Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a great small business and charitable organization that is leading by example, serving the community, and making a difference in the great State of Nevada. Chanthy Walsh and her husband own a nonprofit restaurant called KIT's Kitchen, which is located in Henderson, NV. The name stems from the nonprofit foundation they run called Kids in Transition. Both organizations work side by side to help those in need.

Since November 2016, KIT's Kitchen has been training underprivileged youth, while providing affordable meals to the local community. This restaurant provides its volunteers with real work experience and teaches them what it takes to succeed in the restaurant and hospitality industry. To me, it is more than just learning about the restaurant; these kids are being taught hard work, about giving back to their community, and what it means to make a commitment and be held accountable to it--values that go beyond the workplace.

In addition to their impressive restaurant, Mrs. Walsh and her husband, Tim, direct a nonprofit called the Kids in Transition Foundation, which is designed to help young people build a successful career. This foundation provides meals, scholarships, financial aid, and mentoring advice to Nevada's youth. Together, these efforts are building a better future for Nevada.

As a father, I understand firsthand how much of an asset Chanthy Walsh and her work is to the Silver State. Considering these young Nevadans are the future, I am proud to see Ms. Walsh strive to make Nevada brighter every single day. It is this dedication to community and giving back that makes a difference in so many people's lives.

Today I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me and recognizing this organization, its employees, and its impressive leader. Chanthy Walsh provides an outstanding service to the local community and to our great State. As Nevada's senior Senator, I am humbled by her efforts and a true commitment to making a difference in people's lives. I hope others can look to her for inspiration on how to make their community a better place for everyone.

Madam President, I want to take a few moments to discuss an issue, one that is on everybody's mind; that is, the status of ObamaCare. Congress has taken the first step to repeal ObamaCare. I was in the House of Representatives when ObamaCare was passed into law. I opposed the law five times while I was in the House before it was passed with zero bipartisan, zero Republican support and was signed into law by the President.

I opposed ObamaCare because I feared that this law would increase costs, make it harder for patients to see a doctor, increase taxes on the middle class, increase taxes on seniors, and hurt the economy.

Over the last 7 years, all of these fears have become a reality. A new Congress and a new administration have heard the people's response loud and clear, and that response is that we must repeal ObamaCare. Repealing ObamaCare means repealing all of the taxes that go with it-- not part of them, not some of them, but all of them.

ObamaCare increased taxes on hard-working Americans by $1.1 trillion. Higher taxes lead to more money being taken out of the pockets of hard- working families. Health care costs have increased to a degree where I have heard from Nevadans across the State, of all ages and backgrounds, all with similar concerns.

What I wish to do is take a moment to read an email that I received just last week from a 13-year-old boy who lives in Las Vegas. He said:

I wanted to write an email to express my concerns about

Obamacare and hopefully persuade you in making a change.

My family used to have health insurance until ObamaCare

kicked in and forced my family to drop our insurance since it

tripled the cost and wasn't affordable. We are getting

penalized now for not having insurance.

Think about that. ObamaCare kicked their family off their insurance by tripling the costs, making it unaffordable, and then ObamaCare penalized that family for not having insurance.

Going back to the young boy, he said:

Since then we have had medical bills piling up. This is an

issue with a lot of people and I don't know a lot about

policies but I do know that something needs to change for the

good of the people.

I've heard President Donald Trump will be addressing this

issue. I just hope you will represent Nevada in favor of

getting rid of ObamaCare.

I can assure my constituents back home in Nevada, and especially this young man who is advocating for his family, that I am committed to repealing ObamaCare. This young man's parents had employer-sponsored health care coverage that took care of their family when they needed medical care. And as a result of ObamaCare, the costs were too high to afford the health insurance they had.

One of the biggest drivers of cost increases on the middle class is the 40-percent excise tax on employee health benefits, better known as the Cadillac tax. In Nevada, 1.3 million workers who have employer- sponsored health insurance plans will be hit by this Cadillac tax. These are public employees in Carson City. These are service industry workers on the Strip in Las Vegas. These are small business owners and retirees across the State.

We are talking about reduced benefits, increased premiums, and higher deductibles. When I first started working on this issue, I knew the devastating impact this tax would have on Nevadans, but also in order to get anything done, we needed a bipartisan effort to reduce this tax and to eliminate it.

I recruited a good friend by the name of Senator Martin Heinrich from New

Mexico, and together we were able to gain huge support on both sides of the aisle. During the highly partisan reconciliation debate in 2015, where Congress successfully delivered an ObamaCare repeal bill to President Obama's desk, Senator Heinrich and I pushed our colleagues to include our legislation to fully repeal the Cadillac tax as an amendment.

Our amendment passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 90 to 10. With this nearly unanimous vote, we were are able to delay the Cadillac tax until 2020.

This Congress, Senator Heinrich and I have reintroduced Senate bill 58, the Middle Class Health Benefits Repeal Tax Act, which fully repeals this bad tax. I hope that my Senate colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join Senator Heinrich on this bipartisan piece of legislation and on this issue to support our bill and get rid of this Cadillac tax once and for all.

I know that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will have a lot of differing opinions on the Affordable Care Act, but one thing we can agree on is that the Cadillac tax should be fully repealed.

Now that we have passed an ObamaCare repeal resolution, we will move to the next phase of the repeal process. The budget we just passed included reconciliation instructions for the Senate Finance Committee and the HELP Committee to repeal ObamaCare.

We made a promise to repeal ObamaCare, and now it is time to keep that promise. This includes my legislation to fully repeal the Cadillac tax. The goal of health reform should be to lower costs for those who already have health benefits and to expand access to those who do not currently have coverage. ObamaCare did not achieve either of those two goals.

I am committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to high- quality, affordable health care. We must start by repealing the Cadillac tax.

I thank Senator Heinrich for his continued leadership on this issue. I want to thank him, and I want to say that Senator Heinrich continues to put his constituents above politics. I know that he shares my commitment to repeal this bad tax.

I also want to thank Congressman Kelly and Congressman Courtney for their leadership on the House side. I know that we are all eager to work together to get this bill to the finish line.

Madam President, I yield to the senior Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, amendment No. 167 is a side-by-side. This amendment makes good on two promises to the American people. One is to

repeal ObamaCare, which has increased costs, limited health care choices, and has raised $1.1 trillion in taxes on the American people in the middle class.

It also makes good on a second promise; that is, Congress will replace ObamaCare with health care reforms that provide access to quality, affordable health care coverage, not just to dependents under the age of 26 but to all Americans--women, children, seniors, and disabled. We shouldn't be choosing winners and losers.

A vote against this amendment is a vote against affordable, quality health care for all, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the waiver provisions of applicable budget resolutions, I move to waive all applicable sections of that act and applicable budget resolutions for the purposes of my amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the Lee Business School of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, UNLV, for receiving top honors at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, AICPA, Accounting Competition. UNLV's Accounting REBEL- ation team included Annegenelle Figueroa, Kayla Shim, Brett Sebastian, and Kevin Curry. The students won a total of $5,000 to benefit the school's accounting department, a contribution that will help future students for years to come.

The annual AICPA Competition assesses students' capabilities in making decisions on management, operations, finance, and strategy. This year's competition drew 140 teams to represent schools across the country and required the students to create a cost-accounting system for a fictional business called Humble Pies, Inc. The UNLV accounting team worked over a 3-month period before advancing to the finals and presenting its ideas to a panel of accounting executives. Teams were judged based upon persuasiveness, technical detail, and creativity. The students representing UNLV were specifically applauded for their real- world business application. These Nevada students are shining examples of how hard work and dedication lead to success and stand as role models for future Rebels.

I am excited to see local students bringing recognition to both Nevada and to UNLV for their advancement in a national competition. The Lee Business School should be proud to call itself a top contender in a competitive environment. I ask my colleagues to join me and all Nevadans in congratulating these students from UNLV's Lee Business School for their unwavering effort and honorable representation of Nevada.

Mr. President, today, I wish to congratulate the Mountain Ridge Little League team from Las Vegas for receiving first place in the

Little League World Series U.S. Championships. This series began back in 1947 and for the first time, in 2014, a team from Nevada represented the greatest Little League team in the Nation. Today, I would like to honor the players and coaches for their tireless efforts in reaching their goals and for representing Nevada with integrity and hard work.

The Mountain Ridge team, with players aged 12 to 13 years old, entered the Little League World Series U.S. Championship game with a 16-0 record in four tournaments, outscoring opponents 184-29. The team showed its true dedication to the State by traveling for weeks, spending time away from family and friends. Its journey began at the Western Regionals Competition on August 1 in San Bernardino, CA, and ended on August 25, after competing in the Little League World Series U.S. Championship game. Austin Kryszczuk, most noted for his batting skills, was labeled best player in the Little League World Series U.S. Championships.

All of the players are role models for future generations of Nevada baseball, and the coaches serve as shining examples of leadership. The Mountain Ridge Little League team's accomplishment should be noted as a special moment to Nevada, after being called the second-most successful sports team in Las Vegas' history after the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' men's basketball national championship team in 1990. This team did more for Nevada than just represent the State on the field. It revealed the strong community that Nevada has to offer with many groups of friends and families coming together to watch the games.

I am excited to see local athletes bringing recognition to Nevada and the Las Vegas community. The Mountain Ridge Little League team should be proud to call itself the top baseball team in the country. I ask my colleagues to join me and all Nevadans in congratulating this team from northwest Las Vegas for their unwavering dedication and honorable representation of Nevada.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize Jon Ponder for his tireless effort in giving others hope for a brighter future. Mr. Ponder has dedicated many years to helping adults exiting various segments of the judicial system successfully reenter the workforce and their local communities, as well as rekindle relationships with their families. He has contributed greatly to the city of Las Vegas by founding HOPE for Prisoners, Inc., HOPE, which gives ex-offenders the support necessary to reduce the likelihood of returning to prison.

Mr. Ponder stands as a shining example of someone who has devoted his life to the betterment of others. He founded HOPE in January of 2012 and has since worked to create a strong program to successfully streamline men and women back into society. The program has graduated over 800 people through its leadership workshop who have gone on to successfully obtain full-time jobs. As founder and CEO, Mr. Ponder has contributed greatly to the success of the program.

HOPE services 12 agencies and offers life-skills training, work- readiness training, and job-development opportunities, encouraging those in the program to work hard to become a positive, contributing member of the community. Mr. Ponder has taken his own life experiences and used them in a positive manner to truly transform the lives of others. His ambition to help others is invaluable. He recently received the Leadership Award from the International Church of Las Vegas, a well-deserved honor for all of his hard work.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Ponder for his selfless contributions to the Las Vegas community and the individuals that have benefited from HOPE. His service to Nevada places him among the outstanding men and women of the State.

Today, I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing Mr. Ponder and his work for HOPE, a program with a mission that is both noble and necessary. I am honored to acknowledge Mr. Ponder and his tireless efforts to give others a second chance in Nevada. Giving these men and women the skills to allow them to change their circumstances is admirable, and I wish the program the best of luck in all of its future endeavors.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize Sgt Justin Mahana for his courageous act to help others. After driving from Las Vegas to Lake Havasu, AZ, to help a coworker whose car had broken down, Sergeant Mahana stopped at a gas station to check that his own car was ready for the trip back to Nevada. While there, Sergeant Mahana witnessed a car crash into a median, leading him to investigate the accident and pull the driver out of the car as it lit into flames. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his bravery and his commitment to others both in this moment and throughout his life.

Sergeant Mahana, a 17-year veteran, joined the U.S. Air Force because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. His job entails the maintenance and upkeep of military vehicles that are used by pararescuemen when conducting combat search and rescue missions, as well as humanitarian relief operations. Both his commitment to the Air Force, as well as his daily actions, prove his regard for others.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Sergeant Mahana for his courageous contributions to the United States of America and to freedom-loving nations around the world. His service to his country and his bravery earn him a place among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly defended our Nation.

His commitment to helping those around him, as well as serving the country, demonstrates his unwavering selfless character. His actions represent only the greatest of Nevada's values, including a sense of community and an obligation to help others.

As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize that Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave individuals who serve our Nation, but also to ensure they are cared for when they return home. I remain committed to upholding this promise for our veterans and servicemembers in Nevada and throughout the Nation.

During his tenure, Sergeant Mahana has demonstrated professionalism, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the highest standards of the Air Force. I am both humbled and honored by his service and am proud to call him a fellow Nevadan. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Sgt. Justin Mahana for all of his accomplishments and wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. President, I wish to congratulate Assemblyman Tom Grady, of Yerington, on his retirement. After serving 12 years in the Nevada Legislature, Assemblyman Grady is retiring from public service. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate him not only as a colleague but also as a friend on his retirement after more than 36 years of hard work and dedication to the Silver State.

A devoted husband and proud father of three, Assemblyman Grady stands as a shining example of someone who has dedicated his life to serving his community. Upon graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, Assemblyman Grady went on to attend the Washington State Bankers School. After moving back to Nevada, he served as the secretary- treasurer of the Truckee Carson Irrigation District before advancing to vice president of Pioneer Citizens Bank of Nevada. After leaving the bank, Assemblyman Grady reentered public service after winning a seat on the Yerington City Council. After 3 years of service on the Yerington City Council, Assemblyman Grady was elected mayor, a position he held for 12 years.

Assemblyman Grady's experience as a local government leader qualified him for a seat in the Nevada Assembly, where he dutifully served his constituents for 12 years. During his time in the legislature, Assemblyman Grady served on the Taxation, Ways and Means, and Government Affairs Committee. Although I missed him by a few years in the assembly, I am proud to have served with Assemblyman Grady in Nevada State government as secretary of state.

His service to his community goes far beyond the many positions he has held in the Silver State over the years. Assemblyman Grady also served his country in the U.S. Army Reserve. I extend my deepest gratitude to him for his courageous contributions to the United States of America and to freedom-loving nations around the world. His service to his country and his bravery and dedication to his family and community earn him a place among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly defended our Nation. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I recognize that Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave individuals who serve America but also to ensure they are cared for when they return home.

I am grateful for his dedication and commitment to the people of Yerington. He personifies the highest standards of leadership and community service and should be proud of his long and meaningful career. Today, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in congratulating Assemblyman Grady on his retirement, and I offer my deepest appreciation for all that he has done to make Nevada an even better place. I offer my best wishes to Assemblyman Grady, his wife Patricia, and their three children and seven grandchildren for many successful and fulfilling years to come.

Mr. President, I wish to congratulate Washoe County district attorney Dick Gammick, of Reno, on his retirement. After decades of service to the people of Washoe County, District Attorney Gammick retired from public service on January 3, 2015. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate him, not only as a colleague, but also as a friend, on his retirement after his years of hard work and dedication to the Silver State.

District Attorney Gammick stands as a shining example of someone who has devoted their life to the betterment of their community. A devoted husband and proud father, District Attorney Gammick's career in public service began in 1973 when he became a Reno Police Officer while attending the University of Nevada, Reno. After earning a degree in business administration, he went on to graduate from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, CA, in 1982. District Attorney Gammick served as chief deputy district attorney for Washoe County for 10 years before serving as deputy Reno city attorney. Aside from dedicating his career to Washoe County, he has devoted much of his time and efforts to the betterment of his community through his roles as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, a member of the Prospector's Club, and former president of the Reno Rotary Club.

In 1994, he was elected Washoe County District Attorney, a post he served in for 20 years. District Attorney Gammick's accomplishments, such as the opening of a sexual assault center for women and children, as well as the implementation of preventive programs to keep young people out of prison, have made Washoe County a stronger and safer community. A dedicated prosecutor and advocate of justice, District Attorney Gammick was recognized by his peers as the recipient of the 2013 William J. Raggio Award, as he has committed his career to the administration of justice throughout Washoe County.

His service to the Reno community extends far beyond the many positions he has held in the Silver State over the years. District Attorney Gammick also served his country and is a decorated veteran from his time serving as a captain in the U.S. Army and a major in the Nevada Army National Guard. I extend my deepest gratitude to District Attorney Gammick for his courageous contributions to the United States of America and to freedom-loving nations around the world. His service to his country and his bravery and dedication earn him a place among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly defended our Nation. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize that Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave individuals who serve America, but also to ensure they are cared for when they return home. I remain committed to upholding this promise for our veterans and servicemembers in Nevada and throughout the Nation.

I am grateful for his dedication and commitment to the people of Washoe County and to the State of Nevada. He

exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and community service and should be proud of his long and meaningful career. Today, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in congratulating District Attorney Gammick on his retirement, and I offer my deepest appreciation for all that he has done to make Washoe County an even better place. I offer my best wishes to Dick and his wife Norma for many successful and fulfilling years to come.

Mr. President, today I congratulate Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie of Las Vegas on his retirement. After more than three decades of service to the people of Clark County, Sheriff Gillespie retired from public service on January 5, 2015. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate him on his retirement after his years of hard work and dedication to the people of Southern Nevada.

Responsible for the safety of one of the world's top tourist attractions, Sheriff Gillespie stands as a shining example of someone who has devoted most of his life to serving his community. Born in Pennsylvania and raised in New York, Sheriff Gillespie's career in public service began in 1980 when he joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as a patrol officer. Prior to serving as sheriff, he served in both SWAT and the K-9 unit, eventually working his way to undersheriff in 2003.

In 2006, he was elected Clark County sheriff, where he served for 8 years. Sheriff Gillespie's accomplishments, such as improving the Safe Strip Initiative to ensure tourist safety, civilianizing the LVMPD crime lab to ensure proper investigations, and establishing the Fusion Center to streamline and share information with different agencies, have made Clark County a stronger and safer community I am proud to represent in the U.S. Senate. A dedicated police officer and public servant, Sheriff Gillespie was recognized by the National Sheriffs' Association as the 2014 Sheriff of the Year.

I am grateful for Sheriff Gillespie's commitment and dedication to the people of Southern Nevada. He exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and community service and should be proud of his long and meaningful career. Today, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in congratulating Sheriff Gillespie on his retirement after 34 years, and I offer my deepest appreciation for all that he has done for Clark County. I offer my best wishes to Doug and his wife Louise, for many successful and fulfilling years to come.

Madam President, I rise to speak on TRIA, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. Before I get started with my remarks, I thank my friend from Idaho for his hard work and efforts on behalf of all of America on this issue. I think his efforts to educate us in our conference and others on both sides of the aisle speak volumes to his ability to lead on an issue such as this. As a member of the banking committee and a coauthor of the Senate TRIA reauthorization bill, this is a critical issue I have worked on closely with my colleagues for nearly 1 year.

Terrorism is a real threat to both rural and urban areas, whether it is north, south, east or west, and that is why I have been so involved with trying to get TRIA extended. When we think of terrorism, we think of Los Angeles, we think of New York, we think of Chicago, and some of these bigger cities. But as I have said before, and I will say again, in my home State Las Vegas is considered to be one of the leading international business and visitor destination cities in the world. Southern Nevada welcomes 40 million visitors annually and has a population of nearly 2 million people. We have 35 major hotels along the Las Vegas strip, many of which have 15,000 occupants at once. If a terrorist attack were to occur in Las Vegas, our entire State economy would be devastated without TRIA.

But it is not just about Las Vegas. In northern Nevada our visitor and gaming industry is one of the largest employers in Washoe County, which includes the city of Reno. They know unless they have access to affordable terrorism coverage they will have difficulty starting new capital projects and creating new jobs. TRIA has helped many hotels, helped hospitals. It has helped office complexes, shopping centers. Colleges and universities have access to terrorism insurance coverage, and I want that to continue.

While I was disappointed we could not reach agreement before TRIA expired at the end of 2014, I am pleased this legislation has been brought to the floor so quickly by the majority leader. This bill before us is a good bill. Yesterday it passed the House with 416 votes. Let me repeat that: 416 Members of the House, both Republicans and Democrats, supported this legislation.

I strongly support this bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court Program for its commitment and dedication to providing our veterans with vital services that range from job placement to suicide prevention. Located in Henderson, NV, this unique program assists our Nation's bravest as they return from the battlefield and readjust to life in their communities.

The brave men and women who served the United States and fought to protect our freedom have often come home to a struggling economy. All too often, returning veterans are unable to find a job or afford to buy or rent a home. As the demographics of our Armed Forces have changed throughout the years, so, too, have the needs of our Nation's heroes. The Henderson Veterans Treatment Court, founded in 2011 by Henderson Chief Judge Mark Stevens, received national recognition and is illustrative of how the program should be implemented. With 53 graduates and 41 active participants, this program is a shining example of the type of initiatives that will help get our veterans back on their feet. Although there is no way to ever adequately thank the men and women that lay down their lives for our freedoms, the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court acts as a one-stop solution for veterans who find themselves in a position of need.

As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I know the struggles that our veterans face after returning home from the battlefield. Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave individuals but also to ensure they receive the quality care they have earned and deserve. I remain committed to upholding this promise for our veterans and servicemembers in Nevada and throughout the Nation. I am very pleased that veterans service organizations like the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court are committed to ensuring that the needs of our veterans are being met.

Today, I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court, a program with a mission that is both noble and necessary. I am honored to acknowledge the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court and its tireless efforts to put veterans back on their feet in Nevada and throughout the United States. Their duty to provide veterans with the skills that will allow them the opportunity to change their circumstances is admirable, and I wish the program the best of luck in all of its future endeavors.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 25th anniversary of Care Chest of Sierra Nevada, an organization that supplies free medical equipment to Northern Nevadans in need. As a provider of services to underserved communities, Care Chest has long been a vital nonprofit in Nevada, and I am proud of the work they do on behalf of the Silver State.

Founded in 1990, Care Chest began as a grassroots effort to reuse and recycle medical equipment. Today, this organization helps improve the quality of life for those who otherwise could not afford the rising cost of health care supplies. Twenty-five years later, Care Chest has served over 100,000 people in Northern Nevada. Last year alone, Care Chest served nearly 9,000 Nevadans and distributed over 16,000 medical items. Free of charge services provided by Care Chest include emergency prescriptions, diabetic supplies, respiratory items, and liquid nutritional products. Care Chest has dedicated its efforts to the underserved communities in Northern Nevada, as 69 percent of its clients in 2013 were uninsured while 55 percent were below the poverty line.

As Nevada's unemployment rate remains one of highest in the Nation and as health care costs continue to rise, I recognize the unique role that Care Chest has played in working to address the needs of its local community by offering health care services to those in need. As a lifelong Nevadan and member of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Special Committee on Aging starting in the 114th Congress, I am proud of the work Care Chest does on behalf of the Reno community and its senior citizens.

Today, I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing Care Chest of Sierra Nevada, an organization whose mission is both noble and charitable. I am humbled and honored to recognize Care Chest, and I wish them the best of luck in their 25th year of service to the State of Nevada.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize and congratulate the Wells, NV, Future Farmers of America chapter for winning a national title in the Western National Rangeland Career Development Event. As a lifelong Nevadan and advocate of agriculture education, I am proud to celebrate this victory for Wells and for the Silver State.

As a rancher, I recognize the role the Future Farmers of America organization plays in preparing students for a future in agriculture. The Western National Rangeland Convention, hosted in Elko, NV, brought 14 teams from five States to compete in various categories including plant identification, rangeland biodiversity, habitat evaluation, and stocking management. With nearly 6 million acres of farmland in the Silver State, these are invaluable skills for future Nevada farmers.

I am especially proud to recognize team members Wyatt Gibbs, Deseret Johnson, DeMar Gale, Chelsea James, and Justin Sorenson for representing the Wells community as leaders in rangeland farming techniques. Under the leadership of adviser Don Noorda, the Wells Future Farmers of America chapter proudly brought home Nevada's first national title. As ranch owners, my wife Lynne and I understand the importance of agriculture education. Management of our State's rangelands has been one of my top natural resources priorities in the U.S. Senate. Recently, I was instrumental in the enactment of the Grazing Improvement Act, which will provide much needed security to livestock producers all across the West.

Today, I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing the Wells Future Farmers of America, a group of driven young adults dedicated to Nevada's agriculture and rangeland. Their commitment to Nevada's agricultural future is commendable, and I wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.

Madam President, today I wish to recognize the annual National Finals Rodeo, which takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The National Finals Rodeo has been held in Las Vegas for the past 30 years of the event's 55 year history. Often noted as the foremost

championship rodeo event in the United States, I, along with my fellow Nevadans, am proud that it has called the Silver State home for so many years.

The National Finals Rodeo was established in 1958 by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in order to determine the world champions in various events from bull riding to tie-down roping. First held in Dallas in 1959, the National Finals Rodeo was held in many different cities until 1984, when Las Vegas became its permanent home. An integral part of the Las Vegas community for 30 years, the National Finals Rodeo has brought more than 170,000 fans annually to see some of our Nation's toughest cowboys and cowgirls compete in 10 days of competition. This event has become a yearly tradition not only for Nevadans, but for people across the nation and the world. As rodeo lovers and horse enthusiasts, my wife Lynne and I were thrilled to attend this year's event.

The National Finals Rodeo offers Nevadans and rodeo goers nationwide a place to truly experience the gritty, energetic entertainment the Wild West is best known for. In one of the hardest hit regions during the recession, this event plays an integral role in Nevada's tourism economy. Tourism continues to be a prominent economic driver within the Silver State, and I am thrilled to learn this event will be a part of the Las Vegas community through 2024.

I ask my colleagues to join me and all Nevadans in recognizing the National Finals Rodeo, a special event that has proudly called Las Vegas home for the past 30 years, and I would like to offer the best of luck to all who are participating in this year's events.