Floor Statements

Mr. President and fellow Senators, I rise today to present S. 1, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019.

It is really a compilation of three bills, addressing three different issues in the Middle East. It is left over from the last Congress, the 115th.

It is fitting that the first piece of legislation on the Senate floor in the 116th Congress is made up of bills that have previously enjoyed the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation--all three of them that are put together in this bill--with many Senators from both sides of the aisle having contributed to the construction of this bill.

We need to get this important work done now, not in a month or two. It is leftover business, as I said, and it is about as unanimous as anything around here gets.

Now, I understand that there is friction around here at the moment, as my good friend from Virginia just talked about. But, look, we are the U.S. Senate. We can walk and we can chew gum at the same time.

These issues that are in this bill desperately need our attention, and it is disheartening to see that there is going to be a vote against this simply because the parties want to focus on just one issue. That isn't the issue in front of us. If it were, of course, we could vote that way.

I don't think there is anybody on this floor that wants to see the government shut down. There are a lot of us that would like to see a smaller government, a less intrusive government, and a less regulatory government, but we were elected to govern. We were not elected to not govern, and it is important that we do resolve that.

But in the meantime, we have these important matters left over from the last Congress, and I hope we can move to them and get them done.

Israel and Jordan have been steadfast allies and friends of the United States. This legislation reaffirms our strong friendship with these countries and extends critical aid to these two allies. Israel and Jordan deserve the support and cooperation that this legislation would extend. We should not let them down.

Also included in this legislation is the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which very nearly passed in the full Senate by unanimous consent in the closing hours and minutes of the last Congress. There was only 1 objection to it, but 99 Senators agreed to this act.

The Caesar bill declares that it is U.S. policy to use all diplomatic and economic means to compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to stop the slaughter of the Syrian people and to work toward a democratic government.

Sanctions are an important tool of U.S. foreign policy. Carefully designed sanctions allow the United States to create the conditions to influence decision-making and serve U.S. national security interests without having to implement additional military measures and put U.S. troops in harm's way. The sanctions method has been particularly effective in some very important situations.

The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act includes strong financial sanctions to target those individuals responsible in the Assad regime for the terrible loss of life and destruction in Syria. Further, it extends sanctions to those who would support the Syrian regime's actions in the war in Syria, such as Iran and Russia.

In order for us to bring a permanent defeat of ISIS, which necessitates getting Iran out of Syria, we should encourage politically negotiated solutions that will bring major change to the current Syrian regime structure.

With nearly 500,000 killed in Syria, this legislation is deserved, and it is long overdue. We must exert maximum pressure in coordination with our allies and friends to bring the Syrian dictator, Assad, and his Iranian friends and their allies to account.

It is my hope that the Senate can move to this bill and take up this important legislation with its three-pronged approach that supports our important allies. Let's not let these allies down.

Again, I come back to I understand that there is some friction here on other issues that we should be addressing, but right now the vote is this: Do you or do you not support the allies and the civilian population of Syria, who are being slaughtered in the fashion that they have?

My fellow Senators, I urge an affirmative vote on this good piece of legislation.

I yield the floor.

Cloture Motion

Mr. President, I come here today to talk about an issue that has been talked about quite a bit here on the floor today, and that is the situation in Syria. I know there has been a lot of debate today about what is happening there and what happened today in Syria.

But I bring to the floor today something that I think should get the unanimous consent of everyone. The House passed this resolution some time ago. It was by voice vote--no recorded ``no'' votes. It was essentially a unanimous consent bill.

When I am through with this, I am hoping everyone here will agree with me that this is the right thing to do and something that will actually address the situation that is taking place in Syria.

This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to use all diplomatic and economic means to compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to stop the slaughter of the Syrian people and work toward a democratic government. The use of sanctions are a critical tool of U.S. foreign policy, and that is what we are talking about here today--the implementation of additional sanctions. They often allow the United States to have a strong impact on a country and serve the U.S. national security interests without having to implement military measures and put U.S. troops in harm's way.

I believe--and most of us believe--that H.R. 1677 helps meet those interests. How does it work? Here is how it works. First of all, it imposes fresh sanctions on entities conducting business with the Assad regime and its military and intelligence agencies. A number of regime- controlled industries--including in the airline, telecommunications, and energy sectors--will also be targeted.

It aims to encourage negotiations by allowing the President to waive sanctions if the parties are engaged in meaningful negotiations and the violence against civilians has ceased.

The bill also authorizes the Secretary of State to support entities that are collecting and preserving evidence for the eventual prosecution of those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria from March 2011 to the present and requires the President to report to Congress on the identity of those who are responsible for or complicit with gross violations of human rights of the Syrian people.

There is no doubt that we are going to get to that point. It is not going to happen tomorrow, and it is not going to happen the next day, but no one on Earth can do the kinds of things that Assad has done to his own people.

We all know that there have been poisonous substances used and weapons of mass destruction used by Assad against his people. Eventually, those who are responsible are going to have to face the music for that, and they are going to have to be prosecuted for that.

This bill helps to preserve the evidence and the identity of those who are involved in that. As I noted, the House passed this some time ago, and virtually without resistance. On November 30, the administration issued a White House statement supporting H.R. 1677. The administration said:

The bill would add to a robust set of tools at the

Administration's disposal to help bring to an end the

heartbreaking ongoing tragedy in Syria and to hold Syrian

officials accountable for the slaughter of civilians and

other atrocities. This bill will help provide additional

leverage to achieve the United States government's objective

to de-escalate the military conflict and support the United

Nations-led peace process and a transition to a government in

Syria that honors the will of the Syrian people, respects the

rule of law and human rights, and peacefully co-exists with

its neighbors in the region.

The bill effectively targets the Assad regime and its supporters with additional financial sanctions and some crippling economic tools. We have all seen some very recent examples of how well our sanctions have worked because of the United States' position in the banking industry and, indeed, in the world economic structure.

In order for us to get the Iranians out of Syria and help bring a permanent defeat of ISIS, we must pursue a politically negotiated solution that will have a major change in the current Syrian regime structure. The Syrian people are a noble people. Their culture has been an organization that has existed since Biblical times. These are a noble people, a good people as a population, and they do not deserve this. From a humanitarian perspective, this legislation expresses the long overdue outrage for the 500,000 Syrians killed by the Syrian dictator, Iranian forces, and their allies.

Dictators are evil. Whether they are religious or secular, royals or oligarchs, they are evil.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 620, H.R. 1677; that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, to respond briefly, with all due respect to my friend and colleague, the Senator from Kentucky, I respectfully urge that this is exactly what is needed to encourage the diplomacy that he wants, that I want, that all of us want.

As far as discouraging that, this resolution actually gives the President the authority to grant waivers when and if they finally get to the diplomatic track.

So with all due respect, I disagree with that. I understand he has the right to object to this. It is unfortunate. We had the 435 members of the House hotline this here. There are 99 Members here who signed off on this legislation. It is very unfortunate.

The Syrian people do not deserve the treatment they are getting from Assad, and this resolution is aimed directly at stopping it.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, along with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson, today I recognize and congratulate Mr. Richard B. Provencher on his upcoming retirement after more than 32 years of distinguished Federal service consisting of Active-Duty military service, service with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, and more than 29 years of service with the U.S. Department of Energy,

Mr. President, agriculture has always been of outsized importance to my home State of Idaho. Dairy farming has always had a presence in the State and has grown considerably over the past several years, and agricultural co-ops play a vital role in making sure our State's agricultural products make it to market. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct privilege to recognize High Desert Milk as the Small Business of the Month for December 2018. High Desert Milk is committed to building longlasting relationships and providing opportunities for dairy farmers across, southern Idaho.

Located on the banks of the Snake River in Burley, ID, High Desert Milk is a cooperative partnership, committed to serving its farmer- owners while also remaining flexible in a competitive market. Founded in 2001, High Desert sought to create a more efficient dairy market for local farmers. In 2008, High Desert opened a purpose-built milk dehydration plant which is capable of processing up to 2.2 million pounds of milk per day. In 2013, the company was able to expand its operations and began producing butter to meet increased demand in the United States. From an initial team of 30 employees, High Desert Milk has grown into a multimillion-dollar operation with over 150 full-time employees. In 17 short years, High Desert Milk has become a fixture in the community by providing reliable milk pickup services and professional milk marketing.

Presently, High Desert Milk works with 23 family-owned dairies across 70,000 acres of southern Idaho farmland. The company's operations support more than 1,000 related dairy jobs in the area. Annually, the company produces almost 60 million pounds of powdered milk, more than 40 million pounds of butter, and 4 million pounds of buttermilk powder. High Desert Milk's products are shipped all across the country and all over the world. The company has a reputation for meeting and even exceeding U.S. Department of Agriculture and customer standards due to careful technician monitoring during processing. High Desert Milk has been named one of the top 100 dairy operations in the United States due to its cleanliness, high quality control standards, and good relationships with its members.

Despite its worldwide presence, High Desert Milk is still a local Idaho company with close ties to Burley and rural southern Idaho. High Desert Milk has a positive presence in the area and takes an active role in its community. The company hosts several annual charity fundraisers, including an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The company also supports local 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs and even sponsors an annual high school-age rodeo. These community-building practices aim to encourage youth to take an interest in their local communities and to encourage them to seek careers in Idaho's vibrant agricultural industry. Each year, High Desert Milk presents talented local high school students with scholarships to continue their education. The generous scholarship program encourages students to excel in the fields of agribusiness and dairy science. Scholarships are also made available to High Desert employees who want to continue their studies.

High Desert Milk's tenacious commitment to its member-farmers and community is preparing the way for a new generation of Idaho dairy farmers and entrepreneurs. The company's commitment to quality and efficiency while building a positive relationship with their members and community is a perfect example of Idaho's entrepreneurial spirit. The company has become an economic anchor in southern Idaho, creating new market opportunities for local farmers and providing jobs for local community members.

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to High Desert Milk and all its farmer-members for being named the Small Business of the Month for December 2018. I wish you all the best of luck, and I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

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

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an Idaho small business that has helped spread knowledge and information across the great State of Idaho and the entire western United States. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my honor to recognize Caxton Printers as the Small Business of the Month for November 2018. Founded over 100 years ago, Caxton Printers provides high-quality printing and publication services to the greater Boise, ID, community.

Caxton Printers' roots can be traced back to 1895 when Albert E. Gipson moved his family from Colorado to Caldwell, ID, to establish a publishing house. In 1903, Gipson's publishing company, the Gemstate Rural Publishing Company, began printing a horticultural magazine for Idaho farmers named the Gemstate Rural. Following the success of the Gemstate Rural, Gipson reorganized the company and expanded his commercial printing business. As part of this reorganization, Gipson named the company Caxton, after the famous English printer, William Caxton.

In 1907, Albert Gipson's son, James Herrick Gipson, took the reins of the company from his father and continued the family business. Under J.H. Gipson's leadership, the company grew significantly and began printing school textbooks. The State of Idaho named Caxton the official Idaho State Textbook Depository in 1927. To this day, it continues to serve as a State distribution center for textbooks, technology, and education supplies for Idaho's public schools.

In addition to printing and school services, Caxton Printers is also known for publishing original materials. The company established its publishing division in 1925 with the publication of Fred E. Lukens' Idaho Citizen, which later became a textbook in Idaho's State education curriculum. By 1936, Caxton had published over 100 books of both fiction and nonfiction. Several of the authors published by Caxton went on to become known nationally and internationally for their work, including novelists Vardis Fisher and Ayn Rand. Caxton remains active in the publishing field today and continues to support the dreams of hopeful authors.

As Caxton has grown and prospered it has remained a family-owned and -operated business throughout its history. J.H. Gipson's two sons, Jim Jr. and Gordon, grew up working in the factory alongside their father. When J.H. Gipson passed away in 1965, Jim, Jr., became company president while his brother, Gordon, became vice president. In 1991, Gordon was named president and Jim, Jr.'s son David became vice president. Currently, the company is led by the fifth generation of Gipsons, with Jim, Jr.'s grandson Scott Gipson running day-to-day operations.

Caxton continues to focus on the core services on which the company has built its reputation. The company offers custom printing solutions for a variety of needs for each client. Printing services include promotional materials, brochures, calendars, booklets,

and newsletters, as well as more niche options for customers' specific requests. Caxton believes that printing is only one part of a finished product and works with customers throughout the process to deliver the highest quality product possible.

Caxton Printers is also known for its generous support of several Idaho charities and nonprofits, such as the Caldwell Foundation for Educational Opportunity, Buy Idaho, and the University of Idaho Vandal Scholarship Fund. Several of Caxton's employees also serve on the boards of various charitable organizations including the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, the Caldwell Economic Development Council, and the College of Idaho. Caxton Printers' rich history, commitment to education and literature, and support for local philanthropic causes exemplify our Idahoan values. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Gipson family and all Caxton employees for being named the Small Business of the Month for November 2018. I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as you may know, small businesses are thriving in one of the best economic climates that we have seen in several years. The National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Optimism Index for August saw its highest reading ever over its 45-year history and the MetLife and Chamber of Commerce's most recent quarterly Small Business Index found that a substantial majority of small business owners have a positive outlook of their business and of the overall economy.

I believe that this uptick in small business confidence is due in large part

to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that passed the Senate and was signed into law last year. Over the 9 months since its passage, our country has witnessed the positive impact that the law has had on our economy. Companies of all sizes have directly benefited from various provisions of the law and as a result are paying out bonuses, raising wages, and purchasing new equipment for their businesses. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I was a strong supporter of the tax law because I believed it would allow small business owners to keep more of their hard-earned money, make more investments in their businesses, and increase the overall health of our economy. Over the last few months, I have been making this series of speeches to draw attention to the benefits this law provides for small businesses.

Since passage of the law, many observers have given too much attention to individuals and corporations that have benefited from certain provisions of the law, but not nearly enough attention has been given to the benefits that small businesses have received. I rise today to spotlight how tax reform is benefiting Sko-Die, Inc., a small business located just outside of Chicago in Morton Grove, IL. Sko-Die, Inc., provides their customers with high-quality steel laminations, heavy gauge metal stampings, and machining services. From design to production, the company provides original equipment manufacturing services for a variety of sectors including the food, power generation, medical, and aerospace industries. Sko-Die is a family-run business started in 1947 by the Steininger family. The current president, Patrick Steininger, has led the company since 2002 and is the third generation of the family to helm the company. Sko-Die has about 70 employees, boasts a 60,000-thousand-square foot production facility, and operates numerous punch presses ranging in size from 5 to 300 tons.

Because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this family-owned custom metal stamping business has been able to pass on some its tax savings to employees, raising the average wages of its employees by about 3 percent. Sko-Die also made a $1 million investment in new equipment, which included a new die grinder and a new metal press. Before the implementation of the new tax law, small businesses had to deal with a complex expensing formula that took many years to take advantage of, which made equipment purchases much less attractive to small business owners. The accelerated depreciation of equipment purchases for small businesses is one of the many reasons that I was a strong supporter of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Overall, the new tax law has been good for small businesses; has allowed many small businesses to increase their capital investments, hire additional workers, and increase wages; and will lower small businesses' annual tax payments. I am happy to see that small businesses like Sko-Die, Inc., are able to reduce their tax burden by making use of this accelerated depreciation provision and are using those tax savings to raise its employees' wages. I look forward to watching the company's continued success.

Mr. President, Idaho is home to many innovative, ambitious, and industrious small businesses. Today I would like to honor a small business that represents all of these qualities. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct privilege to recognize Walsh Engineering Services as the Small Business of the Month for October 2018. Walsh Engineering Services is a woman-owned design and architectural engineering firm, which provides high-quality technical and design services to various public and private sector customers throughout Idaho and around the country.

Located in Idaho Falls, ID, Walsh Engineering Services was founded by Stephanie Walsh along with a group of dedicated engineers. An Idaho Falls native, Stephanie was raised in a potato farming family and went on to graduate from the University of Idaho with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, Stephanie returned home and began working for the Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab. While at the INL, Stephanie recognized the emerging need for expert contractors at one of our country's most important nuclear research centers. In 2005, Stephanie finally took the plunge and founded Walsh Engineering Services. Owning her own business and working with the INL as a contractor allowed her to continue to work to meet the needs of the INL, as well as those of a growing Southeastern Idaho.

Since its founding, Walsh Engineering Services has grown from a small group of dedicated engineers and designer-drafters, to a full-service engineering and architecture firm staffed by architects, cost estimators, and support personnel. Their goal has always been to provide high-quality, reliable, and responsive professional technical services to their customers. Their clients have expanded over the years from the INL to other DOE National Laboratories, the State of Idaho Department of Public Works, and fabrication firms located throughout the country. Stephanie is an outstanding example of Idaho's unique entrepreneurial spirit and is an inspiration to women entrepreneurs across the great State of Idaho.

As you may know, October has been designated as National Women's Small Business Month. This month, we celebrate the critical contributions that women like Stephanie Walsh make to our country's economy every day. There are more than 9.9 million women-owned small business in the United States, employing over 8 million people. In 2017, women-owned small businesses generated over $1.4 trillion in sales. I am pleased to honor a great women-owned small business this month in Walsh Engineering. Stephanie Walsh and her employees at Walsh Engineering exemplifies the perseverance and hard work that lead women- owned small businesses to success.

Stephanie's team at Walsh Engineering Services is committed to supporting INL's mission of clean energy, national security, science, and the environment. While Stephanie founded the company to support the changing needs of the INL, Walsh Engineering Services is also focused on training the next generation of workers to continue the history of professionalism and success at the INL. The firm not only offers jobs to recent graduates of Idahoan universities but also develops the next generation of engineers through the firm's internship program.

Stephanie is proof of Idaho's unique entrepreneurial spirit. Through her hard work, expertise, and reputation for quality work, Stephanie's company has grown over the past 13 years and now employs approximately 75 Idahoans who provide valuable contracting services to public and private entities. Stephanie Walsh is a great example to both young female engineers and woman entrepreneurs throughout Idaho and the Nation. I would like to congratulate Stephanie and all of the employees at Walsh Engineering Services for being named the Small Business of the Month for October 2018. I wish you good luck in your future endeavors and look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and my good friend and colleague, also from Idaho, Senator Crapo, and we wish to honor an exceptional business from our great State. That business is Micron Technology.

Although Micron began in Idaho with just four employees, it will celebrate its 40th anniversary this week as one of the world's top tech companies, with thousands of employees worldwide.

Micron started as a semiconductor design company in the basement of a Boise dental office in 1978. Soon after it broke ground on its first fabrication plant in 1980, Micron introduced the world to the smallest 256K dynamic random access memory. By 1994, Micron's development of solid state drives and other flash memory technology in its product portfolio earned it a spot on the Fortune 500 list. Today, Micron's team of more than 34,000 employees spans the globe from Boise, Silicon Valley, and Virginia, to Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe.

As one of the top four semiconductor companies in the world, Micron works with the world's most trusted brands and is the only pure play memory company headquartered in the Western Hemisphere. Throughout its 40-year history, Micron has contributed to more than 40,000 patents and continues to advance memory and storage technologies that enable innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous vehicles. Micron's advancements have made the United States a leader in technology and give the Nation a competitive edge in data storage, security, and supercomputing.

In addition to its renowned technological developments, I am proud that Micron is working to transform the communities where its team members live and work, providing resources to educate the next generation of scientists, inventors, and engineers.

In 2017, Micron was ranked 23rd in the Fortune Just 100, Forbes' list of companies with the best and most just business behavior.

Last year, the Micron Foundation awarded more than 550 grants worldwide and donated more than $10 million to education and community- related causes.

I wish to congratulate Micron on its long list of accomplishments and thank the company for the opportunities it provides for Idahoans and for all Americans. The advances Micron's solutions provide for computing across our country are considerable. It is my pleasure to recognize its 40th anniversary on October 5, 2018. We all wish Micron the best of luck and continued success as a global technology leader and world-class semiconductor company.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, Idaho's entrepreneurs are passionate individuals who consistently innovate and create high-quality products. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct privilege to recognize Bear Knuckles as the Small Business of the Month for September 2018. Located in Blackfoot, ID, Bear Knuckles manufactures gloves with a unique design that allow for a stronger grip while still protecting the wearer's hands.

Bear Knuckles' founder, Shawn Schild, is one of three brothers who own B Bar B in Blackfoot. B Bar B is a family-owned leather shop founded by Shawn's parents, Bob and Gay Schild. Bob Schild began his career as a professional rodeo rider in 1954. Throughout his rodeo career, Bob carried a sewing machine and other tailoring supplies in his camper to craft his own equipment. He often sold rodeo chaps and other items that he crafted to make extra income while on the road. Bob continued his rodeo career until he settled down in Blackfoot with his wife Gay and founded B Bar B Leather in 1961. He continued to compete in the rodeo part time to help support the business until 1969. Bob and Gay passed along this entrepreneurial spirit and the values of hard work and integrity to their three sons: Jeff, Shawn, and Kelly. After taking the reins of the business from their parents in 1994, the three brothers founded B Bar B Wholesale in 1996.

Shawn began designing his own line of gloves over 20 years ago, while competing in the rodeo like his father had done before him. He wanted to make a glove that could protect his hands, while providing a better grip on bucking bulls. After a great deal of experimentation, Shawn created gloves with curved fingers to better conform to the natural shape of the hand. This resulted in a glove that allows for a strong grip, while also reducing grip fatigue. Shawn's patented double wedge ergonomic design worked so well that it was adopted by several professional bullriders who still use it to this day.

Shawn saw the potential for this new glove to benefit working men and women. He began making different types of gloves and approached local stores and industrial businesses asking them to test his new products. Several employees at a local natural gas distributor, who tested the welding gloves, praised Shawn's design and claimed that they no longer wanted to use any other type of glove. After further tinkering and experimentation, he received a patent for the design in 2015. Following the patent, Shawn took the next step and decided to pursue a manufacturing and distribution agreement with a large glove manufacturing company. Shawn overcame multiple challenges in the manufacturing of his glove, which ultimately led him to start his own small business, Bear Knuckles. Today Shawn's gloves are sold in stores throughout the area.

The State of Idaho is proud to be home to innovative, hard-working entrepreneurs like Shawn. The entire B

Bar B and Bear Knuckles family shows how one innovative idea and a dedication to hard work can lead to small business success. They exemplify Idaho's unique entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the importance of always continuing to press on when difficulties arise. I would like to congratulate Shawn, the Schild family, and all of the employees at Bear Knuckles for being named the Small Business of the Month for September 2018. I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as you may know, I strongly supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that passed the Senate and was signed into law last year. Over the 6 months since its passage, the law's positive impact on our country's economy has become more apparent. Companies, both large and small, have directly experienced the benefits of the law and as a result are distributing bonuses, raising wages, and making new investments in their businesses. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I enthusiastically supported the tax law because I believed it would reduce the tax rate for small businesses, encourage investment in small businesses, and increase the overall health of our economy. Over the last few months, I have been making this series of speeches to illustrate the benefits this law provides for small businesses.

While much attention has been given in the past 6 months to the ways in which the law is leading to a positive business outlook and is lowering tax rates for individuals and corporations, the benefits that small businesses receive are not always noticed. Today I wish to draw attention to how tax reform is benefitting Li-Lac Chocolates, a small business in Brooklyn, NY. Li-Lac Chocolates makes a variety of chocolate treats the old-fashioned way. Li-Lac was founded by George Demetrious in 1923, with a single location in Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood, and today the company has four retail locations across New York City and a 9,000-square-foot plant in Brooklyn. After many years of steady success in Greenwich Village, Anthony Cirone and his partners purchased the company in 2011 with plans to expand the company's sales and make the brand better known. To ensure that the taste and craftsmanship the company was known for was not lost, Cirone enlisted the expertise of master chocolatier Anwar Khoder, who has worked at Li-Lac since the late 1980s and is now a part owner. Though the new owners have made changes to the packaging design and have focused on increasing online sales, Khoder still follows Demetrious's original recipes and even uses manufacturing equipment from the company's earliest days.

Because of last year's tax law, this small chocolate manufacturing business has been able to immediately deduct improvements made to new storefronts. This enables the company to increase its cash flow, hire more workers, and open new locations at a more rapid pace. Before the implementation of the new tax law small businesses had to deal with a complex expensing formula that took many years to make use of and made improvements much less attractive to small business owners. The immediate deduction of property improvements for small businesses is one of the reasons that I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Overall, the new tax law has been good for small businesses, and it has pushed many small businesses to increase their capital investments, hire additional workers, increase wages, and will lower small businesses' annual tax payments. I am pleased that small businesses like Li-Lac Chocolates will be able to reduce their tax burden by making use of this modified provision and look forward to watching the company's continued success.

Mr. President, my home State of Idaho is known for its beautiful landscapes, outdoor recreation, and protected wilderness. These natural wonders are enjoyed by native Idahoans and Americans from across the country. Today I would like to recognize an innovative small business that contributes to allowing further exploration of the beautiful, remote areas of our Nation. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize SJX Jet Boats, Inc., as the Small Business of the Month for August 2018. SJX Jet Boat, Inc.'s commitment to the quality and performance of its shallow-water aluminum jet boat exemplifies Idaho's entrepreneurial spirit and appreciation for the outdoors.

After several years of working in the aluminum jet boat building field, SJX Jet Boats owner, Steve Stajkowski, created a concept for a boat that could handle remote, shallow waters while maintaining a strong structural design and functionality. While on a hunting trip in Alaska, Stajkowski saw the need for a shallow-water boat that could navigate the small bodies of water found throughout the State. Inspired by the concept of combining high-speed performance with the offroading aspects of boating, the SJX boat design began to take shape. He began work on the very first inboard tunnel hull in 1998. Less than 10 years later, after years of experimenting with many different designs, Steve started SJX Jet Boats, Inc., in 2007. Located in Orofino, ID, SJX Jet Boats is

located in the midst of shallow bodies of water and what is known as the steelhead fishing capital of the world.

Whether for a hunter, fisherman, or an adventurist, SJX Jet Boats, Inc., have honed their design through continuous research and development in order to provide the best possible product. One of the primary factors of boat design is the boat's durability. The make of an SJX Jet Boat consists of a continuous weld, which prevents cracks and creates a solid foundation. Because of this weld, along with the innovative inboard tunnel hull, these boats are able to traverse water as shallow as 4 inches. This inboard tunnel allows the jet to be elevated off of the surface of the boat; therefore, any debris potentially hitting the bottom of the boat is unable to reach the jet itself. Testing of any new features for the boat are carried out by Stajkowski himself, as a means of ensuring that new products will be crafted to exceed customer expectations.

In addition to sport and leisure, the benefits of SJX Jet boats extend beyond the recreational user. SJX Jet boats are customizable for policing, search and rescue, fire, and other first responder operations. A number of communities within our Nation are adjacent to shallow waterways, streams, and rivers, and in these places, SJX Jet Boats are preferred by some emergency organizations since they allow for easier access to disaster victims in times of emergency. SJX Jet Boats have repeatedly proven to be capable of reaching these stranded residents. During a search and rescue mission during a flood in the Philippines, approximately 1,200 individuals were rescued due to the jet boat's capability to maneuver through large amounts of debris. Thanks to the unique innovation of SJX Jet Boats, rescue missions like these are much easier to carry out.

The State of Idaho is proud to be home to small businesses like SJX Jet Boats. The ability of an SJX Jet Boat to operate in such remote locations is an innovative feat that makes these boats truly one of a kind. I would like to congratulate Steve Stajkowski and all of the employees at SJX Jet Boats, Inc., for being named the Small Business of the Month for August 2018. I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as you know, late last year, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I supported this legislation because of its potential to spur investment, stimulate economic growth, and ease the tax burden on millions of small businesses. While our economy continues to grow, small businesses often don't receive due attention for their accomplishments and contributions. Owners and employees of small businesses nationwide continuously display resilient attitudes and a tenacious work ethic, proving that the American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. This law gives Americans the tools they need to grow and flourish, and their success stories encouraged me to begin this series of speeches highlighting the ways tax reform benefits small businesses.

Today, I am pleased to share the story of Centennial Bolt, INC, located in Denver, CO. Founded in 1979 by Mark Cordova, Centennial Bolt specializes in manufacturing top-of-the-line fasteners. The Cordova family story serves as an inspirational example for hardworking American families. From humble beginnings, Mark's father, Moses, worked his way to a managerial position at Triangle Steel, Inc., and started his own business, Cordova Bolt, in San Diego, CA. After graduating from the University of San Diego, Mark moved to Denver and followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps by founding Centennial Bolt. This business became the premier fastener company in the Rocky Mountain region because of its ability to assist clients with projects of all shapes and sizes. After years of hard work and perseverance through tough economic times, Mark is now the CEO of both Cordova and Centennial Bolt.

Tax reform's impact on Centennial Bolt and other small businesses nationwide cannot be overstated. Changes in the tax law offer necessary relief to both Centennial Bolt's employees and their families. Due to an increase in savings from tax reform, Mark plans to expand his workforce from 50 to 65 employees, while increasing employee salaries. This past year, the company surprised all 50 of its employees with an unexpected Christmas bonus for their hard work. In order to compete on a larger scale, Mark also plans on reinvesting the company's savings from tax reform into an additional facility and existing infrastructure upgrades. Across the country, tax reform continues to provide owners and entrepreneurs with increasing opportunities that help them and their employees to realize their dreams.

Mark is optimistic about his company's future and believes the benefits his company receives from tax reform will give Centennial Bolt a competitive advantage. They are one of the many small businesses nationwide that can now more freely raise salaries, hire new employees, and compete with larger businesses in their industries. As tax reform continues to drive our economy forward, I will continue to acknowledge its positive impact on small businesses. I am proud to recognize Centennial Bolt and all of the small businesses that are thriving as a result of tax reform, and I look forward to watching the continued growth of the American small business community.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor a great Idahoan, John M. Richards. John recently passed away, leaving a tremendous legacy for the timber industry and as a strong supporter of economic development and a champion for those in need.

John and his identical twin brother, Tom, were co-owners of Idaho Forest Industries, IFI, which had its headquarters in Coeur d'Alene and provided more than 450 jobs. It is said to be one of the largest forest products industries to make northern Idaho their home throughout the second half of the last century. The brothers were committed to forest stewardship, but in the early 1990s, timber industries faced falling prices, public challenges against timber harvesting, and less availability of local and Federal timber. IFI survived because of the ingenuity of the two brothers. They began testing the ability to long- haul timber from other regions of the country and Canada, as far away as Quebec.

Even in the hard times, IFI kept all of its employees on the payroll. Some have called IFI the ``best employer in the area.''

When John and his brother decided to retire about the year 2000, IFI was sold to Stimson Lumber Co. of Oregon. John and Tom thought Stimson would run their company in much the same way they had run it and would keep most of their workers.

John was raised in Kootenai County, ID, and cut his teeth working in his dad's lumber mill.

Even though he was the co-owner of IFI, John worked for 29 years at Potlatch Corp., another lumber company in northern Idaho. He became chairman and CEO and then retired from there in 1999. John, who went to Stanford University, where he earned a degree in economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School, was committed to the welfare of others. He was known to give jobs to anyone who wanted to work and to let the employees work in teams to consider how to best accomplish the work in their areas. When some say people are our best asset, John believed it. He was a caring employer, and his workers respected him for it.

In 2014, John and Tom were inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame in a family-only ceremony. The brothers were not known for wanting any kind of publicity or public recognition for their commitment to good business practices or for how they supported the community. John just did what he thought was the right thing to do: build an honest and beneficial business, make jobs available, give back to the community, and assist others--and so no boasting about it.

John was also a family man. He was married to Joy Elaine (Hanson) for 34 years. As a father, John's children say he was always there for them.

John was a great Idahoan, an exemplary businessman, a caring, charitable member of the community, and a timber man of excellence. He will be sorely missed by his family, his friends, ``coworkers,'' and by many throughout northern Idaho.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the career achievements of Dr. Jack Law of the Idaho National Laboratory who was named a fellow of the American Nuclear Society

and received the 2018 Glenn T. Seaborg Actinide Separations Award.

Fellow is the highest distinction conferred by the American Nuclear Society and was awarded to Jack for his original research and innovative leadership in chemical separation technologies, specifically in the spent nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear waste treatment.

The Glenn T. Seaborg Award recognizes U.S. scientists and engineers who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the development and application of actinide separations processes and methodology.

Dr. Law has made impactful contributions during his over 30-year career at the Idaho National Laboratory, where he previously received the laboratory's Individual Lifetime Achievement in Science and Technology Award and the Department of Energy's Secretary's Achievement Award.

I congratulate Jack on these outstanding achievements. The Idaho National Lab has a truly outstanding scientist and leader in Dr. Jack Law, and we wish him and the lab continued success.