Floor Statements

Mr. President, I also wish to take a pause. It seems as though for the last several weeks on a very regular basis storms have been ravaging the country and different events have been occurring where we have had cause to pause, and certainly this tragedy that struck Arkansas is one. So we would like for our colleagues to keep in their thoughts and prayers those in western Arkansas who have suffered this flood.

As the Senator from Arkansas said, six people lost their lives to the terrible storm that brought significant flooding to western Arkansas late last week. Scott County sheriff Cody Carpenter and wildlife officer Joel Campora, two dedicated public servants, were among them. They gave their lives while responding to a 9-1-1 call at a home in Y City. The two arrived at a home to help two female victims trapped by the flooding. While they were there, the house exploded, killing all four of them. Additionally, a Grant County man was killed when a tree fell on him as a result of the storm.

These are people who are true heroes not because of the way they died but because of the way they lived their lives.

Sheriff Carpenter was a leader who was never content to sit behind the desk. He bravely put the safety of others before his own to protect those in harm's way. He rose from a dispatcher to deputy, chief deputy, and then finally sheriff. He was a man of faith who loved life, loved his family, loved his job, and loved the Lord.

Officer Campora began his law enforcement career in Mena, AR. In 2007 he became a wildlife officer for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. His desire to serve led him down this career path, but it also led him to serve

as a volunteer youth minister for the Salem Baptist Church and Pencil Bluff First Baptist Church.

Again, these were ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds.

Sheriff Carpenter left behind his wife Aime Beth and four children: Garren, Christian, Douglas, and Irelynn. Officer Campora left behind his wife Rebecca and two daughters: Dacie and Bethany.

Again, we would very much like everyone to remember these families and keep them in their thoughts and prayers as time goes on.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I am very much appreciative of the Senator from Kentucky and the Senator from Nevada having this very important discussion.

Washington tends to operate inside a bubble where one can easily forget just how much Main Street America is hurting economically, how many Americans feel their rights are being threatened, and how many fear we are not going to leave behind a better country for our children.

That is why it is so important we stay connected to our constituents. It is why I travel home almost every weekend, hold telephone and online townhalls from my Washington office, and try to read my mail, which is so very important.

In a recent townhall I answered some difficult questions on the issues we are facing as a nation. However, one of the toughest questions that was posed was not about a specific policy issue. Instead, it was when I was asked: How do we fix the mess in Washington?

I answered, in part, that transparency and accountability would go a long way to restoring faith in Washington. That was before the Benghazi controversy escalated. Then news of the IRS scandal broke. Almost immediately after that we learned the Department of Justice had obtained the private phone records of dozens of Associated Press reporters.

This is the opposite of what we need to do to fix the problems in Washington. These scandals move us in the wrong direction.

It is hard to pick which one of these I find the most troubling, but I want to focus on the IRS scandal because targeting political groups, singling them out for additional scrutiny simply because you disagree with their ideological views is wrong on every level.

Dismissing this massive overreach as if it is just the acts of a few rogue agents in Cincinnati, as some have tried to do since the onset, is not taking leadership nor is it seeking to hold the agency accountable.

We now know the Acting IRS Commissioner knew of these abuses for at least a year, and officials at Treasury and as high up as the Chief of Staff at the White House were briefed before the leak despite the repeated claims that the administration learned about it through news reports.

We know it was not just Cincinnati. IRS officials at the agency's Washington headquarters also sent queries to conservative groups asking about their donors, and progressive groups, who operated the same way, were not subjected to this type of harassment.

On top of all this there is real concern that IRS officials may have lied to Congress in an effort to cover up the agency's misdeeds. Yesterday before the Finance Committee the former head of the agency who was in charge at the time of these abuses claimed this was not ``politically motivated,'' while at the same time he said he did not know how the targeting happened.

Along with this impressive double-talk, he refused to apologize for the abuses that went on under his watch.

Somebody has to be accountable. This is not a time for excuses; it is a time for leadership. The President needs to fully cooperate with the congressional investigations into the IRS scandal.

Last week, our entire caucus sent a letter to the White House that demands at least this much from the administration. Washington's credibility--what is left of it--is on the line. The American people deserve to know what actions will be taken to ensure those who made these decisions at the IRS will be held accountable.

The good news is people on both sides of the aisle--Republicans and Democrats--are rightfully outraged. We are going to get to the bottom of this. People will be held accountable. At the very least those engaging in these unethical actions need to be fired. If they broke the law, they need to be prosecuted.

This scandal gives the already maligned IRS a black eye. It reinforces people's worst fears about Washington--that those in power will use any means necessary to maintain that power.

Keep in mind this agency will be responsible for implementing and enforcing key provisions of the President's health care law, a law that a majority of Arkansans do not support. If these types of abuses are allowed to go unchecked, what kind of bullying will go on when that implementation begins, especially in light of the fact that the official who was in charge of the unit that targeted conservative groups now runs the IRS office responsible for the health care law?

Everyone needs to be treated fairly under the law. Clearly, there are employees at the IRS who do not subscribe to this principle. There must be zero tolerance for the actions of those individuals.

Until we change the culture in Washington, we will not gain the confidence of the American people. The onus is on us. Washington as a whole--the White House, Congress, and every civil servant--has to remember whom we work for and to whom we are accountable. The actions of the IRS, along with the other scandals plaguing DC, only move us further from the goalpost, not closer.

I yield back.

Mr. President, there is currently no national memorial dedicated to the valor and sacrifices made by those members of our Armed Forces who honorably fought, and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice, in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. For this reason, I am joining with Senator Joe Donnelly to introduce the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act.'' This legislation will authorize the establishment of a National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of those who fought in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, there is currently no national memorial dedicated to the valor and sacrifices made by those members of our Armed Forces who honorably fought, and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice, in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. For this reason, I am joining with Senator Joe Donnelly to introduce the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act.'' This legislation will authorize the establishment of a National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of those who fought in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, in Arkansas, our law enforcement history runs deep. Take my hometown of Fort Smith, for example, where the U.S. Marshals Service played an integral part in shaping the city's unique role in our country's westward expansion. Many people in the area today find their family roots trace back to a U.S. Marshal.

From an early age we were taught about Judge Isaac Parker's efforts to bring order to Indian Territory, and great lawmen such as Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves helped lay the foundation that highlighted Fort Smith's chapter in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service. We have a lot to be thankful for as we honor these brave men and women as part of National Police Week.

May 15 marks Peace Officers Memorial Day. Each May during National Police Week we honor the men and women who died in the line of duty by adding their names to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

This year 321 names will be added to the memorial including Arkansas Department of Correction SGT Barbara Ester, who died in January 2012, and former Johnson County Sheriff John Hall Powers who was shot and killed while trying to stop a bank robbery in 1902.

The tradition of courageous public service is carried on today by the men and women who keep communities across the country safe 24 hours a day. They truly are on the front lines, walking some of the toughest beats in America, and keeping our streets safe.

More brave men and women opt to follow their lead in a career in law enforcement every day. I recently had the honor of handing out diplomas to graduates of the Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Training Academy in Pocahontas, AR. Graduates of this program follow different tracks in police work such as crime scene investigation, criminal training and police training with hands-on instruction and the currently available resources to allow for the best work possible. The program produced a great group of graduates who are excited to use the skills they learned in the field.

We recognize, not only during this week, but all year long, the devotion of the 900,000 law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to make our communities safer.

Law enforcement faces unique challenges today and we are working to provide the best tools and training to prepare these men and women for unpredictable situations. As our world changes, so do the threats we face. The key to being equipped for these unexpected events is to prepare for these emerging threats. That is why a lot of law enforcement training today focuses on domestic terrorism. Look no further than the Boston Police Department that became the first line of defense against terrorism during the Boston Marathon bombing.

In order to keep our communities safe, we are challenged to develop the newest training techniques and prepare for a wide range of incidents. We have great resources in Arkansas that provide our officers with advanced training.

I thank the law enforcement officers in Arkansas and across the country who dedicate their lives to protecting our children and communities and seek to bring criminals to justice. These heroes come to our rescue when we need help and I am committed to providing them with the tools and the resources they need to fulfill their responsibilities.

Madam President, this is a commonsense amendment. All it does is allow the Corps of Engineers to participate in the interagency America the Beautiful Pass Program. It just allows military families to participate in the same way they already do with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Madam President, I call up the amendment.

Again, ditto. This is a very commonsense amendment, and I think we can all agree to it.

Mr. President, the Transition Assistance Program, TAP, provides training to servicemembers regarding veteran benefits, job search skills, pre-separation counseling, resume writing, how to prepare for interviews, and other transition training. TAP is a great program; however, there is always room for improvement. For this reason, I am joining with Senator's Moran and Manchin to introduce their Servicemembers' Choice in Transition Act of 2013. This legislation enhances the content of TAP to enable those leaving military service to better utilize their GI Bill benefits as a way to transition to civilian employment. It also makes TAP more interactive and provides a better fit for each servicemembers' personal transition goals.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, the Transition Assistance Program, TAP, provides training to servicemembers regarding veteran benefits, job search skills, pre-separation counseling, resume writing, how to prepare for interviews, and other transition training. TAP is a great program; however, there is always room for improvement. For this reason, I am joining with Senator's Moran and Manchin to introduce their Servicemembers' Choice in Transition Act of 2013. This legislation enhances the content of TAP to enable those leaving military service to better utilize their GI Bill benefits as a way to transition to civilian employment. It also makes TAP more interactive and provides a better fit for each servicemembers' personal transition goals.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from Illinois not only for the chance to help with this effort, but more importantly for his steadfast work to strengthen our bond with the countries of Africa.

We were on the floor last year talking about the importance of this bill--the importance of creating a comprehensive trade strategy with Africa. I know the Senator from Illinois made a valiant effort to get our bill through at the end of the last Congress, but he ran into some resistance. It is my hope that as we re-introduce this bill, we can assuage any outstanding concerns and get this bill passed early in this session.

As the Senator from Illinois stated, Africa is home to many of the few emerging bright spots in a tough global economy. In fact, an article from The Economist this week called it the ``hottest frontier.'' They are right. Within the next decade, Africa will be home to 7 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world--Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Rwanda, Mozambique and Angola. The Economist article pointed out that by 2020, more than half of African households will have enough income to spend some on non-essentials and that within three decades, the continent will have a larger working age population than China.

When I served in the House, I was on the Africa Subcommittee and traveled often to the continent. I still make trips there to visit with their leaders and the top issue on every meeting agenda continues to be trade. Many African leaders are very concerned about China's increasing footprint in Africa and want the U.S. to be more engaged and involved in their economies.

So, the eagerness and willingness to be good trade partners on the part of African nations is there. They want our goods and services because Africans know they are high quality. The desire for American products, along with our ideals, is strong. The only thing missing is a cohesive strategy on our end. That is what we are aiming to create with this legislation.

This bill will develop a comprehensive strategy to create American jobs by increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa by at least 200 percent in real dollar value over the next 10 years. It increases our ability to help U.S. companies expand into African markets without adding to our debt. So it is a win-win for our economy. It will create jobs here at home

and bring in additional income instead of increasing our debt.

When we talk about job creation, free and fair trade is a vital component to a successful plan. Sixty percent of American exports came from small and medium size businesses. That is huge. Small business is the backbone of our economy. The bottom line is that trade equals jobs.

As I already mentioned, China is bullish on Africa. We need to be too. China is outpacing us in exports to Africa by an alarming 3 to 1 pace. By 2009, China had surpassed us as the African continent's largest trading partner. This bill lets us establish a plan that will allow us to compete with nations like China that are already extremely active in the African market. And that will help our small companies create jobs.

My home State, Arkansas, stands to benefit greatly through the creation of a comprehensive trade plan with Africa. Free and fair trade is an important component to our State's economy. Arkansas exported $5.6 billion in merchandise overseas in 2011, up 7 percent from the previous year. In 2008, over 1,500 companies exported goods from Arkansas. Over \1/3\ of exports were from small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees. An effective trade strategy with African nations will help us build on that significantly.

So again, increased trade equals increased jobs at home. America needs jobs. That is what this bill is about. That is why we need to move it quickly in this session.

Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from Illinois not only for the chance to help with this effort, but more importantly for his steadfast work to strengthen our bond with the countries of Africa.

We were on the floor last year talking about the importance of this bill--the importance of creating a comprehensive trade strategy with Africa. I know the Senator from Illinois made a valiant effort to get our bill through at the end of the last Congress, but he ran into some resistance. It is my hope that as we re-introduce this bill, we can assuage any outstanding concerns and get this bill passed early in this session.

As the Senator from Illinois stated, Africa is home to many of the few emerging bright spots in a tough global economy. In fact, an article from The Economist this week called it the ``hottest frontier.'' They are right. Within the next decade, Africa will be home to 7 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world--Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Rwanda, Mozambique and Angola. The Economist article pointed out that by 2020, more than half of African households will have enough income to spend some on non-essentials and that within three decades, the continent will have a larger working age population than China.

When I served in the House, I was on the Africa Subcommittee and traveled often to the continent. I still make trips there to visit with their leaders and the top issue on every meeting agenda continues to be trade. Many African leaders are very concerned about China's increasing footprint in Africa and want the U.S. to be more engaged and involved in their economies.

So, the eagerness and willingness to be good trade partners on the part of African nations is there. They want our goods and services because Africans know they are high quality. The desire for American products, along with our ideals, is strong. The only thing missing is a cohesive strategy on our end. That is what we are aiming to create with this legislation.

This bill will develop a comprehensive strategy to create American jobs by increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa by at least 200 percent in real dollar value over the next 10 years. It increases our ability to help U.S. companies expand into African markets without adding to our debt. So it is a win-win for our economy. It will create jobs here at home

and bring in additional income instead of increasing our debt.

When we talk about job creation, free and fair trade is a vital component to a successful plan. Sixty percent of American exports came from small and medium size businesses. That is huge. Small business is the backbone of our economy. The bottom line is that trade equals jobs.

As I already mentioned, China is bullish on Africa. We need to be too. China is outpacing us in exports to Africa by an alarming 3 to 1 pace. By 2009, China had surpassed us as the African continent's largest trading partner. This bill lets us establish a plan that will allow us to compete with nations like China that are already extremely active in the African market. And that will help our small companies create jobs.

My home State, Arkansas, stands to benefit greatly through the creation of a comprehensive trade plan with Africa. Free and fair trade is an important component to our State's economy. Arkansas exported $5.6 billion in merchandise overseas in 2011, up 7 percent from the previous year. In 2008, over 1,500 companies exported goods from Arkansas. Over \1/3\ of exports were from small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees. An effective trade strategy with African nations will help us build on that significantly.

So again, increased trade equals increased jobs at home. America needs jobs. That is what this bill is about. That is why we need to move it quickly in this session.

Mr. President, physical activity offers injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans additional opportunities for rehabilitation for both physical and mental health. Using the expertise of the United States Olympic Committee to work with local programs is a great tool to help our veterans improve their quality of life. The U.S. Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program partners with local organizations to develop programs and skills that meet the needs of our wounded warriors. As a result of this legislation, the program has reached more than 5,000 participants in more than 150 communities in 46 States and has successfully collaborated with 85 VA Medical Centers in 39 States to provide adaptive sports programs to veterans in their local communities through outreach programs, training, practices, camps, clinics, and competitions. For this reason, Senator Begich and I are introducing Veterans Paralympic Act of 2013, which would extend the authorization for the U.S. Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program through 2018.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, physical activity offers injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans additional opportunities for rehabilitation for both physical and mental health. Using the expertise of the United States Olympic Committee to work with local programs is a great tool to help our veterans improve their quality of life. The U.S. Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program partners with local organizations to develop programs and skills that meet the needs of our wounded warriors. As a result of this legislation, the program has reached more than 5,000 participants in more than 150 communities in 46 States and has successfully collaborated with 85 VA Medical Centers in 39 States to provide adaptive sports programs to veterans in their local communities through outreach programs, training, practices, camps, clinics, and competitions. For this reason, Senator Begich and I are introducing Veterans Paralympic Act of 2013, which would extend the authorization for the U.S. Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program through 2018.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I want to commend the majority for finally allowing us to have this debate. This is the first time since I was elected to the Senate that we will have the opportunity to vote on a Senate budget resolution. The budget they produced is far from what our country needs, but the fact that we are having this debate today is a very positive step in the right direction.

Passing a budget is the basic principle of a government. For too long now, Washington has been operating without one. The American people don't have this luxury. Arkansans ask me, almost daily, how we can spend money we don't have because they can't. They are forced to live within their means while Washington isn't. So I am pleased to see we are putting an end to this unacceptable trend.

Unfortunately, this budget plan falls far short of what we need to get our fiscal house in order and get our economy back on track.

At a time when we need to put Americans back to work, the majority has offered a budget that makes jobs disappear. At a time when we need to cut spending, the majority's proposal increases spending by 62 percent over the next decade. At a time when we need comprehensive reform to ease the tax burden hard-working Americans face, the majority raises taxes another $1.5 trillion. And at a time when we need to be paying down the national debt, the majority's budget adds another 7.3 trillion to it.

I can tell you what the people of Arkansas think about this budget. Our State is required to balance its budget. Every year, the legislators who serve in Little Rock have to make the difficult decisions that come with that obligation. They make it work. Washington can too.

We need to stop looking to the Federal Government to solve all our problems. The majority's budget proposal not only perpetuates the myth that big government is the answer, but it doubles down on it. It is time to empower the American people by passing a budget that is a blueprint for economic growth and prosperity, rather than bureaucratic growth and massive debt.

Focusing on a progrowth budget is the only way we will speed up the slowest economic recovery since World War II. We aren't going to get there by continuing to do the status quo. It hasn't worked.

I don't say all of this to cast doubt on anyone's intentions. I believe everyone in this Chamber is working for what they believe is in the best interest of the American people. We all want to save future generations from the burden of debt; create an environment where the economy can grow; protect our entitlement programs for future generations; and create a fair tax system that allows every American to keep more of his or her hard-earned money.

These are all admirable goals. I believe they are goals every one of my colleagues would like to accomplish. And the good news is that they are achievable.

If we balance the budget now, we save future generations from the burden of debt.

If we pursue policies that focus on growing the private sector economy, we can create rising wages and better jobs.

If we address the looming crisis with our entitlement programs, we can protect Social Security and Medicare for our children and grandchildren.

If we enact comprehensive tax reform, we can ensure that every American keeps more of his or her hard-earned money and help small businesses grow.

It all starts with a responsible budget. While I am pleased we are going to have a vote on a Senate-created budget, it fails on too many levels to warrant passage. I urge my colleagues to reject the majority's budget and focus our efforts on one that will help us accomplish our mutual goals.

Mr. President, this amendment would discourage the taking of private property to transfer to another private, nongovernmental use. It does not diminish the use of eminent domain for customary purposes, including the acquiring of property for public use, for public rights-of-way, to acquire abandoned property, or to remove immediate threats to public health or safety.

In the past, we have had significant bipartisan support in regard to protecting property rights, so I would encourage us to vote in favor of the amendment.

Madam President, we salute our veterans for their selfless commitment and immeasurable sacrifice to protect this nation and its ideals so we can continue to be the greatest, freest country the world has ever known. Standing up to tyranny, oppression and cruelty around the world, our troops exhibit courage under the most daunting circumstances.

Today I want to recognize the service and sacrifice of one of our veterans from the ``Greatest Generation'' who exemplified these traits during World War II and who is celebrating a milestone--his 100th birthday, C.L. Swopes.

Mr. Swopes spent 25 years in the Navy, originally entering the service to get relief from the hardships of the Great Depression. ``The money was what I was after,'' he told a local newspaper about his reason for enlisting.

Serving in the Pacific during WWII, Mr. Swopes experienced first-hand the realities of war on the U.S.S. Hornet during the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway and its sinking at the Battle of Santa Cruz.

``Teaching you how to climb down a rope in practice is one thing, but reality is another,'' Mr. Swopes recalled to local media about his evacuation from the sinking aircraft carrier.

Admittedly a weak swimmer, he spent hours in the water until being picked up by a lifeboat.

He continued his military career after WWII serving around the world and throughout the country before retiring in Millington, Tennessee.

During his service, the Desha County native made a family with his wife Mary Jane. He impressed upon his children Marva, Paulette, Lorraine, and Anthony, the importance of education. ``I wished for an education so many days,'' Mr. Swopes said because it would have given him additional opportunities in his career.

After his Naval career, Mr. Swopes returned to his native Watson, Arkansas to take over the family farm.

I thank C.L. Swopes for his service and sacrifice as he celebrates his 100th birthday and wish him many more years of happiness.

Mr. President, today Senator Merkley and I are introducing the Corps of Engineers Recreation Improvement Act. This legislation enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reinvest recreation fees to improve facilities where the funds are collected. Our bill creates an incentive for the Corps to maintain good facilities and provide quality recreational opportunities on our public lands. The Corps currently collects recreation fees at many sites. This legislation would not change the way the Corps determines use fee rates. Existing law provides that users of specialized sites, facilities, equipment, or services provided by Federal expense shall be assessed fair and equitable fees. Section 210 of the Flood Control Act of 1968 also provides that no entrance fees shall be charged by the Corps. Our bill is not intended to and does not make any changes in that regard.

In Arkansas, recreation on our public Corps-operated lands is an important driver of economic activity, job opportunities, and tourism. In fiscal year 2012, over $4.2 million in revenue was collected at Corps recreation sites in Arkansas. When citizens spend money at Corps recreation sites in Arkansas, Oregon, or other States, many of them expect that their money will be invested on-site to improve facilities and create recreation opportunities. Our bill would ensure those expectations are met.

The Corps of Engineers Recreation Improvement Act would also enable the Corps to participate in the interagency America the Beautiful Pass program to allow customers an alternative payment option at sites where entrance or amenity fees are charged. This includes the distribution and sale of the passes and the retention of a portion of the revenue for the sales of those passes. It would also allow the Corps to distribute Military Passes. This will make it easier for our men and women in uniform and their families to acquire passes. The Corps currently honors these passes but the Corps is not allowed to distribute the passes. Providing the ability for the Corps to offer passes to customers is a commonsense solution that will encourage continued use of Federal recreation sites.