David Vitter

Mr. VITTER

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. VITTER. Thank you, Madam President. I have an amendment at the desk which has been slightly modified from its original form, and I ask unanimous consent that it be called up.

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

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, I have now filed my slightly modified amendment--I will explain the modification in a minute--and it is at the desk. I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment so my amendment can be called up.

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, I will explain and speak on this amendment even though it is not pending as we speak. I will also file an ongoing objection to anyone setting aside the pending amendment for another or for any votes being scheduled until this matter can be worked out.

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, the amendment I have at the desk is about a very important issue. Before I explain what it is, I will say that I strongly support the underlying bill. I compliment Senator Cornyn and others who have worked on a bipartisan basis on this bill. I certainly look forward to supporting this bill irrespective of how the vote goes on my amendment, but I obviously hope my amendment is adopted in the context of this bill. Clearly, this issue of human trafficking is a very serious one. It takes many forms, all of them ugly. One form is a phenomenon I am going to talk about today, which is the issue of birth tourism and trafficking in women and families who want to get into this country in order to physically have their children in this country because present policy recognizes those children immediately as U.S. citizens simply because they were born in this country. This phenomenon of birth tourism is a very real one, and it often puts these birth mothers and families in very dangerous situations, quite frankly, at the hands of human smugglers or the equivalent. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to have two news reports which illustrate this phenomenon printed in the Record. The first news report is an article entitled ``No vacancy at California birth hotels,'' which underscores some of the abuses and horrendous conditions that go on as a result of this, and the second article is from the Washington Post, which is entitled ``Inside the shadowy world of birth tourism at `maternity hotels.' ''

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, recently the Obama administration conducted a raid on some of these shadowy operations. I compliment them for doing that. There needs to be a crackdown on these operations, but the ultimate crackdown and ultimate solution is to change the policy of the Federal Government that recognizes these children immediately as U.S. citizens simply because they are physically born in this country even though both of their parents are here illegally. No parent is here under any sort of legal status, and that is the ultimate response and ultimate solution we need, and that is what my amendment--that I will call up as soon as that is allowed and get a vote on--is about. My amendment would change the present practice, policy, and law to say that only somebody born in this country who has at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen, a legal green card holder, or a serving member of the U.S. military, immediately gets that recognition as a U.S. citizen. As I suggested, this issue and practice--including this shadowy world of birth tourism and human smuggling--is a very serious issue. In fact, it is an exploding issue, as these recent cases in the press have brought to light. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, each year about 300,000 to 400,000 children are born to illegal aliens in the United States, and under our present practice, all of them are immediately recognized as U.S. citizens. This is a huge magnet for more illegal crossings into our country, often at the hands of very dangerous people. Birthright citizenship draws women from Mexico and Central America to make that dangerous trek north, often in the hands of coyotes and drug cartels. These women put their lives into the hands of criminal gangs with a demonstrated pension for sexual assault and sex trafficking. In addition, there is a huge business of birth tourism, including those who market to women and families in China. As I mentioned, on Tuesday, March 3, Federal agents broke up an alleged birth tourism ring in southern California, raiding several homes and apartment complexes where pregnant Chinese women, who were here on fraudulent visas, paid up to $80,000 in some cases so their babies would be born here. DHS and IRS investigators were seeking evidence and statements against those alleged in the scheme. Besides visa fraud, authorities are looking into possible tax and money laundering charges. As I referred to the news reports that are now part of the Record, in some cases this involves horrendous conditions and a very shadowy world in terms of this so-called birth tourism. The ultimate solution to this enormous magnet for illegal crossings-- often at the hands of very dangerous people--is to not recognize everyone who is simply born in the United States to be a citizen of the United States because of that fact alone. Again, that is what my amendment would do. That is far more effective than any set of raids on these operations or on any enforcement provisions. If we move toward this, we would be in the company of a huge majority of countries in the world. Of advanced economies, only Canada and the United States grant automatic citizenship to children born to illegal aliens. No European country does that. No other advanced industrialized country does that, nor should we. As I suggested, it is a huge magnet for more and more illegal crossings, and my amendment would fix that. Some people will argue this is not possible with a statutory change. This is embedded in the U.S. Constitution through the 14th Amendment and any change would have to be a constitutional amendment. I believe that is not the case and is a result of a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution in this regard, including the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment does not say that all persons born in the United States are citizens, period, end of story. If we look at the precise language, it is very instructive. It states that citizenship extends to ``all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.'' That latter phrase--``and subject to the jurisdiction thereof''--was included because it means something, and its original meaning clearly refers to the political allegiance of an individual and the jurisdiction that a foreign government has over that person. That is exactly why American Indians and their children were not immediately recognized as U.S. citizens simply because of their birth in this country. There was actually litigation about that going directly to this language of the 14th Amendment. The courts decided, no, the fact that these American Indian children were born in the United States in and of itself did not make them U.S. citizens because ``and subject to the jurisdiction thereof'' had a meaning. It meant these children could not be subject to any other governmental or quasi- governmental authority and an American Indian tribe was such an authority. Because of that litigation and interpretation, in order for those American Indian children to be recognized as American citizens, it actually took specific congressional action, and Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. I believe that goes directly to this issue that this practice is not embedded in the Constitution and in the 14th Amendment, and so that allows the statutory fix my language would offer. Senator Harry Reid, the minority leader, actually introduced a bill in 1993 titled the ``Immigration Stabilization Act,'' which included nearly identical language to my amendment and stand-alone bill. This language has broad support in the country, including broad bipartisan support. In Senator Reid's bill--now that is going back a ways--it stated ``in the exercise of its powers under section 5 of the 14th article of the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress has determined and hereby declares that any person born after the date of enactment of this title to a mother who is neither a citizen of the United States nor admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident will not be a U.S. citizen.'' So there we have language from a leading Democratic Member that goes to the same issue. There is broad bipartisan support, not just in the Congress but in the country for this fix, particularly in the context of these huge illegal alien flows into the country. I believe Americans recognize that we cannot continue to adopt and recognize this policy. It is an enormous magnet for the continuing flows of illegal aliens into the country. It brings up industries such as this shadowy world of birth tourism which was recently raided by Federal authorities. It puts those mothers and families in the hands of very unsavory criminal elements in many cases, and we should not allow this to continue. My amendment would stop that practice, stop those abuses, and stop encouraging those flows of illegal aliens. I strongly encourage the Senate to directly consider this amendment, vote on it, and to adopt it as part of this very important underlying bill. Finally, I ask unanimous consent to have two letters that were written by leading groups on immigration reform, FAIR and the Eagle Forum, printed in the Record. They are in strong support of this measure. I will submit additional letters of support as they develop over the next day or two.

Mr. VITTER. I thank the Presiding Officer and yield the floor.

Mr. VITTER

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

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, American small businesses are cultivating the Nation's brightest minds to innovate with ingenuity. Technological advancement is a crucial element in fostering economic growth, increasing educational opportunities, and retaining high- skilled, technical jobs. Its importance cannot be understated. This week, I am honored to recognize a small business that highlights this exciting aspect of today's economy. Congratulations to this week's Small Business of the Week, Skyrunner, located in Shreveport, LA. Stewart Hamel and Gilo Cardozo created the Skyrunner in order to reinvent recreational sports vehicles--an all-terrain buggy that also flies. Located in Northwest Louisiana, Skyrunner has combined a recreational off-road vehicle with paragliding equipment that allows the driver to use the machine in either of its two modes: car and flight. When in car mode, the vehicle boasts a rugged, dependable frame ideal for demanding terrains. The flight mode deploys the latest in reflex paragliding technology, allowing the vehicle to float back down to the ground upon entering the air. The vehicle's top speed reaches 115 miles per hour and can accelerate to 62 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds, which can launch the vehicle into the air with minimal effort. The Skyrunner is more than just a recreational vehicle. With its minimum weight and outstanding performance, the Skyrunner has the potential to be incorporated as a valuable tool for various Federal agencies, local and State governments, and adventure enthusiasts alike. CEO Stewart Hamel of Shreveport believes his spin on the all-terrain vehicle will revolutionize the way we manage natural resources, protect Federal lands, aid in natural disasters, and adventure into the wilderness. When moving its headquarters to Louisiana from the United Kingdom, Skyrunner struggled to get a unique military application approved to import products because a bureaucrat at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was blocking the application. Fortunately, I was able to advocate on Skyrunner's behalf to move past bureaucratic red tape, which allowed the company to begin pre-production of their product in Shreveport, LA. With a handful of prototypes under their belt, Skyrunner begins mass production of their aerodynamic dune-buggy within the next few months. It is important that we cut through government regulations to allow our small businesses to act on innovative ideas and develop their products, market base, and workforce. By supporting these local small businesses, we can bring new technology, jobs, and state-of-the-art equipment to the areas that need it most. Congratulations again to Skyrunner for being selected as Small Business of the Week. I wish you all the best in your endeavor and thank you for bringing innovative technology to Northwest Louisiana.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, I rise in strong opposition to stripping off all of the House language from the Homeland Security funding bill and proceeding with a ``clean bill.'' I do so because I took a constitutional oath, and I take that oath very seriously. The language which we are debating in the Homeland Security funding bill from the House goes directly to that oath and goes directly to that responsibility. It does so for two reasons. First of all, this Executive amnesty, which has about 5 million illegal aliens getting blanket significant amnesty because of the President's Executive action, is a big deal. It is a big deal in terms of policy. It is a big deal regarding his overreaching his legal and constitutional authority. First, policy. It is a fundamental rule of economics--it is a fundamental rule of life--that when you reward behavior, you get more of it. When you penalize certain behavior, you get less of it. A blanket overarching amnesty which gives about 5 million illegal aliens in the country here amnesty is rewarding behavior. It is rewarding behavior we say we want to curtail, we say we want to stop, but we are rewarding it, and we are going to get more of it. That is not just me saying that theoretically. We have lived that over and over again. The President a few years ago took a similar but smaller Executive action commonly referred to as DACA. That focused on younger illegal aliens. Guess what. Soon after that action, a wave of new young illegal minors, unaccompanied minors, started coming into this country in numbers like we had never seen before. Does anyone think that was unrelated? Does anyone think that timing was just coincidence? Of course it wasn't. The President rewarded illegal crossings and--surprise, surprise--he got a whole lot more of them in exactly the class--younger, illegal, unaccompanied minors--that he had acted on through DACA. So this is going to happen again on a much larger scale. We are going to grow the problem through this policy, not get control of it. The second concern I have is even far more fundamental, because it goes to his constitutional power and authority, and the fact that he is going well beyond that constitutional power and authority, I think, clearly. Presidents have significant authority. They are the Executive. They need to execute the law. In executing the law, they often have to fill in the blanks, fill in the details that Congress has not fully provided. But that is very different from acting contrary to the law-- 180 degrees contrary to statutory law--and that is what the President is doing in this instance. No President has that authority. If they want to do that, they need to change the law. As every schoolkid knows, that goes through Congress, and then the President obviously has a role in terms of a veto. But the President doesn't want to do that. He can't do that. Congress disagrees with him. So he is just changing the law with the stroke of a pen. That is what is clearly illegal and unconstitutional, because he is acting contrary to statutory law. Some of his apologists--including Loretta Lynch, for example--say: Well, every President can set prosecution priorities. We are simply setting priorities. We are simply saying this class of folks is not a priority for legal action, deportation prosecution. I asked Ms. Lynch directly after she said that: Isn't it true the President is going beyond that? Isn't it true he is giving this entire class of illegal aliens a new legal status? She had no substantive response. I said: Isn't it true the President is going beyond that? He is creating a new document out of thin air, with ``work permit'' at the top, and handing it to these illegal aliens and suggesting they now have a right to work legally in this country, even though statutory law makes it crystal clear they do not. She had no substantive answer to that. I urge my colleagues not to strip out this important House language. The President's action is bad policy that will grow the illegal immigration problem, and it is acting clearly beyond his legal constitutional authority. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, in many cases small businesses are the best representatives of their communities. If you were to ask folks from Lake Charles, LA for the best po-boy in town, locals would agree that Darrell's is the spot to be. All about great food and good times, Darrell's has provided its patrons with genuine Louisiana fare for over 30 years, which is why Darrell's is this week's Small Business of the Week. Open Monday through Saturday, Darrell's has become a staple in the Lake Charles community and the surrounding southwest Louisiana area. A go-to for locals of all ages and walks of life, Darrell's menu includes mouth-watering po-boys piled high with a variety of fresh, delicious Louisiana ingredients. Most popular on the menu is the Darrell's Special po-boy, which comes piled high with fresh-sliced ham, turkey, and roast beef cooked in and covered with homemade roast beef gravy. Locals would recommend adding a schmear of Darrell's own jalapeno mayo, a side of chips, and an ice-cold glass of sweet tea. Darrell's has also upped the ante with baking their crusty French bread in-house and serving a specialty barbeque sauce. Darrell's also takes advantage of Louisiana's successful seafood industry by serving up a spicy Cajun shrimp po-boy option. It is always great to see local establishments tap into the rich resources our State has to offer because that is when we begin to see economic growth across the board. Beyond mouth-watering po-boys, Darrell's also serves as a local watering-hole where customers can enjoy a cold beverage while cheering on their favorite sports team. After the dinner rush, Darrell's turns into a full-service bar. It even stays open until 2 a.m. on Tuesdays to accommodate their loyal patrons. The Southwest Louisiana community was saddened by the passing of the original beloved owner Darrell Derouen in 2013. However, his wife Susie Derouen proudly continues the family tradition of quality food, service, and authenticity at the famous Lake Charles location. Establishments like Darrell's are vital members of their communities and are well-deserving of our continued support and encouragement as they grow and thrive. Congratulations again to Darrell's, Small Business of the Week, for 30 years of service to the Lake Charles community. I wish you continued success, great food, and good times in the years to come.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, small businesses have the unique ability to seamlessly fill a niche in their local communities. In many cases, this means they offer a service or product that is completely unique to the region. As Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras quickly approach, I would like to honor a small business that is not often associated with the State of Louisiana--a beautiful vineyard and winery. This week's Small Business of the Week is Landry Vineyards and Winery of West Monroe, LA. In 1999 with the help of their family and close friends, Jeff and Libby Landry decided to pursue their dream of owning and operating a vineyard. The Landry family started their business by planting Blanc Du Bois grapes on their 2 acres in Folsom, LA. Four years later, they were licensed as a Louisiana Native Winery, which allowed their wines to be shipped and sold across the State. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, however, the Landrys moved their enterprise to higher ground in the hill country of West Monroe. Today, the wines produced at Landry Vineyards are available in over 300 stores throughout Louisiana and can be purchased across the country by simply visiting their Web site. The Landry family has created an experience for locals and out-of- towners that is well worth the trip. Daily tours of the vineyards are available for small groups on golf carts, and tractor drawn wagons are used for the larger groups. The winery also provides free wine tastings in the nearby tasting room, and guests are encouraged to bring picnic lunches to enjoy on the winery grounds. Each year the winery hosts an outdoor music concert series that caters to families with local bands who perform in all genres like Cajun, funk, and country blues. The 20- acre property also serves as a popular destination for public and private events, including weddings. In the last 15 years, Landry Vineyards has thrived despite any obstacles--whether it is a natural disaster or burdensome regulations-- in its way. As I work to make sure the voices and concerns of small business owners across the country are heard in Washington, the history and success of Landry Vineyards serve as an inspiring reminder of what is worth fighting for. Congratulations to Landry Vineyards and Winery for being selected as this week's Small Business of the Week.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Dr. Norman Francis, president of Xavier University of Louisiana and grand marshall for the 2015 Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club Coronation Ball. Dr. Francis was born in Lafayette, LA, to the son of a barber and a stay-home mother who valued education and hard work. After Dr. Francis graduated from St. Paul High School in 1948, he was awarded a scholarship to Xavier University, America's only historically black Catholic university, where he excelled academically. In 1953, he enrolled in Loyola University New Orleans from which he earned his juris doctorate in 1955. After this, he spent 2 years in the U.S. Army before returning to New Orleans. In 1968, Dr. Francis was named president of Xavier University. He was the first African American man to lead Xavier, and he is currently the longest-sitting university president in the United States. As both a student and eventual administrator, Dr. Francis has been at Xavier for more than five decades. He is credited with being the catalyst for nearly every new building constructed on the campus during the past four decades. Under Dr. Francis' leadership, Xavier continues to rank first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in the biology and the life sciences, chemistry, physics, and pharmacy. Since 1993, Xavier has also continued to rank first nationally for African American students being accepted into medical schools. Dr. Francis has received numerous honorary degrees from other universities and prestigious awards in recognition of his leadership in higher education and for unselfish service to New Orleans and to our Nation. In 2006, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. Dr. Francis served as chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and he was a leader in the efforts to rebuild the lives of those affected by the storms. In the aftermath of these storms, one publication called Dr. Francis a ``quiet hero.'' This is a great way to describe a man who has done so much for his university, his community, his State, and his Nation. I am pleased to join with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club in honoring grand marshall Dr. Norman Francis.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, small businesses across the country have the unique opportunity to put their special stamp on the traditions that mark their communities. In honor of Black History Month, I would like to recognize Loretta Harrison, owner and operator of a successful New Orleans-based praline company. Through the hardships of starting a business to persevering and even expanding through one of the most tragic natural disasters to hit the United States, this small business has gone above and beyond the past 35 years to carry the tradition of this special treat to the people of New Orleans. It is my pleasure to recognize Loretta's Authentic Pralines as this week's Small Business of the Week. Before she felt the calling to bring her family's special praline recipe to her community, Loretta--who serves as president and CEO-- worked as a medical librarian at Louisiana State University. Pralines are a common Louisiana dessert, with roots that go all the way back to the original French settlers. They are made of ingredients that are plentiful to the region, which include an intricate mix of sugar, butter, cream, and pecans. Through Loretta's hard work and determination, what started as a praline stand at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has now grown into a storefront in both the Marigny and the French Market. Not only does Loretta's Pralines serve a wide variety of signature pralines, but it has expanded the menu to include other delicious desserts, such as king cakes, coconut macaroons, fudge, and oatmeal raisin cookies. The store in the Marigny also doubles as a cafe for breakfast and lunch, serving sweet and savory favorites like sweet potato pancakes and shrimp and grits. Apart from the legacy of being some of the best pralines in New Orleans, which is no easy feat, Loretta's Pralines is known for its strength and support during the rebuilding of the city after Hurricane Katrina. With the blessing of minimal damage to her store, Loretta recognized that there was an important void in her community that she immediately stepped in to fill. By temporarily changing the business model from a sweet shop to a restaurant, Loretta was able to feed the volunteers, workers, and reporters who were helping to rebuild the city she knew and loved. Loretta's Pralines also became a sort of haven for those whose lives had changed dramatically, a familiar meeting place as part of a larger community during the recovery. This act of benevolence in the midst of the hardship cemented Loretta's Pralines as a New Orleans institution. Small business owners like Loretta Harrison are what make our State truly unique--indeed, we would not be the same without their examples of courage and kindness. I am honored to recognize a small business that has shown compassion during the devastating times, as well as ingenuity and success in expanding their business across the city. Congratulations again to Loretta's Authentic Pralines. I wish you all the best and more in the future.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of moving to the Homeland Security appropriations bill. I hope we do that with a vote today. This is very important in terms of governing and in terms of passing an appropriations bill for a vital part of government. It is also important to address and debate and vote head-on on President Obama's illegal Executive amnesty, which he announced last December, which would basically give amnesty to about 5 million illegal aliens with no basis whatsoever in statutory law. In fact, statutory law is opposed to that sort of Executive action. I find it ironic that the very same Members from the very same party and ideology that is constantly beating the drum and saying ``For God's sake, we can't shut down the government; we can't have that sort of showdown'' are apparently preparing to vote against even moving to this spending bill which is necessary to fund a vital part of the government. That makes no sense. We need to move to this spending bill, debate it, and act on it. Not moving to the spending bill is a vote for a government shutdown in that area of the government, and I think that is irresponsible. We need to move to the spending bill which originated in the House. This is the House-passed spending bill for Homeland Security. We need to move to it. Furthermore, as is evident from the last couple of weeks, we are going to have an open amendment process. There will be amendments offered and available to be debated and voted on that will have anything and everything with regard to this spending bill. The House put several policy provisions in the spending bill, including those that I agree with, such as defunding this unconstitutional Executive amnesty from December. I agree with that, I support that, and I will certainly vote to support it. But the point is that there will be plenty of opportunity to vote on that and potentially remove that because we are going to have an open debate and amendment process--as we should--here on the Senate floor. Let's move to this vital spending bill. Let's not threaten to shut down the government. Let's have the debate here on the floor, and let's vote. That is what we were elected to do. We were elected to represent our constituents, debate major issues of the day--and that certainly includes the President's Executive amnesty--and to vote. If there is an effort to not allow us to even move to the bill to do that, I can only come to one conclusion: that folks voting that way for the most part support President Obama's illegal Executive amnesty, but they just don't want to have to say so, and they certainly don't want to have to vote that way. Well, sorry. You ran for the job, you asked for the job, and you got it. Let's do our job, which means putting the country's business on the floor of the Senate and acting one way or the other, debating, voting, proposing amendments, and moving on with this essential spending bill for this part of the government. I will strongly support moving to the bill. That is the responsible thing to do. I will strongly support the provisions in the bill that the House enacted, including blocking the President's illegal Executive amnesty. With regard to that, this is an important matter for two reasons. First of all, I believe this Executive amnesty is really bad policy that is going to grow the problem and not solve it. A fundamental rule in life is that when you reward something, you get more of it, not less of it, right? That is true of our Tax Code, and that is true in parenting. Well, we are rewarding illegal crossings. We are rewarding that flow of illegal immigrants. We are rewarding that through the President's Executive amnesty, and it is only going to produce more of it. That is my first objection to the policy. It is a very bad idea, and it is going to grow the problem, not decrease it. My second objection is even more fundamental. I believe this action is clearly way beyond the President's Executive authority and way beyond his true powers under the Constitution. The Supreme Court has said many times that there is nothing that Congress has more clear and straightforward powers on than immigration policy, and it certainly includes anything like a major amnesty. What the President did in December was not filling in the blanks of statutory laws or executing statutory law. What he did was completely contrary to all sorts of statutory law. Statutory law is clear. It is on the books. It has been passed through a valid process. It is clear that folks who enter the country illegally, break the law and are here illegally, are subject to removal and cannot work in the country legally. In contrast to that clear statutory law, President Obama is first giving them authorization to stay here for at least 3 years, and that can be renewed. Secondly, he is handing them a document that he is making up out of thin air called a work permit which gives them authority to work even though that is clearly contrary to statutory law given the means by which they entered the country. We need to put that issue and topic directly on the Senate floor and debate and act on that as well. As I suggested, the only way we do any of that is to first take a responsible vote and put the House spending bill on the Senate floor. To vote otherwise is to block a necessary spending bill, to basically threaten shutting down part of the government, and to avoid our responsibility in terms of debating and voting on the major issues of the day--to deal directly with that. I urge all of my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to put this necessary bill on the floor, and then we will have an open and full debate, we will have an open amendment process, we will have all of the votes that go to this topic, and then we will act. That is what we should do, and that is what we were elected to do. I thank the Presiding Officer and yield the floor.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, many of our Nation's small businesses are well-regarded for their ability to truly showcase the local culture, food, and heritage. Small businesses have a unique perspective and opportunity to take advantage of local recipes, ingredients, and flavor profiles that allow them to provide regional favorites for residents and tourists. Without a doubt, one of the most remarkable aspects of Louisiana is our delicious, extraordinary cuisine. This week, I would like to recognize this truly special piece of Louisiana culture by honoring Billy's Boudin & Cracklin of Krotz Springs, LA, as the Small Business of the Week. South Louisiana has created its own genre of Louisiana cooking. With traditions and recipes handed down through the generations, the charm and flavor of Acadiana is undeniable. Billy's Boudin & Cracklin was originally founded in 1995 as a convenience store. It was not long, however, before Billy Frey and his father-in-law decided they needed to incorporate something in their store to set them apart from the competition. The brilliant addition of a family boudin recipe bolstered the success of their store to what we know today. Two short years later, Billy expanded their thriving business to the nearby city of Opelousas and purchased a popular local grocery store, Ray's, to establish Billy and Ray's Boudin. Maintaining the local charm, the Frey's purchased Ray's secret boudin recipe and added it right onto the new store's menu. Recently, the business expanded once again to the ``Boudin Capitol of the World'' in Scott, LA. What started out as a small convenient store has turned into a regional favorite, with over 3,000 pounds of boudin made daily between the three stores. In addition to the original boudin links, Billy's offers boudin in the form of balls, pistollettes, rollups, and sandwiches. They also have shipping options so nonlocals can enjoy authentic Cajun boudin and cracklins from across the country. The Boudin Balls have become a signature of the business, with around 1.7 million of the regular and pepperjack-filled balls sold yearly. The famous boudin recipe is so coveted that only a select few people are in the know. In fact, this is taken so seriously that each member of the staff must sign confidentiality agreements before learning the family secret. After 20 years of thriving business in the area, it is no surprise that the Lafayette Daily Advertiser awarded Billy's Boudin & Cracklin as one of the ``Best Boudin'' places in their annual ``Best of Acadiana'' contest last year. It is great to see small businesses like this share our State's rich traditions with both Louisianians and nonlocals. Congratulations again to Billy's Boudin & Cracklin for being honored as this week's Small Business of the Week. I look forward to trying their delicious boudin soon.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 92, as Modified

Mr. VITTER. Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank the Senator for her kind words and continuing commitment to work on revenue-sharing measures. As her new role as the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, that is going to happen this year, which is exciting. As the Senator mentioned, I filed an amendment to this bill with regard to revenue sharing and worked very closely with my new Senate colleague, Bill Cassidy, and others. This is important now more than ever, particularly in light, unfortunately, of the Obama administration's recently announced 5-year OCS plan. That plan is grossly inadequate. It really chops up and goes down even lower than we have been with regard to the development of our Outer Continental Shelf. Revenue sharing is one key way to reverse that trend and produce more American energy in a safe and environmentally sensitive way and have all of this benefit, including, by the way, the Federal Treasury. My revenue-sharing amendment and other revenue-sharing ideas--certainly including those Senator Murkowski is working on--would do just that. We have three fundamental goals in mind. First of all, we need to expand production activity on our U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Secondly, we need to treat host States right. They have benefits like the economic benefits we enjoy in Louisiana, but there are also costs and burdens. There are absolutely impacts to coastal communities. That requires that some portion of that revenue from that production stay in the host States. That is what revenue sharing is all about. We need that in Alaska. We need that in the gulf. We need that when we start production on the east coast. Finally, we need that revenue sharing because it is the most powerful incentive tool out there to significantly boost production, to get more States into the act, to get more production online working toward American energy independence and an economic renaissance. Revenue sharing, properly formulated, will do all of that. I really do appreciate Senator Murkowski's focus on this issue and commitment to proceeding with this issue in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in legislation this year. Amendment No. 80, as Further Modified Withdrawn With that having been said, I will withdraw my Vitter amendment No. 80 on this bill and certainly will actively partner with Senator Murkowski, Senator Cassidy, and others to advance revenue sharing this year.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 132

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today adopted rules governing its procedures for the 114th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying rules adopted by the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be printed in the Record.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of Catholic schools across our Nation who provide our children with an outstanding education while preparing them to lead lives in the example of Jesus Christ. This year, we mark the 41st year of celebrating Catholic Schools Week, shedding light on the extraordinary contributions these schools and their students make to communities across the country. This year's theme, ``Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service,'' provides a solid representation of the mission of these schools in educating the whole person and forming our children into responsible stewards ready to take on the challenges of the future. Today, more than 2 million children are educated in Catholic schools in the United States. Ninety-nine percent of them graduate from high school and 85 percent pursue post-secondary education. Such a rate of success is a great testament to the quality of our Catholic schools and their educators. As an alumnus of a Catholic school in New Orleans, I have firsthand experience of the benefits of receiving a Catholic education. These schools are devoted to nurturing the young minds that pass though their halls each year, instilling in them the values necessary to become active and caring members of their communities, cities, and Nation. In the words of Pope Francis, ``[o]ur generation will show that it can rise to the promise found in each young person when we know how to give them space. This means that we have to create the material and spiritual conditions for their full development; to give them a solid basis on which to build their lives; to guarantee their safety and their education to be everything they can be.'' During the week of January 25 to January 31, let us recognize the steadfast commitment of the administrators, teachers, students, and families, who support Catholic schools across the United States, and appreciate their efforts to educate the youth of our Nation. In that respect, I am hopeful that the Senate will pass this resolution celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the Jones Act, an important law for our Nation's maritime industry and for our national security. Senator McCain has filed an amendment to repeal the Jones Act, and I urge its defeat. In Louisiana, we know how important the maritime industry and Jones Act-related jobs are to our State and our economy. According to the American Maritime Partnership, Louisiana leads the Nation in maritime jobs by a number of measurements of the domestic maritime economy. For domestic maritime employment, Louisiana has more jobs than any other State--55,000 jobs out of close to 500,000 nationwide. Louisiana also leads the Nation in per capita maritime jobs, with 1 in 83 jobs being tied to our domestic maritime industries, nearly twice that of any other State. For total economic output from domestic maritime activity, Louisiana again leads the nation with more than $11 billion per year. Louisiana's 2,800 miles of navigable waterways handle more waterborne commerce than any other State. Tugboats based in Louisiana facilitate entry of cargo into the Mississippi River and then up the river and throughout the Nation on our inland waterways. This vast infrastructure and the maritime operators using it directly benefit the entire Nation. For example, 60 percent of export grain travels to the Gulf of Mexico through Louisiana. Also, one-fifth of our domestic energy is produced off the coast of Louisiana with support from the domestic fleet of offshore workboats. The Jones Act helps ensure the strength and stability of our domestic maritime industry, and it will help ensure that it continues to flourish. These jobs and the economic benefits from them would be at risk if the Jones Act were repealed. I have no doubt that our industries can and will compete effectively against their counterparts around the world. However, they cannot compete fairly against the heavy subsidization that foreign governments give to their industries. Also, there cannot be fair competition when foreign vessels are not subjected to the same requirements for safety, fuel containers, labor standards, training, incidental vessel discharges, other environmental regulations, taxes, and more that our industries have to follow. Also, the Jones Act is vital to the military as it protects our national security. In order to ensure our Navy remains the best equipped and most powerful Navy in the world, we must have domestic skills base and shipbuilding capacity. Also, we need to have an adequate domestic fleet to ensure the fast and secure delivery of vital military cargoes around the world. For our homeland security, the Jones Act helps keep our ports and waterways safer from attack. Imagine if our inland waterways and ports were fully open to foreign vessels. The Coast Guard and our other law enforcement agencies would have no real, effective way to know if vessels are safe as they travel through our river communities, if the crews are properly licensed for the vessel's operation, or if anyone or anything on the vessels pose a risk. The Jones Act helps our first responders and law enforcement better know any potential threats and allows them to be better prepared to act in an emergency. In short, any legislation to repeal or lessen the protections of the Jones Act would threaten jobs, economic growth, military strength, and homeland security. I will continue working to support the U.S. maritime industry.

Mr. VITTER

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, the expansion of a small business can refer to the size of the building, customers, as well as inventory, but sometimes expansion can lead a small business toward a much more extensive track than its original direction. For this week's Small Business of the Week, I would like to recognize a Louisiana business that has broadened its scope and impact far beyond the size of its storefront. Boyett Printing & Graphics, Inc. of Shreveport, LA, is well-known for its printing and also offers an immense variety of services and products to the customers of northwest Louisiana. In March 1994, John and Janet Boyett founded their printing business right in their home office. Their first official project was to print the church bulletins for the local Broadmoor Baptist Church. Five years later, the Boyetts' flourishing business outgrew their home, and they moved to the heart of Shreveport, hiring seven full-time employees in the process. The Boyetts' commitment to extraordinary service and quality products has buoyed their success for over 20 years. These days, Boyett Printing & Graphics, Inc. provides printing on items such as brochures, business cards, newsletters, and stationery. Printing is also available on over 30,000 promotional products, which includes a vast variety of items from apparel to party favors to first aid kits. Their services, however, go far beyond what their printing label might suggest. Boyett Printing & Graphics, Inc. supplies creative graphic design services, as well as mailing services, booklet binding, letterpress, as well as bindery and finishing services. This broad array of operations truly allows this small business to be a ``one stop shop.'' Another way the Boyetts have set themselves apart is through their efforts to have a low impact on the environment. They prioritize recycling, using biodegradable inks and water soluble chemicals, and purchasing their paper from decades-old tree farms--even when it is more expensive. That is why their website is innovative and user friendly. Customers can submit an order or request price estimates. They can also sift through helpful ideas, business news, constructive tips, printing terms, as well as the latest versions of graphic art software. It is no wonder they were awarded an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau. Their philosophy is founded on trust, reasonable prices, quality work, and friendliness, and clearly, it works. I am honored to recognize a business that anticipates its customer's needs, works with urgency and enthusiasm, and provides necessary services to the community with such dedication and convenience. Congratulations to Boyett Printing & Graphics, Inc. for being selected as this week's Small Business of the Week, and thank you for all of your service to the northwest region of Louisiana.