David Vitter

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, restoring, protecting, and preserving our vulnerable coastal habitats remain among the most important priorities for those of us in Louisiana. Coastal erosion has reduced our Nation's largest marsh by more than 2,000 square miles since 1930. We need to work toward effective solutions combating coastal erosion because it affects our homes, businesses, and daily lives. That is why I would like to recognize Wetland Resources, LLC, of Tickfaw, LA, as Small Business of the Week. The threat of natural disaster will always remain for those of us living in Louisiana, and it is well known that coastal restoration goes hand-in-hand with storm protection. In the 10 years since Hurricane Katrina, which flooded 80 percent of New Orleans and displaced thousands across the country, we as a State have made great strides to protect our homes and communities, and our future is brighter than ever. But we are not done yet. Husband and wife team Gary Shaffer and Demetra Kandelepas of Wetland Resources have stepped up to play a major role in coastal restoration and in 2009 began devising a way to rebuild and protect our coastline. Shaffer, a biology professor at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA, and Kandelepas, an ecologist with a doctorate degree, have been growing hurricane-resistant plants, such as cypress and tupelo trees, along Louisiana's receding coast. This creates a natural barrier of healthy flora more likely to sustain vulnerable coastal habitats during strong storms. In order to reinvigorate the vegetation along Louisiana's coastline, Wetland Resources targets areas that are filled with treated sewerage and wastewater from nearby cities. These areas are nutrient rich and serve as ideal incubators for newly planted cypress and tupelo trees. These species of trees can live for hundreds of years, and their root systems grow laterally, which connect with adjacent trees to create an effective barrier from storm surges and gale force winds. Today, Shaffer and Kandelepas are developing new ways to plant and protect their seeds. In addition to their most recent development, a biodegradable protective casing for their seedlings that allows 4,000 trees to be planted each day, Wetland Resources, LLC, has received numerous awards. Congratulations to Wetlands Resources, LLC, of Tickfaw, LA, this week's Small Business of the Week. I look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of your innovative ideas in restoring our coastline and protecting our families and homes.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to clarify today a provision included in the FAST Act conference report. In order to build and restore the Nation's highway infrastructure without breaking the bank to do so, we are going to need the best and latest in cost-saving construction technologies to help us attain that goal. I supported a provision in the Senate bill that would do just that with regard to construction for key highway components, such as bridge abutments, erosion control on highway waterways, and sound walls. My language specifically identified ``innovative segmental wall technology for soil bank stabilization and roadway sound attenuation, and articulated technology for hydraulic sheer-resistant erosion control'' as technologies for research and deployment action by the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA. A core value shared by all three technologies is that they can save taxpayer dollars. And we should certainly encourage FHWA to engage in research and deployment on them. For example, one of the practical and expensive problems with highway construction is moving and dispensing with excavated dirt. Segmental retaining wall, or SRW, technology can reduce transportation construction costs to the taxpayers by allowing the use of in situ soils in building segmental retaining walls rather than treating the excavated dirt as waste and hauling it away. Using the native soils for bank reinforcement can save the hauling costs and time for dirt removal, also reducing construction time. Similar segmental unit technology can be used to provide additional choices that are also aesthetically appealing for transportation designers to consider for sound attenuation. And articulated segmented unit technology for erosion control, known as ACB for the concrete blocks usually used for this purpose linked together in a durable matrix, is especially durable and resistant to overtopping in high-water events. Overtopping is a major problem in high-water events that can degrade or ruin the existing erosion control measures. Rebuilding and replacing is always a huge cost that we should seek to avoid. While the conference report does not retain my provision, we still have options to save the taxpayers money. I would like to point out that provisions appear elsewhere in the conference report that can give FHWA essentially the same mission, albeit articulated in a different way. Section 1428 of the conference report states that ``the Secretary shall encourage the use of durable, resilient and sustainable materials and practices, including the use of geosynthetic materials and other innovative technologies, in carrying out the activities of the Federal Highway Administration.'' Section 1428 might be an alternate means of articulating the same concepts I supported with regard to the innovative segmental wall, or SRW, technology. SRW walls use concrete block facing materials that are obviously highly durable, resilient, and sustainable. These facing units are anchored into the soils using geosynthetic ties that are also highly tough and durable and described in Section 1428. In passing the conference report, I would like to clarify for FHWA staff to consider SRW technology, using the durable, resilient, sustainable materials anchored with geosynthetics as one of the technologies envisioned in Section 1428. ACBs and segmental block sound walls also fit the definition of durable, resilient, and sustainable materials and techniques set forth in this section and should enjoy a similar favorable view under the umbrella of Section 1428.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 5 minutes.

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I first want to thank very much the Senator from Delaware for his courtesy in this regard. (The remarks of Mr. Vitter pertaining to the introduction of S. 2284 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

Mr. VITTER. I yield the floor.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise to strongly urge the adoption of my bill, S. 2284, to stop the Syrian refugee resettlement program, unless and until we have complete and adequate safeguards in place for the security of our homeland and all of our States. It is very clear to me that we do not have those safeguards right now. What my bill would do is stop the program for 270 days, demand a thorough review of all security issues related to the program, demand that changes be made and brought before Congress, and that the program only continue with the consent of Congress after we are assured the homeland and all of our States will be fully protected. Again, it is very clear to me that is not the case now. I expressed strong concerns and opposition to this program from the very beginning. When I first learned of it in September, I wrote Secretaries Kerry and Johnson regarding the real dangers of taking in thousands upon thousands of refugees from a country and an area of the world where enemies of the United States are all around them, and that clearly it posed a danger of those terrorist enemies infiltrating the refugee resettlement process. Tragically, we saw that happen and we saw the horrible results in Paris last Friday. As we all know now, at least one of those terrorists in Paris got into France under the Syrian refugee resettlement program there, and that is the same danger that is posed to us. Now, I have looked at this. I have had briefings on this. It is clear to me that we do not have adequate safeguards against this. Let me just cite one example of testimony in this regard. FBI Director James Comey has testified that the Federal Government doesn't have the ability to fully vet 10,000 or more Syrians refugees. Recently, during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Comey stated: We can only query against that which we have collected. And so if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them. That puts in simple, straightforward terms the real danger--that we cannot properly vet all of these refugees. And this is not from just any part of the world or any country. This is from a hotbed of anti- American terrorist elements. There is an additional grave danger with the program as it stands now, and that is our complete inability to track these individuals once they are in our country. Unfortunately, I have an example of this right from my home State of Louisiana. Just last week, a Syrian refugee was resettled into Baton Rouge. As of today, he is no longer there. He has gone missing. Allegedly, he, on his own, is relocating to Washington, DC. But from the briefings I have had from the State police, no one is in contact with him, no law enforcement or government agency is tracking him in any way, and he may or may not check in to a social service agency in Washington, DC. They have his information. Apparently, they are not in contact with him. Now, this is within a week of his being resettled into where he was supposed to be, in Baton Rouge, LA, which I object to as a Louisianian. Again, he allegedly is coming to Washington. By the way, our Nation's capital is under high security alert. And no one knows exactly where he is. No one is tracking him adequately at all. This clearly underscores the inadequacy of our current program. We need to put a stop to this until proper, full, and aggressive safeguards are in place. My bill, S. 2284, would do that. I am very happy the House of Representatives is acting and considering similar legislation. I believe Congressman Graves will be introducing my legislation in the House, and the House may take up this matter as soon as Thursday. I hope that they do, because it is very time sensitive and our security is at stake. I hope that we do, by considering this and similar ideas absolutely as soon as possible. We must put a stop to this. We must put real security measures in place. We must not allow the flow to continue until we do.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise to strongly urge the adoption of my bill, S. 2284, to stop the Syrian refugee resettlement program, unless and until we have complete and adequate safeguards in place for the security of our homeland and all of our States. It is very clear to me that we do not have those safeguards right now. What my bill would do is stop the program for 270 days, demand a thorough review of all security issues related to the program, demand that changes be made and brought before Congress, and that the program only continue with the consent of Congress after we are assured the homeland and all of our States will be fully protected. Again, it is very clear to me that is not the case now. I expressed strong concerns and opposition to this program from the very beginning. When I first learned of it in September, I wrote Secretaries Kerry and Johnson regarding the real dangers of taking in thousands upon thousands of refugees from a country and an area of the world where enemies of the United States are all around them, and that clearly it posed a danger of those terrorist enemies infiltrating the refugee resettlement process. Tragically, we saw that happen and we saw the horrible results in Paris last Friday. As we all know now, at least one of those terrorists in Paris got into France under the Syrian refugee resettlement program there, and that is the same danger that is posed to us. Now, I have looked at this. I have had briefings on this. It is clear to me that we do not have adequate safeguards against this. Let me just cite one example of testimony in this regard. FBI Director James Comey has testified that the Federal Government doesn't have the ability to fully vet 10,000 or more Syrians refugees. Recently, during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Comey stated: We can only query against that which we have collected. And so if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them. That puts in simple, straightforward terms the real danger--that we cannot properly vet all of these refugees. And this is not from just any part of the world or any country. This is from a hotbed of anti- American terrorist elements. There is an additional grave danger with the program as it stands now, and that is our complete inability to track these individuals once they are in our country. Unfortunately, I have an example of this right from my home State of Louisiana. Just last week, a Syrian refugee was resettled into Baton Rouge. As of today, he is no longer there. He has gone missing. Allegedly, he, on his own, is relocating to Washington, DC. But from the briefings I have had from the State police, no one is in contact with him, no law enforcement or government agency is tracking him in any way, and he may or may not check in to a social service agency in Washington, DC. They have his information. Apparently, they are not in contact with him. Now, this is within a week of his being resettled into where he was supposed to be, in Baton Rouge, LA, which I object to as a Louisianian. Again, he allegedly is coming to Washington. By the way, our Nation's capital is under high security alert. And no one knows exactly where he is. No one is tracking him adequately at all. This clearly underscores the inadequacy of our current program. We need to put a stop to this until proper, full, and aggressive safeguards are in place. My bill, S. 2284, would do that. I am very happy the House of Representatives is acting and considering similar legislation. I believe Congressman Graves will be introducing my legislation in the House, and the House may take up this matter as soon as Thursday. I hope that they do, because it is very time sensitive and our security is at stake. I hope that we do, by considering this and similar ideas absolutely as soon as possible. We must put a stop to this. We must put real security measures in place. We must not allow the flow to continue until we do.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, I wish to support the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bipartisan bill provides critical resources for our active military, veterans, and their families. The courage and sacrifice that define our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coastguardsmen, and all servicemembers over the years cannot be understated. Major chapters in our Nation's rich history have been and continue to be written by our brave servicemen and women, many of whom hail from Louisiana. The very least we can do in return is keep our commitments to them. It is our obligation to fund veterans' health care and benefits, and this bill does just that while also making necessary reforms to the scandal-plagued Department of Veterans Affairs. Our Louisiana veterans have waited a long, long time to have efficient access to effective health care, and they deserve much better than what has been handed to them. That is why I have worked for years to authorize new VA clinics and build interim clinics in southwest Louisiana, including one in Lake Charles, LA, that is expected to open before the Thanksgiving holiday. The latest National Defense Authorization measure has been revised to reflect the recent budget deal, which modified the spending caps for both base and war defense spending. In light of these changes, I firmly believe the administration should honor past statements that current military reductions are due to defense budget cuts stemming from sequestration, which have now been postponed for 2 years. It is critically important to recognize that the newly revised 2-year budget deal provides necessary relief for the Department of Defense and allows a much-needed opportunity to avoid further cuts to the Active- Duty Army's troop strength. Since 2013, the U.S. Army alone has decreased troop strength 21 percent. That is both dangerous and unacceptable. I have fought against dangerously steep drawdowns and was proud to fight this issue on the Senate floor last year. The United States cannot afford continued troop cuts at a time when military leaders say that we are facing an unprecedented number of threats. I urge my colleagues to support our military and to support this bipartisan bill.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, Louisianians share a long history of triumph and resilience over hardship, and as a result, folks from all backgrounds pursue the American Dream with dedication and commitment. This is particularly true of the Vietnamese community and local small businesses in southeast Louisiana who came together to rebuild New Orleans East after Hurricane Katrina. In honor of National Women's Small Business Month, I am proud to recognize Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant of New Orleans, LA, as this week's Small Business of the Week. Amidst an intense postwar political climate following the end of the Vietnam war, De and Huong Tran immigrated to the United States in 1980 in search of a more peaceful life and greater opportunities for their young family. The Trans and their three young children settled in an area with a fast-growing Vietnamese presence, the Versailles neighborhood of New Orleans. Shortly after settling into their new community, De enrolled at the University of New Orleans and found work at a local grocery store. Given De's busy class and work schedule, Huong cared for the young Tran children as they adjusted to their new home and culture. Searching for ways to reconnect with her beloved Vietnamese culture and provide extra income for her young family, Huong drew from her past working in her father's bakery in Vietnam and began baking a variety of Vietnamese delicacies, selling them to friends, family, and local shops in her community. Realizing they had a hit, Huong and De opened the Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery in 1981, selling traditional Vietnamese pastries and items with a French flair. During the rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina, De and Huong Tran provided support and hope to their community, and today the Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant remains in their original location in the Vietnamese neighborhood of Versailles, operating out of a 4,000-square- foot restaurant space. Now under the ownership of Huong Tran and Linh Tran Garza, the bakery continues to prepare and sell traditional French-Vietnamese cuisine, as well as their beloved fresh French bread to restaurants and customers across south Louisiana. Congratulations again to Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant for being Small Business of The Week and to Huong and Linh for their praiseworthy entrepreneurial spirit and for setting an example for women entrepreneurs across the Nation.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, assuming it is not too late, I ask unanimous consent to be added as a cosponsor of that legislation as well.

Mr. VITTER. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, to clarify the request, I ask unanimous consent to be added as a cosponsor of the Senate bill, which represents--excuse me, Mr. President. I withdraw the unanimous consent request.

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

Mr. VITTER

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

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Over 2 years ago, I sat down with now the late Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey in an attempt to find compromise and to work together on updating the drastically outdated Toxic Substances Control Act. Updating this law was a long-time goal and passion of Frank's. It was a real goal of mine, although we came at it from very different directions, at least initially. I am saddened Frank isn't here with us to see it finally being brought up for consideration on the floor of the Senate. We worked closely together and forged a significant, productive, positive bipartisan compromise--the sort of work we don't see often enough in the Senate or the Congress itself, but we got it done here, and it is a strong, positive compromise in substance as well. After Frank's passing, Senator Tom Udall stepped in to help preserve Frank's legacy and continued working with me to move this reform forward. We have done that consistently over months and months, working on issue after issue, detail after detail, to produce a strong result. I am very proud of the substance of this result because it achieves two very important goals: On the one hand, we certainly protect health and safety and give the EPA the proper authorities to do that with regard to chemicals in commerce. On the other hand, we make sure we don't overburden industry and put them at a disadvantage in terms of remaining America's world leaders in innovation and chemistry. We are world leaders now. We innovate, we produce new chemicals and new uses and new products on a spectacular basis, and we certainly don't want to threaten that. Our Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act doesn't threaten it. It enhances it, it protects health and safety, and that is why I am so proud of this bipartisan work. We have done that work so completely we are now in a position to pass this bill through the Senate in very short order. In fact, we only need 2 hours of floor time, and we need no amendment votes related to the bill in any way. That is virtually unheard of in the Senate, but it goes to the work that so many folks have done on both sides of the aisle. So with 2 hours of floor time, no amendment votes, we can pass this bill and move it on to the House. We have been in contact with the House for months, so we are very hopeful we can follow up our action with House action and a final result in relatively short order. Mr. President, that is why we are coming to the floor today, to ask unanimous consent to establish that process in the near future--a very simple, very short process so we can get this done and achieve this result. Again, no amendment votes are necessary--whether they are germane, related or unrelated, no amendment votes are necessary--and then pass it on to the House. I certainly hope we can have that agreement to move forward in a productive fashion. With that, let me yield to my Democratic colleague Senator Udall, who has been such a great partner in this effort following Frank Lautenberg's unfortunate passing.

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

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, in the small business committee, we have been working on significant legislation that goes to disaster recovery, the Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act. We are ready to move that legislation and pass it through the entire Senate. Since Hurricane Katrina devastated my State of Louisiana in 2005, I have fought to support disaster victims and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our Nation's disaster relief and recovery efforts. I have continued this vital focus on disaster mitigation and recovery as Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. I stand by my principle that when people are there for you, you will be there for them. Following my brief remarks, I will ask unanimous consent that the Senate pass H.R. 208, which has passed the House unanimously, with the Vitter amendment. With Superstorm Sandy, similar to after Katrina, we continued to see--and both the GAO and IG confirmed--significant shortcomings with the SBA's disaster loan programs, particularly application processing times and inaccurate information, which discouraged victims from applying for assistance. H.R. 208 reopens the SBA disaster loan program to those victims for one year, and also includes vital reforms and oversight to the SBA's disaster loan program. This bill does not cost anything as the funds have already been appropriated but sit unused. The RISE After Disaster Act, which is included in my amendment, passed out of the Small Business Committee with unanimous support, and will provide long-term recovery loans to small businesses through community banks after SBA disaster assistance is no longer available; direct Federal agencies to utilize local contractors for response and recovery efforts, rather than government contractors from Washington, DC, and other areas; address contractor malfeasance, such as the Chinese drywall crisis, by allowing homeowners and businesses to use their SBA disaster loans to remediate their property; provide incentives for innovative firms doing research and development to stay in the disaster-affected area, rather than move elsewhere; and require the SBA to take steps to establish a web portal for disaster assistance, whereby applicants can track the status of applications and approvals, as well as submit required supporting documentation electronically. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Sandy in 2012, and Joaquin just this month--along with far too many other natural disasters--have all illustrated the devastating effects of hurricanes and flooding on our communities. As Chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I am committed to serving small businesses across the country and ensuring that they are afforded the resources and assistance in order to protect themselves from and recover after disasters. This means rigorous oversight of the SBA's disaster loan programs and extensive examination of economic recovery efforts, agency coordination, and the efficiency of disaster assistance delivery. Small businesses are vital to every community's economy and serve as the major source of jobs--one great incentive to have folks return after a major disaster--and is why helping them to more quickly recover is one of the most effective and beneficial tactics we can and should take. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 208 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Vitter amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I imagine most Americans are familiar with the importance of making healthful living choices. In honor of National Women's Small Business Month, I would like to recognize Healthe Habits for Living of Lafayette, LA, as Small Business of the Week for their commitment to helping folks reach and maintain healthy lifestyles. In 2007, after a personal battle with medical issues, Jill Hurley opened Healthe Habits for Living with the mission to help train, coach, and advise other adults in the appropriate skills for exercise, nutrition, and mental strategies to live a healthy lifestyle. Putting her education to work in order to develop a unique approach to battling heart disease, Jill has become accustomed to the physical and mental challenges of individuals suffering from heart disease. To complement their life skills counseling in nutrition and long-term mental success strategies, Jill and her team of physical and occupational therapists also provide physical strength training to their patients, encouraging and enabling a balanced active lifestyle that parallels healthier life changes. Named the Small Business Administration's, SBA, 2011 Women in Business Champion for Louisiana, Jill's proven endeavor to assist others in reaching their healthy living goals has expanded to three successful locations across south Louisiana and currently employs an all-female staff of six physical and occupational therapists. Since opening her first location, Jill has continuously hired some of the most qualified and successful therapists in Louisiana, and she encourages her staff to further their educational training as they build outstanding careers in the therapy field. Women-owned small businesses have an unequivocal impact on our communities and the lives of those who need assistance the most, and Healthe Habits for Living is a testament to the extraordinary achievements of women entrepreneurs across America. Congratulations again to Lafayette's own, Healthe Habits for Living for being selected as Small Business of the Week, and thank you for your commitment to tackling health issues in your community head-on.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, family-owned small businesses provide parents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to teach their children the value of hard work and taking risks to pursue one's dreams. This is especially true for 2 Sisters' Salsa Company, which started as a kitchen conversation between family friends and has since grown into a successful women-owned venture. In honor of National Woman's Small Business Month, I would like to recognize 2 Sisters' Salsa of Plaucheville, LA, as this week's Small Business of the Week. 2 Sisters' Salsa Company began when family friends, the Deshotels and Bordelons, began occasionally making salsa in their kitchen. After a couple of batches, they began to refine their recipe until they created a finished product to their liking. They soon realized that their salsa had immense potential, so they began jarring and labeling their product for store shelves, which was receiving excellent reviews from friends and family. As the company grew, the need for an original name became critical to the development of their small business. They settled upon 2 Sisters' Salsa in honor of the two sets of sisters of the Deshotels and Bordelon families. With a new name and growing clientele, the daughters of the two families went from being the namesake of 2 Sisters' Salsa Company to full-time employees, helping their parents with production and sale of their salsa products. Today, 2 Sisters' Salsa has expanded from the Deshotels' kitchen to a new facility in Avoylles Parish producing 5,000 salsa products a day. As the reigning world champion for the medium salsa category, 2 Sisters' Salsa can be found in over 100 restaurants and retail locations. The hard work and creativity of Patrick and Brooke Deshotels; Jason and Stacy Bordelon; and their daughters Sara, Emily, Shellie, and Rayne certainly deserve recognition, especially as we celebrate National Women's Small Business Month. Congratulations again to this week's Small Business of the Week, 2 Sisters' Salsa Company, and I wish you continued success.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, oftentimes small businesses are grown out of a desire to help folks in their communities. It is especially encouraging to see this after a catastrophic natural disaster. As we honor National Women's Small Business Week, I would like to recognize Cook Me Somethin' Mister of New Orleans, LA, as Small Business of the Week. In 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, a recent college graduate named Kristen Preau was approached by her employer, the University of New Orleans Athletic Department, to come up with a way to generate much-needed funding for the school. Preau took to what she knew best: her family's beloved jambalaya recipe. Raising $100,000 in just 3 months at college tailgating events across the country, Preau knew she had a hit. Over the next few years, Preau--known for much of her life as the ``Jambalaya Girl''--perfected and expanded her seasonings, which were selling as quickly as they were stocked on the shelves of local grocery stores. Having roots firmly planted in the Louisiana culinary scene, Preau's family were some of the first folks to cook and serve jambalaya at the French Quarter Fest in New Orleans's famous Jackson Square. The family also enjoyed a close relationship with the late, world famous Cajun Chef Paul Prudhomme who had a hand in blending the ``Jambalaya Girl's'' seasonings. Today, Preau's operation has grown into full-time endeavor with five full-time employees producing the ``Jambalaya Girl's'' products in her hometown of New Orleans. Enjoying great success, Kristen and her jambalaya have gained national recognition and was recently named a Top 100 Small Business in the country for 2015 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Small Business Administration's, SBA, Women in Business Champion, and the Women's Business Enterprise Council, WBEC, South Role Model of the Year for 2014, among others. Congratulations again to Cook Me Somethin' Mister for being selected as Small Business of the Week, and thank you for your inspiration for woman entrepreneurs across Louisiana. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and success.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise again in strong support of the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, which we will be voting on later today. I was here on the floor yesterday laying out the strong case in support of that, talking to many colleagues before this vote today, as I have been for the past several days. Today I rise to focus on some arguments from the other side that are erroneous and misleading, quite frankly, and to debunk those arguments so everyone has the full, true, and clear picture of why this legislation is so needed. First, I have heard a few of my colleagues talk about the need for Federal and local authorities to do a better job of working together. For instance, Senator Durbin, who just left the floor, said: ``Federal and local authorities must do a better job of communicating and coordinating so that undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records are detained and deported, period.'' Similarly, Senator Feinstein said: ``It is very clear to me that we have to improve cooperation between local, State, and Federal law enforcement.'' Let me say that I completely agree with them, and they are laying out a strong case for this legislation, not against it, because we need to do something about the cause of the noncooperation, the obstacle between that full cooperation, which absolutely needs to happen every day. Simply wishing for a better outcome isn't going to make it happen. The fact is, there are dozens of sanctuary cities--jurisdictions that have those policies--that were cooperating in the past and that want to cooperate, but they have been faced with lawsuits from the ACLU and others and court decisions wherein local law enforcement officials could be held liable for violating an individual's constitutional rights simply for honoring a detainer request from ICE. That is ridiculous. That is an abusive threat. Our legislation on the floor today is going to remove that threat. The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act allows for that cooperation between local and Federal authorities to resume again because section 4 of the bill will facilitate State and local compliance with the ICE detainer and remove that onerous and unreasonable threat. Cooperation has been stifled by lawsuits aimed at bullying local law enforcement, and this bill will grant local law enforcement the authority to clearly comply with ICE detainers without threat of liability. It will protect them from that liability for simply complying with ICE detainers. I will remind my colleagues that it will do nothing to infringe on an individual's civil or constitutional rights. They still have the same ability to pursue those against ICE or anyone else they choose. That is why this legislation is supported by people who know something about what needs to happen for local and Federal authorities to cooperate. Who am I talking about? The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association--they know what they are talking about. The International Union of Police Associations--they live it every day. The National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs' Association--don't my colleagues think they know what is needed on the ground? They do. And because they do, they strongly support this legislation. Second, some colleagues on the other side argue that this bill won't do anything; instead, we need so-called comprehensive immigration reform such as the Gang of 8 bill. But the Gang of 8 bill that my colleagues are pushing--1,200 pages long when it passed the Senate-- didn't do anything to resolve this issue of sanctuary cities. It didn't do anything to change the abusive lawsuits I am speaking about. It didn't do anything to encourage Federal and local authorities to cooperate in real time--absolutely nothing. That is just the fact, once we read the 1,200 pages. All the Gang of 8 bill does is lead with a big amnesty--an amnesty overnight--for about 11 million illegal immigrants in our country today. So that comprehensive immigration reform bill-- the Gang of 8 bill or whatever we want to call it--does nothing in this area that is so crucial to fix, does nothing about sanctuary cities, does nothing to remove these abusive lawsuits as obstacles to the clear and full cooperation between Federal, State, and local authorities, which even folks on the other side of the bill admit needs to happen and is a problem right now. There are lots of myths about our bill versus the facts. With that in mind, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a myth v. fact sheet that lays out clearly the myths, the arguments made against this legislation, and the real facts of the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, S. 2146.

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, let me highlight the two biggest ones. The first one is that our legislation would somehow punish and make it more difficult for illegal persons to report crimes and cooperate with local law enforcement. That is a pure myth. What is the fact? Well, read the bill, as the American people suggest. Read the bill. Our bill, S. 2146, specifically provides that if a jurisdiction has a policy that local law enforcement will not inquire about the immigration status of crime victims or witnesses, such jurisdiction will not be deemed a sanctuary jurisdiction and it will not lose Federal funds over that. So that argument is simply a myth. The second argument often made is that somehow this legislation is requiring local law enforcement to carry out Federal immigration responsibilities. Again, that is a pure myth, a purely erroneous argument, and if we read the bill, S. 2146, we will see it is simply not true. The bill does not require local law enforcement ``to carry out Federal immigration responsibilities'' in any way, shape, or form. Removing illegal immigrants remains the exclusive province of the Federal Government. The bill simply withholds certain Federal funds from jurisdictions that prohibit exactly the cooperation that our opponents on the other side say is so necessary and correctly say is so necessary. So that, again, is the fact versus the myth that is being propagated. Again, we have several myths versus facts as part of the record, and I urge everyone, starting with our colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to study it carefully. This is an important issue. Sanctuary cities are a real problem, and we need to fix that problem to move forward. So I urge my colleagues to look carefully at this issue of what is driving these sanctuary cities policies. Our legislation will take up those drivers, those obstacles, will solve those problems, and will result in the cooperation at all levels of law enforcement that we desperately need. I urge my colleagues to vote yes later today so we can push forward with this important and critical legislation.

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

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of an important piece of legislation that I have introduced that would bring an end to the dangerous existence of sanctuary cities--the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 included language that specifically prohibits State and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite this, cities continually violate that provision by having sanctuary policies in place. If these cities and localities want to continue to blatantly disregard Federal law, they should no longer receive certain Federal funds. Now, the sanctuary policies that we are talking about fall into two categories: one, ordinances that bar city employees from asking about a person's immigration status under any circumstances; and two, policies that prevent them from reporting a suspected illegal alien to Federal immigration law enforcement authorities. These sanctuary policies and sanctuary cities that enact them are dangerous and counterproductive to both law enforcement efforts and reducing illegal immigration. We know there are many instances in which an illegal alien is released by local authorities and then commits a very serious crime-- sometimes a murder or a fatal crime. By now we all know of the tragic event that renewed our focus on this issue back in July--the murder of a 32-year-old woman named Kate Steinle in San Francisco. Kate's suspected murderer was an illegal immigrant who had been deported 5 times previously and was released this past April by local law enforcement, specifically citing San Francisco's sanctuary city laws, defying a request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to hold him for deportation proceedings. If this illegal immigrant had been held for deportation proceedings instead of being set free, Kate Steinle would be alive today--period, end of story. Unfortunately, San Francisco is far from the only city in the country carrying out this dangerous policy, and Kate Steinle is far from being the only victim of a serious crime committed by an illegal immigrant under these sorts of circumstances. On July 24, 2015, Marilyn Pharis was brutally raped, tortured, and murdered in her home in Santa Maria, CA, by an illegal immigrant who was released from custody because the county sheriff does not honor detainment. Again, this is a clear instance that would be stopped but for sanctuary policies. On July 27, 2015, an illegal immigrant was arrested and accused of killing 60-year-old Margaret Kostelnik in Ravenna Road, OH. Before murdering Ms. Kostelnik, the man allegedly attempted to rape a 14-year- old girl and shoot a woman in a nearby park. The suspect also was previously in the custody of law enforcement but was released because the Department of Homeland Security refused to issue a detainer and take custody of the suspect--a related problem. On July 30, a 2-year-old girl was brutally beaten by an illegal immigrant in San Luis Obispo County, CA. He was released from local custody despite a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer and extensive criminal history. Other cases include last year, when a Virginia man who killed a Catholic nun in a drunk-driving crash was revealed to be an illegal alien who had been previously arrested. An illegal alien committed a shocking execution-style murder of three college students in the sanctuary city of Newark, NJ, several years ago. He had been arrested twice before this grizzly crime. In the aftermath of the murders, the attorney general of New Jersey effectively eliminated Newark's sanctuary city policy. Now, according to documents uncovered by a Freedom of Information Act request by the Center for Immigration Studies, ICE lists at least 340 cities defying Federal law, providing safe haven to illegal immigrants, including my original hometown of New Orleans. These policies, again, are a direct infringement of Federal law, and it is simply unacceptable. Worse still, these cities are actively releasing criminal illegal immigrants back into our communities instead of working cooperatively with Federal officials to deport them or lock them up. I firmly believe it is time to reverse these illegal policies, to bar them once and for good. That is why I have joined on this crucial piece of legislation with Senators Toomey, Grassley, Cruz, Johnson, Cornyn, Sullivan, Perdue, Isakson, Rubio, Barrasso, and Thune. We are introducing this legislation and we are getting a vote tomorrow to end the practice of sanctuary cities violating existing Federal immigration law. This legislation takes a commonsense approach to this problem, and there are three key parts to the bill. First, this bill changes the incentives for cities by creating penalties for States, local governments, and law enforcement entities that choose to have these policies in place. These penalties come in the form of the removal of certain streams of Federal funding for sanctuary jurisdictions, and the penalties apply to whatever government entity is actually making that bad decision. In cases where a law enforcement entity, such as a jail or a police department, has a policy or practice that refuses to comply with Federal immigration law, it will be prevented from receiving community- oriented policing services grants or State Criminal Alien Assistance Program grants. So that entity directly will be penalized; it is making the bad decision. On the other hand, if a State or city council or executive passes a resolution or implements a policy or practice that refuses to comply with Federal immigration law, then that city or entity will no longer be available for community development block grant funds. Again, we penalize the specific entity or public official involved. It is important that Federal funds are withheld from the entity that makes the dangerous decision to allow dangerous illegal immigrants to walk free rather than turning them over to the Department of Homeland Security. Second, we have seen the willingness of jurisdictions to comply with immigration detainers decrease in recent years due to litigation pursued by the ACLU. We know dozens of jurisdictions that want to cooperate and were cooperating but became sanctuary cities in reaction to these lawsuits. Our legislation deals with this threat head-on and grants local law enforcement the clear authority to always comply with ICE detainers. However, it is important to note that we have been very careful to protect individual rights and have preserved an individual's right to sue for a violation of their civil or constitutional rights. But if the problem was with the detainer, then individuals sue ICE and not the local law enforcement officials. The third and final part of this legislation deals directly with those who continue to cross our border illegally, and it establishes Kate's Law--appropriately named after Kathryn Steinle, whom I mentioned earlier. Kate's Law increases mandatory minimum sentence requirements for people who continue to cross the border illegally. Kate's Law will increase the maximum penalty for illegal reentry from 2 years to 5 years. It also creates a maximum penalty of 10 years for illegal immigrants who have been denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed three or more times and then illegally reenter the country. In order to ensure appropriate treatment of criminal illegal immigrants, Kate's Law creates a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for any illegal immigrant who illegally reenters the country and has been convicted of an aggravated felony prior to removal or has been previously convicted twice of illegal reentry. Right now, there are nearly 170,000 convicted criminal aliens who have been ordered deported but remain at large in our country. This is a direct result of nonenforcement policies and failed leadership. Last year, ICE responded to a request, disclosing that it released 169 convicted illegals from over 130 ZIP Codes in 2013. At least two of the ZIP Codes mentioned are in Louisiana--Kenner and Baton Rouge--and dangerous criminals were released through the South Louisiana Detention Center. This year alone, ICE reported releasing 30,558 unique criminal illegal immigrants from their custody. Some of the crimes committed by these criminal aliens include arson, assault, burglary, kidnapping, larceny, robbery, sexual assault, drunk driving, weapons offenses, and 20 other serious crimes. Why would we ever want to provide safe harbor to these people? That is what sanctuary cities are doing. This legislation is supported by a wide range of organizations to crack down on this problem: the Remembrance Project, NumbersUSA, Federation for American Immigration Reform, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs' Association, America First Latinos, and letters from the McCann, Rosenberg, Ronnebeck, Oliver, and Wilkerson families, all of whom tragically had family members murdered by illegal aliens. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record letters of support.