James Risch

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. I object.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, isn't it a fact, when the Senator was up here talking and demanding that we pass that bill, that the bill wasn't here? I have spent 40 years in the Senate, and I have never been able to convince a Parliamentarian that we should vote on a House bill that wasn't here. It wasn't here. The Republicans aren't in charge of the House; it is the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi is in charge of the House.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, will the Senator from Illinois yield for an inquiry?

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. It is probably tough for us to vote on a bill that hasn't arrived yet.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, will the Senator from Illinois yield to an inquiry?

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I am told that Speaker Pelosi has not sent a bill to the Senate yet. Is that your understanding?

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have a parliamentary inquiry. Has the bill bent sent by Speaker Pelosi to the Senate yet?

Mr. RISCH. I don't disagree with you that we should take it up.

Mr. RISCH. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President and fellow colleagues, I come to the floor today to talk about the American Energy Innovation Act, which is here before the Senate and which we are considering this week. America's energy landscape has changed dramatically since the last major Energy bill was enacted by Congress more than a decade ago. It is time to update our outdated energy policy to reflect today's realities, goals, and challenges in the energy sector. The American Energy Innovation Act--the business before the Senate today--is the cumulation of more than a year of hearings, business meetings, and negotiations in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I commend Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Manchin for their leadership and all of us on the committee in bringing this strong, bipartisan, ``all of the above'' energy package to the floor. Included in this legislation are a number of provisions I have proposed that will benefit Idaho and the Nation. First, the bill appropriately recognizes the importance of having a strong domestic nuclear industry. I represent not just one of the Department of Energy's National Laboratories, but I represent the Nation's flagship nuclear energy laboratory, the Idaho National Lab. Nuclear power is the Nation's largest source of reliable, carbon-free energy. To date, nuclear powerplants have primarily served one purpose--to produce electricity--but we are discovering through the work at the Idaho National Lab that this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the work a nuclear reactor could do. The INL and the Department of Energy are currently working to demonstrate that nuclear reactors can be adapted to produce other products like hydrogen, steam, and, importantly, heat. To accelerate this research, Ranking Member Manchin and I introduced the Integrated Energy Systems Act to help improve the long-term competitiveness of our current fleet of nuclear reactors. That bill is included in the larger bill we have before us. While we must keep our existing fleet of reactors online, we must also usher in the next generation of advanced nuclear reactor designs. This is particularly exciting at this point in time. The bipartisan Nuclear Energy Leadership Act will address key supply chain and other challenges associated with developing small, modular, micro, and other advanced designs. This act is also included in the larger bill before us today. That bill, NELA, will enable the Federal Government to partner with the private sector to demonstrate and commercialize these technologies, and the INL's National Reactor Innovation Center will play a key role in making these designs a reality. When looking toward a clean, reliable, and secure energy future, the importance of rare-earth minerals cannot be overstated. In Idaho, we have the Nation's only significant domestic deposit of cobalt--a mineral that is vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military hardware. Yet, instead of mining and processing this mineral in the United States, we import our supply from China. Cobalt is just one of many minerals the United States relies on imports for. We need to start prioritizing domestic supply and processing our critical minerals for our energy and domestic security future. I appreciate that we have also included this act in the big bill that is in front of us. This is the American Mineral Security Act, and it prioritizes our energy independence. I am also pleased that the key provisions of my bill, the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, were also included. That act is included in the larger bill. Idaho has long been a world leader in the development of geothermal technologies. In fact, the Idaho State Capital Building is the only State capital in the United States that is heated solely with geothermal energy. There is significant potential to expand this renewable energy in Idaho and indeed across the Western United States, and most of this potential exists on federally managed lands. Unfortunately, developers looking to harness this resource on Federal lands must navigate a labyrinth of regulations. The provisions in this bill will unleash our Nation's vast geothermal resources by making the current permitting review process more efficient, cost-effective, predictable, and, importantly, take a shorter period of time. Lastly, I am proud that this legislation contains language from the PROTECT Act that will modernize our electric grid and enhance cyber security efforts. I don't need to spend any time on cyber security. It is important for our electric grid. It is one of the favorite targets of terrorists around the world. They usually go through cyber security. The worldwide adoption of digital automation technology has created great benefits, but it also introduces significant cyber vulnerabilities to critical energy infrastructure. I am proud that the solutions to many of these challenges are being developed at the Idaho National Laboratory, which is the world leader in critical infrastructure, control systems, and security research in those areas. Protecting our electric grid is one of the most pressing security challenges, and we must incentivize the energy sector to deploy the most advanced cyber security technologies. The additional authorities and tools in these bills are critical to both our energy and national security, and I am committed--hopefully along with all of my colleagues here in the Senate--to seeing those matters cross the finish line in this important act, which finally reaches us at this critical time. With that, I will yield the floor to my distinguished colleague from New Mexico.

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

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unaminous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor The Gathering Place located in Bonners Ferry as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for March 2020. In 2006, Norv and Sharon Skrivseth founded Sharon's Country Store as a side business in the basement of their home. The store was an immediate success, and it soon burgeoned into a thriving storefront providing local jobs and opportunities to the Bonners Ferry community. Eventually, Sharon's Country Store expanded to include the Bread Basket Bakery in 2014 and the 3-Mile Produce Stand in 2016. As the business grew, friends and customers started referring to the stores as ``The Gathering Place,'' and the Skrivseths happily embraced the new title. Today, The Gathering Place continues to be run Norv, Sharon, and their six children. With the motto ``Come, Sit, and Stay Awhile,'' the businesses continues to attract locals and travelers alike with its wide array of homemade products, fresh food, and produce. The Skrivseths' warm hospitality and a commitment to service translates not only into a superior experience for their customers, but also into strong community engagement. Norv and Sharon are considered pillars in the Bonners Ferry community, often donating to various charitable causes and school events throughout the area. Success stories like that of The Gathering Place demonstrate why Idaho is consistently ranked one of the best places in the country to do business. Congratulations to Norv, Sharon, and all of the employees of The Gathering Place on being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for March 2020. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask to unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam President, when you do nuclear theory research and classified national security work, you need a world-class protective security force to protect materials, facilities, information, and people. Fortunately, Idaho National Laboratory, INL, has a world-class protective force, Pro Force, as was recently affirmed through the presentation of the Colonel Sydnor Memorial Award. Each year, the Colonel Sydnor Memorial Award recognizes an exceptional participant in the Composite Adversary Team--CAT--Program, which trains members of Pro Force teams across the Department of Energy's nuclear security complexes to act as attackers in simulated force-on-force exercises that test the strength of each lab's Pro Force team. This year, that recognition was given to INL Pro Force captain Jeremy White. White has an expansive career in law enforcement, including time as a juvenile detention officer and a deputy officer in adult corrections. Along with his duties as Pro Force captain, White also serves as Bingham County reserve deputy and is a member of the Special Tactics and Response--STAR--team, a multijurisdictional SWAT team. Before being presented the award, White was described as an individual who demonstrates ``excellence in the areas of character, ability to motivate others, physical fitness, tactical skills and teamwork'' by April Stephenson, Deputy Director for Department of Energy's Office of Enterprise Assessments. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I am honored to represent people like Jeremy White who are so dedicated to protecting the energy resources of Idaho. Congratulations to Jeremy and to all the members of INL's Pro Force team. You make Idaho proud, and I wish for your continued success in the Pro Force field.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, colleagues, I urge an affirmative vote on this. Just as we congratulated the President on the last amendment--the Commander in Chief, who made the very difficult decision to do what needed to be done to rein up the terrorists and the people who are operating out of Iran--we also need to recognize the people on the frontlines, our brave young men and women who are in Iraq, pushing back on Iran's attempt to influence and to infiltrate the country of Iraq. They are doing our work for us. We need to recognize that. I urge an affirmative vote.

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

Mr. RISCH. Just as we did with President Obama. Thank you. I urge an affirmative vote.

Mr. RISCH. Madam President and fellow Senators, I rise in support of Senator Cruz's amendment. This is just a continuation of this animosity toward this President. This President did a great service to the United States of America, to the people of America, and to the world by dispatching General Soleimani as he did. All of us listened to the intelligence. We had the secret and top- secret briefings on this. In addition to that, those of us on the Intelligence Committee actually got information that was compartmented. They had very clear information, proof to a very high degree that he was imminently attacking--he was imminently planning to attack Americans and American forces. This was the right thing to do. It rid the world of a person who really rose to the same level as Osama bin Laden and some of the other people who have done these awful things to Americans. We should congratulate this President----

Mr. RISCH. Madam President.