Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. President.

I have to add, coming from Arkansas, that I wish to congratulate the Southeast Conference for being the championship teams. It is going to be a great game.

Mr. President, as co-chair of the Air Force Caucus, I rise to pay tribute to Lt. Gen. Michael C. Short, who served this country faithfully for over 51 years, 35 years as an Air Force fighter pilot and another 16 years as an Air Force and joint senior mentor to leaders and future leaders of our military. Lieutenant General Short passed away on 27 October after a battle with cancer, and for those who knew him, it is the only battle he ever lost.

Born in Princeton, NJ, on 24 February 1944, Lieutenant General Short was the only child of Janet MacDonald Short and Charles Francis Short. He grew up in a military family and lived in New Jersey, North Carolina, Japan, Kentucky, Mississippi, and France. Lieutenant General Short's father, Charles, was a paratrooper and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. When Lieutenant General Short was born, his father was stationed in England preparing for the D-Day invasion. On 6 June 1944, Charles Short jumped into occupied France as a member of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.

As most military children, Lieutenant General Short attended several schools growing up and excelled athletically and academically at every one. He attended high school in France, participating on his school's football, basketball and baseball teams, and graduating at the top of his class. Lieutenant General Short applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, entering as a basic cadet on 26 June 1961.

In February 1965, then-Cadet First Class Short met the love of his life, Virginia Suhonen, a fourth-grade school teacher, in Manitou Springs, CO. Lieutenant General Short graduated the Air Force Academy on 6 June 1965 and married Jini on 14 August 1965, and together, they began an incredible journey of partnership and selfless service to each other and our Nation that lasted 52 years.

Their first of 23 assignments began at Webb Air Force Base in Texas, where he attended pilot training. Follow-on assignments included Arizona, South Vietnam, Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, Thailand, Philippines, the Pentagon, North Carolina, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Germany, and Italy. Along the way, they grew their family, with Jini giving birth to a son, Christopher, and daughter, Jennifer. They lovingly welcomed in their daughter-in-law Brooke and son-in-law Scott, and celebrated the birth of five grandchildren, Emily, Rachel, Sara, Jacob, and Katie. Of course, no family is complete without its pets and those who knew the Shorts will always remember Hobo, Bogie, and Muppet. Lieutenant General Short understood the importance of family and was a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather. He was also an airmen's airman.

Lieutenant General Short exemplified what the Nation should demand of its military members and senior leaders. He was a master in the profession of arms, a master of employing the military tool of national power, and a master instructor to generations of officers who continue to follow him and keep his legacy alive in service to our Nation. Upon earning his silver wings, he began a flying career focused on fighter aviation. He amassed over 4,600 flying hours and flew the F-4C, F-4D, F-4E, RF-4C, F-102, F-106, A-7, F-117, A-10, F-15E, and F-16. He flew 276 combat missions over Vietnam in the F-4, flew and commanded combat missions during Desert Storm in the F-15E, and directed over 35,000 combat missions during Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia.

In 1969, then-Captain Short, an F-4C pilot, was awarded the Silver Star for courageous action in Vietnam. General Short was enroute to a target in North Vietnam when he was diverted to support an F-105 pilot that was shot down, had ejected, and was in the water off the coast of North Vietnam. He was tasked to take out the antiaircraft artillery sites that had shot down the F-105 so they could bring in the rescue aircraft. Both he and his wingman were hit multiple times by antiaircraft artillery but were able to make it back to base safety after delivering all their rockets on target, knocking out the gun sites, and enabling the rescue of the downed F-105 pilot.

In 1986, then-Colonel Short was hand-picked to be the operations group commander of the 4450th Tactical Group at Nellis Air Force Base, which operated the highly classified F-117A stealth fighter. He soloed in the F-117A on 14 January 1986, Bandit 199, and commanded the group until 1988.

In 1995, Lieutenant General Short was the chief of staff to the commander of NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, during Operation Deliberate Force, NATO's first air campaign, that brought the war in Bosnian-Herzegovina to an end. The following year, as the director of operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, he was responsible for the deployment and sustainment of NATO forces and their equipment in Bosnia-Herzegovina during and after Operation Joint Endeavour. Gen George Joulwan, the then-Supreme Commander Europe, said, ``He did the planning for the bombing of Bosnia in 1995 and then, when we put the force into Bosnia, he was critical coordinating the air transport. He was impressive because he was not only professional but innovative--this was all new stuff''

In 1998, Lieutenant General Short returned to Naples, Italy, now as the commander NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, leading the 19- member NATO alliance and directing all air operations in southern Europe. It was during this time our Nation called on General Short's expertise in the employment of military power to try and achieve peace. Lieutenant General Short, who always left political discussions to others, was directed to travel with Richard Holbrooke to Belgrade, Serbia, to be part of negotiations with Federal Republic of Yugoslavian President Slobadan Milosevic. During the meeting, President Milosevic leaned forward and said to Lieutenant General Short, ``So, you are the man who is going to bomb me.'' Lieutenant General Short replied, ``Well, I hope that won't be the case. I have a plan to propose to your generals that will prevent your country from being bombed, but in essence, you're right. I have U-2s in one hand and B-52s in the other, and the choice is up to you.'' His statement broke the tension, and the discussions went on from there. The negotiations successfully postponed the war, but on 24 March 1999, Lieutenant General Short was directed to begin air operations against Yugoslavia. He successfully executed Operation Allied Force, a 78-day NATO bombing effort to stop the Serbian ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Kosovo.

Lieutenant General Short received a bachelor of science degree from the Air Force Academy, a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, was a distinguished graduate of Air Command and Staff College and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oakleaf cluster, the AF Distinguished Service Medal with one oakleaf cluster, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oakleaf cluster, and the Air Medal with fourteen oakleaf clusters. In 1999, he was presented the Air Force Association's highest honor to a military member in the field of national security, the H.H. Arnold Award for commanding the air campaign during Operation Allied Force.

Lieutenant General Short retired on 1 July 2000 and began 16 years of work as an Air Force and joint senior mentor focusing on the command and control of airpower. Lieutenant General Short was known and respected by servicemembers from all services in the United States, as well as our allies. He always gave clear, hard-hitting advice, passing on his knowledge of things he did right and things he did wrong. He traveled to the Republic of Korea, Qatar, and many other locations to advise, teach and train airmen

of all ranks in the art of ``operational'' level warfare. Long after the senior mentor ranks thinned, due to intense scrutiny and significant pay cuts, Lieutenant General Short stuck with the program because it was his passion.

Lieutenant General Short touched many lives as evidenced by comments written about him by those who knew and served with him:

``He was a father, a husband, a grandfather and what made it all work was his complete devotion to those he loved and commanded. It was an honor to serve alongside him ``

``High standards, demanding, but fair. You knew where the bar was and he challenged you to exceed it. He pushed me to limits I did not know I could reach.''

``He was a no-nonsense leader who let his Commanders command. He was also a hands-on mentor who touched thousands; admired by all and will be greatly missed.''

``A superb officer, great warrior and outstanding teacher.''

``A great leader . . . as the Air Boss for Operation Allied Force he provided clear guidance and support for me and the men and women in my deployed Wing . . . I consider it a high honor to have served under him in combat!''

``He really was the kind of leader that made you want to work for the organization and its goals. His name always comes up when we talk about the good men in those days.''

``General Mike Short was a great leader and Patriot. He was a mentor and more importantly a friend. Mike loved his Family and his Country . . . he will be missed.''

``He did a superb job in a very tough situation. With leadership and top cover like that, the U.S. Air Force is unstoppable.''

``I will miss your words as they were always on target and well understood. Rolling a nickel on the grass in your remembrance, sir.''

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Lt. Gen. Mike Short for his selfless service to this Nation, to his wife, Jini, and to his children, Chris and Jenn, and their families, for a lifetime of service to this Nation. Words cannot describe the extraordinary character of Lieutenant General Short, his accomplishments, or the lasting impact he will have on generations of service members. His personal accomplishments live on through the examples set by his son and daughter, two highly capable and highly respected Air Force senior officers. My prayers are with his family, and I pray the ``Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.''

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and pay tribute to the exceptional role that pump manufacturers have played in improving the delivery of water to American homes, American industry, and American agriculture over the past century. Today pump systems touch the lives of every American, and the Hydraulic Institute plays a central role in developing the policies and standards needed for safe, reliable, and efficient pump operations.

On April 18, 1917, the Nation's leading pump manufacturers met in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago for the purpose of forming a trade association that would ``promote friendship and cooperation among manufacturers in improving overall pump performance.'' Since this auspicious gathering of pump manufacturers, government agencies have relied on the Hydraulic Institute to provide the technical expertise required to set pump standards that reflect the evolving priorities of society.

In recent years, energy efficiency has emerged as a national priority, and the Hydraulic Institute has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Energy to improve the efficiency of pumping systems. These systems now account for over 20 percent of domestic electrical energy use and the standards, laboratory testing, and labeling advanced by the Hydraulic Institute will ultimately save consumers and businesses billions of dollars.

Pumping systems protect our communities from flooding and fires, deliver drinking water to our homes, irrigate our farms, and bring water and fuel to American manufacturers. The Hydraulic Institute works closely with Congress to ensure that the laws governing energy, water, and infrastructure reflect the prominence of pumping systems in the management of these essential resources. I would like to specifically applaud the Hydraulic Institute for bringing an important perspective to congressional deliberations on how to thoughtfully increase investment in our Nation's critical water infrastructure.

It is with sincere admiration that I stand today to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and to wish this exceptional organization continued success in developing policies and advancing standards that improve the lives of every American.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the commissioning of the USS Little Rock, a Freedom-class littoral combat ship. I was proud to celebrate this historic occasion with all who gathered for the commissioning in Buffalo, NY, this past weekend.

It is an honor to have one of the Navy's more versatile warships named after our State's capital city. The USS Little Rock's logo features one of the most recognizable images associated with Arkansas-- the Razorback. The University of Arkansas football team was given the nickname after the head coach at the time said the team played like a bunch of razorback hogs. I am confident this crew, known as the Warhawgs, will carry on that same work ethic. It has been more than four decades since the Navy had a ship named after the city of Little Rock, and we are thrilled that it will again be represented in the Navy's fleet.

Saturday marked the first time in the history of the Navy that a ship was commissioned alongside her namesake. This special occasion brought together members of the original USS Little Rock and those like LT Robert Dyer from Mountainburg, AK, who is a member of the current crew.

During its time as a light cruiser and then as a guided missile cruiser, the original USS Little Rock and its crew were vital to defeating the growing threats of its time. The new USS Little Rock is just as critical to our Navy's sea power. This ship and the strength and resolve of the Warhawg crew are the future of the Navy, offering unique capabilities to defend against evolving threats around the globe.

There are things this Chamber and our colleagues in the House of Representatives can do to ensure that the Navy has the resources to stay ahead of the threats our adversaries pose to us and our allies, and that begins with passing individual appropriations bills. As Congress continues discussions for fiscal year 2018 funding, it serves as a reminder that continuing resolutions are an inefficient method to keep the government operating. We should be approving individual appropriations bills instead of relying on continuing resolutions.

The starts and stops in the budgeting process impact the Defense Department and the Navy significantly. They certainly slow down the already long timetable to achieve the goal of a 355-ship fleet. Continuing resolutions negatively impact our military ratings and take our eyes off the focus of eliminating wasteful spending. They hinder our Navy's leaders' ability to plan and purchase equipment in support of its missions. They restrict the Navy from starting new programs or eliminating old and unneeded ones.

Earlier this month, Navy Secretary Spencer said the service wasted $4 billion since 2011 because of continuing resolutions. This could have gone a long way toward growing our fleet. Instead, it is gone. A continuing resolution means that the Navy is operating on the previous year's budget level and last year's priorities. It means delays in shipbuilding and ship repair. It also means reducing training opportunities, flying hours, and steaming days. That forces more requirements onto the operational fleet, which is already stretched thin after decades of constant worldwide deployment. Secretary of Defense James Mattis has said that the longer the continuing resolution, the greater the consequences for our force.

Funding the government is the basic responsibility of Washington. It is an obligation that my colleagues and I on the Senate Appropriations Committee take very seriously as we craft the appropriations bills, set priorities, and make difficult decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars.

We must return to a process in which we debate and pass annual spending bills in order to provide much needed predictability to our military leaders, as well as other agencies of government. We can make this happen by returning to regular order and passing individual appropriations bills. I can't say that enough. We owe it to our servicemembers, their families, and all Americans. We owe it to the crew of the USS Little Rock.

Admittedly, Little Rock is not the first place most people think of when you mention the Navy. Our State doesn't border an ocean. But now the State capital will once again have a place on the high seas. This is a tremendous honor for the city of Little Rock, and I know the ship and its crew will make Arkansas proud.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate Luke and Deedee Alston of Polk County. The Alstons were recently named the 2017 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.

The owners of Holly Springs Homestead--a cattle, poultry and agritourism farm near Mena, AR--Luke and Deedee, along with their sons Ryan and Drey, are fifth-generation farmers who are working the land as their parents and grandparents did before them. Holly Springs Homestead is an Arkansas Century Farm that was established in 1897 and has been in operation for 120 years.

The Alstons took a leap of faith a few years ago, leaving corporate jobs to return to the family farm full-time. Luke proudly says that he was born to farm, and it is a lifelong dream to look over the hood of a tractor every day. Through hard work and determination, the Alstons are enjoying tremendous success not only commercially but also in their efforts to educate visitors to the homestead about agriculture and the many reasons it is so important to our State's past and future.

As 2017 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, Luke and Deedee will represent Arkansas well and use this award as a platform to promote farming and agriculture and foster respect for all the farmers, ranchers, and producers who contribute so much to our economy and food supply. They will also compete for the honor of being named the 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year in Moultrie, GA.

I wish the Alstons good luck in that competition and once again congratulate them on all their hard work that has culminated in this well-deserved honor.

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to former U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Eisele who passed away on Sunday, November 26, at the age of 94.

Judge Eisele was a native of Hot Springs, AR. He served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II and then went on to attend Harvard Law School. Eisele then came back to Arkansas to practice law in Hot Springs and Little Rock.

When Winthrop Rockefeller ran for Governor in 1966, Eisele became a legal adviser to his campaign and then to Governor Rockefeller during his administration. Rockefeller recommended to President Richard Nixon that Eisele be appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Eisele was appointed to the position in 1970 and served on the bench for 41 years, including as chief judge from 1975 to 1991.

Judge Eisele was widely respected by his legal peers and was known by lawyers who argued cases before him for his thoughtful approach in the courtroom. An intelligent, passionate, humorous, and reverent man, Judge Eisele left a significant judicial legacy when he retired from the court in 2011.

His colleagues, former law clerks, and others he impacted all fondly reflect on and remember his professionalism, integrity, wisdom, and demeanor. To understand how highly regarded he was, we need look no further than the establishment of the G. Thomas Eisele Endowment for the Study of the History of the United States Federal Courts in Arkansas at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

I am grateful for the influence that Judge Eisele had on our State, country, and judicial system during his extraordinary career. I also want to acknowledge and thank him for his service in the military as part of America's Greatest Generation. He will certainly be missed, but I hope his loved ones take comfort in his incredible legacy and life well-lived.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the courageous service and selfless sacrifice of our Nation's veterans.

Honoring our veterans is one of the greatest privileges I have as a Senator, which is why I often attend celebrations in Arkansas to acknowledge and salute some of the brave men and women who have served our Nation in uniform.

I recently had the pleasure to recognize the service and valor of 15 Arkansas veterans during the Arkansas Military Veterans' Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The class of 2017 inductees comes from all across Arkansas. These veterans served in conflicts ranging from World War II through the War on

Terror. Together, they have earned some of our Nation's most prestigious honors and commendations, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the Silver Star Medal for gallantry.

I also had the opportunity to present three Arkansas veterans with the medals and commendations they had earned when I attended the Veterans Day celebration in Fort Smith, AR. I am proud of the work that we do to obtain the service medals and recognition that these heroes have earned.

We have also worked hard to honor the efforts of Mr. Errol Severe, of Eureka Springs, AR, as he strives to preserve and promote the role of joint service aviation cadets in the 20th century. Mr. Severe, an Air Force veteran, operates the Aviation Cadet Museum, which is the only museum in the United States that exists exclusively to celebrate the teamwork, collaboration, patriotism, and courage of the individuals who trained for and fought in the national aviation effort from 1917 to 1965.

As we recognize our veterans and honor the sacrifice and heroism of those who have been called to serve our Nation in uniform, we must recommit ourselves to fighting on their behalf. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am committed to honoring the promise made to our veterans.

We have made tremendous progress during this Congress. In June, President Trump signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. This strengthens accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs by allowing the VA to dismiss bad employees while protecting those who expose wrongdoing.

We are also continuing to improve the Choice Act. Earlier this year, we hosted listening sessions with Arkansas veterans to obtain their input on the strengths and the weaknesses of the program, as Congress continues to expand access to adequate healthcare options for veterans.

In addition, we enhanced the post-9/11 GI bill benefits to increase educational opportunities. I am proud to have played a role in crafting this law, along with my colleague from Oregon, Senator Wyden. I am pleased that he can join me on the floor to recognize the importance of the provision we have championed for several years to fix an oversight that prevented combat-injured members of the National Guard and Reserve from receiving the same GI bill benefits as Active-Duty military members. This is a great example of Senators on both sides of the aisle working together to get things done.

Fixing this clear oversight in the law that unfairly penalized wounded and injured servicemembers and kept them from accruing educational benefits they rightly earned while in recovery was a priority for both of us because these men and women deserved better. To correct this injustice, we introduced legislation earlier this year, as well as in the last Congress, and I am pleased that it was included in the comprehensive GI reform bill that was signed into law this summer.

While we have made improvements, there is still more that needs to be done, including the expansion of VA services for female veterans. I encourage my colleagues to support the Deborah Sampson Act to address these concerns, and I urge VA Secretary Shulkin to implement reforms written in the bill that don't require congressional action. Our work must continue.

Today, my colleague from Indiana, Senator Donnelly, and I will introduce legislation to allow veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam war era the opportunity to prove toxic exposure in order to qualify for VA benefits.

Let me take one more opportunity to thank our veterans and their families. This country made a promise to our veterans that we must live up to, and I am proud to be able to work for them to ensure that we follow through with our commitment.

The men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of our country deserve our undying gratitude. They also deserve our support when they transition back into civilian life, which is why we must support efforts to improve their health, their ability to further their education needs, and to pursue their dreams, just as they fought to make that possible for their fellow Americans. That sentiment is shared throughout this Chamber. For all of our disagreements in Washington, we truly do come together in support of our veterans. That is one area of agreement.

I thank Senator Wyden for his leadership to ensure equal treatment of education benefits for wounded guardsmen and reservists. I was very proud to work with him in support of this efforts, and I look forward to working with him in the future.

Our guardsmen and reservists are called to defend and protect our Nation, exactly like Active-Duty members. So it is only right that they receive the same GI bill benefits.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a member of my staff who has been in public service on Capitol Hill for 30 years. Susan Olson is my deputy chief of staff and general counsel. She has served Members of Congress, the Senate, and congressional committees for decades and is a well-known, beloved public servant around the Hill.

Susan joined my staff when I came to the Senate in 2011, but she already had a long track record of distinguished service and respect from her peers. I got to know Susan when she served as secretary of the House NATO Parliamentary Assembly Delegation, of which I was a member during my years in the House of Representatives. Susan's knowledge, determination, and warm personality helped her earn the respect and admiration of Members and staff alike. She also served as a valued staff member on the House Ethics Committee where she was a legal counsel from 2004 to 2011.

Prior to working on the Ethics Committee, Susan served in the office of former Congressman Doug Bereuter of Nebraska for 17 years as legislative assistant, legislative director, and chief of staff. During her tenure with Congressman Bereuter, she also served as the secretary of the House Delegation to the British American Parliamentary Group from 1998 to 2000.

Susan's time on my staff has been marked by her wealth of knowledge and expertise on so many things. She is a trusted adviser, but more importantly, a dear friend to me and to everyone on my staff in Washington and Arkansas. We love Susan very much and appreciate all her hard work. She takes a personal interest in everyone she meets, from the many interns who cycle in and out of my office, to those on my staff and the countless men and women she has worked with over the years during her time on the Hill.

We are so happy for and proud of Susan for reaching this milestone. I congratulate her for the many years of service she has rendered to the U.S. Congress and to our country.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize the long and proud history of University of Arkansas collegiate athletes who have made us proud to cheer on the Razorbacks. Arkansas has achieved tremendous levels of success throughout the history of its athletic program. You cannot discuss Razorback sports history without discussing its time in the Southwest Conference. The Southwest Conference was highly competitive, and its teams produced many of our Nation's greatest athletes, including many from Arkansas. As we reflect on the rich history of the conference, I am proud to recognize the Razorbacks selected as class of 2017 inductees for the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.

I congratulate Razorback football greats Jim Benton, Ronnie Caveness, Joe Ferguson, Steve Little, Fred Marshall, Wear Schoonover, Billy Ray Smith, Sr., and Dennis ``Dirt'' Winston; former Razorback basketball players, Ron Brewer, Amber Shirey, and Darrell Walker; and track stars Edrick Floreal and Cynthia Moore on their induction today.

I would like to congratulate the late Orville Henry on his induction to the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame. Mr. Henry is an iconic Arkansas sports writer who covered the Razorbacks for six decades. His work, professionalism, and legacy live on to this day.

Earlier this month, former Razorback All-American football player Dick Bumpas was also inducted into the Hall of Fame along with eight other former Southwest Conference legends.

The Razorback nominees to the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2017 have certainly earned this honor. I applaud these former Razorbacks for their contribution to not just the legacy of the Southwest Conference but also for their contribution to the legacy of Arkansas athletics.

Madam President, today I wish to recognize CDR Christian A. Lee for his induction into the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame on October 19, 2017.

The Hall of Fame Award recognizes outstanding Coast Guard Academy athletes who distinguish themselves in military or civilian life and seeks to honor those who have substantially contributed to the excellence of Academy athletic programs.

As a three-sport athlete at the Coast Guard Academy, Christian excelled in football, baseball, and track. On the football field, he was a starting wide receiver for 4 years and set a single-season record with 938 receiving yards. He ended his 4-year career with 149 receptions, 23 touchdowns, and continues to hold the Coast Guard Academy record for alltime receiving yards. As captain, he led the team to its first ever NCAA playoff appearance in 1996 and was selected as a first team All-Conference wide receiver and kick returner. He was also named an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference and New England Football Writers first-team wide receiver.

In addition to his successful football career, Christian substantially contributed to the academy's baseball and track programs and was named the most outstanding senior athlete in 1997. That same year, he led the baseball team with 15 stolen bases, 24 runs scored, and had a batting average of .321, earning him second-team All- Conference honors. As a sprinter on the track team, he was part of a 4x100 record-setting relay team and went on to compete at the New England Championship and the Penn Relays.

Christian was a gifted athlete, and his induction into the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame is well-deserved. I congratulate him on this honor, and I am grateful for his dedication and service to our Nation.

Mr. President, in support of National Forest Products Week and in my role as a cochair of the Senate Paper and Packaging Caucus, I would like to recognize the almost 20,000 hard-working men and women employed by the forest products industry in the great State of Arkansas.

Arkansas is home to over 90 wood products, paper, and packaging manufacturing facilities that make over $8 billion in products annually and contribute over $1.2 billion to the State and local economies through wages and compensation.

The forest products industry plays a valuable role in the life of every American, every day. From paper and packaging to wood products, tissue, and other personal care items, paper and wood products are at the heart of modern life and a modern economy. In total, the industry employs about 900,000 Americans nationwide and manufactures over $280 billion in products every year. That is nearly 4 percent of the current U.S. manufacturing GDP.

In addition to cochairing the Paper and Packaging Caucus, I am also a cochair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. In this dual capacity, I have seen the success the forest products industry has had in pairing economic growth with respect for the environment. Be it through the use of carbon-neutral biomass energy or the successful implementation of voluntary recycling programs that now reach 96 percent of Americans, the forest products industry is leading by example.

Last year, I had the opportunity to see firsthand how the forest industry contributes to the economy of my State. Congressman Bruce Westerman and I visited timber-rich south Arkansas on our ``Seed to Sawmill'' tour. We learned about proper forest management and the positive environmental impacts achieved through conservation efforts. We also visited a seedling nursery, working private forests, state-of- the art processing facilities, and the U.S. Forest Service's Experimental Forest in Crossett.

It is clear that the forest products industry contributes a great deal to Arkansas and to the U.S. economy overall. That is why it is important for us to highlight how forest products improve our lives, help grow our economy, and promote healthy environmental practices.

I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Forest Products Week and reflect on the many ways this recyclable and renewable resource impacts our daily lives for the better. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize the hard-working professionals of the forest products industry in the great State of Arkansas.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an organization that is committed to redirecting the lives of youth and their families in western Arkansas. Comprehensive Juvenile Services, Inc., of Fort Smith, AR, helps youth who experience difficulty within their families, have problems in school, or face other challenges that result in them being at risk of or referred to the juvenile justice system. Comprehensive Juvenile Services is celebrating 40 years of incredible, invaluable service to the community, and I want to congratulate them on this milestone.

Incorporated in 1976, Comprehensive Juvenile Services is a private, nonprofit community-based youth services agency. It serves 1,000 youth each year in Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, Polk, and Montgomery Counties. CJS is supported by and receives guidance from community leaders as it seeks to help children and youth who are susceptible to delinquency or have encountered legal problems and need positive influences to help get back on track toward a happy and successful adolescence.

CJS provides support to these children and their families in a variety of ways. It employs caseworkers to assess a youth's individual problems and develop case plans, provides aftercare to those in custody of the Department of Youth Services, offers one-on-one mentoring opportunities, operates an emergency shelter for at-risk youth, and features other programs including treatment for major behavioral problems, mental health assessments, and therapy and parenting classes.

The commitment that CJS has demonstrated for youth in western Arkansas is inspiring. The men and women of the agency put their hearts and souls into helping children and teens improve their situations and strive for better outcomes at home, at school, and in life generally. In one of many success stories, a former client named Sherry went through a difficult adoption where she experienced major conflict with her adopted family. Through the help of Community Juvenile Services, Sherry completed a program at the Girls Shelter of Fort Smith and is now a Department of Child and Family Services caseworker herself, advocating for children and helping to make a difference in their lives the same way that CJS did in hers.

I am so proud of the work that Comprehensive Juvenile Services has done over the past 40 years. They truly are changing lives, one child at a time. I want to congratulate everyone involved with CJS on a job well done, and I look forward to hearing many more success stories in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate an exceptional airman, Brig. Gen. Bobbi Doorenbos, on her selection for promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the Air National Guard. This promotion means she will leave behind her role as commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Wing in Fort Smith, AR, to assume her new responsibilities in Washington, DC, as part of the leadership team within the Pentagon's Total Force Continuum Office.

Brigadier General Doorenbos clearly epitomizes the finest qualities of a military leader as evidenced by her distinguished career. After graduating from Iowa State University, she entered the U.S. Air Force in 1995 and initially served as an F-16 pilot in the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Fighter Wing. She continued her honorable service by holding various positions in the Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia areas, including Air National Guard Crisis Action Team member; White House Fellow; executive officer/speechwriter for the Air National Guard Director; chief of Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; special adviser to Vice President Joe Biden for Defense Policy and Intelligence Programs; and chief of program requirements and integration at the National Guard Bureau. She has flown combat missions in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom. Brigadier General Doorenbos is also a senior pilot with more than 1,200 flight hours in the F-16C Fighting Falcon and MQ-1B Predator.

She is truly a trailblazer. As the first female to command the 188th Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, she simultaneously held the title of air commander with responsibility for over 1,000 Federal technicians, Active Guard, and Reserve members in the execution of three distinct mission sets: remotely piloted aircraft; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations; and targeting. Her wing in comprised of the most dedicated, loyal, and highly trained airmen that the National Guard has to offer. As a team, they have taken immense pride in fulfilling their roles and obligations to the State of Arkansas and to the Nation. As a testament of Brigadier General Doorenbos's superior leadership, the 188th Wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its incredible accomplishments during her tenure as wing commander.

Brigadier General Doorenbos has displayed an extraordinary amount of dedication and passion throughout her life and career. As a mother of three daughters, it is my pleasure to watch Brigadier General Doorenbos excel in her career and show young women that they are capable of achieving anything. She will continue to be a major asset to the U.S. Air Force in her new role at the Pentagon.

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to her on this well- deserved promotion. I am very proud of her many accomplishments and wish her all the best in her future service to our country.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the life and legacy of Arkansan Gene Sullivan. Gene will forever be remembered as the great optimist with the can-do attitude and endless determnation. There was no project too small and, certainly, no project too large that he wouldn't tackle with his trademark tenacity. Gene led a life dedicated to the outdoors and was a man of great faith.

While there are many remarkable stories that we remember about Gene, I want to share a personal letter that he sent to his grandchildren on his 81st birthday. On February 8, 2017, Gene wrote the following:

As I sit in my easy chair in the early morning of my 81st

birthday, I give thanks to the Lord for how He has blessed me

throughout my life with love and mercy rather than justice. I

want to share with you some things I know to be true and pray

that you will consider them in your short journey through

this life on earth.

(1) God's judgement of how you live your life is the only

one that is really important. (2) The Bible provides God's

directions for having a successful life. Read it and live it.

(3) When you are older and look back, you will not regret any

time you spent with family, serving the Lord and loving and

serving others.

I love you and you are one of the blessings of my life.

He also included two Scriptures for them to read and contemplate.

Deuteronomy 11:1: ``Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His precepts, and His commandments [it is your obligation to Him].''

1 John 4:20: ``Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.''

As we mourn the loss of this Arkansas leader, I think it would serve us all well to reflect upon the timeless wisdom that he passed along to his grandchildren on his 81st birthday.