Floor Statements

Mr. President, I wish to highlight an incident that occurred in my home State of Arkansas that has negatively impacted veterans and their families. A former pathologist at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center was found to be impaired, was immediately removed from clinical care, and has since been terminated. A thorough independent review of all cases read by this pathologist is currently underway. This review will be handled by entities outside of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center to include other VA facilities and academic affiliates. At this time, a small percentage of cases have been found to be misdiagnosed. In total, 33,000 samples will be reviewed using a tiered risk prioritization.

In response, I have submitted an amendment cosponsored by the entire Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma delegation. This amendment would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to the congressional committees of jurisdiction a Departmental response plan that can be applied in Fayetteville and in all future incidents and for recommendations about changes necessary to prevent such incidents in the future.

I am very concerned with the procedures and policies that allowed this situation to occur. As the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and member of the Senate VA Committee, I am intent on working with the VA to ensure that we enact policies and put in places procedures to prevent such misconduct in the future, both here in Fayetteville and around the country. It is clear that our veterans deserve the best care available, and it is our duty to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs is providing that service. This is an issue that I will continue to monitor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, as some of my colleagues mentioned already, today marks 6 months since Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and sent it to the President's desk to become law. When the President signed the legislation, he helped usher in the first major overhaul of the Tax Code in three decades.

Here are some of the results we have seen so far: Over 1 million new jobs have been created since the package of tax reform; at least 101 utilities across the country are lowering rates for customers, including Entergy Arkansas in my home State, as a result of the savings they are seeing from the tax reform bill; and 75 percent of small and independent business owners believe that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have a positive impact on their businesses, which is leading them to make plans to invest in hiring and increase employees' compensation.

I could go on highlighting the good news related to our overhaul of the Tax Code, but instead I want to spend just a few minutes talking about what I have heard from small business owners and employees-- beneficiaries of this historic reform--on a recent visit I made to Arkansas in the south and southwest regions.

Last month, I had the opportunity to travel around Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District with Congressman Bruce Westerman. We embarked on a tour called the ``Talk Small Y'all'' Small Business Tour to highlight the importance of small businesses to our State's economy and to local communities where they make such a significant impact. The tour was designed to be an opportunity for us to listen and learn, which is exactly what we did. We visited with business owners, managers, and employees of manufacturing companies, an oilfield and industrial products supplier, a food service distributor, dining establishments, and retail stores.

Everywhere we went, we heard a sense of optimism and excitement in the voices of those we were fortunate to meet. In addition to eliminating burdensome regulations through the Congressional Review Act, the passage of meaningful, historic tax reform--which makes our Nation's businesses more competitive globally--is providing cause for business owners to feel more confident about the current economic climate. Tax reform is helping to provide them with the certainty they need to grow and to succeed.

I came to the floor in February to talk about the developments we were seeing in Arkansas as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, just 2 months after it was signed into law. Despite the dire warnings from our friends on the other side of the aisle who opposed our changes to the Tax Code, businesses across the country and in Arkansas were already beginning to reap the benefits and passing them along to their employees, their customers, and the communities they operate in.

I am pleased to say that this trend is continuing. More companies based in Arkansas or with a significant presence in the State are handing out bonuses, improving benefits, or investing in their businesses and their communities. Tax reform is helping hard-working Arkansans keep more of their money in their own pockets. It is delivering results that are helping the middle class.

On the 6-month anniversary of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, I join my colleagues in celebrating this achievement and the results that have followed from our commitment to make comprehensive tax reform a reality.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be called up en bloc: Young No. 2926 and Tester No. 2971. I further ask that the time until 4:30 p.m. be equally divided in the usual form and that at 4:30 p.m. the Senate vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed and, finally, that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I am pleased to present the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019. This is a bipartisan bill that funds the critical infrastructure for our Nation's servicemembers and their families and takes care of America's 20 million veterans.

As in years past, this subcommittee crafted the bill in a truly open and bipartisan and collegial way. The subcommittee took into account the requests and preferences of all Members on both sides of the aisle and balanced it with the administration's budget submission. Within this framework, we have created a thoughtful and responsible path forward for both Departments and our related agencies.

A lot of time and energy have gone into putting this legislation together, and I thank Senator Schatz and his staff for working so hard to address the needs of our servicemembers and veterans.

This bill provides $97.1 billion in discretionary spending, which is $5.1 billion over last year's level. Within that, the Department of Veterans Affairs is provided a new record level of resources at $86.4 billion in discretionary funding, which is $5 billion over last year's level and $1.1 billion over the President's request. These resources will provide healthcare and other important benefits earned by U.S. servicemembers.

This bill provides $78.3 billion to support medical treatment and healthcare, including $8.6 billion for mental health, including funds to prevent veteran suicide; $861 million for the caregivers program; $400 million for opioid misuse prevention and treatment; and $270 million for rural health initiatives.

The bill also includes funds to prevent veterans' homelessness, invest in innovative medical research, eliminate the claims backlog, provide for State extended-care facility construction, and support the Board of Veterans Appeals' efforts to address the growing appellate backlog.

The bill provides $10.3 billion to support military construction and family housing needs--a $228 million increase over last year's level. This will fund a total of 169 military construction projects that restore warfighter readiness and increase the lethality of our installations. These projects support beddown of new platforms, such as the F-35 and KC-46, and provide investments that support nuclear deterrence and air superiority. Pier replacements and dry dock improvements will add capability and enhance mission readiness. Improvements to airfields, ranges, and maintenance and training facilities will contribute to current and future force readiness.

This bill provides resources to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. It provides $1.6 billion to provide homes and related housing services to servicemembers and their families living on installations around the world, $388 million to improve schools, and $366 million for hospitals and medical clinics.

We were also able to address $498 million worth of construction priorities identified in the services' unfunded priority lists, which will allow the services to fund their highest priority unfunded projects.

The bill contains $921 million for overseas contingency operations and the European Deterrence Initiative to improve infrastructure and facilities throughout the European theater to help our allies deter further Russian aggression and address threats from the Middle East and North Africa.

In summary, this is a good bill. It was reported out of committee without a single dissenting vote, and I hope we will have unanimous support when we vote on the final package. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

I thank Senators Shelby and Leahy for their support in putting this bill together. Again, I thank Senator Schatz and his staff for working with us in such a bipartisan and cooperative manner. Of course, I thank all of my staff for all their efforts and the hard work it takes to put something of this magnitude together.

With that, Madam President, I yield back.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Molly Marsh, a fellow in Senator Alexander's office, and Megan Parrott, a fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the consideration of H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Madam President, I wish to speak about the importance of and my strong support for the final passage of the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA, and the reason for my absence.

As we all know, the NDAA addresses many issues including the modernization of major weapons systems, security assistance to our allies, and significant changes to personnel policy. Our Nation's military relies on Congress to fulfill our obligation with the timely passage of this legislation. I am proud to support our men and women in uniform yet again in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, legislation appropriately named for our dear friend and colleague Senator John McCain.

I deeply regret the need for my absence today. While my record reflects the rare nature in which I miss a vote, I did not come to this decision lightly. An unfortunate incident at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, AR, required my presence and advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans. While untimely, I strongly believe it is my congressional duty to ensure that our government fulfills its promise to the men and women who have worn the cloth of our Nation. Such a requirement demanded my immediate attention today in Arkansas. I would like to thank Senators Inhofe, Reed, and McCain, along with their staffs, for all their hard work and support.

Mr. President, I rise to highlight an issue concerning the industrial base that supports the strategic TRIAD. Currently the Air Force is developing the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent or GBSD. This will be the Nation's new land-based intercontinental ballistic missile and will replace the venerable Minuteman Three. Nearly 50 years ago, when Minuteman was built, there were five companies capable of producing large solid rocket motors. The industrial base that produces large solid rocket motors for the Nation's strategic TRIAD has shrunk to two, and if the GBSD program is not handled carefully, it could soon shrink to one. With each new missile likely to have three large solid rocket motors, it is important to maintain multiple companies that can produce them.

This problem was clearly identified in April 2018 when the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment released the Department of Defense's Annual Industrial Capabilities Report. I would encourage my

colleagues to go read the entire report for themselves. The report can be found at http://www.businessdefense.gov/Portals/51/Documents/ Resources/2017%20AIC%20RTC%2005-17-2018%20- %20Public%20Release.pdf?ver=2018-05-17-224631-340.

The report is quite lengthy; however, I would like to read one paragraph from page 85, which accurately synopsizes the lack of oversight of the large solid rocket motor industrial base: ``Maintaining a healthy and competitive solid rocket motor industrial base is also of concern to the Department. Solid rocket motors for tactical missiles are produced in a nearly even split between the two domestic suppliers, Orbital ATK and Aerojet Rocketdyne. However, in the very near future all the large solid rocket motors for strategic missiles and space launch will be produced by Orbital ATK.

Aerojet Rocketdyne has managed to maintain their large solid rocket motor capability for now with production of the boosters for the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V space launch vehicle, and small development investments from the GBSD program. But ULA has chosen Orbital ATK's boosters to replace Aerojet Rocketdyne's on Atlas and future launch vehicles, leaving Aerojet Rocketdyne with no large solid rocket motor production. Aerojet Rocketdyne has chosen to close their Sacramento large solid rocket motor production facility.

While they have plans to reconstitute this capability at their Camden facility, they may not do so if they are not part of the winning team for GBSD, producing at least one solid rocket motor stage. This potentially leaves the United States with a single large solid rocket motor supplier, which can lead to cost increases due to lack of competition, decreases in internal research and development efforts, and risk of security of supply if a catastrophic accident should occur.''

I am very concerned about what the Under Secretary has revealed in this report. I believe that the Nation must avoid a monopoly provider situation for the very reasons stated in the report. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I believe that we have a duty to be proper stewards of the defense industrial base, both for our current warfighters and for those who will follow. This is an issue that I will continue to monitor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. President, I want to take a second to thank Senator Inhofe and Senator Reed and their staffs for all of their hard work on getting us to this point on the Defense authorization bill, which is so very important.

Through the European Deterrence Initiative, we have made important progress in preparing U.S. forces and allies to address Russian threats to American interests and the international order that protects them.

I was just in Poland visiting U.S. forces with Senators Inhofe, Capito, and Enzi. We saw firsthand the work they are doing to preposition equipment and to establish the necessary footprint to sustain operations.

The NDAA contains a provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of permanently stationing a U.S. Army brigade combat team in Poland. This amendment would require a report to accompany the assessment, detailing the requirements for combat enablers to deter aggression by Russia and to execute the Department of Defense's contingency plans. Combat enablers are the essential noncombat force that helps to maintain our defense posture around the globe.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment as the Senate continues to play its oversight role to ensure that we defend our interests and our allies in Europe against Russian aggression.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to offer my congratulations to Dr. Matt Jones, the 2018 American Optometric Association Young Optometrist of the Year.

As the American Optometric Association, AOA, notes, there are young optometrists--those who have been in active practice 10 years or less, including residency or fellowship--who often show remarkable leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients, and their community.

Dr. Matthew Jones graduated from the University of Evansville in 2005 with a bachelor of science in biochemistry. From there, he attended my alma mater, the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, where he graduated with honors in 2009. Dr. Jones lives in Blytheville, AR, along with his wife and daughter, and practices in Blytheville and Osceola.

He also serves as president of the Arkansas Optometric Association. Dr. Jones received the Arkansas Young Optometrist of the Year Award in 2012 and serves on many committees in the organization, including State legal legislative, national legal legislative, convention, career guidance, and AOP-PAC. He is also a member of the board of directors for the AOA's charitable foundation, Vision Arkansas.

In the community, Dr. Jones is a member of the Blytheville Rotary Club, where he previously served as treasurer. He is currently chairman of the Blytheville Rotary Foundation, in addition to being secretary/ treasurer of the Great River Charitable Clinic board of directors where he provides free eyecare services and materials for the under-served.

We are so proud of Dr. Jones and his accomplishments. He is a great care provider, leader, and member of the community. This recognition is yet another example of the respect and admiration his peers have for him.

Congratulations to Dr. Jones on this well-deserved honor, and I look forward to his continued leadership in the coming years.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and honor Dennis and Barbara Rainey. The Raineys are residents of Little Rock in my home State of Arkansas. They are cofounders of FamilyLife, a Christian ministry committed to helping marriages and families.

Dennis and Barbara have been married since 1972. They have six children and a growing number of grandchildren. Their ministry, which is focused on strengthening marriage and the family, has grown into a nationally recognized brand that includes marriage conferences and cruises, books, devotionals, and public speaking engagements. FamilyLife reaches an estimated 60,000 people each year with its ``Weekend To Remember'' events for couples.

Dennis can be heard daily as host of the nationally syndicated radio program ``FamilyLife Today'' on more than 1,100 radio stations/outlets in nearly all 50 States. Together, they have authored or coauthored more than 35 books, and Barbara recently launched a new home decor line and teaching resource to help families and especially women express their faith in their homes. FamilyLife has grown into a dynamic ministry that has reached more than 109 countries across the world.

Dennis and Barbara truly live out their faith every day in their roles as teachers, speakers, parents, grandparents, mentors, friends, and neighbors. They have been pivotal members of the faith community in Little Rock, as well as throughout our State and the country.

My wife, Cathy, and I have been blessed by and treasured the friendship and mentorship of Dennis and Barbara since the start of their ministry.

We are very proud of the important, affirming work that they have been doing for decades. Taking this opportunity to celebrate Dennis and Barbara and their legacy shows just how much of an impact they have had on their community and beyond over many years.

We are grateful for them and wish them well in the years ahead. May God bless the Raineys and the work they have left to do in service of His Kingdom. Our marriages and families are certainly better for it.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Missouri very much.

Our Nation's veterans were promised access to healthcare for their service and their sacrifice. This week we continue our work to uphold that pledge.

The bill before us, the VA MISSION Act, aims to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs delivery of community healthcare. That is a welcome job.

Specifically, the VA MISSION Act consolidates and improves VA community care programs so veterans have access to healthcare and services in their own communities. This is important because veterans should have access to the best healthcare and services in a timely manner, regardless of where they live.

Under this legislation, a veteran and his or her doctor will decide where that veteran will receive care, taking into consideration the veteran's healthcare needs and the availability and the quality of both VA and community care.

For largely rural States, like Arkansas, this makes all the sense in the world. We have two VA medical centers in the Natural State, in Little Rock and in Fayetteville, as well as facilities in neighboring States that often serve Arkansas veterans. The healthcare providers and staff at those facilities that are community-based outpatient clinics in Arkansas truly do an excellent job in caring for our veterans.

But the VA medical centers are in populated areas, which, in cases where veterans need more advanced care than the CBOC can provide, it means a full-day trip for many veterans. It is unnecessary when a veteran could receive similar quality care outside the VA system in their communities. The service options provided in this bill will give veterans who live far from the VA facility and need frequent followup care easier access to local providers and walk-in clinics.

As noted in a letter signed by over 30 VSOs supporting the VA MISSION Act, the legislation is an effort to ``supplement, not supplant, VA healthcare.'' That is very important to note. Much like the Choice Program that preceded it, the new system that will be established by the VA MISSION Act is not meant to replace VA healthcare. Rather, it builds on the foundation laid out by the Choice Program, which addressed many shortcomings within the VA system that led to the wait- time process.

Last year, I launched a listening tour to hear from Arkansas veterans about their experiences within the Choice Program, so we can better meet their needs. I heard from Arkansas veterans who have been able to get quality care from private providers in their own community when the VA system could not meet their needs. That is a good thing, but as the veterans with whom I met noted, the Choice Program had its share of problems, its share of troubles. I heard repeated stories of difficulties navigating the complex and confusing bureaucratic process. This legislation aims to alleviate those problems. While VA implements the new system, we cannot afford to let care slip for our veterans. That is why we made sure the VA MISSION Act authorizes funding to continue the current Choice Program for more than a year.

In addition to the improvements to healthcare delivery, the bill will enable us to conduct better and more consistent oversight into how the VA spends money on veterans' healthcare. This is a priority for me as the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. We must ensure that the VA is efficiently and effectively providing veterans with quality healthcare, whether at a VA facility or a private facility in the community. The VA MISSION Act will also improve the VA's ability to hire quality healthcare professionals, strengthen opioid prescription guidelines for non-VA providers, and create a process to evaluate and reform VA facilities so they can best serve veterans.

I wish to quickly highlight two other important provisions of the bill. One is the expansion of the VA caregiver benefits to veterans of all generations. This is a long-overdue reform that will correct an injustice that left family caregivers and veterans injured before September 11, 2001, without critical care. Caregivers and veterans of World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, and the Gulf war will now have access to the same benefits as the post-9/11 veterans.

The second revision is based off a bill I cosponsored that would authorize VA healthcare professionals to provide treatment to patients via telemedicine regardless of where the covered healthcare professional or patient is located. The Arkansas VA medical centers are leaders in telehealth, which holds great promise, especially for largely rural States like Arkansas. It is important that the VA continue to encourage its growth without unnecessary bureaucratic redtape.

This bill is a great example of what we can accomplish through bipartisan, bicameral compromise, working together for our veterans.

I thank the majority leader for swiftly bringing up this bill for consideration after the House overwhelmingly passed it. I commend Chairman Isakson's hard work and leadership. I appreciate the great job he has done and also Ranking Member Tester, who took the advice of all VA Committee members into consideration while working on this major piece of legislation.

I look forward to supporting the VA MISSION Act on the Senate floor so our veterans have access to the quality care they deserve.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, this is National Police Week, a time for recognizing the men and women in law enforcement who serve and protect our Nation. National Police Week is a solemn occasion to honor those who tragically lost their lives while serving in the line of duty. The names of those men and women are carved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Each year during this week, families and colleagues of the fallen travel to our Nation's Capital for this special commemoration. This year, 360 names will be added, including four officers who served the citizens of Arkansas. We remember Arkansans whose names are newly etched onto the walls of this treasured memorial. I would like to recognize these heroes.

Drew County Sheriff's Deputy Timothy Braden gave his life while serving and protecting the citizens of Arkansas. Deputy Braden, unfortunately, passed away in a car crash after attempting to stop a vehicle whose driver had refused to stop, leading him on a high-speed chase.

Deputy Braden had recently joined the Drew County Sheriff's Office after serving 3 years at the McGehee Police Department. His commitment to enforcing the law, helping those in need, and protecting the community touched the lives of those with whom he served. They will remember him as a kind and hard-working officer who performed his job with a positive attitude.

Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford of the Newport Police Department had responded to a call of a vehicle break-in when he was fatally shot. He had proudly served in law enforcement for 15 years. Throughout his time in uniform, he continued to pursue opportunities to better serve the community. He was a 2016 graduate of the FBI National Academy and was working toward a master's degree in criminal justice.

I would also like to honor the dedication and service of Kevin Mainhart, a Yell County Sheriff's deputy. He was responding to a domestic disturbance call and initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle connected to the situation when he was fatally shot. Deputy Mainhart had spent more than 20 years serving and protecting Arkansas communities in law enforcement and was a veteran of the Air Force.

The selfless service of Keith Bradford, Sr., Turrell police chief, is also worthy of recognition. The chief is one of 231 members of the law enforcement community who died in a previous year, but his sacrifice will be documented on the memorial this year.

Chief Bradford helped launch the law enforcement agency in 2012. In 2014, he responded to a call to assist officers from another local jurisdiction with a high-speed chase. He checked the safety of the officers, but according to a police report, Chief Bradford was left shaken. Hours later, he suffered a fatal heart attack. Chief Bradford had dedicated more than 20 years of his life to law enforcement.

Each of these officers demonstrated courage and determination in the face of danger. These heroes, like all members of the law enforcement community, commit their lives to protecting the public. In their profession, there is no such thing as an off-duty officer. Answering a call for help is ingrained in who they are.

As a member of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, I am committed to providing our first responders with tools, resources, and training to help them prepare for unpredictable circumstances. These men and women are brave and selfless heroes who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe.

This Congress, I was proud to cosponsor the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act to give their home States the opportunity to provide a fitting tribute for their service, should they make the ultimate sacrifice. This bill would allow Governors to order the American flag to fly at halfstaff in recognition of first responders who are killed in the line of duty. Those who are called to serve and protect have earned this honor.

I am pleased that it was included as a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 that was signed into law earlier this year. We can all agree that these courageous first responders deserve this powerful acknowledgement in recognition of their sacrifice.

On behalf of all Arkansans, I thank law enforcement officers at the local, State, and Federal levels for all they do to keep us safe. We appreciate your dedication and the heroism you display each and every day. Thank you for doing whatever it takes to protect and serve your families, neighbors, and fellow citizens.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, last month I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with several mayors and local leaders who were in Washington with the Arkansas Municipal League. We had a lively and informative discussion on ways to continue the economic growth that has been taking place throughout Arkansas.

While much of our conversation was focused on forward-thinking ways to continue these positive trends, there was also a very frank and candid discussion about an issue that is currently holding our communities back--the opioid crisis.

Policymakers across our State have been struggling to help confront Arkansas's heroin and opioid epidemic. The Natural State has been hit particularly hard by this national crisis. Retail data collected from pharmacies shows that Arkansas has one of the highest per capita opioid consumption rates in the Nation. CDC data shows that we have the second highest prescribing rate in the country--enough for each Arkansan to have more than one opioid prescription in his or her name.

It is an issue that all of us--from city leaders to lawmakers in Little Rock, to our Congressional delegation in Washington--continue to work tirelessly to confront because we have seen how pervasive this crisis is and how devastating its effects are.

I know that everyone who serves in this Chamber is working just as feverishly with their State and local leaders to confront the crisis. That is why it is so important that we included substantial resources for a wide-ranging strategy to counter the epidemic, nearly $4 billion, in the omnibus bill.

This funding will be used to provide additional resources for law enforcement and to continue important grant programs that help State and local governments offset the cost of opioid abuse. It will also support research into opioid addiction and alternative treatments.

We must ensure that we are doing all we can to supplement State and local efforts to combat the spread of opioid abuse. Unfortunately, this is not currently happening. The Department of Justice is hurting our communities' efforts to get a handle on the crisis by withholding critical funds.

The Byrne JAG grant program was created more than a decade ago to help States and local law enforcement agencies purchase essential equipment and support drug treatment and enforcement activities. It is the largest source of Federal justice funding to help provide law enforcement officers with the tools and training to protect our communities.

Currently, DOJ is denying every State access to those funds because some communities and States are violating Federal immigration law. This leaves States like Arkansas scrambling to continue funding crucial safety programs.

Arkansas law enforcement agencies have received millions of dollars through this program to support training, personnel, equipment, supplies, and information sharing. Arkansas is eligible for more than $2 million in funding from fiscal year 2017 to help fund multijurisdictional programs like drug task forces.

Earlier this year, I met with Arkansas drug director Kirk Lane to discuss how crucial the Byrne JAG program is to our State's efforts to combat opioid abuse. Director Lane stressed that limited funds threaten the abilities of task forces to accomplish their missions.

Matching funds from the State are running dry. So unless DOJ releases Byrne JAG funds, the critical work done by officers who are part of these task forces to fight the opioid epidemic will be seriously compromised. That is why earlier this year I led a bipartisan effort to express these concerns to Attorney General Sessions. Half a dozen

of our colleagues joined me in an effort to relay to the Attorney General that withholding these vital funds will have long-term negative consequences for our communities.

Since we have not received a response from DOJ, I raised the issue again with the Attorney General at yesterday's Appropriations subcommittee hearing. As I said to the Attorney General, when I speak with local law enforcement and county sheriffs back in Arkansas, they all inquire about when these funds will be released and made available.

While it may not seem like a whole lot of money, Byrne JAG grants make a huge difference. It is often the sole reason police departments in small communities are able to stand up a drug task force. I was encouraged by the Attorney General's response that the Department is determined to get the money out and that it is a high priority for him personally. It simply has to get done. I urge DOJ to rectify this situation quickly. With each passing day that local law enforcement is being denied these resources, lives that could be saved are lost.

While we look for new ways to tackle this problem, one step Washington took years ago continues to help. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative, spearheaded by the DEA, has helped remove expired, unused, and unnecessary opioids from homes.

Research has found that the majority of opioid abusers get their drugs from friends and family, often lifting pills from a familiar medicine cabinet. Removing them from homes helps to reduce experimentation and overdoses.

In early 2010, a coalition of Federal and State law enforcement officials, prevention professionals, and private organizations launched an ongoing education program to encourage Arkansans to monitor, secure, and dispose of their prescription medications. The coalition organized Arkansas's participation in the DEA's National Prescription Take Back Day initiative and has hosted Arkansas Take Back Day collection events for the last 8 years.

Despite our State's modest population, Arkansas ranks 13th in the Nation in total weight collected over the course of 14 statewide take- back events. That is a testament to the coalition's efforts. These events have produced the return of almost 132 tons of unneeded medications, which amounts to over 400 million pills.

This campaign is clearly succeeding in getting unnecessary prescription drugs out of circulation and in helping to break the cycle of addiction in our communities. Besides that, it is so important in getting rid of these prescriptions in the right way, as opposed to just flushing them in the toilet where they get in our water supply.

The next take-back event is Saturday, April 28. There are more than 130 permanent dropoff sites across Arkansas, and many law enforcement agencies host temporary dropoff sites on this day as well. I encourage Arkansans to once again participate in this worthwhile event in full force this year.

Programs like the prescription drug take-back, in combination with local, State, and national efforts to combat the opioid crisis and help stem the tide of drug overdose and abuse, need to be supported and strengthened if we are serious about ending this crisis.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Alexandra Webb, an intern in the office of Senator Sullivan, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the day.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate Mr. Wayne Haver, principal of Southside High School in Fort Smith, AR. Mr. Haver will retire at the end of this school year after 48 years of service to Fort Smith Public Schools.

Having started as a teacher at Southside in 1970, Mr. Haver has had a long, distinguished career as an educator and administrator. He became an assistant principal at the school in 1974 and, in 1982 was named principal and has served in that role ever since.

Enrollment at Southside now stands at over 1,500 students, and the community has witnessed how much the school has changed and grown under Mr. Haver's guidance. Thousands of students have graduated from the school during his tenure.

As principal for more than 35 years, some of those graduates have returned as teachers and now work alongside an educator who served as a mentor both while they were students and now as instructors. Southside has also been recognized three times as a School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, a testament to Mr. Haver's leadership.

In 2013, Mr. Haver was named Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Education Office Professionals. At the time, he was only the second Arkansas educator to have received the award.

Upon his retirement, Principal Haver will be leaving an incredible legacy of education and service to his community. He is only the second principal Southside High School has ever had in its 55-year history. He has spent his career devoted to education, seldom missing a day of work. He is admired by his staff, who say he is an incredible man to work for and will be greatly missed.

His musical ability has been cherished by students and faculty alike and will be remembered fondly after he retires. He learned to play the school's fight song on his harmonica, and his performances became a fixture at pep rallies and other school events.

I congratulate Wayne Haver on a remarkable career and admire his dedication to the students and families of Fort Smith and Southside High School. As a native of Fort Smith, I am incredibly proud of everything he has accomplished. His dedication and professionalism have certainly helped to make the community a better place to live. I wish him all the best in retirement and thank him for his countless contributions to Southside High School.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize 32 Arkansans who have taken an interest in playing a positive, productive role in their communities, the State of Arkansas, and our country.

In September, this group of high school students convened as part of my

inaugural Congressional Youth Cabinet, a nonpartisan initiative that has allowed these young people firsthand experience engaging in the democratic process. Students from each of Arkansas' four congressional districts participated in the program, which provided them with exposure to the legislative process and opportunities to seek out advocacy and civic engagement.

The goal of the Congressional Youth Cabinet is to foster a lifetime commitment to civic engagement and public service. I have been impressed with these young Arkansans as they have grown in their knowledge of how our government works and the role that public policy plays in their everyday lives.

One project in particular that demonstrates this process involved having the participants, grouped together by their congressional districts, develop a legislative proposal of their choice between three issues: driverless cars, an internet sales tax, or rural broadband. The students worked together to craft their proposals on these topics, drawing on their own research and background knowledge.

I was able to help them refine their ideas and offer my advice as to how they could make adjustments to their product so as to have the best chance of garnering bipartisan support. We also discussed why similar legislation had not successfully attracted enough backing to pass Congress and become law.

This program has given these students the chance to think critically and carefully about how public policy can have an impact on them, their families, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens. I am proud of these Arkansans for taking a proactive step to learn more about how they can make a difference and be a force for good. Their participation in the Congressional Youth Cabinet is something we all can take great pride in.

I congratulate them on their hard work and efforts and offer my best wishes for the future. I know these students will continue to be leaders and doers who give back to their communities. I hope their participation in the Congressional Youth Cabinet is something they can point to as having made a distinct and significant contribution to their development as students and informed, engaged citizens.