John Thune

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, as I begin this morning, I need to mention the tornado that tore through my hometown of Sioux Falls last night. Thankfully, there appear to have been no fatalities, but there has been a lot of structural damage. I am grateful to all of the emergency responders, the electric crews, and all of those who worked through the night to keep the residents safe. My thoughts are with Sioux Falls today and with all of those who are dealing with the tornado's aftermath. I had the opportunity this morning to speak with Mayor Paul TenHaken, of Sioux Falls, who, as you would expect, was up throughout the night with his team. I just expressed our support to him, to his team, and to our community as they begin the process of the cleanup and recovery from what was a very damaging storm. I also talked with my wife and older daughter, who lives in Sioux Falls, both of whom were in their basements last night as, I think, most residents were. I am glad to hear that people took the necessary steps to keep themselves and their families safe. As I have reported, so far--knock on wood--we are not aware of injuries that have been associated with this. Yet I will continue to monitor the situation, and my staff and I are available to help with whatever will be needed as a result of this storm.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Jane Tschetter Lucas. This month, she is leaving government service after serving her home State of South Dakota as a member of my staff for 10 years and, most recently, serving in the executive branch for the last 2 years. In 2007, Jane graduated from South Dakota State University, SDSU, in her hometown of Brookings. where she was a Briggs Scholar and a student athlete. After graduating from SDSU, Jane moved from South Dakota to Washington, DC, to take a position as a staff assistant in my office. In the 12 years since then, a lot has happened for her both personally and professionally. She quickly moved on from the front office and went on to serve on my legislative team in several capacities, including as a legislative assistant, health policy counsel, and finally as legislative director. Jane was a fierce advocate for rural healthcare and education priorities, and I know many South Dakotans benefited from her tireless work on these issues. While working full time in my office, through healthcare debates and education reform, and all that came with them, Jane earned her law degree from Georgetown University. In 2017, Jane and her husband Chris welcomed a future SDSU Jackrabbit, their daughter, Grace. During that time, she transitioned to a senior role at the Department of Health and Human Services. Shortly after, she accepted a role in the White House Counsel's office. For the last 13 months, she has served the administration as a special assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. Since her days as an intern in the South Dakota State Legislature, Jane has demonstrated an affinity for public service and a knack for developing solid public policy. She is a natural leader, a patient mentor, and thoughtful and thorough in her work. I would like to thank her for her decade of service to my office and the State of South Dakota and for her service to the American people. I wish her continued success in her new endeavors,

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Jayden Bies, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Jayden is a graduate of St Thomas More High School in Rapid City, SD. Currently, she is attending Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, where she is majoring in government with an emphasis in legal studies. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jayden for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Katherine Taylor, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Katherine is a graduate of George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, VA. Currently, she is attending Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, where she is majoring in finance. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Katherine for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Allyson Monson, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Allyson is a graduate of Clark High School in Clark, SD. Currently, she is attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, where she is double majoring in political science and communication studies and minoring in legal studies. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Allyson for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Eda Uzunlar, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Eda is a graduate of Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD. Currently, she is attending Yale University in New Haven, CT, where she is pursuing a degree in global affairs. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Eda for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I love the month of August, and I think I have always loved the month of August going back to the time when I was a kid because, obviously, growing up in South Dakota, August is a great month of the year. It is hot. There are a lot of activities. Of course, it is the month before or, in some cases, it is the month of returning to school, but it is a time in which there are lots of things going on in my home State of South Dakota, and especially since becoming a Member of Congress, I really love August. I head back home to South Dakota almost every weekend to meet with South Dakotans, but August is wonderful and different for two reasons. One reason is, August gives us an extended work period, a time when we get a chance to visit the farthest corners of our State, places that might be hard to visit on just a weekend--places such as Bison, Milbank, Clear Lake, Huron, and Mobridge. I get to talk to people who make their living in production agriculture in some of the most rural parts of South Dakota. There is nothing more valuable than getting to talk to these South Dakotans firsthand and to hear the challenges they face and what we can do here in Washington to help out--not to mention how wonderful it is to spend time in these beautiful parts of our State. If you haven't taken in the rugged beauty of the Badlands or the rivers and prairies of Central South Dakota, then you are missing out. The other thing I like about heading back to South Dakota in August is that it is fair season--the Sioux Empire Fair, the Turner County Fair, the Brown County Fair, Central States Fair, Yankton Riverboat Days, and powwows in Tribal communities around the State. The list literally goes on. You would be hard-pressed to find better events, better people, or better food. I often joke that in the month of August, I am basically eating my way across South Dakota: ice cream at the fair in Parker, pork sandwiches with the pork producers, milkshakes at Dakotafest, cheese curds at the State fair, and I can go on. I vividly remember the year I had a Tubby Burger plus a big fries, plus to go with it a malt at the Brown County Fair, and got up early the next morning to run the 5K at Riverboat Days in Yankton. Needless to say, it was not my best run time, but it was worth it for the Tubby Burger. There is really nothing better than a South Dakota road trip. Our State has so much to offer, an incredible range of scenery, from rolling prairies to the heights of Black Elk Peak, and hundreds of miles of wide-open country. There is nothing better than a summer afternoon driving down a South Dakota highway. You feel like you can see, literally, forever. We have an incredible number of outdoor opportunities, from fishing and hunting to hiking, biking, rock climbing, water sports. You name it; in South Dakota, we have it. South Dakota is an affordable place for families to visit as well. You are not going to break the bank on meals or lodging. Of course, we have unforgettable road trip stops like the Corn Palace in Mitchell or Wall Drug. Make sure, if you get to Wall Drug, that you grab a homemade doughnut or a glass of free ice water and take a picture on Instagram with the giant jackalope outside. As for South Dakotans, well, they are the nicest people you are ever going to meet. A South Dakota road trip is worth it for the people alone. In addition to the wonderful memories I made traveling across the State as an adult, I cherish my memories of the trips to the Black Hills as a child with my parents and siblings. We used to go out there for Labor Day, stay in this little non-air-conditioned cabin, and enjoy the outdoors. We would hike and visit the caves, go to Mount Rushmore, or visit the lake. I still love visiting Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills. I loved being there with my parents and siblings, and I love taking my daughters there on trips like the ones I took growing up. Nobody who visits South Dakota should miss the Black Hills. I am not sure there is a more beautiful place on Earth--the interplay of light, shadow on the trees and rocks late on a summer afternoon, the endless South Dakota sky reflected in the clear blue of Sylvan Lake. People in Washington, DC, don't know what the Milky Way looks like on a clear night in the Black Hills or on the prairies of South Dakota. It is as if the sky had been carpeted with millions of diamonds. I am lucky to be a son of South Dakota. I am looking forward to getting out of Washington, DC, this week and heading back to my home State of South Dakota for some of the best weeks of the year. Brown County, if you are listening to this, please save me a Tubby Burger. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).