John Thune

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Dr. Erica Towle, a Knauss Sea Grant fellow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and other members of the committee over the past year. Dr. Towle received her Ph.D. in coral reef ecology from the University of Miami. In her postgraduate work, she has used her scientific expertise to inform public policy. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Towle for all of the fine work she has done. I wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

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

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, last week the Senate began consideration of the ObamaCare repeal resolution, which is the first step in the process of repealing the law. It is time for repeal. Seven years ago, ObamaCare was sold to the American people with a lot of promises. The law was going to reduce premiums for families. It was going to fix problems with our health care system without hurting anyone who was happy with their health coverage. If you like your health plan, you will be able to keep it, people all across this country were told over and over again. If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor--also a promise and claim that was made over and over again. As everyone knows, every one of these promises was broken. Premiums for families have continued to rise. Millions of Americans lost health care plans that they liked. Americans regularly discovered that they couldn't keep their doctors and that choice of replacement was often limited. These broken promises were just the tip of the iceberg. The law hasn't just failed to live up to its promises, it is actively collapsing, and the status quo is unsustainable. Premiums on the exchanges are soaring. Deductibles regularly run into the thousands of dollars. For 2017, the average deductible for a bronze-level ObamaCare plan is rising from $5,731 to $6,092. With deductibles like that, it is no wonder that some Americans can't afford to actually use their ObamaCare insurance. I receive a lot of mail from constituents in my State struggling to pay for their health care. One constituent contacted me to say: ``My ObamaCare premium went up from $1,080 per month to $1,775 per month,'' a 64-percent increase, $21,300 a year for health insurance. Let me just repeat that, a 64-percent increase in premiums, $21,300 a year for health insurance. That is like paying another mortgage. That is a lot more than many people pay for their mortgage, and of course that is before any deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs are considered. Another constituent wrote to tell me, ``Today I received a new premium notice from my ObamaCare insurance. My policy rate for myself, my wife and my teenage son has increased by 357 percent.'' The problems on the exchanges aren't limited to soaring costs, unfortunately. Insurers are pulling out of the exchanges right and left. Health care choices are rapidly dwindling. Narrow provider networks are the order of the day. One-third of American counties have just one choice of health insurer on their exchange. This is not the health care reform the American people were looking for. So it is no surprise that a recent Gallup poll found that 80 percent of Americans want major changes to ObamaCare or want the law entirely repealed and replaced or that 74 percent of American voters ranked health care as a very important voting issue for them in the 2016 elections. ObamaCare has not fixed our Nation's health care problems. It has made them worse. The American people deserve better. Last week, the Senate started considering the ObamaCare repeal resolution, and we are continuing that process this week. This resolution will provide us with the tools we need to repeal the law, and then committees will get to work on the actual repeal bills. Then we will work step-by-step to replace ObamaCare with real health care reform that focuses on personalized, patient-centered care. One massive problem with ObamaCare is the fact that it puts Washington in charge of health care decisions that should be made at a much lower level. The ObamaCare reform the Republicans pass will focus on fixing this. We are going to move control from Washington and give it back to States and the individuals. Health care issues don't have one size-fits-all solutions. It is time to stop acting like they do. States should have the power to innovate and embrace health care solutions that work for the individuals and the employers of their States. Individuals should be able to make health care decisions in consultation with their doctors, not with Washington, DC. Another thing we are going to focus on is breaking down the ObamaCare barriers that have artificially restricted choice. As I said earlier, ObamaCare has defaulted to a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health care, and that means that many Americans have found themselves paying for health care they don't need or want. We need much more flexibility in insurance plans. A thriving health care system would offer a wide variety of choices that would allow Americans to pick a plan tailored to their needs, that would be a competitive system that gives people in this country more choices, and inevitably what happens in those circumstances, that pushes the cost down. We also need to give Americans the tools to better manage their health care and control costs. Of course, any reform plan has to make sure small businesses have the tools they need to provide the employees with affordable health coverage. ObamaCare has placed huge burdens on small businesses that have made it difficult for them to thrive and even to survive. It is time to lift these burdens and free up these businesses to grow and create jobs. Our health care system wasn't perfect before ObamaCare. We all acknowledge that, but ObamaCare was not the answer. Instead of fixing the problems in our health care system, it just made things worse. Republicans are ready to implement the kind of health care reform the American people are looking for: more affordable, more personal, more flexible health care coverage that meets their needs and is less bureaucratic. The American people are ready for health care reform that actually works, and that is exactly what Republicans are going to give them starting right now. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, clarifying that recent request, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for the weekly conference meetings but that that time not count against S. Con. Res. 3.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for the weekly conference meetings and the time in recess count equally against S. Con. Res. 3; further, that Senator Sanders or his designee control the time from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and finally, that there be 2 minutes equally divided in the usual form prior to the vote on the Flake amendment.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that Matthew Taylor, a congressional fellow in Senator Cochran's office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the 115th Congress.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, the business of the 114th Congress is drawing to a close to wrap up a few final bills. One of the most important bills that we will be passing this week is the National Defense Authorization Act. In fact, this is one of the most important bills that we pass each year. The National Defense Authorization Act is one of two bills that ensures that our military men and women have the tools and resources they need to defend our country. It is the bill that authorizes funding for the body armor our troops wear and the weapons they carry into battle. It is the bill that authorizes funding for the advanced technology our military needs to be successful on today's battlefield and the bill that authorizes true pay increases which help us retain an All-Volunteer Force. Making sure our troops have what they need to defend our country is pretty much our most important responsibility as Members of Congress; first, of course, because the security of our country depends on it and, second, because we owe our men and women in uniform nothing less. This year's National Defense Authorization Act authorizes the largest troop pay increase in 6 years. It modernizes the military health care system to improve quality of care for our troops and their families. It reduces Pentagon bureaucracy to focus resources on our Nation's warfighters, and it supports our allies amid growing threats. It also addresses the dangerous underfunding of the military that has occurred under President Obama. It stops troop reductions for the Army and Marine Corps and authorizes additional funds to address readiness shortfalls. Members of our military should not have to be salvaging spare parts from retired aircraft to keep their planes in the air. Over the next few years, the Republican majorities in Congress will work with President-Elect Trump to rebuild our Nation's military and ensure that we have the strongest fighting force in the world. This bill is an important start. As we finish the work of the 114th Congress, we are also looking forward to the 115th. Republicans will move quickly to take up a number of important measures. Two big issues it will tackle right at the beginning are repealing ObamaCare and confirming a Supreme Court nominee. I don't need to tell anyone that ObamaCare is a failure. A Gallup poll released last week found that 80 percent of Americans want major changes to ObamaCare or want the law repealed and replaced. That shouldn't come as any surprise. The President promised lower premiums and affordable care, but ObamaCare has meant exactly the opposite. Premium costs have soared and soared again. Deductibles have increased, and health care choices have been sharply reduced. One constituent contacted me and said: My ObamaCare premium went up from $1,080 per month to $1,775 per month, a 64-percent increase. That is $21,300 a year for health insurance. Another constituent wrote to say: ``My ObamaCare premium doubles next year.'' It will double. I don't know too many Americans who can afford to have their health insurance premiums double. Still another constituent wrote to tell me that ``today I received a new premium notice for my ObamaCare insurance. My policy rate for myself, my wife, and my teenage son has increased by 357 percent''--357 percent. ObamaCare is on the brink of collapse. We know what millions of Americans already know; that is, that the status quo is unsustainable. It is time to repeal this law and replace it with something that works, and that is precisely what we are going to do. We are going to get started on repeal as soon as the 115th Congress convenes, and then we are going to work step-by-step to replace ObamaCare with real health care reform--health care reform that focuses on the States rather than having the Federal Government running everything, health care that gives more control to patients and doctors when it comes to health care choices and decisions, health care that provides choices and is patient-centered so there are more options out there, more choices, more competition in the marketplace, and a health care system that allows flexibility for our small businesses on which much of the responsibility for providing health care for their employees falls. Another thing we are going to get started on right away in January is confirming the President's nominees, including his nominee for the Supreme Court. My Democratic colleagues have spent a lot of time talking about the importance of confirming a ninth Justice to the Supreme Court. I trust they will bring that same eagerness with them in January. I look forward to working with them during the confirmation process. After Justice Scalia's death, I came to the floor to honor him. Like others who spoke at the time, I mentioned his keen mind, his gift for language and, most of all, his absolute commitment to the law. For Justice Scalia, the Constitution truly was the supreme law of the land. He didn't let anything interfere with that. His politics, his personal opinions, his feelings about a case, none of those things were allowed to play a role in his decisions. That is the key right there. We all know Justice Scalia had personal opinions, but when it came down to deciding cases, he ignored them. He looked at the law and the Constitution, which is the supreme law, and he judged accordingly. It is wonderful to have strong opinions. It is wonderful to have sympathy for causes or organizations. It is wonderful to have plans for fixing society's problems, but none of those things have any business influencing your ruling when you sit on the Supreme Court. There only two things that should influence a Supreme Court Justice's ruling: the law and the Constitution. The minute something else comes into play, whether it is a Justice's personal feelings or a political philosophy, you have done away with the rule of law and replaced it with the rule of personal opinion. We have gone through a lot in this country to ensure that we will be governed by the law and not by someone's personal opinions. Justice Scalia will be a hard Justice to replace, but I am confident that President-Elect Trump will nominate a Justice with a similar respect for the rule of law, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get a qualified nominee confirmed. Repealing ObamaCare and confirming a Supreme Court nominee are two important things we are going to do next year, but they are just the beginning. Republicans are going to spend the 115th Congress fighting for the American people's priorities, from growing our economy and creating better paying jobs to securing our borders and protecting our Nation. We have a chance to do big things for the American people in 2017, and we can't wait to get started. Madam President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, as chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over consumer protection matters, I introduced the bipartisan Consumer Review Freedom Act last year, along with Senators Schatz and Moran, and cosponsored by Senators McCaskill, Daines, Blumenthal, Nelson, Booker, and Wyden, to address a growing and alarming trend affecting American consumers in the United States. Some businesses are slipping so-called gag clauses into form contracts to stop consumers from providing critical feedback to the public, even when that feedback is an honest reflection of the consumer experience. This legislation, and companion legislation agreed to in the House of Representatives would invalidate nondisparagement clauses in form contracts and make it unlawful for a person to offer or enter into a contract containing a nonnegotiable nondisparagement clause. Both bills contain a rule of construction to clarify that the legislation should not be construed to affect the right of a Web site owner to remove a review that ``contains the personal information or likeness of another person or is libelous, harassing, abusive, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, or inappropriate with respect to race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or other intrinsic characteristic.'' This language is simply intended to preserve the existing ability of Web site operators to enforce such terms of service. For example, it would--and is intended to--preserve the ability of a business to remove language from its Web site that includes inappropriate or harassing references to someone's religion, physical disability, or similar characteristic. As highlighted at the Commerce Committee hearing on this legislation, the intent is not to regulate speech; the intent is to ensure that consumers are protected against fees and penalties imposed pursuant to form contracts for engaging in honest reviews of goods and services. I am pleased that the Senate has passed the latest version of this legislation and that it will be headed to the President's desk for signature. I thank my colleagues for their support of this measure.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, 2 years ago the American people entrusted Republicans with the Senate majority. At that time, things were in a bad way here in the Senate. Under Democratic control, the legislative process almost ground to a halt. Important bills weren't getting passed, and those that did get passed were frequently drafted behind closed doors, with Republicans and many rank-and-file Democrats shut out of the process, which, of course, means that the American people's voices were frequently shut out of the process. When Republicans took control, we knew that getting the Senate working again had to be our first priority, and that is what we did. We opened up debate so Senators from both parties could make their voices heard. We started drafting legislation in committee again so that bills were the result of discussion and compromise instead of being dictated by Democratic Party leaders. And we got the Senate passing real, substantial legislation again--a balanced budget, appropriations bills, the first major Energy bill since the Bush administration, and the first significant education reform since 2002. I am particularly proud of two bills that the committee I chair, the Commerce Committee, worked on--a Federal Aviation Administration bill with major airport security provisions and the first long-term Transportation bill since 2005. The terrorist attacks in Brussels and Istanbul that occurred this year broadcast airport security challenges--particularly the soft target offered by large crowds in unsecured airport areas. Those were problems we had been working on in the Commerce Committee for months before the attacks, and in July we passed an FAA bill that addresses them and more. The bill we passed requires the TSA to look at ways to improve security checkpoints to make the passenger screening process more efficient and effective, and it significantly increases the security presence in unsecured areas in airports. It also improves vetting of airport employees to address the insider terrorist threat-- the risk that an airport employee would give a terrorist access to secure areas. The Senate passed this bill in July, and the President signed it into law a couple days later. I am proud of this law, which is the kind of substantial legislation we should be passing for the American people. I am also proud of the Transportation bill we passed, part of which came out of our committee. When Congress fails to provide certainty about the way transportation funding will be allocated, States and local governments are left without the certainty they need to authorize projects or to make long-term plans, important investments in infrastructure that support the economy are shelved, and jobs that depend upon transportation are put in jeopardy. The Transportation bill we passed changes all that. It reauthorizes transportation programs for the long term and provides 5 years of guaranteed funding. That means States and local governments will have the certainty they need to invest in big transportation projects and the jobs they create, and that, in turn, means a stronger economy and a more reliable, safe, and effective transportation system. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past 2 years, but there is a lot left to be done. Some of the most important measures we passed in the 114th Congress went nowhere, thanks to opposition from the Democrats and the White House--an ObamaCare repeal; legislation to overturn some of the Obama administration's most burdensome regulations; legislation to address the dangerous problem of so-called sanctuary cities, which refuse to work with Federal immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. I am hopeful that with a Republican President, we will be able to address these issues and many more in the 115th Congress. Republicans have big plans for the 115th. If there is one thing this election made clear, it is that the Obama economy is not working for American families. Republicans are committed to fixing that. Growing our economy is going to be our No. 1 priority next Congress. There are a number of things we can do to get our economy healthy again. We can reform our Tax Code to reduce the burden on American families and businesses. Right now, our Nation has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. More and more, American companies are focusing their business operations overseas because the tax situation is so much better abroad. That means American jobs are going overseas with them. We have lost our competitive edge in an increasingly global economy. Instead of pushing corporations out of this country, we should bring our Nation's corporate tax rate in line with those of other countries to keep more jobs here in the United States. Another big thing we can do is repeal some of the burdensome government regulations that are weighing down businesses. While some government regulations are necessary, every administration has to remember that regulations have consequences. The more resources individuals and businesses spend complying with unnecessary government regulations, the less they have to focus on the growth and innovation that drive our economy and create new opportunities for workers. The overregulation of the last 8 years has left businesses with few resources to dedicate to growing and creating jobs. Another thing we need to do is address our national debt, which has nearly doubled over the past 8 years. All that debt is a drag on the economy. It slows growth and reduces economic opportunity. It is time to get our government back on a budget. Another way we can help lift the burden on American families is by repealing and replacing ObamaCare. I don't need to tell anyone that the President's health care law is broken. The promise of lower premiums and affordable health care has given way to the reality of giant premium increases and massive deductibles. A Gallup poll released yesterday found that 80 percent of Americans want major changes to ObamaCare or want the law repealed and replaced completely. It is time to give the American people health care reform that actually works. Another priority for the 115th Congress will be national security. Americans are rightly worried about the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISIS, which has spread violence and devastation not only in the Middle East but across Europe and beyond. Republicans are committed to defeating ISIS abroad and to keeping Americans safe here at home. We are also committed to keeping Americans safe by securing our borders. We must have secure borders and policies that encourage legal immigration while discouraging illegal immigration. There are other priorities we need to address: confirming a Supreme Court nominee who will judge based on the law and the Constitution; protecting religious liberty; and the list goes on. Republicans are aware of the trust the American people have placed in us, and we are committed to earning it. We are going to spend the 115th Congress fighting for the American people's priorities. We have a real chance to get things done in the next Congress, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here in the Senate on both sides of the aisle to address the challenges that are facing our Nation. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to conclude my remarks.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Daniel Yarbrough, an intern in my Washington, DC, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota. Daniel is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, AL, having earned a degree in political science. This spring, Daniel plans to continue serving the public by working on Capitol Hill. Daniel is a dedicated worker who has been committed to getting the most out of his experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Daniel Yarbrough for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Caitlin Hone, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota. Caitlin is a graduate of Saint Pius X High School in Albuquerque, NM. Currently, she is attending South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where she is majoring in civil engineering. 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 Caitlin Hone 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 Trey Edwards, an intern in my Washington, DC, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota. Trey is a graduate of Tuscaloosa County High School in Tuscaloosa, AL. Currently, he is attending Auburn University where he is majoring in public administration and minoring in business administration. Trey is a dedicated worker who has been committed to getting the most out of his experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Trey Edwards for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Seth DiAsio, an intern in my Washington, DC, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota. Seth is a graduate of the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, having earned a degree in studio art. Currently, he is attending American University Washington College of Law, where he is focusing on the law of intellectual property. Seth is a dedicated worker who has been committed to getting the most out of his experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Seth DiAsio for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, there is no doubt that the election we have just been through was a bad one. Emotions ran high on both sides and are still running. But this is hardly the first time it has happened in our history, and it won't be the last. Take the election of 1800, for example. The campaign between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson was no picnic either. It was emotional, hard fought, and full of partisan attacks. Each side alleged that the other would bring about ruin to our young Nation. In his novel address, the new President, Thomas Jefferson, specifically referenced the contentious process that the Nation had just gone through, but then he said the following: ``[B]ut this [meaning the election] being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good.'' Let me repeat that: ``all will . . . arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good.'' That is the key. That is what separates our Nation from tyrannies and other oppressive forms of government. In the United States, we may have contentious elections. But at the end of the day, we accept the results, and we move forward for the common good. That doesn't mean we give up fighting for what we believe in, of course, but we fight within the law, not outside of it. Our form of government endures because as a nation we respect the rule of law. But there is another thing to remember about elections-- not just the obligation that we have to accept the results and move forward, but something else, and that is what President Obama reminded us of the day after the election: We are all Americans, and at the end of the day, we are all on the same side. Everyone is sad when their side loses an election, but the day after, we have to remember that we're actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We're not Democrats first. We're not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We are patriots first. That is from President Obama the day after the election. Indeed, we are Americans who believe in God-given freedoms, and what unites us is greater than what divides us. In the coming days, I look forward to working with my fellow Americans from both parties to meet the challenges that are facing our Nation. There is one thing that this election made clear: It is that this economy is not working for American families. In one CNN exit poll last Tuesday, 63 percent of voters rated the economy as poor. That result should not surprise anyone. The last few years have been tough for American workers. Job creation has been sluggish. Wages have been stagnant. Economic growth has lagged far behind the pace of other recoveries, and opportunities for workers have been few and far between. There is no wonder so many hard-working Americans feel that they have been left behind. To the millions of American workers who are discouraged by this economy I want to say this: We hear you. Republicans hear you. I promise you, we are going to act. Growing our economy is going to be our No. 1 priority next Congress. There are a number of things we can do to get the economy healthy again. We can reform our Tax Code to reduce the burden on American families and businesses. Right now our Nation has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. More and more American companies are focusing their business operations overseas because the tax situation is so much better abroad. That means American jobs are going overseas with them. We have lost our competitive edge in an increasingly global economy. Instead of pushing corporations out of our country, we should bring our Nation's corporate tax rate in line with those of other countries to keep more jobs here in the United States. Another big thing we can do is repeal some of the burdensome government regulations that are weighing down businesses. While some government regulations are necessary, every administration has to remember that regulations have consequences. The more resources individuals and businesses spend complying with government regulations, the less they have available to focus on the growth and innovation that drive our economy and create new opportunities for American workers. Over the past 8 years in particular, businesses have had to devote far too many resources to complying with government regulations. That has left them with few resources to dedicate to growing and creating jobs. Another thing we need to do is address our national debt, which has nearly doubled over the past 8 years. That debt is a drag on our economy. It slows growth and reduces economic opportunity. It is time to get our government back on a budget. Another way we can help lift the burden on American families is by repealing and replacing ObamaCare. The President's health care law is broken. The promise of lower premiums and affordable health care has given way to the reality of giant premium increases and massive deductibles. It is time to give the American people health care reform that actually works. Another priority of the new Republican Congress will be national security. Americans are rightfully worried about the threat posed by terrorist groups such as ISIS, which has spread violence and devastation not only in the Middle East but across Europe and beyond. We have even experienced ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks on American soil in San Bernardino and Orlando. More recently, there were attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey and an ISIS-inspired stabbing attack in Minnesota. Republicans are committed to defeating ISIS abroad and keeping Americans safe here at home. We intend to make sure that our law enforcement agencies and our Nation's military have the tools they need to defeat terrorist threats. We will make sure that our military men and women remain the best equipped and the most prepared fighting forces on the planet. Another key component to keeping Americans safe is securing our borders. We must have secure borders and policies that encourage legal immigration while discouraging illegal immigration. Then there are the other priorities we need to address: confirming a Supreme Court nominee who will judge based on the law and the Constitution, protecting religious liberty, encouraging investment in our Nation's infrastructure, and more. To all the Americans who voted for change in this election, to every worker who has felt left behind in this economy, I want to say again: We hear you. Republicans hear you. We are going to fight for your priorities here in Washington. We are committed to earning the trust that you placed in us on election day. The election is over, and it is time to take up the work of governing the Nation. Our Nation is facing many challenges. It is time for all of us--Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative--to unite to address them. If we work together, I firmly believe we will once again be able to say, as President Ronald Reagan once said: American's best days are yet to come. Our proudest moments are yet to be. Our most glorious achievements are just ahead. I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I am disappointed that the minority has again chosen to put partisan politics ahead of passing noncontroversial, bipartisan, pro-growth legislation. My understanding is that their sole objection to passing the MOBILE NOW Act is the wholly unrelated nomination of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. I know that the distinguished minority leader is frustrated that Commissioner Rosenworcel has not yet been confirmed to another term. On the floor previously, he also said that I have done everything possible within my authority as chairman of the Commerce Committee to advance her nomination through the process, and that is correct. We had her hearing. We voted her out of the committee. Scheduling the floor is not something that I control. What I don't understand, however, is why Senate Democrats believe that blocking the MOBILE NOW Act and other bipartisan bills that come out of my committee will help her cause. We invited Commissioner Rosenworcel to testify at one of our hearings leading up to the bill. Ironically, many of her ideas are reflected in this legislation. The bill also reflects the priorities and hard work of so many Commerce Committee Democrats. In particular, two of the most important additions to the bill were Senator Schatz's Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act and Senator Klobuchar's ``dig once bill,'' or the Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure Act. If the MOBILE NOW Act is not passed by the Senate soon, their legislative efforts will have been made in vain. While I respect how important it is to Senator Reid and to other Democrats that Commissioner Rosenworcel be confirmed this year, there is simply no reason for that effort to jeopardize the good-faith effort that Senators on both sides of the aisle did to create this bill. These two issues have been inexplicably linked, but they need not be. I urge my colleagues to separate these unrelated matters and to pass the MOBILE NOW Act now without further delay.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be able to complete my remarks with respect to this subject.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 446, S. 2555. I further ask that the Thune amendment be agreed to; that the committee- reported substitute amendment, as amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, it is with a great deal of pride that I honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. Raymond Bushland. This year, Dr. Bushland, along with his close friend and research partner Dr. Edward F. Knipling, posthumously received the Golden Goose award for his essential research into the reproductive cycle of the screwworm fly. Dr. Bushland was born in our neighboring State of Minnesota and was raised and educated in my home State of South Dakota. He earned both his bachelor's degree and master's degree in entomology from South Dakota State University. After completing these degrees, he pursued a doctorate from Kansas State University and began a long and fruitful career as a research scientist. During the 38 years Dr. Bushland worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research program, he authored over 70 scientific papers on the science and management of insects. He is most noted for working toward eradication of the screwworm fly. This scourge of man and beast had an annual economic impact of well over $1.8 billion, in today's money, to the livestock industry. Thanks to the research of Dr. Bushland and Dr. Knipling, most Americans have never heard of the screwworm fly, let alone ever dealt personally with its negative impacts. Dr. Knipling and Dr. Bushland were jointly awarded some of the highest honors that anyone involved in agricultural research can earn: the Hoblitzelle National Award, the John F. Scotte Medal, and the World Food Prize. Dr. Bushland is currently the only graduate of South Dakota State to hold a World Food Prize. For his life's work and service to humanity, I would like to remember Dr. Raymond Bushland.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the end of a Presidential administration is often a time for taking stock. In the coming months, pundits and reporters will spend a lot of time discussing President Obama's legacy. Perhaps the real measure of the President's legacy, I would argue, is how the American people are feeling at the end of his administration. Americans aren't feeling too good. After 8 years of the Obama economy and President Obama's foreign policy, two-thirds of Americans think our Nation is on the wrong track, more than half think we are less safe than we were before September 11, and 67 percent rate our economy as ``not so good'' or ``poor''--two-thirds of Americans. It is disappointing, but it is not surprising. On the foreign policy front, here is where we stand after 8 years of the Obama administration: Terrorism is spreading. The Middle East is more hostile and dangerous. Iran is counting pallets of ransom money and in a better position to develop a nuclear weapon. North Korea is defiantly testing nuclear weapons. Russia is more aggressive. China is more aggressive. I could go on and on. On the domestic front, 8 years of the Obama economy has left American families struggling. While the recession technically ended 7 years ago, our economy has never really rebounded. Recoveries are usually a period of robust growth. Three to four percent or more is common in a recovery. The Obama recovery, however, has averaged a tepid 2.1-percent growth. In fact, the Obama recovery is the worst recovery in 60 years, and things are actually going downhill. During the first half of 2016, the economy grew at a rate of less than 1 percent. Historically, sailors refer to the area around the Equator, where their ships could become trapped for weeks, as the doldrums. Well, that is pretty much where our economy is now--it is in the doldrums, stuck, unmoving. Our economy has barely grown at all this year, and the long- term forecast is bleak. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is estimating that our economy will grow at less than 2 percent for the next 10 years. What do those numbers mean? Sluggish economic growth means fewer jobs, lower incomes, and fewer opportunities. We can see the effect of the sluggish Obama economy in job creation and unemployment numbers. While the unemployment rate has decreased from its recession-level highs, part of that has been driven by individuals dropping out of the workforce. The challenge of finding a job in the Obama economy has led many individuals to simply give up looking for work altogether. Millions have dropped out of the workforce, and we now have a labor force participation rate that is near a 30-year low. If the labor force participation rate were the same today as it was when President Obama took office, the current unemployment rate would be 9.1 percent. Let me repeat that because I think it is important when we talk about all these different percentages, particularly with regard to unemployment. If the labor force participation rate were the same today as it was when President Obama took office, the current unemployment rate would be 9.1 percent. That is how many people have completely dropped out of the labor force. That is how many people are no longer participating in our economy. On the job-creation front, the Obama recovery has again lagged far behind other recoveries. So far this year, job creation has averaged just 182,000 jobs per month--far below where it should be in a strong economy. For the Obama recovery to match the job creation of other post-1960 recoveries, job creation would have to soar to 1.37 million jobs a month for the rest of the Obama Presidency, or more than seven times the number of jobs we are currently adding. With numbers like these, it is no surprise that two-thirds of the American people rate the Obama economy as ``not so good'' or ``poor.'' Americans are tired. For the past 8 years, good jobs and opportunities have been few and far between. And that is not all Americans have had to contend with. They have also had to contend with the steep cost of health care. The President's health care law was supposed to make health care more affordable. We were told premiums for families would drop. We were told Americans would have the freedom to keep their doctor and choose affordable plans that fit their needs. Well, the reality has been pretty much the opposite. To illustrate, I would like to read a brief article that appeared a few days ago in CNN Money. The title of the article is ``Health care costs rise by most in 32 years.'' Health care costs rose sharply in August. Prices for medicine, doctor appointments and health insurance rose the most last month since 1984. The price increases come amid a broader debate about climbing health care costs and high premiums for Obamacare coverage. A recent report by Kaiser/LET Employer Health Benefits forecasts that the average family health care plan will cost $18,142, up 3.4% from 2015. That's faster than wage growth in America. Medical care costs altogether rose 1% just in August from July, according to the Consumer Price Index, a report on price inflation from the U.S. Labor Department. Premiums on the Obamacare exchanges are expected to rise by double-digits this year. Some health insurers, such as Aetna, have recently announced they would pull out of the Obamacare exchanges, saying ObamaCare patients have turned out to be sicker and costlier than expected. Overall, workers are paying more for deductibles. Over half of U.S. workers with single coverage health insurance plans pay a deductible of $1,000 or more, up from 31% of workers in 2011. And the health care price increases come as inflation overall continues to be low. Consumer prices altogether rose 1.1% in August compared to a year ago. All those statistics come from that CNN Money piece. So let's just recap what they were describing. Prices for medicine, doctors, and health insurance are way up. The price of the average family health plan is growing faster than wages. ObamaCare premiums are soaring; individuals are facing double-digit premium increases. Deductibles are up. Insurers are pulling out of health care exchanges, reducing Americans' choices. And health care costs are growing faster than inflation. In other words, they are taking an even greater share of Americans' budgets. That is where we are after 6-plus years of the ``Affordable'' Care Act. I have said before that if we wanted to coin a phrase to describe Obama's Presidency, it might be the ``Presidency of diminished expectations.'' It is the Presidency in which Americans started to doubt the cornerstone of the American dream that their children will have a better life than they do. It is the Presidency in which we were asked to start looking at weak economic growth as somehow being the new normal. And it is the Presidency in which we were asked to look at a future of soaring costs and limited choices as the new standard for health care. We don't need to resign ourselves to these diminished expectations. After all, the weakness of the Obama recovery is not a chance or a coincidence; it is the natural consequence of the President's policies. Instead of freeing up our economy to grow, the President has weighted it down with tax hikes, spending increases, and burdensome regulations. Over the past 8 years, the Obama administration has enacted more than 600 new major regulations, totaling $743 billion or, to put it in perspective, $2,300 per American. While some government regulations are necessary, every administration has to remember that regulations have consequences. The more resources individuals and businesses spend complying with government regulations, the less they have available to focus on the growth and innovation that drive our economy and create new opportunities for American workers. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has chosen to prioritize burdensome government mandates instead of freeing up individuals and businesses to innovate. We don't have to continue that way. We can repeal burdensome regulations. We can stop overspending. We can reform our Tax Code to lift the burden on job creators and on families. The weak economic growth of the past 8 years does not have to be the new normal. Americans don't have to resign themselves to a future of crippling health care bills either. ObamaCare had good intentions, but it has turned out to be a disaster. If we repeal this failed law, we can start over and pass real health care reform, the kind that will actually drive down costs and provide increased access to care. Republicans are excited to work with a new President to move beyond the economic failures of the past 8 years. We have ideas to grow our economy, promote job growth, and increase opportunities for American families. Hard-working Americans deserve more than the diminished expectations of the Obama Presidency. Republicans firmly believe that a better future is possible. We are ready to get to work to get there. Attacks in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota Mr. President, before I close, I want to address the bombings and attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey this weekend, as well as the knife attack at a shopping mall in Minnesota. My prayers are with the 29 victims in Manhattan, the 10 victims in St. Cloud, and the two wounded officers in New Jersey. My prayers are also with the families of the injured and the communities whose sense of community has been rattled. I am grateful to local, State, and Federal law enforcement personnel for their efforts to apprehend the suspect and, more importantly, prevent further injury or even death. I am also grateful for the off-duty officer who stopped the assailant in St. Cloud. In these times of heightened threats, the service of our law enforcement officers is critical. The investigations into all of these attacks are ongoing, but they are being viewed as potential acts of terrorism. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack in Minnesota, and investigators are seeking a definitive connection, such as a declaration on social media, as we saw in the San Bernardino shooting. I am hopeful that our intelligence communities can quickly piece together the motives and possible terror links of these attacks. Doing so may lead to intelligence that could prevent future attacks and provide insight on how to better counter terror networks and prevent domestic recruitment. This weekend's attacks underscore just how high the stakes really are. The threat of terrorism continues to grow, fueled by instability in the Middle East--instability that has been fueled by the absence of U.S. leadership. Part of the reason we are facing ISIS today is that the President chose to prematurely withdraw our troops from Iraq. This left a gaping hole in Iraq's security, and ISIS quickly took advantage. Despite the trail of bloodshed that ISIS has left in its wake, the Obama administration continues to downplay the threat this organization poses. Unfortunately, the consequences of downplaying this threat could haunt us for generations to come. Senate Republicans will continue to do what we can in Congress to restore America's leadership and strengthen our country's security. We will continue pushing for the resources our military needs to defeat ISIS abroad. We will continue pursuing policies that would strengthen our borders so we know who is coming in and out of our country. We will continue supporting policies that give our intelligence and security agencies the tools they need to protect our homeland. The committee I chair--the Commerce Committee--is looking at legislation right now to strengthen security on our Nation's highways and railways. In addition to the airport security package we enacted earlier this year as part of the FAA bill, this bill will help keep families safe as they travel around our country. I am hopeful the Senate will take up this legislation in the near future. Finally, I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance essential defense legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act and Defense appropriations, which will help undo the foreign policy failures of the Obama administration. For too long, Senate Democrats have put politics ahead of funding our military. Democrats have filibustered the Defense appropriations bill no fewer than six times during this Congress alone. I am hopeful we will soon be able to put politics aside and fund our men and women in uniform. They serve in harm's way every day. The least we can do is give them the resources they need to carry out their jobs. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, a FOX News poll released this month found that ``a record-high 54 percent of American voters feel the U.S. is less safe today than it was before 9/11.'' Fifty-four percent of Americans think they are less safe than they were before 9/11. The article went on to say: Voters also think: A major terrorist attack is likely in the near future. . . . Last year's U.S.-Iran agreement on Iran's nuclear program made the U.S. less safe. . . . The $400 million the U.S. paid Iran after American prisoners were released was ransom. . . . Terrorism is one of the most important issues facing the country. Those are all quotes from the survey that was done where 54 percent of Americans indicated they thought they were less safe today than they were before 9/11. And it is not surprising that Americans are worried. When President Obama was elected, he was widely regarded as America's next great foreign policy President. Here was a President who would restore America's standing in the world and calm the troubled waters of international conflict. Confidence in his abilities was so high that he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize before he had actually done anything to bring peace. But after 8 years of the Obama administration, the world is less, not more, safe. America's standing in the world has been weakened, terrorism is spreading, the Middle East is more hostile and dangerous, Iran is counting pallets of ransom money and is in a better position to develop a nuclear weapon, and all too often, President Obama and Hillary Clinton's foreign policies have been a contributing factor. Take the rise of ISIS. When President Obama came into office, he was determined to fulfill his campaign promise to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, and that is exactly what he and Secretary Clinton proceeded to do on a timetable that he announced to our enemies. America's hasty withdrawal left gaping holes in Iraq's security, and before too long, ISIS had stepped in to fill the void. By mid-2014, ISIS had made significant territorial gains in Iraq and neighboring Syria. Although ISIS has since lost territory in both Syria and Iraq, it was able to establish a foothold from which to expand its global terror reach. The list of ISIS-linked attacks has grown very long--Nice in France, Istanbul, Brussels, Paris, Orlando, San Bernardino, and on and on and on. In the past 2 months alone, ISIS has been linked to a suicide bombing at a Turkish wedding, a suicide bombing at a hospital in Pakistan, a suicide bombing in Yemen, and a gruesome attack at a church in northern France. ISIS has also been linked to an attack on police officers in Belgium, a music festival bombing in Germany, and another railway attack there. And that is just in the past 2 months. Yet, despite this ever-growing stream of attacks, the President has never seemed to understand the depth of the threat. While U.S. efforts have succeeded in reclaiming some territory from ISIS, the group's terrorist activities continue unabated and its international profile is increasing. Its communications have grown especially sophisticated, making intercepting and decoding ISIS's messages and tracking its recruitment efforts increasingly difficult. In June the President's own CIA Director told Congress, ``Our efforts have not reduced the group's terrorism capability and global reach.'' That was from the President's own CIA Director. Yet, just days before the CIA Director's testimony, the President claimed we were ``making significant progress'' against ISIS. As long as ISIS's global terrorism capability remains unchecked, we are not making significant progress. Unfortunately, President Obama's foreign policy failures are not confined to his halfhearted campaign against ISIS. Take the President's nuclear agreement with Iran. This agreement was supposed to protect our Nation and the world from the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. The actual deal that emerged, however, doesn't even come close to that goal. Even if Iran complies with all aspects of the deal, which doesn't seem likely, it will not stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In fact, the deal will actually make it easier for Iran to acquire advanced nuclear weapons down the road. On top of this, recent reports suggest that the United States and the other signatories to the deal have actually already allowed Iran to evade full compliance with some of the deal's provisions. It is no surprise that even some of the deal's supporters are getting worried. Iran has been in the news lately for other disturbing reasons as well. In August, news emerged that the Obama administration had delivered a $400 million cash payment to Iran on the same day four American hostages were freed. Furthermore, the administration had paid the money over the objections of Justice Department officials, who were concerned that the Iranians would regard it as a ransom payment. The administration, of course, strenuously denied that the payment was a ransom, but it is pretty hard to get away from the fact that there had been a de facto exchange of money for prisoners. Two weeks after news of the ransom broke, a State Department spokesman admitted that the administration had held the money until three American hostages had departed the country by plane. The President's ransom payment to Iran is troubling for more than one reason. First, of course, tying the receipt of a large cash payment to the release of prisoners could easily encourage Iran to expand its hostage-taking. Since the ransom payment in January, Iran has continued to detain individuals on spurious grounds. In late August, the State Department warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Iran because of the danger of being detained by the Iranian Government. So $400 million in cash in the hands of the Iranians is a disturbing prospect. Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and has a finger in many of the world's worst conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. There is a good chance that at least a chunk of that $400 million will go to funding Iran's illicit activities, from support for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to funds for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. On top of all of this, there is the fact that every time Iran gets the better end of a bargain, it feels even more free to act aggressively. Recently, Iranian fast boats have been harassing U.S. Navy ships, and warning shots have been fired. It is not a stretch to think that this aggression and boldness springs from the administration's position of weakness when it comes to Iran. Teddy Roosevelt used to say: ``Speak softly and carry a big stick.'' President Obama's foreign policy has reversed that. The President talks a big game, but he has no follow-through. To our adversaries, his statements have become no more than empty threats. Take Syria. The President drew a redline 4 years ago. If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people, the United States would respond. Well, Assad used chemical weapons, and the United States did nothing. It should shock no one that a recent U.N. investigation found that Assad has continued to use chemical weapons against his citizens. After more than 4 years of inaction from our President and 5 years of civil war, Syrian cities lie in ruins, millions are displaced, and tens of thousands--literally, tens of thousands--have been slaughtered. The world's eyes are now on the tenuous ceasefire in hopes that it may lead to peace talks and permit humanitarian aid to reach those most in need. But we must ask how we got here and what lessons can be learned. The consequence of empty threats is bolder and stronger enemies. When the United States fails to follow through, we send a message that the United States can be ignored at will. We can see the results in chemical attacks on civilians in Syria, in the belligerent acts of the Iranian Navy, in a defiant North Korea testing nuclear bombs, in China boldly asserting territorial claims and building up reefs in disputed waters, and in Russia annexing Crimea and flexing military and political influence in Ukraine. In 2008, then-candidate Obama spoke of the need for ``tough, direct diplomacy, where the President of the United States isn't afraid to let any petty dictator know where America stands and what we stand for.'' That is a direct quote from the President back when he was running for President. Well, Presidential candidate Obama was right. That is the kind of diplomacy that we need. But, unfortunately, it has never been the kind of diplomacy actually displayed by President Obama. In that same speech, then-candidate Obama spoke of the need for ``the courage and the conviction to lead the free world.'' Well, that is something that we need even more today, after 8 years of an administration that has frequently lacked the conviction to lead at all. Senate Republicans will continue to do what we can in Congress to restore America's leadership and to strengthen our country's security. This includes working to advance the essential National Defense Authorization Act and Defense appropriations measures--the latter of which have been blocked repeatedly in this Chamber by Democrats. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will work with us. Our Nation is already in a more dangerous position today, thanks to the foreign policy failures of the Obama administration. If we don't start getting our foreign policy right, the consequences could haunt us for generations. I yield the floor.