Jack Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, today I pay tribute to a very special Rhode Islander, COL Ray Renola, USA (Ret.), who holds a unique distinction among all Americans. Mr. Renola, at 104 years old, is the oldest living graduate of my alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A member of the class of 1940, Mr. Renola stands at the head of the Long Grey Line of West Pointers who have served the Nation since 1802. As described in a recent column by Mark Patinkin in the Providence Journal, Ray was the son of Italian immigrants and one of eight children raised on the West End of Providence. He was a graduate of Classical High School in Providence and then entered Brown University, but in 1936, he made the decision to serve his country and restart and complete his college education at West Point. Like many of our World War II veterans, Ray did not talk much about his service on the western front as a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 375th Field Artillery Battalion. In short, he deployed his battalion and led them against fierce enemy resistance, unpredictable weather, harsh terrain, and austere conditions. And he led them as they made great contributions to Allied forces during the push toward Berlin in 1944-1945. After the war, Ray continued his service to our country with postings from Belgium to the Pentagon, before retiring from the military after 20 years of service. He had a similarly successful career in the private sector, working for Bulova and GTE. He found the love of his life with Lucille, to whom he was married for 30 years, until her passing in 2010. They shared an active life of sport and travel. He remains the loved and revered patriarch of the larger, extended Renola family. Ray embodies what it means to live an extraordinary life: love for his country; love for his family; a life of duty, honor, and country.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, along with Senators Brown, Leahy and many or my colleagues, I am reintroducing legislation that would create a $75 biilion Homeowner Assistance Fund that builds on the success of the Hardest Hit Fund at the Treasury Department that I championed in 2010. The Hardest Hit Fund provided funds to 18 state-level Housing Finance Agencies, directing targeted foreclosure prevention assistance to households and neighborhoods in states like Rhode Island hit hard by the economic and housing market downturn. The Homeowner Assistance Fund expands this model to provide a flexible source of Federal aid to all State-level Housing Finance Agencies. This Federal funding could then be used to help struggling households remain in their homes while they search for new employment or wait to get back to work. Financial assistance could go towards preventing eviction, mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosures, or loss of utility services, such as water, gas, electricity, and the Internet as well as paying property taxes. One of the key lessons COVID-19 has taught us is that for many families, their homes may be the single most effective and accessible form of personal protective equipment. The last thing we should be doing is making housing less stable at the worst possible time. According to a January 2021 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, ``policies that limit evictions are found to reduce COVID-19 infections by 3.8% and reduce deaths by 11%. Moratoria on utility disconnections reduce COVID-19 infections by 4.4% and mortality rates by 7.4%. Had such policies been in place across all counties (i.e., adopted as Federal policy) from early March 2020 through the end of November 2020, our estimated counterfactuals show that policies that limit evictions could have reduced COVID-19 infections by 14.2% and deaths by 40.7%. For moratoria on utility disconnections, COVID-19 infections rates could have been reduced by 8.7% and deaths by 14.8%.'' In short, keeping families housed saves lives, which is precisely the goal of our Homeowner Assistance Fund legislation. I thank the Independent Community Bankers of America; Credit Union National Association; National Association of Realtors; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National Council of State Housing Agencies; Habitat for Humanity International; National Housing Conference; National Community Reinvestment Coalition; National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders; National Leased Housing Association; Americans for Financial Reform; National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients; Center for Responsible Lending; American Public Gas Association; National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, Council of State Community Development Agencies, Rhode Island Housing; and the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. I urge all of my colleagues to join in pressing for inclusion of the Homeowner Assistance Fund in our continued response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Layoff Prevention Act. This bill would extend the financing and grant provisions for work sharing that I authored and worked to include in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, and, most recently, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The concept of work sharing is simple. It helps people who are currently employed--but in danger of being laid off--to keep their jobs. By giving struggling companies the flexibility to reduce hours instead of their workforce, work sharing programs prevent layoffs and help employers save money on rehiring costs. Employees who participate in work sharing keep their jobs and receive a portion of Unemployment Insurance benefits to make up for lost wages. This prevents layoffs, saves employers rehiring costs, and costs states only a fraction of what it would if workers went on unemployment full-time. Financing for work sharing programs was included in the CARES Act and extended through March 14, 2021 in the most recent COVID-19 relief legislation enacted in December. The legislation I am introducing today would build upon what is currently in law, by enacting a five-year extension of financing for permanent work sharing programs, and a two- year extension for temporary programs. This revised Layoff Prevention Act will also double funding to support states that are implementing work sharing programs, from $100 million, as provided in the CARES Act, to $200 million. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this bill-- which will continue to spur our recovery from the pandemic--by keeping American workers on the job, saving taxpayers money, and providing employers with a practical and cost-effective alternative to layoffs.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, in order to build on a key provision I authored in the CARES Act, which provided states with $150 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds, I am reintroducing the State and Local Emergency Stabilization Fund Act to help state and local governments shoulder the costs of the coronavirus and its devastating impact on lives, livelihoods, and the economy. The State and Local Emergency Stabilization Fund Act has three critical components: authorizing new funding, assuring flexibility in spending the funds, and extending the time period for which the funding can be spent. Specifically, the bill would provide State and local governments an additional $600 billion in funding, includes a protective $5 billion small state minimum, treats the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as States, and reserves funds for territories and Tribes. In addition, $59 billion would be allocated to States based on their relative coronavirus infection rates, and $205 billion would be reserved exclusively for local governments. The bill makes it crystal clear that Coronavirus Relief Funds are flexible and may be used to maintain state and local services. And it gives State and local governments until June 30, 2022 to spend the money in order to ensure funding can be equitably allocated and disbursed to help communities combat COVID-19 and recover. According to a November 29, 2020 Wall Street Journal article, ``State and local government spending on public services fell at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.7% in the third quarter from the second, according to the Commerce Department. That followed a 6% decline in the second quarter, the sharpest since 1952. By October, the sector had roughly 1.2 million fewer jobs than a year earlier. It could take four to eight years for the national economy to recover from the pandemic, estimates Dan White, director of fiscal-policy research at Moody's Analytics. State and local governments could take up to 10 or 15 years, he said.'' Mr. President, we should all let that sink in. ``State and local government could take up to 10 or 15 years'' to recover from the pandemic. The scale and pace of this public health emergency and its impact on our economy requires each of us to swiftly set aside ideology and work urgently to address these generational challenges head on with additional fiscal relief. We all have a common interest in ensuring that state and local governments can continue to provide health care, education, public safety, and other vital services, just when they are needed most. Any economic recovery needs reliable state and local governments that provide the business certainty that make our country attractive to businesses and investors throughout the world. Nobody is immune from this crisis. Congress should come together, do the right thing, and provide states the resources they need to save lives and livelihoods and get the economy working again. I urge each of my colleagues to join me in working to enact this legislation so that we can get more critical federal resources to our states and local governments who are on the front lines of battling this public health and economic emergency.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am reintroducing the Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act with Senators Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Merkley, Baldwin, Warren, Van Hellene, and Brown. This legislation fully closes a loophole that has allowed publicly traded corporations to deduct the cost of multimillion-dollar bonuses from their corporate tax bills. U.S. taxpayers shouldn't continue to have to subsidize these massive bonuses. Under section 162(m) of the tax code as amended by the 2017 Trump tax law (TCJA), when a publicly traded corporation calculates its taxable income, it is generally permitted to deduct compensation costs from its revenues, with limits up to $1 million for some of the firm's most senior executives. In the 115th Congress, the TCJA got rid of some of the prior 162(m) loopholes by taking provisions from my Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act, including removing the exemption for performance-based compensation, which previously permitted compensation deductions above $1 million when executives met performance benchmarks, While these steps were a start, even more should have been done, such as applying section 162(m) to all employees of publicly traded corporations so that all compensation is subject to a deductibility cap of $1 million. This was the only provision from my Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act from the l15th Congress that was not incorporated into the Trump tax law. Partially closing these 162(m) loopholes saved taxpayers $9.2 billion according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), but last Congress, the JCT estimated that fully closing the loophole along the lines of the legislation I am reintroducing today would save taxpayers an additional $27 billion dollars. Under this legislation, publicly traded corporations would still be permitted to pay their executives as much as they desire, but compensation above and beyond $1 million would no longer be subsidized through our tax code. This is simply a matter of fairness, ensuring that corporations--and not hardworking taxpayers who face their own challenges in this economy--are paying for the multi-million dollar bonuses corporations have decided to dole out to their senior executives. Instead of showering corporations with additional benefits they certainly don't need, we should be doing everything within our power to help more families, who are barely surviving, make it to the other side of this public health emergency. I thank Public Citizen, the Institute for Policy Studies--Global Economy Project, Americans for Financial Reform, the AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and MIT Professor Simon Johnson for their support. I urge our colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this legislation and pressing for its passage.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am reintroducing the Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act with Senators Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Merkley, Baldwin, Warren, Van Hellene, and Brown. This legislation fully closes a loophole that has allowed publicly traded corporations to deduct the cost of multimillion-dollar bonuses from their corporate tax bills. U.S. taxpayers shouldn't continue to have to subsidize these massive bonuses. Under section 162(m) of the tax code as amended by the 2017 Trump tax law (TCJA), when a publicly traded corporation calculates its taxable income, it is generally permitted to deduct compensation costs from its revenues, with limits up to $1 million for some of the firm's most senior executives. In the 115th Congress, the TCJA got rid of some of the prior 162(m) loopholes by taking provisions from my Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act, including removing the exemption for performance-based compensation, which previously permitted compensation deductions above $1 million when executives met performance benchmarks, While these steps were a start, even more should have been done, such as applying section 162(m) to all employees of publicly traded corporations so that all compensation is subject to a deductibility cap of $1 million. This was the only provision from my Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act from the l15th Congress that was not incorporated into the Trump tax law. Partially closing these 162(m) loopholes saved taxpayers $9.2 billion according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), but last Congress, the JCT estimated that fully closing the loophole along the lines of the legislation I am reintroducing today would save taxpayers an additional $27 billion dollars. Under this legislation, publicly traded corporations would still be permitted to pay their executives as much as they desire, but compensation above and beyond $1 million would no longer be subsidized through our tax code. This is simply a matter of fairness, ensuring that corporations--and not hardworking taxpayers who face their own challenges in this economy--are paying for the multi-million dollar bonuses corporations have decided to dole out to their senior executives. Instead of showering corporations with additional benefits they certainly don't need, we should be doing everything within our power to help more families, who are barely surviving, make it to the other side of this public health emergency. I thank Public Citizen, the Institute for Policy Studies--Global Economy Project, Americans for Financial Reform, the AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and MIT Professor Simon Johnson for their support. I urge our colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this legislation and pressing for its passage.

Mr. REED

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

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, among the many barriers to safely bringing students, teachers, and staff back to school for in-person instruction is the condition of school facilities. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that over half (54 percent) of school districts nationwide need to update or replace multiple systems in their schools, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), or plumbing. These systems are especially critical to safeguarding public health as we combat COVID-19. Now is the time to invest in school infrastructure. Doing so will improve the resilience of our schools, improve student learning, reduce carbon emissions, and create jobs. That is why I am proud to partner with Chairman Scott in the House of Representatives in introducing the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act to fix our schools. I would like to thank my Senate colleagues who are joining in this effort, including Senators Brown, Booker, Cardin, Cortez Masto, Whitehouse, Merkley, Hirono, Gillibrand, Van Hollen, Rosen, Smith, Murphy, Shaheen, Klobuchar, Lujan, Casey, Durbin, Warren, Blumenthal, Hassan, Heinrich, Duckworth, Coons, Leahy, and Stabenow. Public schools play a vital role in every community across the Nation. They play a central role in our democracy--educating the next generation, serving as polling places for our elections, hosting community meetings and events, and so much more. When there is a natural disaster or an emergency, people often gather at their public schools for shelter, information, and resources. They are essential facilities and must be included in any new major federal investment in infrastructure. Safe, healthy, modern, well-equipped schools are also essential for advancing student achievement and ensuring that the next generation is prepared to meet the economic, social, environmental, and global challenges our Nation faces. Yet, too many of the over 50 million students and six million staff who learn and work in our public schools spend their days in facilities that fail to make the grade. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave public school buildings across the country an overall grade of D+ in its latest report card. The 2016 State of Our Schools report found that state and local governments spend $46 billion less than what is required to update and maintain their school facilities. States and local communities cannot bridge this gap alone, especially when many struggle to simply keep teachers and staff on the payroll. We know the budget shortfalls will hit low-income and minority communities the hardest. The GAO report found high poverty schools were more likely to rely on state funding to cover the cost of building repairs compared to wealthier schools, which were more likely to fund projects through local property taxes. The Federal government can and should be a partner in upgrading our public school facilities. Addressing this need is not only the right thing to do for our students; it will also give a needed boost to our economy, putting people to work in family sustaining jobs. According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, every $1 billion spent on construction generates 17,785 jobs. The Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2021 will create a Federal-State partnership for school infrastructure. It will provide, over ten years, a total of $130 billion in direct grants and school construction bonds to help fill the annual gap in school facility capital needs, while creating nearly two million jobs. Specifically, the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act will provide $100 billion in formula funds to states for local competitive grants for school repair, renovation, and construction. States will focus assistance on communities with the greatest financial need, encourage green construction practices, and expand access to high-speed broadband to ensure that all students have access to digital learning. Our legislation would also provide $30 billion for qualified school infrastructure bonds (QSIBs), $10 billion each year from FY 2022 through FY 2024, and restore the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs) that were eliminated in the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation also eases the matching requirements and expands the authority and eligible purposes of QZABs to allow local education agencies to construct, rehabilitate, retrofit, or repair school facilities. The Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act also supports American workers by ensuring that projects use American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products and meet labor standards. I would like to thank the broad coalition of educators, community organizations, unions, civil rights advocates, and employers that have provided feedback and support for this legislation, including the 21st Century Schools Fund, AASA The School Superintendents Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Concrete Pavement Association, American Concrete Pipe Association, American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association, American Concrete Pumping Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Association of School Business Officials International, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, BlueGreen Alliance, Build America's School Infrastructure Coalition, Californians for School Facilities, Coalition for Healthier Schools, Concrete Foundations Association, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Council of Great City Schools, Green Building Initiative, Healthy Schools Network, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, National Association of School Nurses, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Concrete Masonry Association, National Education Association, National Precast Concrete Association, National PTA, National Ready Mixed Concrete, National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium, National Rural Education Association, National Urban League, North America's Building Trades Union, North American Concrete Alliance, Organizations Concerned About Rural Education, Parents for School Safety, Portland Cement Association, Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute, Public Advocacy for Kids, Rebuild America's Schools Coalition, Rural School and Community Trust, Teach Plus, The Brick Industry Association, Tilt-Up Concrete Association, U.S. Green Building Council, and the United Steelworkers. We have no time to waste in fixing our deteriorating school infrastructure. In the words of a student activist in Providence, Rhode Island: ``Students cannot learn in a crumbling building, a school that isn't fit to uplift our minds.'' We need to listen to our students, strengthen our communities, and improve our school buildings. I urge all of our colleagues to support the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act and press for its passage

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to address the decades of underinvestment in our Nation's libraries by reinstating Federal support for library construction. Libraries are essential community institutions that give the public access to information and services that expand learning and promote economic opportunity. When we invest in our libraries, we are offering a helping hand and hope for the future. During natural disasters and economic upheaval, libraries offer the resources and information that help people get back on their feet. As the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards reportedly said, ``The public library is the great equalizer.'' Over the last year, COVID-19 and the heightened attention to racial and economic inequality have made clear that investment in our communities should be a national priority as we work to lift people up and bring the country closer together. And that our investment in infrastructure must encompass vital community assets like schools and libraries and not just roads, bridges, and highways. And while we know libraries are more than buildings with books and computers, they are still buildings. For thirty years, the Federal government invested in the physical infrastructure of our libraries, but abandoned that program in the early 1990s. The intervening years have taken their toll on library facilities. Indeed, the average library building is now more than 40 years old and many need large- scale improvements and modernization. On top of this longstanding underinvestment, the pandemic has forced libraries to adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of their communities despite limited financial resources. The American Library Association projects billions of dollars in losses to libraries over the course of the pandemic, at a time when reliance on libraries from low-income, underserved, and Tribal communities is increasing. The pandemic's outsized impact on vulnerable communities only heightens the urgency of investing in libraries. The Build America's Libraries Act would make $5 billion available over three years to support improvements to library facilities and invest in new library infrastructure to expand the reach of library services and programs. Priority is given to libraries that demonstrate the greatest need and predominantly serve underserved or distressed communities. The legislation also places emphasis on projects that seek to enhance facility safety, high-speed broadband access, accessibility for those with disabilities, or energy efficiency. Library construction funded by this legislation will directly boost our struggling economy by putting Americans to work and strengthening the facilities that connect patrons with educational and workforce training resources and local economic opportunities. Libraries have always anchored our communities, and as such, we should ensure their ability to provide critical services for years to come. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Whitehouse, Wyden, and Sanders in introducing this bill, which has the support of many organizations, including the American Library Association; American Indian Library Association; American Institute of Architects; American Society of Interior Designers; Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums; Association for Rural & Small Libraries; Chief Officers of State Library Agencies; Council of State Archivists; Education Market Association; International WELL Building Institute; National Coalition for History; National Coalition for Literacy; National Digital Inclusion Alliance; National Summer Learning Association; Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition; and Urban Libraries Council. I hope that our colleagues will join us in cosponsoring the Build America's Libraries Act and work for its inclusion in any infrastructure package.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to address the decades of underinvestment in our Nation's libraries by reinstating Federal support for library construction. Libraries are essential community institutions that give the public access to information and services that expand learning and promote economic opportunity. When we invest in our libraries, we are offering a helping hand and hope for the future. During natural disasters and economic upheaval, libraries offer the resources and information that help people get back on their feet. As the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards reportedly said, ``The public library is the great equalizer.'' Over the last year, COVID-19 and the heightened attention to racial and economic inequality have made clear that investment in our communities should be a national priority as we work to lift people up and bring the country closer together. And that our investment in infrastructure must encompass vital community assets like schools and libraries and not just roads, bridges, and highways. And while we know libraries are more than buildings with books and computers, they are still buildings. For thirty years, the Federal government invested in the physical infrastructure of our libraries, but abandoned that program in the early 1990s. The intervening years have taken their toll on library facilities. Indeed, the average library building is now more than 40 years old and many need large- scale improvements and modernization. On top of this longstanding underinvestment, the pandemic has forced libraries to adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of their communities despite limited financial resources. The American Library Association projects billions of dollars in losses to libraries over the course of the pandemic, at a time when reliance on libraries from low-income, underserved, and Tribal communities is increasing. The pandemic's outsized impact on vulnerable communities only heightens the urgency of investing in libraries. The Build America's Libraries Act would make $5 billion available over three years to support improvements to library facilities and invest in new library infrastructure to expand the reach of library services and programs. Priority is given to libraries that demonstrate the greatest need and predominantly serve underserved or distressed communities. The legislation also places emphasis on projects that seek to enhance facility safety, high-speed broadband access, accessibility for those with disabilities, or energy efficiency. Library construction funded by this legislation will directly boost our struggling economy by putting Americans to work and strengthening the facilities that connect patrons with educational and workforce training resources and local economic opportunities. Libraries have always anchored our communities, and as such, we should ensure their ability to provide critical services for years to come. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Whitehouse, Wyden, and Sanders in introducing this bill, which has the support of many organizations, including the American Library Association; American Indian Library Association; American Institute of Architects; American Society of Interior Designers; Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums; Association for Rural & Small Libraries; Chief Officers of State Library Agencies; Council of State Archivists; Education Market Association; International WELL Building Institute; National Coalition for History; National Coalition for Literacy; National Digital Inclusion Alliance; National Summer Learning Association; Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition; and Urban Libraries Council. I hope that our colleagues will join us in cosponsoring the Build America's Libraries Act and work for its inclusion in any infrastructure package.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, among the many barriers to safely bringing students, teachers, and staff back to school for in-person instruction is the condition of school facilities. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that over half (54 percent) of school districts nationwide need to update or replace multiple systems in their schools, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), or plumbing. These systems are especially critical to safeguarding public health as we combat COVID-19. Now is the time to invest in school infrastructure. Doing so will improve the resilience of our schools, improve student learning, reduce carbon emissions, and create jobs. That is why I am proud to partner with Chairman Scott in the House of Representatives in introducing the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act to fix our schools. I would like to thank my Senate colleagues who are joining in this effort, including Senators Brown, Booker, Cardin, Cortez Masto, Whitehouse, Merkley, Hirono, Gillibrand, Van Hollen, Rosen, Smith, Murphy, Shaheen, Klobuchar, Lujan, Casey, Durbin, Warren, Blumenthal, Hassan, Heinrich, Duckworth, Coons, Leahy, and Stabenow. Public schools play a vital role in every community across the Nation. They play a central role in our democracy--educating the next generation, serving as polling places for our elections, hosting community meetings and events, and so much more. When there is a natural disaster or an emergency, people often gather at their public schools for shelter, information, and resources. They are essential facilities and must be included in any new major federal investment in infrastructure. Safe, healthy, modern, well-equipped schools are also essential for advancing student achievement and ensuring that the next generation is prepared to meet the economic, social, environmental, and global challenges our Nation faces. Yet, too many of the over 50 million students and six million staff who learn and work in our public schools spend their days in facilities that fail to make the grade. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave public school buildings across the country an overall grade of D+ in its latest report card. The 2016 State of Our Schools report found that state and local governments spend $46 billion less than what is required to update and maintain their school facilities. States and local communities cannot bridge this gap alone, especially when many struggle to simply keep teachers and staff on the payroll. We know the budget shortfalls will hit low-income and minority communities the hardest. The GAO report found high poverty schools were more likely to rely on state funding to cover the cost of building repairs compared to wealthier schools, which were more likely to fund projects through local property taxes. The Federal government can and should be a partner in upgrading our public school facilities. Addressing this need is not only the right thing to do for our students; it will also give a needed boost to our economy, putting people to work in family sustaining jobs. According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, every $1 billion spent on construction generates 17,785 jobs. The Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2021 will create a Federal-State partnership for school infrastructure. It will provide, over ten years, a total of $130 billion in direct grants and school construction bonds to help fill the annual gap in school facility capital needs, while creating nearly two million jobs. Specifically, the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act will provide $100 billion in formula funds to states for local competitive grants for school repair, renovation, and construction. States will focus assistance on communities with the greatest financial need, encourage green construction practices, and expand access to high-speed broadband to ensure that all students have access to digital learning. Our legislation would also provide $30 billion for qualified school infrastructure bonds (QSIBs), $10 billion each year from FY 2022 through FY 2024, and restore the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs) that were eliminated in the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation also eases the matching requirements and expands the authority and eligible purposes of QZABs to allow local education agencies to construct, rehabilitate, retrofit, or repair school facilities. The Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act also supports American workers by ensuring that projects use American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products and meet labor standards. I would like to thank the broad coalition of educators, community organizations, unions, civil rights advocates, and employers that have provided feedback and support for this legislation, including the 21st Century Schools Fund, AASA The School Superintendents Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Concrete Pavement Association, American Concrete Pipe Association, American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association, American Concrete Pumping Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Association of School Business Officials International, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, BlueGreen Alliance, Build America's School Infrastructure Coalition, Californians for School Facilities, Coalition for Healthier Schools, Concrete Foundations Association, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Council of Great City Schools, Green Building Initiative, Healthy Schools Network, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, National Association of School Nurses, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Concrete Masonry Association, National Education Association, National Precast Concrete Association, National PTA, National Ready Mixed Concrete, National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium, National Rural Education Association, National Urban League, North America's Building Trades Union, North American Concrete Alliance, Organizations Concerned About Rural Education, Parents for School Safety, Portland Cement Association, Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute, Public Advocacy for Kids, Rebuild America's Schools Coalition, Rural School and Community Trust, Teach Plus, The Brick Industry Association, Tilt-Up Concrete Association, U.S. Green Building Council, and the United Steelworkers. We have no time to waste in fixing our deteriorating school infrastructure. In the words of a student activist in Providence, Rhode Island: ``Students cannot learn in a crumbling building, a school that isn't fit to uplift our minds.'' We need to listen to our students, strengthen our communities, and improve our school buildings. I urge all of our colleagues to support the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act and press for its passage

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, it is my understanding that Chairman Inhofe is in route to provide his comments, and I just want to begin by thanking him for his tremendous leadership. Without his dedication to a bipartisan, thoughtful process, we would not be here today, and it is the hallmark of his leadership throughout the years we have worked together. I anticipate his arrival.

Mr. REED. In order to expedite the vote, I will proceed. Mr. President, I rise to express my support for the confirmation of Lloyd Austin to be the Secretary of Defense of the United States. General Austin is an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. He has served at the highest echelons of the Army and capped his service as the commander of U.S. Central Command. His character and integrity are unquestioned, and he possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively lead the Pentagon. The United States faces many complex security threats. If confirmed as Secretary of Defense, General Austin will lead the Department during a time when U.S. strategic priorities have shifted to focus increasingly on near-peer competition with China and Russia. The Department must also transform how it operates with an increased focus on critical technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and cyber security, while also emphasizing rapid delivery of advanced new weapons systems on timelines that keep pace with technological change. In addition, President Biden must address the urgent and dire challenges that few of us would have anticipated 4 years ago. Our country is in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and infected millions more and resulted in billions in economic damage, and the virus is still not under control. Recently, it was revealed that large segments of the Federal Government and major companies were hacked by Russia. We are still trying to ascertain the extent of the breach, but it could be the most significant cyber intrusion in the history of our country or perhaps the world. This event, too, should prompt us to move promptly to fill Cabinet positions that are critical to our national security. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense is adrift and in desperate need of steadfast leadership. Over the course of the past 4 years, there has been repeated turnover at senior levels of the Department and a concerted effort to purposefully leave multiple civilian offices unfilled, necessitating the installment of career or midlevel officials into positions in an acting capacity. Unlike other nominees for Cabinet positions, Congress must provide, as Senator McConnell indicated, an exception for General Austin to serve as Secretary of Defense. Under the current statute, individuals are prohibited from appointment if they are within 7 years of military service. Congress found itself in a similar situation 4 years ago when President Trump nominated Gen. James Mattis to be the Secretary of Defense. Prior to General Austin's confirmation hearing, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on civilian control of the Armed Forces that focused on the erosion of civil-military relations. At the hearing, valid concerns were raised about providing another waiver so soon after Secretary Mattis. However, at his nomination hearing earlier this week, General Austin pledged his commitment to repairing civil- military relations while also empowering civilian personnel within the Department of Defense. These are critical commitments by General Austin and ones that I support. Therefore, yesterday I voted in favor of the legislation to provide General Austin with an exception to serve as Secretary of Defense, and I was pleased the legislation received strong bipartisan support. General Austin is an outstanding choice to serve as Secretary of Defense. I am proud to support his nomination, given the unique challenges we face. I think from now on, in a few moments, we can refer to him as Secretary Austin, which is the appropriate title for his role. With that, I yield the floor to my colleague, the chairman.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. REED. Madam President, I would ask unanimous consent to yield back all time.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, this legislation is central to the national security of the United States and to the welfare of the troops and their families who defend us every day. I would urge all my colleagues to vote to override the veto. I want to thank Senator Inhofe for his leadership and congratulate John Bonsell on the Republican side and Liz King on the Democratic side. Again, I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill. I yield the floor.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, let me first begin by commending the chairman for his extraordinary efforts. He led this process, let there be no mistake about it. He rose to the challenges. This is the most challenging NDAA for so many different reasons--because of the pandemic, the need for social distancing in terms of hearings, the whole scope of challenges that have arisen in the past few months--and the chairman has done a remarkable job. Let me start by saying that this is essential for our national security. This bill is not optional. If we want to continue to maintain our security for the United States, we have to pass this legislation. It is that simple. What does it do? Well, it does things that we have to do every year. One, it provides for the support of our service men and women. I know we are all celebrating New Year's Day here. It is kind of disconcerting to be working when everyone else is partying, but if you feel a little bit put upon, think about the soldiers in forward operating bases in Afghanistan who are facing danger. Think about the ballistic submariners protecting the United States. Think about the airmen who flew the B-52 bombers. Think about them and their families, and I think you will appreciate more what they do every day and what we do once in a while. One of the issues that the chairman spoke about is how cyber security is essential. We based our efforts on an insightful report by the Cyber Solarium Commission, headed by Senator Angus King and Congressman Mike Gallagher. Every day, we are learning more about the Russian penetration of our whole national security apparatus and civilian companies. Just today, Microsoft announced that they have been deeply penetrated by the Russian intrusion, and I suspect it is very serious. This legislation was done, remarkably, before we knew of such an intrusion and responds specifically to this type of cyber breach on the United States. It gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to audit other agencies in terms of their cyber security and take other steps to hunt for threats. It is just the first step, but if we don't take this step, we will be further behind. Now, the other thing I want to point out, too, is echoing what the chairman said about the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. We have identified $2 billion that can be used--and we will focus upon how it is used--to create a new strategy. This is really the first time that we have stepped back and said: Let's set up a strategic posture that recognizes the true threats that China is now presenting to us in the Pacific. This is the first time we have done this. What it does is it builds on our close relationships with key allies--Australia, Japan, South Korea. It does that by a series of steps--first, through command post exercises where we test our communications; second, real exercises. With these steps, we are building to a point where large-scale joint exercises involving not only our key allies but other partners become possible. That will set us up for the ability to deter China. When they see all of the nations of the Pacific that have worked with us closely and that are prepared to work with us, that will be a great deterrence. That is the goal of this effort. So any suggestion that China is happy about this bill is completely baseless. Then finally, again, like the chairman, I must thank the staff, John Bonsell and Elizabeth King and the staff and all the Members. Again, my congratulations to the chairman for his great work. I urge passage. Again, I think this is essential. As I said before, there are thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen who are on the watch as we speak. It is our obligation to them to give them the tools they need to protect us. I yield the floor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. The 60th.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to rise and discuss the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. First, I would like to salute the chairman. He has done an extraordinary job. We have both served on the committee for many years, and this is probably the most challenging year we have had due to many different factors: the pandemic, the virtual hearings, all those things. And this has been particularly challenging, and the chairman, at every point, stood up to the challenge and led us. I want to thank him for that. It was a pleasure working with him. We all recognize that this legislation passed both Chambers, the House and the Senate, by overwhelming bipartisan majorities. And it is very important legislation. That is why it earned this bipartisan support. It enhances our national security. It strengthens our military readiness and defense capabilities. It protects our forces and their families and supports the defense industrial base. Despite all that it does for our troops and their families, President Trump waited until the 10th day after he received it and vetoed it the last day he could exercise his veto. That was December 23, which made quite a Christmas for our military personnel and for all of my colleagues who are here today to start the process of responding to that veto. The House already took the first step. They returned on Monday. Once again, by an overwhelming vote, over 300 Members of the House overrode the President's veto. Now we face the same task in the Senate. It is my hope we can quickly and resoundingly override the President's veto and provide our troops with what they need. I will echo what the chairman said. You can go through all the thousands of pages, literally, but what is the most significant aspect of this legislation is keeping faith with the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. So if anyone has any thoughts about their vote, just think about those men and women who are all across the world putting their lives at risk while their families share that risk and that sense of danger and sacrifice. That is what I think has motivated the chairman and myself and all of our colleagues on the committee and throughout this Senate to work hard to get this bill passed. There are several reasons being advanced by the President for suggesting that this bill should be vetoed--the veto should be upheld. One reason is that he claims the bill fails to include critical national security measures. Yet this legislation provides critical tools and authorities for the Department of Homeland Security to perform network hunting for threats and vulnerabilities on Federal networks. These tools and authorities would help to counter breaches like the SolarWinds hack, which is possibly the largest intrusion into our system we have ever seen by a foreign nation state adversary. We do not yet know the extent and the degree of intrusion that we have suffered. In fact, we weren't aware of this intrusion for many, many months. One of the disconcerting aspects is that it was discovered by a private company that is one of the most, if not the most sophisticated cyber intrusion expert in the world. Yet they were penetrated. So we have a serious, serious situation on our hands. This legislation would start giving basic tools, which would allow our cyber security experts to go into other Departments to look at their procedures, their policies, all of their cyber activities, and recommend corrections. In fact, this bill has done more, I think, for cyber based on the work of the Cyber Solarium Commission, which was chaired by Senator Angus King and Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and also aided significantly by my colleague Congressman Jim Langevin of Rhode Island. They put the work together. We took a lot of the Solarium's work and put it into this bill. So there is absolutely no credence to the issue that we have not dealt with national security and cyber intrusions in particular. Then again, the President, in his veto message, wrote that one of the reasons is the failure to essentially repeal section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. But this issue has nothing to do with the military--nothing at all. It was designed years ago to provide legal protections to social media companies so that they could expand and grow. Frankly, I think it has worked beyond our wildest imaginations. Everyone recognizes it should be reformed, but reform requires thoughtful, responsible analysis of the legislation. The effects of the legislation should offer both sides the opportunity to explain positions. None of that was done, and none of that can be done before we conclude this legislative session. It is more, I think, a personal feud of the President, the section 230 repeal, than it is one of careful, deliberate, thoughtful legislation by the Senate. There is another reason the President has used, and that is we have established a commission to make recommendations for the renaming and removal of symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate Confederates who served voluntarily with the Confederacy. There is a clear exemption, by the way, for gravestones that we would absolutely respect. But these individuals--many of them who were on Active service with our Army or Navy at the time--decided to consciously fight against the United States of America. It is that simple. Yet we have bases that are named after them. The President said this is part of the American heritage of victory and freedom, but, again, these are named after men who took up arms against the United States. In some cases--in most cases, they weren't particularly exemplary generals, with some exceptions. And it was done in a way that I think was not to honor the service of these individuals but to advance other forces. I think it is time that this history be changed, that this chapter be closed, and the senior Defense Department officials have indicated they are open to these changes. There is bipartisan support for cooperation on this issue. It passed the committee. It passed the floor. It passed the House. Now, it is in this legislation. When the President vetoed the bill, he also said it is a ``gift to China and Russia.'' I would strenuously disagree. This is one of the strongest bills yet on countering the threat China poses to the United States and our partners, including allies such as India, Taiwan, and other countries and regions. Among the provisions of this legislation is the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. That is a new authority for the Department of Defense, modeled after the European Deterrence Initiative and authorizes an additional $150 million in funding. This was the work--I was proud to collaborate, but the lead was the chairman, Chairman Inhofe, and I was his copilot on that one. This is the first time we really stepped back and said: We have a new threat-- significant threat--rising in the Pacific. We have to take a holistic review of strategy, capabilities, equipment, and we have to make this a top priority. So rather than doing nothing about China, as the President alleges, I think we have made one of the most significant steps forward in consciously recognizing the relationship that has developed between China and the United States. With regard to Russia and Europe, the conference report enhances our ability to deter Russian aggression, maintains strong support for Ukraine, and reaffirms our commitment to the transatlantic partnership, including by calling for a strong U.S. force posture in Germany. Now, President Trump also vetoed this legislation because he wants the ability to remove our military from ``far away and very unappreciative lands.'' Those are his words. Particularly, I have concern about the situation in Afghanistan. First--and I have been to Afghanistan somewhere close to 20 times--since the beginning. In fact, I was on the first congressional delegation to go in January after the invasion. I have tried to pay attention to what is going on there. And one point is that the Afghan people have struggled and fought with us side by side. They have suffered greatly. I don't think it is right to say they are unappreciative. I think every day they have been suffering casualties. They have been fighting with our soldiers-- in fact, in some cases, saving and helping our soldiers survive on the field. Second, essentially, the provision allows the President to make the decision. In fact, he can waive all the provisions we built in by simply declaring that it is in the national security interests of the United States and communicating that to the respective leaders in the House and the Senate. That is something that is almost pro forma. So the notion that this seriously hampers his ability is misplaced. What it does, though, is signal that we have to be very careful in recognizing all of the equities that are involved in Afghanistan. The fact is that there are numerous terrorist groups there, and we have to maintain a counterterrorism presence; the fact that, as I indicated before, the Government of Afghanistan, the Afghan people, in many cases, have suffered more than we have considering the onslaught of the Taliban and other forces. So, again, I don't think that reason measures up to the demands. The National Defense Authorization Act has passed for 59 years. We need to ensure it will pass for 60 years by overriding the President's veto. The House, as I said, has already done that--322 to 87. I encourage my colleagues to show similar support for our military personnel and their families and override this veto. I yield the floor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the life and contributions of a prominent Rhode Islander, Sergei Khruschev. You may recognize his last name. His father, Nikita Khruschev, came to power after the death of Joseph Stalin and led the Soviet Union during some of the darkest days of the Cold War. Sergei Khruschev's life is necessarily intertwined with that of his father. Yet Sergei was his own man and achieved much in his own right. Sergei Khruschev was born in Moscow in July 1935. Naturally gifted and with a keen mind, he received a doctorate from Moscow Technical University. He would become an accomplished rocket and computer scientist, working on guidance systems for missiles and in the Soviet space program. In 1964, his father was removed from power and relegated to obscurity. During this time, Sergei helped his father write his memoirs. At the end of the Cold War, Sergei came to America with his wife Valentina and joined Brown University as a visiting scholar. He became a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs and taught there until his retirement in 2012. Sergei used his considerable talents to benefit students, colleagues, and fellow Rhode Islanders. He gave generously of his time, taught at other institutions, and gave lectures across the country. Sergei sought to increase knowledge and understanding, particularly between Americans and Russians. In 1991, he was quoted in The Providence Journal stating, ``I think it is important for everyone to understand that many of the mistakes made during the Cold War that led to dangerous conflicts were based on misconceptions and misunderstandings . . . '' Fully embracing their new life in America, Sergei and Valentina received their green cards in 1993 and became citizens in 1999. Sergei was proud to become a citizen. Sergei and Valentina were proud members of their Cranston community. Sergei owned a large Buick for years as it reminded him of the cars he saw when he first visited America as a young man with his father. After his death, one of his colleagues described Sergei as `` . . . very passionate about the subjects he taught'' who ``managed to infect the students with his genuine enthusiasm and curiosity.'' The colleague also said that even years after leaving Sergei's class, students `` . . . recall [his] amazing combination of open-mindedness, thorough knowledge of the subjects . . . and unassuming manner of discussion and debate.'' It is clear that Sergei lived an impactful life, a life that broke down walls and built bridges. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Sergei's wife Valentina, their family, and Sergei's many friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, as many of my colleagues know, the transition from deployment to civilian life is frequently difficult. Vet Centers, created in the wake of the Vietnam War, are community- based centers that were designed to provide critical services for veterans, service members, and their families. Today, there is a need to enhance these Centers to realize that original vision--which is why I am introducing the Vet Center Improvement Act. This legislation is an outgrowth of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation that Senator Tester and I requested into allegations that changes to performance metrics at Vet Centers may have negatively impacted care and additional concerns that he and I had about their staffing practices. The subsequent GAO report concluded that recent changes ``have the potential to negatively affect care and create undue burden and stress on counselors providing that care at some Vet Centers.'' This report included recommendations to improve care, transparency, and hiring and staffing methods that form the foundation for our legislation. Specifically, the Vet Center Improvement Act requires periodic review and reform of performance standards at Vet Centers; the creation and periodic reevaluation of a staffing model, along with standardization of position descriptions and responsibilities across Vet Centers; the creation of a working group to implement changes to improve quality of care for veterans and recruitment and retention of staff; and the GAO to review Vet Center infrastructure and examine what future investments are needed. Additionally, our legislation creates a pilot program to provide grants to combat food insecurity and provide necessary heating and cooling assistance to veterans and their families. Food insecurity and the need for heating assistance are growing issues for veterans and others as a result of the pandemic. I would like to thank Senator Tester for not only the attention he has paid to this issue as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, but also for joining with me on this important legislation. Our legislation has received support from such organizations as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), National Community Action Foundation (NCAF), National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP), the National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC), and the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America. I look forward to continuing our partnership on this and other measures to improve care for our veterans, and I hope our colleagues will join us in this endeavor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, as many of my colleagues know, the transition from deployment to civilian life is frequently difficult. Vet Centers, created in the wake of the Vietnam War, are community- based centers that were designed to provide critical services for veterans, service members, and their families. Today, there is a need to enhance these Centers to realize that original vision--which is why I am introducing the Vet Center Improvement Act. This legislation is an outgrowth of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation that Senator Tester and I requested into allegations that changes to performance metrics at Vet Centers may have negatively impacted care and additional concerns that he and I had about their staffing practices. The subsequent GAO report concluded that recent changes ``have the potential to negatively affect care and create undue burden and stress on counselors providing that care at some Vet Centers.'' This report included recommendations to improve care, transparency, and hiring and staffing methods that form the foundation for our legislation. Specifically, the Vet Center Improvement Act requires periodic review and reform of performance standards at Vet Centers; the creation and periodic reevaluation of a staffing model, along with standardization of position descriptions and responsibilities across Vet Centers; the creation of a working group to implement changes to improve quality of care for veterans and recruitment and retention of staff; and the GAO to review Vet Center infrastructure and examine what future investments are needed. Additionally, our legislation creates a pilot program to provide grants to combat food insecurity and provide necessary heating and cooling assistance to veterans and their families. Food insecurity and the need for heating assistance are growing issues for veterans and others as a result of the pandemic. I would like to thank Senator Tester for not only the attention he has paid to this issue as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, but also for joining with me on this important legislation. Our legislation has received support from such organizations as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), National Community Action Foundation (NCAF), National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP), the National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC), and the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America. I look forward to continuing our partnership on this and other measures to improve care for our veterans, and I hope our colleagues will join us in this endeavor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, I want to take some time to thank and commend my colleagues who are departing the Senate. All of these Members have devoted themselves to serving the Nation and serving their States. We are all better off for their service. Let me begin with my friend and colleague Tom Udall. Tom inherited a family tradition of fighting for the American West and its citizens. His time in the Senate only added to the Udall legacy. Tom has been one of our Chamber's leaders on conservation and the environment. He championed the creation of monuments and worked to block the Trump administration's harmful environmental policies. And, this year, he helped secure permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was pioneered by Tom's father, Stewart Udall. Tom's commitment to the health of our Nation's environment has always been evident, and I was proud to hand off my role as the Democratic leader of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to Tom in 2015. During his tenure, funding for the Interior appropriations bill grew by 25 percent, and more than 100 anti-environmental riders were blocked. These victories would have been impossible without Tom's ability to connect with his fellow Members and get things done. They are also a testament to Tom's deep knowledge of America's lands and resources. Of course, Tom's successes go beyond his environmental work. Tom has worked tirelessly to ensure our Nation's Native Americans receive the respect and support they are entitled to. He salvaged and ultimately passed bipartisan legislation updating the Toxic Substances Control Act for the first time since 1976, which was a big victory for public health. I was also pleased to work with Tom to pass legislation in 2016 to help reduce and prevent suicide among adolescents and young adults. Finally, I am especially grateful for Tom's efforts to increase resources for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These Federal agencies are part of Rhode Island's late and great Senator Claiborne Pell's lasting legacy. They lift our spirits, tell our stories, and strengthen our sense of community. Tom's work in advancing these agencies has enriched our country and helped bring so many people together. Thankfully, Tom has said that, while he is leaving the Senate, he is not retiring from public service. I know New Mexico and our country are better off for that. I wish Tom and his family the best as they go forward.