Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise with gratitude to address my colleagues and members of my staff to reflect on one of my life's greatest honors, and that is serving the people of the great State of Nevada. I begin by thanking them for giving me the profound honor of representing Nevada in the U.S. Congress for 12 years and then in the U.S. Senate for almost 8 years.

Nevada, thank you for granting me the privilege of working every day for a State I am so proud to call my home.

Of course, I thank my immediate family, especially Lynne, my wife, for being at my side for my nearly 30 years of public service.

To my children Hilary, Harris, Drew, and Emmy and to their spouses Eddie, McKenzie, and Collin, thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your tolerance of this process.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank Jack and Janet Heller, my parents, for setting the right example and religious tone in our home while I was growing up.

To Richard Brombach, my father-in-law, and all of my wife's family, thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter, sister, cousin, and aunt.

I have five brothers and sisters, and they all played a vital role in my upbringing. So thank you to Jack, Tamie, Mac, Sara, and Bryan.

All of these individuals whom I have mentioned gave me their steadfast support and made my journey from the Nevada Legislature to the secretary of state's office, to the U.S. House of Representatives, and to the U.S. Senate possible. I could count on them every step of the way.

We all know how important our staffs are, and I am no exception. I have been fortunate to have had two staff members with me during my whole tenure in Congress, and I would like to highlight both of them.

Mac Abrams, my chief of staff, hails from North Carolina. I know more about North Carolina than I thought I ever would. Mac came to me from Senator Vitter's office. After 12 years, we muse about writing a book together because, together, we have seen and been through a lot. From the great recession's impact on Nevada to the visits from Senator Reid to my House office, to Senator Ensign's resignation, to the Governor's appointment of me to the Senate, to ObamaCare, Dodd-Frank, immigration reform, tax reform, and changing the courts--just to name a few--Mac has always been there.

In these Chambers, there are a lot of slings and arrows, and it takes an expert to walk through these minefields. No one does it alone. I have always had Mac Abrams by my side. So I thank him for his service to me but, more importantly, for his service to the State of Nevada.

Scott Riplinger has also served the office with distinction. Those who know him and who have worked with him know that he is a problem solver.

It didn't matter which hat he was asked to wear, he wore it with pride. I will miss his hard work, his work on the Banking Committee, his loyalty, and his great sense of humor. Every office needs a Scott Riplinger.

I would like to mention two more.

Sarah Paul has become a dear friend of mine. She joined my staff 7\1/ 2\ years ago, and I have leaned on her heavily to help navigate some very complicated issues. From gaming issues, to mining, to technology, no one--I say no one--can grasp an issue like she can. During the last campaign, she served as my chief of staff as others were relegated to the State of Nevada.

Thank you, Sarah, and congratulations.

On Thanksgiving Day, she introduced Liam Milliner Paul to the world. Again, congratulations to Sarah, to Raymond, and to big brother James on the new addition.

Finally, I recognize Ashley Jonkey. Ashley oversees our State operation, and she has been with us since my early days in the U.S. House of Representatives. Whether it is putting together the Tahoe Summit or keeping me up to speed on local issues, Ashley is someone I can always count on. In fact, over the past decade that I have known Ashley, she has become like family to me but, more importantly, like family to Lynne. She is based in Reno, but we are fortunate to have her here in Washington, DC, today.

I recognize her, along with Mac, Scott, Sarah, and the many members of my staff, who are here today on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

We have a great team. I have had a great team from top to bottom--a team that includes naturalized citizens whose families came to this country to seek better lives, professional social workers, and multiple combat veterans. Every member of my team in Reno, Elko, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC, has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of Nevadans. My staff's dedication, enthusiasm, and work ethic go unmatched.

I ask unanimous consent to have a list of current and former staff and their names printed in the Record for this legislative day.

Madam President, I would like to shift gears, for just a moment, to mention several topics that have demanded a lot of my time and a lot of my energy.

When it comes to our legislative successes--tax reform, changes on the courts, banking reform, go down the list--I am most proud of what we have accomplished to help the 300,000 veterans who call Nevada home. I think everybody in this Chamber will agree that while we can never fully repay our debt to our Nation's heroes, we can do everything in our power to show our gratitude for their selflessness and for their sacrifice. Once these men and women return home after leaving their families to fight for our country, it is our turn to fight for them and to make sure all of Nevada's veterans receive the treatment they need, the services they need, and the skills they need to get the jobs to take care of their families.

I see that responsibility as a duty and a privilege. In fact, I have said this before, and I will say it again: The greatest compliment I ever received in public office was when I overheard one veteran say to another, ``If you need help, call Senator Heller's office.''

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have had the opportunity to give our veterans a strong voice in Washington, DC. Under Chairman Johnny Isakson's leadership, we have made great strides in bringing greater accountability to the VA and in improving the benefits, the care, and the support our veterans have earned.

For example, earlier this year, we pushed the historic VA MISSION Act over the finish line. This new law directs more than $50 billion to our VA healthcare system so the VA can hire more high-quality doctors and allow veterans to get the care they need near their homes and on their schedules.

We also expanded the VA Caregivers Program, which provided a stipend to the families of severely disabled veterans who require caregivers in their homes. Previously, only post-9/11 veterans were able to apply. Now veterans from every era are eligible. This was particularly important to many veterans in Nevada who told me how critical it was that we give veterans more access to this program.

These are just a couple of examples to fix a problem that came up during my discussions during my Veterans Advisory Council meetings. I established these groups of veterans in the northern and southern parts of the State in order to speak frequently and directly with them about the challenges they are facing and the problems that need to be fixed.

For instance, just a few years ago, the Reno VA was one of the worst ranked offices in the Nation. This was at a time when veterans were waiting, on average, 400 days for their disability claims to be approved. This was not acceptable, so I teamed up with Senator Bob Casey, from Pennsylvania, to hold the VA's feet to the fire. As a result of the implementation of the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, the backlog has been reduced by nearly 85 percent, and 500,000 of our military heroes around the country are no longer waiting for their health benefits. We also provided accountability through expedited firing authority of bad VA employees and overhauled the VA appeals process so veterans do not have to wait years for a decision. The President signed this bill into law in Reno last year.

Expanding veterans' access to care has been one of my top priorities. For veterans living in Northern Nevada, I worked to authorize construction of the Reno VA hospital and delivered $33.5 million in Federal funding for it so that the veterans of the north don't have to drive 500 miles to Boulder City to access the State Veterans Home.

I walked through the construction site when I was in Sparks last month, and I look forward to the completion of this state-of-the-art facility.

I did the same for veterans in Southern Nevada. I worked for 10 years to secure the approval of the new larger clinic in Pahrump. For veterans who face barriers to try to get an education so that they can earn a good living, I introduced a bill that increases the education benefits for Guard Reserve members that ensures that the GI bill is available to veterans for life.

After Nevada was ranked second among States with the highest rate of veteran suicides and was experiencing a doctors' shortage, I authorized a new law that gives veterans more access to mental healthcare services and treatment.

I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Chairman Isakson, Ranking Member Tester, Senate leadership, and this administration to enact laws that provide our veterans with the support and benefits they are owed.

While we have made progress, we can and must do even better. It is my hope that the next Congress--Republicans and Democrats--can continue to work together to get things done for our veterans.

Now, on another topic--tax reform--when I delivered my maiden speech on the floor of the Senate, Nevada was struggling after being knocked down by the great recession--a time when Nevada led the Nation in home foreclosures and when we had double-digit unemployment. Today, Nevada is leading the Nation in private sector job growth, the housing market has recovered, and home prices are increasing. Now we are one of the fastest growing States in the Nation.

Nevada is booming. It is because this Congress delivered tax cuts that put more money in America's paychecks, their pocketbooks, and their pensions, and we advanced pro-growth policies that have led to more jobs, higher wages, and more opportunities for Nevadans.

As a Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I am proud to have authorized and authored several provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that include, for example, not limiting but doubling the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child. Since the law was enacted, tens of thousands of jobs in the State of Nevada have been created. Recently, Nevada's unemployment rate hit a new 11-year low--the lowest rate since the 2008 economic downturn. As a result of this new law, tens of thousands of Nevadans have benefited from bonuses, raises, and expanded benefits, on top of bigger paychecks and strengthened pensions.

To give you a couple of examples, South Point Hotel and Casino doubled its full-time workers' bonuses. Developers of a stalled project on the Las Vegas Strip committed to creating over 10,000 jobs, and the Prospect Hotel in Ely gave its employees bonuses and raised its starting wages. All of this was a direct result of the tax reform bill.

Nevada's economy is back on track, and I hope this Congress will continue to advance policies to keep us on that path to help Nevada workers and the hard-working families get ahead.

Let me move on. Since coming to Washington, DC, my No. 1 focus has always been the people of Nevada and putting our State's priorities first. For example, I worked with Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico to level the playing field for the development of new, alternative energy technologies to support Nevada's energy diversification.

Earlier this year, I was proud to host the bipartisan annual Lake Tahoe Summit, and I worked with Senator Feinstein throughout my career to deliver resources to protect the Tahoe Basin and to fight devastating wildfires.

When Congress came together to approve a 5-year highway bill, I was able to secure my top infrastructure priority, and that was to expand Interstate 11 up to Northern Nevada.

Whether it is leading the Republican charge to extend unemployment benefits in 2014, when Nevada's unemployment rate was nearly double what it is now, or breaking with my party to pass the Violence Against Women Act, I have always been willing to work with anyone who has good ideas to help move Nevada's families and Nevada's communities forward.

While I am pleased that I have been able to work with my colleagues to turn these ideas into over 100 pieces of legislation that are now law, this job is about more than advancing good policies. It is about helping people, and that is what is most important. I work for Nevadans, and when someone comes to me with a problem or calls one of my offices for help, we drop everything we do and all that we do in an effort to help them.

When the VA refused to pay a homeless veteran $40,000 after he won his appeal, we made sure the veteran got paid so he could get back on his feet.

When a constituent had a liver transplant and was denied coverage and left without insurance, he enrolled into the marketplace exchange. When the time came to reenroll, the exchange denied him and forced him to go without insurance until my office intervened.

Take, for example, a woman who came to us after being charged a Medicare penalty of about 40 percent each month. My staff worked with the local and regional offices to secure reimbursement of $1,000 and to adjust the monthly premium to save that constituent, potentially, thousands of dollars.

When a constituent spent 9 months trying to get her Social Security retirement benefits, we were able to get her a resolution to properly begin receiving her payment.

Finally, when a Navy veteran was in jeopardy of losing his home while he was temporarily out of work, we contacted the lender of his mortgage on his behalf and ensured that he was able to keep his home.

These are just a few examples of what this job is really all about-- making life better for people you work for. I know that I am not alone. I truly believe that this is what drives all Members of Congress, and that is to serve their constituents--no matter your party, no matter your State, no matter what you did before you got here.

Before I got here, I grew up with two parents and five siblings who, like Nevadans, embodied the ``battle born'' spirit. I would like to pay tribute not only to my family, friends, and mentors who have helped me along the way but to all of my constituents by talking a little bit about what makes Nevada different.

Nevadans are pioneers. They are not afraid to take risks, to dream, to put in hard work, or to start from scratch. We are self-starters, we are builders, and we are trailblazers. We laid down tracks to connect railroads and mined for gold and silver in the north. We shoveled mud, drilled through rocks, and scaled concrete to construct the Hoover Dam, and in the Mojave Desert we created the Entertainment Capital of the World.

One characteristic outsiders may overlook is this: We are fighters. There is no other event in our history that best serves as an example of that trait than the aftermath of the October 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas, a tragedy that truly shook our State.

I have spoken before on the Senate floor about the incredible and heroic people who helped to lead concertgoers and, in turn, the whole community, out of that darkness. Whether these individuals wore uniforms or not, they stepped up to help others, and their actions helped us grieve and start to heal together.

This immeasurable pain, suffering, and devastation inflicted by one man elicited a profound, innate, and immediate human response from Nevadans across the State.

Like many Nevadans, I saw firsthand the strong sense of family, faith, and strength in the wake of the October 1 shooting. When I leave here, I will carry those extraordinary moments of unity and generosity with me.

During the 1989 inaugural address, Former President George H. W. Bush once said:

We know what works: Freedom works. We know what's right:

Freedom is right. We know how to secure a more just and

prosperous life for man on Earth: through free markets, free

speech, free elections, and the exercise of free will

unhampered by the state.

Regardless of what party affiliation you have, I still think we can all agree with those words. We can all agree that we are fortunate to live in a great country defended by men and women who stand guard to defend our way of life. We can all agree we are fortunate to live in a great country in which every aspiration or dream is possible to achieve. We can all agree that this is because freedom works, and that freedom is right.

No, not everything comes easy, and I would be lying if I said others didn't have to fight harder than some. But that job you want to get, that school you want to get into, that business you want to start, or that idea that you would like to see come to life is possible in America. This is a country where the son of an auto mechanic and a school cook had the opportunity to deliver the newspaper to then- Governor Michael O'Callaghan, go to Sunday school with then-Lieutenant Governor Harry Reid's sons, get his education at the same public high school as the late Senator Paul Laxalt, play basketball with Governor Brian Sandoval, and a place where that same kid can grow up and serve Nevada in the U.S. Senate.

My goal always has been making Nevada a better place today than it was yesterday. It is a better place to raise a family--not only one where you can find a job but a place where you can have a long-term career.

I would like to end with this. My daughter Hillary and her husband

adopted a young child from China. She was abandoned as an infant at a bus station. Her name is Ava. She was raised in an orphanage for the first 2 years of her life.

When my daughter and her family first met Ava, she did not cry when she was hungry. She did not cry when she was tired. She did not cry when she needed to be changed, and she did not cry when she was hurt. Why? Because it didn't matter; she was always on someone else's time. But she did cry when they took her shoes off to put her to bed. You see, in an orphanage, kids sleep with their shoes on so they don't get lost. Ava, at 2 years of age, had never slept without her shoes on.

Now, she did cry the first time when they bathed her in a tub of water. In an orphanage, you take cloth baths. So Ava had never been in a bathtub. Today, when Ava falls, someone is there to pick her up. Today, when she cries, someone is there to wipe away the tears. Today, when she is hungry, someone is there to feed her. Today, when she is tired, there is always someone there to tuck her into bed.

When Ava grows up in this country, there will be plenty of doors that she can open that would otherwise have been closed. I will never forget seeing my newest granddaughter in the arms of the Vice President, knowing that her life had changed forever.

This is the job at hand, to uphold this country's longstanding reputation as the land of opportunity.

I an optimist, and I will remain one after leaving this great Chamber because I have seen remarkable moments here in Washington. This body has come a long way from its early days when Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Calhoun were navigating a divided nation and fighting to save our young democracy. I believe that our Nation's future is bright, and that Nevada's future is bright. My heart has been and always will be in Nevada, a State that I love and a place that I am so proud to call home.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for you.

Thank you, Madam President.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Dr. Dotty Merrill for her work with the Nevada Association of School Boards. Dr. Merrill joined the association as executive director in October 2006, bringing more than 35 years of national, State, and local educational experience affecting K-12 schools and higher education.

Dr. Merrill provides executive leadership to the Nevada Association of School Boards, which represents and serves 107 elected and appointed members of the governing boards in Nevada's 17 school districts. Prior to joining the association, Merrill served as the superintendent of public policy, accountability, and assessment with the Washoe County School District, providing policy and fiscal representation on behalf of the district in the Nevada Legislature from 1999 to 2005.

Additionally, Dr. Merrill has dedicated her life and career to our State's education system and has extensive experience with charter schools, assessment to improve classroom instruction, accountability, State and Federal requirements, and molding collaborative and cooperative relationships among educational communities.

I also want to recognize that, before becoming a district-level administrator, Merrill taught high school English for 15 years and served for 10 years as a high school administrator. As the husband of a teacher and father of four who attended Nevada's public schools, I understand that our educators have one of the most challenging, important, and rewarding jobs, and I am extremely grateful for their work because I have seen firsthand the positive impact that high- caliber teachers have on their students.

Dr. Merrill's holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno, a master of arts in English from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a bachelor of arts from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She has also been published in several national education journals and currently serves on the editorial board for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

We all know that a good education is the key to success and a better future, and as Nevada's senior U.S. Senator, I commend Dr. Merrill's dedication to our State's education and academic achievement.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the retirement of

city of Sparks Mayor Geno Martini, a dedicated public servant, a proven leader in northern Nevada, and a friend. As a citizen of Sparks for 71 years, Mayor Martini has been an integral part of our community, and is a Nevadan through and through.

As a Sparks High School and University of Nevada, Reno, graduate, Mayor Martini has devoted his life to improving the community he is proud to call home. Mayor Martini served as mayor of Sparks for over 13 years and was also a member of the Sparks City Council. He has played an instrumental role in a number of projects that benefit the Sparks community. Whether it is his work on the North Truckee Drain project that helps prevent flooding for businesses and homeowners or his efforts to redevelop the Sparks Marina and transform an abandoned parking structure into a beautiful apartment home community, Mayor Martini's legacy of leadership will be preserved through the positive impact that his work will have on this community for generations to come.

His colleagues credit the development and revitalization of downtown Sparks to Mayor Martini's efforts. We have seen tremendous economic growth in the city of Sparks and much of that would not have been possible without the leadership of Mayor Martini.

Additionally, Mayor Martini is a longtime advocate for those who serve the city and has worked to provide support to the community's residents who are in need. For instance, he helped to increase funding for Sparks' police and fire departments and played a key role in the creation of the community assistance center to shelter and offer outreach to individuals and families who are homeless. Further, he helps at-risk children in our community who cannot otherwise participate in recreation programs due to financial hardships by raising funds for the Sparks Youth Scholarship Program.

I congratulate Mayor Martini on his retirement and thank him for his years of service to our community. Sparks and Nevada are better places because of Mayor Martini, and his efforts and stewardship will not be forgotten.

Madam President, while it has been nearly a year since a madman's actions devastated Las Vegas, the shock and pain related to October 1 still remains today.

Fifty-eight innocent people lost their lives. Over 800 people were injured, and many of them continue to face a long road to physical and emotional recovery. Know that you are not alone on that road--we support you and we are praying for you.

Our community is still grieving, and it will never be the same, but hatred and fear will not win that night. That is because even though one man's horrific actions exposed humanity at its worst, what followed were countless stories of true heroism and humanity at its very best.

Las Vegas showed the world what it meant to be Vegas Strong, and I had the honor of experiencing it firsthand in the eyes and voices of those who survived and those who were eager to help others. On that tragic night, so many ordinary Nevadans made the choice to be extraordinary. Let me give you a couple examples.

They stayed on the field to help the wounded as shots continued to rain down. They took their shirts off their backs, used their belts as tourniquets, applied pressure to help stop a stranger from bleeding to death. Some made stretchers on the spot using the festival barriers. Some used their trucks and vehicles to transport the wounded to the hospital. For example, Taylor Winston, a marine and Iraq war veteran, managed to escape the gunfire. He helped several people over the fence when they took cover. Then he found an abandoned vehicle, turned it into a makeshift ambulance. After rushing multiple people to the hospital, he turned around and went back. He ultimately drove around 30 injured people to the hospital.

That night, police officers also covered concertgoers, shielded them from gunfire, and directed them to safety. Firefighters, paramedics, ambulance drivers, who had never encountered anything as horrific as that carnage of October 1, plunged into danger to save lives without hesitation, even though they were defenseless, because that is what they do.

That week I had the privilege of meeting a Las Vegas police officer, Sergeant Jonathan Riddle. He was stationed a block from the shooting scene doing traffic control. After shots were fired from Mandalay Bay, he took off sprinting toward the hotel, even though everyone else was running away from it.

Dozens of Metro police officers, including Officer Tyler Peterson, who was on his second day of the job, did the exact same thing. They rushed toward the firestorm to help in any way they could and of course to save lives.

When I visited the local hospitals, I was struck by the stories doctors and nurses shared about concertgoers who

responded bravely and admirably; stories about people who reacted to cowardly violence, stood in the face of danger to protect a neighbor, a friend, a family member, or someone they had never met.

A doctor at UMC put it best when he said, the patients showed exemplary courage. He told me he spoke to all the patients in the trauma room. Some of them were strangers who accompanied the person who sustained injuries while shielding them from bullets. He told me many of the patients in the emergency room that night said to the doctors: That person is more seriously injured than I am. Take care of them first. Come back to me later.

When I visited UMC, I had the opportunity to meet with one of the respiratory therapists who attended the concert. She showed me her phone, which had been shattered by a bullet that night. Plastic had torn through her hand, and it was embedded in her skin. What did she do? She pulled the shards out of her hand, bandaged it herself, rushed to the hospital to try to help people who she said needed more help than she did.

I am so grateful for the staff at our hospitals whose skill, whose composure and dedication saved one life after another. I am also grateful for the work of our law enforcement and our first responders on the scene. Each unit took an all-hands-on-deck approach, and everyone functioned as one team.

Instead of being frozen by the aftershock of crippling grief, Nevada mobilized and true leaders emerged. My friend Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who heads the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, is one of them, but many of the heroes who emerged in the wake of this tragedy didn't have a badge. Instead, they were teachers, waiters, security guards, and construction workers who assumed the responsibility to protect others.

Take the story of Jack Beaton, a man whose final act on Earth was draping himself over his wife to protect her from deadly bullets or John, a cab driver, who accelerated toward the screams and chaos and drove nearly a dozen people to safety.

Everyone banded together. Local organizations and businesses throughout the State and country stepped up to help. Las Vegas Convention Center's South Hall was dedicated to family reunification and support services. Airlines answered the call to provide free flights to families of victims. Hotels and casinos across Las Vegas offered free rooms. Lines of people eager to give blood twisted around Las Vegas. Some even waited in line more than 7 hours just because they wanted to help in any way they could. Just a few hours after the injured concertgoers flooded the hospitals in Las Vegas, the Red Cross encouraged volunteer blood donations. In a statement, the Red Cross said, ``Last night, tragedy illustrates that it's the blood already on the shelves that helps during an emergency.''

My wife Lynne and I joined the masses of Nevadans who donated blood in Las Vegas last October, and on Monday, this October 1, on this day each year going forward, we will donate blood in recognition of this anniversary. Members of my staff who want to give blood have committed to doing the same.

While it may be just a small gesture, it is an important one because when the city of Las Vegas needed help, patients needed blood, the Red Cross was able to step in because the inventory was there.

When I returned to Washington, DC, from Las Vegas last October, I immediately began pursuing every available option to provide relief for victims and their families, as well as assistance for local law enforcement and emergency responders. From pressing the Attorney General to make funding available for victims and their families and securing funding to cover Nevada's law enforcement overtime costs relating to the response to the shooting, to leading a bipartisan resolution recognizing the innocent lives which were lost, working with Senator Cortez Masto to ask health insurers and our airlines to do whatever they could to help victims, I worked with this Congress and this White House to deliver resources to Nevada to try to help in any way we could.

To help Las Vegas prevent future attacks, I also spoke with the President on Air Force One on our way out of Nevada last October about the critical role of Federal funding to protect a city that welcomes over 40 million people annually.

As a direct result, the criteria used to determine funding that is allocated to high-threat urban areas for terrorism was updated, and this year Las Vegas received nearly double the amount of Federal funding compared to last year. I will never stop working to see that Nevada has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.

As President Donald Trump said, this attack was an act of pure evil, and unity cannot be shattered by evil. He also said the bonds between the people of the United States cannot broken by violence, and I agree with him. We are all still in this together, and together we will continue moving down the long road of recovery by honoring the memory of those lost and by holding on to the sense of compassion and community that emerged.

I, like many others, could not only feel the strong sense of family, faith, and strength in the wake of October 1, I saw it firsthand. The immeasurable pain, the suffering and devastation inflicted by one man elicited a profound, innate, and immediate human response from a city of people who stood side by side during its darkest hour to protect a friend or a stranger they had never met.

Ronald Reagan once said: ``Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.''

On October 1 and in the days that followed, the world witnessed a Las Vegas that they may have not known--a place that has been further defined by the heroes among us, the ones who sprang into action that night. That was truly the identity of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is resilient, and together we will continue to be Vegas Strong.

Thank you.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Audrey Rosenstein of Las Vegas, NV, for her tireless efforts on behalf of children in need of a family and her work that has distinguished her as a 2018 Angel in Adoption honoree. After learning of Audrey's story, I was proud to nominate her for this award, which is presented to individuals for outstanding contributions to adoption and child welfare through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

Audrey and her husband, Craig, are parents to five biological children and 10 adopted children. Sixteen years ago, the Rosensteins decided to fill the empty bedrooms of their adult children with children in need of a safe and loving environment. Since then, their family has welcomed 25 foster children into their loving home. As a father of four, I have great admiration for the Rosensteins who have opened their heart and home to those who are in need of it most.

In addition to her parenting role, Audrey is committed to serving her community. Audrey is the president of Fostering Southern Nevada, an organization that is dedicated to improving foster parent recruitment and retention. She also works closely with the Clark County Department of Family Services on the Quality Parenting Initiative, as well as with Child Haven and Peggy's Closet to help ensure that foster families have access to the resources that they need.

Audrey was quoted in a Las Vegas Review Journal article saying, ``I'm hoping we give children a feeling of being loved, important and being a part of a family. The idea that we've made an impact in someone's life makes it all worth it.''

I certainly believe that Audrey has made a significant impact on many young lives, and I believe that Nevada is better off because of her unwavering commitment to providing young Nevadans with much-needed hope and love. I offer my deepest appreciation to both Audrey and her husband Craig for their efforts to care for Southern Nevada's children, and I ask that all of my colleagues join me in recognizing their service to our community.

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

Madam President, I come to the floor today to pay tribute and honor to one of the great Nevadans of our lifetime--Senator Paul Laxalt. Last week, Senator Laxalt passed away at the age of 96, having forever changed the State of Nevada and this country. The State motto in Nevada is ``All for our Country,'' and Senator Laxalt exemplified that principle every day by giving his all through public service for every Nevadan.

Paul Dominique Laxalt was born on August 2, 1922, and grew up in my hometown of Carson City, NV. His parents had both emigrated from the Basque region in Europe and brought their values and traditions to northern Nevada. Even today, Basque influences, like chorizo, lamb, and sweetbreads, are still staples of life in northern Nevada.

As the son of a Basque sheepherder, Paul made his mark early in life by attending Carson High School, playing on the 1938 State championship basketball team, and as a student body president--which is significant, and I will share more in a few minutes.

Paul would go on to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a medic during World War II, and he saw action in the Philippines. After the war, like many Americans, Paul started a family. He married Jackalyn Ross in 1946, and they had six children: Gail, Sheila, Michelle, Kevin, Kathleen, and John Paul.

Paul began his career in public service when he served as a district attorney for what was then Ormsby County, NV. He then won his first statewide race, serving as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967. During his term, Paul made the decision to run for the U.S. Senate in 1964 and challenged then-Senator Howard Cannon. In one of the closest races in Nevada history, Paul lost his bid for the Senate by just 48 votes. A result like that could break a lesser man, but Paul picked himself up and won the Nevada governorship just a few years later.

Under Governor Laxalt, Nevada began growing and turning into the State we know today. He helped establish the community college system and the first medical school in Nevada. Under his guidance, Nevada's gaming industry was transformed, and his vision for our State's future is now enjoyed by millions of tourists each year who visit Nevada for our world-class attractions, our services, and our entertainment.

It was during that time that Paul started to become friends with another famous Governor in neighboring California--Ronald Reagan. Together, they worked to protect and preserve Lake Tahoe for future generations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency--the TRPA--is the premier bistate compact to save the lake, and in 2020 we will celebrate its 50th year.

After his work as Governor, Paul decided the time was right to make another run for the U.S. Senate. This time he won, and he served the State of Nevada from 1974 to 1987. As a U.S. Senator, he continued his faithful dedication to his friend Ronald Reagan and served as his Presidential campaign chairman in 1976, 1980, and 1984. He also served as general chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1983 to 1987.

Senator Laxalt was famously called ``the first friend'' of President Reagan's. Together, they helped each other

set our country down a new path of prosperity and freedom.

Senator Laxalt was a hero and a mentor to me and many others who grew up in Carson City.

Like Paul, my mother, my children, and I also went to Carson High School. I played on the basketball team, and my daughter Emmy was the student body president, following in Senator Laxalt's shoes.

Before my daughter Emmy took office, she reached out to previous Carson High School student body presidents to ask for their advice. Senator Laxalt was gracious and told her the following:

When I was elected as student body president, Franklin

Roosevelt was the President of the United States. With World

War II looming on the horizon, my fellow classmates and I had

no idea how dramatically our lives would be altered in the

next few years. Of course, the school itself was much

different. I doubt there were more than 30 students in my

entire class. Until my senior year, all classes--K through

12--were in the same building!

He then said:

I'm not entirely comfortable offering advice, particularly

to someone who knows more than me! I would just tell you to

have fun and enjoy every single day, remember those who

elected you, and always do what you--Emmy Heller--think is

right.

I know Emmy has never forgotten that advice.

Senator Laxalt set a high bar for all us kids who went to Carson High School but also showed us all the possibilities of what could be achieved as Nevadans.

When I was sworn in as a freshman Member of the House of Representatives, Senator Laxalt was there for me on day one. I will never forget his support and his advice: Always stay close to family, friends, and your constituents. They will never lead you astray.

Having been a Presidential campaign adviser to President Reagan, President Bush, and Senator Dole, Senator Laxalt's advice carried great weight, and I knew I needed to listen to every piece of advice he was willing to give me.

Senator Laxalt also had a profound impact on many of my colleagues in the Senate. It didn't matter whether you were a Democrat or Republican, Senator Laxalt would be your friend. In fact, on my very first day as a Senator, I remember my colleague Senator Leahy telling me about all of his work and his fond memories of his friend Senator Laxalt.

Senator Laxalt showed us all what true friendship is. His character and warmth that he shared with all of us will never be forgotten. I extend my deepest condolences to Senator Laxalt's wife Carol and to their entire family. I will miss my friend Senator Laxalt. His colleagues in the Senate will miss their friend, and the people of Nevada will miss their friend.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

Madam President, I begin by thanking Senator Tillis for his leadership on this issue. I also thank him for bringing this to the Senate floor so we can have this discussion, so we can bring to the forefront this issue and try to solve it.

I also thank and acknowledge the leadership of the majority whip in his efforts. I know being here today, the opportunity to have this discussion, is based on his efforts and his concern for this very issue also.

Let me begin by saying nobody wants to see children separated from their families--period. I don't think there is anybody in this Chamber who enjoys or does want to see that occur. So that is why I am joining my colleagues to call up and pass the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act.

While America is a nation of laws, we are also a nation with heart, and Nevadans have a lot of heart. I heard from over 3,500 of my constituents from across the State sharing their concerns about these families being separated. My constituents spoke to families split apart at the border, and some were held in southern Nevada, and they were, frankly, asking for help. So their being unified with their children is a top priority.

As my colleagues probably know, I am a father, and I am also a grandfather. I understand why parents want to be and should be with their children. There is nothing more important than keeping a family unit together.

Now I, like many of my colleagues who are on the floor today, support border security as part of any type of immigration reform, but I also strongly believe our country has a rich history because we have always been a nation of immigrants. Our culture is rich because so many families have come to the land of opportunity seeking a better life.

In fact, in my Washington, DC, office, I have two staffers who are naturalized citizens, who came here as children with their families seeking better opportunities. These individuals who immigrated to our country came from parents who worked hard to provide their children with opportunities. We are, after all, the land of opportunity.

While we are just, we are also fair. The Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act ensures that families will not be separated at the border. Specifically, the legislation allows the Department of Homeland Security to keep accompanied children under the age of 18 with their families in residential centers.

It also would prioritize family immigration cases and would add 225 new immigration judges to expedite proceedings for families who have been apprehended at the border.

In addition to keeping children and their parents together, the legislation ensures that any family who has been separated will be reunified.

Unlike other proposals--which I believe risk making our current immigration problem worse--this legislation actually solves the problem by keeping families together, while also ensuring the integrity of our immigration laws.

I look forward to this bill being signed into law to make permanent the policy of keeping families together and reunifying these families, while still ensuring that our immigration laws are enforced.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of my amendment, Heller-Brown amendment No. 3405. This bipartisan amendment increases funding for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, better known as VITA, by $5 million for the next fiscal year.

Building upon the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, it is important that we take additional steps to ensure that Nevada families are fully able to realize the benefits of the new tax laws and maximize their returns. The VITA Program is one way to do that.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to lower income and middle- income taxpayers--those who often need it the most--by helping them to prepare and file their income tax returns.

Every year, VITA programs help tens of thousands of Nevadans and millions of taxpayers nationwide keep more of their hard-earned money. As a statistic, in 2015, VITA sites helped nearly 23,000 Nevadans file their returns and processed refunds that exceeded $25 million.

That is why I urge all of my colleagues to join me and Senator Brown in supporting hard-working American taxpayers and voting yes on this bipartisan amendment, Heller-Brown amendment No. 3405.

I yield the remainder of my time to the Senator from Ohio.

Mr. President, I rise today to reiterate my strong opposition to the House of Representatives' effort to restart licensing activities at Yucca Mountain and in particular the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act, which passed the House just a few hours ago.

This bill, which is a complete and total waste of taxpayer dollars, is dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate. Not only will I place a hold on the bill now that it has passed the House, I will also object to the motion to proceed to the bill. This vote today proves my point that I am the only person in Washington, DC, standing between a pristine, beautiful Nevada or a Nevada dripping with nuclear waste. As I have said in the past, I will continue to serve as a roadblock to every effort to make Nevada our Nation's nuclear waste dump.

Despite the House of Representatives' repeated attempts to revive a failed project, I have been able to ensure that not a single dollar has been appropriated to restart licensing activities at Yucca Mountain. This vote is nothing but a failed exercise because as long as I am in the Senate, Yucca Mountain is dead. It is as simple as that. As I have previously said, under my watch, I will not let one more hard-earned taxpayer dollar go toward the failed Yucca Mountain project. My State refuses to serve as our Nation's nuclear waste dump. That is why I am proud to say that because of my leadership, the Senate has repeatedly refused to pass a law funding the high-level nuclear waste repository-- a position that was most recently confirmed in the most recent omnibus spending measure.

Because of my current work as Nevada's senior Senator and my bipartisan work with the former Senate majority leader, Yucca Mountain remains dead. I repeat, it is simple as that. But despite Yucca's clear and unquestionable death long ago, some of my friends on the other side of the Capitol continue to waste their time attempting to bring back life to this ill-conceived and fiscally irresponsible plan. Their efforts keep alive a longstanding fight over States' rights and distract us from the real task at hand, which is finding a viable, long-term nuclear waste storage solution that meets the needs of all Americans.

I will be the first person to recognize the important role nuclear power plays in a stable and secure ``all of the above'' energy strategy and that with nuclear energy comes the need to properly store spent nuclear fuel, but I firmly believe that our Nation cannot progress towards achieving viable and sustainable storage solutions for spent nuclear fuel and defense high-level waste without first abandoning Yucca Mountain.

I am not saying that we shouldn't come to the table to discuss our Nation's nuclear waste storage needs. We should, and I would. But I also believe States should have a say in the matter. That is why, in my opinion, consent-based siting presents the only viable path forward on this issue. Consent-based siting offers a means of addressing our Nation's high-level nuclear waste problem while at the same time respecting the sovereignty of States to object to becoming nuclear waste dumps. The Yucca Mountain proposal, however, represents the exact opposite of consent; it is a unilaterally imposed Federal mandate that goes against the will of the people it directly affects.

My colleagues have heard me raise the question many times that I and Nevadans are thinking: Why should a State without a single nuclear powerplant of its own be forced against its will to house all of our Nation's nuclear waste?

Let me repeat that. Why should a State without a single nuclear powerplant of its own be forced against its will to house all of our Nation's nuclear waste? This is a question that has never been answered--not from the Presiding Officer's seat, not from the Speaker of the House, nor from the author of this bill. And I think if we want an intellectually honest answer, it would be that it shouldn't have to.

Beyond the violation of the State sovereignty and the disregard for the will of the local population, the Yucca Mountain proposal poses significant health and safety risks and potentially catastrophic financial risks that must be addressed before, not after, the proposal moves forward, should it move forward at all.

What are these risks? Well, for one, Yucca Mountain is located just 90 miles from the world's premier tourist and convention and entertainment destination of Las Vegas, NV. Last year, Las Vegas welcomed nearly 43 million visitors. Over the past decade, the greater Las Vegas area has been one of the fastest growing in the United States, with a population that now exceeds 2.1 million people, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau numbers. Any issues with the transportation of nuclear waste to that site or issues with storage there would bring devastating consequences to the Las Vegas, NV, and national economies--issues that would inevitably result from shipping 9,500 rail casks in 2,800 trains and 2,650 trucks hauling 1 cask each to Yucca Mountain over the next 50 years. These shipments would use 22,000 miles of railways and 7,000 miles of highways and cross over 44 States.

To date, however, Nevadans have not received sufficient assurance from the Department of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that their concerns about these risks will receive the procedural due process and thoughtful consideration they are owed under existing law. In fact, in my recent correspondence with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, I continue to stress to the Commission the importance of procedural safeguards, such as local hearings and local adjudication, to ensure that parties directly affected by the proposal have the opportunity to air their concerns and have them considered in an open and reasonably close forum.

It is because of these and other unresolved concerns that I continue to stand with the State of Nevada in its strong opposition to restarting licensing activities at the Yucca Mountain repository.

Rather than forcing the State of Nevada to accept nuclear waste at a scientifically unsound site, taxpayer dollars would be better spent identifying viable alternatives for the long-term storage of nuclear waste in areas that are willing to house it. Finding alternatives is the commonsense path forward, as well as the fiscally responsible decision.

The Federal Government should not waste another taxpayer dollar on Yucca Mountain--waste that already amounts to nearly $15 billion. According to Department of Energy estimates, an additional $82 billion would be needed to license, construct, and operate Yucca Mountain through closure, bringing the total system life cycle cost for the project to around $100 billion--an amount that would be probably 15 to 20 percent higher in today's dollars.

So it is clear that instead of throwing more taxpayer dollars at a failed proposal, which is exactly what the House of Representatives' Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act does, we should be working on a real, long-term solution rooted in consent-based siting.

With that, I urge my colleagues, as we continue the budget and appropriations process for the 2019 fiscal year, to focus on further implementation of the Department of Energy's consent-based siting process.

I stand ready to partner with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this issue, and I am confident that together we can find a solution to this problem once and for all.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I would like to recognize and thank Mr. John Ruhs, the director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, BLM, in Nevada, for his work on behalf of our State as he departs his role to assume the top position at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, ID.

Mr. Ruhs first moved to Nevada as a wild horse and burro specialist and later served as Ely's BLM district manager and Winnemucca's district fire management officer. When talking about the time he has spent in Nevada, Mr. Ruhs said, ``I truly love the resources, the people, and the wide variety of activities and issues that we face.''

He was appointed by Neil Kornze, the national director of the BLM during the Obama administration, to serve as Nevada's director in 2015, a role he was well-suited for, given his previous public service in Nevada. For more than 3 years, he was in charge of managing 48 million acres of Federal land in our State. It is a tough job, but he excelled in the role, and I have appreciated the opportunity to work with him. He is a hard-working, honest broker who has a record of successfully and expeditiously resolving longstanding issues. John is a leader and a problem solver and was willing to get personally involved in even the most difficult disputes.

Prior to his work in Nevada, Mr. Ruhs worked for the BLM in Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon, as well as in Washington, DC, as the senior special assistant. He also worked in Wyoming as district manager of the High Desert District. Mr. Ruhs is also a veteran. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and I am truly grateful for his service to our Nation.

Mr. Ruhs grew up in Iowa and graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor of science degree in animal science. He and his wife, Amy, are the proud parents of seven daughters. Together, they embrace the outdoors and enjoy spending time riding horses and camping.

As the senior Senator from the State of Nevada, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Ruhs for his many years of public service to the BLM and to my home State. While his departure is Nevada's loss, I know that the National Interagency Fire Center will benefit from his expertise. I wish Mr. Ruhs continued success in his future endeavors and many fulfilling years to come.

Madam President, today, I rise to honor Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, a U.S. Thunderbird pilot who was killed on April 4, 2018, when his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is north of Nellis Air Face Base. At just 34, Major Del Bagno's life was cut too short, but his legacy of leadership, commitment to excellence, and service to our country will be preserved by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

I wish to begin by saying that my wife Lynne and I offer our deepest condolences to Major Del Bagno's family and loved ones. We join the Thunderbirds, Nellis Air Force Base, and the Nevada community in mourning this heavy loss.

Major Del Bagno grew up in Valencia, CA, and he graduated from Utah Valley State University. He received his commission when he graduated from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in 2007.

Called ``Cajun'' by his team, he was in his first season with the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are also known as America's Ambassadors in Blue. They are an elite team of highly experienced fighter pilots. In fact, only 325 officers have had the honor of wearing the distinguished Thunderbird patch. They are the best of the best.

In June of 2017, Nellis Air Force Base announced that Major Del Bagno was the first F-35 pilot to serve with the Thunderbirds. He served as the team's slot pilot and flew Thunderbird 4. Brigadier General Leavitt, commander of the 57th Nellis Air Force Base, called Major Del Bagno an integral part of that team.

Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, Major Del Bagno was a civilian flight instructor, he was a corporate pilot, he was a skywriter, and he was a banner tow pilot. According to the Thunderbirds, he logged more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. That included 1,400 hours as an Air Force pilot.

In his free time, he enjoyed snowboarding, he enjoyed water sports, and he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Major Del Bagno was laid to rest on April 15, 2018, at a memorial service at his alma mater, Saugus High School, in Santa Clarita, CA. More than 1,000 people attended the memorial and joined together to commemorate his life--a true testament to his impact on the community. During the service, his friends, his family, and fellow wingmen offered loving tributes about his skill, his passion for aviation, and pride in being a member of the Air Force.

Ilene Block, a former guidance counselor for the school, told a local television affiliate that Stephen was ``always giving back'' and said that he often visited the high school to talk to students about his love for flying. His name will soon be added to a wall of heroes at Saugus High School.

Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh, the Thunderbirds' commander, said that Major Del Bagno ``lived to fly and inspire the next generation.'' He also said that he will be remembered ``as a talented fighter pilot and a great friend.''

Selfless, driven, caring, mentor, an inspiration, a big dude with an even bigger heart, brother--those are the words that Major Del Bagno's fellow Thunderbirds used to describe him.

In a video tribute from the Thunderbirds, one said:

Cajun--you had this way of immediately making people feel

special, interesting, and included. The world needs more of

that. And now, your memory is going to inspire all of us to

be a little bit more like you. And hopefully we'll make you

proud. We miss you and love you.

The loss of Major Del Bagno is an enormous tragedy that has struck the heart of the Thunderbirds, Nellis Air Force Base, and every life that he touched.

Major Del Bagno's death is a reminder that we are all forever indebted to the men and women who answer the call to serve this country and stand guard, training and preparing each day for when duty calls.

It is a reminder of what they give up and what they risk when they bravely step up to the plate so that we can remain an extraordinary and free nation.

It is also a reminder of the families, like the Del Bagnos, who have lost a loved one and paid a price beyond measure. They deserve our lasting support.

I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the life of Major Del Bagno and his unbounded determination that set him apart. These are the people whose characters embody the American spirit, the people who truly humble us and inspire us through their unwavering commitment, the people who represent the very best that this country has to offer.

I close with this. In a video honoring Major Del Bagno's memory, the Thunderbirds talked about how he would spend time teaching kids about flying as a Thunderbird. They said he chose to share his passion with kids. In that same video, there was footage of Major Del Bagno responding to a question about advice for kids who want to be pilots in the Air Force. He talked about the five P's of success. This is what he said:

Find your passion. Find your purpose. Be persistent in your

pursuit. Be personable . . . so humble, credible, and

approachable. And then it'll pay off. People are going to

tell you ``no'' along the way--it's just a test of your

resolve. If you really want it, go out and make that known.

I am confident that Major Del Bagno's legacy will inspire the next generation of fighter pilots, as well as Nevadans and Americans around the country, for decades to come.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 95th birthday of Mr. David Fulstone, a friend, neighbor, and a beloved member of our northern Nevada community. It was an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate this momentous occasion with him earlier this month.

Mr. Fulstone was born on April 1, 1923, in San Francisco, CA. He was raised in Smith Valley, NV--a place I am proud to call home--on his family's ranch that sat in the heart of the valley and was the center of his father's sheep ranching operation. Growing up, he enjoyed working on the ranch, attending sheep camp, and playing basketball. In fact, he was Smith Valley High School's star basketball player.

In 1942, Mr. Fulstone was one of just 13 students to graduate from Smith Valley High School. Later that year, he married Angelina Margaroli, and together, they had two children, DeeAnn Fulstone and David Hill Fulstone II. They are the proud grandparents of Mathew Rotchy, KimberLee Rotchy, Josh Fulstone, and Jeffrey Fulstone.

The Fulstones bought their ranch in 1949 and, for more than six decades, grew hay, garlic, and onions. Although he retired in 2010, Mr. Fulstone continues to enjoy gardening and sharing his vegetables with neighbors and friends and still pursues his passion for agriculture by staying informed on policy issues affecting the industry. Mr. Fulstone is the recipient of many awards in our community, including the Farmer of the Year award.

Whether it is serving as grand marshall of the Lyon County Parade, a member of the Nevada Farm Bureau, or on various local boards, Mr. Fulstone has made many contributions to northern Nevada and continues to be an integral part of Lyon County. Even at 95, he remains active as a member of the Yerington Episcopal Church and is the oldest and longest serving member of the Yerington Rotary Club, which recognized him with the Paul Harris award.

As the senior Senator from Nevada, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating David Fulstone on his accomplished 95 years and recognizing his decades of leadership and service to our community. Lynne and I send Mr. Fulstone and his family our best wishes, and I offer my appreciation for all that he has done to make our northern Nevada community an even better place to live.

Mr. President, first of all, happy tax day--three words that probably don't usually go together. I will share that anyway because the reason I am up here is that for the first time in more than three decades, Congress overhauled our Tax Code, and that is what distinguishes this tax day from the ones that came before it. This is the last time Nevadans will file their taxes under the broken system of the past.

You don't have to look too far to see the positive impacts of our new tax laws. They are already having an impact on the people of my home State of Nevada. Nevadans and Americans throughout the country have already benefited from keeping more of their hard-earned money. In fact, more than 1 million Nevadans saw their paychecks get bigger last month because we doubled the standard deduction and we doubled the child tax credit. Taxpayers in every income category received a tax cut under this bill.

Furthermore, since President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law just a few months ago, more than 500 companies throughout the country have committed to giving their workers bonuses, pay raises, and enhanced benefits as a direct result of tax reform. Let me share a few of those in my home State. About 11,000 Nevadans got a raise. Roughly 13,000 Nevadans received special bonuses of up to $2,000. Up to 25,000 Nevadans may benefit from college tuition assistance, increased pension funding, expanded maternity and paternal leave, and more paid holidays. More than 10,000 jobs are expected to be created in Southern Nevada alone.

So it is no surprise that Nevada was recently ranked second among States when it comes to middle-income families who benefit the most from tax reform.

Let me give you a few examples of how this new law is impacting Nevadans. South Point Hotel Casino and Spa doubled bonuses for its 2,300 full-time workers.

The Prospector Hotel in Ely gave its employees a $500 bonus and raised its starting wages.

McDonald's, which has around 9,000 employees in my State, is expanding its education benefits program, tripling the amount of money eligible workers can receive to help cover the cost of college tuition.

Lowe's Home Improvement, which employs more than 2,000 Nevadans, announced it is expanding benefits, such as adoption assistance and parental paid leave, and giving bonuses of up to $1,000 to its employees.

Walmart announced it will increase wages, give eligible employees a special bonus of $1,000, and expand maternity and parental leave benefits--benefiting up to 8,700 Walmart associates who are living in the great State of Nevada.

CVS, which has roughly 2,000 employees and 100 stores in Nevada, announced that effective this month, it will increase the starting salary and wages for hourly employees.

Developers of the stalled Fontainebleau Resort, recently renamed the Drew, announced they will resume the project and have committed to creating over 10,000 new jobs.

A-1 Steel, which is based in Sparks, NV, implemented eight paid holidays for its employees.

Finally, Cox Communications said it will give around 1,750 Nevadans bonuses of up to $2,000 today. Yes, on tax day they will be giving their employees bonuses of up to $2,000. This is just the beginning.

During a phone call from the National Federation of Independent Business in Nevada, roughly 9 in 10 Nevada business owners said that because of the new tax law, they plan to take action that includes increasing workers' wages and investing in their companies. Several companies are also pledging to put more of their capital back into our country rather than overseas.

Apple, which recently broke ground on a new facility in Reno, announced it will create 20,000 new jobs nationally, open a new campus, and directly contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy over the next 5 years.

Make no mistake about it, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is working for the people in Nevada. Despite the bill's critics, who have described these tax cuts as ``crumbs'' and said it is ``the worst bill in the history of the U.S. Congress,'' this new bill couldn't have come at a better time. Let me tell you again why.

Under the failed economic policies of the Obama administration, Nevadans suffered through 8 years of historically low economic growth. Think about this. In those 8 years, the average economy growth was less than 2 percent. As a result, wages and workers suffered, job creation suffered, and the middle class in America suffered.

It has been reported that nearly 8 in 10 Americans who work full time are living paycheck to paycheck, and if you live in Nevada, you are more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck than if you lived anywhere else.

Whether it is a single mother, who is taking classes to further her education to give her kids a good life, or the police officer and teacher with four children in Southern Nevada who tell me that they are barely getting by and are doing the best they can, families in my State are trying to plan for their futures. They have told me they are struggling, but it is not just Nevadans who felt the squeeze.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans don't even have $500 set aside to cover an unexpected emergency expense. That is why, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I worked to help write this legislation. I fought to pass these meaningful tax cuts for the people of my State because they have been waiting too long for a break.

I was proud to propose and secure a provision in the new law that doubles the child tax credit to $2,000 per child. Think about this. The enhanced child tax credit could mean enough money for a family of 4 to cover more than 6 months' worth of groceries, buy school supplies for 4 kids, and purchase more than 9,000 diapers. It will allow families to better plan for their futures.

Take Sarah as an example, a single mom living in Nevada. She told us she used her child tax credit to help her and her four children move out of a family shelter and pay rent a full year in advance.

In addition to doubling the child tax credit, we doubled the standard deduction, cut rates for low-income and middle-class families. It is expected that a typical family of four will keep more than $2,000 this year.

It also lowered rates on businesses to ensure that we are globally competitive and help incite economic growth. I am pleased this bill included my provision to make it easier for startups to give more junior employees an ownership stake in their company's success.

I have been fighting for tax reform for years, and last year we set out to cut taxes for hard-working Americans and agreed to a framework that included three main goals: create more jobs, increase wages, and boost American competitiveness. Even though it has only been a few months, I believe we have already achieved all three of those.

As the son of an auto mechanic and a school cook, I grew up watching my

parents work hard to provide for me and my five brothers and sisters and to provide a good life. They told us that if we worked hard and played by the rules, then we, too, could achieve the American dream.

Our problem today is that too many people think that the American dream is out of reach. That is what tax relief legislation is all about--empowering families to give them a better chance to get ahead and to prepare for their futures.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has put my State and our country on the right track to economic prosperity, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the year brings for Nevada families and their workers.

Thank you.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to memorialize Shane Quilling, Carson High School's physical education teacher and head football and softball coach who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 53.

Remembered as a compassionate teacher and coach, Mr. Quilling's loss will have a profound impact on Carson High School and the greater Carson community. As the Reno Gazette Journal recently noted, Coach Quilling's ``main goal in life was to help make everybody a better person, to strive for their best, no matter what they did in life.''

Born in Sidney, MT, Mr. Quilling attended Sidney High School, where he was a football, track, and basketball athlete. After graduating from high school, he studied at Montana State University-Bozeman on a football scholarship where he helped lead the

football team to a Division 1-AA national championship title in 1985. Following his college graduation, Mr. Quilling began his coaching and teaching career in Montana, as well as at high schools in Denver, CO, San Antonio, TX, and Roy, UT. Before coming to Carson City in 2000, Mr. Quilling also worked at Box Elder High School for 7 years in Brigham, UT, where he won several regional championships and a State championship in 1995.

As Nevada's senior U.S. Senator, I know that Mr. Quilling will be sorely missed by the thousands of students and athletes he came across and mentored during his career. My thoughts and prayers go out to his three children, family, and loved ones during this difficult time.