James Risch

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I want to be very clear. I oppose this resolution, as it is misguided and it sends a terrible, confusing message to Iran and to our allies in the region. The purpose of my amendment is to make clear to Iran and to our allies that, under the Constitution, the President of the United States has a constitutional responsibility to take actions to defend the United States, its Territories, possessions, citizens, servicemembers, and diplomats from attack. Who could disagree with that? Let's make this clear to Iran and to our allies that that is the state of play--notwithstanding the fact, of course, that this resolution will not become law. It is going to get vetoed, and the veto is going to be sustained. The clear language of this is very short: The President has a constitutional responsibility to take actions to defend the United States, its territories, possessions, citizens, servicemembers, and diplomats from attack. Senators, make this clear. Vote yes on this amendment.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled 1:45 p.m. vote commence now.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, fellow Senators, we are about to vote on an important piece of legislation. Of course, it is a piece of legislation that will never become law, but nonetheless it deserves our attention, and certainly it deserves serious consideration. We know two things as we approach this. No. 1, under the Constitution, it is absolutely crystal clear that only Congress can declare war. No. 2, which is crystal clear, we know the President of the United States has the authority to defend the country. Finally, No. 3--and this is very important, as it relates to this--no one wants war with Iran. No one agrees that we should proceed to war with Iran. That is simply not the situation here today. There are constitutional questions here that we know we have to wrestle with, and they are difficult ones. It is important to note here, first of all, that the dispute that has been going on with Iran for a long, long time has really nothing to do with the Iranian people. We support the Iranian people. They have a long history, a proud tradition, and they deserve substantially better than what they are getting in leadership today. This is an important debate we are going to have today about war powers and the use of military force. One thing also that is clear but that muddies the water is that there is no clear line of delineation between actual war and the use of kinetic force. As I said, it is important to have this debate. I really believe it should not be held in this context. It should be a policy that we are debating that is useable in all contexts. I have sat through dozens of hours of debate on war powers, the war powers of the President. It is an age-old debate that has gone on since George Washington was President. It is a hard debate because all these words were written in the 18th century, and things were a lot clearer then. Things are much less clear today. These debates were long. There were many lawyers involved. Indeed, no conclusion can be reached. It is one of those areas where I have come to the conclusion that the words that need to be written in order to clearly specify the place that the President occupies and the place that the Congress occupies is a very, very difficult one. There are things on this Earth--and I really believe this may be one of them--where we know it when we see it, but we can't define it. We know war when we see it. We also know what kinetic action is, in order to protect the people of the United States, that is more isolated in the hands of the President doing the defensive measure. We know that when we see it. But defining the distinction between the two when one blurs into the other is very, very difficult. The President needs the authority that he has to defend the United States, and it is clear that authority comes from three buckets: No. 1, it comes from article II of the U.S. Constitution; No. 2, it comes from the War Powers Act; and No. 3, it comes from the AUMFs that have been passed by this body for some time. Iran, as you are listening, understand that the President has that authority. He has specific authority from all of those buckets. Notwithstanding the arguments that have been made here by some Members of this body, the President unquestionably has those powers. This power has been used very sparingly by this President. Compared to the last administration, the numbers are really, indeed, striking. The drone action, drone strikes that have been taken then and now--during the Obama administration, there were 540 of them over 8 years. In this particular administration, they are very, very few and far between and can only be described as a handful. This is a President who abhors the use of military force. I have had the opportunity to discuss it with him at length. I have actually been in the room when he has been confronted with these questions and had to make the decisions. He is deeply moved by these kinds of questions and understands how difficult they are. When he talks about how he has to write letters to the families of the men and women who didn't come home, about having to make those phone calls, about having to go to Dover to receive the remains of our brave men and women who didn't make it home alive, he is deeply, deeply disturbed by these matters. I can tell you, as I said, having been there, when he has had to make these decisions, they weigh heavily on him. So what are we doing here today? It certainly isn't to rein in this President. He has not used his power willy-nilly, as I have indicated. It has been used very, very sparingly, and it has been used in great contrast to the previous administration. Well, what we are doing here today is we are trying to get our arms around the question of, when is it appropriate for the President to use military force? We all have our ideas on that. We have the words that the Founding Fathers left us, so we are going to debate it here today. And it is important. The unfortunate part about this is that we are also sending a message to Iran. Iran is listening. There is no question that they are listening to this debate. They are listening to what people are saying here on the floor of the Senate. One of the messages that will come out of this and the way this is drawn is that the drafters of this want to send a message of appeasement to Iran. This has been tried. It hasn't worked. The last administration bent over backward to offer appeasement to Iran. They were greatly betrayed by it. It was tried with the JCPOA, and it didn't work. The reason it didn't work is that we are not dealing with people here who are acting in good faith. What we need to do is to send a message of firmness and not weakness. At the end of the day, when we are all done with this, there will be such a message. It needs to be a consistent and a uniform message when it comes to messaging to Iran and when it comes to the messaging of our foreign policy as it relates to Iran. It will not be this law that is before us, because it is going to be vetoed. We all know it is going to be vetoed. It takes a two-thirds majority to override that. It is not going to happen. So the mixed message is there. Iran will listen to it. The hard- liners will take it one way, and other people will take it the other. That is not a good situation. Hopefully, we will be able to lay this out in a way in which they can read between the lines and get the message that is important. The President took an action that people have criticized here that was difficult. It was a tough decision. He was a really bad guy--a guy who was worse than Osama bin Laden. He was the person who was executing Iran's malign policies in the world and in the region. His killings and loss of limbs have become legendary in the world today. Whenever I see one of our young men or women who is missing an arm or a leg, he or she owes that to General Soleimani. He killed hundreds of people. He was responsible for the IED program that took the lives of so many and maimed so many of our men and women who were fighting in the Middle East. It got to the point at which he was wandering around, really, with impunity and was not worried about what he was doing or that anybody was going to take any action against him. Let's look at the timeline over the last year. The Iranians started by blowing up oil tankers, and nothing was done about it. They attacked the Saudi oil fields, where 100 Americans were working, and nothing was done about it. They took down a drone of ours over international space, and nothing was done about it. Finally, over the fall, they ratcheted it up with 13 attacks on U.S. soldiers at U.S. bases in Iraq. These were our men and our women whom we had asked to go over there and push back against Iran's attempt at infiltration into Iraq. They took 13 attacks. Finally, on one of those attacks, somebody was killed. The President laid down a redline that, if an American were killed, there was going to be a price to pay. They finally killed that person. They attacked our Embassy in Baghdad and attempted to set it on fire. Eventually, the President made the choice to do what he did. This was in response to Iran's continual pushing of the envelope and the miscalculations that Iran made. General Soleimani had been traveling from place to place, putting in place the final plans of coordination for the execution of an attack against the American people. It was imminent. You have heard my friends here say: Oh, no. It was not imminent. We listened to the intelligence. I sit on the Intelligence Committee. I sat through all of the briefings that were given that were at the secret level and at the top secret level that were given to the people who are here in the body. I also sat through the ones that were given to the Intelligence Committee, which were compartmented and much more granular. There was no doubt that this man was planning an imminent attack to kill Americans. He didn't get the chance. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for what you did. We have heard the argument here that it was not imminent. This person was substantially more of an imminent danger to the United States of America and to Americans than Osama bin Laden was. Yet, when the President of the United States, Barack Obama, took out Osama bin Laden, we all cheered it. In fact, we passed a resolution here--100 to 0-- commending the President of the United States for what he did. Mr. President, you heard us today pass such a resolution that thanks you. Thank you, Mr. President, and farewell, General Soleimani. Iran, do not miscalculate and read what is happening here as being capitulation or weakness or appeasement. It is not. It is a disagreement between this branch of government, the legislative branch, and our second branch of government, the executive branch, as to how we should defend ourselves. Make no mistake about it: We will defend ourselves. In America, we operate under the rule of law. This joint resolution that is in front of us that we are debating today will not become law. It will not be part of the body of law by which we live. It will be vetoed. Iran, take note: If you continue on the path that you are on with your malign activities, it is going to take you to a very bad place. I urge a ``no'' vote. I understand how it is going to come out. I will be standing here again to sustain the President's veto, and it will be sustained. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have 3 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 9 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

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, fellow Senators, I come today to talk about the business at hand. Obviously, it is the vote that we are going to take at 4 o'clock this afternoon. We were subjected to days and days of trial here--many witnesses, witness statements, and all that sort of thing--and it is incumbent upon us now as jurors to reach a conclusion, and I have done so. I come at this with a little bit of a different view, probably, than others. I have tried more cases, probably, than anyone on the floor, both as a prosecutor and in private practice. So I watched carefully as the case was presented to us and how the case had been put together by the managers from the House. What I learned in the many years of trial experience that I had is that the only way, really, to try a case and to reach where you want to get is to do it in good faith and to do it honestly. I had real trouble right at the beginning when I saw that the lead manager read a transcript purporting to be a transcript of the President's phone call that has been at issue here, and it was falsified. It was falsified knowingly, willfully, and intentionally. So, as a result of that, when they walked through the door and wanted to present their case, there was a strike there already, and I put it in that perspective. How the case unfolded after that was stunning because I have never seen a case succeed the way they put the case together. They put the case together by taking every fact that they wanted to make fly and put it only in the best light without showing the other side but more importantly--more importantly--intentionally excluding evidence. Of course, this whole thing centered on witness statements that the President had somehow threatened or pressured the President of Ukraine to do what he was going to do. That simply wasn't the case. The transcript didn't say that. Now, admittedly, they had a witness who was going around saying that, and they called every person he told to tell us that that was the situation. The problem is, it was hearsay. There is a good reason why they don't allow hearsay in a court of law, and that is, it simply wasn't true. When the person who was spreading that rumor actually talked to the President about it, the President got angry and said: That is not true. I would never do that. They never told us that. Once the tape was shown, the House managers spent days putting together that proposition for us. The President's counsel dismantled that in about an hour and did so really quickly. And, as a result of that, simply from a factual basis, it is my opinion that the prosecution in this case did not meet its burden. Now, much has been said about witnesses and how they did this and what have you, but the Constitution is crystal clear. It gives the House absolute, total, 100-percent control of impeachment; that is, the investigation and the vote on it. It gives us the same thing but on the trial basis. The thing I think was surprising is that they came over here and tried to tell us how to do their job. I suspect they, in the House, would feel the exact same way about it if we went over there and told them how they should impeach. They came over here and told us how we should do witnesses and all that sort of thing. They had every opportunity to prepare the case. It was totally in their hands. They had as much time as they wanted, and they simply didn't do it. So in that respect, I also found that they came short. But the bottom line for me, too, is that there is a second reason I would vote to acquit, and that is the stunning attack that this was on the U.S. Constitution. This is really the first time in history when a purely political attack was instigated by reaching to the U.S. Constitution and using what is really a sacred item in that Constitution, a process that the Founding Fathers gave us for good reason, and that is impeachment. It was not intended to be used as a political bludgeon. It simply wasn't. We had in front of us the Federalist Papers, and we had the debates of the Constitutional Convention. Really, the one silver lining that came out of this was it underscored again for us the genius of the Founding Fathers giving us three branches of government--not just three branches of government but three branches of government that had distinct lanes in which they operated and, most importantly, indicating that they were separate but equal. They wanted not a parliamentary system like they had looked at from Britain with a head of state that was a Prime Minister who could be removed and changed, as happens all around the world today. They gave us a unique system with three branches of government. So the Founding Fathers were very clear. They debated the question of what should it take to get rid of the head of state, and they concluded that the second branch of government couldn't be a strong branch of government if, indeed, the President could be removed as a Prime Minister could be removed, simply by Congress getting unhappy with his policies or disagreeing with him. So, as a result of that, they did give us impeachment, and it is a unique process. They were very clear that it was supposed to be used only in very extreme circumstances and not just simply because of a political disagreement or a policy disagreement. And that is exactly what happened here. The Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention debates are very, very clear that it is not a broad swath of reasons to impeach the President that is given to the first branch of government but, indeed, a very, very narrow swath. It was interesting that, from the beginning, they picked the two words of ``treason'' and ``bribery,'' and to that they then had a long debate about what it would be in addition to that. They had such words as ``malfeasance,'' ``misfeasance,'' ``corruption,'' and all those kinds of things that could be very broad. They rejected all those and said, no, specifically, it had to be ``high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'' So what they did was they narrowed the lane considerably and made it difficult to remove the head of the second branch of government. And then, on top of that, for frosting on the cake, they said it has got to be two-thirds. Now, what did that simply mean? They knew--they knew-- that human beings being the way they are, that human beings who were involved in the political process and political parties would reach to get rid of a political enemy using everything they could. So they wanted to see that that didn't happen with impeachment. So, as a result of that, they gave us the two-thirds requirement, and that meant that no President was going to be impeached without a bipartisan movement. This movement has been entirely partisan. No Republican voted to impeach him in the House of Representatives. This afternoon at 4 we are going to have a vote, and it is going to be along party lines and, again, it is going to be political. So what do we have here? At the end of the day, we have a political exercise, and that political exercise is going to fail. And once again--once again--God has blessed America, and the Republic that Benjamin Franklin said we have, if we can keep it, is going to be sustained. I yield the floor.

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 Moss Greenhouses located in Jerome as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for February 2020. Moss Greenhouses is the largest wholesale plant producer and distributor in Idaho. Founded in 1952 by Ed and Ruth Adams, their hobby of growing orchids in their small greenhouse quickly became a budding business as they provided flowers, orchids, and flowering crops to their local grocery stores and flower shops. The family-run business quickly developed a reputation for its outstanding service and quality products. Today, Moss Greenhouses is owned and operated by the family's third generation, Kevin and his wife Dana. Their 300,000 square feet of covered greenhouse and three acres of growing space allow them to serve customers from throughout the Mountain West. Their success and growth has created dozens of jobs for the Jerome community. As the company continues to serve the Jerome area, they hope to eventually welcome the family's fourth generation into the business. Congratulations to Kevin, Dana, and all of the employees at Moss Greenhouses for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for February 2020. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, would like to congratulate one of my fellow Idahoans, Robert Long, on winning first place in the Mongol Derby. This annual competition held in August brings people from around the world to race across the Mongolian Steppe on horseback. Robert finished the course without any setbacks. This is truly one of the toughest tests of skill and endurance for any horseman or woman, and I am proud that an Idahoan represented the United States with such excellence. The Mongol Derby course follows the ancient path of Genghis Khan's horse messenger system first set up over 800 years ago. The course crosses 600 miles of some of Mongolia's harshest terrain and takes riders over a week to complete. Contestants are not only challenged by the terrain but also by the traditional methods of the race. The hundreds of horses that shoulder the journey are recruited from the local Mongolians' herds. Riders change horses every 25 miles, just as the ancient Mongols did. Thus, contestants must have the skill to adapt to each new mount and the instinct to ride within the limits of its strengths and weaknesses. Although the riders are racing towards the finish, they are also responsible for taking care of their horses' wellbeing and ensuring they are not overworked or injured during the journey. Robert's experience with animals helped him to win the race without any veterinary penalties. Robert's victory was surely an outcome of his extensive experience working with horses on the American Western terrain. ``Cowboy Bob,'' as he is known by his close friends, was raised in Wyoming and now lives in Boise, IA. He trained for the Mongol Derby across the American West, where the rough terrain is not so different from that of the Mongolian Steppe. Robert not only made an impression as a master horseman but also as a gracious guest. The course covers a vast area inhabited by Mongolian nomad herders, who volunteer their horses for the competitors in the race at each stop. Robert presented each herder with a blue ribbon from his past competitions, which he brought after learning the significance of the color blue in Mongolia, the Land of Eternal Blue Sky. In taking part in this race and performing with thoughtfulness and mastery, Robert exemplified how well Americans can relate to other peoples and cultures. U.S.-Mongolia relations have been growing stronger since our two nations established diplomatic ties over 30 years ago. That the Mongol Derby attracts riders from across the world demonstrates Mongolia's ability to build global connections through history and culture. However, Mongolia's contributions are certainly not limited to these spheres. Mongolia is an example of a strong democracy. Mongolia currently has over 1,000 peacekeepers deployed in Africa and contributed troops to the fight against terrorism in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Mongolia is an important friend of the United States in the Indo- Pacific region. I encourage a closer relationship between the United States and Mongolia. I thank Robert for representing his country and the State of Idaho well through fostering friendship and excellence abroad.

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. Madam President, I wish to commemorate the life of David Blee, who tragically passed away on December 29, 2019, at the age of 66. David was the founder and president of the United States Nuclear Industry Council, USNIC. During his long and distinguished career in the nuclear industry, David concentrated on nuclear supply chain and reactor technology and actively worked to increase support for nuclear power in the United States and abroad. David also worked with the National Laboratories, including Idaho National Laboratory, often running conferences in conjunction with them. At the time of his passing, David held an appointment to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee, CINTAC, an achievement that spoke to his incredible expertise. David graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania with a degree in economics, but he soon began working in politics and public service. After managing several political campaigns, David became chief of staff to former Representative and Senator Connie Mack while Mack served in the House of Representatives. David then served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary and, later, Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy during the Reagan administration. He also served as the executive vice president for NAC International, a U.S.-based energy services and technology company, where he directed the company's worldwide consulting group and marketing and business development portfolios. One of David's best attributes was his ability to work with people and bring organizations together. Composed of over 80 companies, USNIC represents the ``who's who'' of the nuclear energy supply chain, including technology developers, fuel cycle companies, and others that demonstrate the importance of maintaining the nuclear industry. These companies working in conjunction would not have been possible without the dedicated effort of David Blee. In July of last year, I was honored to be presented with the U.S. Nuclear Energy Distinguished Leadership Award by USNIC. The coalition of groups attending that award ceremony personified the great unifying effect that David had on the nuclear industry. He was a leader and a motivator, and his advocacy for the nuclear industry will be remembered. I am grateful for the work that he completed during his lifetime and his lasting legacy as a respected leader in the nuclear field.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam 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 Pocatello Electric located in Pocatello as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for January 2020. Max Schaefer opened Pocatello Electric in 1902 and sold the business to Ed Hall in the 1930s. The business became well known for its ``free air and water at the curb,'' which meant air for automobile tires and water for horses. Al Vigliaturo began working at Pocatello Electric in 1947 and eventually bought the business from Hall in 1973. Vigliaturo's son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Suzie Vigliaturo, bought the business in 1989 and continue to run daily operations. Pocatello Electric offers a wide range of home appliances, accessory items, and mattresses for purchase in its 7,500-square-foot showroom in historic Old Town Pocatello. For more than 117 years, the business has remained committed to providing exceptional customer service. Employees assess the needs of each customer to ensure buyers select products that will fit their unique needs. The delivery team provides professional delivery and installation, and the service team provides continued service and repairs for all products purchased in-store. Pocatello Electric has received the Idaho State Journal's Readers' Choice Award for best appliance store each year since 2004 and its best customer service award 3 years in a row. The business recently hosted a No Child Hungry event, which brought the Pocatello community together to pack 10,000 meals that were delivered to local food pantries, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens. Congratulations to Mike Vigliaturo and all of the employees at Pocatello Electric for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for January 2020. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I rise today on a more somber note to pay tribute to members of the Hansen family who recently lost their lives in a tragic accident. For Jim Hansen, family is what mattered most in life. This past Thanksgiving, he was with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandson, participating in an annual hunting activity that had become a family tradition. On November 30, 2019, they were returning from this cherished family time, when a tragic plane accident took the lives of nine members of the Hansen family: Jim Hansen, Sr., Jim Hansen, Jr., Kirk Hansen, Stockton Hansen, Logan Hansen, Kyle Naylor, Tyson Dennert, Jake Hansen, and Houston Hansen. My wife Vicki and I offer our deepest condolences and our hearts go out to the remaining family members during this overwhelmingly difficult time. Their loss will not only be felt throughout their community in eastern Idaho, but also by countless others throughout the world who have been touched by their religious and philanthropic service. The miraculous survival of Josh Hansen, Matt Hansen, and Thomas Long is a tender mercy to their remaining loved ones and will hopefully bring a measure of healing for their families. Jim Hansen, Sr., spent his entire life building a legacy steeped in a strong sense of commitment to family, a touchstone to guide future generations. Being born into a family known for hard work and business acumen, as well as caring for people in need, Jim, Jr., and Kirk harnessed their entrepreneurial spirit to expand the family business into other successful ventures that had a significant impact on their home community of Idaho Falls. The success of their values and vision was manifest in the growth of their business endeavors and their global impact. Kirk and Jim were passionate about bringing hope to others, and that hope took shape in several forms. With the guidance and insight of their remarkable wives, Kirk and Jim helped found Kyani Caring Hands. For nearly a decade, this organization dedicated a significant portion of its time, energy, and financial resources to respond to disasters and support poverty-stricken communities throughout the world, with a special focus on improving children's nutrition and education. The tragic plane accident that claimed the lives of these Idaho sons will forever cement the ideals and values that motivated these men to do good where good was needed. Idaho said farewell to several great men who were not only pillars of the community, but also beloved by employees everywhere. Jim Hansen, Sr., and his two sons, Kirk and Jim, Jr., were known throughout the world as men who were passionate about helping others and touching lives wherever they went. The Hansen men and children who lost their lives in this tragic plane accident will be deeply missed, but their legacy will not be forgotten.

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, 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 R & H Machine, Inc., located in Caldwell, as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for December 2019. R & H Machine's story began on a wheat farm in Washington State in the 1950s. In an effort to supplement their income, wheat farmers Ray and Arline Stueckle began welding and selling replacement farm equipment made of chrome alloy, a durable material that greatly expanded the lifecycle of farm equipment. After several decades of growth, the family business moved its operations to Caldwell in 1978 to better serve its clientele across the Pacific Northwest. Today, R & H Machine is owned and operated by the Stueckles' daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dave Organ. The business manufactures and sells a product line of about 1,500 parts made from chrome alloy and distributes thousands of farm tools across the U.S. R & H Machine equipment is estimated to last about 15 years longer than the life of standard equipment and three to five times longer than the life of hard-faced equipment. Dave Organ is constantly designing and developing new parts at the request of his customers. The Organ family prides itself on upholding the founder's commitment to providing the farmer the best deal possible and a superior product. Congratulations to Dave and Kathy Organ and all of the employees at R & H Machine, Inc., for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for December 2019. 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, 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. However, in honor of Veterans Day on November 11, this month I will honor a veteran-owned small business for each of the 10 days the Senate is in legislative session. The personal sacrifices made by America's veterans have protected the very freedoms and values that give each of us and our children the ability to achieve the American dream. The skills veterans learn as members of the military are invaluable and undoubtedly contribute to Idaho's flourishing veteran business community. I am proud of the sacrifices veterans have made to protect our country and that they are choosing Idaho to call home when they complete their service in the military. As your U.S. Senator from the great State of Idaho, it is my pleasure to recognize Kellogg Lumber in Kellogg as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 21, 2019. Kellogg Lumber is a retail lumber and hardware store owned by U.S. Army veteran Steve Bristow. Bristow's grandfather, Daniel Fultz, began working as a bookkeeper for the company in 1951 and worked his way to become owner in the 1960s. Following a devastating fire in 1955, Fultz rebuilt the company and in 1989 passed it on to his son, Ronald Bristow. Ronald Bristow's son, Steve, and his wife, Teirza, acquired the company in 2007 and remain its owners today. The company sells building materials, such as plywood, paint, and power tools, and serves clients who seek personal or commercial construction and remodels. Kellogg Lumber partners with well-known community vendors to provide reliable, quality products to their customers, who include homeowners, builders, and contractors. Many customers have relied on the company to serve their construction needs for more than 25 years. Bristow and the employees at Kellogg Lumber's hard work and expertise have earned them a reputation for exceptional customer service in the Kellogg community. Congratulations to Steve and Teirza Bristow and all of the employees at Kellogg Lumber for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 21, 2019. 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, for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators .

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, I rise today to recognize the 40- year career of a great Idahoan, Jay Hildebrandt, co-anchor of KIFI Local News 8 in Idaho Falls, ID. Jay has covered the news from KIFI since 1984 and has become a trusted, familiar face to east Idaho residents. Viewers have come to know him as a dedicated professional who gets to the bottom of important stories, while treating all people with dignity and respect. Motivated by his conviction to share positive stories, Jay leaves behind an inspiring legacy through the uplifting segments he produced over the past four decades. In one such weekly segment titled ``Wednesday's Child,'' Jay introduced children in need of a big brother or sister figure, a foster home or an adoptive family. Jay produced this segment for 28 years, and many children found permanent homes as a result. In recognition of his advocacy, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute honored him and his wife Sally as ``Angels in Adoption.'' In addition to this heartwarming segment, Jay also highlighted hundreds of high-achieving local high school seniors through his ``Distinguished Student'' weekly report. In 1990, Karole Honas joined Jay at the anchor desk. Their contrasting perspectives and reporting styles created a compelling synergy that kept viewers watching for over 29 years. When he isn't reporting the news, Jay is an active volunteer in his community. His service includes participation on the Governor's Children's Trust Fund Board, Region VII Health and Welfare Advisory Board, and the Safe Place Advisory Board. He also serves his community as an adjunct professor in the communications department at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he passes along his expertise, reporting philosophies and lessons that can only be learned through experience to the next generation of journalists. I would like to commend Jay for over 40 years of bringing the news to Idahoans and congratulate him on his retirement. He will surely stay busy with his wife Sally, their five grown children, and 15 grandchildren. His many dedicated years on the air have left a record of a kind and gentle individual, demonstrating positivity in words and actions.