Dean Heller

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, together we rise to share our concerns about the devastating impact of the Cadillac tax enacted as part of ObamaCare. As the Presiding Officer knows, I know, and those around the country know, the Cadillac tax is a 40-percent excise tax set to take effect in 2018 on employer-sponsored health insurance plans. My colleagues from across the country have heard the same concerns that I have. As both my friend from New Mexico and I have heard, this 40-percent tax will increase costs, significantly reduce benefits, or result in employers getting rid of their employer-sponsored health care coverage all together. This is precisely why Senator Heinrich and I have offered the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015, the only bipartisan piece of legislation that would fully repeal this onerous tax. Our bill has 22 bipartisan cosponsors. We all agree that this tax should be fully repealed because we know it will have a negative effect on hard- working, tax-paying Americans. This was clearly demonstrated last week when the Senate overwhelmingly supported and adopt our amendment to fully repeal the Cadillac tax by a vote of 90 to 10. Organized labor, the chamber of commerce, local and State governments, small businesses, seniors, and, together, 90 percent of the Senate--we put forth a solution to fix a problem affecting many Americans and their families. It is very rare these days to see this much agreement in Washington. Members on both sides of the aisle-- Senator Heinrich and I--came together, listened to what our constituents had to say, and sent a mandate to the President to repeal this tax. Today we will discuss why fully repealing the 40-percent excise tax is so important for middle-class families. Whether it is through our legislation, which is S. 2045, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015, or through other must-pass legislation, we hope to address this by the end of the year. Senator Heinrich and I will do everything we can within our power to repeal this tax. I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his leadership in making real progress in fully repealing the Cadillac tax a reality, as we are here to speak about today. With our vote last week, the Senate sent a clear message that we can, and we should, fully repeal this tax. It takes both sides of the aisle listening to the American people. With that, I ask Senator Heinrich what he has heard from his constituents that makes full repeal of the Cadillac tax so important.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from New Mexico for the question. It is a simple answer. That answer is 1.3 million people--1.3 million Nevadans are affected by this Cadillac tax. There are 1.3 million workers who have employer-sponsored health insurance plans, and they will all get hit by this Cadillac tax. Let me tell you what I am talking about. In this case, we are talking about public employees across the State. We are talking about service industry workers, those who work in Las Vegas on the Strip. They will be impacted by this legislation. We are talking small business owners across the State of Nevada. They all know they are going to get hit by this 40-percent excise tax. Not to be left out, of course, are the retirees, the seniors in the State of Nevada that will also be affected by this particular tax. We are talking about three things: reducing benefits, increasing premiums, and also higher deductibles. Let me repeat the three things that this excise tax does: It reduces benefits, increases premiums, and raises deductibles. These are three things that none of us want to see, not in this Chamber. All these lead to more money being taken out of the pockets of taxpayers and hard-working families. For those who supported this law, this tax was intended to go after high-cost plans provided to the very wealthiest Americans. Clearly, we see in this colloquy back and forth that is not the case. This is going to hurt every middle-class, hard-working, tax-paying American. We know this tax is hard hitting, and it will affect the middle class. For that purpose, the Senator from New Mexico and I have brought this legislation to this floor. Again, we will repeat, it was a 90-to- 10 vote--something we don't see very often in this Chamber. I believe that kind of a vote is a message for every American. I said on the floor recently when we were having this debate that nobody in America supports this; nobody in America supports a 40- percent excise tax on their health care benefits. Nobody does. There may be a few here in Washington, DC, but when you get outside of Washington, DC, nobody supports it. That is why we are having this discussion today, so we can inform not only Nevadans, not only New Mexicans but our colleagues here in this Chamber how important and how onerous this is. Having said that, maybe we can get more information on what the Cadillac tax really does, and we will hear the answer to that question from Senator Heinrich.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, to answer the question of the Senator from New Mexico: As he just mentioned, three-quarters of a million New Mexicans will be affected by this legislation. As I said earlier, 1.3 million Nevadans will be affected. I think we have 3 million, so roughly half of Nevadans are going to be affected by this excise tax--a 40-percent excise tax. Fortunately, through Senator Heinrich's hard work and our efforts here on this floor, again, I repeat, we passed this legislation 90 to 10. I think it bears heavily on the hard work my friend from New Mexico did to get this in front of this Chamber. As we can imagine, if 1.3 million Nevadans are affected by this, you will hear from all of them. You do. You hear from all of them. I have heard from large companies, I have heard from small businesses, and I have heard from health care employees such as hospitals and the American Cancer Society. Organized labor in Nevada has contacted my office, as have senior citizens throughout my State. They are all saying the same thing. They are saying: The Cadillac tax needs to be fully repealed or our employees will experience massive changes to their health care. I think that bears repeating. The Cadillac tax needs to be fully repealed or our employees will experience massive changes to their health care. Large employers who negotiate multiyear contracts are seeing this tax come up quickly for 2018. Yes, this tax goes into effect in the year 2018. As my friend from New Mexico and I know, they are negotiating these contracts today. For 2018, they are negotiating contracts for large companies, labor organizations, and even public employees--today for 2018. That is why it is so important at this moment. They are planning and negotiating with employers now for how this tax will impact their employees' benefits within the next 2 years. I was talking with D. Taylor from the Culinary Union, a prominent organized labor group in my home State of Nevada, as well as in New York City and California. D. told me that if Congress doesn't repeal the Cadillac tax, culinary employees will see massive changes to their health care plans. In a letter he sent me in September, urging Republicans and Democrats to work together on this issue--which we are--he called the 40-percent excise tax a ``dark cloud . . . that has already started to impact negotiations and shift costs to [their] members.'' That is what it is doing to the Culinary Union in Nevada. It is a dark cloud, according to D. Taylor, and it is already impacting negotiations, shifting costs over to the employers. To make matters worse, the chief financial officer of a waste recycling company, Action Environmental, recently told the Wall Street Journal that his company would consider getting rid of its employee coverage altogether because of ObamaCare's Cadillac tax.

Mr. HELLER. Certainly.

Mr. HELLER. Let me finish this. He said: ``I'd be lying if I said we haven't had that discussion.'' Again, this goes back to the chief financial officer of a waste and recycling company. Delta Airlines expects ObamaCare will cost it $100 million per year. Imagine that, one company--Delta Airlines--and the ACA will cost them $100 million per year. One reason for new costs is the 40-percent excise tax on Delta's employee health benefits. As if Americans don't have enough trouble as it is with issues with airlines these days, just add a 40-percent excise tax. Some have identified the Cadillac tax as a tax that just hits unions or a tax that just hits wealthy Americans, but the Cadillac tax is a tax on the middle class. I think we know that. I think we understand that. That is why we saw the vote we did last week. It is a tax on small businesses, it is a tax on the middle class, and it is a tax on retirees. With that, I know we have a question from my friend from Nebraska. I wish to give him an opportunity to raise that question.

Mr. HELLER. I thank the Senator from New Mexico. I want to go to the same report. I think it clarifies his point and the question he just asked me. Again, as he mentioned, 1.3 million Nevadans are going to be affected by this 40-percent excise tax. Three-quarters of a million New Mexicans are going to be affected by this excise tax. So I have hard time believing that most of them are wealthy enough to have to pay and for their employers to have to pay this kind of tax. Let's go back to the Kaiser Family Foundation--a report that you quoted from. I have a number of statistics. I think it will better clarify. There is a quote in here that I want to emphasize that answers the point and the question you brought out. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, employees who have job-based insurance have witnessed their out-of-pocket expenses climb from $900 in 2010 to $1,300 in 2015. That is an average. That is on average a 50-percent increase in their health care costs in the last 5 years. Employees working for small businesses now have deductibles over $1,800 on average. Kaiser also noted that the deductibles have risen nearly seven times faster than workers' earnings since 2010. If you are the average middle-class family, with an average income, can you imagine your deductibles rising seven times faster than your earnings have since 2010? Here is the quote from Kaiser's president, Drew Altman, that really answers your question: It's quite a revolution. When deductibles are rising seven times faster than wages . . . it means that people can't pay their rent . . . they can't buy their gasoline. They can't eat. If that doesn't answer the question of who is getting affected by this--they are individuals who go month to month, week to week, day to day on their wages. When you have deductibles rising seven times faster than your earnings, you get to a point, as Mr. Altman said, that you can't pay your rent, you can't pay your gas, and you can't afford to eat. As deductibles rise, another way employers are planning on avoiding a massive new tax is by eliminating their popular health savings accounts--HSAs--and FSAs. Over 33 million Americans who have FSAs and 13.5 million Americans who are using HSAs may see these accounts vanish in the coming years as companies scramble to avoid this 40-percent excise tax. HSAs and FSAs are used for things such as hospital and maternity services. HSAs and FSAs are used for things such as childcare and dental care, physical therapy, and access to mental health services. Access to these lifesaving services could all be gone for tens of millions of Americans if the Cadillac tax is not fully repealed. Deductibles are rising, premiums are rising, and services are being cut. Today we have talked a lot about how employers are making major changes to their workers' health care in order to avoid this tax. If employers--whether it is a union or private company--are changing their employees' health care benefits to avoid the Cadillac tax, this tax is not going to generate the kind of revenue the Congressional Budget Office originally anticipated. To that question directly, I ask Senator Heinrich, are CBO's cost assumptions accurate?

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Nebraska for his input. He is right. There is a broader discussion that has to be had. The Senator from New Mexico and myself are trying to hit on an issue that we feel is vitally important going forward as this new excise tax hits the American people in 2018. To the Senator from Nebraska, I have no doubt that there is a much broader discussion that needs to be discussed on health care. In fact, this discussion the Senator from New Mexico and I are having isn't on the Affordable Care Act at this point. We are not discussing the Affordable Care Act. We are talking about a principle within it--a tax increase that we believe is onerous and important today. What you are saying is important. Don't get me wrong. It ought to be discussed. We have to find a venue to have that discussion. Thank you very much for your involvement. I want to ask the Senator from New Mexico how this 40-percent excise tax would affect workers in New Mexico.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I want to wrap this up. I know the leader is here, and I want to give him ample time. I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his comments and for his help and support on this legislation moving forward. I appreciate all the work to get this bipartisan bill to the finish line, and I know we will continue to work together to repeal this bad tax. Once again, whether it is my bipartisan bill, our bipartisan bill, this Chamber's bipartisan bill or a year-end package like tax extenders, we need to repeal this bad tax. Fully repealing the Cadillac tax is an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to work together and join forces to appeal a bad tax for one purpose, and that is to help 151 million workers keep the health insurance they love. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 2882.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, my amendment postpones the implementation of the Cadillac tax for the next 10 years. I think that is a good start on the legislation we have in front of us today. In fact, I think it is a great start, but I think we ought to take the next step. The next step is to repeal it altogether, and that is exactly what this amendment does. It is the only bipartisan piece of legislation that does just that. To that end, I thank the Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Heinrich, for his help and support in moving this legislation forward to where we are today. Mr. President, there is no opposition to this legislation. There is no opposition in America to this legislation. I have 83 groups and organizations around this country. Unions support this amendment. The Chamber supports this amendment. Seniors support this amendment.

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

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Paul Koester on his retirement after over 41 years of service to the U.S. Air Force. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his years of dedication to protecting our country and our State. Mr. Koester grew up in Colorado Springs, CO, and later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1974 with the intention of serving 4 years as a jet engine mechanic. During his time in basic training, he decided to change course and test to become a pararescue airman. After successfully passing his training, he spent the next 4 years at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska as part of the 71st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. During his time serving in this squadron, he was credited with saving over 75 lives. From 1980 to 1986, Mr. Koester served at McClellan Air Force Base in California and Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. He soon after decided to join the Air National Guard. For the next 16 years, Mr. Koester served in the 102nd Rescue Squadron at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in New York. On September 11, 2001, Mr. Koester and his squadron assisted as first responders during the collapse of the World Trade Center, aiding in saving the lives of many victims of the attack. His bravery and selflessness during this time of crisis will never be forgotten. Three weeks later, Mr. Koester was deployed to the border of Kuwait and Iraq to serve as part of Operation Southern Watch. Following his return from this mission, Mr. Koester made the decision to resume Active Duty and was sent to Nellis Air Force Base in 2003 as part of the 58th Rescue Squadron. He concluded his service with this unit after 12 years of service. At his 60th birthday celebration, Mr. Koester was recognized as the oldest enlisted member actively serving in the Air Force and the longest serving pararescue airman with 13 deployments throughout his career. Our country and the Silver State are fortunate to have had someone of such dedication serving to protect our freedoms. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have had no greater honor than the opportunity to engage with the men and women who served in our Nation's military. I recognize Congress has a responsibility not only to honor the brave individuals who serve our Nation, but also to ensure they are cared for when they return home. I remain committed to upholding this promise for veterans like Mr. Koester in Nevada and throughout the Nation. Mr. Koester has demonstrated professionalism, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the highest standards of the U.S. Air Force. I am proud to call him a fellow Nevadan, and I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Mr. Koester for his years of service and in congratulating him on his retirement. I wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Bill Landon on receiving the 2015 Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association Lynn Stevens Excellence in Safety Award. It gives me great pleasure to see him receive this prestigious award after years of hard work within northern Nevada. In 1998, Mr. Landon began his air ambulance career in Greeley, CO. In 2003, he joined Care Flight in Reno and has since served as safety and training coordinator and flight paramedic. During his time at Care Flight, he has been a key contributor in the founding of a formalized safety committee, which meets twice a month and is comprised of medical flight staff pilots, air communication specialists, managers, and maintenance personnel. This important committee, chaired by Mr. Landon, works to review, develop, and implement safety initiatives for Care Flight and those that it serves. As chair, Mr. Landon spearheads important safety trainings, including an annual training for hospital emergency departments, pre-hospital agencies, and ski patrols servicing a 40,000 square mile area. His unwavering dedication to Care Flight in Reno has helped provide hundreds of hours of safety and medical training needed to save lives throughout northern Nevada. His work for our State is invaluable. The Lynn Steven's Excellence in Safety Award goes to individuals who have gone above and beyond in the transportation community to promote safety awareness. This accolade is truly prestigious and attained by only the most influential members in this community. Since 1981, Care Flight has served northern Nevada's health organizations as an important resource for transportation with flight paramedics and pilots to respond to a variety of medical emergencies. Our State is fortunate to have someone like Mr. Landon serving Care Flight and its safety initiatives. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Landon has demonstrated professionalism, commitment to excellence, and dedication to his trade. I am honored by his service and am proud to call him a fellow Nevadan. Today, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Landon on receiving this award, and I extend my deepest appreciation for all that he has done for many across northern Nevada. I offer him my best wishes in his role as safety and training coordinator in the future.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Professor Ana Douglass on receiving the 2015 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Nevada Professor of the Year award. This accolade is truly prestigious, attained by only the most influential of Nevada's educators. The Silver State is truly fortunate to have Professor Douglass working at Truckee Meadows Community College, TMCC. The State Professors of the Year Awards Program, sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation, recognizes educators who go above and beyond in their career. These professors have an extraordinary dedication to undergraduate teaching as proven through their relationships with students, approach in helping their students learn, contributions to undergraduate education, and support from students and colleagues at their institutions. These educators' unwavering commitment to their students is unparalleled and has not gone unnoticed. Professor Douglass is the first faculty member of a Nevada community college to receive this prestigious award. She has served at TMCC for 19 years, working not only as an English professor, but also as a leader among her peers. As a teacher, Professor Douglass is dedicated to motivating her students to be the best they can be by challenging them in their studies. She is also a mentor to many hardworking students, serving as an example of excellence in education for the TMCC community. As the father of four children and as the husband of a teacher, I understand the important role educators play in enriching the lives of Nevadans. Ensuring students throughout the Silver State are prepared to compete in the 21st century is critical for the future of our country. The State of Nevada is fortunate to be home to educators like Professor Douglass. I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Professor Douglass for her dedication to enriching the lives of Nevada's students and congratulating her on receiving this award. I wish her well in all of her future endeavors and in creating success for all students who enter her classroom.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 50th anniversary of an important entity to our great State--the Nevada Indian Commission. I am pleased to see this commission, which contributes so much in support of Nevada's Native American community, reach this significant milestone. The Nevada Indian Commission has been a positive force in communities across our State. The commission continues to serve as a forum for Nevada's Native American population, bringing important issues affecting this community to light. I am grateful to have the Nevada Indian Commission serving as an important liaison between Nevada's 27 tribal communities and our State's government. The Nevada Indian Commission was established in 1965 as a means to maintain a positive quality of life for our State's Native Americans. Those that serve on the commission work to bring greater awareness of Nevada's many tribes' cultures, values, and customs. The commission devotes countless hours to improving education, employment, heath, well-being, and socioeconomic status by advocating on behalf of Nevada's Native Americans, while communicating with local officials. The commission has five board members working to strengthen economic opportunity and community development. I am thankful for their leadership and for the great things they are doing for this community. The Federal Government has unique and important responsibilities to tribes and their people. That responsibility is something I take seriously as one of Nevada's Senators, which is why I have supported policies in Congress focused on promoting tribal self-governance and self-determination. Just recently, the Senate passed a resolution recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month. As a proud original cosponsor of this resolution, I was pleased to see it pass to celebrate the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and their contributions to the United States and Nevada. For the past 50 years, the Nevada Indian Commission has proven its unwavering dedication to our state. The hard work of those that have served this Commission has greatly contributed to the positive impact the Native American community has had across Nevada. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Nevada Indian Commission on its 50th anniversary and thanking the commission for all it does for the Silver State.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, like the speaker before me, I rise to offer my condolences to the nation of France. As the previous speaker said, she is one of our oldest allies, and the people of America stand proud with her during this tragic time.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I rise to share my concerns about the devastating impact of the Affordable Care Act and, specifically, the Cadillac tax. The Cadillac tax is a 40-percent excise tax set to take place in 2018 on employer-sponsored health insurance plans. In Nevada, 1.3 million workers who have employer-sponsored health insurance plans will be hit by this Cadillac tax. These are public employees in Carson City, service industry workers on the strip in Las Vegas, and small business owners and their retirees across the State of Nevada. My colleagues from across the country have heard the same concerns I have: This 40-percent tax will increase costs, significantly reduce benefits or result in employers getting rid of employer-sponsored health coverage all together. Is this what we want? Is this what we voted for? Is this what the other side voted for? This is precisely why Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and I have sponsored the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015, the only bipartisan piece of legislation to fully repeal this onerous tax. My bill has 19 bipartisan cosponsors. Over the summer, when I committed to taking a leadership role to fully repeal this tax, I waited for months for a sign that my colleagues across the aisle would work together to repeal this tax. There was a lot of talk, but there was no action. To date there is still little action from these same colleagues, which is why I ask them once again to join me in repealing this bad tax. This shouldn't be a bipartisan issue. Yet my colleagues across the aisle have turned it into one. That is why I commend Senator Heinrich for joining me in working together in a bipartisan manner to fully repeal this tax, and this repeal needs to happen and happen quickly for the employers to be able to plan for the future. Whether it is through our bill or any of the must-pass measures the Chamber takes up in the next 6 weeks before the end of this year--for example, tax extenders-- the Cadillac tax needs to be fully repealed. As a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, this is something I have engaged my colleagues on and will continue to do so, especially as we hopefully look to move tax extenders before the end of this year. This is not just something that needs more bipartisan support in the Senate. There are over 218 cosponsors in the House of Representatives-- nearly half of them are Democrats--and 83 organizations have endorsed our efforts to repeal the Cadillac tax. It is very rare these days to see this much agreement in Washington, DC. Organized labor, chambers of commerce, local and State governments, large and small businesses have come together with a bipartisan group putting forth a solution to fixing a problem affecting so many hard-working, tax-paying Americans. The Cadillac tax doesn't officially go into effect until 2018, but the impact of this tax is being talked about more and more because employers are starting to make major changes today now to their workers' health care benefits in order to limit the impact of the tax or avoid the tax altogether. I have heard from large companies, I have heard from small businesses and organized labor, such as the culinary union in Nevada, and they are all saying the same thing: The Cadillac tax needs to be fully repealed or our employees will experience massive changes to their health care. We are talking about three things. We are talking about reduced benefits, we are talking about increased premiums, and we are talking about higher deductibles. Is this what we want? All of these lead to more money being taken out of the pockets of hard-working, tax-paying families. According to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, employees who have job-based insurance have witnessed their out-of-pocket expenses climb from $900 in 2010 to $1,300 in 2015, on average. That is almost a 50-percent increase in their insurance coverage in the last 5 years. Employees working for small businesses now have deductibles over $1,800. Kaiser also notes that deductibles have risen nearly seven times faster--seven times faster--than workers' earnings since 2010. Kaiser's president, Drew Altman, said: It is quite a revolution. When deductibles are rising seven times faster than wages . . . it means that people can't pay their rent . . . they can't buy their gas. They can't eat. As deductibles rise, another way employers are planning on avoiding ObamaCare's massive new tax is by eliminating health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. Over 33 million Americans use FSAs, or flexible spending accounts, and 13.5 million Americans use health savings accounts, or HSAs. They may see these accounts vanish in the coming years as companies scramble to avoid the law's 40-percent tax hike. HSAs and FSAs are used for things like hospital and maternity services, they are used for childcare, they are used for dental care, physical therapy, and access to mental health services. Access to these lifesaving services could all be gone for tens of millions of Americans if the Cadillac tax is not fully repealed. Every day there is a new article in the national press talking about how middle-class workers, tax-paying Americans, are going to be hit by this tax. Towers Watson, a management and consulting firm, did a survey of large businesses that typically offer the most comprehensive coverage. They found in 2018 more than half of the employers are planning to significantly cut what they contribute to insure employee spouses and children. The United Parcel Service, UPS, is one of those companies that have already said they plan on limiting plan eligibility for spouses of employees. Shaun O'Brien, assistant policy director of the AFL-CIO, said recently that ``employers are coming to the table asking for cuts in benefits based on their preliminary projections around the 40 percent excise tax.'' To make matters worse, the chief financial officer of a waste and recycling company, Action Environmental, recently told the Wall Street Journal that his company would consider getting rid of its employee coverage altogether because of ObamaCare's Cadillac tax. He said: ``I'd be lying if I said we haven't had that discussion.'' Delta Airlines expects ObamaCare will cost it $100 million per year. One reason for the new costs is the 40-percent excise tax on Delta's employee health benefits, as if Americans don't already have enough issues with airlines these days. Out of all the news we see from the Cadillac tax, none of it--zero-- is positive. The goal of health care reform should be to help those who do not have health coverage and lower costs for those who already have insurance. This tax doesn't achieve either of these goals, and everyone knows it. I will do everything I can to see that this tax is fully repealed. There is a real urgency that we get this done. I will work with anybody in this Chamber to see that the Cadillac tax is fully repealed by the end of the year. Once again, whether it is my bipartisan bill or a year-end package such as the tax extenders, we need to repeal this very bad tax. Fully repealing the Cadillac tax is an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to join forces and to work together to repeal a bad tax for one purpose: to help 151 million workers keep the health care insurance they like.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today, I wish to congratulate Ivan Bell Woodford on being selected to serve as grand marshal for the city of Reno's Veterans Day Parade. As Nevada's oldest living World War II veteran, there is no doubt Mr. Woodford deserves this honor. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his years of service to both the United States of America and our great State. Mr. Woodford grew up at Lake Elsinore, working on the family ranch. He later enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 as a Seabee. Throughout World War II, he served at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island, operating heavy equipment and cranes to clear debris from the destruction of the war. His unit was later stationed in the Philippines. In 1946, Mr. Woodford established his residency in Reno, working for local excavating companies as a heavy machinery operator. He worked for more than 30 years in this industry, helping complete various projects throughout Reno and Lake Tahoe. He aided in laying the foundation of housing pads across Reno, leveling the ground for construction projects near Lake Tahoe, drudging what is now Virginia Lake, and cleaning irrigation ditches to develop Spanish Springs Valley. He also worked heavy machinery during the development of Interstate 80 and many other roads throughout Washoe Valley, leaving his mark in northern Nevada for generations to come. No doubt, he witnessed and contributed to some of the largest growth and expansion throughout the area. His many contributions to making our State the best it can be, as well as his service to this country, demonstrates his generous character. His actions represent only the greatest of Nevada's values and place him among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly defended our nation. Our State is fortunate to have someone like Mr. Woodford to serve as a role model. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize that Congress has a responsibility not only to honor the brave individuals who serve our Nation, but also to ensure they are cared for when they return home. I remain committed to upholding this promise for veterans, like Mr. Woodford, in Nevada and throughout the Nation. Mr. Woodford has demonstrated professionalism, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the highest standards of the United States Navy. His work throughout Nevada is invaluable. I am both humbled and honored by his service and am proud to call him a fellow Nevadan. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Woodford for all of his accomplishments, as well as his participation in the city of Reno's Veterans Day Parade.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Brian Burton, president and chief executive officer of Three Square, for his tireless efforts in enhancing the lives of many across southern Nevada. Mr. Burton brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience to Three Square, helping feed thousands of southern Nevadans who would otherwise go hungry. Mr. Burton has contributed greatly to his community by working to make Three Square the best it can be. Largely due to Mr. Burton's many years of hard work, Three Square is able to offer a variety of programs to help those who would normally go without a wholesome meal. The organization works to source food, raise money, and grow its volunteer base to provide food to outside partners that distribute meals directly to those in need. Three Square services Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda Counties, feeding over 300,000 Nevadans. Our State is fortunate to have someone such as Mr. Burton running this organization, which is critical to many across southern Nevada. Previously, Mr. Burton served as executive director for Wilkinson Center in Dallas, TX, a nonprofit organization serving low-income families with food assistance, education, and case management. In his current position, Mr. Burton works to further develop and grow the organization, increase program sustainability and community engagement, diversify and increase fundraising, and offer public policy work. His contributions to this incredible organization are immense, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed. I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Burton for his noble contributions to communities across southern Nevada and to the many individuals who have benefited from his work. He is a shining example of someone who strives for the betterment of his community and displays true selflessness in his work. I am thankful to have Mr. Burton serving as an ally to Nevadans in need. Today I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing Mr. Burton and his work for Three Square, a program whose mission is both honorable and necessary. I wish Mr. Burton the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Grady Tarbutton on his retirement after over 8 years of service to Washoe County Senior Services. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his years of hard work and dedication to this important community in northern Nevada. Mr. Tarbutton first began his career working to aid seniors at the Washington County Department of Disability, Aging, and Veterans' Services in Oregon, as the senior program coordinator. In 2005, he moved to Portland, OR, and served as the community services manager for Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services. He began his tenure as director for Washoe County Senior Services in November of 2007, sacrificing countless hours to build the department and offer an array of key resources to our senior community. His commitment to our seniors stands as a shining example of true selflessness and empathy for those in need. With the help of Mr. Tarbutton's leadership, Washoe County Senior Services offers a variety of assistance to help Nevada's seniors, including guidance on community senior centers, health programs, food services, housing and care options, legal services, and Federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. The department also offers Meals on Wheels, which is an important program that provides meals and support for seniors in need. This department truly goes above and beyond, providing seniors with the tools necessary to create a higher quality of life through steadfast support and help. Mr. Tarbutton's work has had a great impact on Washoe County's residents. Through his unwavering commitment and tireless work ethic, Nevada's seniors and their families have had an unparalleled support system, ready to assist in times of difficulty or uncertainty. I have visited the Washoe County Senior Center and have witnessed firsthand the positive impact Washoe County Senior Services has on this center's residents. The strong foundation Mr. Tarbutton has built will be felt for years to come. As a member of both the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Senate Committee on Finance, I understand the importance of assisting the needs of Nevada's seniors and ensuring our communities are equipped to serve our State's aging population. Washoe County's seniors have benefited greatly from the work of this organization. This community is fortunate to have had someone like Mr. Tarbutton there as an ally and friend. Today I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Mr. Tarbutton for his dedication to Washoe County Senior Services. He exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and service and should be proud of his long and meaningful career. I wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Victoria Napoles on her retirement after decades of service to the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce. I am proud to recognize Ms. Napoles, who has contributed so much to the success of this important entity in southern Nevada. Throughout her 25 years of service to the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Napoles worked diligently to establish the chamber as a tireless force in helping Las Vegas' Hispanic business community. As senior executive vice president to the chamber, she spent countless hours working to bring southern Nevada's entrepreneurs numerous networking opportunities and to establish positive relationships in all corners of the Hispanic community. During her service, she was responsible for coordinating events, luncheons, and galas, as well as leading the organization in the development of a leadership structure, strategic planning, goal creation, and financial management. Her determination and resilience in gaining sponsors to support the chamber contributed to making it the successful entity that it is today. Her efforts also established an important partnership with the Clark County School District, bringing Nevada's Hispanic youth positivity and support for their futures. I am proud to have attended multiple Latin Chamber of Commerce events where I have spoken with the men and women who participate in this chamber, and I can attest to the incredible role they play within our community. The immense amount of work Ms. Napoles has done for the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce has not gone unnoticed. Businesses across southern Nevada, both large and small, are fortunate to have had someone like Ms. Napoles working as an ally. Her unwavering work ethic and commitment greatly impacted this community, helping it to grow and prosper. Even in difficult economic times, Ms. Napoles was there with creativity and ingenuity to maintain the success of Nevada's Hispanic businesses. The strong foundation she built throughout her tenure will be felt for years to come. I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Ms. Napoles for all of her hard work and dedication in making Las Vegas' Hispanic business community and Las Vegas' Latin Chamber of Commerce the best they can be. I would also like to congratulate her on her retirement after a long and meaningful career. I wish her well in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. HELLER

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.

Mr. HELLER. I will yield.

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I rise to speak on an issue that will impact every single one of my constituents and probably all of the constituents of my colleagues in this body; namely, the Environmental Protection Agency's and the Army Corps of Engineers' new definition for ``navigable waters.'' Also known as waters of the United States, this overreaching and burdensome regulation is bad for Nevada and frankly it is bad for the Nation. My home State of Nevada is one of the driest in the Nation, and the water of course is a very precious resource. The only thing more scarce than water in the Silver State is probably private property, and the implementation of this waters of the United States rule will only do more harm for both of these. Since coming to Congress, one of my primary goals has been to promote job-creating policies that grow Nevada's economy, and the key to promoting these types of policies is to cut redtape regulations handed down by Washington bureaucrats. Unfortunately, time and time again, this administration is bound and determined to issue overly burdensome regulations that damage the economy and stifle job creation. The latest edict from Washington bureaucrats is no different. After years of failed legislative attempts to change the scope of regulatory authority over water, this administration has overturned both congressional intent and multiple Supreme Court decisions to further overregulate hard-working Nevadans. I have long been an outspoken advocate and a cosponsor of Senator Barrasso's legislation, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, that would make the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers redo this rule and consider stakeholder input--something they completely ignored the last time around. Considering that nearly 87 percent of my home State is managed by the Federal Government--which I often refer to as our Federal landlords--it is easy to see why this rule is thought of by many back home as yet another Federal land grab. I have heard from many of my constituents who have shared with me their staunch opposition to this rule, like Marlow from Ruby Valley and Darryl from Yerington. They write about the rule that it ``creates confusion and risk by providing the Agencies with almost unlimited authority to regulate, at their discretion, any low spot where rainwater collects, including farm ditches, ephemeral drainages, agricultural ponds and isolated wetlands found in and near farms and ranching.'' The EPA may tell us that farmers and ranchers are protected from this regulation by exemptions under the Clean Water Act. The problem with this so-called exemption is that if a landowner made any changes on their farmland or their ranch since 1977 that impacts any land or any water on their property, they do not qualify for an exemption. Think about it again. Since 1977, if a landowner made any changes on their ranch land or on their farm that impacts water or land, they don't qualify for this exemption. So under this new rule, almost everyone would be regulated. Ranching is the backbone of Nevada's rural economy. Implementation of this rule will devastate Nevada's landowners and businesses. Like Marlow and Darryl, I believe this rule needs to be redone with significant input from local stakeholders and in a way that will not impact the ability of Nevada ranchers to provide food for Americans. Unfortunately, the Senate was not even able to proceed to this measure and debate legislation to exert some much needed oversight over the EPA due to the left's circle-the-wagon mentality of the Obama agenda. Although I was sad to see this vote fail, today I am proud to stand in support of Senator Ernst's resolution of disapproval, which will send this regulation back to the administration and send a clear message that Congress doesn't accept overreaching regulations created by Washington bureaucrats. The fact is, the implementation of this rule has already been halted by the Federal courts. I strongly believe that at the end of the day, the courts will decide to overturn this onerous regulation. That is why I stand here today to urge my colleagues to support this resolution of disapproval. Instead of waiting years for the courts to decide, Congress needs to take immediate action to show this administration that we will not stand for any more regulations that kill jobs and stifle economic growth. Good stewardship of our natural resources is part of Nevada's character that makes it so unique. This is not about dirty water or a rollback of the Clean Water Act. This is about Federal regulations that severely limit land use, infringe on property rights, and diminish economic activity in Nevada and nationwide. This is about Federal regulatory overreach by an agency that is using the Clean Water Act as a means to greatly increase its authority. At a time when the American public is still waiting for answers on the Animas River spill in Colorado, I find it greatly disturbing that this Agency is using clean drinking water as an excuse to gain authority over all waters of the United States. Enough is enough with these power trips. Should we really trust the ``Environmental Pollution Agency'' with this? As a sportsman, I grew up understanding the importance of being a good steward of our environment. I support efforts that balance conservation and economic growth, and that is why I urge my colleagues to stand with me against this administration's heavyhanded mandates. Mr. President, thank you, and I yield the floor.