Maggie Hassan

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, today I would like to recognize the birthday of U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Martin Roy of Manchester NH. Mr. Roy was born on November 11, 1914, in Armagh, Canada, a day that would become Armistice Day in 1918 and was later renamed to Veterans Day in 1954. Mr. Roy moved to the United States as a teenager and worked in the mills in Lowell, MS as a mechanical repairman. In 1943, Mr. Roy enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II. He was onboard the USS Franklin, also known as Big Ben, on March 19, 1945, when a Japanese pilot dropped two bombs on the ship. The bombs caused explosions and fires that triggered ammunition, bombs, and rockets. Along with 700 surviving crewmembers, Mr. Roy helped throw the remaining explosives overboard and saved the ship. When he was honorably discharged in 1945, Mr. Roy received a letter of thanks signed by James Forrestal, then Secretary of the Navy who would later become the first Secretary of Defense. On February 22, 1946, Mr. Roy married Louise Boutin, whom he had met while working in the mills. They had two children, Paul and Cecile, and moved to Suncook, NH in the early 1950s. Mr. Roy took a job at the Suncook Mills and, using his mechanical skills, he, along with a friend developed a patent to repair looms in the mill. In addition, for many years Mr. Roy owned and operated two convenience stores, one in Lowell and another Suncook. A man of many interests, Mr. Roy also trained thoroughbred horses over a nearly 20- year period and traveled the New England circuit, owning eight horses at one time. Upon his so-called retirement, Mr. Roy worked part time as a janitor and repairman in the local bank, never ceasing to work hard and give back to his community. Mr. President, I hope you will join me in wishing a dedicated, patriotic, and multi-talented Granite Stater, Martin Roy, a very Happy 105th birthday.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, first, I thank my colleague, the distinguished Senator from Washington, for her leadership on the issue of providing healthcare to all Americans. In a democracy where everyone counts, everyone should have access to high quality, affordable care. I rise today to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to undermine our health insurance system and scam healthcare consumers by allowing harmful health plans to be sold to unsuspecting, vulnerable Americans. Since the President's first day in office, his administration has taken measure after measure that makes it harder for patients to access necessary care, weakens our healthcare system, and increases costs. This latest effort to expand access to what are appropriately referred to as ``junk'' health insurance plans would allow insurance companies to discriminate against Americans who experience preexisting conditions and would also leave patients with higher healthcare costs and worse insurance coverage. Junk plans don't cover even basic benefits, such as prescription drugs, substance use disorder treatment, or maternity care. People often don't realize how inadequate these plans are until they are in the middle of a medical crisis. Unless you can guarantee that you will never get sick, never break a limb, or never get into an accident, these plans are a bad deal for you. We all know that life doesn't come with those guarantees, and when the worse does happen, when illness or injury strikes, these plans are, more often than not, barely worth the paper they are written on. This can lead to two very bad outcomes. The first is that the patient chooses to receive the critical care they need, but, because the short- term junk plan doesn't cover the care, the patient ends up being stuck with an incredibly high out-of-pocket medical bill, or the patient, upon learning that the junk plan doesn't cover critical care, chooses not to get the care they need, which leads to adverse outcomes or an unplanned trip to the emergency room, the cost of which may be footed by the taxpayer. If you are someone with a preexisting condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer, you could be charged more, sometimes truly astronomical amounts, for insurance that will not even cover many of your most basic benefits or you can be denied certain benefits altogether. If that sounds familiar, it is because it is the same situation people with preexisting conditions were in before the passage of the Affordable Care Act. That is why I am calling on all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote to repeal the Trump administration's rule that authorizes these junk plans, threatening protections for millions of Americans with preexisting conditions and increasing healthcare costs all across the board. If there is one thing that Republicans and Democrats should all agree on, it is that we must ensure that people with preexisting conditions are protected and that they can be covered--people like Bernadette Clark of Manchester, whose youngest son is living with cerebral palsy, a complex medical condition, and would not have access to the type of health insurance that she and her family need if not for the protections that the Affordable Care Act afforded to people with preexisting conditions. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and patients universally oppose these junk plans because they know how dangerous these plans are for the health and well-being of our people. I urge every Senator to stand with Granite Staters and all Americans in opposing the Trump administration's latest attack on our healthcare system. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Lilie Murray of Rye as October's Granite Stater of the Month for her work to provide support and necessities to those in need. Lilie was first inspired to take up the cause to help less fortunate members of her community after her advisor and sophomore-year honors ecology teacher, Kimberly McGlinchey, taught Lilie's class about the United Nation's sustainable development goals, The class focused specifically on 3 of the 17 goals: no poverty, quality education, and sustainable cities and communities. In an effort to make progress on these goals in her community, Lilie started Portsmouth Community Closet, which donates new or gently used clothing to people in need on the Seacoast. The group distributed its first donations at Gosling Meadows, a public housing neighborhood in Portsmouth. During that event, Lilie learned that Gosling Meadows' residents were struggling to clean their clothes after the neighborhood laundromat shut down. Many of the residents did not have cars, and the local city buses do not allow residents to bring large bags on the bus. In response, Lilie organized a fundraiser to bring washers and dryers to families living in Gosling Meadows, giving priority to families with students who attended her public high school. The fundraiser was a huge success, raising $4,500 to provide eight families with energy-saving washers and dryers. Following up on her work with Gosling Meadows, Lilie started a summer program at Greenleaf Recreation Center in Portsmouth, which mainly serves children ages 6 to 13 from Gosling Meadows, as well as another public housing neighborhood in Portsmouth. She and her classmates brought the children in the program on trips that they normally would not be able to afford, such as rock climbing or blueberry picking. Her work with these kids inspired her to jump into another project to help her community, this time focusing on literacy. Lilie could see how much these children love to read, but there was no dedicated space in the Greenleaf Recreation Center for quiet reading. So over the summer she and her classmates built a colorful reading nook in the Greenleaf Recreation Center to give these children the space and resources that they needed to read and learn. What is so wonderful about Lilie's story is that each one of her volunteer services builds on the next and goes to show how inspiring and motivating it can be to volunteer in one's community. Thank you, Lilie, for your continued efforts to help those less fortunate and for committing yourself to creating a more just and equal society.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Brooke Mills of Concord as September's Granite Stater of the Month for her work advocating for concussion awareness and prevention in New Hampshire and across the country. In March of 2014, Brooke, then a freshman in high school, suffered a severe concussion during a mandatory handball game in gym class. The ramifications of this concussion went beyond the physical bruising in her brain and affected everything from her social life to her academics. Brooke suffered from memory loss and had to wear sunglasses indoors because the lighting in her school was too harsh, which led to teasing and bullying from her classmates. She also had to strictly limit the time she spent on her phone, which affected her ability to hang out with friends and use social media, a difficult situation for someone who just started high school. However, instead of letting her concussion get the best of her, Brooke turned her injury into a platform that she used to educate people about the dangers of concussions, while also providing reassurance for others who were going through similar trauma that they too could overcome the lasting impacts of a concussion. Brooke started a blog called Finding My Way, where she writes about her concussion and how it impacts her day-to-day life in the hopes of helping others suffering from concussions feel less alone. She also launched an organization called Lessen the Impact, dedicated to sharing her story and providing resources to help identify and prevent a concussion. Additionally, Brooke is a peer-to-peer speaker for the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, where she gives presentations at high schools and middle schools about how to identify a concussion and stresses the importance of being kind and understanding to those who suffer from this invisible injury. As a result of Brooke's advocacy, as Governor of New Hampshire, I declared the third Friday in September as Concussion Awareness Day in New Hampshire. This week, with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to recognize this day nationally. Concussion Awareness Day is also recognized by other States, as well as by the National Brain Injury Association. There is also a companion resolution recognizing this day that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. I want to thank Brooke for all that she has done and continues to do to turn a challenging experience into an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to Granite Staters and Americans about the dangers of concussions. She has truly demonstrated the grit, resilience, and empathy that reflects the best of our State.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I start my remarks tonight by thanking my colleague from Wyoming for his remarks concerning the anniversary of the horror that was September 11, 2001. I join him and all of my colleagues here in recognizing that in the midst of that horror, the American people came together, and we demonstrated the strength, kindness, bravery, and resilience that we have throughout our history. I, too, remember the victims, their loved ones, as well as all of the brave first responders. I thank all of the men and women of our military who continue to fight against terrorism and who keep us safe, and I remember the lives lost on the battlefield.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the 200th anniversary of Tappan Chairs of Sandwich, NH. One of the first settlers of Sandwich, Abraham Tappan first created a ladder-backed Tappan chair in 1819. The chairs became an iconic and treasured part of the town's history, with subsequent generations of the Tappan family crafting chairs from stout rock maple and hardy white ash and selling and trading them throughout the region. In the 1930s, the business moved out of the family and was run by various members of the Sandwich community. The business continued in affiliation with the Sandwich Home Industries, an original incarnation of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Tappan Chairs almost disappeared in the early 1960s but was saved at auction. In the 1980s and 1990s the company was revitalized once again by Gunnar Berg, who established a national market for this unique type of furniture. Currently, the business is run by Adam Nudd-Homeyer, who has dedicated himself to studying the chairs' story, design, and build, bringing older models back into production and expanding the selection of the furniture's materials. Adam has also continued the tradition of using Tappan Chairs to help raise money for local, regional, and national nonprofits. Tappan Chairs is the only commissioned chairmaker in the world for the living Shaker community and is developing a limited edition historic reproduction piece with the foremost Shaker museum in the country. This iconic business and pillar of the community is now housed in the former Sandwich General Store building, having transformed the space into an open workshop, showroom, and history exhibit. For 200 years, Tappan Chairs has crafted high-quality, beautiful chairs, innovating in numerous ways while also staying true to techniques and designs that have stood the test of time. As the business has passed from one maker to the next over, from generation to generation, this wonderful company has encouraged Granite Staters to treasure our past and embrace the future. Mr. President, I hope you will join me in honoring the 200th anniversary of a treasured New Hampshire business, Tappan Chairs.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Erik Becker of Lancaster, NH, as August's Granite Stater of the Month for his dedication to improving the community he grew up in and for lending support to those in need. As the Student Assistance Program coordinator at Groveton High School--the very same high school that he graduated from--Erik sees firsthand how important it is to ensure that students have both emotional and material support throughout the year, not just during the school months. During the summer, kids usually lose the relationship that they have formed with teachers during the school year. To prevent his relationships from weakening during the summer, Erik spends 15 hours a week at the school helping to distribute free lunches to kids in need, while also acting as a ``big brother'' for students who just need someone to talk to. Erik also works at the community homeless shelter, Tyler Blaine House. He started out as a support staff member but moved his way up to a full-time case manager position to help individuals seeking to break the cycle of homelessness and get back on their feet. In addition, Erik is the founder of the Black Crow Project, which he and a few friends founded after seeing how the substance misuse epidemic had negatively affected their community. The Black Crow Project seeks to act as a support system for those impacted by substance abuse. Right now, the group is working to revitalize the Lancaster/Groveton Crowalition, a community coalition that provides support, training, and guidance to individuals suffering from addiction. In 2016, the group also helped put on one of the largest Narcan kit distribution/awareness events in New Hampshire. One of Erik's favorite projects as part of his work with the Black Crow Project is the Small Town Loud Fest, an annual event that brings people of all ages together to combat substance misuse, all while listening to area bands in a substance-free space. To top off all of this community involvement, Erik also acts as a recovery coach for those battling addiction. In New Hampshire, we have a tradition and ethos of seizing the initiative in order to make a difference, and Erik's activism and engagement exemplifies what it means to be a Granite Stater. His passion and dedication to improving the lives of the people who he grew up with is making a difference and will spur and enable others to do the same. New Hampshire is lucky to have him.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the need to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for putting profits before the health and well-being of our people and our communities. I know that my colleague, Senator Brown from Ohio, came to the floor earlier this week to call out bad actors in the pharmaceutical industry who have fueled our country's substance misuse crisis, and I am grateful for Senator Brown's leadership in calling attention to this issue, and I join him in the effort. We are constantly learning more and more about the unconscionable ways that pharmaceutical companies fueled the substance misuse crisis-- a crisis that is killing more than 100 people a day in the United States. Recent data released by the Drug Enforcement Administration showed that between 2006 and 2012, just 6 years, companies distributed 76 billion pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone throughout the country, including 290 million pills that were sent to New Hampshire, a State with only 1.3 million people. That works out to about 30 pills per person per year in the Granite State. As they distributed those unfathomable amounts of opioids, pharmaceutical companies pushed these drugs with deceptive marketing tactics, despite the known risks of addiction, to maximize their profits. One of these tactics even included pushing the unproven concept of pseudoaddiction. This false claim asserted that patients showing signs of addiction weren't actually addicted but instead needed even higher doses of opioids. The solution that these scam artists pushed to address addiction was to encourage the prescribing of even more opioids. So instead of providing actual addiction treatment to those suffering from substance use disorder, some patients just received more drugs. That kind of strategy enabled the pharmaceutical industry to dole out those billions of doses of opioids and profit enormously from it, leaving in their wake an opioid crisis that is devastating communities. Outrageously, as they have aggressively pushed doctors to prescribe these opioids, a tax loophole has enabled Big Pharma to write off the cost of television ads that blanketed the airwaves, encouraging more and more people to seek opioids from their doctors for pain relief, oblivious to the harm that these drugs could do. I have joined with Senator Brown, as well as Senator Shaheen, on legislation to close that loophole and end taxpayer subsidies for drug ads, and I am going to continue to push for transparency from these companies. In addition to the devastating impact that Big Pharma has had in fueling the substance misuse crisis, the industry has also hurt patients by massively increasing the cost of prescription drugs. One of the top issues I hear about from people in New Hampshire is that affording lifesaving medications is becoming more and more out of reach, and high drug costs are too often forcing seniors and families to make agonizing decisions. No one should have to decide between buying their prescriptions and heating their home or putting food on the table, but these are the types of choices Americans are devastatingly having to make, all the while big pharmaceutical companies are reporting profits that are higher than ever. We need to change this system, bring down costs, and hold Big Pharma accountable. Last week, the Finance Committee moved forward with bipartisan legislation to begin to take on Big Pharma and lower prescription drug prices. This bill would cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicaid Part D and crack down on pharmaceutical companies that raise drug prices higher than inflation. It is a really big deal that a bill to take on the pharmaceutical industry in a meaningful way advanced out of committee on a strong bipartisan vote. Pharma did everything they could to try to kill and weaken this bill in committee, and they will keep trying. I am really encouraged that we have gotten this far. That is no small accomplishment. We will continue working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to get it across the finish line. At the heart of the issue with Big Pharma is the blind pursuit of profits at the expense of people's health and wellbeing. Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry have told us often how important innovation is and how much innovation costs because they say they want to save lives and innovation is critically important. In my own family, like so many across our country, medical innovation has been critical not only for saving life but to improve the quality of life. Our son Ben regularly has a compression vest that helps clear his lungs without the incredibly labor intensive respiratory therapy that we used to have to do. He is able to get nutrition through a feeding tube that runs smoothly, steadily through the night so that he can have the kind of nutrition he needs. Innovation in pharmaceuticals have also helped Ben improve his quality of life, and the combination of pharmaceutical innovation and medical device innovation means that a baclofen pump inserted in Ben's abdominal cavity helps his muscles to relax. But if innovation is about saving lives, then, how did we get to a point of crisis that started from the drugs that they produced? How did we get to a point where many patients can't even afford the lifesaving prescription that pharma promotes? It seems that, at least for some pharmaceutical companies, they only want to save lives when it makes them money or when it gives them an excuse not to restrict their profits. From the substance misuse crisis to the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, this body has failed to hold Big Pharma accountable for far too long. That must change, and I am committed to working with anyone who is serious about finally acting to put patients first. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to congratulate Mr. Jim Tufts of Exeter, NH, on his retirement, after his long, productive, and impactful career of making a difference for young people and their families throughout our region and country. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Jim spent 2 years as an assistant coach at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, NH. In 1977, he joined Exeter High School as the physical education teacher and varsity head coach of both the boys soccer and hockey teams. Jim has coached over 1,650 games, and his teams have accumulated almost 1,000 career wins and won a combined eight New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association, NHIAA championships. He has also served as chairman of the Physical Education Department at Philips Exeter Academy for the summer school program. In 1988 he became the coach and local program coordinator of the Exeter Area Athletes and runs the Learn to Play Hockey Program to introduce hundreds of young people to ice hockey. For 50 years, Jim has volunteered with the New Hampshire Special Olympics, which was first organized in the State in 1970 by his mother, Jean Tufts. He has served as the director of the Exeter Special Olympics Program for 32 years, and in 2003 he was named Special Olympics Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Jim has organized students from Exeter High School and surrounding high schools to get involved as peer coaches for the athletes, making the Exeter Special Olympics an incredible community event. It is Jim's devotion to Special Olympics athletes--and the example he has set for the athletes he coaches in all of his different roles--that has made a unique and life changing difference for thousands of young people and their families. Jim, accompanied and guided by his wife, Leslie, and sons, Matt and Kyle, has been a tremendous asset to Exeter High School and to the entire Seacoast region. He has given back to his community in countless ways with humility and an exceptionally positive attitude. Jim has taught all of us that talent and compassion, strength and kindness, go hand in hand. His town, State, and country are better because of his example. Mr. President, I hope you will join me in honoring a dedicated Granite Stater, Jim Tufts.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Caroline Dillon of Rochester, NH, as July's Granite Stater of the Month for her work ensuring that every public high school and middle school in New Hampshire provides free feminine hygiene products to students who cannot afford them. When Caroline first learned about ``period poverty'' in her high school's U.S. history class, she was shocked by the magnitude of this crisis. Period poverty occurs when someone does not have the means to afford basic feminine hygiene products. Caroline knew many of her classmates were on the reduced or free lunch program, and it did not take long for her to connect the dots and realize that some of her classmates were struggling with this problem every month. Caroline turned her concern into political action. She took her history teacher's advice, who told Caroline's class that, if they ever had a problem with how things were run in the State, they should reach out to an elected official. She reached out to State Senator Martha Hennessey, an outspoken advocate for women's health and education. Caroline, who at the time was not old enough to vote, worked with Senator Hennessey to draft the bill and to gain support for their legislation in the New Hampshire State House and among interest groups. Their argument was simple: If students do not need to bring essentials like toilet paper to school, why should they need to bring their own feminine hygiene products, which are just as essential? Thanks to Caroline's efforts, the New Hampshire Governor last week signed into law a bill that mandates that every high school and middle school in the Granite State provide free feminine hygiene products in their female and gender-neutral bathrooms. I want to thank Caroline once more for her work to help reduce the stigma around periods and to provide essential feminine hygiene products for those in need. I want to congratulate her as well for demonstrating how powerful individual compassion and advocacy can be in our democracy.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the retirement of Mr. Clyde Terry of Concord, NH. Clyde started his career in 1982 as an administrative hearings officer, protecting the rights of individuals who experience disabilities in the State service systems. He then worked as the director of policy and planning for the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council. He was promoted to executive director where he assisted in the drafting of and advocated for State and Federal legislation on issues impacting the lives of people who experience disabilities and directed the 5-year State plan. In 2010, he was named to the National Council on Disabilities by President Barack Obama and was appointed its chair in 2015. Clyde also served as the chair of the policy development and program evaluation committee, and in both roles, he used his vast knowledge and experience in New Hampshire to guide his work. For more than 16 years, Clyde has led Granite State Independent Living, a nonprofit that provides training and support services for people experiencing disabilities. In this role, he aimed to break the historical link between disability and poverty, adding education and employment services to the organization's operations. Under his leadership, Granite State Independent Living grew from three offices to eight and increased staff to more than 850 full-time staff and personal care attendants. This growth has made the organization a statewide resource for seniors and those who experience disabilities, helping them have access to competitive integrated employment and to live safely, comfortably, and independently at home. In addition, Clyde has been an incredible advocate for democracy and equality in our elections, leading a national coalition of disability organizations on election reform and election accessibility and coauthoring ``Voters Denied Equal Access at the Polls; A Status Report of the Accessibility of Polling Places in the United States.'' Clyde has helped people understand that all of our citizens deserve equality, opportunity, and community participation. More and more people are living lives of self-sufficiency and purpose because of his hard work and commitment, and I have been honored to work with Clyde on building a more inclusive New Hampshire and country. I hope you will join me in honoring a dedicated Granite Stater, Clyde Terry.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize the students of Gilford High School's introduction to engineering class as June 2019 Granite Staters of the Month. These students successfully applied their engineering knowledge to create personalized, easy-to-use mobility devices for three young students in their community who experience disabilities. The idea for this project came from Troy Gallagher, who just graduated from Gilford High School and will attend Texas Tech in the fall. Last summer, Troy participated in an advanced studies program at St. Paul's School, where he took a 5-week engineering course that introduced him to the University of Delaware program GoBabyGo!, which works with communities around the world to modify ride-on cars for children with disabilities. The vehicles can be used in physical and occupational therapy sessions, in speech therapy as a means to increase a child's expressive and receptive language skills, and to help the children better socialize with their peers. Troy thought this would be an excellent engineering project to bring to Gilford High School, as did his introduction to engineering teacher, Dan Caron. After petitioning the parent teacher association, PTA, to provide the class money to buy the necessary parts and selecting the students that would receive these vehicles, the students in Gilford High School's, introduction to engineering class got to work. The GoBabyGo! project was the students' final engineering assignment, and to successfully build these mobility devices, the students used everything that they had learned about the engineering design process. First, the students visited with the three children, preschoolers George and Morgan, and first-grader Chloe, to take their measurements and determine how to best modify the Power Wheels to fit the specific needs of the children. For instance, the students noted that Chloe's left hand was weaker than her right, so they knew that they would need to move the button that accelerates the vehicle to the left side of the steering wheel, which allows her to accelerate with her weaker hand while steering with her dominant hand. The students also modified the headrest using pool noodles and refitted the hard plastic seats with softer materials with a design from the popular children's show, ``Paw Patrol.'' Since some of the children have difficulty using their legs, the students rewired the pedal functions to the steering wheel, so that the children could easily start and stop the device with their hands. After the vehicles were completed, Mr. Caron's class visited the elementary school to present the children with their new mobility devices. The Gilford Police and Fire Department helped by bringing the two vehicles over to the school, which was fitting since the mobility devices were designed to look like a police car and a fire truck. One of the students even customized the vehicles with Gilford Elementary School license plates in the front and New Hampshire plates in the back with the students' names and made Gilford Fire and Police logos for the front grills of the trucks. The students presented the devices to two of the children in front of almost the entire elementary school. Troy gave a presentation about the project to the school in the hopes of inspiring more elementary school students to get interested in the STEAM fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. I congratulate these students for their ingenuity, hard work, and compassion. I thank them for demonstrating that, by being inclusive, we unleash the talent and energy of our friends and peers, strengthen our communities, and bring joy and dignity to those who have been marginalized.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues who have come to the floor this week to call for action to prevent gun violence. On Tuesday we marked the 4-year anniversary of the horrific shooting at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, where a White supremacist killed nine people during Bible study. Last week was the 3-year anniversary of the massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, when an act of terror and hatred took the lives of 49 people in the LGBTQ community. After each of these tragedies, we say ``never again'' and ``enough is enough.'' But after each mass shooting, Congress fails to take action. The discussion fades into the background until another tragedy occurs, then this same cycle is repeated. It is unacceptable that Congress has still yet to take meaningful action to address this epidemic. The victims who have been lost, their families, and those who have experienced life-changing injuries and trauma deserve action--as do all of our communities, because nearly every aspect of American life has been afflicted by gun violence. Nowhere is the impact of gun violence and the way it has changed our lives more clear than in our Nation's schools. Just this year, a friend of mine's son started kindergarten. Shortly after the school year started, he and his other kindergarten peers had to participate in a drill--what to do if there is an active shooter or danger in your school. At about the same time that my friend received information from the school that her son would be participating in a lockdown of sorts--a lockdown for 5-year-olds--she read an article by a teacher who had participated with her young students in such an active shooter drill. When the teacher got the kids still and turned off the lights in the room so they could practice staying safe, she noticed the little lights in the soles of their sneakers. You know those little light-up shoes that children have? The teacher wrote that she realized that if those children came to school with those shoes on a day when there was a shooter, even with the lights down, they would be targets. Well, needless to say, my friend's son no longer has light-up sneakers. It is time to finally meet words with action. It is time to finally take steps to keep the American people safe. It is time to finally pass commonsense gun laws. A good start to address this public safety issue would be to improve our background check system. According to the Department of Justice, since 1994 background checks have stopped over 3 million dangerous individuals from obtaining guns, including people with violent criminal records, domestic abusers, and those with mental health issues. But we know that there continue to be loopholes in that system. Research indicates that millions of guns are sold each year to individuals without background checks. We need to extend background checks to all gun sales and ensure that people who are legally barred from owning guns cannot easily access them. I have joined with Senator Murphy, who has been a passionate, dedicated leader on this issue, on legislation to do just that. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan gun safety legislation aimed at improving our background check system. There is real momentum and urgency on this issue. Strengthening background checks is a measure that the American people overwhelmingly support. Unfortunately, Republican leadership in the Senate is more focused on putting the priorities of the gun lobby ahead of the will of the American people. It is outrageous that some in this body suggest that there is simply nothing that we can do to stop the gun violence that has plagued our country. The refusal to even bring up gun safety legislation for consideration is unconscionable. That must change. I come from a State with a long tradition of responsible gun ownership. People across New Hampshire own guns for hunting, sports, and protection. I respect the tradition, and I am committed to upholding it, but I know that the people in New Hampshire don't want dangerous weapons in the wrong hands. They are also deeply frustrated that Congress has refused to address the heartbreaking acts of violence that have become far too common in our country. Granite Staters, particularly our young people, are speaking out to voice these frustrations. Last year, I was proud to march with students in Nashua who organized their own March For Our Lives rally, and students across our State have engaged in everything from writing to public officials to staging school walkouts. They are demanding that we take action, and Congress needs to listen to them. I am going to keep pushing to pass commonsense gun safety laws, and it is long past time that the Senate finally take this issue up for debate. I yield the floor.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Elizabeth Guillotte of Hill, NH, and Richard ``Ricky'' Mazur of Franklin, NH, as the May 2019 Granite Staters of the Month for their dedication to helping their classmates whose financial and/or family circumstances render them unable to afford basic necessities like clothing and toiletries. When the Franklin High School FIRST robotics team sat down to discuss how they could give back to their community, Elizabeth and Richard had an idea: They could revamp the makeshift thrift shop at their school. Now, students at Franklin High School who are in need of anything from clothing, to toothbrushes, to cereal, can get all these items anonymously and for free at the new and improved ``Karma Korner.'' Elizabeth and Richard were inspired to act after they noticed that some of their classmates were walking the halls in the same clothing that they wore the day before and learned that some classmates were eating their only meal of the day in the school cafeteria. With the support of their FIRST Robotics teammates, the two students moved an already existing makeshift thrift shop to a wheelchair- accessible room with better lighting and brightly colored walls. They added food to the inventory of items available for students and started a program that allows students to bring home a backpack stuffed with pantry items so that they do not go hungry over the weekend. Ensuring anonymity and, as a result, reducing stigma was important to Elizabeth and Richard. If a student wants to check out an item, all they need to do is record what they are taking on a clipboard, so that the students working the pantry know what needs to be replenished. Many businesses in the surrounding communities have also lent their support in the form of gift cards or donated items. By collaborating with local businesses and charities, Karma Korner recently received washers and dryers for student use, which were bought and installed at no expense to the school. In establishing Karma Korner, Elizabeth and Richard have recognized and elevated the dignity of their friends, peers, and classmates, and they have reminded us of our shared humanity and shared promise. I join the rest of the Franklin High School community in thanking Richard and Elizabeth for their efforts to help make their school a more supportive and welcoming place and congratulate them for being honored as May 2019's Granite Staters of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the retirement of Mr. Larry Gammon of Bedford, NH, after 47 years of service to Easterseals. Larry started his career with Easterseals New Hampshire in 1971, serving as the facilities director and helping out with everything from teaching to driving the bus. In 1985, Larry was named president and CEO of Easterseals New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine and, for the past 33 years, has overseen the programs and services offered to individuals who experience disabilities in these states. Under Larry's leadership, Easterseals has grown to offer 13 core programs, including child development centers, a family resource center, child and family services, early supports and services, autism services, residential and educational services, special transit, camps and recreation, community-based services, workforce development, military and veterans services, senior services, substance misuse treatments, and oral health services. The organization serves more than 32,000 clients annually with a staff of 1,800. Larry has also done incredible work lending his expertise and extraordinary kindness and energy as an active member of the Queen City Rotary Club, the mayor's task force on human services, the NH State Rehabilitation Advisory Council, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Assembly of Overseers, and YMCA task force on accessibility. Whether on one of the boards that he serves or in his professional life, Larry has made a real difference in the lives of so many and his work has strengthened our families, communities, and State, and he has done so with humility and humor. I hope you will join me in honoring a dedicated Granite Stater, Larry Gammon.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, as Mother's Day approaches, I rise to join my Democratic colleagues in sharing our constituents' stories about the importance of protecting women's access to healthcare. No matter where they live and no matter their economic status, women in our country deserve access to comprehensive preventive care and family planning services that will enable them to stay healthy and to thrive. We know centers like Planned Parenthood have made a huge difference in the lives of the women they serve. My office recently heard from a woman named Ashley from Hooksett, who said: I am safe, healthy, and educated thanks to Planned Parenthood. She continues speaking about Planned Parenthood: When I was fifteen, they were there to help me understand the changes that my body was going through and provide me with the information I needed to keep myself healthy and protected. Throughout the rest of my teenage years, I have trusted Planned Parenthood to provide me with all of my routine healthcare procedures. Ashley continues: In more desperate times, they were there to explain my options and support my decisions with anonymity and compassion. Ashley goes on to say: I am deeply concerned about the Title 10 gag rule and the implications it may have on my getting the care I need. I'm thankful for elected officials who are fighting back and speaking out for me and the thousands of people like me who deserve access to quality, affordable care, no matter their income or zip code. Ashley's story is one of thousands that speak to the importance of title X-supported health centers, including Planned Parenthood, which are a major source of preventive care and reproductive health services, including cancer screenings, birth control, HIV and STI tests, and counseling services. In New Hampshire, title X-funded centers deliver care to nearly 18,000 Granite Staters annually, and title X-supported Planned Parenthood centers serve 60 percent of those 18,000 Granite Staters. This is why the Trump administration's actions to discriminate against providers and to cut investments in family planning clinics are so dangerous, and it is why we have to keep fighting for women like Ashley, who are rightfully concerned about this constant barrage of attacks on healthcare. I am going to continue standing with my Democratic colleagues on behalf of women's constitutionally protected rights and against the Trump administration's partisan attacks on women's access to healthcare.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, when his son was deployed to Iraq in 2003, Thaddeus Luszey, Jr., and his wife Deborah of Hudson, NH, began sending him care packages. Now, more than 10 years later, that simple act has turned into a nonprofit organization called Operation Care for Troops. Operation Care for Troops has sent nearly 110,000 packages to deployed servicemembers, providing them a friendly reminder from home that they are not forgotten. For his dedication to supporting the brave servicemembers who sacrifice so much so that the rest of us may live in freedom and security, I am proud to recognize Thaddeus as the April 2019 Granite Stater of the Month. Thaddeus comes from a military family; his mother, father, and son are all veterans. When his son was deployed in Iraq, Thaddeus sat down with a friend over lunch who was also sending care packages overseas to deployed servicemembers, and an idea was born: They would work together to reach even more servicemembers. What started as friends, family, and neighbors in garages putting together care packages has transformed into a full-fledged organization with hundreds of volunteers. Operation Care for Troops sends over a thousand packages four times a year, including 3,000 stockings to troops over the holidays. Operation Care for Troops also makes sure that servicemembers know that the people of New Hampshire have them in their thoughts. Each package contains three or four cards from schoolchildren and community members, ensuring that no one goes without mail. The organization does this all with the support of hundreds of community volunteers and businesses who help supply and fill the packages, a true embodiment of New Hampshire's all-hands-on-deck spirit. For these efforts, I am proud to recognize Thaddeus Luszey, Jr., as the April 2019 Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the impressive work of two Granite Staters, CSM (Retired) Michael Rice and Kathy Rice. Throughout his service in the New Hampshire National Guard, Mike and his wife Kathy worked to ensure that servicemembers and their families were well supported. Mike and Kathy were strong advocates for the men and women of the New Hampshire National Guard, championing training and support for the well-being of the soldiers and airmen and women. Their knowledge of the military and the systems available to assist troops and their families was an invaluable resource many relied on. Following Mike's retirement in 2006, Mike and Kathy have continued their service through countless volunteer endeavors, particularly in helping veterans find employment. They worked as part of the employer support to the Guard and Reserve and as transition assistance advisers, dedicating their time and ensuring that our veterans have the resources they need to succeed. They have also earned State and national recognition for their work, including receiving the Association of the United States Army's Mary G. Roebling Award for Distinguished Service. Mike and Kathy attend every deployment and redeployment ceremony and work tirelessly to provide baked goods, information for troops and their families, and help to ensure that veterans receive the services they have earned. I thank Mike and Kathy for their service to veterans, military families, and our country. Their selfless hard work honors those Granite Staters who fought for the cause of freedom and for the protection of our democracy and has truly made a difference in the lives of so many. I hope you will join me in honoring dedicated Granite Staters Mike and Kathy Rice.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize Mr. John Barthelmes of Hopkinton, NH, and celebrate his well-deserved retirement after years of service to New Hampshire and America. In 1976, John began his career in public service as a State trooper in New Hampshire's North Country, where he fell in love with his wonderful wife, Jadean. He then rose through the ranks to become colonel of New Hampshire State Police, a position he held from 1996 to 1999. After retiring from the State police, John served as the director of the New England High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area agency, until 2007 when Governor Lynch appointed him to serve as commissioner of the department of safety. I am proud and honored that, as Governor, I had the opportunity to reappoint this exceptional public servant to lead our department of safety. As commissioner, John has focused on maintaining New Hampshire's status as one of the safest States in the Nation and on improving services for our citizens. Under his leadership, the department has effectively managed severe weather events and other emergencies. He also oversaw the merger of the State police and highway patrol and the overhaul of the State police officer recruitment process. Additionally, under John's leadership, the department has dramatically reduced wait times at the Division of Motor Vehicles, given citizens the option to renew their drivers' licenses online, and undertaken a number of other improvements. Underscoring his commitment to helping the people of New Hampshire, John is an outspoken advocate for treatment options for behavioral health and has served on the board of Riverbend Community Mental Health. John also serves on the New Hampshire Advisory Council on Emergency Preparedness and Security and the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. But as impressive as John Barthelmes' service, effectiveness, and achievements are, it is his insight, even-keeled demeanor, and extraordinary kindness that distinguishes him the most. A man of impeccable character and deep understanding of the human condition, John Barthelmes broadened the outlook of everyone he worked with and gave hope to all he served. Ensuring the safety of our people and communities is the most important role of government. Doing it with the skill, professionalism, and wisdom that John Barthelmes exhibited throughout his career is extraordinary. I thank John for his dedication to keeping our people and communities safe, and I thank John's family for their willingness to share him with the people of New Hampshire. I hope you will join me in honoring a dedicated Granite Stater, John Barthelmes.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague from Illinois, Senator Durbin, to discuss the work we are doing to protect students and taxpayers from predatory higher education practices. I want to thank Senator Durbin for his incredible and steadfast leadership on this issue. All hard-working students deserve the opportunity to receive a quality education that will prepare them to compete in this 21st- century economy. Education is the cornerstone of expanding opportunity, and it is vital that we ensure that more students have access to quality, affordable higher education that will help them thrive. Unfortunately, too often, hard-working students, including our veterans and servicemembers, are taken advantage of by predatory for- profit colleges. We have seen this issue time and again. Years ago, we witnessed the collapse of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., and ITT Tech. Recently, we saw the collapses of Education Corporation of America, Vatterott College, and Dream Center Education Holdings. Students attended these institutions with the hope of furthering their education and building better lives for themselves and their families. In reality, though, these companies were raking in billions of taxpayer funds that enriched their executives and investors, all while their students were receiving subpar degrees at high costs even though they were often recruited with the promise of a good-paying job after graduation. This has left tens of thousands of student borrowers with huge amounts of debt that they will never be able to repay, credits or degrees of little value, and few job prospects. Unscrupulous actions by for-profit colleges have also widely impacted our country's veterans who bravely fought in defense of our freedoms and then, in turn, were taken advantage of by predatory, corrupt schools. Our current system has done little to stop these bad actors. Students and taxpayers have been exploited in astounding ways and to an outrageous degree. We need to do more to address and to stop these predatory practices. That is why I was pleased and honored to join with Senator Durbin last week to introduce the Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2019, otherwise known as the PROTECT Students Act. This legislation would implement a number of commonsense protections to hold predatory institutions, including for-profit schools, accountable when they engage in unfair, deceptive, and other fraudulent practices. To start, the PROTECT Students Act would safeguard our veterans and servicemembers from predatory practices. It would close a loophole in existing law that allows colleges to count GI benefits as non-Federal dollars toward a required 10 percent of their revenues that must be from a non-Federal source. This has led some predatory for-profit schools to deliberately and aggressively recruit veterans and even provide false information to them regarding their programs, including the expected level of student debt and what kinds of jobs would be available to the students once they graduate. By closing that loophole through the PROTECT Act, we can eliminate the incentive for these schools to prey on veterans and prevent veterans from going into significant debt for a credential or degree of little practical or economic value. Next, this legislation would add a new review process for for-profit institutions that seek to convert to nonprofit or public status-- something they have been doing as a strategy to escape key accountability requirements. Our bill would also take steps to ensure that career education programs actually prepare students for good-paying jobs because if students invest thousands of dollars in their education, they should be able to find a job that will help them pay back their loans. The PROTECT Students Act would also codify the 2014 gainful employment regulation that helps prevent students from enrolling in low-quality programs that charge more than what a student can reasonably pay back after they graduate. This provision requires improvement by schools whose students are found to have too much debt compared to their earnings, and it cuts off Federal financial aid for those schools that don't improve. The measure also has the obvious benefit of preventing Federal taxpayer dollars from being wasted on worthless programs. The PROTECT Students Act would help student borrowers who have been cheated or defrauded by predatory institutions, including for-profit colleges, by improving the process for borrowers to have their loans forgiven if the school they attend engages in fraud. This legislation would increase consumer protections by banning the practice of mandatory arbitration, which has limited students' ability to seek legal action if they have been defrauded. These are just some of the vital steps the PROTECT Students Act would take. This bill would be a strong step forward for both students-- including veterans and servicemembers--and taxpayers. We are at a time when the Department of Education, led by Secretary Betsy DeVos, is doing everything in its power to undermine protections for students on these issues. Secretary DeVos has done a disservice to students by hiring into the Department officials who have close ties with companies that have defrauded students. They then, unsurprisingly, have supported her mission of rolling back student protections in favor of predatory companies. Secretary DeVos has worked to gut key consumer protections and weakened relief for students who were victims of fraud. This is unacceptable. By supporting the PROTECT Students Act, Members of the Senate can send a message to Secretary DeVos that we will not stand for these actions. I want to take a moment to thank my friend and colleague, Senator Durbin, for his consistent leadership on this issue. For years, Senator Durbin has been sounding the alarm about the dangers of for-profit colleges, introducing legislation, and taking to the Senate floor and bringing much needed attention to this matter. It is time that more of our colleagues listen to his calls to stop these predatory institutions from taking advantage of students all across the country. Senator Durbin, thank you again for leading on this issue. I am thrilled that we have been able to work together to introduce the PROTECT Students Act, and I look forward to working with you to pass this legislation as part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Thank you. I yield the floor to my colleague from Illinois.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Thank you, Mr. President. It is good to hear from my colleague from Texas. I am here to talk about two different issues, but I did just want to say that I have had the pleasure and honor of visiting Senator Cornyn's wonderful State. In fact, I was at the border last spring. It is a beautiful State that is full of hard-working and welcoming people. Certainly, our men and women on the frontlines at the border are working incredibly hard and have a lot of excellent ideas about how to secure the border. I do just want to make one point, which is simply that in addressing a humanitarian crisis at the border, we shouldn't create another one by separating families at the border. To be clear, there is nothing in our law that requires families to be separated at the border. We simply should not be harming children as we deal with this issue. I would welcome Senator Cornyn to our Homeland Security Committee, where we have discussed the various options that would keep us from hurting children in our care.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, when Gerald Kotkowski of Hampton, NH, was preparing for retirement, he knew he would have more time on his hands and wanted to find a way to give back to his community. Inspired by his own life experiences, Gerald chose to serve as a volunteer driver to help people undergoing cancer treatment, as well as those who experience visual impairments. Since he started working with both Future in Sight and the American Cancer Society, Gerald has provided more than 400 rides to his fellow Granite Staters in need. For his incredible volunteerism, I am proud to recognize him as March 2019's Granite Stater of the Month. Gerald began driving people undergoing cancer treatment after he heard about the program from a coworker. The cause, he said, touched him because of his own experiences; he and his wife both have had cancer scares, and their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia as a child. While his daughter has thankfully been cancer-free for over two decades, he still remembers the impact that the diagnosis had on his family. Gerald also provides rides to Granite Staters who experience visual impairments through Future in Sight, inspired by a friend with low vision. Many of the people Gerald drives are from rural parts of our State or don't have the support networks they need while undergoing treatment and are profoundly grateful for the simple act. In addition to providing rides, Gerald is also active in supporting adult Granite Staters who experience disabilities. Inspired in part by raising his own daughter who experiences Down syndrome, every Monday, Gerald plays basketball with adults who experience disabilities through Friends in Action NH, an organization dedicated to providing social and recreational activities to those who experience disabilities. Gerald also serves on the board of the organization. For his selfless work to support those who need care in his community and to ensure that those who experience disabilities are fully included, I am proud to recognize Gerald as the March 2019 Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I am proud to recognize Heather McGlauflin of New Boston, NH as the February Granite Stater of the Month for her remarkable work to help prevent substance misuse. Now a high school senior, Heather has worked with a number of organizations since her sophomore year to help prevent substance misuse among her peers and to fight for young people to have a seat at the table in efforts to combat this devastating epidemic. Heather's advocacy on this issue began after a guidance counselor encouraged her to attend a weekend training with CADCA, Community Anti- Drug Coalitions of America. At the end of the weekend, Heather participated on a panel of students proposing solutions to government officials and advocates on how to strengthen the response to this crisis that was broadcast live on New Hampshire's WMUR. The CADCA training inspired Heather's continued activism, and in the years since, she has gotten involved in a variety of initiatives such as training younger students on over-the-counter medication safety, presenting on the importance of youth advocacy to DEA agents from across New England and the country, and participating in a public service announcement training with the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. As a result of her work with the Mark Wahlberg foundation, Heather created several PSA's which were selected for further production and participated in an Emmy-winning PSA with WMUR. Heather also helped found Empower Youth 603--a youth coalition focused on substance misuse in New Hampshire--and she recently presented at CADCA's national conference in Washington, DC, where I met Heather and heard more about her work. Heather says she is driven by the stories of her friends and peers, too many of whom have been impacted by New Hampshire's devastating opioid crisis. She believes that it is critical to stop substance misuse before it happens and that the best messenger for young people is often someone their own age. For her continued efforts in preventing substance misuse, I am proud to recognize Heather McGlauflin as February's Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague from Maine in discussing the Retirement Security Act. I first just want to start by thanking Senator Collins for her work on this bipartisan bill, the other bill she discussed, and for her leadership as chairman of the Aging Committee, to help ensure that older Americans can thrive. That includes, of course, making it easier to save for retirement. By the time they reach retirement, every hard-working American should have the peace of mind of knowing they can live comfortably and without having to worry about how to make ends meet. While Social Security is a critical safety net--one we have to protect for all--it was only designed, as Senator Collins pointed out, as part of the retirement equation. It is clear we are on the verge of a retirement crisis, as more and more Americans are retiring without the economic security they need. According to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, approximately 25 percent of working Americans have reported having no retirement savings or pension. AARP estimates that 55 million Americans--including roughly 230,000 Granite Staters--do not have access to a retirement plan at their workplace, and participation in retirement plans has dropped over the past several years. We know there is a significant gap between what people need in order to maintain their standard of living after retirement and what they actually have. It is essential we do more to help workers close that gap. That is why I am pleased to join with Senator Collins today in introducing the bipartisan Retirement Security Act. This commonsense legislation makes it easier for small businesses to provide retirement plans for their employees, something I hear from small business people all the time, something they want to do, but there are technical and financial challenges to doing it. This bill would encourage people in the workforce as well to save more for retirement, and it would help reduce the costs and complexities of maintaining a retirement plan. We have more work to do to help people in New Hampshire, in Maine, and all across our country plan and save for retirement, and the Retirement Savings Act is a strong step forward. I again thank Senator Collins for her leadership on this issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to pass the bipartisan legislation, as well as other shared priorities for retirees, small businesses, and more. Additionally, as a new member of the Finance Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues to tackle this and other critical issues.