Floor Statements

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Kaitlyn for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Kaitlyn is a native of Oklahoma. She currently attends the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying political science and history. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Kaitlyn for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Samuel for his hard work as an intern in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Samuel is a native of Wilson, WY, and a graduate of Boston College. He studied environmental studies. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Samuel for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Elizabeth for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Policy Committee. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Elizabeth is a native of New Jersey. She currently attends Villanova University, where she is studying political science. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Elizabeth for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Connor for his hard work as an intern in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Connor is a native of Nevada. He currently attends Linfield College, where he is studying political science. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Connor for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Amanda for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Amanda is a native of Casper, WY. She currently attends the University of Wyoming, where she is studying business management and Spanish. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Amanda for the dedication she has shown while working for

me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Kayla for her hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Kayla is a native of Casper, WY. She currently attends Casper College, where she is studying international studies. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Kayla for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jessica for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Policy Committee. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Jessica is a native of Cheyenne, WY. She currently attends the University of Wyoming, where she is studying secondary education social studies. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Jessica for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Caren for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Caren is a native of Texas. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she studied environmental sustainability. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Caren for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Conor for his hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Policy Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Conor is a native of New York. He currently attends Boston College, where he is studying political science. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Conor for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Dakotah for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Dakotah is a native of Casper, WY. She currently attends the University of Wyoming, where she is studying economics and journalism. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Dakotah for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Christopher for his hard work as an intern in my Cheyenne office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Christopher is a native of Wheatland, WY. He currently attends the University of Wyoming, where he is studying political science. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Christopher for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Patrick for his hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Patrick is a native of Casper, WY. He currently attends the University of Wyoming, where he is studying organizational leadership. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Patrick for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Charles for his hard work as an intern in my Cheyenne office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming.

Charles is a native of Gillette, WY. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, where he studied history. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months.

I want to thank Charles for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. President, Wyoming has a longstanding tradition of recognizing individuals who make invaluable contributions to agriculture and communities across our State. Each year, Senator Enzi and I have the pleasure of introducing these honorees as they are inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. This year, Keith Geis will be honored as one of

these outstanding individuals during the 105th Wyoming State Fair.

In Wyoming, we talk a lot about the code of the West. ``Take pride in your work,'' ``Always finish what you start,'' and ``Ride for the Brand'' are just a few tenets of the creed that motivates the way we live in Wyoming. Growing up on a dairy farm in Wheatland, Keith learned these principles early and abides by them today.

Across the state, Keith is well known for his steadfast commitment to strong Wyoming communities. After starting his career in banking and spending nearly two decades with the Farm Credit Services of America, Keith has served as the president of Platte Valley Bank in Wheatland for 15 years. In addition to his work at the bank, Keith is exceptionally active in his community. The list of organizations, boards, and associations that have benefited from Keith's leadership and involvement is long. He has served, among others, as a member of the Platte County Economic Development Board of Directors, as chairman of the Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom, and as a member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Board of Directors. Most notable, however, is Keith's focus on the youngest members of our Wyoming communities.

Keith and his wife, Marie, have two children, several grandchildren, and have served as foster parents. Keith knows that a community's strength is in its future, and he has worked hard to ensure that the next generation will be as dedicated to our State as he is. As president of the Platte Valley Bank in Wheatland, WY, Keith works with agriculture producers every day, including young people whose 4H or FFA project may become a lifelong passion. His work to ensure the next generation of farmers and ranchers will have the capital and an understanding financial officer is renowned across the State.

Selection as a member of the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame is about more than a good calf crop or strong growing season. The people who grow crops, raise livestock, and provide the capital to make ranching possible are the people who give of their time to school boards, economic development groups, and even nursing home boards. Keith is one of the people who makes our Wyoming home so special.

It is with great honor that I recognize this outstanding member of our Wyoming community. Keith makes outstanding contributions to families across the State and sets an exceptional example for current and future generations of farmers and ranchers. My wife, Bobbi, joins me in congratulating Keith Geis as one of the 2017 inductees into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Madam President, I want to take a moment to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the city of Cheyenne, WY.

The city of Cheyenne is an irreplaceable catalyst in Wyoming's birth and development. Christened on July 4, 1867, Cheyenne was named after the Cheyenne Tribe found in the Dakota territory. As the population jumped from 400 to 3,000 and beyond, Cheyenne earned nickname ``The Magic City of the Plains'' in reference to how it seemingly sprouted overnight and kept

on growing. This unfettered momentum showed enough potential that in 1886, 4 years before Wyoming became the 44th State, the construction of a State capitol was approved in Cheyenne. Among these barren plains, a wellspring of prosperity and opportunity was found for the independent, brave folks who were willing to work hard to build it. In that, Cheyenne's legacy perfectly captures Wyoming's spirit.

Cheyenne, WY, is a railroad town through and through. General Grenville Dodge, chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, selected this dusty spot as a connecting point in the Nation's first transcontinental railroad. Thousands of men and their families came here to lay track up the Gangplank, the unique geography that allows a gradual grading from the plains to the Laramie Mountains. Supply stores, banks, and dentists all sprang up in their wake to accommodate the booming town. Now, Interstate 80 runs alongside the Gangplank from Cheyenne to Laramie, where the climb from the plains to the mountains continues today. On March 3, 2006, the Cheyenne Train Depot become a national historic landmark, solidifying the railroads irremovable stitching in the fabric of Cheyenne, WY, and the rest of the Nation.

During Cheyenne's first fragile years, soldiers were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell to protect the railroad. The base was established on the same day as the city, and construction began in October 1867. It later became the F.E. Warren Air Force base that continues to be crucial to Cheyenne today. The base was expected to last 6 months, then to dry up along with the town itself as folks followed the train tracks to find more work. However, Cheyenne endured--and the base along with it. It became a permanent Army installation in 1884, and soon ramshackle wood housings were replaced with brick buildings. In 1930, it was renamed F.E. Warren Base by President Herbert Hoover to honor Wyoming's first Governor, Francis Emroy Warren. It was officially renamed F.E. Warren Air Force Base in 1949, making it the oldest continually active base in the Air Force system. The base is currently responsible for 15 missile alert facilities and 150 Minute Man III missiles and is known throughout Wyoming as a fixture in the Cheyenne community. The F.E. Warren Base and some 4,000 personnel on site continue to be a massively positive presence in the Cheyenne neighborhood, especially at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

As with the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, there would be no Cheyenne without Cheyenne Frontier Days. The first frontier day took place on September 13, 1897, kicked off with a parade led by Buffalo Bill Cody. This event started as the brainchild of passenger agent Frank Angier, hired by railroad officials to increase the number of passengers. This was following the devastation of the prosperous cattle trade by the blizzards of 1886 to 1887, which killed thousands of cattle and the businesses of their barons. Cheyenne needed a boost, and the Cheyenne Frontier Days became the perfect solution. The first rodeo was attended by 400 folks, and more and more have been coming back ever since. Today Frontier Days is the world's largest outdoor rodeo, while also boasting world famous musical acts. In 2016, 259,193 people attended the event to watch professional cowboys compete for over $1 million while enjoying the festive celebration of cowboy culture. This event symbolizes the western spirit that beats from within Cheyenne throughout the rest of Wyoming.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of Cheyenne, WY, I urge my esteemed colleagues to visit this ``Magic City'' themselves. I congratulate all the folks who work to preserve Cheyenne's rich history and continue its valuable legacy. I stand proudly with them in celebrating this historical achievement.