James Risch

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 Leisureland RV Center in Boise as the veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 20, 2019. Leisureland RV Center is owned and operated by U.S. Air Force veteran John DeHoff and his wife Carina. John DeHoff served in the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, and now, he and his wife travel across the United States hand-selecting preowned recreational vehicles--RVs--to restore and resell at their Boise location. The DeHoffs opened Leisureland RV Center in 2014 to combine their passions for using recreational vehicles and renovating cars. The company has a 10,000-square-foot maintenance facility on-site where experienced technicians restore high-end RVs and resell them at market value. In addition to selling refurbished RVs, Leisureland RV Center offers basic RV maintenance services and large-scale RV repairs. Leisureland RV Center's top priority is customer satisfaction. Employees assess the needs of each customer to ensure new buyers select an RV that will fit their lifestyle. This dedication to exceptional customer service is one reason many people travel from across the West to purchase an RV from Leisureland RV Center. Congratulations to John and Carina DeHoff and all of the employees at Leisureland RV Center for being selected as the veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 20, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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. 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 Hammer Down River Excursions in White Bird as the veteran- owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 19, 2019. Hammer Down River Excursions is owned and operated by U.S. Army veteran Homer Brown. The business offers guided tours, dinner cruises, and fishing expeditions to showcase Idaho's rich, natural beauty in the heart of Hells Canyon and the Salmon River. Professional, experienced guides teach guests how to fish Idaho's steelhead, trout, bass, and salmon. Brown spent his youth fishing and working along the Salmon River before entering the Army. After completing his time of service, Brown got his captain's license so he could return to the Salmon River to work as a jet boat captain. Brown takes pride in sharing Idaho's beauty with his patrons. Congratulations to Homer Brown and all of the employees at Hammer Down River Excursions for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 19, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Madam President, first of all, this is an important step that we are taking here. This is a matter that we have been discussing for a long time. There has been a lot of action on it, and I want to thank Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin, who are the lead supporters of this bill and who have, on behalf of the committee, done yeoman's work getting it together and getting the bipartisan compromise to get the language here. Also, virtually all members of the committee have had fingerprints on this bill, and so in that regard, I think it is going to pass quite handily. I want to thank the Banking staff, particularly my colleague from Idaho, Senator Crapo, who, of course, has the expertise--the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee--on these kinds of things on sanctions. They were very helpful in hammering out the language that we needed for the sanctions. I want to thank the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee staff, who were helpful. I want to thank the staff of the Foreign Relations Committee, who work for us--both the minority staff, Senator Menendez's staff, and my staff, the majority staff--for doing this and all of the people who worked on this. So thank you to all of you. Since June, millions of people in Hong Kong have taken to the streets protesting the erosion of their rights and freedoms. Hong Kong was supposed to maintain a high degree of autonomy after China regained sovereignty over the territory in 1997. This wasn't just a verbal understanding. This was in the treaty that China signed with Great Britain. However, since that time, China has gradually chipped away at Hong Kong's autonomy, and this is now becoming a real problem. China now refers to its treaty with Great Britain as ``a historical document,'' and says it is no longer bound by its terms. This is just one of many examples that show that the Chinese Government has no respect for the rule of law. After two decades of broken commitments, it is past time that we hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable. What it is doing in Hong Kong is just wrong. That is why I am proud to join Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin and all the others who have had hands on this bill in bringing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act to the Senate floor. This bill is the result of a strong, strong bipartisan consensus that we must act in support of the Hong Kong people. Thank you all for helping. We will get to the unanimous consent here in a little bit. I yield the floor to Senator Cardin.

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 Mountain View Dental Clinic in Soda Springs as the veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 18, 2019. Mountain View Dental Clinic is owned by U.S. Air Force veteran Dr. Jerry Walker, DMD. Walker was born and raised in Rexburg before moving to Pennsylvania to attend dental school. Luckily for Idaho, Walker returned home to the Gem State to open his practice and serve the Soda Springs community. With more than 18 years of clinical experience, Walker and his employees pride themselves on building trust with their clients. Walker and his staff provide routine dental care services such as cleanings and oral cancer screenings, in addition to cosmetic services tailored to fit the needs of each patient. The team at Mountain View Dental Clinic works hard to remain at the forefront of dental research and technology, ensuring that patients enjoy a comfortable experience at the dentist. Congratulations to Dr. Jerry Walker and all of the employees at Mountain View Dental Clinic for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 18, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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 United States Senator from the great State of Idaho, it is my pleasure to recognize Critical Power Products and Services in Post Falls as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 14, 2019. Critical Power is owned and operated by U.S. Army veteran Will Alt. The company is a proven leader in backup power and cooling system recycling and redistribution. The company serves customers who want to dispose of and purchase backup diesel and natural gas generators, air-handling equipment, uninterrupted power supply systems, power distribution units, chillers, cooling towers, and raised access floors. The company provides its services to small regional firms as well as international Fortune 500 companies across all sectors. Alt opened Critical Power Products and Services in Post Falls in 2018. Alt served in the U.S. Army for 5 years, which included multiple overseas tours attached to a multinational special operation team. Critical Power attributes much of its success to Alt's time serving our Nation, stating ``it ingrained professionalism, discipline, and dedication into his work ethic that is second to none.'' The company employs several veterans and even has a Fallen Soldiers Memorial in front of their 18,000 square foot Post Falls facility. Congratulations to Will Alt and all of the employees at Critical Power Products and Services for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 14, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, 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 at this point the notifications which have been received.

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 A & J Auto Repair in Twin Falls as the veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 13, 2019. A & J Auto Repair is owned and operated by Charles ``Abe'' Abrahamson, who served in the United States Marine Corps, and his wife Robin. Abe is an active member of the American Legion and was recently recognized as the 2019 American Legion National Recruiter of the Year for his work recruiting more than 700 new members in 2018. In 2013, the Abrahamsons opened A & J Auto Repair to provide automotive maintenance and repair services to the Magic Valley. Factory trained and certified technicians at A & J Auto Repair service all makes and models of cars, trucks, and sports utility vehicles. Abe Abrahamson is certified to service Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. The company prides itself in providing customers with accurate and timely repairs. A & J Auto Repair technicians and staff work hard to provide exceptional, personalized services at affordable prices. Congratulations to Abe and Robin Abrahamson and all of the employees at A & J Auto Repair for being selected as the veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 13, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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. 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 Mac's Vacs in Lewiston as the Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 12, 2019. Mac's Vacs was founded in 1950 and is owned and operated by U.S. Air Force veteran Dennis Prine. The company first opened in a garage and has since moved into a local storefront in the same neighborhood. After serving in the Air Force, Prine acquired Mac's Vacs in the 1980s and has expanded and improved its services since. Mac's Vacs offers a variety of appliance services for customers, including vacuum sales and service, central vacuum systems, commercial chemicals, and more. Prine even offers technical assistance through a YouTube channel. The company's mission to provide quality products, knowledge, and service to customers has proven fundamental to the success of the business. Congratulations to Dennis Prine and all of the employees at Mac's Vacs for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 12, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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 Eagle Rock Gallery in Idaho Falls as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 7, 2019. Eagle Rock Gallery opened 6 months ago in Idaho Falls. It is owned and operated by U.S. Army veterans Gary Jensen and his wife, Kathi Cheyenne Jensen. The Jensens opened the gallery to host a collection of nationally and internationally recognized fine artists. The gallery includes a portrait studio, where clients can schedule portrait sessions for their families, friends, and even pets. In addition, the gallery features a variety of art available for purchase. Kathi Cheyenne Jensen is an award-winning photographer known for her patriotic images, specifically those that feature bald eagles. The Jensens seek to honor veterans who, like themselves, have sacrificed for American freedom. Recently, the gallery held a fundraiser with proceeds going to support local veterans in Idaho Falls. Congratulations to Gary and Kathi Cheyenne Jensen and all of the artists at Eagle Rock Gallery for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 7, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I am reserving the right to object. With all due respect to my good friend and colleague from New Hampshire, we both served on the Foreign Relations Committee. The Foreign Relations Committee is, as it has been noted, the committee of jurisdiction on this matter. We are talking about the Paris climate agreement. What Senator Shaheen is attempting to do with this--and, again, with all due respect, I understand where she is coming from on it--is to stop the President from withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement that was made by his predecessor, President Obama. Let me say, first of all, that the Senator is right that the changes we are experiencing are great. They have large effects. They are of great magnitude. Just as importantly, the changes we make attempting to address this are going to have great magnitude. In a great magnitude, they are going to affect the American people both financially and in the quality of life and the lifestyle they enjoy. We can't do anything about the changes that are occurring right now, but what we can do is to do something about the way we attack this, the way we make changes to our lifestyle and what we will give up and what people are willing to give up in order to address this. The way this is done is nations get together to talk about this--the 200 nations get together. They did, and they came up with the Paris climate agreement. Under article II of the U.S. Constitution, section 2, the President is given the power to make treaties with other countries, and that is what President Obama attempted to do with this. However, section 2 goes on to say that the President can make these treaties provided two-thirds of the Senate present concur. So that is a treaty, and that is how ordinarily agreements are made between nations. Obviously, we can do things ourselves without having a two-thirds vote--with a 60-percent vote in the Senate and a simple majority vote in the House. We can do that amongst ourselves if we want to change U.S. law as to how we are going to change the way we do industry and the way we lead our lives. We can do that with that kind of a vote. If we are going to agree with other countries, on the other hand, it takes a two-thirds vote. Now, at the time this was negotiated, I disagreed with President Obama, and I disagree with the accord at this time. The reason I do is I really believe this is a bad deal for the people of the United States. I really believe we can get a better deal. I think what we need to do, if we are going to do that, is we need to do it on a bipartisan basis. There is not going to be a two-thirds vote without a bipartisan agreement on this issue. I would like to see this addressed. I would like to see us, as the Foreign Relations Committee, and us, as the first branch of government, constitutionally protected as such, be a part of this and not just the second branch negotiating and then entering into the agreement. The President has, No. 1, every right to withdraw from this agreement, just as President Obama had the right to enter into this executive agreement. I, for one, agree that he should withdraw from the Paris accord. In fact, I encouraged him to do so personally when he was running and then when he was elected and continuously since then. That doesn't mean we should walk away from this by any stretch of the imagination. I think what we should do is do what the U.S. Constitution envisions; that is, you have a negotiation between us, the United States, and other countries, and then the matter is submitted to the U.S. Senate for a vote to see if two-thirds of us can agree that this is the way to do this. So based on that, with all due respect to my good friend from New Hampshire, I object.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, first of all, I don't question the sincerity whatsoever of my good friend from New Hampshire. Indeed, she is quite correct that the United States has been a leader as far as developing methods by which we clean up the air and clean up the water. There is nothing that is happening here today, at this moment, that is going to affect that at all. American companies are going to continue to be on the front edge of this, on a very innovative basis, and I have every confidence that American businesses will rise to the occasion and will continue to actually be the world leader in this regard. What I object to is making an agreement with other countries that truly binds U.S. citizens by doing it without going through the constitutional process of submitting the agreement that is between our country and others, as is specifically--very specifically provided in article II, section 2. I think if we did that, I think we would wind up with a better agreement. I think we would wind up with a bipartisan agreement. We all know that when we have a bipartisan agreement, we do substantially better as far as rising to the occasion and all getting behind the effort. 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. 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 Senator from the great State of Idaho, it is my pleasure to recognize Popular Patch in Hayden as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 6, 2019. Don McGrogan joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 and served for the next 26 years, bearing witness to the Cuban missile crisis, the Dominican Republic occupation, and the Vietnam war. Over the course of his Navy career, McGrogan collected more than 1,000 military patches as a hobby. Upon reentering civilian life, he drew inspiration from his experiences in the Navy and opened McGrogan's Patch Designs, a small business dedicated to preserving America's history. Recently, McGrogan merged his business with his grandson's company, Popular Patch, where he works as a business partner with his son and grandson. Popular Patch's goal is to become the world's foremost military patch business by replicating designs for each U.S. military patch ever made. The company has an inventory of more than 8,000 military patches, and its selection of Navy patches is one of the largest in the world. The company also creates custom patches using original designs, including patches for hunters, fishermen, bikers, and zombie fans. Its designs are popular among veterans, collectors, and actors, such as Hollywood actors in ``Saving Private Ryan'' and ``Clear and Present Danger.'' Congratulations to Dan McGrogan and all of the employees at Popular Patch for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 6, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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. 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 Rhino Metals, Inc., in Caldwell as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 5, 2019. Rhino Metals, Inc., is owned and operated by U.S. Air Force veteran Don Suggs and is known for its quality, hand-crafted products. The company began in the 1990s as an aircraft restoration business and eventually expanded to sell gun safes, tool chests, and custom furniture. Suggs was inspired to open Rhino Metals following his time serving in the Air Force as a fighter pilot flying a McDonnell Douglas F-4 airplane, known as the ``rhino'' for its toughness and long nose. After transitioning back to civilian life, Suggs used the skills and work ethic acquired during his military service to build his business. Rhino Metals makes an effort to give back to fellow veterans seeking to reenter civilian life. As a result, Suggs employs a large number veterans and remains committed to the values he learned while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Congratulations to Don Suggs and all of the employees at Rhino Metals, Inc., for being selected as the Veteran-owned Idaho Small Business of the Day for November 5, 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true inspiration from my home State of Idaho, Margaret St. Clair Plastino. Likely the oldest living registered nurse in Idaho, Margaret has truly used her 102 years on this earth to improve the health of those in her community. Because of this lifetime of service, she is being honored on Monday, November 4, 2019, by her fellow nurses at the Idaho Nurses Recognition Dinner cosponsored by the Idaho Center for Nursing, Nurse Leaders of Idaho, and the American Nurses Association of Idaho. This is a well-deserved honor, as Margaret spent the majority of her life improving healthcare in Idaho. Margaret was born in Utah in 1917 to Edwin St. Clair and Evelyn Borrow before she and her family moved to Shelley, ID. She has remained in eastern Idaho ever since, helping her community and serving as a positive influence in the lives of those she encounters. Margaret graduated from the Idaho Falls LDS Hospital School of Nursing in 1939 and was hired by Bonneville County as county nurse in 1942. Beginning her career during the Great Depression, Margaret not only provided much needed medical care, she also provided emotional support and comfort to patients. She treated each patient with the devotion and care that were central to her character. Margaret married her husband, Ben Plastino, in 1948, and they were blessed with three daughters. She began a new full-time role raising their family in 1952. Although she was no longer spending her days caring for patients as a full-time nurse, Margaret continued to help provide healthcare to the community where she could, including administering important vaccines. She eventually returned to the nursing profession, becoming the first home health nurse in southeastern Idaho. After she retired, she maintained active in the field and volunteered in various roles for the next 25 years. There are countless stories that illustrate Margaret's devotion as a nurse. Many of these have been shared in local and State newspapers recently and there are certainly more to be shared amongst her friends, family, and community. Such instances include Margaret's decision to administer tetanus shots to those affected by the Teton Dam collapse in 1976. She also cared for children of a struggling family when she found out they did not have sufficient food in their household. It is heartening to hear stories such as these and I hope they will continue to spread and inspire more individuals to do as Margaret has. Margaret went the extra mile in all that she did to ensure the best care was administered to her community. She did not do this for accolades or attention. She recognized that she could be of service to her community and wanted to use her skill sets to help. She has demonstrated the love she has for her community and demonstrated how to treat each patient in a manner that reflects their dignity as a person. Margaret is selfless and the type of individual who makes her community and Idaho such a special place. There is no one more deserving to be honored. Today, I express appreciation on behalf of countless individuals from the great State of Idaho, impacted by Margaret's selfless service. She's truly an extraordinary citizen who didn't just see providing healthcare as a profession but as a calling. I join her colleagues in honoring her lifetime of service.

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 ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment Nos. 946 and 947 be withdrawn.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to support the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to encourage my Senate colleagues to vote in favor of this protocol. As we know, this past April marked the 70th anniversary of the NATO alliance, the world's strongest and most successful political military alliance in the history of the world. In honor of this, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to reflect on the alliance's successful past and to consider its future. The Senate also passed and recognized NATO's many accomplishments, and the resolution I authored, S. Res. 123, did so. I am grateful to have another opportunity to demonstrate strong Senate support for NATO by welcoming North Macedonia as a new member. As we all know, this matter has been in the works for a long time. NATO was founded by the United States and 11 other countries after the shock of the Soviet blockade of Berlin. The Berlin airlift in 1948 made us realize the significant and real threat that the Soviet Union posed to peace and prosperity. That conflict is far behind us, but NATO has remained a critical piece of the framework that supports our collective security. NATO worked to help the United States in Afghanistan after the attacks of September 11 and has ended genocides and maintained peace in the Balkans. It has trained troops of the new Iraqi Government; it has run air policing missions on Europe's eastern flank; it has helped end the genocide in Darfur; and it provided assistance to the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Most importantly, it has maintained a period of unprecedented peace among the major European powers. NATO has proven to be not only a military success but also a political and economic one. NATO's security umbrella has provided the kind of stable environment necessary for economic growth and investment. Former Soviet bloc countries clamored for--and continue to clamor for--NATO membership, not only for the protection against Russia that they sought and seek but for the economic strength that membership could foster. U.S. trade with fellow NATO members remains vital to the U.S. economy. NATO allies remain the largest source of foreign, direct investment to the United States. NATO is not perfect. It faces several challenges from within. First is the need to invest more in defense. Those of us who serve on the Foreign Relations Committee have for many, many years urged our friends and colleagues--the majority of whom are not in compliance--about the need to invest more in defense. But the number of allies spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense and 20 percent of their defense budget on equipment has increased, adding more than $100 billion in European defense spending. Eight allies currently meet this pledge, but it is critical that all allies meet their Wales Summit commitment by 2024. Second, NATO faces different security threats in different parts of the alliance. Southern Europe is understandably worried about migrant flows, while Eastern Europe faces the challenge of Russian military buildup along its borders and domestic disinformation campaigns sowing disorder by the Russians, just as we know Russia has attempted to do here in the USA. NATO has recently begun to think about security risks that China poses to individual allies and the alliance as a whole. Tackling all of these security risks will be challenging. But if NATO allies commit to the alliance and needed reforms, NATO will be up to the task. Bringing a new member into the alliance also prompts us to reassess the status of current members, and I feel compelled to address the growing discussion regarding NATO allies that do not uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the treaty's preamble. I agree that there are NATO allies whose democracies are weakening instead of strengthening and whose recent behavior does not demonstrate a commitment to the alliance. To fix these issues, the alliance must work from within. There is no other alliance in the world like NATO. China and Russia do not have allies. They have short-term, transactional-only partners they have bullied into cooperation. NATO's strength and success come from its commitment to the allies and to working through problems when they arise. On the expansion of NATO itself, which is what we are here to deal with today, since 1949, NATO has expanded 7 times and now includes 29 countries. The entrance of North Macedonia will make 30. Adding a 30th member during the alliance's 70th year sends a strong signal to our fellow allies and enemies alike of the continued strength of this alliance. The U.S. Senate's consideration of North Macedonia as a member of NATO is a piece of long-delayed and unfinished business. North Macedonia was originally eligible for NATO entry in 2008 and was to have joined the alliance alongside Croatia and Albania. As we know, an ongoing dispute about North Macedonia's name prevented that from happening. But the leaders of both North Macedonia and Greece demonstrated great political courage in concluding the Prespa agreement earlier this year, which has made today's decision possible. The courage of Prime Minister Zaev and former Prime Minister Tsipras to move the situation in the Balkans forward should be applauded. I met with both leaders this year to thank and congratulate them. Not only does Prespa pave the way forward for North Macedonia into both NATO and the European Union, but it is an excellent example of how other conflicts in the region could be resolved. When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held its hearing earlier this year to consider North Macedonia's eligibility for alliance, the committee heard strong and unequivocal testimony from top officials at the Departments of State and Defense that North Macedonia would be a strong partner to the allies and is ready for the requirements of NATO membership. After reviewing all relevant facts and holding hearings and meetings with NATO, U.S., and North Macedonian officials for the better part of this year, I am confident that North Macedonia is ready to fulfill its NATO obligations and will benefit the alliance. It was ready in 2008 and is ready now. North Macedonia has a credible plan to meet the 2- percent spending requirement by 2024 and is already on track to spend 20 percent on equipment. It hosts the Krivolak training area, a top- notch Army training facility that has already been utilized by many U.S. soldiers. Strategically, North Macedonia's membership would provide NATO a direct land path from the Aegean to the Adriatic Sea, facilitating military movements should they ever be needed. It will continue to contribute soldiers to NATO's international mission as it has done in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2002. North Macedonia isn't perfect. As a small country with a young democracy, it will certainly require further government reforms and military modernization as have most new NATO allies. For example, it will need to continue its transition from legacy Soviet equipment, further reform its intelligence services, and above all, resist Russian interference and continue to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts. I urge North Macedonia to make these reforms and to continue on its positive path inside the alliance with the help of its other democratic NATO allies. Expanding NATO to include North Macedonia is about what the country will bring to the alliance and what the alliance brings to North Macedonia, but it is not just about North Macedonia and its qualifications for membership. Through its open-door policy, NATO has promised membership to any European country that fulfills the requirements of the alliance. Accepting North Macedonia as a new member is a strong symbol and a message for European countries with NATO aspirations that with hard work and perseverance, along with the willingness to make tough reform decisions, they can provide a better future for their people. As long as countries honor this commitment, NATO's door should and will remain open. It is important to note that this is a strong anti-Russian vote. Standing here today, I can tell you the Russians are very much opposed to this, not the least of which is exemplified by the way they resisted this and pushed back against this as North Macedonia attempted to get this done for their people. I say to the Presiding Officer and colleagues, this day is a long time in the making, and I am pleased it is finally here. I urge all of my colleagues to support North Macedonia's bid to become our newest NATO ally, No. 30, by voting in favor of this protocol. Thank you.

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

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have 7 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 banking, housing, and urban affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on energy and natural resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on foreign relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on homeland security and governmental affairs The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Joshua A. Deahl, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Deborah J. Israel and Andrea L. Hertzfeld, both to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and Robert Anthony Dixon, to be United States Marshal for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Department of Justice. committee on the judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. select committee on intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed briefing. subcommittee on science, oceans, fisheries, and weather The Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 2:15 p.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. Reserving the right to object, colleagues, this is a very fluid situation, as we all know, and, certainly, Americans who are watching this from home are confused about the parties. Then, when laying politics on top of it, where you have a level of animus toward the Commander in Chief that there is at this point, it becomes very difficult to sort this out. So as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I want to try to lay out some fundamentals that we need to deal with. As has been pointed out by everyone--and I think everyone agrees--the situation on the ground in Syria is an incredibly complex situation. It is difficult to understand and impossible to manage at some point because of the fact that there are dozens and dozens of tribal entities that share religious or cultural or tribal affiliations either together or in opposition. The result of that is the mess that we have had in Syria for so long. On top of that, in northern Syria we have a situation where the Kurds and the Turks are at odds with each other. This has happened just recently, and as everybody in this body--House and Senate, Republicans, Democrats--knows, it is a very serious situation, but this is not new. The animosity and fight between the Turks and the Kurds have been going on for centuries. This fight between these two groups has been going on for centuries. Who are these two groups? First, we have the Turks on one side, on the north of the border, who are members of NATO and are at the very least theoretical allies of the United States, although in recent years that alliance has been strained, and that is an understatement of what the situation is. Recently, they negotiated a deal with the Russians to buy S-400 missiles, which is a horrendous problem for a member of NATO. NATO was formed, of course, to push back against the Russians, and now you have a member of NATO that is engaging with the Russians in this fashion. This has caused us real grief. Those of us who deal with it have dealt with it for months. We have been pressing the Turks as hard as we can about the mistake they have made and the consequences it is going to have. They have an order for F-35s. They make a number of parts for the F-35. We have told them clearly, in no uncertain terms, for months that they can have the F-35s or they can have the S-400s, but they cannot have both. They insisted that they can. That is simply not going to happen. I think they are starting to believe that. Fast forward to where we are now. The Turks have amassed 30,000 troops on the border with Syria and are ready to come in and take on the Kurds, who had moved into the northern part of Syria due to the failed-state status of Syria. To say that the President of the United States is responsible for this is simply a political statement that isn't true. You can dislike the Commander in Chief, you can dislike the calls that he makes, but this is a war that has been going on between these two groups for centuries. It was going to happen. The fact that Erdogan had amassed 30,000 troops on the border was a clear indication that it was going to go forward. We had about 28 troops between the two standing armies and admittedly the President of the United States pulled those 28 troops out of harm's way. In any event, you can argue about what got us here, what the triggering factor was, whether it was or wasn't going to happen anyway, but what you can't argue about is what the situation is today. There isn't anyone in this body that would disagree that this is a very serious situation. Turkey is alone on this, by the way. With the possible exception of the Qataris, they are alone on this. The world has been watching this, condemning what Turkey is doing. They have done a cross-border incursion, and they are facing their age-old enemy, the Kurds, inside of Syria. So what do we do about this? Well, the House has passed a matter that the minority leader has talked about and wanted to pass. Senator Paul has brought his idea to the floor. But I want to tell you that the Foreign Relations Committee has been working on this since it blew up. I want to thank my staff, and I want to thank Senator Menendez' staff, the ranking member, who pulled an ``all-nighter'' last night, putting together a piece of legislation, and an ``all-morninger'' to get to the point where we are. This piece of legislation is going to be dropped very quickly. Risch- Menendez is a bipartisan piece of legislation that addresses the issues that all of us are concerned about. It addresses the issues with Turkey. It addresses the issues with the Kurds. It addresses the issues that the minority leader addressed regarding the ISIS prisoners who are being held. It is a good piece of legislation. It is going to have numerous--and I mean numerous--cosponsors to the bill from both sides of the aisle. So with that in mind, I am going to enter an objection to Senator Paul's piece of legislation, not because I object to it as it stands by itself but because we have a comprehensive piece of legislation that does address this that is the result of consultation between both the majority and the minority and the administration to get us a bill that could actually become law. From my own standpoint, I am always at a point where I want to reach an objective and want to get to a result. Senator Paul's and the other legislation cannot become law. This bipartisan piece of legislation, Risch-Menendez, which addresses this very, very serious issue can become law. As a result of that, Mr. President, I object.

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.