John Hoeven

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I appreciate the opportunity to join with my colleague from the State of Missouri and agree very much with the comments he has just made, and I am here today to express my support for the National Defense Authorization Act this week. Defense Department leaders always tell me that, if we don't get NDAA done and our Defense appropriations bill--and I am on the Appropriations Committee and on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee--that those delays really are a challenge and a problem for the military and cost some money. So, obviously, if we can get this bill done this week and get on to our Defense appropriations bill and get those passed, it makes a big, positive difference for our men and women in uniform. We should be able to move this NDAA legislation quickly because the chairman and the ranking member have put together a good bill for our national security and for our Armed Forces. This NDAA supports our national defense strategy that is designed to keep us ahead of the Russians, the Chinese, and other adversaries, and it includes things like standing up the Space Force, investing in new technologies like hypersonics and artificial intelligence, and creating a Pacific Deterrence Initiative to help ensure that we have the capabilities we need throughout the Pacific region to deter conflict and coordinate with our allies. Also, I am very pleased that this bill includes strong support for modernizing our nuclear deterrent, which is vital to our national security, and that certainly includes the dual nuclear mission at the Minot Air Force Base in my State. This bill moves forward a number of modernization programs, including the modernization program for new intercontinental ballistic missiles, the ICBMs; a new nuclear cruise missile, which is now called the LRSO, the long-range standoff weapon; and upgrades for the B-52, including a new engine--reengining what has been an incredible aircraft for many, many years and has had a longevity that is unbelievable. And the Air Force projects an ongoing longevity for it for quite some time. Part of that is all the upgrades that we have put into this platform, including now new engines, as well as things that include the weapons systems, the ability to carry those weapons systems, communications--just a whole range of upgrades that have been incredibly important for that aircraft. Of course, there are other aspects that go with the nuclear mission, whether it is the nuclear command and control systems as well as upgrading the nuclear warheads on the weapons that the aircraft delivers. Also, I support provisions in this bill to place restrictions on the retirement of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is headquartered at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Now, our combatant commanders rely on the Global Hawk every single day. These aircraft are highly capable and are not easily replaced, so we are going to need a lot more information from the Air Force about what capabilities could replace the Global Hawk. In other words, what is the follow-on mission? That is particularly true given the Navy's commitment to the Triton, which uses the same airframe as the Global Hawk. So we would certainly need that for an ISR mission, and we are going to need to know what the follow-on is and when that is going to be available before there is any retirement of the RQ-4, and we have legislation included in this bill to make sure that that is properly and fully addressed. Also, I support the bill's authorization of additional procurement of MQ-9 aircraft. This fleet is used every day in a variety of missions, and we need to sustain it as well until there are proven replacements for it. Because we are going to be flying the MQ-9 for many years to come, we have to make sure that we have all the facilities we need to operate that aircraft. Of course, I am talking about the Reaper, which we use all over the globe. One of the Air National Guard units that flies that mission--one of the first to fly it--is our North Dakota Air National Guard, and I am pleased that this bill includes authorization of $17.5 million for a new operations facility for the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo, and I look forward to working in my role on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to make sure that that authorization is funded for that facility. It is very important in terms of that MQ-9 mission. The bill also provides authorization for a 3-percent increase for our forces and authorizes the fiscal year 2021 military construction program. I am looking forward to working on those, as I am also a member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee as well, and we want to make sure that we are providing funding for those priorities--those military construction projects. Finally, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for helping us to clear some of my amendments, which I have included to further this legislation as well. The committee included an amendment I authored that will require the Air Force to define how its next budget will support activities in the Arctic, which is increasingly important for our national security. The Air Force is starting to refine its strategies to operate in the Arctic region, and my amendment helps ensure that the Air Force translates strategic concepts into real capabilities. It will ensure we do not cede this critical region to our adversaries. I also appreciate the chairman and ranking member including an amendment I filed in relation to the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program, which is to develop a new ICBM. It is critical that we keep this GBSD--which is Ground Based Strategic Deterrent--program on schedule so it can replace the existing Minuteman III at the end of the decade. Of course, all of our nuclear weapon components have to be capable of withstanding electromagnetic pulses, or EMPs, so my amendment requires that the Air Force report on how it will ensure that these systems and components will be protected from electromagnetic pulses. By planning ahead, we can make sure that we are prepared for something like that. I also hope that we will be able to include an amendment that Senator Udall and I have offered, a bipartisan amendment that would reauthorize and reform Native American housing assistance programs as well as authorize a joint Tribal housing initiative between Housing and Urban Development and the Veterans Administration to provide Native Americans who are homeless veterans--now, we are talking about our veterans, and the percentage of Native Americans who serve in the military, I think, is the highest of any ethnic group. So we have a lot of Native American veterans, and for those who are homeless, we have to help them with their housing and their healthcare services. That is what this amendment does. I chair the committee on Native Americans, and along with our vice chairman, Vice Chairman Udall, we have put together this legislation, which includes housing and also addressing our Native American veterans in a way that I think is important and helpful. I hope that it can be included in this legislation. In closing, the NDAA provides vital support for our men and women in uniform. It authorizes important defense priorities for our Nation, including unmanned aerial systems, which is, of course, a huge and growing area--our unmanned aerial systems--and the support for the nuclear mission, which I have mentioned. Again, I think this is good legislation. It is bipartisan legislation. We need to all work together now to get it done and get it done this week for our men and women in uniform. They do so much for us, and we need to be there for them. We need to support them by passing this legislation With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

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

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an influential and beloved North Dakotan, Sister Thomas Welder. I know the Presiding Officer knew her very well and just a little bit ago spoke about her here on the Senate floor, and that is so appropriate. She was such a wonderful person, and we both are so very fortunate to have known her and to have had time with her, to have learned much from her. She is truly somebody who I think epitomizes the term ``servant leader.'' Sister Thomas Welder was somebody who for me was a friend and a mentor in so many different ways, it is hard to recount, and also for my wife Mikey. Sister Thomas Welder dedicated her life to the University of Mary and the students, and my wife Mikey is on the board of trustees at the University of Mary, so Mikey and Sister Thomas worked together for many, many years and share an unbelievable bond as well. I am not even sure how long Mikey and I have known Sister Thomas; it has been many years. We have seen her in so many different capacities and so many different ways, but without fail, she was an inspiration--an inspiration for both of us and frankly an inspiration for anybody who ever met her. She truly was one of the most exceptional, amazing, wonderful people I have ever met. She was certainly a person of incredible faith, and she lived her faith, and she provided that to others, certainly in her words but in her deeds and in her spirituality, in the way that she handled herself, in her spirit and compassion, and it affected everyone she met. Everyone she met felt that radiant glow and reflected it back because it was so powerful within her. She was a member of the Benedict Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and faithfully lived the monastic life for 59 years. From 1978 to 2009, she served as the president of the University of Mary and was, as I say, beloved by students and faculty. Under her leadership, the university did amazing things. I think for a time the Presiding Officer worked there at the University of Mary during her tenure as president of the school. She grew the enrollment--I think tripled the enrollment. She was a gifted leader, an inspiring leader. She led by example. I think one of the most amazing things about her--a story you hear about over and over again; people marvel about it. When she originally came back after her schooling at the University of Mary, she taught music, but she eventually became president of the university. Even after she was president of the university and Monsignor Shea became president of the university, she stayed and continued to work with the university and the students. One of the amazing stories that people would talk about and marvel at is how she would go on campus and she would meet all the students. So she got to know them all, thousands of students. She knew all the faculty and administrators and that kind of thing because they were there all the time. But she would get to know all the students, and without fail, she would remember those students' names. She went around the campus, and it wasn't just ``Hi, how are you?'' She knew the students. She knew their names. She knew who they were. People would marvel not only that she was able to do that, but she never seemed to forget a name. You have to remember, there are thousands of students, and they are there for a while, and they move on and more come in. It is one thing to know the faculty and administrators and those kinds of things and people who are there year in and year out, but think about the flow of students coming through, and to know them and know them by name--I think it is not only a testament to her but a testament to the University of Mary, where they really make those young people feel special and feel that they are an individual who is somebody, who has worth. They are not just another student at the school; they are somebody special. She made them feel special because she knew them, she took time to talk to them. She always had time to talk to them. She had a lot of important things to do, but she always took time to talk to them and make them feel appreciated. When we think about sending our son or our daughter off to school, that is certainly something we would want, is when they go to that school, there is somebody there who says: You are an individual. You are unique. You are special. You are not just a number, but you are here, and I appreciate you, and I am here for you. That is what she did for those students--not just when she was president but even after she retired as president. That is what she did because that is who she was. That is just one story, but that is part of her special gift--her special gift--and she gave it to everybody. She gave it to everybody. She gave that gift of her time, attention, compassion, and spirituality to everyone. I don't know that I ever saw her in any setting where that wasn't exactly what she was doing. That is why I say she did epitomize that concept of servant leadership. As Governor, I was privileged and honored to award Sister Thomas the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. That is our highest recognition in North Dakota. That is the highest award we give. As part of it, we then hang the individual's portrait in our State capitol, and along with the portrait, there is also kind of a bio that is right there so that people going to the North Dakota State Capitol can see the people from across our State who are inspirational leaders. The pictures are a montage, so that you put up things in their life. In the case for Sister Thomas, she went to the University of Mary there, and they can see and get a visual sense of what the person looked like, the important things they did, and then we have a bio that goes with it. I am going to reference just a couple of the lines we have in the bio we put in there: Sister Thomas is recognized as a woman who lives, serves, and leads by example. Her personal achievements, character, and leadership have been an inspiration to countless individuals, students, entrepreneurs, and business and state leaders. Envisioning the University of Mary as the Nation's premier institution for the preparation of servant leaders, Sister Thomas promotes competence, communication, commitment to values, and service to community. Her strong belief in the ability of an individual to go into leadership through service is an example for North Dakota and the nation. There is a lot more, but those were some of the things we put in there to try to capture who she was, what she did, and what a difference she made in the lives of so many. As I say, I don't know that I ever met anyone who didn't immediately like her, but it was more than that. I mean, there are a lot of people who are likeable, affable, and amiable. She was all of that. She was very, very likeable. She had a great smile, good wit, and good humor. She was a really good speaker. She was always very prepared, always had a good message, and was well-spoken, but she had a great smile and a ready laugh, and she immediately made people feel comfortable. You could see how she would lean in and gaze in on them and just start to say: Tell me about you. Give me some of what you are, A little bit of what is your spirit, what moves you, what makes you. What are you interested in? What do you like? How are you feeling? She just did it naturally. I just, again, can't think of anybody who ever met her and didn't come away saying: You know, I like her, but she is special. She made me feel good. She made me feel good. She seemed interested in me. She is genuine. She cares. She made an impact on me. They remember her, and it was positive, and it was strong. Mikey and I extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones, and when I say her family, she had a huge family because everybody she met was basically her family, all those kids and all those students. We want to express our sincere appreciation for her lifetime of service and her commitment to her community and her commitment to God. Sister Thomas was patient, Sister Thomas was wonderful, Sister Thomas was beloved, and Sister Thomas will be missed very, very much. God bless her With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I rise today to honor Grand Forks Police Officer Cody Holte, who died in the line of duty last Wednesday. Both Senator Cramer and myself are here. We attended the funeral. It was truly a moving event. Today, we are here to honor him on the Senate floor as well and honor his service and honor his life. Officer Holte is a Hendrum, MN, native, a 2010 graduate of Norman County West High School, and a 2015 graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, with a degree in criminal justice and minors in Sociology and military science. Officer Holte led a life of service, dedicating himself to serving his community, State, and nation by always putting the people he served first. Not only was Officer Holte an exceptional police officer, he also served as a first lieutenant in the North Dakota Army National Guard. For 10 years, I was Governor in North Dakota, and I can't tell you how much we relied then and, of course, how much we rely now on our National Guard. As you can see, Cody was a first lieutenant in the National Guard, and he did a fabulous job. Here he is in his guard uniform and, of course, his incredible service as a police officer in Grand Forks. Lieutenant Holte enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2010, and in 2015 he was commissioned into the North Dakota Army National Guard. He was last assigned to the 815th Engineer Company out of Lisbon, ND, where he served as a detachment commander, preparing his unit for upcoming missions. As an officer in Grand Forks and a first lieutenant in the North Dakota National Guard, Officer Holte served our Nation on multiple fronts. Through his leadership, courage, and work ethic, he displayed the very best the State of North Dakota has to offer while also helping to ensure our safety and security. You realize how important it is today not only here at home but abroad. Here is somebody who served in both capacities. What a life of service. My wife Mikey and I extend our deepest condolences to the Holte family--especially his wife Amanda, his son Gunnar, his parents Bret and Tracy, sister Alexis, and twin brother Brady, who is also a police officer and also served in the military. He served with the regular Army--Cody's brother Brady--and now Brady serves with the Fargo PD. Here you have these twin brothers, both serving in the military, both serving as police officers, one in Grand Forks and one in Fargo. They were very close, as you can imagine. Last Wednesday, North Dakota lost one of its finest. Because of this, we must always honor his memory, in part, by supporting those who continue to serve as he did and never forgetting the burden his loved ones bear on our behalf. They sacrifice too. With that, I want to yield the floor to Senator Cramer, who had the good fortune to know the family personally and had a long relationship with the family. I welcome and look forward to his remarks about Cody Holte, somebody who is truly an exceptional person and whose life epitomized service. And we pray for God's blessing on him and on his entire family. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I have 3 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the nomination of Justin R. Walker, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for District of Columbia Circuit. Special Committee on Aging The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise with my esteemed colleague from West Virginia and my colleague from Missouri and others to remember, to commemorate, and to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. Those who fought and died for our Nation have secured our freedoms, and we are forever indebted to them. That includes many North Dakotans who gave their lives serving in our Nation's Armed Forces. These fallen heroes served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. While we set aside a day each year, Memorial Day, to honor those who have given their lives on behalf of our Nation, every day we are reminded of the dedication and sacrifice of those who serve to protect our freedoms and liberty. We must never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who are missing in action. That is why in 2014 I supported legislation to create the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. This DOD Agency seeks to locate the nearly 82,000 missing service personnel, so we can bring them home and provide answers to their families. We also recognize that those who serve do not serve alone. The friends and family of those in the service of our country also serve, and those who have lost loved ones know well the cost of freedom. As fellow Americans, it is our duty to ensure that their survivors are taken care of and that these heroes are never forgotten. We can better uphold our promise and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by providing their fellow servicemembers, veterans, and their survivors with the healthcare benefits and recognition that they have earned. That is why we continue to work with the Department of Veteran Affairs as they implement the VA MISSION Act, which gives our veterans more options to seek care in their home communities, and veterans are provided access to long-term and nursing home care closer to home. Last fall, I also helped to dedicate the Fargo National Cemetery, the first VA national cemetery in North Dakota. We worked to secure the cemetery because its presence allows North Dakotans who have served to be laid to rest with honor, while being close enough to their homes for family and loved ones to visit and pay their respects to our heroes. The new cemetery complements the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, which is operated by the State. To help support maintenance and operations of our State's veterans cemeteries, I am helping to introduce a bipartisan bill--the Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act--with Senators Tester, Rounds, and Reed, so that State-operated veterans cemeteries receive the funding they need to ensure that all of our veterans can be laid to rest closer to their loved ones. Our servicemembers and their families have given much in defense of our Nation and our way of life. The State of North Dakota especially has a rich tradition of military service. With deepest appreciation and admiration, we look to the meaning of their service, never forgetting to honor those who have passed, and we extend our gratitude to the families and loved ones left behind. May God bless those who have gone before, those who continue to serve, and may He continue to bless this great country that they have served so very well. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

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

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring all who have continued to work in service to our Nation during the COVID-19 pandemic. My home State and our Nation are blessed with dedicated citizens who have continued striving to keep essential operations going amidst the challenges we face. While there are many sectors that deserve recognition and will be mentioned by my colleagues, notably healthcare workers, teachers, post office employees, grocery store workers, law enforcement, of course, and many others, I want to focus for just a minute on the critical efforts of our agriculture producers--farmers and ranchers and so many others. Maintaining the food supply chain during this public health emergency is essential--absolutely essential. As we combat coronavirus, our farmers and our ranchers have continued to provide the food, fuel, and fiber that we need. Americans truly benefit every single day from the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world thanks to our producers, our farmers, and our ranchers. But as operations across the country are impacted, food security has been a particular concern. We greatly appreciate the efforts of those working to keep food on our tables from our producers to the workers. It is not only the farmers and ranchers, but it is also the workers at the ag processing facilities. We know there are real challenges there--we have heard about them-- but we appreciate so much all those workers at the processing facilities so we can get that food from the farmer or the ranchers to, ultimately, the consumer. That is why, as chair of the Senate Ag Appropriations Committee, I worked to secure nearly $25 billion in funding to help our farmers and ranchers to keep them going. They have faced incredible challenges--not only low prices but the difficulty in trade negotiations and really tough weather. For our producers, they have been fighting real challenges for some time now. With this COVID- 19 pandemic on top of it, it has made it very tough for them. They have hung in there and continued to do what they do best, which is produce our food supply. They have truly stepped up during this emergency, and I think they need to be recognized for it and thanked for it. Just a couple of weeks ago, R.D. Offutt Farms--one of the nation's premier potato growers and based in Fargo, ND--donated 37,000 pounds of frozen potato products to the Great Plains Food Bank. We grow a lot of potatoes in North Dakota, particularly in the Red River Valley. R.D. Offutt Farms is a large producer and donated 37,000 pounds of frozen potatoes to the Great Plains Food Bank. Another example, North Dakota Stockmen's Association and Foundation donated $20,000 to enable this same food bank--the Great Plains Food Bank--to purchase beef from North Dakota ranchers. One of the big challenges we have had out there is our ranchers continue to raise incredible livestock and incredible cattle, finest cattle in the world. The tough thing is they are getting such a poor price for them. We have to figure out how to do better because at the same time we see prices going up at the grocery store, our cattle producers are not getting compensated for those animals. Their prices are going down. We know it is tough in the processing industry with the coronavirus, but we have to find ways to make changes now and for the longer term so that our cattlemen are treated fairly and well for what they do, which is raise such a great quality beef product. Again, Stockmen's, their association, stepped up and made donations to the food bank. Another example, North Dakota Farmers Union, announced it is teaming up with the Farmers Union Enterprise to donate 30,000 pounds of pork ribs to the Great Plains Food Bank. Again, these are all examples of our farmers and ranchers not only producing our great food supply but stepping up and donating as well to help these people who need it. This generosity immediately benefits individuals and families across the region. It is helping to replenish the food bank's strained inventory, which serves many food panties, shelters, soup kitchens and charitable feeding programs. These efforts drive home the message that we are all in this together. Even in the face of tremendous challenges, we find a way to make the best of tough situations and take care of our neighbors. That is what this is all about. Another farmer sent this same message to the Nation. He took the time to write while out in one of his fields. He wrote: ``We will win the war on COVID-19.'' This just demonstrates the spirit of our farmers and ranchers and, of course, the spirit of our people across America. To have this hope and charity, even when our ag producers are working to overcome unprecedented difficulties, is truly inspirational. That is why I come to the floor to give thanks to our farmers and our ranchers who consistently go above and beyond not only to feed our Nation but to serve their communities across America. That is why we continue working with the USDA--the Department of Agriculture--to get vital assistance to our farmers and ranchers. We remain committed to supporting them through this pandemic and through a myriad of other challenges they face, just as they support us every single day. I yield the floor to my esteemed colleague from West Virginia.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I would defer to the Senator from Tennessee.

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I believe I have the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I want to talk about the bill that we want to vote on right now and why it is so important that we pass it. For my part, what I work on is support for our farmers and our ranchers, and that is exactly what we have put in this bill is help and support for our farmers and ranchers, for rural America. And yet, my understanding is that Democrats are objecting to the help and support that we have put in this bill for our farmers and ranchers. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security recognized that agriculture--our supply of food, fiber, and feed--is one of our Nation's critical industries. Our country has been blessed with an abundant, affordable, and safe food supply that we rarely stop to notice but that we depend on every single day and we certainly depend on at this time with this pandemic. The good news is, our farmers and ranchers, our ag sector, are out there working every day, carrying on this critical work of ensuring that we have the food on our grocery shelves throughout this pandemic. The bad news is, the farm economy, already facing a number of years of declining income, has taken a further nosedive on account of the coronavirus. So we have put forward assistance to make sure we address that. Let me just give you one example, though, of the difficulty faced in farm country, in rural America. The cattle industry has lost between $7 billion and $9 billion over the last 2 months--over the last 2 months--and that is just one sector of our ag economy. Congress needs to act, and we need to act now, to ensure that farmers, ranchers, and rural America--farmers, ranchers, and rural America--receive the relief they desperately need. Why would Democrats object to that? Why would they object to that? We included two important provisions to ensure that rural America and our farm and ranch families receive assistance. First, we replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation, making sure that the CCC has the funding necessary to carry out the farm bill, including the farm safety net, conservation programs, trade programs, as well as emergency and ad hoc programs like the Market Facilitation Program. Second, we increase CCC authority to ensure that we can meet the coronavirus impact on agriculture head-on. That makes sense. That is in the bill. They are objecting to it. They are objecting. This is our food supply. This is our food chain. We also included an important provision that enables USDA to provide critical support to ranchers during this market downturn--to ranchers. However, the Senate Democrats are objecting to that provision. Congressional Democratic leadership has objected to helping our farmers and ranchers in this relief package. The bill also includes an additional $15.5 billion for the SNAP program--for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, for food stamps--to provide nutrition assistance for those affected by this economic downturn. I urge my colleagues to get on board and support our farmers, our ranchers, and our food supply. Support rural America. Quit objecting to rural America. Quit objecting to our farmers and ranchers. We can't let that happen. We have talked about the importance of the bill. It is important for our entire country, and it is certainly important for our farmers and for our ranchers and for the food supply--the lowest cost, highest quality food supply that they provide every single American every single day.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Mississippi, who understands agriculture, is a strong advocate for agriculture, and recognizes how critically important it is. At this point, I turn to our chairman of the Ag Committee. He is somebody who has been around agriculture for a long, long time. He has worked on many, many farm bills, and whether it is livestock or crops or specialty crops--across the board--he understands. I say that for this reason: The provision that we have put in here helps all of ag. It is designed for all of agriculture. Certainly, it is absolutely vital for our cattle ranchers to help them in their working with the USDA, but it is for all of these other crops, too, across this great country, and there is incredible diversity in agriculture. What we have tried to do here is to make sure we have something that enables our Department of Agriculture and this body to help all of our producers. Without this, we are not able to do that, and that is why it is so vital that it is part of this package. With that, I turn to our committee chairman.

Mr. HOEVEN. I want to thank the senior Senator from Kansas for his comments and for his long service on behalf of agriculture, and I want to thank all of my colleagues who have spoken here. These are people who are working every day on behalf of our farmers and ranchers and on ag and on the Agriculture Committee. We fashioned something here that works for agriculture. Our message is very simple: We need to make sure our farmers and ranchers are included in this bill, and we need our colleagues across the aisle to work with us to make sure it is in the bill, and we need to get this bill passed now. With that, I would like to turn to our assistant majority leader-- also from ag country--for concluding remarks. I appreciate the patience of our colleague from West Virginia.

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Nebraska for her very powerful and heartfelt comments. I have to say she knows of what she speaks. In her coming from Nebraska and being in agriculture, nobody sees it out there more directly or understands more what our farmers and ranchers are going through than she does. I really do appreciate her comments. I think she brings home very clearly how we need to make sure that our farmers and ranchers are part of this important effort as we seek to battle this pandemic. Again, I can't thank her enough for her heartfelt comments. I turn now to our colleague from the State of Mississippi for her comments.

Mr. HOEVEN. I would like to thank the Senator from Michigan. There is no question that she has been a strong advocate for agriculture. I appreciate that and her willingness to work on this. It is imperative that we include our farmers and ranchers in this package. I look forward to working with you. We do need to get to something we can approve and include in the package. Thank you for your comments. I turn to my colleague from Nebraska. By way of turning to her, I want to say that the cattle industry has lost between $7 and $9 billion over the last 2 months. I know the cattle industry is important in the Presiding Officer's State. The cattle industry lost between $7 and $9 billion the last 2 months. That is why this is very urgent, and we need to act. I turn to the Senator from Nebraska for her comments.

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, earlier, I was on the floor and talked about how important it is--along with my fellow colleagues--that we move this bill and get it done now. I mean, it is very important that we get it done now. We talked about a lot of different things, but one of the points I wanted to make--I work with it so much, as do some of my colleagues who are going to join me here--is making sure we are also addressing rural America: our farmers, our ranchers, agriculture, rural America. That is the food supply everyone depends on every single day. It is so critically important all the time but particularly at a time like this when we are faced with a pandemic that we keep that food supply working and moving--the whole food chain--all the way from the farmer and rancher, all the way up to the consumer. As a result of what our farmers and ranchers do, every single American benefits from the lowest cost, highest quality food supply in the history of the world, and they can count on it. They can count on it. As we pass this phase 3 bill, which is now, I think, about $1.8 trillion, we cannot leave the farmers and ranchers of America out of the bill. It is that simple. Every single American depends on them every single day--and not just Americans but people around the globe. It is so important that we include agriculture in this bill. That is what we have worked to do. We have worked to make sure there is a provision in there so whether it is our cattle producers or whether it is our farmers raising crops across this great Nation, they can continue to do what they do every day on behalf of all Americans. I talked about that a little bit earlier, but some of my colleagues want to join in, emphasizing how critically important it is that our farmers and ranchers and rural America are part of this legislation. You see on television the cities every day and what is going on in the cities. In New York or San Francisco or wherever it may be, we get it. There are a lot of people there, and they are close together. It is a huge challenge. Yet the food, the sustenance--the food, fuel, and fiber--they get every day comes from the heartland. It comes from the rural areas. It doesn't just come from the grocery store. It comes from rural America, and we have to be there for them and keep them going so that they can supply people across this Nation in communities large and small. I would like to turn to my good friend, the Senator from the State of Kansas. Clearly, it is a State known as part of the breadbasket of this Nation. I would ask that the good Senator from Kansas be allowed to make some comments.

Mr. HOEVEN. I would like to thank the Senator from Kansas for his remarks and his strong work on behalf of, not just the livestock industry and, of course, Kansas, which, obviously, has a huge role in the cattle industry, but for all of agriculture. You are always there, and I deeply appreciate it. Before I recognize our next colleague, I do want to make a little change in the order here. If I could, I would like to recognize our colleague from Michigan who is the ranking member on the Ag Committee. She had some thoughts she wanted to interject. I would be willing to defer to her.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak regarding the impeachment of President Trump. For more than 2 weeks now, the Senate has listened as both the House managers and the President's counsel presented their cases. Nearly 28,000 pages of documents, including testimony from 17 witnesses gathered as part of the House investigation, will be part of the Senate record. Over the course of 2 days, Senators asked 180 questions of the House managers and the White House counsel. The Senate took its constitutional duty very seriously. After carefully listening to the House managers, President's counsel, reviewing the documents and testimony, and asking questions, it is clear to me that the House should not have impeached President Trump, and the Senate should vote to acquit the President. The House process did not provide the President with important due process rights. On the other hand, the Senate trial was conducted using past precedent of the Clinton trial as the framework. At the start of the Senate trial, the Senate agreed that the House evidence could be admitted into the record. We provided ample opportunity for both the House managers and White House counsel to make their arguments and ensure that Senators had substantial time to ask their questions. As I said, in fact, Senators asked 180 questions over 2 full days and received lengthy answers from both--and detailed answers from both President's counsel and the House managers. The American public has seen the transcript of the call between President Trump and President Zelensky. President Zelensky has said on several occasions that he did not feel pressured to do anything in return for the security assistance. Further, the military aid was provided to Ukraine without any investigations being conducted. Given these facts, the House's allegations do not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. Our Founding Fathers believed that impeachment should not be used as a partisan weapon and that the President serves at the will of the people. With an election to be held in coming months, it should be up to the American people to decide who will lead the country. We need to put this impeachment behind us. We need to get back to work advancing measures to help improve the lives of Americans. These legislative priorities, delayed while the House and Senate focused its attention on partisan impeachment, include important items like addressing our Nation's infrastructure, lowering prescription drug costs, providing middle-class tax relief, promoting American energy development, supporting our military and veterans, upholding our trust and treaty obligations to our Tribal communities, securing our borders, and continuing to fight for our farmers and our ranchers. These should all be areas where we can work together on a bipartisan basis for the American people. With these important priorities in mind, I look forward to getting back to work for the American people. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. Chief Justice, I am sending a question to the desk for myself, Senator Boozman, Senator Wicker, and Senator Capito.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. Chief Justice.

Mr. HOEVEN. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice. I have a question for myself and also for Senator Portman and Senator Boozman. It is for the President's counsel, and I am sending it to the desk.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the North Dakota State University Bison football team, and I am really excited to be able to do that. Last weekend, the Bison capped another impressive football season by winning their eighth FCS national title in 9 years. The Bison broke their own record for the most FCS titles of all time, eight in the last 9 years--an unbelievable accomplishment. They have now won 16 NCAA football championships. NDSU just had a truly impressive team this year, and they just have a tremendous program, as they have demonstrated year after year. I had the chance to be in Frisco last weekend with Bison Nation. They have an incredible following. We call them ``Bison Nation'' because they go wherever the football team goes, and they make a lot of noise. I had the opportunity to be there with them and cheer on the team as they faced off against James Madison University, the Dukes. It was a hard-fought win for the Bison, and the Dukes should also be congratulated. They have a great program--a first-class program--and great fans. I talked to a lot of them. They could not have been not only more supportive of their team, but they could not have been more complimentary of the Bison and their great program. Again I just want to say: James Madison, a real great program and a real class act--their team, their program, and their fans. Kudos to them as well. It was just a great effort by our team all around. Just a few stats: The win by the Bison on Saturday capped off an unbeaten season of 16-0. That is the first time a Division I team has gone 16-0, unbeaten, since Yale did it in 1894--pretty remarkable, a pretty amazing accomplishment. You also have to realize that that brings their current winning streak to 37 consecutive games, so they finished the year unbeaten, and they are now up to a 37-game winning streak. Next year, the second game of the season, we go to Oregon and play Oregon at Oregon. That should be a really exciting game. It just shows the caliber of football this team plays and just how great these student athletes are. They are great young men as well. I am very pleased that I was joined by my colleague Senator Cramer in sponsoring this resolution, so I certainly want to express my appreciation to him as well. We recognize and we congratulate the players, including freshman quarterback Trey Lance, who became the first player in the history of the North Dakota State Bison football team and the first freshman player in history--the first freshman player--to win the Walter Payton Award. It is the first time a freshman has ever done so, which just shows you what a great player he is and is just indicative of the kind of athletes we have on that team. We want to congratulate and honor the whole team. It was truly a team effort, a great team, led by Coach Matt Entz and his staff. This is Matt Entz's first year as head coach--what a way to start off for Matt and what a great guy and what a great coach. Also, the athletic director, Matt Larsen, again, just runs a class program of not only football but all of the athletics at North Dakota State University, as well as, of course, the fine leadership of NDSU president Dean Bresciani at the university there, a good friend and somebody who has done a great job leading the university. Again, I also want to honor Bison Nation. The game was nationally televised on Saturday at noon eastern time here on ABC. It wasn't just our great team; it was Bison Nation, all the fans being there and showing up in such a great way, too, with not only wearing the green and yellow and Bison regalia but cheering and just doing a great job like Bison Nation always does. We are so proud of the program, so proud of the student athletes, the coaches, and Bison Nation as a whole. We want to congratulate everybody on another incredible year and an unbelievable achievement: eight championships in 9 years. With that, there is only one other thing to say: Go Bison. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, today I rise, along with my colleague Senator Cramer, to honor former Senator from North Dakota Jocelyn Burdick. She was the first woman to represent the State of North Dakota in the U.S. Senate. My wife Mikey and I were saddened to hear of her recent passing, and we want to extend our sincere condolences to all of the Burdick family. As I said, I, along with Senator Cramer, have introduced a resolution to honor Senator Jocelyn Burdick and her service to the people of North Dakota and the United States in this body. Jocelyn was born in Fargo, ND. She attended Principia College and Northwestern University and began her career as a radio announcer in Moorhead, MN. On September 12, 1992, Jocelyn Burdick became the first woman from the State of North Dakota to serve in the U.S. Senate. She was appointed by then-Governor George Sinner to fill the seat of her late husband, Quentin Burdick, whom she served alongside during his 32 years in this body, the U.S. Senate. The Burdick family has a long history of public service. During her time in the Senate, she helped to establish the Quentin N. Burdick Indian Health Program at the University of North Dakota, supporting healthcare training programs for Native Americans, and helped to secure funding for the Federal courthouse in Fargo named after her late husband. Jocelyn was a Sunday school teacher and devoted member of the Christian Science Church. She served as president of the local Parent Teacher Association, recorded public service announcements raising awareness of substance abuse and drunk driving, and was nationally recognized for her philanthropy on behalf of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. I knew Jocelyn Burdick, and she was a fine person. I join with the people of North Dakota in expressing our appreciation for her service on behalf of our State and our Nation. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I rise today because it is my honor to introduce my colleague, who actually needs no introduction, but for this speech today I have the pleasure to introduce Kevin Cramer, who will be delivering his official maiden address to the U.S. Senate. I have known Kevin for many years and he has always been an incredibly diligent worker for the people of North Dakota. He has served our State in many different capacities. He served as tourism director and did a tremendous job promoting our State, promoting tourism, and, really, promoting the beauty and the history of our State in a way that brought a lot of national attention and really made a difference in terms of tourism for our State. He also served our State as economic development director, something that is certainly near and dear to my heart. I have always believed that job creation is job one, and so, to me, that is the engine that drives the car. Kevin served as the economic development director under Governor Schafer, my predecessor, and, again, did a fantastic job. He knows the importance of supporting our farmers and our small businesses, the energy industry, and all the things that really make our State go, and he has been a huge part of helping to create an environment in our State that, from a tax and a regulatory environment, has been very supportive of the growth and development of our economy and all aspects of our economy--as I say, from ag to energy, to technology, to manufacturing and throughout the small business world-- and, like me, he is a true champion for small business. We are big believers that small business is what makes this economy go. Whether it is North Dakota or the United States of America, it is small business that makes our economy go. As Governor, I had the opportunity to appoint Kevin to our State's public service commission in 2003, and he followed that and ran and was elected to the PSC by the people of North Dakota and served as the public service commissioner for the State until 2012. Certainly, in that role he was a big part of the growth and development of our State. Back in 2000, when I started as Governor, we produced less than 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Today, we now produce more than 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. The only State that produces more oil than North Dakota is Texas, and Kevin was a big part of building that climate where the industry just developed amazing technologies and this whole shale play came to be. Of course, now the United States is the largest producer of oil and gas in the world. So he truly understands that you have to help to promote that kind of economic development, but, at the same time, there is a reasonable role for regulation and things have to be done right and well and with good environmental stewardship. Prior to joining me in the Senate, Kevin served for three terms in the House of Representatives, where we worked together on many of our State's priorities. We share the same beliefs in not only our great State but in this great country, and we certainly had a tremendous working relationship in the House and now, of course, I am pleased to have him as a colleague in the Senate. We both served as members of the farm bill conference committee a year ago and were able to put in place a strong farm bill for our farmers and ranchers. We both work to rein in regulation, as I said, to grow our economy, and to support our military. He is a member of the Armed Services Committee and also the Veterans' Affairs Committee and has already passed a resolution supporting our veterans with his Battle of the Bulge resolution, which has been passed by this body. These are just a few of the things that he has already done as a Member of the U.S. Senate. He has been a dedicated public servant for the people of North Dakota. He is also a very devoted family man. He and his wife Kris have three sons--Isaac, Ian, and Abel--and two daughters--Rachel and Annie. They are the proud grandparents of five. Now, I have him by one. I have six, but this is a competition. So we will see where it ends up. He has a great family and has been a great partner in the Senate, and, of course, I look forward to continuing to work with him. Again, I am very pleased today to introduce Senator Kevin Cramer for this speech. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOEVEN

Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I would just like to say how much I appreciate Senator Cramer, the working relationship that we have, not just here but a working relationship that goes back many, many years. As you can tell, he speaks very well, but what comes through is not only his commitment to his family and his faith, but his commitment to the people of North Dakota and his commitment to the people of this country. It doesn't matter what issue he is working on. He takes the time to listen to everybody, and he is always willing to explain where he is coming from and why he comes to the conclusion he does. But there is no question, he loves his faith; he loves his family; he loves his State; and he loves this country. Thank you, Madam President. I yield the floor.