Jon Tester

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a Montanan whose life's work is helping to improve the health of folks in my home State and across this country. As a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine, Dr. Nicholas Wolter has been dedicated to improving the health of folks in Montana for several decades. His distinguished career in Montana began more than 30 years ago at the Billings Clinic, where he now serves as the chief executive officer. Under his leadership, the Billings Clinic has become the largest health care organization in Montana, with more than 3,700 employees, including 350 physicians and 400 inpatient nurses. Dr. Wolter is known for his commitment to the people of Billings, and under his direction the clinic has provided more charity care than any other health care organization in the State and has gained a reputation nationally as a leader in patient safety, quality, and service. For the past decade, Dr. Wolter has been one of the most influential voices on Capitol Hill in helping to reform our fragmented health care delivery system and championing the medical-group delivery model. His successes can be seen in several pieces of legislation, including the Affordable Care Act, and have improved care for countless numbers of patients. Dr. Wolter's close partnership with our former colleague, Senator Max Baucus, resulted in Montana serving as a model for the rest of the Nation on how best to deliver care in the most rural parts of this Nation. Dr. Wolter is a former member of the board of directors of the American Medical Group Association and the American Hospital Association. He served two terms as a Commissioner on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, advising Congress on how to improve care and reduce costs in the health care system. Dr. Wolter was recognized by the Medical Group Management Association in 2004 as the Physician Executive of the Year and was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health Care in 2010 and 2011, and by Modern Physicians as one of the 50 Most Influential Physicians in Health Care in 2011. Dr. Wolter has been a tireless advocate in improving our health care system and today I am delighted to recognize him as he is being entered into the American Medical Group Association's Policy Hall of Fame.

Mr. TESTER

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I rise to honor Cascade County Deputy Sheriff Joe Dunn, a dedicated public servant who died in the line of duty on August 14, 2014. On behalf of all Montanans, I want to thank Deputy Dunn for his service to our Nation and to the community of Great Falls, MT. Before enlisting to serve and protect his neighbors as a deputy sheriff, Joe Dunn served our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to the battlefields of Afghanistan. Upon returning to Montana, Deputy Dunn married the love of his life, Robynn. They had two children, Joey and Shiloh, who were the center of his universe. Deputy Dunn's deep commitment to Jesus and his love for his family were the guiding principles in which he lived his life. Montana's leaders have permanently honored the life and service of Deputy Dunn by naming an 8-mile stretch of Interstate 15 outside of Great Falls, MT. It is named the Joseph J. Dunn Memorial Highway. On May 15, 2015, Peace Officers Memorial Day, Deputy Dunn's name will be enshrined forever alongside 273 other brave peace officers who were killed in the line of duty. During his lifetime of service, Deputy Dunn always went beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of those he served, often working the evening shift and long hours away from his family. Deputy Dunn always put others above himself, and he is the kind of leader every Montanan can be proud of. Everyone who knew Deputy Dunn has been touched by his commitment to serve others and his passion for making his community a better place to call home. But above all, Joe Dunn was a family man. Regardless of the length of his shift or the difficulty of his day, his top priority was that of being a father. Today, as a body, we offer our deepest thoughts and prayers to his family, Robynn, Joey, and Shiloh. The State of Montana and this country are endlessly grateful for his service. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Cascade County Deputy Sheriff Joe Dunn, a dedicated public servant who died in the line of duty on August 14, 2014. On behalf of all Montanans, I thank Deputy Dunn for his service to our Nation and his community of Great Falls, MT. Before enlisting to serve and protect his neighbors as a deputy sheriff, Joe Dunn served our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to the battlefields of Afghanistan. Upon returning to Montana, Deputy Dunn married the love of his life, Robynn, and they had two children Joey and Shiloh, who were the center of his universe. Deputy Dunn's deep commitment to Jesus and love for his family were the guiding principles in which he lived his life. Montana's leaders have permanently honored the life and service of Deputy Dunn by naming an eight mile stretch of Interstate 15 outside of Great Falls, MT the Joseph J. Dunn Memorial Highway. On May 15, 2015, Peace Officers Memorial Day, Deputy Dunn's name will be enshrined forever alongside 273 other brave peace officers who were killed in the line of duty. During his lifetime of service, Deputy Dunn always went beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of those he served, often working the evening shift and long hours away from his family. Deputy Dunn always put others above himself, and he is the kind of leader every Montanan can be proud of. Everyone who knew Deputy Dunn has been touched by his commitment to serve others, and his passion for making his community a better place to call home. But above all, Joe Dunn was a family man and regardless of the length of his shift or the difficulty of his day, his top priority was being a father. Today as a body, we offer our deepest thoughts and prayers to his family: Robynn, Joey, and Shiloh. The State of Montana and this country are endlessly grateful for his service.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, if we look into this Senate's agenda this month, we will see right away why so many folks are frustrated with Washington. We have now been considering an Iran bill for the last 2 weeks. It has huge bipartisan support, but it is tied up with amendments designed to kill the bill. Today, the House and Senate Republicans bring forth a budget which reflects some of the worst ideas from each Chamber. Back in March, I raised concerns that the Senate budget put the interests of a few ahead of the future of this country, and that is still true today. The majority insists on spending billions of dollars overseas, and continues the fiction that this spending somehow doesn't count towards the deficit. Under this budget, every penny proposed in the overseas contingency operations account--that is $187 billion--is going to be borrowed from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and others. The majority once again favors tax breaks for the wealthiest among us over plans to strengthen the middle class--a middle class that has been the envy of the world. But under this blueprint, the $2,500 tax credit that helps students with the cost of tuition disappears. The benefit under the child tax credit gets smaller, and American middle-class folks get squeezed. The majority continues to reward companies that ship jobs overseas instead of creating jobs right here in the United States. This budget drastically cuts and ends Medicare as we know it, and it opens up the door to the sale of our public lands. Finally, this budget fails to invest in basic infrastructure. In fact, it actually calls for a cut of over $200 billion in highway and transit funding over the next decade. The majority is pushing this proposal even though the highway bill funding expires on May 31, 2015. Now we are nearly out of time. In less than 4 weeks, just as millions of Americans will be getting on the road to enjoy summer vacations, road construction projects around this country will come to a screeching halt. In my home State of Montana, the State department of transportation will delay nine projects this month due to Congress's failure to pass a long-term highway bill. Four projects that were scheduled to be awarded in April have been postponed to July and may be postponed indefinitely. Five more that were scheduled to be awarded next week will also be delayed. If Congress does another short-term extension, that list will get even longer. If we delay these projects even by a few weeks, we could miss the entire construction season in Montana, a northern-tier State. The snow will start falling, and the potholes will get bigger. We already know that America's transportation infrastructure has been ignored for far too long. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, more than half of America's major roads and bridges are rated as poor to mediocre. In Montana, 40 percent of our roads are in need of repair or will need fixing soon. When our roads have potholes or can't handle the volume of cars and trucks, safety becomes an issue. Montana routinely leads the Nation in highway fatalities, and thousands of road fatalities each year are the result of bad road conditions. As far as the economic impact, Federal highway dollars directly impact 11,000 jobs in Montana alone, not to mention the thousands of others who rely on roads for their businesses. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced. Each year, around $60 billion in goods is shipped over Montana's 75,000 miles of roads and highways. That is true economic impact. So instead of a long-term highway bill that allows States to plan and to get America moving, the next item the majority leader says he is going to take up is trade promotion authority. This will open the door for trade deals that the American public hasn't been allowed to see. While many in Washington see trade promotion as the key to ensuring America's long-term economic viability, we need to make sure that the investments are made right here at home--smart investments. After all, how are farmers in Montana going to get their crops to Asia if they cannot even get them down the road to the nearest grain elevator? Our transportation infrastructure affects every industry. Take, for instance, Montana's outdoor economy. Millions of people come to Montana each year to hunt, fish, hike, and enjoy Montana's great outdoors--from Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks to our millions of acres of forest and public lands. Montana's outdoors brings in $6 billion each year and supports some 60,000 jobs. Passing a highway bill will increase folks' ability to access these outdoor places. But States which oversee these construction projects cannot wait until the end of the month to find out if Congress is going to do its job. Many of them are already pumping the brakes on projects until we step up and pass a highway infrastructure bill. In the University District in Missoula, an important resurfacing project was scheduled to start next week after classes get out. But thanks to congressional inaction on the highway bill, that project will start no earlier than the third week in July--maybe not at all. What does that mean? That means the project likely will not be done before students return and traffic in the University District increases exponentially. The Montana Department of Transportation has already announced it will push back the start-up date 3 months for a bridge replacement in Sanders County. With one in five bridges being in desperate need of repair, delays on projects such as this are irresponsible and only add to the backlog. The need to act could not be more clear. While everyone knows we need a long-term solution, the American people have come to expect the worst from Congress--shortsighted, stopgap measures that will not give businesses or working families the certainty they need and deserve. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have put forth no solutions to this date. They are anxious to move the trade legislation that seems all too reminiscent of past trade deals-- long on promises but short on jobs. Yet they will not produce a long- term highway bill that we know creates jobs here in America. We must pass a long-term highway bill, and one that is paid for. But instead of working together on a long-term plan, Congress seems resigned to passing another short-term patch. This is shortsighted and we will have negative consequences for folks across this country. The question I have for my colleagues is this. When did passing a highway bill become political? When did basic investments in our Nation's infrastructure become this difficult? This is a no-brainer. Now we have folks in Congress who think roads build themselves. We have folks in Congress who eagerly swipe the Nation's credit card when it comes to investments in the Middle East. But these same Members of Congress will not even open up the wallet to fill a pothole next to a school in this country. China will spend more than $400 billion on transportation infrastructure this year. That is eight times more than the United States will spend on the highway trust fund. How do we expect to compete in a global economy if we are not willing to make the investment? Infrastructure investments are investments in our economy, and they are investments in the future. If we can pass a long-term bill, it will pay for itself by giving businesses the certainty they need to grow, create jobs, and build the kind of economy that our kids and our grandkids deserve. The clock is ticking, but the Senate is focused on the wrong priorities. It is time to refocus on making smart investments in our economy and being honest with the American people in our budgets. Right now we are doing neither. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. TESTER

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

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Kim Short Krueger, a dedicated public servant for the U.S. Congress and the people of the State of Montana for over 39 years. On behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say ``thank you'' to Kim for her service to our State and Nation. It is my honor to share the story of Kim's public service and commitment to her country. Kim grew up in the small railroad town of Three Forks, MT. Kim was only 21 when she packed her bags and moved to Washington, DC. She began her congressional career as a receptionist for Montana Congressman Dick Shoup, back when Montana still had two congressional districts. Always proud of her small town roots, Kim went to work for Nevada's only Congressman, Jim Santini, in the mid 1970s. Kim wore many hats, serving as both the personal secretary and the scheduler, and eventually became office manager. Ever dedicated to putting Montana constituents first, Kim once gave a young Montana law student her personal ticket for Nelson Rockefeller's swearing-in as Vice-President of the United States. As fate would have it, Kim later married this same young law student and he became a district court judge in Butte, MT. In 1983 it was time for Kim to head home to Montana. Kim went to work for Senator Max Baucus as field director of the Butte District office for southwestern Montana. Along the way, Kim built up an impressive record of accomplishments while always meeting the day-to-day demands of serving constituents. Kim consistently demonstrated her skill and grace in handling the needs of Butte and southwest Montana's constituents. She worked on all sorts of issues--from the Butte superfund, housing, banking, taxation, natural resources, immigration and military academy appointments. In 2010, Kim was appointed State casework director. Kim had a strong hand in boosting Montana's economic ties. Kim ran three Montana economic development summits hosted by Senator Baucus in Butte. The summits brought in folks from all around the world, like investors, ambassadors, and top business leaders. Almost 3,400 folks attended the final summit in 2013. Thanks to Kim's tireless work on the summits, new businesses have moved to Montana. Kim also worked on superfund issues, the Beaver Dam Park, the Old Work Golf Course, and the Maiden Rock Bridge on the Big Hole River. Senator Baucus depended on Kim to run his Butte office smoothly and to represent him at local events. She often worked nights and weekends, going above and beyond her duties to meet the needs of the people of southwest Montana. In February 2014, Senator Baucus was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to China and Governor Steve Bullock appointed John Walsh to serve out the rest of his Senate term. Senator John Walsh asked Kim to continue as field director of his Butte office and as the State casework director. While I could go on and on about Kim's incredible congressional achievements, I know she is most proud of her amazing family. Kim and her husband Kurt have two terrific children, Krista and Derrick. A true Montana native, she is very proud that her children were born and raised in the historic city of Butte, MT. Kim recently retired from my Butte District field office where she was working on special projects. During her years of service, Kim always went beyond the call of duty to ensure the Montana congressional offices met the needs and requests of the constituents of our fine State. Her professionalism and dedication to her jobs and Montana constituents are outstanding examples of how government should work. Kim's positive attitude, indispensable knowledge and talent for serving constituents were invaluable to the citizens of southwest Montana. Everyone who knows Kim is touched by her energy, kindness, dedication and positive attitude. I am honored to know Kim and grateful that she was able to serve on my Senate staff. I know her family and friends join me in thanking her for her commitment to others. I wish her best of luck in all of her endeavors and many years of success to come.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Federal budget is a pressing concern for everybody in this body, including myself, especially given the political climate we have in Congress. We have been two Houses divided for some time. Back in 2011, the Republican House and the Democratic Senate agreed that Federal spending was out of control. They just couldn't agree on what to do about it. So Members from both Chambers came together to give Congress two options: either pass a responsible budget to help reduce the deficit or face drastic cuts to every discretionary Federal department. That threat of sequester was supposed to represent the end of the road, forcing Congress to put differences aside and to work together, but sometimes even a dead end is not enough to motivate some folks to do the right thing. Congress failed to come up with a bipartisan, long- term spending plan and sequestration went into effect 2 years ago. Sequestration has had devastating effects nationally and in my home State of Nevada. Take, for instance, sequestration's impact on our national forests. We have 17 million acres of national forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Under its current structure, the Forest Service uses the same pool of funds to manage our national forests that it does to fight wildfires. In bad fire years, suppression can use over 40 percent of the U.S. Forest Service's budget. So it is no surprise that their budget is still in disarray 2 years after sequestration cuts $200 million during the hot, dry summer that saw millions of acres of trees burn across the West. Sequestration proved to be irresponsible and its impacts long- lasting, and our forests weren't the own casualties. The Indian Country was slammed from education to health care, to infrastructure. Indian Health Service saw its budget cut by a similar amount. Health care in Indian Country is chronically underfunded anyway. The additional 5- percent cut to the IHS budget resulted in 800,000 fewer outpatient visits for Native Americans. Indian schools--many of which are in such bad shape that nobody in this body would send their kids there--saw their budgets cut by $67 million, which resulted in bigger class size, cutbacks to academic programs, cutbacks to building maintenance, and reduction in technology upgrades. Sequestration was almost as devastating to the public education system in this country, and it had its impact on seniors and low-income children and families. It will be again if Congress doesn't act. Between now and September 30, Congress must pass a responsible budget that reduces our deficit, and we have time to agree on that or we will face greater cuts than we saw last time. The President's budget proposal makes significant investments in infrastructure and education and our outdoors. These initiatives will help grow our economy, particularly in rural States such as Montana, but there is one big problem. The President's budget fails to reduce the deficit in a smart and meaningful way, but the other options on the table are worse. The House last week unveiled its budget proposal. It is the height of irresponsibility. The House wants to privatize Medicare by turning it into a voucher program. It wants to turn Medicaid into block grants and cut those. They want to cut taxes for millionaires and big corporations while they phase out portions of the earned-income tax credit, squeezing the wallets of millions of working-class Americans. The House's plan also cuts the Pell Grant Program. It repeals the Affordable Care Act--that is no surprise. The House has voted over 50 times to repeal the ACA, ignoring the fact that we have some 16 million more Americans that have affordable access to health care than before the law was passed, but in a show of boundless hypocrisy, the House balances its budget by counting the $700 billion in Medicare savings and the $1 trillion in new revenue that the Affordable Care Act provides. Now some folks might say, well, that is the House of Representatives. Look at how they handled the funding for the Department of Homeland Security this year. They nearly shut down the agency tasked with protecting our borders and preventing terrorist attacks on America. The House gave up on responsible governing years ago. But the fact is the budget before us today in the Senate isn't much different. It repeals the Affordable Care Act, but again pretends to keep the $700 billion in savings to Medicare and the $1 trillion of revenue created by the Affordable Care Act--after it has been repealed. Now, I am a farmer, not an accountant, but I want to state that this is the kind of new math that doesn't add up to me. The Senate budget--similar to the House--also guts the Pell Grant Program by one-third. Why is that important? Well, in Montana, students are graduating from college with more than $27,000 in debt in student loans. The last thing they need are less Pell grants and more student debt, which is exactly what will happen if this Senate budget passes. It also puts States on the hook for over $1 trillion in Medicaid funding. What does that mean? It means we are not going to take care of it anymore. We are going to push it off on States and act like it doesn't exist. Just like the House, it raises taxes on the lowest wrung of the economic ladder by repealing the extension of the earned-income tax credit and child tax credit. These credits keep over 13 million Americans--working families with relatively low incomes--out of poverty. While this rhetoric about passing a balanced budget sounds good--and I do support a balanced budget--the reality is this budget doesn't cut it. It does not balance. Why? Because this budget relies on gimmicks such as using the Overseas Contingency Fund, which is supposed to fund the war on Afghanistan and action against ISIS but instead has become a slush fund for the Department of Defense. This budget assumes hundreds of billions of dollars in ``unallocated cuts.'' That is great messaging. We are going to slash the budget by hundreds of billions of dollars, but we are not going to tell you where we cut it out. We can talk about cuts, but when it gets to specifics--the real tough decisions--we are not going to talk about those. We are not even going to tell you where they are. It is not only secretive, but it is bad policy, and these kinds of smoke and mirrors are the worst Washington has to offer. While the President's budget spends far too much, at least it is honest, open, and transparent. The House and Senate budgets are just a display of bad mathematics. They lack any sort of realistic plan to keep our economy growing by investing in America. Instead of balancing the budget on the backs of middle-class families and seniors and students and our Nation's most vulnerable, we need to fully invest in the measures that will help this economy go, such as roads, bridges, our outdoor economy, education for our kids and our grandkids because that is the only way they are going to be able to compete in this global economy. In 2015, every nation is interconnected. Business transactions occur between multinational corporations, scientific discovery is shared between universities on different continents, clean air and clean water and carbon emission standards are achieved by international agreements, but global security seems to be a battle that we--the United States--are fighting alone--and at what cost? Last week, my Appropriations subcommittee on military construction held a hearing on the Defense Department's construction budget. The United States spends more on defense than the next nine nations combined. Let me say it one more time. The United States spends more on defense than the next nine nations combined, including the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and--yes--China. Two of America's greatest international threats, ISIS and a nuclear Iran, pose a grave threat to us but also to our allies in the Middle East and Europe. Yet we are the ones paying the overwhelming majority of these costs. This budget hides those costs from the American people. With 47 Senators pushing us to go to war with Iran, I think the American people deserve to know how we are spending their dollars overseas. Do not misunderstand me. Congress's foremost concern should be with protecting our Nation and in keeping our communities safe, but that should also be the foremost concern of our allies around the world. Time and time again, though, it is the U.S. taxpayer and American lives who are on the line, and that price is far too high. It is not just dollars and cents. It is the lives of our kids. It is the wounds they will face when they return from war, if they return from war at all. These are pricetags we cannot afford. While we send our troops and our treasures overseas, our allies are free to invest significantly in more public education, health care, infrastructure, research and development, and lower taxes. Why? Because we are paying the bill. Their economies grow in relation to our deficit. As Congress looks to responsibly cut spending, we must look at the billions we waste overseas, and we need to level with the American people about the true cost of war. While caring for our veterans is a cost we absolutely should bear, we can no longer afford to fight and fund every international conflict. We have to stop paying for war on our children's credit. We need to think about the future and invest in public education, health care, and infrastructure, in sound forest management, and in lower taxes. A global economy and a global defense will allow us to invest in middle-class families, educating our children, protecting our seniors, and making sure Americans can afford food and shelter. These are investments we must make, but the budget before us stops investing in America. We can do better, and we must do better. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I recognize the seventh annual RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill. This is a special day where we recognize pharmacies' contribution to the American healthcare system. This year's event organized by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, takes place on March 25-26. Nearly 400 individuals from the pharmacy community--including practicing pharmacists, pharmacy school faculty and students, State pharmacy leaders and pharmacy company executives-- will visit Capitol Hill. They will share their views with Congress about the importance of supporting legislation that protects access to community and neighborhood pharmacies and that utilizes pharmacists to improve the quality and reduce the costs of providing health care. Advocates from 45 States have traveled to Washington to talk about the pharmacy community's contributions in over 40,000 community pharmacies nationwide. These important health care providers are here to educate Congress about the value of pharmacists and protect access to the essential services they provide as part of our health care delivery system. And just as these providers traveled to meet with us, Members of Congress and their staff have toured retail chain pharmacies in our own communities more than 325 times since 2009. As cochair of the Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus, I recognize that the local pharmacist is a trusted, highly accessible health care provider deeply committed to providing the highest quality care in the most efficient manner possible. Patients have always relied on their local pharmacist to meet their health care needs. As demand for health care services continues to grow, pharmacists have expanded their role in health care delivery, partnering with physicians, nurses and other health care providers to meet their patients' needs. Innovative services provided by pharmacists do even more to improve patient health care. Pharmacists are highly valued by those that rely on them most--those in rural and underserved areas, as well as older Americans, and those struggling to manage chronic diseases. Pharmacy services improve patients' quality of life as well as health care affordability. By helping patients take their medications effectively and providing preventive services, pharmacists help avoid more costly forms of care. Pharmacists also help patients identify strategies to save money, such as through better understanding of their pharmacy benefits, using generic medications, and obtaining 90-day supplies of prescription drugs from local pharmacies. Pharmacists are the Nation's most accessible health care providers. In many communities, especially in rural areas, the local pharmacist is a patient's most direct link to health care. Eighty-nine percent of Americans reside within a 5-mile radius of a community pharmacy. Pharmacists are one of our Nation's most trusted health care professionals. Utilizing their specialized education, pharmacists play a major role in medication therapy management, disease-state management, immunizations, health care screenings, and other health care services designed to improve patient health and reduce overall health care costs. Pharmacists are also expanding their role into new models of care based on quality of services and outcomes, such as accountable care organizations, ACOs, and medical homes. As we refine health care reform and seek new strategies to improve patient care, pharmacists will play a critical role. I believe Congress should look at every opportunity to make sure that pharmacists are allowed to utilize their training to the fullest to provide the services that can improve care and lower costs. In recognition of the seventh annual RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, I would like to congratulate pharmacy leaders, pharmacists, students, executives, and the entire pharmacy community, for their contributions to the good health of the American people.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I would like to make a statement about the Keystone XL Pipeline. This first came before this body some 4 years ago. I said at the time that the pipeline was a good idea. Why? Because it would create construction jobs. It would reduce America's reliance on Middle Eastern oil for our energy. I said also that the pipeline must be built right. What does that mean? It means two things. First, Keystone must be built to the highest of safety standards. That only makes sense. And we must have respect for private property rights when that pipeline is built. Just like everything else in Washington, the Keystone was eventually made into a political football, and it has dragged on for 4 years. It has taken on a life of its own. And to be straight and level with you, folks on both sides of the aisle have turned it into something much bigger than it really is. At the start of the 114th Congress, I was hopeful that there would be enough momentum behind the pipeline to finally get it done and begin construction. But since the swearing-in ceremony 3 weeks ago, my faith in our ability to have a deliberative debate has been shaken. Last week's political stunts were simply unacceptable. We can't tell the American people we are going to responsibly govern when in fact we stopped Senators from even speaking on the floor about amendments they have offered. The majority decried these kinds of practices last Congress. Many of us agreed. But to start with these kinds of actions in the new Congress is discouraging, to say the least. I hope this week we can have an open debate, make this bill better, pick up a few more votes, and finally approve the Keystone Pipeline for building. Ten days ago an oil pipeline burst in eastern Indiana. It spilled about 40,000 gallons of oil into and around the Yellowstone River. Six thousand residents in Dawson County, MT, had their water cut off for 5 days after oil got into the local water treatment plant. Cleanup crews are slowly making progress removing oil from an ice-covered river. This oilspill was unacceptable. What is worse, it was completely preventible. The pipeline that burst last week was nearly 60 years old. It had not been inspected in at least 2 years. Pipelines, just like roads and bridges and railroads, get old and they wear out. If we want pipelines to operate properly, they need to be regularly inspected and upgraded. In December, during the lameduck, Congress plussed up the budget for PHMSA--the agency that does pipeline inspections--giving PHMSA the resources to hire more than 100 pipeline safety inspectors. It is clear we need to get these folks hired, trained, and working on the ground. We also need to look at how PHMSA spends those dollars and whether resources are adequate to inspect the Nation's 2.6 million miles of pipeline. Despite the criticisms, pipelines are still the safest way to transport oil. We have seen the headlines--we have all seen them--in recent years of oil trains exploding, trucks running off the road that carry oil. In 2013, one explosion in Canada leveled an entire town. It killed 47 people. Months later, another oil train traveling in North Dakota burst into flames and caused an entire town to evacuate. In northwestern Montana, the resort town of Whitefish is situated a few miles west of Glacier National Park. The town is home to a world- class ski hill and one of the world's most pristine lakes. Every day oil tank cars run past Whitefish Lake carrying thousands of gallons of oil. The environmental impact of an explosion or spill on that railroad would devastate that lake, and it would devastate that region, its water supply, and have serious impacts on the State's economy. In fact, in 1989, a freight train derailed as it was circling Whitefish Lake and four cars slid into the water and leaked out some fuel. Twenty-three years later--just 2 years ago--they finally finished the cleanup. Imagine if those cars were carrying crude as they do today. Pipelines are the fastest way to transport oil. Until this body can agree that climate change is real and start making smart investments in alternative energy sources, our economy still needs traditional ways. I have said many times I still power my farm equipment with diesel fuel. I don't have any options. So it is clear to me we need a way to transport oil, and Keystone is that way. And, yes, in Montana, it will create jobs. According to the State Department's analysis, construction of the pipeline would create 3,700 jobs. Over $700 million worth of construction materials and support costs would come to eastern Montana. That is not to mention the tax base that would be increased. But safety must come first. We need the best materials; we need more inspections. We simply cannot afford another spill. Finally, I want to talk about eminent domain. Everyone in this body should agree that a foreign corporation should not be allowed to seize private property here in America. That is a fact. Unfortunately, we couldn't agree on that last Thursday. There was an amendment offered by Senator Menendez stating that TransCanada can only acquire land from willing sellers. But there are Members of the U.S. Senate who put profits of a foreign corporation above the constitutional rights of American citizens. If someone had told me in January of 2007, when I was first sworn in, that my colleagues would one day vote against such an amendment, I simply would not have believed it, but that is exactly what happened. I am disappointed that amendment failed, but I do believe we can improve upon this bill by including commonsense reporting requirements that would ensure this pipeline is built in a transparent way. Senator Cardin has an amendment to do just that, and I for one support it. Private property rights should not be a partisan issue, and I would hope my colleagues would join me in supporting this measure. Let's not race to cloture. Let's not race to trample private property rights of Americans. Let's get this bill passed, and let's do it in the right way. This pipeline is not a long-term solution for our energy problems, but it is one piece of the puzzle. We must make meaningful investments in research and development so we can make carbon-neutral energy sources more accessible and affordable. Until we do that, the reality is that this economy still runs on oil. This pipeline helps get us to the next step. I still believe in this pipeline. I believe Keystone can boost our energy independence and will create jobs in the short term and over the long haul, but we need to debate this bill. We need a chance to make it better, to make the pipelines safer, and send a message to the American people we are serious about investing in our long-term energy future. If we don't do that, we won't build the Keystone. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I support the pipeline. I think it has a lot of good benefits, but make no mistake about it, if you do not support the Menendez amendment--and there are a lot of Aggies on the other side of the aisle. If you do not support this amendment, you will allow a foreign corporation--a foreign corporation--to come in and use eminent domain to take the property. We don't want to go down this line.

Mr. TESTER

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

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Madam President, it has come to my attention that a provision of the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act, which was included in the recently passed NDAA and public lands package, contains a ministerial error. Section 3077(c)(1)(A) of the NDAA describes a mineral estate transfer between the United States and a private landowner. Both subparagraphs of that section should reference the same map, titled ``Northern Cheyenne Land Act--Coal Tracts'' and dated April 22, 2014. However, subparagraph (ii) as just passed contains an error by indicating a map with an incorrect title. Section 3077(c)(1)(A)(ii) should therefore be read to reference the ``Northern Cheyenne Land Act--Coal Tracts'' map dated April 22, 2014, which is the same map correctly referenced in subparagraph (i) of the same section. The committee report for the underlying Northern Cheyenne Lands Act bill, S. 2442, will also acknowledge and address this error. I hope this drafting error does not delay the Department of the Interior's implementation of these provisions, which is of great importance to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana. This conveyance, once completed, will correct a mistake made by the United States over a century ago, when the United States failed to convey this property to the Tribe as originally directed by Congress.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his comments on the land portion of the national defense authorization. I very much appreciate the work he has done and his hard work fighting for the people of New Mexico since his time in the Senate. We thank you very much for your leadership, Senator Heinrich. Mr. President, 1 million people live in the great State of Montana. We are home to farmers, ranchers, working families, small business owners, and to bold sports men and women who explore until they are too exhausted to take another step. Our lands are famous worldwide, from Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park to wild and scenic rivers such as the North Fork of the Flathead River. We attract the best explorers, the best hunters and anglers, and all those who simply want to get away from it all. But our outdoors just aren't for out-of-staters. Montanans deeply value our land. Many Montanans remember their first hunting trip. Many recall where they landed their first trout. I remember riding horses with my father in the Bear Paw Mountains. Montanans come with a lot of opinions, but one issue that unites us is taking care of our public lands and keeping our public lands in public hands. We want to make sure our kids and grandkids can hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, that they can catch their first fish in the clean waters of the Madison River, and that our outdoor traditions remain strong for generations to come. As a Senator from Montana, it is my responsibility to make sure we preserve these treasured places, that we responsibly use our lands to advance the interests of our State and of our country. That is why I am proud to support the Montana lands bills that will probably be voted on tomorrow. These bills are a product of years of negotiations. Ranchers and conservationists started working on the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act before I became Senator. These bills are a product of compromise led by folks on the ground--the folks who live and breathe Montana's outdoors every day--and these bills are a product of Montana's congressional delegation working together to move Montana forward. We all know Congress fails to agree on much these days. Gridlock and roadblocks are common. Few people are willing to compromise, but when you give a little, you get a lot. That is how Montana's lands bills became a part of this legislation. These bills have been vetted on the ground by Montana ranchers such as Dusty Crary, Karl Rappold, and many others. They have been approved by committees and negotiated for many years. They not only deliver on our promises to Montana's ranchers but also to the outdoors men and women, business owners, and Native American tribes. They are Montana- made bills. Take the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act for example. This bill protects public access along the Rocky Mountain Front for hunters, anglers, outdoors men and women. The Front is a special place in Montana lore. It is where the Rocky Mountains shoot straight out from the plains into the sky. It is a breathtaking, magnificent sight. It is an ecosystem like none other in the lower 48 States. The heritage act designates 208,000 Front acres as a conservation management area, adds another 67,000 acres to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and supports a noxious weed management plan. At the same time, it allows for continued grazing access for Montana ranchers, follows BLM recommendations on approximately 14,000 acres of wilderness study areas, and requires new assessments of oil and gas potential in two others. Some will question the details of this bill and others in the package, but Montanans know how to responsibly manage our lands. We know what irresponsible development looks like. More than 100 years ago mining corporations pillaged our lands in their search for copper, silver, and other minerals. Not only did they turn our mountains inside out and pollute our waters, they ignored workers' rights and bought influence over Montana's elected leaders. In response, Montana passed legislation to limit corporate influence in elections in 1912. We followed that in the 1970s with one of the most progressive State constitutions to date, enshrining protections for a clean and healthy environment into law. A fellow by the name of Max Baucus got his first taste of politics during that Constitutional Convention, the same Max Baucus who worked on and introduced the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act in 2011. Passing this land bill helps fulfill Max's legacy in Montana and honors the hard work of his staff and the bill's many supporters. Before Max introduced this bill, he received a letter from a rancher along the Front. Ben Pierce was his name. Ben told Max he wanted to see the Front remain a place with both well-managed working ranches and vibrant wildlife values. Ben supported the bill because he knew that preserving the ranching culture was critical to Montana's economy and our way of life, but he also supported the bill because he knows we must preserve Montana's most special places. That is because Montana's outdoor treasures are not only symbols of our heritage, they are also incredible economic drivers. Montana's outdoor economy, thanks to places such as Glacier and Yellowstone, creates or sustains some 64,000 jobs and contributes nearly $6 billion to the State's economy every year. That is impressive in a State of just 1 million people. From outdoor stores to park cafes, Montana's economy thrives when Montana's outdoors are preserved and accessible. Preservation and access are also the cornerstones of the North Fork Protection Act, another legacy of Senator Baucus. The bill permanently protects the American side of the North Fork of the Flathead River watershed by barring future mining or drilling. The land is adjacent to Glacier National Park. It is bound by snow- capped mountains, ringed by awe-inspiring valleys, and bisected by beautiful blue-green waters that are home to some of the Nation's best whitewater rafting. Its Canadian cousin across the border is already protected. Thanks to this bill, the American side of the watershed will be protected from oil and gas development forever. Preserving the North Fork is not only good for the wildlife or the hiker who enjoys it, it is also good for our economy and our nearby communities. That is why this bipartisan bill is supported by the local chamber of commerce and by the mayor of nearby Whitefish, who said this bill's passage ``means permanent protection of our community's water supply,'' and we all know how important water is. These two measures are not the only bills that will benefit Montana in this lands package. My Cabin Fee Act provides economic certainty for folks who have seen their fees skyrocket on Forest Service cabins. Many of these cabins pass from generation to generation, and this bill makes sure family cabins can be enjoyed by those who cherish them. This package also does right by our Native American friends. The Northern Cheyenne Lands Act restores the tribe's mineral rights to 5,000 acres within its boundaries, strengthening the tribe's control over its lands, resources, and trust funds. It corrects an error that was made by the Federal Government more than 100 years ago. That, in and of itself, makes it a worthy endeavor. But there are other areas where we can work together. Just as these bills are Montana-made solutions, we can--and I believe we will--come together over Montana-made solutions to better manage our forests. For decades folks in Montana have argued over our lands, battled over access, and we have fought over resource development. We have sued and countersued over logging, but in Montana we haven't had a new wilderness designation in 31 years. Why? Because we haven't been able to compromise, but now we have. It means progress for Montana. This agreement is bipartisan, and I was proud to work with Senator Walsh and Senator-elect Daines to bring it to reality. I hope we can find more ways to compromise over lands issues and other legislation moving forward because, after all, it is the future that matters most. Whether this body is debating immigration reform or an education system, how to rebuild infrastructure, we must always look to the future. We want the best for ourselves and for our communities. We want to leave this world in better shape than we inherited it, and we want to pass down our treasured lands and outdoor traditions to our kids and our grandkids wherever they may live. Places such as the Rocky Mountain Front and the North Fork are living legacies to Montana's greatness. There are many reasons to preserve these places, but the best I have heard comes from Gene Sentz, who hails from Choteau, MT. Gene wrote a book about the Rocky Mountain Front. In it he quoted another Montanan who said: ``Some places on Earth should be left alone, even if solid gold lies beneath it them.'' I couldn't agree more. Montana is home to sky-touching mountains and beautiful plains that roll on as far as the eye can see. It is home to many hard-working men and women and to Native Americans with deep connections to the land. But it is the last best place because we are all of these things and because we are willing to work together to preserve and strengthen them. I am very proud of this historic agreement, and today I am particularly proud to be a Montanan. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Benjamin Charles Steele, a veteran of World War II. On behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say ``thank you'' to Ben for his service to our Nation. It is my honor to share the story of Ben's service in World War II, because no story of bravery--especially not one from our ``greatest generation''--should ever be forgotten. Ben was born on November 11, 1917, in Roundup, MT. The son of ranchers, Ben loved the outdoors. Sometimes he would sneak out of school by pretending to go to the bathroom, but instead would jump on his horse and head for the ranch. Ben was 22 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in Missoula, MT on September 9, 1940. In September of 1941, Ben was assigned to serve in the Philippines. Ben had barely arrived in country when the Army gave him a rifle and told Ben ``now you're in the infantry.'' The Japanese attacked on December 8. A few weeks later, Ben's unit was evacuated from Clark Field and ordered to the Bataan Peninsula. In January 1942, Ben was sent to the front lines. Three months later, the front lines collapsed. Soon after, Ben's unit was captured and he and his fellow soldiers began the infamous Bataan Death March. Ben marched for 6 days and was fed only two cups of rice. The American captives were tormented by the Japanese soldiers. They were forced to walk closely together, and if a prisoner stumbled, or worse, fell, they were bayoneted or shot and killed. Ben was a prisoner for three and one-half years. During this time, at great risk to himself, he secretly made drawings of the torture and cruelty he and his fellow prisoners endured. On one construction project, 324 prisoners started work beside Ben. By the end, Ben was one of only 50 surviving prisoners. Ben then was sent to Japan where he did hard labor in the Japanese mines. He was liberated once the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, with Ground Zero less than 80 miles from Ben's coal mine. When he was freed, Ben had dysentery, pneumonia, malaria, blood poisoning and beriberi. Ben was discharged from the U.S. Air Force on July 10, 1946. After beginning his art career drawing on the concrete floor of a prison in the Philippines, Ben pursued a formal art education. In 1955, he received a master's in art from the University of Denver. Ben then taught art at Montana State University-Billings. To this day, he continues to recreate the images of his imprisonment through drawings and paintings. Ben was never ``officially'' assigned to the infantry; the military just handed him a weapon and told him to go fight--and he did. He fought for months before he was captured. Ben is now 97 years old, living in a nursing home in Billings, MT, fighting his last battle--and still painting. Ben never requested any medals or recognition for his brave and incredible service. A true World War II veteran, Ben feels he simply did the job he was sent to the Philippines to do. But today, it is my honor to honor Ben Steele's true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service by including his story in the Congressional Record. Thank you, Ben.

Mr. TESTER

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

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, as we hurry to finish things late in the year, we are running out of time to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, referred to as NAHASDA. This legislation was first passed in 1996 to consolidate Indian housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This block grant replaced 14 different housing programs operating in Indian Country. The law has been previously authorized twice in a bipartisan manner. The housing needs in Indian Country are staggering. A recent GAO report stated that 5.3 percent of homes on Indian lands lacked complete plumbing. That compares to homes nationwide where less than 1 percent lack plumbing. Tribal communities also face a serious housing shortage. In some cases, there are up to 20 people living in a single three-bedroom home. That is not by choice, by the way. That is by necessity. These are often extended families with three or four generations under one roof. This is unacceptable. We must do more to honor the trust responsibility the government has to American Indians. The best tool we have to address this housing shortage is the Indian Housing Block Grant Program authorized by NAHASDA. Not passing this reauthorization places this program in jeopardy, and we should reauthorize it today. Last year, during Senator Cantwell's tenure as chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs, she introduced a reauthorization bill. This bill makes a number of positive changes to the law. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 334, S. 1352; that the committee-reported substitute amendment 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. TESTER. I object to the modification because of this: Setting aside the fact that Senator Inouye was a very good friend of mine, the Native Hawaiian Homelands Act was passed into law some time ago. As Native people, Native Hawaiians have sacrificed their lands similar to Native people here and in Alaska. The Native Hawaiians here have similar needs to those whom I just explained. The cost of housing in Hawaii is a significant barrier for Native Hawaiians. Reauthorizing the Native Hawaiian provisions will provide stability and assurances to keep housing programs for Native Hawaiians moving forward. For these reasons, I object to that modification.

Mr. TESTER. I am disappointed that we cannot pass this legislation. This bill would not only reauthorize Indian housing programs with HUD but would streamline cumbersome environmental requirements and allow for more flexibility to build more modern, sustainable housing. This legislation would also reauthorize housing programs, as I said, for the Native Hawaiians, where the need exists in a big way. I should also mention that the exact same provision was included in a bill that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last week on a voice vote. Finally, this legislation will make the HUD-VASH Program available to tribally designated housing authorities through the Indian housing block grant. These funds will be specifically used for housing assistance for homeless, Native veterans, as well as those who are at risk of becoming homeless. As many of my colleagues know, American Indians serve at higher rates per capita than any other population in the military and continue to be one of the most underserved groups of veterans. With all these good things in it, I am extremely disappointed that we cannot get this bill across the finish line. Housing Native people should be a priority for Congress as we wrap up this session. It is frustrating to see a bill get through the House only to have potentially a couple of Senators here hoping to get a better report card from a group such as the Heritage Foundation. I am sorry we cannot pass the bill today. This is disappointing for any country and the Senate. I am more than willing to talk about germane changes, but the bottom line is this: Many folks here do not understand the trust responsibilities we have to our Native American people. If we are going to start carving folks out such as the Native Hawaiians, we are going to be making two classes of Native American people in this country. I don't think that is fair to them, nor do I think it is fair to this country. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Are we in a quorum call?

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. I wish to address the challenges we have at the Postal Service today. There is an old saying that when you are in a hole, stop digging. Don't make things worse. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. It is actually quite simple advice that all of us need to follow. Here in Congress we could apply it to a lot of different issues. Our budget and the immigration system come to mind. But that hole grows faster when two parties are digging. When you have two shovels, the walls become higher, the climb out becomes more difficult, and that is what is happening right now with the Postal Service. On one side we have the Postmaster General and Postal Service leadership actively cutting services and mail delivery standards. They think they can cut their way to fiscal solvency, and quite frankly in this case they are wrong. The answer is not more cuts. In fact, if it wasn't for the prefunding requirement for retiree health benefits, the Postal Service would have made nearly $1 billion in 2012. Clearly, the Postal Service doesn't need to keep shutting down facilities and slowing down delivery. What the Postal Service does need is responsible reform legislation, and that is why I am here this afternoon. All the Postal Service is doing with its shortsighted cuts is weakening trust in the Postal Service. Essentially, Postal Service leadership is cutting the legs out from underneath themselves. They are digging the hole deeper. But Congress is in the hole with the Postmaster General. There are a lot of folks in Congress who would love to see the Postal Service go out of business, but the Postal Service, whether in urban America or rural America, delivers the goods America needs. It delivers medicine, newspapers, equipment, letters, and even election ballots. It is a critical part of our daily lives. But the Postal Service is preparing to end overnight delivery in all but a few American cities and close 82 mail processing facilities starting in January. These facilities route mail from New York to California, from Seattle to Sarasota, from a grandmother to her grandson. When these facilities close or consolidate, it costs thousands of jobs, and more importantly it means mail goes to the remaining facilities and it means packages have to travel longer to get to where they are going. When that happens, more folks will not get the mail when they need it. It means more delayed credit card payments. It means more needed medicine sitting in a truck for another day. Come next election it might even mean lost ballots. The Postal Service has already stopped overnight delivery in large parts of rural America. Even 2-day delivery is now hard to come by. If the Postal Service implements its new plan in January, that will be the case almost nationwide. Congress has the power to stop these closures, and it would make sense to keep these facilities open while we work to reform the Postal Service in a way that treats its employees and its customers and the general public fairly. But in the Senate, and in the House, too many folks have their shovels out. So far the proposals coming out of this Congress fall far short of what is needed to put the Postal Service on sound financial footing. We are here today to urge the House of Representatives and this body, the Senate, to include a provision in the government funding bill that will keep the processing facilities open. There is no point in closing mail processing facilities while Congress works on a comprehensive postal reform bill. I know we have trouble passing responsible legislation around here, I get that, but there is painstaking--and I do mean painstaking--work going on around here to pass a Postal Service reform bill. The bill that passed the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year needs work--serious work. It does not preserve strong rural mail standards. It is opposed by folks in rural America, by postal unions, and by mailers. Under the bill--except in the big cities--we can kiss 1-day delivery goodbye. With the cuts it proposes, the bill fundamentally prevents the Postal Service from performing its constitutional duty of keeping this Nation stitched together. But along with other members of the committee, and some like-minded folks in the House, we are trying to find a way forward. We are trying to reform the Postal Service without putting the burden on rural America. A proposal I am working on will give the Postal Service the flexibility to raise new revenue while reducing the costly mandate to prefund retirement benefits. That requirement is swamping the agency's books. Other Members of Congress are pushing to allow the Postal Service to continue its crusade against rural America. My effort, on the other hand, is a balanced solution that preserves strong rural mail standards while putting the Postal Service on the path to fiscal solvency. We have been here long enough to know that there is no magic bullet. Congress is full of too many interests and too many constituencies, but the least we can do is to stop making things worse. There is no reason to keep digging the hole. We have evidence behind our case. The GAO, in its analysis of past closures of the processing facilities, said the Postal Service is already unable to meet its reduced service standards--already unable to meet the standards that have already been reduced. The Congressional Budget Office--looking at potential savings from facility closures--didn't take into account the loss of mail volume resulting from reducing the quality of service. There are simply way, way, way too many unanswered questions about how these closures would affect mail service, and that is why a bipartisan majority of Senators, including myself, have called to stave off the closures of these processing facilities. Over 160 House Members have done the same. A moratorium on mail processing facilities is the way to go. It will stop the bleeding and stop the digging that Congress and the Postal Service are doing right now. It will send a signal that the American people's representatives will not sit by as opponents work to privatize the Postal Service. This is the busiest season of the year for the Postal Service. Folks send presents and cards through the mail. We hear from old friends and families whom we have not heard from in a long time. It is a busy and important time but no more critical than any other time of the Postal Service's year. Mail processing facilities don't just get used for mailing Christmas cards and presents, nor do the post offices. Reduced post office hours will affect Americans' lives as well. Westby, MT, is in the far northeastern corner of Montana. It is along the border with North Dakota. It is a beautiful little town. The Westby Post Office is where Ken Keldsen, a veteran in his ninth decade, goes to pick up his prescription medicine. The mail takes a little longer to get to Westby these days because the processing plant was closed last year, and the post office is open for a few less hours each day. Ken wrote my office and told me the reduced hours make it harder for him--this veteran in northeastern Montana in his nineties--to get his medication. Here is what it comes down to: We need a reform bill that keeps the Postal Service financially viable while maintaining strong mail service standards for people such as Ken. It is not an easy proposition. We have been working on it for quite a while now. But the calls and need for reform are stronger than ever. There is no reason to keep digging. There is still time for Congress to stop the mail processing facility closures scheduled to start in January. That will give us more time to pass good legislation that sets the Postal Service straight. I urge my colleagues in this body to do just that because this country needs a viable Postal Service, one that the American people can trust. It is more than just holiday cards and packages. It is about making sure payments arrive on time. It is about making sure lease agreements get to the proper people, but it is not just about these things. It is also about having faith as a nation that we as a body--as a Senate, as a House, as a Congress--can make responsible decisions to preserve what is important in this country. There has been a lot of talk about working together and getting things done since the election. I wish it could have happened before the election, but we are where we are. We have a great opportunity to work together to keep the Postal Service solvent and keep those standards high for not only urban America but for rural America also. We need to do that today. This is an important effort. With that, I would love to hear from the Senator from Vermont, Mr. Sanders.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, each November, we reflect on the tremendous contributions Native Americans have made and continue to make to our nation. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I am honored to continue that tradition by introducing this resolution, along with 26 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, honoring National Native American Heritage Month. Native Americans have contributed immeasurably to the character and culture of the United States. They played an instrumental role as code talkers in both World Wars by using their Native languages on the battlefield, and to this day, they continue to serve in the military at a higher rate per capita than any other group in the country. In my home State of Montana, I am proud to represent more than 5,000 Native American veterans, as well as eight great tribal nations. As we celebrate and commemorate the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of Native Americans nationwide, it is important to acknowledge the enduring challenges many tribal communities face in meeting the education, healthcare and general welfare needs of their people. This month is an opportunity to recommit to strengthening the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the United States. It is also a reminder that the Federal government has treaty and trust obligations to the 566 Federally recognized tribes, and we must do more to ensure they have the tools they need to build stronger and healthier communities. I look forward to continuing my work with Indian Country, and I hope my colleagues and the American people will join me in celebrating the accomplishments of Native Americans, not just this month, but throughout the year.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Bernard A. Mulder, a veteran of World War II. Bernard, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say thank you for your service to this Nation. It is my honor to share the story of Bernard's service in the Second World War because no story of bravery and especially not one from our ``greatest generation'' should ever be forgotten. Bernard was born in Beaumont, TX, on July 21, 1922. After growing up in Beaumont and Galveston, he graduated from Galveston High School in 1939. Bernard enlisted with the Army Air Corps in San Antonio in May of 1941. He trained in Texas and Nevada, and soon after, a squadron commander suggested that he put in for flight training. In December 1941, the same month as Pearl Harbor, Bernard was accepted for primary flight training in Santa Maria, CA. Until then, Bernard had never even been near a plane, much less flown one. Bernard flew training operations until heading overseas in November 1942 to join the war effort. Bernard was stationed with the British Aid Army in North Africa, where he flew supplies to Cairo and the Western Front, and returned the wounded to hospitals. During the invasion of Sicily, Bernard dropped off the 82nd Airborne. He did it once again on D-day, dropping them at Sainte Mere-Englise, which became the first town liberated on the Western Front. While dropping supplies to troops in France, Bernard's plane was hit and he was shot. In July of 1944 Bernard was flown back to the United States to recover. One good thing did come out of his 9-month hospital stay: Bernard met the love of his life, an Australian nurse named Margaret. Bernard and Margaret married in July 1945, and in January 1946 Bernard ended his service in the military. Through the GI bill, Bernard attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. Bernard and Margaret then moved to Perth, Australia, in August of 1960, where Bernard worked as a machine designer for 15 years. Margaret sadly passed away in 1975. After returning to the United States, Bernard discovered his love of travel and began to explore the American West. Bernard has lived in Las Vegas; Guadalajara, Mexico; Arizona; and Wyoming. He's been to all 50 States. Bernard moved to Billings after he read that monthly bus passes for senior citizens were only $3. Bernard then offered to make Christmas ornaments for a daycare in downtown Billings, and after 6 years, the teachers asked him to join the Foster Grandparent Program. Every morning since then, Bernard works with 4- and 5-year-olds. They keep Grandpa Bernard young. While Bernard was in the hospital, two of his medals were stolen from his belongings. He also never received the rest of the medals he earned. This past September, in the presence of his friends, who claim him as family, it was my honor to finally present to Bernard his Purple Heart, Air Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars, and Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. Bernard also earned the following medals: Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Four Bronze Service Stars, and a World War II Victory Medal. These medals are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service. These medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. TESTER

Mr. TESTER. I thank the Senator from Louisiana and the Senator from West Virginia. I have a few things to say, and I will do so very quickly. But since this is the first time we have been on the floor since the election, I think the American people are frustrated with the ways things work in Washington--enough political games. They told us that Americans want lawmakers to compromise, to work together, and to get things done. Americans told us they want a stronger economy with good-paying jobs. It shouldn't have taken an election to get this message through, but it did. Nationwide, including my State of Montana, it is fair to say the unemployment rate is down, but it is also fair to say wages are not where they need to be. Too many Americans and too many Montanans are struggling to make ends meet. The Keystone XL Pipeline can help address some of those issues. But now we have another attempt to block consideration of this bipartisan bill written here by Senators Landrieu and Hoeven. The votes are there. We know that. If there is one way we can create good-paying jobs right away, it is by approving and building this Keystone XL Pipeline. Building the pipeline would tell the American public that Washington is ready to turn the page. It will tell them we heard them, that their voices matter, and that Washington is reacting appropriately. Building the pipeline will strengthen our economy and our infrastructure. First, according to the State Department, building the pipeline will create 16,000 jobs and support another 26,000 more. Those are jobs that will help working-class Americans provide for their families. Secondly, the pipeline will include an on ramp for oil from the Bakken region of Montana and North Dakota, and let more energy go from our country to the marketplace, which is where it needs to go. With production in the Bakken continuing to boom, we need more options to get that American oil where it needs to be, and the XL Pipeline is where that needs to be. Third, shipping oil by pipeline is the safest way to ship it. That is a fact. And the safety of American families and communities must come first. Fourth, building the pipeline means more business with Canada, our friend to the north, and less business with the Middle East--folks who don't like us. Our country continues to be involved in conflicts in the Middle East. By continuing to do more business with our neighbors to the north, as opposed to countries that don't share our world view, we can help cut off the funds to those who work against us. I think the Keystone Pipeline is a big step toward creating that energy security. The pipeline must be built right. I will get to the point Senator Landrieu talked about. It must be constructed with respect to private property rights. We cannot have foreign corporations using eminent domain to run roughshod over the fields of a farmer in Montana or a business owner in Nebraska or over sacred tribal lands. The respect for private property rights is in the Landrieu-Hoeven bill. It is not in the House bill. It is a critical component. It has to be, otherwise we are making a huge mistake. This pipeline also must be built to the highest safety standards. There can be no corners cut. Leaks and spills don't make anybody any money. They are unacceptable. The most modern safety systems must be employed, including double piping, if necessary. That is a fundamental difference between the Landrieu-Hoeven bill--what they have drafted in the House and the good work we have done in the Senate. The House bill contains no protections for landowners. None. Zip. The House bill says: Good luck, landowners. You are subject to eminent domain by a foreign corporation. You have no spill prevention protections. The Landrieu-Hoeven bill, on the other hand, protects rural America, protects private property rights. Senator Landrieu has been working on this effort for years. This bill will give the pipeline the Senate's seal of approval and it will send a signal to all Americans that Congress is working together creating good jobs, supporting our economy, and that we are able to make responsible decisions. But as this debate moves forward, I will continue to push to make sure the oil shipped through this pipeline stays in America. I have heard the arguments on all sides, but North America's oil should stay in North America. It will make our country more energy secure. It will lead to cheaper energy that will be more affordable for our homes, for our businesses, and for our working families. That will lead to more good manufacturing jobs in this country. Because of our energy costs, we will be able to recruit that manufacturing base back to our country that we gave up some 20 or 30 years ago. There are a lot of reasons to approve and build the Keystone XL Pipeline. It will support our middle class--and we need to support our middle class--it will make us more energy secure; and it will strengthen our transportation and infrastructure system. But America needs a sign. It needs a reason to trust that Congress and Washington as a whole are listening. Approving the pipeline with the needed protections and with respect to private property rights is that sign. I, like the American people, am tired of the gridlock and tired of kicking the can down the road. I didn't come here to delay and push our problems to the future. I came here to work for commonsense solutions we can enact today and move this country forward today. The Keystone XL Pipeline is one of those solutions. Passing this bill and building this pipeline is one of those very important things we need to do for our infrastructure, for our energy security, and for the country as a whole. I encourage my colleagues to support and help us rebuild our trust with the American people. With that, I turn it back to the good Senator from West Virginia, Mr. Manchin.