Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 221 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. MORAN

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, December 17; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Atchley nomination, under the previous order.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the message to accompany S. 914.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, this evening I want to take just a moment, in front of my colleagues, to recognize the contributions of a member of my staff: Thomas Wilson. Mr. Wilson has spent the last year working in our personal office as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Congressional Fellowship Program. As Thomas departs my office and returns to the Department of Veterans Affairs, I want to express my appreciation to him for his hard work and the dedication to serve veterans in Kansas and across the Nation. Thomas has served at the VA for more than 18 years. His selfless approach to service has helped countless veterans receive the care and support that they have earned. He has surely been an asset to my team as we work to serve Kansans, servicemembers, and veterans. Before joining our office, Thomas served as the legislative director to Congressman Harold Baker, a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. He served on the Bush transition team after leaving congressional service and then went on to serve in numerous roles at the VA. These included roles as a congressional liaison for the VA and, most recently, in the Veterans Experience Office. He is a graduate of the National Defense University and has used his experience to benefit those who serve our Nation in uniform. Thomas is fortunate to have his loving wife Ashley and son Chase by his side. They undoubtedly contribute to Thomas's altruistic nature, and he is blessed to have their support. Thomas joined my office in January 2019, just as I was assuming the gavel of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. His experience navigating the VA proved immensely helpful to my personal and committee staffs as we set off to advocate for veterans from all walks of life. He was especially helpful in advocating for women veterans. Thomas led the effort to study the employment rates of post-9/11 female veterans, a cohort of veterans that experiences higher unemployment rates, more than any other demographic. His efforts will lead to policies to support female veterans and to make certain that they have the tools necessary to succeed after their service to our Nation. It is sad to see Thomas leave the office, but I know that his return to the Veterans Experience Office next month will produce lasting results for the many veterans who regularly interact with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thomas is an impressive public servant, and it has been a privilege to work with him. I hold him in the highest regard. He is a significant asset to our veterans and represents some of the best that our Federal Government has to offer. Once again, thank you, Thomas, for all you have done for Kansans and for American veterans this year in association with us and our work. You have been a model of selfless service and leadership, and I know you will continue to do great things throughout your career and your life of service, wherever that path may lead.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, for those of us who have the privilege of working in the U.S. Senate, it allows us the opportunity to meet wonderful people who care about their country, who go to work every day and make sure that the country is safe and secure. One of those individuals, whom I met over the last year--met a year ago and now has worked in my office--is Army LTC Kevin Ryan. He is a member of my staff as an Army fellow participating in the U.S. Army Congressional Fellowship Program. I want to take a moment to recognize LTC Kevin Ryan's contribution, certainly, to my office, to my capabilities of representing Kansas in the U.S. Senate, but his commitment to the country as well. Before he departs my office to return to the big Army at the start of the new year, I want to express my appreciation to Colonel Ryan for all of his hard work and his dedication and his service to our country. Kevin's 14 years of service in the U.S. Army have developed his leadership abilities and shaped his perspective on major defense issues of national significance. These assets and attributes have made him an invaluable asset for our team as we work to serve Kansans, members of the military, and our veterans. Before joining our office, Kevin's assignments have taken him around the world in service to our country. Kevin earned his commission from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont. He has served four combat tours, two in Afghanistan and two in Iraq, and he has also been deployed to Korea, Germany, and Italy. His most recent deployment took him to Iraq in 2017, where he served as a senior intelligence officer for the brigade that assisted Iraqi security forces in the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State. Kevin is lucky to have his wife Lindsey, his daughter Colleen, and son John by his side. He is blessed to have their unwavering support. Kevin joined our team in January of 2019. From day one, he embraced Kansas, its people, and the challenges they face day in and day out. He is well known for displaying his love of Kansas outwardly, often wearing a Kansas necktie in meetings and on Zoom calls. He has made it a priority to spend time in our State and learn from Kansans so he can bring their thoughts and ideas back to the Nation's Capital. These personal conversations with Kansans and Kevin's experience in the Army helped drive meaningful policy. He has led the efforts to recognize the important work of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-African-American, all- female battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II. The Six Triple Eight, as this battalion has come to be known, sorted millions of pieces of backlogged mail so the troops serving on the frontlines could hear from families and loved ones. Their efforts boosted morale and directly contributed to our servicemembers' fighting spirit toward the end of the war. Kevin has been a tireless advocate for these women, and I commend his dedication to this cause. Though I am sad he will be leaving our office at the end of the month, I know he will serve the Army well next year in the Army's programs office, where he will be a highly effective ambassador to Congress for the Army. Kevin is one of the most impressive military officers I have had the honor of knowing. I hold him in the highest regard, personally and professionally. He is a significant asset to our country and to the U.S. Army. Kevin represents the best the Army has to offer, and I know he will continue to benefit the future of our Nation. There is no group of people I hold in higher regard than those who serve our Nation, and I want to reiterate my gratitude to Kevin and to his family for their dedication and service to our Nation. Once again, Kevin, thank you for all you have done for Kansans, all you have done for our team as we serve those Kansans. You have been a model of selfless service and leadership. I know you will continue to do great things throughout your Army career and your life of service, wherever that path may lead. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, thank you. Senator Roberts, thank you for your comments. I am nervous today, and more nervous now that I have heard you speak, because I am concerned that this may be for the first time in our lives that I have ever spoken longer than you. That makes me nervous. ``I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.'' These are words spoken by Pat Roberts more than once, but on September 15, 1958, age 22, Pat Roberts joined the Marine Corps, and he has lived by his oath, by his promise to do exactly that every day thereafter and in every job he pursued here in the Congress of the United States, in the House and the Senate. He indicated he served as the chief of staff for Senator Frank Carlson, one of those Kansans who served the U.S. Senate and is so highly regarded even today. He served as the chief of staff for Congressman Keith Sebelius. I met Pat Roberts 50 years ago, in 1969. A few years later, in 1974, I became an intern in the office of Congressman Sebelius. Pat has been my boss for 45 years. When I describe Pat, I tell people our most common conversation is never spoken. It is symbols. Pat does this: Come here; sit down. Every time I tell Pat this, he, in his Jack Benny voice, will say: ``Now cut that out.'' But for 45 years: Come here; sit down. And Pat, while you discount that and I highlight it, it has been some of the most enjoyable time in my life, where I have had the opportunity to be your friend and to listen to what you had to say. I suppose if I thought long and hard, I might find something that wasn't good advice, but I can't remember it. So everything in those circumstances was something that I continue to value today. I learned something in every conversation. Knowing Pat for 50 years, I told him that he just keeps me around and he puts up with me because I have at least heard of the people he knows. He does know people. Pat and I both grew up in times of politics in which your relationship with voters, your relationship with constituents, your relationship with Kansans was paramount. Pat knew the school superintendent in every community. Pat knew the executive of the chamber of commerce and the newspaper editor. He knew the president of the county Farm Bureau. I don't know how many times I heard Pat say: I am going home to talk to the coffee klatch in Dodge City or I am going to sit on the wagon tongue and I am going to hear from Kansans what they have to tell us. Politics, as you heard from Senator Roberts, is in his blood and in his family--Wes Roberts, the chairman of the Republican National Committee; Frankie Roberts, the staff person for Strom Thurmond. It is in his blood and in his family. It is not just politics, but public service. In 1980, Pat Roberts decided to be an office holder, not an office staffer. The first letter I ever wrote to an editor of a Kansas paper was to my hometown, where his primary opponent lived. I supported Pat Roberts in a letter to the editor when his opponent was somebody who was highly regarded and a friend of mine. But Pat Roberts' friendship and his commitment--who he is as a human being and his sworn oath--told me that Pat Roberts was the person I wanted to be my Congressman. The constituent in me said: This is the guy I want serving me and my fellow Kansans. He won that election in January of 1981 and became a House Member representing the First Congressional District of Kansas, known in our State as ``The Big First.'' The geography of that district today--and almost true when Pat was the Congressman--is the size of the State of Illinois. The largest city is Salina, which then had a population of about 35,000. It is a rural place, and it fit the Pat Roberts' mode of representation, which was, I know them and they know me. He was elected with a significant majority of voters. He won seven times to be reelected to the House of Representatives. He never received less than 60 percent of the vote, and in his last election to the House of Representatives, he received nearly 78 percent of Kansans' approval. Sitting on those wagon tongues and listening in on those coffee klatches had its consequence. It is the kind of politics that Pat described that I hope we return to, in which it is all about taking care of Kansans, taking care of Americans, setting aside our differences and finding common ground, just as Kansans--particularly, rural Kansans--have to do in their community. On January 3, 1997, Pat was sworn in as a Member of this body. I asked Robin, my wife, what it is I might say today. She said she remembers in about early 1996--maybe late 1995--she answered the phone, and it was Pat Roberts. What he said was, Tell Jerry to put his running shoes on. Pat Roberts gave me the advantage of knowing his plans well in advance of the public or potential opponents, and set the stage in my life as somebody whom you would look at and think there is no chance of ever being a U.S. Senator, but Pat Roberts found value in me and gave me the opportunity to serve where I serve today. I never thought I would catch up with Pat in the House of Representatives. I never thought I would catch up with Pat Roberts in the U.S. Senate, but because he and his friends took an interest in me and because this is America, that became possible. Pat is only the 34th Kansan to serve a term in the U.S. Senate. I like that number. Pat will recognize that 34 is special to Kansans. We are the 34th State admitted to the Union, and he is the 34th Senator to serve a term from Kansas in this body. Pat Roberts told me to put my running shoes on, gave me a chance, and we have had those running shoes on for a long time thereafter. Pat is that fourth generation Kansan who knows us. I would say one of his greatest contributions to our State, to the Midwest, and to the country has been his distinguished career in leadership in agriculture. The farm bills that he mentioned, the work with Democrats and Republicans coming together, fighting for competitive and fair markets for our producers, the support for crop insurance--there is no question that Kansas and American farmers, ranchers, and producers had a strong voice in Congress as a result of Pat Roberts being here. He is distinguished by being the first Member of Congress to chair both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. In the next Congress, we will begin the process of writing another farm bill, and it will be the first farm bill since the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 that will be written without Pat Roberts' direct influence. However, Senator Roberts' legacy and impact on farm policy will be felt for generations to come as a result of his work in the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, the 2000 Agriculture Risk Protection Act that modernized crop insurance, and many, many other pieces of consequential legislation. In his early years in the Senate, as Senator Roberts indicated, he led the Intelligence Committee. This was during the 9/11 attacks. Under his leadership, the committee conducted a sweeping and exhausting review of U.S. intelligence, which led to critical reforms to put us in a better position to know more and protect Americans better. That work in intelligence reform earned him a spot in a very distinguished guest speaker program, the prestigious Landon Lecture Series of Kansas State University. Combining his experience in agriculture, intelligence, and in defense, Senator Roberts has laid the groundwork for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility at his alma mater in Manhattan, KS. It brings great opportunity to our State, and we are so pleased to have Pat's accomplishments benefit the country and our State for generations to come. Pat Roberts deserves great credit for the Eisenhower Memorial. I have been around this issue for a long time. It has been challenging from the get-go. Nothing was easy, and controversy apparently follows every new memorial on the National Mall. I have no doubt that in the absence of Pat's leadership, his bringing people together and perhaps, yes, his sense of humor, Kansans' President Eisenhower would never be seen honored and respected at the memorial we now have. He, Senator Roberts, advocates for policies he believes in. He compromises when necessary, and he always has a way of bringing everyone together, often with a joke ready to ease the tensions when things get stressful. I always used to tell him: I saw that, once again, you became the funniest Member of Congress. You got an award. He always would correct me: No, I am not the funniest Member; I am the most humorous Member. Many times he has been designated the most humorous Member of Congress. Some of the most important work he has done for Kansans won't be memorialized in laws passed or signed into law here in Washington, DC, but in the meaningful change he made back home among the people whom he and I care for and love. How about the rural hospitals he fought for to keep their doors open or the family farms that are still operating because of decisions and efforts he made? He has consistently, continuously fought to get farmers and ranchers, to get rural communities, to get the people of Kansas the right resources at the right time. I have had the challenge of following in politics in my life, in both the House and the Senate, those humorous people--Pat Roberts being one. The greatest challenge, probably for both of us, is Bob Dole. How can you ever follow Bob Dole in any way and how can you compete with his sense of humor and, particularly, his wit? So I asked Senator Dole what it is I might say on this floor to honor Pat Roberts. As usual, he took my responsibilities away from me and said: Here, just read this. So these are the words of Bob Dole: One of my first memories of Pat was when he worked for the late great Sen. Pat Carlson. Of course that was well over 50 years ago, when Pat was just a young child and I was . . . well . . . maybe just a teenager. Pat has the best sense of humor of anyone in Congress--I'm not sure how he acquired it, but I know it serves him well today. Pat--I honestly don't know what it is like to be retired, but people tell me it's great. Be forewarned, though, the rest of the world doesn't operate exactly like the Senate . . . If anything goes wrong or breaks at home, your trusted Chief of Staff isn't on speed dial to put out the fires. Plus, there's nobody to dial your calls for you anyway. Put your alarm clock up for sale on eBay--(1) somebody out there might want to buy a beat-up clock once owned by a famous Senator and (2) you won't need to wake up early ever again in your life . . . unless you just want to go sit in the D.C. traffic for old time's sake. You'll have to brew your own coffee . . . so buy one of those space-age looking contraptions or make friends with your local barista. You'll have to share elevators with the rest of the world now, so just stop looking for that ``Senators Only'' sign. Your grandkids are now your information technology department, so reward them accordingly if you want your computer to be up and running. Or just ask Alexa. But in all seriousness, Pat, you've earned some time off for a job well done in Congress over these past 40 years. Kansas has certainly benefited from your steadfast leadership. You care about the Sunflower State, and you care about our nation--and that's always been what matters most. Your strength of character, plain-spoken optimism, and determination to make a positive difference in people's lives--that's what people will remember about your legacy of public service here. You're a great American and a dear friend, and Elizabeth and I wish you nothing but the best for you and Franki from here on out. One important point of clarification, though--the filibuster simply doesn't work at home. God Bless America,

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, I stood in this same position and gave remarks to my colleagues about the importance of, even though we can't do everything, that we do something. It seems to be too often that the way the Senate has operated is that unless we can do everything everyone wants, we do nothing. I encouraged us to try to figure out what it is we can agree on and address that legislatively and save the issues we don't agree on for later. The challenge that I presented was the circumstance of the consequences of COVID-19, the difficulties that Americans--Kansans--are facing, and the importance of our completing our work in regard to an additional response to try to help the economy and to make sure people are healthy and know that they are healthy. We seem to be making progress in regard to that desire to address the needs of Americans. While my complaint or concern 2 weeks ago was ``we don't have to do everything, we can do something,'' it appears that we are going to do something, which is really important. Now, I would raise the issue of timing. It is very discouraging to me to return to Washington, DC, to learn that the continuing resolution, which expires on Friday, is to be extended until next Friday at a time in which Americans have little ability to wait, at least, to know what they are going to be able to expect. Small businesses, individuals, employees, employers all need the certainty, and every day that we are unable to accomplish what we can agree on is another day in which those Americans, those workers, those businessowners don't know what they face. Christmas ought to be a time, the holiday season ought to be a time for expectations and joy and comfort, and yet what we are doing here by this continued delay is creating uncertainty which creates great challenges. The mental health and well-being of Kansans and Americans is at stake here. Again, my guess is that whatever we could agree on next week, we could agree on this week, so I would encourage my colleagues and me to redouble our efforts, not only to do what we can do, but to do it in a timely enough fashion that people get the benefit. I think of those who work in hospitals in Kansas, those who care for people who are suffering from the symptoms of COVID. We need to make certain that we provide them the necessary personal protection equipment; that we need to have the necessary testing; that every hospital, every clinic, every doctor has the resources necessary to care for those who are ill today. That is something that can't wait. When it comes to the economy, too many businesses, retail establishments, motels, restaurants, venues, theaters, the uncertainty that we are creating that every day goes by in which they don't know whether Congress is going to respond to their needs is a day in which we may lose another business, we may lose another person's employment. The request is that we move more quickly than what we have done to date now, that we seem to be zeroing in on a compromise agreement, a bipartisan agreement. That is a piece of good news, but every day that we delay the outcome, the vote, the support the American people and Kansans need is a day in which more harm is done. It is a time in which uncertainty exists. While we continue to have our debates and discussions, that uncertainty is creating not only economic problems but potentially loss of life as well. This place is slow to respond, and I would encourage us to be quicker in our response than what we have been to date. People are struggling, and they need our help. I also would say that too many Kansans have died--people that I have known--have died from COVID. This is a very damaging disease. I would encourage Kansans and Americans to do the personally responsible things and protect themselves, to wear the masks, to socially distance. We cannot afford another shutdown. Every day that goes by in which we are not providing the opportunities for businesses to stay open and employees to be employed, particularly in rural America--the places, Mr. President, that you and I come from--if we lose a business to COVID, that business is unlikely to return. If we don't provide the necessary support for hospitals and healthcare delivery systems--there isn't a hospital in Kansas, if it closes its doors today because of COVID, is going to open tomorrow when COVID is behind us. The deaths that I mentioned, in many instances, have been the community leaders, the people who have made a difference in communities across Kansas. Every life has value, and every life has meaning. We want this death to end For purposes of our economy and purposes of life and death, it is time for the U.S. Senate to act--not another week delay, not another 2 weeks of unknowing--but let's reach our conclusion, let's come together and find solutions and provide hope to my constituents in Kansas, yours in Arkansas, and the people of America. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, Mike Heldstab joined my staff in June of 2014. Serving as my State military liaison, he assisted well over a thousand Kansas veterans and Active servicemembers during his 6\1/2\ years on my staff. Mike would often travel the State in my stead, between communities in south central Kansas and our military installations--namely, Fort Riley and his hometown of Junction City. Mike is a tireless advocate for servicemembers and veterans. He is well known in the Kansas military and veterans communities as a trusted resource who produces results. Most notably, Mike advocated for a policy change in the VA's Specially Adapted Housing Program after working with the family of a disabled Army veteran to adapt their home. His efforts resulted in new legislation that was signed into law on August 8, 2020, that expanded this critical grant program so disabled veterans can adapt their homes to fit their disability. I am confident that Mike's selfless approach to service will continue in every aspect of his life. In addition to his work assisting veterans and military servicemembers, Mike was involved in Wichita-area volunteer organizations and strived to be a community leader. Mike has a passion for economic development that I am certain will serve him well in his next chapters in life. I commend his efforts to make Kansas and Wichita a better place. Mike's highlights from his years on staff include being able to travel and meet with Senator Bob Dole between 2014 and 2015 when Kansas's Favorite Son was touring all 105 counties. He also cherished his opportunities to interact with our military, which provided him the chance to fly in Air Force tankers out of McConnell Air Force Base and playing wheelchair basketball with wounded warriors. While Mike is leaving our staff, I know I will see him many more times in the years ahead as a friend and trusted adviser. Thank you, Mike, for your many years of service to the citizens of Kansas, and I wish you all the best as you start this new chapter of your career.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today I want to take a few minutes to recognize MAJ Mark Bedrin for his exemplary dedication to duty and service as an Army congressional fellow and congressional budget liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management and Comptroller. Major Bedrin is transitioning from his present assignment to continue his service to our country as an Army officer. The cornerstone of Mark's success as an officer is his family. He is a dedicated husband to his wife Katie and a devoted father to his children: daughter Elizabeth and son Patrick. They provide the foundation for Mark's service, and they are his off-time partners in travel, canoeing, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors. A native of Kirkwood, NY, Major Bedrin graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2009, with a bachelor of arts in history, and commissioned into the Infantry branch, where he served as a platoon leader and company commander. Other notable previous assignments include platoon leader, Attack Company, 1-32 IN, 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY, and Afghanistan; assistant operations officer, rifle troop commander, and headquarters and headquarters troop commander, 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe, in Germany, Afghanistan, and Egypt. His operational deployments include two combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and one peacekeeping tour supporting the Multinational Force and Observers, MFO, in Egypt. Following a successful command tour, Mark applied to and was selected for the highly competitive U.S. Army Congressional Fellowship Program. This program enables outstanding military officers and DOD civilians to bring their talents to the hill and to work in a Member's office as a congressional defense fellow to learn firsthand how Congress operates. It also provides an opportunity for the fellow to earn a master's degree in legislative affairs at George Washington University, GWU. Mark joined my office as an Army congressional fellow in January 2017, and we had the great benefit of his service on Team Moran for a year before he departed for the Pentagon in January 2018 for a utilization tour as a congressional budget liaison with the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management and Comptroller. Mark has worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and congressional staff to accurately articulate and to timely provide the Army's budget positions to the Appropriations Committees and to answer questions related to Army programs and priorities for Members of Congress and congressional staff. His dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the Army are unmatched, and his work both as a fellow and as a liaison successfully represented the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense to the U.S. Congress. Throughout his career, Major Bedrin has positively impacted soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited tremendously from his extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion. I join my colleagues today in honoring his dedication to our nation and invaluable service to the U.S. Congress. It has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with Major Mark Bedrin over the last 3 years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Mark for his service to our country, and we wish Mark and his family all the very best in their future endeavors.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I rise this evening in support of the nomination of Toby Crouse to serve as a U.S. district judge for the District of Kansas. I am joined on the floor this evening by the senior Senator from Kansas, Senator Roberts, and we take our responsibility seriously in vetting judicial nominees, particularly true when the seat that is under consideration--when the seat that is vacant--is from our home State of Kansas. We need good, solid judges who interpret the Constitution in ways that enforce the law and provide justice and equity. I can tell my colleagues that Toby Crouse is highly qualified, both professionally and personally, to fill this seat. Toby has had a distinguished career since earning a law degree from the University of Kansas. He completed two Federal clerkships, including one that was with the Tenth Circuit. He then became a partner at Kansas's largest law firm, Foulston Siefkin, before he was appointed as the State's solicitor general in 2013, a position he currently holds while maintaining a solo law practice. Throughout his career, Toby has come to possess extensive trial and appellate experience in both State and Federal courts. As the solicitor general, he has argued before the Supreme Court three times. I have had the opportunity to have numerous conversations with Toby, with his law professors, with his colleagues, and members of the bar in Kansas, and he comes highly recommended. The bar in Kansas, as well as the bench, is anxious for this position to be filled so that justice will not be delayed. And the American Bar Association rates Toby as ``well qualified.'' I want to thank Chairman Graham and the Judiciary Committee for approving this nomination and Leader McConnell for bringing this nomination to the floor for our consideration this evening. I am confident that Mr. Crouse will serve on the Federal bench with distinction, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for his final confirmation. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I am on the floor this afternoon to encourage us in the U.S. Senate to address at least some of the needs related to the consequences of COVID-19. There is a deadline that is fast approaching. This problem was created in the statute by legislation that was passed, the CARES Act. I have introduced legislation called the RISER Act to offer a solution to the issue I am about to describe. As COVID-19 has swept across the country, businesses and community institutions have been forced to adapt to the virus, fundamentally changing the way in which they operate. More people are working from home today than ever before, while others are being asked to dedicate increased resources for public health precautions and support management. Virtual education and healthcare have also expanded greatly as communities are forced to conduct ordinary functions from afar to prevent the spread of the disease. Adapting to the realities of this newly virtual economy is costly. To aid in this transition, as part of the CARES Act, Congress established the Coronavirus Relief Fund, or CRF. It is a multibillion-dollar fund for State and local governments to disburse, covering a variety of expenses that have arisen due to COVID-19. Expenses that can be paid from the CRF funds include providing small businesses and other organizations with grants to reimburse them for costs associated with handling coronavirus. This funding was partly intended to address immediate, unforeseen costs absorbed by our public emergency officials and healthcare providers. Kansas counties' health departments have increasingly relied on this funding to ensure they are able to meet the needs of their community now and into the future as this pandemic stretches on. Many States, including my own of Kansas, have also established forward-looking programs to distribute grants for economic development projects that respond to COVID-19, such as telemedicine, tele-education projects, and projects that would improve broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved areas. These communities already face a sharp divide in terms of broadband availability, and this pandemic has highlighted that. Unfortunately, for all the work we have accomplished in spreading the use of broadband, the availability of broadband, increasing its connectivity, there are still plenty of areas that need to be improved for access to quality internet services. As more broadband-intensive work like video conferencing and virtual appointments now takes place at a much higher rate, the urgency to improve these services increases. Rural communities stand to lose the most without these types of projects. Many of the projects require long lead times to wisely plan, appropriate, and expend Federal funding. However--and here is the problem--the CARES Act mandates that CRF funds be spent by the end of this year, now just a little more than a month away. This is absolutely not enough time for preparation-intensive projects to be carefully planned and executed. The current deadline puts several long-term economic development plans at risk of losing funding if they are not completed by December 31, and it also prevents new, meaningful proposals from being considered in the first place. Many Kansans--from our county health departments to our universities, to our schools, to our cities and counties, to mayors and county commissioners whom I have visited with--have urged us to extend this looming deadline. We need to have a longer period of time so that the Federal dollars are not spent--I always try to avoid using the phrase ``Federal dollars.'' They are really taxpayer dollars or borrowed money that has to be paid back by taxpayers. It is a silly proposition that we would require the money to be spent when what it will mean is we will spend money less effectively and less efficiently than we otherwise would in the absence of this near-term deadline. That is why Senator Roberts and I have introduced the Remove Impediments for a Successful Economic Recovery Act, or RISER. This bill would extend that deadline for State and local governments by 2 years for a set of currently eligible expenditures that meet criteria for qualified economic development plans. This bill would allow funds for critical projects that require additional attention and time for a more thoughtful investment to be spent more effectively without cutting short a strategic investment that Congress made back in March to support our communities that need it the most. I believe that State and local governments know what is best for their communities, including where and when to spend these Federal dollars. Extending the relief for CRF payments dedicated to, particularly, job creation projects will allow Kansas and other States to strategically target areas of need over a longer period of time, making more certain that our taxpayer dollars are making the greatest impact to help our people recover from this pandemic. This will better ensure that the areas in need identified by States and localities have a stable source of investment that will aid in the ongoing economic recovery. That said, I remain engaged with the Treasury and Senate Finance Committee to improve the RISER Act to ensure the availability of bipartisan support. This is a bill I want to pass, not a bill I just want to introduce. While this thoughtful discussion with Treasury and the Finance Committee continues, I recognize that Congress must urgently act to extend the deadline in the meantime. While I have a particular bill that does things that I think are hugely important in this arena, I also recognize that we don't have the time to wait. Often throughout these few days that I have been home, away from Washington, DC, I have been asked: How is your legislation coming? The answer is: There is broad bipartisan support. Most Senators--most Republican Senators and most Democratic Senators--are supportive of this measure, but the issue is: Will we be able to extend the deadline in time for our local units of government to know that they have an additional amount of time, or, in the absence of that, will we allow them or require them to spend money in ways less effective or efficient than they otherwise would? I know that there are other pieces of legislation introduced by a few of my colleagues that would offer what we would call a clean extension of the CRF deadline, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support the immediate enactment of these legislative proposals to provide flexibility in fostering meaningful investments in our home States. Around here, too often, it seems that if we can't do everything to solve a problem, we do nothing to solve a problem. I have never understood that attitude or approach. The things that we can agree on-- and this is one, I think, on which we can, this extension of the deadline--we ought not wait for a larger package that continues to be negotiated between the White House and Speaker Pelosi or between Republican and Democratic leadership in the Senate or the Republican leadership with the Democratic leadership in the House. Whatever the negotiations ongoing today to get us to a point in which we are addressing what we generally call phase 4, another effort to improve the opportunities for us to provide relief to our constituents due to the pandemic--whatever all those machinations are--they will not happen quickly enough, and they certainly will not happen quickly enough to make certain that our local officials and their citizens know that they no longer would need to spend the money that we have provided them in the next 5 or 6 weeks. By including the coronavirus relief fund in the CARES Act, Congress extended a hand to States, local governments, and areas in need across the country that are looking to adapt to the new realities of the ongoing pandemic. In the absence of an extension of the deadline, money will be misspent and will certainly not be spent in the most effective and valuable way. I urge my colleagues not only to support the legislation that I have introduced, the RISER Act, but to work with others--all of us--to come to a point in which we are capable this week--if it doesn't get done this week, it probably means very little in an extension--to this week pass an extension beyond December 31 for the use of those CARES dollars in States across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to join my legislation. I urge my colleagues to join to ensure that the hand we offered under the CARES Act won't be withdrawn way too soon. I am thankful for the opportunity to address my colleagues in the Senate. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Yes.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I am pleased to share with my colleagues in the Senate that we have reached an agreement with the House to pass S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act, and we expect the bill to pass the House of Representatives tomorrow. This is a bill that passed--our most significant piece of legislation--from the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs dealing with mental health and suicide prevention. The bill came out of the committee unanimously and was approved by the Senate unanimously, and we have been negotiating with Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for its passage by the House and with consideration by the Senate of other bills that the House has and will send us. I want to thank my colleague Senator Tester, the ranking member of our committee, Chairman Takano, and Dr. Roe, the ranking member of the House committee, for working expeditiously with me to reach an agreement to pass this comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention bill for America's veterans. One veteran lost due to suicide is one too many, and it is a national tragedy that we continue to lose 20 veterans each day to suicide. I am glad that Congress has come together to do our part to ensure this bill which will save lives. It needs to be passed without delay and signed into law. This bill will establish a grant program and require the VA to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This provision was specifically championed by my colleague Senator Boozman of Arkansas. In addition, this legislation directs the VA to embark on groundbreaking research in the form of a precision medicine initiative that will improve how mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated, expand VA telehealth capabilities to better serve rural and Tribal veterans, bolster and expedite Federal research capabilities, increase accountability over the Department's mental health and suicide prevention programs, and make necessary improvements to the VA mental health workforce. While this legislation puts in place the critical care, services, and support that will save veterans' lives, it is my hope that the bill will also serve as a signal to our veterans, servicemembers, and their families that they are never, never alone. I want to extend my gratitude to the President for his support of this bill, and I ask him to sign this legislation as soon as it arrives on his desk.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, we must take our duty to America's veterans seriously, which is why the circumstances we find ourselves in today are extremely unfortunate. The extensions for important VA programs for the upcoming fiscal year--just 8 days away--are currently being held up from being considered and passed in the Senate. This extension bill was negotiated in earnest and the four corners of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees agreed upon this legislation. This was a collaborative effort, not a partisan one, but, nonetheless, this bill has not yet been cleared by the Senate minority. Let me be clear: Countless veterans rely on these programs. Let me be clear: They expire at the end of the month. From raising veterans out of homelessness to making certain that COVID-19 doesn't disrupt a veteran's pursuit of higher education, to helping rural veterans get their medical appointments, the fiscal year 2021 VA extenders bill contains a wide variety of extensions for programs that support a multitude of veteran populations. Additionally, we have requested consent for several House-passed bills that will improve mental health care for veterans and increase annual veteran benefit rates to keep up with inflation. These are commonsense ideas that have broad support and will make meaningful differences in the lives of our veterans. These are items that would normally pass the Senate without difficulty. Our veterans should not wait and should not need to wait. They can't afford to wait for the Senate to act on these matters. The deadline is quickly approaching. Our Nation's veterans did not serve their country for partisan reasons, and we must not let any partisan differences prevent us from authorizing the programs to support those veterans. I ask my Senate colleagues to fulfill our collective duty regarding veterans programs and that we do not allow other issues to distract from that duty. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, for debate only, for 30 minutes, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, earlier today at the White House, President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to sign the Abraham Accords. These historic agreements began the process of normalizing relationships between the two Gulf countries and the Jewish state. After seven decades of isolation in the region, the Abraham Accords signify Israel's existence is finally being accepted by Arab countries, opening new prospects for greater economic, security, and cultural cooperation that will benefit all--those in the region and all of us around the world. I commend President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and many others in this administration for facilitating this historic agreement and advancing the cause of peace and prosperity in the region. This came to many of us as a surprise, but it is a welcome surprise. I am very pleased at this development. Over the past several years, the President and Secretary have cultivated relationships in Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, and Manama. And for longer than that, Israel and Arab countries have cooperated on important matters but behind closed doors. Capitalizing on a changing Middle East, President Trump and his administration helped shepherd these relationships into the open. Today's signing is just a beginning for the three countries and the region as a whole. More work, obviously, is to be done, and no agreement can be easily accomplished. But my hope is that more Arab countries will follow the path of publicly recognizing Israel. Eighteen Arab states have yet to make this move, preventing relationships that can benefit the entire region. Israel's right to exist is unquestionable, and to refuse to recognize this is to deny reality. I, along with so many other Members of this Chamber, have worked to ensure Israel's security and prosperity. With more days like today, we can hope for a region that is secure and prosperous as well for all. I use this opportunity to commend this accomplishment, and I hope that we are able to bring more peace and stability to this region and to the rest of the world. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 16; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Robinson nomination under the previous order.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I now ask for a second reading, but in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 92, which was received from the House.