Floor Statements

Madam President, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor Rupe's Burgers in Blackfoot, which will celebrate its 34th anniversary this month, as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for June 2021.

Rupe's Burgers is an American-style diner and drive-in known for its quality food and strong community foundation. In 1962, former owner Vaughn Rupe opened an A&W Restaurant and after years of success made the decision to sell the restaurant in 1978. In 1987, Vaughn's son Kevin purchased the property and renamed the restaurant ``Rupe's Burgers.''

Rupe's Burgers prides itself on its dedication to community service. The Rupe family donates and volunteers for local philanthropic missions, such as the Santa's Helpers Program, a holiday drive organized by Bingham County emergency responders to provide gifts to economically disadvantaged children. The restaurant has also donated to local organizations that promote the success and leadership of women, such as Blackfoot Distinguished Young Women and Soroptimists. In addition to its philanthropic efforts, the Rupe family puts a premium on serving and celebrating the Blackfoot community, featuring memorabilia from local school sports teams and providing nearly 50 jobs to the local community.

Congratulations to Kevin and all of the employees of Rupe's Burgers on being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for June 2021, and congratulations on 34 years in business. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors. Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor Abracadabra's in Twin Falls as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

The Twin Fall's Abracadabra's is a breakfast-style bistro owned by Josh and Jonathan Swain and Nikki Bourne. The brothers have made it their mission to bring childhood magic back to breakfast food for all ages. The restaurant is renowned for engaging its customers through unique specialty dishes and an outside-the-box atmosphere. Customers rave about the creative food designs and the interactive dining experience. Its popularity has led to the restaurant winning the Magic Valley Readers' Choice Award for Best Breakfast in 2020.

Amid the pandemic, Abracadabra's was instrumental in providing essential items to the local community. Last spring, many local grocery stores experienced shortages of everyday items. The restaurant adapted its business model to provide wholesale products like bacon, eggs, flour, and sanitizing products in bulk to the community. Through the use of online ordering and curbside pickup processes, customers remained safely socially distanced while retrieving basic grocery items that they desperately needed. Thanks to their innovative thinking, the owners addressed the changing needs of their community while keeping their staff safe and employed.

Congratulations to Abracadabra's in Twin Falls on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors.

Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor Great Harvest in Idaho Falls as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

The Great Harvest Bread Company in Idaho Falls is owned and operated by Tiffani and John Van Orman. With two locations in Eastern Idaho, the bakeries are known for their vast selection of artisan breads, sweets, and treats. They pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients and making their products completely from scratch.

Since its establishment over 20 years ago, the business has been actively involved in the Idaho Falls community, donating money and baked goods to school fundraisers, church gatherings, and local charitable causes. While the pandemic has impacted their business, it has not deterred their charitable efforts. During the March 2020 shutdown, Great Harvest kept all of their employees on the payroll and increased their production. The Van Ormans donated the extra food items to their local food pantry, YMCA, local school districts, hospitals, and emergency responders. They also placed Generosity Tables stocked with free baked goods outside of their bakeries and encouraged customers to take them to people in need. Their spirit of generosity is what defines Idaho's small businesses, and Great Harvest Bread Company has stepped up for its community during these hard times.

Congratulations to Great Harvest in Idaho Falls on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors. Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor Happy Day Corporation in Lewiston as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

Happy Day is a four-generation family business founded by Bruce and Joy Finch in 1969. After opening their first franchise restaurant in the Lewiston area, the couple went into business with Bruce's father, Charles, and began to expand their venture. With 10 years of business under their belts, Bruce and Joy reorganized their budding company, officially naming it ``Happy Day'' to commemorate Joy's delight that their company was flourishing. Today, the business comprises 13 franchise and independent restaurants and a catering and events division. This has enabled the company to provide jobs for more than 450 employees in the Inland Northwest.

Above all else, Happy Day is known for its commitment to service. Each year, thousands of wildland firefighters battle wildfires throughout the West. In an effort to keep them fed, Happy Day provides hundreds of meals to these firefighters at their fire camps. In addition, the company has long supported veterans. Happy Day restaurants have served more than 100,000 meals to local veterans through its monthly Tuesday Vets Meal initiative where veterans can eat for free. Their enduring dedication to community service has garnered them local and national awards, including being inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame in 2016. Happy Day's efforts to serve their community make them an exceptional example of service-oriented small business leadership.

Congratulations to Happy Day on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors. Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor Mountain Madness Soap in Coeur d'Alene as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

Mountain Madness Soap is a specialty handmade soap and bath products company founded by Jennifer and Andy Morsell. The business began with Jennifer's hobby of making organic soaps in her kitchen and giving them as gifts to friends and family. The enthusiastic reception she received inspired Jennifer and her husband to start their own business selling the soaps at local farmers markets and craft fairs. The pair eventually moved to Coeur d'Alene, where they opened their first shop. The business quickly found success as demand soared for their locally sourced soap and bath products. Finding themselves unable to keep pace with demand, the business expanded into a larger facility in 2016, enabling them to increase the size of their retail space and expand their production and fulfillment facilities.

To overcome the challenges and retrictions of the pandemic, Mountain Madness adapted its operations to continue serving the community safely. Jennifer and Andy kept the store open by implementing face mask requirements for employees, rigorous sanitation of facilities, and by adding curbside pickup and at-home deliveries. Jennifer and Andy made the safety of their customers and employees the top priority. They adapted quickly to new challenges and developed ways to bring their products to their customers. And through that quick and innovative response, they managed to grow their business despite the hardship. Mountain Madness continues to support its fellow Idaho small businesses by purchasing locally sourced product materials from other small businesses.

Congratulations to Mountain Madness Soap on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors. Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor the Sandpiper in Pocatello as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

The Pocatello Sandpiper was founded by Bob Angell in 1975 and is currently owned by Rod Russell. With two locations in Eastern Idaho, the restaurant is known for its cozy atmosphere and steak and seafood offerings. It has become a staple of the local community, garnering awards for Best Restaurant, Best Steak and Seafood, Best Fine Dining, and Best Place To Take A Date awards in the Idaho State Journal's Readers' Choice Awards.

Rod and his wife, Kathleen, have served as leaders in the local community during the pandemic. The restaurant avoided layoffs, raised wages, and provided special meals to employees and their families even though they operated at a loss. In addition to the measures taken by the restaurant, upon receiving their $1,200 stimulus check, the Russells began thinking of ways to give back to their community. As the brother of a truckdriver, Rod heard firsthand some of the challenges facing truckers amid supply chain shortages. To show thanks to an underappreciated group of essential workers, the Pocatello Sandpiper partnered with Idaho State Police and other small businesses to provide more than 600 free meals to truckdrivers in acknowledgment of their critical work. Rod's commitment to service allowed this small business to prioritize the needs of both its employees and the community.

Congratulations to the Sandpiper in Pocatello on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. President, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been easy for small business owners and their employees to overcome. Throughout the pandemic, many were forced to temporarily close their doors. Those that reopened had to innovate their business models to comply with local guidelines and public health mandates. As we turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide initiative, on May 21 to encourage Idahoans to support local small businesses in their communities. This month, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I will honor six small businesses located throughout the State of Idaho. I am pleased to honor TLC for Tots as one of the Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for May 2021.

TLC for Tots is a family-owned childcare and preschool learning center located in Nampa, ID. In 2006, owners Dave and Elizabeth Fetzer started the business out of their home, providing individualized attention to each of its students. The business quickly outgrew its original location, relocating in 2008 to a larger facility where it remains today. The owners credit their success to their phenomenal staff who are constantly training and reeducating themselves to provide high-quality care. Additionally, TLC for Tots facilitates early intervention programs and sponsors family events to ensure the continued growth of their students.

TLC for Tots has remained committed to combating the spread of COVID- 19. At its facility, temperature checks are regularly administered, daily cleanings are conducted throughout the facility, and staff were required to wear masks throughout the day during the height of the pandemic. The business provides more than a dozen jobs to the Nampa community and has been dedicated to serving local families while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.

Congratulations to TLC for Tots on being selected as an Idaho Gem for the month of May. You serve as an example in your community and are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor Dave's Bike Shop in Idaho Falls as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2021.

Dave's Bike Shop is a family-owned small business located in historic downtown Idaho Falls. Founded by longtime biking enthusiasts David and Emily Wilding, the couple saw a need for a bike shop in their local community and found a small space in the historic downtown area. After months of renovations, they opened their doors in September of 2011.

Since its founding, Dave's Bike Shop has been a family effort. Dave and Emily's four sons have been an integral part of the shop's success, working after school and through the summers to finish two extensive building remodels and assist in day-to-day sales and service. Through the Wilding family's hard work, the business grew and sales increased with each successive year, enabling Dave and Emily to relocate to a larger facility and expand their services.

Like other small businesses across Idaho, Dave's Bike Shop had to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic. When global shutdowns closed factories and limited access to their supply chain, the business quickly changed its procurement strategy by sourcing new products from other manufacturers and placing larger orders whenever possible. Despite these obstacles, the shop has remained successful and continues to serve the Idaho Falls community.

Congratulations to Dave, Emily, and all of the employees of Dave's Bike Shop on being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2021. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate and honor the retirement of one of my senior staff members and friend who has served in my home State of Idaho for the last 12 years as the State director of natural resources, Michael ``Mike'' D. Roach.

After retiring from the banking industry, Mike came to my staff after my first election to the U.S. Senate in 2009 as the regional director of my Lewiston office. However, with a bachelor's degree in wildlife- fisheries resources from the University of Idaho, I knew he was a perfect fit for the State director of natural resources position stationed in my Boise office. Shortly after starting in Lewiston, Mike helped to find his replacement in north Idaho and moved to southwestern Idaho to lead my State offices in natural resources.

Mike was born in Twin Falls and grew up in southwestern Idaho where his father worked in the cattle and banking industry. This afforded him the opportunity to work and associate with the cattle and sheep industry in Idaho and develop a deep understanding of the history, traditions, and issues of Idaho. While in college at the U of I, he worked for Idaho Fish and Game and served as a Wildlife and Range Sciences Guidance Council member for the U of I's College of Forestry. He was also appointed to the district advisory council for the Bureau of Land Management--Boise District by former Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan. With his deep roots in Idaho, he was the perfect ambassador to the diverse natural resource and conservation groups of the State like the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho Farm Bureau, Trout Unlimited, and the Nature Conservancy.

During his 12 years of service as my natural resources director, he advised and guided my office through many complicated issues like the sage grouse recovery plan, Idaho Roadless Rule implementation, salmon and steelhead management plans, Columbia River Treaty, Good Neighbor Authority, and many other resource issues. Due to his experience and knowledge, in 2015, the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources awarded Mike Roach the Alumni Award, recognizing his career achievements in natural resources.

Another significant milestone came to pass while serving on staff; he became engaged and married to Cally Grindstaff in 2019. They now make their home in Fairfield, ID.

It is always difficult to lose a trusted staff member of Mike's caliber, but I want to wish him and Cally nothing but best wishes in their future endeavors and look forward to our continued friendship in the years ahead.

Congratulations and thank you for your outstanding service to my staff and the citizens of Idaho.

Mr. President, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today, I am pleased to honor Continuous Composites, Inc., in Coeur d'Alene as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for March 2021.

Continuous Composites is a technology company developing composite additive manufacturing solutions cofounded by Ken Tyler, John Swallow, and Tyler Alvarado in 2015. The company owns the world's earliest granted patents on Continuous Fiber 3D Printing--CF3D--a revolutionary, automated manufacturing process that utilizes high-performance continuous fibers, e.g., carbon fiber, glass fiber, optical fibers, with ``snap curing'' thermoset resins to produce lightweight, high- performance composite parts on-demand. Historically, composites have been limited to high-end products, including military applications, where the advantages of high-performance, low-weight materials outweigh costly conventional manufacturing processes. CF3D is reshaping composites manufacturing at exponentially reduced costs and lead times while providing users with a much greater degree of design freedom. The company has an extraordinary opportunity to change how industrial businesses and the Department of Defense innovate and manufacture throughout the entire product life cycle, from design and prototyping to serial production and sustainment. Continuous Composites' novel approach to 3-D printing has garnered interest from many industry leaders, national laboratories, and government agencies resulting in strategic partnerships and multimillion dollar equity investments. Continuous Composites' CF3D technology is directly aligned with the United States of America's national defense strategy, which has led to significant engagement from the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Since its founding, Continuous Composites has been rapidly hiring numerous engineers and business professionals, attracting talent from across the country to Coeur d'Alene. Last September, Alvarado and Swallow announced the remodel and opening of a 7,500-square-foot manufacturing demonstration facility on their campus in downtown Coeur d'Alene. This historic building is now being used for advanced research, development, and commercialization of CF3D. The expansion will provide high-paying, in-demand jobs of the future to the Coeur d'Alene community.

Continuous Composites is an outstanding example of a small, trailblazing Idaho business that is leading the way in technological innovation. Congratulations to Tyler, John, Ken, and the whole Continuous Composites team for your outstanding achievements. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 3 minutes on the nomination of Tony Blinken for Secretary of State.

Mr. President, I bring to the floor this morning the nomination of Tony Blinken to be Secretary of State. He has been nominated, of course, by President Biden, and this is brought by Senator Menendez and me. We have had the honored privilege of working together to move as rapidly as we could Mr. Blinken's nomination. Obviously, these things do take some time, and we are fortunate to be able to bring it as quickly as we have to the floor.

This is, in my judgment, certainly the most important nominee that there will be to the President's Cabinet in light of a number of things but not the least of which is they are in the line of succession for the Presidency.

Mr. Blinken has a long and distinguished history when it comes to statecraft and foreign relations matters. Certainly, he is very qualified for this job. Obviously, we don't agree on all things. Nobody ever does.

I will say that there are 200 countries, approximately, on the planet, and each one of them has unique and very distinguished issues.

In speaking with Mr. Blinken on these matters, I find that there is a tremendous amount of agreement that he and I have. Obviously, whenever these things happen, there are areas of disagreement, and obviously the media and a lot of people focus on these.

I should mention that at least one of those--Iran--is a very wide disagreement that we have. In my judgment, the JCPOA was a colossal failure and a real blunder for American policy overseas. In talking with Mr. Blinken, he does not share that view, and obviously he is going to work with the President, carrying the President's water to get us back into the JCPOA. I think that is a mistake. We have talked about this at length, and certainly whatever the consequences of that are, those who do it are going to have to live with it.

I can state that this is not a partisan issue. There are people on both sides of the aisle who have real reservations about going back into the JCPOA, particularly if there aren't very significant sideboards put on that. The effort is going to be made, and we will advise as we can and go down that pike.

Again, I say that this is one issue. Out of the many, many issues that we discussed, there was very little--in fact, no daylight between us on some of them. A good example of that would be Turkey. I think Mr. Blinken shares my reservations about Turkey, and, again, the vast majority of this body, the U.S. Senate, has deep, deep reservations about the direction that Turkey is going.

In any event, we need a Secretary of State, and this is the person for the job.

With that, I yield the floor

Mr. President, as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor 44East in Meridian as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for January 2021.

Established by Cheryl Jones and her daughter Kayloni Perry, 44East specializes in home goods and gifts. Cheryl and Kayloni's shared love for crafting gifts and home decorations inspired their entrepreneurial success. With the support and encouragement of their friends and family, they opened 44East in 2017. Since then, it has developed a reputation for its exceptional service and its unique, curated array of products and home decor items. The owners take pride in supporting their local business community by sourcing one-of-a-kind and specialty products from other small businesses in the Treasure Valley and Pacific Northwest.

Like many small businesses, 44East faced an uncertain future during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Confronted with the possibility of permanent closure, Cheryl and Kayloni quickly adapted 44East's business model and began offering their products virtually through a social media campaign dubbed ``Live at 5 to Survive.'' Soon, customers began flocking to 44East's social channels to purchase their products. ``Live at 5 to Survive'' did more than just ensure the continued survival of 44East; it introduced hundreds of customers to the business and resulted in a swell of new sales. Today, 44East continues to host its ``Live at 5 to Survive'' campaign and has since reopened its doors, instituting health safety measures to protect its customers. 44East's resourcefulness and ingenuity is a testament to Idaho's entrepreneurial spirit.

Congratulations to Cheryl, Kayloni, and all of the employees of 44East on being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for January 2021. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Madam President, along with my colleague Senator Mike Crapo, I rise today to ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the mission statement for the Citizens Committee for Election Integrity and their recommended minimum standards for fair and honest elections. Idahoans concerned about election integrity formed the Citizens Committee for Election Integrity to demonstrate the meaning of the Constitution by helping ensure the voices of ``We the people'' are heard.

Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.