John Walsh

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I wish to recognize the remarkable work of the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation. Located in Bozeman, MT, the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation helps reintegrate combat-injured veterans and active servicemembers upon their return from deployment through fly fishing and other high- quality therapeutic recreation throughout Southwest Montana. As the Senate's only Iraq war combat veteran, I know firsthand the cost of war. Men and women who were injured in combat pay a price for the rest of their lives. Our Nation must now heal a new generation of American heroes that carry with them wounds that are both visible and invisible. As a nation, we took our citizens and turned them into the best warriors the world has ever seen. Now, it is time we take those warriors and turn them back into citizens. In 2007, the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation left shore with 14 wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to drop a line in one of Montana's pristine rivers. The goal was to build hope, facilitate camaraderie, and find serenity through fly fishing. That is exactly what they accomplished. Commanded by retired Marine Col. Eric Hastings and Dr. Volney Steele, Warriors and Quiet Waters has provided over 300 veterans and their spouses a fly fishing experience complete with world-class guides on some of our Nation's blue ribbon streams. But, the mission is not complete. More than 50,000 American servicemembers have been injured in combat over the past 13 years, and thousands more suffer from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries as a result of their service to our Nation. The Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation has identified a model for the difficult reintegration process that so many of our young veterans will be going through as a result of a decade of war. Their commitment to those who served so bravely on our behalf is more than commendable--it is inspiring and is a strong example of how we can fulfill our Nation's responsibility to those who have served.

Mr. WALSH

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

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I wish to recognize Wibaux County in eastern Montana on the occasion of its 100th birthday. Founded by bold pioneers at the turn of the century, Wibaux is living proof of the strength of the American prairie spirit. The county was founded in August of 1914 by Pierre Wibaux, a Frenchman who left the family textile business to try to tame the Wild West. When those like Wibaux first settled in eastern Montana, they brought with them a strong work ethic. That resilience became apparent when Wibaux's W-Bar Ranch grew to cover 70,000 acres in Wibaux County. The lively community attracted Theodore Roosevelt, whose famed ranch was nearby across the North Dakota border. Since its founding, Wibaux County has undergone many changes. Farmers have experienced agricultural booms, and the local schools are known statewide for academic and athletic excellence. The discovery of oil in the region as well as the recent introduction of hydraulic fracking have transformed the local economy and brought the county into the international spotlight. Through it all, the people who call the county home share the core values of service, honesty, and the willingness to help a neighbor in need. Perhaps the greatest quality of the county is its kind citizens who are always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor. The residents of Wibaux County still exhibit the same generosity, diligence, and drive that Pierre Wibaux and other pioneers brought to the area 100 years ago. I congratulate Wibaux County on 100 wonderful years. We look forward to the next century being as exciting as the last.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about one of our greatest treasures in this country: our public lands. Growing up in Butte, MT, I woke up every day under the morning shadow of the Continental Divide, part of the Deerlodge National Forest. When I was a kid, my dad would take me fishing on the Big Hole River. On the living room wall in my parents' home, there were pictures of three people: a picture of Jesus, a picture of JFK, and a picture of George Meany. I have carried the values my parents instilled in me to this day. I grew up in a Catholic home similar to Montana writer Norman Maclean, who wrote in his famous book ``A River Runs Through It'' that his father, a Presbyterian minister, ``told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen, and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman.'' As an adult serving in the Montana National Guard, I would ride my mountain bike almost daily all over trails in the Helena National Forest that connect our streets in the capital city of Helena. One day my granddaughter Kennedy will fish and bike these same lands and waters. These places all have one thing in common beyond being gorgeous and being in Montana; they belong to you and me. We all own them. They are part of what makes living in Montana and in America so special. Other countries and other States have lost this heritage but not in Montana. Maintaining and improving access to these lands is one of the most important things we can do. That is why today I submitted legislation to make it harder to sell off this land. My bill will create a budget point of order in the Senate to block attempts to sell off public land to pay for Congress's bills. There is no question that Washington has a spending problem. Since arriving in the Senate, I have proposed several ways to rein in out-of- control spending. But selling off our kids' and grandkids' heritage is a terrible idea. Jeopardizing the countless jobs that rely on our outdoors is also a terrible idea. There is a theory circulating in some parts of the West that the Federal Government has a continuing duty to dispose of its lands in Western States. What this really means is handing over our most popular recreation areas to the highest out-of-State bidder. That is good for copper barons and trophy-home developers, but it is bad for us. This theory is as radical as it is wrong, as court rulings have repeatedly found, but it is getting real traction. Our colleagues in the House of Representatives have passed a budget that could sell off millions of acres of public land--our land--in Montana. I want you to know that I will fight any similar attempts in this Chamber. I want my granddaughter Kennedy to grow up in Montana with the same easy access to streams and forests I enjoyed, whether she wants to hunt, hike, fish or bike. We also need to get our forests healthy and working again, creating good jobs and making our forests more resilient to wildfires. Like many Montanans, I am frustrated with how long it takes to conduct a timber sale or complete an environmental analysis of potential projects. Even simple projects get tied up in court, and our rural communities and the land itself suffer for it. But the solution isn't to hand the keys over to special interests and walk away. The solution is to manage the land--from the ground up. In Montana, tourism is critical to our economy. Outdoor recreation supports 64,000 jobs and generates over $5.8 billion in revenue annually. Cutting off access or selling the land to out-of-State development is a direct threat to jobs in Montana. Turning over land in the State is just one step away from privatizing. There is no question that private land is the misguided ultimate goal of many who don't understand our outdoor heritage in the West. In the year 2000 I led the response of the Montana National Guard to the wildfires that consumed over 1 million acres of Montana land. The Departments of Agriculture and Interior have spent about $1.8 billion annually to fight wildfires in the past 5 years. States simply cannot afford that pricetag. One bad wildfire season could bankrupt a State. I want to share a little more about what is at stake. Under the Ryan budget in the House of Representatives, with an auction of our public lands, Montana hunters could lose access to elk wallows of the Pioneer Mountains. You might hear elk bugling on Tenderfoot Creek in the Little Belt Mountains, but it could be on private land instead of land protected by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Montanans could be shut out of the Missouri River Breaks, locked out of putting a canoe in or hunting a mule deer or sheep. We could lose the Rocky Mountain Front, facing padlocks and orange signs instead of open space and the chance for a bighorn sheep tag. Under the House plan, anglers in Montana could lose the headwaters of Rock Creek or the Smith River and the chance to sink a perfect fly from a streamside the public owns. Despite years of effort to secure access, we could be shut out of land around the Three Dollar Bridge south of Bozeman that helped kids like me--growing up, fishing in our own blue-ribbon streams. The same thing could happen to the centennials and swan. We could lose the best eastern Montana has to offer, from the monster bucks and turkeys in the Custer National Forest to the duck factory of the BLM's prairie potholes. Under the House plan, we could be facing closed roads, closed trails, and closed land in the Gallatin National Forest that thousands of Montanans worked together 20 years ago to keep open and keep public forever. Montana is the last best place because we can hunt, fish, hike, and play on the land that we all own. I will fight to keep it that way.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I rise today not only as a Senator from Montana, but as a veteran of the long and difficult war in Iraq. Like most Americans, the increasing instability in Iraq and the disintegration of the country along sectarian boundaries has me deeply concerned. This past weekend when I was home in Montana and talking to Montanans, they were very concerned about what was going on in Iraq; they express their interest to me about Iraq on a regular basis. The heinous advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, their systematic execution of Iraqi soldiers, and the murder of innocent civilians gives pause to people everywhere. I stand here today as a veteran and as a father whose son has been deployed multiple times. I wish to recognize my son today, who is with me today. I ask that my son Michael stand and be recognized. We fought in the war that Washington began based on false information--a war that ended and from which we must move on. I led an infantry battalion--the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry--into combat, which was made up of more than 100 of Montana's finest. Our area of operation was from just north of Tikrit--from Baiji--to Kirkuk, which is the very same area being fought over today. It was late 2004 and the country had fallen into a bitter sectarian conflict--a conflict that unfolded after the dismantling of the Baathist-led army and fueled by ancient divides between the Shias and Sunnis. Those same disputes are again boiling over in Iraq today. From the end of 2004 to late 2005, my unit fought to hold ground, secure roads, and build infrastructure. We worked with local sheiks and key leaders to forge a path to peace. We helped return Iraq's government to its people. While there we oversaw two successful elections and watched with hope and great satisfaction as the Iraqis ratified their constitution. It was during this time that I also dispatched a team from the battalion to focus solely on training and assisting members of the newly formed Iraqi army. During our unit's entire deployment in Iraq while fighting the insurgency, we faced rocket attacks, snipers, and improvised explosive devices on a daily basis. Four of my men were killed in action, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of those men and their families: MSG Robbie D. McNary of Lewistown, MT, died on March 31, 2005; SSG Kevin Davis of Lebanon, OR, died on April 8, 2005; SGT Timothy Kiser of Tehama, CA, died on April 28, 2005; and SGT Travis Arndt, died on September 21, 2005. Travis was from Bozeman, MT. Scores of other soldiers were injured. One of my soldiers died by suicide after returning home to Montana. He was a victim of the invisible wounds of war. Nearly 4,500 Americans have been killed in Iraq, among them 28 Montana heroes. Some 32,000 Americans have been wounded. The war cost us more than $2 trillion--I say more than $2 trillion--most of which Congress put on a credit card so our grandchildren can pay the debt. Because this Nation has failed to prepare for new veterans returning home, we now have a crisis of care within our VA health care system--a system that is overwhelmed after more than a decade of war. Today we are seeing 22 veterans die by suicide each and every single day across this country. These are the true costs of war. Montanans understand this, and Americans understand this. Because I work for Montanans, and I am listening to them, I call on President Obama to use extreme caution when considering options to deal with the sectarian violence that we are seeing take place in Iraq today. America cannot afford another Iraq financially or the human costs that are associated with war. We did our job there, and we did it with honor and integrity. Our men and women should be very proud of their success, and the citizens of this country should be proud of the accomplishments of the men and women who served in our armed forces. Today some are suggesting we make an open-ended commitment to Iraq and keep American troops on the ground indefinitely. Sending thousands of America's young men and women back into Iraq to step into the middle of a civil war is not a solution. To my fellow Members of Congress, I urge temperance as we navigate this difficult terrain because I know that foreign policy failures made in Washington fall disproportionately on the backs of young men and women from the small towns across Montana and the country. I have seen war up close and, like too many American families, I have seen the cost of war up close on families and on communities all across this country. I believe it is now time for the Iraqis to secure and defend their own nation. The embrace of their own self-determination is the only path to a true and everlasting peace in Iraq. I wish to remind the American people of the costs that have been associated with the war in Iraq. We are dealing with a crisis within the VA health care system. At one time over a year ago, we had over 450,000 men and women on a backlog list trying to get in to see a health care provider. Today that backlog has been significantly reduced, but we still have a problem within the VA health care system. We put over 2 million American veterans into that health care system without making sure that the system was ready for them when they came home. Can you imagine sending over 2 million American servicemembers into Iraq or Afghanistan--or anywhere else in the world--whom we didn't train, equip, or provide the resources for them to go into Iraq? When people talk to me about the cost of war, I think this is a cost that we sometimes overlook because when our men and women return from Iraq, the war is not over. We will be dealing with this cost for many years. As we talk about the men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and contemplating our extension of deployment in Afghanistan, a figure has been thrown around as to the costs. Today it costs approximately $1.2 million for a soldier in Afghanistan. When we reduce the number of soldiers in Afghanistan from 32,000 to less than 10,000, that cost goes up to $2.3 million. Again, we are planning to put that cost on the credit card. We have a responsibility, and that responsibility lies on the citizens of this Nation and on the citizens of Montana. We must continue to look out for these people. I don't want to be an isolationist. I understand there are problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we have to take care of our problems here in Washington, DC. As I travel back to Montana and talk to Montanans, they are concerned about our debt. They know we have a spending problem, and we have to take care of that spending problem. But sending our soldiers to Iraq or extending their stay in Afghanistan is not going to solve the problems we are dealing with there. Again, America cannot afford another Iraq financially or the human costs that are associated with Iraq. We owe it to the citizens of this Nation. The Members of the Senate need to ask themselves: If it were my son or daughter who was going to be sent into Iraq to fight in a sectarian conflict, would I be as willing to do that as I am today without having someone I care for sent over there? We hear about suggestions on a daily basis about what we should be doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I know we are dealing with a difficult situation there, but we have to make the right decision. We have to look out for the United States of America and what is happening here in America. I think that too many of my fellow Members of Congress are too abrupt and think too quickly about what we should do in Iraq. I believe they need to take a step back and think about the impacts--the second and third order of effects of continuing to send our men and women back over to Iraq. As I said, I know that foreign policy failures made in Washington will fall disproportionately on the backs of smalltown America--towns like Culbertson, MT, Livingston, MT, and Boulder, MT. It is not the large cities that will bear the burden of sending men and women back into Iraq. I have also mentioned I have seen war up close. I still recall the ramp ceremonies we held shortly after the deaths of the men and women in Iraq. We had to have those men and women out of there within a 12- hour period. Those were very difficult times to deal with not only for me but for the other 700-plus men and women who were deployed with me to Iraq. Again, I cannot overemphasize how important I think it is that we really step back, take a look at what is happening in Iraq and determine if this is really the best thing for the United States of America. Is it the best thing for our military to have to deal with? We have been at war for over 13 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our military will do whatever we ask of it, but we also have to think about the families of our service men and women, the impacts that the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan have had on them with the number of divorces, broken marriages, and broken families. Those are also the costs of war we are having to deal with. There are no easy answers to what is happening in Iraq, and I know we will come together and come up with a solution, and I hope it is the right solution because these are very important times. Who knows what will happen next? Will it happen in the Middle East? Will it happen in Europe? I don't think that anyone knows, and we have to be prepared. Again, I have said it once and I wish to emphasize this point again: I believe it is time for the Iraqis to secure and defend their own nation. We heard they have over 17 divisions. Think about the size of those divisions. A division of the United States is nearly 20,000 soldiers, and I am sure that an Iraqi division is somewhere in that same capacity. They have 17 divisions--4 of which we hear have dropped their weapons and fallen back, but that still leaves 13 divisions they would have to fight, and so they can make a stance to protect their country. I am calling on the Members of this Senate to ask the Iraqi people to stand up and fight for their country. I thank the Chair. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Richland County in eastern Montana as a testament to the strength of the American Dream. This year, Richland County celebrates its 100th year anniversary. 100 years of ingenuity, 100 years of prosperity, and 100 years of history. Throughout the years, Richland County has undergone many changes. The past century has seen booms in agriculture, the discovery of oil, the arrival of fracking, and a nation in peacetime and wartime. Through it all, the people who call the county home share the core values of service, honesty, and the willingness to help a neighbor in need. When pioneers first settled in eastern Montana they were not guaranteed prosperity, but they brought with them a strong work ethic. That resilience was instrumental in the construction of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project canal that brought water to the area and allowed the pioneers to irrigate crops and develop the plains. The farmers were taming an area of the country many thought could not be tamed. Today, agriculture producers from Richland County continue to grow the crops and raise the cattle that feed the world--working the land the same way those before them did. In the 1970s, in a world hungry for oil, Richland County was eager to help supply the country with its resources. Through the decade to follow, the county boomed with energy through an age of prosperity. Now, hydraulic fracking and the development of the Bakken Formation bring Richland once again to the center of an energy boom unmatched anywhere in the United States. Perhaps the greatest quality of the county is its kind citizens who are always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor. Despite their fast- paced lives, they still exhibit the same generosity, diligence, and spirit the pioneers brought to Richland County 100 years ago. I congratulate Richland County for its contributions to our State, our Nation, and the world. We look forward to the next century being as exciting as the last.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, today I wish to honor of Ray Grossman, a World War II veteran from Missoula, MT. It is my honor to share the story of Ray Grossman's service as we remember the fateful events of June 6, 1944. On that day, which forever changed the course of our history, Grossman and his fellow paratroopers were waiting in the air above Nazi-occupied France. Grossman was 1 of over 20,000 paratroopers who jumped that day. Then a 24-year-old first lieutenant in the newly formed 82nd Airborne Division, Grossman and his unit fought to protect a small town in France to stop the enemy from attacking the Allies arriving on the beach. The 82nd Airborne maneuvered to avoid antiaircraft fire, and Grossman's unit finally jumped, landing at approximately 2 a.m. and reaching their rendezvous point 6 hours later. In the days that followed, Grossman encountered heavy German attacks while fighting to protect a small town and fellow Allied service members. After serving in France, Grossman's unit freed prisoners from a concentration camp where only half of the prisoners were alive upon his unit's arrival. Grossman returned to Montana, choosing to continue his life of service as an educator at the University of Montana in Missoula. For his bravery during World War II, Grossman was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. To Ray Grossman, and each of the 160,000 Allied troops that invaded that 50-mile stretch of coastline, you truly are the ``greatest generation.'' Ray, we thank you for your dedication to our country and the ideals we hold dear. May the memory of all who have served our country and who currently serve, and the events of that momentous day never be forgotten.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I wish to recognize the efforts of a remarkable group of high school students from my State of Montana. The students volunteered at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank and then came up with a plan to raise money for the organization. Together, these students raised $2,000 for the food bank. Hunger is something that affects far too many members of our community. It is a testament to the initiative and commitment to community that these young adults saw a need and then came up with a plan to raise money. First, the students wrote and illustrated a children's book, ``One Garden at a Time,'' depicting people growing foods in their gardens to help ease the hunger of their neighbors. The book was printed and sent to every elementary school in the Belgrade School District. Next, the students bought wheelbarrows that they dubbed ``mealbarrows,'' had them decorated by local artists, and then used them to collect food items. The subsequent auction of the wheelbarrows raised additional money for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. Thanks to the efforts of the high school sophomores and juniors from Belgrade High School, they raised awareness and funds for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. These students also won $25,000 for the food bank through the Lead2Feed World Hunger Leadership Challenge. I commend the students--John Burkenpas, Krista Callantine, Karlissa Dagel, Kaitlin Haglun, Raquelle David, Albert Koenig, Ashley Koenig, Cassie Meccage, Naomi Peterson, John Tatarka, and ag teacher Ashley Newell for their work. It is because of exemplary young people like this group that we can have faith in a bright future for Montana and for the United States of America.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I wish to recognize a town in eastern Montana with a story that reflects the American dream. In the 19th century, pioneers settled in Sidney, MT, chasing prosperity along the banks of the Yellowstone River. Throughout the years Sidney has seen booms in agriculture and energy development, but through it all one thing has remained constant; the people who call Sidney home share the core values of service, honesty, and the willingness to help a neighbor in need. Today, Sidney, Montana celebrates its 100th anniversary--100 years of ingenuity, 100 years of prosperity, and 100 years of history. When pioneers first settled in eastern Montana they were not guaranteed prosperity, but they brought with them a strong work ethic. Before Sidney was even incorporated, the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project canal was dug and with their new access to water, the dry land farmers were given a lifeline to irrigate crops and develop the plains. The pioneer farmers were taming an area of the country many thought couldn't be tamed. Today, agriculture producers from Richland County continue to grow the crops and raise the cattle that feed the world--working the land the same way those before them did. In the 1970s Sidney went through period of change. The world was now hungry for oil and Sidney, MT, was there to answer that call. Through the decade to follow Sidney boomed with energy through a period of prosperity. With the recent increase in hydraulic fracturing, Sidney once again is at the center of an unmatched energy boom. With the development of the Bakken Formation, Sidney enters the newest chapter of its story. Agriculture and energy has affected many families in Sidney, but one thing has remained the same. The people of Sidney remain good neighbors and they continue to stabilize a region that has grown accustomed to change. I congratulate Sidney for its contributions to our State, our Nation, and the world. We look forward to the next century being as exciting as the last.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I served 33 years in the National Guard. When I joined the Guard, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I have taken a similar oath as a Senator. Former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Gordon Sullivan famously wrote, ``Hope is not a method.'' I didn't come to Congress to hope. I approach my work here with the lessons I learned in the military: Find solutions and work together to overcome challenges. Unfortunately, that approach is not how it works in Washington. Too many people here don't care about solutions, and many ignore the problems. There is no greater proof than climate change. Here we are in 2014, almost 50 years after President Johnson warned that ``by burning fossil fuels humanity is unwittingly conducting a vast geophysical experiment.'' Yet irresponsible leaders in Washington pretend that climate change isn't real. They pretend that humans aren't causing it. They hope they can go along with the status quo. But Montanans know better. Here are the facts: Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now higher than at any time in human history. The 12 hottest years on record have been in the last 15 years. The average temperature in Montana is 2.5 degrees higher than in 1900. And spring runoff now occurs 1 week to 4 weeks earlier. In Montana, climate change has contributed to the worst mountain pine beetle epidemic in recorded history. The combination of mild weather and stressed trees has allowed beetles to spread further and longer. Their legacy is red trees, then dead trees, then wildfires like we have never seen before. Fire season is now 11 weeks longer than when I was a kid. The amount of forest that burns in the West has doubled. Fires are burning longer and burning more trees each and every year. The best guess from America's scientists is that 3 to 4 times more forest will burn each year by the middle of this century, devastating rural communities that rely on timber and tourism. In 2000, I led the response of the Montana National Guard to the historic wildfires in Montana. We activated over 1,800 of Montana's soldiers and airmen. That year, about 1 million acres of Montana were burned. Businesses and landowners lost over $3 million a day. Suppressing wildfires now consumes up to 40 percent of the Forest Service's budget. This is unsustainable. It reduces the agency's ability to fund other programs like hazardous fuel reduction and trail maintenance. In Montana we have a saying that if you don't like the weather, stick around for an hour and it will change. But under climate change, it is changing across a wider range. Rains are falling more intensely, increasing erosion and runoff. The trend of more frequent and more intense rainfall is likely to continue. Heat waves and drought have also become more intense. What all of this means for Montana's agriculture is hard to predict, but without a doubt our biggest industry faces big uncertainty. The uncertainty in agriculture is especially true for water delivery, both for livestock and irrigated crops. As snow in the winter shifts to rain and extreme weather gets worse, it is becoming harder to run irrigation systems that were designed for the climate of 100 years ago. We saw one of the worst droughts in history hit Montana ranchers and farmers in 2012. The year before Montana experienced a 500-year flood in the Missouri River Basin. Across the Great Plains the floods caused $2 billion in damage. Across the Nation we are paying out of our nose for extreme weather and natural disasters--$110 billion in damage in 2012 alone. Climate change will also damage our tourism, which is Montana's second biggest industry. Glacier National Park itself is losing its namesake. Its ecosystem will change. Its cold water, which supports unique species and a strong trout fishery, will no longer be fed by melting ice. The communities in the Milk River Basin which receive 70 percent of their water from glaciers will also be impacted. Snowpack across the Rockies has already decreased 20 percent on average since 1980. In parts of Montana it may decrease by 50 percent in my lifetime. Winter tourism in Montana is also big business, generating over $150 million in income and supporting over 4,500 jobs. But less snow means fewer jobs. Skiing and snowmobiling contribute $265 million to the Montana economy. During the low snowfall winters of 2002 and 2005, Montana ski resorts lost $16 million in revenue compared to heavy snow years. Warmer temperatures also harm hunting, fishing, and our booming outdoor industry, which supports more than 64,000 jobs and attracts 11 million visitors to Montana each year. Warmer streams and fewer trout translate to direct reduction in Montana jobs. Stream closures in recent years because of warm water are the first proof of this threat. Nearly 50 percent of habitat for the bull trout and cutthroat trout could be lost in the West this century. Big game species such as moose and elk face similar threats with a warmer climate. Rural communities across Montana are especially vulnerable to climate change. Many of them rely on single sectors tied to the land, from timber to grain to outfitting, and are less able to adapt to a changing economy. I know what resource development looks like. My hometown of Butte was once known as ``the Richest Hill on Earth.'' The copper mined on that hill helped us win World War II, but today it is part of the largest Superfund site in America, including the Berkeley Pit. Mining continues to be an important industry in Montana, and Butte still churns out copper that is used around the world. Fortunately, Butte has also diversified. It now has good paying jobs in manufacturing and aerospace. One lesson I took from growing up there is we cannot afford another Berkeley Pit anywhere. Climate change is the equivalent of a Berkeley Pit: Ignore first; ask questions later. Montanans understand the dilemma we are facing. We are the Treasure State. Our history is the history of resource development: from beaver trapping to the gold rush, copper mining to railroads and the open range, the homestead movement to the timber and fossil fuel booms. But along with the booms came a lot of busts. In Montana we had to spend tons of money on fixing our past mistakes. Over $1.5 billion has been spent at our Superfund sites alone. Each year we spend another $13 million to clean up abandoned mine lands. If only our resources had been developed the right way the first time, all that money could have been spent on drinking water or better roads or lower student loans or researching cures for disease. I know there are no easy solutions to the challenges we face today. Today 82 percent of energy used in the United States comes from fossil fuels. I am proud to represent a State with more than $1.6 billion in investment in wind energy since 2005. Renewable energy does have a bright future. A 2009 study ranked Montana's wind resources as the second best in the Nation. Montana also has potential for solar energy and is one of only 13 States with the potential to produce commercial geothermal energy. Renewables, including wind, are not always the right answer. Our current power grid has real physical limitations. I will continue supporting renewable energy and upgrades to the grid because we need to reduce our carbon emissions. But we cannot ignore today's reality. Look at me standing here. I flew here on a plane that burns jet fuel. I am wearing cotton, and I eat wheat and corn, all of which depend on fertilizers, were irrigated using power from coal and natural gas, and were transported by diesel. I am speaking into a microphone and a camera that need electricity. In the United States in the year 2014, we either dig up or pipe up five-sixths of our entire energy. I couldn't do my job and visit Montanans without fossil fuel--and I understand that--and many of them wouldn't have jobs either. Montana is one of about a dozen States that is a net exporter of energy. The oil and gas industry directly employs over 4,000 workers. Our unemployment rate in Montana is currently at 4.8 percent, in part because of the good jobs in the Bakken. We have 2,000 workers directly in the coal industry, from mining it to burning it to maintaining the boilers that burn it. Coal alone is responsible for over $100 million of revenue each year in the State and local economy. I don't agree with some people who want to just pull the plug on coal. The United States burns only 11 percent of the coal consumed globally each year. The less we invest in cleaning up coal, the less likely we are to make a dent in climate change. We cannot just take our ball and go home. That simply outsources our pollution problem to countries such as China. I know firsthand of the value of domestic energy. In 2004 and 2005 I led the largest deployment of Montana men and women to war in 60 years, more than 700 of Montana's finest went with me to Iraq. Some of them didn't return home with me; some of them returned severely injured. The debate leading up to the war focused on weapons of mass destruction and the connection of Saddam Hussein to the war on terrorism, but since World War II our strategic interest in the Middle East has been oil. Our dependence on foreign oil should never again be a reason for war. I don't want countries forced to make military decisions or tempted to put soldiers on the ground because they are afraid that their economy will freeze up without energy from other countries. That means I want more oil responsibly produced here in the United States from places such as the Bakken. It means that I support a project like the Keystone XL Pipeline, which will make us more energy secure and strengthen the economy of eastern Montana, while ensuring precautions are taken to guarantee pipeline safety and reliability and protect private property rights. Private industry jump-started by government-funded research and development has already provided part of the solution. The access to tight oil and gas has made us more energy secure. The trend is in the right direction. Less than half of the oil consumed by Americans now comes from other countries. Yet even if we continue to increase domestic production by displacing foreign oil, we are still exposed as a country to two risks. First, oil remains a necessary ingredient in our economy. Second, the oil market continues to be a global one, exposing us to price swings that can seriously harm our own economy. Therefore, in addition to more domestic oil production, we need to diversify our transportation fuels. The growth of advanced biofuels in America is the way to do that. I support diversifying our fuel sources by developing homegrown alternatives such as biodiesel, jet fuel from camelina, and ethanol from wheat and barley to reduce demand for foreign oil. I also support the military's continued investment in renewable energy. The impacts of climate change also have a strong national security connection. The Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review has found a direct link between climate change and national security threats like terrorism. Climate change is a threat multiplier. Higher sea levels and extreme weather increase poverty, humanitarian crises, and political instability. I know what political instability abroad can mean. It can mean our servicemembers, our sons and daughters, will be put in harm's way in order to protect our way of life. As a veteran and someone who has sworn an oath to this country, these impacts concern me because they make us less safe. Today despite all the evidence that climate change is harming us and will hurt our children and grandchildren even more, we seem stuck. Congress is handcuffed by folks who have their heads in the sand. Instead of taking responsibility to solve this problem, they are choosing to ignore it. The Clean Air Act has helped Americans tackle pollution for over 40 years because it was written to last. The Supreme Court has spoken and the law is clear. But using a section of the law drafted when the Beatles were still recording is not the ideal way to tackle climate change, given how much our understanding has evolved since then on pollution control. Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate change is a human-caused problem. In the military 97 percent is about as certain as a mission can get. But that is not good enough here in Washington. Climate change is another example of why Washington is broken. We have an agency writing regulations with enormous impact on all Montanans, using congressional directions written when I was a child. We have an agency trying to put out a fire with a trowel because that is the only tool it has. I am committed to putting the fire out because we cannot afford inaction. The benefits of acting are clear, but I would prefer to use the right tool for that job. Yet Washington is so broken that the alternative is to do nothing. Plan B is repeal. Plan B ignores reality. I cannot accept that. I will be watching the EPA's Clean Air Act regulations closely to keep the agency accountable to Montanans and make any final rules workable for Montana. Members of Congress should be taking responsibility and upholding the oaths we all swore to. We should agree that climate change is a clear enemy and take steps to stop it. I strongly support a bigger investment in securing a responsible future for coal: tax credits, loans, loan guarantees, and grants for carbon capture as well as sequestration. I have cosponsored bills and signed letters. I have pressed Senators to maintain existing incentives for coal. Coal does have a future, but it needs to lower its emissions. Montana is already leading the way with cutting-edge research in carbon sequestration. Beyond fossil fuels, our forests are a carbon sink, absorbing about 12 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions each year. But climate change itself threatens this important service provided by our forests. More active management, especially under the new farm bill authority to address beetle-killed forests is critical. Getting the biogenic emissions rule right, on the largest possible geographic scale, is critical for forests to continue absorbing CO2 emissions. I support other energy options to reduce carbon emissions, including reduced energy demand overall and retrofitting nonpowered dams. Whatever rule the EPA proposes under the Clean Air Act for existing power plants, Montana and other States must take the lead role in implementation. The United States has always led the way with innovative technology, from the first oil wells and nuclear reactors to the first solar cells and hydraulic fracturing. In fact, access to tight natural gas formations in the last decade has already helped lower our carbon- related emissions by 10 percent. Despite the serious challenges imposed by climate change, I am confident that America can innovate solutions while creating good paying jobs and new technology. But as a first step we cannot put our heads in the sand and continue with business as usual. The reason is simple. If we continue with business as usual, the people left with the mess will be the next generation. The people left taking responsibility for our emissions will be my granddaughter Kennedy and all of our grandchildren. If we don't act now, Kennedy will grow up in a Montana that burns every summer. She won't be able to fly-fish because the rivers are too hot for trout. Kennedy will have to explain to her kids what glaciers were. When I took office, I swore an oath to make the right choice, and I am committed to solving climate change for Kennedy and for future generations. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, over the past 2 years, the Big Sky Honor Flight has transported 755 World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington, DC. Before these trips, most of the veterans had never seen the memorial that was built in their honor. Our World War II veterans sacrificed so much for our country, often deploying for as long as 4 years, and then returned home to build the great country we have today. They truly are the greatest generation. The Big Sky Honor Flight started out as a powerful idea to honor Montana's veterans, but getting 755 veterans, their caregivers, and medical staff across the country and back is no easy task. Today I want to recognize the selfless servants who made the Big Sky Honor Flight a reality. The Big Sky Honor Flight Committee works tirelessly on behalf of our veterans. Their mission was to make sure every World War II veteran from Montana had the opportunity to visit our Nation's capital and see how grateful we are for their service. Today, as the ninth and final flight leaves Washington, DC, for Billings, MT, we are proud to say: mission accomplished. The Big Sky Honor Flight Committee successfully raised $1.45 million from Montanans to charter nine flights transporting the veterans to Washington, DC. The committee's dedication to bringing the veterans to see their monument was no easy task. As honorary chair of the Big Sky Honor Flight, I saw firsthand the work that went into identifying our veterans, providing transportation, and coordinating all of the logistics. As we celebrate the final Big Sky Honor Flight for our World War II veterans I want to pay tribute to the men and women who made the nine flights a reality: the Big Sky Honor Flight Committee. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to the Big Sky Honor Flight Committee: Chris Reinhard, George Blackard, Burt Gigoux, Becky Hillier, Bill Kennedy, Denise Licata, Cory Miller, Charlie Reed, Ray Robinson, Tiffany Samel, Annette Satterly, Kathy Shannon, Vicky Stephens, and Tina Vauthier. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to ensure that Montana's World War II veterans saw their memorial.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, last week, somewhere in Montana or North Dakota, the Bakken formation released its billionth barrel of crude oil. I applaud the hardworking Montanans and other workers who are part of this extraordinary development. As debate over the Keystone XL Pipeline drags on and the President inexcusably continues to delay that project, it is important to appreciate how much has changed in less than a decade in the American energy sector. As the commander in 2004 and 2005 of the largest deployment of Montanans to war since World War II, I understand firsthand the costs of dependence on oil from hostile places. That same dependence costs our pocketbooks. Since multistage horizontal hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized oil and gas production in this country, we have been able to fill our tanks and tractors with more American oil. Yet last year we still spent $384 billion on 3.5 billion barrels of foreign oil. When that comes from close allies like Canada, whose industry is closely integrated with the American economy, we all prosper. But we remain unacceptably reliant on countries who sell us oil and then work to undermine our national security. What does 1 billion barrels from the Bakken mean? That is 1 billion barrels of oil that did not come from places like Iran, Venezuela, Algeria or Russia. It is 1 billion barrels of oil whose exploration, development, production, transportation, and refining occurred in the United States, injecting cash and strengthening our economy at home. While the Bakken boom, like any surge in a single sector, has brought its share of growing pains, overall it has strengthened Montana's economy, creating thousands of jobs in towns from Sidney and Fairview to Miles City and Billings, long-term investments in infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Montana's role in the Bakken is a story of entrepreneurs. The Bakken itself was first cracked over a decade ago by a Billings geologist, Richard Findley, and his team, in the Elm Coulee Field. Montanans have continued to start new small businesses focused on the Bakken. As we celebrate the success of the Bakken, we can also point to other energy projects around Montana that are also helping increase our energy security, from enhanced oil recovery to carbon sequestration for coal. Montana's rich renewable resources: wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass are also creating good-paying jobs and producing energy. I salute these innovators for their continued success to make America more energy secure and create jobs in Montana.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I wish to honor John Robert Viereck, a U.S. Army veteran from World War II. It is my honor to share the story of John's service, because no veteran's story should ever go unrecognized. John was born in Wilmington, CA, in 1924. John's father loved the sea and encouraged his son to join the Merchant Marines. John joined up but was so seasick after his first trip that his career in the Merchant Marines came to an end. On July 8, 1942, John enlisted in the U.S. Army. John was a radioman and cryptographer for the Big Red One--the Army's First Infantry Division, Antitank Company, 26th Infantry Regiment. He served in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, England, France, Belgium, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. John served in seven campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, and spent a total of 31 months in Europe and Africa. When John returned home to the United States in 1943, he was diagnosed with shell shock, something we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. After World War II, John attended the Frank Wiggins Trade School to study TV and radio. John bought his first TV in the late 1940s and his daughter Fran remembers that from then on the Viereck household always had a TV. John worked as a truck driver in Wilmington, as a taxi driver in Gardena, and then as a Zamboni operator in Torrance, CA. He was also a ham radio operator. Weather, politics, war, and the military have been lifelong topics of interest to him. John moved to Helena in 2003 to be closer to his daughter. In the presence of John's family, it was my honor to present to him the Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; the Good Conduct Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern, EAME, Campaign Medal, with 4 bronze stars, meaning he served in four of these campaigns; the WW II Victory Medal; and the Honorable Service Lapel Button. The medals are a small token but they are a powerful symbol of service and sacrifice. These medals were presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. President, I wish to honor Jose Elguezabal, a veteran of the U.S. Army. It is my honor to share the story of Jose's service, because no veteran's story should ever go unrecognized. Jose was born in Eagle Pass, TX, and served our Nation during World War II. Unfortunately, most of the records of his service were destroyed in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. Jose told his daughter Anna how his platoon came under fire, killing every member but Jose. Jose was captured by enemy forces and spent 6 months as a prisoner of war in France. When Jose returned home, he and his wife of 63 years had 10 children--9 girls and 1 boy. His children said he was a great father and a true patriot who flew an American flag and a Prisoner of War flag outside of his house every day until he passed away. His family pieced Jose's military service record together to finally track down the medals Jose earned through his service. We were joined by Jose's daughter Anna and her husband John, who recently retired after spending 40 years serving Malmstrom Air Force Base as a firefighter. It was my honor, along with the commanding officer at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Col. Robert Stanley, to present to Anna the medals that long ago should have been presented to her father: The Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal & Bronze Star Attachment, WWII Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button, and Marksman Badge & Rifle Bar. These decorations are important tokens of Jose's heroism. But these decorations are also powerful reminders that we should never let a veteran's service go forgotten. These medals were presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 314, H.R. 2259; that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. WALSH. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 173, S. 255; that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, in the far northwestern corner of Montana is one of the most special places on Earth--the North Fork of the Flathead River. The North Fork is a spectacular gravel-bed river that starts in British Columbia and runs along the western half of Glacier National Park before arriving in Flathead Lake. The North Fork is a world-class trout fishery, with bulltrout and cutthroat trout sharing the same winding waters that grizzly bears rely on for huckleberries. It is the most important wildlife corridor between the Great Plains and the Cascades, and Montanans have always enjoyed rafting, hiking, fishing, and hunting in it. Today, about 2 million people visit Glacier National Park each year, bringing $170 million into the local economy and supporting 2,750 jobs. For 40 years, Montanans have fought to keep the North Fork pristine. My colleague Senator Jon Tester and I are committed to taking this across the finish line. Four years ago, Montana and British Columbia reached a historic agreement to protect the river on both sides of the border. Two years ago Canada upheld its end of the bargain. Today, the U.S. Congress has the opportunity to do the same. The entire Montana congressional delegation is in bipartisan agreement that the North Fork deserves to be withdrawn permanently from future mineral development. Montanans of all stripes have endorsed this action, including the local chambers of commerce and energy companies such as ConocoPhillips. In fact, the primary interest in more than 80 percent of existing Federal leases in the watershed have voluntarily been relinquished. Everyone recognizes how important it is to keep the North Fork pristine. It is just the right thing to do. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the North Fork Watershed Protection Act with no opposition last June. The House passed the North Fork Watershed Protection Act by voice vote last month. This bill is our chance to leave a jewel in the crown of the continent in better shape than we found it. I ask my colleagues to join me and all Montanans in that effort. We can send this bill to the President to sign today.

Mr. WALSH. I will.

Mr. WALSH. Yes, I have.

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I am so disappointed my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are blocking the desire of Montanans to protect the North Fork. This bill is a no-brainer. I invite my colleagues to visit Montana and see the North Fork for themselves. Their actions today show why Washington is broken. Despite years of bipartisan hard work, narrow interests can trump responsible leadership. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, I thank Senators Gillibrand and McCaskill for their dedication and commitment to dealing with sexual assault in the military and for bringing a serious problem to the forefront of Congress. Their work on the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act helped reform the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But I believe we must do more. My perspective on prosecuting military sexual assault comes from my 33 years in the Montana National Guard. My view on this is simple: The current system is failing the men and women in uniform. And failure is unacceptable. While no legislation is perfect, I believe we must fundamentally change how we deal with sexual assault in our military. While I support the reforms that passed last year, we have moved too slowly. Today's debate is about where we go from here. In the Armed Forces today, a military commander is ultimately responsible for the prosecution of these crimes. In the Montana National Guard, except when federalized, we did things differently. If the unimaginable happened, the prosecution of sexual assault would occur outside the purview of a military commander. Senator Gillibrand's Military Justice Improvement Act removes prosecutions from the purview of military commanders--much like the Montana National Guard system. One of the arguments I have heard against this bill is that if we shift the prosecution of sexual assault outside the chain of command, military leaders will somehow lose their authority on other matters. As a retired military commander, I am confident this is not the case. I have never found myself in a situation with the units I commanded where discipline and devotion to a mission was jeopardized by compliance with the civilian justice system. I am not talking hypotheticals. The chain of command's function is not a mystery to me. I lived it. And it is hard to convey how angry you feel when the system fails your fellow soldiers. Today's debate is part of a broader effort to improve our military and the lives of those who have served--from the justice system, to the VA claims backlog, to ensuring that veterans find jobs when they complete their service. We have the opportunity to guarantee justice for the men and women within our military and to correct its failures. Now it is time to get it done.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam President, in Montana we have a long history of being represented by true statesmen--larger-than-life figures such as Senator Mike Mansfield. These men always served us well, while at the same time defending Montana's principles and freedoms. These statesmen never took their privileges for granted, and they always had the courage to put their differences aside to do what is right for our country. At a time when privilege seems to be gaining on principle, I pledge to find the same courage to do what is right. Senator Mansfield called Butte, MT, home. Born and raised in Butte, I was brought up with a great deal of respect for Senator Mike Mansfield. It is a tremendous honor for me to stand today where he stood so many years ago and pledge to you and the people of Montana that I will take responsibility for my actions and that I will have the courage to do what is right no matter what the consequences. Of course, I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my wonderful family. My wife of 29 years, Janet, who is here today, our sons Michael and Taylor, our daughter-in-law April, and our 9-month-old granddaughter Kennedy have stood by my side through every challenge life has handed us. Last week, while at home, I traveled across Montana as Montana's newest Senator. I had an opportunity to talk to a lot of Montanans who believe we need more courage in Washington, and I tend to agree. As a public servant, I have sworn an oath to protect and defend Montanans, our Nation, and our Constitution. I am no stranger to answering the call to serve. I spent 33 years in the Montana National Guard where I served for 9 of those years as an enlisted man before becoming an officer. I also had the honor of leading over 700 of Montana's finest young men and women into combat in Iraq. It was the largest deployment of Montana's soldiers and airmen since World War II. In August of 2008, Governor Brian Schweitzer asked me to serve as the adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, and I was truly honored by the opportunity to continue serving our State and our Nation. I am also extremely proud of my oldest son Michael who is now 28 and is following in my path of public service. He is currently serving in the National Guard and is deployed to the Middle East as a C-12 pilot and a Black Hawk medivac pilot. Throughout my many years of service, and now with my son's service, ensuring our veterans and their families have access to the services and benefits they have earned is a responsibility I take very seriously and very personally. I recently met with student veterans at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, where I heard from young men and women who are concerned about their mounting student debt. I also heard from veterans from all across Montana about their frustrations with the long delays in processing disability benefit claims. I have heard from veterans from across the State who are frustrated with the distances they have to travel to receive care. These failings on behalf of our veterans and their families cause me grave concern. We must, and I will, fight for them every day I am serving in the Senate. The face of modern war has changed and the VA must keep up with the changing times. Medical care must include robust mental health benefits, and it must also include proper screenings to help mitigate the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. As a military commander, I also know firsthand what the unseen injuries have done to America's heroes and their families. We can and we must do better. The oath I have taken is one I take very seriously. It is an honor, it is a privilege, and a great responsibility that I will work tirelessly to fulfill. To honor their service and sacrifice, we must welcome our heroes home and help them during their transition from active duty back into civilian life. I know how difficult that transition can be. I have experienced it firsthand, I have witnessed it, and I will take responsibility to improve it. On these and other issues facing our State and our country, I look forward to working with my friend and colleague Senator Jon Tester to solve problems not only for our veterans but for all Montanans. Last week Jon and I traveled the State. We heard from members of the Little Shell Tribal Council about the importance of Federal recognition and ways to help Indian-owned businesses grow and create jobs. We heard from tribal nations across Montana about the Land Buy-Back Cooperative Agreement Program within the Department of Interior. I made a commitment to Montana's tribal leaders that I would work hard to make sure the Federal Government is being responsive and working to move this program forward in a way that works for our sovereign tribal nations. We also had the opportunity to speak with business owners in Miles City and Wolf Point, MT, who are working hard to grow jobs while at the same time dealing with infrastructure challenges caused by the oil boom in eastern Montana. My job is to bring their voices to the Senate. One additional issue I heard loudly and clearly from every corner of Montana is that our government is not doing enough to protect our civil liberties. As I have throughout my career, I will continue to fight to protect our civil liberties, our freedoms, and our Montana values. We must do what it takes to protect our Nation and the freedom we enjoy-- something I have dedicated my life to. But we must, and we can, do it without trampling on the rights we have fought so hard for. Bulk data collection with no transparency, whether by the government or by private corporations, is unacceptable. That is why during my first week in the Senate, I signed on to a bipartisan bill that is an important first step in this fight. I have also heard loudly and clearly from Montanans that our national debt is unacceptable. Washington has a spending problem that we must get under control. There is no better example of privileges gaining on our principles. Responsibly cutting our debt and wasteful spending is one of my top priorities as a Senator, just as it was as Montana's lieutenant governor working alongside Governor Steve Bullock. Congress needs the courage to cut spending without doing it on the backs of our veterans, our children, or our seniors. Almost everyone I talked to in Montana told me where they see waste in government, and they all have specific examples. We need to find the courage to stand up to special interests and cut that wasteful spending. But we must not do it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. Having served for 33 years in the military, I am confident we can make the Defense budget more efficient while at the same time enhancing programs that grow our economy and protect our children and seniors. We should start by reducing waste in contracting and procurement. Today we spend millions to have contract security guards check IDs at our bases rather than servicemembers, but no one is any safer. I take responsibility to fix this. It is a privilege to be chosen to serve on the Agriculture Committee. I am the only member of Montana's delegation to sit on the agriculture committee. This committee is so important to Montana where our No. 1 industry is agriculture. From livestock disaster assistance to crop insurance, commonsense forest reforms, I look forward to making sure the farm bill works and works efficiently for Montana's farmers and ranchers. I also look forward to serving on the commerce committee where I will focus on transportation, energy, rural telecommunications, and tourism. Tourism is Montana's second largest sector. It not only contributes to our State's economy, but also helps preserve the outdoor heritage that makes Montana such a slice of heaven. I will bring Montana courage to the Senate where I will fight on behalf of the people of Montana to protect Social Security and Medicare in my new role on the aging committee. I am also prepared to help fix some of Washington's problems while serving on the rules committee. I know I only just joined this distinguished body, but I also know there is very real work to be done to get our country on the right track again. Beginning on day one, I rolled up my sleeves and started working. My purpose here is to have the courage to do what is right for the people of Montana, our veterans, and the United States of America. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and may God bless the United States of America. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Thank you, Connie. Good morning, everyone. I'm pleased to tell you this is the last report of the morning prior to our election, which I suspect will go very swiftly and without controversy. I'd like to thank Connie for her gracious leadership. I'd also like to thank Lou Frey for the remarkable job that he does organizing us and keeping the ducks in a row as we work on this fundraiser, which is really key to our success every year. On March 19, the association was proud to host its 16th annual Statesmanship Award Dinner, with almost 500 guests in attendance. For the 16th dinner, we decided to continue the very successful expansion we initiated last year. In addition to our traditional Statesmanship Award, we created two additional award categories: the Civic Statesmanship Award and the Corporate Statesmanship Award. We continued to present the dinner under the theme of ``A Salute to Service,'' and all four of our honorees very clearly fit into that category of outstanding public service. The focal point of the evening was the presentation of the Statesmanship Award, which recognizes a former or current Member of Congress for their devotion to public service. We were very pleased to recognize the leadership throughout their careers of Senator Sam Nunn and Senator Dick Lugar as our Statesmanship Honorees for their outstanding political careers, service to our country, and bipartisan accomplishments that have made the world a safer place. The Civic Statesmanship Award honors a person or a nonprofit for having made significant improvement to our society. The 2013 recipient was award-winning actor Gary Sinise and the Gary Sinise Foundation. Mr. Sinise does so much to help wounded warriors and first responders, and we were very pleased to honor him at the dinner. The Corporate Statesmanship Award recognizes outstanding corporate citizenship, and we chose Margery Kraus, founder and chief executive officer of APCO Worldwide. Not only has she established a culture of corporate philanthropy with APCO, but she is also one of the driving forces behind the Close Up Foundation--which many of you dealt with when you served here--which brings youngsters from across the country to D.C. to learn about their government. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Pulitzer Prize- winning columnist Colbert I. King, who was our master of ceremonies and did a fantastic job for the event and lent wonderful grace to the event. The evening is a wonderful way to showcase our association and recognize outstanding public service. In addition, the dinner is our financial lifeline. All the programs you've heard about are self- financed by your association. Not a single taxpayer dollar is appropriated for this organization and for the many projects that we conduct. Therefore, success of the fundraising dinner translates directly into success for the association. The evening is a lot of fun, and it's also of great importance to the organization. I hope that all former Members currently in attendance can be counted upon when Lou Frey picks up the phone next summer and gives you a call to help recruit you for our dinner. Thank you very much.