual funding bills for this fiscal year. These bills will actually fund the government. Yet Democrats are stalling and throwing up roadblocks at every turn. They are failing to support our servicemembers, including providing them with the largest pay raise in a decade. Just recently, I was on the ground in Kuwait and Afghanistan to meet with our U.S. troops, including Iowans of the Des Moines-based 103rd Sustainment Command. These servicemembers are relying on Congress to do their job so that our military men and women can carry out their job of protecting our homeland. As a former company commander in Kuwait, I realize just how vital resources are to our troops. Let's not forget that Democrats agreed to a framework months ago on all of these bills. Yet they have repeatedly blocked consideration of these bills. Similarly, the authorization for the Violence Against Women Act--a law that is deeply personal to me--expired a year ago and remains in limbo. For months, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and I worked to develop a bipartisan bill to renew the law, which provides desperately needed resources to prevent domestic and sexual abuse and care for our survivors. We were making real progress, but all of a sudden, Senate Democrats walked away from the progress we made in an apparent attempt to make violence against women an election issue. Folks, we cannot allow our political differences to keep us from performing our most basic constitutional duties: to provide for the common defense, fund the operations of the Federal Government, and support women and children across this country facing sexual and domestic abuse. I plan on continuing to work with Senator Feinstein without regard to the political winds because we have to stop playing politics with women's lives and our Nation's defense. At a time when Democrats and Republicans in Washington can't find many areas of agreement, these are all issues on which we should and absolutely can find common ground. I implore my Democratic colleagues to end the obstruction and delay. Work with us to fund the government and support our servicemembers. Pass the USMCA and provide resources for my fellow survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. The American people are counting on us. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, there is something we can do in Congress today, right now, right this very minute, that would lift a burden and provide peace of mind for millions of people across this great country. As we all busy ourselves making holiday plans, Iowa's farmers and manufacturers are struggling to confidently look to the future. Many of the tools they need to feel confident and secure in the months ahead are laid out in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The USMCA trade agreement was signed by President Trump 369 days ago--369 days ago. That is over 1 year ago. Speaker Pelosi and her House colleagues have had more than enough time to pass this important agreement. Yet they have failed to do so. Instead, House Democrats are fixated on impeaching the President. Let's not forget, though, when the House Democrats decided to go down this impeachment path, the American people were guaranteed that the House Democrats would be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. They promised that they could process this impeachment inquiry while continuing to do the work of the people. Well, folks, there is not much walking and chewing gum going on. Instead, that gum seems to be stuck under some park bench somewhere. That is where we are today, while millions of Americans whose livelihoods are tied to trade wait for the Democrats to get serious. It is really unthinkable that USMCA is not already ratified by the United States. Folks, the USMCA is written. It is signed. It is agreed to by our partners. All we have to do is vote to pass it. It really is that simple. As I mentioned, it has been over 1 year since the trade agreement was signed. That means Iowa farmers have now gone through an entire cycle of planting, harvesting, and selling their crops without a finalized trade agreement with our two biggest trade partners. Yes, they are our two biggest trade partners--Mexico and Canada. I spent all year crisscrossing Iowa to visit all of my 99 counties. I do that every year, just as Senator Grassley does, and not once did I hear someone say: Hey, Senator Ernst, let's wait on the USMCA. It was quite the opposite. Whether I was at one of my 35 townhalls that I held just last year or during a farmer roundtable or a visit to a small manufacturer, I heard consistently and across the board that Iowans want USMCA right now. They want it now. These hard-working folks know the impact the USMCA will have on our Iowa economy and the U.S. economy as a whole. There is no reason Iowans should have to wait any longer. There is no reason the American workers shouldn't have the certainty that they need. My House colleagues have not been able to offer any reasonable explanation for their inaction. I beg to say, though, folks, that it is because of who sits in the White House, and it would be a sad reality that, once again, Democrats would choose to put their own politics ahead of what is best for the American people. The USMCA is not partisan. It is not about President Trump. It is about what is best for hard-working Iowans. It is what is best for the American people. The work has been done for Congress. The trade agreement has been written. All we have to do is say yes for the American people. That is it. It is so simple. Let's get serious. Let's do the simple task that folks back home are asking us to do, and that is to pass the USMCA. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I am reserving the right to object. I am on the floor today to speak my piece about the Violence Against Women Act. I speak to this body not just as a Senator, but I speak to this body as a survivor of rape and as a survivor of domestic violence. For months--for months--the senior Senator from California and I worked together on a piece of legislation that would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a bipartisan effort, an effort that brought the Senator and I together to reauthorize the bill with as much support in this body as possible. We were working together in good faith to make our way through the issues that affect so many women in abusive situations, partners in abusive situations, domestic violence situations where children are involved, to find a common path forward to have this bill reauthorized, again, with as much support as possible in this body at a time when America views us as so politically divided. What could bring us together? The issue of violence directed at women and children and survivors of sexual assault should bring us together. Months of bipartisan effort--but there was pressure to immediately introduce the House-passed version of the Violence Against Women Act. We were moving ahead with steady progress in a number of these areas, but, again, there was political pressure to introduce the House-passed version of the bill, not one that we could come together with on the floor of this Senate but one that even the Democrats--in their release, in their press gaggle addressing the House version of Violence Against Women--said would never make it through the Senate. Why on Earth would we introduce a piece of legislation that will not make it through this body? Shouldn't we be working together to find a path forward? We should continue to work on it. I sincerely hope that by the end of this year we can come together as Republicans and Democrats and not present a Republican version or a Democratic version but produce a version that will pass this body and protect those who are in a very vulnerable state. I have been in that vulnerable state before, and I appreciated the assistance that was given to me by folks who were funded by this piece of legislation. So, with that, I object.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I truly appreciate the remarks by the senior Senator from California. I truly have enjoyed working on this piece of legislation. There were three markers that were laid down within the House version of the bill as outlined previously, but there was no consensus there. It was, ``Either accept these provisions or we don't work together.'' We need to keep finding a way to get to consensus on a bill moving through this body, and I am happy to continue working on legislation with the Senator. I think, by the end of this year, we should find something that would work to reauthorize this very important piece of legislation, and I appreciate her leadership on this very much. I truly have enjoyed working with her.

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, the Violence Against Women Act turned 25 years old this year. As many of us are aware, this law provides desperately needed resources to tackle domestic and sexual abuse in our communities. Folks, it needs to be reauthorized. I wasn't in the Senate the last time this bill was passed back in 2013, and I wanted to be part of the process of getting the bill done this time around. As a woman, as a survivor, and as someone who volunteered at a women's shelter in college, I understand just how awful violence against women can be in terms of physical and mental well-being, self-image, our families, and security in the whole of society. For months the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and I worked to develop a bipartisan proposal that I really thought could get across the finish line. Folks, as that old ``Schoolhouse Rock'' video says: Without passing the House, the Senate, and getting a signature from the President, all you have is a bill, just a bill, not a law. And no survivors are helped by a bill. Here we are today, after months of work and mountains of effort that went toward working on a bipartisan bill, and at some point someone pressed the big red button of partisan politics, and the Democrats refused to work together any longer, walking away from the real progress we had made. Not only did they walk away from the negotiating table, but they did so by dropping a bill that is going nowhere, as they have acknowledged. The Senate Democrats' bill is a nonstarter. It will not pass the Senate. It will not get the President's signature. Most importantly, it will not actually help the survivors who need it. These politics are sad. We should be helping survivors, not engaging in the kinds of partisan antics that will never produce real results. We have seen this before. The Democrats will say that Republican women can't speak for women because we don't agree point by point with their leftist agenda. These are worn-out tactics, my friends. However, despite the minority's decision to walk away and put politics ahead of survivors, I am leading our effort to continue getting a bill done that focuses on providing the resources and support survivors across the country need for women and children in urban and rural areas like mine. My goal has always been to empower survivors, to punish abusers, and to enhance the overall purpose behind this very important law. That is why, this week, I plan to put forward a bill that puts survivors first. We have included a number of issues Senate Democrats failed to address. For example--and this should be so simple, folks--we are holistically addressing female genital mutilation. We have tripled the amount of funding that is available for education and sexual assault prevention. We also focus more on enhancing the penalties for abusers. As a matter of fact, one of the most objectionable and unacceptable items in the Senate Democratic bill is that they allow accused abusers to go outside of the justice system and negotiate directly with their victim--with their victim--those women, those abused survivors who have already been manipulated and beat down. It allows those abusers to negotiate directly with their victims to avoid jail time; that is, of course, as long as the victim consents, as if an abusive relationship ever involved consent--outside of the justice system, folks, outside of the justice system. It is unimaginable that we would allow or fund such an abusive system or abusive situation and allow abusers to escape justice. I think abusers should face justice, and I am not sure why our Senate Democratic colleagues don't agree. Coming from a rural area of our country, I made sure we prioritized rural resources in our bill. We are offering increased funding for housing assistance so that women and children can be safe from their abusers. When living in an area like mine--rural Montgomery County, Red Oak, IA--the nearest shelter is an hour away. You have virtually cut off a woman and her children from any job she might have, any family she might have, and it truly takes them out of their life. By offering these housing resources through voucher programs, our bill enables them to rent an apartment or home in their home community. Imagine what we could do in this body if we worked with a single purpose instead of a dozen different motives. Imagine this entire body pulling together with a single purpose, focusing on assisting those survivors. I welcome the support of all of my colleagues for my bill--Democrats and Republicans--and I hope we can all join together in this effort. How many more violent abusers can we put behind bars to keep survivors safe? How many more people would be alive today? I want to thank my colleagues for joining me today to speak on the importance of the Violence Against Women Act. I want to send the message to the countless survivors across this country: We are with you. We hear you, and we are working for you. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, one of my top priorities has been to reauthorize and modernize the Violence Against Women Act. A survivor myself, I recognize that VAWA provides the right resources to tackle head-on domestic violence and sexual abuse in our communities in Iowa and throughout the United States. My good friend and colleague Dianne Feinstein, ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, agreed to work with me on this important topic. For months, Senator Feinstein and I and our staffs have worked closely and in good faith with one another with this shared goal in mind. We have met numerous times, held discussions, and negotiated in a way that has produced real progress. But just this week, after months of work and mountains of effort toward a bipartisan bill, it all came to a screeching halt. Once again, the Democrats are putting politics ahead of people and have decided to move forward on the House-passed VAWA bill. The House bill is a nonstarter and is chock-full of partisan political talking points that take us further away from rather than closer to a bill we can get over the finish line. I am all too aware of how this town works. Election-year politics are in full swing, and the grim reality is Democrats cannot afford to be seen giving Republicans a win. The far-left agenda of the House has hijacked the process. It sounds petty and it sounds unbelievable, but, folks, that is the reality. You would think that supporting survivors and preventing abuse would be placed ahead of petty politics. I want to be clear. I remain hopeful that we can continue to work in a bipartisan way to get this law reauthorized. Soon, I plan to respond with a good-faith proposal of my own. This bill will support survivors and hold abusers accountable. It is also a bill that I believe can pass the Senate and get the President's signature. I invite my colleagues across the aisle to join me in this very, very important effort. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, having worn our great Nation's colors in Operation Iraqi Freedom, veterans hold a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite moments in Iowa are centered on honoring our veterans and their families with the medals and the recognition they have earned. Oftentimes, these humble heroes don't want to step forward and receive the honor they are due. Glenn McDole is a great example of this. Glenn served in World War II and faced some very, very dark days, being only 1 of the 11, out of a total of 150, who survived the Palawan massacre. Glenn was captured in 1941, and he came home to Iowa in 1945. It wasn't until the early 1980s that he started speaking about his military experience. When he returned home from the war, he didn't skip a beat in his service. Glenn quickly joined the Iowa State Patrol and then the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Glenn lived a very full life of service. Yet his heroic actions in uniform would go unnoticed for so many years. I am so grateful that his family got in touch with my office, and we were able to track down the more than 13 medals that he should have received for his service. Presenting the medals to his family earlier this year in my office in Des Moines was truly a beautiful moment. The medals presented to Glenn's family--and the number of other veterans and families across Iowa who have received these well-deserved recognitions--represent duty, honor, and sacrifice. It is the heroic stories of these very veterans, like Glenn, that truly inspire me to keep fighting for our veterans day in and day out. As someone who commanded men and women overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and then served as the battalion commander of the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard, I have a deep connection and appreciation for our veterans. Just this past weekend, as I was wrapping up my 99-county tour in Iowa, I was able to spend some time with more of those Iowa veterans at my veterans' resource fair. We were sharing stories about those hard times. We were laughing about the good times. We talked about concerns they have with the VA and making sure they are getting the quality of care they have earned. We talked about the work we have done in the Senate to improve their well-being. In just the past few years, under the Trump administration, we have been able to expand access to services through legislation like the VA MISSION Act, a bipartisan bill that I proudly helped to get signed into law. This important bill included a number of my priorities, like allowing qualified VA health providers to practice telemedicine across State lines and veterans to receive their care through telemedicine, including vital mental healthcare treatment, and doing it from the comfort of their own home. President Trump just signed another one of my bills into law, the HAVEN Act, which protects the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship. I continue to press the VA to take a hard look at their hiring practices and to make sure the people treating and providing care to our veterans have a record of quality care, specifically by introducing the bipartisan Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act. The legislation ensures that the VA is absolutely held accountable for how they help care for their veterans, and I am continuing to press them on that issue. We must work tirelessly to restore hope in the institutions that have asked so much of our Nation's heroes, plain and simple. Veterans must have reliable, quality mental and physical healthcare. There is no other option. Folks, as we take a moment to reflect on the work we have done and continue to do in Congress on behalf of these men and women, we should also pause, as we do every year on Veterans Day, to simply honor their service and the sacrifices they have made for our country and for our freedom. Serving in the military provided me some of the best years, the best friends, the best experiences, and the best memories of my life. Each year, Veterans Day serves as a stark reminder of the daily sacrifice made by those who have served this country bravely and selflessly. Veterans in Iowa and across our Nation, you have my support and my deepest gratitude today and every day of the year. When men and women sacrifice time with their families and give up holidays, comfort, and their livelihoods to protect our Nation and defend the freedoms we often take for granted, we must fulfill our commitment to caring for them when they return home. To all of my fellow veterans, may God bless you and keep you. To their families, I thank you so much for standing behind your loved ones in our country's time of need. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Madam President, before I begin my remarks today, I do want to thank the senior Senator from Texas for his remarks on the Violence Against Women Act and the Debbie Smith Act. I think it is vitally important that both of these acts are reauthorized this year and the sooner the better so our advocates can get their work done. Thank you very much for those remarks.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, just over a year ago, President Trump signed into law the most comprehensive and sweeping opioid response package in the Nation's history, a piece of legislation that passed this body with overwhelming bipartisan support--a rarity in gridlocked Washington. The reason we came together was simple: Opioid abuse is tearing apart families, straining our law enforcement and emergency services, and engulfing our communities. Young mothers with precious babies and young people in the prime of their lives are focused on fentanyl rather than finding their path toward success. This crippling epidemic has touched the lives of Iowans from all walks of life and from all areas of our State. We have seen the harrowing statistics and the ongoing struggles that many of our loved ones face. In Iowa, we also struggle with an ongoing meth epidemic that further threatens our communities. In just one of many statistics, the number of children put into foster care in the United States due to parental drug use nearly doubled from 2000 to 2017. I have heard so many heartbreaking stories from families who have a loved one battling addiction. A mom from Polk County shared with me her son's 7-year battle with addiction and how the vicious disease affects all levels of society, including our friends, our neighbors, and in her case, her family. She concluded by pleading with Congress to act to end, in her words, ``this horrific situation and serious threat to our nation's future.'' Families like this are desperate for their loved ones to reach recovery and good health before their story ends in tragedy. As is sometimes quoted, ``Addiction is a family disease. One person may use, but the whole family suffers.'' It is these heartbreaking stories that propelled me and my colleagues to take action. This bipartisan package named the ``SUPPORT Act'' expanded treatment and recovery options for opioid addiction, created new tools for prevention and enforcement, supported safe disposal of opioids, strengthened first responders' training, and provided for the safe disposal of unused drugs. It has produced real results for Iowans and for folks all across the country. Just last week, I had the chance to join the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, and a number of other administration officials to discuss the progress made on opioid abuse, including efforts to reduce the number of women using opioids during pregnancy. This President and this Republican-led Senate are tackling the opioid crisis in a meaningful and thoughtful way, and I couldn't be prouder to be associated with this work. In Iowa alone, for instance, we have seen the number of deaths from opioids decrease by 19 percent. In September, the administration announced $932 million in awards for State opioid response grant funding, including over $11 million for Iowa. This past Saturday, Iowans from across the State participated in another National Take Back Day to raise awareness and encourage the safe disposal of unused prescription drugs. Earlier this year, in April, when we had another Take Back Day, in my home State of Iowa, 88 law enforcement officers worked at 135 collection sites throughout the State and collected 11,680 pounds of unused prescription drugs. More than 135,255 pounds of unused drugs have been collected in Iowa since the beginning of the drug take back program. I am humbled to say that my bipartisan Access to Increased Drug Disposal Act, which was part of the package we passed last year, led directly to resources being awarded in Iowa for events like these. We should be encouraged by the impact the SUPPORT Act, combined with the Trump administration's efforts, have made in the lives of Iowans in just 1 year. As we continue in our fight, I feel hopeful and determined--hopeful that we can help Americans rise above the chains of addiction and determined all the more to keep making progress on behalf of families across this country. I yield the floor.

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

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I come to the floor frustrated--frustrated by the fact that it has been 327 days since President Trump signed the USMCA, and the House has done nothing to take it up. It is not because the House hasn't had time. They have found time to do a lot of things, like continue on their partisan expedition toward impeaching the President. They passed a bill without a pay raise for our troops, spent a lot of ``energy'' on the Green New Deal, and one Member of the House took the time to show the world she was frightened by her garbage disposal. The question is, What is preventing Congress from getting the USMCA done? From Humboldt County all the way to Hamburg, IA, at my townhall meetings or during a visit to a small business or manufacturing plants and everywhere in between, I have been hearing one thing consistently and across the board: Iowans want the USMCA now. These hard-working folks know the impact the USMCA will have on Iowa's economy and the U.S. economy as a whole. There is no reason Iowans should be waiting in limbo for this agreement to be ratified. This trade agreement is a win for the American people, plain and simple. Mexico has already ratified the deal, and Canada is well on their way. Our trade partners are ready. The United States-Mexico- Canada Agreement is about modernizing a trade deal with two of our closest allies that would grow more than 175,000 jobs across this country. NAFTA was ratified in 1994. That was 3 years before Wi-Fi became available to the public, 5 years before USB drives were invented, 12 years before the launch of Facebook and Twitter, and 16 years before computer tablets were on sale. None of us are living with 1994 technology, so why should we be living with a 1994 trade policy? President Trump understands the need to modernize trade with two of our closest allies, and that is why he negotiated a great trade deal with Mexico and Canada--the USMCA. Passing the USMCA will allow us to compete in today's 21st century economy. It will provide folks back home in Iowa with some certainty--certainty in a time where prices have been low and markets have been eroded from other trade wars. Iowans want and need USMCA. Canada and Mexico are our States' top two trading partners. In 2018 alone, we exported $6.6 billion worth of products to our neighbors to the north and to the south. Trade with Canada and Mexico directly increases the value of Iowan exports like beef, adding $70 in value to each head that comes from the State. In case you didn't know it, Mexico is the No. 1 consumer of Iowa corn. I was up in Northwest Iowa a couple of weeks ago visiting with one Iowa corn farmer, and he said that if we were able to get the USMCA deal done, it would have a direct impact--positive--on his farm. It is not just our farmers who will benefit from the USMCA; it is also our businesses and our manufacturers. I was visiting with some business leaders at a roundtable in Des Moines, and time and again they told me how important it is that we get this trade deal done and in place. All of this leaves me scratching my head, wondering when the House is going to do what Americans are demanding. When will they stop obstructing the good work done by our President to get a deal in place? House Democrats need to do their job so Iowa farmers, manufacturers, and business owners can do theirs. Now is the time to pass the USMCA. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise to call attention to the dire situation that continues to unfold in northern Syria. Turkey embarked on a reckless and brutal intervention on October 9, 2019, ostensibly to clear northern Syria of terrorist elements. It has ironically dubbed this operation ``Peace Spring.'' The departure of U.S. forces in the days just prior to this incursion left nothing between Turkish military forces and the predominantly Kurdish militia, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. Up until the cease-fire agreement that was announced today, the SDF bore the brunt of the Turkish assault. The Kurds are deeply stung by what they see as America's abandoning them--this after a long, hard, and successful fight against ISIS. At the height of its power, ISIS controlled territory larger than the United Kingdom. As many Americans know, ISIS directed and inspired terrorist attacks on our homeland, in communities across the United States, and staged numerous attacks against our troops overseas. ISIS's branches across the globe have conducted unimaginable atrocities, including targeting Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, and others who opposed ISIS's corrupt interpretation of Islam. Examples of these atrocities are the heartbreaking stories of so-called Yazidi brides who were forced into marriages with ISIS fighters. They were raped and brutalized repeatedly and were forced to decide whether to abandon their children or to make an escape. There are multiple stories of ISIS's terror that has been inflicted on those with disabilities, such as babies being suffocated simply for being born with Down syndrome. The United States, together with a coalition of over 30 countries, engaged in a campaign to rid the world of ISIS and to restore peace and stability to that region. Yet it was not a nation-state that bore the brunt of the fighting against ISIS. The Kurds and the Arabs who made up the Syrian Democratic Forces took the fight to the heart of the caliphate. With the help of U.S. Special Operations Forces and airstrikes, the SDF liberated lands held by the terror group, imprisoned thousands of terrorist fighters, and restored hope to hundreds of thousands who suffered under ISIS rule. In our fast-moving and quickly changing world, it is easy for some to forget the terrible threat ISIS once posed while they were at their most powerful, but it would be wrong to think we can now allow ourselves to take our foot off of our enemy's throat. Even now, ISIS cells are seeking to take advantage of the chaos in northern Syria to reconstitute and once again pose a direct threat to Americans right here in our homeland. You cannot watch what is unfolding in Syria without being fundamentally concerned about the security of our friends and our neighbors. A recapitalization of ISIS is a threat to us all. It is for this reason that I have introduced a resolution which calls on the Department of Defense and the Department of State to provide a plan within 30 days which will outline a strategy to ensure ISIS will never again threaten Americans or our allies now or in the future. This strategy will address the ongoing threat that ISIS poses regionally and globally and will outline the plan to prevent an ISIS resurgence, contain ISIS expansion, mitigate the threat ISIS poses to the United States and our allies, and describe how our gains against ISIS since 2014 will be further protected. We cannot afford to take our eyes off of this vital task of ensuring the lasting and irreversible defeat of ISIS. We must consolidate our gains to rid the world of this terrible organization and insist on a sound strategy to ensure our success to that end. Too many of our partner forces and indeed American brothers and sisters in arms have fought and died in this fight, and we must ensure that those sacrifices were not made in vain. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to ensure that Congress is working toward commonsense, effective family leave solutions. It is well past time we made paid parental leave a reality in this country. Affording all moms and dads the flexibility to spend time with their new baby is something Americans want to see happen. While I appreciate the resolution by my colleague from the State of Hawaii, putting Washington insiders and Federal employees first doesn't add up as the right first step. I believe we need to think more broadly about this issue and how it impacts hard-working families in Iowa and across the country. We all recognize there are significant barriers for new, working parents to spend time with their baby during those critical and precious first few months. That is why I am working with Senator Mike Lee on a proposal to offer paid parental leave to all new parents in a way that is both budget neutral and flexible. In fact, a number of Republicans and Democrats are working on potential pathways forward. At the heart of all of it, we simply cannot lose sight of the fact that we need solutions that work for all American families, not just those fortunate enough to have a government job. If we are serious about enacting paid family leave policies, instead of scoring political wins, we will support the resolution before us. Families are the bedrock of our society. Let's look for solutions that all Americans can embrace. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, first, I would like to thank my colleague from Oregon. I appreciate that very much.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, it is typically tradition to exchange gifts on anniversaries, but yesterday we celebrated the anniversary of a truly remarkable gift given to each of us as Americans: the Constitution. On September 17, 1787, our Founding Fathers concluded the Constitutional Convention by proposing a new form of government based upon inalienable rights and self-determination of the American people. The Founders of our great Nation devoted incredible foresight to the very structure on which our country is built, with the goal of protecting our rights as citizens for generations to come. Folks, we celebrate Constitution Day with gratitude--gratitude for the unprecedented freedoms this document guarantees, freedoms which have endured more than 230 years. As the world's oldest working national Constitution, the U.S. Constitution continues to withstand the test of time and remains among the most important documents ever to be written. It not only established our government institutions such as Congress, the Presidency, and the courts, but it also limited the power of each to protect against tyranny. As constructed, our government can only exercise the limited powers specifically outlined in the Constitution, but the freedoms that all of us cherish deeply and that are so often taken for granted are forever guaranteed by the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. These include the freedom of religion, so we may worship freely what we know to be true in our hearts; freedom of speech, to debate and openly discuss as we endlessly seek to become that ``more perfect Union''; a free press, to share information with every citizen from north to south, from coast to coast, and to and from my home in Iowa; the right to peacefully assemble and enact change; due process, to ensure justice for every individual and protection against cruel and unusual punishment to those who are convicted; and the right of law- abiding citizens to bear arms. Folks, the words of this Constitution, our sacred Constitution, have endured because they work. The Constitution sets the stage for the generations that follow to continue to expand its ``Blessings of Liberty,'' including: The 13th Amendment that abolished slavery, the 15th Amendment which guaranteed African Americans the right to vote, and the 19th Amendment, which was approved by Congress 100 years ago this past July, granting women the right to vote. The Constitution does more to protect liberty than any political document ever composed. It actively guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our Founders merely hoped for at the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. To tamper with any of the rights promised to us at the founding of our Nation is to weaken the structure upon which our liberty was promised. Even in polarized times, these principles continue to ring true and unite us as Americans. Before each of us in this Chamber began our service to the people of our own great States, we first swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Every man and woman who enlists in our Nation's Armed Forces, as I have, begins their service by swearing a similar oath. Folks, the political winds may blow left, and they may blow right, but we can rest assured that no one can take away these guaranteed freedoms. With every new bill we consider, we must always pause to ensure that it is adhering to the rights outlined in our Constitution. There is nowhere in the world that enjoys the constitutional freedoms that American citizens do today. Those rights and freedoms apply to each one of us equally. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it. The Constitution is a guidepost for justice and democracy and encompasses the bedrock of our ideals as Americans. Most importantly, the Constitution keeps a promise that power shall forever remain with ``We the People.'' I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, 18 years ago, on a bright, clear-skied, September morning, without warning, our Nation was attacked. Many of us probably remember where we were on that horrible day. I had that morning off. I was at home with my nearly 2-year-old daughter. We didn't have the TV on. We had a couple of gentlemen at the house. I was getting a brandnew furnace on that day. What would normally be a couple-of-hours-long installation turned into an all-day event as those men would take time off from installing our new furnace to run into the other room so we could see what was going on on the television. I had two phone calls that morning. The first was early. It was from a neighbor. She said: Joni, do you have the TV on? I said: Well, no, Wanda. I don't. What's going on? She said: Joni, you just need to turn the TV on. So I did, and I saw the horrible events unfolding right in front of us. The second phone call I got was from my Iowa Army National Guard unit: Captain Ernst, we are doing a 100-percent accountability check. We need you to stay by the phone all day so we know how we can get ahold of you--100 percent accountability. It was an experience many of us had never felt before--the terrifying shock of knowing that the country we love and our fellow Americans were under attack. Our adversaries sought to tear us apart by their cowardly acts, but, instead, they brought us together as Americans, for in those terrible moments, we also saw the very, very best of our country--the firefighters, the police officers, the first responders, and the ordinary citizens who courageously put their lives on the line to save countless others. On that day, as individuals and as a Nation, we came together in a unique way, and we also made a pledge to never forget--to never forget the nearly 3,000 victims and the families they left behind, to never forget the heroism of both our first responders and those everyday men and women who selflessly acted to save lives, and to never forget the importance of defending our homeland and the great democratic principles that we stand for. It is a pledge I personally take very seriously, and it is why I have organized this event for my colleagues to come to the floor today and to share their memories and thoughts on today, this eighteenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It is why I work so hard to make sure our Armed Forces have the technology, support, and resources they need to defend our Nation from threats both here at home and abroad. It is why I cosponsored and helped to finally get signed into law a permanent reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, keeping our Nation's promise to support the first responders who continue to sacrifice their health and even their lives from their work in the post-9/11 recovery efforts. And it is why we should never ever take our Nation and our freedoms for granted. I am one--just one--of the millions of Americans keeping that promise to never forget. In fact, today, back home in Iowa, there are countless folks who are honoring that vow in their own thoughtful way. Many use today's anniversary as a day of service, performing acts of kindness throughout Iowa. Others come together with their communities to honor and remember those who were lost. It is really wonderful to see all of the ways that folks are doing that, from walking in the 9/11 March to the Capitol in Des Moines to visiting the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit, currently at the Clay County Fair, to participating in the annual 9/11 Moment of Silence Motorcycle Ride in Mason City. For some of our fellow Iowans, today will be spent remembering loved ones lost in the attack--folks like Newton's Jean Cleere's husband, Jim, a loving, good-natured, good-humored, and God-fearing giant of a man, who never came home from a fateful business trip to the World Trade Center 18 years ago. For nearly two decades now, Jean has been on a crusade to keep Jim's memory alive and well. She helped to raise funds for Newton's very own 9/11 memorial. She speaks to local students, educating them about the events of that day 18 years ago, and she has given her testimony all over Iowa. For folks in Iowa, they have probably seen her driving across the State. She has a pretty special license plate, which reads ``NVR4GT''--never forget. Today and every day, Iowans are keeping that sacred promise. We will always remember Jim Cleere and the nearly 3,000 others who lost their lives that tragic day. We will always honor the heroes who selflessly sacrificed and saved countless lives. We will always rise up to defend our Nation and its citizens. We will never forget. That is our sacred promise. I yield the floor.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote series begin following the remarks of Senators Daines, Collins, Lankford, and Cotton.

Ms. ERNST

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, with August just around the corner, countless Iowans are preparing to fill up their gas tanks--many with Iowa-grown E15--and take to our scenic highways for one last summer road trip. I can tell you one thing: I will be hitting the Iowa roadways myself, and I really cannot wait, folks. Throughout the month, I will be continuing on what I call my 99 County Tour, an annual tradition where I visit each and every one of Iowa's 99 counties. I will be logging hundreds of miles and speaking with thousands of Iowans. It doesn't get any better than heading back home, getting out of this DC swamp, and talking with folks about the issues that matter most to them--like solutions to lower prescription drug prices, policies to help our farmers and small businesses thrive, and efforts to cut wasteful spending and to make them squeal here in Washington. So far, this year, my tour has brought me to over 50 Iowa counties, and I am aiming to visit another 30 or so before Labor Day. I will be crisscrossing the State, hosting townhalls and visiting the small businesses, farms, plants, and everyone else that are currently creating jobs and contributing to Iowa's current economic boom and record unemployment. Meeting with and hearing from my fellow Iowans is one of the best and most important parts of my job. Our elected officials should always be out there listening to the people we work for. It is our job, and it really does make us more effective lawmakers. For Iowans and folks across the Nation planning to hit the road this August, I hope you will take advantage of all that Iowa has to offer. With 99 counties, it means 99 unique communities for road warriors and families to visit and enjoy. There are national treasures like the Effigy Mounds National Monument, a sacred site that is located in Allamakee and Clayton Counties, featuring more than 200 American Indian mounds. There are historic gems like the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in Cedar County and Lewis and Clark State Park in Monona County. I am sure folks will be willing to fill their social media feeds with one-of-a-kind Iowa attractions like the American Gothic House in Wapello County, the world's largest concrete gnome, in Story County, and the famed Field of Dreams in Dubuque County. And who could forget the Iowa State Fair, truly the best State fair in North America and the crown jewel of Iowa attractions, with everything from the butter cow to peanut butter and jelly on a stick, hot beef sundaes, and, of course, good old-fashioned hotdogs. In fact, the Iowa State fair lists over 69 foods on a stick. That is right. It is on a stick, folks. You can try that at the fair this August. But while you are out on the road, there are a few things that you will not be able to avoid. First and foremost, it is Democrats running for President. Folks, they are everywhere in Iowa. You will not miss them. You also can't avoid Casey's Pizza. Why would you want to? That is my question. Now, inside the DC swamp, people may turn their nose up at gas station pizza--that is what it is, Casey's Pizza--but Iowans know it doesn't get any better than pizza from Casey's. One more thing Iowans will not be able to avoid on the roads this August is me. So, as I am out on my 99-county tour this August, if you happen to see me at a townhall or at a local business or organization or maybe even gassing up my Harley-Davidson at Casey's or waiting in line for a slice of pizza, please be sure to stop and say hello. So, folks, hit the roads this August. Make that one last trip with your family. Get out and see those sites, and for heaven's sake, swing through Iowa. Visit our Iowa-nice folks. I yield the floor.