Floor Statements

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 409, S. 2432.

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:30 p.m. today. During that period of time, Senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m., to allow for weekly caucus meetings. At 2:15 p.m. the Senate will proceed to rollcall votes on confirmation of the Baran and Burns nominations, followed by several voice votes on executive nominations.

Order of Procedure

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. today be under the control of the majority and the time from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. be under the control of the Republicans.

Madam President, are we on the second nomination in this stack of nominations?

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back on this stack of nominations.

I ask unanimous consent that the time for the Democrats be until 4:05 p.m. and the same with Republicans, 5:05 p.m.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 956, 536, 548, 964, 965, 871, 924, and 912; that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to each vote; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote, without intervening action or debate, on the nominations in the order listed; that any rollcall votes, following the first in the series, be 10 minutes in length; that if any nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

For the information of all Senators, we expect one rollcall vote on the Bass nomination and the other nominations listed in this agreement to be confirmed by voice vote.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

In the early 1900s, the populations of Nevada, southern California, and Arizona were beginning to grow. New communities were in need of water for irrigation, electrical power, and a way to control the seasonal flooding of the mighty Colorado River. On December 21, 1928, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Boulder Canyon Project Act, which authorized funds for three dam projects along the Lower Colorado River, the largest of which became the Hoover Dam, and this monumental dam created our Nation's largest reservoir, Lake Mead.

On October 8, 1964, 18 years after the completion of the Hoover Dam, the Lake Mead national recreation area was established, making it the first National Recreation Area in the country. Since its founding, Lake Mead has become essential to Southern Nevada. The reservoir supplies local communities with drinking water, provides low-cost electricity throughout the Southwest, and is a beacon for outdoor recreation, which attracts millions of dollars annually to local and regional economies. In 2013, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area visitors contributed $260 million to communities surrounding the lake, and this helped support approximately 3,000 jobs in the area.

Today, Lake Mead is one of the most popular destinations in America, with more than 6 million visitors every year. Lake Mead boasts more than 900 plant and 500 animal species, 24 of which are threatened or endangered. Within the national recreation area, there are 9 wilderness areas that help support the rehabilitation of these important species and over 1,300 recorded archeological sites that tell the story of the region's rich cultural heritage. In addition to the area's many hiking trails, Lake Mead also has several boat marinas and the Black Canyon Water Trail, which was recently dedicated as Nevada's first National Water Trail by the Secretary of the Interior.

I recognize Guy Edwards, Robert Rose, Ben Thompson, George Baggley, Charles Richey, Roger Allin, Glen Bean, William Briggle, Gary Bunney,

Alan O'Neill, and William Dickinson, the past and current superintendents of the Lake Mead Nation Recreation Area. These superintendents have provided strong leadership for the management of the reservoir since it was filled in 1936 and improved the park and recreational opportunities for visitors over the decades.

I commend the National Park Service on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 409, S. 2432.

Mr. President, I was saddened to learn just a few minutes ago of the passing of--I know the President pro tempore's friend and a friend to so many people in Washington--Tommy Boggs.

Tom Boggs was an institution in this city. I had the good fortune to hear about the Boggs family when I worked here as a policeman for a number of years and going to law school. Then for a short period I went to the post office, and it was there where his cousin Gabe worked. That is when I first started hearing about the Boggs family.

During that period of time Hale Boggs was the House whip, and, of course, he and Congressman Begich were in Alaska. He was campaigning for Congressman Begich when the plane went down, and after many decades the plane has never been recovered.

I also had the good fortune of serving with his mom in the House of Representatives. She was a sweet and very accomplished woman. She became the Ambassador to the Vatican. Then, of course, his sister Cokie Roberts is a famous journalist here.

Without belaboring the point, I extend my sympathy to the entire family, and I want them to know that our country and Washington, DC, in particular, is a much better place because of Tommy Boggs' passing through here.

Schedule

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30 p.m. this afternoon, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:30 p.m. there will be three rollcall votes: cloture on S. 2199, the Paycheck Fairness Act and cloture on the Baran and Burns nominations to be members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The filing deadline for first-degree amendments to the Paycheck Fairness Act is 3 p.m., and the filing deadline for second-degree amendments is 4:30 p.m.

I ask unanimous consent that the next two rollcall votes be 10 minutes in duration.

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

Mr. President, a week ago last Thursday, Tesla, a major company in America, announced that Nevada would be the new home to its gigafactory, which would produce lithium batteries for Tesla's electric cars. Just a few days later, Nevada's State legislature unanimously approved the incentive package to finalize a new economic boost for Nevada.

Tesla's gigafactory will spur economic development in Nevada. All told, the state-of-the-art manufacturing center is expected to pump $100 billion into Nevada's economy and create up to 22,000 jobs.

This development is good news for Nevada, but it didn't happen by accident. It is the direct result of public-private partnerships and smart Federal and State policies. It is the result of Nevada being seen as a hub for renewable energy and innovative technologies. This project, as big as it is, will be powered with solar and geothermal. Nothing else will power this big project.

I have worked here in the Senate to promote legislation that encourages investment in clean energy and transportation innovation at all levels. In 2007, we passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which created the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program. Under this program, the Department of Energy awarded a $465 million loan guarantee to Tesla for the construction of a manufacturing facility in California. The question everyone has is: Was that loan a successful investment in Tesla?

The facts speak for themselves. Tesla repaid the loan in full 9 years early. Tesla is the company it is today because of this loan.

The availability of lithium, which ultimately helped attract Tesla to Nevada, also has its roots in Federal legislation. In 2009, with the economy in a deep recession and thousands of Nevadans losing their jobs, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--better known as the stimulus. There were many good things for Nevada and the country in that stimulus legislation. For example, millions for education, millions for renewable energy development, and tax breaks for the middle class.

Also in the stimulus was a program to incentivize advanced battery manufacturing. Through this program, a $28.4 million grant was awarded to Rockwood Lithium of Nevada, which would help to expand and improve the only operating domestic lithium facility in the country. It is located near the historic mining town of Goldfield, a place called Silver Peak. Nevada only has 17 counties. Esmeralda County, where this is located, has less than 1,000 people. So this mine is really important for our country. We are the only lithium mining facility in America.

Because of the stimulus, Tesla will have access to lithium mined in Nevada, as I indicated, for production of these batteries. But in order to truly promote innovation, we must as a Congress create opportunities for consumers to invest in new, advanced technologies, and we haven't done that. We need more tax incentives for that.

In 2008, we encouraged Americans to invest in the growth of the electric car industry through a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of qualified electric vehicles. We expanded that credit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009 to ensure that while Americans recovered from the recession, we did so by investing in new technology that would produce lasting economic growth.

Tesla's investment in Nevada shows what is possible when public- private partnerships and smart Federal and State policies are encouraged. In the 21st century, this is how public-private partnerships should work, and it is so important to realize that through these grants, loans, and the private sector, working with States such as Nevada and California and the Federal Government, we were able to accomplish this.

This is a blueprint for success. Federal, State, and local leaders must clear obstacles that stymie innovation and incentivize cleaner technologies. We must make it easier for industry to invest in our communities, not just in Nevada but all across America.

As Elon Musk, the genius who has done SpaceX, PayPal, Tesla, and so many other things, said just the other day:

What the people of Nevada created is a state where you can;

where you are very agile, where you can do things quickly and

get things done. It's a real get-things-done state.

I want the Record to be spread with my public appreciation on behalf of all Nevadans to Governor Sandoval. His patience and diligence made this possible. I congratulate him because the work he did here was terrific.

Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, and that during this period of time Senators be allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 21st annual Take Back the Night event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, UNLV.

The event is one of UNLV's oldest traditions. Hosted by the wonderful Jean Nidetch Women's Center, this event has done an amazing job of raising awareness about sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence including dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Take Back the Night is a worldwide event, and UNLV's branch has received numerous awards over the years. For instance, 2 years ago, as well as this year, the UNLV branch won the ``Outstanding Collaborative Program'' award; and in 2008, it won the ``Outstanding Annual Program/ Tradition'' award.

Research has shown that college age women are at the highest risk for all forms of violence. According to the recent report released by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, the risk of sexual assault is 4 times higher for women ages 16 to 24 than any other population group. One assessment showed that more than one- half of the campus population knows at least two people who have been victims of sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, or stalking. Programs and events such as Take Back the Night importantly help provide survivors and victims with information about the services and options available to them.

The Jean Nidetch Women's Center has made Take Back the Night a capstone annual event at UNLV to give victims and survivors a place to seek advocacy and assistance. The center hosts public events in hopes of engaging students who may not otherwise seek help. It is an exceptional resource for a crucial issue that harms our society and campuses not only in Nevada, but around the country.

I commend the Jean Nidetch Women's Center and the entire UNLV campus for their commitment and dedication, and I look forward to learning about their future contributions to this important issue.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the vote on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 1004, the Senate consider Calendar Nos. 594, 546, 958, 960, 963, 784, and 870; that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to each vote; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; that any rollcall votes following the first in the series be 10 minutes in length; that if any nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President of the United States be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5134 and that the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 544, which was submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.