Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to oppose dangerous legislation that would endanger the health of women by limiting their constitutional right to access a safe and legal abortion. We must recognize the capacity of every woman in our Nation to make her own healthcare decisions, control her own destiny, and ensure that all women have the full independence to do so.

Unfortunately, throughout the last year, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have repeatedly tried to roll back access to care and undermine the health of women. We have seen bill after bill targeting women's healthcare by restricting access to abortion, increasing the costs of maternity care, and allowing insurers to treat giving birth as a preexisting condition.

The Trump administration issued interim final rules, allowing employers to deny women access to the birth control coverage they need. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have confirmed Trump administration officials and judges to the bench who are vehemently opposed to a woman's right to make her own reproductive health decisions. Republicans have been relentless in their attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, which is an essential source of care for women in New Hampshire and provides key services like birth control and cancer screenings.

Here we are, once again, with Republican leadership bringing a bill to the floor that attempts to marginalize women and take away their rights to make their own decisions. This bill

would ban abortions after 20 weeks--an extremely rare procedure that is often the result of complex and difficult medical circumstances. The bill lacks adequate exceptions for survivors of rape or incest, and it gets in the way of a woman and the judgment of her doctor, threatening to jail physicians for providing patients the care they need.

In fact, a group of medical and public health organizations have written to Congress, saying: This bill places healthcare providers in an untenable situation. When they are facing a complex, urgent medical situation they must think about an unjust law instead of about how to protect the health and safety of their patients.

This bill is a direct challenge to the precedent set in Roe V. Wade. We are at a moment in our country when women are speaking out and fighting for basic dignity and respect at home, in the workplace, and in their daily lives. They also deserve that respect with regard to the most deeply personal health decisions they can make.

Passing this legislation would send a message to women across the country that politicians in Washington do not believe that women have the capacity to make their own healthcare decisions--as if women don't understand or are unable to grapple with the physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual issues that are involved in deciding when or if to have a family or how to handle critical health challenges.

Rather than marginalizing women, we should be doing everything we can to include them in the bipartisan work we need to do on priorities to move our Nation forward. Divisive and partisan bills like this one undermine women and undermine our strength as a country. I was proud to join many of my colleagues in voting against this bill, and I am glad that it has failed in the Senate today.

I thank the Presiding Officer.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Abir Dhalimi, a fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges through August 31, 2018.

Mr. President, it is my pleasure to announce our Granite Stater of the Month for January, Mark Cournoyer, of Jaffrey, NH. Mark embodies New Hampshire's all-hands-on-deck spirit, where we work together and do what we can to strengthen our communities. In Mark's case, he has dedicated himself to making our roads safer by educating drivers, particularly new drivers, about the serious danger and potentially tragic consequences of distracted driving.

A former police officer and emergency medical technician in Fitzwilliam and Jaffrey and now a fourth-generation director of the Cournoyer Funeral Home, Mark volunteers his time to helping prevent the kind of accidents that he has responded to for years. Mark delivers presentations at area driver's education classes and local schools, sharing statistics behind distracted driving, as well as telling real stories about the outcomes of distracted driving with the hope that he can help keep the young people he meets safe.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured every day in the United States as a result of distracted driving. Anything that takes a driver's attention off of the road--texting, eating, reading, or looking for objects--can result in a tragic accident. Mark's efforts are critical to reducing the all-too-common practice of distracted driving, and his dedication to improving public safety can help save lives in his community and across New Hampshire.

In towns and cities across New Hampshire, many of our citizens go above and beyond to look out for one another and make their communities safer. Mark Cournoyer has done just that, volunteering his own time and wisdom to making our roads safer and helping to prevent more accidents from distracted driving. It is an honor to recognize him as our Granite Stater of the Month and join him in raising awareness about this important issue.

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

Thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr. President, it is my honor to announce our latest Granite Stater of the Month, an inspiring, resilient, and generous young man from Merrimack, NH.

Max Mendez, an 8-year-old boy--also known as Mighty Max and Professor Max--has battled leukemia for over a year, and he has proven to be a shining example of the values that make the Granite State and all of our communities strong.

As Max began treatment last year--procedures, blood draws, and tests--at Boston Children's Hospital, he was often recognized for his courage and grit. The hospital had a supply of toys, and after these procedures, he would often be rewarded with one of them.

Max received so many toys that he started to donate some of them to other kids and realized that giving toys felt even better than receiving them.

In the face of his own severe health challenges, Max started Mighty Max's Mega Toy Drive to help supply Jimmy Fund Clinic, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children's Hospital's hematology and oncology unit with presents for brave young patients like himself.

In true Granite State fashion, Max and his family received invaluable support from their community, including friends, local businesses, schools, sports teams, and the local police department.

Max's community donated toys, offered spaces, collection sites, and delivered donations to Max and the Mendez family. With extra help from his sister, Mckayla, and the Lyna family, who helped advertise the toy drive and store donations, Mighty Max's Mega Toy Drive received roughly 3,000 toys ahead of the holiday season this year.

Mighty Max, the Mendez family, and all of the Granite Staters who supported the toy drive demonstrate the spirit that makes New Hampshire such a strong, resilient State.

While battling leukemia and enduring painful treatments, Max found it in himself to bring joy to others who face similar challenges. His entire community, including people Max will never meet, is stronger because of his generous spirit and hard work.

Max is an inspiration for all of us during this holiday season and beyond, and I am proud to call him our Granite Stater of the Month.

Thank you.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, and I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for his eloquent words just now. I also thank Senator Durbin for his leadership on this critically important issue.

As many of my colleagues have stated, we must protect Dreamers and allow them to continue to be vital members of communities in New Hampshire and across the Nation. The energy, hard work, and innovation of Dreamers are critical components of our economic future. These are hard-working young people who have so much to offer and who deserve our support and our urgent action.

They are people like a young man from the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, who recently met with my staff. This young person was brought to the United States when he was in elementary school. His parents emigrated from Indonesia, joining members of the New Hampshire community who had left their country because they were fleeing religious persecution. For years, members of this community have worked, paid taxes, and raised their families on the Seacoast. Now the Trump administration is engaging in misguided efforts to prioritize their deportation--efforts that I urge this administration to stop immediately.

The Dreamer I am talking about this afternoon had never known that he was undocumented until he wanted to get his driver's license. But he said his life was changed after President Obama unveiled the DACA Program. This young man was able to get a job, attend community college, and eventually enroll at the University of New Hampshire, where he is working toward his degree. His story makes clear why there is so much at stake and why it is critical that our colleagues work together in order to support these young people.

Granite Staters, like all Americans, recognize the value of hard work, the importance of unleashing the talent and energy of each and every individual, and they demand and expect that their elected leaders act with fairness and with common sense, which is all that the Dream Act represents.

We must pass the bipartisan Dream Act now and protect those who have so much to offer to the future of our great country.

Thank you.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this month, I am proud to recognize Linda Saunders Paquette, of Contoocook, as our Granite Stater of the Month in recognition of her years of leadership and steadfast commitment to combating the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis in New Hampshire, which remains our most pressing public health challenge and threatens the health and safety of our fellow Granite Staters.

Through her decades of service to the people of New Hampshire, including at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and starting in 2010 as executive director of New Futures--a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating, educating, and collaborating in the fight against substance misuse--Linda has made an enormous difference in the lives of countless people and families affected by this crisis.

During my time as Governor and now as Senator, Linda has been a tremendous partner and relentless advocate. Thanks in part to Linda's advocacy, we were able to increase funding for critical prevention, treatment, and recovery services in New Hampshire, extend substance use disorder coverage to the Medicaid Program, and pass and reauthorize Medicaid expansion--providing quality, affordable health coverage to more than 50,000 Granite Staters. As the State legislature debated whether to reauthorize Medicaid expansion, Linda fought for the program at every step along the way, calling it ``the most important tool New Hampshire has in its fight against the opioid epidemic and more broadly the substance misuse crisis we are facing in our state.''

Linda has also strongly spoken out in defense of the Essential Health Benefits that require insurers to cover substance misuse and mental health treatment, she has stood up against cuts to

Medicaid and other programs that Granite Staters struggling with substance use disorder rely on, and she has worked effectively to help reduce the stigma that has hurt our efforts to combat this crisis for far too long.

People like Linda perfectly exemplify New Hampshire's all-hands-on- deck spirit, where we roll up our sleeves and work together to strengthen our communities. Linda's dedication to supporting those struggling with substance use disorder, first responders, and treatment providers has strengthened our State's response to the substance misuse crisis, and her advocacy will continue to help us stem and ultimately reverse the tide of this epidemic. I join all Granite Staters in thanking Linda for her service and congratulating her on a well- deserved retirement.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to oppose Steven Bradbury's nomination to serve as general counsel at the Department of Transportation.

The general counsel position at DOT oversees and makes critical judgments about legal work that impacts public safety, development, and innovation that drives our economy. Unfortunately, Mr. Bradbury's previous actions during his time at the Department of Justice showed that he lacks the judgment and commitment to our shared values that are a prerequisite for any lawyer privileged to serve the people of the United States of America.

During his time as the acting head of the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, Mr. Bradbury was one of three primary lawyers who helped lay the groundwork for the Bush administration's defense of what they described as ``enhanced interrogation techniques.'' The so- called torture memos that Mr. Bradbury helped write were used to justify the Bush administration's decision to use torture that included extreme sleep deprivation, cramped confinement, and waterboarding. Mr. Bradbury helped find legal loopholes that were an affront to our American values. And he failed to fulfill the special responsibility all lawyers have to the quality of justice in our legal system.

Mr. Bradbury's past government service reflects a lack of sound legal judgment. In fact, a 2009 review by the Department of Justice raised questions about the objectivity and reasonableness of the conclusions found in the memos he authored. Rather than standing up for our values and laws, Mr. Bradbury deferred to the wishes and pressure of the President he was serving.

Furthermore, during his confirmation hearing, when referring to his legal justification for these so-called enhanced interrogation techniques, Mr. Bradbury stated: ``If I had my druthers, I wouldn't have engaged in having to address those issues.''

If Mr. Bradbury preferred to not engage in tough legal questions at the time, then he should not have been serving in the Office of Legal Counsel, and he should not be confirmed for a general counsel position now. By definition, the job of general counsel is to deal with difficult legal questions.

It is clear Mr. Bradbury is unwilling to provide the sound legal judgement and impartiality necessary for this role. He has demonstrated, in the past, that his legal analysis is flawed, he lacks a commitment to America's values, and his actions have had truly dangerous implications for our Nation.

I will oppose this nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, it is with great sadness today that I recognize the life and passing of Gary Wayne Smiledge, 72, of Gonic, NH.

Mr. Smiledge served bravely in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. As a member of the 2nd Infantry Division, stationed at Camp Casey south of the DMZ, Mr. Smiledge protected orphanages after serving on the frontlines.

When Mr. Smiledge returned to New Hampshire, his service to his fellow veterans continued. In addition to being a member of the American Legion Post No. 7 of Rochester, he was also heavily involved with the New Hampshire Amputee Group, where he worked with other veterans who lost limbs during the course of their service.

Mr. Smiledge was a beloved member of his community, and he will be missed dearly. I join all Granite Staters in expressing our profound gratitude to veterans like Gary who have fought for the cause of freedom, putting their country and devotion to duty first.

Mr. President, I would like to start my remarks this morning by offering my thoughts to the victims of yesterday's horrendous act of terror in New York City, my thanks to the first responders, and I would note the resiliency of the people of New York. Once again, they are going forward with their lives today, showing the world and anyone who would do us harm that Americans stand together and that we move forward regardless of what our foes may try to do.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue that is devastating families and communities in my home State of New Hampshire and across the United States: the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis. This crisis is the most pressing public and safety challenge that New Hampshire faces. It does not discriminate. It affects people in every community and from every walk of life.

In 2016 alone, 485 people in New Hampshire lost their lives as a result of this epidemic. The rising use of synthetic drugs like fentanyl is making matters worse, killing people faster with smaller amounts. Last year, 72 percent of drug-related deaths in New Hampshire involved fentanyl. Behind those numbers are real people--moms and dads, sons and daughters who are dying. Their loss reverberates in pain and suffering for the family and friends whom they have left behind.

The people of my State have a longstanding tradition of sharing their stories and their priorities with their elected officials who represent them. Everywhere I go, I hear stories from those families and friends of people who have been affected by this crisis. Granite Staters are stepping forward and explaining what they have gone through, all in an attempt to break down the stigma of addiction, push for solutions, and hope that they can help others by making their voices heard.

Earlier this year, Greg and Linda of Derry, NH, reached out to my office to share the story of their son, who was also named Greg. They wrote to say:

If you were to put a name and face to this disease, it

would be that of the devil. Let's change that. Let's put a

face of hope and humanity to the disease of addiction. If by

doing so, even if just one life is saved, it is worth it.

I would like to share some of Greg's story today. Greg was born on November 16, 1985. He and his younger brother Neil were raised in a caring and loving home, where their parents did their best to teach them right from wrong, stressing the importance of being considerate, polite, and kind.

When Greg was 15, his parents moved to Derry, where he attended Pinkerton Academy and graduated with honors in 2004. During his senior year, like so many other students his age, he applied for college, eventually deciding on Keene State College, pursuing a major in biochemistry. He had a dream of becoming a physician.

He excelled academically, but his mom Linda said that during his transition between his freshman and sophomore year, something began to appear off. She wrote:

I saw firsthand that something was off about him. He was

very quiet and withdrawn. He was showing obvious signs of

depression which runs in both sides of the family.

Even as his depression progressed, Greg battled through. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. After graduating and moving back home, his parents urged him to seek help, but Greg held back. During this time, he had an outpatient surgery, after which he was prescribed an opioid-based painkiller. His mom said that after he was prescribed that opioid, he went from bad to worse.

Eventually Greg sought help. He saw a physician and was prescribed an anti-depressant. His mom said he seemed to be coming back around; he seemed happier. He took steps to advance his career, hoping to find a job with his biochemistry degree that would offer him a reimbursement on tuition so that he could continue to pursue a career in medicine. Though the job market was tough, his mom said:

Hands down, I have to say that one of the happiest days of

my life was when he finally got a decent job. . . . The dark

cloud was lifted--temporarily.

Unfortunately, Greg eventually lost that job, and then things spiraled out of control. His mom wrote:

The years following were a nightmare to remember. Just

imagine a loved one slowly losing all sense of themselves.

Legal trouble, bouncing from one job to the next, losing his

license more than once while we drove him back and forth from

jobs--some an hour away.

A restraining order here, a night in jail there. Debts that

weren't getting paid. Fits of rage, fights, a lack of

interest in family, friends, and basic hygiene.

She said:

By the time our worst fears were confirmed, he was using

heroin, we basically lost the soul of our son.

Greg's last few years were filled with back-and-forths. He had overdosed, his brother finding him in the bathroom of their home. Tired of being dependent on heroin, he sought help, signing up for a methadone clinic, entering rehab, and giving his parents hope that he would make progress.

Unfortunately, he started to use again but was getting ready to enter a drug court program. After joining his family on a vacation to visit an ailing relative, he decided to clean up his act, going to the gym and eating right.

Tragically, though, his mom wrote:

This was short lived however, as the demon snuck into his

room and stole him from us. All he left for us was a lifeless

body on the floor behind a locked door.

Greg's death and his heartbreaking story is the story of far too many people in New Hampshire and across the country, of people with dreams, hopes, and aspirations, whose lives are cut short as a result of this illness. Greg wanted to be a doctor. He wanted to be a husband and a father. He loved dogs and video games, and he loved to watch Patriots games on Sunday with his mom, his dad, and his brother. As his mom put it:

Brilliant and head strong, he was to be reckoned with, and

as his parents, we will never stop trying, on his behalf, to

see that there is an end to this epidemic.

His parents wanted to make clear that his substance use disorder really grew as a result of the opioid he was prescribed following surgery, a painkiller that was originally manufactured for terminally ill patients. They believe that pharmaceutical companies marketed this drug at the expense of their son, saying: ``Given to ease pain and suffering, ironically, it has caused irreparable pain, suffering, and death.''

We can never thank families who have lost loved ones enough for speaking out about this issue and for working tirelessly and courageously to try to prevent others from suffering as they have. Nor can we forget to thank law enforcement and first responders who are on the frontlines of this epidemic.

I want to make a special mention of Greg's father, Greg senior, who is a firefighter in Nashua, witnessing as a first responder every day the havoc that this crisis wreaks on other families and living with the reality of his own family's loss too.

Greg's mom said that at the moment of his death, she vowed that she would ensure that his life would not be in vain. His family reached out because they wanted to make a difference. I am grateful for their efforts to do this because they do, in fact, have the ability to make change.

Speaking up helps break down the stigma that prevents too many from seeking help and prevents too many others from offering it. It provides a

voice to the voiceless, making those who have died more than just a statistic. It gives us a perspective from which we can learn, and it pushes us to take action.

While thanking these families for their bravery is appropriate, it is simply not enough. Their bravery and their struggle must be marked by constant vigilance and urgent action. We must continue to focus on an ``all hands on deck'' approach at all levels of government and with those on the frontlines in order to make progress, save lives, and end this epidemic.

I am going to continue fighting and working with Members of both parties to combat this crisis, and I will continue sharing the stories of the people of my State. It is up to all of us to stop this from happening to more families.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, this month, I am proud to recognize Rusty Talbot, of Sugar Hill, NH, as our Granite Stater of the Month for his dedication to supporting our vibrant North Country communities.

As the founder and owner of the North Country Climbing Center, Rusty and his wife have built a small business that has been described as an ``inclusive community,'' where he strives to create a welcoming environment for both experienced climbers and beginners. He has worked diligently to engage with various organizations throughout the community, like the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country, which empowers individuals who experience disabilities to experience rock climbing.

Rusty is also involved with local business and entrepreneurship groups, including the Franconia Notch Regional Chamber of Commerce, the North of the Notch Young Professionals Network, the Littleton Rotary Club, and the Bethlehem Colonial Theatre. His commitment to supporting the local economy and other small businesses, in addition to his own successful climbing center, earned him Stay Work Play's Young Professional of the Year award. As New Hampshire continues to work to attract young people, his nominator noted that Rusty has ``reminded us why we chose to live and play in northern New Hampshire.''

In addition to running his business, Rusty also dedicates his time to the Sugar Hill Fire Department, where he is a volunteer firefighter, and the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team, for which he is a lieutenant. Earlier this year, Rusty participated in the successful search and rescue effort for a hiker who had been missing in the White Mountain National Forest for days before he was found. In describing his motivation for volunteering for these critical public safety entities, Rusty says, ``In this community, people help each other. Not because it's required or because it's our job to do so, but because we are all in this together.'' That pervasive sense of selflessness and community solidarity is what makes the Granite State unique.

Throughout New Hampshire, citizens just like Rusty give back to their community, look out for their neighbors, and do what they can to help make our beautiful State a stronger place so we can all grow and thrive together. Rusty embodies the all-hands-on-deck spirit that we all strive to fulfill, and I am honored to recognize him as our Granite Stater of the Month for October.